This has indeed been an interesting discussion, confirming what I have seen. I
have disposed of and replaced nectar in the HB feeder 3 times now;
though I see HB's all around the house, and they make pitstops at the
water fountain, they aren't interested in the feeder right now. Hooded
Orioles are not eating us out of home & home this year, though I
hear them throughout the neighborhood. We only have 1 pair that visits.
Last year we had at least a dozen individuals. The
Lesser Goldfinches have ignored the Nyger Seed sock, though they
occasionally come for water. Last year I could barely keep it full. House Finches rarely come for seed. On the other hand, we have had Orange-crowned Warblers, Song Sparrows and Dark-eyed Juncos nest and fledge here.
Ellen Tipping Irvine

   
    
     
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This is an interesting query Ive been considering for a month now. Here at my house in coastal San Diego, where we have a lush native plant and pollinator-oriented yard, I noticed approximately a month ago that almost all our resident birds had disappeared within a day or two of each other. The departure was strikingly sudden. House finches, song sparrows, goldfinches, towhees, juncos, bushtits, mourning doves, etc. In the past month, like Amelia, weve seen only a handful of birds each day. Although we have about 15 different hummingbird-attracting flower species in full bloom and several feeders, we have maybe 4 hummingbirds regularly visiting the yard.
I was wondering if that may be because the winter rains made for an abundance of seeds and insects in wilder areas. But I am not seeing an increase in bird numbers in those wilder areas. So, inconclusive.
So the next questions is, is it avian flu Did not see any distressed birds prior to their abandoning the yard, but that doesnt mean much either.
And as for migrants, although radar seems to have shown a fairly good migration push, we have seen virtually no migrants this spring.
So I think this is possibly a southern California-wide phenomenon. It would be interesting to see whether something like eBird data analysis would tell us more about actual numbers of birds region-wide. Its so hard to generalize from ones own, or even a few, postage-stamp-sized backyards.
Stan Walens San Diego
   
    
     
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Here is a summary of the second annual Puente-Chino Hills Christmas Bird Count took place on Saturday December 31st, 2022. I would like to thank all of the volunteers who braved the elements in order to make this count a success.This is the first time (including the 2021 official and 2020 trial counts) the count has produced over 140 species.
Weather:
Temperature ranged between 51 and 59 degrees Fahrenheit. Weather was overcast throughout the day, and a handful of mid-morning showers brought 0.16 of rain during the count period. This rain discomfited counters, reducing visibility and making optics and equipment difficult to use, but did not appear to impact bird diversity and abundance. However the birds did not seem to mind, as healthy bird numbers and diversity were found at most locations, apart from a handful of sites that were visited during when precipitation was heaviest. By early afternoon conditions had markedly improved, and the few birders continuing to count enjoyed this overcast and cool but dry weather.
Inclement weather during the week before the count meant that trails within Chino Hills State Park were closed on the day
Participants:
Sixty birders participated in this years count, a sizable increase from last years 43. This meant that, with a couple of exceptions, almost all routes were able to be covered prior to the expected afternoon rains (which largely failed to materialize). Birders ranged in skill level from beginners to experts; many reside within or near the circle, but others traveled from as far away as Ventura and San Diego counties to take part.
Results:
With all checklists (to my knowledge) submitted,our provisional species tally stands at 143 species (plus 5 non-countable exotics: Egyptian Goose, Mandarin Duck, Muscovy Duck, Swinhoes White-eye, and Pin-tailed Whydah). This is an increase on last years 137 (a total which included exotics). Yellow-rumped Warbler was the most abundant species tallied on the count, with 1846 individuals (compared with 1131 last year). 1000+ counts were also posted for American Coot (1255), Mallard (1032), House Finch (1022), and White-crowned Sparrow (1002).
Of special note were an incredible 731 American Robins widely distributed across the count circle. This compares to only 12 during last years count, an increase of over six thousand percent!
In comparison, 19 species were represented by a single individual on the count.
Highlights
Highlights of the count included:
Snow Goose: 3 at Tri-City Park in Fullerton
Cackling Goose: 1 at Anaheim Coves park
Eurasian Wigeon: 3 (singles at Walnut Canyon Reservoir, along the Santa Ana River between Yorba Linda Blvd. and Imperial Hwy, and at Pearson Park
Canvasback 13
11 at Arnold Reservoir, Los Angeles County
2 at Anaheim Lake
Common Goldeneye: 4 along Santa Ana River between Yorba Linda Blvd. and Imperial Hwy
Hooded Merganser: 7 (6 at Coyote Hills Golf Course, 1 at Santiago Oaks Regional Park)
Wilsons Snipe: 5 at the Associated Road wetlands
Lesser Yellowlegs: 1 along Santa Ana River between Lincoln Ave. and Taft Ave.
Ferruginous Hawk: 1 at Vellano Park, San Bernardino County
Bald Eagle: 2 along the Santa Ana River between Imperial Hwy. and Tustin Ave.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker: 1 at Carbon Canyon Regional Park
Red-naped Sapsucker: 1 at Carbon Canyon Regional Park
Lewiss Woodpecker: 1 at Rolling M. Ranch in Chino Hills State Park San Bernardino County
Loggerhead Shrike: 1 at Arnold Reservoir
Mountain Chickadee: 1 at Pelanconi Park
Golden-crowned Kinglet: 2 at Hiltscher Park, Fullerton
Grasshopper Sparrow: 1 along the Olinda Oil Museum Trail
Pink-sided Dark-eyed Junco: 1 at Craig Regional Park
Slate-colored Dark-eyed Junco: 1 at Craig Regional Park
White-throated Sparrow: 4 (singles at Craig Regional Park, near Panorama Nature Preserve, in Weir Canyon Nature Preserve, and along Overlook Trail, San Bernardino County)
Bullocks Oriole: 1 along Dominguez Ranch Trail, Yorba Linda
Black-throated Gray Warbler: 1 at Tri-City Park
Yellow Warbler: 1 at Riverdale Park
Western Tanager: 1 at Juanita Cooke Trail, Fullerton
Notable Misses:
Greater Roadrunner (possible in Chino Hills or Santa Ana foothills, but uncommon)
Mitred Parakeet (usually roosts near Orange Metrolink Station, but did not show on Friday)
Mountain Bluebird (possible in Chino Hills grasslands)
Purple Finch (possible in woodland in Chino Hills)
Great-tailed Grackle (guess someone will have to be on afternoon cruising food court parking lot duty next time)
A trip report of the CBC can be found here . I hope to see you all at next weeks count, hopefullyin much better weather!

Good birding,
Samuel Bressler
Fullerton

Hi all: At San Joaquin this morning around 9:30, I had a pectoral sandpiper and two black-bellied plovers on Pond C.

Also of some interest was a partially leucistic house finch atop one of the oak trees along the main trail between the Sea and Sage building and Pond E. The finch, a female, had a completely white head. If you're into that sort of thing...

Charles Baker
Tustin

There are at least two, perhaps as many as 4 male Pin-Tailed Whydah near my house. There don't seem to be any scaly-breasted Munias around. Has anyone seen the whydahs parasitizing any other seedeaters The males are actively displaying to the females and I believe the point of the male in my backyard aggressively chasing other birds away from the seed I scatter on open ground is to preserve the food source for their progeny
There are only house finches, goldfinches and house sparrows around in any numbers. The munias used to nest in my neighbor's back yard but I believe their nesting bush was removed or cut back severely. I haven't seen or heard them lately either.
Beverly Hargrove Costa Mesa

For those of you who subscribe to eBird alerts, some dude reported a female Red Crossbill today. The bird he photographed is a House Finch with a bill deformity. Do NOT chase it unless you really want to see a House Finch...

--
Ryan Winkleman
Rancho Santa Margarita

There is a green tailed towhee flocking with the house finches at the very southern end of Upper Newport Bay Nature Preserve about 50 yards from the constellation Drive trail head.

Merry Christmas

Oops, I accidentally replied only to Ryan instead of the entire list. We the message below.
Also in the park were yellow-rumped warblers, house finches, Annas hummingbirds, Cassins kingbirds, crows, and about 3 turkey vultures overhead. Plus a very cooperative black-throated Grey warbler.

-Bob Allen bugbob@... Author, Wildflowers of Orange County and the Santa Ana Mountains

XsMAX
Begin forwarded message:

eBird Checklist - 26 Oct 2021 - Del Obispo Park - 20 species

Today at the Sycamore Creek Trail section of Del Obispo Park in Dana Point there was a Brewer's Sparrow feeding with a big Pin-tailed Whydah flock (>50 birds) on the grass right along the trail near the outdoor exercise stations. For some reason, this park attracts large flocks of PTWHs every winter. Also, both along this trail and further north at Creekside Park many adult termites were emerging after the first big rain of the season. Birds (and lizards) were taking advantage of this bounty and activity of warblers, kinglets, sparrows, bluebirds, bushtits, whydahs, and even house finches was high.

Robert McNab
Laguna Niguel, CA

Ken and I did our own informal CBC in San Clemente today. We got about 38 birds. Of interesting note, the Talega Golf Course had Western Bluebirds, a pair of Phainopepla, and a returning Hooded Merganser as well as Canada Geese, Coots, Snowy Egret, Ruddy Ducks, American Widgeon, Song Sparrows, and House Finches.
--
Sachi Fukuman
San Clemente

Good afternoon,

This afternoon I had another first-time yard bird. A red-naped Sapsucker arrived in the same palm as this morning's Red-breasted Sapsucker.

Aside from the House Finches, Lesser Goldfinches, House Sparrows and Scaly-breasted Munias, I have had White-breasted Nuthatches, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Nuttall's and Acorn Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers and Mockingbirds, Western Bluebirds, both California
and Spotted Towhees, and both Allen's and Anna's Hummingbirds. Nice to back up to Whiting Ranch.

Pete Gordon

Foothill Ranch, CA

--
Pete Gordon
Foothill Ranch, CA

Highlights of todays (June 19, 2020) Harriett Wieder Reg. Park Survey included 38 Wilsons Phalaropes, the majority in one of the Bolsa Chica cells out from the area below Seapoint & Garfield; 1 Sora in the one of the little ponds just below the playground; 1 Yellow-breasted Chat; lots of Swallows, especially Cliff, which were mostly congregated flying and then resting in the reeds just below the playground; along with many House Finches and Lesser and American Goldfinches. We could NOT find any Lawrences Goldfinch, however, and we really searched among all the goldfinches.
--
Terry Hill
Huntington Beach

I was disappointed to read that "three experienced Sea and Sage birders" told Ron that American Robins are not found in Orange County. It is so easy to get information about status and distribution of local birds from eBird and from a book called "The Birds of Orange County, CA: Status and Distribution" by Robb Hamilton and Doug Willick. I suggest that every birder here in OC should have the latter book which is available for sale at Audubon House (after it reopens when its safe from the pandemic). Page 47 clearly shows the robin as fairly common in every month of the year. The distribution bar graphs make it very simple to see when a bird is here in the county.
This story reminds us to be careful about who we trust for our source of birding information. Mere membership in Sea and Sage Audubon may not be enough. Be sure to refer to trusted biologists like Robb and Doug for your birding information!
PS To Ron, please let your three friends know that they need to buy this book! :-)

PSS Remember that all purchases from the Sea and Sage Audubon House support our important birding projects.
Trude Hurd Project Director of Education Sea and Sage Audubon Society
      
          

              
                   On Friday, April 10, 2020, 03:25:41 PM PDT, Ron Grabyan  wrote:
              
              

              

               Since we have a slowdown in birding, I am taking this opportunity to address one of my favorite birds, the American Robin.  This bird has been visiting my neighborhood every year between February and July. It leaves usually by early July.  There are several locations in a  mile stretch of greenbelt and homes in the Turtle Rock Glen, Turtle Rock, Irvine, Ca area (near UCI).  Three of the photos were taken in my backyard.  I was told over the last 3 years by 3 very experienced and well-respected Sea & Sage birders that the American Robin isnt found in Orange County, and they have never seen one here.  Since I started photographing birds in 2014, and then became more involved in birding in 2017 by taking several of Sylvias classes, I thought I would photo-document the American Robin in my neighborhood (just 2 miles from the San Joaquin Marsh) for 2018, 2019, and 2020.  They just arrived in the last week for this yearat least the first I had heard or seen them yet this year.  Their call/song is very distinctive and carries a long distancevery soulful. Please see below:
American Robin
Turtle Rock Glen, Turtle Rock, Irvine, CA
Found in 2018, 2019, and 2020 between the months of January and July only.
The following birds were logged into eBird with photos for documentation:

4/10/2020  https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222359651  33 38' 46.04" N, 117 48' 53.11" W
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222359681

6/7/2019  https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222368451  33 38' 45.71" N, 117 48' 37.95" W

5/30/2019  https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222367761  33 38' 40.44" N, 117 48' 32.26" W

4/23/2018  https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222366041  33 38' 46.2" N, 117 48' 52.8" W

3/29/2018  https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222363301  33 38' 46.2" N, 117 48' 52.8" W

1/30/2018  https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222362361  33 38' 46.2" N, 117 48' 52.8" W

Another typical location for American Robin in this locality is 33 38' 46.04" N, 117 48' 53.11" W (this is very near the corner of Turtle Rock Drive and Starcrest).
I photographed a hooded Oriole there this morning.

The habitat is an Irvine greenbelt with trees, bushes, shrubs and grass.  Typical trees are Sycamore, Pine, Alder, Liquid Amber, English Birch, etc.
Typical bushes are Xylosma and Indian Hawthorne, etc.

Typical Birds in this area are as follows (seen at some time during the year):

American Robin              T urkey Vulture   Pacific Slope Flycatcher 
California Quail               Red-shouldered Hawk   Black Phoebe 
Mourning Dove  Red-tailed Hawk   Cassins Kingbird
White-throated Swift           White-tailed Kite  Western Kingbird
Annas Hummingbird  Great Horned Owl  American Crow
Allens Hummingbird           Nuttalls Woodpecker  Bushtit
Great Egret                  Acord Woodpecker            Northern Mockingbird
Western Bluebird  Cedar Waxwing               House Sparrow
House Finch                  Lesser Goldfinch             W hite-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow                California Towhee  Spotted Towhee
Hooded Oriole  Orange-crowned Warbler       Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-rumped Warbler         Black-throated Gray Warbler     House Wren

I am sure others have Orange County localities for the American Robin also......everyone stay safe and virus-free!!!
Ron Grabyan
Irvine, California

Since we have a slowdown in birding, I am taking this opportunity to address one of my favorite birds, the American Robin. This bird has been visiting my neighborhood every year between February and July. It leaves usually by early July. There are several locations in a mile stretch of greenbelt and homes in the Turtle Rock Glen, Turtle Rock, Irvine, Ca area (near UCI). Three of the photos were taken in my backyard. I was told over the last 3 years by 3 very experienced and well-respected Sea & Sage birders that the American Robin isnt found in Orange County, and they have never seen one here. Since I started photographing birds in 2014, and then became more involved in birding in 2017 by taking several of Sylvias classes, I thought I would photo-document the American Robin in my neighborhood (just 2 miles from the San Joaquin Marsh) for 2018, 2019, and 2020. They just arrived in the last week for this yearat least the first I had heard or seen them yet this year. Their call/song is very distinctive and carries a long distancevery soulful. Please see below:
American Robin
Turtle Rock Glen, Turtle Rock, Irvine, CA
Found in 2018, 2019, and 2020 between the months of January and July only.
The following birds were logged into eBird with photos for documentation:

4/10/2020 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222359651 33 38' 46.04" N, 117 48' 53.11" W
https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222359681

6/7/2019 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222368451 33 38' 45.71" N, 117 48' 37.95" W

5/30/2019 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222367761 33 38' 40.44" N, 117 48' 32.26" W

4/23/2018 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222366041 33 38' 46.2" N, 117 48' 52.8" W

3/29/2018 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222363301 33 38' 46.2" N, 117 48' 52.8" W

1/30/2018 https://macaulaylibrary.org/asset/222362361 33 38' 46.2" N, 117 48' 52.8" W

Another typical location for American Robin in this locality is 33 38' 46.04" N, 117 48' 53.11" W (this is very near the corner of Turtle Rock Drive and Starcrest).
I photographed a hooded Oriole there this morning.

The habitat is an Irvine greenbelt with trees, bushes, shrubs and grass. Typical trees are Sycamore, Pine, Alder, Liquid Amber, English Birch, etc.
Typical bushes are Xylosma and Indian Hawthorne, etc.

Typical Birds in this area are as follows (seen at some time during the year):

American Robin T urkey Vulture Pacific Slope Flycatcher
California Quail Red-shouldered Hawk Black Phoebe
Mourning Dove Red-tailed Hawk Cassins Kingbird
White-throated Swift White-tailed Kite Western Kingbird
Annas Hummingbird Great Horned Owl American Crow
Allens Hummingbird Nuttalls Woodpecker Bushtit
Great Egret Acord Woodpecker Northern Mockingbird
Western Bluebird Cedar Waxwing House Sparrow
House Finch Lesser Goldfinch W hite-crowned Sparrow
Song Sparrow California Towhee Spotted Towhee
Hooded Oriole Orange-crowned Warbler Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-rumped Warbler Black-throated Gray Warbler House Wren

I am sure others have Orange County localities for the American Robin also......everyone stay safe and virus-free!!!
Ron Grabyan
Irvine, California

Justyn,
Well stated and much appreciated. I coordinate volunteers for the CBC each year in my area and this year I had the fewest volunteers. I can't help but think that many are too interested in just being in the Top 100. I think that is fine but I wish they would spend some of their time volunteering with monthly surveys and counts that help define status and distribution more accurately, as the House Finch you described. Though the CBC is interested in the total birds in my area, I enter each site separately in a CBC account I created and make them available to stakeholders and organizations in my area. This data is helpful to assist them in writing grants, educational materials, etc., to help preserve their parks and native habitat areas.
Thanks again for your thoughtful post.
--
Lena Hayashi
Huntington Beach