Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Santa Barbara County > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Thursday, March 11 at 01:46 PM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Black Skimmers,©BirdQuest

11 Mar Re: Snowy Plover count at East Beach Santa Barbara today ["lbvireo" ] 10 Mar Snowy Plover count at East Beach Santa Barbara today [Mark Holmgren ] 10 Mar UCSB Campus notes [Florence Sanchez ] 9 Mar N Coast Herring Gull Migration ["Brad Schram" ] 10 Mar More on Goose IDs ["Adam" ] 09 Mar UCSB Campus notes [Florence Sanchez ] 7 Mar RE: Birds of Cachuma Lake From Monday March 1 - Sunday March 7, 2010 ["Lethaby, Nick" ] 7 Mar Re: Wildlife officials say bad weather, food shortages likely t... [] 7 Mar Brown Creeper - Cuyama Valley [] 7 Mar Birds of Cachuma Lake From Monday March 1 - Sunday March 7, 2010 ["Kelly, Melissa" ] 07 Mar Wildlife officials say bad weather, food shortages likely to blame for recent die-off of brown pelicans ["Patrick McNulty" ] 7 Mar RE: Pelican deaths? ["Adam Lewis" ] 7 Mar hum-drum March weekend birding [Dave Compton ] 7 Mar Re: Pelican deaths? [Mark Holmgren ] 07 Mar Re: Pelican deaths? [Jamie Chavez ] 7 Mar Pelican deaths? ["capnbob" ] 07 Mar Re: Various Goleta locales, Saturday morning ["Dianna" ] 07 Mar Various Goleta locales, Saturday morning ["Dianna" ] 05 Mar Fw: [CALBIRDS] Galileo Hill Update ["Wes Fritz" ] 2 Mar Devereux ["Lethaby, Nick" ] 2 Mar new yard bird [] 01 Mar RFI Ohio birders [Michael Gordon ] 28 Feb Birds of Cachuma Lake From Monday February 22 - Sunday February 28, 2010 ["Kelly, Melissa" ] 28 Feb Devereux and Cachuma birds ["Lethaby, Nick" ] 27 Feb RE: Devereux Slough, 2/27/10 ["Lethaby, Nick" ] 27 Feb Devereux Slough, 2/27/10 [Wim van Dam ] 27 Feb Scoter Migration ["kylebraunger" ] 27 Feb correction on Greater Scaup NOT at Devereux yesterday ["Joan Lentz" ] 26 Feb birding this a.m., Fri. Feb. 26 ["Joan Lentz" ] 26 Feb Ellwood Beach: oiled Common Murre ["Marian Cohen" ] 25 Feb Goleta Beach Great Blue Heron Rookery [Mark Holmgren ] 25 Feb East Beach: Snowy Plovers, Mew Gulls [] 24 Feb Audubon's Friday Bird Walk Feb 26 at San Jose Creek ["Adam" ] 24 Feb Tucker's Grove Red-naped Sapsucker ["kylebraunger" ] 23 Feb UCSB Campus notes [Florence Sanchez ] 21 Feb Wednesday Feb 24 Audubon Lecture by Roger Millikan ["Adam" ] 21 Feb Graciosa ravens [Don Tate ] 20 Feb Saturday birds ["Lethaby, Nick" ] 20 Feb 3 Brant at Devereux [Wim van Dam ] 19 Feb Preisker Park Yellow-bellied Sapsucker [Jamie Chavez ] 18 Feb Devereux ducks [Wim van Dam ] 19 Feb Cackling Goose 'Aleutian' ["Adam" ] 17 Feb Campus and other bird notes [Florence Sanchez ] 17 Feb sightings recent and recent-ish ["matt v" ] 16 Feb Ocean Meadows Geese ["Lethaby, Nick" ] 15 Feb Osprey at Devereux ["Wim_van_Dam" ] 14 Feb Birds of Cachuma Lake From Monday February 1 - Sunday February 14, 2010 ["Kelly, Melissa" ] 14 Feb Graciosa, 2 ravens [Don Tate ] 13 Feb Re: Re: Yellow-billed Magpie in SB City [Dave Compton ] 13 Feb Grace's Warbler still there ["Wim_van_Dam" ] 13 Feb campus lagoon Friday afternoon [Wim van Dam ] 13 Feb Re: Yellow-billed Magpie in SB City ["sbtechmy" ] 12 Feb Goose of Carpinteria [Eric Culbs ] 12 Feb Geese at Ocean Meadows Golf Course ["Adam" ] 11 Feb Singing Eastern Phoebe [Hugh Ranson ] 11 Feb VAFB SLC-2 Burrowing Owl [Jamie Chavez ] 11 Feb Area K [Wim van Dam ] 10 Feb Great Backyard Bird Count this weekend ["Adam" ] 10 Feb Friday Audubon Bird Walk at Lake Los Carneros ["Adam" ] 8 Feb Devereux Snowy Plovers ["Lethaby, Nick" ] 7 Feb Goldfinch, Lawrence's [Alex Viduetsky ] 08 Feb 2/7/10 Cuyama Valley ["Noah" ] 07 Feb Brewer's Sparrows on Armour Rd plus ["Paul G. Rosso" ] 7 Feb Shorebird migrants already? ["Lethaby, Nick" ] 07 Feb Brown Pelicans Having a Hard Time ["Elliot" ] 6 Feb Cool yard bird ["capnbob" ] 5 Feb Santa Monica Creek at Via Real [Eric Culbs ] 05 Feb Eastern Phoebe continues at Ocean Meadows ["Adam" ] 04 Feb Santa Ynez Valley ["Wes Fritz" ] 04 Feb Continuing Common Goldeneye at Ocean Park ["Paul G. Rosso" ] 03 Feb Lompoc/Solvang 2/2/10 ["Wes Fritz" ] 03 Feb Santa Maria / Goleta ["Wes Fritz" ] 02 Feb UCSB Campus notes [Florence Sanchez ] 2 Feb Cackling Geese pictures ["Lethaby, Nick" ] 2 Feb Devereux and OMGC [Wim van Dam ] 02 Feb Carp Salt Marsh ["robdenholtz" ] Subject: Re: Snowy Plover count at East Beach Santa Barbara today From: "lbvireo" <lbviman AT blackfoot.net> Date: Thu, 11 Mar 2010 19:15:42 -0000 Mark -- This is GREAT news! SHE was also photographed in April 2005 at Coal Oil Point by Calli Bowdish, nearly a month before laying eggs at the Sandspit; her photo is still on Calli's site at bottom of one of the pages of banded plovers from that year! Thank you for update - I was just wondering last week if she were still around -- Jim Greaves, Thompson Falls MT --- In sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com, Mark Holmgren wrote: > > The third fledged from Ft. Ord (just upcoast of Monterey) in 2004. It is one member of the pair that nested on the Santa Barbara Sandspit in 2005. It went missing for several years, then reappeared this winter first seen on 17 Sept 2009. Subject: Snowy Plover count at East Beach Santa Barbara today From: Mark Holmgren <maholmgren AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 17:00:09 -0800 (PST) I followed George Roland on his regular trek to count Snowy Plover at Santa Barbara East Beach this morning. Immediately, near the Santa Barbara cemetery a flock of 30 Brant were moving west in formation close to shore despite the stiff wind. We found 46 plovers among the volleyball courts of which 3 were banded. The histories on these birds are: * One banded last summer at the Salinas NWR (mouth of the Salina River in Monterey). It was also seen in September at McGrath SB, and has spent part of this winter at East Beach. * One fledged in 2009 at Oceano Dunes, Pismo State Beach. First seen on East Beach 9 November 2009. It has been seen repeatedly at East Beach this winter. * The third fledged from Ft. Ord (just upcoast of Monterey) in 2004. It is one member of the pair that nested on the Santa Barbara Sandspit in 2005. It went missing for several years, then reappeared this winter first seen on 17 Sept 2009. After seeing these birds at Point A, the same 46 birds greeted us a second time at Point B on this map: http://mapper.acme.com/?ll=34.41391,-119.68365&z=15&t=H&marker0=34.41718%2C-119.66477%2C2.2%20mi%20E%20of%20Santa%20Barbara%20CA&marker1=34.41391%2C-119.68365%2C1.3%20mi%20ExSE%20of%20Santa%20Barbara%20CA No pairing, courtship, territoriality or any other indications that these bird had breeding in mind was evident. Any birds that may have been visible on the sandspit were obstructed by all the dredging machinery in the harbor. About 70 Black Skimmers were present between mission Creek and Stearn’s Wharf. Mark Holmgren Santa Barbara [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: UCSB Campus notes From: Florence Sanchez <sanchez AT polsci.ucsb.edu> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 13:42:45 -0800 Today around 1 p.m. I walked the beach below the east-facing campus bluffs down to Campus Point and back. The wind was so strong with blowing sand west of campus point that I didn't continue in that direction, even though it was low tide and conditions were otherwise good for beach walking. Shorebirds were limited to a few Willets and one Whimbrel. There was a large flock of gulls on the beach near the Marine biology labs. After reading Brad Schram's post about Herring gulls, I was hopeful that I'd find a few in the flock, but no luck. Only three species were present: Western, Heerman's and California Gulls. There were several adult Heerman's in the flock. Tern species have changed in the last couple of weeks. There was only one Royal Tern in a flock of about 70 Forster's Terns. A pair of Rough-winged Swallows was working the bluffs. Florence Sanchez Subject: N Coast Herring Gull Migration From: "Brad Schram" <gonebrdn AT lightspeed.net> Date: Tue, 9 Mar 2010 19:39:03 -0800 Birding at Santa Maria River Mouth this morning with Dave Lawrence (also of AG); we noticed that spring HERRING GULL migration is in full swing. Included with a smallish flock of loafing California and Western Gulls were seventeen adult and three imm. (2 1yr, 1 2yr) Herring Gulls. While walking back to the parking lot from the outflow we noted four more adult and one year-old Herring flying north up the surf line toward the flock. I suspect a few hours of counting would have produced an impressive number moving up-coast. Brad Schram Arroyo Grande, CA http://flickr.com/photos/chaparralbrad/ [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: More on Goose IDs From: "Adam" <aj.lewis AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:36:16 -0000 Nick Lethaby led the charge to obtain IDs on the geese at Ocean Meadows. It was instructive for me to follow along so I pulled out the ones with positive IDs and made small Flickr photo sets for each subspecies, for those interested in the details. The ID of one bird in the large flock was controversial. It's labeled 'species unknown' in the Ocean Meadows photo set. Cackling Goose minima (6 photos) http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbfledgling/sets/72157623444913329/ Lesser Canada Goose parvipes (3 photos) http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbfledgling/sets/72157623569494110/ Captions updated to reflect IDs on Ocean Meadows flock (23 photos) http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbfledgling/sets/72157623412003310/ Photos of the 'Aleutian' Cackling Goose leucopareia at the Bird Refuge (4 photos) was recently posted http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbfledgling/sets/72157623462089884/ Thanks, Nick, for providing good coaching. Adam Lewis Goleta Subject: UCSB Campus notes From: Florence Sanchez <sanchez AT polsci.ucsb.edu> Date: Tue, 09 Mar 2010 14:55:19 -0800 I've been out sporadically over the past couple of weeks, so here are some cumulative observations. Area K--A quick trip past there last week found several species of ducks present, but none in any great numbers. About a Dozen Ring-necked ducks were hanging out near the middle of the area. Goleta Beach--A walk to the mouth of the river last week didn't produce much but a lot of noise and dust from the sand restoration until I got to the very east end. There was a nice mixed flock of gulls and terns on the sandbar, but nothing rare. One immature Glaucous-winged and a few adult Heerman's Gulls were in the mix of Western, Ring-billed, and California Gulls. In years past, I've been hard-pressed to find adult Heerman's in March. Los Carneros wetlands--today I checked the ponds on both sides of the road. A few ducks were present in the west pond, including American Wigeons, Bufflehead, Redheads, and Cinnamon Teal. Also present was a pair of Canada Geese. Only Ruddy Ducks and coots were in the East pond. There was a nice mixed flock of swallows overhead--mostly Tree Swallows, but also one each of Rough-winged, Violet-green, and Cliff Swallows. On campus, everything is singing, residents and migrants, including some of the Yellowrumps. My husband found a singing Wilson's Warbler on the SB Golf course yesterday. Spring can't be far away. Florence Sanchez Subject: RE: Birds of Cachuma Lake From Monday March 1 - Sunday March 7, 2010 From: "Lethaby, Nick" <nlethaby AT ti.com> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 19:36:21 -0600 All: Obviously these goldeneye are migrating but I'd like to know where from. Isn't this species pretty rare to the S of us. Nick ________________________________ From: sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kelly, Melissa Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2010 4:15 PM To: 'sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com' Subject: [sbcobirding] Birds of Cachuma Lake From Monday March 1 - Sunday March 7, 2010 Howdy Folks, The Lake is still rising, only 8.31 feet to go. The tules at Storke Flat are inundated and paired Mallards and Coots are already checking it out. 8-9 COMMON GOLDENEYES in Cachuma Bay and in Santa Cruz Bay The COMMON LOONS are starting to come into their breeding plumage. Still seeing at least one immature BALD EAGLE at the lake, mostly at the East End. The PEREGRINE FALCON and a NORTHERN HARRIER were here this morning. Two CINNAMON TEAL flew into the back of Santa Cruz Bay. Thousands of TREE SWALLOWS were out today, and we spotted at least 12 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, 1 BARN SWALLOW, and 1 CLIFF SWALLOW. Our two resident adult BALD EAGLES were out today taking advantage of the high winds. Birds of Cachuma Lake From Monday March 1 - Sunday March 7, 2010 Mostly sightings by Liz Mason and Melissa Kelly Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii Canada Goose Branta canadensis Mute Swan Cygnus olor Wood Duck Aix sponsa Gadwall Anas strepera American Wigeon Anas americana Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Green-winged Teal Anas crecca Canvasback Aythya valisineria Redhead Aythya americana Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Bufflehead Bucephala albeola Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Common Merganser Mergus merganser Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo - I California Quail Callipepla californica Common Loon Gavia immer 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 Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Osprey Pandion haliaetus Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis American Kestrel Falco sparverius Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus American Coot Fulica americana Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis California Gull Larus californicus Herring Gull Larus argentatus Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus Nuttall's Woodpecker Picoides nuttallii Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya Western Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Oak Titmouse Baeolophus inornatus Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii House Wren Troglodytes aedon Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana American Robin Turdus migratorius Wrentit Chamaea fasciata California Thrasher Toxostoma redivivum European Starling Sturnus vulgaris - I Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus California Towhee Pipilo crissalis Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria House Sparrow Passer domesticus - I I Assistant Naturalist Cachuma Lake County Park Santa Barbara County, CA 805.688-4515 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Wildlife officials say bad weather, food shortages likely t... From: TEdell AT aol.com Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 19:58:10 EST Here is a DFG news release that points to a cyclical event driven largely by weather and oceanographic conditions. Tom Edell Cayucos, CA ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- - California Department of Fish and Game News Release FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE - February 22, 2010 Contacts: Esther Burkett, Wildlife Biologist, (916) 445-3764 Dana Michaels, Information Officer, (916) 322-2420 Scientists Zero In on Causes of Pelican Stranding Along California Coast Scientific investigation indicates shortages of preferred prey items, like anchovies and sardines, and rough winter weather as primary causes for the pelican mass-stranding. Scientists from the California Department of Fish and Game (DFG), the U.S. Geological Survey National Wildlife Health Center, Sea World San Diego and International Bird Rescue Research Center pooled their resources to determine why so many brown pelicans are stranding along the California and Oregon coast. "Working collaboratively with other organizations, we have been able to quickly examine multiple causes for the stranding event," said DFG Wildlife Veterinarian Melissa Miller, in Santa Cruz. "Unfortunately, we are looking primarily at a cyclical event driven largely by weather and oceanographic conditions. Food shortage coupled with bad weather have taken a toll on the pelicans." Mass-stranding of brown pelicans was reported along the California and Oregon coast about this time in 2009, again with widespread food shortages identified as a factor. Some stranded birds have little or no body fat stores and atypical foods in their digestive tracts. Shortages of preferred prey items could be caused in part by the current El Nino event. Some pelicans have also had waterproofing problems with their feathers, possibly related to storm runoff from recent heavy coastal rains. Preliminary findings from postmortem examinations suggest that infectious disease and/or marine toxins are not major contributors to this event. Live-stranded birds are responding quickly to feeding at rehabilitation facilities, although these facilities have been overwhelmed at the sheer magnitude of birds stranding along the coast. DFG is donating frozen trout to these organizations to assist with the rehabilitation effort. When pelicans are starving and sick they may fly into or be found in unusual places, be unaware of their surroundings, tolerate human approach or demonstrate other unusual behaviors. Anyone finding stranded or dead pelicans should not approach or handle the birds, but note their location and report it to either 800-39-WHALE in Los Angeles County or 866-WILD-911 elsewhere. #### Note: This e-mail account is used to distribute information to the public. Do not reply to this e-mail. Direct questions or comments regarding the information contained in this e-mail to the Department staff listed as points of contact for this subject. - Subscribe to DFG News via e-mail or RSS feed -- go to www.dfg.ca.gov/news - Subscribe (or unsubscribe) to DFG Marine Region News Service (e-mail notification of ocean-related news and information) at www.dfg.ca.gov/marine/subscribe.asp . [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Brown Creeper - Cuyama Valley From: TEdell AT aol.com Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 19:42:44 EST Maggie Smith and I checked several locations in the Cuyama Valley this morning. Our most interesting bird was a BROWN CREEPER at the wetland area (Caliente Ranch on topo map) south of Cuyama along Hwy 166. We watched it move up the trunk of a large cotonwood. Not sure how often this species is found in the Cuyama Valley. Lehman's book does not mention it occurring in District V. We also had about 400 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS at the Foothill Road dairy. Tom Edell Cayucos, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Birds of Cachuma Lake From Monday March 1 - Sunday March 7, 2010 From: "Kelly, Melissa" <mkelly AT co.santa-barbara.ca.us> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 16:15:08 -0800 Howdy Folks, The Lake is still rising, only 8.31 feet to go. The tules at Storke Flat are inundated and paired Mallards and Coots are already checking it out. 8-9 COMMON GOLDENEYES in Cachuma Bay and in Santa Cruz Bay The COMMON LOONS are starting to come into their breeding plumage. Still seeing at least one immature BALD EAGLE at the lake, mostly at the East End. The PEREGRINE FALCON and a NORTHERN HARRIER were here this morning. Two CINNAMON TEAL flew into the back of Santa Cruz Bay. Thousands of TREE SWALLOWS were out today, and we spotted at least 12 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, 1 BARN SWALLOW, and 1 CLIFF SWALLOW. Our two resident adult BALD EAGLES were out today taking advantage of the high winds. Birds of Cachuma Lake From Monday March 1 - Sunday March 7, 2010 Mostly sightings by Liz Mason and Melissa Kelly Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii Canada Goose Branta canadensis Mute Swan Cygnus olor Wood Duck Aix sponsa Gadwall Anas strepera American Wigeon Anas americana Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Green-winged Teal Anas crecca Canvasback Aythya valisineria Redhead Aythya americana Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Bufflehead Bucephala albeola Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Common Merganser Mergus merganser Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo - I California Quail Callipepla californica Common Loon Gavia immer 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 Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Osprey Pandion haliaetus Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis American Kestrel Falco sparverius Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus American Coot Fulica americana Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis California Gull Larus californicus Herring Gull Larus argentatus Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus Nuttall's Woodpecker Picoides nuttallii Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya Western Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica Oak Titmouse Baeolophus inornatus Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii House Wren Troglodytes aedon Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana American Robin Turdus migratorius Wrentit Chamaea fasciata California Thrasher Toxostoma redivivum European Starling Sturnus vulgaris - I Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus California Towhee Pipilo crissalis Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater Purple Finch Carpodacus purpureus House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria House Sparrow Passer domesticus - I I Assistant Naturalist Cachuma Lake County Park Santa Barbara County, CA 805.688-4515 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Wildlife officials say bad weather, food shortages likely to blame for recent die-off of brown pelicans From: "Patrick McNulty" <mcnulty AT gte.net> Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 13:56:57 -0800 From: mcnulty AT gte.net I think a better reference would be the LA Times article from this Feb 23. I hope the link I've included below will work for recipients on the list, but if not, you get the idea and where to find the article. Patrick McNulty Santa Barbara Wildlife officials say bad weather, food shortages likely to blame for recent die-off of brown pelicans Source: latimesblogs.latimes.com Earlier this month, we told you about a disturbing trend affecting brown pelicans: Large numbers of the birds were being found malnourished, begging for food or, in some cases, dead, along the Pacific coast in Oregon and California. The reason... mcnulty AT gte.net sent this using ShareThis. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Pelican deaths? From: "Adam Lewis" <aj.lewis AT cox.net> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 13:33:25 -0800 Mark, I thought the same thing (article dated Jan 2009) until I read the very last entry - a comment dated March 7, 2010. Adam -----Original Message----- From: sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Mark Holmgren Sent: Sunday, March 07, 2010 12:22 PM To: Jamie Chavez; capnbob Cc: sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com Subject: Re: [sbcobirding] Pelican deaths? Hi Jamie, I think this is an old article, from Jan 17. Mark ________________________________ From: Jamie Chavez net> To: capnbob org> Cc: sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Sun, March 7, 2010 8:10:40 AM Subject: Re: [sbcobirding] Pelican deaths? A net search brings up lots of stories on pelican deaths and fire retardant, but none of the stories I read actually linked the retardant to the pelican deaths. Just speculation until blood test results were available. It seems that lots of news outlets ran with this story. Here is a good report in the SB Independent posted just this morning in fact, which sheds light on the more likely causes. http://www.independ ent.com/news/2009/jan/17/mysterious-disease-sickening-pelicans/ Jamie M. Chavez Santa Maria, CA On 3/7/2010 7:33 AM, capnbob wrote: > > > I was recently asked to confirm a story that Brown Pelican deaths had > been linked to runoff made toxic by fire retardant after the recent > fires. Can anyone confirm this? I rather squelch any falsehoods before > they become local myths, unless, of course, it's true. > > > > Thanks, > > Rob Lindsay > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: hum-drum March weekend birding From: Dave Compton <davcompton AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 13:29:23 -0800 (PST) Some notes from this weekend:   SATURDAY, 6 MARCH Lauro Reservoir - 60 Lesser Scaup, but no Greaters or Ring-neckeds.   Devereux Slough - A male Greater Scaup with three female scaup that are probably all Lessers. One of these females seems to have a pretty consistent Greater head shape, but is the same size as the Lessers, has the same bill proportions, and has a nice, narrow nail. I'm told the white on the wing is also right for Lesser. Go figure. Also two Mute Swans here. Let's hope they move on, soon (sorry all you Mute Swan lovers!).   SUNDAY, 7 MARCH Lake Los Carneros. Pretty quiet. But one Warbling Vireo hanging out in an oak south of the house was early. The Lewis's Woodpecker was in the usual spot. Some Violet-Green Swallows were around.   Dave Compton Santa Barbara     [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Pelican deaths? From: Mark Holmgren <maholmgren AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 12:22:04 -0800 (PST) Hi Jamie, I think this is an old article, from Jan 17. Mark ________________________________ From: Jamie Chavez To: capnbob Cc: sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Sun, March 7, 2010 8:10:40 AM Subject: Re: [sbcobirding] Pelican deaths? A net search brings up lots of stories on pelican deaths and fire retardant, but none of the stories I read actually linked the retardant to the pelican deaths. Just speculation until blood test results were available. It seems that lots of news outlets ran with this story. Here is a good report in the SB Independent posted just this morning in fact, which sheds light on the more likely causes. http://www.independent.com/news/2009/jan/17/mysterious-disease-sickening-pelicans/ Jamie M. Chavez Santa Maria, CA On 3/7/2010 7:33 AM, capnbob wrote: > > > I was recently asked to confirm a story that Brown Pelican deaths had > been linked to runoff made toxic by fire retardant after the recent > fires. Can anyone confirm this? I rather squelch any falsehoods before > they become local myths, unless, of course, it's true. > > > > Thanks, > > Rob Lindsay > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Pelican deaths? From: Jamie Chavez <almiyi AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 08:10:40 -0800 A net search brings up lots of stories on pelican deaths and fire retardant, but none of the stories I read actually linked the retardant to the pelican deaths. Just speculation until blood test results were available. It seems that lots of news outlets ran with this story. Here is a good report in the SB Independent posted just this morning in fact, which sheds light on the more likely causes. http://www.independent.com/news/2009/jan/17/mysterious-disease-sickening-pelicans/ Jamie M. Chavez Santa Maria, CA On 3/7/2010 7:33 AM, capnbob wrote: > > > I was recently asked to confirm a story that Brown Pelican deaths had > been linked to runoff made toxic by fire retardant after the recent > fires. Can anyone confirm this? I rather squelch any falsehoods before > they become local myths, unless, of course, it's true. > > > > Thanks, > > Rob Lindsay > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Pelican deaths? From: "capnbob" <capnbob AT sbceo.org> Date: Sun, 7 Mar 2010 07:33:20 -0800 I was recently asked to confirm a story that Brown Pelican deaths had been linked to runoff made toxic by fire retardant after the recent fires. Can anyone confirm this? I rather squelch any falsehoods before they become local myths, unless, of course, it's true. Thanks, Rob Lindsay No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2722 - Release Date: 03/06/10 11:34:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Various Goleta locales, Saturday morning From: "Dianna" <proscript.inc AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 14:39:39 -0000 Thank you to those to replied to my post yesterday that that the grebe at Devereux was actually an EARED GREBE, not a RED-NECKED. Sorry for the misidentification. Dianna Ricky Santa Barbara Subject: Various Goleta locales, Saturday morning From: "Dianna" <proscript.inc AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:14:57 -0000 This morning Don and I drove up Farren Road. The only birds of some interest were Western Bluebirds, Yellow-rumped Warblers, 2 pair of American Kestrels in love (as Joan Lentz would say), a sad-looking Savannah Sparrow, and a Red-Shouldered Hawk. As we drove south on Hollister Avenue the skies looked ominous and a funnel cloud appeared, lowered, then quickly dissipated into the cloud cover. I was able to catch a couple photos. Later we saw Nancy States, who said she had also seen it plus a second smaller funnel cloud. At Devereux we found a flock of Forster's Terns. They later flew towards Coal Oil Point. The best bird was a RED-NECKED GREBE, probably the one Nick reported recently. Also seen were 1 male Greater Scaup, 2 female Greaters plus a 3rd female that I think is a Greater, American Wigeons, Northern Shovelers, Ruddy Ducks, Pied-Billed Grebes, Buffleheads, Black-necked Stilts, and a Greater Yellowlegs. Goleta Beach was pretty quiet until a Peregrine Falcon flew over the estuary and landed on a snag on the bluff. Here is a link to my Picasa album. http://picasaweb.google.com/proscript.inc/March62010Goleta?feat=directlink Dianna Ricky Santa Barbara Subject: Fw: [CALBIRDS] Galileo Hill Update From: "Wes Fritz" <wes-fritz AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 05 Mar 2010 20:56:27 -0800 Hi all, I apologize for this non county related post. I thought that some you might be interested in this great migrant trap's future. I am not sure if any of you birders have ever had the great pleasure to witness this mega-rarity hot spot. It has had some of the best birds found in the state like Eyebrowed Thrush, Grove-billed Ani, Common Black-Hawk, Upland Sandpiper, Pine Grosbeak, Mourning Warbler not to mention two Artic Warblers on the same day. The diversity of the mega-rarities was staggering, the string of rarities goes on and on. This location was one of Kern Counties most favored birding destinations. A must stop birding location when passing or by, or just wanting to experience a major migration stop over. Some days were just magical out there on the fallout days, when the birds littered the lawn. I do regret sharing this news, I will miss birding there. Good luck and good birding. Wes Fritz Solvang, Ca. (805) 895-0685 wes-fritz AT verizon.net ----- Original Message ----- From: Bob Barnes To: CALBIRDS AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Friday, March 05, 2010 7:13 PM Subject: [CALBIRDS] Galileo Hill Update CALBIRDS Subscribers: Unfortunate news from remaining staff at Silver Saddle Ranch & Club at the desert oasis of Galileo Hill in the Mojave Desert of eastern Kern County: * Galileo Hill/Silver Saddle is closed period (to both non-members and members). * Galileo Hill/Silver Saddle is for sale. * No offers on Galileo Hill/Silver Saddle from potential buyers have been made to date. * Therefore, the ultimate future regarding birders and Galileo Hill is yet to be determined and birders are asked not to visit the site in the meantime. Since Galileo Hill is written up in ABA's A Birders Guide to Southern California, feel free to forward this message to those whom you think should know to help avoid visits by those who might not otherwise be advised of the closure. For Jean Brandt and Kelli Levinson, Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County, California [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Devereux From: "Lethaby, Nick" <nlethaby AT ti.com> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 19:12:45 -0600 All: Devereux seems to have at least partially busted out as the water level was lower today with much mud exposed. The Mute Swans, 50+ Forster's Terns, and plenty of shorebirds and ducks were around. Highlights were: Merlin - 1 Western Sandpiper - 25 Dunlin - 1 Cinnamon Teal - 17 (migration is clearly kicking in for this species the last week or so) Greater Scaup - 2 or 3, I am fairly sure that these bird include the 2 birds I was telling Wim and Joan were Lessers! One of these birds again showed a white secondary wing-bar and duller primary wing-bar when flapping and had a bit of a squared off nape most of the time. However it didn't seem particularly smaller than the other two, which I feel pretty confident are Greaters. As usual the birds were diving non-stop and at medium range. I will try to get better looks tomorrow to resolve the id of the third bird. Nick Lethaby nlethaby AT ti.com +1 805 562 5106 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: new yard bird From: <guy.tingos AT cox.net> Date: Tue, 2 Mar 2010 7:38:51 -0800 This morning, I heard the unmistakable call notes of a Canyon Wren. The bird moved from our backyard to the front and both Betsy and I got good looks. We are not on a creek and live just south of Cathedral Oaks, so the locale is a bit unusual. Guy Tingos Santa Barbara Subject: RFI Ohio birders From: Michael Gordon <gordo92151 AT bex.net> Date: Mon, 01 Mar 2010 22:50:33 -0500 My wife and I are from Ohio and we will be birding in Santa Barbara, Kern and San Diego counties in the middle of March for 9 days. I have Brad Schrams "Birders Guide to Southern California". I would appreciate any help in finding some of our target birds which include the following Mountain Quail Tricolored Blackbird Lawrence's Goldinch Band Tailed Pigeon Elegant Tern Crissal Thrasher LeContes Thrasher Thick billed Fox Sparrow Hooded Oriole Scotts Oriole California Condor Any help would be greatly appreciated. Please respond to email address Thank you in advance Mike Gordon Sylvania,Ohio Subject: Birds of Cachuma Lake From Monday February 22 - Sunday February 28, 2010 From: "Kelly, Melissa" <mkelly AT co.santa-barbara.ca.us> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 15:36:43 -0800 Howdy Folks, Thank-you Nick for that wonderful report on the East End. My last visit there was last Monday and there were no where near that many birds; only NORTHERN SHOVELLERS, CANADA GEESE, MALLARDS, and a few GADWALL. The BRANT, REDHEADS, CANVASBACK, CINNAMON TEAL, and the WOOD DUCKS are a big surprise You might think it would be easy for us to get just 8 miles down the road to see what's there for ourselves, but our days are pretty full, so we really only get to see what's on the lake proper. We always appreciate East End reports and those notes go into our records. [Nick - you mention quite a few teal around in addition to the earlier mention of Cinnamon Teal. I'm assuming you saw quite a few GREEN-WINGED TEAL?] The WHITE PELICANS must be gone; we haven't seen them on the lake or at the East End this week. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS are singing. Still at least three immature BALD EAGLES hanging around, and the PEREGRINE FALCON. We had a brief view of one of the adult BALD EALGLES today, but it had barely perched before a RED-TAILED HAWK chased it off. Red-tails and RED-SHOULDERED'S are busy all over the lake; several pairs of both species are making themselves felt. 100+ SCAUP flew over the lake Saturday, and there were two NORTHERN HARRIERS; a group of 32 BUFFLEHEAD has been around all week. Liz had a BONEPART'S GULL and four COMMON GOLDENEYES last Tuesday; Goldeneyes have been very scarce this year. At least one COMMON LOON is still around, and today we saw two EARED GREBES. We found only one LEWIS' WOODPECKER in the Narrows today, but Liz had two there earlier in the week. So far five of the GREAT BLUE HERON nests on Santa Cruz Flat are active; it looks like they're laying eggs. I haven't yet checked out the rookery at the East End this season. ROCK WREN, TREE SWALLOWS, and WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS are out and about too. We can see the lake rising everyday, and we have just10 feet to the fill line. Birds of Cachuma Lake From Monday February 22 - Sunday February 28, 2010 Mostly sightings by Liz Mason and Melissa Kelly Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii Canada Goose Branta canadensis Mute Swan Cygnus olor Wood Duck Aix sponsa Gadwall Anas strepera American Wigeon Anas americana Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Green-winged Teal Anas crecca Canvasback Aythya valisineria Redhead Aythya americana Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Bufflehead Bucephala albeola Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Common Merganser Mergus merganser Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo - I California Quail Callipepla californica Common Loon Gavia immer Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis Clark's Grebe Aechmophorus clarkii Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Great Egret Ardea alba Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Osprey Pandion haliaetus Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis American Kestrel Falco sparverius Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus American Coot Fulica americana Killdeer Charadrius vociferus Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius Bonaparte's Gull Larus philadelphia Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis California Gull Larus californicus Herring Gull Larus argentatus Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna Belted Kingfisher Ceryle alcyon Lewis's Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis 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 Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana American Robin Turdus migratorius Wrentit Chamaea fasciata California Thrasher Toxostoma redivivum European Starling Sturnus vulgaris - I Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum Orange-crowned Warbler Vermivora celata Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus California Towhee Pipilo crissalis Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria House Sparrow Passer domesticus - I I Melissa Kelly Assistant Naturalist Cachuma Lake County Park Santa Barbara County, CA 805.688-4515 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Devereux and Cachuma birds From: "Lethaby, Nick" <nlethaby AT ti.com> Date: Sun, 28 Feb 2010 16:12:47 -0600 All: This morning I had a large count of 53 Forster's Terns at the N. end of Devereux. Even more surprising was a Royal Tern, which I think is the first I have seen there. A summer-plumaged Avocet was also present. The two Mute Swans were still present, giving me 3 in the county in one day. I headed over to the E. end of Cachuma, where Wes hold told me a lot of birds were now present. He was certainly right. Highlights were: Bald Eagle - 1 imm Mute Swan - 1 Black Brant - 1 Aleutian Cackling Goose - 4 'minima' Cackling Goose - 1 Gadwall - 70 Cinnamon Teal - 10 Redhead - 6 Canvasback - 5 Lesser Scaup - 115 Ring-necked Duck - 80 Wood Duck - 18 Quite a few wigeon, teal, mallard, shoveler, and ruddy ducks were around too. No mergansers. Nick Lethaby nlethaby AT ti.com +1 805 562 5106 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Devereux Slough, 2/27/10 From: "Lethaby, Nick" <nlethaby AT ti.com> Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 19:41:34 -0600 Wim: I saw your hybrid wigeon a couple of days ago at Devereux. I had the same stuff as you in quick stop today. Nick ________________________________ From: sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Wim van Dam Sent: Saturday, February 27, 2010 3:43 PM To: SBCo Birding Subject: [sbcobirding] Devereux Slough, 2/27/10 Walking around Devereux this morning was wet, muddy, slippery and fun. Duck-wise, 12 Cinnamon Teals were notable. It's nice to see all the ducks in breeding plumage now. A Red-breasted Merganser was present as well. Among the standard gulls there was a Bonaparte's Gull, a Caspian and 6 Forster's Terns. The pair of White-tailed Kites continue to cause a ruckus; earlier this week I saw them exchanging prey. More worryingly, the Mute Swan that has been at Devereux for the past week has also found a partner, so now there are two of those. Also unusual was a dead Elephant Seal at Ellwood beach. - Wim (Goleta) > Location: Devereux Slough > Observation date: 2/27/10 > Number of species: 37 > > Mute Swan - Cygnus olor 2 > Gadwall - Anas strepera X > American Wigeon - Anas americana X > Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos X > Cinnamon Teal - Anas cyanoptera 12 > Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata X > Northern Pintail - Anas acuta 2 > Bufflehead - Bucephala albeola X > Red-breasted Merganser - Mergus serrator 1 > Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis X > Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps X > Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus X > Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias X > Great Egret - Ardea alba X > Snowy Egret - Egretta thula X > Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura X > White-tailed Kite - Elanus leucurus 2 > American Coot - Fulica americana X > Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola X > Semipalmated Plover - Charadrius semipalmatus X > Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus X > Black-necked Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus X > Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus X > Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla X > peep sp. - Calidris sp. X > Bonaparte's Gull - Chroicocephalus philadelphia 1 > Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis X > Western Gull - Larus occidentalis X > California Gull - Larus californicus X > Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia 1 > Forster's Tern - Sterna forsteri 6 > Anna's Hummingbird - Calypte anna X > Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans X > Say's Phoebe - Sayornis saya X > Cassin's Kingbird - Tyrannus vociferans X > American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos X > California Towhee - Pipilo crissalis X > Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia X > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/ > ) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Devereux Slough, 2/27/10 From: Wim van Dam <wim.van.dam AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 15:42:33 -0800 Walking around Devereux this morning was wet, muddy, slippery and fun. Duck-wise, 12 Cinnamon Teals were notable. It's nice to see all the ducks in breeding plumage now. A Red-breasted Merganser was present as well. Among the standard gulls there was a Bonaparte's Gull, a Caspian and 6 Forster's Terns. The pair of White-tailed Kites continue to cause a ruckus; earlier this week I saw them exchanging prey. More worryingly, the Mute Swan that has been at Devereux for the past week has also found a partner, so now there are two of those. Also unusual was a dead Elephant Seal at Ellwood beach. - Wim (Goleta) > Location: Devereux Slough > Observation date: 2/27/10 > Number of species: 37 > > Mute Swan - Cygnus olor 2 > Gadwall - Anas strepera X > American Wigeon - Anas americana X > Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos X > Cinnamon Teal - Anas cyanoptera 12 > Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata X > Northern Pintail - Anas acuta 2 > Bufflehead - Bucephala albeola X > Red-breasted Merganser - Mergus serrator 1 > Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis X > Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps X > Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus X > Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias X > Great Egret - Ardea alba X > Snowy Egret - Egretta thula X > Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura X > White-tailed Kite - Elanus leucurus 2 > American Coot - Fulica americana X > Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola X > Semipalmated Plover - Charadrius semipalmatus X > Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus X > Black-necked Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus X > Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus X > Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla X > peep sp. - Calidris sp. X > Bonaparte's Gull - Chroicocephalus philadelphia 1 > Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis X > Western Gull - Larus occidentalis X > California Gull - Larus californicus X > Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia 1 > Forster's Tern - Sterna forsteri 6 > Anna's Hummingbird - Calypte anna X > Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans X > Say's Phoebe - Sayornis saya X > Cassin's Kingbird - Tyrannus vociferans X > American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos X > California Towhee - Pipilo crissalis X > Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia X > > This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org/california/ > ) Subject: Scoter Migration From: "kylebraunger" <kylebraunger AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 22:24:37 -0000 This morning 300+ northbound Scoters flew past Goleta Pt. in less than an hour. The largest flock was 70+ and a WW Scoter was visible in one of the flocks that passed by fairly close to the point. No Brant were seen and only a small number of solitary loons(mostly Red-throated) flew by, a number of which were flying southbound. Kyle Braunger Subject: correction on Greater Scaup NOT at Devereux yesterday From: "Joan Lentz" <joanlentz AT cox.net> Date: Sat, 27 Feb 2010 11:40:37 -0800 Hi Everyone: Nick Lethaby, who checks Devereux regularly, says he has seen the two female scaup, one of which I thought was a Greater Scaup. He believes that, altho the one female appears to have some Greater Scaup-like characters, he has seen it spread its wings & noted that the white wing patch is restricted, unlike that of the Greater Scaup. So...I think that pretty much throws out my i.d. ;-) The two are both Lesser Scaups. Sorry about that, Joan Lentz Santa Barbara Subject: birding this a.m., Fri. Feb. 26 From: "Joan Lentz" <joanlentz AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 15:53:16 -0800 Hi All: This morning Rebecca Coulter & I got out to do some birding. We started at Goleta Beach, where we were impressed w/ the no. of Great Blue Heron nests in the rookery & the presence of a pair of Great Egrets there as well. The tide was exceedingly high & shorebirds were feeding up in the wrack, as well as some Marbled Godwits in the grass. A pair of Belted Kingfishers were flying around like crazy & acting chummy. About a dozen Royal Terns mixed in with mostly Heermann's Gulls. We were happy to see that the sand enrichment was at the west end of the beach, so we could bird the east end without being disturbed by massive trucks, etc. Then we went to the UCSB overlook (Area K) which was full of water, as were more distant ponds in Goleta Slough. We looked in vain for the Eur. Wigeon, but had a smattering of Am. Wigeon, Gadwall, a couple of Cinnamon Teal, a pair of Gr-w. Teal, a bunch of No. Shovellers, a couple of pair of Canada Geese, a No. Harrier perched up nicely. Then to Devereux, very full of water, although I assume it's still tidal. Not as many ducks as I'd hoped. Shorebirds distant: Least Sands., Black-bell. Plovers, Semipalm Plovers--none in great numbers. We did find one definite female Greater Scaup down near the bridge to nowhere. A Merlin was strafing a Cooper's Hawk down by the bridge. Red-tails were in love. Nancy States & Debbie Konkel drove up & said they'd seen a pair of Wh-tail. Kites but we missed them. Has anyone checked the vernal pools on either side of Camino Corto? They should be full & I wondered if they were attracting any birds. Joan Lentz Santa Barbara Subject: Ellwood Beach: oiled Common Murre From: "Marian Cohen" <mcohen AT commserv.ucsb.edu> Date: Fri, 26 Feb 2010 10:32:10 -0800 Yesterday afternoon (Thursday, Feb 25) I found a Common Murre on the beach below Ellwood Mesa, unable to fly because of tar, but otherwise looking sleek and healthy. I took it to the seabird rescue facility at June Taylor's home. She will send it down to the IBRRC in San Pedro. Marian Cohen Goleta [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Goleta Beach Great Blue Heron Rookery From: Mark Holmgren <maholmgren AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 13:21:53 -0800 (PST) On 19 February 2010, I examined the rookery through a scope and binocs from three angles and counted a minimum of 18 nests that had Great Blue Heron attending. 1 pr of Great Egrets were at a nest in the middle of the Euc grove toward the N side of the Eucs. This seems early relative to other years the Egrets have nested here. No cormorants were attending nests yet. Mark Holmgren Santa Barbara [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: East Beach: Snowy Plovers, Mew Gulls From: <georger244 AT cox.net> Date: Thu, 25 Feb 2010 16:05:00 -0500 Hello all: My count of Snowy Plovers on East Beach in Santa Barbara today was 97. I found three color-banded birds in the flock. These were all repeats that I have seen for a few months now. One of them was raised in Goleta, one fledged on Vandenberg AFB and one fledged at Salinas National Wildlife Refuge at the mouth of the Salinas River in Monterey County. At the Mission Creek Outfall there was a flock of 34 Mew Gulls. Lots of Sanderlings along the beach. Bird on... George Roland, Montecito. Subject: Audubon's Friday Bird Walk Feb 26 at San Jose Creek From: "Adam" <aj.lewis AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 18:34:26 -0000 Where: San Jose Creek Area (near Kellogg Tennis Courts) When: Friday February 26, 2009 8:30-10:30am Sponsor: SB Audubon Society Target Birds: Song birds, woodpeckers, thrashers, thrushes, kinglets etc. Bird walk leader: Jack Sanford 566-2191 or jacksanford AT hotmail.com Directions: From Hwy l01 take the Patterson Ave off ramp and head towards the mountains. Turn left on Cathedral Oaks Rd. Turn left at the Kellogg Rd stop light. Park and meet near the tennis courts. Adam Lewis for the SBAS Subject: Tucker's Grove Red-naped Sapsucker From: "kylebraunger" <kylebraunger AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 24 Feb 2010 03:32:35 -0000 This afternoon there was a RN Sapsucker in the willow near the lower end of the upper parking lot. Last week a female-plumaged Summer Tanager was observed in an oak near the entrance restroom. At least 2 and maybe 3 Canyon Wrens are wintering along the creek in the park. Kyle Braunger Subject: UCSB Campus notes From: Florence Sanchez <sanchez AT polsci.ucsb.edu> Date: Tue, 23 Feb 2010 15:37:38 -0800 Today I walked the beach at low tide from the stairs on the east-facing bluffs, around campus point, and then west to the end of the Lagoon. The Beach was very quiet, with few shorebirds. Checks of the gull flocks behind the marine biology lab and on the point have sometimes yielded good birds in February, such as Black-legged Kittiwake and Franklin's Gull, but not this year. The best gulls I found today were an adult Herring Gull and an immature Glaucous-winged Gull. There was another immature gull on the Point that might have been a first year Thayer's, but I'm always iffy on identifying this species. There are still some adult Heerman's Gulls hanging around--they should have all migrated by now. Nothing else of note on the beach and nothing moving offshore. Florence Sanchez Subject: Wednesday Feb 24 Audubon Lecture by Roger Millikan From: "Adam" <aj.lewis AT cox.net> Date: Sun, 21 Feb 2010 19:03:02 -0000 Like Audubon, I shoot birds – but I do it with a digital camera Roger Millikan Wednesday, February 24, 2010 Farrand Hall, Santa Barbara Museum of Natural History 2559 Puesta Del Sol Santa Barbara, CA 93105 Doors open 7:00 PM Program begins 7:30 PM Free to the public Digital cameras appeared on the consumer scene scarcely ten years ago, and changed photography forever. Consider: Kodak no longer makes film cameras! This revolution has also changed birding and especially bird photography. Roger rode this wave starting with a 2 megapixel Fujifilm camera. Seven cameras later he uses an 18 megapixel Canon DSLR. Needless to say, his pictures today are better than they used to be. In this presentation Roger will briefly discuss how digital photography works, and what camera choices are best for bird photography. Field techniques and post processing of the images will also be discussed. Roger will discuss the question of, once you have your pictures, what can you do with them? One important use is for proving to Audubon committees that you really saw and correctly identified that rare bird you claimed. Nowadays, photo evidence is often required. You can also use your pictures to study bird behavior. Comparing photo sequences over time proves to be very helpful. Roger will provide examples. And finally you can seek to publish your photographs. For Roger, one outlet has been to join with Karen Bridgers to supply photos to go with her bird column in the Santa Barbara News Press. And recently Roger has published a small book: Birds of Cachuma Lake – you will most likely see. Roger says there is a learning curve involved with publishing and that he will discuss some of the important aspects. All in all Roger says it has been great fun. Adam Lewis for the Santa Barbara Audubon Society Subject: Graciosa ravens From: Don Tate <osomocoso AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 21 Feb 2010 08:08:05 -0800 (PST) 2 ravens indeed, over Hwy 1 between Orcutt and Graciosa Sunday morning.   Don Tate, Lompoc [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Saturday birds From: "Lethaby, Nick" <nlethaby AT ti.com> Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2010 21:04:51 -0600 All: There seemed to be a number of swallows around today. I saw Tree and Barn at Devereux and RW and Violet-Green at Lauro Resevoir. I had the Eurasian Wigeon and 8 Western Sandpipers at Devereux and 2 Wood Ducks at Lauro. All pretty ho-hum. I noticed a comment in a UK birding blog about the lack of Glaucous and Iceland Gulls, so perhaps there was a pan-Arctic breeding failure for arctic gull species, accounting for the miserable showing of Thayer's down here. Nick Lethaby nlethaby AT ti.com +1 805 562 5106 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 3 Brant at Devereux From: Wim van Dam <wim.van.dam AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 20 Feb 2010 18:52:11 -0800 This Saturday afternoon, late, there were 3 Brant at Devereux. The two female scaup that I initially thought to be Greater are also still there. Others have told me that they have seen two Lesser Scaup at the same spot, so I probably made a mistake in thinking that they were Greater. I did not refind the Europian-ish Wigeon. - Wim (Goleta) Subject: Preisker Park Yellow-bellied Sapsucker From: Jamie Chavez <almiyi AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 13:49:23 -0800 All, I had good luck observing the wintering Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Santa Maria's Preisker Park today. The bird was vocal and conspicuous in the bare Modesto Ash trees (I think) around Area 1 at the entrance to the park off Hidden Pines Way. I heard a second sapsucker nearby while I was digiscoping the YB, but I never saw this other bird to know what type it might have been. Photos are at the link below if interested. http://www.flickr.com/photos/almiyi/ -- Jamie M. Chavez Santa Maria, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Devereux ducks From: Wim van Dam <wim.van.dam AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 18 Feb 2010 18:49:29 -0800 Devereux presented me two duck challenges this afternoon. First, there is a female scaup and I'm inclined to say that it is a Greater Scaup. (Yesterday there was a 2nd female scaup, which, from a distance, also could have been a Greater.) Second, among the wigeons, there is one drake with a rufous, Eurasian head, and a more brown, American body. This one appears different from the 'obvious, 100% Eurasian' Wigeon that has been seen at Devereux earlier this winter. Because of the combination of colors I'd say that this could be a hybrid Eurasian x American Wigeon. Not really earth shattering stuff, I know, but if people have opinions about this, I wouldn't mind hearing them. - Wim (Goleta) Subject: Cackling Goose 'Aleutian' From: "Adam" <aj.lewis AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 19 Feb 2010 02:18:38 -0000 The recent postings on Cackling and Canada Geese prompted this post about the subspecies leucopareia. In January a lone Aleutian hung around at the SB bird refuge, foraging with coots. Fortunately the chinstrap, listed on several sites as almost always present on the Aleutian subspecies and a key field mark, was visible. The bird's relatively small size, thick neck ring and chinstrap are shown in these 4 photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbfledgling/sets/72157623462089884/ My thanks to Nick and Wim for previewing the Flickr text and photos. Adam Lewis Goleta Subject: Campus and other bird notes From: Florence Sanchez <sanchez AT polsci.ucsb.edu> Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 16:51:34 -0800 I have been birding, both on campus and elsewhere, but I never seem to find time to make a post. So here are some summary comments about what I've seen the past few days. Among the shorebirds that hang out at the UCSB lagoon, at least two dunlins remain, usually with the Dowtichers. A Mute Swan has also returned to the Lagoon this week. I walked on top of the bluff at campus point this week and last week walked around it at low tide a couple of times--no sign of any sea watch type activity yet. There has been no sign of the juvenile Red Knot for several weeks. A Pelagic Cormorant was roosting on the rocks one day last week. Brandts do this occasionally, but usually the only time I see one from the Point is flying by. On Monday, I finally got up to the San Marcos grasslands to see the Lawrence's Goldfinches. They didn't disappoint! I had only time for a brief walk, so didn't run down the Rock Wrens or Burrowing Owls. I did flush a large flock of American Pipits (at least 100). I could not pull out any Horned Larks from the flock. Interestingly, I found only 1 Western Meadowlark and no Bluebirds during my time there. It was a pleasure to see nice drifts of early wildflowers throughout the preserve (Fiddleneck, Popcorn Flower, Blue Dicks, and one large patch of Shooting Stars). At home, a Red-breasted Sapsucker returned to our Gingko tree in Monday. This is the first sapsucker we've had in about four months. They tend to be fall visitors only at our house. Florence Sanchez Subject: sightings recent and recent-ish From: "matt v" <fickity AT netscape.net> Date: Wed, 17 Feb 2010 05:30:50 -0000 Greetings! This evening at LLC, I observed a small, adult male SHARP-SHINNED HAWK really marauding! He was strafing songbirds along the lakeshore during my run. When he approached the oaks over the paved path, a female COOPERS HAWK adult appeared, and gave an aggressive chase. Witnessing the obvious size difference as they acrobatically swerved through the trees, one might wonder why it would be difficult to separate and distinguish the two species... On 2-14 Sunday, we rode back to Jameson Lake. In the early am, we flushed a GREAT HORNED OWL. Later, a NORTHERN PYGMY OWL was heard and photographed along the Santa Ynez River. Oddly, sparrows were absent... Butterflies really put on a show! California Tortoiseshell and Sara Orangetips mostly, but a few Silvery Blues too. Herps included W. fence, Side-blotch and S. Alligator Lizard. A great find were several CALIFORNIA TREEFROGS that we photographed. The previous week I worked at Devereux. While supervising my crew, some nice surprises were found. Both ANNAS and ALLENS nests were located. The ALLENS has two eggs... Two GREAT HORNED OWLS were found roosting. Also, a RED FOX!!! Another day, we were sent to Hope Ranch and I found an ANNAS nest with two nestlings. Soon new pics will be added to my Picasa. It appears this year my images will not be strictly SB County, we have many trips planned. Check back often if you are interested, I'll point out any SB Bird additions... -- Matt Victoria Sylvan Dr. Goleta, CA 93117 webpage: http://www.fickity.net http://picasaweb.google.com/fickity.net "If it walks like a Duck, and quacks like a Duck; it may yet be construed a hybrid." *************************************************************** Subject: Ocean Meadows Geese From: "Lethaby, Nick" <nlethaby AT ti.com> Date: Tue, 16 Feb 2010 23:03:06 -0600 All: Thanks to photos by Marge Thornton, Adam Lewis, and Wes Fritz, I was able to get the more interesting geese among the Canada flock at Ocean meadows reviewed by a few goose experts in OR and the central valley. Everyone was unanimous in agreeing that there is a parvipes in the flock and that most of the small cacklers are minimas. There was some difference of opinion on the two slightly larger paler cacklers that hung out with the minimas. The central valley expert felt they were probably taverneri but the OR experts all concluded they were most likely larger paler minimas. Having looked a bunch of photos of minima and tarverneri flocks on the Oregon Fish and Game site, I am tending to agree with the conclusion of the OR experts. The other thing that stood out in reviewing the OR pics were that wide white neck rings occur enough in non-Aleutian birds that I need to be more careful about identifying birds as Aleutians purely on this. Generally identification of lone individuals can be problematic but fortunately we often get small groups here where we can apply average characteristics with more reliability. Even so, there was a particular confusing flock of 4 cacklers at Devereux in the fall that seemed to multiple forms in it. Regards, Nick Lethaby nlethaby AT ti.com +1 805 562 5106 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Osprey at Devereux From: "Wim_van_Dam" <wim.van.dam AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 15 Feb 2010 19:12:38 -0000 At 10:15 this morning an Osprey was hunting at Devereux. After 10 minutes and 3 attempts it caught a fish. - Wim (Goleta) Subject: Birds of Cachuma Lake From Monday February 1 - Sunday February 14, 2010 From: "Kelly, Melissa" <mkelly AT co.santa-barbara.ca.us> Date: Sun, 14 Feb 2010 15:43:18 -0800 Howdy Folks, The Lake is still slowly rising; we have 12.56 feet to full; just about all the flatlands have been inundated and soon the tules will be in good form for breeding waterfowl so keep your fingers crossed for more rain .:^) Feb 1-7: We only got in one cruise this week, and it was pretty windy out there There were lots of kiting raptors, mostly RED-TAILED HAWKS, and one immature BALD EAGLE. Lots of TREE SWALLOWS. The waterfowl we found were all trying to hide from the wind: 14 LESSER SCAUP 4 GREATER SCAUP 12 BUFFLEHEAD 4 COMMON RAVENS and a red sow with 4 little red piggies. Wed 10Feb10 - 12 CINNAMON TEAL 11 LESSER SCAUP At least 4 imm BALD EAGLE 3 LEWIS' WOODPECKERS (north east corner of Narrows) 1 PEREGRINE FALCON at Intake 46 CANADA GEESE At least 1 CACKLING GOOSE More pairing/courting RED-TAILED HAWKS than you can shake a stick at 6 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS 4 WHITE PELICANS GREAT BLUE HERONS don't seem to be incubating yet, but they're standing on or beside the nests frequently Only 99 WESTERN GREBES and 14 CLARK'S GREBES (our winter population left and our breeding population isn't here yet? Dunno, but two weeks ago there were easily 400 grebes out there.) Fri - Sun 12-14 Feb 10 2 sightings of MERLIN 1 SHARP-SHINNED HAWK 12 BUFFLEHEAD 37 LESSER SCAUP 1 GREATER SCAUP 6 GADWALL Several sightings of probably the same NORTHERN HARRIER CALIFORNIA THRASHERS, DARK-EYED JUNCOS, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, OAK TITMICE & SONG SPARROWS are singing constantly At least 4 immature BALD EAGLES still here; they're harassed by courting Red-Tails at every turn. Birds of Cachuma Lake From Monday February 1 - Sunday February 14, 2010 Mostly sightings by Liz Mason and Melissa Kelly Cackling Goose Branta hutchinsii Canada Goose Branta canadensis Mute Swan Cygnus olor Gadwall Anas strepera Mallard Anas platyrhynchos Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera Greater Scaup Aythya marila Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Bufflehead Bucephala albeola Common Merganser Mergus merganser Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo - I California Quail Callipepla californica Common Loon Gavia immer Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis Clark's Grebe Aechmophorus clarkii American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura Osprey Pandion haliaetus Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis American Kestrel Falco sparverius Merlin Falco columbarius Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Sora Porzana carolina American Coot Fulica americana Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis California Gull Larus californicus Herring Gull Larus argentatus Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatalis Anna's Hummingbird Calypte anna Lewis's Woodpecker Melanerpes lewis Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus Nuttall's Woodpecker Picoides nuttallii Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans Say's Phoebe Sayornis saya 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 Bewick's Wren Thryomanes bewickii Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus American Robin Turdus migratorius Wrentit Chamaea fasciata California Thrasher Toxostoma redivivum European Starling Sturnus vulgaris - I Yellow-rumped Warbler Dendroica coronata Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus California Towhee Pipilo crissalis Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus Brewer's Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater House Finch Carpodacus mexicanus Lesser Goldfinch Carduelis psaltria House Sparrow Passer domesticus - I I Melissa Kelly Assistant Naturalist Cachuma Lake County Park Santa Barbara County, CA 805.688-4515 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Graciosa, 2 ravens From: Don Tate <osomocoso AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 14 Feb 2010 09:23:33 -0800 (PST) Sunday morning 7:15 along Hwy 1/135 (concurrent stretch) just north of Graciosa there were 2 ravens flying about. Actually, I have niggling doubts, because one showed a crow-like tail, and the other with a proper raven tail made an ambiguous vocalization. Body size & beak shape were quite good in one (?) bird seen twice, and they (or one) was soaring a bit. It was an "arrgh" experience, why I like plants. It's too early for fledglings, right? ANYWAY, it's something for travelers that way to look for, & I'll try again tomorrow.   Don Tate, Lompoc [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Re: Yellow-billed Magpie in SB City From: Dave Compton <davcompton AT verizon.net> Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:54:51 -0800 (PST) Hi Ron and everyone,   I consistently hear reports of a single magpie several times a year in this general area, and I assume it's the same bird that's been around for a few years. It's impossible to know whether or not the bird made it there on it's own, although of course it's plausible.   Dave Compton Santa Barbara --- On Sat, 2/13/10, sbtechmy wrote: From: sbtechmy Subject: [sbcobirding] Re: Yellow-billed Magpie in SB City To: sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com Date: Saturday, February 13, 2010, 6:01 AM I saw a YB Magpie a few days ago on utility wires alongside Foothill Rd. house number 3100 or so, between Calle Palo Colorado & Calle Laureles. It was on a rainy day this week. If it's the same bird referenced in the Feb. 2008 message below it has been near there for 5 years. Ron Hirst SB --- In sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com, Mark Holmgren wrote: > > Welcome Mary, > If this is the same bird, and if there is only one bird involved, it has been around for nearly 2 years I think.  We have seen this most often in the vicinity of Calle Palo Colorado X Calle Fresno.  That is 2-3 blocks away from 3100 Foothill. > > Mark Holmgren > San Marcos Pass area > > Mary Shepherd wrote: I'm new to this group, so perhaps this is not a significant sighting, > but it is a first for me here in Santa Barbara. > > I've seen a Yellow-billed Magpie twice recently.  Both times it was on > overhead utility lines on Foothill in the 3000-3100 blocks.  The first > was Friday afternoon at about 3:30 and again today at about noon. > > Mary Shepherd > Near the SB Mission > Santa Barbara > > > > > For everything birding in Santa Barbara County: http://www.sbcobirding.com > .  > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > >        > --------------------------------- > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile.  Try it now. > > [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: Grace's Warbler still there From: "Wim_van_Dam" <wim.van.dam AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 19:53:43 -0000 This Saturday morning I (finally) managed to see the Grace's Warbler in Bella Vista Park. At 10 am it was in the pine trees on the south side of the park. In the same trees there was also a Red-breasted Sapsucker and two White-tailed Kites that seemed to be mating. After a quick round in the park, I was unable to refind the Warbler at 10:30. - Wim (Goleta) Subject: campus lagoon Friday afternoon From: Wim van Dam <wim.van.dam AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 08:39:08 -0800 Yesterday there was a Red-throated Loon at the UCSB lagoon. Also present were several Lesser Scaup and many Long-billed Dowitchers and Least Sandpipers, which seem completely unfazed by the food traffic nearby. If you want to study some common waders, this is an ideal location. At the beach there was a Caspian Tern among the Royals. - Wim (Goleta) Location: College Lagoon Observation date: 2/12/10 Number of species: 42 Gadwall - Anas strepera X American Wigeon - Anas americana X Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos X Redhead - Aythya americana X Lesser Scaup - Aythya affinis X Bufflehead - Bucephala albeola X Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis X Red-throated Loon - Gavia stellata 1 Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps X Eared Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis X Western Grebe - Aechmophorus occidentalis X Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis X Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus X Great Egret - Ardea alba X Snowy Egret - Egretta thula X Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis X falcon sp. - Falco sp. X American Coot - Fulica americana X Black-necked Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus X Willet - Tringa semipalmata X Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla X Long-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus scolopaceus X Short-billed/Long-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus griseus/ scolopaceus X Heermann's Gull - Larus heermanni X Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis X Western Gull - Larus occidentalis X gull sp. - Larinae sp. X Caspian Tern - Hydroprogne caspia 1 Royal Tern - Thalasseus maximus X Eurasian Collared-Dove - Streptopelia decaocto X Anna's Hummingbird - Calypte anna X Allen's Hummingbird - Selasphorus sasin X Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus 1 Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans 1 Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal) - Aphelocoma californica californica X American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos X Bushtit - Psaltriparus minimus X Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos X Cedar Waxwing - Bombycilla cedrorum X Orange-crowned Warbler - Vermivora celata X Yellow-rumped Warbler - Dendroica coronata X California Towhee - Pipilo crissalis X Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia X Brewer's Blackbird - Euphagus cyanocephalus X House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus X This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Subject: Re: Yellow-billed Magpie in SB City From: "sbtechmy" <sbtech AT aol.com> Date: Sat, 13 Feb 2010 14:01:19 -0000 I saw a YB Magpie a few days ago on utility wires alongside Foothill Rd. house number 3100 or so, between Calle Palo Colorado & Calle Laureles. It was on a rainy day this week. If it's the same bird referenced in the Feb. 2008 message below it has been near there for 5 years. Ron Hirst SB --- In sbcobirding AT yahoogroups.com, Mark Holmgren wrote: > > Welcome Mary, > If this is the same bird, and if there is only one bird involved, it has been around for nearly 2 years I think. We have seen this most often in the vicinity of Calle Palo Colorado X Calle Fresno. That is 2-3 blocks away from 3100 Foothill. > > Mark Holmgren > San Marcos Pass area > > Mary Shepherd wrote: I'm new to this group, so perhaps this is not a significant sighting, > but it is a first for me here in Santa Barbara. > > I've seen a Yellow-billed Magpie twice recently. Both times it was on > overhead utility lines on Foothill in the 3000-3100 blocks. The first > was Friday afternoon at about 3:30 and again today at about noon. > > Mary Shepherd > Near the SB Mission > Santa Barbara > > > > > For everything birding in Santa Barbara County: http://www.sbcobirding.com > . > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: Goose of Carpinteria From: Eric Culbs <ericculbs AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010 17:06:44 -0800 (PST) Friday 4pm. Santa Barbara side of Carp estuary mouth, from beach directly below first few houses. I watched what turned out to be a small goose fly out of the estuary and land on the ocean a ways out past the breaking waves in the company of a W. gull. I had a paddle board hany and so took off toward it. I was looking into the sun so i got mostly an outline. It was a goose however. I could see a small bill and slender long neck. It was not large and appeared mostly dark. I was thinking Brandt the whole way out towards it. I flushed it and it flew low and made a very low mumble. The bird flew directly back into the marsh. Eric, Carpinteria [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Geese at Ocean Meadows Golf Course From: "Adam" <aj.lewis AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 12 Feb 2010 03:42:56 -0000 The flock was very near the clubhouse Wednesday and I received permission to walk out and photograph them. I estimate there were fifty in all with the vast majority Canada Geese. Also included was one Greater White-fronted Goose (looks to me like an immature 1st year bird), 5 to 6 Cackling Geese and one possible Lesser Canada Goose (parvipes). The Cackling looked quite similar with only subtle differences in the amount of white on their collars. I posted images of 4. I tried to ID their sub-species but after reading the accounts at Cornell's BNA on-line and David Sibley's Blog (http://www.sibleyguides.com/2007/07/identification-of-cackling-and-canada-goose/) I decided to leave that alone. Any help here is most welcome. The possible Lesser was the same size as the Cackling and too its back was darker than Canada. I was about to call it another Cackling until I picked out its larger bill. The breast is also lighter than the Cackling so I'm postulating it's a Lesser Canada. I also found several smaller Canada (perhaps 60-70% or so) which are depicted at the end of the slides. They're shown with typical Canadas. Photos at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbfledgling/sets/72157623412003310/ If you click 'slideshow' you can then click 'get info' to see my captions. Adam Lewis Goleta Subject: Singing Eastern Phoebe From: Hugh Ranson <zonetail AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2010 18:04:53 -0800 This afternoon I saw the Eastern Phoebe close to its original spot: it was in the field immediately to the west of the golf course parking lot. It sang several times, something I haven't heard before in California. Also in the area was a Nashville Warbler, presumably the same bird that was there in December. Hugh R. SB Subject: VAFB SLC-2 Burrowing Owl From: Jamie Chavez <almiyi AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2010 17:56:31 -0800 On my way into the SLC-2 launch complex this morning I added a new species to the "where I work" bird list- a Burrowing Owl in full morning sun perched atop a well excavated squirrel mound. This is right near the entrance to the site and the first I've seen in the dune scrub out there. -- Jamie M. Chavez Santa Maria, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Area K From: Wim van Dam <wim.van.dam AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 11 Feb 2010 10:34:29 -0800 Area K has filled up nicely now, both with water and with ducks. A quick scan this morning showed all the usual suspects: Gadwall, American Wigeon, Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Green-winged Teal, Redhead, Ruddy Duck. To the west of Los Carneros Road, near the Storke apartments, was a flock of 25+ American Pipits. - Wim (Goleta) Subject: Great Backyard Bird Count this weekend From: "Adam" <aj.lewis AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:47:19 -0000 13th Annual Great Backyard Bird Count Sponsors: National Audubon Society and the Cornell Lab of Ornithology When: February 12-15, 2010 Reference Website: http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/ Each year tens of thousands of people throughout the U.S. and Canada take part in the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC). You can count the birds you see in your back yard, off your balcony, at your local park, or from your window. Your checklist will contribute valuable information for conservation when you enter your tally online at http://www.birdsource.org/gbbc/ Your list will help scientists understand more about how the distribution and abundance of birds are changing through time. Last year participants identified 619 species and submitted a record-breaking 93,600 checklists. Please visit the reference website to obtain checklists, links for reporting and to see other details. Adam Lewis Publicity Chair Santa Barbara Audubon Society Subject: Friday Audubon Bird Walk at Lake Los Carneros From: "Adam" <aj.lewis AT cox.net> Date: Wed, 10 Feb 2010 21:16:09 -0000 Lake Los Carneros Bird Walk Friday February 12, 2010 8:30am-10:30am Target Birds: Waterfowl and winter song birds Sponsor: SB Audubon Society Bird walk leader: Jack Sanford, 566-2191 or jacksanford AT hotmail.com Directions: From Hwy 101 take the Los Carneros exit off ramp and head towards the mountains (Stow House on the right). Park behind the fire station. Subject: Devereux Snowy Plovers From: "Lethaby, Nick" <nlethaby AT ti.com> Date: Mon, 8 Feb 2010 12:23:13 -0600 All: This AM I had a remarkable 162 Snowy Plovers on the slough itself. I walked the beach on Sunday to the slough mouth and so much sand has been lost that they don't have so much suitable roosting (or nesting?) habitat there right now. Nick Lethaby nlethaby AT ti.com +1 805 562 5106 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Goldfinch, Lawrence's From: Alex Viduetsky <aviduetsky AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 22:37:12 -0800 (PST) Hello Birders, Today (Feb. 07, 2010,) I observed a flock of at least 25-30 Lawrence's Goldfinches at San Marcos Foothills. http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985 AT N08/4339426533/sizes/o/ http://www.flickr.com/photos/33691985 AT N08/4340170578/sizes/o/ Alexander Viduetsky Valley Village, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 2/7/10 Cuyama Valley From: "Noah" <skater_ako1 AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 08 Feb 2010 04:46:08 -0000 2/7/09 Wes Fritz and I birded the Cuyama Valley today. We started at 7:30am and ended at 5:30pm. The weather was fairly miserable with intermittent cold showers throughout the day. However, we still had a fun and productive day. We made a rough clockwise loop around the valley: 166 (E) to 33 (S) to Foothill (W) to Bell (N). We did take many detours down muddy farm roads that were barely passable. We also stopped by several private residences that Wes has access to only because he has taken time to cultivate friendships with the landowners. This route took us through both San Luis Obispo and Santa Barbara counties although the majority of the birds were seen in Santa Barbara county. Birds seen in SLO and not SBA will be noted. Birds of Regional Interest in District V. Common Merganser: 16 in the pond W of 33 opposite Quatal Canyon Rd. Double-crested Cormorant: 1. Same as above. American Wigeon: 2. Pond off of 33 just south of 166. Female wigeon sp. 1. Shallow pond along 166 W of Cottonwood Canyon Rd. Cinnamon Teal: 3. Same pond as above. Long-billed Dowicher: 8. Same ponds as above Wilson's Snipe: 11. Same as above. Great Blue Heron: 2. Ponds off of 33. Mountain Chickadee: 1. At a private residence off Quatal Canyon Rd. Raptors: Red-tailed Hawk: 43. Including 1 fuertes ssp. Ferruginous Hawk: 15 total including 4 dark morphs. 2 dark and 1 light in SLO. Golden Eagle: 2 Adults seen well while 1 was eating a Jackrabbit off of Quatal Canyon rd. Northern Harrier: A male along Santa Barbara Canyon Rd. Merlin: A possible suckleyi along Santa Barbara Canyon Rd. I will check photos later. American Kestrel: 6. A rather low count. Burrowing Owl: 2 in a burrow together on the W side of Perkins, south of 166. Barn Owl: 1 on private property along Santa Barbara Canyon rd. Another hunting along 166 in SLO. Great Horned Owl: 1 flying at dusk along 166 in SLO. Other birds of note: Greater Roadrunner: 1 (finally) where Perkins goes through a ditch. Loggerhead Shrike: 7 Northern Flicker: Red/yellow shafted integrade on private property off of 166. Red-breasted Sapsucker: 3 in one private yard. Nuttall's Woodpecker: 2 in one private yard and 1 in another. American Pipit: A large flock of 450 in an alfalfa field off of Foothill. Mountain Bluebird: 1 off foothill, 24 in a group along Santa Barbara Canyon Rd. Lawrence's Goldfinches: Several heard flying over near water and tall trees throughout. Tricolored Blackbird: ~25 at the dairy on Kirschenmann. Noah Gaines Santa Barbara, CA Subject: Brewer's Sparrows on Armour Rd plus From: "Paul G. Rosso" <prrosso AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 14:26:29 -0800 This morning, Feb 7th around 9:30 am, there were 3 Brewer's Sparrows feeding on the ground at Armour Rd and Count Fleet. I watched them over 5 minutes left and returned 10 minutes later and they were still feeding. Around 7:30 am Rita found 4 Ferruginous Hawks in the Torrey Pine at C and Olive on Lompoc's Southside. At 8:30 am,there were still 3 there of which 2 were adults. Earlier in the fall and winter, juveniles were the only ones there. Driving out RT 246 about a half mile before RT 154 there was a flying Prairie Falcon on the southside of the road. On the return trip, at Vineyard View and RT 246 (east of the 15 mile marker), this is about 5 miles east of Lompoc, there was a mixed flock of blackbirds and starlings in which there were at least 30 male Tricolored Blackbirds. Paul Rosso Lompoc, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Shorebird migrants already? From: "Lethaby, Nick" <nlethaby AT ti.com> Date: Sun, 7 Feb 2010 13:44:08 -0600 All: I was at Devereux today and counted at least 18 Western Sandpipers and 5 Dunlin, both obvious increases on the Xmas count period. There have been many Semipalmated (102) and Snowy (81) Plovers on the slough recently as well. There was a very cooperative Red-throated Loon fishing in the slough along with the 3 'redhead' RB Mergs. Nick Lethaby Manager, Software Partner Network Texas Instruments nlethaby AT ti.com +1 805 562 5106 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Brown Pelicans Having a Hard Time From: "Elliot" <romancandle1 AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 07 Feb 2010 03:14:35 -0000 In the wake of being removed from the federal Endangered Species Act, brown pelicans are having another hard winter. Last winter pelicans overstaying in Oregon were hit hard by a sudden cold snap. This year, the reasoning is as of yet unknown. Here is a LA Times article on the issue: http://www.latimes.com/news/nation-and-world/la-na-dying-pelicans5-2010feb05,0,3591984.story Elliot Subject: Cool yard bird From: "capnbob" <capnbob AT sbceo.org> Date: Sat, 6 Feb 2010 17:21:36 -0800 5:15 pm Sat. 2/6 Just got home to find an adult Lark Sparrow in my front yard about one block inland from Atascadero Creek near Walnut in Goleta. Don't recall seeing them in such a place previously. Ain't storms wonderful? Rob Lindsay No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG - www.avg.com Version: 9.0.733 / Virus Database: 271.1.1/2667 - Release Date: 02/06/10 11:35:00 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Santa Monica Creek at Via Real From: Eric Culbs <ericculbs AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 5 Feb 2010 19:27:10 -0800 (PST) February 5, 2010 While driving Via Real at roughly 11am today, I spotted an Eared Grebe sitting in the middle of the road. I had just crossed Santa Monica Creek heading towards Santa Barbara by car. The Grebe was in the middle of the left hand lane and was surrounded by 3-4 crows. I was not driving and so did not stop to further investigate. I looked back though and as a car approached, the grebe took to the air, still over the road, in the opposite direction. This past Tuesday, sometime around 1pm I called the SBWildlife care network to report a Brown Pelican in Santa Monica Creek. The bird was on the mountain side of the footbridge at Via Real. The Pelican was alive but hunkered down against one side of the creeks concrete wall. Eric Culbertson Carpinteria Subject: Eastern Phoebe continues at Ocean Meadows From: "Adam" <aj.lewis AT cox.net> Date: Fri, 05 Feb 2010 05:41:30 -0000 The bird was seen Thursday afternoon in the fields just west of the parking lot for Ocean Meadows. Today's snapshot at http://www.flickr.com/photos/sbfledgling/4331273173/ Adam Lewis Goleta Subject: Santa Ynez Valley From: "Wes Fritz" <wes-fritz AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 20:04:38 -0800 S.B. birders, I birded around the Santa Ynez Valley today. The rain from the last couple of weeks has brought some new birds to the valley. I have found 7 Red-breasted Sapsuckers, in the rows of Pepper Trees. I have only checked the trees on the south side of the valley. The first sapsucker was a male Red-naped Sapsucker in my yard. I was actually home to see it. I birded a farm pond next to the river and saw 16 Wood Ducks and about 35 Ring-necked Ducks. I then went over to the Hwy 154 bridge that crosses the Santa Ynez River and saw 4 Hooded Mergansers, 2 Common Goldeneyes and 10 Buffleheads. I went over to Armour Ranch Road and birded for a hour or so. I saw 1 Prairie Falcon, 8 Mountain Bluebirds and 1 Lewis's Woodpecker. I missed the 20 Chestnut-collared Longspurs that I saw last Thursday 1/31/2010. I ended up at Cruz Phillips ranch, we watched a White Throated X White-crowned Sparrow hybrid feeding in the sparrow flock. This is the second year it has been present. Has anybody noticed a increase of White-crowned Sparrows, Red-breasted Sapsuckers, American Robins or Lawrence's Goldfinches since the rains. Have any of you noticed the low numbers of Loggerhead Shrikes, Dark-eyed Junco's or Fox Sparrows, this winter season.I'm just curious if it is just me, or the birds. I know that gull patrol is all messed up and ducks are in low numbers, except the Ring-necked Ducks numbers are way higher than normal. If any of you birders would like to bird at Cruz Phillips ranch. You can call her and make some arrangements, the best time to call her is around 6:30 to 7:30pm, her home phone number is 805 688-8233. Good birding, Wes Fritz Solvang, Ca. (805) 895-0685 wes-fritz AT verizon.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Continuing Common Goldeneye at Ocean Park From: "Paul G. Rosso" <prrosso AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 04 Feb 2010 09:21:14 -0800 The Common Goldeneye continued at Ocean Park on Wed, Feb 3rd at 1 pm (high tide). It was east of the train trestle swimming with a group of Lesser Scaup. There was a flock of over 30 Royal Terns west of the train trestle on the north side of the Santa Ynez River. There were also Cinnamon Teals and Horned Grebes. Paul Rosso Lompoc, CA Cell: 805-588-4320 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Lompoc/Solvang 2/2/10 From: "Wes Fritz" <wes-fritz AT verizon.net> Date: Wed, 03 Feb 2010 23:17:59 -0800 S.B. Birders, I birded around Lompoc and Solvang yesterday. I started out with a short sea watch at Surf Beach, nothing to report. I then went down to Ocean Park and saw Mark Brown looking at a Common Goldeneye. It was between the train trestle and the island, no sign of the white headed Ruddy Duck. Most all of the ducks were on the VAFB side, in the back pond between the train tracks and the sand dunes They have a nice assortment of ducks. The old washed out bridge is on VAFB property and they are sighting/ticketing anyone that is trespassing out there. The base police seem to be serious about this. I just lost another favorite place to bird. I checked out the "0" Street and Olive Street retention basin, all it had was about 12 or so Ring-necked Ducks. My next stop was at River Park, nothing reportable, just 6 Ring-necked Ducks and a few Lesser Scaup. I then went over to the Mission Hills sewage works. The number of Ring-necked Ducks were impressive, with about 60. The Green-winged Teal numbers are way down, with a couple of Cinnamon Teal still there. All of the Hooded Mergansers are gone and the Gadwall numbers have dropped off as well, along with the Northern Shovelers. I made a couple of stops on some farm ponds that are on private property, on Hwy 246. All of the ponds had Ring-necked Ducks, with a few Buffleheads and American Wigeons. My last stop was at Buellflat Rock Co. in Solvang, all of their ponds had Ring-necked Ducks also with a few Buffleheads. The Santa Ynez River corridor and the adjacent ponds had more Ring-necked Ducks than I can recall. If I would have known there would have been that many R.N. Ducks, I would have counted them one by one. Good birding, Wes Fritz Solvang, Ca. (805) 895-0685 wes-fritz AT verizon.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Santa Maria / Goleta From: "Wes Fritz" <wes-fritz AT verizon.net> Date: Wed, 03 Feb 2010 22:28:53 -0800 S.B. birders, I birded Santa Maria and Goleta today. My first stop was about 4 miles south of Clark Rd in Orcutt. I was looking for the Mountain Plovers. I missed them, I did see 173 Long-billed Curlews, 40ish Killdeer, 1 Mountain Bluebird and a Ferruginous Hawk. I then birded the water retention basin at Prell and Micholson, it was surprisingly dry and had no birds. Next stop was the pond behind Pappy's Dinner on Betteravia, the reeds have been removed, no sign of bird life. then I went to the ponds at Prell and Telephone Rd, it had 6 Long-billed Dowitchers and 6 Mallards that flushed fairly easy. Next I checked out the vernal pool on a side road just south of Prell and saw about 30 Mallards and some Coots. I stopped by 2025 Betteravia and checked out there pond and saw 2 Wilson's Snipe and 2 Long-billed Dowitchers. Next I went over to the pond that is on the east side of Rosemary Road, it's reeds have been removed also, no birds. I tried the pond at Darren's Berry's it is about 1/4 mile east from Hwy 101 on Stowell. It was mostly dry, strangely it had 13 Killdeer in it. My next stop was at River Oaks Park, the best birds were 2 American White Pelicans and 4 Ringed-billed Gulls. Peskier Park was very noisy, so I left. My next stop was at Canal and Blosser to check out that retention basin. It was pretty dead, with a few Gadwall, Mallards and 2 Greater Yellowlegs. Do American Coots count? I made my way over to the "A" Street ponds, the first wetland spot at the corner of Battles and A street was still flooded. It had a Pied-billed Grebe fishing in way muddy water. The north A street pond was way full with no birds,the middle one had only coots. The southerly pond had 8 Lesser Scaup and 1 Bufflehead. Next I went over to Black Road, most of the standing water has soaked in. I saw 1 Burrowing Owl, more L.B. Dows and Killdeer in the field, south of Black Road Auto. At the Santa Maria sewage works, the birds seemed to be in low numbers. I was thinking there should be more birds there after most of the flooded fields dried up. the Birds of note are 52 Long-billed Dowitchers, 16 Greater Yellowlegs, low numbers of Least Sandpipers, 22 Cinnamon Teal, 12 Green-winged Teal, and 30ish Gadwall. The numbers of Mallards and Northern Shovelers were way down from December. The gull numbers were also disappointing with 4 Ring-billed and 22 Mew Gulls. I then started birding in Guadalupe, I relocated the 2 Pacific Golden Plovers, they were in the pastures at the end of 6th Street in Guadalupe. Next stop was Jack O'Connell Park, just killdeer were present. I think they may have ruined the park for the Pacific Golden Plovers, they have added a electric scoreboard, football goal post and a cross fence. I have not seen the plovers there since they did this. The best birds seen in the Guadalupe pastures were 29 Greater-White-fronted Geese, 1 Snow Goose, 48 Canada Geese, 8 Canvasback Ducks and all of the other expected ducks. The most surprising bird found in the pond was a Red-throated Loon. The SMRE is still a mess, with little or no bird life. A short sea watch proved to be uneventful. The County of Santa Barbara has taken control of this park. It will be interesting to see what changes they make and the new rules that will be enforced. I went to check out that large flooded area between Brown and Black Road, on Hwy 1. It had no water and no birds, not even a killdeer. My next stop for the Santa Maria Valley was at the Laguna Sewage works, still NO WAGTAIL, the last confirmed sighting was on Jan, 2nd, 2010. The back large lake/reservoir had a nice assortment of ducks, 200ish American Wigeon, some Ring-necked Ducks, Canvasback Ducks and the rest of the expected ducks. The Laguna Sewage works is closed to the public, please no trespassing. On my way to Goleta I saw a Ferruginous Hawk by Clark and Hwy 1. I stopped in at the Goleta sewage works, nothing to exciting, 8 Cinnamon Teal and 12 Mew Gulls. In the flooded area across from the entrance to Goleta Beach Park, I believe I saw a Lesser Yellowlegs. The traffic was busy and I did not get a good enough look. Goleta Beach had 2 Glaucous-winged Gulls. Good birding, Wes Fritz Solvang, Ca. (805) 895-0685 wes-fritz AT verizon.net [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: UCSB Campus notes From: Florence Sanchez <sanchez AT polsci.ucsb.edu> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 14:49:44 -0800 Today I walked along the north shore of the Lagoon. Most interesting bird present was a lone Brant opposite the Island. Ducks present over the past few days have included several American Wigeons and Gadwall, a couple of pairs of Redhead, Buffleheads, and Ruddy Ducks. Shorebirds seen today are pretty typical for the past few days: 60-70 Dowitchers (presumably Long-billed from the calls) 2-3 Dunlin 12-15 Least Sandpipers 5-6 Black-necked Stilts 6 Willets several Kildeer Florence Sanchez Subject: Cackling Geese pictures From: "Lethaby, Nick" <nlethaby AT ti.com> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 16:43:11 -0600 All: I was wondering if anyone has decent pictures of the various Cackling and Lesser Canada Geese that have been hanging about Devereux/Ocean Meadows this winter. I would like to send a few off to get expert opinion. For those who want to try to get photos, the birds have been often near the clubhouse in recent afternoons. Thanks, Nick [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Devereux and OMGC From: Wim van Dam <wim.van.dam AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 2 Feb 2010 14:39:31 -0800 This morning 4 Cinnamon Teals landed in Devereux, which is four more than I have seen there for a long time. The golf course had 6 Cackling Geese, and, all of a sudden, American and Lesser Goldfinches everywhere. - Wim Subject: Carp Salt Marsh From: "robdenholtz" <robdenholtz AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 02 Feb 2010 19:30:37 -0000 Tuesday morning, Feb. 2, 2010, Carp Salt Marsh - Peregrine Falcon eating a large bird in tall euc at outflow of Santa Monica Creek. Great Blue Heron at top of tallest conifer at east end of South Marsh. A second GBH flew in carrying nest-building material. A cross-billed Song Sparrow in the Nature Park. Teal: Cinnamon 1 Blue-winged 7 Green-winged 25 Rob Denholtz, Carpinteria