RBA
* California * Orange County * May 18, 2023 * CAOC23.05.18
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
Long-tailed Duck Brown Booby Neotropic Cormorant Yellow-crowned Night-Heron Vermilion Flycatcher Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Townsends Solitaire White-throated Sparrow Bells Sparrow Black-and-white Warbler Rose-breasted Grosbeak
A LONG-TAILED DUCK was found sitting onshore at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach on May 12 and continued through to May 18, where it has been repeatedly documented on the spit of land coming east of the walkbridge from PCH.
BROWN BOOBIES were reported offshore on May 13 and May 14.
An immature NEOTROPIC CORMORANT continued at Pond 1 at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine through May 14.
YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS were reported from usual locations this week at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach and Upper Newport Bay Ecological Reserve in Newport Beach.
An adult male VERMILION FLYCATCHER at the Dana Point Headlands on May 16 was a good patch bird.
A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER recorded at Laguna Coast Wilderness Park on May 12 was part of a small population that apparently breeds in the San Joaquin Hills.
A TOWNSENDS SOLITAIRE was observed at Alta Laguna Park in Laguna Beach on May 13.
Yet another WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was found this last week, with one at the parking lot at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach on May 13.
Its May, which means that Orange County birders flock up Coal Canyon in the Santa Ana Mountains foothills to tick off their Bells Sparrow for the year (April is for Silverado Canyon). Reports of this species continued this week.
A BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER was photographed along the Sycamore Creek Trail just north of Del Obispo Park in Dana Point on May 13.
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAKS were at Canyon Park in Costa Mesa on May 12, residential Laguna Niguel on May 14, and the Agua Chinon Trail in Irvine on May 15.

LOCAL EVENTS
For a complete up-to-date list of current field trips, please visit the webpage on Sea and Sages website: https://wp.seaandsageaudubon.org/home-sas/field-trip-2/#FTSchedule
The next Bolsa Chica Wetlands walk will take place on May 18 from 8:00am to 12:00pm.
The next Carbon Canyon Regional Park bird walk will take place on May 21 from 8:00am to 12:00pm.
The new Upper Newport Bay bird walk will take place on May 28 from 8:00am to 11:00am.

BIRDING WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES
None just yet but an advanced shorebirds class is planned for this spring...
****************************************************
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 https://wp.seaandsageaudubon.org/home-sas/field-trip-2/#FTSchedule . 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
--
Ryan Winkleman
Rancho Santa Margarita

RBA
* California * Orange County * May 20, 2021 * CAOC21.05.20
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
Little Blue Heron Black Tern Purple Martin Bank Swallow Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Yellow-headed Blackbird Summer Tanager
A LITTLE BLUE HERON continued at Upper Newport Bay through May 14.
A BLACK TERN was photographed offshore on May 14. Eleven PURPLE MARTINS were at Huntington Central Park in Huntington Beach on May 19.
As many as four BANK SWALLOWS were at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine on May 15 through May 17.
A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER reported from Huntington Central Park in Huntington Beach on May 15 is exceptionally late for this species to be on the coast. For those who arent aware, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers start leaving the coast around mid-April and heading to breeding grounds. They DO NOT BREED on the Orange County coast, except for apparently small populations in the San Joaquin Hills. Otherwise their breeding grounds in Orange County are in the foothills and up into the Santa Ana Mountains. Therefore, any reports of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers anywhere in the coastal region of the county from late April and on during the breeding season should provide photographs or adequate written documentation to establish the correct ID.
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS continued to delight birders at the Great Crappy Park in Irvine through May 18. The birds have been most reliable in the early mornings or late evenings as they are off foraging somewhere else during the day.
A SUMMER TANAGER was photographed in the Urban Forest at Huntington Central Park in Huntington Beach on May 15.

LOCAL EVENTS
All Sea and Sage Audubon sponsored field trips have been canceled until further notice due to cautionary measures regarding the coronavirus.
BIRDING WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES
Nothing scheduled at this time.
*****************************************************
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

--
Jeff Bray
Irvine, CA

The Bells Vireo is currently angry at all passers-by, and even sang for a bit just south of the church building, on the church side of the bike path. Thanks for finding this bundle of energy, Doug!

The 11 Snow Geese flew in at
8:48am , and are currently resting on the south shore of the nesting island, near the Common Mergansers who just woke up.

There are crazy high numbers of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, as well.

If you havent been here before, you can park on Rio Vista where it meets Wagner, then walk south on the trail.

Kiandra Mitchell
Buena Park

RBA * California * Orange County * May 28, 2020 * CAOC20.05.28 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 Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Sora Black Turnstone Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Bells Sparrow American Redstart
Yes! This is how slow it is that we are plunging the depths of rarity reports to get late ducks ! A quite late LESSER SCAUP was still hanging around Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach on May 25. A very late BUFFLEHEAD was hanging around the Tijeras Creek Golf Club in lovely Rancho Santa Margarita through May 23. A SORA reported at San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine through May 27 is rare for the time of year, this being a species that is rare at best in Orange County in summer. Up to four BLACK TURNSTONES were reportedly still hanging around at Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve in Huntington Beach through May 24. At least five or six BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS were found in Aliso and Wood Canyons Wilderness Park in Laguna Niguel. This species has been believed, up until this record, to essentially vacate the coastal portion of the county by about mid-April, with its summer breeding territories located essentially in the Santa Ana Mountains and foothill areas. This location is within a few miles of the ocean, representing easily the most coastal (presumed breeding) summer population of this species in Orange County. Two BELLS SPARROWS continued two miles up the road into Coal Canyon on May 24. An immature AMERICAN REDSTART was found on private property in Fullerton on May 28. It is not chaseable. LOCAL EVENTS All Sea and Sage Audubon sponsored field trips have been canceled until further notice due to cautionary measures regarding the coronavirus. BIRDING WORKSHOPS AND CLASSES Nothing new scheduled at this time. ***************************************************** 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
--
Ryan Winkleman
Rancho Santa Margarita

The monthly walk at San Joaquin Marsh took place today with about25 folks that showed up to see and/or hear the 87 species we encountered. Thanks to Garrett Lepper for helping out today. Always good to have a co-leader!
Highlights included the continuing YELLOW-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON and CATTLE EGRET. We looked for the Neotropic Cormorant, but were unable to find it. There has been no confirmed sighting of that bird since October 31. An unexpected bird was a CALIFORNIA GNATCATCHER that was seen along the path on the north side of Pond C. It was by itself, mewing loudly. There were also Blue-gray Gnatcatchers nearby, so it was a good study for us to hear both species at the same time.
List below of the birds that we had. A great walk this morning! Thanksfor coming out.
https://ebird.org/checklist/S61343271

Cheers

--
Jeff Bray
Irvine, CA

I don't know which is the correct .io group, so I'll (re-)send this to "both."

---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: T.G. Miko < tgmiko@... >
Date: Mon, May 27, 2019, 2:57 PM
Subject: gnatcatcher sp
To: < orangecountybirding@... >
Well, this is awkward: while in Irvine photographing the Indigo Bunting (I also did a voice recording) I casually photographed a "Blue-gray Gnatcatcher" then waltzed off to HCP where the long-gone Rose-breasted Grosbeak was a no-show Hey, one outta two ain't bad. Processing my photos on the laptop at home, right now, I see that the gnatcatcher's undertail is extensively dark, and some brown on the body. Oops. Comments are welcome (and desired):

https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S56809952
Thomas Geza Miko
Claremont, Los Angeles County, California

909.241.3300

The highlights of todays (Sept. 21) monthly survey at Harriett Wieder Park were, without question, all of the hawks and falcons we had today! The first thing I did before the start of the tally was to go over them with the teams and figure who saw how many, when, where, and which direction they were flying to eliminate duplication. Heres what we came up with:
2 Osprey
2 White-tailed Kites (were both seen at once at one point)
2 Northern Harriers (both seen at once)
6 Coopers Hawk (seen all at the same time by the playground, then the crows started harassing them, putting on quite a show)
1 Red-Shouldered Hawk
2 Red-tailed Hawks (seen at the same time)
6 American Kestrels
2 Peregrine Falcons (at the start of the count, they were both sitting in the bare tree in the Bolsa Chica side of Fishers Gulch with 1 WTKI)

In addition, we saw 21 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers today, but no Californias, and 18 FOS White-crowned Sparrows and 2 Western Meadowlarks, 5 American Wigeons (FOS), 14 Snowy Plovers, 76 Red-necked Phalaropes, the continuing California Thrasher, and 1 VESPER SPARROW.
--
Terry Hill
Huntington Beach

Just thought I’d pass along that today (27 March) Shawn Nielsen refound the Clay-colored Sparrow at the Santa Ana Cemetery (SAC)-Fairhaven Memorial Park (FMP) complex in northeast Santa Ana.  (This bird was first noted on 13March.)  He
said the sparrow was still on the SAC side (i.e., the eastern half) of this somewhat large complex.  (Fairhaven Memorial Park makes up the western half of this complex.)   Shawn provides GPS coordinates where he had it this morning: 
33°46'8.11"N, 117°50'22.52"W.  This is basically due west (roughly 75 yards) of the small administration type building for the SAC (over on the far east side).  However, the sparrows
and other birds that feed on the lawns throughout the cemetery do move around a lot, so best to just check wherever you see sparrows, finches, etc., feeding on the lawns.  Shawn mentioned he also had an Osprey perched in the cemetery (a rare visitor to this
site, being how there’s no open water around this area for a good number of miles).  A few other minor highlights included Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (seems to be a very scarce migrant here; I’m not sure I’ve seen one here, surprisingly, despite birding the site
for a little over three decades [ yikes , that sounds like a long time!
L ]), and Hutton’s Vireo (quite uncommon but somewhat regular visitor to the cemetery).  A few Western Flycatchers
were present today, an indication of a few migrants moving through.
 
The link to Shawn’s eBird checklist (with a few pics of the Clay-colored Sparrow):
https://ebird.org/view/checklist/S44019272
 
Doug Willick
Orange, CA
 
 

--
Doug Willick
Orange, CA

Hi everybody,

Sea and Sage Audubon held a walk that was supposed to go to the Villa Park Basin today, but the Willow Trail was closed, so we birded just the bit of that trail that wasn't closed, then Sycamore Hill, then the extreme east end of Irvine Regional Park and the north side of Santiago Creek instead. It was a great day with cool weather and 62 species. Our small group of intrepid birders was treated with help from experienced folks including Doug Willick, Bob Keally, Art Davenport, and Jeff Bray, who also very kindly eBirded for us and the OC Spring Count. Here's the list below:

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S35793334

Irvine Regional Park, Orange, California, US
Apr 8, 2017 7:43 AM - 11:52 AM
Protocol: Traveling
3.0 mile(s)
61 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose 2
Mallard 4
Great Blue Heron 1
Great Egret 1
Turkey Vulture 10
White-tailed Kite 1
Cooper's Hawk 1
Red-shouldered Hawk 1
Mourning Dove 8
White-throated Swift 3
Black-chinned Hummingbird 1
Anna's Hummingbird 3
Allen's Hummingbird 2
Acorn Woodpecker 20
Nuttall's Woodpecker 5
Downy Woodpecker 2
American Kestrel 2
Red-crowned Parrot 2
Lilac-crowned Parrot 2
Amazona sp. 6
Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1
Say's Phoebe 1
Ash-throated Flycatcher 3
Cassin's Kingbird 1
Western Kingbird 1
Bell's Vireo (Least) 2
Hutton's Vireo 1
California Scrub-Jay 1
American Crow 1
Common Raven 15
Northern Rough-winged Swallow 15
Oak Titmouse 6
Bushtit 20
White-breasted Nuthatch 1
House Wren 6
Bewick's Wren 4
Cactus Wren 2
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 7
California Gnatcatcher 2
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
Wrentit 1
Western Bluebird 8
California Thrasher 3
Northern Mockingbird 6
European Starling 30
Orange-crowned Warbler 4
Nashville Warbler 1
Common Yellowthroat 1
Yellow Warbler 10
Yellow-rumped Warbler 6
Chipping Sparrow 3
White-crowned Sparrow 8
Song Sparrow 2
Lincoln's Sparrow 1
California Towhee 6
Spotted Towhee 12
Black-headed Grosbeak 1
Lazuli Bunting 2
House Finch 25
Lesser Goldfinch 30
American Goldfinch 2
Scaly-breasted Munia 1

Cheers,
Linette Davenport
Orange, CA

This afternoon I had opted to visit the
Bell View Trail in Rancho Santa Margarita which branches off in many directions
and extends for several miles throughout the foothills of the Saddleback
Mountains. At the base of what's been
declared the NE entrance off Robinson Ranch Road (GPS: 33.656132, -117.558266), you can bear left
and venture up the winding path or bear right which involves several steep
climbs but explores some of the finest countryside in all of Orange County. https://www.flickr.com/gp/revup67/30LdV9

After unsuccessfully searching for the
grasshopper sparrow (good location for one), I chose to continue another mile
or so to the water tower that sits just above but due north of the Starr Ranch
entrance in Dove Canyon. This is a service
road that is accessible off a section of the Bell View Trail.

Admittedly it was quite birdy with pairs or
more of many species including 22 California Quail, 2 Cactus Wren, 2 Northern
Flickers, 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, etc.
The one surprise was a male Lazuli Bunting. This male flew in for just a moment and it
was a binos or camera decision..binos was the choice. A male Lazuli Bunting was ID'd and by the
time the camera swung up it was gone and due east.

For anyone interested its a 2.0 mile hike
to this GPS point from the Bell View trail NE entrance with single track
trails, steep hills and rugged terrain.
If you're not intimated yet then here's the GPS coordinates: 3338'33" N 11733'35" W. I've double checked this at maps.google.com
and its accurate. I tried for another
half hour and canvassed the area but was unable to relocate the Lazuli
Bunting. Perhaps it used this location
as a pit stop.

On this trail there were three large ponds
(you'll walk right past one) which was a pleasant surprise in typically such an
arid and dry area. The wildflowers were
enjoyable (loads of white sage, some Indian Paintbrush) and the pricks of
cactus leaves, well not so enjoyable.
Bring water, walking pole if you desire and good hiking shoes. Great panoramic scenic views for most of the
journey.

Portion of large group of California Quail
- https://flic.kr/p/T38UUA

Cactus Wrens - https://flic.kr/p/T38Uw1

Anthony Gliozzo

Mission Viejo

Sorry the for late post here, but just a few minor things. On Saturday, 3 December, birding at Santiago Park in northeast Santa Ana (with Shawn Nielsen), we had the continuing female plumaged Summer Tanager, and one or two male Black-throated
Gray Warblers. The Summer Tanager was along the trail on the far south side of the park, in tall sycamores behind the lawn bowling facility. The lawn bowling area is in the western half of this linear park, west of Santiago Street. A Huttons Vireo and
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher were in the Santiago Park Nature Reserve, in the eastern section of the park. (I presume its because of a lack of typical Blue-gray Gnatcatcher habitat that Ive only seen a couple Blue-gray Gnatcatchers at Santiago Park, over the
many years of birding the site.)

Doug Willick
Orange County, CA

It was pretty quiet and slow today (8/18) for our monthly Harriett Wieder Survey.We look forward to

more winter birds arriving.We missed both Virginia’s Rails heard recently--one of those had been heard in the ponds below the playground, and my team spent about 30 minutes there with no luck on the Virginia’s; the other Virginia’s had been heard in the “hidden ponds” below Seapoint and Garfield, but there was a very large gopher snake, plus someone with two dogs making a lot of noise, so no luck.Highlights of what we DID see:
2 Soras and 2 Common Gallinules. 13 Wilson’s Phalaropes and 16 Red-necked Phalaropes, 3 Lesser Yellowlegs. 1 White-tailed Kite, 3 Cooper’s Hawks, 1 Red-shouldered Hawk, and 1 Red-tailed Hawk. 5 Ash-throated Flycatchers, 1 Cassin’s Kingbird, and 5 Western Kingbirds. 1 Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 Western Tanager, 6 Hooded Orioles, and 1 Bullock’s Oriole.
Terry Hill Huntington Beach

Hi everybody,

Sea and Sage Audubon held a walk that was supposed to go to the Villa

Park Basin today, but the Willow Trail was closed, so we birded just the

bit of that trail that wasn't closed, then Sycamore Hill, then the

extreme east end of Irvine Regional Park and the north side of Santiago

Creek instead. It was a great day with cool weather and 62 species. Our

small group of intrepid birders was treated with help from experienced

folks including Doug Willick, Bob Keally, Art Davenport, and Jeff Bray,

who also very kindly eBirded for us and the OC Spring Count. Here's the

list below:

View this checklist online at http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S35793334

Irvine Regional Park, Orange, California, US

Apr 8, 2017 7:43 AM - 11:52 AM

Protocol: Traveling

3.0 mile(s)

61 species (+1 other taxa)

Canada Goose 2

Mallard 4

Great Blue Heron 1

Great Egret 1

Turkey Vulture 10

White-tailed Kite 1

Cooper's Hawk 1

Red-shouldered Hawk 1

Mourning Dove 8

White-throated Swift 3

Black-chinned Hummingbird 1

Anna's Hummingbird 3

Allen's Hummingbird 2

Acorn Woodpecker 20

Nuttall's Woodpecker 5

Downy Woodpecker 2

American Kestrel 2

Red-crowned Parrot 2

Lilac-crowned Parrot 2

Amazona sp. 6

Pacific-slope Flycatcher 1

Say's Phoebe 1

Ash-throated Flycatcher 3

Cassin's Kingbird 1

Western Kingbird 1

Bell's Vireo (Least) 2

Hutton's Vireo 1

California Scrub-Jay 1

American Crow 1

Common Raven 15

Northern Rough-winged Swallow 15

Oak Titmouse 6

Bushtit 20

White-breasted Nuthatch 1

House Wren 6

Bewick's Wren 4

Cactus Wren 2

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 7

California Gnatcatcher 2

Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1

Wrentit 1

Western Bluebird 8

California Thrasher 3

Northern Mockingbird 6

European Starling 30

Orange-crowned Warbler 4

Nashville Warbler 1

Common Yellowthroat 1

Yellow Warbler 10

Yellow-rumped Warbler 6

Chipping Sparrow 3

White-crowned Sparrow 8

Song Sparrow 2

Lincoln's Sparrow 1

California Towhee 6

Spotted Towhee 12

Black-headed Grosbeak 1

Lazuli Bunting 2

House Finch 25

Lesser Goldfinch 30

American Goldfinch 2

Scaly-breasted Munia 1

Cheers,

Linette Davenport

Orange, CA

This afternoon I had opted to visit the
Bell View Trail in Rancho Santa Margarita which branches off in many directions
and extends for several miles throughout the foothills of the Saddleback
Mountains.

At the base of what's been
declared the NE entrance off Robinson Ranch Road (GPS:

33.656132, -117.558266), you can bear left
and venture up the winding path or bear right which involves several steep
climbs but explores some of the finest countryside in all of Orange County. https://www.flickr.com/gp/revup67/30LdV9
After unsuccessfully searching for the
grasshopper sparrow (good location for one), I chose to continue another mile
or so to the water tower that sits just above but due north of the Starr Ranch
entrance in Dove Canyon.

This is a service
road that is accessible off a section of the Bell View Trail.
Admittedly it was quite birdy with pairs or
more of many species including 22 California Quail, 2 Cactus Wren, 2 Northern
Flickers, 3 Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, etc.
The one surprise was a male Lazuli Bunting.

This male flew in for just a moment and it
was a binos or camera decision..binos was the choice.

A male Lazuli Bunting was ID'd and by the
time the camera swung up it was gone and due east.
For anyone interested its a 2.0 mile hike
to this GPS point from the Bell View trail NE entrance with single track
trails, steep hills and rugged terrain.
If you're not intimated yet then here's the GPS coordinates:

33°38'33" N 117°33'35" W.

I've double checked this at maps.google.com
and its accurate.

I tried for another
half hour and canvassed the area but was unable to relocate the Lazuli
Bunting.

Perhaps it used this location
as a pit stop.
On this trail there were three large ponds
(you'll walk right past one) which was a pleasant surprise in typically such an
arid and dry area.

The wildflowers were
enjoyable (loads of white sage, some Indian Paintbrush) and the pricks of
cactus leaves, well not so enjoyable.
Bring water, walking pole if you desire and good hiking shoes.

Great panoramic scenic views for most of the
journey.
Portion of large group of California Quail
- https://flic.kr/p/T38UUA Cactus Wrens - https://flic.kr/p/T38Uw1

Anthony Gliozzo Mission Viejo

Sorry the for late post here, but just a few minor things.  On Saturday, 3 December, birding at Santiago Park in northeast Santa Ana (with Shawn Nielsen), we had the continuing female plumaged Summer Tanager, and one or two male Black-throated
Gray Warblers.  The Summer Tanager was along the trail on the far south side of the park, in tall sycamores behind the lawn bowling facility.  The lawn bowling area is in the western half of this linear park, west of Santiago Street.  A Hutton’s Vireo and
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher were in the Santiago Park Nature Reserve, in the eastern section of the park. (I presume it’s because of a lack of “typical” Blue-gray Gnatcatcher habitat that I’ve only seen a couple Blue-gray Gnatcatchers at Santiago Park, over the
many years of birding the site.)   Doug Willick Orange County, CA