Date: 7/25/26 10:29 am From: trailgirl888 via groups.io <trailgirl888...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] American Bittern San Joaquin Marsh
I caught a photo of an American Bittern in the SW corner of Pond E. I have been helping other birders trying to find it here. Has not been seen again. Yet. I did not see it fly out however.
Shirley Reynolds
Lake Forest
Date: 7/24/26 11:20 pm From: Lam-Son Vinh via groups.io <lamson.vinh...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Bell's Vireo in HCP-East
Sorry for the late post: I found a Bell's Vireo at 5:30 pm Friday at the Northwest corner of the Island, in front of Chuck's Bench.
It was vocal at times and it stayed low in the vegetation.
--
Lam-Son Vinh
Huntington Beach, CA
Date: 7/24/26 7:03 pm From: Ryan Winkleman via groups.io <rswinkleman...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Orange County RBA: July 24, 2026
RIP Guy McCaskie. Thank you for your immeasurable contributions to
California birding, California record-keeping, and California publications.
Thank you also for your patience when I'd be a week (or two? pretty sure I
never delayed past two weeks...) behind on the Orange County NAB
subregional reports, and for covering Orange County's notable records in
the early years before Sylvia Gallagher became our first dedicated county
compiler. For those of you unfamiliar with Guy, here is a good summary of
how he impacted California birding during its revolutionary years after he
moved here: http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/CAwhoGMcC.html. I
encourage all birders to read this short bio, and the others on this page,
to better understand and appreciate the formation of the modern foundations
of California birding.
* California
* Orange County
* July 24, 2026
* CAOC26.07.24
This is the Orange County, CA weekly Rare Bird Alert (RBA) and local events
summary. California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) review species are
capitalized and marked with asterisks below. All documentation of review
species should be forwarded to the CBRC secretary, Tom Benson, at
<secretary...>
BIRDS MENTIONED
American Oystercatcher
Red-billed Tropicbird
Laysan Albatross
Neotropic Cormorant
Little Blue Heron
Lucy's Warbler
An AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER was reported to continue at Dana Point Harbor on
July 24.
A RED-BILLED TROPICBIRD was found dead offshore on July 18.
A LAYSAN ALBATROSS photographed offshore on July 18 was only the 5th record
of this species for Orange County.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS continued on the upper Santa Ana River in Anaheim as
well as at Mason Regional Park in Irvine.
A LITTLE BLUE HERON was at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington
Beach from July 22 through July 24.
A LUCY'S WARBLER was in the Nature Area at Mile Square Regional Park in
Fountain Valley on July 19.
LOCAL EVENTS
Note: We will no longer be listing individual trips on this weekly email.
For a complete up-to-date list of current field trips, please visit the
webpage on Sea and Sage’s website:
https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
The Orange County RBA and events summary is produced weekly by Ryan
Winkleman. Sightings of rare birds can be posted to the OrangeCountyBirding
listserv, emailed directly to Ryan Winkleman (<rswinkleman...>),
and/or submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird). Any supporting
details (descriptions, photos, audio recordings, etc.) of rare sightings
that are not already disclosed on the listserv or on eBird should also be
emailed to Samuel Bressler (<pacificgoldenplover...>) separately for
consideration to be mentioned in the current quarterly report for North
American Birds.
Those sightings that are included in this summary generally include those
that are considered rare (regionally or seasonally) for Orange County based
on "The Birds of Orange County: Status and Distribution" (Hamilton and
Willick), "Birds of Southern California" (Garrett and Dunn), and/or more
contemporary changes in local or regional status and distribution. Rarities
that regularly or seasonally occur at a particular location, such as
annually wintering rarities on Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, may or
may not be included in this digest, but reports of these same species
occurring at other, atypical locations throughout the county may be
included. We don't include hybrids, subspecies, introduced or exotic birds,
or in most cases and for no real reason, geese. All bird reports are vetted
to the extent possible prior to each publication, but in the interest of
sharing information, the accuracy of any given report cannot always be
guaranteed, nor can the presence of any given bird for those who choose to
chase after them.
Information on upcoming local events can be viewed on the Sea and Sage
Audubon website (http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/). Sea and Sage Audubon
is based out of the Audubon House at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in
Irvine. They sponsor a number of public field trips, special birding
events, conservation lectures, and social gatherings throughout the year.
For the most current information please refer to the field trip list on the
Sea and Sage Audubon website at https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
It is also recommended that you refer to that website immediately prior to
engaging in any field trip to confirm that trips are still occurring. #RBA
Date: 7/23/26 2:21 pm From: Samuel Bressler via groups.io <pacificgoldenplover...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Some California Bird Atlas results for Orange County (as of 7/22/26)
Hi all:
With nesting bird season drawing to a close in the county, I wanted to give a brief summary of the results for the first year of the California Bird Atlas.
**
**
Due to its high population concentrated in a relatively small area, Orange County was one of the most highly atlased counties this past spring:with 86 of 87 blocks centered in the county being atlased at some point. The one exception, San Clemente NE, is located largely within off-limits areas of Rancho Mission Viejo and Mission Viejo. Additionally, lingering trail and road closures from the Airport Fire leave have left many blocks in the Santa Ana Mountains poorly atlased, including those blocks containing Blue Jay Campground and the Holy Jim Trail.
**
**
135 species have been confirmed nesting in the county. The top ten species confirmed across the largest number of blocks (out of 87 total):
**
**
House finch 68
Black phoebe 60
American crow 57
Western bluebird 53
Song sparrow 53
Lesser goldfinch 50
European starling 49
California towhee 49
Bushtit 48
Northern house wren 45
**
**
The following species are likely/known breeders that have NOT been confirmed in the county this year:
Blue-winged teal - I suspect this species is an occasional breeder in coastal wetlands
Mountain quail - Resident in Santa Ana Mountains, but seemingly no coveys observed
Lesser nighthawk - Fairly common breeder, but nocturnal and nests are very difficult to find; may require nocturnal, off-trail surveys
Northern saw-whet owl - historical resident in Bigcone Springs
Violet-green Swallow - Expected in woodlands of the Santa Ana Mountains and higher foothills
Western warbling vireo - Expected to breed in montane riparian woodlands in Santa Ana Mountains/Starr Ranch
Rock wren - Possible/likely breeders in rocky areas of Santa Ana Mountains, as well as lowland dams.
Purple finch - Expected breeder in montane woodlands in Santa Ana Mountains
Red-breasted nuthatch - A pair summering at Clark Regional Park may have bred the last two years, however no confirmation has been obtained.
Black-throated gray warbler - Likely breeder in high elevation montane woodland
Bell’s Sparrow - Extremely local breeder in Santa Ana Mountains (especially in Coal Canyon and along the Main Divide).
**
**
Additionally, the following species were once probable/confirmed breeders in the county but may no longer do so.
Western meadowlark - This formerly common grassland species may be extirpated as a breeder in the county, but could still persist in remnant grasslands.
Swainson’s thrush - Possible breeder in riparian woodland in our foothills, but lack of recent summer records indicate they might be extirpated.
Belted Kingfisher - Formerly bred in steep banks along rivers and lakes; despite a dearth of recent breeding records in the county, every year we get a few summering.
**
**
A number of species recorded or presumed to be breeders during the Orange County Breeding Bird Atlas (compiled based on data collected in the late 1980s by Sylvia Gallagher) are presumed extirpated (e.g.: loggerhead shrike, willow flycatcher, prairie falcon, tricolored blackbird, yellow-headed blackbird, spotted owl, burrowing owl)
**
**
Blocks
The following blocks saw the most diurnal effort hours during the first year of the atlas:
Seal Beach CE (Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve): 1372
Tustin SW (San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary: 467
Newport Beach SW (Santa Ana River Mouth, Fairview Park, Talbert Park): 454
Seal Beach NW (Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station): 180
Orange CE (Irvine Regional Park, Santiago Oaks Regional Park): 170
Seal Beach NE Northside Bolsa Chica, Parkside Ponds, Carr Park): 152
Lake Forest CE (Whiting Ranch Wilderness Park, Agua Chinon): 152
Newport Beach NW (Mile Square Regional Park): 151
San Juan capistrano CW (Laguna Niguel Regional Park, Aliso and Woods Canyon Wilderness Park): 141
Canada Gobernadora NW (Esencia Sports Park, Riley Wilderness Park): 138
**
**
And here are the blocks with most species confirmed:
Seal Beach CE: 74
Tustin SW: 73
Newport Beach SW: 60
La Habra SW (Clark Regional Park, West Coyote Hills): 57
Black Star Canyon SW (Irvine Lake): 56
Orange NE (Upper Santa Ana River, Yorba Regional Park, Pelanconi Park): 53
Orange CE: 48
La Habra SE (Craig Regional Park, Gilman Park): 46
Tustin SE (Quail Hill Preserve, Turtle Rock): 46
Orange CW (Anaheim Coves Park): 45
**
**
Blocks with fewest diurnal effort hours:
San Clemente NE (Rancho Mission Viejo): 0
Alberhill CW (Santa Ana Mountains-Los Pinos Trailhead): 0.18
Santiago Peak CE (Holy Jim Trail): 1.05
Sitton Peak NW (Santa Ana Mountains along Ortega): 1.75
Newport Beach OE S NW (Corner of Newport Beach): 2.08
Canada Gobernadora NE (San Juan Hot Springs): 2.12
Black Star Canyon CE (Black Star Canyon Road, Mariposa Preserve): 2.27
Alberhill SW (Santa Ana Mountains-Blue Jay Campground/Falcon Group Campground): 2.80
Santiago Peak CW (Ramakrishna Monastery, North O’Neill Regional Park): 1
Sitton Peak NW: 2
Alberhill SW: 4
Black Star Canyon CE: 4
Canada Gobernadora NE: 6
Dana Point CW (corner Dana Point Harbor): 6
**
**
Final Notes
Atlasers in future years should especially focus on those blocks with low levels of effort and species confirmation. These blocks can primarily be found in the central and southern Santa Ana Mountains. With most Airport Fire-related closures scheduled to be lifted next year, this should allow us more opportunities to survey in these blocks.
**
**
Expected breeders that have not yet been confirmed consist primarily of montane riparian/coniferous woodland breeders. But a number of species, particularly in foothill.montane chaparral and scrub, have gone underreported. For example, black-chinned sparrow has only been confirmed in three blocks, despite being an expected breeder across much of the Loma Ridge and Santa Ana Mountains. Similarly, only one confirmed record of lazuli bunting (from early July at Irvine Lake) has been recorded, despite this being an expected chaparral breeder in much of the eastern portion of the county. Finally three, black-chinned hummingbird records have been confirmed in the county, a far cry from the 26(!) blocks where they were recorded in the Orange County Breeding Bird Atlas in the 1980s.* Ditto Bullock’s oriole : 9 confirmed blocks this year vs. 50 in the 1980s. Do these represent a true decline or simply lack of observer awareness? Only time and diligent observation will tell!
**
**
To close on a positive note, the least Bells vireo , a species which was coded as only possibly breeding in three blocks (and confirmed in none) in the 1980s atlas, has already been confirmed as a breeder in 13 of the counties atlas blocks, reflecting this species’ dramatic recovery in response to conservation measures implemented in the county and region. I expect that this surprisingly tolerant and adaptable species will be confirmed in riparian woodland in more blocks as the atlas continues.
**
**
I look forward to another productive and exciting atlasing season in 2027. Hopefully we can both tally many of our “missing” species, and survey our undersurveyed blocks.
**
**
*Annoyingly, block size and locations differ slightly between the Orange County Breeding Bird Atlas and the current atlas effort. However, they are close enough that conclusions can easily be drawn.
**
*Good birding,*
*Samuel Bressler*
*Brea*
*Regional Coordinator, California Bird Atlas*
Date: 7/23/26 9:52 am From: wagtail1997 via groups.io <orcorba...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Fishing Birds Influx at Mason Regional Park, Irvine. Help with fish ID?
Group,
Yesterday and continuing today there has been a major influx of fish eating birds at Mason Lake in Mason Regional Park, Irvine. I took pictures of the fish prey in the bill of Great Egrets this morning and added them to my eBird checklist for the Park (yesterday) under the Great Egret listing at https://ebird.org/checklist/S375107118 The feeding activity was best observed before about 8:30 am. I don't know how many more days this may occur.
I know the lake has mosquitofish, and also green sunfish. But as to the present fish species being eaten, I could use some help. Please respond to me directly.
Joel Weintraub
Irvine
Hey Bird Peeps, I posted on WhatsApp this morning about seeing a Laysan Albatross yesterday evening, found in the 2-2.5 mile zone and somehow luckily just adjacent to the pier so potentially scopeable/seawatchable? Let’s goooo! Also a “very light morph” Northern Fulmar off the entrance channel and a mysterious storm petrel tracking north within a low chorus line of royal terns within 30 seconds of the albatross. Nearshore is poppin. Zodiac (or charter), anyone?
Date: 7/19/26 2:54 pm From: Edana Salisbury via groups.io <edanasal...> Subject: Re: [OrangeCountyBirding] Lucy’s Warbler at Mile Square Park
Shirley and I found the bird in a Brazilian pepper about 100 feet south of the pond along the west trail. We lost it when one bird went one way and two birds went another, and we weren’t sure which not which bird was which!
Seen first at approximately 2:28.
Edana Salisbury and Shirley Reynolds
Buena Park and Lake Forest
Sent from my iPhone and possibly autocorrected incorrectly ....
> On Jul 19, 2026, at 11:26 AM, Thomas Wurster via groups.io <wurster...> wrote:
>
> Birders
> A not unexpected mid July Lucy’s Warbler is foraging through the blooming mesquite trees in the western (desert) section of the Nature Area at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley.
> Tom Wurster
> Garden Grove
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 7/19/26 11:26 am From: Thomas Wurster via groups.io <wurster...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Lucy’s Warbler at Mile Square Park
Birders
A not unexpected mid July Lucy’s Warbler is foraging through the blooming mesquite trees in the western (desert) section of the Nature Area at Mile Square Park in Fountain Valley.
Tom Wurster
Garden Grove
Date: 7/17/26 10:39 pm From: Ryan Winkleman via groups.io <rswinkleman...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Orange County RBA: July 17, 2026
The listserv lately!
* California
* Orange County
* July 17, 2026
* CAOC26.07.17
This is the Orange County, CA weekly Rare Bird Alert (RBA) and local events
summary. California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) review species are
capitalized and marked with asterisks below. All documentation of review
species should be forwarded to the CBRC secretary, Tom Benson, at
<secretary...>
BIRDS MENTIONED
American Oystercatcher
Neotropic Cormorant
Western Cattle-Egret
Red-breasted Nuthatch
An AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER was reported continuing in Dana Point Harbor on
July 17.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS continued on the upper Santa Ana River in Anaheim as
well as at Mason Regional Park in Irvine. A bird reported from Laguna
Niguel Regional Park in Laguna Niguel was different for a change!
A WESTERN CATTLE-EGRET was reported from the Upper Santa Ana River south of
Imperial Highway on July 13.
A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH continued at Clark Regional Park in Buena Park on
July 15.
LOCAL EVENTS
Note: We will no longer be listing individual trips on this weekly email.
For a complete up-to-date list of current field trips, please visit the
webpage on Sea and Sage’s website:
https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
The Orange County RBA and events summary is produced weekly by Ryan
Winkleman. Sightings of rare birds can be posted to the OrangeCountyBirding
listserv, emailed directly to Ryan Winkleman (<rswinkleman...>),
and/or submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird). Any supporting
details (descriptions, photos, audio recordings, etc.) of rare sightings
that are not already disclosed on the listserv or on eBird should also be
emailed to Samuel Bressler (<pacificgoldenplover...>) separately for
consideration to be mentioned in the current quarterly report for North
American Birds.
Those sightings that are included in this summary generally include those
that are considered rare (regionally or seasonally) for Orange County based
on "The Birds of Orange County: Status and Distribution" (Hamilton and
Willick), "Birds of Southern California" (Garrett and Dunn), and/or more
contemporary changes in local or regional status and distribution. Rarities
that regularly or seasonally occur at a particular location, such as
annually wintering rarities on Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, may or
may not be included in this digest, but reports of these same species
occurring at other, atypical locations throughout the county may be
included. We don't include hybrids, subspecies, introduced or exotic birds,
or in most cases and for no real reason, geese. All bird reports are vetted
to the extent possible prior to each publication, but in the interest of
sharing information, the accuracy of any given report cannot always be
guaranteed, nor can the presence of any given bird for those who choose to
chase after them.
Information on upcoming local events can be viewed on the Sea and Sage
Audubon website (http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/). Sea and Sage Audubon
is based out of the Audubon House at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in
Irvine. They sponsor a number of public field trips, special birding
events, conservation lectures, and social gatherings throughout the year.
For the most current information please refer to the field trip list on the
Sea and Sage Audubon website at https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
It is also recommended that you refer to that website immediately prior to
engaging in any field trip to confirm that trips are still occurring. #RBA
Date: 7/10/26 3:36 pm From: Ryan Winkleman via groups.io <rswinkleman...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Orange County RBA: July 10, 2026
* California
* Orange County
* July 10, 2026
* CAOC26.07.10
This is the Orange County, CA weekly Rare Bird Alert (RBA) and local events
summary. California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) review species are
capitalized and marked with asterisks below. All documentation of review
species should be forwarded to the CBRC secretary, Tom Benson, at
<secretary...>
BIRDS MENTIONED
American Oystercatcher
Neotropic Cormorant
Western Cattle-Egret
Red-breasted Nuthatch
An AMERICAN OYSTERCATCHER was reported from Dana Point Harbor on July 9.
NEOTROPIC CORMORANTS continued on the upper Santa Ana River in Anaheim as
well as at Mason Regional Park in Irvine.
A WESTERN CATTLE-EGRET continued(?) at the San Joaquin Marsh Wildlife
Sanctuary in Irvine on July 10.
A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH continued at Clark Regional Park in Buena Park on
July 7.
LOCAL EVENTS
Note: We will no longer be listing individual trips on this weekly email.
For a complete up-to-date list of current field trips, please visit the
webpage on Sea and Sage’s website:
https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
The Orange County RBA and events summary is produced weekly by Ryan
Winkleman. Sightings of rare birds can be posted to the OrangeCountyBirding
listserv, emailed directly to Ryan Winkleman (<rswinkleman...>),
and/or submitted to eBird (http://ebird.org/content/ebird). Any supporting
details (descriptions, photos, audio recordings, etc.) of rare sightings
that are not already disclosed on the listserv or on eBird should also be
emailed to Samuel Bressler (<pacificgoldenplover...>) separately for
consideration to be mentioned in the current quarterly report for North
American Birds.
Those sightings that are included in this summary generally include those
that are considered rare (regionally or seasonally) for Orange County based
on "The Birds of Orange County: Status and Distribution" (Hamilton and
Willick), "Birds of Southern California" (Garrett and Dunn), and/or more
contemporary changes in local or regional status and distribution. Rarities
that regularly or seasonally occur at a particular location, such as
annually wintering rarities on Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, may or
may not be included in this digest, but reports of these same species
occurring at other, atypical locations throughout the county may be
included. We don't include hybrids, subspecies, introduced or exotic birds,
or in most cases and for no real reason, geese. All bird reports are vetted
to the extent possible prior to each publication, but in the interest of
sharing information, the accuracy of any given report cannot always be
guaranteed, nor can the presence of any given bird for those who choose to
chase after them.
Information on upcoming local events can be viewed on the Sea and Sage
Audubon website (http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/). Sea and Sage Audubon
is based out of the Audubon House at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in
Irvine. They sponsor a number of public field trips, special birding
events, conservation lectures, and social gatherings throughout the year.
For the most current information please refer to the field trip list on the
Sea and Sage Audubon website at https://seaandsageaudubon.org/field-trips/.
It is also recommended that you refer to that website immediately prior to
engaging in any field trip to confirm that trips are still occurring. #RBA
Date: 7/1/26 8:18 am From: Will Black via groups.io <will119...> Subject: [OrangeCountyBirding] Scripp’s Murrelet, Newport Pier
There’s a Scripp’s Murrelet giving nice close views from Newport Pier and from Lifeguard Tower 19. Good opportunity for those that are boat adverse for this species. Did not appear to be oiled.
