Date: 9/6/26 1:32 pm From: Ken Hartman via groups.io <kenhartman28...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Imm Masked/Nazca Booby at Tamarack Beach yesterday
Walked on the beach from Cannon Rd to Carlsbad Village and did not find the booby. There was a very high tide yesterday evening that may have convinced it to move.
Ken Hartman
> On Sep 6, 2026, at 10:33 AM, Ken Hartman via groups.io <kenhartman28...> wrote:
>
> Just was shown a photo on Facebook of an immature Masked/Nazca Booby purportedly taken at Tamarack Beach in Carlsbad yesterday afternoon. I will go down and check it out.
>
> Ken Hartman
>
>
>
>
>
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17918): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17918 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/121117650/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 9/6/26 10:33 am From: Ken Hartman via groups.io <kenhartman28...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Imm Masked/Nazca Booby at Tamarack Beach yesterday
Just was shown a photo on Facebook of an immature Masked/Nazca Booby purportedly taken at Tamarack Beach in Carlsbad yesterday afternoon. I will go down and check it out.
Ken Hartman
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17917): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17917 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/121117650/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 9/6/26 5:02 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Sep 5th San Diego pelagic: Red-footed, Nazca, & Cocos Boobies; 70 Least & Townsend's Stormies; 20 Black-footeds; Today's [Sep 6th] trip Canceled due to offshore conditions
The San Diego pelagic trip on Saturday, September 5, aboard "Legacy" out of Seaforth Landing and sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society was highlighted by boobies, storm-petrels, and albatrosses. A cooperative Red-footed Booby circled the boat multiple times at the inner edge of the 30-Mile Bank (25.4 mi SW of Point Loma), a young black-and-white booby roosting 8-1/2 miles SW of Point Loma showed the developing bill color of a Nazca, and a total of 8 Cocos Boobies were seen. A good total of 70 Least Storm-Petrels (scattered, but mostly at 30-Mile Bank), plus just a couple Townsend's and moderate numbers of Leach's (20+). As many as 20+ Black-footed Albatrosses were seen, mostly at the 30-Mile Bank. A mostly choppy water surface made viewing alcids on the water difficult, and only poor looks were had of one flying pair of Craveri's Murrelets. Other species seen included Red Phalarope, Arctic Tern, Sabine's Gull, and 3 offshore Black Turnstones.
Lots of photos from the trip will be posted with the shared eBird lists out probably on Monday.
Totals for the trip once we were over a mile offshore were as follows:
Also, hybrid American X Black Oystercatcher, Surfbirds, Hammerhead Shark, N. Fur Seal, N. Elephant Seal, Calif. Flying Fish, Mola-Mola
For information on future trips this year in late September and mid-October, see sandiegopelagics.com
--Paul Lehman, Bruce Rideout, Dan Jehl, Ted Keyel, Paul Mulholland, Nick Thorpe, Kasia & Jenna, San Diego
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17916): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17916 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/121113324/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Lily H., Kira R., and I chased the continuing Pinyon Jays in the Laguna Mountains. As suggested in a previous post, we went in from Penny Pines and initially found the flock near the meadows here: 32.8998, -116.4662. The birds were always on the move, and we later had them here: 32.9025, -116.4701 . This time they were less organized and flying in multiple directions A little further to the north, they finally got the word along and passed all in the same direction, and we were able to count 97 individuals. We continued along the trail to Pine Creek Rd and also had some here: 32.9046, -116.4763
On our walk in, we had an early Green-tailed Towhee here: 32.9024, -116.4617
On our walk out, we were surprised by not one, but two Zone-tailed Hawks,the second passing minutes after the first (which had a notched secondary that the second bird did not).
A nice morning in the mountains, though still getting quite warm in the sun. Happy birding, -Ted Keyel Oceanside, CA
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#17915): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17915 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/121093319/858290 -=-=- --- The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 9/4/26 11:23 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Bairds, Golden, three Banks, Parula
On Friday morning, a new Baird's Sandpiper was at the upper, east end of Lower Otay Lake with lots of Westerns and Leasts, first spotted by John Martin; the Pacific Golden Plover was on Stint Island in Pond 23 at the saltworks first thing with lots of Black bellieds and red knots when the tide was up; the Northern Parula continued in the Bird and Butterfly Garden, and there are three Bank Swallows in the moderate-sized mixed swallow flock feeding around the fisherman's parking lot area at Sweetwater Reservoir.Â
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
Sent from AOL on Android
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17914): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17914 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/121091044/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 9/1/26 12:46 pm From: Carl Ebeling via groups.io <Carl.Ebeling...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Retraction of Laguna Clark's Nutcracker ID
Hello all,
Now that I've had an opportunity to review the high-quality images on a monitor, I see that what I had identified as Clark's Nutcrackers were instead indeed Pinyon Jays.
The eBird checklist has been corrected.
My apologies.
Carl Ebeling S. Mission Hills
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#17913): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17913 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/121039805/858290 -=-=- --- The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/31/26 9:34 pm From: Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hotspots for eBird bar charts September 1 - 7
Greetings,
One more hotspot (Fleet Street) is now complete!
Despite how late it is in the year, at least one checklist yielded a
Confirmed breeding code for the California Bird Atlas - a somewhat late in
the season breeding confirmation for Northern Mockingbirds. A good reminder
to continue to pay attention. Although the bulk of breeding activity for
the year is behind us, some species are still actively breeding, and
phenological outliers (late/early breeding) are valuable data!
Hotspots nearing bar chart completion (number = weeks missing):
La Bajada Field (restricted access) - 1
San Dieguito Dr. south end - 2
Swamis Seaside Park - 2
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Yaqui Well - 3
Cuyamaca Rancho SP--Azalea Glen Trail - 3
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Culp Valley Campground & Peña Spring - 4
Beacon's Beach - 4
Legoland California - 5
Cortez Place--coastal access - 6
San Luis Rey Mission - 6
Borrego Springs--Mesquite Bosque - 7
San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area--north - 7
Encinitas--Arden Dr. - 8
Laguna Mtns.--Morris Ranch Rd. - 8
Woodglen Vista Park - 8
Penasquitos Creek Park - 10
Pine Valley Creek (SD Co.) - 10
San Luis Rey Picnic Area - 10
Sunset Park (San Marcos) - 10
Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Sentenac Canyon
Warner Valley grasslands--general area
Poggi Creek greenbelt & residential
Santa Ysabel Nature Center
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Slot Canyon
Ramona Airport Road
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Coyote Canyon
Anza-Borrego Desert SP--Hellhole Canyon
stakeout Harris's Hawk, Ramona (2017-2020)
Gird Valley Preserve
Self-Realization Fellowship (Encinitas)
Cheers,
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17912): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17912 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/121027013/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/31/26 7:38 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Pinyon Jays continue Monday
On Monday morning, a flock of 65 (carefully counted) Pinyon Jays returned to the usual original area at the top end of Big Laguna Meadow:
32.8980323, -116.4683001
They were not present first thing in the morning but then arrived from the north at 7:00 a.m., stayed about 20 minutes and then flew back to the north over the small ridge just to the north of this grove of pines that they seem to like a lot with just the proper aged cones! And then at 7:35 They flew back in from the north, so they keep coming and going.Â
Paul Lehman et al., San DiegoÂ
Sent from AOL on Android
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17911): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17911 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/121014251/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
I had them at Margaret Brown’s coordinates
https://maps.app.goo.gl/BWiX5iMXn75hgHwR7?g_st=i&utm_campaign=ac-im from
3pm until 3:30pm foraging, loud, flock of about 20. They did eventually fly
over the hill out of sight but one or two trickled back into the area as I
was leaving so I suspect they are in the vicinity. Parked at Penny Pines
trailhead then used the coordinates to find walking—I suggest using GPS as
there are a few forks in the trail where one could potentially get lost
—about 1.2 miles from the parking lot trailhead 25 min walk.
On Sun, Aug 30, 2026 at 2:03 PM Davis Provan via groups.io <davismprovan=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> I was able to track them to the north. From this location: (32.9078525,
> -116.4719690) I can hear them scattered north of the road, but I don't have
> a visual at this location. I had a flyover of about 30 of them earlier
> here: (32.9041622, -116.4725296) and followed them to Pine Creek Road.
>
> As I'm writing this, I'm hearing them less and less, but I'm not sure if
> they're leaving or just resting.
>
> ------------------------------
> *From:* <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> <SanDiegoRegionBirding...>
> on behalf of Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...>
> *Sent:* Sunday, 30 August 2026 12:56:58
> *To:* <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> <SanDiegoRegionBirding...>
> *Subject:* Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Pinyon Jays
>
> This may or may not be a useful post, but thought I'd mention that in the
> fall of 2018 there was a very large flock (over 200) of Pinyon Jays in the
> area by the Mile 19 Pullout hot spot at Mt. Laguna. The day I was there
> they wandered around the private property area and near the trails before
> you get to the meadow. No lists have been submitted from that spot since
> the 18th of August, at least as of right now. We don't know if yesterday's
> original finder may have walked through there, since he did a pretty long
> hike, but it might be worth checking there too. I believe the Jays seen
> there in 2018 were eating pine nuts, so prevalence of pine cones probably
> matters.
>
> Lisa Ruby
> Sabre Springs
>
> On 8/30/2026 10:29 AM, Nancy Christensen via groups.io wrote:
>
> Margaret Brown has relocated the jays reported yesterday in the north end
> of Laguna meadow. She hiked in from the Penny Pines trailhead - easy walk
> but says sun and heat are strong.
>
> [image: staticmap.png]
>
> 32°53'54.0"N 116°28'05.9"W
> <https://maps.app.goo.gl/BWiX5iMXn75hgHwR7?g_st=i&utm_campaign=ac-im> > app.goo.gl
> <https://maps.app.goo.gl/BWiX5iMXn75hgHwR7?g_st=i&utm_campaign=ac-im> > <https://maps.app.goo.gl/BWiX5iMXn75hgHwR7?g_st=i&utm_campaign=ac-im> >
> Nancy Christensen
> Ramona
>
>
> A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a
> song.
> Chinese Proverb
>
>
>
> --
> Lisa Ruby
> Sabre Springs
>
>
>
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17910): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17910 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/121001833/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/30/26 2:03 pm From: Davis Provan via groups.io <davismprovan...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Pinyon Jays
I was able to track them to the north. From this location: (32.9078525, -116.4719690) I can hear them scattered north of the road, but I don't have a visual at this location. I had a flyover of about 30 of them earlier here: (32.9041622, -116.4725296) and followed them to Pine Creek Road.
As I'm writing this, I'm hearing them less and less, but I'm not sure if they're leaving or just resting.
________________________________
From: <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> on behalf of Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...>
Sent: Sunday, 30 August 2026 12:56:58
To: <SanDiegoRegionBirding...> <SanDiegoRegionBirding...>
Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Pinyon Jays
This may or may not be a useful post, but thought I'd mention that in the fall of 2018 there was a very large flock (over 200) of Pinyon Jays in the area by the Mile 19 Pullout hot spot at Mt. Laguna. The day I was there they wandered around the private property area and near the trails before you get to the meadow. No lists have been submitted from that spot since the 18th of August, at least as of right now. We don't know if yesterday's original finder may have walked through there, since he did a pretty long hike, but it might be worth checking there too. I believe the Jays seen there in 2018 were eating pine nuts, so prevalence of pine cones probably matters.
Lisa Ruby
Sabre Springs
On 8/30/2026 10:29 AM, Nancy Christensen via groups.io wrote:
Margaret Brown has relocated the jays reported yesterday in the north end of Laguna meadow. She hiked in from the Penny Pines trailhead - easy walk but says sun and heat are strong.
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
Chinese Proverb
--
Lisa Ruby
Sabre Springs
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17909): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17909 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/121001833/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/30/26 12:57 pm From: Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Pinyon Jays
This may or may not be a useful post, but thought I'd mention that in the fall of 2018 there was a very large flock (over 200) of Pinyon Jays in the area by the Mile 19 Pullout hot spot at Mt. Laguna. The day I was there they wandered around the private property area and near the trails before you get to the meadow. No lists have been submitted from that spot since the 18th of August, at least as of right now. We don't know if yesterday's original finder may have walked through there, since he did a pretty long hike, but it might be worth checking there too. I believe the Jays seen there in 2018 were eating pine nuts, so prevalence of pine cones probably matters.
Lisa Ruby Sabre Springs
On 8/30/2026 10:29 AM, Nancy Christensen via groups.io wrote:
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#17908): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17908 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/121001833/858290 -=-=- --- The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/30/26 7:00 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Chino Farms, Del Mar/RSF, weedy habitat
The Chino Farms property on the border between Del Mar and Fairbanks Ranch and Rancho Santa Fe, at the corner of Via de la Valle and Calzada del Bosque has a huge amount of good weedy grass habitat this year. Immense and widespread. Heck, there's actually too much! This is the area that over the past number of years has had a track record in the fall of producing bobolinks and dickcissels and rare buntings and sparrows. One needs a scope to scan the weed tops and post tops and best to come in the morning when birds are more apt to sit up. As usual, the best vantage points are along Calzada del Bosque, just east of the first set of temporary greenhouses and then also from the southwest corner of the property along Via de La Valle where there's a good sized dirt pull out. Be VERY CAREFUL of all the traffic along both roads, which is especially busy during commuting hours on weekdays.
My fairly brief check this morning, Sunday, produced a Yellow-headed blackbird and a Blue grosbeak and about 200 munias.Â
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
Sent from AOL on Android
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17906): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17906 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120998879/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
I am but the messenger here. I haven’t heard any positive or negative reports since the original finding so far.
--
Nick Thorpe
University Heights
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17905): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17905 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120993498/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/27/26 9:34 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] inland Red Phalarope at Lake Morena
For those of you keeping an Inland San Diego County list... There is currently, 9:30 a.m. Thursday, a Red Phalarope swimming around toward the north end of Lake Morena, up in the mountains. This species is only a casual visitor well Inland, and is extremely rare at best even on the larger lakes a little bit Inland from the coast. It is swimming around by itself, whereas along the shoreline there's a total of seven Red-necked Phalaropes along with a few small groups of Leasts and Westerns and Greater yellowlegs. Fairly rare up here in the mountains there are also four Long-billed Curlews present today. Given that the phalarope is near the north side of the lake and one can only access and scope the lake from the south side, that means the bird is a long way off and just barely identifiable with a scope. I've taken a bunch of photos with my super zoom camera at absolute maximum power and we'll see how horribly pixelated they end up! Also a small group of fall-arrival Eared Grebes.
Earlier in the morning, Jacumba only had a small trickle of landbird migrants, continuing the county-wide theme of few landbird migrants around lately in the heat. Four Harris's Hawks together.
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
Sent from AOL on Android
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17904): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17904 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120959074/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/26/26 8:33 am From: Nancy Christensen via groups.io <nancy.r.christensen...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Pectoral sandpiper
The PESA Paul found yesterday was seen again this morning at the north eastern corner of Otay Lake. Seen all the way across on the far mudflats.
Nancy Christensen
Ramona
A bird does not sing because it has an answer. It sings because it has a song.
Chinese Proverb
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17903): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17903 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120939429/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/25/26 9:00 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] ID issues with Solitary Sandpipers and other rarer shorebirds
As an e-bird reviewer, I have seen a fair number of reports of misidentified shorebirds in the past week or so. Some involve the usual problem of reports of Lesser yellowlegs that are really Greater yellowlegs. And in the last 36 hours there have been multiple reports of Solitary Sandpiper that are or are likely yellowlegs. Typically there are photos involved, but sometimes details about the plumage or habitat choice also strongly suggest the species is something else. As some of you have heard me say locally on repeated occasions, if one wishes to find and/or correctly identify some of our rarer early fall shorebirds, one needs to be able to properly AGE them first. If one does not know how to age a peep, for example, finding or identifying properly a Semipalmated Sandpiper becomes extremely difficult. In the case of almost all of our rare shorebirds now that we are in August, a huge percent of them are juveniles. So birders are encouraged to learn what the juvenile plumages of these species look like and that if one is scanning through a large flock of birds, that one should be able to tell the juveniles apart from the adults and use that as a starting point.
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
Sent from AOL on Android
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17902): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17902 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120923094/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/25/26 7:49 am From: Sonja via groups.io <lunaskye13...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Solitary sandpiper at Rob field
Michael and I have a solitary sandpiper just west of field 8 in the channel all by himself. Looks like he's halfway between breeding and non-breeding he still got a little bit of bi-color bill.Â
Sonia and Michael Vista
Sent from AT&T Yahoo Mail on Android
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17901): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17901 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120921380/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/25/26 7:47 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Pectoral and Solitary
The first Pectoral Sandpiper of the season, a juvenile, was present for a while at the upper, east end of Lower Otay Lake on the extensive mud flats that are here, but lots of shorebirds departed or at least were seriously moved around by helicopters overhead and I can't refind it at the moment. It was generally hanging out by itself. Not to panic, however, as this is just the beginning of the next six or more weeks of Pectoral season. This is perhaps a few days early. There is also a new Solitary Sandpiper here, generally hanging out on the far side of the mud flat area. Be very careful birding this spot as one needs to park and be standing on the side of a busy road. A good scope is essential, as is likely coming either early or late in the day when there's little or no heat distortion. Still 14 juvenile Short billed dowitchers here and several Semi plovers. A reasonable number of westerns and leasts.Â
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
Sent from AOL on Android
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17900): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17900 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120921341/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/24/26 3:55 pm From: Lisa Ruby via groups.io <lbruby1...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Solitary Sandpiper at Robb Field - not
Apologies. At home now looking at photos and it was not a Solitary Sandpiper. Got thrown by a thick white eye ring on a Yellowlegs.
Lisa Ruby Sabre Springs
On 8/24/2026 11:58 AM, Lisa Ruby via groups.io wrote:
> There is currently a Solitary Sandpiper snoozing on the front edge of the mud flat area with the plants. It's standing by some plants. > > Lisa Ruby > > Sent from [Proton Mail](https://proton.me/mail/home) for Android. > -- > Lisa Ruby > Sabre Springs >
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#17899): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17899 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120912616/858290 -=-=- --- The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#17898): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17898 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120909179/858290 -=-=- --- The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/23/26 12:23 pm From: Stan Walens via groups.io <stan.walens...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Blue-footed booby, La Jolla, August 22
Summary: An adult blue-footed booby flew over the Dan McKinney YMCA near Cliffridge Park in La Jolla yesterday at 5:25 pm.
Background:
While all the good birders were out on the water yesterday on the pelagic trip, I was in the water at the pool at the Dan McKinney YMCA. For the past 22+ years, I have done about 5 hours/week of water aerobics in the Y’s outdoor pools, in a bootless attempt to keep my body from terminal deliquescence. Water aerobics is excruciatingly dull, but I get to spend those tedious hours staring at the skies, watching birds take advantage of the thermals produced by the landscape and the surrounding slopes. The Y is about 1 mile due east of La Jolla Shores, at the top of the southern edge of La Jolla Mesa, and is surrounded by athletic fields that provide a good platform for thermals. Mostly I watch Western gulls heading from the ocean to their favored feeding grounds at the various fast-food restaurants in the shopping centers just to the east, and back again. Plus it is always fun to watch the ravens playing in the air currents. There are hawks and vultures and other soaring birds using the thermals. [Also, there has been a really nice flock of red-masked parakeets at the Y for the past several weeks.]
Over the 5000-some hours I have stared at the sky there, I have seen a handful of ocean birds take advantage of the uplift, including 2 Cocos boobies, 1 red-footed booby, 1 masked booby and 2 frigatebirds [one magnificent, 1 unidentified]. So that’s an average of 1 seabird every 850 hours or so, or every 3+ years.
Yesterday’s blue-footed booby was a full adult. All dark on top except for whitish head, lower back and part of the tail. Extensively dark underwings on the primaries and secondaries.
If any of the boobies photographed on yesterday’s pelagic trip tour out to be masked, that means all 5 expected species of boobies are currently present in San Diego waters.
Stan Walens, San Diego
August 23, 2026; 10:00 a.m.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17897): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17897 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120892690/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/23/26 11:45 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] bizarre leucistic Red-winged Blackbird, continuing Black Terns
On Sunday the 23rd, the three juvenile black Terns are present for Day #3 at Sweetwater Reservoir, as usual well out over the lake feeding above a feeding group of grebes. At the upper end of Lower Otay Lake, uncommon "inland" shorebirds included 18 juvenile Short-billed Dowitchers, and continuing Marbled Godwit and Semipalmated Plovers.
Also this morning, I saw a really cool-looking leucistic female-type Red-winged Blackbird along the south side of the TRV Community Gardens, in the Red-winged flock that's always in that area during late summer and fall. The bird has an entirely white head sharply cut off from the dark, typical body, and it has a bunch of white in the wings. In flight, this bird could fool birders into thinking they are seeing a male Yellow-headed Blackbird, or who knows what. A photo of the bird is at:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S386265070
--Paul Lehman, San Diego
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17896): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17896 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120892047/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/23/26 5:03 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic Sat. Aug 22: Wilson's & 25 Least & 5+ Townsend's,; Guadalupe & 16 Craveri's; Laysan & 14+ Black-footeds; Nazca; Fulmar
The San Diego pelagic trip on Saturday, August 22, aboard "Legacy" out of Seaforth Landing and sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society was quite good. Highlights of the trip included a fairly cooperative Wilson's Storm-Petrel at the 30-Mile Bank (31 mi WSW of Point Loma), initially found roosting in a Black Storm-Petrel raft, a total of 25 Least Storm-Petrels (scattered, but mostly at 30-Mile Bank), plus a small number of Townsend's (5+) and moderate numbers of Leach's (30+). A cooperative Guadalupe Murrelet was closer to shore than normal at the outer edge of the Nine-Mile Bank (13-1/4 mi SW of Point Loma), and a puzzling intermediate Guadalupe-type was photographed earlier in the day in the San Diego Trough, a bird that was either a young Guadalupe or a hybrid Guadalupe X Scripps's (photos will be analyzed). Also 16 Craveri's. A fine Laysan Albatross (30-Mile Bank) and as many as ca. 14+Â Black-footed Albatrosses were seen. An unseasonal Northern Fulmar was 5-3/4 mi W of Point Loma. An adult Nazca Booby flew over the boat in the San Diego Trough, and 3 immature Masked/Nazca Boobies were at two sets of buoys: 2 birds in the mid- San Diego Trough and 1 on the inside of the Nine-Mile Bank. We shall see if the many photos obtained might elevate one or more of these young birds to full species rank. A total of 7 Cocos Boobies included one pale-headed adult male. A Forster's Tern 9-3/4 mi W of Point Loma was farther offshore than normal.
Lots of photos from the trip will be posted with the shared eBird lists out probably on Monday.
Totals for the trip once we were over a mile offshore were as follows:
For information on future trips this year in September (3) and mid-October, see sandiegopelagics.com
--Paul Lehman, Bruce Rideout, Alex Abela, Dan King, Jimmy McMorran, Paul Mulholland, Nick Thorpe, San Diego
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17895): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17895 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120886865/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/21/26 11:22 pm From: Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hotspots for eBird bar charts August 22 - 31
Greetings,
Despite the continuing, although slightly diminished heat in the past week, only a few spots were missed from the main list!
Three more hotspots now have complete bar charts! (Dinwiddie Preserve in Fallbrook, Palomar Mountain Upper Doane Loop, Pamo Valley)
My trek all the way around the upper Doane Loop was rewarded with a sighting of a Mountain Quail and a high count of 3 Willow Flycatchers! (and an expensive parking ticket because I forgot to bring enough cash for self-registration)
Next week we're back down to a short main list. I'm continuing to omit desert hotspots since the heat continues to be excessive.
Hotspots nearing bar chart completion (number = weeks missing):
*Fleet Street Area (Carlsbad) - 1* Swamis Seaside Park - 3 Warwick Ave riparian - 3 Carmel Valley Community Park - 4 Valley Middle School Trail - 4 Wilderness Gardens Preserve - 4 San Bernardo Valley--east of I-15 - 6 Agua Hedionda Lagoon--Harbor Dr. - 7 Cortez Place--coastal access - 7 Hosp Grove Park--west of Monroe St - 8 Mt. Hope Cemetery - 9 Horse Ranch Creek Open Space - 10 San Luis Rey Picnic Area - 10
Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
Lawrence Welk Village Crest Drive (Encinitas) Wright's Field Preserve Rambla De Las Flores--Richardson Field to RSF Field (restricted access) Poggi Creek greenbelt & residential Santa Ysabel Nature Center Palomar Mtn.--Observatory Trail/S-6 Loop Cuyamaca Rancho SP--Milk Ranch Rd. Olivia Canyon Del Mar Shores Beach Sloane Canyon Palomar Community College stakeout Harris's Hawk, Ramona (2017-2020) Mira Mesa Community Park (main park is still not open, but the north annex is) Gird Valley Preserve Otay Valley Regional Park--Hollister Pond Leucadia Oaks Park Montevalle Community Park & Salt Creek Sunrise Hwy--Pedro Fages Monument
Cheers,
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#17894): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17894 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120872995/858290 -=-=- --- The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/21/26 10:47 am From: Barbara Wise via groups.io <barbaraswise...> Subject: Re: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Sweetwater and Lower Otay Lakes
3 Black Terns found by Paul this morning continue with Forster's in a feeding frenzy over the grebe flock.
Barbara WiseSan Diego
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
On Friday, August 21, 2026, 8:41 AM, <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> wrote:
Friday morning at Sweetwater Reservoir there's a group of three juvenile Black Terns flying around the main part of the lake, often attracted to Western Grebe feeding frenzies. Also a continuing Bank Swallow around the fisherman's parking lot, and continuing three Neotropic Cormorants at the top end at dawn.
At the east end of Lower Otay Lake, there is a continuing Marbled godwit, two juvenile Short billed Dowitchers, and six Semipalmated Plovers-- all uncommon Inland.
Back on Tuesday, I had a Ridgway's Rail on the north side of the main Dairy Mart Pond, which is perhaps the first report from there in about 25 years.
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
Sent from AOL on Android
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17893): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17893 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120863548/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/21/26 8:41 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Sweetwater and Lower Otay Lakes
Friday morning at Sweetwater Reservoir there's a group of three juvenile Black Terns flying around the main part of the lake, often attracted to Western Grebe feeding frenzies. Also a continuing Bank Swallow around the fisherman's parking lot, and continuing three Neotropic Cormorants at the top end at dawn.
At the east end of Lower Otay Lake, there is a continuing Marbled godwit, two juvenile Short billed Dowitchers, and six Semipalmated Plovers-- all uncommon Inland.
Back on Tuesday, I had a Ridgway's Rail on the north side of the main Dairy Mart Pond, which is perhaps the first report from there in about 25 years.
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
Sent from AOL on Android
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17892): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17892 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120863548/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/20/26 7:47 am From: Sally Veach via groups.io <bsktveach...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Rose-breasted Grosbeak Whelan Lake
Just refound the rose- breasted grosbeak near parking area.
Sally Oceanside
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17891): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17891 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120846738/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/16/26 7:32 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Swallow show at Sweetwater Reservoir
The near-annual early-fall swallow show at Sweetwater Reservoir is setting up shop. One needs to be at the fisherman's parking lot when it opens, usually by around 6:45 a.m. or slightly earlier, on the days it is open to the public which is Friday through Monday. The first half hour or hour in the morning when it's "cool" and often overcast is by far the best, as after that the birds spread out as the day warms and you don't see many at all. A scope is needed to scan the sitting flocks .This morning, Sunday, there are about 150 swallows at this site with an additional 50 in a couple groups elsewhere on the reservoir, and after a lot of patient scanning of the sitting birds on various fence lines and weed tops in various directions from the parking lot, I've come up with one female/immature Purple Martin, two Bank Swallows, and a high count of 60 Northern Rough-winged Swallows. The dominant species are Cliff and Rough-winged, with small numbers of Tree and Barn.
At the upper end of the reservoir at dawn, the roost of cormorants in the dead trees a good ways away Include the off-and-on continuing SIX Neotropics. Views are distant, even with a scope.
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
Sent from AOL on Android
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17890): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17890 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120776261/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/14/26 11:28 pm From: Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hotspots for eBird bar charts August 15 - 21
Greetings,
As of the past week, two more hotspots now have complete bar charts!
Next week we have the opportunity to complete three more. Unfortunately, these are all inland.
As the heat warnings continue into next week, I will continue to omit desert hotspots from the list. Please note that the inland hotspots retained on the list will also be extremely hot!
Special note on Agua Caliente - it also only needs this coming week for bar chart completion, but I am omitting it from the list as the park is closed Memorial Day through Labor Day, and the temperatures will be extremely high. I have never been there and do not know whether it is birdable while the park itself is closed - I am guessing it is NOT. But leaving a note here in case someone reading this can safely and legally access it.
Hotspots nearing bar chart completion (number = weeks missing):
*Dinwiddie Preserve, Fallbrook - 1Palomar Mtn.--Thunder Spring/Upper Doane Valley Loop - 1Pamo Valley - 1* Fleet Street Area (Carlsbad) - 2 La Bajada Field (restricted access) - 2 Lopez Ridge Park - 3 San Diego Bay--Ballast Point - 3 San Dieguito Dr. south end - 3 San Luis Rey River--Foussat to Douglas - 3 Los Penasquitos Canyon Preserve--Carson's Crossing area - 4 Swamis Seaside Park - 4 Sweetwater Park - 4 Warwick Ave riparian - 4 Beacon's Beach - 5 Carmel Valley Community Park - 5 San Vicente Reservoir - 5 Valley Middle School Trail - 5 San Diego NWR--Proctor Valley - 7 San Luis Rey Mission - 7 San Marcos Creek - 7 Hosp Grove Park--west of Monroe St - 8 Laguna Mtns.--Morris Ranch Rd. - 9 Mt. Hope Cemetery - 10 Sunset Park (San Marcos) - 10
Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
Vallecito County Park Lawrence Welk Village Crest Drive (Encinitas) Wright's Field Preserve Cleveland NF--Park & Ride Lot 29 and pond Poggi Creek greenbelt & residential Twin Trails Neighborhood Park Ramona Airport Road
Cheers,
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#17889): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17889 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120760638/858290 -=-=- --- The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/11/26 10:13 am From: Bill Tweet via groups.io <billtweet229...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Parula

The Northern Parula reported by Kerry Ross on 8/09 is still present in Tecolote canyon. I relocated it here, 32.4649.9 N 117.1059.9 W. High in Sycamore trees.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17888): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17888 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120704911/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/11/26 7:11 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Stilt Sandpipers gone
Of course not long after I posted that the Stilt Sandpipers were still here, they picked up and joined a small flock of Short billed dowitchers and went higher and higher and were last seeing flying way to the south as specs, which is what shorebirds do here fairly regularly in the morning and are presumably heading south permanently.....
Numbers of juvenile Western Sandpipers have increased significantly, and finally the first juvenile Short billed Dowitchers have arrived.
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
Sent from AOL on Android
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17887): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17887 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120701803/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/11/26 6:51 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Two Stilt Sandpipers continue, plus a Semi Sandpiper iper
The two Stilt Sandpipers found yesterday by Matt Sadowski on Pond 22 in the saltworks continue early Tuesday morning. They started out along the very east edge of the pond at dawn but now have moved to the middle of the pond. This is the pond one sees at the end of 13th Street, but walking east on the bike trail for hundreds of yards one is then directly south of the middle section of the pond, which gets you closer. Unfortunately at that point you're looking through a fence and have to be able to see over the berm. A good scope and good lighting is required. As the day goes on and the sun comes out, it'll get pretty miserable. While first looking at the two birds along that east edge near the second bridge, I looked south into the rehabilitation area and noted a flock of about 30 Westerns, mostly juveniles, and with them was a juvenile Semipalmated Sandpiper, but all those birds have since flushed and gone to who knows where. There are lots of peep, of course, scattered everywhere, mostly too far away to ID.Â
Paul Lehman, San DiegoÂ
Sent from AOL on Android
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17886): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17886 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120701427/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/10/26 4:13 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic Sunday August 9: Laysan and 22 Black-footeds, South Polar Skua, 3 Masked/Nazca, Craveri's and Scripps's, Townsend's
The second of two back-to-back pelagic trips off San Diego this weekend took place Sunday, August 9, aboard "Legacy" out of Seaforth Landing and sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society. Ocean conditions were light to barely moderate. Highlights of the trip included a close Laysan Albatross (30-Mile Bank) and as many as ca. 22 Black-footed Albatrosses (a new record count). A cooperative South Polar Skua was also at the 30-Mile Bank. Single pairs of Craveri's and Scripps's Murrelets were both inside the 9-Mile Bank in the early morning when the sea surface was the smoothest. Three or four immature Masked/Nazca Boobies were at the same locations as yesterday: one flew past the boat off of Ocean Beach in both the early morning and late afternoon and two were on buoys 8.5 miles SW of the tip of Point Loma--but those two birds were perhaps partly not the same as the two the day before! We shall see if the many photos obtained might elevate one or more of these birds to full species rank. A total of 5 Cocos Boobies included one pale-headed adult male. At the 30-Mile Bank and San Diego Trough were at least 7 Townsend's and 16 Leach's Storm-Petrels.
Lots of photos from both trips will be posted with the shared eBird lists out probably tomorrow and Tuesday.
Totals for the trip once we were over a mile offshore were as follows:
For information on future trips this year between late August and mid-October, see sandiegopelagics.com
--Paul Lehman, Dan Jehl, Alex Abela, Paul Mulholland, Bridget Spencer, Matt Sadowski, Nancy Christensen, San Diego
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17885): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17885 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120682820/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/9/26 5:06 am From: <lehman.paul...> via groups.io <lehman.paul...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] San Diego pelagic, Aug 8th: 3 Masked/Nazca & 19 Cocos, 17+ Black-footeds, 5 Townsend's, Black Tern
The first of two back-to-back pelagic trips off San Diego this weekend took place Saturday, August 8, aboard "Legacy" out of Seaforth Landing and sponsored by Buena Vista Audubon Society. Ocean conditions were light to moderate. Highlights of the trip included three immature Masked/Nazca Boobies: one circled the boat 5.4 miles W of Ocean Beach and two were on buoys 8.5 miles SW of the tip of Point Loma. We shall see if the many photos obtained might elevate one or more of these birds to full species rank. A total of 19 Cocos Boobies for the day was quite high. At least 17 Black-footed Albatrosses--possibly as many as 20--which included 12 at a single chum slick on the 30-Mile Bank, ties the all-time high count for San Diego waters set just last month. Also at the 30-Mile Bank were at least 5 Townsend's and 8 Leach's Storm-Petrels. A breeding-plumaged Black Tern was several miles off Ocean Beach. A choppy sea surface made alcid searching difficult, and we ended up with only a good number of Cassin's Auklets. Totals for the trip once we were over a mile offshore were as follows:
For information on future trips this year between late August and mid-October, see sandiegopelagics.com
--Paul Lehman, Bruce Rideout, Dan Jehl, Ted Keyel, Dan King, Matt Sadowski, San DiegoÂ
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group.
View/Reply Online (#17884): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17884 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120668559/858290 -=-=-
---
The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
Date: 8/7/26 10:45 pm From: Ruslan Balagansky via groups.io <ruslan...> Subject: [SanDiegoRegionBirding] Hotspots for eBird bar charts August 18 - 14
Greetings,
Despite the extreme heat, all but 3 of the 27 spots on the main list this week were covered! A personal highlight for me was a surprise Zone-tailed Hawk flyby in Santa Ysabel - a nice reward for braving 100 degree heat out there.
Next week we have the opportunity to complete two more hotspots - both coastal (listed first on the list below).
Extreme/excessive heat continues through the weekend and early next week, and Borrego will have highs above 100 even past that, so I'm still omitting desert hotspots from next week's list (none of them can be completed this year anyway).
That still leaves us with 23 on the main list plus 10 on the "gap" list, with the majority again being coastal.
Hotspots nearing bar chart completion (number = weeks missing):
Agua Hedionda Lagoon--east end - 1 Encinitas Viewpoint Park - 1 Julian--Santa Ysabel Preserve - 2 Pamo Valley - 2 Rancho La Costa Preserve--Denk Mountain and Copper Canyon - 2 Sun Gold Point - 2 Fleet Street Area (Carlsbad) - 3 La Bajada Field (restricted access) - 3 La Costa Canyon Park - 3 Santa Ysabel OSP--west - 3 Sycamore Canyon County Preserve--Hwy 67 entrance - 3 Lopez Ridge Park - 4 San Diego Bay--bait barges - 4 San Dieguito Dr. south end - 4 Wilderness Gardens Preserve - 4 Collier Park (Ramona) - 5 Beacon's Beach - 6 Carmel Valley Community Park - 6 Henshaw Scenic Vista - 8 San Luis Rey Mission - 8 Appleton Preserve, Fallbrook, CA - 10 Laguna Mtns.--Morris Ranch Rd. - 10 Pine Valley Creek (SD Co.) - 10
Hotspots with 3+ week bar chart gaps:
Mt. Hope Cemetery Cleveland NF--Park & Ride Lot 29 and pond Inaja Memorial Park Poggi Creek greenbelt & residential Lamar County Park Rambla De Las Flores--Richardson Field to RSF Field (restricted access) San Pasqual Valley UCSD--Medical Center area Aston & Rutherford business area San Diego Archaeological Center
Cheers,
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Groups.io Links: You receive all messages sent to this group. View/Reply Online (#17883): https://groups.io/g/SanDiegoRegionBirding/message/17883 Mute This Topic: https://groups.io/mt/120653927/858290 -=-=- --- The monthly meetings of San Diego Field Ornithologists (SDFO) are currently virtual, open only to members, at 6pm on the third Tuesday of every month.
