Date: 5/8/25 12:56 pm From: Roger Uzun via groups.io <rogeruzun...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Birding South Salton Sea
I will be heading out from San Diego to the Southern Salton Sea, like between Unit 1 and Red hill park tomorrow (Friday). I am hoping to see Black Terns and maybe the Sharp Tailed or Stilt Sandpiper seen around Schrimpf Road. Also hoping to get some photos of burrowing owls.
Can anyone give me some pointers on where I could best look for photogenic owls and Black Terns? I am planning on getting there early and maybe leaving by 9AM since it will get so hot tomorrow.
Date: 5/6/25 8:04 am From: Guy McCaskie via groups.io <guymcc...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Salton Sea (south) 5 May 2025
I spent Monday, 5 May 2025 (5:30 AM to 5:15 PM) with Therese R. Clawson and
Chris Dean (joined by Curtis A Marantz and Brian Daniels part of the time)
specifically looking for a Black Vulture that was photographed at the
Bullfrog Dairy (north northwest of Seeley) on 01 May, but also looking for
birds at a few select locations in the Imperial Valley, and at the north end
of Garst Road/the Hazard Unit (looking for a Sharp-tailed Sandpiper
photographed earlier in the morning) and the north end of Lack Road at the
southeast end of the Salton Sea. We started the day at Fig Lagoon then drove
northward to the Bullfrog Dairy. From the Bullfrog Dairy we drove southward
to the Rio Bend Golfcourse. We then drove north to the north end of Garst
Road and the Hazard Unit. From the Hazard Unit we drove to the north end of
Lack Road, then southwestward to the Bullfrog Dairy. From the Bullfrog Dairy
we drove eastward to the flooded area adjacent to Neckel Road, then south to
near the southeast corner of El Centro. After spending time near the
southeast corner of El Centro, we drove west to San Diego, stopping Fig
Lagoon before leaving the Imperial Valley.
Partially cloudy with no wind, and with temperatures ranging from 60 to 80
degrees.
Large numbers of passerines, especially Warbling Vireos, Wilson's Warblers,
Western Tanagers and Lazuli Buntings, along with at least 100 unidentified,
were visible flying west during the first hour of daylight, with many
stopping briefly in the small trees, bushes and other vegetation at Fig
Lagoon - an amazing spectacle.
Species seen and/or heard (includes species seen by only one or two in the
group) - Northern Shoveler (2), Gadwall (2), American Wigeon (1), Mallard
(15), Green-winged Teal (1), Ruddy Duck (20), Gambel's Quail (2),
Pied-billed Grebe (2), Eared Grebe (15), Rock Pigeon (50), Eurasian
Collared-Dove (20), Inca Dove (10), Common Ground-Dove (5), White-winged
Dove (25), Mourning Dove (20), Greater Roadrunner (3), Lesser Nighthawk (1),
Vaux's Swift (5), Black-chinned Hummingbird (5), Anna's Hummingbird (8),
Costa's Hummingbird (3), Calliope Hummingbird (1 - one female near the
southeast corner of El Centro), Rufous Hummingbird (1), Ridgeway's Rail (1),
Virginia Rail (1), Sora (1), Common Gallinule (1), American Coot (10),
Black-necked Stilt (25), American Avocet (150), Killdeer (5) Semipalmated
Plover (25), Snowy Plover (2), Whimbrel (5), Ruddy Turnstone (2 - two in
alternate-plumage at the north end of Lack Road), Red Knot (50 - about fifty
in alternate-plumage at the north end of Lack Road), Dunlin (2), Least
Sandpiper (1), Western Sandpiper (175), Long-billed Dowitcher (20), Spotted
Sandpiper (1), Willet (3), Red-necked Phalarope (2), Wilson's Phalarope
(30), Ring-billed Gull (10), California Gull (50), Gull-billed Tern (2),
Caspian Tern (7), Black Tern (1), Forster's Tern (1), Double-crested
Cormorant (3), Neotropic Cormorant (5), American White Pelican (5), Least
Bittern (1), Snowy Egret (2), Black-crowned Night-Heron (1), Green Heron
(2), Great Egret (5), Western Cattle Egret (100), Great Blue Heron (2),
White-faced Ibis (5), Turkey Vulture (15), Red-tailed Hawk (3), Burrowing
Owl (2), Gila Woodpecker (2), American Kestrel (10), Peregrine Falcon (1),
Prairie Falcon (1), Ash-throated Flycatcher (1), Western Kingbird (25),
Olive-sided Flycatcher (2), Western Wood-Pewee (3), Hammond's Flycatcher
(1), Western Flycatcher (5), Black Phoebe (5), Vermilion Flycatcher (2),
Warbling Vireo (50), Loggerhead Shrike (1), Common Raven (30), Horned Lark
(10), Verdin (5), Bank Swallow (1), Tree Swallow (5), Northern Rough-winged
Swallow (5), Barn Swallow (5), Cliff Swallow (250), Marsh Wren (5), Northern
Mockingbird (5), European Starling (25), Swainson's Thrush (6), House
Sparrow (10), House Finch (15), White-crowned Sparrow (3), Song Sparrow (6),
Abert's Towhee (6), Yellow-headed Blackbird (15), Western Meadowlark (5),
Bullock's Oriole (3). Red-winged Blackbird (75), Bronzed Cowbird (1),
Brown-headed Cowbird (5), Brewer's Blackbird (10), Great-tailed Grackle
(50), Orange-crowned Warbler (6), Nashville Warbler (1o), MacGillivray's
Warbler (3), Common Yellowthroat (5), Yellow Warbler (15), Yellow-rumped
Warbler (2), Black-throated Gray Warbler (2), Townsend's Warbler (20),
Hermit Warbler (3), Wilson's Warbler (60), Western Tanager (40),
Black-headed Grosbeak (20), Blue Grosbeak (1) and Lazuli Bunting (30) - 115
species.
Date: 5/3/25 1:16 pm From: James Pike via groups.io <jimpike444...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] prado glossy ibis
A Glossy Ibis (an apparent second-year) was on private property within the Prado Basin (RIV CO) on 30 April. A couple second-year hybrid ibises were also present that day among about 200 White-faced. The bird has replaced more lesser coverts than I'm used to seeing on second-year ibises by this date, but most everything else looks appropriate for that age. While juveniles of both species have dark brown irides and bluish margins to the facial skin in fall/winter, I've found second-years to have at least red-brown irides and pinkish margins by around mid-March, with increasing reddishness thereafter. The best evidence that this bird lacks red tones in the facial skin, orbital ring, or irides that would indicate hybrid status is found in the last 3 photos, which were taken after I eased my vehicle to within 25 feet of the bird.
Date: 5/1/25 8:36 am From: Thomas Benson via groups.io <tbenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Southeastern CA RBA: May 1, 2025
RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* May 1, 2025
* CASE25.05.01
This is the Southeastern CA weekly RBA summary. We cover Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. California Bird Records Committee review species are denoted by asterisks. To report a bird POST TO INLANDCOUNTYBIRDS (https://groups.io/g/inlandcountybirds). If there is some reason that you cannot post there, please e-mail or call/text Tom Benson at <tbenson...> or (909) 648-0899.
Birds mentioned:
Red-necked Grebe
Brown Pelican
Purple Martin
Painted Bunting
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen near the dam at Big Bear Lake on Apr 21 (Alla Shumko).
A BROWN PELICAN was found dead at Spring Valley Lake on Apr 28 (D. Quintero/iNaturalist).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
A PAINTED BUNTING was seen at Palo Vere Ecological Reserve on Apr 27 (Bob Packard).
IMPERIAL COUNTY
PURPLE MARTINS were seen on the Rock Hill trail (SESS) on Apr 25 and 26 (Drake Stallworth, Natalya Hebert), and at Cattle Call Park on Apr 26 (Sue Cook).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Birds included in this weekly summary are those that are considered casual or of less than annual occurrence in San Bernardino, Riverside, or Imperial Counties, or in some cases regionally within these areas. If you do find or see something of interest, whether it be a geographical or seasonal rarity, evidence of local range expansion, or a novel breeding record, I'd recommend sharing that information with the CBRC, North American Birds subregional editors, or regional listservs as appropriate. Information for contacting these entities is available below.
Please submit your documentation of all California Bird Records Committee review species (denoted by asterisks) to CBRC Secretary Tom Benson at <secretary...> or via the CBRC website: https://www.californiabirds.org/report_sighting.html
CBRC review species and birds of local or seasonal rarity should be reported to the North American Birds (https://www.aba.org/north-american-birds/) county coordinators. They are:
IMPERIAL COUNTY: Guy McCaskie, <guymcc...>
INYO COUNTY: Chris and Rosie Howard, <chris93514...>
KERN COUNTY: Kelli Heindel-Levinson, <kkheindel...>
RIVERSIDE COUNTY: David Rankin, <david.rankin...>
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: Alexander E. Koonce, <sandy_koonce...>
************
Other dying birding listservs that occasionally include reports of birds in southern California are:
A schedule of San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society field trips is available on the SBVAS website at https://www.sbvas.net/field-trips
************
Bird status and distribution references that every southeastern California birder should own:
Birds of southern California: status and distribution (1981), by Kimball L. Garrett and Jon L. Dunn
Birds of the Salton Sea: status, biogeography, and ecology (2003), by Michael A. Patten, Guy McCaskie, and Philip Unitt (update: https://www.sbvas.net/_files/ugd/09ca00_bdaf8a44285e4c1dbd625cd601280b5b.pdf)
Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley (1991), by Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Robert D. Ohmart, William C. Hunter, and Bertin W. Anderson
Date: 5/1/25 7:32 am From: Guy McCaskie via groups.io <guymcc...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Salton Sea (south) 30 Apr 2025
I spent Wednesday 30 April 2025 (6:00 AM to 5:15 PM) with Therese R. Clawson
and looking for birds at a few select locations in the Imperial Valley and
along part of the south shore of the Salton Sea. We started the day at the
IID Wetlands near Niland, then moved north into Niland. In Niland we birded
north along International Avenue, and west to the west end of 4th Street.
We then drove northwestward to the Wister Unit HQ. At the Wister Unit we
looked at the area around the headquarters. From the Wister Unit HQ we drove
southwestward to the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge HQ, stopping to
look at Morton Bay, the north end of Garst Road and within the Hazard Track
on the way. At the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge HQ we looked around
the Visitor Center and at the ponds adjacent to Rock Hill. We then drove
west to Obsidian Butte and birded southwestward along the seawall to the
west end of Young Road (virtually no birds). We then drove southwestward to
Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. After looking at Unit 1
of the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, we headed southeastward through
Westmorland into Brawley. In Brawley we only looked at Riverview Cemetery.
We then drove south to near the southeast corner of El Centro, stopping at
the flooded area adjacent to Neckel Road on the way. After spending time
near the southeast corner of El Centro, we drove west to San Diego, stopping
Fig Lagoon before leaving the Imperial Valley.
Clear with no wind, and with temperatures ranging from 60 to 95 degrees.
Species seen and/or heard - Snow Goose (1 - one "cripple" at Unit 1 of the
Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge), Blue-winged Teal (6), Cinnamon Teal
(5), Northern Shoveler (20), Gadwall (15), American Wigeon (1), Mallard
(30), Redhead (4 - four together on the Wister Unit), Ruddy Duck (150),
Gambel's Quail (10), Pied-billed Grebe (2), Eared Grebe (15), Western Grebe
(6), Clark's Grebe (2), Rock Pigeon (30), Eurasian Collared-Dove (75), Inca
Dove (15), Common Ground-Dove (5), White-winged Dove (50), Mourning Dove
(30), Greater Roadrunner (2), Vaux's Swift (1), Black-chinned Hummingbird
(2), Anna's Hummingbird (5), Costa's Hummingbird (2), Ridgeway's Rail (5),
Virginia Rail (1), Common Gallinule (2), American Coot (300), Black-necked
Stilt (50), American Avocet (350), Killdeer (10) Semipalmated Plover (10),
Snowy Plover (1), Least Sandpiper (15), Western Sandpiper (400), Long-billed
Dowitcher (350), Spotted Sandpiper (3), Willet (3), Red-necked Phalarope
(15), Wilson's Phalarope (100), Ring-billed Gull (50), California Gull
(200), Lesser Black-backed Gull (1 - one first-summer bird with other gulls
at flooded area adjacent to Neckel Road - a little larger than adjacent
California Gulls, and unmarked black bill), Common Loon (1 - one adult in
alternate plumage on Fig Lagoon), Gull-billed Tern (6), Caspian Tern (6),
Black Tern (15), Black Skimmer (10), Double-crested Cormorant (10),
Neotropic Cormorant (5), American White Pelican (25), Great Blue Heron (5),
Great Egret (15), Snowy Egret (10), Cattle Egret (500), Green Heron (1),
Black-crowned Night-Heron (6), White-faced Ibis (250), Turkey Vulture (5),
Red-tailed Hawk (1), Burrowing Owl (6), Gila Woodpecker (3), Ladder-backed
Woodpecker (5), American Kestrel (10), Ash-throated Flycatcher (5), Western
Kingbird (45), Olive-sided Flycatcher (3), Western Wood-Pewee (1), Hammond's
Flycatcher (1), Western Flycatcher (2), Black Phoebe (6), Vermilion
Flycatcher (5), Warbling Vireo (5), Loggerhead Shrike (1), Common Raven
(10), Verdin (10), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (10), Cliff Swallow (50),
Phainopepla (1), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1), Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (2),
Marsh Wren (20), Northern Mockingbird (10), European Starling (75),
Swainson's Thrush (1), House Sparrow (25), House Finch (15), Lesser
Goldfinch (1 - one at the IID Wetlands near Niland), Chipping Sparrow (1),
White-crowned Sparrow (1), Song Sparrow (20), Abert's Towhee (6),
Yellow-headed Blackbird (1), Western Meadowlark (6), Hooded Oriole (2),
Bullock's Oriole (5). Red-winged Blackbird (350), Bronzed Cowbird (1 - one
male at the south end of International Avenue), Brown-headed Cowbird (20),
Brewer's Blackbird (10), Great-tailed Grackle (150), Orange-crowned Warbler
(2), Nashville Warbler (1), Common Yellowthroat (15), Yellow Warbler (3),
Yellow-rumped Warbler (2), Black-throated Gray Warbler (3), Townsend's
Warbler (1), Wilson's Warbler (15), Western Tanager (30), Black-headed
Grosbeak (50), Blue Grosbeak (1) and Lazuli Bunting (6) - 113 species.
Date: 4/29/25 8:04 pm From: Bill Deppe via groups.io <bdeppe...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Garden/feeder Project at Mojave Narrows RP
Hello All . . . The Mojave Narrows is already one of the prime birding locations in San Bernardino County. A group of us, The Friends of Mojave Narrow Park, is happy to announce the creation of a CA native garden at the park. The project also features bird feeding stations at its center. There are only a few shrubs and trees on the one acre site at this time, but the feeders have been up and running for about a week. We are very pleased that many species of birds have found the feeders already and are visiting regularly. This week it hosted large numbers of Black-headed Grosbeaks (up to 27 a few days ago), Lazuli Buntings, and a healthy variety of other park residents. A water feature is not in at present, but we hope to have one up in a few weeks. It's not a Morongo Valley yet, but give it a couple of years for shrubbery to grow, and it should become a must stop in the future. The garden is located between the Memorial Grove (trees near the silos) and the old maintenance office to the south. I have included a modest checklist after spending a few hours at the site. You can find us on Facebook "Friends of Mojave Narrows Park". See you there!
Date: 4/24/25 1:21 pm From: Thomas Benson via groups.io <tbenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Southeastern CA RBA: April 24, 2025
RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* April 24, 2025
* CASE25.04.24
This is the Southeastern CA weekly RBA summary. We cover Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. California Bird Records Committee review species are denoted by asterisks. To report a bird POST TO INLANDCOUNTYBIRDS (https://groups.io/g/inlandcountybirds). If there is some reason that you cannot post there, please e-mail or call/text Tom Benson at <tbenson...> or (909) 648-0899.
Birds mentioned:
Brown Pelican
Broad-winged Hawk
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
The stupid BROWN PELICAN remained at Yucaipa Regional Park through Apr 17, but not Apr 18 (Gary and Marilyn Eggers).
A BROAD-WINGED HAWK was seen at the 29 Palms Inn on Apr 18 (Robert Theriault).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
No reports.
IMPERIAL COUNTY
No reports.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Birds included in this weekly summary are those that are considered casual or of less than annual occurrence in San Bernardino, Riverside, or Imperial Counties, or in some cases regionally within these areas. If you do find or see something of interest, whether it be a geographical or seasonal rarity, evidence of local range expansion, or a novel breeding record, I'd recommend sharing that information with the CBRC, North American Birds subregional editors, or regional listservs as appropriate. Information for contacting these entities is available below.
Please submit your documentation of all California Bird Records Committee review species (denoted by asterisks) to CBRC Secretary Tom Benson at <secretary...> or via the CBRC website: https://www.californiabirds.org/report_sighting.html
CBRC review species and birds of local or seasonal rarity should be reported to the North American Birds (https://www.aba.org/north-american-birds/) county coordinators. They are:
IMPERIAL COUNTY: Guy McCaskie, <guymcc...>
INYO COUNTY: Chris and Rosie Howard, <chris93514...>
KERN COUNTY: Kelli Heindel-Levinson, <kkheindel...>
RIVERSIDE COUNTY: David Rankin, <david.rankin...>
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: Alexander E. Koonce, <sandy_koonce...>
************
Other dying birding listservs that occasionally include reports of birds in southern California are:
A schedule of San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society field trips is available on the SBVAS website at https://www.sbvas.net/field-trips
************
Bird status and distribution references that every southeastern California birder should own:
Birds of southern California: status and distribution (1981), by Kimball L. Garrett and Jon L. Dunn
Birds of the Salton Sea: status, biogeography, and ecology (2003), by Michael A. Patten, Guy McCaskie, and Philip Unitt (update: https://www.sbvas.net/_files/ugd/09ca00_bdaf8a44285e4c1dbd625cd601280b5b.pdf)
Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley (1991), by Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Robert D. Ohmart, William C. Hunter, and Bertin W. Anderson
Date: 4/24/25 8:40 am From: Guy McCaskie via groups.io <guymcc...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Salton Sea (south) 23 Apr 2025
I spent Wednesday 23 April 2025 (6:00 AM to 3:15 PM) with Therese R. Clawson
and Chris Deam looking for birds at a few select locations in the Imperial
Valley and along part of the south shore of the Salton Sea. We started the
day at the IID Wetlands near Niland, then moved north into Niland. Im Niland
we birded north along International Avenue, and west to the west end of 4th
Street. We then drove northwestward to the Wister Unit HQ. At the Wister
Unit we looked at the area around the headquarters and at the new fishing
pond. From the Wister Unit HQ we drove southwestward to the Salton Sea
National Wildlife Refuge HQ, stopping to look at Morton Bay, the north end
of Garst Road and within the Hazard Track on the way. At the Salton Sea
National Wildlife Refuge HQ we looked around the Visitor Center and at the
ponds adjacent to Rock Hill. We then drove west to Obsidian Butte and birded
southwestward along the seawall to the west end of Young Road (virtually no
birds). We then drove southwestward to Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National
Wildlife Refuge. After looking at Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife
Refuge, we headed southeastward through Westmorland into Brawley. In Brawley
we only looked at Riverview Cemetery. We then drove south to near the
southeast corner of El Centro, stopping at the flooded area adjacent to
Neckel Road on the way. After spending time near the southeast corner of El
Centro, Therese and I drove west to San Diego, stopping Fig Lagoon before
leaving the Imperial Valley.
Clear with no wind until late in the day, and with temperatures ranging from
60 to 90 degrees.
Few shorebirds. with no Black-bellied Plovers, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew
Greater Yellowlegs or Willet seen, but with impressive numbers of migrant
passerines, particularly Wester Kingbirds, Bullock's Orioles, Western
Tanagers and Black-headed Grosbeaks.
Species seen and/or heard (includes species seen by only one the three) -
Snow Goose (1 - one "cripple" at Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife
Refuge), Blue-winged Teal (10), Cinnamon Teal (15), Northern Shoveler (60),
Gadwall (15), American Wigeon (5), Mallard (10), Green-winged Teal (2),
Ring-necked Duck (12 - twelve counted on Fig Lagoon), Ruddy Duck (150),
Gambel's Quail (15), Pied-billed Grebe (2), Eared Grebe (30), Western Grebe
(5), Clark's Grebe (10), Rock Pigeon (25), Eurasian Collared-Dove (75), Inca
Dove (15), Common Ground-Dove (5), White-winged Dove (40), Mourning Dove
(30), Greater Roadrunner (1), Lesser Nighthawk (2), Black-chinned
Hummingbird (5), Anna's Hummingbird (5), Costa's Hummingbird (2), Rufous
Hummingbird (2), Ridgeway's Rail (5), Virginia Rail (1), Common Gallinule
(1), American Coot (600), Black-necked Stilt (50), American Avocet (650),
Killdeer (10) Semipalmated Plover (1), Snowy Plover (2), Dunlin (5), Least
Sandpiper (5), Western Sandpiper (750), Long-billed Dowitcher (950),
Red-necked Phalarope (1), Wilson's Phalarope (25), Ring-billed Gull (100),
California Gull (150), Least Tern (2 - two adults together in flight at
Morton Bay with what was one of these on the ground at the adjacent Hazard
Track), Gull-billed Tern (5), Caspian Tern (10), Black Tern (10), Forester's
Tern (5), Black Skimmer (4), Double-crested Cormorant (10), Neotropic
Cormorant (15), American White Pelican (50), Least Bittern (1), Great Blue
Heron (5), Great Egret (15), Snowy Egret (10), Cattle Egret (500), Green
Heron (3), Black-crowned Night-Heron (5), White-faced Ibis (250), Turkey
Vulture (5), Northern Harrier (4), Red-tailed Hawk (1), Burrowing Owl (5),
Gila Woodpecker (2), Ladder-backed Woodpecker (2), American Kestrel (10),
Ash-throated Flycatcher (1), Western Kingbird (40), Olive-sided Flycatcher
(2 - one at the IID Wetlands near Niland and one on Vendal Road near the
entrance to Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge), Western
Wood-Pewee (2 - one on Vendal Road near the entrance to Unit 1 of the Salton
Sea National Wildlife Refuge and one near the southeast corner of El
Centro), Western Flycatcher (1), Black Phoebe (5), Say's Phoebe (1),
Vermilion Flycatcher (2), Warbling Vireo (15), Loggerhead Shrike (1), Common
Raven (6), Verdin (10), Tree Swallow (50), Northern Rough-winged Swallow
(10), Barn Swallow (50), Cliff Swallow (50), Cedar Waxwing (1), Phainopepla
(10), Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (2), Marsh Wren (25), Northern Mockingbird
(10), European Starling (75), House Sparrow (25), House Finch (15), Lesser
Goldfinch (2 - - pair building a nest at the IID Wetlands near Niland),
Brewer's Sparrow (1), White-crowned Sparrow (5), Song Sparrow (20), Abert's
Towhee (5), Green-tailed Towhee (1 - one near the southeast corner of El
Centro), Yellow-headed Blackbird (1), Western Meadowlark (10), Hooded Oriole
(1), Bullock's Oriole (20). Red-winged Blackbird (250), Bronzed Cowbird (3 -
one male at the south end of International Avenue and a male and female
together at the west end of 4th street in Niland), Brown-headed Cowbird
(15), Brewer's Blackbird (10), Great-tailed Grackle (150), Orange-crowned
Warbler (5), Nashville Warbler (15), MacGillivray's Warbler (1), Common
Yellowthroat (15), American Redstart (1 - one first year male near the
southeast corner of El Centro known present since 22 October), Yellow
Warbler (1), Yellow-rumped Warbler (5) Wilson's Warbler (10), Western
Tanager (35), Black-headed Grosbeak (30), Blue Grosbeak (2) and Lazuli
Bunting (5) - 119 species.
Date: 4/17/25 6:50 pm From: James Pike via groups.io <jimpike444...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] solitary sandpipers
What was presumed to be the same Solitary Sandpiper was present on the NW side of the Prado Basin near Mill Creek 26 Mar-7 Apr. Another Solitary was near Chino Creek on the west side on 15 Apr, and two were at this location today.
Date: 4/17/25 8:22 am From: Thomas Benson via groups.io <tbenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Southeastern CA RBA: April 17, 2025
RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* April 17, 2025
* CASE25.04.17
This is the Southeastern CA weekly RBA summary. We cover Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. California Bird Records Committee review species are denoted by asterisks. To report a bird POST TO INLANDCOUNTYBIRDS (https://groups.io/g/inlandcountybirds). If there is some reason that you cannot post there, please e-mail or call/text Tom Benson at <tbenson...> or (909) 648-0899.
Birds mentioned:
Brown Pelican
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
A BROWN PELICAN was seen at Yucaipa Regional Park on Apr 16 (Gary and Marilyn Eggers).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
No reports.
IMPERIAL COUNTY
No reports.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Birds included in this weekly summary are those that are considered casual or of less than annual occurrence in San Bernardino, Riverside, or Imperial Counties, or in some cases regionally within these areas. If you do find or see something of interest, whether it be a geographical or seasonal rarity, evidence of local range expansion, or a novel breeding record, I'd recommend sharing that information with the CBRC, North American Birds subregional editors, or regional listservs as appropriate. Information for contacting these entities is available below.
Please submit your documentation of all California Bird Records Committee review species (denoted by asterisks) to CBRC Secretary Tom Benson at <secretary...> or via the CBRC website: https://www.californiabirds.org/report_sighting.html
CBRC review species and birds of local or seasonal rarity should be reported to the North American Birds (https://www.aba.org/north-american-birds/) county coordinators. They are:
IMPERIAL COUNTY: Guy McCaskie, <guymcc...>
INYO COUNTY: Chris and Rosie Howard, <chris93514...>
KERN COUNTY: Kelli Heindel-Levinson, <kkheindel...>
RIVERSIDE COUNTY: David Rankin, <david.rankin...>
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: Alexander E. Koonce, <sandy_koonce...>
************
Other dying birding listservs that occasionally include reports of birds in southern California are:
A schedule of San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society field trips is available on the SBVAS website at https://www.sbvas.net/field-trips
************
Bird status and distribution references that every southeastern California birder should own:
Birds of southern California: status and distribution (1981), by Kimball L. Garrett and Jon L. Dunn
Birds of the Salton Sea: status, biogeography, and ecology (2003), by Michael A. Patten, Guy McCaskie, and Philip Unitt (update: https://www.sbvas.net/_files/ugd/09ca00_bdaf8a44285e4c1dbd625cd601280b5b.pdf)
Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley (1991), by Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Robert D. Ohmart, William C. Hunter, and Bertin W. Anderson
Date: 4/16/25 6:19 am From: Brad Singer via groups.io <bcsinger...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] SBVAS General Meeting Tonight, 7 pm, SB County Museum
Come hear David Rankin, local Riverside birder and ebird editor, talk about birds and birding in Costa Rica. Everybody is welcome! More info at SBVAS.net Brad Singer President, SBVAS
Date: 4/13/25 10:25 am From: Anthony Metcalf via groups.io <ametcalf...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Date Change: May 3 and 4th Shorebird Extravangaza SBVAS
*May 3 and May 4 Two Day Shorebird Extravaganza*
*Please note the date change to May 3 and 4:* Hey shorebirders and vagrant hunters, join David Rankin (619-869-3952) and Tony Metcalf (951-347-7710) for a two day birding extravaganza at the north end of the Salton Sea (Saturday) and the San Jacinto Wildlife Area (Sunday). We will focus primarily on shorebirds, contrasting mid-April shorebird diversity at the Salton Sea with inland coastal shorebird diversity at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area and Mystic Lake. (Of course we look at everything from gulls to passerines!!). On Saturday (May 3) we will meet at 8 AM at the infamous Arco Station in Mecca (66th Ave and HWY 86), and on Sunday (May 4) meet at the gates of the San Jacinto Wildlife Area at 7:30AM. You can join us for one or both days. Bring drinks, snacks, lunch etc. And we recommend rubber boots for the barnacle beaches at the NESS and goopy Mystic Lake Shoreline.
Tony and David SBVAS -- Anthony Metcalf Department of Biology California State University, San Bernardino 5500 University Parkway San Bernardino, CA 92407 (909) 537-7501 FAX: (909) 537-7038
Date: 4/13/25 8:55 am From: David Rankin via groups.io <davidtrankin...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Swainson’s Hawks east of Mystic Lake
About 200 Swainson’s Hawks in the plowed field east of Bridge st, .5 miles south of the intersection with Gilman Springs rd. 50+ already in the air at 8:45.
David RankinMoreno Valley
Date: 4/10/25 8:47 am From: Thomas Benson via groups.io <tbenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Southeastern CA RBA: April 10, 2025
RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* April 10, 2025
* CASE25.04.10
This is the Southeastern CA weekly RBA summary. We cover Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. California Bird Records Committee review species are denoted by asterisks. To report a bird POST TO INLANDCOUNTYBIRDS (https://groups.io/g/inlandcountybirds). If there is some reason that you cannot post there, please e-mail or call/text Tom Benson at <tbenson...> or (909) 648-0899.
A *THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD* continued in Rancho Cucamonga through Apr 7 (Tom Benson)
A *CURVE-BILLED THRASHER* continued at the Baker sewage ponds through Apr 5 (Dessi Sieburth).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
A *WOOD STORK* continued in the Prado Basin through Apr 7 (Jim Pike).
A ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK continued along the Hidden Springs Trail in Moreno Valley through Apr 6 (Rod Jimenez).
IMPERIAL COUNTY
No reports.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Birds included in this weekly summary are those that are considered casual or of less than annual occurrence in San Bernardino, Riverside, or Imperial Counties, or in some cases regionally within these areas. If you do find or see something of interest, whether it be a geographical or seasonal rarity, evidence of local range expansion, or a novel breeding record, I'd recommend sharing that information with the CBRC, North American Birds subregional editors, or regional listservs as appropriate. Information for contacting these entities is available below.
Please submit your documentation of all California Bird Records Committee review species (denoted by asterisks) to CBRC Secretary Tom Benson at <secretary...> or via the CBRC website: https://www.californiabirds.org/report_sighting.html
CBRC review species and birds of local or seasonal rarity should be reported to the North American Birds (https://www.aba.org/north-american-birds/) county coordinators. They are:
IMPERIAL COUNTY: Guy McCaskie, <guymcc...>
INYO COUNTY: Chris and Rosie Howard, <chris93514...>
KERN COUNTY: Kelli Heindel-Levinson, <kkheindel...>
RIVERSIDE COUNTY: David Rankin, <david.rankin...>
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: Alexander E. Koonce, <sandy_koonce...>
************
Other dying birding listservs that occasionally include reports of birds in southern California are:
A schedule of San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society field trips is available on the SBVAS website at https://www.sbvas.net/field-trips
************
Bird status and distribution references that every southeastern California birder should own:
Birds of southern California: status and distribution (1981), by Kimball L. Garrett and Jon L. Dunn
Birds of the Salton Sea: status, biogeography, and ecology (2003), by Michael A. Patten, Guy McCaskie, and Philip Unitt (update: https://www.sbvas.net/_files/ugd/09ca00_bdaf8a44285e4c1dbd625cd601280b5b.pdf)
Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley (1991), by Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Robert D. Ohmart, William C. Hunter, and Bertin W. Anderson
Date: 4/10/25 8:34 am From: Guy McCaskie via groups.io <guymcc...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Salton Sea (south) 9 April 2025
I spent Wednesday 9 April 2025 (6:45 AM to 3:15 PM) with Therese R. Clawson
looking for birds at a few select locations in the Imperial Valley and along
part of the south shore of the Salton Sea. We started the day at Fig Lagoon
and Rio Bend, then drove north to Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife
Refuge, stopping at Sheldon Reservoir on the way. From Unit 1 we drove
northeastward to Obsidian Butte and the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge
HQ, stopping north of the west end of Young Road and the north end of Lack
Road on the way. At the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge HQ we looked
around the headquarters building and the ponds adjacent to Rock Hill. After
looking around the headquarters buildings at the Salton Sea National
Wildlife Refuge, we then drove northeast to Morton Bay and east on McDonald
Road to Highway 111, then south into Brawley. In Brawley we only looked
briefly at Riverview Cemetery. We then drove southward to the southeast
corner of El Centro, stopping at the flooded area adjacent to Neckel Road
and Evergreen Cemetery on the way. After spending time near the southeast
corner of El Centro, we drove west to San Diego, stopping at Rio Bend and
Fig Lagoon before leaving the Imperial Valley.
Clear with no wind, and with temperatures ranging from 60 to 95 degrees.
Species seen and/or heard - Snow Goose (15 - fifteen at Unit 1 of the Salton
Sea National Wildlife Refuge)Blue-winged Teal (8), Cinnamon Teal (35),
Northern Shoveler (500), Gad, wall (25), American Wigeon (2), Mallard (25),
Northern Pintail (1), Green-winged Teal (15), Ring-necked Duck (115 -
one-hundred-fifteen counted on Fig Lagoon), Ruddy Duck (20), Gambel's Quail
(10), Pied-billed Grebe (5), Eared Grebe (15), Western Grebe (1), Clark's
Grebe (1), Rock Pigeon (50), Eurasian Collared-Dove (200), Inca Dove (10),
Common Ground-Dove (5), White-winged Dove (2), Mourning Dove (30), Greater
Roadrunner (1), Black-chinned Hummingbird (3), Anna's Hummingbird (5),
Rufous Hummingbird (1), Ridgeway's Rail (1), Common Gallinule (1), American
Coot (250), Black-necked Stilt (50), American Avocet (150), Black-bellied
Plover (6), Killdeer (15) Semipalmated Plover (15), Snowy Plover (3),
Whimbrel (50), Long-billed Curlew (40), Stilt Sandpiper (3 - three together
with Long-billed Dowitchers at Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife
Refuge),Least Sandpiper (20), Western Sandpiper (750), Long-billed Dowitcher
(100), Spotted Sandpiper (1), Willet (1), Greater Yellowlegs (1), Franklin's
Gull (1 - one adult in alternate plumage with Ring-billed Gulls in an
irrigated field near the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge HQ),
Ring-billed Gull (500), California Gull (100), Gull-billed Tern (15 -
including one on a nest at Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife
Refuge), Caspian Tern (3), Forester's Tern (1), Double-crested Cormorant
(15), Neotropic Cormorant (10), American White Pelican (20), Least Bittern
(1), Great Blue Heron (5), Great Egret (15), Snowy Egret (15), Cattle Egret
(1500), Green Heron (2), Black-crowned Night-Heron (1), White-faced Ibis
(750), Turkey Vulture (3), Northern Harrier (1), Cooper's Hawk (1), Great
Horned Owl (1), Burrowing Owl (10), Gila Woodpecker (3), Ladder-backed
Woodpecker (1), American Kestrel (15), Peregrine Falcon (1), Western
Kingbird (15), Black Phoebe (6), Vermilion Flycatcher (1), Common Raven (1),
Verdin (6), Horned Lark (1), Tree Swallow (100), Northern Rough-winged
Swallow (5), Barn Swallow (5), Cliff Swallow (150), Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
(1), Marsh Wren (10), Northern Mockingbird (5), European Starling (150),
House Sparrow (10), House Finch (10), Chipping Sparrow (2), White-crowned
Sparrow (15), Savannah Sparrow (3), Song Sparrow (15), Abert's Towhee (2),
Yellow-headed Blackbird (1), Western Meadowlark (10), Red-winged Blackbird
(500), Brown-headed Cowbird (1), Brewer's Blackbird (25), Great-tailed
Grackle (200), Orange-crowned Warbler (1), Common Yellowthroat (2), Yellow
Warbler (1), Yellow-rumped Warbler (3) and Lazuli Bunting (2) - 103
species.
