Southern California Summer 2025

Sub-regional Compilers

David M. Compton (Santa Barbara), Sammy Cowell (Ventura), Tom M. Edell (San Luis Obispo), Kimball L. Garrett (Los Angeles), Kelli K. Heindel (Kern), Chris B. and Rosie Howard (Inyo), Alexander E. Koonce (San Bernardino), Guy McCaskie (San Diego and Imperial), David Rankin (Riverside), Larry Sansone (photo editor), Justyn T. Stahl (San Clemente Island), Ryan S. Winkleman (Orange).

Abbreviations: N.E.S.S. (north end of the Salton Sea, Riverside); S.E.S.S. (south end of the Salton Sea, Imperial). Museum collections abbreviated in the text are: LACM (Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County) and SDNHM (San Diego Natural History Museum). 

Because most rarities in s. California are seen by multiple observers, only the observer(s) initially finding and/or identifying the bird are included. Documentation for species on the California Bird Records Committee (C.B.R.C.) review list (see www.californiabirds.org) is forwarded to the C.B.R.C. and archived at the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology in Camarillo. The symbol # indicates that a specimen has been deposited in the indicated collection.

Waterfowl through Grebes

A Mexican Duck, rare but increasingly detected in southeastern California, was photographed near Imperial, Imperial Co 21 Jun (Logan Kahle). The presence of four juvenile Hooded Mergansers on the Salinas River downstream from Santa Margarita Lake on 8 Jun (Will H. Knowlton) establishes the second breeding record in San Luis Obispo Co. A summering Horned Grebe was on Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo Co 24 Jun–26 Jul (Tom M. Edell).

Doves through Hummingbirds

Four White-winged Doves were reported in the coastal lowlands where unexpected, with one in Los Angeles Co, two in Ventura Co, and one on Santa Catalina Island. Single Yellow-billed Cuckoos at the Ventura County Game Preserve 22 Jun (David Pereksta), in Ridgecrest, Kern Co 5 Jul (Bob Barnes), at Unit 1 of Salton Sea N. W. R. 8 Jul (Drake Stallworth), at the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, San Bernardino Co 4–5 Jul (Peregrine Krauss) and Playa del Rey, Los Angeles Co 21 Jun (Joe Clark) were migrants well away from any known breeding location; however, one along the Colorado River at Cibola, Imperial Co 10–23 Jul (Matt Brady, Curtis A. Marantz) was in an area where the species is suspected to nest.

Ten Common Nighthawks at scattered locations in the San Bernardino Mountains were at the species’ southernmost range in California; one over the high desert in extreme eastern San Bernardino Co 6 Jun (Jim Tietz) was a migrant. The presence of up to four Vaux’s Swifts between Paso Robles and Atascadero, San Luis Obispo Co through the summer (Ben Kolstad, Steve and Janny Tillmann, Norman H. Pillsbury, Richard Erickson) strongly suggests they were nesting locally. A Calliope Hummingbird in Ventura 11 Jun (David Pereksta) was an exceptionally late spring migrant or an exceptionally early fall migrant. A Broad-billed Hummingbird was frequenting feeders in the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 18–24 Jul (Dan Baumann).

Rails through Shorebirds

A Sora at Sedgwick Preserve in Los Olivos, Santa Barbara Co 6–7 Jun (Armando Aispuro) was believed to be a late spring migrant, while another at the IID Wetlands near Niland, Imperial Co 23 Jul (Chris Dean) was an early fall migrant.

An apparent American Oystercatcher remained at Dana Point, Orange Co 5–15 Jul (Mike Thomas). An American Golden-Plover, a rare migrant in Southern California, was in Goleta, Santa Barbara Co 11–12 Jun (Amando Aispuro). A Pacific Golden-Plover was at Ormond Beach, Ventura Co on the unexpected dates of 6–7 Jun (Alistair Skinner) since wintering birds are normally gone by early May.

An adult Hudsonian Godwit, a casual migrant in California, was at S.E.S.S. (Lack and Grubel Rds.) 23–24 Jul (GMcC); it was the first in California for the month of July and one of only two or three adults recorded in California in fall passage. A Ruddy Turnstone at S.E.S.S. 25 Jul (Samuel Bressler) was the only one reported inland. A Black Turnstone, a very rare migrant at the Salton Sink, and casual to accidental elsewhere inland, was at S.E.S.S. 25 Jul (Samuel Bressler). Four Red Knots were inland at S.E.S.S. (Young Road) 12 Jul (Samuel Bressler), another was at S.E.S.S. (Lack & Grubel) 25 Jul (Brian E. Daniels) with three more there 30 Jul–2 Aug (Guy McCaskie); one at Mystic Lake, Riverside Co 24 Jul (Tony Metcalf) was the only one reported inland away from the Salton Sea. A Ruff at S.E.S.S. (Young Road) 29 Jul–17 Aug (Dessi Sieburth) was the only one reported. A Sharp-tailed Sandpiper at S.E.S.S. 25–29 Jul (Samuel Bressler, Dessi Sieburth) was only the third known in Imperial Co. Single Stilt Sandpipers on the south San Diego Bay saltworks 15–21 Jul (Russ Namitz) and at Lower Otay Reservoir, San Diego Co 17 Jul (John Martin), along with two inland at Piute Ponds, Los Angeles Co 28 Jul (Kimball L. Garrett), were the only four reported away from the Salton Sea.

A Red-necked Stint photographed at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve 23 Jun (Alexander Yan) is the first ever in Orange Co. An adult Baird’s Sandpiper was at Piute Ponds, Los Angeles Co 12 Jul (Mark and Janet Scheel) and another was on the Los Angeles River in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co 30 Jul (Johnny Ivanov). A White-rumped Sandpiper well photographed at Devereux Slough 19–21 Jun (Lynn Scarlett) was a species new to Santa Barbara Co. An adult Semipalmated Sandpiper, rare but regular in Southern California in fall, was on the Los Angeles River in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co 26–29 Jul (Mark Scheel); two juveniles at Bolsa Chica, Orange Co 24 Jun (Shirley A. Reynolds, Brian E. Daniels) along with single juveniles at Morro Strand State Beach 25 Jul (Carol R. Comeau), at the Arroyo Grande Creek mouth 25–26 Jul (Herb D. Elliott), in Long Beach 26–31 Jul (Mark Scheel), on south San Diego Bay (saltworks) 26–31 Jul (Matt Sadowski), S.E.S.S.(Lack & Grubel) 27 Jul (Davis Provan), N.E.S.S. 28 Jul (Chris Dean), east shore of the Salton Sea (Salt Creek) 28 Jul (Chris Dean), at S.E.S.S. (Young Road) 28 Jul (Samuel Bressler), Santa Clara River Estuary, Ventura Co 29 Jul (Nathan Bradford), and in Boron, Kern Co 30 Jul (Steve Ritt) were more than expected, and the earliest this fall. Single Solitary Sandpipers at Piute Ponds 20 Jul (Kimball L. Garrett), in the Sorrento Valley, San Diego Co 27 Jul (Dan King), Irvine, Orange Co 28 Jul (Calvin Hardcastle), and the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 31 Jul (Gary McLarty) were the first of the expected fall migrants.

Auks through Gulls

Six reports of Pigeon Guillemots from Point La Jolla, San Diego Co, probably involving as few as three individuals, 18 Jun–7 Jul (Paul E. Lehman, Paul Mulholland) and one farther south off Ocean Beach 23 Jun (Matt Sadowski), were at the extreme south end of this species known range. The presence of up to seven Rhinoceros Auklets at a large nearshore rock at Point Piedras Blancas, San Luis Obispo Co 23 Jun–1 Jul (Tom M. Edel) and up to twelve farther south at Spooners Cove in Montana de Oro State Park, San Luis Obispo Co 1 Jun–19 Jul (Carol R. Comeau) strongly suggests attempted nesting—the southernmost known nesting is on the Farallon Islands.

A Sooty Tern, casual to accidental along the coast of Southern California, was at Bolsa Chica, Orange Co 21 Jul (Jill Dale) and what was likely the same bird was a Los Angeles Co first at Dockweiler Beach 22 Jul (Chris Dean). A Least Tern at the Mojave Narrows Regional Park, San Bernardino Co 29 May (Bryan Baker) was the only one reported well inland away from S.E.S.S.; at the Salton Sea up to two were known present at S.E.S.S. during July (Guy McCaskie). A first-summer White-winged Tern, the third ever in California, and the first in Southern California, was on south San Diego Bay 9 Jul–16 Aug (Paul E. Lehman and Matt Sadowski). Two Elegant Terns, rare inland at the Salton Sink, were at Fig Lagoon near Seeley, Imperial Co 23 Jul (Guy McCaskie). A Black Skimmer was far inland at the Mojave Narrows Regional Park and adjacent Spring Valley Lake, San Bernardino Co 15 Jul (Rob Fowlie and Andrew Karpenko); one at the Prado Basin, Riverside Co 11 Jun (James E. Pike) was the only other one reported inland away from the Salton Sea.

An adult Sabine’s Gull at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley National Park 16 Jun was clearly lost. Up to nine Laughing Gulls were present inland around N.E.S.S through June and July (Robert L. McKernan), but an adult at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve 20 Jul (Ted Keyel) was the only one reported from along the coast. A late spring migrant Franklin’s Gull was in Goleta, Santa Barbara Co 5 Jun (Steve Colwell), two adults were at an algae plant near Calipatria, Imperial Co 21 Jul (Logan Kahle), and another was at Malibu Lagoon, Los Angeles Co 26 Jun (Grace Murayama). Single Heermann’s Gulls, rare inland at the Salton Sink, were at S.E.S.S. (Rock Hill) 2 Jul (Drake Stallworth) and S.E.S.S. (Lack & Grubel) 15 Jul (Colin Dresel). A Yellow-footed Gull at the N.E.S.S. (84^th Ave) 18 Jun (Robert L. McKernan) was the earliest of the annually occurring post-breeding visitors. A first-cycle Lesser Black-backed Gull at Dockweiler Beach, Los Angeles Co 23 Jul+ (Logan Kahle) undoubtedly summered locally.

Tropicbirds through Cormorants

A Red-billed Tropicbird 30 km west of Point Loma 7 Jun (Paul E. Lehman) was closer to the coast than expected. A Laysan Albatross photographed in the Santa Catalina Channel off Los Angeles Co 6 Jul (Dennis Deal) and another 16 km off La Jolla, San Diego Co 19 Jul (Wild Pacific Whale Watch) were closer to the coast than usual. A Northern Fulmar off Leucadia, San Diego Co 20 Jun (Jimmy McMorran) was likely attempting to summer locally. At least 75 Cook’s Petrels over the Tanner Bank 7 Jun (Peter Gaede) along with smaller numbers west of San Clemente Island later in June and July were well offshore where expected; however, seven over the 30 Mile Bank off San Diego 7 Jun (Paul E. Lehman) were much closer to the coast, but in an area where somewhat regular. A Flesh-footed Shearwater, rare over Southern California’s oceanic waters, was 9 km southwest of Port Hueneme, Ventura Co 29 Jul (Nathan Bradford).

The long-staying and far wandering Wood Stork present in Southern California since at least 2020, was at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park near Escondido, San Diego Co 15 Jun (Eric Lutomski). A young Magnificent Frigatebird was off Point Loma, San Diego Co 16 Jul (Captain Brian of the New Seaforth) and what was likely the same bird was over Oceanside, San Diego Co the same day (Rachael Morgan). A Masked Booby was at Point La Jolla, San Diego Co 18 Jun (Paul E. Lehman). A Nazca Booby was at Point La Jolla 28 Jun and 1 Jul (Paul Mulholland, Paul E. Lehman). A Masked/Nazca Booby was 7 km southwest of the Ventura Harbor 26 Jun (Bob Fields). Two Neotropic Cormorants present in Bishop, Inyo Co since 24 Apr remained through 11 Jul (mob) and one on Morro Bay 9 Jun–13 Aug (Tom M. Edell) was the first known in San Luis Obispo Co.

Herons through Falcons

An apparent resident Tricolored Heron remained at Point Mugu, Ventura Co through the summer (Dave Pereksta) and the wintering Tricolored Heron at the San Diego River mouth remained through the unexpected late date of 1 Jul (Max Leibowitz). A Reddish Egret at S.E.S.S. (Young Road) 11 Jun–22 Aug (Bobby Figarotta), joined by a second 18 Jun–14 Aug (Bobby Figarotta) were well inland where rare. A Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at Mojave Narrows Regional Park, San Bernardino Co 28 Jul+ (Robert Fowlie) establishes the northernmost record for the interior of California.

The Swallow-tailed Kite first seen at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park near San Pedro, Los Angeles Co on 3 Jun remained there until at least 17 Aug (Gina DiPietro). A Mississippi Kite was photographed along the Colorado River at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve, Riverside Co 12 Jul (Rod Jimenez). A Common Black Hawk, first reported on 26 Jun, remained along the Colorado River at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve, Riverside Co through 19 Jul (Bill Hayes). Harris’s Hawks remained in Jacumba, San Diego Co and at Shelter Valley, San Diego Co through the summer. A pair of Swainson’s Hawks successfully fledged two young in Los Alamitos, Orange Co (Ben Newhouse). Single Zone-tailed Hawks were at the Dos Palmas Preserve, Riverside Co 13 May (Chuck Dresel), Descanso, San Diego Co 25 Jun (Christine Beck) and Julian, San Diego Co 24 Jul (John Martin) along with at least three along the Colorado River at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve through the summer (mob).

An Elf Owl photographed at Furnace Creek Ranch in Death Valley National Park 1 Jun (Chris Dean) was a first for Inyo Co and establishes the northwesternmost location of occurrence for this diminutive owl. A Hairy Woodpecker, a casual stray to the immediate coast of southern California, was photographed at Malibu Lagoon, Los Angeles Co 27 Jul (Alex Sauerbrunn). A Crested Caracara was at the northeastern part of Camp Pendleton, San Diego Co 9–11 Jun (Karly Moore)

Flycatchers through Vireos

A Brown-crested Flycatcher well away from known or suspected breeding sites was at Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley, Orange Co 21 Jul (Thomas E. Wurster); another at

Cottonwood Creek (Buckman Springs Road) on the west slope of the San Diego Co mountains 20 Jul (Steve Lima) was west of the three desert sites in the county where this species was present in May. A Tropical Kingbird, casual in spring on the deserts, was at Furnace Creek Ranch, Inyo Co 31 May–1 Jun (Curtis A. Marantz). The expected trickle of late spring and early summer Eastern Kingbirds involved birds at Carpinteria Salt Marsh, Santa Barbara Co 9–12 Jun (John Callender et al.) and Huntington Central Park in Huntington Beach, Orange Co 21 Jun (Jasmine C. Kay) along with birds on the deserts at Furnace Creek Ranch 1 Jun (Adrian Hinkle), Hinkley, San Bernardino Co 13 Jun (Chet Whitney), and Palo Verde Ecological Reserve, Riverside Co 8 Jul (Matt Brady), with it or another there 18 Jul. Two different Scissor-tailed Flycatchers were in San Diego Co 3 Jun, at Escondido (Michael Hix) and Coronado (Paul E. Lehman); another was at Desert Lakes Park in Boron, Kern Co 9 Jun–8 Jul (Steve Ritt). The spring passage of Western Wood-Pewees continued well into June, as exemplified by birds on the San Diego Co coast at Point Loma 16 Jun (Paul E. Lehman) and Encinitas 18 Jun (Jimmy McMorran).

A Gray Vireo at Westgard Pass, Inyo Co 25 Jul (Nancy J. Overholtz) was near where nesting was first reported in 2020. Very late for the coast well away from breeding habitat, a

Cassin’s Vireo was at Carlsbad, San Diego Co 7 Jun (Tito Gonzalez). Western Warbling-Vireo was another migrant demonstrating an extended late passage this year, with the latest migrants at San Dieguito County Park, San Diego Co 20 Jun (Doug Lithgow), Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 21 Jun (Daniel Ward), the IID Wetlands near Niland, Imperial Co 21 Jun (Logan Kahle), and near El Centro, Imperial Co 22 Jun–2 Jul (Kenneth Z. Kurland). The Red-eyed Vireo found 29 May at

Huntington Central Park 29 May remained to 2 Jun (Lam-Son Vinh); others were at Coronado 1 Jun (Paul E. Lehman), Carlsbad 15–16 Jun (Tito Gonzalez), and at the IID Wetlands near Niland 21 Jun (Logan Kahle), the last being only the third record for the Salton Sink.

Swallows through Finches

There were encouraging hints to an increase in breeding Purple Martins this summer, with nesting documented for the first time in over twenty-five years in Los Angeles Co—at least one pair in the San Gabriel Mts. at Chilao 6 Jun–19 Jul (Matthew Ulford), with a count of five birds there on 1 Jul (Naresh Satyan, Lance Benner), and up to six birds at nearby Barley Flat 22 Jun–29 Jul (Luke Tiller, Lance Benner). On the Tejon Ranch in Kern Co two ridge sites held up to 17 birds, with eight active nests and some fledged young noted on 6 Jul (Gregor Yanega). A juvenile was photographed at Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park 25 Jul (Bernardo Alps).

Golden-crowned Kinglets are scarce breeders in the region’s high fir forests and appear to be declining as the climate warms; this summer single birds were found at Mt. Pinos, Ventura Co on 20 Jun (David Pereksta) and 18 Jul (Matt Brady, Dan Maxwell). A late spring vagrant Gray Catbird was at Furnace Creek Ranch 7–8 Jun (Rosie C. Howard). A Townsend’s Solitaire at Big Pine Mt. 5 Jun (Brandon Brown, Nicole Gaudenti) established only the third summer record for Santa Barbara Co. Very late spring migrant Swainson’s Thrushes were at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 21 Jun (Daniel Ward) and near El Centro 28 Jun (Kenneth Z. Kurland). Rare in mid-summer anywhere in the region, a Cedar Waxwing was at Atascadero, San Luis Obispo Co 11 Jul (Norman H. Pillsbury). Infrequently sighted in that area, an Evening Grosbeak was at Greenhorn Mtn., Kern Co 6 Jun (Ken Behrens). An American Goldfinch at the IID Wetlands near Niland 21 Jun (Logan Kahle) was the first to be found in summer in the Salton Sink.

New World Sparrows through Icterids

At the northwestern extreme of their breeding range in the region, four Black-throated Sparrows were in Quatal Canyon, Ventura Co from spring to 7 Jun (Mike Moss); another at the southeastern corner of San Luis Obispo Co 5 Jun (Linus Blomqvist) also wandered into adjacent Santa Barbara Co, and an early wanderer to the coast was at Cabrillo National Monument on Point Loma 18 Jul (Mike Ambrose). The breeding range of Dark-eyed (Oregon) Juncos in the coastal slope lowlands has reached almost the entire immediate coast but may also be expanding eastward; two different reports of adults feeding fledglings in Murrieta 5–24 Jun (Adam Jackson) and 23 Jul (Julie Clingo) provided the first evidence of breeding in Riverside Co lowlands; one at Piute Ponds 28 Jun (Kimball L. Garrett) was certainly unexpected in the desert lowlands in summer. A very late White-throated Sparrow was at Rancho Penasquitos, San Diego Co 7 Jun (Deborah Porter). A gambelii White-crowned Sparrow north of Independence 24 Jun (Jonathan Rowley) established a record late date for that subspecies in Inyo Co. Unexpected in mid-summer was a Golden-crowned Sparrow at San Simeon State Park, San Luis Obispo Co 27 Jul (Jason K. Pietrzak). A singing Swamp Sparrow was at Furnace Creek Ranch 1–2 Jun (Eric Heisey).

A singing male Bobolink along Arnold Rd. on the Oxnard Plain 8–11 Jun (Alistair Skinner) possibly represented the first spring record for Ventura Co. Several Bobolinks were found in the last week of May at Furnace Creek Ranch, and a female was present there 1–2 Jun (Chris Dean) and a male 8 Jun (Naresh Satyan). Late spring vagrant Orchard Orioles were at Furnace Creek Ranch 1–4 Jun (Adrian Hinkle) and Middle Ranch on Santa Catalina I. 14 Jun (Dessi Sieburth et al.). Baltimore Orioles were at Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley Orange Co 12 Jun (Thomas E. Wurster) and Avalon, Santa Catalina I. 14 Jun (Dessi Sieburth et al.); a female at Furnace Creek Ranch 7–8 Jun (Naresh Satyan) was not the same bird present there on 31 May.

Wood-Warblers through Cardinalids

The season’s two Ovenbirds were at Point Loma, on 1 Jun (Luca Cinus) and 12–13 Jun (Adrian Hinkle). The only Northern Waterthrush was at Furnace Creek Ranch 1 Jun (Loren Wright). Late spring Black-and-white Warblers were at Wing Street Canyon in San Diego 3 Jun (Michelle Haglund), Point Loma 4–5 Jun (Paul E. Lehman), Avalon on Santa Catalina I. 14 Jun (Dessi Sieburth, Adrian Hinkle), and Santa Barbara 25 Jun (Benjamin Byerly). Straggling Tennessee Warblers were at Point Loma 6 Jun (Braxton Landsman) and 12 Jun (Paul E. Lehman), Stow Grove Park in Goleta, Santa Barbara Co 12–13 Jul (Conor McMahon et al.), Thompson Res. on Santa Catalina I. 14 Jun (Dessi Sieburth et al.), and Morro Bay 18 Jul–16 Aug (Kaaren L. Perry)—the last establishing the first July record for San Luis Obispo Co. Up to three Virginia’s Warblers in the Bishop Creek drainage near Lake Sabrina, Inyo Co 7 Jun–11 Jul (Rosie C Howard) continues a pattern of breeding season occurrence in canyons in eastern Sierra Nevada. MacGillivray’s Warblers were detected again this summer 23 May–20 Jun at Mt. Pinos, the species’ only known breeding site (discovered in 2012) in Ventura Co (David Pereksta, Giles Pettifor).

The American Redstart found at Pismo State Beach (Oceano Campground), San Luis Obispo Co on 30 May was still present 8–16 Jun (Mike O. Bush); others on the coast were at Point Loma 5–6 Jun (Paul E. Lehman) and 27 Jul (Kris McMillan), Shell Beach, San Luis Obispo Co 7 Jul (Petra and Jack Clayton), and offshore at 30 Mile Bank, San Diego Co 31 May (Jimmy McMorran), and additional birds were on the desert at Furnace Creek Ranch 8 Jun (Naresh Satyan), Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 9 Jun (Cedric Duhalde), and Piute Ponds 13 Jun (Femi Faminu, Sona Conlin). A Cape May Warbler at Thompson Res. on Santa Catalina I. 14 Jun (Dessi Sieburth, Adrian Hinkle, Laura Vandezande) was only the third in spring/summer for Los Angeles Co (the other two records being from San Clemente I.). Northern Parulas were found at the Johnson Ranch Open Space in San Luis Obispo 8 Jun (Christine M. Hogue), Avalon on Santa Catalina I. 14 Jun (Dessi Sieburth, Adrian Hinkle), Carpinteria, Santa Barbara Co 3 Jul (Spencer Seale), and Gilman Park in Fullerton, Orange Co 6–13 Jul (Jasmine C. Kay). Two other late spring vagrant warblers were a Blackburnian Warbler at Buddy Todd Park in Oceanside 4 Jun (Beth Fife) and a Chestnut-sided Warbler at Rancho Palos Verdes 10 Jun (Tori Fay).

A late lowland Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warbler was at Rialto, San Bernardino Co 12 Jun (Steven W. Cardiff). A female Grace’s Warbler in potential breeding habitat at Horse Flat Campground in the San Gabriel Mts., Los Angeles Co 21–22 Jun (Robert Thoren) apparently did not stick around thereafter. Some very late records of migrant Black-throated Gray Warblers included birds at Escondido, San Diego Co 7 Jun (Braxton Landsman), Questhaven, San Diego Co 9 Jun (Ken Hartman), and Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 15 Jun (Kathy Snyder). Late Townsend’s Warblers were at Piute Ponds, Los Angeles Co 2–8 Jun (with two on last date; Mark Scheel, Janet Scheel Kimball L. Garrett), Point Loma 12–13 Jun (David Trissel, Adrian Hinkle), and Wing St. Canyon in San Diego 25 Jun (Michelle Haglund). Similarly, there were exceptionally late Hermit Warblers at Point Loma 11 Jun (Adrian Hinkle), Leucadia, San Diego Co 18 Jun (Kathy Alden), and Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 15 Jun (Daniel Ward).

Casual as a late spring migrant/vagrant, a Hepatic Tanager was at Kramer Junction, San Bernardino Co 18 Jun (Steve Ritt). An adult male Scarlet Tanager, a species nearly annual as a late spring vagrant, was at Point Loma (Nazarene University) 16 Jun (Steve Lister). The presence of a very late Western Tanager near El Centro 24 Jun (Kenneth Z. Kurland), was perhaps explained by the bird’s injured eye; another there on 13 Jul was the earliest fall migrant of the year in the Imperial Valley. This summer saw the usual scattering of non-breeding Summer Tanagers in the region, including up to six in Inyo Co 1–22 Jun. Rose-breasted Grosbeaks appear most summers with surprising regularity; this year 16 were found on the coastal slope during the period, including five in San Luis Obispo Co alone 3 Jun–6 Jul; another four were on the deserts 2 Jun-4 Jul. Similarly, Indigo Buntings are somewhat routine in summer, with 11 birds on the coastal slope during the period and six more on the deserts 1 Jun–17 Jul.

Report edited by Andrew Keaveney, 3 Nov 2025.