Please join us on July 16, 2020, 7PM, for a webinar hosted by Marin Audubon Society <https://bbox.blackbaudhosting.com/webforms/linkredirect?url=https%3a%2f%2fw ww.marinaudubon.org%2f&srcid=23022320&srctid=1&erid=1568906552&trid=395ecdb3 -4338-4bbc-ba85-c2e04a9d75de&linkid=232550887&isbbox=1> . Learn about the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Plan to continue restoring the globally important Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge. A critical stage of the restoration is to remove the non-native and invasive house mice from the island. Attend the webinar to hear how you can help restore this unique ecosystem.
Registration is required and free. You may register up to the time of the event at this link <https://bbox.blackbaudhosting.com/webforms/linkredirect?url=https%3a%2f%2fz oom.us%2fwebinar%2fregister%2fWN_kjXTUVbtTZ2TxZxIgz4LUA&srcid=23022320&srcti d=1&erid=1568906552&trid=395ecdb3-4338-4bbc-ba85-c2e04a9d75de&linkid=2325508 88&isbbox=1> .
Presentations will be made by scientists and land managers experienced with the Farallon Islands wildlife and the restoration plan:
* Roger Harris, Certified Wildlife Biologist, Oceanic Society * Gerry McChesney, Farallon Islands National Wildlife Refuge Manager, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service * Winston Vickers, DVM, MPVM, University of California, Davis * Peter Warzybok, Farallones Program Leader, Point Blue Conservation Science
Anna Weinstein, Director of Marine Conservation, National Audubon Society, as MC
Tony Brake
Pt. Richmond
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Date: 7/9/20 4:17 pm From: C Lou <cdlou37...> Subject: [SFBirds] Rock Wren- Lakeview and Ashton Mini Park July 9
Hi ALL, there is a ROCK WREN at Lakeview and Ashton Mini Park. It was first seen around the bare strip of land across from 488 Orizaba Ave., on the curb and underneath the cars. Later, it was on the rocks with the circular lichens just north of 488 Orizaba Ave. (SE corner of rocks)
This park is very small, with a large rock formation at the "NW' corner to the smaller rocks or boulders to the "SE" corner.
Calvin Lou SF
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Date: 7/9/20 2:26 pm From: Richard Bradus via groups.io <grizzledjay=<yahoo.com...> Subject: [SFBirds] PAAU disappearing act
Hi all
Beautiful late morning along the coast. Lots of cormorants, pelicans and the like on the move, plus some breeding gulls and others. The Parakeet Auklet continues around the Hermit Rock area. I first spotted it ~11:30am (from the beach/rocky shore) atop a small mussel-encrusted rock quite near the shore below the overlook area. It then flew into the water and somehow bobbed around in and through some pretty rough surf. Sometimes it seemed to ride the waves and other times did the sensible thing and dove underneath the breakers. Plucky and tough little bird! I got a couple of photos that I will upload to an eBird checklist eventually.
After a few more minutes it flew behind Hermit Rock and I lost it, but then Lee Hong Chang spotted it (he raised the possibility of a second PAAU ?!) near the top of the little brown rock just to the west of Hermit Rock, where it was almost perfectly camouflaged against the rocky surface - with its back toward us, if it did not turn its head we would never be able to see it! Amazing disappearing act.
So, if you go out to spot this returning marvel and are about to give up, make sure to take a good look at the much smaller brown rock just to the west of hermit Rock and be patient (and you may still need a scope to be sure).
Good luck!
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Date: 7/8/20 10:37 pm From: Rudyard Wallen <arelist12...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Parakeet Auklet and Black Oystercatchers
Hi Gerry,
that's awesome news. In previous years they incubated 2-3 eggs, though they only ever successfully fledged one chick.
The climb up that crevice is not difficult (these guys were amateurs) but they got up high enough and far enough into the cave, where the PIGU nest, to flush everything out the back of the cave and into the water behind Hermit Rock. This proximity caused the birds at the top of the rock to startle, including the BLOY so I have a photo of one egg unattended with a Western Gull about a meter away (cue dark music). Between your description and the timing it sounds like they only had the one egg
The only time I've reported climbers on cliffs or sea stacks is when they are disturbing roosting or nesting birds. Call this number, though if it's a difficult location (such as Hermit rock) they ask that you remain on site. Dispatch will probably let you know if it's required
NPS San Francisco Field Office *Non-Emergency line: (415) 561-5505
It's the same number to report drones operated within the GGNRA
Thanks again Gerry- if they get this one down from the rock to where it's foraging on its own that will be 4 fledged chicks over 6 years, though with 2014 being a first attempt that failed early. Young parents? If you managed to get photos of the chick can you send one or two off list?
Rudy W. SF
Any questions on this please contact me off list.
*I have no idea in what instances you would call their emergency line over 911 but NPS SF Emergency: (415) 561-5656
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Date: 7/8/20 9:36 pm From: Gerry McChesney <gerry.mcchesney...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Parakeet Auklet and Black Oystercatchers
I don't know when those folks climbed up Hermit Rock (steep climb!), but
there was a mobile, probably week to 10-day old oystercatcher chick on
Hermit Rock on June 26. If its survived to this point (oystercatcher
generally have low breeding success), it would be getting pretty big and
capable of skirting off somewhere and hiding, which they're very good at.
I'd still keep an eye out for it (and the adults, of course).
Gerry McChesney
Fremont, CA
On Wed, Jul 8, 2020 at 11:43 AM Rudyard Wallen <arelist12...> wrote:
> 
> Hey Folks,
>
> The PAAU flew out to the deep channel at about 10:40am, just to add that
> to its behavior record.
>
> On a real bummer of a note the Black Oystercatchers that were flushed from
> their single egg by some instagrammers climbing Hermit Rock have abandoned
> the nest. I don’t have the number with me (I only just learned this) but
> you can report climbers on the sea stacks, especially during nesting
> season, to the GGNRA. It’s considered off designated trails, as well let
> them know nesting birds are being disturbed.
>
> You can also report a seabird disturbance here-
>
> https://farallones.noaa.gov/eco/seabird/seabird_report.html >
> Cheers
>
> -Rudy W.
> SF
>
>
>
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Date: 7/8/20 1:48 pm From: Stephen Schulz via groups.io <steveschulz1=<yahoo.com...> Subject: [SFBirds] 8 Guillemots at McCovey Cove
There were 8 Pigeon Guillemots seen from the end of the South Beach Marina pier this morning. 3 were right next to the pier when I arrived. After a bit they flew across to Pier 48 where there were 5 more.  This is the 5th time I've seen guillemots at this location this year. About a month ago I was out on 3 of 4 days and saw 1, 1 and 2 birds and this Tuesday there were 2 there. I wasn't actively birding all those times, but keeping an eye out for anything unusual on my morning walk. In the last 5 years there are only about a dozen sightings in eBird south of the bridge in the city including one other at this site and 3 at Heron's Head in the last two months. We seem to be having a bit of an incursion this year.
Steve SchulzSan Francisco
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Date: 7/8/20 11:43 am From: Rudyard Wallen <arelist12...> Subject: [SFBirds] Parakeet Auklet and Black Oystercatchers

Hey Folks,
The PAAU flew out to the deep channel at about 10:40am, just to add that to
its behavior record.
On a real bummer of a note the Black Oystercatchers that were flushed from
their single egg by some instagrammers climbing Hermit Rock have abandoned
the nest. I don’t have the number with me (I only just learned this) but
you can report climbers on the sea stacks, especially during nesting
season, to the GGNRA. It’s considered off designated trails, as well let
them know nesting birds are being disturbed.
Date: 7/7/20 4:40 pm From: Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...> Subject: [SFBirds] Mtn Lake -- Red-eyed Vireo (continues?)
Hey bird fanatics,
Let me start by reminding folks to use caution when viewing in the Redstart
nest area. It's a wonderful thing to have all these m.o.b.s (many observant
birders) and curious passersby but if we stress the breeding pair or
attract corvid attention or other predators it seems less likely that they
will return to the lake in the future or tell their friends about it.
I headed to Mountain Lake early to check on the American Redstarts. I
started out by the playground and was perplexed to hear the now familiar
male's song coming both from across the lake to the north and from the
south side. A little while later I confirmed one AMRE moving in a Monterey
cypress south of the lake. Over in the Redstart territory, the male
consistently sang near the nest for a good bit while Dave Webster and I
enjoyed looks at the female, who left the nest once or twice. A really nice
guy named Al came by walking his dog. He'd heard all the vagrant hullabaloo
and lamented not having his bins. He was an old school hawk guy who said
he'd been fortunate to pal around with birders like Dan Murphy and Joe
Morlan back in the day. The male bird had been silent since before Al
arrived; he left after 30 minutes of no luck. When the bird finally
returned he passed an insect to his mate — his tendency toward lengthy
sojourns could explain the earlier sighting across the water.
Bob Gunderson arrived and some other birders followed, including Pat Wong
and a Michelle. The male was seen by all and photographed in good light. As
Pat's group was disappearing around the bend, I heard what sounded like a
purple finch coming from the willows, only the song was a "self song," the
quieter kind one hears from solitary birds. I had never heard that from
purple finch before, plus the notes started taking on a slightly different
quality, more disjointed, vireo-like. I got on the large RED-EYED VIREO
(one was had by Mark Dettling and then Rajan on June 18) for two seconds
before it blended back into its surroundings. While Bob tried to get pics I
was able to get a nice long recording (audio here:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S71232887 ). Ken Moy rolled up next and said
the recording was good for REVI. The vireo reappeared infrequently over the
next hour or more but was tough to pin down with so many birds, such as
Hutton's Vireo, house and purple finches, and European starlings, making
somewhat similar sounds. I finally made peace with the lack of a photo,
leaving the work to a pair of young birders who were tackling the Redstarts
as I pried myself from the lake's grip.
Who said summer is boring!?
Dan Scali, SF
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Date: 7/7/20 12:26 pm From: David Assmann via groups.io <david_assmann=<yahoo.com...> Subject: [SFBirds] Fort Mason Local Interest - Golden Crowned Sparrow
The surprise bird today at Fort Mason was a GOLDEN CROWNED SPARROW sitting on the north fence of the garden - must be an oversummering bird that has managed to elude observation the last few months. A PACIFIC SLOPE FLYCATCHER also was in the garden - probably an early dispersing bird. A WHITE-THROATED SWIFT flew by a few times. There were three young HOODED ORIOLES in and around the garden - observed one flying south up the hill which made me wonder if they fly back and forth to Lafayette Park. The WESTERN BLUEBIRDS have successfully fledged young - the first bluebirds to fledge at this location since I started birding at Fort Mason.
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Date: 7/6/20 8:55 pm From: H Cotter <chatwren...> Subject: [SFBirds] San Francisco Cumulative List Update - June 2020
All, I was asked recently about whether I was still doing the cumulative list for San Francisco. I have some issues with the website where it is located in recent months but finally have the site back and with an updated cumulative list through June of 2020.
The cumulative total for the City for 2020 stands at 250 species (including one species pair) - the joint highest total ever at this stage of the year.
In 2018 we also had 250 species at the end of June and ended up with a final total of 301 species- the highest number since I started the list in 1998.
2020 started off relatively quiet but it was a pretty special April and May with some exceptional highlights and it will be interesting to see how the rest of the year goes from here.
The City species list overall stands at a tentative 427 species; the County list stands at 492 species.
I hope to keep updating on a more regular basis as the year moves along.
Hugh
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Date: 7/6/20 12:51 pm From: Brian Fitch <fogeggs...> Subject: [SFBirds] July Oddities
After spending some days in saner parts of the state, I hit the city today, with a multi-hour seawatch and a check on North Lake.
The diffuse fog haze made distant viewing tough, and all of the interesting birds were distant. The highlight was a splotchy tubenose that glided by just over the waves heading north, nearly leading me to make a report for the sake of anyone watching from Marin and beyond. But luckily I held back, and the bird reappeared for a second, closer pass 15 minutes later, revealing that it was a very mottled Northern Fulmar, splatter-plumaged like a Pollock painting, white and brownish gray in equal amounts. Just as on the first pass, it flew with a stiff-winged glide and vanished among the waves heading north. I can't recall ever seeing a fulmar here in July, but I'm pretty certain it's not unprecedented. Several Elegant Terns were out, and also an ambitious Pigeon Guillemot carrying a fish nearly as big as its white wing patch.
At North Lake, there was an apparent Warbling Vireo on the west side across from the northernmost island. WAVI's aren't regular in SF in July, though I know there's been one singing in the arboretum for a while. It was feeding frenetically enough to not allow me a good view, and after 10 minutes it vanished. It caught my attention because even though it looked mostly like a Warbling, with olive back and no wing bars, the facial marks were strange, with the feathers puffed out such that it appeared to lack any marks around the eye, but which also made it look as if it could have had an eyering. But what got me excited for the second time in the morning was that it pumped its tail a couple of times. It was completely silent, not even scolding when a pair of Hutton's came near. It may only be a Warbling that had just taken a bath, but it was intriguing.
There was no sign of the Hooded Warbler when I passed by the golf course edge.
Brian Fitch
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The Parakeet Auklet continued today, 7/5. Seen at around 2:00pm near shore not far from Hermit Rock. I watched it there for about 10 minutes before it circled and landed on the back side of Hermit Rock.
Date: 7/2/20 5:01 pm From: Bob Hall <bilgepump100...> Subject: [SFBirds] 7/2 Swainson's thrush
Had one still singing at Mountain Lake today. Seems late and interesting.
Nothing rare but lots of bird and butterfly action (and tranquility) at Sutro Rotary Meadows today. May be a good escape hatch during the crowded holiday festivities.
--
Bob Hall
San Francisco, CA
"There is no better high than discovery." - E.O. Wilson
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Date: 7/1/20 12:17 pm From: Chris Vance <giantscv55...> Subject: [SFBirds] American Redstart
Heard singing and seen on mtn. Lake trail 50 ft. north of mulched indentation. Seen on dried up Elderberry. Still singing on west side of trail.
Chris Vance
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Date: 7/1/20 12:04 am From: Richard Bradus via groups.io <grizzledjay=<yahoo.com...> Subject: [SFBirds] Young Red-tail Up Close
Well, I'm 0 for 2 for the "rare" birds over the last couple of days. By the time I made it out to the GGP golf course late this morning it had gotten pretty quiet, with no sign of the Hooded Warbler though there were counter-singing Pacific Wrens and Wilson's Warblers and the rather vocal Red-tail family that bred here this spring.
So I decided to do my usual loop around the Bercut area - whoa! There's a whole new horse stables and enclosure adjacent to the maintenance area. Guess it's been too long since I've made the rounds. Continuing around and looping to the south I was stopped in my tracks by a (another) juvenile Red-tailed Hawk on the ground, right off the main paved path paralleling MLK Drive:
It proceeded to scrounge through the dried grass (looking for insects?) but all I saw it come up with was a blade of grass stuck in its beak. Eventually flushed into the adjacent trees by passing joggers, it clumsily flew from branch to branch a bit before eventually flying off to a more placid perch in a tree further off the path.
Nothing earthshaking, but a nice diversion nonetheless - one of my closest hawk encounters. More photos for those interested on my eBird checklist:Â https://ebird.org/checklist/S71002375 Happy trails!
Richard BradusSan Francisco
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Date: 6/30/20 9:32 pm From: Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...> Subject: [SFBirds] Mountain Lake American Redstart Reverie - CORRECTION
Bird fans,
It turns out there's a whole lot of data out there in the world, some of which doesn't pop up with a simple Google search :)
Peter Metropulos and Chris Heyward informed me of an Am Redstart breeding record from the 1997 San Mateo Co breeding bird atlas. Fledged young were 0 AMRE and I believe multiple Brown-headed Cowbirds. I wanted further details so I searched literature Peter and Chris referenced. In the National Aubdubon Society Field Notes Vol. 51, Issue 5 (winter) from 1997, it is reported that breeding evidence of American Redstart is easily obtainable in Humboldt and Del Norte counties. It then goes on to mention that that '97 summer had the first proven records of AMRE breeding in Marin, San Mateo, and Monterey counties. These were records obtained by the likes of Ron Thorn, Rich Stallcup, and Don Roberson.
Perhaps on the GGAS Chat forum (Dominik, is that the preferred discussion place?), other California field veterans could share any other pertinent Redstart info of the last 50 years.
All that said, I am 99.9% certain the Mtn Lake record is a first for SF county.
Good birding,
Dan
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Date: 6/30/20 3:31 pm From: Stephen Schulz via groups.io <steveschulz1=<yahoo.com...> Subject: [SFBirds] Gull "Colony" in Mission Bay District
There is a large fenced in asphalt area where Mission Bay Blvd and Channel Street run into the traffic circle at Owens Street. Three pairs of Western Gulls have set up housekeeping and at least two of them have downy chicks wandering around. One doesn't get too many opportunities to observe this species at close range at that age, so it's a bit exciting.
There also is one pair evidently nesting on the roof of the eight story building across from where I live on Brannan St. I've seen copulation and nesting material being brought in. There is often on bird sitting on the corner of the roof, but I can't see onto the roof to verify what is actually happening there.
Be safe,Steve SchulzSan Francisco
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Date: 6/30/20 3:21 pm From: Richard Bradus via groups.io <grizzledjay=<yahoo.com...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Baby Lawrence's Goldfinch - eBird Hotspot
Fantastic!
I tried to do just that yesterday late afternoon, thinking that it would be easier with the absence of the fog and mist, but the ridiculously strong wind kept all the birds either in cover or flying by at extreme speed, though I did see and hear lots of House Finches, a Creeper, and the Barn Owls further to the west. After nearly an hour and a half of fruitless searching for the Lawrence's family, I finally heard about 45 seconds of the male doing two stanzas of his characteristic jumbled high pitched melange (from just to the east, in the restored "Western forest" area) but was unable to actually see him.
FYI - for those of you who have posted eBird checklists over the past week, especially those who used a personally marked spot or "Forest restoration area--Presidio" (and some of you who used the Julius Kahn Playground hotspot for convenience), please note that there is a newly approved particularly apt Hotspot for this area (the forest restoration area and the trails along W. Pacific Ave. and leading past Paul Goode Field to the north) called Presidio--Southeast. It can be easily found on the SF Hotspot map on eBird or see:Â https://ebird.org/hotspot/L7489749As you continue to visit this area, please submit checklists using this hotspot - and those of you who have submitted checklists under a personal spot or other location should be encouraged to re-designate their checklists under this hotspot as it will very much simplify the eventual process of data aggregation.
Thanks - and continued good sightings to all
Richard BradusSan Francisco
On Tuesday, June 30, 2020, 2:02:59 PM PDT, Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...> wrote:
Hiya,
To answer Bob's question, I noticed today that the area where the LAGOs have been most frequently seen is full of fiddlenecks, plants that I had heard LAGOs like. This morning I watched the stunning adult male visit multiple plant patches, chomping away on his favored parts.
Dan
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To answer Bob's question, I noticed today that the area where the LAGOs have been most frequently seen is full of fiddlenecks, plants that I had heard LAGOs like. This morning I watched the stunning adult male visit multiple plant patches, chomping away on his favored parts.
Dan
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Date: 6/29/20 8:14 pm From: Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...> Subject: [SFBirds] Mountain Lake American Redstart Reverie
Hello Birders,
With one week on the books the rambunctious immature male American Redstart continues to dance and sing its feathered heart out along the willow corridor extending north from Mountain Lake. A bevy of birders have stopped to look and listen; a few 1000 San Francisco humans and 100s of dogs have sidled by unaware. Thanks to Rajan Rao's keen observations, we learned that the true intended recipient of the young heroes aural affection is a female American Redstart (AMRE) of undetermined age (calling all molt experts).
Yesterday morning, Juan Garcia and I rounded the bend from the freeway underpass, heading south — he had yet to visit the birds. It was quiet as we passed the willowy red elderberry patch where the youngster first sang to me in the afternoon of June 22. Then came a burst of warbler notes from the golf course side of the pathway. As we proceeded to try to get Juan visuals, we instead saw the OG AG (Angie Geiger) coming our way, having had good looks already before an agitated Robin sent the vocal Redstart in our direction. Over the next couple of minutes we teamed up to watch the show with two obviously separate AMREs moving about — one singing and one silent. Angie and I then saw one of the birds dart south into the thicket, its yellow tail flashes a beacon as it settled upon its destination. Angie SAW THE NEST first, then we all watched in disbelief as our female hero disappeared and then reappeared with a thin thread of dry grass. We stayed a while longer to enjoy the spectacle.
This morning I went back for an update. The male continued to do his usual; the female continued work on the nest (At one point, Dave Assman happened on over).
This looks to be the first California breeding record for American Redstart outside of Humboldt County. Binford and Stallcup wrote about the 1972 Humboldt record in Western Birds ( https://sora.unm.edu/node/121893 ); the parents were adult birds and produced nestlings. Likewise there is an adult breeding record on eBird from Ferndale Bottoms in Humboldt County in 2013. There is no information on eBird as to their success or failure and I did not find other data elsewhere. The young Mountain Lake pair have the odds stacked against them. As I'm sure we are all rooting for them, let's be very mindful about how we approach, witness, and document this extraordinary occurrence.
Infinite kudos to the Presidio Trust (and birders like Josaiah) for their incredible habitat restoration efforts.
Good birding,
Dan Scali, SF
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Date: 6/28/20 4:16 pm From: Paul Saraceni <paulsaraceni...> Subject: [SFBirds] Terns & Shorebirds, 6/28/20, etc.
This morning during seawatching from the Cliff House in strong W winds, Hugh Cotter and I observed at least 26 ELEGANT TERNS, all of which were flying W out of the Golden Gate Channel then heading SW.
We next met up at Heron's Head Park. Scoping from the end of the path near the tip of the peninsula we observed very distant terns out by the cargo ships in the Bay, including ~20 LEAST TERNS and ~5 FORSTER'S TERNS. Three of the Least Terns headed W flying just past us and into India Basin allowing for close looks and listens to their calls and a few photos. They disappeared quickly -- we were unable to relocate them from various points along the Basin.
4 Caspian Terns were also present to round out the tern species.
In addition to the local Black Oystercatchers (4) and Black-necked Stilts (8), migrant shorebirds @ Heron's Head / India Basin included: Long-billed Curlew 3 Whimbrel 2 Willet 12
A brief stop @ Pier 94 produced the continuing GADWALL on the "Pond" in the industrial lot to the south, looking through the fence.
Also, recent returning shorebirds @ Ocean Beach included: Whimbrel -- 9 on 6/27 Marbled Godwit -- 1 on 6/27 Willet -- 1 on 6/18 (more since then) Western Sandpiper -- 1 ad. on 6/18
Paul Saraceni San Francisco
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Don Kroodsma sent this thoughtful message yesterday regarding a methodology
for sorting out an unseen BEWR/SPTO heard on private property. My
apologies for not sending it yesterday for those curious souls that might
have contemplated a dawn listen this morning. Thought some might find his
approach illuminating.
Regarding the terms sona-gram, sonogram, and spectrogram, they all refer to
the same type of visualization of sound as used in our discussions.
Spectrogram is now the recommended term in scientific literature. The
first commercial device to create spectrograms was the Sona-Graph developed
in the early 1950's and manufactured by Kay Elemetrics, thus origin of
the word sona-gram (or sonagram)--something akin to referring to a
photocopy as a "xerox" copy. Later, the term sonogram gained acceptance
over the trade-marked Sona-graph reference. Spectrogram is now the
accepted term and avoids confusion with the medical image "sonogram"
produced by ultrasound echo.
Best,
Greg Budney
San Francisco
*from Don Kroodsma...*
So is it the wren or not?
Here’s how you would find out. About an hour before sunrise, stand in the
vicinity where this bird was heard. Listen for a wren, a typical wren song,
because the local Wren will have about 20 different songs. Also listen for
a towhee, as a local towhee might have up to 10 different songs.
During the intense singing of the dawn chorus, listen for a normal wren
song to be repeated 20 to 30 times, and then another wren song 20 to 30
times, and if the wren is going to sing the odd song during the dawn
chorus, at some point a normal Wren song will give away to this apparently
odd song, To be song 20 to 30 times.
But if you listen during the entire dawn chorus, perhaps 45 minutes long,
the wren might reveal only half of his 20 different songs. So on any given
morning, you have only a 50% chance of hearing the odd song if indeed it is
coming from the wren
See http://birdsongforthecurious.com/recording.php?page=215 and the
accompanying pages in the book for an illustration.
The towhee is a little different during the dawn chorus, because he works
through his repertoire faster, often alternating two or three different
songs. If the song is from a towhee you would have a much better chance of
hearing it at dawn.
See http://birdsongforthecurious.com/recording.php?page=124
Wish I could join you in a big listen. I cannot imagine a finer way to
spend an hour.
Best, Don
DonaldKroodsma.com
On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 10:16 PM Nico Stuurman <nico...>
wrote:
> Not to distract from the bird in question (and I think we all deserve a
> conclusion to this thread with a visual ID;), but it is my understanding
> that sonograms have been in wide use in bird sound research, which involves
> extensive field work. I loved reading Donald Kroodsma's "The singing life
> of Birds", and can recommend it to anyone interested in bird song. Only
> downside is that I don't have a way to play the included CD;).
>
> Best,
>
> Nico
>
> On 6/24/2020 9:44 PM, Brian Fitch wrote:
>
> This is striking a deeper issue for me, so I'll try again.
>
> If this is a Bewick's Wren, then it's not* likely* a migrant, and it
> could be out there trilling away in McLaren, if only we knew where to
> listen and look. I would love to hear and see such an unusual event, as I
> have no experience in many years of birding with a Bewick's repeating the
> same odd song, well up in a tree, for such an extended period of time. As
> I wrote earlier, Bewick's don't *tend* to do this. (Unfortunately, my
> italicizing of "likely" and "tend" will probably be lost on Sialia.)
> Bewick's are famous for giving multiple variations on their theme within a
> short period, and usually sing from scrubby habitat even where trees are
> available.
>
> My message this morning was meant as a nudge to a young birder to share
> more pertinent details about his find, but now he's been redirected to
> making spectrograms rather than making a complete report of a compelling
> find.
>
> Are spectrograms an undeniable source for ID, or are they merely the aural
> equivalent of digital photos? Digital shots have not lessened the human
> desire to toss opinions around, as witnessed by the amazing exchanges
> between a panel of experts on Peninsula Birds over the last few days, a
> discussion in which said experts have not yet agreed on the ID of a young
> warbler. Conversely, many published photos are unequivocal in their ID
> usefulness, so perhaps spectrograms are similarly useful much of the time?
>
> I have little experience with using sonagrams, as they were called in my
> childhood copy of the Golden Guide. The 1966 edition has an introduction
> to bird song that focuses completely on sonagrams and their interpretation,
> as if it was the latest new thing in understanding song ID. The book has
> sonagrams for all four of the species that have been proposed in this
> thread, but only a single graph for each species, as if there could be no
> variation. In the intervening years, I've heard little if anything about
> them, which raises the question of why they fell out of favor if they are
> so useful. And now they've back under the title of spectrogram. Does
> this represent some new breakthroughs in sound technology, or is it just a
> returning trend of the moment, prompted by some new app? eBird has
> recently been inundated with spectrograms and recordings, but that doesn't
> clarify the cause of the huge increase, whether it represents a fad or a
> real advancement in knowledge.
>
> I can see similarities between all three graphs that Frank sent, but none
> of the three are identical. It would be informative to see a rendering of
> the wren that Mike describes, as that might supply some correlative facts
> rather than opinions. Is it a fact that every variation of Bewick's song
> shows an identical frequency in the trill, and that every Blue-winged also
> always shows a tighter set of lines? In other words, are the spectrograms
> truly diagnostic in this case? Is there never variation in frequency to
> the point of overlap between species?
>
> Most if not all of my on-line arguments of the past decade have been with
> individuals or panels of experts who were sitting at their screens trying
> to judge the *actual* experience of myself or others through
> technologically rendered derivations, through *virtual* experience.
> Virtual versus actual, machine versus human. I know that humans make
> perceptual errors, but humans make the machines, imbed their biases in
> them, and then too often compound their errors in the interpretation of the
> machine's output. And yet here I am trying to compare Eddie's recording
> and spectrogram to other recordings on Xeno-Canto, so I'm also trying to
> judge the actual through the virtual, which leaves me more open to the
> possibility of being flat out wrong about my ID thoughts. Yet there are
> simply too many odd circumstances involved in this case for me to let a
> spectrogram rule out other possibilities, unless spectrograms have risen to
> a new level of diagnostic capacity.
>
> I'm very interested in hearing and seeing the bird that is giving this
> song, be it a wren, warbler, towhee, or junco. I'm also willing to engage
> any tool that can help me refine my senses, but not ones that deny human
> perception or override it in a categorical manner. Binoculars refine my
> eyesight in every case, but it's unclear to me whether spectrograms are
> comparable, or if they represent a less reliable tool.
>
> Brian Fitch
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 5:52 PM Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...>
> wrote:
>
>> This should be better. Sialia doesn't show attachments. If it's still
>> tiny, just look at someone else's post for the Spectogram.
>>
>> From Denise Wight:
>>
>> Hi Daniel,
>>
>> I'm going with Bewick's Wren. In the attached spectrogram, the second
>> trill shows a note at the top, a slight jump, like a dotted "i" which a lot
>> of trilling birds don't have. The tone sounds good for Bewick's Wren, too.
>> Spotted Towhees occasionally have strange two-parted songs, so I thought
>> about that as a possibility, too. But I've heard soooo many Bewick's Wrens
>> that have the most bizarre variations in songs. One at Mitchell Canyon had
>> only two quick, same pitched buzzes for his song, and was found in the same
>> location 2 years in a row!
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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Date: 6/28/20 6:47 am From: angie geiger <acgeig...> Subject: [SFBirds] Mount Sutro Parula, singing Swainson's
Walked to the summit of Mount Sutro yesterday to look for Dan's Northern Parula. In spite of heavy, drippy fog, the summit was hopping with bird activity. Most abundant were DE Juncos with lots of juveniles. Lots of fighting, including between adult male Juncos, Wilson's Warblers and HBs of both species, respectively. The Northern Parula made an appearance in a tree at the summit above the SW facing slope where Dan originally reported it earlier this week. It was singing occasionally, which was helpful in locating the bird. Eventually, it was replaced by two Hutton's Vireos. Last note - there was a singing and calling Swainson's Thrush along the North Ridge Trail about halfway down to Medical Center Way.
Good birding, y'all
--
Angie G.
SF Birder
Stay Well, Be Happy, Go Birding
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Date: 6/26/20 10:55 am From: Richard Bradus via groups.io <grizzledjay=<yahoo.com...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Lawrence's Goldfinch family In Presidio - new (old) hotspot
Hi Mike (and community)
Of course, we should always be cognizant of potential disturbance to the animals we wish to see and enjoy, particularly during breeding, so discretion is warranted.
Having said that, the area where the Lawrence's Goldfinches have been seen is actually pretty heavily traveled by walkers, dog-walkers, runners and neighborhood families, and has been undergoing restoration (replanting of the "Western forest" and removal of most of the eucalyptus and old cypress trees to open up for scrub and more native vegetation) for awhile.
I have been occasionally visiting this area over the past couple of years and have been reporting as a Personal Hotspot on eBird (most recent: https://ebird.org/checklist/S69190729) - the area at the southeast corner of the Presidio including the trails leading parallel and from West Pacific Ave. and Paul Goode Field. After mulling over this (for too long!) I have now submitted a request that this be made into a Hotspot available to all, particularly in view of the recent reports of Lawrence's Goldfinches in this area (and I wonder if I actually may have seen them here before but not been able to ID...).
Hopefully this Presidio--Southeast Hotspot will be available for all to record our recent visits - and it is an area that has been under-explored but has promise for additional discoveries as the ongoing restoration continues.
Good luck to all (birding with care).
Richard Bradus
San Francisco
On Thursday, June 25, 2020, 09:58:08 PM PDT, Mike Carozza <mike.carozza...> wrote:
Wow! This seems like a situation where birders need to be extremely careful so as not to stress them since they’re spending time on the ground?Â
I want to visit but would love to hear from an expert in that regard.Â
MC
On Thu, Jun 25, 2020 at 7:27 PM Lee-Hong Chang via groups.io <lhchang825=<yahoo.com...> wrote:
Aaron, sorry! I meant Hooded Oriole as described in my ebird checklist. Somehow Hooded Oriole transformed into Jooeded Warbler when using smartphone technology.
Thank you Mick for your awesome survey of this area to bring attention to us to bird this location that resulted in this unrepresented finding.
Good luck if you try to re-find the LAGO family. Patience is definitely needed as it took me only approximately a week. But they should be still around, since the youngster(s) is/are still young.
Lee
On Thursday, June 25, 2020, 1:46:02 PM PDT, Mick Griffin <londontile...> wrote:
Have seen plenty of Lesser Goldfinches in that field and adjacent areas but no Lawrence…...will have to go back again..
On Jun 25, 2020, at 12:55 PM, Aaron Maizlish <amm.birdlists...> wrote:
Thanks Lee (and Lee!). I’ll go look later this afternoon.
Did you mean Hooded Oriole family?  I’m not aware of any breeding efforts by Hooded Warblers in California this year.
Thanks,
Aaron MaizlishSF
On Jun 25, 2020, at 12:53 PM, Lee-Hong Chang via groups.io <lhchang825=<yahoo.com...> wrote:
Hi, Today (June 25), following a tip from Lee Guichan that she saw a possible male Lawrence's Goldfinch near Julius Kahn Playground on June 16, I believed I have found the male LAGO after a week's search. Additionally, I believed he was feeding a fledgling in shrubs along trail next to fenced off grass field.. The location is near (37.7920218, -122.4510186) - a spot along a trail that extends from Laurel St. (cross street is West Pacific ave.). He was initially spotted in a fenced field east of a ballfield on east side of Julius Kahn Playground.Â
There is also a Jooeded Warbler family with recent fledgling.Â
eBird report link: https://ebird.org/checklist/S70815669 Take care, Lee Chang SFÂ
--
Mike Carozza
914-475-9355
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Date: 6/26/20 8:59 am From: Bob Hall <bilgepump100...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Baby Lawrence's Goldfinch
I’m interested in hearing what they Lawerence’s are using for habitat. It it the same set of exotic plants that have been there for years? Is it the result of some restoration work? Can anyone Identify the type of plants that they’re using for cover and forage?
These kind of details can help with advocacy with city agencies.
Thanks,
Bob Hall
--
Bob Hall
San Francisco, CA
"There is no better high than discovery." - E.O. Wilson
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As far as I know, no adults were seen there and I speculated that the juveniles may have been displaced by a fire in Del Puerto Canyon that year. -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA
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Date: 6/25/20 10:03 pm From: Eddie Monson <eg40monson...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
Hi all, I do believe that this "mystery bird" is a western bird with a weird song. Still it would be great to know what species exactly. Sorry but a couple things I have not mentioned though is that in the area I was hearing it there was a family of 3-4 Bewick's Wrens. Within this family of Bewick's one bird was singing, (looking back now I realize I should have recorded that song too). This song was what I would consider a more typical Bewick's Wren song with many notes bouncing around in pitch and fairly buzzy. This song did not sound anything like the other song I heard. These wrens were also singing from low down in the brush and not super high up. Still, a wren could have easily moved and sung a different song. This would take us back to Alvaros guess of a Spotted Towhee possibly. Although I did not detect any other Spotted Towhees I was mostly focused on the "mystery bird" and therefore could have missed one completely. Whatever this bird is, I'm pretty sure I heard it singing in a large Eucalyptus grove and in some cypresses. Just some other stuff to chew on. Eddie
On Thu, Jun 25, 2020 at 10:56 AM Richard Bradus via groups.io <grizzledjay= <yahoo.com...> wrote:
> Hi Brian > > You have brought up a most important point, that the actual details of > this "sighting" (problematically in this case a "hearing") remain > incomplete. Maddeningly so. > > As for the analysis of sound recordings, sonograms and spectrographs, > there has been significant work in this area over the years (most of which > is in scientific journals - which I confess I have mostly not investigated) > and they have proven to be very useful. Are they definitive? Well... this > is science, after all. More research needed! The recent popularity of > recordings and spectrographs I think is due to the acceptance and > encouragement of such submissions on the eBird platform (with the Macauley > library generating the spectrographs) and especially the wide use of > smartphones and the many good recording apps available. By all means we > should be encouraging such and submitting more recordings for analysis. If > I had a more recent phone I would be doing more myself (the storage on my > ancient phone is maxed already unfortunately). > > Regarding the identification of the bird in question (and in general), it > is important for all of us (myself especially) to keep in mind a tenet of > diagnostic medicine: it is much more likely to encounter an uncommon > manifestation of a common disease than the common manifestation of a very > uncommon disease. A more prosaic way of putting this is "If you hear > hoofbeats it is not likely to be a zebra". I think this applies very much > to "birding" as well. As I observe more in the field (and, as you know, > most "birders" are not really observing), the more surprising things I see > and hear - like a White-crowned Sparrow pair nesting in a small tree in a > Pacific Heights neighborhood fledging not only one of their own chicks but > a Cowbird chick as well (something that I didn't think was possible). So, > while it is a bit unlikely for a Bewick's to be singing the same short song > variant up in a tree (something I have observed on at least one occasion in > Marin county), it is still far more likely than a Blue-winged here. That's > my two cents. > > Thanks, as always, for sharing your experience and for your thoughtful > contributions to the discussion. > > Richard > (with apologies to the rest of the community if this is somewhat > "off-topic") > On Wednesday, June 24, 2020, 09:44:30 PM PDT, Brian Fitch < > <fogeggs...> wrote: > > > This is striking a deeper issue for me, so I'll try again. > > If this is a Bewick's Wren, then it's not* likely* a migrant, and it > could be out there trilling away in McLaren, if only we knew where to > listen and look. I would love to hear and see such an unusual event, as I > have no experience in many years of birding with a Bewick's repeating the > same odd song, well up in a tree, for such an extended period of time. As > I wrote earlier, Bewick's don't *tend* to do this. (Unfortunately, my > italicizing of "likely" and "tend" will probably be lost on Sialia.) > Bewick's are famous for giving multiple variations on their theme within a > short period, and usually sing from scrubby habitat even where trees are > available. > > My message this morning was meant as a nudge to a young birder to share > more pertinent details about his find, but now he's been redirected to > making spectrograms rather than making a complete report of a compelling > find. > > Are spectrograms an undeniable source for ID, or are they merely the aural > equivalent of digital photos? Digital shots have not lessened the human > desire to toss opinions around, as witnessed by the amazing exchanges > between a panel of experts on Peninsula Birds over the last few days, a > discussion in which said experts have not yet agreed on the ID of a young > warbler. Conversely, many published photos are unequivocal in their ID > usefulness, so perhaps spectrograms are similarly useful much of the time? > > I have little experience with using sonagrams, as they were called in my > childhood copy of the Golden Guide. The 1966 edition has an introduction > to bird song that focuses completely on sonagrams and their interpretation, > as if it was the latest new thing in understanding song ID. The book has > sonagrams for all four of the species that have been proposed in this > thread, but only a single graph for each species, as if there could be no > variation. In the intervening years, I've heard little if anything about > them, which raises the question of why they fell out of favor if they are > so useful. And now they've back under the title of spectrogram. Does > this represent some new breakthroughs in sound technology, or is it just a > returning trend of the moment, prompted by some new app? eBird has > recently been inundated with spectrograms and recordings, but that doesn't > clarify the cause of the huge increase, whether it represents a fad or a > real advancement in knowledge. > > I can see similarities between all three graphs that Frank sent, but none > of the three are identical. It would be informative to see a rendering of > the wren that Mike describes, as that might supply some correlative facts > rather than opinions. Is it a fact that every variation of Bewick's song > shows an identical frequency in the trill, and that every Blue-winged also > always shows a tighter set of lines? In other words, are the spectrograms > truly diagnostic in this case? Is there never variation in frequency to > the point of overlap between species? > > Most if not all of my on-line arguments of the past decade have been with > individuals or panels of experts who were sitting at their screens trying > to judge the *actual* experience of myself or others through > technologically rendered derivations, through *virtual* experience. > Virtual versus actual, machine versus human. I know that humans make > perceptual errors, but humans make the machines, imbed their biases in > them, and then too often compound their errors in the interpretation of the > machine's output. And yet here I am trying to compare Eddie's recording > and spectrogram to other recordings on Xeno-Canto, so I'm also trying to > judge the actual through the virtual, which leaves me more open to the > possibility of being flat out wrong about my ID thoughts. Yet there are > simply too many odd circumstances involved in this case for me to let a > spectrogram rule out other possibilities, unless spectrograms have risen to > a new level of diagnostic capacity. > > I'm very interested in hearing and seeing the bird that is giving this > song, be it a wren, warbler, towhee, or junco. I'm also willing to engage > any tool that can help me refine my senses, but not ones that deny human > perception or override it in a categorical manner. Binoculars refine my > eyesight in every case, but it's unclear to me whether spectrograms are > comparable, or if they represent a less reliable tool. > > Brian Fitch > > > > On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 5:52 PM Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...> > wrote: > > This should be better. Sialia doesn't show attachments. If it's still > tiny, just look at someone else's post for the Spectogram. > > From Denise Wight: > > Hi Daniel, > > I'm going with Bewick's Wren. In the attached spectrogram, the second > trill shows a note at the top, a slight jump, like a dotted "i" which a lot > of trilling birds don't have. The tone sounds good for Bewick's Wren, too. > Spotted Towhees occasionally have strange two-parted songs, so I thought > about that as a possibility, too. But I've heard soooo many Bewick's Wrens > that have the most bizarre variations in songs. One at Mitchell Canyon had > only two quick, same pitched buzzes for his song, and was found in the same > location 2 years in a row! > > > > >
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Good discussion here. I recently got Nathan Pieplow’s Peterson Field Guide to Bird Sounds (West) (2017). He makes the case for the ‘spectrograms’ in a big way (as does Kroodsma’s wonderful book). In my personal experience, I have found them to be very useful sometimes, but no substitute for a good ear and lots of experience. And it should be noted that sometimes the spectrograms obscure a difference that is easier to hear directly. Musicians know well the limitations of spectrograms. But with Ebird spectrograms and easy access to handheld tech, this will no doubt be more widely used, especially with fine distinctions that are not easily heard by human ears. We might note how casual birders are now regularly identifying types of red crossbills using this technology.
Kumaran Arul
On Jun 25, 2020, at 4:23 PM, Brian Fitch <fogeggs...> wrote:

This is fascinating on multiple fronts.
Nico invokes Kroodsma last night, which led me to pull Kroodsma's book off the shelf to give it another look, and then Greg passes along some live Kroodsma, offering his verdict based on years of study. I have to admit that a PhD in Bewick's Wren song leads me to repress my heretical impulses to some degree, but they're still there, leaning much more toward first hand experience rather than authoritative statements.
And I'm simply not hearing what Alvaro does, possibly because I did not grow up listening to Blue-wingeds. I listen to Eddie's recording, then to any number of other recordings of Blue-winged, and they seem identical, or nearly so. Checking Xeno-Canto for Bewick's exposes you to a huge number of recordings, and none within my too brief sampling approached Eddie's bird at all. I'm not alone in this, as others are having the same experience.
I can see the difference in the few graphs, but the differences seem visually minimal, which agrees somewhat with my being unable to hear the differences. I've taught bird song ID on many field trips, and have found many rarities based only on first hearing them, so I hope that explains a little why I'm having some resistance to ignoring what I hear. At least Kroodsma acknowledged that this is an aberrant song. I still hope to hear the bird live, and lay the blame for this cognitive dissonance on the virtual renderings of the sounds, as I wrote last night. Yet no one else has heard this individual again, and shouldn't an adult Bewick's stick to its territory and keep singing?
There is still the unanswered question of variation to the point of possible overlap between species, and whether sonograms can be diagnostic. Do the norms, the statistical ranges, never bleed into one another, so that a slow Blue-winged trill could look graphically like a fast wren trill? Sonagrams are abstractions from real experience, and seem to require serious expertise to interpret, which could explain why no other field guides have included them since 1966, and why ornithologists are able to make use of them. But are they open to a variety of interpretations as are photographs, or are they more like fingerprints, offering a clear ID?
On Thu, Jun 25, 2020, 12:10 PM nagra.ivs <nagra.ivs...><mailto:<nagra.ivs...>> wrote:
All,
I sent the unidentified recordings to a friend, Don Kroodsma, a long time bird song researcher without revealing anything more than the recording was made in the SF area. He researched Bewick's Wren song for his Ph.D. Here is his reply, "Bewick's Wren. The wrens in the bay area have about 20 songs apiece. Could’ve been an aberrant song. Sounded like it was repeated in a stereotype fashion, so not a young bird. I heard two phrases to the song, and both sounded like a typical Wren."
Greg Budney
On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 5:52 PM Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...><mailto:<daniel.s.scali...>> wrote:
This should be better. Sialia doesn't show attachments. If it's still tiny, just look at someone else's post for the Spectogram.
From Denise Wight:
Hi Daniel,
I'm going with Bewick's Wren. In the attached spectrogram, the second trill shows a note at the top, a slight jump, like a dotted "i" which a lot of trilling birds don't have. The tone sounds good for Bewick's Wren, too. Spotted Towhees occasionally have strange two-parted songs, so I thought about that as a possibility, too. But I've heard soooo many Bewick's Wrens that have the most bizarre variations in songs. One at Mitchell Canyon had only two quick, same pitched buzzes for his song, and was found in the same location 2 years in a row!
--
Greg Budney
San Francisco
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Date: 6/25/20 9:58 pm From: Mike Carozza <mike.carozza...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Lawrence's Goldfinch family In Presidio
Wow! This seems like a situation where birders need to be extremely careful
so as not to stress them since they’re spending time on the ground?
I want to visit but would love to hear from an expert in that regard.
MC
On Thu, Jun 25, 2020 at 7:27 PM Lee-Hong Chang via groups.io <lhchang825=
<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> Aaron, sorry! I meant Hooded Oriole as described in my ebird checklist.
> Somehow Hooded Oriole transformed into Jooeded Warbler when using
> smartphone technology.
>
> Two Lawrence's Goldfinch photos were also added to my ebird checklist -
> https://ebird.org/checklist/S70815669?view=photos >
> Thank you Mick for your awesome survey of this area to bring attention to
> us to bird this location that resulted in this unrepresented finding.
>
> Good luck if you try to re-find the LAGO family. Patience is definitely
> needed as it took me only approximately a week. But they should be still
> around, since the youngster(s) is/are still young.
>
> Lee
>
>
>
> On Thursday, June 25, 2020, 1:46:02 PM PDT, Mick Griffin <
> <londontile...> wrote:
>
>
> Have seen plenty of Lesser Goldfinches in that field and adjacent areas
> but no Lawrence…...will have to go back again..
>
>
>
>
>
>
> Mick Griffin
> *LONDON TILE*
> 415.302.1489
> www.londontileco.com
>
>
>
>
>
> On Jun 25, 2020, at 12:55 PM, Aaron Maizlish <amm.birdlists...>
> wrote:
>
> Thanks Lee (and Lee!). I’ll go look later this afternoon.
>
> Did you mean Hooded Oriole family? I’m not aware of any breeding efforts
> by Hooded Warblers in California this year.
>
> Thanks,
>
> Aaron Maizlish
> SF
>
> On Jun 25, 2020, at 12:53 PM, Lee-Hong Chang via groups.io <
> lhchang825=<yahoo.com...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
> Today (June 25), following a tip from Lee Guichan that she saw a possible
> male Lawrence's Goldfinch near Julius Kahn Playground on June 16, I
> believed I have found the male LAGO after a week's search. Additionally, I
> believed he was feeding a fledgling in shrubs along trail next to fenced
> off grass field.. The location is near (37.7920218, -122.4510186) - a spot
> along a trail that extends from Laurel St. (cross street is West Pacific
> ave.). He was initially spotted in a fenced field east of a ballfield on
> east side of Julius Kahn Playground.
>
> There is also a Jooeded Warbler family with recent fledgling.
>
> eBird report link: https://ebird.org/checklist/S70815669 >
> Take care,
> Lee Chang
> SF
>
>
>
>
> <https://go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct&c=Global_Internal_YGrowth_AndroidEmailSig__AndroidUsers&af_wl=ym&af_sub1=Internal&af_sub2=Global_YGrowth&af_sub3=EmailSignature> >
>
>
>
>
> --
Mike Carozza
914-475-9355
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Date: 6/25/20 9:31 pm From: Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...> Subject: [SFBirds] Speaking of Rajan's copulating American Redstarts and Lee, Lee, and Aaron's post-copulating Lawrence's Goldfinches, Mt. Sutro is also going off!
Heyo,
Last Wed I was on top of ole Sutro and spotted a Band-tailed Pigeon seemingly nest building. I was in a hurry and foliage was too thick to confirm. Olive-sided Flycatcher and Spotted Towhee were singing as well.
I went back the next day to confirm, and discovered nada. The "nest" I thought I had seen had me wondering about one of those leaf catcher branch forks where leaves accumulate to trick us. It didn't help that Eddie Bartely told me Bandies require lots o' acorns in order to set up shop and Sutro is basically Euc Land.
So I go up again today to pick up a few California native plants for a bday gift and even though i have perishables from Costco in the trunk (most impt ones in coolers) the birding disease tugs me up Nike Rd to go check on the possible pidge once again. Initially I see the same decoy nest but I go (very slowly) a few steps in off the trail and in another dense patch a little bit up and over there's the purpley dove just hangin. I can't ID the tree it's in and I'm wondering if the tree is basically a zombie host for English ivy because that might be what I'm seeing everywhere.
The disease continued, and I, onward, to loop the summit, aka rotary meadow. Soon thereafter, I heard another possible warbler/junco -- turned out to be a NORTHERN PARULA singing on and off for the next hour. This is at least the 3rd Nopa spotted on the mountain since May 16. Whitney Grover has had both a singing male and silent female-type. Which brings me back to all the bacon makin' going on right now.
Side Note: Josaiah, I stood watch this morning for 30 minutes at Mclaren over a willow patch listening to a singing Swainson's Thrush -- it wasn't having it.
The singer Parula was chasing birds left and right and moving around the hillside that is Southwest facing (I think) from the summit. There was a lot of activity and I was definitely wondering if there were other parulas in the mix.
I hope some folks will get up there tomorrow. If you strike out on birds, the rotary meadow at the summit is a gorgeous testament to the ecological restoration work a lot of organizations are doing in SF these days. Once the pigeons hopefully succeed, I will be happy to disclose the nest location.
Good birding, Dan
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I asked Josiah about it and I believe he said that they also nested in the
Presidio one year about a decade ago. I'm sure he or others would have more
information on that--I mostly just wanted to share the old photos from
WFVZ.
Wish I were still around to see them now!
Best,
Sam Safran
Minneapolis
On Thu, Jun 25, 2020 at 9:42 PM Aaron Maizlish <amm.birdlists...>
wrote:
> Folks,
>
> I got down to the Presidio around 5pm this evening. With David Tomb, we
> were able to pretty quickly get on what appears to be a recently fledged
> Lawrence’s Goldfinch. (Someone please correct me if I’m wrong!). Note the
> white in the tail, the yellow already coming in on the wing, the pale head
> and large bill - all of which I think safely separate this from the other
> finches. We stayed with this bird for about ten minutes and then it flew
> off with another (possibly juvenile, possibly adult female.). This was at
> the coordinates that Lee Hong-Chang gave in the first post. Over the next
> hour I was unable to get on any other LAGOs - though I heard the tinkle
> call a few times. It was difficult with the high winds and the literally
> hundred plus House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, juncos, song and WC sparrows,
> and Hooded Orioles flying around. This area seems to be a breeding frenzy.
> You should also check the trees in a little gully about 100 yards north
> of the spot (not accessible by any main trail) where I last heard the LAGO
> call.
>
> Are there any other breeding records of this bird in San Francisco in
> modern times?
>
> Aaron Maizlish
> San Francisco
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
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I got down to the Presidio around 5pm this evening. With David Tomb, we were able to pretty quickly get on what appears to be a recently fledged Lawrence’s Goldfinch. (Someone please correct me if I’m wrong!). Note the white in the tail, the yellow already coming in on the wing, the pale head and large bill - all of which I think safely separate this from the other finches. We stayed with this bird for about ten minutes and then it flew off with another (possibly juvenile, possibly adult female.). This was at the coordinates that Lee Hong-Chang gave in the first post. Over the next hour I was unable to get on any other LAGOs - though I heard the tinkle call a few times. It was difficult with the high winds and the literally hundred plus House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, juncos, song and WC sparrows, and Hooded Orioles flying around. This area seems to be a breeding frenzy. You should also check the trees in a little gully about 100 yards north of the spot (not accessible by any main trail) where I last heard the LAGO call.
Are there any other breeding records of this bird in San Francisco in modern times?
Aaron Maizlish
San Francisco
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Nico (and anyone else who's an owner of The Singing Life of Birds),
If you own a copy of "The Singing Life of Birds", but find yourself without
means to play the book's CD, which contains the actual recordings discussed
in each chapter, if you write Kroodsma he will provide you with a link
where you may download the high-resolution audio files. There's no cost.
For any of you that found "The Singing Life of Birds" a worthwhile read,
including his recommendation to explore bird sounds through the use of Raven
Lite <https://ravensoundsoftware.com/software/raven-lite/> sound analysis
software (free), two other volumes by Kroodsma that are equally informative
and inspiring are: "Birdsong by the Seasons - A Year of Listening to Birds"
(with CDs) and "Listening to a Continent Sing" (381 recordings discussed in
the book playable at a free website). He's recently released a fourth
book, "Birdsong for the Curious Naturalist - Your Guide to Listening" (with
75 hours of accompanying recordings at BirdsongForTheCurious.com). For
the record, I am not on the payroll. ;ˆ)
Lastly, something most of you know, though a species may essentially
inhabit understory, when advertising many of these "understory" species
routinely make use of a perch that affords a high and unobstructed pathway
to broadcast their song effectively. Thousands of years of evolutionary
savvy behind this behavior...and the all important arbiter, female choice.
Pretty amazing stuff eh?
Best,
Greg Budney
On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 10:16 PM Nico Stuurman <nico...>
wrote:
> Not to distract from the bird in question (and I think we all deserve a
> conclusion to this thread with a visual ID;), but it is my understanding
> that sonograms have been in wide use in bird sound research, which involves
> extensive field work. I loved reading Donald Kroodsma's "The singing life
> of Birds", and can recommend it to anyone interested in bird song. Only
> downside is that I don't have a way to play the included CD;).
>
> Best,
>
> Nico
>
> On 6/24/2020 9:44 PM, Brian Fitch wrote:
>
> This is striking a deeper issue for me, so I'll try again.
>
> If this is a Bewick's Wren, then it's not* likely* a migrant, and it
> could be out there trilling away in McLaren, if only we knew where to
> listen and look. I would love to hear and see such an unusual event, as I
> have no experience in many years of birding with a Bewick's repeating the
> same odd song, well up in a tree, for such an extended period of time. As
> I wrote earlier, Bewick's don't *tend* to do this. (Unfortunately, my
> italicizing of "likely" and "tend" will probably be lost on Sialia.)
> Bewick's are famous for giving multiple variations on their theme within a
> short period, and usually sing from scrubby habitat even where trees are
> available.
>
> My message this morning was meant as a nudge to a young birder to share
> more pertinent details about his find, but now he's been redirected to
> making spectrograms rather than making a complete report of a compelling
> find.
>
> Are spectrograms an undeniable source for ID, or are they merely the aural
> equivalent of digital photos? Digital shots have not lessened the human
> desire to toss opinions around, as witnessed by the amazing exchanges
> between a panel of experts on Peninsula Birds over the last few days, a
> discussion in which said experts have not yet agreed on the ID of a young
> warbler. Conversely, many published photos are unequivocal in their ID
> usefulness, so perhaps spectrograms are similarly useful much of the time?
>
> I have little experience with using sonagrams, as they were called in my
> childhood copy of the Golden Guide. The 1966 edition has an introduction
> to bird song that focuses completely on sonagrams and their interpretation,
> as if it was the latest new thing in understanding song ID. The book has
> sonagrams for all four of the species that have been proposed in this
> thread, but only a single graph for each species, as if there could be no
> variation. In the intervening years, I've heard little if anything about
> them, which raises the question of why they fell out of favor if they are
> so useful. And now they've back under the title of spectrogram. Does
> this represent some new breakthroughs in sound technology, or is it just a
> returning trend of the moment, prompted by some new app? eBird has
> recently been inundated with spectrograms and recordings, but that doesn't
> clarify the cause of the huge increase, whether it represents a fad or a
> real advancement in knowledge.
>
> I can see similarities between all three graphs that Frank sent, but none
> of the three are identical. It would be informative to see a rendering of
> the wren that Mike describes, as that might supply some correlative facts
> rather than opinions. Is it a fact that every variation of Bewick's song
> shows an identical frequency in the trill, and that every Blue-winged also
> always shows a tighter set of lines? In other words, are the spectrograms
> truly diagnostic in this case? Is there never variation in frequency to
> the point of overlap between species?
>
> Most if not all of my on-line arguments of the past decade have been with
> individuals or panels of experts who were sitting at their screens trying
> to judge the *actual* experience of myself or others through
> technologically rendered derivations, through *virtual* experience.
> Virtual versus actual, machine versus human. I know that humans make
> perceptual errors, but humans make the machines, imbed their biases in
> them, and then too often compound their errors in the interpretation of the
> machine's output. And yet here I am trying to compare Eddie's recording
> and spectrogram to other recordings on Xeno-Canto, so I'm also trying to
> judge the actual through the virtual, which leaves me more open to the
> possibility of being flat out wrong about my ID thoughts. Yet there are
> simply too many odd circumstances involved in this case for me to let a
> spectrogram rule out other possibilities, unless spectrograms have risen to
> a new level of diagnostic capacity.
>
> I'm very interested in hearing and seeing the bird that is giving this
> song, be it a wren, warbler, towhee, or junco. I'm also willing to engage
> any tool that can help me refine my senses, but not ones that deny human
> perception or override it in a categorical manner. Binoculars refine my
> eyesight in every case, but it's unclear to me whether spectrograms are
> comparable, or if they represent a less reliable tool.
>
> Brian Fitch
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 5:52 PM Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...>
> wrote:
>
>> This should be better. Sialia doesn't show attachments. If it's still
>> tiny, just look at someone else's post for the Spectogram.
>>
>> From Denise Wight:
>>
>> Hi Daniel,
>>
>> I'm going with Bewick's Wren. In the attached spectrogram, the second
>> trill shows a note at the top, a slight jump, like a dotted "i" which a lot
>> of trilling birds don't have. The tone sounds good for Bewick's Wren, too.
>> Spotted Towhees occasionally have strange two-parted songs, so I thought
>> about that as a possibility, too. But I've heard soooo many Bewick's Wrens
>> that have the most bizarre variations in songs. One at Mitchell Canyon had
>> only two quick, same pitched buzzes for his song, and was found in the same
>> location 2 years in a row!
>>
>>
>>
>
>
>
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Date: 6/25/20 7:27 pm From: Lee-Hong Chang via groups.io <lhchang825=<yahoo.com...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Lawrence's Goldfinch family In Presidio
Aaron, sorry! I meant Hooded Oriole as described in my ebird checklist. Somehow Hooded Oriole transformed into Jooeded Warbler when using smartphone technology.
Thank you Mick for your awesome survey of this area to bring attention to us to bird this location that resulted in this unrepresented finding.
Good luck if you try to re-find the LAGO family. Patience is definitely needed as it took me only approximately a week. But they should be still around, since the youngster(s) is/are still young.
Lee
On Thursday, June 25, 2020, 1:46:02 PM PDT, Mick Griffin <londontile...> wrote:
Have seen plenty of Lesser Goldfinches in that field and adjacent areas but no Lawrence…...will have to go back again..
On Jun 25, 2020, at 12:55 PM, Aaron Maizlish <amm.birdlists...> wrote:
Thanks Lee (and Lee!).  I’ll go look later this afternoon.
Did you mean Hooded Oriole family?  I’m not aware of any breeding efforts by Hooded Warblers in California this year.
Thanks,
Aaron MaizlishSF
On Jun 25, 2020, at 12:53 PM, Lee-Hong Chang via groups.io <lhchang825=<yahoo.com...> wrote:
Hi, Today (June 25), following a tip from Lee Guichan that she saw a possible male Lawrence's Goldfinch near Julius Kahn Playground on June 16, I believed I have found the male LAGO after a week's search. Additionally, I believed he was feeding a fledgling in shrubs along trail next to fenced off grass field.. The location is near (37.7920218, -122.4510186) - a spot along a trail that extends from Laurel St. (cross street is West Pacific ave.). He was initially spotted in a fenced field east of a ballfield on east side of Julius Kahn Playground.Â
There is also a Jooeded Warbler family with recent fledgling.Â
eBird report link: https://ebird.org/checklist/S70815669 Take care, Lee Chang SFÂ
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Wow, all this because someone heard a Bewick's Wren sing over 10’ from the
ground.... :-)
Actually it’s really interesting.
On Thu, Jun 25, 2020 at 4:23 PM Brian Fitch <fogeggs...> wrote:
> This is fascinating on multiple fronts.
>
> Nico invokes Kroodsma last night, which led me to pull Kroodsma's book off
> the shelf to give it another look, and then Greg passes along some live
> Kroodsma, offering his verdict based on years of study. I have to admit
> that a PhD in Bewick's Wren song leads me to repress my heretical impulses
> to some degree, but they're still there, leaning much more toward first
> hand experience rather than authoritative statements.
>
> And I'm simply not hearing what Alvaro does, possibly because I did not
> grow up listening to Blue-wingeds. I listen to Eddie's recording, then to
> any number of other recordings of Blue-winged, and they seem identical, or
> nearly so. Checking Xeno-Canto for Bewick's exposes you to a huge number
> of recordings, and none within my too brief sampling approached Eddie's
> bird at all. I'm not alone in this, as others are having the same
> experience.
>
> I can see the difference in the few graphs, but the differences seem
> visually minimal, which agrees somewhat with my being unable to hear the
> differences. I've taught bird song ID on many field trips, and have found
> many rarities based only on first hearing them, so I hope that explains a
> little why I'm having some resistance to ignoring what I hear. At least
> Kroodsma acknowledged that this is an aberrant song. I still hope to hear
> the bird live, and lay the blame for this cognitive dissonance on the
> virtual renderings of the sounds, as I wrote last night. Yet no one else
> has heard this individual again, and shouldn't an adult Bewick's stick to
> its territory and keep singing?
>
> There is still the unanswered question of variation to the point of
> possible overlap between species, and whether sonograms can be diagnostic.
> Do the norms, the statistical ranges, never bleed into one another, so that
> a slow Blue-winged trill could look graphically like a fast wren trill?
> Sonagrams are abstractions from real experience, and seem to require
> serious expertise to interpret, which could explain why no other field
> guides have included them since 1966, and why ornithologists are able to
> make use of them. But are they open to a variety of interpretations as are
> photographs, or are they more like fingerprints, offering a clear ID?
>
> Brian Fitch
>
> On Thu, Jun 25, 2020 at 3:10 PM Chris Okon <chrisokon...> wrote:
>
>> This is a fun and easy video about using some spectrographs to ID birds:
>> https://www.instagram.com/tv/B_0HLv5A6Lr/?igshid=e2fyi48vcnhu >>
>> On Thu, Jun 25, 2020, 12:10 PM nagra.ivs <nagra.ivs...> wrote:
>>
>>> All,
>>>
>>> I sent the unidentified recordings to a friend, Don Kroodsma, a long
>>> time bird song researcher without revealing anything more than the
>>> recording was made in the SF area. He researched Bewick's Wren song for
>>> his Ph.D. Here is his reply, "Bewick's Wren. The wrens in the bay area
>>> have about 20 songs apiece. Could’ve been an aberrant song. Sounded like it
>>> was repeated in a stereotype fashion, so not a young bird. I heard two
>>> phrases to the song, and both sounded like a typical Wren."
>>>
>>> Greg Budney
>>>
>>> On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 5:52 PM Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...>
>>> wrote:
>>>
>>>> This should be better. Sialia doesn't show attachments. If it's still
>>>> tiny, just look at someone else's post for the Spectogram.
>>>>
>>>> From Denise Wight:
>>>>
>>>> Hi Daniel,
>>>>
>>>> I'm going with Bewick's Wren. In the attached spectrogram, the second
>>>> trill shows a note at the top, a slight jump, like a dotted "i" which a lot
>>>> of trilling birds don't have. The tone sounds good for Bewick's Wren, too.
>>>> Spotted Towhees occasionally have strange two-parted songs, so I thought
>>>> about that as a possibility, too. But I've heard soooo many Bewick's Wrens
>>>> that have the most bizarre variations in songs. One at Mitchell Canyon had
>>>> only two quick, same pitched buzzes for his song, and was found in the same
>>>> location 2 years in a row!
>>>>
>>>>
>>>>
>>> --
>>> Greg Budney
>>> San Francisco
>>
>>
>
>
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Date: 6/25/20 4:23 pm From: Brian Fitch <fogeggs...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
This is fascinating on multiple fronts.
Nico invokes Kroodsma last night, which led me to pull Kroodsma's book off
the shelf to give it another look, and then Greg passes along some live
Kroodsma, offering his verdict based on years of study. I have to admit
that a PhD in Bewick's Wren song leads me to repress my heretical impulses
to some degree, but they're still there, leaning much more toward first
hand experience rather than authoritative statements.
And I'm simply not hearing what Alvaro does, possibly because I did not
grow up listening to Blue-wingeds. I listen to Eddie's recording, then to
any number of other recordings of Blue-winged, and they seem identical, or
nearly so. Checking Xeno-Canto for Bewick's exposes you to a huge number
of recordings, and none within my too brief sampling approached Eddie's
bird at all. I'm not alone in this, as others are having the same
experience.
I can see the difference in the few graphs, but the differences seem
visually minimal, which agrees somewhat with my being unable to hear the
differences. I've taught bird song ID on many field trips, and have found
many rarities based only on first hearing them, so I hope that explains a
little why I'm having some resistance to ignoring what I hear. At least
Kroodsma acknowledged that this is an aberrant song. I still hope to hear
the bird live, and lay the blame for this cognitive dissonance on the
virtual renderings of the sounds, as I wrote last night. Yet no one else
has heard this individual again, and shouldn't an adult Bewick's stick to
its territory and keep singing?
There is still the unanswered question of variation to the point of
possible overlap between species, and whether sonograms can be diagnostic.
Do the norms, the statistical ranges, never bleed into one another, so that
a slow Blue-winged trill could look graphically like a fast wren trill?
Sonagrams are abstractions from real experience, and seem to require
serious expertise to interpret, which could explain why no other field
guides have included them since 1966, and why ornithologists are able to
make use of them. But are they open to a variety of interpretations as are
photographs, or are they more like fingerprints, offering a clear ID?
Brian Fitch
On Thu, Jun 25, 2020 at 3:10 PM Chris Okon <chrisokon...> wrote:
> This is a fun and easy video about using some spectrographs to ID birds:
> https://www.instagram.com/tv/B_0HLv5A6Lr/?igshid=e2fyi48vcnhu >
> On Thu, Jun 25, 2020, 12:10 PM nagra.ivs <nagra.ivs...> wrote:
>
>> All,
>>
>> I sent the unidentified recordings to a friend, Don Kroodsma, a long time
>> bird song researcher without revealing anything more than the recording was
>> made in the SF area. He researched Bewick's Wren song for his Ph.D. Here
>> is his reply, "Bewick's Wren. The wrens in the bay area have about 20
>> songs apiece. Could’ve been an aberrant song. Sounded like it was repeated
>> in a stereotype fashion, so not a young bird. I heard two phrases to the
>> song, and both sounded like a typical Wren."
>>
>> Greg Budney
>>
>> On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 5:52 PM Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> This should be better. Sialia doesn't show attachments. If it's still
>>> tiny, just look at someone else's post for the Spectogram.
>>>
>>> From Denise Wight:
>>>
>>> Hi Daniel,
>>>
>>> I'm going with Bewick's Wren. In the attached spectrogram, the second
>>> trill shows a note at the top, a slight jump, like a dotted "i" which a lot
>>> of trilling birds don't have. The tone sounds good for Bewick's Wren, too.
>>> Spotted Towhees occasionally have strange two-parted songs, so I thought
>>> about that as a possibility, too. But I've heard soooo many Bewick's Wrens
>>> that have the most bizarre variations in songs. One at Mitchell Canyon had
>>> only two quick, same pitched buzzes for his song, and was found in the same
>>> location 2 years in a row!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>> --
>> Greg Budney
>> San Francisco
>
>
>
>
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Date: 6/25/20 3:21 pm From: Joel Perlstein <joelperl...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Parakeet auklet on shipwreck rock now . . .
I saw the parakeet auklet from the shipwreck lookout today. Sometime between around 11:30 to 12:30. Initially observed in the surf to the west of hermit rock. Visible there about 10 minutes. Observed more briefly twice more, each time a bit further from shore.
--
Joel Perlstein
San Francisco
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On Thu, Jun 25, 2020, 12:10 PM nagra.ivs <nagra.ivs...> wrote:
> All,
>
> I sent the unidentified recordings to a friend, Don Kroodsma, a long time
> bird song researcher without revealing anything more than the recording was
> made in the SF area. He researched Bewick's Wren song for his Ph.D. Here
> is his reply, "Bewick's Wren. The wrens in the bay area have about 20
> songs apiece. Could’ve been an aberrant song. Sounded like it was repeated
> in a stereotype fashion, so not a young bird. I heard two phrases to the
> song, and both sounded like a typical Wren."
>
> Greg Budney
>
> On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 5:52 PM Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...>
> wrote:
>
>> This should be better. Sialia doesn't show attachments. If it's still
>> tiny, just look at someone else's post for the Spectogram.
>>
>> From Denise Wight:
>>
>> Hi Daniel,
>>
>> I'm going with Bewick's Wren. In the attached spectrogram, the second
>> trill shows a note at the top, a slight jump, like a dotted "i" which a lot
>> of trilling birds don't have. The tone sounds good for Bewick's Wren, too.
>> Spotted Towhees occasionally have strange two-parted songs, so I thought
>> about that as a possibility, too. But I've heard soooo many Bewick's Wrens
>> that have the most bizarre variations in songs. One at Mitchell Canyon had
>> only two quick, same pitched buzzes for his song, and was found in the same
>> location 2 years in a row!
>>
>>
>>
> --
> Greg Budney
> San Francisco
>
>
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Date: 6/25/20 12:55 pm From: Aaron Maizlish <amm.birdlists...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Lawrence's Goldfinch family In Presidio
Thanks Lee (and Lee!). I’ll go look later this afternoon.
Did you mean Hooded Oriole family? I’m not aware of any breeding efforts by Hooded Warblers in California this year.
Thanks,
Aaron Maizlish
SF
> On Jun 25, 2020, at 12:53 PM, Lee-Hong Chang via groups.io <lhchang825=<yahoo.com...> wrote:
>
> Hi,
> Today (June 25), following a tip from Lee Guichan that she saw a possible male Lawrence's Goldfinch near Julius Kahn Playground on June 16, I believed I have found the male LAGO after a week's search. Additionally, I believed he was feeding a fledgling in shrubs along trail next to fenced off grass field.. The location is near (37.7920218, -122.4510186) - a spot along a trail that extends from Laurel St. (cross street is West Pacific ave.). He was initially spotted in a fenced field east of a ballfield on east side of Julius Kahn Playground.
>
> There is also a Jooeded Warbler family with recent fledgling.
>
> eBird report link: https://ebird.org/checklist/S70815669 <https://ebird.org/checklist/S70815669> >
> Take care,
> Lee Chang
> SF
>
>
>
> <https://go.onelink.me/107872968?pid=InProduct&c=Global_Internal_YGrowth_AndroidEmailSig__AndroidUsers&af_wl=ym&af_sub1=Internal&af_sub2=Global_YGrowth&af_sub3=EmailSignature> >
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Date: 6/25/20 12:53 pm From: Lee-Hong Chang via groups.io <lhchang825=<yahoo.com...> Subject: [SFBirds] Lawrence's Goldfinch family In Presidio
Hi, Today (June 25), following a tip from Lee Guichan that she saw a possible male Lawrence's Goldfinch near Julius Kahn Playground on June 16, I believed I have found the male LAGO after a week's search. Additionally, I believed he was feeding a fledgling in shrubs along trail next to fenced off grass field.. The location is near (37.7920218, -122.4510186) - a spot along a trail that extends from Laurel St. (cross street is West Pacific ave.). He was initially spotted in a fenced field east of a ballfield on east side of Julius Kahn Playground.Â
There is also a Jooeded Warbler family with recent fledgling.Â
eBird report link: https://ebird.org/checklist/S70815669 Take care, Lee Chang SFÂ
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I sent the unidentified recordings to a friend, Don Kroodsma, a long time
bird song researcher without revealing anything more than the recording was
made in the SF area. He researched Bewick's Wren song for his Ph.D. Here
is his reply, "Bewick's Wren. The wrens in the bay area have about 20
songs apiece. Could’ve been an aberrant song. Sounded like it was repeated
in a stereotype fashion, so not a young bird. I heard two phrases to the
song, and both sounded like a typical Wren."
Greg Budney
On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 5:52 PM Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...>
wrote:
> This should be better. Sialia doesn't show attachments. If it's still
> tiny, just look at someone else's post for the Spectogram.
>
> From Denise Wight:
>
> Hi Daniel,
>
> I'm going with Bewick's Wren. In the attached spectrogram, the second
> trill shows a note at the top, a slight jump, like a dotted "i" which a lot
> of trilling birds don't have. The tone sounds good for Bewick's Wren, too.
> Spotted Towhees occasionally have strange two-parted songs, so I thought
> about that as a possibility, too. But I've heard soooo many Bewick's Wrens
> that have the most bizarre variations in songs. One at Mitchell Canyon had
> only two quick, same pitched buzzes for his song, and was found in the same
> location 2 years in a row!
>
>
>
>
>
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Date: 6/25/20 11:21 am From: Alvaro Jaramillo <chucao...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
All
I thought I would write a bit about sound analysis, for those interested in that aspect of the conversation.
Having grown up listening to Eastern warblers, that bird just did not sound like a Blue-winged Warbler. So the way I would use a sonogram (usually called a spectrogram now, but lets just use the term birders know instead) is to visually see what my ears are telling me. It does not sound like a Blue-winged, but why? Make a picture and then you see why, frequency ranges, average frequency and structure of trills. That is the way I was going about using the sonogram in this case. 1) sounds weird 2) why? 3) make picture 4) answer the why.
But you can also use sonograms in a different way, and it is more analytical. You can take multiple recordings of Blue-winged and then make sonograms and take measurements from the sonograms. You could use let’s say 20 or a 100 or more, then you will have an actual distribution of what is the norm in a Blue-winged Warbler vocalization. You can then take an unknown recording, make similar measurements and statistically show if it is within that population or not. Basically, is it or isn’t it a Blue-winged warbler? No one has done this, and my guess is that there is no need to, and it is substantial amount of work. So here you could do this: 1) Take measurements from a sample of a vocalization 2) Describe the structure of the vocalization from these measurements 3) Compare an unknown vocalization to these data 4) statistically decide if it is the same thing or something different.
I am currently working on a study to divide a species of North American bird into two species based on measurements I am taking from vocalizations of this species. You can take these measurements and they are highly repeatable. You can hear the differences too, there is no magic that fools you. It just puts down what you are hearing into a mode where you can see the differences and measure the differences. It is basically a plot, a graph of the sound.
From: <SFBirds...> <SFBirds...> On Behalf Of Richard Bradus via groups.io
Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2020 10:56 AM
To: Brian Fitch <fogeggs...>
Cc: SFBirds <sfbirds...>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
Hi Brian
You have brought up a most important point, that the actual details of this "sighting" (problematically in this case a "hearing") remain incomplete. Maddeningly so.
As for the analysis of sound recordings, sonograms and spectrographs, there has been significant work in this area over the years (most of which is in scientific journals - which I confess I have mostly not investigated) and they have proven to be very useful. Are they definitive? Well... this is science, after all. More research needed! The recent popularity of recordings and spectrographs I think is due to the acceptance and encouragement of such submissions on the eBird platform (with the Macauley library generating the spectrographs) and especially the wide use of smartphones and the many good recording apps available. By all means we should be encouraging such and submitting more recordings for analysis. If I had a more recent phone I would be doing more myself (the storage on my ancient phone is maxed already unfortunately).
Regarding the identification of the bird in question (and in general), it is important for all of us (myself especially) to keep in mind a tenet of diagnostic medicine: it is much more likely to encounter an uncommon manifestation of a common disease than the common manifestation of a very uncommon disease. A more prosaic way of putting this is "If you hear hoofbeats it is not likely to be a zebra". I think this applies very much to "birding" as well. As I observe more in the field (and, as you know, most "birders" are not really observing), the more surprising things I see and hear - like a White-crowned Sparrow pair nesting in a small tree in a Pacific Heights neighborhood fledging not only one of their own chicks but a Cowbird chick as well (something that I didn't think was possible). So, while it is a bit unlikely for a Bewick's to be singing the same short song variant up in a tree (something I have observed on at least one occasion in Marin county), it is still far more likely than a Blue-winged here. That's my two cents.
Thanks, as always, for sharing your experience and for your thoughtful contributions to the discussion.
Richard
(with apologies to the rest of the community if this is somewhat "off-topic")
On Wednesday, June 24, 2020, 09:44:30 PM PDT, Brian Fitch <fogeggs...> <mailto:<fogeggs...> > wrote:
This is striking a deeper issue for me, so I'll try again.
If this is a Bewick's Wren, then it's not likely a migrant, and it could be out there trilling away in McLaren, if only we knew where to listen and look. I would love to hear and see such an unusual event, as I have no experience in many years of birding with a Bewick's repeating the same odd song, well up in a tree, for such an extended period of time. As I wrote earlier, Bewick's don't tend to do this. (Unfortunately, my italicizing of "likely" and "tend" will probably be lost on Sialia.) Bewick's are famous for giving multiple variations on their theme within a short period, and usually sing from scrubby habitat even where trees are available.
My message this morning was meant as a nudge to a young birder to share more pertinent details about his find, but now he's been redirected to making spectrograms rather than making a complete report of a compelling find.
Are spectrograms an undeniable source for ID, or are they merely the aural equivalent of digital photos? Digital shots have not lessened the human desire to toss opinions around, as witnessed by the amazing exchanges between a panel of experts on Peninsula Birds over the last few days, a discussion in which said experts have not yet agreed on the ID of a young warbler. Conversely, many published photos are unequivocal in their ID usefulness, so perhaps spectrograms are similarly useful much of the time?
I have little experience with using sonagrams, as they were called in my childhood copy of the Golden Guide. The 1966 edition has an introduction to bird song that focuses completely on sonagrams and their interpretation, as if it was the latest new thing in understanding song ID. The book has sonagrams for all four of the species that have been proposed in this thread, but only a single graph for each species, as if there could be no variation. In the intervening years, I've heard little if anything about them, which raises the question of why they fell out of favor if they are so useful. And now they've back under the title of spectrogram. Does this represent some new breakthroughs in sound technology, or is it just a returning trend of the moment, prompted by some new app? eBird has recently been inundated with spectrograms and recordings, but that doesn't clarify the cause of the huge increase, whether it represents a fad or a real advancement in knowledge.
I can see similarities between all three graphs that Frank sent, but none of the three are identical. It would be informative to see a rendering of the wren that Mike describes, as that might supply some correlative facts rather than opinions. Is it a fact that every variation of Bewick's song shows an identical frequency in the trill, and that every Blue-winged also always shows a tighter set of lines? In other words, are the spectrograms truly diagnostic in this case? Is there never variation in frequency to the point of overlap between species?
Most if not all of my on-line arguments of the past decade have been with individuals or panels of experts who were sitting at their screens trying to judge the actual experience of myself or others through technologically rendered derivations, through virtual experience. Virtual versus actual, machine versus human. I know that humans make perceptual errors, but humans make the machines, imbed their biases in them, and then too often compound their errors in the interpretation of the machine's output. And yet here I am trying to compare Eddie's recording and spectrogram to other recordings on Xeno-Canto, so I'm also trying to judge the actual through the virtual, which leaves me more open to the possibility of being flat out wrong about my ID thoughts. Yet there are simply too many odd circumstances involved in this case for me to let a spectrogram rule out other possibilities, unless spectrograms have risen to a new level of diagnostic capacity.
I'm very interested in hearing and seeing the bird that is giving this song, be it a wren, warbler, towhee, or junco. I'm also willing to engage any tool that can help me refine my senses, but not ones that deny human perception or override it in a categorical manner. Binoculars refine my eyesight in every case, but it's unclear to me whether spectrograms are comparable, or if they represent a less reliable tool.
This should be better. Sialia doesn't show attachments. If it's still tiny, just look at someone else's post for the Spectogram.
From Denise Wight:
Hi Daniel,
I'm going with Bewick's Wren. In the attached spectrogram, the second trill shows a note at the top, a slight jump, like a dotted "i" which a lot of trilling birds don't have. The tone sounds good for Bewick's Wren, too. Spotted Towhees occasionally have strange two-parted songs, so I thought about that as a possibility, too. But I've heard soooo many Bewick's Wrens that have the most bizarre variations in songs. One at Mitchell Canyon had only two quick, same pitched buzzes for his song, and was found in the same location 2 years in a row!
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Date: 6/25/20 10:56 am From: Richard Bradus via groups.io <grizzledjay=<yahoo.com...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
Hi Brian
You have brought up a most important point, that the actual details of this "sighting" (problematically in this case a "hearing") remain incomplete. Maddeningly so.
As for the analysis of sound recordings, sonograms and spectrographs, there has been significant work in this area over the years (most of which is in scientific journals - which I confess I have mostly not investigated) and they have proven to be very useful. Are they definitive? Well... this is science, after all. More research needed! The recent popularity of recordings and spectrographs I think is due to the acceptance and encouragement of such submissions on the eBird platform (with the Macauley library generating the spectrographs) and especially the wide use of smartphones and the many good recording apps available. By all means we should be encouraging such and submitting more recordings for analysis. If I had a more recent phone I would be doing more myself (the storage on my ancient phone is maxed already unfortunately).
Regarding the identification of the bird in question (and in general), it is important for all of us (myself especially) to keep in mind a tenet of diagnostic medicine: it is much more likely to encounter an uncommon manifestation of a common disease than the common manifestation of a very uncommon disease. A more prosaic way of putting this is "If you hear hoofbeats it is not likely to be a zebra". I think this applies very much to "birding" as well. As I observe more in the field (and, as you know, most "birders" are not really observing), the more surprising things I see and hear - like a White-crowned Sparrow pair nesting in a small tree in a Pacific Heights neighborhood fledging not only one of their own chicks but a Cowbird chick as well (something that I didn't think was possible). So, while it is a bit unlikely for a Bewick's to be singing the same short song variant up in a tree (something I have observed on at least one occasion in Marin county), it is still far more likely than a Blue-winged here. That's my two cents.
Thanks, as always, for sharing your experience and for your thoughtful contributions to the discussion.
Richard
(with apologies to the rest of the community if this is somewhat "off-topic")
On Wednesday, June 24, 2020, 09:44:30 PM PDT, Brian Fitch <fogeggs...> wrote:
This is striking a deeper issue for me, so I'll try again.
If this is a Bewick's Wren, then it's not likely a migrant, and it could be out there trilling away in McLaren, if only we knew where to listen and look. I would love to hear and see such an unusual event, as I have no experience in many years of birding with a Bewick's repeating the same odd song, well up in a tree, for such an extended period of time. As I wrote earlier, Bewick's don't tend to do this. (Unfortunately, my italicizing of "likely" and "tend" will probably be lost on Sialia.) Bewick's are famous for giving multiple variations on their theme within a short period, and usually sing from scrubby habitat even where trees are available.
My message this morning was meant as a nudge to a young birder to share more pertinent details about his find, but now he's been redirected to making spectrograms rather than making a complete report of a compelling find.
Are spectrograms an undeniable source for ID, or are they merely the aural equivalent of digital photos? Digital shots have not lessened the human desire to toss opinions around, as witnessed by the amazing exchanges between a panel of experts on Peninsula Birds over the last few days, a discussion in which said experts have not yet agreed on the ID of a young warbler. Conversely, many published photos are unequivocal in their ID usefulness, so perhaps spectrograms are similarly useful much of the time?
I have little experience with using sonagrams, as they were called in my childhood copy of the Golden Guide. The 1966 edition has an introduction to bird song that focuses completely on sonagrams and their interpretation, as if it was the latest new thing in understanding song ID. The book has sonagrams for all four of the species that have been proposed in this thread, but only a single graph for each species, as if there could be no variation. In the intervening years, I've heard little if anything about them, which raises the question of why they fell out of favor if they are so useful.  And now they've back under the title of spectrogram. Does this represent some new breakthroughs in sound technology, or is it just a returning trend of the moment, prompted by some new app? eBird has recently been inundated with spectrograms and recordings, but that doesn't clarify the cause of the huge increase, whether it represents a fad or a real advancement in knowledge.Â
I can see similarities between all three graphs that Frank sent, but none of the three are identical. It would be informative to see a rendering of the wren that Mike describes, as that might supply some correlative facts rather than opinions. Is it a fact that every variation of Bewick's song shows an identical frequency in the trill, and that every Blue-winged also always shows a tighter set of lines? In other words, are the spectrograms truly diagnostic in this case? Is there never variation in frequency to the point of overlap between species?
Most if not all of my on-line arguments of the past decade have been with individuals or panels of experts who were sitting at their screens trying to judge the actual experience of myself or others through technologically rendered derivations, through virtual experience. Virtual versus actual, machine versus human. I know that humans make perceptual errors, but humans make the machines, imbed their biases in them, and then too often compound their errors in the interpretation of the machine's output. And yet here I am trying to compare Eddie's recording and spectrogram to other recordings on Xeno-Canto, so I'm also trying to judge the actual through the virtual, which leaves me more open to the possibility of being flat out wrong about my ID thoughts. Yet there are simply too many odd circumstances involved in this case for me to let a spectrogram rule out other possibilities, unless spectrograms have risen to a new level of diagnostic capacity.
I'm very interested in hearing and seeing the bird that is giving this song, be it a wren, warbler, towhee, or junco. I'm also willing to engage any tool that can help me refine my senses, but not ones that deny human perception or override it in a categorical manner. Binoculars refine my eyesight in every case, but it's unclear to me whether spectrograms are comparable, or if they represent a less reliable tool.
Brian Fitch
On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 5:52 PM Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...> wrote:
This should be better. Sialia doesn't show attachments. If it's still tiny, just look at someone else's post for the Spectogram.
From Denise Wight:
Hi Daniel, I'm going with Bewick's Wren. In the attached spectrogram, the second trill shows a note at the top, a slight jump, like a dotted "i" which a lot of trilling birds don't have. The tone sounds good for Bewick's Wren, too. Spotted Towhees occasionally have strange two-parted songs, so I thought about that as a possibility, too. But I've heard soooo many Bewick's Wrens that have the most bizarre variations in songs. One at Mitchell Canyon had only two quick, same pitched buzzes for his song, and was found in the same location 2 years in a row!
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Not to distract from the bird in question (and I think we all deserve a conclusion to this thread with a visual ID;), but it is my understanding that sonograms have been in wide use in bird sound research, which involves extensive field work. I loved reading Donald Kroodsma's "The singing life of Birds", and can recommend it to anyone interested in bird song. Only downside is that I don't have a way to play the included CD;).
Best,
Nico
On 6/24/2020 9:44 PM, Brian Fitch wrote: > This is striking a deeper issue for me, so I'll try again. > > If this is a Bewick's Wren, then it's not*/likely/* a migrant, and it > could be out there trilling away in McLaren, if only we knew where to > listen and look. I would love to hear and see such an unusual event, > as I have no experience in many years of birding with a Bewick's > repeating the same odd song, well up in a tree, for such an extended > period of time. As I wrote earlier, Bewick's don't */tend/* to do > this. (Unfortunately, my italicizing of "likely" and "tend" will > probably be lost on Sialia.) Bewick's are famous for giving multiple > variations on their theme within a short period, and usually sing from > scrubby habitat even where trees are available. > > My message this morning was meant as a nudge to a young birder to > share more pertinent details about his find, but now he's been > redirected to making spectrograms rather than making a complete report > of a compelling find. > > Are spectrograms an undeniable source for ID, or are they merely the > aural equivalent of digital photos? Digital shots have not lessened > the human desire to toss opinions around, as witnessed by the amazing > exchanges between a panel of experts on Peninsula Birds over the last > few days, a discussion in which said experts have not yet agreed on > the ID of a young warbler. Conversely, many published photos are > unequivocal in their ID usefulness, so perhaps spectrograms are > similarly useful much of the time? > > I have little experience with using sonagrams, as they were called in > my childhood copy of the Golden Guide. The 1966 edition has an > introduction to bird song that focuses completely on sonagrams and > their interpretation, as if it was the latest new thing in > understanding song ID. The book has sonagrams for all four of the > species that have been proposed in this thread, but only a single > graph for each species, as if there could be no variation. In the > intervening years, I've heard little if anything about them, which > raises the question of why they fell out of favor if they are so > useful.  And now they've back under the title of spectrogram. Does > this represent some new breakthroughs in sound technology, or is it > just a returning trend of the moment, prompted by some new app? eBird > has recently been inundated with spectrograms and recordings, but that > doesn't clarify the cause of the huge increase, whether it represents > a fad or a real advancement in knowledge. > > I can see similarities between all three graphs that Frank sent, but > none of the three are identical. It would be informative to see a > rendering of the wren that Mike describes, as that might supply some > correlative facts rather than opinions. Is it a fact that every > variation of Bewick's song shows an identical frequency in the trill, > and that every Blue-winged also always shows a tighter set of lines? > In other words, are the spectrograms truly diagnostic in this case? > Is there never variation in frequency to the point of overlap between > species? > > Most if not all of my on-line arguments of the past decade have been > with individuals or panels of experts who were sitting at their > screens trying to judge the /*actual*/ experience of myself or others > through technologically rendered derivations, through /*virtual*/ > experience. Virtual versus actual, machine versus human. I know that > humans make perceptual errors, but humans make the machines, imbed > their biases in them, and then too often compound their errors in the > interpretation of the machine's output. And yet here I am trying to > compare Eddie's recording and spectrogram to other recordings on > Xeno-Canto, so I'm also trying to judge the actual through the > virtual, which leaves me more open to the possibility of being flat > out wrong about my ID thoughts. Yet there are simply too many odd > circumstances involved in this case for me to let a spectrogram rule > out other possibilities, unless spectrograms have risen to a new level > of diagnostic capacity. > > I'm very interested in hearing and seeing the bird that is giving this > song, be it a wren, warbler, towhee, or junco. I'm also willing to > engage any tool that can help me refine my senses, but not ones that > deny human perception or override it in a categorical manner. > Binoculars refine my eyesight in every case, but it's unclear to me > whether spectrograms are comparable, or if they represent a less > reliable tool. > > Brian Fitch > > > > On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 5:52 PM Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...> > <mailto:<daniel.s.scali...>> wrote: > > This should be better. Sialia doesn't show attachments. If it's > still tiny, just look at someone else's post for the Spectogram. > > From Denise Wight: > > Hi Daniel, > I'm going with Bewick's Wren. In the attached spectrogram, the > second trill shows a note at the top, a slight jump, like a dotted > "i" which a lot of trilling birds don't have. The tone sounds good > for Bewick's Wren, too. Spotted Towhees occasionally have strange > two-parted songs, so I thought about that as a possibility, too. > But I've heard soooo many Bewick's Wrens that have the most > bizarre variations in songs. One at Mitchell Canyon had only two > quick, same pitched buzzes for his song, and was found in the same > location 2 years in a row! > > >
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Date: 6/24/20 9:44 pm From: Brian Fitch <fogeggs...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
This is striking a deeper issue for me, so I'll try again.
If this is a Bewick's Wren, then it's not* likely* a migrant, and it could be out there trilling away in McLaren, if only we knew where to listen and look. I would love to hear and see such an unusual event, as I have no experience in many years of birding with a Bewick's repeating the same odd song, well up in a tree, for such an extended period of time. As I wrote earlier, Bewick's don't *tend* to do this. (Unfortunately, my italicizing of "likely" and "tend" will probably be lost on Sialia.) Bewick's are famous for giving multiple variations on their theme within a short period, and usually sing from scrubby habitat even where trees are available.
My message this morning was meant as a nudge to a young birder to share more pertinent details about his find, but now he's been redirected to making spectrograms rather than making a complete report of a compelling find.
Are spectrograms an undeniable source for ID, or are they merely the aural equivalent of digital photos? Digital shots have not lessened the human desire to toss opinions around, as witnessed by the amazing exchanges between a panel of experts on Peninsula Birds over the last few days, a discussion in which said experts have not yet agreed on the ID of a young warbler. Conversely, many published photos are unequivocal in their ID usefulness, so perhaps spectrograms are similarly useful much of the time?
I have little experience with using sonagrams, as they were called in my childhood copy of the Golden Guide. The 1966 edition has an introduction to bird song that focuses completely on sonagrams and their interpretation, as if it was the latest new thing in understanding song ID. The book has sonagrams for all four of the species that have been proposed in this thread, but only a single graph for each species, as if there could be no variation. In the intervening years, I've heard little if anything about them, which raises the question of why they fell out of favor if they are so useful. And now they've back under the title of spectrogram. Does this represent some new breakthroughs in sound technology, or is it just a returning trend of the moment, prompted by some new app? eBird has recently been inundated with spectrograms and recordings, but that doesn't clarify the cause of the huge increase, whether it represents a fad or a real advancement in knowledge.
I can see similarities between all three graphs that Frank sent, but none of the three are identical. It would be informative to see a rendering of the wren that Mike describes, as that might supply some correlative facts rather than opinions. Is it a fact that every variation of Bewick's song shows an identical frequency in the trill, and that every Blue-winged also always shows a tighter set of lines? In other words, are the spectrograms truly diagnostic in this case? Is there never variation in frequency to the point of overlap between species?
Most if not all of my on-line arguments of the past decade have been with individuals or panels of experts who were sitting at their screens trying to judge the *actual* experience of myself or others through technologically rendered derivations, through *virtual* experience. Virtual versus actual, machine versus human. I know that humans make perceptual errors, but humans make the machines, imbed their biases in them, and then too often compound their errors in the interpretation of the machine's output. And yet here I am trying to compare Eddie's recording and spectrogram to other recordings on Xeno-Canto, so I'm also trying to judge the actual through the virtual, which leaves me more open to the possibility of being flat out wrong about my ID thoughts. Yet there are simply too many odd circumstances involved in this case for me to let a spectrogram rule out other possibilities, unless spectrograms have risen to a new level of diagnostic capacity.
I'm very interested in hearing and seeing the bird that is giving this song, be it a wren, warbler, towhee, or junco. I'm also willing to engage any tool that can help me refine my senses, but not ones that deny human perception or override it in a categorical manner. Binoculars refine my eyesight in every case, but it's unclear to me whether spectrograms are comparable, or if they represent a less reliable tool.
Brian Fitch
On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 5:52 PM Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...> wrote:
> This should be better. Sialia doesn't show attachments. If it's still > tiny, just look at someone else's post for the Spectogram. > > From Denise Wight: > > Hi Daniel, > > I'm going with Bewick's Wren. In the attached spectrogram, the second > trill shows a note at the top, a slight jump, like a dotted "i" which a lot > of trilling birds don't have. The tone sounds good for Bewick's Wren, too. > Spotted Towhees occasionally have strange two-parted songs, so I thought > about that as a possibility, too. But I've heard soooo many Bewick's Wrens > that have the most bizarre variations in songs. One at Mitchell Canyon had > only two quick, same pitched buzzes for his song, and was found in the same > location 2 years in a row! > > > > >
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Date: 6/24/20 5:52 pm From: Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
This should be better. Sialia doesn't show attachments. If it's still tiny, just look at someone else's post for the Spectogram.
From Denise Wight:
Hi Daniel,
I'm going with Bewick's Wren. In the attached spectrogram, the second trill shows a note at the top, a slight jump, like a dotted "i" which a lot of trilling birds don't have. The tone sounds good for Bewick's Wren, too. Spotted Towhees occasionally have strange two-parted songs, so I thought about that as a possibility, too. But I've heard soooo many Bewick's Wrens that have the most bizarre variations in songs. One at Mitchell Canyon had only two quick, same pitched buzzes for his song, and was found in the same location 2 years in a row!
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Date: 6/24/20 3:57 pm From: Eddie Monson <eg40monson...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
Hi all,
Just thought I should add my checklist with the spectrogram for those who
haven't seen one (thank you Frank F. for including those).
https://ebird.org/checklist/S70759209 Eddie
On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 3:05 PM John Sterling <jsterling...>
wrote:
> Just need to add that bewicks wrens singing high up in trees is not
> unusual.
>
>
>
> John Sterling
> 530 908-3836
> 26 Palm Ave
> Woodland, CA 95695
>
> On Jun 24, 2020, at 3:01 PM, Alvaro Jaramillo <chucao...>
> wrote:
>
> 
>
> Brian
>
> Make a spectrogram of that song, and then compare it to Blue-wings. It
> is quite different in its frequency range and average frequency. This is in
> addition to the overall structure of the trills. I think that needs to
> enter the discussion. In short it actually does not sound like a
> Blue-winged Warbler. I have no horse in this race, and if the final outcome
> is that there is a Blue-winged Warbler out there that would be awesome. A
> preferred outcome! So I am just offering an opinion that can hopefully be
> taken as neutral here. But the best way to compare is to make a picture of
> the sounds to get a sense for how it differs from a Blue-winged.
>
>
>
> Alvaro
>
>
>
> Alvaro Jaramillo
>
> <alvaro...>
>
> www.alvarosadventures.com
>
>
>
> *From:* <SFBirds...> <SFBirds...> *On Behalf Of *Brian Fitch
> *Sent:* Wednesday, June 24, 2020 2:24 PM
> *Cc:* SF Birds <SFBirds...>
> *Subject:* Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
>
>
>
> I received a partial reply from Eddie to the effect that the bird was
> heard singing both late morning and again late afternoon, both times at mid
> to upper levels of the trees. Neither Spotted Towhees nor Bewick's Wrens
> tend to sing for long periods in the canopy, and while I've heard this
> cadence from Bewick's, as Eddie related, I've never heard this tone from
> Bewick's.
>
>
>
> When you add the further circumstantial evidence of having multiple
> eastern warblers having passed through California this spring, and the fact
> that several out of place warblers are currently singing for 2-3
> consecutive days here in SF, I respectfully submit that this recording
> should not be passed off too blythely. Listen to Eddie's recordings, then
> hit Xeno-Canto and listen to any number of Blue-winged Warblers on that
> site and compare for yourself.
>
>
>
> I still don't know where the singing occurred, and am unwilling to wander
> the perimeter of the golf course and the housing projects until a more
> precise locale is available, and the bird may not have followed the example
> of the Hooded and the Redstarts, and may be gone. There is only one
> previous city record that I know of, Michele Brodie's find on Mt Davidson
> in the fall many years ago, which only one other birder was able to see
> before it flew.
>
> Brian Fitch
>
>
>
> On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 1:01 PM m_m_rogers <m.m.rogers...> wrote:
>
> All,
>
> I think Bewick's Wren is the right answer for this one. I've had a
> Bewick's Wren singing this dialect in my back yard (Sunnyvale) for a couple
> years now. When it first arrived, it had me hoping for Blue-winged Warbler
> as well.
>
> Mike Rogers
> Sunnyvale, CA
>
>
>
>
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Vocalizing a while now in large oak and bay (guess!) trees 100 yds south of large redwood in Bunny Meadow in Golden Gate Park. In other words in the woods. Same longitude as Lily Pond. West of conservatory of flowers.
This spot has been very active in the fall with Wavi so there’s a chance it’s breeding nearby.
Chowder,
Dan
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Date: 6/24/20 3:05 pm From: John Sterling <jsterling...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
Just need to add that bewicks wrens singing high up in trees is not unusual.
John Sterling
530 908-3836
26 Palm Ave
Woodland, CA 95695
> On Jun 24, 2020, at 3:01 PM, Alvaro Jaramillo <chucao...> wrote:
>
> 
> Brian
> Make a spectrogram of that song, and then compare it to Blue-wings. It is quite different in its frequency range and average frequency. This is in addition to the overall structure of the trills. I think that needs to enter the discussion. In short it actually does not sound like a Blue-winged Warbler. I have no horse in this race, and if the final outcome is that there is a Blue-winged Warbler out there that would be awesome. A preferred outcome! So I am just offering an opinion that can hopefully be taken as neutral here. But the best way to compare is to make a picture of the sounds to get a sense for how it differs from a Blue-winged.
>
> Alvaro
>
> Alvaro Jaramillo
> <alvaro...>
> www.alvarosadventures.com
>
> From: <SFBirds...> <SFBirds...> On Behalf Of Brian Fitch
> Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2020 2:24 PM
> Cc: SF Birds <SFBirds...>
> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
>
> I received a partial reply from Eddie to the effect that the bird was heard singing both late morning and again late afternoon, both times at mid to upper levels of the trees. Neither Spotted Towhees nor Bewick's Wrens tend to sing for long periods in the canopy, and while I've heard this cadence from Bewick's, as Eddie related, I've never heard this tone from Bewick's.
>
> When you add the further circumstantial evidence of having multiple eastern warblers having passed through California this spring, and the fact that several out of place warblers are currently singing for 2-3 consecutive days here in SF, I respectfully submit that this recording should not be passed off too blythely. Listen to Eddie's recordings, then hit Xeno-Canto and listen to any number of Blue-winged Warblers on that site and compare for yourself.
>
> I still don't know where the singing occurred, and am unwilling to wander the perimeter of the golf course and the housing projects until a more precise locale is available, and the bird may not have followed the example of the Hooded and the Redstarts, and may be gone. There is only one previous city record that I know of, Michele Brodie's find on Mt Davidson in the fall many years ago, which only one other birder was able to see before it flew.
> Brian Fitch
>
> On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 1:01 PM m_m_rogers <m.m.rogers...> wrote:
> All,
>
> I think Bewick's Wren is the right answer for this one. I've had a Bewick's Wren singing this dialect in my back yard (Sunnyvale) for a couple years now. When it first arrived, it had me hoping for Blue-winged Warbler as well.
>
> Mike Rogers
> Sunnyvale, CA
>
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Make a spectrogram of that song, and then compare it to Blue-wings. It is quite different in its frequency range and average frequency. This is in addition to the overall structure of the trills. I think that needs to enter the discussion. In short it actually does not sound like a Blue-winged Warbler. I have no horse in this race, and if the final outcome is that there is a Blue-winged Warbler out there that would be awesome. A preferred outcome! So I am just offering an opinion that can hopefully be taken as neutral here. But the best way to compare is to make a picture of the sounds to get a sense for how it differs from a Blue-winged.
From: <SFBirds...> <SFBirds...> On Behalf Of Brian Fitch
Sent: Wednesday, June 24, 2020 2:24 PM
Cc: SF Birds <SFBirds...>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
I received a partial reply from Eddie to the effect that the bird was heard singing both late morning and again late afternoon, both times at mid to upper levels of the trees. Neither Spotted Towhees nor Bewick's Wrens tend to sing for long periods in the canopy, and while I've heard this cadence from Bewick's, as Eddie related, I've never heard this tone from Bewick's.
When you add the further circumstantial evidence of having multiple eastern warblers having passed through California this spring, and the fact that several out of place warblers are currently singing for 2-3 consecutive days here in SF, I respectfully submit that this recording should not be passed off too blythely. Listen to Eddie's recordings, then hit Xeno-Canto and listen to any number of Blue-winged Warblers on that site and compare for yourself.
I still don't know where the singing occurred, and am unwilling to wander the perimeter of the golf course and the housing projects until a more precise locale is available, and the bird may not have followed the example of the Hooded and the Redstarts, and may be gone. There is only one previous city record that I know of, Michele Brodie's find on Mt Davidson in the fall many years ago, which only one other birder was able to see before it flew.
Brian Fitch
On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 1:01 PM m_m_rogers <m.m.rogers...> <mailto:<m.m.rogers...> > wrote:
All,
I think Bewick's Wren is the right answer for this one. I've had a Bewick's Wren singing this dialect in my back yard (Sunnyvale) for a couple years now. When it first arrived, it had me hoping for Blue-winged Warbler as well.
Mike Rogers
Sunnyvale, CA
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Date: 6/24/20 2:51 pm From: Frank Fogarty <fogartyfa...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
As Alvaro mentioned, the pitch of the trill is too low for Blue-winged (and spot-on for Bewick's Wren). Attached is a sonogram of the mystery call, as well as a BWWA and BEWR. The highest energy portion of the mystery trill is centered around 4.5-5 kHz, whereas it should be close to 7 kHz for a BWWA. Spotted Towhee trills are a similar frequency to Bewick's, but the opening notes tend to be lower, rather than a similar frequency to the trill.
Frank Fogarty Arcata
On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 2:24 PM Brian Fitch <fogeggs...> wrote:
> I received a partial reply from Eddie to the effect that the bird was > heard singing both late morning and again late afternoon, both times at mid > to upper levels of the trees. Neither Spotted Towhees nor Bewick's Wrens > tend to sing for long periods in the canopy, and while I've heard this > cadence from Bewick's, as Eddie related, I've never heard this tone from > Bewick's. > > When you add the further circumstantial evidence of having multiple > eastern warblers having passed through California this spring, and the fact > that several out of place warblers are currently singing for 2-3 > consecutive days here in SF, I respectfully submit that this recording > should not be passed off too blythely. Listen to Eddie's recordings, then > hit Xeno-Canto and listen to any number of Blue-winged Warblers on that > site and compare for yourself. > > I still don't know where the singing occurred, and am unwilling to wander > the perimeter of the golf course and the housing projects until a more > precise locale is available, and the bird may not have followed the example > of the Hooded and the Redstarts, and may be gone. There is only one > previous city record that I know of, Michele Brodie's find on Mt Davidson > in the fall many years ago, which only one other birder was able to see > before it flew. > Brian Fitch > > On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 1:01 PM m_m_rogers <m.m.rogers...> wrote: > >> All, >> >> I think Bewick's Wren is the right answer for this one. I've had a >> Bewick's Wren singing this dialect in my back yard (Sunnyvale) for a couple >> years now. When it first arrived, it had me hoping for Blue-winged Warbler >> as well. >> >> Mike Rogers >> Sunnyvale, CA >> >> > >
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Date: 6/24/20 2:24 pm From: Brian Fitch <fogeggs...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
I received a partial reply from Eddie to the effect that the bird was heard singing both late morning and again late afternoon, both times at mid to upper levels of the trees. Neither Spotted Towhees nor Bewick's Wrens tend to sing for long periods in the canopy, and while I've heard this cadence from Bewick's, as Eddie related, I've never heard this tone from Bewick's.
When you add the further circumstantial evidence of having multiple eastern warblers having passed through California this spring, and the fact that several out of place warblers are currently singing for 2-3 consecutive days here in SF, I respectfully submit that this recording should not be passed off too blythely. Listen to Eddie's recordings, then hit Xeno-Canto and listen to any number of Blue-winged Warblers on that site and compare for yourself.
I still don't know where the singing occurred, and am unwilling to wander the perimeter of the golf course and the housing projects until a more precise locale is available, and the bird may not have followed the example of the Hooded and the Redstarts, and may be gone. There is only one previous city record that I know of, Michele Brodie's find on Mt Davidson in the fall many years ago, which only one other birder was able to see before it flew. Brian Fitch
On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 1:01 PM m_m_rogers <m.m.rogers...> wrote:
> All, > > I think Bewick's Wren is the right answer for this one. I've had a > Bewick's Wren singing this dialect in my back yard (Sunnyvale) for a couple > years now. When it first arrived, it had me hoping for Blue-winged Warbler > as well. > > Mike Rogers > Sunnyvale, CA > > >
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I think Bewick's Wren is the right answer for this one. I've had a Bewick's Wren singing this dialect in my back yard (Sunnyvale) for a couple years now. When it first arrived, it had me hoping for Blue-winged Warbler as well.
Mike Rogers
Sunnyvale, CA
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Date: 6/24/20 11:03 am From: Ken Moy <ken.moy62...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] American Redstart at Mountain Lake continuing - update
Redstart singing and seen often from 10:45 to present on lake side of the path near the placard for the children's story book project that starts: "Wind found the note and tossed it into the sky."
On Wed, Jun 24, 2020, 7:32 AM David Assmann via groups.io <david_assmann= <yahoo.com...> wrote:
> In same spot found by Daniel Scali > >
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Date: 6/24/20 8:36 am From: Brian Fitch <fogeggs...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
Hi Eddie,
Thanks for reporting the mystery bird. Could you possibly give some
details for those of us who feel that this is a mega rarity? What time of
day did you hear it, how long did it sing while you were present, was it in
the middle of the golf course or near a public trail? Anything else
pertinent that you could add would be appreciated.
Brian Fitch
Blue-winged Warbler Camp
On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 7:22 AM Eddie Monson <eg40monson...> wrote:
> Hi everybody,
> Thank you all so much for your opinions. It seems to me that the best
> guess and what it almost certainly is, is a Bewick's Wren. I've sure never
> heard that variation of song before and just thought it was weird
> considering the initial similarity from Blue-winged Warbler. It seems like
> the closer you look the farther off it seems for Blue Winged. Even though
> it's not a Blue-winged I always appreciate an opportunity to learn about
> birds!
> Good Birding
> Eddie
>
> On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 6:00 AM Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...>
> wrote:
>
>> McLaren IS the Bewick’s capital of SF in my unscientific opinion so
>> that’s not a bad theory. How about a weird Junco? Hope it’s found and
>> turned into gold!
>>
>> I’ll ask Denise Wight for her opinion.
>>
>> Good alchemy,
>> Dan
>>
>>
>
>
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Date: 6/24/20 7:22 am From: Eddie Monson <eg40monson...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
Hi everybody,
Thank you all so much for your opinions. It seems to me that the best guess
and what it almost certainly is, is a Bewick's Wren. I've sure never heard
that variation of song before and just thought it was weird considering the
initial similarity from Blue-winged Warbler. It seems like the closer you
look the farther off it seems for Blue Winged. Even though it's not a
Blue-winged I always appreciate an opportunity to learn about birds!
Good Birding
Eddie
On Wed, Jun 24, 2020 at 6:00 AM Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...>
wrote:
> McLaren IS the Bewick’s capital of SF in my unscientific opinion so that’s
> not a bad theory. How about a weird Junco? Hope it’s found and turned into
> gold!
>
> I’ll ask Denise Wight for her opinion.
>
> Good alchemy,
> Dan
>
>
>
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Date: 6/24/20 6:00 am From: Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
McLaren IS the Bewick’s capital of SF in my unscientific opinion so that’s not a bad theory. How about a weird Junco? Hope it’s found and turned into gold!
I’ll ask Denise Wight for her opinion.
Good alchemy,
Dan
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It may be an odd Spotted Towhee, they do give two part songs around here sometimes. The frequency is too low for Blue-winged, and the structure of the trills is also not quite right. Blue-winged has a wider frequency range.
You may want to download the free Raven software from Cornell and start fiddling around with making spectrograms. Those really help in making comparisons like this. You can then download comparative voices from xeno-canto…and you are off to the races.
From: <SFBirds...> <SFBirds...> On Behalf Of Eddie Monson
Sent: Tuesday, June 23, 2020 7:24 PM
To: <sfbirds...>
Subject: [SFBirds] Mystery song
Hi all,
I heard a bird at the north side of Mclaren Park which puzzled me. It seems very interesting to me and other people I have sent it around too. I really would appreciate further insight no matter what the bird turns out to be. The location is undisclosed because it is private.
Good Birding
Eddie M
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Date: 6/23/20 9:47 pm From: Mark Stephenson via groups.io <markstephenson4106=<yahoo.com...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
Bewick’s Wrens have so many varied songs but this bird sounds uncannily similar to a Blue-Winged Warbler song. The only part that sounded a little off was that the ending trill was a little loose to my ear but this also can be a bit variable. We’re curious if anyone that has a Bewick’s Wren recording like this and could pass it on. We have heard many weird Bewick’s Wrens just never one like this. Would be awesome to hear a recording of one like this. Happy Birding,Mark Stephenson
On Tuesday, June 23, 2020, 9:01 PM, Frank Fogarty <fogartyfa...> wrote:
Sounds like a Bewick’s Wren. They do a lot of odd stuff, but the loud nasally intro notes and buzzy trills are good features to listen for.
Frank FogartyArcataÂ
On Tue, Jun 23, 2020 at 8:38 PM Mark Stephenson via groups.io <markstephenson4106=<yahoo.com...> wrote:
We listened to the recording and Immediately thought it was a Blue-Winged Warbler, although the trills a little loose this still falls well within the Blue-Winged category. This is a very rare bird and hope it stays for people to get visuals tomorrow morning. Cheers,Mark&Lucas StephensonÂ
On Tuesday, June 23, 2020, 8:24 PM, Eddie Monson <eg40monson...> wrote:
Hi all,I heard a bird at the north side of Mclaren Park which puzzled me. It seems very interesting to me and other people I have sent it around too. I really would appreciate further insight no matter what the bird turns out to be. The location is undisclosed because it is private.Good Birding Eddie M
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Date: 6/23/20 9:01 pm From: Frank Fogarty <fogartyfa...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
Sounds like a Bewick’s Wren. They do a lot of odd stuff, but the loud
nasally intro notes and buzzy trills are good features to listen for.
Frank Fogarty
Arcata
On Tue, Jun 23, 2020 at 8:38 PM Mark Stephenson via groups.io
<markstephenson4106=<yahoo.com...> wrote:
> We listened to the recording and Immediately thought it was a Blue-Winged
> Warbler, although the trills a little loose this still falls well within
> the Blue-Winged category. This is a very rare bird and hope it stays for
> people to get visuals tomorrow morning.
> Cheers,
> Mark&Lucas Stephenson
>
>
> <https://overview.mail.yahoo.com/?.src=iOS> >
> On Tuesday, June 23, 2020, 8:24 PM, Eddie Monson <eg40monson...>
> wrote:
>
> Hi all,
> I heard a bird at the north side of Mclaren Park which puzzled me. It
> seems very interesting to me and other people I have sent it around too. I
> really would appreciate further insight no matter what the bird turns out
> to be. The location is undisclosed because it is private.
> Good Birding
> Eddie M
>
>
>
>
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Date: 6/23/20 8:38 pm From: Mark Stephenson via groups.io <markstephenson4106=<yahoo.com...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Mystery song
We listened to the recording and Immediately thought it was a Blue-Winged Warbler, although the trills a little loose this still falls well within the Blue-Winged category. This is a very rare bird and hope it stays for people to get visuals tomorrow morning. Cheers,Mark&Lucas StephensonÂ
On Tuesday, June 23, 2020, 8:24 PM, Eddie Monson <eg40monson...> wrote:
Hi all,I heard a bird at the north side of Mclaren Park which puzzled me. It seems very interesting to me and other people I have sent it around too. I really would appreciate further insight no matter what the bird turns out to be. The location is undisclosed because it is private.Good Birding Eddie M
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Date: 6/23/20 8:24 pm From: Eddie Monson <eg40monson...> Subject: [SFBirds] Mystery song
Hi all, I heard a bird at the north side of Mclaren Park which puzzled me. It seems very interesting to me and other people I have sent it around too. I really would appreciate further insight no matter what the bird turns out to be. The location is undisclosed because it is private. Good Birding Eddie M
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Date: 6/23/20 3:00 pm From: Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] American Redstart - Mtn Lake
Yup! Thanks to Dave and Max B for refinding. Still singing persistently as of 2:30pm. Same willow patch. Also Max and I glimpsed a mystery flycatcher with 2 buffy wing bars, pumping tail, and a pretty thin eye ring before it absconded. Best guesses are Willow Fly and juve PSlope.
Dan
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Date: 6/23/20 2:28 pm From: davisigno <davisigno...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] American Redstart - Mtn Lake
Continuing Redstart in the same spot that Daniel Scali first reported.
On Mon, Jun 22, 2020 at 4:44 PM Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...> wrote:
> Hi, > > SY male (unless females sing?) working the riparian 100-200 yds south of > the restored meadow north of the lake. This is also along the path heading > east and then south from the freeway underpass. GPS in ebird. The bird > disappeared on me for about 20 min and then I heard it (and saw it) again. > Currently still here 1 hour from when it first announced itself behind my > head. Based on the speed and evenness of the series, I actually thought I > was going to turn around to a Junco. What LUCK! > > Happy Summer, > Dan Scali > > >
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Date: 6/23/20 12:43 pm From: Ken Moy <ken.moy62...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Hooded Warbler June 23: Noon update
Striking male Hooded Warbler continues singing and displaying in eucs and short trees and shrubs. Has been near golf course in area between the 2nd coyote alert sign and about 30-40 yards East.
On Tue, Jun 23, 2020, 6:37 AM Dave Weber <dwbirdster...> wrote:
> > Hooded Warbler continues this morning in GGP. From second Coyote sign west > of North Lake restroom on JFK take trail from sidewalk to golf course edge. > Bird heard and seen in this area from 6:10 to 6:25. > > Dave Weber, > Milpitas > By phone > > >
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Date: 6/23/20 12:37 pm From: Nancy Palmer <nancy_palmer...> Subject: [SFBirds] American Redstart at the SFBG 6/22 and 6/23
Hi all,
I tried to send this post out last night but it didn’t go through so sending now along with an update. Went back to SFBG today with Ken Moy and he spotted the redstart in a group of chickadees up in one of the very tall yellowish trees off of zellerbach lawn right next to the New Zealand garden around 10am. I was able to get eyes on it as well and it looked like the same bird that I saw yesterday(see description below). It then flew off and we followed the chickadees through the NZ garden hoping that it was traveling with them but were unable to relocate it. Still no good photos. :(..
Happy Birding!
Nancy Palmer
From yesterday, 6/22/20:
>
> Sorry for the very late post. On a trip to the SFBG this morning around 9:30am, I had what looked like an American Redstart in the moon viewing garden. It flew onto a flat rock next to the pond on the side closest to the maintenance shed. My first impression without bins and in low light was that it was a gray bird fanning a long tail with a light colored stripe and it was slightly larger than the chickadees dipping into the water next to it. With binoculars, I saw that it had an all gray head and a white chest with very bright yellow patches on the sides of its chest. I did not notice any streaking/mottling on the chest and it was silent the whole time. It quickly flew up to the magnolia tree with the chickadees and disappeared above the canopy. No photos unfortunately. :(..
>
> Interesting day out there! Good birding to all. :)
>
> Best,
> Nancy Palmer
> SF
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Date: 6/23/20 8:39 am From: Josiah Clark <josiah.clark621...> Subject: [SFBirds] Breeding Swainson’s Thrushes in SF? A challenge...
There are still Swainsons thrushes singing at several locations in San Francisco into summer! The last time this happened was long enough ago that most SF birders would not realize this used to be a thing that happened.
Some locations from this year include Mountain Lake Park, upper Lobos Creek, Washington Blvd in the presidio and Mount Sutro.
It would be great to confirm breeding of this species for the city. A bird that is in decline in many areas and has a relatively specialized habitat type along the coast. There is no question in my mind that habitat restoration in riparian areas that encourages plants like red elderberry has had a huge positive impact on this frugivorous species.
Josiah Clark | Habitat Potential | Consulting Ecologist | 415.317.3978
License #1043929
habitatpotential.net
www.youtube.com/josiahmtclark
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Date: 6/23/20 6:37 am From: Dave Weber <dwbirdster...> Subject: [SFBirds] Hooded Warbler June 23
Hooded Warbler continues this morning in GGP. From second Coyote sign west of North Lake restroom on JFK take trail from sidewalk to golf course edge. Bird heard and seen in this area from 6:10 to 6:25.Dave Weber,MilpitasBy phone
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Date: 6/22/20 10:13 pm From: Bob Hall <bilgepump100...> Subject: [SFBirds] Olive-sided flycatcher is back at Sutro Rotary Meadow
I was glad to hear the repeated signing of the bird. Also still singing up there was an orange-crowned warbler. Is it getting late for it to still be singing in the city? I thought they were uncommon breeders here.
--
Bob Hall
San Francisco, CA
"There is no better high than discovery." - E.O. Wilson
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Date: 6/22/20 9:52 pm From: Richard Bradus via groups.io <grizzledjay=<yahoo.com...> Subject: [SFBirds] Shearwater Spectacle Continues
Finally confronting my disdain of the coastal fog and wind, I made it out to Ocean Beach this evening (Monday June 22) and was able to witness the amazing spectacle reported by others over the past few days of masses of Sooty Shearwaters over the relatively nearshore waters.Â
Heralded by phalanxes of pelicans soaring offshore and beginning to dive, the shearwaters began arriving about 6:30pm, flowing up from the south out of the fog and light drizzle off the coast, becoming a steady stream of eventually thousands. Initially circling back and then swirling around, they later settled into patterns of multiple rafts and smaller streams, fluctuating north to the Cliff House rocks and then south again, accompanied by what I estimated to be a couple of hundred pelicans and many scores of mostly Western as well as California gulls, and punctuated by fly-by groups of mostly Brant's cormorants plus a few assorted other species.Â
I eventually made my way to the Cliff House and, fortunately, as the mists began, some of the shearwaters turned back and began streaming south again, a bit closer to shore so that I was able to actually see details with binoculars (no scope). Not being very well versed in ocean birds, I was unable to identify all of what was passing by and I saw no rarities, but there was at least one Humpback whale and a nice close-in cameo by a sea lion.
If you can stand the lousy weather conditions, by all means go out and see this spectacle, hopefully repeating again tomorrow evening. Lots and lots and lots of birds! We may have been born more than a century too late to have witnessed the great flocks of waterbirds in the long vanished wetlands of the Central Valley, but this is something to cherish.
Richard BradusSan Francisco
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Date: 6/22/20 4:44 pm From: Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...> Subject: [SFBirds] American Redstart - Mtn Lake
Hi,
SY male (unless females sing?) working the riparian 100-200 yds south of the restored meadow north of the lake. This is also along the path heading east and then south from the freeway underpass. GPS in ebird. The bird disappeared on me for about 20 min and then I heard it (and saw it) again. Currently still here 1 hour from when it first announced itself behind my head. Based on the speed and evenness of the series, I actually thought I was going to turn around to a Junco. What LUCK!
Happy Summer, Dan Scali
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Still calling periodically. Got a couple good looks as he flitted around halfway up the eucs.
Exactly where Ken directed.Â
Thanks Juan and others, a nice treat for a foggy June day!
Loretta
On Mon, Jun 22, 2020 at 11:17 AM, Ken Moy<ken.moy62...> wrote: Follow footpath towards golf course boundary to a clearing recently used as campsite.
On Mon, Jun 22, 2020, 11:00 AM Ken Moy via groups.io <ken.moy62=<gmail.com...> wrote:
Calling occasionally, seen clearly twice
On Mon, Jun 22, 2020, 10:57 AM Kenneth Moy <ken.moy62...> wrote:
First found by Juan Garcia. North side of JFK Dr in GGP about 50-75 yards west of North Lake bathrooms. Near 2nd Coyote Alert sign
On Mon, Jun 22, 2020, 10:54 AM Ken Moy via groups.io <ken.moy62=<gmail.com...> wrote:
> On Jun 22, 2020, at 10:54, Ken Moy <ken.moy62...> wrote:
>
> Dropped pin
> Near 970 47th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121
> https://maps.app.goo.gl/WkPk9HtFLm5baAg36 >
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Date: 6/22/20 2:06 pm From: David Assmann via groups.io <david_assmann=<yahoo.com...> Subject: [SFBirds] Returning Shorebirds at Crissy Lagoon
There were 27 WILLETS on one of the small islands in Crissy Lagoon this morning - all in alternate plumage - a sure sign that we are already heading towards fall.
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Date: 6/22/20 11:17 am From: Ken Moy <ken.moy62...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Hooded Warbler @ Dropped pin
Follow footpath towards golf course boundary to a clearing recently used as campsite.
On Mon, Jun 22, 2020, 11:00 AM Ken Moy via groups.io <ken.moy62= <gmail.com...> wrote:
> Calling occasionally, seen clearly twice > > > On Mon, Jun 22, 2020, 10:57 AM Kenneth Moy <ken.moy62...> wrote: > >> First found by Juan Garcia. North side of JFK Dr in GGP about 50-75 yards >> west of North Lake bathrooms. Near 2nd Coyote Alert sign >> >> On Mon, Jun 22, 2020, 10:54 AM Ken Moy via groups.io <ken.moy62= >> <gmail.com...> wrote: >> >>> Dropped pin >>> Near 970 47th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121 >>> https://maps.app.goo.gl/WkPk9HtFLm5baAg36 >>> >> >
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Date: 6/22/20 11:00 am From: Ken Moy <ken.moy62...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Hooded Warbler @ Dropped pin
Calling occasionally, seen clearly twice
On Mon, Jun 22, 2020, 10:57 AM Kenneth Moy <ken.moy62...> wrote:
> First found by Juan Garcia. North side of JFK Dr in GGP about 50-75 yards > west of North Lake bathrooms. Near 2nd Coyote Alert sign > > On Mon, Jun 22, 2020, 10:54 AM Ken Moy via groups.io <ken.moy62= > <gmail.com...> wrote: > >> Dropped pin >> Near 970 47th Ave, San Francisco, CA 94121 >> https://maps.app.goo.gl/WkPk9HtFLm5baAg36 >> >> >
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Yes, the Sooty shearwaters are moving in insane number right now. Joachim who is with me counted 2,000 per minute. Max B
On Sun, Jun 21, 2020 at 6:48 PM Lia Schnipper via groups.io <laelia8= <aol.com...> wrote:
> Hi, > The last post I saw about the shearwaters off the coast was yesterday, > could anyone update me who has seen them today? > Thanks very much, > Lia Schnipper > > > >
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Date: 6/21/20 6:48 pm From: Lia Schnipper via groups.io <laelia8=<aol.com...> Subject: [SFBirds] Sooty shearwaters
Hi, The last post I saw about the shearwaters off the coast was yesterday, could anyone update me who has seen them today?Thanks very much,Lia Schnipper
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Date: 6/21/20 7:31 am From: Mila Zinkova <Milazinkova...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Sooty Shearwaters off of Seal Rocks/ Cliff Houde now 6/20
I filmed the first few clips from Sutro Bath, and then I went to Ocean Beach ( around Lincoln). The birds were moving north and I walked with them a little bit. I filmed the video between 6 and 8. I do not know if the birds are there at daytime.
Mila.
> On Jun 21, 2020, at 2:05 AM, Joel Perlstein <joelperl...> wrote:
>
> What time did you take the video? Were you standing on the walkway to the Cliff House?
>
> Do you know if the shearwaters are also around in the middle of the day or the afternoon?
> --
> Joel Perlstein
> San Francisco
>
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Date: 6/20/20 9:13 pm From: Mila Zinkova <Milazinkova...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Sooty Shearwaters off of Seal Rocks/ Cliff Houde now 6/20
Tonight there was a humpback too. https://youtu.be/hPGP9u_1Fag (the whale is at the beginning). Did somebody see whales here or in Half-Moon-Bay? Thanks.
On Sat, Jun 20, 2020 at 7:06 PM Joel Perlstein <joelperl...> wrote:
> Shearwaters are now massing in the water off of the Seal rocks just west > of Cliff House. > > > > -- > Joel Perlstein > San Francisco > > > >
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Not sure when they were last reported, but now they are very close to shore at the cliff house. A real spectacle. Presumably feeding on anchovies. Also lots of cormorants, pelicans and other birds mixed in.
Josiah Clark | Habitat Potential | Consulting Ecologist | 415.317.3978
License #1043929
habitatpotential.net
www.youtube.com/josiahmtclark
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Date: 6/19/20 6:13 am From: Mila Zinkova <Milazinkova...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Sooty Shearwaters off Ocean Beach, 6/18/20
They were feeding probably on anchovies. My zoom is 800.
Best.
> On Jun 18, 2020, at 11:50 PM, joelperl <joelperl...> wrote:
>
> 
> Any idea what they were feeding on?
>
> I am also curious as to what the power of magnification was for the video?
>
> Thanks
>
>
>
>> On Jun 18, 2020, at 9:06 PM, Mila Zinkova <Milazinkova...> wrote:
>>
>> https://youtu.be/PNTbQRH0FHU >> This was at about the same time close to the Cliff House.
>>
>>> On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 6:28 PM Paul Saraceni <paulsaraceni...> wrote:
>>> The Sooties are massing again right now (6:25 pm Thurs) off of Rivera access to OB.
>>>
>>> Cheers,
>>> Paul Saraceni
>>>
>>>
>>> > On Jun 17, 2020, at 8:10 PM, Paul Saraceni <paulsaraceni...> wrote:
>>> >
>>> > This evening (now) Sooty Shearwaters are moving in big numbers off Ocean Beach. Several thousand were flying N in pulses when I arrived around 7:10 pm. In the past 20 minutes (7:45-8:05) they have been streaming S uninterrupted just beyond the surf @ Pacheco. Conservative estimate of 15,000+.
>>> >
>>> > Paul Saraceni
>>> > San Francisco
>>> >
>>> > Sent from my iPhone
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>>
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Date: 6/18/20 11:50 pm From: Joel Perlstein <joelperl...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Sooty Shearwaters off Ocean Beach, 6/18/20
Any idea what they were feeding on?
I am also curious as to what the power of magnification was for the video?
Thanks
> On Jun 18, 2020, at 9:06 PM, Mila Zinkova <Milazinkova...> wrote:
>
> https://youtu.be/PNTbQRH0FHU > This was at about the same time close to the Cliff House.
>
>> On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 6:28 PM Paul Saraceni <paulsaraceni...> wrote:
>> The Sooties are massing again right now (6:25 pm Thurs) off of Rivera access to OB.
>>
>> Cheers,
>> Paul Saraceni
>>
>>
>> > On Jun 17, 2020, at 8:10 PM, Paul Saraceni <paulsaraceni...> wrote:
>> >
>> > This evening (now) Sooty Shearwaters are moving in big numbers off Ocean Beach. Several thousand were flying N in pulses when I arrived around 7:10 pm. In the past 20 minutes (7:45-8:05) they have been streaming S uninterrupted just beyond the surf @ Pacheco. Conservative estimate of 15,000+.
>> >
>> > Paul Saraceni
>> > San Francisco
>> >
>> > Sent from my iPhone
>>
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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-----Original Message-----
From: <SFBirds...> <SFBirds...> On Behalf Of Paul Saraceni
Sent: Thursday, June 18, 2020 6:28 PM
To: <SFBirds...>
Subject: [SFBirds] Sooty Shearwaters off Ocean Beach, 6/18/20
The Sooties are massing again right now (6:25 pm Thurs) off of Rivera access to OB.
Cheers,
Paul Saraceni
> On Jun 17, 2020, at 8:10 PM, Paul Saraceni <paulsaraceni...> wrote:
>
> This evening (now) Sooty Shearwaters are moving in big numbers off Ocean Beach. Several thousand were flying N in pulses when I arrived around 7:10 pm. In the past 20 minutes (7:45-8:05) they have been streaming S uninterrupted just beyond the surf @ Pacheco. Conservative estimate of 15,000+.
>
> Paul Saraceni
> San Francisco
>
> Sent from my iPhone
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On Thu, Jun 18, 2020 at 6:28 PM Paul Saraceni <paulsaraceni...>
wrote:
> The Sooties are massing again right now (6:25 pm Thurs) off of Rivera
> access to OB.
>
> Cheers,
> Paul Saraceni
>
>
> > On Jun 17, 2020, at 8:10 PM, Paul Saraceni <paulsaraceni...>
> wrote:
> >
> > This evening (now) Sooty Shearwaters are moving in big numbers off
> Ocean Beach. Several thousand were flying N in pulses when I arrived around
> 7:10 pm. In the past 20 minutes (7:45-8:05) they have been streaming S
> uninterrupted just beyond the surf @ Pacheco. Conservative estimate of
> 15,000+.
> >
> > Paul Saraceni
> > San Francisco
> >
> > Sent from my iPhone
>
>
>
>
>
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Date: 6/18/20 6:28 pm From: Paul Saraceni <paulsaraceni...> Subject: [SFBirds] Sooty Shearwaters off Ocean Beach, 6/18/20
The Sooties are massing again right now (6:25 pm Thurs) off of Rivera access to OB.
Cheers,
Paul Saraceni
> On Jun 17, 2020, at 8:10 PM, Paul Saraceni <paulsaraceni...> wrote:
>
> This evening (now) Sooty Shearwaters are moving in big numbers off Ocean Beach. Several thousand were flying N in pulses when I arrived around 7:10 pm. In the past 20 minutes (7:45-8:05) they have been streaming S uninterrupted just beyond the surf @ Pacheco. Conservative estimate of 15,000+.
>
> Paul Saraceni
> San Francisco
>
> Sent from my iPhone
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Date: 6/18/20 10:31 am From: Keith Maley <keith.maley...> Subject: [SFBirds] Nighthawk 6/17 Russian Hill
Nighthawk sp. seen out my window in Russian Hill at 8:32 pm 6/17. Dark bird with long, pointed wings flying low over a building, chased by a crow. Flew higher and closer in a darting, erratic and buoyant flight. White wing bars and white throat became visible as it flew directly overhead. No vocalization, and I could not confidently pick up on the exact placement of the wing bar on the outer half of the wing given its fast flight pattern. (No vocalization would suggest Lesser?) Flew West, gaining altitude against a clear sky.
Keith Maley
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Date: 6/17/20 8:10 pm From: Paul Saraceni <paulsaraceni...> Subject: [SFBirds] Sooty Shearwaters off Ocean Beach, 6/17/20
This evening (now) Sooty Shearwaters are moving in big numbers off Ocean Beach. Several thousand were flying N in pulses when I arrived around 7:10 pm. In the past 20 minutes (7:45-8:05) they have been streaming S uninterrupted just beyond the surf @ Pacheco. Conservative estimate of 15,000+.
Paul Saraceni
San Francisco
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Date: 6/15/20 10:06 pm From: H Cotter <chatwren...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Franklins gull at crissy/ correction to Laughing Gull
> Thanks to notes from Alvaro and Peter - looking at this in more detail it
> looks like it was an adult Laughing Gull and not Franklins.
> The primaries and very black with little or no white in them, including in
> flight and the bird looked elongated - eye crescents we’re narrower than
> expected for franklins.
> I will post the my additional really bad photos on entire later on.
> Hopefully it will show up again - two laughing Gulls at Crissy
> Hugh
>
> On Mon, Jun 15, 2020 at 7:16 PM H Cotter <chatwren...> wrote:
>
>> And just flew west at 7.16
>>
>> On Mon, Jun 15, 2020 at 7:13 PM H Cotter via groups.io <chatwren=
>> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>>
>>> All
>>> Looks Like an adult franklins at crissy on middle Island now - 7.10 pm
>>>
>>> Hugh
>>>
>>>
>>>
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Date: 6/14/20 11:13 pm From: Bob Hall <bilgepump100...> Subject: [SFBirds] Sutro Rotary Meadow
There was a spotted towhee singing in the meadow along with several Wilson's warblers and a pari of singing orange crowned warblers. No sign of the olive-sided flycatcher from last year.
--
Bob Hall
San Francisco, CA
"There is no better high than discovery." - E.O. Wilson
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Date: 6/14/20 7:13 pm From: H Cotter <chatwren...> Subject: [SFBirds] Lincoln Park - 06.14.20- American Redstart
Birding with Paul Saraceni this morning we had a singing 1S American Redstart st the end of Camino Del Mar where it ends at the west wash in Lincoln park. It sang continuously but was difficult to see and impossible to photograph.
Other interesting birds included some Red Crossbill among the usual species.
A sea watch at the south end of Ocean Beach earlier in the morning with glassy seas produced many Pigeon Guillemots - we also had what we believed to be a close in Mola Mola visible from the beach.
Hugh
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Date: 6/12/20 10:41 am From: Daniel Scali <daniel.s.scali...> Subject: [SFBirds] Audubon’s Yellow-rumped warbler
Hola pájaro watchers,
After watching sffd rescue a guy on a cliff below the east wash of Land’s
End this morning, and finding nothing too interesting in the wash, I moved
along and heard a wisp of Warbler song. A very late YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
(Audubon’s) continues singing and foraging in the Cypresses north of the
Lincoln Park golf course 3rd tee box. Is it the bird seen and heard for a
week, .5 mile away, more than a week ago at Ft Miley plateau? Could be. No
females to speak of.
Hoping the end of the low pressure systems will bring a few more vagrants
our way.
Good birding,
Dan, sf
PS. Do the birds realize singing is a top spreader of Covid-19? I hope
they’re wearing masks :)
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Date: 6/10/20 10:58 am From: Bob Hall <bilgepump100...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Bank Swallow sightings in the City
Both are great developments! I’ll bear with the momentary scrambled data, haha.
Thanks!
Bob Hall
> On Jun 10, 2020, at 8:31 AM, <dominikmosur...> wrote:
>
> Hi Bob,
>
>
> Rough-wing population and new Birder population have increased noticeably over the past two decades In SF.
>
>
> I suspect these are the two main factors in the false positive bank swallow data all over SF.
>
> Dominik
>
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
>> On Jun 10, 2020, at 07:55, Bob Hall <bilgepump100...> wrote:
>>
>> Joachim: Can you add a little about what folks may be confusing the bank swallow with? Is it because other juvenile swallows may resemble bank swallows?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Bob Hall
>>
>> --
>> Bob Hall
>> San Francisco, CA
>> "There is no better high than discovery." - E.O. Wilson
>>
>>
>>
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Date: 6/10/20 10:07 am From: Dominik Mosur <dominikmosur...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Bank Swallow sightings in the City
Good point, John, for out of range Bank reports after mid-May when Tree Swallows can start fledging in the area.
Dom
> On Jun 10, 2020, at 08:31, Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur=<gmail.com...> wrote:
>
> 
> Hi Bob,
>
>
> Rough-wing population and new Birder population have increased noticeably over the past two decades In SF.
>
>
> I suspect these are the two main factors in the false positive bank swallow data all over SF.
>
> Dominik
>
>
>
>
>> On Jun 10, 2020, at 07:55, Bob Hall <bilgepump100...> wrote:
>>
>> Joachim: Can you add a little about what folks may be confusing the bank swallow with? Is it because other juvenile swallows may resemble bank swallows?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Bob Hall
>>
>> --
>> Bob Hall
>> San Francisco, CA
>> "There is no better high than discovery." - E.O. Wilson
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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Date: 6/10/20 8:37 am From: John Sterling <jsterling...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Bank Swallow sightings in the City
And immature tree swallows.
John Sterling
530 908-3836
26 Palm Ave
Woodland, CA 95695
> On Jun 10, 2020, at 8:31 AM, Dominik Mosur <dominikmosur...> wrote:
>
> 
> Hi Bob,
>
>
> Rough-wing population and new Birder population have increased noticeably over the past two decades In SF.
>
>
> I suspect these are the two main factors in the false positive bank swallow data all over SF.
>
> Dominik
>
>
>
>
>> On Jun 10, 2020, at 07:55, Bob Hall <bilgepump100...> wrote:
>>
>> Joachim: Can you add a little about what folks may be confusing the bank swallow with? Is it because other juvenile swallows may resemble bank swallows?
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Bob Hall
>>
>> --
>> Bob Hall
>> San Francisco, CA
>> "There is no better high than discovery." - E.O. Wilson
>>
>>
>>
>
>
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Date: 6/10/20 8:31 am From: Dominik Mosur <dominikmosur...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Bank Swallow sightings in the City
Hi Bob,
Rough-wing population and new Birder population have increased noticeably over the past two decades In SF.
I suspect these are the two main factors in the false positive bank swallow data all over SF.
Dominik
> On Jun 10, 2020, at 07:55, Bob Hall <bilgepump100...> wrote:
>
> Joachim: Can you add a little about what folks may be confusing the bank swallow with? Is it because other juvenile swallows may resemble bank swallows?
>
> Thanks,
> Bob Hall
>
> --
> Bob Hall
> San Francisco, CA
> "There is no better high than discovery." - E.O. Wilson
>
>
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Date: 6/10/20 7:55 am From: Bob Hall <bilgepump100...> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Bank Swallow sightings in the City
Joachim: Can you add a little about what folks may be confusing the bank swallow with? Is it because other juvenile swallows may resemble bank swallows?
Thanks,
Bob Hall
--
Bob Hall
San Francisco, CA
"There is no better high than discovery." - E.O. Wilson
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