I headed up to Kinevan this morning hoping it would be above the marine layer, but it was right in the ceiling. Therefore most birding was by ear. Best find was a singing Cassin's Vireo on the north-facing slope. At first it was pretty high up but on my return walk, it had moved down closer to the road, but still I couldn't get a visual. This was the area between and above road markers 11 and 12.
Other birds heard included at least 5 Warbling Vireos, 4 Yellow Warblers, STeller's Jays in 2 locations, and a nice assortment of Woodpeckers (Acorn, Nuttall's and Hairy).
In mid afternoon, I made a short stop at the Goleta slough checking out areas K&L. No Yellow-headed Blackbirds, but in Area L (as viewed through the fence along the road that runs past Goleta West Sanitary District), I picked up a nice WHITE-FACED IBIS foraging with Black-necked Stilts. Also present were 2 Dowitchers (NOT in alternate plumage), and a Greater Yellowlegs. Overhead swallows included Barn, Rough-winged, and Cliff.
Florence Sanchez

Have been out in the field but by the end of the day have ended up with no time to post reports.
Monday May 15th I birded Barka Slough. It was pretty overcast and misty but fortunately, there was a ceiling. i've birded here with fog on the ground and it's totally frustrating. At least I could see the birds I was hearing on Monday, even if color contrast wasn't the best. Anyway, it was the usual abundance of Lazuli Buntings (8 male, 1 female), Black-headed Grosbeak (too many to count), Ash-throated Flycatchers, and Yellow-breasted Chats (6, with one out in the open singing). Also present were Yellow Warblers, Wilson's Warblers, singing Swainson's Thrushes, both House and Bewick's Wrens, both House and Purple Finches, and both Lesser and America Goldfinches, the latter singing and displaying. I also found 3 male Blue Grosbeaks and 1 female. This was a pair interacting just outside the base boundary--I suspect a nest might be in the works there.
I was surprised at the amount of water down in the pond. It's a bit hard to see well from the road and I didn't have my scope, but I picked up Pied-billed Grebe, Ruddy Ducks, Coots, Great Egret, and Green Heron in the vicinity. Conspicuously absent from the morning's birding were any Warbling Vireos or Chestnut-backed Chickadees, and Swallows were few (and hard to identify against the gray skies.)
May 16, I birded a short section of the Santa Ynez River near Buellton. Peter had warned me that the winter rains made a real mess of the paths and he wasn't kidding! The path from the bridge down stream isn't bad to start, but it gradually gets more washed out and then you have to start negotiating piles of brush and driftwood. Old trail markers are gone and I felt like I was feeling me way downstream at the end. But there was plenty of Bird activity here, the stars being Warbling Vireos and Black-headed Grosbeaks. I also had a Chat pop up right in front of me and I heard at least 4 Yellow Warblers and also 1 Lazuli Bunting. I counted at least 12 active Cliff Swallow nests under the Santa Rosa Road bridge.
Today I hiked along Quiota Creek on Refugio Road (Santa Ynez Valley). The fog was burning off and conditions were good for both walking and birding. The road is marked closed at 300 Refugio Road, but there is no problem with driving past the sign and parking at the usual pullout past the last visible ranch property on the hill. From there, I walked to the base of the REALLY closed road up the mountains and encountered almost no cars and just a few other walkers. Highlights here were 3 Bullock's Orioles, 5 Yellow Warblers, several Warbling Vireos, Ash-throated Flycatchers, lots of Violet-Green Swallows, at least 4 Lazuli Buntings, and surprisingly, only 1 Black-headed Grosbeak.
It has certainly been a good spring for the Buntings! As for flowers, I noted that pink Clarkia ("Farewell to spring") has burst into bloom at several places along San Marcos Pass Road and the north-facing roadcut of US 1010 between Los Alamos and Highway 154. Plenty of white Lupine along with the Clarkia and the Orange Bush Monkeyflower is in full bloom all along the Pass.
Florence Sanchez

This morning, I saw an adult dark morph Broad-winged Hawk soar above Painted Cave and then fly north over E. Camino Cielo and the Cielo Vista Trail, near the intersection of Painted Cave and Camino Cielo. This area and much of the Santa Ynez Ridge top were above the clouds this morning. Next best bird in the area was a very dull gray Cassins Vireo that stopped and sang near the trail head, then continued north. It was almost 9am by the time I got to this area, so its hard to know if many migrants were passing through. The only other obvious ones were a singing Wilsons Warbler and a singing Warbling Vireo.
Dave Compton Santa Barbara

I was out at 6:30-815am and very few migrants went through the 2 small canyons I was monitoring 1/2 mile above Circle Bar B near the mailboxes. A few Warbling Vireos and perhaps a couple Hooded Orioles and Laz Buntings and warblers went through that eastern canyon. No wind. Jim Hodgson mentioned it may have to do with wind and he has found northerly wind pushes down the migrants, who might otherwise be flying higher. I 'm not sure whether that was it or whether there were really very, very few migrants around the upper canyon branches. A good variety of birds in small numbers was seen up and down the Refugio Canyon road by other observers. My ebird.org/checklist/S137435343 . Ron Hirst, SB

This afternoon I walked part of the north slope of Santa Ynez Mountains, along Refugio Rd. While my attention was on bugs, I did get to enjoy the usual breeding birds there (because of its geography this is not a good spot for migrants): Wild Turkey, Warbling Vireo, Hutton's Vireo, Steller's Jay, Yellow Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, Black-chinned Hummingbird. Because of the flowers, water in Quiota Creek, and devastation of the past raining season I can highly recommend this stretch for a weekday exercise.
Wim
--
Wim van Dam (Solvang, CA)
SBCO #398: Plumbeous Vireo

*** Species Summary:

- Ruby-throated Hummingbird (1 report)
- Bell's Vireo (1 report)
- American Crow (4 reports)
- Northern Parula (3 reports)

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Ruby-throated Hummingbird (Archilochus colubris) (1)
- Reported May 11, 2023 11:38 by Sandra Gaumont
- Old Mission Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara US-CA 34.43769, -119.71332, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.43769 ,-119.713315&ll=34.43769,-119.713315
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S137114841
- Comments: "A male just outside the mission building"

Bell's Vireo (Vireo bellii) (1)
- Reported May 11, 2023 16:58 by Sophie Cameron
- Baron Ranch Trail, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.4894878 ,-120.1198769&ll=34.4894878,-120.1198769
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S137168555
- Media: 2 Photos
- Comments: "Continuing bird found by Florence Sanchez this morning. Seen and heard hanging around a dead pepper tree about a mile up trail. Small greyish vireo with long tail and distinct white wing bar. Chased a warbling vireo around and out of the tree."

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) (2)
- Reported May 09, 2023 23:31 by Eli Rose
- Santa Cruz Island--Scorpion Campgrounds to Scorpion Anchorage (no seawatch), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.0485102 ,-119.558174&ll=34.0485102,-119.558174
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S137169020
- Comments: "In campground"

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) (1)
- Reported May 09, 2023 08:55 by Sundae Caniglia
- Santa Cruz Island--Scorpion Campgrounds to Scorpion Anchorage (no seawatch), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.0485102 ,-119.558174&ll=34.0485102,-119.558174
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S137141841
- Comments: "Clearly smaller than Common Raven with distinct call. Ranger reported one crow had been present on the island since January."

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) (1)
- Reported May 09, 2023 08:55 by Samantha Jestadt
- Santa Cruz Island--Scorpion Campgrounds to Scorpion Anchorage (no seawatch), Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.0485102 ,-119.558174&ll=34.0485102,-119.558174
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S137139272
- Comments: "Clearly smaller than Common Raven with distinct call. Ranger reported one crow had been present on the island since January."

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) (1)
- Reported May 10, 2023 12:46 by Eli Rose
- Santa Cruz Island--Smuggler's Cove, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.0220185 ,-119.54391&ll=34.0220185,-119.54391
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S137169051
- Comments: "Chased around Scorpion Ranch Campground by pair of common ravens."

Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) (1)
- Reported May 11, 2023 07:19 by Sue Cook
- Refugio Creek Canyon, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.5082895 ,-120.0646985&ll=34.5082895,-120.0646985
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S137124604
- Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "First found by Nick Lethaby two days ago on May 9. Relocated today at 10 AM 50 yards up the road from the low rock wall entrance to the recently cleared avocado orchard: (34.5022768, -120.0661344). This was a small warbler that was bluish-gray above with a green patch on the back and two bold white wingbars. It had a yellow throat and breast, and a black and rufous breast band. The bill was bicolored, orange below and black above and it had bold white eye-arcs."

Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) (1)
- Reported May 11, 2023 07:19 by David Blue
- Refugio Creek Canyon, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.5082895 ,-120.0646985&ll=34.5082895,-120.0646985
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S137123542
- Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "First found by Nick Lethaby two days ago on May 9. Relocated today at 10 AM 50 yards up the road from the low rock wall entrance to the recently cleared avocado orchard: (34.5022768, -120.0661344). This was a small warbler that was bluish-gray above with a green patch on the back and two bold white wingbars. It had a yellow throat and breast, and a black and rufous breast band. The bill was bicolored, orange below and black above and it had bold white eye-arcs."

Northern Parula (Setophaga americana) (1)
- Reported May 11, 2023 07:19 by Linda Blue
- Refugio Creek Canyon, Santa Barbara, California
- Map: http://maps.google.com/ie=UTF8&t=p&z=13&q=34.5082895 ,-120.0646985&ll=34.5082895,-120.0646985
- Checklist: https://ebird.org/checklist/S137123543
- Media: 5 Photos
- Comments: "First found by Nick Lethaby two days ago on May 9. Relocated today at 10 AM 50 yards up the road from the low rock wall entrance to the recently cleared avocado orchard: (34.5022768, -120.0661344). This was a small warbler that was bluish-gray above with a green patch on the back and two bold white wingbars. It had a yellow throat and breast, and a black and rufous breast band. The bill was bicolored, orange below and black above and it had bold white eye-arcs."

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So as I reported earlier, I hiked Baron Ranch this morning, covering the Arroyo Quemada Trail and a good portion of the loop trail. Due to a somewhat confusing sign on the loop trail, I eventually turned back and retraced my steps down rather than completing the full circle, but I figure I hiked closed to 8 miles round trip. I good birding along the entire route, though things did quiet down on the last part of my way out in the afternoon.
The big highlight was the Bell's Vireo reported earlier. At that same point where I was trying to chase down the Vireo for a photo, There was a Costa's Hummingbird, Swainson's Thrush, and a Chat calling from below in the creek. It was that kind of a day. There were fewer Wilson's Warbler on the upper portion of the creek than I found on Tuesday, but otherwise, bird activity was just as high or higher. Especially interesting was the high number of Black Headed Grosbeaks and Lazuli Buntings I found on a half-mile stretch at the top of the loop, which was mainly grassland and burned oaks: six of each on this part alone.
Here are some selected birds and totals: Costa's HB-2, both male Black-chinned HB-1 male Ash-throated Flycatcher-4 Olive-sided Flycatcher-2 Western Wood Pewee-1 (in the upper burned section) Bell's Vireo -1 Warbling Vireo-9 Swainson's Thrush-2 Yellow-breasted Chat-3 (including 1 in the burn area) Yellow Warbler-5 Wilson's Warbler-6 Bullock's Oriiole -2 Hooded Oriole -3 Blue Grosbeak-2
Florence Sanchez

I hiked some of the Baron Ranch trails this morning--they are definitely open and in reasonably good condition. This is the first time I have hiked the rerouted Arroyo Quemada Trail, which now goes along the west side of the creek at the edge of the chaparral. I give it mixed reviews. I then hiked a portion of the loop trail, which follows the older trail along the creek and provided more shade and better birding. I didn't have time to do the whole loop today.
Highlights were finding at least 9 singing male Lazuli Buntings along the entire reach of the trial, including one singing from the field next to the parking area. Also several Warbling Vireos along the creek for the first mile of the trail--one appearing to be establishing territory. Several singing Black-headed Grosbeaks on the lower part of the trail and also a singing SWAINSON'S THRUSH. I found Wilson's and Yellow Warblers along the entire length of my hike, but they really became more numerous on the Loop trail. Both species were singing. I had two Townsend's Warblers along the creek on the Arroyo Quemada Trail and another well up the Loop trail with a male Black-throated Gray Warbler. Other species of note include a flock of 30 Cedar Waxwings, both Hooded and Bullock's Orioles, singing Purple Finches, and a lot of House Wrens. The only Empidonax Flycatchers I found were Pacific Slope. In past years, I have found Willow Flycatchers here in May but none today. I had 2-3 Ash-throated Flycatchers in the chaparral.
The big surprise on the very last part of my return hike was hearing a Yellow-breasted Chat sound off from the creek, followed a few minutes later by another one going through its full repertoire up on the hillside to the west.
The canyon is still recovering from the fire but things are coming back. In terms of flowers, the stars of the day were the Canyon Sunflowers blooming everywhere along both sides of the badly burned creek along the Loop Trail.
Florence Sanchez

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

Weve had Warbling Vireo, Swainsons Thrush, and Wilsons Warbler in our yard the last few days. This morning, an adult male MacGillivrays Warbler visited our water feature.

Guy Tingos
Santa Barbara

--
Guy Tingos
Santa Barbara

I headed up the mountain with the intent of going all the way to the top but found a few birds at my first stop just above the cloud layer so that plan dissolved. Best was a Hammond's Flycatcher (maybe 2) a number of Townsend's Warblers (4 at least), Warbling Vireo, Western Tanager, Western Wood-Pewee, several Pacific-slope Flycatcher and a Northern Pygmy Owl tooting well down the hill. I made a quick run out Catway road and added Cassin's Vireo and another Pewee.

Peter Schneekloth
Buellton

All,
While observing a good flight of migrants this morning in Refugio Canyon, I had a male Black-throated Green Warbler pop up at close range for about 30 seconds. It immediately moved on up the canyon so not worth chasing.
There was a big push of BH Grosbeaks, Western Tanagers, Lazuli Buntings, Warbling Vireos, Wilson's and Yellow Warblers. Only a single Nashville and no BT Grays. One Olive-sided Flycatcher. I had over 200 migrants and probably missed 60-70% of the birds as they were moving over a broad front.
Regards,

--
Nick Lethaby Goleta, CA
nlethaby@... Mobile: 805 284 6200
--
Nick Lethaby
Goleta, CA

Hi all,
I birded Baron Ranch trail this morning. I believe it reopened just a few weeks ago after the winter storms. I only walked about 1.8 miles in (a few hundred yards past the first bridge-less creek crossing), so I cannot speak to the trail conditions further up.

Returning breeding birds were present in good numbers with lazuli buntings (calling nearly the entire stretch), ash-throated flycatchers, Bullock's and hooded orioles, yellow warblers, Pacific slope flycatchers, black-headed grosbeaks, and yellow-breasted chat, all making an appearance.
However, I noticed a distinct lack of migrants (2 total warblers, 0 Cassin's vireo, 2 warbling vireos, 0 Western tanagers). It seems like that has been a common thread in posts here and in the SB birding Slack group. I was wondering if anyone has a hypothesis as to why this might be I thought that maybe the wetter winter throughout the state has allowed migrants to stay on a more inland and direct route to their summer breeding grounds rather than having to hug the (naturally and artificially) greener coastline to find adequate rest stops in drought years. Does this jive with past wet years and what is being observed further inland
Baron Ranch Ebird: https://ebird.org/checklist/S135583425
Andy McGrath Goleta

Hi everyone,

Friday afternoon, Sophie Cameron, Alex Castelein, and I drove up to Cuyama for an overnight birding trip.

Our first stop was at the Caliente Ranch wetlands, where we found 2 solitary sandpipers together in the shallow pond on the north side of Hwy 166, approx (34.990260, -119.800037). The pair allowed nice views as they foraged on the mudflats for several minutes, then eventually flew off.
We then made a stop at the Cuyama WTP, where there were western and least sandpipers, spotted sandpipers, 2 greater yellowlegs, and cinnamon teal, among other things. Alex spotted a yellow-headed blackbird flying by that Sophie and I unfortunately didn't get eyes on.
As darkness cloaked the valley, we drove to Ballinger Canyon to camp for the night. We could hear the trills of lesser nighthawks from our campsite, so decided to cruise Ballinger Canyon rd. in hopes of finding more. After not too long, we spotted a nighthawk sitting on the road. It soon flushed and was met with a second individual. We watched the pair of nighthawks fly around above our heads while we could hear another singing in the distance, so there had to be at least 3 in the area.

Undoubtedly, the highlight of our birding along Ballinger Canyon road in the morning was a gorgeous and confiding black-throated sparrow that sang for us near (34.8823388, -119.4509115), on the north side of the road about half a kilometer (by road) southwest of the campground. There may have been a second individual spotted, but we were unable to see both simultaneously to confirm. It would be really interesting to see if they breed here this year; per eBird data it appears they haven't been seen in Ballinger for 8 years. In addition to the black-throated sparrow, there were several Brewer's, black-chinned, and Bell's sparrows singing in the general area.

A brief stop at Santa Barbara Pistachio after Ballinger yielded some yellow warblers and a warbling vireo amongst the horde of house sparrows.

Hoping to turn up a Scott's oriole and more north county goodies we made stops at Deer Park and Quatal canyons, but didn't have any luck at turning up anything new. By this point, it was quite hot outside and activity was reduced.

Surprisingly, Cuyama dairy was devoid of blackbirds, and our hopes of finding another yellow-headed (bananahead) were squashed.
Throughout our extensive meandering along the valley's roads we kept wary eyes out for Swainson's hawks, but turned up nothing notable in the raptor department other than a single golden eagle soaring above Kirschenmann rd.

As is often the case with spring birding, the incidental reptile encounters were quite good. Without intentional effort we stumbled across a San Joaquin coachwhip, leopard lizard sp., Blainville's horned lizard, and a gopher snake. As expected, the wildflower show was astonishing.

We had places to be in the evening, so left Cuyama around 2 pm on Saturday, wrapping up a very fun birding trip.

Happy Birding!
Max Laubstein
Isla Vista

I hiked the St. Sal trail at the end of Brown Road in Santa Maria Yesterday, figuring that the dense fog layer was shallow enough to burn off pretty quickly. I found that area was getting sunny when I arrived and hiking conditions were great. But both birding a flowers were not as great as they can be. No Horned Larks: several Lark Sparrows singing but not as many as in some years; and I had only two distant possible Grasshopper Sparrows in the grasses. Flowers also were not as abundant as in previous years, with the possible exception of Blue-eyed Grass. The grasses have really taken over, especially the wild oats.
At the trailhead creek, there was some modest activity with singing Black-headed Grosbeak and a pair of Warbling Vireos. Just after I started up the trial, I had a Yellow Warbler in a willow and I heard one Lazuli Bunting singing from a canyon below the road.
Today several of us ended up at Area K trying to find a Bank Swallow in the swirling mass. Steve Cowell and I had a possible candidate but it got away from us before Steve could get a photo. Others present may or may not have been successful. Meanwhile, I turned my attention to what else might be hanging around. Lingering winter ducks included a pair of Shovelers, at least one female Bufflehead, 2 male cinnamon Teal, and a nice male Blue-winged Teal back in Area L. On the distant bank of Area L, we turned up the continuing Cattle Egret along with a nice assortment of shorebirds: Breeding Red-necked Phalaropes, Kildeer and Semi-palmated Plovers, Least and Western Sandpipers, Dowitchers in Breeding Plumage, and of special interest, 2 breeding-plumaged American Avocets, one of which gave the appearance of a female sitting on a nest. It will be important to keep an eye on these Avocets to see if indeed they do nest.
Florence Sanchez