Date: 11/28/23 8:51 am From: Guy McCaskie <guymcc...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] North American Birds - 2023 Fall Migration Season
County Coordinators/Contributors:
The Fall Migration Season (1 August through 30 November 2023) is ended, and
we solicit reports for inclusion in the Southern California Region of NORTH
AMERICAN BIRDS. Reports should be arranged with species in the taxonomic
order followed by the American Ornithologists Union (Check-List of North
American Birds 1998 and all Supplements) and the American Birding
Association (7th edition of the ABA Checklist, 2009 revised through the 28th
Report). Reports of species included on the California Bird Records
Committee (CBRC) review list
must be accompanied by documentation (written description, photographs,
etc.).
Similar documentation should also accompany reports of species unusual for
the location or season. Full names, with all initials, should be used in the
reports - John P. Doe in lieu of John Doe.
Reports should be sent to the appropriate County Coordinators (listed below)
or directly to Guy McCaskie, on or before 22 December 2023. NORTH AMERICAN
BIRDS cannot exist without your input.
Date: 11/25/23 3:22 pm From: Thomas via groups.io <bajahobo...> Subject: Re: [inlandcountybirds] Rufous-backed Robin at Morongo
The Rufous-backed Robin put in a nice reappearance this afternoon from 2:55-3:10 at the same feeders then flew ~100 feet west up high in one of the tall cottonwood trees, then flew off way to the west towards Covington Park, so might be worth it to check over there as well ….
Thomas MyersOceanside, Ca
On Saturday, November 25, 2023, 10:38 AM, Tom Benson via groups.io <thomasabenson...> wrote:
Dan Baumann is reporting a Rufous-backed Robin at the Education Center feeders at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve this morning, Nov 25.
Just the messenger,Tom Benson Redlands, CA
Date: 11/25/23 10:38 am From: Tom Benson via groups.io <thomasabenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Rufous-backed Robin at Morongo
Dan Baumann is reporting a Rufous-backed Robin at the Education Center feeders at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve this morning, Nov 25.Just the messenger,Tom Benson Redlands, CA
Date: 11/23/23 7:39 am From: Thomas Benson <tbenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Southeastern CA RBA: November 23, 2023
RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* November 23, 2023
* CASE23.11.23
HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
This is the Southeastern CA weekly RBA summary. We cover Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. California Bird Records Committee review species are denoted by asterisks. To report a bird POST TO INLANDCOUNTYBIRDS (https://groups.io/g/inlandcountybirds). If there is some reason that you cannot post there, please e-mail or call/text Tom Benson at <tbenson...> or (909) 648-0899.
A *THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD* continued at Bellevue Memorial Park in Ontario through Nov 19 (Eric Tipton).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
An apparent *MEXICAN DUCK* continued at Rancho Jurupa Park through Nov 22 (Scott Taylor).
A STILT SANDPIPER was seen at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area on Nov 19 (Tony Metcalf).
IMPERIAL COUNTY
A DUSKY FLYCATCHER, PLUMBEOUS VIREO, and PURPLE FINCH were seen at Picacho State Recreation Area on Nov 17 (Logan Kahle).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Birds included in this weekly summary are those that are considered casual or of less than annual occurrence in San Bernardino, Riverside, or Imperial Counties, or in some cases regionally within these areas. If you do find or see something of interest, whether it be a geographical or seasonal rarity, evidence of local range expansion, or a novel breeding record, I'd recommend sharing that information with the CBRC, North American Birds subregional editors, or regional listservs as appropriate. Information for contacting these entities is available below.
Please submit your documentation of all California Bird Records Committee review species (denoted by asterisks) to CBRC Secretary Tom Benson at <secretary...> or via the CBRC website: https://www.californiabirds.org/report_sighting.html
CBRC review species and birds of local or seasonal rarity should be reported to the North American Birds (https://www.aba.org/north-american-birds/) county coordinators. They are:
IMPERIAL COUNTY: Guy McCaskie, <guymcc...>
INYO COUNTY: Chris and Rosie Howard, <chris93514...>
KERN COUNTY: Kelli Heindel-Levinson, <kkheindel...>
RIVERSIDE COUNTY: David Rankin, <david.rankin...>
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: Alexander E. Koonce, <sandy_koonce...>
************
Other dying birding listservs that include reports of birds in southern California are:
A schedule of San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society field trips is available on the SBVAS website at https://www.sbvas.net/field-trips
************
Bird status and distribution references that every southeastern California birder should own:
Birds of southern California: status and distribution (1981), by Kimball L. Garrett and Jon L. Dunn
Birds of the Salton Sea: status, biogeography, and ecology (2003), by Michael A. Patten, Guy McCaskie, and Philip Unitt (update: https://www.sbvas.net/_files/ugd/09ca00_bdaf8a44285e4c1dbd625cd601280b5b.pdf)
Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley (1991), by Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Robert D. Ohmart, William C. Hunter, and Bertin W. Anderson
Date: 11/21/23 3:06 pm From: McGiffen <kmcgif...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Continuing Mexican Duck & Eastern Phoebe at Rancho Jurupa Park
Hi Friends,
At Rancho Jurupa Park this morning, the Mexican Duck was observed around 8:00am on the southern most shore of the back pond (North Pond) along with a small group of Mallards. I was able to get photographs but the Mexican Duck and a male Mallard soon flew in a NW direction outside the park. That was the last I saw of them, and I left the park shortly after 11:00am.
The Eastern Phoebe popped in and out of the bushes around the back pond and stream numerous times while I was there.
Date: 11/20/23 11:23 am From: Anthony Metcalf <ametcalf...> Subject: Re: [inlandcountybirds] Nov 19 SBVAS Field Trip to the San Jacinto WildlIfe Area, Riverside Co.
Hi all,
Wow, now including birds observed and well documented by participants but
not seen by everyone the total for the Nov 19 SBVAS Field Trip has climbed
to 114!!! Thanks to everyone for obliterating the old Fall record of 105.
Note the eBird entry is for the trip, individual lists will vary.
Tony Metcalf
CSUSB
On Mon, Nov 20, 2023 at 9:46 AM Anthony Metcalf <AMetcalf...> wrote:
> Hi all,
>
> We are still compiling the numbers of individuals for eBird entry. Here
> are some highlights. Number of species observed: 103. (This is the 3rd time
> that we have reached 100 species in the Fall. Fall record is 105, Spring
> record is 106); Ross's Goose-2, Ramona Hunt Club; Cackling Goose
> (Aleutian)-12, SE corner of Mystic Lake; Common Goldeneye- 7, SE corner of
> Mystic Lake; Sandhill Crane-1; Bridge Street Mystic Lake sunset flyover
> photographed by Pema and Josh; Marbled Godwit-9; Stilt Sandpiper-1, south
> of Walker 12, (do NOT trespass onto adjacent private duck clubs );
> Franklin's Gull-1, SE corner of Mystic Lake accessed from Bridge Street;
> possible Short-billed Gull (immature), southeast corner of Mystic Lake
> accessed from Bridge Street; possible Iceland (Thayer's) Gull, southeast
> corner of Mystic Lake accessed from Bridge Street, 8 Vermilion Flycatcher,
> carefully counted in various locations).
>
> There are several 1000 Gulls in the SE corner of Mystic Lake and 100's of
> peeps including LESA, WESA, Dunlin, LBDO that could use continual looking
> over (Thanks Dave Goodward for the texts yesterday) . We arrived at Bridge
> Street access late in the day, so who knows what we missed?
>
> SIncerely,
> Tony Metcalf
> CSUSB
>
> --
> Anthony Metcalf
> Department of Biology
> California State University, San Bernardino
> 5500 University Parkway
> San Bernardino, CA 92407
> (909) 537-7501
> FAX: (909) 537-7038
>
>
--
Anthony Metcalf
Department of Biology
California State University, San Bernardino
5500 University Parkway
San Bernardino, CA 92407
(909) 537-7501
FAX: (909) 537-7038
Date: 11/20/23 9:46 am From: Anthony Metcalf <ametcalf...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Nov 19 SBVAS Field Trip to the San Jacinto WildlIfe Area, Riverside Co.
Hi all,
We are still compiling the numbers of individuals for eBird entry. Here are some highlights. Number of species observed: 103. (This is the 3rd time that we have reached 100 species in the Fall. Fall record is 105, Spring record is 106); Ross's Goose-2, Ramona Hunt Club; Cackling Goose (Aleutian)-12, SE corner of Mystic Lake; Common Goldeneye- 7, SE corner of Mystic Lake; Sandhill Crane-1; Bridge Street Mystic Lake sunset flyover photographed by Pema and Josh; Marbled Godwit-9; Stilt Sandpiper-1, south of Walker 12, (do NOT trespass onto adjacent private duck clubs ); Franklin's Gull-1, SE corner of Mystic Lake accessed from Bridge Street; possible Short-billed Gull (immature), southeast corner of Mystic Lake accessed from Bridge Street; possible Iceland (Thayer's) Gull, southeast corner of Mystic Lake accessed from Bridge Street, 8 Vermilion Flycatcher, carefully counted in various locations).
There are several 1000 Gulls in the SE corner of Mystic Lake and 100's of peeps including LESA, WESA, Dunlin, LBDO that could use continual looking over (Thanks Dave Goodward for the texts yesterday) . We arrived at Bridge Street access late in the day, so who knows what we missed?
SIncerely, Tony Metcalf CSUSB
-- Anthony Metcalf Department of Biology California State University, San Bernardino 5500 University Parkway San Bernardino, CA 92407 (909) 537-7501 FAX: (909) 537-7038
On the south end of Mystic lake, entering from Bridge street, there was a
possible Franklin’s gull spotted around 3pm to 4pm and then a Sandhill
crane that was circling low around the lake around 4:30pm, possibly
roosting there for the night.
Date: 11/16/23 12:49 pm From: Thomas Benson <tbenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Southeastern CA RBA: November 16, 2023
RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* November 16, 2023
* CASE23.11.16
This is the Southeastern CA weekly RBA summary. We cover Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. California Bird Records Committee review species are denoted by asterisks. To report a bird POST TO INLANDCOUNTYBIRDS (https://groups.io/g/inlandcountybirds). If there is some reason that you cannot post there, please e-mail or call/text Tom Benson at <tbenson...> or (909) 648-0899.
A *THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD* continued at Bellevue Memorial Park in Ontario through Nov 15 (eBird).
A MAGNOLIA WARBLER was seen at Silver Lakes on Nov 15 (Keith Condon).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
An apparent *MEXICAN DUCK* continued at Rancho Jurupa Park through Nov 15 (Angela Kenny).
A *WINTER WREN* was seen at Palo Verde Ecological Reserve on Nov 15 (Logan Kahle).
A PACIFIC WREN continued at Idyllwild County Park through Nov 12 (Luca Cinus).
Up to two CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPURS were seen at Lake Elsinore Nov 10-14 (Charity Hagen).
IMPERIAL COUNTY
A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen at Wiley Reservoir on Nov 11 (Gjon Hazard).
A RED-NECKED GREBE was seen on Young Reservoir on Nov 12 (Guy McCaskie).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Birds included in this weekly summary are those that are considered casual or of less than annual occurrence in San Bernardino, Riverside, or Imperial Counties, or in some cases regionally within these areas. If you do find or see something of interest, whether it be a geographical or seasonal rarity, evidence of local range expansion, or a novel breeding record, I'd recommend sharing that information with the CBRC, North American Birds subregional editors, or regional listservs as appropriate. Information for contacting these entities is available below.
Please submit your documentation of all California Bird Records Committee review species (denoted by asterisks) to CBRC Secretary Tom Benson at <secretary...> or via the CBRC website: https://www.californiabirds.org/report_sighting.html
CBRC review species and birds of local or seasonal rarity should be reported to the North American Birds (https://www.aba.org/north-american-birds/) county coordinators. They are:
IMPERIAL COUNTY: Guy McCaskie, <guymcc...>
INYO COUNTY: Chris and Rosie Howard, <chris93514...>
KERN COUNTY: Kelli Heindel-Levinson, <kkheindel...>
RIVERSIDE COUNTY: David Rankin, <david.rankin...>
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: Alexander E. Koonce, <sandy_koonce...>
************
Other dying birding listservs that include reports of birds in southern California are:
A schedule of San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society field trips is available on the SBVAS website at https://www.sbvas.net/field-trips
************
Bird status and distribution references that every southeastern California birder should own:
Birds of southern California: status and distribution (1981), by Kimball L. Garrett and Jon L. Dunn
Birds of the Salton Sea: status, biogeography, and ecology (2003), by Michael A. Patten, Guy McCaskie, and Philip Unitt (update: https://www.sbvas.net/_files/ugd/09ca00_bdaf8a44285e4c1dbd625cd601280b5b.pdf)
Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley (1991), by Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Robert D. Ohmart, William C. Hunter, and Bertin W. Anderson
Date: 11/16/23 8:31 am From: Guy McCaskie <guymcc...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Salton Sea (south) 15 November 2023
I spent Wednesday 15 November 2023 (6:00 AM to 4:45 PM) with Chris Dean,
looking for birds along part of the south shore of the Salton Sea and at a
few select locations in the Imperial Valley. We started the day in Brawley,
first looking at the hummingbird feeders on Willard Avenue, then at Cattle
Call Park and last at Riverview Cemetery. We then drove north to the IID
Wetlands, stopping at Wiest Lake, Young Reservoir near Calipatria and the
Calipatria State Prison on the way. After looking at the IID Wetlands we
drove the short distance north into Niland. In Niland we birded north along
International Avenue, west along 4th Street and south along Luna Avenue.
From Niland we drove southwestward to Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge
HQ, stopping to look at Morton Bay on the way. From the Salton Sea Refuge HQ
we drove west to Obsidian Butte. From Obsidian Butte we followed the
"seawall" southwestward to the north end of Lack Road and near the west end
of Young Road. From the west end of Young Road we drove southwestward to
Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. Rain discouraged us from
carefully looking at Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, so
we drove southeastward past Westmorland and into Brawley, then south to near
the southeast corner of El Centro, stopping to look at Sheldon Reservoir and
the flooded areas immediately east of the intersection of Dogwood and
Keystone Roads and adjacent to Neckel Road (no gulls) on the way. After
spending a short time near the southeast corner of El Centro, Chris Dean
drove northward to Los Angeles and I drove west to San Diego, ending the day
looking the Rio Bend golf course and Fig Lagoon.
Overcast with no wind, but light rain in the early afternoon and with
temperatures ranging from 50 to 70 degrees.
Species seen and/or heard - Snow Goose (1500 - including at least five "Blue
Geese"), Ross's Goose (10 - at least ten with the Snow Geese at Unit 1 of
the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge), Cackling Goose (1 - one apparent
minima with Snow and Ross's Geese at Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National
Wildlife Refuge was most likely the same bird seen here by Raz Shafique on
26 October), Blue-winged Teal (5), Cinnamon Teal (10), Blue-winged/Cinnamon
Teal (5), Northern Shoveler (1000), Gadwall (2), American Wigeon (5),
Mallard (30), Northern Pintail (25), Green-winged Teal (2), Redhead (10),
Ring-necked Duck (30 - most on Fig Lagoon), Greater Scaup (1) Lesser Scaup
(10), Greater/Lesser Scaup (10), Bufflehead (2), Ruddy Duck (1500), Gambel's
Quail (15), Pied-billed Grebe (5), Eared Grebe (50), Western Grebe (15),
Clark's Grebe (2), Rock Pigeon (75), Eurasian Collared-Dove (250), Inca Dove
(15), Common Ground-Dove (10), White-winged Dove (20 - about twenty in
southwestern Brawley and one at Wiest Lake), Mourning Dove (150), Roadrunner
(3), Anna's Hummingbird (15), Costa's Hummingbird (3), Sora (2), Common
Gallinule (5), American Coot (500), Sandhill Crane (150 - about one
hundred-fifty at Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge),
Black-necked Stilt (100), American Avocet (150), Black-bellied Plover (150),
Semipalmated Plover (2), Killdeer (10), Long-billed Curlew (50), Marbled
Godwit (10), Least Sandpiper (350), Western Sandpiper (5), Least/Western
Sandpiper (250), Long-billed Dowitcher (100), Spotted Sandpiper (2), Willet
(20), Greater Yellowlegs (5), Bonaparte's Gull (2 - two together near the
west end of Young Road), Ring-billed Gull (1500), California Gull (15),
Herring Gull (15), Caspian Tern (1), Forster's Tern (25), Common Loon (1 -
one in basic-plumage on Wiley Reservoir), Double-crested Cormorant (30),
Neotropic Cormorant (6), American Bittern (1 - one in flight at Unit 1 of
the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge), Great Blue Heron (15), Great Egret
(35), Snowy Egret (50), Cattle Egret (1500), Green Heron (2), Black-crowned
Night-Heron (3), White-faced Ibis (750), Turkey Vulture (25), Osprey (1 -
one at Wiley Reservoir), Northern Harrier (6), Sharp-shinned Hawk (3),
Cooper's Hawk (5), Red-tailed Hawk (25), Burrowing Owl (5), Belted
Kingfisher (2), Gila Woodpecker (1), Red-naped Sapsucker (2 - two together
at Cattle Call Park in Brawley are the first that I have encountered locally
this fall), Ladder-backed Woodpecker (1), Northern Flicker (10), American
Kestrel (35), Merlin (1), Black Phoebe (5), Say's Phoebe (5), Vermilion
Flycatcher (5), Loggerhead Shrike (5), Common Raven (3), Verdin (5), Horned
Lark (20), Tree Swallow (50), Barn Swallow (5), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (2),
Phainopepla (2 - two in western Niland), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (1), House
Wren (2), Marsh Wren (5), Northern Mockingbird (5), European Starling (250),
House Sparrow (10), American Pipit (30), House Finch (10), Lesser Goldfinch
(2), Chipping Sparrow (25), Savannah Sparrow (20), White-crowned Sparrow
(25), Song Sparrow (5), Abert's Towhee (10), Yellow-headed Blackbird (100),
Western Meadowlark (5), Red-winged Blackbird (750), Brown-headed Cowbird
(5), Brewer's Blackbird (40), Great-tailed Grackle (250), Orange-crowned
Warbler (3), Common Yellowthroat (2), Yellow Warbler (1 - one adult female
at Cattle Call Park in Brawley appeared to be the same bird present at this
locations through the past three winters) and Yellow-rumped Warbler (15) -
114 species.
Date: 11/15/23 10:37 am From: catbird117 via groups.io <catbird117...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Silverlakes/Helendale Manolia Warbler
This morning there was a female type Magnolia warbler in the park on the north lake. It called repeatedly but was difficult to see in the ash trees which are turning yellow. There were also two common loons on the lake and Red-breasted nuthatches all over the community. The South lake had thousands of waterbirds.
Nearby at the Water Treatment Plant was a Male Hooded Merganser and a Wilson's Snipe.
Date: 11/15/23 7:14 am From: Anthony Metcalf <aemetcalf...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] San Jacinto Wildlife Area and Valley Field Trip Sunday, November 19
Hi all,
This Sunday, November 19 is the SBVAS Field Trip to the San Jacinto
Wildlife Area, Mystic Lake and …beyond. We occasionally (twice) top 100
species. This year Mystic Lake is full, so if you like walking, and a
amazing combination of habitats join us. We meet at the SJWA headquarters
parking lot. Gates should open at 7AM…hopefully we’ll see you there at 7.
Date: 11/15/23 6:15 am From: Brad Singer <bcsinger...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] SBVAS General Meeting Tonight, San Bernardino County Museum, Redlands, 7 pm
If you have ever been to Santa Cruz Island in the Channel Islands, you will undoubtedly have seen or have wanted to see a Channel Island Fox. This endangered little fox is the topic of tonight's talk. For more information, please go to SBVAS.net Brad Singer
Date: 11/14/23 10:51 pm From: David Rankin via groups.io <davidtrankin...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Yellow-bellied Sapsucker Moreno Valley
Hi all,
This morning I found a juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in the Hidden Springs neighborhood, about 100m southeast of the Hidden Springs Elementary School along the multi-use trail. A Gray Flycatcher was present in the same general area (a bit further north along the same trail) on Sunday.
On Saturday I had a good day at Mystic Lake in the afternoon, the highlight being a large gull flock at the SE end of the lake (visible by walking towards the lake from Bridge St) including 3 Thayer’s and a probable Glaucous-winged, plus 2 very late Franklin’s Gulls. At the Walker Ponds in the late afternoon I counted 401 Yellow-headed Blackbirds flying into the tules over the course of 45 minutes, an impressive total for anywhere in So Cal. Also of note is an invasion of Brewer’s Sparrows in the Box Spring Mountains (Moreno Valley), with 22 being my personal high county.
Good birding,David RankinMoreno Valley
Date: 11/13/23 8:00 am From: Guy McCaskie <guymcc...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Salton Sea (south) 12 November 2023
I spent much of Sunday, 12 November 2023 (6:00 AM to 3:30 PM) looking for
birds along part of the south shore of the Salton Sea and at a few select
locations in the Imperial Valley. I started the day at Fig Lagoon then drove
north to Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, stopping to look
at Sheldon Reservoir on the way. From Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National
Wildlife Refuge I drove northeastward to the west end of Young Road,
stopping to look at Wiley Reservoir on the way (no Red-necked Grebe
photographed here by Gjon C Hazard on 11 November). From the west end of
Young Road I drove northeastward to the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge
HQ, stopping to look at the north end of Lack Road and Obsidian Butte. I
then drove east to the Calipatria State Prison, then southward into Brawley,
stopping to look at Young Reservoir immediately south of Calipatria on the
way. In Brawley, I looked at Riverview Cemetery and the hummingbird feeders
on Willard Avenue (Rodeo at Cattle Call Park). From Brawley I drove south to
near the southeast corner of El Centro, stopping to look at the flooded
areas immediately east of the intersection of Dogwood and Keystone Roads and
adjacent to Neckel Road (no gulls), and at Evergreen Cemetery in El Centro
on the way. After spending time near the southeast corner of El Centro, I
drove west towards San Diego, ending the day looking at Fig Lagoon.
Clear with no wind and with temperatures ranging from 45 to 80 degrees.
Species seen and/or heard - Snow Goose (3500 - including at least fifteen
"Blue Geese"), Ross's Goose (300 - about three hundred with the Snow Geese
at Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge), Cackling Goose (1 -
one minima with Snow and Ross's Geese at Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National
Wildlife Refuge was most likely the same bird seen here by Raz Shafique on
26 October), Blue-winged Teal (5), Cinnamon Teal (30), Blue-winged/Cinnamon
Teal (20), Northern Shoveler (1000), Gadwall (5), American Wigeon (10),
Mallard (20), Northern Pintail (15), Green-winged Teal (250), Redhead (10),
Ring-necked Duck (1), Greater Scaup (5) Lesser Scaup (50), Greater/Lesser
Scaup (100), Ruddy Duck (750), Gambel's Quail (5), Pied-billed Grebe (5),
Red-necked Grebe (1 - one in basic-plumage near Calipatria on Young
Reservoir is only the third that I have seen in Imperial County), Eared
Grebe (50), Western Grebe (25), Clark's Grebe (1), Rock Pigeon (75),
Eurasian Collared-Dove (150), Inca Dove (5), Common Ground-Dove (10),
White-winged Dove (2 - two in southwestern Brawley), Mourning Dove (100),
Roadrunner (4), Anna's Hummingbird (6), Costa's Hummingbird (1), Common
Gallinule (5), American Coot (500), Sandhill Crane (150 - about one
hundred-fifty at Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge),
Black-necked Stilt (100), American Avocet (150), Black-bellied Plover (80),
Semipalmated Plover (3), Killdeer (10), Long-billed Curlew (250), Marbled
Godwit (5), Stilt Sandpiper (1 - one with Long-billed Dowitchers at Unit 1
of the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge), Dunlin (5), Least Sandpiper
(350), Western Sandpiper (50), Least/Western Sandpiper (500), Long-billed
Dowitcher (100), Spotted Sandpiper (1), Willet (5), Greater Yellowlegs (25),
Wilson's Phalarope (2 - two together at Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National
Wildlife Refuge), Bonaparte's Gull (6 - six together on the open water of
the Salton Sea off the north end of Lack Road), Ring-billed Gull (250),
California Gull (30), Herring Gull (30), Caspian Tern (1), Forster's Tern
(30), Double-crested Cormorant (40), Neotropic Cormorant (15), American
White Pelican (2), Great Blue Heron (10), Great Egret (30), Snowy Egret
(50), Cattle Egret (750), Green Heron (1), Black-crowned Night-Heron (5),
White-faced Ibis (50), Turkey Vulture (15), Osprey (1 - one at Sunbeam
Lake), Northern Harrier (6), Cooper's Hawk (1), Red-tailed Hawk (15),
Burrowing Owl (10), Belted Kingfisher (1), Gila Woodpecker (2), Northern
Flicker (5), American Kestrel (35), Peregrine Falcon (2), Prairie Falcon
(1), Black Phoebe (6), Say's Phoebe (5), Vermilion Flycatcher (2),
Loggerhead Shrike (3), Common Raven (10), Verdin (5), Tree Swallow (5),
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (1), Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (1), Marsh Wren (2),
Northern Mockingbird (5), European Starling (150), House Sparrow (15),
American Pipit (25), House Finch (15), Chipping Sparrow (25), Savannah
Sparrow (25), White-crowned Sparrow (25), Song Sparrow (5), Lincoln's
Sparrow (1), Abert's Towhee (5), Western Meadowlark (10), Red-winged
Blackbird (250), Brown-headed Cowbird (5), Brewer's Blackbird (30),
Great-tailed Grackle (150), Orange-crowned Warbler (1), Common Yellowthroat
(1) and Yellow-rumped Warbler (10) - 107 species.
The Red-necked Grebe on Young Reservoir was well seen on the water with
a Western Grebe. Although it had its head tucked into its back most of the
time that I had it under observation, it raised its head and neck
occasionally for short periods of time. The Red-necked Grebe appeared a
little smaller than the accompanying Western Grebe, but had a bulkier body
and thicker neck, and was clearly larger than a Pied-billed and Eared Grebes
elsewhere on the reservoir. The overall color of this grebe was blackish
tinged dark brown, with a dirty white face and forneck, and a thin long
dagger-shaped bill that was mostly dirty yellow.
Date: 11/11/23 5:08 pm From: James Pike <jimpike444...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] east mojave
Yesterday, a Swamp Sparrow was in the secondary sewage pond in Baker. Today, a very late, small-billed Warbling Vireo was in non-native oak trees within the central lawn area of Barstow Community College.
Date: 11/11/23 3:13 pm From: Julie Szabo via groups.io <jsszabo1...> Subject: Re: [inlandcountybirds] Chestnut-collared Longspurs, Lake Elsinore 11/10 and 11/11/2023
Please disregard the information about a possible Clay-colored Sparrow. The bad lighting caused us to properly ID that bird. We have determined it was a Brewer's Sparrow.
Your can view the eBird checklist at the link below. If you wait a bit, more photos are being added of the Chestnut-collared Longspur.
Date: 11/11/23 1:17 pm From: Julie Szabo via groups.io <jsszabo1...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Chestnut-collared Longspurs, Lake Elsinore 11/10 and 11/11/2023
The two Chestnut-collared Longspurs (CCLO) found and photographed by Charity Hagen yesterday, 11/10/23 continued today 11/11/2023 at the same location in the back basin area of the Lake Elsinore Levee. Location is: 33.649643, -117.325861. This area is in the flat area south of the levee at the T-peninsula. Today they were seen and/or photographed by Charity Hagen, Greg Cross, Blythe Wilson, Luca Cinus, Justin Hartsell and Julie Szabo. The birds were foraging the the short grasses and often took flight and calling together, but returning the that same area or nearby. Often difficult to find in the grasses, just be patient and if they fly you can see where they land. Photos from both days are and will be in eBird. On our 4.5 hours at that location, we saw 71 species of birds, and ended up walking 6.10 miles as we stopped to view the square and rectangular ponds adjacent to the Summerly Golf Course.
We also saw an apparent Clay-colored Sparrow on the walk out to see the CCLO.. This sparrow was in the company of Savannah and White-crowned Sparrows. Location was 33.651494,-117.319542.
About access to find the CCLO: There is no driving access to drive out to the area. You can walk or ride a bicycle, but that area can be sandy in spots making riding a bicycle difficult. If you park at the Lake Elsinore Storm Baseball stadium lot at the beginning of the levee, it will be 1.6 miles one way out to the longspurs. The shortest route is start at the levee going north, then take the first dirt road west, then turn right on the dirt road Malaga. Continue north west, and when you get to the corner where one road makes a sharp left go past that and take the next diagonal road that heads west. You will end up near the area, then turn right on the road that leads to the levee. Use google maps and the coordinates above to find the area once you are out there. Note: there is little to no shade except for an occasional tamarisk tree, and no restrooms. Take water with you. Some of you may be tempted to walk on the levee out to the area, but then you have to climb down the steep levee, and that is not recommended.
It was a very long walk to see CCLO but worth it as we found them.
The (Lake) Elsinore CBC will be held on Wednesday, 12/27/2023. If you are interested in participating, please email me offline.
Good Birding!
Julie SzaboWildomar, CA
Date: 11/9/23 12:16 pm From: Thomas Benson <tbenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Southeastern CA RBA: November 9, 2023
RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* November 9, 2023
* CASE23.11.09
This is the Southeastern CA weekly RBA summary. We cover Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. California Bird Records Committee review species are denoted by asterisks. To report a bird POST TO INLANDCOUNTYBIRDS (https://groups.io/g/inlandcountybirds). If there is some reason that you cannot post there, please e-mail or call/text Tom Benson at <tbenson...> or (909) 648-0899.
A *THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD* continued at Bellevue Memorial Park in Ontario through Nov 5 (Luca Cinus).
Up to six EVENING GROSBEAKS continued at Bluff Lake through Nov 7 (Scott Taylor).
A LARK BUNTING was seen at the Twentynine Palms water treatment plant on Nov 4 (Johnny Bovee).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
Two TUNDRA SWANS were seen at Lake Tamarisk Golf Club (Desert Center) on Nov 5 (Logan Kahle).
An apparent *MEXICAN DUCK* was seen at Rancho Jurupa Pard Nov 5-8 (Luca Cinus).
A SPRAGUE'S PIPIT was seen in Blythe Nov 5-6 (Logan Kahle).
IMPERIAL COUNTY
No reports.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Birds included in this weekly summary are those that are considered casual or of less than annual occurrence in San Bernardino, Riverside, or Imperial Counties, or in some cases regionally within these areas. If you do find or see something of interest, whether it be a geographical or seasonal rarity, evidence of local range expansion, or a novel breeding record, I'd recommend sharing that information with the CBRC, North American Birds subregional editors, or regional listservs as appropriate. Information for contacting these entities is available below.
Please submit your documentation of all California Bird Records Committee review species (denoted by asterisks) to CBRC Secretary Tom Benson at <secretary...> or via the CBRC website: https://www.californiabirds.org/report_sighting.html
CBRC review species and birds of local or seasonal rarity should be reported to the North American Birds (https://www.aba.org/north-american-birds/) county coordinators. They are:
IMPERIAL COUNTY: Guy McCaskie, <guymcc...>
INYO COUNTY: Chris and Rosie Howard, <chris93514...>
KERN COUNTY: Kelli Heindel-Levinson, <kkheindel...>
RIVERSIDE COUNTY: David Rankin, <david.rankin...>
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: Alexander E. Koonce, <sandy_koonce...>
************
Other dying birding listservs that include reports of birds in southern California are:
A schedule of San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society field trips is available on the SBVAS website at https://www.sbvas.net/field-trips
************
Bird status and distribution references that every southeastern California birder should own:
Birds of southern California: status and distribution (1981), by Kimball L. Garrett and Jon L. Dunn
Birds of the Salton Sea: status, biogeography, and ecology (2003), by Michael A. Patten, Guy McCaskie, and Philip Unitt (update: https://www.sbvas.net/_files/ugd/09ca00_bdaf8a44285e4c1dbd625cd601280b5b.pdf)
Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley (1991), by Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Robert D. Ohmart, William C. Hunter, and Bertin W. Anderson
Date: 11/5/23 11:24 am From: Luca Cinus <lucacinus2009...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] MEXICAN DUCK--Rancho Jurupa Park, Jurupa Valley
Hi everyone, earlier this morning I had a Mexican Duck at Rancho Jurupa Park in Jurupa Valley west of the northern lake at the park in the small creek channel at approximately these coordinates: 33.98058° N, 117.41921° W.
Date: 11/2/23 8:35 am From: Thomas Benson <tbenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Southeastern CA RBA: November 2, 2023
RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* November 2, 2023
* CASE23.11.02
This is the Southeastern CA weekly RBA summary. We cover Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. California Bird Records Committee review species are denoted by asterisks. To report a bird POST TO INLANDCOUNTYBIRDS (https://groups.io/g/inlandcountybirds). If there is some reason that you cannot post there, please e-mail or call/text Tom Benson at <tbenson...> or (909) 648-0899.
A *THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD* continued at Bellevue Memorial Park in Ontario through Oct 29 (Paul Clarke).
An EVENING GROSBEAK was seen at Knott Sky Park on Oct 28 (Sandy Koonce).
Up to five EVENING GROSBEAKS were at Bluff Lake Oct 29-31 and ten were at Metcalf Meadow on Oct 29 (Lance Benner).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
A BLACKPOLL WARBLER was seen in Tahquitz Canyon on Oct 30 (Krista Oswald).
IMPERIAL COUNTY
A REDDISH EGRET continued along the sea wall through Oct 27 (Craig Tumer).
A VARIED THRUSH was seen on private property in El Centro on Nov 1 (John Dumlao).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Birds included in this weekly summary are those that are considered casual or of less than annual occurrence in San Bernardino, Riverside, or Imperial Counties, or in some cases regionally within these areas. If you do find or see something of interest, whether it be a geographical or seasonal rarity, evidence of local range expansion, or a novel breeding record, I'd recommend sharing that information with the CBRC, North American Birds subregional editors, or regional listservs as appropriate. Information for contacting these entities is available below.
Please submit your documentation of all California Bird Records Committee review species (denoted by asterisks) to CBRC Secretary Tom Benson at <secretary...> or via the CBRC website: https://www.californiabirds.org/report_sighting.html
CBRC review species and birds of local or seasonal rarity should be reported to the North American Birds (https://www.aba.org/north-american-birds/) county coordinators. They are:
IMPERIAL COUNTY: Guy McCaskie, <guymcc...>
INYO COUNTY: Chris and Rosie Howard, <chris93514...>
KERN COUNTY: Kelli Heindel-Levinson, <kkheindel...>
RIVERSIDE COUNTY: David Rankin, <david.rankin...>
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: Alexander E. Koonce, <sandy_koonce...>
************
Other dying birding listservs that include reports of birds in southern California are:
A schedule of San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society field trips is available on the SBVAS website at https://www.sbvas.net/field-trips
************
Bird status and distribution references that every southeastern California birder should own:
Birds of southern California: status and distribution (1981), by Kimball L. Garrett and Jon L. Dunn
Birds of the Salton Sea: status, biogeography, and ecology (2003), by Michael A. Patten, Guy McCaskie, and Philip Unitt (update: https://www.sbvas.net/_files/ugd/09ca00_bdaf8a44285e4c1dbd625cd601280b5b.pdf)
Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley (1991), by Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Robert D. Ohmart, William C. Hunter, and Bertin W. Anderson
Date: 11/2/23 7:09 am From: Guy McCaskie <guymcc...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Salton Sea (south) 1 November 2023
I spent Wednesday 1 November 2023 (6:45 AM to 5:30 PM) with John Dumlao,
looking for birds along part of the south shore of the Salton Sea and at a
few select locations in the Imperial Valley. We started the day in Brawley,
first looking at the hummingbird feeders on Willard Avenue, then at Cattle
Call Park and last at Riverview Cemetery. We then drove north to the IID
Wetlands, stopping at Wiest Lake, Young Reservoir near Calipatria and the
Calipatria State Prison on the way. After looking at the IID Wetlands we
drove the short distance north into Niland. In Niland we birded north along
International Avenue, west along 4th Street and south along Luna Avenue.
From Niland we drove southwestward to Obsidian Bute. stopping to look at the
east end of Morton Bay and the entrance area at the Salton Sea National
Wildlife Refuge HQ on the way. From Obsidian Butte we followed the "seawall"
southwestward to the north end of Lack Road and near the west end of Young
Road. From the west end of Young Road we drove southwestward to Unit 1 of
the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. After looking at Unit 1 of the
Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge we drove southward through Westmorland
and Brawley to near the southeast corner of El Centro, stopping to look at
the flooded areas immediately east of the intersection of Dogwood and
Keystone Roads and adjacent to Neckel Road and Evergreen Cemetery in El
Centro on the way. After spending time near the southeast corner of El
Centro, we drove west towards San Diego, ending the day looking at Fig
Lagoon.
Mostly clear with no wind and with temperatures ranging from 50 to 80
degrees.
Species seen and/or heard - Snow Goose (800 - including at least ten "Blue
Geese"), Ross's Goose (200 - about two-hundred with the Snow Geese at Unit 1
of the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge), Blue-winged Teal (20), Cinnamon
Teal (15), Blue-winged/Cinnamon Teal (20), Northern Shoveler (750), Gadwall
(5), American Wigeon (6), Mallard (30), Northern Pintail (5), Green-winged
Teal (250), Canvasback (1 - one in flight at the north end of Lack Road is
the first that I have encountered this fall)), Redhead (10), Ring-necked
Duck (20), Lesser Scaup (15), Bufflehead (1 - an adult male at Fig Lagoon is
the first that I have encountered locally this fall), Red-breasted Merganser
(12 - ten "females" together on Weist Lake and two "females" together at the
north end of Lack Road), Ruddy Duck (750), Gambel's Quail (20), Pied-billed
Grebe (5), Eared Grebe (35), Western Grebe (20), Clark's Grebe (3), Rock
Pigeon (75), Eurasian Collared-Dove (150), Inca Dove (15), Common
Ground-Dove (15), White-winged Dove (10 - ten in southwestern Brawley),
Mourning Dove (100), Roadrunner (10), Anna's Hummingbird (10), Costa's
Hummingbird (3), Sora (2), Common Gallinule (2), American Coot (500),
Sandhill Crane (250 - about one hundred-fifty at Unit 1 of the Salton Sea
National Wildlife Refuge and about one-hundred at the intersection of
Dogwood and Keystone Roads), Black-necked Stilt (100), American Avocet
(200), Black-bellied Plover (50), Semipalmated Plover (5), Killdeer (10),
Long-billed Curlew (500), Marbled Godwit (5), Stilt Sandpiper (15 - fifteen
with Long-billed Dowitchers at Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife
Refuge), Dunlin (1), Least Sandpiper (350), Western Sandpiper (75),
Least/Western Sandpiper (750), Long-billed Dowitcher (1000 - most at Unit 1
of the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge), Spotted Sandpiper (2), Willet
(25), Greater Yellowlegs (20), Wilson's Phalarope (5 - five with Long-billed
Dowitchers at Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge), Red-necked
Phalarope (2 - two at the north end of Lack Road), Bonaparte's Gull (8 -
eight on Fig Lagoon are the first that I have encountered this fall),
Ring-billed Gull (50o), California Gull (350 - most at the flooded area
adjacent to Neckel Road), Herring Gull (100 - most at the flooded area
adjacent to Neckel Road), Iceland Gull (1 - one first-winter plumage thayeri
with other gulls at the flooded area adjacent to Neckel Road), Lesser
Black-backed Gull (2 - one well marked first-winter plumage bird and one
adult with other gulls at the flooded area adjacent to Neckel Road),
Forster's Tern (40), Double-crested Cormorant (50), Neotropic Cormorant (5),
American White Pelican (150), Least Bittern (1), Great Blue Heron (10),
Great Egret (40), Snowy Egret (60), Cattle Egret (500), Black-crowned
Night-Heron (2). White-faced Ibis (750), Turkey Vulture (20), Northern
Harrier (10), Sharp-shinned Hawk (1), Cooper's Hawk (2), Red-tailed Hawk
(15), Burrowing Owl (5), Belted Kingfisher (3), Gila Woodpecker (2),
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (1), Northern Flicker (5), American Kestrel (35),
Peregrine Falcon (1), Black Phoebe (10), Say's Phoebe (5), Vermilion
Flycatcher (5), Loggerhead Shrike (3), Common Raven (2), Verdin (10), Tree
Swallow (300), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (1), Barn Swallow (5),
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (5), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (2), House Wren (1), Marsh
Wren (3), Northern Mockingbird (10), European Starling (75), Varied Thrush
(1 - one male near the southeast corner of El Centro is possibly only the
third that I have encountered at the Salton Sink - first seen by JD and
photographed by JD and KZK), House Sparrow (15), American Pipit (10), House
Finch (25), Lesser Goldfinch (5), Chipping Sparrow (15), Brewer's Sparrow
(1), Savannah Sparrow (5), White-crowned Sparrow (50), Song Sparrow (5),
Abert's Towhee (15), Yellow-headed Blackbird (20), Western Meadowlark (10),
Red-winged Blackbird (1000), Brown-headed Cowbird (25), Brewer's Blackbird
(30), Great-tailed Grackle (150), Orange-crowned Warbler (2), Common
Yellowthroat (1), Yellow Warbler (1 - one adult female at Cattle Call Park
in Brawley, first seen on 11 October, appeared to be the same bird present
at this locations through the past three winters), Yellow-rumped Warbler
(35) and Summer Tanager (1 - one hatch-year male with small amounts of red
around the head, on the under-tail coverts and on the belly - first seen by
KZK and photographed by KZK and JD) - 118 species.
The wayward Wood Stork evidently put in another appearance to the Prado Basin private ponds on 13 October. The possibility exists that it has been spending its time closer to the dam, as where it was photographed in the cormorant colony back in July. Given that duck-hunting is once again underway in the Basin, it may yet show up at the Safari Park in San Diego.
Date: 10/30/23 11:17 am From: asekoonce <sandy_koonce...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Morongo Basin October 28
Apologies for the delayed trip report. On Saturday, October 28, Matt Grube and I birded the Morongo basin (Morongo Valley to 29 Palms), joined for part of the day by Johnny Bovee. At Knott Sky Park we had a flyby EVENING GROSBEAK, giving a "Type 1" call, as well as a rather later WARBLING VIREO. Luckie Park had a lot of soccer-playing children and very few birds. At the 29 Palms WTP, there were two FRANKLIN'S GULLS. Continuing birds included a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at the Yucca Valley Golf Course and a BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, moving around a lot along the Marsh Trail, roughly between markers 9 and 13.
Sandy
Sandy Koonce
Professor of Mathematics, Emeritus
University of Redlands, Redlands, CA 92373
<sandy_koonce...>
