Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Santa Barbara County > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Friday, October 10 at 03:22 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Grey-headed Negro-finch,©Tony Disley

10 Oct One that got away ["Mark Brown" ] 10 Oct Re: Carpinteria tamarisks [Rebecca Coulter ] 10 Oct Carpinteria tamarisks [] 10 Oct Re: YG Vireo [Christopher Taylor ] 9 Oct RE: Carpinteria Creek warblers ["Lethaby, Nick" ] 9 Oct Carpinteria Creek warblers [Peter Gaede ] 09 Oct Rose-Breasted Grosebeak at our feeder ["dianna.ricky" ] 9 Oct sewerponds [nancy states ] 09 Oct Lompoc Birds ["Mark Brown" ] 9 Oct Goleta Slough birds [Dave Compton ] 9 Oct goleta sewer ponds [nancy states ] 09 Oct Solitary Sandpiper ["Andy Lazere" ] 08 Oct YG Vireo ["Kyle Braunger" ] 08 Oct 5 Common Mergansers ["sbfledgling" ] 07 Oct RE: Y-G Vireo continues ["michael_james_allen" ] 07 Oct Y-G Vireo continues ["jwd2000" ] 6 Oct I need a good tern id [Roger Millikan ] 6 Oct Reporting banded birds [Mark Holmgren ] 06 Oct Continuing Y-G Vireo in east Carpinteria this morning ["Mike Bush" ] 6 Oct Vireo update [Dave Compton ] 06 Oct River Oak Park Ibis tonight ["Mark Brown" ] 06 Oct More vireo photos, plus Tropical Kingbird & Mute Swan ["dianna.ricky" ] 05 Oct ADMIN- Group Photos: Two Locations ["Jamie Chavez" ] 05 Oct weekend odds and ends [Hugh Ranson ] 05 Oct Wood Ducks Upper Lake Cachuma ["Paul G. Rosso" ] 06 Oct Gaviota: Tennessee Warbler ["Noah Gaines" ] 05 Oct Re: Vireo credits, etc. ["Jamie Chavez" ] 06 Oct Carp. Yellow-green Vireo 5:45pm ["sbtechmy" ] 5 Oct Vireo credits, etc. ["Joan Lentz" ] 05 Oct Birds of Cachuma Lake Monday September 29 - Sunday October 5, 2008 ["liskelly" ] 5 Oct Re: Two Vireos in Carpinteria [Dave Compton ] 05 Oct Re: Two Vireos in Carpinteria ["Elizabeth" ] 5 Oct Two Vireos in Carpinteria [Mark Holmgren ] 05 Oct "possible trumpeter swan" ["robdenholtz" ] 4 Oct Re: Possible Trumpeter Swan? [Dave Compton ] 05 Oct My first white crown sparrows of the fall ["dlbzzzzz" ] 5 Oct 7th Annual Hi Mountain Open House--October 11th 2008 [Peter Dullea ] 05 Oct Re: Magnolia Warbler ["sbtechmy" ] 04 Oct Magnolia Warbler ["Noah Gaines" ] 04 Oct Ruff (Reeve) and Pomarine Jaeger ["Mark Brown" ] 4 Oct Chestnut-sided Warbler, but not much else [Dave Compton ] 04 Oct Brewer's Sparrow [Hugh Ranson ] 04 Oct Re: Possible Trumpeter Swan? ["Jamie Chavez" ] 04 Oct Possible Trumpeter Swan? ["robdenholtz" ] 04 Oct re Waller warbler ["Mark Brown" ] 03 Oct Gaviota ["Wes Fritz" ] 03 Oct Lots of Eurasian Collared Doves in Lompoc ["Paul G. Rosso" ] 03 Oct Bird Blind Meeting - change of date ["robdenholtz" ] 3 Oct Gray Flycatcher continues at Goleta Cemetery, etc. ["Joan Lentz" ] 03 Oct UCSB Campus notes [Florence Sanchez ] 3 Oct Black-throated Grey ["2Palleys" ] 3 Oct Blackpoll Warbler at Atascadero Creek [Dave Compton ] Subject: One that got away From: "Mark Brown" <lawoffmarkbrown AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 20:22:37 -0000 All: I believe that Wednesday morning I had a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher on a ranch near Sisquoc. I just figured it out today. Wednesday I heard "a call I did not recognize: a sharp spweek!" I saw movement in a Walnut tree and expected to see a woodpecker or a White-crowned Sparrow, but sitting there was a very green and yellow empidonax. The bird flew to an Oak tree and the call changed to one sounding like a rubber ducky. No lie! The bird flew back to the walnut tree and the call changed back to the spweek but a little buzzier. Finally, the bird took off and I never saw it again. I have been busy so it took until this morning to use the Google for "rubber ducky call". I found this web page, which clued me in: http://montereybay.com/creagrus/MTYlistYBFL.html . Just one more that got away. Mark Brown Santa Maria Subject: Re: Carpinteria tamarisks From: Rebecca Coulter <rfcsb AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 13:04:29 -0700 To follow up on the tamarisks: I didn't see any being cut down, but definitely thinned and chipped. There were two cherry-pickers with workers trimming both the tams and the bamboo(?) alongside them. I got out of the car in front of the sheriff's station, but didn't bother walking down the row, as the noise was deafening and the machinery blocked the pathway. This work is being done on the north- south row between the station and the driving range; who knows how far south it will go. Too bad for birding there this morning, but perhaps this afternoon they'll be done. The bridge at 8th Street was quiet, as was the walk along the creek to the RR tracks--a few Townsend's, Orange-crowned, and Y-r warblers. I stopped by the SB Cemetery, which was (can't resist) dead. The north side of the property that slopes down toward the Bird Refuge has been completely cleared of undergrowth, and the oaks severely trimmed. Only a few Acorn Woodpeckers there busy filling up in a granary tree. At the other end of town, the end of Coronado willows had a nice mixed flock, with at least 3 C-b Chickadees, but nothing else of note. Rebecca Coulter Santa Barbara On Oct 10, 2008, at 11:00 AM, wrote: > I just got a call from Rebecca Coulter who reports that the > tamarisk trees at the Carpinteria police station are being cut down > and chipped and are no longer worth checking for birds. This note > is meant only to provide information, not start an email debate > about whether it's habitat destruction or eradication of an > invasive species. > > Guy Tingos > Santa Barbara, CA > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Carpinteria tamarisks From: <guy.tingos AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 14:00:43 -0400 I just got a call from Rebecca Coulter who reports that the tamarisk trees at the Carpinteria police station are being cut down and chipped and are no longer worth checking for birds. This note is meant only to provide information, not start an email debate about whether it's habitat destruction or eradication of an invasive species. Guy Tingos Santa Barbara, CA Subject: Re: YG Vireo From: Christopher Taylor <calbird AT kiwi.net> Date: Fri, 10 Oct 2008 10:48:21 -0700 Thinking of heading up there this afternoon. Can anyone confirm it has been seen yesterday or today? Or was Wednesday the last it was seen? Thanks -- Christopher Taylor Marina del Rey, CA www.kiwifoto.com http://www.kiwifoto.com/ http://www.kiwifoto.com/blog/ - BLOG -----Original Message----- From: Kyle Braunger [mailto:kylebraunger AT yahoo.com] To sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Wednesday, Oct 08, 2008 at 12:12 PM (PDT) Subject: [sbcobirding] YG Vireo [1.1K] Message-Id: This morning Andy Lazar and I watched the Yellow-green Vireo for about five minutes before it disappeared. It was moving with a flock of warblers in the tamarisk, just beyond the end of the dirt road, near where the golf course fence begins. There was a Surfbird and a Wandering Tattler on the beach below the seal observation area. Kyle Braunger ------------------------------------ For everything birding in Santa Barbara County: http://www.sbcobirding.com . Yahoo! Groups Links Subject: RE: Carpinteria Creek warblers From: "Lethaby, Nick" <nlethaby AT ti.com> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 17:47:56 -0500 I had at least 3 Yellows and a BT Gray at the Goleta Sewage Works, which is a lot better than last week, so maybe there's been a fall-out. ________________________________ From: sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Peter Gaede Sent: Thursday, October 09, 2008 3:15 PM To: sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [sbcobirding] Carpinteria Creek warblers S.B. Birders -- There was a Chestnut-sided (first-fall female) and Tennessee Warbler in the willows above the 8th street bridge this afternoon. Peter Gaede Santa Barbara [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Carpinteria Creek warblers From: Peter Gaede <pgaede AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 15:15:17 -0700 S.B. Birders -- There was a Chestnut-sided (first-fall female) and Tennessee Warbler in the willows above the 8th street bridge this afternoon. Peter Gaede Santa Barbara Subject: Rose-Breasted Grosebeak at our feeder From: "dianna.ricky" <proscript.inc AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 09 Oct 2008 21:58:49 -0000 A juvenile male Rose-Breasted Grosbeak has been coming to our feeder this afternoon (Thursday). Our home is between Elings Park and Bel Air Knolls. Here are some photos. http://www.flickr.com/photos/27856490 AT N08/sets/72157607893121981/ Dianna Ricky Santa Barbara Subject: sewerponds From: nancy states <bnstates AT cox.net> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 14:02:19 -0700 I am so sorry . I typed in the wrong Sandpiper. It was a Solitary not a Stilt Sandpiper. Mu bad ! Nancy States Subject: Lompoc Birds From: "Mark Brown" <lawoffmarkbrown AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 09 Oct 2008 18:06:58 -0000 All: Yesterday October 8, 2008 I saw four White-fronted Geese at River Park, on the grass and in the pond. It was pretty birdy with the regular western warblers. At the Santa Ynez River Estuary I saw Jamie's Baird's Sandpiper, getting kind of late. And lots of Elegant Terns with one Common Tern. Pictures of the Common Tern Baird's and geese: http://www.flickr.com/photos/33835670 AT N00 . Mark Brown Santa Maria Subject: Goleta Slough birds From: Dave Compton <davcompton AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 10:51:23 -0700 (PDT) I saw a couple of mildly interesting birds this morning at Goleta Slough, deep within Santa Barbara Airport property. An American Bittern was in the wide channel near the small plane runway. This was the first I've recorded on my regular surveys at this location. As I was watching the bittern, a Brant flew over to the west.  Although abundant nearshore in spring, this species tends to migrate a lot farther offshore in fall, so seeing one over land on the south coast in October is pretty unusual.   Dave Compton Santa Barbara [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: goleta sewer ponds From: nancy states <bnstates AT cox.net> Date: Thu, 9 Oct 2008 09:59:11 -0700 The Stilt Sandpiper and the Pectoral Sandpiper are still on the far side of the left pond along with the peeps. Unfortunately there is a dying Pelican in the middle pond. Many Stilts are standing on the shore and making a huge fuss over it. Nancy States Subject: Solitary Sandpiper From: "Andy Lazere" <alazere1 AT cox.net> Date: Thu, 09 Oct 2008 03:52:49 -0000 After seeing the Yellow-green Vireo with Kyle (see previous post), we went over to Carpenteria Creek. It was very quiet likely too late in the morning. I then went up to Goleta Pier and saw the Common Murre about 50 yards east of the end of the pier. The Goleta Sanitary District had one Pectoral and one Solitary Sandpiper in the most northerly pond. Andy Lazere Subject: YG Vireo From: "Kyle Braunger" <kylebraunger AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 08 Oct 2008 19:12:59 -0000 This morning Andy Lazar and I watched the Yellow-green Vireo for about five minutes before it disappeared. It was moving with a flock of warblers in the tamarisk, just beyond the end of the dirt road, near where the golf course fence begins. There was a Surfbird and a Wandering Tattler on the beach below the seal observation area. Kyle Braunger Subject: 5 Common Mergansers From: "sbfledgling" <aj.lewis AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 08 Oct 2008 06:04:19 -0000 In my few years of birding I had only seen 1 merganser at a time so perhaps 5 together might be of interest. They were in the Santa Ynez River at the 'Falls' picnic area on Paradise Rd Monday. They look like Common Mergansers to me. I couldn't get close enough for a good picture since I was using a 150mm Macro lens instead of the 300mm bird lens. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbfledgling/sets/72157607844165171/show/ Adam Lewis Goleta Subject: RE: Y-G Vireo continues From: "michael_james_allen" <michael_james_allen AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 07 Oct 2008 20:17:26 -0000 10-7-08 In the short lunch hour between noon and 1 PM I only got one good look at the Y-G Vireo before it moved off not to be seen again. In addition were a black-throated gray warbler, a orange-crowned warbler, a townsend's warbler, a common yellowthroat, white-crowned sparrows and many yellow-rumped warblers. Michael Allen Oak View, CA "jwd2000" Subject: Y-G Vireo continues From: "jwd2000" <jdawson AT silcom.com> Date: Tue, 07 Oct 2008 19:21:45 -0000 Between 10 and 11 this morning, Tuesday the 7th, Kathleen and I saw the Yellow-Green Vireo in the same area as previously reported, from where the motor sounds the loudest to further down to where the fence ends and the flower field starts on the left. Yesterday a brief look at the Goleta Sanitary Ponds yielded a close view and photos of a (continuing?) juvenile Pectoral Sandpiper. Jared Dawson Santa Barbara Subject: I need a good tern id From: Roger Millikan <rcmillikan AT cox.net> Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 16:57:59 -0700 Help me id the tern in this photo. http://roger.chem.ucsb.edu/PhotoonSite/images/Tern.html Roger Millikan Goleta Subject: Reporting banded birds From: Mark Holmgren <maholmgren AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 16:09:26 -0700 (PDT) Here are two web addresses at which you can report a banded bird. http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/BBL/homepage/call800.htm http://www.reportband.gov/ If you forget or do not save these web addresses, you can find an address for the USGS bird banding lab on Jamie Chavez' Santa Barbara County Birding web site, which is http://mysite.verizon.net/res0d1yq/content4.html Look under Other Birding Resources OR Google: "bird banding lab" Mark Holmgren Santa Barbara [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Continuing Y-G Vireo in east Carpinteria this morning From: "Mike Bush" <mbushii AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2008 22:30:15 -0000 Thanks to the Village who helped me find the Vagrant! And just to think that less than a week ago, I'd never heard the phrase, "post- breeding wanderer" - thanks Joan! My wife Jeanne Miller and I followed the posted directions to the area of the two Vireos, arriving about 9am. A few minutes later we were joined by Kay Regester of Ventura Co. Considerably down the tamarisk row near a large firewood operation, the three of us saw the Yellow-green Vireo at about 9:15am. I saw it again following a bluff overlook at about 10:15am. After a quick and clear look at 9:15, the bird pretty much disappeared even though we looked in the near area for about another half hour. No sign of the Red-eyed Vireo this morning. We also saw Yellow Warblers, Common Yellowthroats and Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. The Harbor Seals were in attendance below the bluffs, as was a Willet, a Black-bellied Plover, a Wandering Tattler, Sanderlings and others of the usual suspects. Thanks to the Village People for their guidance on this one! Good Birdin', Mike Bush SBCo Subject: Vireo update From: Dave Compton <davcompton AT verizon.net> Date: Mon, 6 Oct 2008 14:49:59 -0700 (PDT) I just spoke with Curtis Marantz. He and Brian Daniels saw the Yellow-Green Vireo in the tamarisks east of the Carpinteria City Hall and police station, as I believe some others did today. Curtis tells me that they saw the vireo soon after arriving at about 11:30, but quickly lost it. They didn't refind it for more than hour, and saw it only then because they walked through the tamarisk to the east side and looked in another row of tamarisk that runs off to the west, in the gated Veneco property. Amazingly, Brian spotted the bird down this second tamarisk row, from about 50 yds away. They got looks at it off and on, with bins and scope, as it worked its way to about 100 yds west along this row. So, while I don't think anyone should expect to be able to find the bird by scanning this row of tamarisk from a distance, people should at least be aware that the bird can disappear from the accessible row for long periods.   I don't know if anyone has seen the Red-eyed Vireo. Curtis and Brian did not. Maybe we'll hear about that bird from one of the other people who've been in Carp today.   Dave Compton Santa Barbara [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: River Oak Park Ibis tonight From: "Mark Brown" <lawoffmarkbrown AT verizon.net> Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:47:02 -0000 All: I went to River Oak park in Santa Maria this evening October 5, 2008 and saw a White-faced Ibis. http://www.flickr.com/photos/33835670 AT N00/2917561580 . Also a Green Heron. http://www.flickr.com/photos/33835670 AT N00/2917696732 . And a Black-crowned Night-heron. http://www.flickr.com/photos/33835670 AT N00/2917696412/sizes/o . And a Short-billed Dowitcher. http://www.flickr.com/photos/almiyi/1167278254 . That is Jamie's photo from last fall. But I had one with a small flock of Long-billeds this evening. My Ruff from yesterday may not have been a Ruff, the bad picture I took was a something else altogether. Regards, Mark Brown Santa Maria Subject: More vireo photos, plus Tropical Kingbird & Mute Swan From: "dianna.ricky" <proscript.inc AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2008 03:46:05 -0000 Hi All, Thanks so much to Matt and Barry for pointing out the Yellow-Green Vireo for us, and for Nick for leading us toward the Red-Eyed Vireo, and especially to Joan, Marilyn, and Dave for finding and identifying them. More photos are linked below. At the Santa Barbara Bird Refuge this afternoon Don and I found a beautiful Tropical Kingbird flying back and forth between the first island and a myoporum bush next to the water, between the two observation platforms. A juvenile Mute Swan was in the shade of the second island, then moved to the shade of the first island. http://www.flickr.com/photos/27856490 AT N08/ Dianna Ricky Santa Barbara Subject: ADMIN- Group Photos: Two Locations From: "Jamie Chavez" <almiyi AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:35:52 -0700 Group, I seem to have created some confusion so please let me clarify. Group photos can be seen in two different places: Yahoo Group Photos (link at left of page): http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sbcobirding/ Flickr Group Pool (linked from www.sbcobirding.com website): http://www.flickr.com/groups/sbcobirding/ Why two? Well, people sometimes ask to see a photo that has been posted in the members only area but they are not subscribers to the Yahoo Group. Yahoo in its infinite wisdom requires Yahoo membership in order to access the photos area of any discussion group, but this is not required for group email delivery- (huh?). Our group messages are posted on other internet archival sources such as Surfbirds.com, Birdingonthe.net and Sialia.com where people from all over the world can read Santa Barbara County reports. Why join a group just to see one photo of a rare bird? Flickr has become one of the most popular photo sharing sites (now a Yahoo-owned company) and many birders, including locally active birders, maintain their own personal photo collections on Flickr. Some absolutely amazing photos I might add. It made sense to me to set up a Flickr group where individual users can simply move a photo into the group pool to share with the birding community. There are literally thousands of different pools one can join or look through. All photos in a pool are simply linked from your own collection, and all are OPEN to the public if the photographer so chooses. Anyone should be able to see them by going to the pool. There is no requirement to "join" so this vehicle becomes much more user friendly. It is my hope that Yahoo Groups photos and Flickr will merge someday where there is no requirement to subscribe in order to view images. Wishful thinking maybe. I would like to encourage all to continue uploading photos to the Yahoo Group photo collection (separated in folders by family groups), as well as the Flickr pool (randomly listed) since it requires very little effort to add a photo to the pool. And, you are sharing your photo with others in the birding community which is probably why you uploaded it to Flickr in the first place. So, check both locations because there may be different photos in each, but I will try to maintain both consistently. As always, your willingness to share is greatly appreciated. ______________ Jamie M. Chavez Santa Maria, CA sbcobirding list owner [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: weekend odds and ends From: Hugh Ranson <zonetail AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:09:46 -0700 Yesterday at Devereux there was a Pectoral Sandpiper and 3 Dunlin. Today there was a Nashville Warbler on Mesa Creek (near Hendry's Beach). This is is the first one I've seen this fall. Elings park continues to hold very few birds. The habitat looks comparable to last year; I'm guessing the fennel isn't as buggy. Hugh R. SB Subject: Wood Ducks Upper Lake Cachuma From: "Paul G. Rosso" <prrosso AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:47:39 -0700 This morning, Oct 5th around 8 am, there was a male and female Wood Duck in upper Lake Cachuma. They were visible from Rt 154, where it begins to be 2 lanes wide northbound. Paul Rosso Lompoc, CA Cell: 805-588-4320 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Gaviota: Tennessee Warbler From: "Noah Gaines" <skater_ako1 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2008 02:42:21 -0000 Around noon today 10/5/08 I birded the Gaviota area. Not much was happening in the campsite. As I headed down the road to the Fennel patch, I had large group of swifts overhead. Mostly White-throated but at least 3 Vaux's were present as well. In the Fennel, the birding was a bit slow, but the highlight was prolonged views of a very cooperative adult Tennessee Warbler near the pepper tree. Toward the end of the road, a Vesper's Sparrow was in the low scrub. At Lake Los Carneros, the Sora seen well from the bridge and I also had a first fall Black-throated Gray Warbler. Ron, I may have seen the same bird as you. I saw the bird high in a sycamore and therefore had different field marks. The face was noticeably gray but the throat was yellow and was separated from the yellow body by a grayish neckband. There was slight streaking on the flanks. However, the most notable field mark was the black tipped tail as seen from underneath (which clinched the ID for me). I should note that the bridge I saw the bird from was the 6th street pedestrian bridge. Noah Gaines Santa Barbara, CA Subject: Re: Vireo credits, etc. From: "Jamie Chavez" <almiyi AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 05 Oct 2008 19:03:05 -0700 Matt's terrific photos have been uploaded to the sbcobirding Flickr pool for those of you who, like me, live vicariously through your rare bird reports. Matt has an uncanny ability to have his camera in the right place at the right time. Thanks to Matt for sharing. Everyone is free to join the Flickr pool and send photos over from your personal Flickr site at your discretion. Go to: www.sbcobirding.com and click on the Photos link near the top of the page. ______________ Jamie M. Chavez Santa Maria, CA www.flickr.com/photos/almiyi/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joan Lentz" To: "sbcobirding" Sent: Sunday, October 05, 2008 2:55 PM Subject: [sbcobirding] Vireo credits, etc. > Hi All: > It takes a village to find a vagrant, at least for me. > And, of course, without Matt Victoria's terrific photos, we would not > be > able to share this w/ others in sbcobirding land! > So you see: it does take a village! > Thanks to all, > > Joan Lentz > Santa Barbara Subject: Carp. Yellow-green Vireo 5:45pm From: "sbtechmy" <sbtech AT aol.com> Date: Mon, 06 Oct 2008 01:40:17 -0000 After an hour of searching the YG Vireo showed up gleaning a dark green leafed bush halfway up the tamarisk row near a noisy pump. No Red-eyed Vireo seen 4:45-6pm and only a few other passerines. Regards, Ron Hirst, SB Subject: Vireo credits, etc. From: "Joan Lentz" <joanlentz AT cox.net> Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2008 14:55:56 -0700 Hi All: It takes a village to find a vagrant, at least for me. The only reason I was at the Police Station tamarisks in Carp. this a.m. was because Peter Gaede (who's gone in Baja for awhile) scolded me for not checking them earlier when I was doing the Carp Bluffs birding thing. This is actually a famous place for vagrants, or at least used to be back in the 1980s, but we forget....& I hadn't checked it this fall. Next, it was Marilyn Harding who first spotted at least one of the vireos. She has fantastic eyes. Lastly, it was Dave Compton who rushed over, after a phone call, & was the first to identify the Yellow-green Vireo. I knew I had a Red-eye, but I wasn't sure what the other vireo was (being in shock at the fact of 2 vagrants on site!) Back in the day, the protocol was that whomever i.d.s the bird first gets the credit, not necessarily the finder. I think that is still true. And, of course, without Matt Victoria's terrific photos, we would not be able to share this w/ others in sbcobirding land! So you see: it does take a village! Thanks to all, Joan Lentz Santa Barbara Subject: Birds of Cachuma Lake Monday September 29 - Sunday October 5, 2008 From: "liskelly" <mkelly AT co.santa-barbara.ca.us> Date: Sun, 05 Oct 2008 20:55:16 -0000 Howdy Folks, Mass movement of 60-75 TURKEY VULTURES yesterday; flying very high and moving northwest. WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS are back at Cachuma. An adult BALD EAGLE and four OSPREY were flying/fishing over the marina Sat morning. We're hard up for birding news here. Birds of Cachuma Lake Monday September 29 - Sunday October 5, 2008 Mostly sightings by Liz Mason and Melissa Kelly Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis Clark's Grebe Aechmophorus clarkii Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Great Egret Ardea alba Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Gadwall Anas strepera Common Merganser Mergus merganser Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Osprey Pandion haliaetus California Quail Callipepla californica American Coot Fulica americana California Gull Larus californicus Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Band-tailed Pigeon Columba fasciata Great Horned Owl Buboo virginianus White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus Nuttall's Woodpecker Picoides nuttallii Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans Western Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor Oak Titmouse Baeolophus inornatus Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis Wrentit Chamaea fasciata Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana American Robin Turdus migratorius California Thrasher Toxostoma redivivum European Starling Sturnus vulgaris Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus California Towhee Pipilo crissalis White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria House Sparrow Passer domesticus Melissa Kelly Ass't Naturalist Cachuma Lake County Park Santa Barbara County, CA Subject: Re: Two Vireos in Carpinteria From: Dave Compton <davcompton AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2008 13:40:02 -0700 (PDT) Here are some more details about how to get to this location, in case anyone is coming from out of town. Carpinteria Ave parallels US 101 on the south (ocean) side of the highway. The police station is on the south side of Carpinteria Ave, between the Casitas Pass Rd exit to the west (north, by the freeway signs) and the Baillard Ave exit to the east (south). The police station and city hall are in one complex. There is parking off the street in the police station and city hall lots and on the street in front of city hall. The best way to get from here to the area where Joan and Marilyn found the vireos is to start by walking south on the west side of the tamarisk row until you reach the end of the path. Then you cross under the tamarisk following a path that leads to the east side, nearer the driving range. From here you can easily continue south between the driving range fence and the tamarisk trees.   Good luck.   Dave Compton Santa Barbara --- On Sun, 10/5/08, Mark Holmgren wrote: From: Mark Holmgren Subject: [sbcobirding] Two Vireos in Carpinteria To: "SBCo Birding" Date: Sunday, October 5, 2008, 9:36 AM Today Sunday AT 9am Marilyn Harding and Joan Lentz found a Red-eyed Vireo and a Yellow-green Vireo together in a tamarisk row on the E side of the Carpinteria Police Station. The birds are 200m S of Carpinteria Ave., which is at the far S end of the solid row of tamarisk. Additional locators are the SW corner of the driving range, at the NW corner of the flower field. Have fun! Mark Holmgren Santa Barbara [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ For everything birding in Santa Barbara County: http://www.sbcobirding.com . Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Two Vireos in Carpinteria From: "Elizabeth" <i787i AT aim.com> Date: Sun, 05 Oct 2008 18:01:35 -0000 At around 10:50 a.m., my sister, Dianna, and her husband Don Ricky, called to report they had just seen the Yellow-Green Vireo at the previously reported location, at the northwest corner of the flower field. Matt Victoria and Barry Rowen were already in the area when they arrived and kindly pointed it out to them. She said it was hopping around in the Tamarisk trees, moving north to south (toward the ocean)in the row of trees. Post for Dianna and Don Ricky by Liz Muraoka Santa Barbara --- In sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com, Mark Holmgren wrote: > > Today Sunday AT 9am Marilyn Harding and Joan Lentz found a Red-eyed Vireo and a Yellow-green Vireo together in a tamarisk row on the E side of the Carpinteria Police Station. The birds are 200m S of Carpinteria Ave., which is at the far S end of the solid row of tamarisk. Additional locators are the SW corner of the driving range, at the NW corner of the flower field. Have fun! > > Mark Holmgren > Santa Barbara > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: Two Vireos in Carpinteria From: Mark Holmgren <maholmgren AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2008 09:36:23 -0700 (PDT) Today Sunday AT 9am Marilyn Harding and Joan Lentz found a Red-eyed Vireo and a Yellow-green Vireo together in a tamarisk row on the E side of the Carpinteria Police Station. The birds are 200m S of Carpinteria Ave., which is at the far S end of the solid row of tamarisk. Additional locators are the SW corner of the driving range, at the NW corner of the flower field. Have fun! Mark Holmgren Santa Barbara [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: "possible trumpeter swan" From: "robdenholtz" <robdenholtz AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 05 Oct 2008 05:04:51 -0000 The "possible trumpeter swan" turns out to have been an "im-possible trumpeter swan" having been identified by two of our experts as a juvenile Mute Swan. I hope not too many people rushed down to Carp to see the bird only to be disappointed that early speculation proved to be misguided. Remember the meeting on the Carp Salt Marsh Blind on Tues. evening! Call me for more information. Rob Denholtz 684-4060 Subject: Re: Possible Trumpeter Swan? From: Dave Compton <davcompton AT verizon.net> Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 19:39:44 -0700 (PDT) I was hoping there would be a follow-up on this post so that people would know that this bird was photographed and the photos show the identity conclusively. I'm taking it upon myself to let people know that this bird is a juvenile Mute Swan, since I'm sure many people would consider driving for miles to see a Trumpeter Swan.   Incidentally, Mute Swan is really the only plausible swan at this date. The earliest Tundra Swan for Santa Barbara County was recorded on 31 October. The earliest Trumpeter Swan for California, at least through 2003, was recorded on 8 November, and that was far to the north, in Lassen County. If people have been following posts of late, they will know that there have been several sightings of newly arrived Mute Swans in the area in the past week or so.   Dave Compton Santa Barbara --- On Sat, 10/4/08, robdenholtz wrote: From: robdenholtz Subject: [sbcobirding] Possible Trumpeter Swan? To: sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, October 4, 2008, 9:17 AM Tom Magill came over this morning with a possible sighting of a Trumpeter Swan in the Santa Monica Creek, by the RR tracks. Bird described as VERY large, neck 30+ inches, bill pink above, all black below with black "lipstick" mark on tip. Small black circle around nostrils. Lore was all black, no yellow spots or tinge ... black included eye. Light brown-gray mottled back. Light tan underparts. Underwings whitish, unmarked. This bird is not on the SB Co. Checklist. Does anyone know of any sightings? Rob Denholtz ------------------------------------ For everything birding in Santa Barbara County: http://www.sbcobirding.com . Yahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: My first white crown sparrows of the fall From: "dlbzzzzz" <davelb4 AT cox.net> Date: Sun, 05 Oct 2008 02:09:48 -0000 We had three white crown sparrows at our ground feeders this morning. First of the season. On another note, the pair of mallards that have spent the breeding season with us the past two years still remain on the koi pond. We have enjoyed watching the dramatic molting of the male who the past week has returned to his full breeding season coloration. We never realized that the male looks very much like the female in late summer. dave brown san antonio creek area in Santa Barbara Subject: 7th Annual Hi Mountain Open House--October 11th 2008 From: Peter Dullea <pdullea AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 5 Oct 2008 01:05:32 +0000 7th Annual Hi Mountain Open House--October 11th 2008 You Are Invited To AttendThe Seventh Annual Hi Mountain California Condor Campout andOpen House event at the Hi Mountain Lookout.Where: Hi Mountain Condor Lookout, San Luis Obispo County, Los Padres National Forest. For driving directions and the open house schedule of events visit the website at condorlookout.org When: Saturday October 11, 2008 What: Hi Mountain Lookout has been restored as a biological field research station and interpretive visitor center. The visitor center has California condor and other local wildlife display items. The day will include California Condor radio tracking demonstrations, native plant identification field trip, bird watching, geology overview, and in the evening guest speaker powerpoint slide presentations and astronomy telescopic observations of the evening sky. Overnightcamping is optional.For more information go to www.condorlookout.org To register for the event please call Steve Schubert at # (805) 528-6138 or e-mail to s_schub AT webtv.net Note: Published with the express permission of the list owner.Peter Dullea LompocKI6PWE [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Magnolia Warbler From: "sbtechmy" <sbtech AT aol.com> Date: Sun, 05 Oct 2008 00:39:02 -0000 Hi Noah, Thanks for seeing this bird. I probably saw the same bird around 11am about 50 yards upcreek from the bridge loosely associating with bushtits, a Warbling Vireo and a Townshends & a few Wilsons Warblers. The odd thing about the bird upcreek was that it seemed to have a grayish throat and chin with only hints of yellow there, not solid like in the filed guides. The back also seemed a limier color similar to a Chestnut-sided Warbler. At first I thought the bird was a hybrid of a Chestnut-sided and a Magnolia but I could definitely be wrong because a) never seen such a hybrid, or a recent 1st fall Magnolia b) difficult bird to watch for the 10 minutes I saw it in bushes/willows from 50 feet. c) lighting was all washed out and glary at the time. d) bird was often wet. A prominent thin white wing bar first was outstanding along with the yellow chest ending at the belly with white lower belly and undercoverts. The eye ring was viewable and a flash of limish green back. Two thin wing bars and non-descript face from a distance. The coloration and wing bars and eye ring and flash of limish back were the main things that stood out for me at the time along with the smallish size and smallish bill. Between 10-11am there were also a couple Bl- headed Grosbeaks at 6th St and a Nashville 100 yards below 8th St. plus a Pac.-Slope Flycatcher. Good birding! Regards Ron Hirst --- In sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com, "Noah Gaines" wrote: > > 10/4/08 > > Around noon from the bridge at Carpinteria Creek, I saw a first fall > Magnolia Warbler. Other birds of note were Townsend's Warbler, > Nashville Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow Warbler, and a Bullock's > Oriole. > > Noah Gaines > Santa Barbara, CA > Subject: Magnolia Warbler From: "Noah Gaines" <skater_ako1 AT hotmail.com> Date: Sat, 04 Oct 2008 23:20:26 -0000 10/4/08 Around noon from the bridge at Carpinteria Creek, I saw a first fall Magnolia Warbler. Other birds of note were Townsend's Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Yellow Warbler, and a Bullock's Oriole. Noah Gaines Santa Barbara, CA Subject: Ruff (Reeve) and Pomarine Jaeger From: "Mark Brown" <lawoffmarkbrown AT verizon.net> Date: Sat, 04 Oct 2008 22:48:49 -0000 All: I saw a Pomarine Jaeger bothering Elegant Terns at the SMRE this morning. It would follow the terns on land hounding them for their fish. It had nice long spoons and was brawny with a complete ring of dark brown on the breast. At the Guadalupe sewage pasture was an adult female Ruff. Mark Brown Santa Maria Subject: Chestnut-sided Warbler, but not much else From: Dave Compton <davcompton AT verizon.net> Date: Sat, 4 Oct 2008 15:47:07 -0700 (PDT) This morning, Nick Lethaby, Curtis Marantz, and I birded Gaviota State Beach and environs. The best bird was a Chestnut-sided Warbler in the top of a sycamore along the entrance road, just north of the creek crossing that is just outside the park entrance. It seems to be a good year for this species.   The fennel along the road that parallels the west side of the creek was pretty dead. The park had a few warblers, but nothing better than a Black-throated Gray.   I also briefly birded Refugio State Beach, where the migrants were only some of the most common warblers and a couple of Western Tanagers. Stowe House was similarly uninteresting, with a couple of Black-throated Gray Warblers and a Cinnamon Teal the best I could do.   Dave Compton Santa Barbara [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Brewer's Sparrow From: Hugh Ranson <zonetail AT verizon.net> Date: Sat, 04 Oct 2008 13:06:27 -0700 I stopped briefly at Elings Park in Santa Barbara this morning. Only bird of note was a Brewer's Sparrow. NO migrant warblers. Hugh R. SB Subject: Re: Possible Trumpeter Swan? From: "Jamie Chavez" <almiyi AT verizon.net> Date: Sat, 04 Oct 2008 10:58:02 -0700 Hi Rob, A few years ago a tagged Trumpeter Swan was found in Goleta. It's origin was traced to a relocated tagged and released bird originating from Idaho and thus determined not to be of "natural origin" in CA and SBA county according to the CBRC. A few links below on this particular bird. Now, that's not to say that a wild Trumpeter can't be found (Brad Schram photographed one on the Carrizo Plain many years ago) but it's origin would obviously be suspect if it had any markings or tags. Photo from 2004: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sbcobirding/message/8791 From the sbcobirding message archive: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/sbcobirding/message/6181 http://www.flickr.com/photos/23971969 AT N03/2303355020/ ______________ Jamie M. Chavez Santa Maria, CA www.sbcobirding.com www.flickr.com/photos/almiyi/ ----- Original Message ----- From: "robdenholtz" To: Sent: Saturday, October 04, 2008 9:17 AM Subject: [sbcobirding] Possible Trumpeter Swan? > Tom Magill came over this morning with a possible sighting of a > Trumpeter Swan in the Santa Monica Creek, by the RR tracks. > Bird described as VERY large, neck 30+ inches, bill pink above, all > black below with black "lipstick" mark on tip. Small black circle > around nostrils. Lore was all black, no yellow spots or tinge ... > black included eye. Light brown-gray mottled back. Light tan > underparts. Underwings whitish, unmarked. > > This bird is not on the SB Co. Checklist. Does anyone know of any > sightings? > > > Rob Denholtz > > > ------------------------------------ > > For everything birding in Santa Barbara County: http://www.sbcobirding.com > . Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > Subject: Possible Trumpeter Swan? From: "robdenholtz" <robdenholtz AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 04 Oct 2008 16:17:02 -0000 Tom Magill came over this morning with a possible sighting of a Trumpeter Swan in the Santa Monica Creek, by the RR tracks. Bird described as VERY large, neck 30+ inches, bill pink above, all black below with black "lipstick" mark on tip. Small black circle around nostrils. Lore was all black, no yellow spots or tinge ... black included eye. Light brown-gray mottled back. Light tan underparts. Underwings whitish, unmarked. This bird is not on the SB Co. Checklist. Does anyone know of any sightings? Rob Denholtz Subject: re Waller warbler From: "Mark Brown" <lawoffmarkbrown AT verizon.net> Date: Sat, 04 Oct 2008 06:55:48 -0000 Thanks, hamiltonrobb for the input. I now consider it to be a "Blue-winged Warbler with a bit of Golden-winged genes in its past" From the Fallarones blog: "On the 17th, we found the island's 2nd Blue-winged Warbler on Corm Blind Hill. It was a neat looking bird in that it probably has a bit of Golden-winged genes in its distant past. The mask extended back a little further than a typical BWWA with a little downward curl at the posterior end of the mask. Other than that, it looked just like an adult male BWWA." http://3.bp.blogspot.com/_1zIHPEuZ4Xw/SOPUwTwwTrI/AAAAAAAAAg4/JrhcNaV29S8/s1600-h/BWWA15+copy_cropped.JPG . That is what my bird looked like. I saw it Thursday evening in poor light. I was unable to refind it today Friday October 3, 2008. Mark Brown Santa Maria Subject: Gaviota From: "Wes Fritz" <wes-fritz AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 03 Oct 2008 20:27:49 -0700 S.B. birders, I birded Gaviota this morning, the birds of note are one Lesser Nighthawk on road/path to the Fennel patch. A Lucy's Warbler was in the Fennel patch by the pepper tree. A Prairie Warbler was seen in the trees by the campground host's trailer. Yesterday, I birded on the Condor Express, during a whale watching trip. The birds of note are, at least to me. 1 Pacific Loon, 1 Common Loon, 8 Pink-footed Shearwaters, 175 Black-vented Shearwaters, 10 Sooty Shearwaters, Some migrating Surf Scoters, 5 Pomarine Jaegers, 2 Parasitic Jaegers, 1 Sabine's Gull, 4 Common Murres, 16 Cassin's Auklets and 1 Rhinoceros Auklet. I have heard roomers of a Booby out in the channel, it has been seen a few times over the last couple of months. It was seen last week or the week before. I don't know what kind it is, he just said it looked like a Masked booby with out the mask. This is a second hand report. The next pelagic trip is on Oct. 18th, it leaves from Ventura and goes out to the Channel Islands, If you are interested and want more information go to http://www.SoCalBirding.com Good birding, Wes Fritz Solvang, Ca. (805) 895-0685 wes-fritz AT verizon.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Lots of Eurasian Collared Doves in Lompoc From: "Paul G. Rosso" <prrosso AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 03 Oct 2008 17:49:39 -0700 This morning, Oct 3rd -- I saw 52 Eurasian Collared Doves on South E St. Last week, there were 36 Eurasian Collared Doves on North V St. While, these are becoming very common -- the numbers are getting very large. Paul Rosso Lompoc, CA Cell: 805-588-4320 Note: this is a new email address-- prrosso AT verizon.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Bird Blind Meeting - change of date From: "robdenholtz" <robdenholtz AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 03 Oct 2008 22:21:52 -0000 Please note that the meeting to discuss a possible Bird Blind for the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park will be held on Tuesday, Oct.7, AT 7:30 pm instead of Wed., Oct.8 as previously stated. Location remains Silver Sands Village Mobile Home Park, 349 Ash Ave., in the clubhouse. Thank you. Rob Denholtz Subject: Gray Flycatcher continues at Goleta Cemetery, etc. From: "Joan Lentz" <joanlentz AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 13:57:19 -0700 Hi All: This morning Karen & I had the same idea as Dave Compton & Holly Keefe: to visit the cemetery and to go to Atascadero Crk. bet/ Turnpike and the "S" curve. Turns out they missed the Gray Flycatcher at the cemetery and we missed the Blackpoll Warbler at Atascadero. Isn't birding fun? Anyway, the Gray Flycatcher, refound this year by Mark Holmgren, is presumably the same bird found on the CBC by Robbie Hamilton last winter. You can get really good looks of the flycatcher by driving to the southeast corner of Goleta Cemetery off San Antonio Rd. (which runs north from Hollister), and watching the fence that borders the baseball field to the south. The flycatcher was there at 10:30 a.m. Afterwards, I decided to go to Bohnett Park on the West side (bet/ San Andres St. and San Pascual). This little pocket park has been replanted & restored & is neat on a weekday morning. Lots of birds in there, huge Bushtit flock, but I couldn't pull out anything other than a Black-thr. Gray Warbler and a couple of Orange-crowned Warblers. But the willows and sycamores are growing large & a little creek runs thru it. Note: they are working on installing a big playground facility in the top area of the park, so don't enter from the San Andres St. side -- at least temporarily -- but park on San Pascual. This park was the site of a wintering Hammond's Flycatcher a couple of years ago. Good birding! Joan Lentz Santa Barbara Subject: UCSB Campus notes From: Florence Sanchez <sanchez AT polsci.ucsb.edu> Date: Fri, 03 Oct 2008 13:49:25 -0700 The old gym wetland area was quiet at noon today, on a much nicer day for bird activity than last Wednesday, when there was lots of activity at this location. Go figure. One Oak Titmouse and 1 orange-crowned Warbler were about the only things hanging around there. The alder trees between Kerr and North Halls and a couple of Townsend's Warblers, and orange-crown, and 1 Hutton's Vireo. There are also Townsend's Warblers hanging around the trees outside of Ellison Hall. I had two people stop me on my walk today to tell me that our campus Mute Swan "has a buddy." From their descriptions, it sounds like a juvenile Mute Swan has joined him/her, possibly one of the individuals at Rancho Goleta that Liz displayed in her photographs. I did not have time today to walk to the part of the Lagoon (the east end) where the two of them were hanging out at noontime. Florence Sanchez Subject: Black-throated Grey From: "2Palleys" <2palleys AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 13:36:07 -0700 This morning on our usual hike up the Jesusita Trail, Kenny and I spotted a black-throated grey warbler flitting about very actively high in a sycamore tree. I'm thinking it was likely a juvenile because I couldn't see any streaks on the breast or belly. Up by the water fountain, the olives were perfectly ripe, but nothing was eating them. Alex Palley [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Blackpoll Warbler at Atascadero Creek From: Dave Compton <davcompton AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 3 Oct 2008 13:31:42 -0700 (PDT) This morning, Holly Keefe and I birded the Goleta Cemetery and Atascadero Creek (Goleta) from Turnpike east to the S curve near Via Miguel. We struck out on the Gray Flycatcher at the cemetery (but I think we can expect a post on that location from Joan Lentz), but we found a reasonable number of migrants at or just upstream of the S curve at Atascadero Creek. The best bird was a BLACKPOLL WARBLER just upstream (east) of the S curve. It was a fairly well-marked bird compared to most of those we see here in fall, with pretty distinct streaking dorsally and ventrally. Otherwise, we had a couple of Warbling Vireos, maybe 15 Orange-crowned Warblers, 1 Yellow, 5 Yellow-rumpeds, 2 Townsend's, and a Western Tanager.   Dave Compton Santa Barbara [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]