Date: 10/26/25 5:32 pm From: Peter Pyle via groups.io <ppyle...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Northern Fulmar at ACC
The Greater Farallones Marine Sanctuary's Beach Watch Program reported 30+ dead and live NOFUs on Manchester State Beach (Mendocino) a few days ago so a die-off may be occurring. This occurs periodically, most often when summer reproductive success is high but followed by a downturn in food availability in fall.
Keep an eye out in Ocean Beach.
Cheers, Peter
> On Oct 26, 2025, at 17:20, Adam Gerhart via groups.io <acwgerhart...> wrote:
>
> Don’t know if this is relevant to anyone here but there was a Northern Fulmar brought into SF Animal Care and Control today.
>
> Adam
>
>
>
>
Date: 10/24/25 5:38 pm From: David Assmann via groups.io <david_assmann...> Subject: [SFBirds] Fort Mason Local Interest
An adult male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE has now been at Fort Mason for nine days - hopefully it will overwinter. It's often in the garden, but has also been seen behind the General's House. Yesterday was a six warbler day at Fort Mason, including a PALM WARBLER in the garden, and a NASHVILLE WARBLER in the Battery.
Date: 10/22/25 8:03 pm From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: [SFBirds] CANADA WARBLER 10/22/2025 and recent observations of note
This afternoon I took a detour from my commute home to follow up on an iNaturalist report of a Canada Warbler in the West Portal neighborhood that had been posted yesterday. Walking along the alley that parallels (runs between) Portola and Ulloa I came upon a mixed flock of Bushtits, Chickadees and Warblers where Granville Way dead ends. A bit of pishing elicited the continuing CANADA WARBLER to briefly pop into view. I notified a few others and Keith Maley arrived within a few minutes and was able to get some good photos of the warbler.
Some other sightings from the past couple of weeks:
On 10/12 doing point counts on Mount Sutro there were favorable conditions for a morning flight (clear skies north/northeast breeze) and a group of (8-10) LAWRENCE’S Goldfinches flew by the hill observed from the North Ridge trail where many trees have been removed in the past year making it now a prime spot for observing fly-overs/hawkwatching. A Varied Thrush calling around sunrise was the first I’ve encountered this fall.
On 10/16 there was a LONG-EARED OWL on Corona Hill.
The morning of 10/18 conditions were once again good for morning flight. A pre-work skywatch from Corona Hill was punctuated by a calling fly-over CASSIN’S FINCH - a species very rarely noted on the immediate coast. The first I’ve noted this fall in SF , a flock of (~30) American Pipits flew by as well.
On 10/20 on a visit to the Lincoln Park Golf Course I connected with the returning GRACE’S Warbler in the same area it wintered from Sept - April. The Grace’s was foraging and calling frequently from a Monterey Pine near the tee for the hole at 40th and Clement.
Yesterday (10/21) I got a message from Erick Masias that he had found a BLACK-AND-WHITE Warbler on Corona Hill. I walked over to the north side of the park and together we watched the B&W Warbler cooperatively foraging in Coast Live Oaks along the trail that connects the 15th Street entrance of the park with the plateau area below the crown. Interestingly, Erick had found a Black-and-white Warbler in nearby Buena Vista Park over the weekend which is only a few hundred meters distant as the bird flies. I suspect the bird we watched on Tuesday was the same individual.
Date: 10/16/25 5:20 pm From: Keith Maley via groups.io <keith.maley...> Subject: [SFBirds] Tropical Kingbird cont. - Lake Merced
The Tropical Kingbird reported by Anonymous on eBird yesterday continues this evening foraging from the cypresses on the east side of Lake Merced in SF, just north of the intersection of Lake Merced Blvd and Brotherhood Way, here: (37.7154088, -122.4861106)
The adult Common Gallinule also continues, no sign of the juvenile. (37.7123608, -122.4870299)
Date: 10/15/25 9:29 pm From: Keith Maley via groups.io <keith.maley...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] COMMON POORWILL on Corona Hill 10/15/2025
Following Dominik's sighting, a Common Poorwill was actively hunting on Mt.
Davidson starting at 7:17 pm and observed several times over the course of
an hour, including with Nico. It moved back and forth across the hillside
and was viewed from the north plateau, the eastern slope path, and the X. I
found the best way to locate it is by scanning the open hillside with an
iphone video and picking up the orange eye shine. The bird was calling
regularly-- cluck calls, like this recording:
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/112803311. I'll post videos on ebird.
Similarly, also present were at least two Barn Owls and one Great Horned
Owl.
On Wed, Oct 15, 2025 at 9:15 PM Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Midday while walking up to my hawk watching perch on top of Corona Hill I
> flushed a Common Poorwill from a patch of rock and short grass. The
> poorwill flew into cover down a ways. It came out to forage from the same
> spot 28 minutes after sunset (18:59) when the light was almost gone.
>
> A Great-horned and Barn Owl were both also active on the hill after sunset.
>
> Dominik Mosur
> San Francisco
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 10/15/25 9:15 pm From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: [SFBirds] COMMON POORWILL on Corona Hill 10/15/2025
Midday while walking up to my hawk watching perch on top of Corona Hill I flushed a Common Poorwill from a patch of rock and short grass. The poorwill flew into cover down a ways. It came out to forage from the same spot 28 minutes after sunset (18:59) when the light was almost gone.
A Great-horned and Barn Owl were both also active on the hill after sunset.
Date: 10/13/25 11:16 pm From: Liam Murphy via groups.io <liammsf...> Subject: [SFBirds] Bernal Heights Fall Misc.
Hello SFBirders,
I thought I would type out some notes from recent patch birding in Bernal Heights, which has been pretty exciting of late during peak fall migration.
Weds, 9/17: a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK was seen on Bernal Hill, the 2nd individual seen that week. Passerine diversity was good, including SAVANNAH SPARROW, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, persisting good numbers of YELLOW WARBLER (9), and an active flight of WESTERN TANAGER (12). Several small raptors flew over, including AMERICAN KESTREL, and an unidentified bird that may have been a Merlin. In a skywatch session from the house later in the morning, the raptor theme continued with migrant SHARP-SHINNED, COOPER’S, and RED-TAILED HAWKS.
Thurs, 9/18: SAY’S PHOEBES continued on the Hill during a windy morning walk (2 from the week prior, 1 still present up until current date). Unique migrants seen included WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE and flyover AMERICAN PIPIT (2).
Fri, 9/19: after an overnight rain, some interesting firsts-of-fall appeared on Bernal Hill. STELLER’S JAY was present on the hill and several flyover COMMON LOONS were seen. Migrants included HOODED ORIOLE, WESTERN TANAGER (7), WARBLING VIREO, flyover MERLIN, as well as ORANGE-CROWNED, WILSON’S (2), TOWNSEND’S (8), and YELLOW (8) WARBLERS. A heard only grosbeak sounded like another Rose-breasted. Later in the day, I saw a NORTHERN HARRIER fly over my house, a new bird for the yard list.
Sat 9/20: most of the same migrants mentioned above were seen again on Bernal Hill, the highlight was a flyby RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, the first of the fall. A count of 6 YELLOW WARBLERS was the last session of the fall counting more than 2 birds.
Mon 9/22: another NORTHERN HARRIER over the house.
Weds 9/24: migrants of note on Bernal Hill included first of fall WESTERN MEADOWLARK, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (2), and HERMIT WARBLER.
Fri 9/26: increasing numbers of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (13) and the Zonotrichia sparrows. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, PURLE FINCH, HERMIT THRUSH, WESTERN FLYCATCHER, and WARBLING VIREO were notable migrants. A HAIRY WOODPECKER made an appearance on the hill and two BREWER’S BLACKBIRDS flew over, both irregular species here.
Around midday I had a very productive skywatch from my house. In addition to a calling flyover AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, the raptor show delivered: singles of TURKEY VULTURE, OSPREY, SHARP-SHINNED, and COOPER’S HAWKS went over, along with RED-TAILED HAWKS (5) and a phenomenal 15 BROAD-WINGED HAWKS (fourteen of these were reported first by Brian at Fort Scott, and another came from Corona courtesy of Dominik).
Thurs 10/2: over the week prior, a few cold fronts moved through along with some rain. New arrivals were minimal, and much of the same from above continued. During an owling session this night, an AMERICAN BARN OWL was seen hunting on Bernal Hill in addition to the resident GREAT HORNED OWLS.
Fri 10/3: during a morning walk on the Hill, a few uncommon flyovers were seen, including AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, BREWER’S BLACKBIRD, CEDAR WAXWING, and EUROPEAN STARLING, all singles. Significant sparrow increases were noted, mainly Zonotrichia, but also FOX SPARROW (4) and LINCOLN’S SPARROW (1). HAIRY WOODPECKER was seen again, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET was the first of fall. Also notable were WESTERN FLYCATCHER (a good count of 3 for the date) and VAUX’S SWIFT (2 flyovers).
Later, a skywatch from Bernal Hill saw a good active flight following the cold fronts out of our region. BROWN PELICANS seemed to be relocating in big numbers, a tally of 249 was a new eBird high count for the hotspot. Other movement included VAUX’S SWIFT (22), BARN (1) and VIOLET-GREEN (6) SWALLOWS (plus a few unidentified), BAND-TAILED PIGEON (roughly 100), and CACKLING GOOSE (74, quite distant for me but seen simultaneously by Nancy from Golden Gate Park). Raptors included an unidentified small falcon, NORTHERN HARRIER, COOPER’S HAWK (3), OSPREY (2), TURKEY VULTURE (19), RED-SHOULDERED (6 migrants, 8 total), RED-TAILED (7 migrants, 13 total), and BROAD-WINGED HAWKS (at least 2, maybe as many as 7).
Mon 10/6: much of the same in the morning, notably a small flight of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (18), first of fall NORTHERN FLICKERS (2), and PINE SISKIN, plus another RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. The real show came at lunch, as previously reported to this list: a LARK SPARROW, a few migrant raptors, and large flights of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (at least 172 and likely over 200) and VAUX’S SWIFT (247, a new eBird high count for Bernal Hill).
Tues 10/7: similar morning, notables at lunch included arriving WESTERN MEADOWLARK (6), a late BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and a PEREGRINE FALCON.
Thurs 10/9: a migrant RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH moved through Bernal Hill in the morning.
Fri 10/10: increase in HERMIT THRUSH on Bernal Hill in the morning (4), two BROAD-WINGED HAWKS over the house at lunch.
Sat 10/11: a fun skywatch from Bernal Hill around midday included a good flight of BAND-TAILED PIGEON (227), migrant NORTHERN HARRIER, RED-SHOULDERED and RED-TAILED (2, 8 total) HAWKS, TURKEY VULTURE (11), and an adult light morph FERRUGINOUS HAWK. At one point, a yellow-bellied kingbird with a black tail looped in from the south but did not land - unfortunately I could not see enough field marks in flight to discern between a late WESTERN or CASSIN’S KINGBIRD, though I did not note white edges to the tail.
Sun 10/12: pretty spectacular morning session resulted in 49 species on Bernal Hill. Numbers were good too: Zonotrichia flocks at full strength, dozens of gulls moving through the well-used winter corridor over Alemany, and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER in particular seemed to be moving - I tallied at least 60 and there could have been several dozen more. Other notables included YELLOW WARBLER (the first in several weeks), AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (3), PINE SISKIN, AMERICAN PIPIT (3), CEDAR WAXWING (9), VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (23) and VAUX’S SWIFT (2), WESTERN FLYCATCHER, and RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER.
During lunchtime skywatch from the Hill, migrant VAUX’S SWIFT (4) joined another large flight of 217 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW. A pair of WHITE-THROATED SWIFT were noted for the first time this fall. Other notable flyovers included WESTERN BLUEBIRD (2), AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (4), and the star of the show, a calling HORNED LARK heading south. This appears to be the first eBird record for the hotspot.
Keep getting out there! No telling what other surprises fall still has in store.
Date: 10/12/25 3:19 pm From: David Assmann via groups.io <david_assmann...> Subject: [SFBirds] San Francisco Annual City List through September 2025
21 new species were added to the list for September, which brought our list to 277. The Phainopela sighting for August was removed after review, but it was seen in September and added back in. The other new species were Northern Waterthrush, Tennessee Warbler, Common Ringed Plover (a first), Clay-colored Sparrow, Chestnut-sided Warbler, Pectoral Sandpiper, Black-and-white Warbler, Baltimore Oriole, Prairie Warbler, Sabine's Gull, Royal Tern, Mourning Warbler, Blue-winged Teal, Blackpoll Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, Broad-winged Hawk, Vesper Sparrow, Bobolink, Blackburnian Warbler and White-faced Ibis. You can see the complete list of species sighted this year at https://sfbirds.net/2025-city-cumulative-list
Date: 10/9/25 5:01 pm From: Nancy Palmer via groups.io <nancy_palmer...> Subject: [SFBirds] Fort Scott Garden Red-naped Sapsucker Correction
Hi all,
After reviewing photos, the Red-naped Sapsucker at the Fort Scott Garden looks like a hybrid Red-naped x Red breasted. I will add photos to my ebird list with details.
Date: 10/9/25 3:40 pm From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: [SFBirds] Corona HillBird Walk this Saturday 10/11/2025
Hello SFBirders,
There are still spaces left for this Saturday's Bird Walk on Corona Hill. There's been some interesting migrants passing through in recent days and the wintering species are starting to gather as well. We will meet at 8 a.m. in the Randall Museum Parking, 199 Museum Way. The walk usually lasts about 2.5 hours. There are some uphill sections so bring comfortable shoes.
Date: 10/9/25 3:33 pm From: Nancy Palmer via groups.io <nancy_palmer...> Subject: [SFBirds] Red-naped Sapsucker at Fort Scott Community Garden continues.
The Red-naped Sapsucker reported by Emily C. this morning continues near the Fort Scott Community garden here: (37.7984023, -122.4726536).
It was flying back and forth between two trees next to one of the residences.
Date: 10/7/25 10:10 am From: San Mateo County Bird Alliance via groups.io <office...> Subject: [SFBirds] Thurs. Oct. 9 Zoom with Jane Kim
*Join us Thursday, October 9, at 7:00 pm.*
*A Once in a Lifetime Work: The Wall of Birds Turns Ten*
*Jane Kim*
With 2025 marking the 10th anniversary of the "Wall of Birds" at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, artist Jane Kim takes the audience on a spectacular 375-million-year artistic journey celebrating the evolution and diversity of birds. Jane reflects on how the mural has shaped her career and reveals lessons and tales learned from the project that hold more relevance today than ever before.
If you're not familiar with it, the Wall of Birds is a 2,500-square-foot mural at Cornell that celebrates the diversity and evolution of birds. It took 2.5 years to make and is the only mural depicting the modern family of birds.
Additionally, Jane has curated "Yay Birds!", a collection of her favorite avian artists, including George Boorujy, Kirsten Furlong, and James Prosek, who created a sibling mural to Jane's at the Cornell Lab. "Yay Birds!" is a poignant, timely, and riotously fun visual reminder of the way birds connect us. Through birds, we explore the enduring importance of science, diversity, conservation, and the arts. The opening reception is scheduled for October 11, from 4 to 6 pm, and will run through November 8 at Andra Norris Gallery, 311 Lorton Ave, Burlingame.
Date: 10/7/25 6:16 am From: Liam Murphy via groups.io <liammsf...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Diurnal migration now (Monday)
Following up on yesterday's messages (thanks Zac and Michael for the
additional info):
Under typically ideal flight forecast conditions at midday, a few migrant
RED-TAILED HAWKS were seen, but besides that surprisingly few raptors.
The swift and swallow spectacle made up for this though. Conservative
counts of 247 VAUX'S SWIFT and 216 swallow species (everything I got eyes
on was VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW but I suppose I could have missed a single of
some other species, there were too many birds to confirm each individually)
went flying by in about 2h20m skywatch session. All birds were headed SSE
in true direct migration, and some quite low (eye-level and surrounding me
from my position). The species were often loosely associated. Flock size
varied considerably, up to 70 of each at a time and maybe 100
combined-species flock. These counts are almost surely under what passed by
my immediate area, and besides that I could see more flocks of this type
miles away when I scanned deep sky.
Also of note, a LARK SPARROW flew in and landed on the rocks near me, then
appeared to continue on its way.
I also had a short morning walk on Bernal Hill yesterday which was
characterized by a big uptick in YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER and a bit of visual
migration. SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, CANADA GOOSE (5), RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER,
NORTHERN FLICKER (2), PINE SISKIN, PURPLE FINCH, and a flock of 110
blackbird species were seen/heard in flight.
Small flocks of BAND-TAILED PIGEON were noted in both morning and lunch
sessions.
Similar east wind conditions today, hopefully folks make some time to see
what might be moving! Good luck!
Liam
On Mon, Oct 6, 2025, 3:00 PM Michael Helm <cecinit2007...> wrote:
> We have occasionally seen masses of violet-greens near McNear's brickyard,
> sometimes in the marsh, sometimes in the direction of the McNear's Beach
> park or the quarry.
> Fall and spring.
>
> People often report them on the San Pablo Ridge or Vollmer in the fall
> migration but I've never been there at the right time.
>
> Michael Helm
> Richmond CA
>
> On Mon, Oct 6, 2025 at 12:40 PM Zac Denning via groups.io <zdenning1=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
>> Thanks for the nice report, Liam!
>>
>> Similarly, in the east bay yesterday morning, Bruce Mast and I observed
>> significant numbers of Vaux’s Swifts (73) and Violet-Green Swallows (108) moving
>> past Vollmer Peak, counted individually. At times, the flow was heavy
>> enough to make accurate counts a challenge - and I’m sure many more were
>> moving out of our immediate view.
>>
>> Also obviously on the move, were Northern Flickers (19, almost certainly
>> an undercount) and to a lesser extent (mostly from my later solo peak
>> watch), Sharp-shinned Hawks (5, from several locations). The flickers were
>> mostly migrating lower down through the valleys and lower slopes, so were
>> harder to detect, though we heard them constantly. Migrating Hermit
>> Thrushes were also in abundance, and Red-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches were
>> present in very strong numbers (but difficult to observe movement through
>> trees without more focused effort). A lone Swainson’s Thrush and 4 Brewer’s
>> Blackbirds were also in the mix.
>>
>> Very early on, a small portion of the Vaux’s movement was southward, but
>> after that, all the
>> Vaux’s & Violet-greens were moving north. My guess is that the
>> southbound Vaux’s at least, were already-arrived wintering birds on daily
>> foray from the McNeer Brickyard roost spot (to the north, in San Rafael,
>> Marin Co), while the northbound Vaux’s were still on their way to winter
>> roof spots at McNear, the Healdsburg roost, or further north. The
>> northbound direction of Violet Green swallows at that one moment may be
>> related to wind direction and topography in that particular spot, as one
>> leg of a generally southbound migration. But who knows? The Vaux’s and
>> Violet-Greens were often in loosely segregated or slightly mixed groups.
>>
>> Zac
>>
>>
>> On Mon, Oct 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM Liam Murphy via groups.io <liammsf=
>> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>>
>>> Impressive numbers of Vauxs Swifts and Violet green Swallows flying by
>>> Bernal Hill right now on a warm east wind. I encourage you to take your
>>> lunch hour outside and see what can be seen.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> Liam Murphy
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
Date: 10/6/25 3:46 pm From: michael helm via groups.io <cecinit2007...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Diurnal migration now (Monday)
We have occasionally seen masses of violet-greens near McNear's brickyard,
sometimes in the marsh, sometimes in the direction of the McNear's Beach
park or the quarry.
Fall and spring.
People often report them on the San Pablo Ridge or Vollmer in the fall
migration but I've never been there at the right time.
Michael Helm
Richmond CA
On Mon, Oct 6, 2025 at 12:40 PM Zac Denning via groups.io <zdenning1=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Thanks for the nice report, Liam!
>
> Similarly, in the east bay yesterday morning, Bruce Mast and I observed
> significant numbers of Vaux’s Swifts (73) and Violet-Green Swallows (108) moving
> past Vollmer Peak, counted individually. At times, the flow was heavy
> enough to make accurate counts a challenge - and I’m sure many more were
> moving out of our immediate view.
>
> Also obviously on the move, were Northern Flickers (19, almost certainly
> an undercount) and to a lesser extent (mostly from my later solo peak
> watch), Sharp-shinned Hawks (5, from several locations). The flickers were
> mostly migrating lower down through the valleys and lower slopes, so were
> harder to detect, though we heard them constantly. Migrating Hermit
> Thrushes were also in abundance, and Red-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches were
> present in very strong numbers (but difficult to observe movement through
> trees without more focused effort). A lone Swainson’s Thrush and 4 Brewer’s
> Blackbirds were also in the mix.
>
> Very early on, a small portion of the Vaux’s movement was southward, but
> after that, all the
> Vaux’s & Violet-greens were moving north. My guess is that the southbound
> Vaux’s at least, were already-arrived wintering birds on daily foray from
> the McNeer Brickyard roost spot (to the north, in San Rafael, Marin Co),
> while the northbound Vaux’s were still on their way to winter roof spots at
> McNear, the Healdsburg roost, or further north. The northbound direction of
> Violet Green swallows at that one moment may be related to wind direction
> and topography in that particular spot, as one leg of a generally
> southbound migration. But who knows? The Vaux’s and Violet-Greens were
> often in loosely segregated or slightly mixed groups.
>
> Zac
>
>
> On Mon, Oct 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM Liam Murphy via groups.io <liammsf=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
>> Impressive numbers of Vauxs Swifts and Violet green Swallows flying by
>> Bernal Hill right now on a warm east wind. I encourage you to take your
>> lunch hour outside and see what can be seen.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Liam Murphy
>>
>>
>
>
Date: 10/6/25 12:40 pm From: Zac Denning via groups.io <zdenning1...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Diurnal migration now (Monday)
Thanks for the nice report, Liam!
Similarly, in the east bay yesterday morning, Bruce Mast and I observed
significant numbers of Vaux’s Swifts (73) and Violet-Green Swallows
(108) moving
past Vollmer Peak, counted individually. At times, the flow was heavy
enough to make accurate counts a challenge - and I’m sure many more were
moving out of our immediate view.
Also obviously on the move, were Northern Flickers (19, almost certainly an
undercount) and to a lesser extent (mostly from my later solo peak
watch), Sharp-shinned Hawks (5, from several locations). The flickers were
mostly migrating lower down through the valleys and lower slopes, so were
harder to detect, though we heard them constantly. Migrating Hermit
Thrushes were also in abundance, and Red-breasted and Pygmy Nuthatches were
present in very strong numbers (but difficult to observe movement through
trees without more focused effort). A lone Swainson’s Thrush and 4 Brewer’s
Blackbirds were also in the mix.
Very early on, a small portion of the Vaux’s movement was southward, but
after that, all the
Vaux’s & Violet-greens were moving north. My guess is that the southbound
Vaux’s at least, were already-arrived wintering birds on daily foray from
the McNeer Brickyard roost spot (to the north, in San Rafael, Marin Co),
while the northbound Vaux’s were still on their way to winter roof spots at
McNear, the Healdsburg roost, or further north. The northbound direction of
Violet Green swallows at that one moment may be related to wind direction
and topography in that particular spot, as one leg of a generally
southbound migration. But who knows? The Vaux’s and Violet-Greens were
often in loosely segregated or slightly mixed groups.
Zac
On Mon, Oct 6, 2025 at 12:00 PM Liam Murphy via groups.io <liammsf=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Impressive numbers of Vauxs Swifts and Violet green Swallows flying by
> Bernal Hill right now on a warm east wind. I encourage you to take your
> lunch hour outside and see what can be seen.
>
> Cheers,
> Liam Murphy
>
>
>
Date: 10/6/25 12:00 pm From: Liam Murphy via groups.io <liammsf...> Subject: [SFBirds] Diurnal migration now (Monday)
Impressive numbers of Vauxs Swifts and Violet green Swallows flying by Bernal Hill right now on a warm east wind. I encourage you to take your lunch hour outside and see what can be seen.
Date: 10/5/25 4:24 pm From: Nancy Palmer via groups.io <nancy_palmer...> Subject: [SFBirds] Yellow-green Vireo and Magnolia Warbler at Strawberry Hill in GGP
Hi all,
There is a Yellow-green Vireo, found by Rudy W. earlier, at the top of the falls here: 37°46'08.0"N 122°28'27.8”W.
While looking for it, I found a Magnolia warbler in the same tree - the green broad-leafed one at the top.
Both birds visited several trees around that location. When I left the vireo was in the yellow maple above the Falls and would occasionally cross over to the ivy.
Date: 10/4/25 1:46 pm From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: [SFBirds] LAWRENCE'S Goldfinch on Corona Hill 10/3/25 + recent misc. observations
Yesterday around 11 a.m. a female Lawrence's Goldfinch paid a brief visit to Corona Hill. It didn't stick around for long, switching perch trees a couple of times, before heading off south toward Noe Valley.
A few getting on the late side western migrants in the first days of October:
Willow Flycatcher - Hoover Middle School 10/1
Western Wood-pewee - Corona Hill 10/3
Olive-sided Flycatcher - Corona Hill 10/2
Lazuli Bunting - Corona Hill 10/2, this one appeared to be an after-hatch or older male (ie it looked like an colorful adult), a plumage I don't recall seeing after about early August in previous years
Some belated observations from the 2nd half of September that I found of note:
Rufous Hummingbird - a hatch-year female was on Corona Hill 9/25
American Coot - first arrivals to Laguna Honda Reservoir noted 9/23
Broad-winged Hawk - 9 over Corona Hill 9/23 (including one Dark Morph), 3 on 9/26 (one Dark Morph)
Red-breasted Sapsucker - first fall arrival on Corona Hill 9/27
Acorn Woodpecker - 2 were on Corona Hill 9/18 with one lingering the next day and another visited briefly 9/27, another on Mount Sutro 9/28 was the first one I've encountered at that site during bi-monthly surveys
Merlin - first (and so far only) one I've seen this fall flew over the Clipper Terrace Community Garden 9/18
Lark Sparrow - 9/17-18 on Corona Hill
Tricolored Blackbird - 18 were at McCoppin Square 9/20 during the Rare Bird Round Up
SORDIDA ssp. Orange-crowned Warbler - the Channel Island subspecies which is rare in Northern California , one was in flowering red gums at Hoover Middle School on 9/20 during the Rare Bird Round-up
Blackpoll Warbler - in the red gum next to the defunct bocce /lawn bowling area of Pine Lake/Stern Grove next to 19th Ave at Warona 9/20 during the Rare Bird Round-up
Townsend's x Hermit Warbler - Gamble Memorial Park 9/24 and seen through the end of the month was likely a returning individual as one of this hybrid combination was noted on multiple occasions here this past January - February
Date: 10/2/25 12:24 pm From: Brian Fitch via groups.io <fogeggs...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Great Crested Flycatcher & More
In addition to the Gr-cr flycatcher, Caitlin found a late Willow Flycatcher and a Palm Warbler along the hill facing Aquatic Park, and while watching the Willow, I found a pair of Tennessee Warblers in one of the sycamores below. An active morning! Brian Fitch
On Thu, Oct 2, 2025 at 12:04 PM Jenna Magee via groups.io <jennarae7= <gmail.com...> wrote:
> Last seen in bare overhanging branches behind the canon @12 noon > > 37.807882,-122.428000 > > > >
Date: 10/1/25 4:35 pm From: J.R. Blair via groups.io <jrblair20...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] North Lake birds
Yikes! Not one but two embarrassing errors. The flycatcher of course might
be a WESTERN FLYCATHER. And the warbler was a hatch year BLACK-THROATED
GRAY WARBLER (Thanks, Dario!). I'm very sorry if I got your hopes up! Pays
to double-check one's posts!
J.R.
On Wed, Oct 1, 2025 at 2:44 PM J.R. Blair <jrblair20...> wrote:
> Around 1:30-2 today had a nice flock of birds at the northwest corner of
> North Lake including a Black-and-white Warbler; Cassin’s Vireo;
> Black-headed Grosbeak and what I think was a Pacific Flycatcher. I have
> photos of varying quality of the warbler, grosbeak, and flycatcher that I
> will post on eBird when I get home.
>
> J.R. Blair
>
> Sent from my iPhone
Date: 10/1/25 3:12 pm From: J.R. Blair via groups.io <jrblair20...> Subject: [SFBirds] North Lake birds
Around 1:30-2 today had a nice flock of birds at the northwest corner of North Lake including a Black-and-white Warbler; Cassin’s Vireo; Black-headed Grosbeak and what I think was a Pacific Flycatcher. I have photos of varying quality of the warbler, grosbeak, and flycatcher that I will post on eBird when I get home.
Date: 10/1/25 2:49 pm From: Keith Maley via groups.io <keith.maley...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] 2nd hand report - Great-crested Flycatcher 10/1/25
Bird continues northeast corner of fort mason here
(37.8078468, -122.4273451)
> On Oct 1, 2025, at 1:56 PM, Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> wrote:
>
> This morning just before 10 a.m. Josiah Clark texted a group chat about a likely Great-crested Flycatcher in the Presidio a bit west of inspiration point.
>
> A checklist started at 10:24 from Fort Mason submitted by Francesca Pastine into eBird has a photo of a Great-crested Flycatcher.
>
> Just passing on the news.
>
> DM
> SF
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 10/1/25 1:56 pm From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: [SFBirds] 2nd hand report - Great-crested Flycatcher 10/1/25
This morning just before 10 a.m. Josiah Clark texted a group chat about a likely Great-crested Flycatcher in the Presidio a bit west of inspiration point.
A checklist started at 10:24 from Fort Mason submitted by Francesca Pastine into eBird has a photo of a Great-crested Flycatcher.
