ORANGECOUNTYBIRDING - Message Board

RBA
* California * Orange County * June 23, 2022 * CAOC22.06.23
This is the Orange County, CA weekly Rare Bird Alert (RBA) and local events summary. California Bird Records Committee (CBRC) review species are capitalized and marked with asterisks below. All documentation of review species should be forwarded to the CBRC secretary, Tom Benson, at secretary@... .

BIRDS MENTIONED
White-winged Dove Spotted Sandpiper *PACIFIC/ARCTIC LOON* Tricolored Heron Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Summer Tanager
A WHITE-WINGED DOVE was reported from the Fullerton Arboretum in Fullerton on June 22. SPOTTED SANDPIPERS are being reported along their typical breeding areas in the Upper Santa Ana River. Technically Orange County is outside of their typical breeding range, but for many many years we have had small numbers of birds that breed here in Orange County anyway, most notably on the Upper Santa Ana River, in San Diego Creek, and at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary. A *PACIFIC/ARCTIC LOON* was photographed from the Huntington Beach Pier on June 18. This bird showed traits of an Arctic Loon, particularly the larger bill size relative to a Pacific Loon, lack of a chin strap, and presence of a notable white flank patch. Feedback from multiple expert birders has indicated support for Arctic Loon, but because this is a CBRC review species, the CBRC has the final determination. If accepted, this would be the second record of Arctic Loon for Orange County. A TRICOLORED HERON was reported from Upper Newport Bay in Newport Beach on June 23. YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were photographed in Upper Newport Bay in Newport Beach on June 23. This species is still not totally expected to be here year-round, even though I suspect that in certain areas they probably are. Upper Newport Bay is one of those areas that I suspect of having a year-round population, and probably Dana Point Harbor as well. Any evidence of breeding should be reported directly to me so that I can keep track for the county records (thanks in advance). An immature male SUMMER TANAGER was photographed from the Hyatt Regency Hotel along Back Bay Drive in Newport Beach on June 17.

LOCAL EVENTS
For a complete up-to-date list of current field trips, please visit the webpage on Sea and Sages website: https://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/FieldTrips/fieldtripscurrent.htm
** As a reminder, all field trips continue to require reservations in advance and proof of full Covid-19 vaccination. Email nancykenyon@... to make a reservation or get on the waitlist.
The Mammoth Lakes Weekend Trip is taking place June 25th and 26th. Currently listed as full, but you can email Nancy to get on the waiting list.
The Upper Newport Bay Bird Walk will take place on June 26 from 8:00am to 11:00am. Email Nancy to get on the list. The next bird walk at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine will take place on July 10 from 8:00am to 12:00pm.
The next bird walk at Carbon Canyon Regional Park in Brea will take place on July 17 from 8:00am to 12:00pm.
The summer pelagic trip will take place on August 13.

BIRDING WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES
None at this time.
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The Orange County RBA and events summary is produced weekly by Ryan Winkleman and Jeff Bray in collaboration with Doug Willick. Sightings of rare birds can be posted to the OrangeCountyBirding listserv, emailed directly to Jeff Bray ( jbray3928@... ) and/or Ryan Winkleman ( rswinkleman@... ), and/or submitted to eBird ( http://ebird.org/content/ebird ). Any supporting details (descriptions, photos, audio recordings, etc.) of rare sightings that are not already disclosed on the listserv or on eBird should also be emailed to Ryan Winkleman separately for consideration to be mentioned in the current quarterly report for North American Birds.
Those sightings that are included in this summary generally include those that are considered rare (regionally or seasonally) for Orange County based on "The Birds of Orange County: Status and Distribution" (Hamilton and Willick), "Birds of Southern California" (Garrett and Dunn), and/or more contemporary changes in local or regional status and distribution. Rarities that regularly or seasonally occur at a particular location, such as annually wintering rarities on Seal Beach National Wildlife Refuge, may or may not be included in this digest, but reports of these same species occurring at other, atypical locations throughout the county may be included. We don't include hybrids, subspecies, introduced or exotic birds, or in most cases and for no real reason, geese. All bird reports are vetted to the extent possible prior to each publication, but in the interest of sharing information, the accuracy of any given report cannot always be guaranteed, nor can the presence of any given bird for those who choose to chase after them.
Information on upcoming local events is taken largely from the Sea and Sage Audubon website ( http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/ ). Sea and Sage Audubon is based out of the Audubon House at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine. They sponsor a number of public field trips, special birding events, conservation lectures, and social gatherings throughout the year. Information regarding upcoming local events should be considered accurate at the time of this posting. However, for the most current information please refer to the field trip list on the Sea and Sage Audubon website at http://www.seaandsageaudubon.org/FieldTrips/FieldTripSchedule.html . It is also recommended that you refer to that website immediately prior to engaging in any field trip to confirm that trips are still occurring. If you know of additional upcoming events that are not sponsored directly by Sea and Sage Audubon, please email Ryan Winkleman and/or Jeff Bray for inclusion. #RBA
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Ryan Winkleman
Rancho Santa Margarita