Waterfowl through Swifts

Unexpected were two Greater White-fronted Geese at S.E.S.S. (Young Road) 13 Jul (Tim Ryan). A Brant at S.E.S.S. (Young Road) 13–25 Jul (Tim Ryan) was clearly summering locally. A summering Harlequin Duck was at the North Point Natural Area, San Luis Obispo Co 2 Jun–15 Jul (Petra and Jack Clayton). A Long-tailed Duck, first seen on south San Diego Bay 10 Mar (Lea Squires) was present 31 Jul+, one in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co, from winter was last reported 4 Jun (Nancy Salem), and another remained in Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo Co from winter to 23 Jun (Nick L. Belardes). Two Hooded Mergansers together on the lower Santa Rosa Creek 21 Jul (Tom M. Edell) established only the fifth Summer record in San Luis Obispo Co.

A White-winged Dove in Creston, San Luis Obispo Co 24 Jun (Jan P. Bugge) was the only one reported on the immediate coast. Single Yellow-billed Cuckoos along the San Luis Rey River in Oceanside, San Diego Co 7 Jun (Sally Veach), at Fort Rosecrans Cemetery on Point Loma, San Diego Co 12 Jun (Jim Roberts), in Eagle Rock, Los Angeles Co 11 Jul (fide Kelsey Reckling; window-killed specimen to *MLZ) and in the mountains at Lake Arrowhead 30 Jun (Jim Stone) were spring migrants far from any known breeding localities; only one was reported at the expected “stronghold” at the Kern River Preserve, Kern Co 30 Jun–3 Jul, but several were reported nesting along the Santa Clara River, Ventura Co (fide Sammy Cowell) along with at least one pair at Matilija Lake, Ventura Co (fide Sammy Cowell). In addition, a Yellow-billed Cuckoo along the Colorado River at Big River, San Bernardino Co 29 Jun (Matt Farley) and up to four along San Felipe Creek near Scissors Crossing, San Diego Co 16 Jun–24 Jul (Nancy Christensen) were in suitable nesting habitat.

A Common Nighthawk, casual anywhere in migration, and especially along the coast, was well seen in flight over Santa Barbara 9 Jun (Peter Gaede). Two Mexican Whip-poor-wills on Clark Mountain, San Bernardino Co 15 Jun (Sam Baxter-Bray) and one at the Serrano Campground in the San Bernardino Mountains 20 Jun (Brian Leatherman) were the only ones reported.

Seven Black Swifts at Ragged Point, San Luis Obispo Co 24 Jul (Steve and Priscilla Summers) and three at Monkeyface Falls in the San Bernardino Mountains 15 Jun (Jack McDonough) were likely nesting locally, but a Black Swift over Rancho Santa Margarita 18 Jun (Robert A. Hamilton) was a late spring migrant. A Vaux’s Swift in Atascadero, San Luis Obispo 27 Jun–26 Jul (Steve and Janny Tillman) was likely nesting locally.

Rails through Sandpipers

A Sora, rare anywhere in Southern California in summer, was photographed at Ormond Beach, Ventura Co 16 Jul (Rick Constantino)

A close to “pure” American Oystercatcher was well photographed in La Jolla, San Diego Co 21–31 Jul (Steven Lima) and another at Dana Point 28 Oct remained through 31 Jul (Tyler Greenly). Exceptionally late presumed spring migrant Pacific Golden-Plovers were at the Santa Clara River Estuary 12 Jun (Killian Hample) and Bolsa Chica, Orange Co 16 Jun (Roger A. Schoedl), while one in Playa del Rey, Los Angeles Co 9–31 Jul+ (Layton Pace) was evidently a returning wintering bird, and another at the Santa Ynez River Estuary, Santa Barbara Co 31 Jul (Nick A. Lethaby) was a fall migrant.

A Whimbrel showing some white on the rump, but not enough to be considered variegatus, attracted much attention during its stay in Del Mar, San Diego Co 11–13 Jul (Nathan French). A Bar-tailed Godwit was on the beach in Cayucos, San Luis Obispo Co 31 Jul (Noah Gaines). Two Red Knots at S.E.S.S. (Young Road) 7 Jun (Brandon K. Percival) were late spring migrants, and five there 24 Jul (Curtis A. Marantz) were the first of the fall migrants. An adult male Ruff was at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve, Los Angeles Co 7–10 Jul (Sara Boscoe). An adult Curlew Sandpiper on south San Diego Bay (saltworks) 13–23 Jul (Paul E. Lehman) was the tenth to be identified in San Diego Co. A Little Stint well photographed on south San Diego Bay 28 Jul (Nick Thorpe and Matt Sadowski) was clearly a different bird than that wintering there during the past six years. An adult Semipalmated Sandpiper was at the Ballona Wetlands Ecological Reserve 8–13 Jul (Curtis A. Marantz).

A Spotted Sandpiper, casual in summer at the Salton Sink, was photographed at S.E.S.S. (Lack & Grubel) 15 Jun (Paul Fenwick). The first of the fall migrant Solitary Sandpipers were one on the Los Angeles River in Los Angeles 11 Jul (Chris Dean) and another inland at Piute Ponds, Los Angeles Co 12 Jul (Chris Dean).

Skuas through Terns

A South Polar Skua was southeast of San Clemente Island 19 Jul (Naresh Satyan).

A Pigeon Guillemot at Point La Jolla in La Jolla, San Diego Co 27 Jun (Paul Mulholland) was near the southern extreme of this species’ known range. A Guadalupe Murrelet, an alcid normally found only far offshore, was over the San Diego Trough off San Diego 14 Jul (Paul E. Lehman) and another was southeast of San Clemente I. 19 Jul (Naresh Satyan). Two Craveri’s Murrelets off Ventura Co 13 Jun (David Pereksta) were the northernmost reported. Up to seven Rhinoceros Auklets at Spooners Cove in Montana de Oro State Park, San Luis Obispo Co 12 Jun–14 Jul (Petra and Jack Clayton) were believed to be nesting; if so, this would be the southernmost breeding location in modern times.

An immature Laughing Gull at Silver Strand State Beach, San Diego Co 25 Jun (Barbara Spencer), two adults on south San Diego Bay 10–14 Jul (Matt Sadowski), an adult at Penasquitos Lagoon, San Diego Co 30 Jul (Alex Abela) and another at the Santa Clara River Estuary, Ventura Co 3 Jun (Rick Constantino) were on the coast where considered rare. Six Laughing Gulls at Mystic Lake, Riverside Co 11 Jun (Robert Packard) were believed to be associated with the annual northward post breeding movement of this species from nesting locations in the Gulf of California. A Laughing Gull at Diaz Lake 18 Jul (Russell D. Kokx) was only the second ever in Inyo Co. A Franklin’s Gull at Piute Ponds, Los Angeles Co 4 Jun (Ken Burgdorff) was a late spring migrant. An adult Heermann’s Gull at Laguna Campground in the Laguna Mountains, San Diego Co, was far inland and extremely rare. Two Yellow-footed Gulls at S.E.S.S. (Young Road) 4 Jul (Wendy Miller) were the first of the post-breeding birds there this year, but numbers were low, with most gone by early August, undoubtedly due to the lack of food. A Lesser Black-backed Gull on the Los Angeles River south of downtown Los Angeles 15 Jul–1 Aug (Chris Dean) was probably the same bird found there 17 May.

A Least Tern was at S.E.S.S. (Young Road) 17 Jul (Todd Easterla). The only known successful nesting Gull-billed Terns at the Salton Sea were at the Niland Boat Ramp, Imperial Co, where up to seven fledglings were present 26 Jun-10 Jul (Robert L. McKernan); nesting attempts elsewhere at the Salton Sea evidently failed due to predation.

Tropicbirds through Cormorants

A Red-billed Tropicbird was in the Santa Catalina Channel 5 Jun (Loren Wright) and at least one more was over the Mackerel Bank/Emery Knoll 19–31 Jul (Naresh Satyan, Delaney Trowbridge, Jimmy McMorran).

A Laysan Albatross 6.5 km off La Jolla, San Diego Co 7 and 17 Jul (Matthias Scheer) was unusually close to the coast and another over the Lausen Sea Mount 22 Jul (Delaney Trowbridge) was the fourth known over Orange Co’s pelagic waters. A Townsend’s Storm-Petrel, a post breeding visitor to the ocean waters off Southern California, at the 30-mile Bank off San Diego 14 Jul (Paul E. Lehman) was the earliest this year. A Streaked Shearwater, the twenty-second to be identified in California, and the first off San Diego Co, was photographed 23 km west of Point Loma 14 Jul (Alex Abela). A Wedge-tailed Shearwater, even rarer off California, was well photographed south of Anacapa Island 4 Jul (Joel Barrett). A Manx Shearwater was photographed over the east Santa Barbara Channel 3 Jul (Joel Barrett) and another was over the San Pedro Channel, Los Angeles Co 27 Jul (Van Pierszalowski).

Seven sightings of immature Magnificent Frigatebirds along the coast between south San Diego Bay and Solana Beach, San Diego Co 11–15 Jul probably involved no more than four individuals, and additional individuals were farther north at Dana Point, Orange Co 28 Jun (Robin Gurule), at Crystal Cove State Beach, Orange Co 1 Jul (Nicholas Earnhart), and Point Fermin in San Pedro, Los Angeles Co 30 Jun (Boris Droutman).

A Nazca Booby followed a cruise ship for a short time well off San Luis Obispo Co 25 Jun (Todd McLeish). Belatedly, we note that a Blue-footed Booby was well photographed in flight at Point Conception, Santa Barbara Co 16 May (Nick Lethaby). A Red-footed Booby was at the Santa Ynez River Estuary, Santa Barbara Co 3 Jun (Daniel Farra) and another was on a boat off Huntington Beach, Orange Co 9 Jul (Rose Cardoza).

Two Neotropic Cormorants at Truxtun Lake in Bakersfield, Kern Co through the summer (John C. Wilson) were the northernmost, and the presence of six recently fledged young on Lake Henshaw 7 Jun (Philip Unitt) established the first nesting in San Diego Co.

Herons through Woodpeckers

A Little Blue Heron at Playa del Rey, Los Angeles Co 9–15 Jun (Timothy Aarons) and another well inland at the Mojave Narrows Regional Park, San Bernardino Co 20–31 Jul+ (Robert Fowlie) were the only two reported away from the resident population around San Diego. An adult Tricolored Heron that frequented Mission Bay and the San Diego River mouth 23 Jun–7 Jul (Paul Mulholland) was believed to be the same bird in Malibu, Los Angeles Co 11–12 Jul (Alexander Yan). It was also recorded in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara Co 16–31 Jul (Amy Davis), and back at the San Diego River mouth 4 Aug (Catherine Zinsky). This was the only one known as of this date in California this year.

A Mississippi Kite, a very rare stray to California, remained in Lone Pine, Inyo Co 30 Jun–15 Aug (Russell D. Kokx). A pair of Harris’s Hawks in Jacumba, San Diego Co fledged two young in July (Paul E. Lehman). An adult Common Black Hawk, first reported at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve, Riverside Co 19 Apr (Curtis A. Marantz) was still present 2 Jul (Brian Sandstrom). A Broad-winged Hawk, first reported on 19 Jan, was still present on San Clemente Island on 25 Jul (Nicole J. Desnoyers). Each of the two nesting pairs of Swainson’s Hawks in Orange Co successfully fledged young, two from the Seal Beach pair and three from the Los Alamitos pair. A pair of Zone-tailed Hawks at Cedar Canyon in eastern San Bernardino Co during June (Sam Baxter-Bray) were no doubt nesting locally, and single birds were at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, San Bernardino Co 13 Jul (m. ob.) and the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve 21–29 Jun (Josh McLaughlin).

Totally unexpected was a Black-backed Woodpecker photographed in the yard of a Ridgecrest, Kern Co residence 14 Jun (Javier Vasquez) establishing the southernmost record for this woodpecker and the first in the region outside the Greenhorn Mts.

Flycatchers through Shrikes

A pair of Brown-crested Flycatchers was in Whitewater Canyon, Riverside Co 11 Jun–23 Jul (Stephen Myers), the first time they’ve been seen there in a decade; they were visiting a nest on 15 Jun (David Rankin). Other Brown-crests at Vallecito, San Diego Co I Jun and 13–16 Jun (Britta Lee Shain) were away from known breeding sites. A few Eastern Kingbirds typically occur in June, and this year birds were at Los Osos, San Luis Obispo Co 6 Jun (Jim S. Royer), San Nicolas I. 12 Jun (Steven Ortega), Malibu (Legacy Park), Los Angeles Co 15 Jun (Laura Lechtzin), Montana de Oro State Park, San Luis Obispo Co 6–7 Jul (Steven Peterson), and on the desert at Camp Cady, San Bernardino Co 18 Jun (Mark Dayton). The season’s only Scissor-tailed Flycatcher was at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve, Riverside Co 1 Jul (Brian Sandstrom).

A Western Wood-Pewee at Coronado, San Diego Co 22 Jun (Paul E. Lehman) marked the tail end of the spring migration of this species. Birders have learned to scrutinize wood-pewees at migrant traps in June and this year turned up a bumper crop of vagrant Eastern Wood-Pewees, with singles at Point Loma, San Diego Co 5–6 Jun (Nicole Koeltzow) and 9–12 Jun (Paul E. Lehman), one at Huntington Beach Central Park, Orange Co 8–9 Jun (Loren Y. Wright), and one at Dominguez Park in Redondo Beach, Los Angeles Co 9–11 Jun (Thomas Miko); these established first records for San Diego and Los Angeles Co and the second for Orange Co. Carefully studied Alder Flycatchers were at Point Loma 5 Jun (Curtis A. Marantz) and Piute Ponds, Los Angeles Co 12–13 Jun (Jon S. Feenstra), establishing first records for both counties pending CBRC acceptance. A Hammond’s Flycatcher was well south of its Sierra Nevada breeding range at Bluff Lake in the San Bernardino Mts., San Bernardino Co 14–25 Jun (Sally Veach); another along Big Rock Creek in the San Gabriel Mts., Los Angeles Co 28 Jul (Kimball L. Garrett) was the second to be found in summer there – fall migrants are not expected in the region until September.

A Yellow-throated Vireo was at Turtle Rock Community Park in Irvine, Orange Co 18 Jun (Sasha Cahill). Red-eyed Vireos are noted annually in late spring and early summer; eight birds were found this year in the coastal counties 7 Jun–31 Jul, with another at the Kern River Preserve 5 Jun (Sasha Robinson). A Yellow-green Vireo on the grounds of the San Diego Zoo 22 Jun–9 Aug (Trent R. Stanley) was only the third to be found in summer in California.

Loggerhead Shrikes now breed only rarely and locally on the coastal slope; a hatch-year bird at Dana Point 14–15 Jul (Loren Y. Wright) and singles at Bolsa Chica in Huntington Beach 19 Jun and 24–31+ Jul (Brian E. Daniels) were noteworthy as this species is possibly extirpated as a breeder in Orange Co. Hard to explain, was the appearance of three Clark’s Nutcrackers at Piute Ponds, Los Angeles Co on 21 Jun (William Tyrer), perhaps the first record for June or July anywhere in the southern California desert.

Swallows through Icterids

A somewhat unseasonal Bank Swallow was at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Irvine, Orange Co 15 Jun (Sasha Cahill). An encouraging high count of 22 Purple Martins was made at a breeding site at Atascadero Lake, San Luis Obispo Co 2 Aug (Steve and Janny Tillman).

After a major fall and winter irruption of Red-breasted Nuthatches into the region, a few remained into the summer period in the lowlands (away from breeding populations in the high mountains); for example they were present at multiple sites in coastal San Diego Co into late June, with one lingering in Chula Vista (Friendship Park) to 2 Jul (John Bruin) and a pair feeding a fledgling in University City 20–31 Jul+ (Paul Mulholland). A Brown Creeper at Vandenberg Space Force Base 12 Jul (Jamie Chavez) was unusual in mid-summer in the Santa Barbara Co lowlands. A spring vagrant Gray Catbird was at Baker, San Bernardino Co 8 Jun (Logan Kahle) and another was at Point Loma 30 Jul (Kris McMillan).

A Swainson’s Thrush near El Centro 15 Jun (Kenneth Z. Kurland) established the latest spring record for Salton Sink. Casual in the region, a Wood Thrush was at Furnace Creek Inn, Death Valley N. P. 2 Jun (Thomas E. Wurster).

An unseasonal “Black-backed” White Wagtail (lugens) was found along the concrete Los Angeles River channel in Paramount 14 Jul and remained at least into September (Naresh Satyan).

An adult from the breeding pair of Pine Siskins in El Cajon, San Diego Co, noted in the Spring report, was found dead on 17 Jul (*SDNHM). Unusual was a summering American Goldfinch in Lone Pine, Inyo Co 30 Jun–21 Jul (m.ob.).

A Cassin’s Sparrow at McGrath State Beach in Ventura 24 Jun (John Mueller) was the second to be found in Ventura Co. A Chipping Sparrow at N.E.S.S. 24 Jul (Robert L. McKernan) was a very early fall migrant there. White-crowned Sparrows lingering well into mid-summer were in El Cajon, San Diego Co 26 Jun (gambelii; Chris Staurovsky), La Costa, San Diego Co 19 Jul (gambelii; Sally Veach), and Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest, Kern Co 30 Jun (Robert Barnes). A late Golden-crowned Sparrow was at Piute Ponds 3 Jun (Samuel Bressler). Exceptional was a White-throated Sparrow in Atascadero, San Luis Obispo Co 16 Jun–23 Jul (Kevin J. Zimmer) and another continuing from late spring to at least 17 Jul at California City, Kern Co (Emily Strauss). Savannah Sparrows of the continental subspecies group are not expected in the coastal lowlands in summer, so noteworthy were birds in Riverside Co at Lake Elsinore 27 Jun (Charity Hagen), Mystic Lake 20 Jul (Bob Packard), and in the Prado Basin 9 Jul (hatch-year bird), 10 Jul (three birds), and 26 Jul (several; Jim Pike).

Late spring migrant Bobolinks were at the Kern Water Bank sw. of Bakersfield, Kern Co 1 Jun (Todd Easterla), Furnace Creek Ranch 1–2 Jun (Curtis A. Marantz), and the U. C. Santa Barbara campus, Santa Barbara Co 11 Jun (Alex Castelein). An unusual mid-summer Orchard Oriole was at Trona, San Bernardino Co 16–26 Jul (Cheresea McMillen).

Wood-warblers through Cardinalids

As always, late spring vagrancy among parulid warblers continued well into the summer period. An Ovenbird was at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve 16 Jun (Sam Baxter-Bray), a Worm-eating Warbler was at the San Felipe Valley Wildlife Area, San Diego Co 19 Jun (Steve Lima), and an unprecedented mid-summer Northern Waterthrush was at Lake Fulmor in the San Jacinto Mts., Riverside Co 10–21 Jul (Carol Hippenmeyer). Prothonotary Warblers were at University City, San Diego Co 18–24 Jun (Karen Straus) and at Piute Ponds 26 Jun (Jon S. Feenstra). Five Black-and-white Warblers were found along the coast 1–10 Jun. Tennessee Warblers were at Estero Bay State Park, San Luis Obispo Co 1 Jun (Cory Chiappone), Lower Otay Reservoir, San Diego Co 4 Jun (Johanna Alpert), Pismo State Beach Oceano Campground 9 Jun (Lucas Stephenson, Logan Kahle, Joachim Gonzalez), and La Jolla, San Diego Co 23–24 Jun (Paul Mulholland). Lucy’s Warblers nested for the first time at Panamint Springs in Death Valley N. P., with up to 15 birds during the period, including fledglings (m.ob.); one at Quail Lake, Los Angeles Co 27 Jul (Naresh Satyan) was well away from breeding areas. Eleven of the twelve Inyo Co reports of Virginia’s Warbler were from canyons on the east side of the Sierra Nevada (m.ob.), perhaps reflecting intensive coverage there and difficulty of access to main known breeding areas in the ranges to the east. Kern Co produced yet another late spring Kentucky Warbler, with one at Butterbredt Spring 2 Jun (Russell Campbell).

A Hooded Warbler was on the coast at the Ventura Settling Ponds 2 Jun (Antal Szijj), with another high in the Sierra Nevada at Aspendell, Inyo Co 5–20 Jul (Bob Steele). An American Redstart that continued from spring at Pismo State Beach Oceano Campground and remained to 17 Jul (Jasper Barnes) was likely a returning male from the previous three summers; six others were along the coast 7–23 Jun, and on the desert one was at Piute Ponds 4 Jun (Jon S. Feenstra) and two were at Butterbredt Spring 12 Jun (Sam Baxter-Bray). Northern Parulas were well-represented during the summer period with ten along the coast 1–22 Jun and seven in the northern interior 1 Jun–6 Jul. A singing and presumably territorial Tropical Parula was at Switzer’s Picnic Area in the upper Arroyo Seco area of the San Gabriel Mts., Los Angeles Co 4 Jul–17 Sep+ (Hai-Dang Phan, Mark and Janet Scheel, and m.ob.) and was likely heard there earlier on 18 Jun (Naresh Satyan); this was almost certainly the same bird that established California’s second record in Big Dalton Canyon, 20 mi to the east-southeast, on 12–14 May 2024.

Magnolia Warblers were at Bishop, Inyo Co 1 Jun (Chris Howard, Rosie Howard), Golden Shores in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co 6 Jun (Nancy Salem), and Point Loma 9 Jun (Luca Cinus). More than expected were five Bay-breasted Warblers, four of which occurred during a two day period: Balboa Park in San Diego 8 Jun (Trent R. Stanley), Huntington Beach Central Park 8–9 Jun (Brian E. Daniels), Point Loma (Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery) 9 Jun (Nicole J. Desnoyers), and Pismo State Beach Oceano Campground 9 Jun (Joachim Gonzalez); the outlier was at Encinitas, San Diego Co 23 Jun (Steve Cameron). The period’s lone Blackburnian Warbler was at Coronado, San Diego Co 13 Jun (Christina Kidd). A Chestnut-sided Warbler was at Point Loma 11–12 Jun (Paul E. Lehman), with another in mid-summer at Refugio Creek Canyon, Santa Barbara Co 16 Jul (Ryan Seppala). A very rare late spring Black-throated Blue Warbler was at Point Loma 8–9 Jun (Peter Beck). A Black-throated Gray Warbler at Fullerton, Orange Co 8 Jun (Jonathan Rowley) was on an odd late date well away from breeding areas. A Wilson’s Warbler at the Salton Sea N. W. R. headquarters 9 Jun (Grigory Heaton) was a very late migrant for Imperial Co.

Four Hepatic Tanagers were at a traditional summering locality at Clark Mt., San Bernardino Co 15 Jun (Sam Baxter-Bray), but once again none were found in the San Bernardino Mts. this summer. A Pyrrhuloxia at Yucca Valley, San Bernardino Co 15 Jul (Tom Scanlan) was documented by images from a feeder camera. Eighteen Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were found on the coastal slope 1 Jun–7 Jul, one was in the Laguna Mts., San Diego Co 21 Jun (Josh McLaughlin), and four were in Inyo Co 1–15 Jun. A Black-headed Grosbeak at SESS (Beach Rd.) 19 Jun (Thomas Ryan) was presumed to be a very early fall migrant. Higher than usual numbers of Lazuli Buntings remained into summer on San Clemente Island after a relatively wet winter; a pair was observed building a nest on the island in Norton Canyon 14 Jun (Ben C. Stalheim). Some 14 Indigo Buntings during the summer included six on the coastal slope (and San Clemente I.), four in the mountains of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside and San Diego Cos, and four on the deserts. A Dickcissel frequented the Kern River Preserve, Kern Co 10 Jun–10 Jul (Lauren Roux).

Report processed by Andrew Keaveney, 06 Mar 2025.