I planned to spend a few minutes here after shopping this morning. This little spot of riparian habitat in the middle of a well-developed suburban area never fails to amaze. I ended up spending an hour. The park was very birdy.
I was hoping the Black-and-white Warbler reported a few days ago might still be present, but I didn't find it. However, I had singing Yellow Warbler, Nashville Warbler, and a pair of nesting Orange-crowned Warblers to make things interesting; also a Warbling Vireo, a flock of about 12 Cedar Waxwings, a pair of American Goldfinches, a very noisy Bullock's Oriole, a singing Black-headed Grosbeak, and a singing Tanager that I could not get a visual on, but it sounded a little more like a Summer Tanager, rather than a Western.
Florence Sanchez
(PS--I spent yesterday on a wildflower foray, and I think Alex C. for mentioning the flowers on Aliso Canyon Road in Cuyama in his bird post. It was the BEST of all the spots I went to.)

This morning I checked out the gulls at East Beach. There was a good assortment of birds hanging around the Mission Creek outfall, including first-year Heerman's and Glaucous-winged Gulls. With them there was a mixed Tern Flock, including both Royal and Elegant Terns. The latter were in breeding plumage, showing a nice peach-colored wash on the lower breast. A Caspian Tern flew by as well and there were 4 Black Skimmers on the bank of Mission Creek.
I moved over to Chase Palm Park where I erased a long-standing debit and finally turned up the Plumbeous Vireo. It was in a lower pine tree along the northern boundary wall, jus east of the playground and next to a circular area that contained two concrete picnic tables. I got excellent views of it as it foraged in the pine tree. At one point it was just 6 feet from me. Other birds in the sycamore trees included a small flock of American Goldfinches and several Yellow-rumps, some singing and coming into nice breeding plumage.
I decided to push my luck a little and headed for the Bird Refuge, where I tried for but didn't get the reclusive Swamp Sparrow. This is definitely a job for many eyes! However , the willows had a singing Yellow Warbler and the small Snow Goose continues on the apron of the lake.
Florence Sanchez

Upper San Jose Creek was nice this morning (above and below the Patterson St. bridge, above Cathedral Oaks). I had my first Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, and American Goldfinch of the spring. There have been scads of Western Kingbirds in the exotic trees in the surrounding neighborhood I had 9 in one tree the other day. They seem to be tapering off now, but still a lot around.
Ive been enjoying playing around with the Merlin sound ID app. I consider myself pretty good with local bird sounds, but it is still helpful. I have a hard time with warbler songs this time of year, for example. The app was claiming there were American Goldfinches this morning, but I couldnt hear them at first. Later I finally had one make the potato chip call I recognize, so the app was probably picking up a call I didnt know before that. Maybe I would have found the goldfinch anyway, but being primed to look for it helps. On the other hand, the apps claims should always be taken as just one piece of evidence among many. I also claimed there was a Green-Winged Teal, which was kinda funny. Still, its very helpful as a tool to get better at birding by ear! You can go back and listen to the specific recorded calls that the app is claiming support a species, and learn new things to listen for.

List is here: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1075498
Tom Turner
Santa Barbara

There is currently a pigeon guillemot at the very end of the concrete breakwater at the harbor. It takes trips out to feed then returns to rest and preen on the rocks giving close looks. Also present are a few black turnstone, a red-breasted merganser and eared grebes in breeding plumage.

This morning I was able to find the plumbeous vireo at chase palm park. It was flying between willows in the riparian area and the nearby sycamore trees to forage in the mid canopy. Other birds there included a Wilson's warbler and a few American goldfinches. what a fun windy day so far!

Best Birding,
Sophie Cameron
Goleta

Yesterday the Goleta Coast Audubon Society had the pleasure of birding Las Cruzitas Ranch in Santa Ynez. Cruz Philips skillfully led us through the pastures and canyons of her ranch where we saw a great assortment of birds. We began at the feeders near the ranch house and encountered many yellow-billed magpies, sparrows, bluebirds, and an American goldfinch among the lessers. Out in the pasture with some very sweet older horses we spotted lark sparrows, western meadowlark, a loggerhead shrike, and a ferruginous hawk soaring overhead. We then piled in a few cars and drove to explore the northern canyon areas of the ranch. We were able to find a few rufous-crowned sparrows, an incredibly cooperative roadrunner, two golden eagles, and a mature bald eagle. It was such a gorgeous day to be out in the winter sun and see the landscape thriving from this seasons rain. Lake Cachuma is tremendously full, the hills are green, and there are some early wildflowers around. It really is amazing to experience how the habitat changes through the seasons and as we navigate drought conditions. A big thank you to Cruz Philips for letting us come visit your beautiful birdy ranch, I know plenty of people saw life birds and everybody had a great time!
Check out the eBird Trip Report here:
https://ebird.org/tripreport/104681
As well as a very happy coyote I saw on the drive in, as it carried off an entire deer leg.
https://flic.kr/p/2oede2p
Happy Birding,
Sophie Cameron
UCSB

This morning the plover remains on East Beach, still across from the east end of Chase Palm Park. It was in the tide wrack when I saw it with Black-bellied Plovers.
Nearby, there was a Nashville Warbler, feeding in what I believeare a cluster of paperbark trees, betweenthe carousel and Cabrillo at Chase Palm Park. There were American Goldfinches in the sycamores.
The harbor was pretty quiet, with a Common Loon and a Surf Scoter being the only birds somewhat noteworthy.
Hugh Ranson SB

This morning, I finally located the continuing White-headed Woodpecker in its usual row of pine trees along the Entrance Road way into the parking area. It started calling frequently and that kept me looking until it finally popped in view for a brief moment.
I then went to the Eucalyptus grove area, where both Painted Redstart and Black-and-White Warbler put in an appearance in the parking lot tipus and Catalina Cherry bushes, but as of the time I left, the Bay-breasted Warbler had not shown. I checked out most of the area including the westernmost lot and not much else of interest was going on.
I finished the morning by checking Chase Palm Park again. There was a fair amount of general warbler activity. including two of the 3 Black-throated Gray Warblers I saw a few days ago. However, once again, I did not turn up a Plumbeous Vireo. Updates on any sightings of this bird would be appreciated.
One pleasant surprise was finding an American Goldfinch with the Lesser Goldfinches, feeding on the sycamore seedpods in Chase Palm Park. I don't recall ever before having on so close to the ocean in SB County.
Florence Sanchez

Hi A ll, Thank you so much for what you have done so far by contributing to the Breeding Bird Study . The timing of our Santa Barbara County bird breeding season looks like this. We are in Week 32. Not done yet. Please offer us your late season breeding observations. Those help to define the late breeding dates for many species. And, they tell us where birds are able to breed in this awful drought. These may be the areas we want to nurture and protect so that they are in condition to help birds get through our next drought. Submit at: https://survey123.arcgis.com/share/f6fdd9f0a1d94146a9640e1dd53cf503 We have records of 85 species breeding in/after Week 32. Here are the 10 most frequent. The full list is below. Scaly-breasted Munia Hooded Oriole Lesser Goldfinch California Towhee Clark's Grebe White-tailed Kite Acorn Woodpecker California Quail Northern Mockingbird House Finch View the webmap and play with the data at https://tinyurl.com/yxntz67t Mark Holmgren San Marcos Pass ~~. ~~. ~~. ~~. Species # of Records Scaly-breasted Munia 31 Hooded Oriole 25 Lesser Goldfinch 21 California Towhee 19 Clark's Grebe 18 White-tailed Kite 18 Acorn Woodpecker 16 California Quail 16 Northern Mockingbird 14 House Finch 12 Band-tailed Pigeon 11 Western Grebe 11 Dark-eyed Junco 10 Great-tailed Grackle 10 Barn Swallow 9 House Sparrow 9 Song Sparrow 9 Spotted Towhee 9 Cliff Swallow 8 Eurasian Collared-Dove 8 Ruddy Duck 8 Pacific-slope Flycatcher 7 American Robin 6 Western Bluebird 6 American Goldfinch 5 Rock Pigeon 5 American Coot 4 Black Phoebe 4 Brown-headed Cowbird 4 California Scrub-Jay 4 Common Yellowthroat 4 Pied-billed Grebe 4 Warbling Vireo 4 Western Wood-Pewee 4 Yellow Warbler 4 Black Oystercatcher 3 Brown Booby 3 Eared Grebe 3 Elegant Tern 3 Gadwall 3 Mourning Dove 3 Western Kingbird 3 White-crowned Sparrow 3 Belding's Savannah Sparrow 2 Black-chinned Hummingbird 2 Bullock's Oriole 2 Cassin's Kingbird 2 Great Blue Heron 2 Mallard 2 Western Gull 2 White-throated Swift 2 Wrentit 2 Allen's Hummingbird 1 American Crow 1 American Kestrel 1 Ash-throated Flycatcher 1 Bald Eagle 1 Black-necked Stilt 1 Brandt's Cormorant 1 Canada Goose 1 Caspian Tern 1 Common Gallinule 1 Golden Eagle 1 Great Horned Owl 1 Green Heron 1 Horned Lark 1 Hutton's Vireo 1 Killdeer 1 Lazuli Bunting 1 Least Bittern 1 Least Tern 1 Nuttall's Woodpecker 1 Oak Titmouse 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 Pigeon Guillemot 1 Purple Finch 1 Purple Martin 1 Red-tailed Hawk 1 Redhead 1 Savannah Sparrow 1 Snowy Plover 1 Steller's Jay 1 Tree Swallow 1 Western Screech-Owl 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 1 Wild Turkey 1 Willow Flycatcher 1

I have had several sightings of American Goldfinch in Buellton along Dawn Drive most recently on July 7. Lehman's "Birds of Santa Barbara County" notes them as rare or absent in interior during summer hence my post. The bird has been hanging out in a small patch of sunflower growing in a front yard so has been seen at very close range.

Peter Schneekloth
Buellton

This morning my friend Rick Skillin and I birded Barka Slough on the east side. Birds we saw and heard are as follows:

Yellow-breasted Chats
Red-tailed Hawks
American Kestrel
California Scrub Jay
California Quail
California Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Lark Sparrow (a pair, mating)
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Lesser Goldfinch
Cassin's Kingbird
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Yellow Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Anna's Hummingbird
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Bewick's Wren
Blue Grosbeak
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Mourning Dove
Eurasian Collared Dove
European Starling
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Bushtit
Wrentit
Purple Finch
Swainson's Thrush
Western Bluebird
I have heard and read that Bell's Sparrows are sometimes seen out there and I have yet to see one. There may be more birds than I have listed here.

Happy Birding!

Lisa

--
Lisa D Walker-Roseman,

Fort Bragg, CA (In Lompoc for the duration)

Today I birded Oso Flaco (SLO County) and the road into the Santa Maria River Mouth.
At Oso Flaco, I felt like I'd turned the calendar back at least a month, based on singing and general birding activity. The shaded walk in was full of birds, including very visible Wilson's Warblers, Yellow Warblers, singing Swainson's Thrushes and Robins, and a host of other species. In the vegetation around the lakes, the Marsh Wrens were putting on a show, forgetting that they are normally skulkers and coming out for in-your-face views. Both Tree and Barn Swallows were very active over the lake. There were not a lot of ducks, but they included Mallards, Gadwalls, 2 male Cinnamon teal, Ruddy ducks, and a surprise female Scaup (Lesser Scaup in my opinion.) In the warmer dunes, birding activity was slower, but included Chestnut-backed Chickadees foraging in stunted willows along the boardwalk, and a Great Horned Owl out in full view at 9 a.m. No birds to speak of on the beach.
At the entrance to Guadalupe Dunes Park, I walked along the willows and found some of the same birds I'd had at Oso Flaco, plus both Lesser and American Goldfinches, the latter very active. I also saw what looked like a display flight by a pair of American Kestrels. They flew out parallel to each other, stopped and hovered with wingbeats perfectly synchronized for a few minutes, and they flew off in tandem before circling and calling. I need to visit this site more often.
The beach and river mouth had little around besides Brown Pelicans and it was not worth a trek across the sand to see if I could scrounge up anything else.
Florence Sanchez

*** Species Summary:

- Northern Pintail (1 report)
- Long-tailed Duck (1 report)
- Bufflehead (1 report)
- Common Gallinule (1 report)
- American Goldfinch (4 reports)

---------------------------------------------
Thank you for subscribing to the Santa Barbara County Rare Bird Alert. The report below shows observations of rare birds in Santa Barbara County. View or unsubscribe to this alert at https://ebird.org/alert/summarysid=SN35915
NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated.

eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully. Please follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and respect any active travel restrictions in your area. For more information visit: https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) (1)
- Reported May 07, 2022 11:00 by Anonymous eBirder
- Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.4215353 ,-119.6572856&ll=34.4215353,-119.6572856
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S109410925
- Comments: "Handsome bird!"

Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1)
- Reported May 08, 2022 08:15 by Paul Swigart
- Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.4215353 ,-119.6572856&ll=34.4215353,-119.6572856
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S109389003
- Comments: "Continuing bird. Female. Sitting on grass by edge of outflow area from lake by the volleyball courts."

Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) (1)
- Reported May 08, 2022 14:43 by Russ Namitz
- Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.4215353 ,-119.6572856&ll=34.4215353,-119.6572856
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S109382122
- Comments: "Female. Small dark duck with small white ear patch. Diving frequently"

Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata) (1)
- Reported May 08, 2022 08:15 by Paul Swigart
- Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.4215353 ,-119.6572856&ll=34.4215353,-119.6572856
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S109389003
- Comments: "Found swimming alone along reeds by second to last viewing area along RR track side. Red bill with yellow tip quite clear."

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) (2)
- Reported May 07, 2022 10:41 by Mariann Golden
- Santa Cruz Island--Prisoners Harbor, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.0187319 ,-119.6821404&ll=34.0187319,-119.6821404
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S109288039
- Comments: "Heard "potato chip" call a few times."

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) (2)
- Reported May 07, 2022 10:41 by Gary and Jan Small
- Santa Cruz Island--Prisoners Harbor, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.0187319 ,-119.6821404&ll=34.0187319,-119.6821404
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S109322095
- Comments: "Heard "potato chip" call a few times."

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) (2)
- Reported May 07, 2022 10:41 by Cheryl cobbs
- Santa Cruz Island--Prisoners Harbor, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.0187319 ,-119.6821404&ll=34.0187319,-119.6821404
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S109397191
- Comments: "Heard "potato chip" call a few times."

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) (2)
- Reported May 07, 2022 10:41 by Jeri Langham
- Santa Cruz Island--Prisoners Harbor, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.0187319 ,-119.6821404&ll=34.0187319,-119.6821404
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S109402869
- Comments: "Heard "potato chip" call a few times."

***********

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eBird Alerts provide recent reports of regionally or seasonally rare species (Rarities Alerts) or species you have not yet observed (Needs Alerts) in your region of interest; both Accepted and Unreviewed observations are included. Some reports may be from private property or inaccessible to the general public. It is the responsibility of every eBirder to be aware of and respectful of access restrictions. For more information, see our Terms of Use: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/terms-of-use/

*** Species Summary:

- Northern Pintail (1 report)
- Long-tailed Duck (2 reports)
- Hermit Thrush (1 report)
- American Goldfinch (1 report)

---------------------------------------------
Thank you for subscribing to the Santa Barbara County Rare Bird Alert. The report below shows observations of rare birds in Santa Barbara County. View or unsubscribe to this alert at https://ebird.org/alert/summarysid=SN35915
NOTE: all sightings are UNCONFIRMED unless indicated.

eBird encourages our users to bird safely, responsibly, and mindfully. Please follow the recommendations of your local health authorities and respect any active travel restrictions in your area. For more information visit: https://ebird.org/news/please-bird-mindfully

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) (1)
- Reported May 07, 2022 08:32 by Ron Hirst
- Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.4215353 ,-119.6572856&ll=34.4215353,-119.6572856
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S109227689
- Comments: "at parking lot."

Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1)
- Reported May 07, 2022 08:32 by Ron Hirst
- Andree Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.4215353 ,-119.6572856&ll=34.4215353,-119.6572856
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S109227689
- Comments: "At beach outflow"

Long-tailed Duck (Clangula hyemalis) (1)
- Reported May 05, 2022 16:00 by Lynn Scarlett
- East Beach, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.4158318 ,-119.6733427&ll=34.4158318,-119.6733427
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S109161821
- Media: 9 Photos
- Comments: "This duck has been in the same spot for at least 3 weeks. See photos"

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus) (2)
- Reported May 07, 2022 10:25 by David Compton
- Kinevan Rd., Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.5069163 ,-119.8225639&ll=34.5069163,-119.8225639
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S109230603
- Comments: "Singing opposites sides of the canyon in the same area, more than 50m apart. One seen well while it was singing. Dumpy Catharus with contrastingly reddish tail."

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis) (2)
- Reported May 07, 2022 10:41 by Chris Conard
- Santa Cruz Island--Prisoners Harbor, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.0187319 ,-119.6821404&ll=34.0187319,-119.6821404
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S109278736
- Comments: "Heard "potato chip" call a few times."

***********

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eBird Alerts provide recent reports of regionally or seasonally rare species (Rarities Alerts) or species you have not yet observed (Needs Alerts) in your region of interest; both Accepted and Unreviewed observations are included. Some reports may be from private property or inaccessible to the general public. It is the responsibility of every eBirder to be aware of and respectful of access restrictions. For more information, see our Terms of Use: https://www.birds.cornell.edu/home/terms-of-use/

Pretty interesting. I am skeptical about 3 Glaucous Gulls, withno GW Gulls. Some of the other differences withtoday are striking:
1000 Trikes v none these days BC Hummer the commonest hummer Virtually no large herons/egrets More American Goldfinches More Brewer's Blackbirds 100 Bank Swallows v. none these days No California Gulls v. likely dozens these days 20 WW Scotersv. none these days

This morning I had a Osprey drifting just north of town. Seemed to be slowly moving E paralleling the river but about a mile N of it.

On July 24 I had an American Goldfinch stop briefly at my feeders. Lehman's The Birds of Santa Barbara County has the birds as rare or absent in the interior in summer andstates the following:"In contrast, summer records in District I are relatively few, and it is likely that some reports at this season are inaccurate, as many observers do not appreciate the scarcity of this species in summer inland." ID photo of the July 24 bird at my feeder here: American Goldfinch | peterschneekloth | Flickr

Peter Schneekloth
Buellton