Date: 7/1/25 12:51 pm From: David Rankin via groups.io <davidtrankin...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Hummingbird talk tonight July 1st in Riverside
A PhD student that I work with at UC Riverside is giving a talk about hummingbirds at Back to the Grind coffee shop in Riverside, tonight July 1st 7-9 pm as part of their Science Night series.
David RankinMoreno Valley
Date: 6/29/25 4:52 pm From: James Pike via groups.io <jimpike444...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] high-elevation say's phoebe
An independent juvenile Say's Phoebe at Wildhorse Meadow (8,270') near Big Bear on Saturday was unexpected. Presumably a wanderer from lower elevations.....
Date: 6/27/25 7:22 pm From: Thomas Benson via groups.io <tbenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Southeastern CA RBA: June 27, 2025
RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* June 27, 2025
* CASE25.06.27
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.
Birds mentioned:
*MEXICAN DUCK*
*COMMON BLACK HAWK*
Red-eyed Vireo
Blackpoll Warbler
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
No reports.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
A *COMMON BLACK HAWK* was observed at Palo Verde Ecological Reserve on Jun 26 (Mikenzie Hart).
A BLACKPOLL WARBLER was seen at Palo Verde Ecological Reserve on Jun 22 (Caitlin Chock).
IMPERIAL COUNTY
A *MEXICAN DUCK* was seen near the intersection of Harris Road and Dogwood Road in Imperial on Jun 21 (Adrian Hinkle).
A RED-EYED VIREO was seen at the IID Wetlands in Niland on Jun 21 (Caitlin Chock).
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Birds included in this weekly summary are those that are considered casual or of less than annual occurrence in San Bernardino, Riverside, or Imperial Counties, or in some cases regionally within these areas. If you do find or see something of interest, whether it be a geographical or seasonal rarity, evidence of local range expansion, or a novel breeding record, I'd recommend sharing that information with the CBRC, North American Birds subregional editors, or regional listservs as appropriate. Information for contacting these entities is available below.
Please submit your documentation of all California Bird Records Committee review species (denoted by asterisks) to CBRC Secretary Tom Benson at <secretary...> or via the CBRC website: https://www.californiabirds.org/report_sighting.html
CBRC review species and birds of local or seasonal rarity should be reported to the North American Birds (https://www.aba.org/north-american-birds/) county coordinators. They are:
IMPERIAL COUNTY: Guy McCaskie, <guymcc...>
INYO COUNTY: Chris and Rosie Howard, <chris93514...>
KERN COUNTY: Kelli Heindel-Levinson, <kkheindel...>
RIVERSIDE COUNTY: David Rankin, <david.rankin...>
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY: Alexander E. Koonce, <sandy_koonce...>
************
Other dying birding listservs that occasionally include reports of birds in southern California are:
A schedule of San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society field trips is available on the SBVAS website at https://www.sbvas.net/field-trips
************
Bird status and distribution references that every southeastern California birder should own:
Birds of southern California: status and distribution (1981), by Kimball L. Garrett and Jon L. Dunn
Birds of the Salton Sea: status, biogeography, and ecology (2003), by Michael A. Patten, Guy McCaskie, and Philip Unitt (update: https://archive.westernfieldornithologists.org/archive/V56/56(2)-p126-p142.pdf)
Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley (1991), by Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Robert D. Ohmart, William C. Hunter, and Bertin W. Anderson
Date: 6/23/25 7:52 am From: Guy McCaskie via groups.io <guymcc...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Salton Sea (south) 22 Jun 2025
I spent part of Sunday 22 June 2025 (5;30 AM to 1:30 PM) with Therese R.
Clawson looking for birds at a few select locations in the Imperial Valley
and along part of the south shore of the Salton Sea. We started the day at
Unit 1 of the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, the drove northeastward
to near the west end of Young Road, From near the west end of Young Road we
drove northeastward along the seawall to Obsidian Butte (no birds along the
shore away from near the west end of Young Road). We then drove east to the
Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge HQ. At the Salton Sea National Wildlife
Refuge HQ we only looked briefly around the Visitor Center. We then drove
eastward to the Hazard Track and Morton Bay. From Morton Bay we drove
southeast to Calipatria, spending a little time looking around the area west
of Calipatria. We then drove south into Brawley. In Brawley we only looked
at Riverview Cemetery. We then drove southwestward to the intersection of
Carter and Fites Roads. From there we drove southward to near the southeast
corner of El Centro, stopping at the flooded area adjacent to Neckel Road on
the way (no gulls). After spending a little time near the southeast corner
of El Centro, we drove west to San Diego, stopping at Rio Bend and Fig
Lagoon before leaving the Imperial Valley.
Mostly clear with some wind in the morning, and with temperatures ranging
from 65 to 95 degrees.
Species seen and/or heard - Snow Goose (1 - one at Unit 1 of the Salton Sea
National Wildlife Refuge), Cinnamon Teal (2), Mallard (50), Redhead (2),
Ruddy Duck (15), Gambel's Quail (6), Pied-billed Grebe (5), Western Grebe
(5), Clark's Grebe (5), Rock Pigeon (20), Eurasian Collared-Dove (50), Inca
Dove (10), Common Ground-Dove (5), White-winged Dove (30), Mourning Dove
(30), Greater Roadrunner (2), Lesser Nighthawk (2), Black-chinned
Hummingbird (5), Anna's Hummingbird (6), Costa's Hummingbird (2), Ridgway's
Rail (1), Common Gallinule (1), American Coot (25), Black-necked Stilt
(250), American Avocet (50), Black-bellied Plover (6), Killdeer (15),
Semipalmated Plover (1 - one near the west end of Young Road was presumably
an early fall migrant), Snowy Plover (6), Western Sandpiper (6 - six
together near the west end of Young Road were early fall migrants),
Long-billed Dowitcher (1 - one in basic-plumage near the west end of Young
Road had presumably summered locally), Willet (2), Greater Yellowlegs (10),
Wilson's Phalarope (50), Ring-billed Gull (5), California Gull (30 - most
nesting near the west end of Young Road), Gull-billed Tern (15), Caspian
Tern (2), Black Tern (25), Forster's Tern (20), Black Skimmer (15),
Double-crested Cormorant (10), Neotropic Cormorant (10), American White
Pelican (1), Great Blue Heron (5), Great Egret (15), Snowy Egret (20),
Cattle Egret (30), Green Heron (1), Black-crowned Night-Heron (3),
White-faced Ibis (30), Turkey Vulture (5), Burrowing Owl (15), Gila
Woodpecker (2), American Kestrel (6), Western Kingbird (10), Black Phoebe
(6), Vermilion Flycatcher (6 - including a pair at a nest at Rio Bend),
Warbling Vireo (1 - one near the southeast corner of El Centro establishes
the latest date for a spring migrant at the Salton Sink), Loggerhead Shrike
(1), Common Raven (2), Verdin (10), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (2), Barn
Swallow (1 - one with nesting Cliff Swallows at the intersection of Carter
and Fites southwest of Brawley). Cliff Swallow (150), Black-tailed
Gnatcatcher (1), Marsh Wren (10), Northern Mockingbird (5), European
Starling (25), House Sparrow (10), House Finch (10), Song Sparrow (6),
Abert's Towhee (2), Yellow-headed Blackbird (1), Western Meadowlark (10),
Red-winged Blackbird (50), Bronzed Cowbird (1 - one adult male at the
intersection of Eddins and Riley Roads west of Calipatria), Brown-headed
Cowbird (5), Brewer's Blackbird (15), Great-tailed Grackle (50) and Common
Yellowthroat (5) - 82 species.
Date: 6/22/25 7:35 am From: Julie Szabo via groups.io <jsszabo1...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Willets, Short-billed Gull Lake Elsinore 6/22/25
This morning, Sunday June 22, 2025, Greg Cross just reported seeing 7 Willets, and the continuing Short-billed Gull at the T-peninsula at Lake Elsinore. Charity Hagen saw 2 Willets & the Short-billed Gull there on Friday. It is about a 2 mile walk or bicycle ride from the storm baseball stadium out to the T. (No shade, take water.) All of the good mud flats are at that location.
Serving as the messenger,
Julie SzaboWildomar, CA
Date: 6/20/25 9:04 am From: Thomas Benson via groups.io <tbenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Southeastern CA RBA: June 20, 2025
RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* June 20, 2025
* CASE25.06.20
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.
Birds mentioned:
Eastern Kingibrd
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
An EASTERN KINGBIRD was seen on private property in Hinkley on Jun 13 (Ched Whitney).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
No reports.
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 occasionally include reports of birds in southern California are:
A schedule of San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society field trips is available on the SBVAS website at https://www.sbvas.net/field-trips
************
Bird status and distribution references that every southeastern California birder should own:
Birds of southern California: status and distribution (1981), by Kimball L. Garrett and Jon L. Dunn
Birds of the Salton Sea: status, biogeography, and ecology (2003), by Michael A. Patten, Guy McCaskie, and Philip Unitt (update: https://archive.westernfieldornithologists.org/archive/V56/56(2)-p126-p142.pdf)
Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley (1991), by Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Robert D. Ohmart, William C. Hunter, and Bertin W. Anderson
Date: 6/5/25 4:51 pm From: Tom Benson via groups.io <thomasabenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] SBVAS pelagic trip, August 30
San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society is sponsoring a 10-hour pelagic trip to the nearshore waters between Dana Pointand Catalina Island on Saturday, August 30, 2025. We will be departing fromDana Point aboard the R/V Sea Explorer at 7:00 AM and returning at 5:00 PM. Thisextended trip should allow us time to reach and spend some time at the northend of Thirty Mile Bank or the Catalina Escarpment after travelling throughOrange County waters. We have a reasonable probability of seeing the followingsought-after pelagic species on this trip: Black, Leach’s, Least, and AshyStorm-Petrels, Long-tailed Jaeger, Craveri's Murrelet, Sabine’s Gull, and ArcticTern. Additionally, it is a good time of year to find rarer species such as Black-footedAlbatross, Red-billed Tropicbird, South Polar Skua, Townsend's Storm-Petrel,and any number of boobies. The cost for the trip is $150 per person. To reserve a space on the trip, email me(see below) with your name and phone number, the number of spaces you want toreserve, and the names of those in your party.
TheSea Explorer is a 65-foot research vessel with plenty of standing room, benchseating on both the upper and lower decks, and an interior salon with limitedseating. There is no galley on board, so you should bring your own lunch forthis 10-hour excursion. Weather at sea is often cool relative to the mainland,and can be unpredictable. It is recommended that you dress in layers includinga light rain jacket for potential sea spray (or even rain). A hat, sunglasses,and sunscreen are also essential. Bring your binoculars and cameras, but leaveyour spotting scopes at home. There are a number of over-the-counterpreventative seasickness treatments available; consult with your doctor if youthink you will need them. They are most effective when taken before you get onthe boat; do not wait until you are sick. If you have any questions regardingthe trip, please contact Tom Benson: thomasabenson AT aol.com.
Date: 6/5/25 10:07 am From: Thomas Benson via groups.io <tbenson...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Southeastern CA RBA: June 5, 2025
RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* June 5, 2025
* CASE25.06.05
This is the Southeastern CA weekly RBA summary. We cover Imperial, Riverside, and San Bernardino Counties. California Bird Records Committee review species are denoted by asterisks. To report a bird POST TO INLANDCOUNTYBIRDS (https://groups.io/g/inlandcountybirds). If there is some reason that you cannot post there, please e-mail or call/text Tom Benson at <tbenson...> or (909) 648-0899.
Birds mentioned:
Least Tern
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
A LEAST TERN and a SCISSOR-TAILED FLYCATCHER were seen at Mojave Narrows Regional Park on May 29 (Bryan Baker).
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
No reports.
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 occasionally include reports of birds in southern California are:
A schedule of San Bernardino Valley Audubon Society field trips is available on the SBVAS website at https://www.sbvas.net/field-trips
************
Bird status and distribution references that every southeastern California birder should own:
Birds of southern California: status and distribution (1981), by Kimball L. Garrett and Jon L. Dunn
Birds of the Salton Sea: status, biogeography, and ecology (2003), by Michael A. Patten, Guy McCaskie, and Philip Unitt (update: https://archive.westernfieldornithologists.org/archive/V56/56(2)-p126-p142.pdf)
Birds of the Lower Colorado River Valley (1991), by Kenneth V. Rosenberg, Robert D. Ohmart, William C. Hunter, and Bertin W. Anderson
Date: 6/5/25 7:34 am From: Guy McCaskie via groups.io <guymcc...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Salton Sea (south) 4 June 2025
I spent most of Wednesday 4 June 2025 (5;45 AM to 3:00 PM) with Therese R.
Clawson looking for birds at a few select locations in the Imperial Valley
and along part of the south shore of the Salton Sea. We started the day near
the west end of Young Road then drove northeastward along the seawall to
Obsidian Butte (no birds along the shore away from near the west end of
Young Road). We then drove east to the algie plant on Highway 111 (no
nesting gulls). From the algie plant we drove north into Niland. In Niland
we birded north along International Avenue, and west to the west end of 4th
Street. We then drove northwestward to the Wister Unit HQ. At the Wister
Unit we looked at the area around the headquarters and at the fishing lake.
From the Wister Unit HQ we drove southwestward to the Salton Sea National
Wildlife Refuge HQ, stopping to look at Morton Bay, the north end of Garst
Road and within the Hazard Track on the way. At the Salton Sea National
Wildlife Refuge HQ we looked around the Visitor Center and at the ponds
adjacent to Rock Hill. After looking at the Salton Sea National Wildlife
Refuge HQ, we drove south through Westmorland, then southeastward into
Brawley. In Brawley we only looked at Riverview Cemetery. We then drove
southwestward to the intersection of Carter and Fites Roads. From there we
drove southward to near the southeast corner of El Centro, stopping at the
flooded area adjacent to Neckel Road on the way (no gulls). After spending
time near the southeast corner of El Centro, we drove west to San Diego,
stopping at Rio Bend and Fig Lagoon before leaving the Imperial Valley.
Mostly clear with no wind, and with temperatures ranging from 75 to 98
degrees.
Most of the waterfowl and shorebirds have departed. One or two late spring
migrant passerines. None of the post-breeding visitors encountered.
Species seen and/or heard - Cinnamon Teal (3), Northern Shoveler (7),
Gadwall (1), Mallard (75), Northern Pintail (3), Redhead (3), Ruddy Duck
(75), Gambel's Quail (5), Pied-billed Grebe (5), Eared Grebe (10), Western
Grebe (10), Clark's Grebe (10), Rock Pigeon (20), Eurasian Collared-Dove
(50), Inca Dove (10), Common Ground-Dove (5), White-winged Dove (30),
Mourning Dove (30), Greater Roadrunner (3), Lesser Nighthawk (6),
Black-chinned Hummingbird (5), Anna's Hummingbird (10), Costa's Hummingbird
(2), Common Gallinule (1), American Coot (25), Black-necked Stilt (250),
American Avocet (50), Black-bellied Plover (5), Killdeer (15) Snowy Plover
(5), Ring-billed Gull (10), California Gull (80 - most nesting near the west
end of Young Road), Gull-billed Tern (15), Caspian Tern (20), Forster's Tern
(10), Black Skimmer (15), Double-crested Cormorant (10), Neotropic Cormorant
(10), American White Pelican (30), Great Blue Heron (10), Great Egret (5),
Snowy Egret (5), Cattle Egret (20), Green Heron (2), Black-crowned
Night-Heron (3), White-faced Ibis (50), Turkey Vulture (6), Red-tailed Hawk
(1), Great Horned Owl (3 - one at the Wister Unit HQ and two near the
southeast corner of El Centro), Burrowing Owl (15), Gila Woodpecker (1),
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (1), American Kestrel (6), Ash-throated Flycatcher
(1), Western Kingbird (10), Western Wood-Pewee (2), Willow Flycatcher (1),
Western Flycatcher (1), Black Phoebe (6), Vermilion Flycatcher (4 -
including a female at a nest at Rio Bend), Warbling Vireo (2), Common Raven
(1), Verdin (10), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (5), Barn Swallow (4 - at
least two pairs with nesting Cliff Swallows at the intersection of Carter
and Fites southwest of Brawley). Cliff Swallow (250 - most in a large flock
at the Wister Unit Fishing Pond), Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (1), Marsh Wren
(10), Northern Mockingbird (6), European Starling (25), House Sparrow (10),
House Finch (15), Lesser Goldfinch (5), Song Sparrow (10), Abert's Towhee
(10), Western Meadowlark (10), Red-winged Blackbird (50), Bronzed Cowbird (1
- one adult male at the south end of International Avenue), Brown-headed
Cowbird (10), Brewer's Blackbird (15), Great-tailed Grackle (50), Common
Yellowthroat (5), Wilson's Warbler (1) and Western Tanager - 84 species.
Date: 6/3/25 6:52 am From: asekoonce via groups.io <sandy_koonce...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] NAB reports, Spring 2025
Dear San Bernardino County birders,
The spring season for North American Birds (1 March 2025 - 31
May 2025) is now over. I will shortly submit a list of significant San
Bernardino County sightings to Kimball Garrett and Guy McCaskie, the regional
editors for the Southern Pacific Coast report.
As usual, I'd appreciate any reports of
unusual species, arrival and departure dates for common and unusual
species, notable numbers, and absences. Please also include a careful description
or other documentation for rare species; records cannot be added to the county database without at least some documentation. In particular, birds that are on the CBRC review list need to be fully documented. For those of you who have submitted eBird reports, I will of course look through those, but it would aid me greatly if you could also send me directly a report of what you found of interest this spring, including the numbers of expected migrants relative to recent years, as well as the timing of migration.
Please send your sightings to me by 10 June.
Thanks for your assistance!
Sandy Koonce
Sandy Koonce
Professor of Mathematics, Emeritus
University of Redlands, Redlands, CA 92373
