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Ross's Goose and Red-necked Grebe Jan 24
Dave Weber
The Ross's, Snow, and four GWF Geese were at Spreckels Lake in GGP this morning in the dark. Waited for daylight but no Red-necked Grebe. At 8:20am there was a Red-necked Grebe off the Cliff House beyond the first rocks.
Dave Weber, Milpitas by phone
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Fulmar at Sutro
Brian Fitch
A pale morph Northern Fulmar coursed its way northward this morning off of the Sutro Baths. It was arcing in the easterly winds, showing the classic 90 degree angle between wings and body, with some dark feathering toward the wing tips. This was my first city fulmar since 2014. Also present was a pair of Marbled Murrelets on the water, and the Red-necked Grebe was still at Spreckles Lake around sunrise. Brian Fitch
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BirdNote on KALW
giantscv@...
Hey all, KALW 91.7 has a daily short program titled BirdNote that has taken the place of Garrison Keillor's Writer's Almanac, just before Fresh Air with Terry Gross. Today's was about the Yellow-rumped warbler. Butter butt? Thanks, Chris Vance
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Spreckels Lake
Late this morning, the four GREATER-WHITE FRONTED GEESE, the SNOW GOOSE and the ROSS'S GOOSE arrived at Spreckels Lake, where the presumably returning RED-NECKED GREBE was busy fishing.
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Presidio, Polo Fields, G.G. Park
Lee Guichan
Hello, Saturday morning at Crissy Field there was one Ross's Goose, one Snow Goose, fourGreater White-fronted geese & Canada Geese all chopping on the long grass.Near the wooden bridge there were two Anna's Hummingbirds, three Western Grebes, One Great Blue Heron, one Red-shouldered Hawk, two Red-tailed Hawks, three Common Yellow Throats, one Downy Woodpecker, five Fox sparrows, four Song Sparrows, 7 Ruddy Ducks & two Night Herons. There was one Red Necked Grebe there,One Pied Billed Grebes, six Ruddy Ducks, three domesic geese & five Mallard Ducks. Lee Guichan San Francisco
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Winter Pelagic Feb 24 and Alvaro's Adventures Pelagic schedule 2018
Alvaro Jaramillo
Hello Bay Area and Monterey Bay Folks
Thanks so much for the participation in last year’s trips. We really appreciate it. We saw some awesome birds out there, rarity of the season was the Wedge-tailed Shearwater we photographed near Half Moon Bay. Of course all sorts of other goodies were seen, including our fine regular seabirds which we are always happy to enjoy. We are looking forward to 2018. Here are some news:
We are so looking forward to enjoying the ocean, the birds, and your company! If you have questions, contact me privately. Good birding, Alvaro
Alvaro Jaramillo www.alvarosadventures.com
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Sea-watch, etc., 1/21/18
Paul Saraceni
This morning I conducted a sea-watch from the south-end of the Great Highway (7:40-10:30 AM), joined by Hugh Cotter towards the end, and then we checked several spots at Lake Merced. Visibility improved and the sea surface smoothed out a bit during the morning, despite the big swells, as the light winds shifted around from NW to SW. At 8:40, a female LONG-TAILED DUCK flew N by itself. At 8:55, 3 ANCIENT MURRELETS flew S together. The continuing EASTERN PHOEBE made sporadic appearances during the morning on the barbed wire fence over the entrance to the water treatment plant on the E side of the Great Highway. Observations of local interest: Greater Scaup 9 (1 m./1f. with Surf Scoters on the ocean, 7 fly-bys N) Surf Scoter 80+ WHITE-WINGED SCOTER 4 (1 m. on the ocean, 2 & 1 flying N, all with Surf Scoters) BLACK SCOTER 3 m./1 f. (on the ocean) Red-thr. Loon 20+ Common Loon 4 Brown Pelican 2 Long-billed Curlew 7 (3 & 4 on the beach) Whimbrel 2 (on the beach) Marbled Godwit 1 (on the beach; has an injured leg) Sanderling 1300+ (multiple flocks) Ring-billed Gull 1 1w (on the beach) Herring Gull 20+ Iceland ("Thayer's") Gull 30+ Black Phoebe 2 Say's Phoebe 1 (briefly on the same fence as used by the Eastern Phoebe, but not at the same time) Bewick's Wren 1 (singing from across the Great Highway) [Belatedly -- from the sea watch site on 1/7 with Hugh were a flock of 9 BARN SWALLOWS flying N low over the beach and a female MERLIN perched on a boulder on the backside of the beach devouring a Sanderling.] Observations of local interest today from Lake Merced: Eared Grebe 60+ (on lake N of concrete bridge, apparently feeding around hydrators in the lake) Merlin 1 (Sunset Circle) Herring Gull 10+ Iceland ("Thayer's") Gull 20+ Red-br. Nuthatch 1 (in pine tree @ SW corner of Concrete Bridge) Com. Yellowthroat 1 m. (@ wooden bridge) White-thr. Sparrow 1 (presume continuing; Sunset Circle with Zonotrichia flock near W edge of parking lot) BULLOCK'S ORIOLE 1 f./imm. (previously reported by others; in downed branches near W edge of parking lot) Paul Saraceni San Francisco
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GGAS Fort Mason Trip Today - Yellow Warbler, etc.
Another good day at Fort Mason with 49 species seen on the GGAS walk today. Aquatic Park turned out to be a hotspot again, with two BONAPARTE'S GULLS over the water, along with 4 SNOWY EGRETS repeating their skimming behavior from yesterday. There were three COMMON MURRES, including one in full alternate plumage sitting on the pier, and two in basic plumage swimming in Aquatic Park. There were a number of WESTERN GREBES, a CLARK'S GREBE, a BUFFLEHEAD, two HORNED GREBES, two COMMON LOONS, and a RED-THROATED LOON. One of the WANDERING TATTLERS was foraging out on the exposed rocks near the wall, giving the whole group stunning views from 15 feet away. The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW continued in the garden, and everyone got great looks at the male YELLOW WARBLER near the tennis courts - it's beginning to get a little striping on its breast.
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On raptors/class, a Josiah talk and a bio-blitz
Eddie Bartley
Greetings SF Birders,
After spending early January birding the lovely Palm Deserts (super-fun was 18 GGAS birders at the Salton Sea) it’s good to be back in SFs somewhat more humid environs.
A few notes and happenings we hope you may be interested in:
Recent past: Mushroom Birding at McLaren: yesterday, Jan. 20, CNPS- Yerba Buena held a Mushroom Foray, incidentally recorded only 22 species of birds, highlight being ongoing aerial ballets between adult pairs of Red-tails & Red-shoulders that the plant and fans of fungi all enjoyed. A Hutton’s Vireo in the Live Oak was a note of optimism and the trail work restoration plantings are looking great! Mycologist Alan Rockefeller was amazing at identifying and talking shrooms stories, identifying over 50 species for a group of 60 enthusiastic treasure hunters.
The GGAS/CAS “Gulls of California” class field trip to Stowe Lake, also yesterday, included the usual suspects including 7 species of Gulls, robust numbers of Thayer’s (at least 5), meaning Iceland of course, singles of Herring and Ring-billed. Jonah re-found the continuing MANDARIN DUCK just before the walk.
Near future: GGAS Nature Education has been increasing class offerings here in SF, a few folks have said they didn’t know about the Gull and Master Birder programs before they filled, so posting here there are a few openings in the “Raptor’s in Winter” class that is beginning this coming Tuesday evening at Ft. Mason. We also hope to bring the most excellent “Deep Dive into Divers” class, led by Megan Prelinger back later this year too. More information on current offerings and sign ups here: https://goldengateaudubon.org/education/classes/
“A Bird’s Eye View of Ecology” is the title of Josiah Clark’s talk for CNPS-Yerba Buena coming up on Feb. 1. It’s free, all are welcome, details here: http://cnps-yerbabuena.org/calendar/speaker-series/
Mt. Sutro Bio-blitz March 18: Sutro Stewards is partnering with CAS, CNPS-Yerba Buena, GGAS, etc. on a Bio-blitz of Mt. Sutro open space. They need participants and leaders, birders of course but also etymologists, mycologists, botanists, etc. Come lend your talents, learn from some experts on a fun biology rich day. If you want to lead a group contact Amy Kaeser, Executive Director of Sutro Stewards at amy@.... To sign up to participate: mtsutrobioblitz.eventbrite.com
Hope to see you out there!
Eddie Bartley
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Candlestick Robbery
Brian Turner <brianturner6@...>
Greetings birders, I regret to report a rather terrifying robbery I experienced this afternoon after 2 hrs of birding Candlestick SRA. At approximately 5 pm I was packing up my vehicle after scoping the shoreline during an ebbing tide along Harney way, just off the on/off ramp of Highway 101. A dark gray Honda Accord rolled slowly towards me and before I knew it a man with a kerchief over the lower half of his face jumped out and pointed a pistol at me. I got the message instantly and laid on the ground while his accomplices took my scope and binoculars out of the car and he took wallet out of my pocket. Thankfully I left the experience unscathed physically, but I'm definitely shaken up. Be safe out there and stay on your guard, especially when birding solo. In retrospect I realize that I was somewhat of a sitting duck right next to the freeway onramp. Brian Turner
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Yellow-shafted flicker in GG Park
Megan Jankowski
Today at 4:30 I stopped to watch a flock of about 50+ robins at the corner of JFK and Stow Lake Drive in Golden Gate Park. There was a flicker foraging at the base of the tree. It had a clear red crescent on the nape of its neck, brown cheeks and no malar marks, indicating a female yellow-shafted. Unfortunately when it flew up it was behind the large trunk of a tree so I did not see its underwing, and several kids on bikes rode through several times scaring the whole flock. I could not relocate the bird and would appreciate if someone else can find it. Megan Jankowski Oakland
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North Lake this moring
Dan Murphy
This morning Joan and I birded North Lake in Golden Gate Park. On the south west side of the lake just north of the first island we had a 1st year male Hooded Oriole. It flew from the east side of the lake and landed in the bulrush and blackberry along the lake's edge. It called quite a bit. At the same time an Allen's Hummingbird could be heard displaying nearby. Of interest was a Pink-sided Junco that's been visiting our yard. It's put in brief appearances on Jan 4, 8 and 9, but hasn't been seen since. Good birding. Dan Murphy
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Drones are BANNED in City Parks
Dominik Mosur
Dear Birders,
Prompted by Lee Guichan's recent post about a person using a drone to harass birds at the Polo Fields in Golden Gate Park (something coincidentally that I myself noted on the Christmas Bird Count at that location as well), I did some research into the legality of flying drones in San Francisco. I spoke with a supervisor in the park rangers department and was informed that drone flying is BANNED in all city parks. If you encounter someone flying a drone I was told to call Park Rangers and let them deal with it. To contact the ranger's office you can call McLaren Lodge (415)831-2700 and select option 7 on the menu. Dominik Mosur San Francisco
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Fort Mason Yellow Warbler and Bonaparte's Gull
The pier at Aquatic Park was locked this morning, thanks to the Federal Government shutdown. This led to some interesting bird behavior. Two SNOWY EGRETS were perched on the side of the closed pier, and would periodically fly into Aquatic Park, skimming the top of the water with their feet, catching some kind of small prey. They did this over and over. A BONAPARTE'S GULL was doing its tern-like flight in the same area, and would periodically sit on the water. There were several HORNED GREBES, a BUFFLEHEAD and a number of WESTERN GREBES in Aquatic Park as well. The YELLOW WARBLER continues over by the tennis courts, a MERLIN was seen several times, and a BAND-TAILED PIGEON landed on a Cypress tree. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW continues in the garden.
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Corona Heights GGAS Walk
Brian Fitch
Participants in today's Golden Gate Audubon event were treated to a gorgeous day of sun, cottony clouds, and bright green hillsides, with many birds out in force after yesterday's long misty rain. Below are the species seen or heard for those who requested a comprehensive list. I don't include numbers in most cases, as I don't accept that an individual or a compact group can gain an accurate count from a single viewpoint, and I don't want to count the same birds twice, thrice, or more as we move around the same small area. Brian Fitch
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Re: Song Sparrows on eBird
Alvaro Jaramillo
Josiah
Clarification, eBird does not have a “morphna” that you can choose. So morphna is in a group of similar looking subspecies, and the one that is on eBird is rufina. Just so you know that in the real world morphna still exists, but in the eBird world rufina includes morphna. I hope that makes sense. Alvaro Alvaro Jaramillo <mailto:alvaro@alvarosadventures.com> alvaro@alvarosadventures.com www.alvarosadventures.com From: SFBirds@yahoogroups.com [mailto:SFBirds@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Josiah Clark josiah.clark621@gmail.com [SFBirds] Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2018 7:42 PM To: Peter Pyle <ppyle@birdpop.org> Cc: Alvaro Jaramillo <chucao@coastside.net>; Dominik Mosur <polskatata@yahoo.com>; SFBirds <sfbirds@yahoogroups.com>; Ken R. Schneider <kschnei1@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Song Sparrows on eBird Great to know all this, especially that rufina is the better name for morphna. There have been more of from this group around sf this year than I’ve ever remembered. At least 5 or 6 including one in the presidio and another in my yard. I’ve noticed slight differences in how the grey and rufous is patterned around the hood, wings and face. Thanks J- On Jan 18, 2018, at 5:49 PM, Peter Pyle ppyle@birdpop.org <mailto:ppyle@birdpop.org> [SFBirds] <SFBirds-noreply@yahoogroups.com <mailto:SFBirds-noreply@yahoogroups.com> > wrote: Hi Al - Appreciate your comments and I agree that a designation of "merrilli/montana" is problematic. I believe that merrilli is another intergrade-swarm taxon from central British Columbia (akin to altivagans Fox Sparrow and cismontanus Dark-eyed Junco) so liking it with any of the three subspecies groups is problematic. In a detailed specimen-based analysis we (Oscar Johnson, Jim Tietz, and I) concluded that merrilli was the most common "rufous" Song Sparrow in central California. Most of the specimens identified as morphna at CAS and MVZ appear to be merrilli. The SF bird appears too streaky to me for morphna and the field descriptions of its size seem too large for cleonensis. It seems rather typical of the merrilli to me, although caution is always warranted with these taxa since they can vary to look like any or all three of the surrounding subspecies groups.. Our paper is here: http://www.birdpop.org/docs/pubs/Johnson_et_al_2013_The_Subspecies_of_the_SOSP_on_SE_Farallon.pdf for anyone who wants to dig into this subject further. Cheers, Peter At 05:10 PM 1/18/2018, 'Alvaro Jaramillo' chucao@coastside.net <mailto:chucao@coastside.net> [SFBirds] wrote:
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Re: Song Sparrows on eBird
Josiah Clark
Great to know all this, especially that rufina is the better name for morphna. There have been more of from this group around sf this year than I’ve ever remembered. At least 5 or 6 including one in the presidio and another in my yard. I’ve noticed slight differences in how the grey and rufous is patterned around the hood, wings and face.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Thanks J-
On Jan 18, 2018, at 5:49 PM, Peter Pyle ppyle@... [SFBirds] <SFBirds-noreply@...> wrote:
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Re: Song Sparrows on eBird
Alvaro Jaramillo
Peter and SF Birds
This was a real helpful communication, I think we are on the same page. The crux being what the heck merrilli is! Take care Alvaro Jaramillo <mailto:alvaro@alvarosadventures.com> alvaro@alvarosadventures.com www.alvarosadventures.com From: SFBirds@yahoogroups.com [mailto:SFBirds@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Peter Pyle ppyle@birdpop.org [SFBirds] Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2018 7:17 PM To: Alvaro Jaramillo <chucao@coastside.net> Cc: 'Dominik Mosur' <polskatata@yahoo.com>; 'SFBirds' <sfbirds@yahoogroups.com>; 'Ken R. Schneider' <kschnei1@hotmail.com> Subject: RE: [SFBirds] Song Sparrows on eBird Yeah, I would agree that most of the merrilli that reach coastal California are likely from the western side of the swarm, as I think we discuss in our paper. The bottom line seems to be that these taxa in central BC vary a lot depending in part on which subspecies group they are closest to geographically. Peter At 06:18 PM 1/18/2018, Alvaro Jaramillo wrote: Peter [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Re: Song Sparrows on eBird
Peter Pyle
Yeah, I would agree that most of the merrilli
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
that reach coastal California are likely from the western side of the swarm, as I think we discuss in our paper. The bottom line seems to be that these taxa in central BC vary a lot depending in part on which subspecies group they are closest to geographically. Peter
At 06:18 PM 1/18/2018, Alvaro Jaramillo wrote:
Peter
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Re: Song Sparrows on eBird
Alvaro Jaramillo
Peter
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
I guess the issue then is what you consider merrilli to look like, and in particular if eBird is lumping montana/merrili, then they are considering them to look like Eastern/interior birds not coastal birds. I think you are considering merrilli to be a coastal type bird, particularly if you are considering it against morphna. So this bird has to be called "rufina group" as that would include cleonensis, morphna, rufina, and any merrilli populations that are coastal-like. Photos of interior merrili are much clearer bellied than the SF bird. Here are British Columbia Song Sparrow photos from March-May, for folks to look at. You may have to get a map out to figure if you are looking at a coastal site, or an interior site, but it is illuminating to the variability of morphna and how well striped interior merrilli type things are. Basically they look like a montana, but with much rustier tone to the streaks. https://ebird.org/media/catalog?taxonCode=sonspa&mr=M3TO5®ion=British%20Columbia,%20Canada%20(CA)®ionCode=CA-BC&q=Song%20Sparrow%20-%20Melospiza%20melodia Fun stuff! Alvaro Alvaro Jaramillo alvaro@alvarosadventures.com www.alvarosadventures.com
-----Original Message-----
From: Peter Pyle [mailto:ppyle@birdpop.org] Sent: Thursday, January 18, 2018 5:49 PM To: Alvaro Jaramillo <chucao@coastside.net> Cc: 'Dominik Mosur' <polskatata@yahoo.com>; 'SFBirds' <sfbirds@yahoogroups.com>; 'Ken R. Schneider' <kschnei1@hotmail.com> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Song Sparrows on eBird Hi Al - Appreciate your comments and I agree that a designation of "merrilli/montana" is problematic. I believe that merrilli is another intergrade-swarm taxon from central British Columbia (akin to altivagans Fox Sparrow and cismontanus Dark-eyed Junco) so liking it with any of the three subspecies groups is problematic. In a detailed specimen-based analysis we (Oscar Johnson, Jim Tietz, and I) concluded that merrilli was the most common "rufous" Song Sparrow in central California. Most of the specimens identified as morphna at CAS and MVZ appear to be merrilli. The SF bird appears too streaky to me for morphna and the field descriptions of its size seem too large for cleonensis. It seems rather typical of the merrilli to me, although caution is always warranted with these taxa since they can vary to look like any or all three of the surrounding subspecies groups.. Our paper is here: http://www.birdpop.org/docs/pubs/Johnson_et_al_2013_The_Subspecies_of_the_SOSP_on_SE_Farallon.pdf for anyone who wants to dig into this subject further. Cheers, Peter At 05:10 PM 1/18/2018, 'Alvaro Jaramillo' chucao@coastside.net [SFBirds] wrote:
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