Date: 3/5/26 12:41 pm From: Thomas Benson via groups.io <tbenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Southeastern CA RBA: March 5, 2026
RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* March 5, 2026
* CASE26.03.05
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 BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD continued in Redlands through Mar 2 (Tom Benson).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
Two *FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS* continued at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area through Mar 3 (Lynette Williams Duman).
A BRONZED COWBIRD continued at Palm Springs International Airport through Mar 3 (Robert Fuller).
IMPERIAL COUNTY
A PLUMBEOUS VIREO continued at Evergreen Cemetery in El Centro through Mar 1 (Richard Norton).
A SPRAGUE'S PIPIT continued near the intersection of Albright and Wiest Roads through Feb 28 (Nicole Koeltzow).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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://archive.westernfieldornithologists.org/archive/V56/56(2)-p126-p142.pdf)
Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley (1991), by Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Robert D. Ohmart, William C. Hunter, and Bertin W. Anderson
Tom Benson
Department of Biology
California State University San Bernardino
5500 University Parkway
San Bernardino, CA 92407
909-537-3309
All, Hal Cohen reported 100+ Swainson's hawks at Borrego Springs on Wednesday night, so depending on their route northwest, they might move over Los Angeles County by sunset today (Thursday). If anyone spots large groups, please post it on the county listserves. Regards, Lance Lance BennerPasadena, CA _._,_._,_
View/Reply Online (#1769) | Reply to Sender | Reply to Group | Mute This Topic | New Topic Your Subscription | Contact Group Owner | Unsubscribe [<lists...>] _._,_._,_
Date: 3/2/26 7:11 pm From: henry detwiler via groups.io <henry_detwiler...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Eastern Imperial County
Greetings Birders,
Today (2 Mar) and two days ago (28 Feb) I spent the mornings in eastern Imperial County. The weather has been some 15 degrees warmer than usual, and signs of spring were everywhere. The desert wildflowers are still blooming and the birds were in full song. I recorded my sightings under the California Bird Atlas Project.
Saturday's highlights included a covey of tiny, barely-fledged quail at Mission Wash (along the All-American Canal) and two Red-shouldered Hawks chasing each other, a Summer Tanager, and several Lawrence's Goldfinches at Living Waters (private). This morning's good birds included 6 calling Soras and a flock of Cliff Swallows nest-building at Mission Wash, 2 Black Rails, 2 Virginia Rails, and a Ridgway's Rail calling at West Pond, and 5 Lawrence's Goldfinches singing and calling at Senator Wash. Most of the waterfowl wintering in the All-American Canal and Senator Wash have departed, but good numbers of Common Goldeneyes remain, and it was nice to see a flock of 21 Redheads this morning.
eBird reports with a few photos:https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S305444610 (Senator Wash)https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S304636727 (Mission Wash)https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S304595409 (Living Waters)
Good Birding!Henry D. <Detwilerhenry_detwiler...>, AZ
Finding Birds in Southwest Arizonahttps://www.southwestbirders.com/swb_SWAZ_Book.htmFinding Birds at the Salton Sea and in Imperial County, Californiahttps://www.southwestbirders.com/swb_Imperial_County_Book.htm
Date: 3/1/26 6:54 pm From: asekoonce via groups.io <sandy_koonce...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Winter 2025-65 records for NAB, SBE County
Dear San Bernardino County birders:
The winter season for North American Birds (1 December 2025 - 28
February 2026) is now over. I will shortly submit a list of significant San
Bernardino County sightings to Kimball Garrett and Guy McCaskie, the regional
editors for the Southern Pacific Coast report.
Although I use eBird to help me gather the information I need, that database is very large, and it is time-consuming to research each individual species. Therefore, I would appreciate hearing directly from SBE birders regarding any reports of unusual species, arrival and departure dates for common and unusual species, notable numbers, and absences. I would greatly appreciate learning of any sightings or trends that are out of the ordinary, even (especially) for birds not considered "rarities."
Please also include a careful description (at least a written description; photographs are also welcome) for rare species: either CBRC review species, or species that are equivalently rare locally. Note that sightings of rare birds cannot be added to the county database without some sort of supporting documentation.
Please send your sightings to me by 10 March.
Thanks for your assistance!
Sandy
Sandy Koonce
Professor of Mathematics, Emeritus
University of Redlands, Redlands, CA 92373
Date: 3/1/26 6:05 pm From: Tom Benson via groups.io <thomasabenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Jim Pike, an Orange County original, passed away February 2026
Forwarded from the Orange County listserv.Tom BensonRedlands, CA -------- Original message --------From: Thomas WursterDate: 3/1/26 5:51 PM (GMT-08:00) To: OCBirdingSubject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Jim Pike, an Orange County original, passed away February 2026 Orange County birders and beyond,
It is with great sadness and heartbreak that I share that Jim Pike passed away on February 17, following his diagnosis less than a month before with an aggressive cancer. Though Jim was a respected member of the Orange County birding community for over 40 years, many will know him only through his posts to the OC Birding list serve, where he reported a steady stream of rarities, and regularly urged community action to save our park and neighborhood trees and plant cover from excessive pruning and removal. Jim, with his life partner Kim, moved to Huntington Beach from Wisconsin in 1983. Soon after Jim began his OC birding career. His impact was immediate with locals asking, “Who is the “new kid on a bike” who keeps reporting rare birds?” Shortly thereafter Jim was fully integrated with the area’s avid birders.
Jim was very keen in the field and has a string of “County Firsts” to his credit. An incomplete list includes Mississippi Kite and Black-billed Cuckoo in 1989, Sedge Wren in 1991, Streak-backed Oriole in 1996, plus a Tropical Parula in 2018, the latter being the first state record for California. Jim found all these birds in Huntington Beach by concentrating his efforts within a limited geographic area and exploring it in depth. In the 1990s and early 2000s Jim joined with a small contingent of California birders who were exploring the Baja California Peninsula. He and I traveled there together in October 1986 where we stumbled upon an Olive-backed Pipit - a First Record for Mexico - in Catavina, a small palm oasis and rancho in the mid-peninsula portion of Baja. We spotted it independently, but only Jim knew instantly what it was. In time, Jim’s skill in bird finding and identification were acknowledged statewide, leading to his election to multiple terms as a member of the California Bird Records Committee (CBRC).
The late, great Loren Hays was instrumental in recognizing Jim’s skills and talent as a naturalist and encouraged Jim to turn his avocation into a career. Starting as a seasonal biologist, and later as an independent consultant, Jim worked for 36 seasons with various agencies including the Orange County Water District, studying the Prado Basin population of endangered Least Bell’s Vireos. While the number of vireos nesting there varied from year to year, their increase likely made the Prado population a major source of fledglings that colonized rehabilitated riparian habitat throughout Southern California in subsequent years. Jim’s success there, both in monitoring and implementing recovery strategies certainly stands as one of his most significant achievements.
Jim’s work with the vireos was seasonal, and he and Kim took full advantage of the offseason. They traveled widely throughout the western states, often camping in offroad areas that gave them access to remote desert and mountain areas. At home Jim and Kim nurtured multiple “fur-children”, a dog and multiple indoor cats, as well as some feathered ones.
As a friend and fellow birder, thank you, Jim Pike, for all you accomplished in conservation and for all you shared with the community birding. You are greatly missed.
Date: 2/26/26 7:35 am From: Thomas Benson via groups.io <tbenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Southeastern CA RBA: February 26, 2026
RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* February 26, 2026
* CASE26.02.26
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 BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD continued in Redlands through Feb 25 (Chris Dean).
An AMERICAN BITTERN was seen at Prado Regional Park on Feb 22 (Cathy McFadden).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
Two *FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS* continued at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area through Feb 24 (Jeffrey Fenwick).
A BRONZED COWBIRD continued at Palm Springs International Airport through Feb 23 (Tom Bootsmiller).
IMPERIAL COUNTY
A PLUMBEOUS VIREO continued at Evergreen Cemetery in El Centro through Feb 22 (Chris Dean).
A SPRAGUE'S PIPIT continued near the intersection of Albright and Wiest Roads through Feb 22 (Chris Dean).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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://archive.westernfieldornithologists.org/archive/V56/56(2)-p126-p142.pdf)
Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley (1991), by Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Robert D. Ohmart, William C. Hunter, and Bertin W. Anderson
Date: 2/24/26 11:14 am From: Tom Benson via groups.io <thomasabenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] eBird and California Bird Atlas hostspots
San Bernardino, Riverside, and Imperial County birders,
In your recent eBirding, you may have noticed some new hotspots at your favorite birding locations. This is a quick note to explain why those new hotspots exist and why you should or shouldn't use them. If you use eBird at all, please at least read through the next paragraph. If you are participating in the California Breeding Bird Atlas (CBA) project, please read through the following paragraph as well. I've tried to be as succinct as possible. Feel free to adapt and/or share this on other platforms as appropriate.
The CBA is run through eBird, and data for this project is being collected in atlas "blocks." Sometimes, an existing eBird hotspot overlaps two or more of these atlas blocks. In some of these cases, additional hotspots have been created so that atlas data for the hotspot can be collected for each of the blocks in which the hotspot occurs. These additional hotspots are named in a specific format to denote that they are for CBBA use and include the name of the atlas block in which they occur. For example, Wildwood Canyon State Park occurs in two atlas blocks. The original hotspot occurs in the "Yucaipa SE" block, so that hotspot remains unchanged. A second hotspot has been created for the portion of Wildwood Canyon State Park that occurs in the "Forest Falls SW" block and has been named Wildwood Canyon State Park (CA Atlas - Forest Falls SW). If you are eBirding and not participating in the CBA project or are keeping a single checklist at a hotspot across multiple atlas blocks, please use the original hotspot as your location. If you are are participating in the CBA, please read below for guidance on using hotspots.
First, thank you for participating in the CBA! If you're not participating and you would like to, please visit eBird's California Atlas site for more information. This site has excellent information on how to choose a hotspot/location for your atlas birding, but I'll provide a brief summary here as well. When you are eBirding for the CBBA, please use an eBird hotspot if one is available and appropriate to the area that you are birding. If you are birding an area and enter a new atlas block, you should end your current checklist and start a new one. If an appropriate hotspot is available for your new checklist, please use it. If an appropriate hotspot is not available, please make a new personal location for this area. If you intend to bird this location regularly for the atlas, it would be helpful if you named it according to the naming convention: Hotspot Name (CA Atlas - Block Name). If this is an area few others are likely to bird, please keep it as a personal location. If this is an area you think other birders are likely to bird regularly, please suggest your personal location as a hotspot.
If you have any questions about the atlas hotspots or about the CBBA in general, please feel free to reach out to me.
Tom BensonRedlands, CA
https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/homehttps://www.californiabirdatlas.org/
Date: 2/19/26 7:15 am From: Thomas Benson via groups.io <tbenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Southeastern CA RBA: February 19, 2026
RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* February 19, 2026
* CASE26.02.19
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 BROAD-BILLED HUMMINGBIRD was seen in Redlands Feb 13-18 (Ezra Murray).
A *THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD* continued at Bellevue Memorial Park through Feb 18 (Dan Stoebel).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
Two *FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS* continued at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area through Feb 15 (Kathy Snyder).
IMPERIAL COUNTY
A SPRAGUE'S PIPIT continued near the intersection of Albright and Wiest Roads through Feb 15 (Joshua Stacy).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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://archive.westernfieldornithologists.org/archive/V56/56(2)-p126-p142.pdf)
Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley (1991), by Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Robert D. Ohmart, William C. Hunter, and Bertin W. Anderson
Date: 2/15/26 1:40 pm From: Anthony Metcalf via groups.io <ametcalf...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Fulvous Whistling-Ducks have moved to Walker Ponds
Hi all, The Fulvous Whistling-Ducks have moved directly east to the Walker Ponds. Tony 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: 2/13/26 11:43 am From: Brad Singer via groups.io <bcsinger...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Broad-billed Hummingbird in Redlands
Adult male,seen this morning by Ezra Murray in the small open green area across from the intersection of Slyvan Rd. and Lido St. (appears to be the western part of Laramie Park). Brad Singer, serving as messenger
Date: 2/12/26 10:04 pm From: Thomas Benson via groups.io <tbenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Southeastern CA RBA: February 12, 2026
RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* February 12, 2026
* CASE26.02.12
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 Alta Loma through Feb 9 (Tom Benson).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
Two *FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS* continued at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area through Feb 12 (Mart Westbrook).
A BRONZED COWBIRD was seen at Palm Springs International Airport on Feb 8 (Shoshanna Bauer).
IMPERIAL COUNTY
A ZONE-TAILED HAWK was seen at the intersection of Forrester and Larsen Roads northwest of Imperial on Feb 8 (Matt Sadowski).
Up to six *CAVE SWALLOWS* continued at the Earthrise Nutritionals algae farm in Calipatria through Feb 9 (Henry Detwiler).
A TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE was seen at Senator Wash Reservoir on Feb 6 (Henry Detwiler).
A SPRAGUE'S PIPIT continued near the intersection of Albright and Wiest Roads through Feb 12 (Bobby Figarotta).
A PAINTED REDSTART was seen at Mission Wash in Bard on Feb 9 (Sylvia Afable).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
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://archive.westernfieldornithologists.org/archive/V56/56(2)-p126-p142.pdf)
Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley (1991), by Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Robert D. Ohmart, William C. Hunter, and Bertin W. Anderson
Date: 2/10/26 3:04 pm From: Anthony Metcalf via groups.io <ametcalf...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Water draw-down at Ramona Hunt Club
Hi all, Waterfowl season has ended and the Hunt Clubs are drawing down the water beginning in the eastern most ponds along Walker Road. This will undoubtedly affect the two Fulvous Whistling-Ducks. However, it is creating wonderful shorebird habitat for the next weeks. The ducks were reported this morning (Feb10). How much longer they will remain at this location is a question. Tony 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: 2/10/26 8:41 am From: henry detwiler via groups.io <henry_detwiler...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Swallow Show
Greetings Birders,
Franc and I headed over to Imperial County yesterday (9 Feb) to see if we could photograph the Cave Swallows at the Earthrise Algae Farm east of Calipatria.
We found at least 6 of the Cave Swallows were still enjoying the bugs there, along with a newly arrived Cliff Swallow, two Bank Swallows, two Tree Swallows, and a swarm of Barn Swallows.
If you're in the area, the Calipatria State Prison Pond is just a mile to the east, and is currently hosting 12 species of waterfowl, including all three species of teal.
eBird reports with a few photos:https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S299166509https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S299149637
Good Birding!Henry D. <Detwilerhenry_detwiler...>, AZ
Finding Birds in Southwest Arizonahttps://www.southwestbirders.com/swb_SWAZ_Book.htmFinding Birds at the Salton Sea and in Imperial County, Californiahttps://www.southwestbirders.com/swb_Imperial_County_Book.htm
Date: 2/7/26 9:56 am From: <tgmiko...> via groups.io <tgmiko...> Subject: Re: [inlandcountybirds] Eastern Imperial County
Hi Henry
What is the road quality of this White Road that you drove on, when you saw
the Black Vultures?
Tom Miko
Claremont 91711
909.241.3300
"We lose a rifle and get punished. They lose a war and get promoted."--Ben
Edwards
On Sat, Feb 7, 2026, 6:49 AM henry detwiler via groups.io <henry_detwiler=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> Greetings Birders,
>
> Having spent all of 2025 working on my Arizona Big Year (405 species),
> it's nice to add California back into the mix, and help out with the
> California Breeding Bird Atlas (https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/home).
>
> I spent much of 6 Feb 2026 in eastern Imperial County, starting near the
> All American Canal just north of Winterhaven, and moving north to Senator
> Wash. I finished up with 72 species.
>
> Along White Road, I spotted two BLACK VULTURES perched on a snag, my first
> for Imperial County. At a private residence I heard and then saw a female
> SUMMER TANAGER. At West Pond I heard LEAST BITTERN, and both VIRGINIA and
> BLACK RAILS. I was hoping for some rarities on Senator Wash, but had to be
> happy with my 45 COMMON GOLDENEYES. In the lush washes (good rainfall last
> fall) on the north side of Senator Wash, I was happy to find an inquisitive
> TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE and a SAGE THRASHER.
>
> eBird reports with a few photos:
> https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S298590728 > https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S298397312 >
> Good Birding!
> Henry D. Detwiler
> <henry_detwiler...>
> Yuma, AZ
>
> Finding Birds in Southwest Arizona
> https://www.southwestbirders.com/swb_SWAZ_Book.htm > Finding Birds at the Salton Sea and in Imperial County, California
> https://www.southwestbirders.com/swb_Imperial_County_Book.htm >
>
>
>
>
Date: 2/7/26 6:49 am From: henry detwiler via groups.io <henry_detwiler...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Eastern Imperial County
Greetings Birders,
Having spent all of 2025 working on my Arizona Big Year (405 species), it's nice to add California back into the mix, and help out with the California Breeding Bird Atlas (https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/home).
I spent much of 6 Feb 2026 in eastern Imperial County, starting near the All American Canal just north of Winterhaven, and moving north to Senator Wash. I finished up with 72 species.
Along White Road, I spotted two BLACK VULTURES perched on a snag, my first for Imperial County. At a private residence I heard and then saw a female SUMMER TANAGER. At West Pond I heard LEAST BITTERN, and both VIRGINIA and BLACK RAILS. I was hoping for some rarities on Senator Wash, but had to be happy with my 45 COMMON GOLDENEYES. In the lush washes (good rainfall last fall) on the north side of Senator Wash, I was happy to find an inquisitive TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE and a SAGE THRASHER.
eBird reports with a few photos:https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S298590728https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S298397312
Good Birding!Henry D. <Detwilerhenry_detwiler...>, AZ
Finding Birds in Southwest Arizonahttps://www.southwestbirders.com/swb_SWAZ_Book.htmFinding Birds at the Salton Sea and in Imperial County, Californiahttps://www.southwestbirders.com/swb_Imperial_County_Book.htm
Date: 2/6/26 2:14 pm From: Thomas Benson via groups.io <tbenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Southeastern CA RBA: February 6, 2026
RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* February 6, 2026
* CASE26.02.06
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 at Bellevue Memorial Park through Feb 6 (Mark Price).
A *THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD* continued in Alta Loma through Jan 31 (Matt Grube).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
Two *FULVOUS WHISTLING-DUCKS* continued at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area through Feb 6 (Jimmy McMorran).
Four MOUNTAIN PLOVERS were seen at March Air Reserve Base on Feb 5 (Erin Olstead).
A WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB-JAY continued at Palo Verde Ecological Reserve through Feb 4 (Emilie Strauss).
A PRAIRIE WARBLER continued in Blythe through Feb 4 (Jason St. Pierre).
IMPERIAL COUNTY
A *ROSEATE SPOONBILL* continued at the west end of Bowles Road through Jan 31 (Tom Benson). Do not enter the restricted restoration area to view this bird.
Two *BLACK VULTURES* were reported from Winterhaven on Feb 6 (Henry Detweiler).
A TROPICAL KINGBIRD continued in Niland through Jan 31 (Tom Benson).
A CASSIN'S KINGBIRD was seen at Cattle Call Park on Jan 31 (Samuel Bressler).
Up to eight *CAVE SWALLOWS* continued at the Earthrise Nutritionals algae farm in Calipatria through Feb 6 (Marcus Stephens).
Up to two SPRAGUE'S PIPITS continued near the intersection of Albright and Wiest Roads through Feb 6 (Marcus Stephens).
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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...>
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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
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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://archive.westernfieldornithologists.org/archive/V56/56(2)-p126-p142.pdf)
Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley (1991), by Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Robert D. Ohmart, William C. Hunter, and Bertin W. Anderson
Date: 2/5/26 6:25 pm From: Tom Benson via groups.io <thomasabenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Fw: California Bird Atlas: First Month Report
Birders, We’ve been blown away by the early engagement in support of California’s first statewide Breeding Bird Atlas. As of this writing, 20,850 Atlas checklists have been submitted across 2,864 blocks in 57 counties by 1,491 contributors. In January alone, 59 species have already received Confirmed breeding codes. For the full report through the end of January, see the latest edition of Atlas Dispatch, which features Atlas firsts, reports from the field, common coding pitfalls, and photos. All eBird users can contribute. If you haven't yet, please join the project on eBird's CBA platform. For a visual overview of how to get started, watch the Quick Start video. We’ve also been building a statewide network of Regional Coordinators and data reviewers to help oversee the effort. If you’re interested in joining the team, reach out to me directly at <van...> This first-ever statewide Atlas is being coordinated by California Bird Atlas (CBA), an independent nonprofit. If you’re able, please consider making a donation. Your support directly funds the infrastructure and scientific coordination needed to sustain this statewide effort. Thank you for helping build it. Happy Atlasing,Van PierszalowskiExecutive Director, California Bird Atlas (CBA)<van...> Angeles, CA_._,_._,__._,_._,_
