I made the trip over today. I was the only birder from Santa Barbara County. I ended up birding most of the day birding with Eugene from Alabama, who was very sharp. Brad from Ventura was also birding today as was crew member Lori. There was also a birder who had camped overnight that we talked with briefly.
It was VERY hot on the island today, probably about the same as it was on the mainland, and there was little breeze. Consequently, bird activity was fairly low, but there still was a nice turnover of Common and other Warblers.
Here's what we didn't find: Wood Thrush Gray Catbird Chipping Sparrow Magnolia Warbler (lower campground report from today) Virginia's Warbler (ditto) Ovenbird American Redstart
Here's what we did turn up: Clay-colored Sparrow WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (near place where Wood Thrush was reported) Green-tailed Towhee Yellow-breasted Chat Black-and-white Warbler Tennessee Warbler Indigo Buntings (2 different birds) Dickcissel Rose-breasted Grosbeak (at least 3 different birds)
One of the hot spots has been the Ranch house yard and fruit trees. During the morning, we pulled out the Grosbeaks and the Dickcissel from this spot, but failed to find any of the target birds there. I had been told that activity picks up there in the afternoon, so I made sure to check it again a little before 2 p.m. I very soon found the Clay-colored Sparrow. But then, the groundsman for the National Park showed up and with his chain saw, immediately began taking down many limbs of the large fig tree. So much for finding anything there!
With time on our hands, we rechecked the campgrounds again and found the first Indigo Bunting near one of the campsites. Then we went back to the ranch house area but the fenced-in area was still not showing much bird activity and the downed branches were hiding a lot of the ground. But in the grassy area just beyond the fence to the west, we re-found the Dickcissel with a flock of White-crowns and an Indigo Bunting, definitely not the one we'd seen earlier in the campground. And then it was time to go.
Sea conditions were excellent but activity was low. We saw some small groups of Black-vented Shearwaters on both the outbound and inbound journeys: also, a Parasitic Jaeger each way and a Pomerine on the return voyage. Going out, I spotted a Rhinoceros Auklet and had a Common Murre on the way back.
I know there is a group of SB birders gong out on Saturday. They will have the advantage of an earlier start and a much cooler day (though a rougher sea). It will be interesting to see what they turn up.
Florence Sanchez