Waterfowl through Grebes

A Tundra Swan near Ramona, San Diego Co 6–29 Feb+ (Joey Cortez) and three at Rancho Mirage, Riverside Co 12 Jan (Tarik Townsend) were the southernmost of the few reaching this Region. Twenty-five Eurasian Wigeon were scattered throughout the Region, with most along the coast as expected. A Eurasian Green-winged Teal at S.E.S.S. (Unit 1) 23 Feb (Todd Easterla) was only the third known at the Salton Sink. Five Harlequin Ducks along the coast of San Luis Obispo Co, with a male at Port San Luis the southernmost, were more than expected. Nine Surf Scoters were known inland on the Salton Sea, with up to two at North Shore 17 Jan–7 Feb (Robert L. McKernan), one at Desert Shores 10 Jan (Robert L. McKernan), up to five at Salt Creek 3 Jan–21 Feb (Robert L. McKernan) and one in Salton City, Imperial Co 17 Jan (Cliff Cordy). An unexpected eleven White-winged Scoters were reported inland, with four on the San Bernardino portion of Lake Havasu 27 Jan (Alexander E. Koonce), one at the N.E.S.S. near North Shore 8 Jan (Linda Thomas), up to two at Desert Shores 3–10 Jan Robert L. McKernan), two more at Salt Creek 6 Jan, and one at Salton City, Imperial Co 17 Jan (Cliff Cordy), along with one on Senator Wash Reservoir, Imperial Co 4–22 Feb (Cliff Cordy). Twenty-seven Black Scoters south of Point Conception was more than usual, with up to two at Imperial Beach, San Diego Co 12 Nov–6 Jan (Lindsay Willrick) the southernmost. Twenty Long-tailed Ducks were known along the coast, with one in Oceanside, San Diego Co 26–29 Dec (Barbara Swanson) the southernmost; in addition, one was inland, where much rarer, at S.E.S.S. (Hazard Unit) 12 Dec (Raz Shafique-Sabri). Two Barrow’s Goldeneyes on the Colorado River below Parker Dam, San Bernardino Co 14 Feb (Becca Cockrum) and one at Bonelli Regional Park, Los Angeles Co 17 Jan (Keith Condon) were the only three reported.

Forty-five Red-necked Grebes along the coast, including eight between Gaviota State Beach and El Capitan State Beach 17 Feb (Nick A. Lethaby), was far more than usual, with one, present for the seventh winter, on San Diego Bay 9 Dec–24 Feb (Paul E. Lehman) being the southernmost; one on Castaic Lagoon, Los Angeles Co 27 Dec–3 Jan (Judy Matsuoka) was in the coastal lowlands, and another at Imperial Dam, Imperial Co 16 Dec–27 Jan (Linda and Nick Molatore) much farther inland.

Doves through Cranes

An Inca Dove on the immediate coast in the Tijuana River Valley (Community Gardens), San Diego Co 3 Jan (Andrew Newmark) was still present at the end of the period. At least 16 White-winged Doves were present along the immediate coast, with one in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara Co 8 Dec (Jamie M. Chavez) being the northernmost.

A Lesser Nighthawk at Saticoy, Ventura Co 5 Jan (David Pereksta), up to ten at Santa Fe Dam in Irwindale, Los Angeles Co 17–26 Jan (Steven Kurniawidjaja, Rose An) and up to four in Indio, Riverside Co 17–22 Dec (Michael Roper) was an unprecedented number for mid-winter.

Over twenty Vaux’s Swifts over Balboa Park in San Diego 16 Dec–12 Mar (Nick Thorpe), one over Whelan Lake in Oceanside, San Diego Co 2 Dec (Peter A. Ginsburg), along with up to five over the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera, Los Angeles Co 17 Jan–17 Feb (Becky Turley, Lindsay Fitch), and three more west of Elysian Park in Los Angeles 10 Feb (Otto Mayer) were all likely wintering locally.

Nine Broad-billed Hummingbirds were known wintering in the coastal lowlands, with one in Glendora, Los Angeles Co still present 8 Mar (Kristin Joseph) staying the latest.

Single Sandhill Cranes in the Tijuana River Valley, San Diego Co 11–23 Dec (Dan Hays), near Whelan Lake in Oceanside 2 Dec–29 Feb+ (Justin Hartsell, Fred Roberts), and in Barstow, San Bernardino Co 12 Dec (David A> Goodward), along with six in the San Bernardino Co portion of the Prado Basin 11 Jan (Becca Cockrum) and three more at San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Riverside Co 19 Jan (Pema Zonglo), were all far from any regular wintering location.

Plovers through Terns

Eight Pacific Golden-Plovers were known wintering along the immediate coast along with up to nine on San Clemente Island 12 Jan–3 Feb (Caroline Wolfe-Merritt). Twenty-nine Mountain Plovers on the Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo Co 3 Dec–13 Jan (Peter A. Gaede) was far less than average for this location; two in extreme northwestern Kern Co 29 Jan (Michael Moss), and up to 220 in the Imperial Valley between Brawley and Westmorland, Imperial Co 11 Nov–6 Jan (Gjon C. Hazard, Van Pierszalowski), along with 175 east of Calipatria, Imperial Co 21 Feb (John Ritchie), were at traditional wintering areas. A Mountain Plover near Lompoc, Santa Barbara Co 9–10 Dec (Grigory Heaton) was unexpected, and one on San Clemente Island 12 Jan-3 Feb (Kandace L. Glanville) was the first there since 1903.

A Ruff at S.E.S.S. (Unit 1) 28 Jan–22 Feb (Ellen Wintemute) and another in Ontario, San Bernardino Co 24–28 Feb (Clare Van Loon) were the only two reported. A Stilt Sandpiper on the Point Mugu Naval Base 17 Dec (David Pereksta) was the only one known away from the S.E.S.S.. The Little Stint present through the past five winters on south San Diego Bay, returned for a sixth winter and remained through 17 Apr (Matt Sadowski). A Pectoral Sandpiper, certainly not expected in winter, was at S.E.S.S. (Unit 1) 27 Jan–20 Feb (John Ritchie). A Solitary Sandpiper, very rare in winter, was in San Luis Obispo, San Luis Obispo Co 22–29 Feb+ (Michael Mulroy), another was at Whelan Lake in Oceanside, San Diego Co 15 Nov–31 Jan (Eve Martin) and a third was at Mojave Narrows Regional Park, San Bernardino Co 19 Jan (Bryan Baker). Up to three Wilson’s Phalaropes, rare in winter, were at S.E.S.S. (Unit 1) 1 Dec–20 Feb (Guy McCaskie) and up to three more were near Imperial, Imperial Co 13–17 Jan (Cliff Cordy).

A Marbled Murrelet at Point La Jolla in La Jolla, San Diego Co 30 Dec (Nick Thorpe) was one of only a few known to occur this far south, and the species remains unrecorded in Mexico. Two Scripps’s Murrelets over the San Pedro Escarpment off Palos Verdes 11 Dec (Van Pierszalowski) were early to be in Southern California’s oceanic waters—this alcid winters well to the north of this Region and normally returns to breed in late December/early January. Ancient Murrelets appeared to be more numerous than usual along the coast, with 35 reported between San Luis Obispo and San Diego Counties, with one 9 miles west of Point Loma 1 Jan (Paul E. Lehman) being the southernmost.

Black-legged Kittiwakes were scarcer than expected. An adult Little Gull was well photographed with a large flock of Bonaparte’s Gulls over the San Pedro Channel off Los Angeles Co 10 Dec (Andrew Birch). At least ten Laughing Gulls along the coast was more than usual; one at N.E.S.S. (Mecca) remained from the fall to 14 Feb (Robert L. McKernan). A Franklin’s Gull in Carlsbad 11 Dec (Steve Brad) and another at Sweetwater Reservoir, San Diego Co 31 Dec (Paul E. Lehman) were likely late fall stragglers. Single Short-billed Gulls were found well inland, where rare, at S.E.S.S. (Brant and MacFadden) 6 Dec (Matt Sadowski), near Calipatria, Imperial Co (Russell Reservoir) 19 Dec (Paul E. Lehman), at N.E.S.S. (North Shore) 15 Dec (Van Pierszalowski), near Mecca, Riverside Co 20 Dec (Robert L. McKernan), and on Quail Lake, Los Angeles Co 10–16 Feb (Mark Scheel), along with two on Lake Skinner, Riverside Co 1–20 Jan (Luca Cinus). A Western Gull at the Kern Water Bank 13–19 Jan (Todd Easterla) was well inland where unexpected. The number of Lesser Black-backed Gulls reaching Southern California continues to increase with close to thirty reported this winter. The only Glaucous Gulls known this winter were a first-winter bird on the coast around south San Diego Bay 19–23 Feb (Jim Pawlicki, Matt Sadowski) and another inland at the Kern Water Bank 28 Jan (Todd Easterla).

A Gull-billed Tern, exceptional after September, was at S.E.S.S. (Young Road) 6 Dec (Matt Sadowski). Single Common Terns in Oceanside, San Diego Co 27 Dec (Paul E. Lehman) and on south San Diego Bay 25 Jan (Todd Easterla) were suspected to be wintering locally. At least nine Elegant Terns around Santa Barbara during December were later than expected, and one at the San Diego River mouth in San Diego 11 Jan (Nathan French) was exceptional; the earliest of the summer visitors were two on south San Diego Bay 20 Feb (Matt Sadowski).

Loons through Herons

A Red-throated Loon on Bouquet Reservoir, Los Angeles Co 27 Dec (Bobby Walsh), another on Legg Lake in El Monte, Los Angeles Co 16 Dec (Larry Schmahl), up to two on Silverwood Lake, San Bernardino Co 3–10 Dec (Eric Tipton) and two more on Lake Matthews 23 Dec (Robert Packard) were inland, where rare. The only Pacific Loons reported inland were one on Quail Lake, Los Angeles Co 15–16 Feb (Brad Rumble) and another at Silverwood Lake 1–3 Dec (Eric Tipton). A Yellow-billed Loon, a casual straggler to Southern California, in San Pedro, Los Angeles Co 19 Jan (Graham Montgomery) was captured to remove an entangled fishing line, treated at the International Bird Rescue Center, then released at the same location 30 Jan.

The only Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel reported was one off Morro Bay 13 Jan (Tom M. Edell). A Laysan Albatross 22 km west-southwest of Point Loma 25 Feb (Paul E. Lehman) was closer to the coast than expected. A Flesh-footed Shearwater, rare over Southern California’s oceanic waters, was over Santa Monica Bay off Marina del Rey 7 Dec (Jon S. Feenstra). The only Short-tailed Shearwaters reported were one over the Palos Verdes Escarpment, Los Angeles Co 20 Dec (David Bell) and two off Point Loma, San Diego Co 11 Jan (Paul E. Lehman). Single Manx Shearwaters 10 km west of Point Loma 1 Jan (Paul E. Lehman) and 7.5 km northwest of Point Loma 17 Jan (David Povey) were the only two reported.

Two adult Masked Boobies 7 km off Coronado, San Diego Co 16 Dec (David Povey) were the only ones known in Southern California’s oceanic waters this winter. A Masked/Nazca Booby was at Point La Jolla in La Jolla 10 Dec (Dan Jehl). A long staying Blue-footed Booby was still frequenting Sutil Island at Santa Barbara Island 23 Dec (Van Pierszalowski). About 130 Brown Boobies at Santa Barbara Island 23 Dec (Henry Chiu) well illustrates the current abundance of this species in Southern California’s oceanic waters. Two Red-footed Boobies were reported, with one at Point Loma, San Diego Co 16 Dec (Dan Jehl) and the other at Santa Barbara Island 23 Dec (Van Pierszalowski).

Seven Neotropic Cormorants, including one on a nest containing chicks, at the Kern Water Bank, Kern Co 19 Feb (Matt Brady and Dan Maxwell), were the northernmost of those known in Southern California.

A Little Blue Heron in Huntington Beach, Orange Co 24 Oct–30 Jan (Rachael Innes) was the only one known away from the area around San Diego where resident. An immature Roseate Spoonbill at the Kern Water Bank 13 Jan–29 Feb+ (John Sterling) was only the second ever in Kern Co.

Hawks through Caracaras

At least one pair of Harris’s Hawks remained at Shelter Valley in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park (Bernadette Ramer) along with another pair in Jacumba, San Diego Co (Paul E. Lehman) through the period. Nine Swainson’s Hawks near Brawley, Imperial Co 22 Dec (Candace Hess) were probably late fall migrants, while up to 73 near Imperial, Imperial Co 23 Jan–1 Feb (Todd Easterla, Dan Hayes, Tracee Geemaert) and six near Escondido, San Diego Co 31 Jan (Sally Veach) were obvious early spring migrants; however, one over Chula Vista, San Diego Co 1 Jan (Matt Sadowski) and two over Monrovia 7 Jan (Tracy Drake) could have been wintering locally. Single Zone-tailed Hawks in Saticoy, Ventura Co 9 Dec (Allison Alvarado) and Ventura 10 Dec (David Pereksta), were the northernmost of the fifteen known wintering in the Region. The only Rough-legged Hawk reported was one at the Carrizo Plain National Monument 5–12 Jan (Nick L. Belardes).

A Williamson’s Sapsucker at Veterans Park in Sylmar, Los Angeles Co 3 Dec–25 Feb (Jon L. Fisher) was in the coastal lowlands. A White-headed Woodpecker along the coast in Goleta, Santa Barbara Co 26 Oct–10 Feb (David Blue) was the same bird at this location last winter.

Crested Caracaras in Pasadena, Los Angeles Co 27 Dec (Luke Tiller), on the Palos Verdes Peninsula, Los Angeles Co 3 Feb (Willie D’Anna), in Oceanside, San Diego Co 19–21 Feb (Justyn de Leon), Bonita, San Diego Co 16 Dec (Nancy Christensen), and in the Tijuana River Valley, San Diego Co 28 Jan (Adam Walleyn), undoubtedly involved fewer than five individuals, but we may never be certain as to how many, as these birds are known to wander widely.

Flycatchers

A Dusky-capped Flycatcher at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve, Riverside Co 1 Dec (Jason St. Pierre) was not seen subsequently, but wintering birds were at Pacific Beach, San Diego Co 26 Nov–16 Jan (Gary Nunn), the Arundell Barranca in Ventura, Ventura Co 5–19 Jan (Jimmy and Robert McMorran), Rio Bend Golf Course near Seeley, Imperial Co 23–25 Jan (Todd Easterla),

Vincent Lugo Park in San Gabriel, Los Angeles Co 23 Feb–16 Apr (Loren Wright, Naresh Satyan, Curtis A. Marantz), and Lake Balboa, Los Angeles Co 27 Feb (Rebecca Marschall), the last a returning bird. Six Ash-throated Flycatchers were reported on the coastal slope of Los Angeles, Orange, and San Diego Cos during the period; although this species is regularly found in winter on the southeastern deserts, one at Indian Cove in Joshua Tree N. P. 1 Jan (Kate Peterlein) was the first to be found in winter in the Mojave Desert portion of San Bernardino Co. A returning Brown-crested Flycatcher was at the South Coast Botanic Garden in Palos Verdes, Los Angeles Co 9 Dec–20 Feb (Manuel Duran, Alejandra Cedillo). Some 24 Tropical Kingbirds were found in the six coastal counties, and another was at Palm Springs, Riverside Co 26 Dec–18 Feb (Kathy Morales, Eric Julson). Returning Thick-billed Kingbirds were at Griffith Park in Los Angeles 23 Oct–14 Apr (Mario Pineda), Ontario, San Bernardino Co 14 Oct–3 Apr (Thomas A. Benson), and in the Tijuana River Valley, San Diego Co 29 Oct–8 Apr (Paul Marvin, Dan Hayes, David Trissel). Western Kingbirds, casual in winter in the region, were at Huntington Central Park in Huntington Beach, Orange Co 16 Dec (Richard A. Cabe, Jasmine C. Kay), Corona del Mar, Orange Co 1 Jan–25 Feb (Kiandra S. Mitchell), and Panorama Vista Preserve in Bakersfield, Kern Co 10 Jan (William Rockey). A Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Chula Vista, San Diego Co 26 Nov–18 Feb (David Trissel) had returned for its eighth winter.

A Greater Pewee at Montecito 17–19 Dec (Libby Patten, Carol Goodell) established only the second record for Santa Barbara Co. Ten Hammond’s Flycatchers in the coastal lowlands were not unexpected, but two in the mountains—at Cuyamaca State Park, San Diego Co 9 Dec–26 Jan (Ruslan Balagansky) and the west fork of San Gabriel R. in the San Gabriel Mts., Los Angeles Co 7 Jan (Naresh Satyan)—were more surprising, along with one in Lone Pine, Inyo Co 28 Dec–1 Jan (Russell D. Kokx) and in the southern deserts at the Whitewater Preserve, Riverside Co 9 Jan (Steven Myers) and Picacho State Recreation Area, Imperial Co 20 Jan (Todd Easterla). Some 40 Gray  Flycatchers were found in the coastal lowlands, with about 14 more on the deserts. A Dusky Flycatcher wintered at Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena, Los Angeles Co 16 Dec–28 Feb (Darren Dowell), and another attempting to winter on the desert at

Piute Ponds, Los Angeles Co continued from 27 Oct to 2 Jan (Kimball L. Garrett). Rivaling Gray Flycatcher in winter abundance, some 37 Western Flycatchers were found on the coastal slope, including one on Santa Catalina I. at Little Harbor 17 Dec (Cressita Bowman, Tamara Mason, Brenda Sabin). Returning Eastern Phoebes continued from the fall to 12 Jan at Lake Lindero in Agoura, Los Angeles Co (Daniel S. Cooper) and to 10 Mar at City Heights, San Diego Co (Barbara Wise); others were on Santa Cruz Island 1–3 Jan (Lucas Le Grice) and San Dimas Canyon Park, Los Angeles Co 12 Jan–16 Feb (Elena, Peter, and Silas Nanninga) and in Imperial Co at S.E.S.S. (Wister Unit) 4–20 Dec (Matt Sadowski) and Imperial Dam 7 Feb (Steve Marshall).

Vireos through Nuthatches

Though still very rare, Bell’s Vireos are being recorded more frequently in winter in recent years; this winter single birds continued from October to 11 Mar at S.E.S.S. (Salton Sea N. W. R. headquarters) (Jim Gain, Joanne Bartkus) and to 14 Feb at Cattle Call Park in Brawley (Chris Dean), in Palm Desert, Riverside Co 16 Oct–28 Feb (m. ob.), at Huntington Gardens in San Marino, Los Angeles Co 23 Dec–21 Feb (Jeffrey Fenwick), at Rolando Park in San Diego 16 Jan (Barbara Wise), and at a known breeding locality at Rio de Los Angeles State Park in Los Angeles 26 Jan+ (Marcus England). As expected, the 15 Cassin’s Vireos in the coastal counties, were greatly exceeded by some 75 Plumbeous Vireos (six of which were on the deserts). A Blue-headed Vireo was at Stagecoach Park in Carlsbad, San Diego Co 17–21 Feb (Barbara Wise). Casual in winter, Warbling Vireos included the bird returning for its eleventh winter at Bohnett Park in Santa Barbara 30 Oct–8 Jan along with birds at the Santa Barbara waterfront 7–20 Jan (Scott Pipkin), Waller Park in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara Co 15 Feb (Nathan Goldberg), Peck Road Water Conservation Park near El Monte, Los Angeles Co 8 Jan (Michael C. Long), and Claremont, Los Angeles Co 11–30 Jan (Michael San Miguel Jr.); a bird at Borrego Springs, San Diego Co 22 Feb (Matt Sadowski) was likely an early spring migrant. The Yellow-green Vireo present in Lakewood, Los Angeles Co 22–29 Nov was seen briefly again 16 Dec (Becky Turley, Joyce Brady) but not thereafter.

Wandering Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jays were on the northern Kern Co deserts at Inyokern 17 Dec (Bob Steele) and Cerro Coso Community College in Ridgecrest 23 Jan–25 Feb (Bob and Susan Steele; two on last date by William Rockey). A Chestnut-backed Chickadee at the Port Hueneme Naval Base in Oxnard, Ventura Co 25 Jan (John Mueller) was the southernmost ever recorded. Barn Swallows were found in exceptional numbers in Santa Barbara Co during the period, with flocks including 23 at Lake Cachuma 27 Dec (Sophie Cameron et al.), 20 in Goleta 20–25 Jan (Andrew McGrath et al.), and 16 at North Vandenberg Space Force Base 24 Jan (Daniel Farrar). The northward march of Swinhoe’s White-eyes proceeded through the period, with a total of six birds at three locations in San Luis Obispo Co 12 Dec–10 Jan, including one at Cayucos 12–18 Dec (Tom M. Edell) which was the first for the county; in Santa Barbara Co there were reports of up to six birds together at ten locations on the south coast. Following a major incursion into the Region’s lowlands in Fall 2023, Red-breasted Nuthatches remained numerous over much of the area through the period, perhaps best illustrated by a total of at least 403 in Orange Co where an average winter has six to eight birds.

Creepers through Finches

Brown Creepers at unusual desert locations included one remaining from fall to at least 19 Apr at Piute Ponds, Los Angeles Co (William Tyrer) and one at the Rio Bend Golf Course near Seeley, Imperial Co 23 Jan (Todd Easterla). An impressive total of four Winter Wrens were present this winter, all documented with voice recordings: one continued from 13 Nov to 14 Dec below Glacier Lodge in Big Pine Canyon, Inyo Co (m. ob.), one was at Pala Mesa, San Diego Co 8 Dec–2 Feb (Jim Pawlicki, Gary Nunn), and widely-seen birds were at Cattle Call Park in Brawley 20 Dec–22 Mar (Matt Sadowski, Sam Baxter-Bray) and Castaic Lagoon, Los Angeles Co 30 Dec–11 Feb (Caleb Peterson, Russell Campbell, Jodhan Fine).

Vagrant mimids included Gray Catbirds at Borrego Springs, San Diego Co 2 Dec (Leah Rottke), Jacumba, San Diego Co 6–10 Dec (Paul E. Lehman), Bard, Imperial Co 22–29 Mar (Todd Easterla), and at Glen Helen Regional Park, San Bernardino Co from fall to 7 Feb (David A. Goodward), and Brown Thrashers at the West San Gabriel River Parkway Nature Trail in Lakewood, Los Angeles Co 16 Dec–6 Apr (Becky Turley, Joyce Brady) and one at Furnace Creek Inn in Death Valley N. P., Inyo Co 1 Jan that was likely different from one there in Oct (Carl Lundblad).

A sight record of a Northern Wheatear came from the KCL Campground, Carrizo Plain National Monument, San Luis Obispo Co 12 Dec (Bill A. Bouton); if accepted by the CBRC it would be the Region’s fifth. The Rufous-backed Robin found in November at the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve, San Bernardino Co was last seen on 3 Dec (Daniel Ward); another was at Shelter Valley, San Diego Co 9 Feb–27 Mar (Sarah Hess).

The Northern Red Bishop, which had been seemingly well-established in river channels and flood control basins in Los Angeles and Orange Cos, continues to decline; there was only a single report in Los Angeles Co during the period, at San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds, Pico Rivera 2–4 Dec (Jeffrey Fenwick); bishops were reported at only four sites in Orange Co. The season’s three White Wagtails all utilized river bottom habitat, as is typical of this species here; one was along the lower Los Angeles River in Long Beach 1 Dec (Richard Barth), another occupied the Los Angeles River channel in Burbank 24 Jan–14 Apr (Eric Johnson), and one was on the Santa Ana River in Huntington Beach/Costa Mesa, Orange Co 28 Jan–3 Feb (Gisele Schoene).

The southernmost Evening Grosbeaks were up to four at Lake Cuyamaca, San Diego Co 11 Nov–16 Dec (Jenna Asperslag). Red Crossbills were numerous and widespread in Santa Barbara and San Diego Cos as well as in the mountains and Antelope Valley of Los Angeles Co.; “Type 2” birds dominated but birds giving “Type 3” calls were at Ellings Park in Santa Barbara 28 Dec (Hugh P. Ranson) and Crystalaire in Llano, Los Angeles Co 3 Dec (Ruth Gravance), and up to three “Type 4” birds were at Crystalaire 9 Dec (Ruth Gravance).

Longspurs through Icterids

Lapland Longspurs were scattered through the coastal counties; there were ten birds in the coastal lowlands with one staying to the late date of 16 Apr at Chula Vista Wildlife Reserve, San Diego Co (Matt Sadowski), plus two in the Antelope Valley portion of the Tejon Ranch, Kern Co 17 Dec (Dessi Sieburth, Van Pierszalowski). Up to ten Chestnut-collared Longspurs were in the western Antelope Valley near Neenach, Los Angeles Co 3 Dec–25 Feb (David Bell, Mark Scheel, Janet Scheel), with another in the Kelso Valley, Kern Co 16 Dec (Annie Meyer). Two Thick-billed Longspurs were on the Tejon Ranch in the western Antelope Valley 17 Dec (Dessi Sieburth) with another nearby near Neenach 3–10 Dec (David Bell); on the coast one was at the Chula Vista Wildlife Reserve, San Diego Co 16 Dec–15 Mar (Lea Squires, Matt Sadowski).

It was a banner winter for Lark Buntings, with at least 30 at the Carrizo Plain N. M., San Luis Obispo Co 8 Dec–28 Feb (m. ob.), with twelve more, primarily in the interior valleys, south to San Diego Co. Clay-colored Sparrow numbers were a bit below average, with 24 birds reported, all in the coastal counties. Rare and local in winter, Black-chinned Sparrows were in Joshua Tree N. P. at Cottonwood Springs 17 Dec (Rebecca Marschall), Indian Cove 24 Dec (Haniel Pulido Jr.), and Rattlesnake Canyon 24 Feb (three birds; Sanjeet Khalsa), and at Travertine Wash in Anza-Borrego State Park, San Diego Co 18 Dec (Grigory Heaton). One of the hallmarks of the winter was the unprecedented abundance of Brewer’s Sparrows on the desert through the period, perhaps occasioned by a profusion of annual growth following exceptional early fall rains, a legacy of Tropical Storm Hilary. An exceptional 76 were on the Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo Co 6 Dec–14 Feb with a high count of 60+ on Elkhorn Plain 16 Dec (Reef W. Comer); in Los Angeles Co numbers in the Antelope Valley were much greater than normal including flocks of 40 at Littlerock 23 Dec (Larry Schmahl), 79 along Black Butte Basin Road ne. of Llano 3 Feb (Kimball L. Garrett), 32 at Jackrabbit Flat in the e. Antelope Valley 19 Feb (Naresh Satyan), and 40 in Palmdale (Ave O at 10th St. West) 26 Feb (Kimball L. Garrett); numbers in Inyo and Kern Cos were considered “unprecedented,” and the “exceptional” numbers in Riverside Co included a flock of 90 at Wilson Valley preserve near Aguanga 6 Jan (Bob Packard) and a total of 571 birds on the Joshua Tree N. P. Christmas Bird Count.

As expected, two-thirds of the roughly 150 White-throated Sparrows during the period were in the north coastal counties of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. A group of seven Vesper Sparrows in Upper Bryce Canyon 1 Jan (Ben C. Stalheim) was a notable count for San Clemente I. Orange Co’s second LeConte’s Sparrow continued at Quail Hill in Irvine from 12 Nov to 15 Dec (Kiandra S. Mitchell). Swamp Sparrows included some 24 birds on the coastal slope along with eight on the Mojave Desert and one in the mountains at Lake Arrowhead, San Bernardino Co 14–15 Jan (Brad Singer). California Towhees rarely make news in the region, being highly sedentary, but one wandered to a residential yard near El Centro 26 Dec–19 Feb (Kenenth Z. Kurland) and established a first record for Imperial Valley and second for the Salton Sink. Green-tailed Towhee numbers were well above normal this winter on the coastal slope and probably record-setting on the deserts where some 25 birds were scattered from Inyo Co south to S.E.S.S.

A Yellow-headed Blackbird was at Lone Pine 19 Dec–15 Jan (Russell D. Kokx); this species is casual in Inyo Co in winter. Some 29 Orchard Orioles were found in the coastal counties, including an impressive one-day total of six on the U. C. Santa Barbara campus 17 Dec (Ryan Seppala); on the desert two were in Palm Desert, Riverside Co 3 Jan–19 Mar (T. J. Hastings) and another was in nearby Palm Springs 20 Jan–5 Feb (Tom Crusse). About 26 Hooded Orioles were found on the coastal slope, a number dwarfed by the nearly 100 Bullock’s Orioles scattered through the same regions. Baltimore Orioles were in Santa Barbara Co at Carpinteria, 26 Dec (Spencer Seale) and Goleta 30 Dec–7 Jan (Noah L. Gaines) and at Elysian Park in Los Angeles 24 Dec (Otto Mayer), along with six others in San Diego Co. Despite significant overall population declines, Rusty Blackbirds continue to appear annually in the region, with birds this winter at the San Gabriel Coastal Basin Spreading Grounds in Pico Rivera, Los Angeles Co 5 Dec–18 Feb (Sara Boscoe), Hansen Dam, Los Angeles Co 9 Dec (Brad Rumble), Tecolote Canyon in San Diego 20–22 Dec (Michelle Reilly), Discovery Lake in San Marcos, San Diego Co 29 Dec–3 Jan (John Martin), and on the desert at Piute Ponds 12 Feb–18 Mar (William Tyrer, Kimball L. Garrett).

Wood-Warblers through Cardinalids

The season saw an impressive diversity of wood-warblers, with some of the scarcer species present in above-average numbers. Four Northern Waterthrushes along the coast (three remaining from September) and another in the Imperial Valley at Rio Bend Golf Course near Seeley were about average. Black-and-white Warblers were relatively numerous, with some 58 birds on the coastal slope, four on the deserts, and one in the mountains at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park, San Diego Co 3 Dec (Omar Alui). About 12 Tennessee Warblers were on the coastal slope, with birds farther inland at Jacumba, San Diego Co 24 Feb (Paul E. Lehman) and Fig Lagoon near Seeley, Imperial Co 23 Feb (Todd Easterla). A record high count of 72 Orange-crowned Warblers was recorded on the Bishop Christmas Bird Count in Inyo Co. Ten Lucy’s Warblers were on the coastal slope, with six of them in the two northernmost coastal counties. Other wintering Leiothlypis warblers included some 48 Nashville Warblers on the coastal slope and a Virginias Warbler at Mecca, Riverside Co 4 Jan (Steven Myers). A returning male MacGillivray’s Warbler was at Isla Vista, Santa Barbara Co 14–31 Dec (Jeremy Cowan), and birds at Ventura Harbor 30 Dec (David Pereksta) and College Park in Oxnard 6 Jan (Marc Better) established the first winter records for Ventura Co.

Seventeen American Redstarts on the coastal slope were augmented by three in Imperial Co and singles farther north at the South Fork of the Kern River 30 Dec (Peter Woodman) and Bishop, Inyo Co 14–18 Dec (Chris Howard, Rosie Howard). A Cape May Warbler returned to Loyola Marymount University campus in Westchester, Los Angeles Co 31 Dec–28 Feb (Kevin Lapp) and new wintering birds were at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria, Santa Barbara Co 23 Nov–23 Dec (Jamie M. Chavez) and Alhambra Park, Los Angeles Co 20 Feb–29 Mar (Chef Ito). Northern Parulas were at Huntington Beach 6 Nov-29 Feb+ (Jasmine C. Kay, RIchard A. Cabe), King Gillette Ranch in Calabasas, Los Angeles Co 1 Jan (Femi Faminu), La Jolla 14 Jan–16 Apr (Paul E. Lehman), and up to two at Whelan Lake in Oceanside 19 Feb–25 Mar (Nancy Christensen); farther inland one continued from fall at the Kern Water Bank to 17 Feb (John Sterling) and others were at Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 26 Dec–2 Jan (Logan Kahle), Mecca 4 Jan (Steven Myers), and the Wister Unit, S.E.S.S. 24 Feb–3 Apr (Chris Dean).

The winter’s three Magnolia Warblers were at Mojave Narrows Regional Park, San Bernardino Co 4 Dec (William R. Deppe), Silver Lakes, San Bernardino Co continuing from fall to 15 Dec (Keith Condon), and Wildwood Regional Park in Thousand Oaks, Ventura Co 6–14 Jan (Stephen Bylin. Bonnie Clarfield-Bylin). The lone Bay-breasted Warbler, less than annual in winter, was at Carpinteria, Santa Barbara Co 16 Dec–26 Jan (Rob Hofberg). All five Blackburnian Warblers this winter were in San Diego Co, at Lake Murray 7 Nov–10 Feb (Brandon Stidum), Balboa Park in San Diego 16 Dec (Aaron Polichar), Torrey Hills 5 Feb–21 Mar (Paul E. Lehman), in the mountains at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 8 Dec (Catherine Zinsky), and on the desert at Borrego Springs 11 Dec (“Lisa and Li Li”; eBird). Away from the coastal slope and Imperial County, where regular in winter, Yellow Warblers were found only at Piute Ponds, Los Angeles Co where one continued from fall into April and two were present on 16 Dec (Mark and Janet Scheel).

An impressive 15 Chestnut-sided Warblers were found on the coastal slope, including three in Santa Barbara Co and seven in San Diego Co. A Black-throated Blue Warbler was at Devil’s Canyon near Devore, San Bernardino Co 31 Jan (Steve Ritt). Some 32 Palm Warblers were found on the coastal slope, with another well inland in San Luis Obispo Co near Shandon 6 Dec (Petra and Jack Clayton) and another on the desert at Borrego Springs, San Diego Co 17–18 Dec (Shannon McNeil). Pine Warblers were at Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria 23 Nov–23 Jan (Russ Nimitz) and nearby Waller Park 10–13 Jan (Tom Turner), Wardlow Park in Long Beach 2–10 Dec (Christina Jacobs), Satellite Park in Cerritos, Los Angeles Co 10 Dec–29 Feb (Thomas Lopez), and Mile Square Regional Park in Fountain Valley, Orange Co 28 Dec (James P. Mitchell). A Grace’s Warbler at Encinitas, San Diego Co 19 Nov–12 Feb (P. Gretchen Nell) had returned for its sixth winter, and others were at National City, San Diego Co 16 Dec–2 Apr (Matt Sadowski), Arroyo Verde Park in Ventura 1 Jan–2 Feb (Spencer Seale), and in the mountains at Cuyamaca Rancho State Park 5 Dec–12 Jan (Paula Theobald). Black-throated Green Warblers were at the Tijuana River Valley 16 Dec (Justyn Stahl), Mission Viejo, Orange Co 3 Dec–23 Jan (Tom M. Fangrow), Encinitas, San Diego Co 9–12 Dec (Dan King), Victor Lugo Park in San Gabriel, Los Angeles Co 22 Feb–20 Mar (Chef Ito), and at a business center in Sorrento Valley, San Diego Co 3 Mar (Paul E. Lehman).

A Canada Warbler at Goleta 15 Jan (Steve Hovey) was the only one of the season and the first found in mid-winter in Santa Barbara Co. Well over 100 Wilson’s Warblers were found on the coastal slope, with four more on the southern deserts and the Owens Valley’s latest fall bird ever at Bishop 3–9 Dec (Chris Howard, Rosie Howard). Painted Redstarts remained from fall to 22 Jan near Weldon, Kern Co (Bob Steele), to 12 Feb at Kenny Grove Park in Fillmore, Ventura Co (Tina Tan), to 22 Mar at Brentwood, Los Angeles Co (Mark Harris), to 9 Mar at San Dimas Canyon Park, Los Angeles Co (David and Patty Thorne), and to 22 Feb at Tierrasanta, San Diego Co (Paul E. Lehman); new birds were at a residence in Arcadia, Los Angeles Co 5 Dec–25 Feb (Eric Gai) and at Lake Elizabeth, Los Angeles Co 26 Jan (“Will B.”; eBird).

Hepatic Tanagers were well-represented this winter, with birds at Goleta 19–20 Dec (Nick A. Lethaby), Griffith Park in Los Angeles 20 Nov–9 Mar (Adam Cunningham), Banning Park in Wilmington, Los Angeles Co 2 Mar–9 Apr (Van Pierszalowski; undoubtedly wintering locally), Serrano Creek Park in Lake Forest, Orange Co 20 Dec–15 Feb (Shirley A. Reynolds), and five sites around San Diego 15 Dec+ (including two returning wintering birds). Over 100 Summer Tanagers were spread through the coastal slope; farther inland birds were at Bakersfield, Kern Co 13 Jan (Kelli K. Heindel) and Mecca, Riverside Co 27 Dec–14 Feb (Robert McKernan), along with five birds in Imperial Co. A very late fall vagrant Scarlet Tanager was at Buddy Todd Park in Oceanside, San Diego Co 20–25 Dec (Paula Theobald). Western Tanagers winter uncommonly but regularly throughout the coastal slope, but one in the Santa Ynez Mts. 30 Dec (Glenn Kincaid) was unprecedented in winter for the Santa Barbara Co mountains and one in residential

Bakersfield, Kern Co 19–27 Jan (Kelli K. Heindel) was unexpected for the San Joaquin Valley.

Six Rose-breasted Grosbeaks and twelve Black-headed Grosbeaks through the period was an expected ratio. A Blue Grosbeak at Carpinteria 3 Dec (John B. Callender) was only the fourth to be found in winter in Santa Barbara Co. The winter’s lone Indigo Bunting was at Bishop, Inyo Co 18 Dec (Chris Howard, Rosie Howard). Painted Buntings included an adult male at Carpinteria 15 Dec–5 Feb (John B. Callender) and single birds at Santa Maria, Santa Barbara Co 9–17 Dec (John Deacon) and the Tijuana River Valley 25 Jan (Matt Sadowski).

Report processed by Andrew Keaveney, 23 Jul 2024.