Its been quite the last few weeks out at Scorpion Ranch. I think weve had pretty good birder coverage over the past 6 weeks, with birders present about a third to half of those days (this is off the top of my head; I havent checked ebird data). I went 6 times and spent the night twice, so I had 8 days of birdingand I didnt get bored! Only 1 of the 6 times was poor for migrants, so I spent my time going for hikes, which is very pleasant out there. I have had some of the most fulfilling birding of my life at Scorpion this fall. Is it always this good Only time will tell, but I suspect this has been a particularly good year. The list of birds seen, though, gives an idea of the potential of this location as a vagrant trap.
Below is a list of the scarce or rare birds reported from Scorpion this fall, not necessarily those verified. Again, its all off the top of my head, so I might have missed a bird or two and my numbers might be off.
And fall isnt over yet!
Short-eared Owl Yellow-bellied Flycatcher (1st for island, 2nd for county if accepted by CRBC) Least Flycatcher Tropical Kingbird Plumbeous Vireo Yellow-green Vireo (1st or 2nd for island) Philadelphia Vireo (1st for island) Wood Thrush (1st for island, 2nd for county if accepted by CRBC) Gray Catbird Sage Thrasher American Pipit, japonicus Ovenbird (at least 3) Black-and-white Warbler (at least 2 or 3) Tennessee Warbler (oodles! Who knows how many, but with 6 on one day, surely 10+) Virginias Warbler (2) American Redstart (2 or 3) Blackburnian Warbler (2) Northern Parula (2) Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Bay-breasted Warbler Palm Warbler Green-tailed Towhee Clay-colored Sparrow (at least 4) Brewers Sparrow White-throated Sparrow Dickcissel (2) Rose-breasted Grosbeak (at least 4) Painted Bunting Indigo Bunting (2) Bobolink (2) Orchard Oriole (2)
Hugh Ranson Santa Barbara