I birded the Goleta Tech Park first this morning. While it was not terribly birdy, I did pull out a few migrants of interest. I saw one each of Black-throated Gray and Wilson's Warbler. There were also at least four Warbling Vireo and at least six Western Tanager in the west parking area. There were also two Kingbird there that I assume were Cassin's but may have been Western. I just didn't get a good enough look.

NCOS had several Gadwall, and one Brandt in the channels of the reserve. Cliff Swallows were building nests in the condos at the east end of the reserve. From the large bridge I saw a Killdeer escorting four very young chicks. Their plumage was rather downy and markings similar to but still distinctly different from the adult. The 'cute' factor was achieved by having bodies only a quarter the size of the adult but legs three quarters as long.

At the Devereaux pull-outs I was unable to relocate the recently present Reddish Egret. There were abundant Canada Geese and several more Gadwall here. Also, Great Blue Heron have been nesting in trees across the water from the road for several years. Today I noticed a pair that appeared to be nest building in a cypress across the street from the Bridge to Nowhere. That's the first such activity I've seen on that side of the water.

At area K I added Northern Rough-winged and Barn Swallow to that group. This spot also contained additional Gadwall, quite a few breeding plumage Ruddy Duck, and a single Cinnamon Teal.

The tide was fairly low at Goleta Beach but other than some gulls I did not see a single shorebird there (nor on the east campus beach as far as I could tell from distance). All the gulls were Western or California (many of each) with only a single, young Heerman's Gull to break the monotony. I was unable to locate any Yellow-crowned Night Heron in their usual haunt.

As I write this I have seen half a dozen Black-headed Grosbeak at my feeders just outside my office window. Poor pickings compared to the bonanza of birds reported recently in the yards of Guy Tingos and Joan Lentz but I'll revel in them none the less.

That's all,
Rob Lindsay