Southern California Fall 2025

Waterfowl through Grebes

An early fall migrant Tundra Swan was at Oso Flaco/Lopez Lakes 27–31 Oct (John Deacon, Dave Lawrence). Only seven Eurasian Wigeon were reported with six along the coast and one inland in Riverside, Riverside Co 8 Nov (Angela Kenny). A King Eider on Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo Co 17 Aug–30 Nov+ (Brian and Diane O’Kelly) had no doubt summered undetected locally. Single Surf Scoters were well inland on Pleasant Valley Reservoir, Inyo Co 12 Nov (m.ob.), in nearby Bishop 19 Nov (Nancy J. Overholtz), Boron, Kern Co 22 Oct (Steven M. Ritt), and at S.E.S.S. (Wister Unit) 17 Nov (D. Singer). Two more each on Quail Lake, Los Angeles Co 1 Nov+ (Mark and Janet Scheel, Naresh Satyan), and only a short distance inland on Sweetwater Reservoir, San Diego Co 21 Nov (Paul E. Lehman) added to the mix. A White-winged Scoter at N.E.S.S. (North Shore) 5 Nov (Robert L. McKernan) was the only one reported inland. Six Black Scoters in coastal San Diego Co after 12 Nov (m.ob.) were the southernmost of the small number reported south of Point Conception. A Long-tailed Duck on south San Diego Bay 25–30 Nov+ (Robert T. Patton) was the southernmost of the very few known along the coast.

Only three Red-necked Grebes were reported, with single birds in Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Co 12 Nov (Nick Lethaby), Ventura 7–11 Nov (Rick Constantino), and Point Loma, San Diego Co 22 Nov+ (Mike and Tera Ray).

Doves through Hummingbirds

An Inca Dove, casual anywhere on the coast, was at the North Island Naval Air Station 18–19 Oct (Brian C. Flick). A male Ruddy Ground Dove remained at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley National Park, Inyo Co 11 Oct–30 Nov+ (Dessi E. Sieburth). More than expected numbers of White-winged Doves were reported from the coast with at least 52 known present between 6 Aug and 30 Nov. A migrant Yellow-billed Cuckoo was in Desert Center, Riverside Co 7 Aug (Logan Kahle).

The only fall migrant Black Swifts reported were two over Fallbrook, San Diego Co 27 Sep (Bobbie Tilmant). A Ruby-throated Hummingbird well photographed in Carlsbad 3–6 Oct (Jane Mygatt) was a species new to San Diego Co. A Broad-tailed Hummingbird in Bishop, Inyo Co 12–13 Sep (Chris and Rosie Howard) was a short distance west of this species’ range, but one at the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, San Bernardino Co 13–15 Sep (Mattew A. Grube) was well to the west, and one at a feeder in Ventura, Ventura Co 15–17 Nov (David Pereksta) was along the coast where considered a casual stray. Single Broad-billed Hummingbirds, a rare but annual stray to California, were in Yucaipa, San Bernardino Co 1 Sep (Gary McLarty), Rancho Santa Margarita, Orange Co 21–22 Oct (Vanessa M; https://ebird.org/checklist/S280845122), and in Clairemont, San Diego Co 24–26 Nov (Kim Peacock).

Cranes through Shorebirds

Six Sandhill Cranes over Twenty-nine Palms, San Bernardino Co 21 Nov (Kate Peterlein) and six over Escondido, San Diego Co 12 Sep (Michael Roe) were far from any known wintering location.

Single American Golden-Plovers were inland on Owens Lake, Inyo Co 11 Oct (Dana Hodgdon), in Bakersfield 25 Sep (Teresa Connell and Karen Evans), and at N.E.S.S. (84^th Ave) 22 Oct (Robert L, McKernan), but one on south San Diego Bay 25 Oct–16 Nov (Nick Thorpe) was the only one reported from along the coast. Eleven Pacific Golden-Plovers were reported from the immediate coast 12 Aug+ with two known to remain into the winter. An American/Pacific Golden-Plover was at S.E.S.S. (Young Road) 9 Oct (Bobby Figarotta).

A Bar-tailed Godwit, a casual visitor to California, remained in Playa del Rey, Los Angeles Co 7–11 Aug (Naresh Satyan). A Ruddy Turnstone in Boron, Kern Co 6 Aug (Steven M. Ritt) was the only one known inland away from the Salton Sea. A Black Turnstone, rare inland, was at S.E.S.S. (Young Road) 29 Aug–2 Sep (Grigory Heaton). Five Red Knots inland at S.E.S.S. between 2 Aug and 10 Oct was fewer than expected. Single Ruffs were along the coast on the Santa Ana River, Orange Co 15 Aug–9 Sep (Edana Salisbury), in Huntington Beach, Orange Co 3 Sep (Brian E. Daniels), in Irvine (San Jacinto Wildlife Sanctury), Orange Co 5–6 Sep (Yimo Yang), and on the Lower Otay Reservoir, San Diego Co 21–27 Sep (Christine Beck). Inland records of one at Piute Ponds, Los Angeles Co 14 Sep (Kimball L. Garrett) and the S.E.S.S. (Young Road) 29 Jul–17 Aug (Dessi E. Sieburth) are more unusual. Up to five Stilt Sandpipers on Owens Lake, Inyo Co 5–12 Sep (m.ob.), one at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Riverside Co on 29 Aug (Kathyrn McGiffen), and another there 6 Oct (Charity Hagen) were inland away from the Salton Sea where expected; singles at Estero Bluffs State Park, San Luis Obispo Co, 25–29 Aug (Bob McCay, Reef W. Comer), Port Hueneme 3–19 Sep (Marc Better), along the Los Angeles River 23–29 Aug (Mark and Janet Scheel) and 9 Sep (Richard Barth), and and up to two at Irvine/Seal Beach/Huntington Beach 5 Sep–23 Oct (Brian E Daniels) were along the coast where considered rare. A juvenile Curlew Sandpiper photographed on Morro Bay 21 Aug (Nick L. Belardes) provided the first record for San Luis Obispo Co.

Single Sanderlings on Owens Lake, Inyo Co on 24 Aug (m.ob.) and 5–6 Sep (m.ob.), in Boron, Kern Co 11–14 Sep (Steven M. Ritt), and in Barstow, San Bernardino Co 20 Sep (m.ob.) were the only four reported away from the Salton Sea. An exceptionally early fall migrant Dunlin was photographed at Owens Lake on 5 Sep (Chris and Rosie Howard)—the first fall migrants normally arrive in Southern California no earlier than late September. A little more than 100 Baird’s Sandpipers scattered throughout the Region was slightly more than expected. A Little Stint on south San Diego Bay 29 Aug–6 Nov (Matt Sadowski) was the same bird present through previous seven winters. Pectoral Sandpipers appeared less numerous than expected with only 40 reported. Sixteen Semipalmated Sandpipers scattered throughout the Region between 1 Aug and 16 Sep was less than expected. At least 80 Solitary Sandpipers were reported, with 30 inland and 50 along the coast 13 Aug–12 Oct, along with a late migrant in San Simeon, San Luis Obispo Co 24–25 Nov (Petra and Jack Clayton) and two wintering at Whelan Lake in Oceanside, San Diego Co 20 Nov+ (Sally Veach). The only Red Phalarope known well inland was one at N.E.S.S. (84^th Ave) 12 Nov (Robert L. McKernan).

Skuas through Gulls

Single South Polar Skuas were photographed over the Santa Catalina Channel 14 Sep (Adrian Hinkle) and off Orange Co on 30 Aug (Matthew A. Grube). Up to three young Parasitic Jaegers were harassing terns inland at the S.E.S.S. (Young Road) 9 Sep–22 Oct (Curtis A. Marantz, Samuel Bressler, Guy McCaskie).

Two Guadalupe Murrelets over the 30-Mile Bank off San Diego 10 Aug (Paul E. Lehman), four southwest of San Clemente Island 31 Aug (Naresh Satyan), another north of San Clemente Island 31 Aug (Mark Scheel), and single birds well off Santa Barbara Co on 9 (David Pereksta) and 29 Aug (David Pereksta) were the only nine reported. Five Craveri’s Murrelets off San Diego 7 Sep (Paul E. Lehman) and seven south of Santa Cruz Island 7 Sep (David Pereksta) were the latest off Southern California. A Crested Auklet, only the fourth known in California and the first in Southern California, was well photographed immediately offshore at Vandenberg Space Force Base, Santa Barbara Co 26–29 Jul (Julie Howar).

A first-summer White-winged Tern, the third known in California, and the first in Southern California, remained on south San Diego Bay 9 Jul–16 Aug (Paul E. Lehman, Matt Sadowski). A Common Tern, much scarcer in Southern California than 20 years ago, was inland, and away from the Salton Sea, at Spring Valley Lake, San Bernardino Co 9 Oct (William R. Deppe). Sabine’s Gulls appeared to be numerous inland, with more than thirty reported from the eastern part of this Region between 2 September and 24 October, including eight together at S.E.S.S. (Young Road) on 8 Oct (Guy McCaskie), along with an exceptionally late migrant photographed at S.E.S.S  (Young Road) on 14 Nov (Samuel Bressler). An adult Little Gull was on Soda Lake in the Carrizo Plain National Monument, San Luis Obispo Co 23 Nov (Matthew Dodder). Franklin’s Gulls were few and far between with one in Goleta, Santa Barbara Co on 15 Sep (Mark Holmgren) and four in Imperial Co between 15 Oct and 2 Nov being the only five reported. A hatch-year Heermann’s Gull was far inland on Owens Lake, Inyo Co on 11 Oct (Dana Hodgdon).

Tropicbirds through Cormorants

A Red-billed Tropicbird 13 km off Point Loma, San Diego Co 9 Nov (Garrison Doctor) and another a short distance off Dana Point, Orange Co 30 Aug (Thomas A. Benson) were closer to the coast than expected, while one east of San Clemente Island 31 Aug (Mark Scheel), a single bird well off Santa Barbara Co 9 Aug (David Pereksta) and two north of San Nicolas Island 9 Aug (David Pereksta) were well offshore where expected.

A Laysan Albatross over Estero Bay, San Luis Obispo Co on 17 Aug (Amy McKellar) was closer to the coast than normal. Two Wilson’s Storm-Petrels, rare off Southern California, were reported, with one 19 km off San Diego 23 Aug (Paul E. Lehman) and the other off Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo Co 27 Sep (Ben Kolstad). A Short-tailed Shearwater well photographed near Anacapa Island 7 Sep (Naresh Satyan) and another equally well photographed over Santa Monica Bay 28 Sep (Jonathan S. Feenstra) were both exceptionally early to be over Southern California’s oceanic waters since the first are not normally expected before early November. More than the expected one or two Flesh-footed Shearwaters were reported with single birds 28 km southwest of Point Loma 23 Aug (Paul E. Lehman), over the Nine-Mile Bank off San Diego 7 Sep (Paul E. Lehman), over the 30 Mile Bank off San Diego 1 Nov (Paul E. Lehman), off Dana Point, Orange Co 30 Aug (Thomas A Benson), over the Santa Catalina Channel off Los Angeles 14 Sep (Adrian Hinkle), well off Santa Barbara Co 12 Oct (Alexander Viduetsky), and north of San Nicolas Island 12 Oct (David Pereksta). Manx Shearwaters appear to be getting more numerous off Southern California with at least twelve reported between 8 August and 30 November.

The only Magnificent Frigatebird reported was one inland at N.E.S.S. (North Shore) 8 Aug (Robert T. McKernan). An adult Masked Booby was with the colony of Cocos Boobies on Santa Barbara Island 7 Aug and 14 Sep (Nick Lethaby), and one was photographed off Orange Co 4 Aug (Trevor Leitz). The only known Nazca Booby was one photographed off Ocean Beach, San Diego Co 22 Aug by the crew of the sport fishing boat “Privateer”. An immature Masked/Nazca Booby was 34 km west-southwest of Point Loma, San Diego Co 9 Aug (Paul E. Lehman). A Blue-footed Booby with the colony of Cocos Boobies on Santa Barbara Island 7 Aug and 14 Sep (Nick Lethaby) was joined by a second there 7 Aug–5 Sep (Joel Barrett) and one was photographed inland at the S.E.S.S. (Young Road) on 15 Oct (Deanna McLaughlin). Three Red-footed Boobies were reported with one 9 km west of La Jolla 18 Sep (Steven Lima), another over the Santa Catalina Channel off Los Angeles 14 Sep (Adrian Hinkle), and the third well photographed over the Catalina Ridge off Los Angeles 28 Sep (m.ob.). A Neotropic Cormorant, a species increasing in numbers throughout the southern half of this Region, in Cayucos, San Luis Obispo Co 4 Aug (Josh McLaughlin) was the northernmost on the coast.

Herons through Falcons

A Little Blue Heron at the Laguna Creek mouth on Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo Co 30–31 Aug (Steve and Janny Tillmann, Sam Larkin), an adult at Bolsa Chica, Orange Co 30 Aug–8 Nov (m.ob.), and two juveniles there 5–30 Nov (Roger A. Schoedl) were the only five reported north of San Diego Co. Three Tricolored Herons scattered around San Diego 12 Sep–30 Nov+ (m.ob.), single birds at Seal Beach, Orange Co 22 Sep–30 Nov+ (Claudia Sandell) and at Bolsa Chica 30 Oct–26 Nov (Debra Gala) along with a long staying bird at Point Mugu, Ventura Co 1 Aug–30 Nov (David Pereksta), were the only six known in California. A Reddish Egret at the Cayucos Creek mouth, San Luis Obispo Co 1–30 Aug (Tom M. Edell) was the northernmost on the coast, and single birds at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve, Riverside Co 25 Oct (Adam Panto) and N.E.S.S. 26 Oct–12 Nov (Gjon C. Hazard, Robert L. McKernan) along with up to two at the S.E.S.S. (Young Road) 11 Jun–22 Aug (Bobby Figarotta) were inland. A Yellow-crowned Night Heron first reported at the Mojave Narrows, San Bernardino Co on 28 July, was still present 6 Aug (William R. Deppe) and one at San Simeon, San Luis Obispo Co 11–23 Oct (Petra and Jack Clayton) was the northernmost on the coast.

A Black Vulture remained at the Estero Bluffs State Park, San Luis Obispo Co 31 Jul–5 Aug (Eric Jensen) and what may have been the same bird was farther north at the San Simeon State Park 26 Sep (Reef W. Comer). A Harris’s Hawk well photographed at Furnace Creek Ranch 7–8 Nov (Curtis A. Marantz) was a species new to Inyo County. A Common Black Hawk, now of annual occurrence at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve, Riverside Co was there 7 Aug–27 Sep (Bob Packard). Two Broad-winged Hawks were well inland at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley National Park on 22 Sep (RDK), and another there on 5 Oct (Adrian Hinkle), one at Barstow, San Bernardino Co 27 Sep (Matthew A. Grube) and one at Baker, San Bernardino Co 30 Sep (Johnny C. Bovee) were well inland, while nearly fifty southbound migrants were reported along the coast from San Luis Obispo Co to San Diego Co between 22 September and 27 October. At least two Zone-tailed Hawks at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve, Riverside Co 7 Aug–28 Nov (m.ob.) were the only ones reported well inland, and one over Oak View, Ventura Co 20 Oct (iNaturalist) and two in Ojai, Ventura Co (Erica Harris) 10–11 Nov were the northernmost along the coast. A Rough-legged Hawk on the coast near Point Piedras Blancas 30 Nov (Terri Osborne) and another photographed at Fawnskin on Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino Co 10 Nov (Trisha D. Green) were the only two reported this fall.

A migrant Flammulated Owl was on Point Loma, San Diego Co 27 Sep (Joe Alsadi). A minor movement of Lewis’s Woodpeckers resulted in small numbers reported throughout much of the Region following an early arrival at Santee, San Diego Co on 25 Sep (Brennan Mulrooney), and included one on San Clemente Island on 18 Oct (San Diego Zoo staff) and another at the S.E.S.S. (Unit 1) on 21 Oct (Butch Carter). California’s seventh Red-headed Woodpecker was an immature well photographed in Death Valley National Park at Furnace Creek Ranch 7 Nov–17 Jan (Steven M. Ritt). An Acorn Woodpecker in Desert Hot Springs, Riverside Co 16 Oct (Daniel Ward) was in the desert east of this species’ range in Southern California. A White-headed Woodpecker in Boron, Kern Co 5 Oct (Steven M. Ritt) was certainly unexpected at this desert location.

A Crested Caracara of unknown provenance was at Ormond Beach Ventura Co 13 Oct (Nathan Bradford) and another was in Orange, Orange Co 12 Aug (Jasmine C. Kay).

Flycatchers through Vireos

The season’s only Dusky-capped Flycatcher was an individual returning for its third winter at

Vincent Lugo Park in San Gabriel, Los Angeles Co 10 Nov+ (Sylvia Afable). An Ash-throated Flycatcher in downtown Bakersfield 30 Nov (William L. Rockey) was very late for Kern Co. The regular fall movement of Tropical Kingbirds into the region from the south was in evidence this year with some 46 birds found in the coastal counties during the period, the earliest being at Laguna Beach, Orange Co 6 Sep (Richard A. Erickson); another was well inland at S.E.S.S. 2 Nov (Andy Stepniewski).

Thick-billed Kingbirds often return to winter year after year, with four found this fall being returning birds—at Bellevue Memorial Park in Ontario, San Bernardino Co 26 Oct+ (Thomas A. Benson), Alta Loma, San Bernardino Co 27 Oct+ (Thomas A. Benson), the Mineral Wells section of Griffith Park, Los Angeles Co 28 Oct+ (Naresh Satyan), and at the nearby Merry-Go-Round area of Griffith Park 2 Nov+ (Greg Slak). The last bird was missing its tail when first found, suggesting it might have been the same bird (also missing its tail) found as a migrant at Willow Springs Park in Signal Hill, Los Angeles Co 23 Oct (Brad Dawson); the realization that there were two individuals in Griffith Park prompts a slight correction to the Winter 2024–2025 Southern California report in that the observations 1 Mar and 26 Apr 2025 near the Merry-Go-Round pertain to the initially tail-less bird returning there this fall, with the final date for the Mineral Wells bird being revised to 11 Apr 2025.

A Western Kingbird at Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley N. P., Inyo Co 13–21 Nov (Logan Kahle) was exceptionally late for the northern deserts. The fall’s five Eastern Kingbirds were at the Ventura Settling Ponds, Ventura Co 6–13 Sep (Rachel Lawrence, Nicki Vasquez), San Clemente I. 21 Sep (David Holway), Encinitas, San Diego Co 8 Oct (Gjon C. Hazard), on the desert at Lake Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co 6–9 Sep (Mark and Janet Scheel) and Barstow Water Treatment Plant, San Bernardino Co 12–14 Sep (Dessi E. Sieburth). Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were at Lunada Bay, Palos Verdes Estates, Los Angeles Co 7–9 Nov (Riley Daniels) and the Great Park in Irvine, Orange Co 8 Oct (Ian Swift).

A Greater Pewee was in Sycamore Canyon in the Whittier Hills, Los Angeles Co 11 Oct+ (Larry Schmahl), with another at Monrovia Canyon Park, Los Angeles Co 27 Nov+ (BreeAnn Crofts, Mark and Janet Scheel et al.). The latest Western Wood-Pewee report was from Legg Lake, Los Angeles Co 8 Nov (Darren Dowell). Few Alder Flycatchers have been confidently identified in the region, but this fall well-documented birds were at the Andree Clark Bird Refuge in Santa Barbara 15–17 Sep (Mark Holmgren) and at Point Loma, San Diego Co 26–28 Sep (Adrian Hinkle). An exceptionally late Willow Flycatcher was at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary, Irvine 12–28 Nov (Samuel A. Bressler); it was tentatively identified as E. t. adastus from call notes (Cin-Ty Lee). Four Least Flycatchers, annual vagrants to the region, were found at Avalon, Santa Catalina I. 27 Sep (Adrian Hinkle, Logan Kahle, Dessi E. Sieburth), Point Loma 6–7 Oct (Adrian Hinkle), Arnold Road near Oxnard, Ventura Co 11 Oct (Jimmy McMorran, Robert McMorran), and on the se. desert at Bard, Imperial Co 22 Oct (Todd Easterla). The earliest of nine Eastern Phoebes was at Mojave Narrows Regional Park, San Bernardino Co 16–18 Sep (William R. Deppe). Two late-nesting pairs of Black Phoebes fledged young on the University of California Riverside campus on 10 Oct and 25 Nov (David Rankin). The population boom of Vermilion Flycatchers in the region continues, with new seasonal high counts of 109 birds in Orange Co (Ryan Winkleman) and 148 birds in Los Angeles Co (m.ob.).

A White-eyed Vireo, a casual vagrant to California, was photographed at Lake Palmdale 23 Oct (Callyn Yorke), establishing the first fall record for Los Angeles Co; the great majority of California records are for late spring and summer. A Bell’s Vireo identified as bellii/medius from the eastern part of the species’ range, was at Cayucos, San Luis Obispo Co 7–10 Oct (Tom M. Edell; #SBMNH); other yellowish birds possibly also of eastern origin were at Jacumba, San Diego Co 21 Sep (Bridget Spencer) and Little Harbor, Santa Catalina I. 28 Sep (Adrian Hinkle, Dessi E. Sieburth). A Gray Vireo at Descanso, San Diego Co 3–5 Sep (Michael Behnke) was close to known nesting locations, so may have bred locally. A Blue-headed Vireo was on Point Loma 30 Nov+ (Lisa Ruby). An impressive 45 Plumbeous Vireos were found in San Diego Co Sep–Nov. Late migrant Western Warbling-Vireos were in Los Angeles (USC campus) 3 Nov (Joshua Mitchell) and Long Beach 19 Nov (Robert A. Hamilton); but the champion was the bird at Bohnett Park in Santa Barbara 16 Oct–25 Nov (Mark Bright et al.) which had returned for its thirteenth winter.

The only Philadelphia Vireo of the fall was at San Simeon State Park, San Luis Obispo Co 30 Sep (Kevin J. Zimmer). A Red-eyed Vireo at Matilija Lake, Ventura Co 8 Aug (Christopher Hinkle) was likely summering; fall vagrants were at Arroyo Grande, San Luis Obispo Co 2–3 Sep (Herb D. Elliott), Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo Co 10 Sep (Reef W. Comer), Coronado, San Diego Co 19 Sep (Paul E. Lehman), Goleta (Lake Los Carneros), Santa Barbara Co 21 Sep (Steve Hovey), Carmel Valley, San Diego Co 2 Oct (Eve Martin), and Ventura 18 Oct (Robert McMorran). Yellow-green Vireos have a somewhat similar fall status in the region as Red-eyed, though averaging a bit later; this fall birds were at McGrath State Beach, Ventura Co 20–28 Sep (Matt Brady, Dan Maxwell), Huntington Central Park, Orange Co 20–25 Sep (Eddie Monson) with it or another there 8–12 Oct (Loren Y. Wright), Laguna Hills, Orange Co 21–29 Sep (Brian Nothhelfer), Sycamore Canyon campground, Ventura Co 28 Sep (Ryan Burnett), and Scorpion Canyon on Santa Cruz I. 28 Sep (Nick Lethaby).

Shrikes through Finches

A Northern Shrike made it south into the region at Aspendell, Inyo Co 14 Nov (Nancy J. Overholtz).

Two Steller’s Jays of the interior “Long-crested” group remained at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve, Riverside Co 31 Oct–28 Nov+ (Dessi E. Sieburth, Adrian Hinkle); another was west of Desert Center, Riverside Co 15 Nov (Sean Rowe). Also somewhat irruptive in the region away from its limited breeding range is the Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay; one was on the open desert west of Blythe, Riverside Co 6 Oct (Lonnie Rodriguez) and another was at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve 31 Oct–26 Nov (Dessi E. Sieburrth, Adrian Hinkle). Six Clark’s Nutcrackers at Figueroa Mtn., Santa Barbara Co 20 Oct (Bradley Hacker) represented an isolated occurrence, with no broader incursion noted.

A Purple Martin on Anacapa I., Ventura Co 13 Sep (Matt Brady, Nicole Desnoyers, Adam Searcy, Justyn Stahl) was only the second for the island; small numbers of migrants were found in the coastal counties 11 Aug–30 Sep, and on the eastern deserts singles were at Furnace Creek Ranch 6 Sep and 20 Sep and at S.E.S.S. 26 Aug and 30 Sep.

A Phylloscopus warbler photographed at Huntington Central Park 3 Oct (Roger A. Schoedl) was clearly an Arctic/Kamchatka Leaf Warbler, but as has been the case with other such birds in California species identification was not possible. A Golden-crowned Kinglet at Brawley, Imperial Co 8 Nov (Chris A. Dean) was the farthest south of the few reported this fall.

There were no irruptions of nuthatches this fall, though a Pygmy Nuthatch in Pearblossom, Los Angeles Co 11 Oct (Kimball L. Garrett) was away from mountain pine forest habitat. A Winter Wren was at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve 10 Nov (Christopher Hinkle).

The eight Gray Catbirds found during the period were evenly divided between the coastal slope and islands (26 Sep–23 Oct) and the deserts (8 Sep–30 Nov+). A Curve-billed Thrasher was at Needles, San Bernardino Co 30 Oct (Kenneth Fisher); most California records are for the Lower Colorado River Valley. The only Brown Thrashers reported were at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 8–12 Oct (m.ob.), Scorpion Canyon, Santa Cruz I. 29 Oct–5 Nov (Nick Lethaby), and Bishop, Inyo Co 5 Nov (Mary Beth Hennesy).

Eight Mountain Bluebirds on San Clemente I. 28 Nov (Nicole J. Desnoyers) perhaps portended the large numbers found in the mainland interior in the winter. A Townsend’s Solitaire at Salton Sea N. W. R. Headquarters 22 Oct (Nolan Boronka) was in an area of casual occurrence. A carefully studied “Olive-backed” Swainson’s Thrush was in Atascadero, San Luis Obispo Co 2 Oct (Kevin J. Zimmer); a very late individual of the expected “Russet-backed” group was at Morro Creek in Morro Bay 26 Oct (Tom M. Edell). A Rufous-backed Robin at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Riverside Co 20–24 Oct (Chet McGaugh) was one of only four ever found in California west of the deserts.

California’s third Olive-backed Pipit was enjoyed by many during its 25 Oct–5 Nov stay at Gilman Park in Fullerton 25 Oct–5 Nov (Greg Sanders); one of the prior records was also in Orange Co. It was a poor fall for Red-throated Pipits, with the only sightings being of two in Ocean Beach, San Diego Co 22–28 Oct (Matt Sadowski) and one in Griffith Park (Toyon Landfill) in Los Angeles 9 Nov (Andrew Birch). An uncharacteristically confiding Sprague’s Pipit was at the Furnace Creek Inn in Death Valley 28–30 Oct (Adam Panto), and another was at Bard, Imperial Co 12 Nov (Logan Kahle).

Adding to the long list of escaped exotics found in the region, a Hooded Siskin (Spinus magellanicus) was photographed at Colorado Lagoon in Long Beach 1 Aug (Nancy Salem).

Longspurs through Grackles

Ten Lapland Longspurs were at scattered coastal and inland localities 15 Oct–23 Nov, mirroring the ten Chestnut-collared Longspurs at similarly diverse sites 26 Sep–14 Nov. Only two Thick-billed Longspurs were reported—at Palmdale, Los Angeles Co 23 Nov–6 Dec (Mark and Janet Scheel) and Scorpion Canyon on Santa Cruz I. 28 Nov (Femi Faminu).

Lark Buntings were on the coast at Hearst San Simeon State Park, San Luis Obispo Co 17 Sep (Eric Cleveland) and Two Harbors, Santa Catalina I. 28 Sep (Adrian Hinkle, Logan Kahle, Dessi E. Sieburth), with another in the San Bernardino Mts. at Erwin Lake 27 Sep (Sally Veach). A rather high total of 69 Clay-colored Sparrows were in the coastal counties 28 Aug+ with another seven on the deserts 17 Sep–25 Oct. A Field Sparrow at Thompson Reservoir on Santa Catalina I. 19 Oct (Adrian Hinkle, Dessi E. Sieburth) was only the 17th for the region and the first for the Channel Islands. Casual this far south, an American Tree Sparrow was at Carlsbad, San Diego Co 12 Nov (Jane Mygatt). Fifteen Swamp Sparrows were on the coastal slope 8 Oct+ and another seven were on the deserts 2 Oct–9 Dec.

A moderate total of 14 Bobolinks occurred on the coastal slope 14 Sep–14 Oct; the lone report from the deserts was of one at Furnace Creek Ranch 13 Sep (Dessi E. Sieburth). Intensive searching by intrepid observers yielded California’s first Chihuahuan (“Lilian’s”) Meadowlark in fallowed agricultural fields at Bard, Imperial Co 11–30 Nov+ (Adrian and Christopher Hinkle), with diagnostic call notes and plumage (particularly the extent of white in the rectrices) well-documented by multiple observers. Thirteen Orchard Orioles were along the coast 28 Aug+, with up to two more birds at Furnace Creek Ranch 6–22 Sep (Adrian Hinkle). Eight Baltimore Orioles were on the coastal slope 5 Sep+, with another at Furnace Creek Ranch 1 Oct (Loren Wright). A Common Grackle at the Vandenberg Space Force Base 5–7 Nov (Nick Lethaby, et al.) was the third for Santa Barbara Co and one of the few in the region in recent years.

Wood-Warblers

An impressive forty species of wood-warblers were found in the region this fall. The season’s five Ovenbirds were all along the coast, at Carlsbad, San Diego Co 13–16 Sep (Chris Dong), Point Loma 21 Sep (Matt Sadowski), San Clemente I. 23 Sep (Sue Meiman), Sycamore Canyon Campground, Ventura Co 1 Oct (Joel Barrett, Robert McMorran), and Camarillo, Ventura Co 16–18 Oct (Linnea Hall). A Worm-eating Warbler, barely annual in the region, was at Murrieta, Riverside Co 18 Oct (Fred Baker). Twenty Northern Waterthrushes were on the coastal slope and islands 1 Sep+, with another fifteen on the deserts 23 Aug–21 Sep including three at Furnace Creek Ranch on the former date (m.ob.). The much rarer Louisiana Waterthrush was found at Poway, San Diego Co 12–23 Sep (Lisa Ruby) along with a returning wintering bird at Solana Beach, San Diego Co 31 Oct+ (Logan Kahle). A Golden-winged Warbler was seen by many at Kennebec Linear Park in Ventura 8–17 Oct (Robert McMorran). Sixty-four Black-and-white Warblers were on the coastal slope 26 Aug+ and another three were on the deserts 6 Sep–15 Oct.

About average were the eight Prothonotary Warblers during the period, at Brawley (Riverview Cemetery), Imperial Co 5–10 Sep (Jon L. Dunn), Furnace Creek Ranch 20–23 Sep (Dessi E. Sieburth), Meadow Park in San Luis Obispo 8–15 Oct (Nick L. Belardes), El Dorado Park in Long Beach 19 Oct (Layne Gerl, Jeff Moore), Santa Rosa I. 2 Nov (Shannon Underhill), the U. C. Santa Barbara campus 9 Nov (Yixin l et al.), San Diego 19–26 Nov (John Bruin), and Del Mar, San Diego Co 20–25 Nov (iNaturalist). This fall saw one of the highest totals ever in the region for Tennessee Warbler, with at least 97 birds on the coastal slope 16 Aug–28 Nov (including eight on Santa Catalina Island alone) and ten on the deserts 13 Sep–23 Nov; the earliest bird, at Morro Bay 16 Aug–5 Sep (Kaaren L. Parry) was molting and likely had summered locally. Seventeen Lucy’s Warblers were on the coastal slope 20 Aug–4 Dec, with another on the desert at Lake Los Angeles, Los Angeles Co 30 Aug (Kimball L. Garrett); similarly, twenty-two Virginia’s Warblers were on the coastal slope 28 Aug–18 Oct, with others on the desert (away from breeding locations) 2–16 Sep.

A very late MacGillivray’s Warbler was at Studio City, Los Angeles Co 20 Nov (Otto Mayer). An impressive total of four Mourning Warblers included birds at Morro Creek in Morro Bay 23 Aug (Chris Henry), Goleta, Santa Barbara Co 16 Sep (Nick Lethaby et al.), Carpinteria Creek, Santa Barbara Co 18–22 Sep (Spencer Seale), and Sycamore Canyon Campground 28–29 Sep (Ryan Burnett). A Kentucky Warbler played hide and seek with birders at a resort hotel in Mission Bay, San Diego Co 23–30 Nov (Elizabeth and Kevin Wyrwich).

Both Hooded Warblers found this fall were on the desert, in the Granite Mts., San Bernardino Co 10 Oct (Tim Miller) and Furnace Creek Ranch 15 Oct (Loren Wright). An oversummering American Redstart remained at Pismo State Beach Oceano Campground to 23 Sep (Nick L. Belardes); another 43 were on the coast in September and October, with 16 on the deserts 13 Sep+. A Cape May Warbler returned for its third winter at Loyola Marymount University in Westchester, Los Angeles Co 18 Oct+ (Kevin Lapp); another was at Carmel Valley, San Diego Co 29 Sep–15 Oct (Ruslan Balagansky). Record high numbers of Northern Parulas were found this fall, with an oversummering bird at Pismo State Beach Oceano Campground 11 Aug–4 Sep (Herb D. Elliott), 21 more on the coast 19 Aug–29 Nov, one in the San Diego Co mountains at Lake Cuyamaca 4 Nov (Jim Pawlicki), and ten on the deserts 13 Sep–28 Nov. Eleven Magnolia Warblers were found on the coastal slope of San Diego Co along 28 Sep+, with another five elsewhere on the coast and islands 23 Sep–18 Oct; on the northern desert one was at Furnace Creek Ranch 1–9 Oct (Loren Wright, Carl Lundblad).

The fall’s nine Bay-breasted Warblers set a record, with all appearing late in the season at Glen Helen Regional Park, San Bernardino Co 12 Oct (Ruslan Balagansky), Jacumba, San Diego Co 30 Oct (Paul E. Lehman), San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Riverside Co 3 Nov (Luca Cinus), Laguna Lake in San Luis Obispo 4–25 Nov (Bob McCay), Tijuana River Valley 6–16 Nov (Tom Baxter), La Mesa, San Diego Co 8 Nov (Margaret Brown), El Segundo, Los Angeles Co 15–16 Nov (Sarah Boscoe), Tustin, Orange Co 21 Nov (Jasmine C Kay), and Huntington Central Park 27–28 Nov (m.ob.). Blackburnian Warblers were also well-represented, with 26 birds on the coast 26 Sep–22 Nov and two on the deserts at Ft. Irwin, San Bernardino Co 23 Sep–25 Oct (Elijah Clark, John Mark Simmons) and Desert Lakes Park near Boron, Kern Co 28 Sep (Steven M. Ritt). About average were 17 Chestnut-sided Warblers on the coast 4 Sep–29 Oct, plus a wintering bird on the University of Southern California campus in Los Angeles 28 Nov+ (Andrew Birch) and birds on the desert at Furnace Creek Ranch 20 Sep (Adrian Hinkle), Barstow, San Bernardino Co 20 Sep (Thomas A. Benson), and Hinkley, San Bernardino Co 26 Sep (Kristin Hayes). Among the 24 Blackpoll Warblers found this fall, all on or near the coast, was one at Atwater Village, Los Angeles Co 28 Sep–1 Oct (Andrew Birch) that had been banded on 18 Sep on Southeast Farallon I. in northern California.

The only two Black-throated Blue Warblers were at Furnace Creek Ranch 13 Sep (Dessi E. Sieburth) and Kearny Mesa, San Diego Co 7 Oct (Paul E. Lehman); this poor fall showing was matched this century only in 2013 and 2002. Fifty-five Palm Warblers were found on the coastal slope 17 Sep+, with others at Furnace Creek Ranch 23 Sep (Curtis A. Marantz) and 1 Oct (Chris and Rosie Howard) and Ft. Irwin 6 Oct (Matt Gould). Often our latest warblers to appear in fall, Pine Warblers were at La Jolla, San Diego Co 7 Nov (Paul Mulholland), Huntington Beach 14 Nov (Jim E. Pike) and Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale, Los Angeles Co 30 Nov (Nikki Karvelas). A Yellow-rumped Warbler at Montana de Oro State Park 1 Sep (Bob Stafford) was exceptionally early for San Luis Obispo Co. Among our rarest parulids, a Yellow-throated Warbler was at Robb Field in Ocean Beach, San Diego Co 10 Oct (Adrian Hinkle).

Rare but annual Prairie Warblers were at the Tijuana River Valley 6 Sep (Zachary Romano), Arroyo del Oso, San Luis Obispo Co 25 Sep (Logan Kahle), and Meadow Park in San Luis Obispo 29–30 Sep (Nick L. Belardes). A Grace’s Warbler at Arroyo Verde Park in Ventura 24 Sep+ (Matt Brady) was returning for a third winter; others were at Rancho Palos Verdes Los Angeles Co 2 Oct (Sofie Shen) and at Chilao in the San Gabriel Mts., Los Angeles Co 19 Oct–7 Nov (Alix Duggins, Sarah Ngo, Maggie Perlman, Kristin Vail). Black-throated Green Warblers included a returning winterer at the Clark Library in Los Angeles 29 Sep+ (Rebecca Marschall) and others at Avalon on Santa Catalina I. 25 Oct–2 Nov (Adrian Hinkle), Bonelli Regional Park, Los Angeles Co 7 Nov (Becca Cockrum), and Point Loma 30 Nov+ (John Bruin). Canada Warblers were at Morro Bay 25–26 Oct (Ann and Pat Vaughan) and Huntington Central Park 12–28 Nov (Tami Kailola). The ten Painted Redstarts during the period were all on the coastal slope of Los Angeles and San Diego Cos 29 Sep+ and included three returning wintering birds and a vagrant at Avalon, Santa Catalina I. 6 Nov (Joseph Vickers).

Cardinalids

Returning wintering Hepatic Tanagers were at Goleta 5 Nov+ (Sophie Cameron) for a third winter, Wing Street Canyon in San Diego 25 Oct+ (Michelle Haglund) for a third winter, and Tierrasanta, San Diego Co 13 Nov+ (Paul E. Lehman)—a male for an eighth winter and female for a second winter; others were at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve  9–15 Oct (Matthew A. Grube), Doane Valley on Palomar Mountain, San Diego Co 6 Nov (David Trissel) and La Jolla 20–25 Nov (Paul Mulholland). Summer Tanagers away from breeding sites included some 80 birds on the coastal slope during the period and birds on the desert at Lake Los Angeles 19 Sep (Kimball L. Garrett) and El Centro, Imperial Co (Chris A. Dean). Typically late in fall, Scarlet Tanagers put on a good showing this year with birds at Balboa Park in San Diego 14 Oct (Justyn T. Stahl), Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 15 Oct (m.ob.) and 12–13 Nov (m.ob.), Camino Real Park in Ventura 28 Oct–1 Nov (John Mueller), Westminster, Orange Co 29–30 Oct (Jim E. Pike), Pismo State Beach Oceano Campground 11 Nov (Kevin J. Zimmer), Bard 12 Nov (Logan Kahle), Culver City, Los Angeles Co with a hatch-year male 17–23 Nov (Melissa Haylock) and a female there 22          Nov–1 Dec (Mark Wilson), Escondido, San Diego Co 18 Nov (Bridget Spencer), and La Jolla 27 Nov (Paul Mulholland). A Western Tanager at Saint Andrew’s Abbey in Valyermo 23 Nov (Kimball L. Garrett) was the first to be found after October in the desert portion of Los Angeles Co.

The 34 Rose-breasted Grosbeaks reported 14 Aug–23 Nov were all on the coastal slope except for singles at Furnace Creek Ranch 1 Oct (Loren Wright) and Bishop 21 Nov (Nancy J. Overholtz).

Nine Indigo Buntings were on the coastal slope 15 Aug–1 Dec, plus two at Desert Lakes Park near Boron 27 Sep (Steven M. Ritt) and one at Baker, San Bernardino Co 10–12 Oct (Andrew Lee). Painted Buntings were found in exceptional numbers this fall, with fifteen birds along the coast 2 Sep–28 Nov (including five on the Channel Islands) and seven on the deserts 16 Aug–27 Sep (including up to four at Furnace Creek Ranch 23 Aug–20 Sep). The 13 Dickcissels found on the coast included one in Avalon, Santa Catalina I. 18–21 Oct (Naresh Satyan, Janet and Mark Scheel); on the deserts up to four birds were at Furnace Creek Ranch 20 Sep–17 Oct, with a high count of three 11–12 Oct (Adrian Hinkle), another was there 19 Nov (Matt Brady), and one was at North Edwards, Kern Co 30 Oct (Steven M. Ritt).

Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 31 Mar 2026.