The Harris's Sparrow was still around as of 2:20 this afternoon. Bill Rucci and I found it at the feeder location where it was relocated this morning (just west of the white footbridge on the right).

I spent a good chunk of the last day of 2012 birding with Bill Rucci from Shandon through Bitterwater Valley down to Hwy. 58 and back via 58 to Santa Margarita. Highlight was a male Yellow-bellied Sap

Just returned late last night (Tuesday, 12/11) from Texas and headed over to Atascadero Lake this morning in advance of the rain to try and find the Solitary Sandpiper reported earlier. I found it rig

Bill Rucci and I headed out to Carrizo Plains late this morning to look for the Williamson's Sapsucker reported from yesterday by Peter Gaede. After a little bit of searching, we found the bird pretty

Yesterday (11/26) I spent a few hours at Morro Bay SP. At least 1 of the previously reported Palm Warblers was still present along the new boardwalk on the back side of the marina. Although I never sa

I made a quick check of several spots around the South Bay today before heading up to San Simeon Creek. At high tide (ca. 1000h) there was an impressive concentration of ca. 400 Least Sandpipers on th

Yesterday (10/28), after being alerted by Bill Rucci, I photographed a first-fall male Rose-breasted Grosbeak that was coming to his feeders in Atascadero. The bird was present sporadically from mid-m

Just back from a long, but very productive day of birding the south county, with Bill Rucci. We spent the entire morning at Oceano, looking without success for the Golden-winged Warbler and Chestnut-s

Susan and I hiked the Morro Bay sand spit today, taking the trail that originates from the parking lot at the end of Sand Spit Rpad. We hiked north along the beach toward Morro Rock. At 11:58 a.m., di

I visited a number of shorebird spots this morning (Tuesday, 9/4), beginning with Pismo Creek mouth (Nothing of note, but the tern flock was much reduced in size, with a total of only about 60 birds [

I checked several spots along the North Coast for shorebirds today (8/30). Several of the creek mouths were either completely dry or unproductive. San Simeon Creek mouth had 15-20 Western Sandpipers,

After checking out the whale action at Avila this afternoon, I stopped by the pools at the west end of Turri Road. Not a lot there, but I did find 3 juvenal-plumaged Baird's Sandpipers, 1 juv Least Sa

Yesterday (May 8) I birded Oso Flaco, Oceano Campground and Pismo Beach at the mouth of Pismo Creek. The willows at Oso Flaco were alive with singing Wilson's and Yellow warblers (one Wilson's Warbler

Highlights from Tuesday (4/17) birding between Atascadero and Carrizo Plains: Common Merganser - The pair of Common Mergansers that I reported yesterday were once again circling repeatedly over our ho

I photographed a pair of Common Mergansers as they circled again and again over our yard along Graves Creek in Atascadero. This is the first time that I have recorded this species from our property in

Had my FOS Black-chinned Hummingbird (a male) visiting our feeders all day. I was in Texas for the past 10 days, so not sure when this bird first showed up. Still lots of Rufous Hummingbirds coming th

Had my first Bullock's Oriole of the spring in our yard in Atascadero this afternoon. The Black-headed Grosbeak from yesterday is already singing and setting up territory. Kevin J. Zimmer

I had my first Black-headed Grosbeak and first Pacific-slope Flycatcher of the year in my yard in Atascadero today. The grosbeak is lagging behind last year's exceptionally early arrival date of 3/14.

After more than 45 minutes of searching, I found the Yellow-breasted Chat today at the same spot where it was previously reported by Jim Royer. It did not appear to be associated with any cohesive mix

Our first Hooded Oriole (a stunning male) of the year appeared at our hummingbird feeders shortly after 0900 h this morning. Male Rufous Hummingbirds also in attendance the last 2 days.