Had two female Tanagers very briefly stop at my drip birdbath this afternoon. One was solid olive,darker on the upperside, no wingbars; contrasting with lighter olive breast and underparts, yellowish

Female Summer Tanager? Perched on the saucer rim of the drip bird bath . Dull mustard yellow (I'd liken to a tarnished brass door handle) on wings (faded yellowish bars only), along back, shoulder, he

Starting winter yard counts of morning AMCR overflights (from Grover to SM River @166). Monday they flew directly overhead, calling loudly and were very tightly bunched. 550 in one stretched-out group

Have just had eight RCKI in the drip bath at the same time, usual high count is 2-3. The Golden Hour late afternoon is proving to be the crunch time for the little songbirds. Currently 3 HETH, usually

Had one each Sooty and Slate-colored Fox Sparrows stop by for water, standing together on the damp ground next to the drip ground birdbath yesterday morning. A Slate appeared again this morning and la

This morning, moving with a Hermit Thrush. Picking in damp soil around a ground water basin, in high traffic area. Not intimidated by larger birds flying in for water: Robin, Jay, Mockingbird. Thick f

Western Tanager females and two juveniles continue feeding on Prunus "cherry" fruit skins along with Scrub Jays, House Finches. Orange-crowned and Townsend's Warblers travel through daily with a small

Appeared at my grd BB about 5 :30 this eve Serendipity had me at the kitchen sink with a good view. Near-black crown, white supercillium, yellow lores, grey back, and near-black band across upper ches

It's Party Time in the Prunus! *no masks required* Most of us work hard to lure wild birds to our home patch. I used seed feeders till my shrub and tree hedgerow started to provide cover. Now mature,

Late afternoon golden hour visitor, first ever sighting for my yard--a White-breasted Nuthatch (female?). Solid grey back, darker grey narrow crown stripe to forehead, long narrow bill, white face and

Since the babies abruptly disappeared from the nest above my front door, and the female was not on her usual roost, I assumed the young and mother had become part of the food chain. Since that time I

Nest built above front entry door on the door frame molding back in May. First clutch of three eggs was abandoned (neighbor's heavy equipment commotion all day?) Second attempt has been successful--at

These sequestered days, going out to get the mail includes a short walk up and down Sandydale Dr in Nipomo (near swapmeet) to check for Orioles. I was stopped in my tracks by the sight of swarming hum

Yesterday I had a male Black Throated Gray Warbler late afternoon in my ground birdbath/drip. Today at noon under dense overcast, and while 6-8 Juncos took turns hogging the birdbath, three Nashville

Hermit Thrush and Sooty Fox Sparrow have been gone since last weekend; daily still seeing one to two YRWA and one Townsend's. Pacific Slope Flycatcher arrived in yard to bathe on Monday. Hooded Oriole

A friend in the Los Berros Rd @101 neighborhood in Nipomo (Rim Rock Rd) is having large group of 35-45 Grackles daily trying to establish a nesting area in her eaves. She says they are new to her yard

After consulting with several seasoned birders, will ID the three "finch-like" birds as female Purple Finch (Ca ssp). None appeared olive-backed, but light conditions varied--high overcast, indirect l

Three, new to my yard Finch-like birds appeared today at my ground bird bath. Got repeated looks near & far as they browsed new grass & alyssum flowers, perched in Prunus, and drank and bathed at bath

A noon troll on idle through Biddle Park found a Varied Thrush male near the entrance under the single live oak on left at roadside (syc & oak together). Working the thin layer of duff, he flushed up

Catching a few quiet moments after sundown, found 120 or so intensely colored AMRO on the grass athletic field which was roped off due to over-seeding project. I couldn't see too clearly at distance,