I tried to send a short report about my visit from my iPhone last night, but for some reason, Apple Mail did not accept the domaine for sbcobirding as valid. So I forwarded it to Steve Cowell, who shared it on Slack. Therefore some of you may know a little about my birding experience Wednesday morning.
Anyway, based on info from Nick Lethaby, I started at a spot near the Owl Rock and worked the oaks there. Foliage is pretty dense, so it took a little while, but I eventually teased out 2 Wilson's Warblers, a Warbling Vireo, a HERMIT WARBLER, and a Cassin's Vireo in those trees, as well as a Pacific Slope Flycatcher, Phainopepla, and some other more common residents. I then decided to go up and park near the beehives and walk the road up to the hairpin turn at the end of the stretch with houses as I had done a few days prior, and it proved to be a good move. The sparse and burned-out trees were full of migrants, especially warblers, and I had an excellent morning.
My total species count for 3 hours of birding was 46. Highlights/totals included 2 Ash-throated Flycatchers, 10 Warbling Vireos, 2 Cassin's Vireos, 1 Canyon Wren, 2 Hooded Orioles, 2 Bullock's Orioles, 1 Western Tanager, 1 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (singing behind 1875 Refugio Road), 3 Orange-crowned Warblers, 5 Wilson's Warblers, 4 Yellow-rumped Warblers, 7 Townsend's Warblers, 4 Black-throated Gray Warblers, 3 Nashville Warblers, 6 HERMIT WARBLERS!, 7 Yellow Warblers, and 1 Black-headed Grosbeak.
The much-discussed Hummingbird was still on its perch in a field near the hairpin turn. After it finally turned around, I got a good look at it and saw the following characteristics: Gray chest, Rosy-red gorget with rather longer than typical Anna's "wings," No pronounced V in the gorget; Approximate size of an Anna's, shorter bill than most Anna's. When the gorget flashed, it also reflected bronzy-orange tones. It was silent the whole time I observed. Based on what I saw, I'd call it an Anna's, but I'll bow to experts who can provide solid rationiale for another interpretation.
Florence Sanchez