Southern California Winter 2024–2025

Sub-regional Compilers

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

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: 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

Three Tundra Swans on Castaic Lake, Los Angeles Co 2 Dec (Judy Matsuoka) and two at S.E.S.S. (Unit 1) 28 Nov (David Kane) were the southernmost of the few reaching Southern California.

A Mexican Duck along the Parker Strip 10 Jan (Nate Peterson) was on the lower Colorado River, where it is probably of regular occurrence. Single male “Eurasian” Green-winged Teal, rare in California, were in Los Osos, San Luis Obispo Co 5 Feb–3 Mar (Jim S. Royer) and at Seal Beach, Orange Co 7 Jan (Brian E. Daniels).

A female King Eider, accidental as far south as Southern California, was in Huntington Beach, Orange Co 23–31 Dec (Brian E. Daniels). The only Harlequin Duck reported was one at Estero Bluffs State Park, San Luis Obispo Co 7–25 Dec (John Fields). Six Surf Scoters were known present around the Salton Sea with two at Salt Creek 29 Jan (Robert L. McKernan), one at North Shore 19 Feb (Robert L. McKernan) and three on Carter Reservoir, Imperial Co 15–28 Dec (Paul E. Lehman); however, a 17 Jan aerial survey of the Salton Sink by the U.S.F. & W.S. recorded 20 scoters along the N.E.S.S. shoreline. Single White-winged Scoters at Tinemaha Reservoir, Inyo Co 5–6 Jan (Forrest English) and on the Colorado River at the Palo Verde Diversion Dam, Riverside Co 21 Jan (Jeffrey Olsson) were the only two reported inland. A Black Scoter at N.E.S.S. (84^th Ave) 26–29 Jan (Elias Elias) was the only one reported inland; fourteen at the Vandenberg Space Force Base, Santa Barbara Co 15 Dec (Jessie Altstatt) was an unusually large concentration for Southern California. A Long-tailed Duck in Imperial Beach, San Diego Co was the southernmost of eleven known along the coast. Up to three Barrow’s Goldeneye were on the Colorado River below Parker Dam, San Bernardino Co 27 Dec–23 Feb (Todd Easterla) and another was at the N.E.S.S. (84^th Ave) 29 Jan–8 Feb (Robert L. McKernan); one in Avila Beach, San Luis Obispo Co 13 Jan–25 Feb (Barry and Virginia Langdon-Lassagne) and another at the Point Mugu Naval Base, Ventura Co 4–10 Jan (David Pereksta) were on the coast where casual.

Single Red-necked Grebes on Lake Palmdale, Los Angeles Co 16–20 Jan (Callyn Yorke), Castaic Lagoon, Los Angeles Co 2 Dec (Judy Matsuoka), Senator Wash Dam, Imperial Co 14 Dec (Henry Detwiler), and Lake Elsinore, Riverside Co 28 Dec–5 Jan (David Rankin) were inland where rare; nineteen were along the coast, including an unprecedented 16 along the coast of Santa Barbara Co.

Doves through Hummingbirds

Seven White-winged Doves were reported from the immediate coast with one in Cambria, San Luis Obispo Co 22 Dec (Ellen Pane) being the northernmost.

Single Vaux’s Swifts over Elings Park 5 Jan (Spencer Seale) and Andree Clark Bird Refuge in Santa Barbara 27 Jan (John Callender) were farther north than expected at this time of the year, while over thirty along the Los Angeles River/Maywood Park, Los Angeles Co 15–16 Dec (Andrew Birch), with 1–6 known present through the rest of the winter, and 31 counted entering a roost in downtown San Diego 14 Dec (fide Philip Unitt), were in areas where small numbers are reported most winters.

An Allen’s Hummingbird, very rare east of the coastal mountains, was photographed near Palm Desert, Riverside Co 6 Feb (David Rankin). A Broad-billed Hummingbird first seen in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara Co on 26 Oct, was still present 15 Dec–20 Feb (Matt Brady, Michael Moss), another was in Goleta, Santa Barbara Co 4 Jan (Andrew Mcgrath), a female returned for a second winter to feeders in the Golden Hills section of San Diego 4 Oct–24 Feb (Lindsay Willrick), and a male was photographed at Poggi Canyon in Chula Vista, San Diego Co 28 Dec (Michael Willison).

Cranes through Murrelets

Two Sandhill Cranes in Bishop, Inyo Co 13 Jan–2 Mar (Diane Stevens) and one near Palmdale, Los Angeles Co 14 Dec–18 Feb (m.ob) were well away from any known wintering locations.

Eight Pacific Golden-Plovers were reported from along the coast this winter. Up to 50 Mountain Plovers at various locations in western Kern Co 14 Dec–19 Jan (m.ob), along with 281 near Buttonwillow 21 Dec (Annie Meyer), were at traditional wintering locations, and flocks of up to sixty northwest of Westmorland and up to 178 east of Calipatria, Imperial Co were present throughout most of the period, along with 125 near Seeley 16 Dec (GMcC) and 167 well east of Brawley 16 Dec (Chris Dean), this being more in the Imperial Valley than in recent years, but a far cry from the numbers present 20-30 years ago; one at the Ventura River estuary, Ventura Co 12 Jan (Lynn Oldt) was on the coast where unexpected.

A Red Knot was inland on the Salton Sea (Salt Creek) 30 Dec (Robert L. McKernan). A wintering Ruff in Ontario, San Bernardino Co was still present 22 Jan (Eric Hope). Small numbers of Sanderlings were inland on the Salton Sea throughout the winter, with a high count of 83 there on 18 Dec (Robert L. McKernan). Two Stilt Sandpipers near the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Riverside Co 20 Dec (Curtis A. Marantz) were the only ones reported away from the S.E.S.S. The Little Stint on south San Diego Bay 21 Oct–29 Apr (Matt Sadowski) was the same bird present there during the past six winters. A Pectoral Sandpiper photographed near Calipatria, Imperial Co 16 Dec (Paul E. Lehman) was one of a very few documented in California in winter.

Solitary Sandpipers were more numerous than normal, with five in the coastal lowlands that included single birds at Hansen Dam in Los Angeles 11 Dec–17 Feb (Van Pierszalowski), Whittier Narrows Dam, Los Angeles Co 14–15 Dec (Naresh Satyan), El Dorado Regional Park in Long Beach, Los Angeles Co 16 Dec–7 Mar (James Earles), Whelan Lake in Oceanside, San Diego Co 24 Oct–19 Apr (David Theobald), joined by a second 10 Jan–11 Apr (Paul E. Lehman), and two together inland near Hemet, Riverside Co 9 Feb (Robert L. McKernan), and two or three much farther inland, with one on Lake Isabella, Kern Co 30 Jan and 22 Feb (Alison M. Sheehey, Annie Meyer), one at the Rio Bend Golf Course near Seeley, Imperial Co 1 Dec (Larry Cahill) and another, or the same bird, at the nearby Sunbeam Rest Area 4 Jan (Jeremiah Stock). Two Red-necked Phalaropes photographed on Owens Lake, Inyo Co 22 Feb (Natalia Reixach) were presumably wintering locally.

A Marbled Murrelet offshore over the Santa Barbara Channel, Ventura Co 3 Jan (Danny Ceravolo) was a little south of the species’ known winter range. An Ancient Murrelet offshore over the Hueneme Canyon, Ventura Co 3 Jan (Jimmy McMorran) was the southernmost this winter.

Gulls through Terns

An adult Swallow-tailed Gull at Zuma Beach in Malibu, Los Angeles Co 5 Feb (Sean Wolfe) was the seventh reported in California, and the fourth since 25 Oct 2022. All of the recent reports were of adults in what appeared to be identical plumage, so it may never be determined how many individuals were involved, if indeed more than one was involved. A Laughing Gull frequented the coast of San Luis Obispo Co 25 Feb–12 Mar (Ron F. Beck, Dave M. Lawrence). The only known Franklin’s Gull was a late fall migrant at the Santa Maria River mouth 11 Dec (Max Roberts). Seven Short-billed Gulls were well inland with single birds in Bakersfield 14 Dec (John C. Wilson), at Apollo Park in Lancaster, Los Angeles Co 12–18 Jan (Alex Lamoreaux), Mystic Lake, Riverside Co 21 Dec (David Rankin) and four at the Salton Sink, including single birds at N.E.S.S (Kent Sea Tech) 12 Nov (Robert L. McKernan), Salt Creek 8 Jan (Robert L. McKernan), North Shore 26 Feb (Robert L. McKernan), and near Calipatria, Imperial Co 17 Dec (Brennan Mulrooney). A first-cycle gull, believed to be a “Vega Gull”, was at the Point Mugu Naval Base, Ventura Co 4 Jan (David Pereksta), another was on the Los Angeles River in Vernon, Los Angeles Co 17 Nov–3 Jan (Mark Wilson), and a second-cycle gull, also believed to be a “Vega Gull”, was present around south San Diego Bay/Lower Otay Reservoir, San Diego Co 9 Oct–8 Feb (Matt Sadowski).. A Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lake Isabella, Kern Co 5 Jan (Sasha Robinson), and another at Silverwood Lake, San Bernardino Co 11 Dec–25 Feb, joined by a second one 30 Jan (Becca Cockrum), were the northernmost of the thirty-five known present.

A Gull-billed Tern photographed at S.E.S.S. (Unit 1) 29 Jan (Steven Lima) is one of a very few known in California in winter. A late staying Elegant Tern was at the Point Mugu Naval Base 13 Dec (David Pereksta) and eight on south San Diego Bay 22 Feb (Bob Packard) were the first of the spring migrants/summering birds to arrive in California this year.

Tropicbirds through Boobies

Single Red-billed Tropicbirds over the Tanner and Cortez Banks 7 Dec (Jon S. Feenstra) were well offshore where expected.

The Pacific Loon well inland on Quail Lake, Los Angeles Co remained through 22 Feb (Mark Scheel). A Yellow-billed Loon on the road at San Elijo Lagoon 26 Dec (Jennifer Potter – #SDNHM) was the second known in San Diego Co.

A Flesh-footed Shearwater, rare in Southern California’s oceanic waters, was at the Cortez Bank southwest of San Clemente Island 7 Dec (Jon S. Feenstra). Single Short-tailed Shearwaters over the Tanner Bank 7 Dec (Naresh Satyan) and off San Diego 14 Dec (Dan Jehl) and 1 Jan (Paul E. Lehman) were the only three reported. Single Manx Shearwaters, a species increasing in numbers off California, were off Oceanside, San Diego Co 3 Dec (Beth Fife) and Morro Bay, San Luis Obispo Co 19 Jan (Curtis A. Marantz).

An adult female Lesser Frigatebird first photographed over San Elijo Lagoon, San Diego Co late in the day on 4 Feb (Michael Schramm), slowly moved south along the coast to Point Loma on 5 Feb (m.ob), and was last seen flying south towards the Los Coronados Islands in Mexico during the early afternoon. This is only the fifth known in North America, but the second in California, after an immature near Arcata, Humboldt Co on 18 Sep 2005. An adult female Magnificent Frigatebird reported at Ormond Beach, Ventura Co 2 Feb may have been misidentified, and in fact may well have been this same Lesser Frigatebird. A Nazca Booby on Sutil Island adjacent to Santa Barbara Island 21 Dec (Clyde Morris) was the only one reported.

Storks through Falcons

A Wood Stork at various locations in San Diego Co 22 Dec–21 Jan (Sue Laris and Joanne Sherif) was believed to be the same bird reported around southern California since at least 2020.

A Little Blue Heron, rare anywhere inland, was on Lower Otay Reservoir 6 Jan (Joe Alsadi) and an adult at Bolsa Chica, Orange Co 14 Oct–7 Jan (m. ob) along with an immature on the lower Santa Ana River in Huntington Beach, Orange Co 1 Dec–12 Apr (James E. Pike) were the only two known north of coastal San Diego Co. A Tricolored Heron was inland, where very rare, near Westmorland, Imperial Co 17 Dec (fide Chris McCreedy); up to three were on the coast of San Diego Co through the winter, along with up to two at the Point Mugu Naval Base, Ventura Co 14 Oct–6 Jan (Russell Galipeau). Two Reddish Egrets were found inland, with one near Westmorland, Imperial Co 17 Dec (fide Chris McCreedy) and the other at N.E.S.S. 22 Jan (Robert L. McKernan). A Glossy Ibis was near Ramer Lake, Imperial Co 11 Dec (Todd Easterla).

Up to three Harris’s Hawks continue in the Anza-Borrego Desert State Park at Shelter Valley, and up to five more in Jacumba where they now appear to be resident. A Broad-winged Hawk photographed in Encinitas, San Diego Co 18 Feb (Gjon C. Hazard) was evidently wintering locally. At least twenty-two Zone-tailed Hawks were present, with most in the coastal lowlands, and one near Santa Ynez, Santa Barbara Co 27 Dec–9 Jan (Wim van Dam) being the northernmost. A Rough-legged Hawk at the Carrizo Plain National Monument 31 Jan (Kevin J. Zimmer) was the only one reported.

A Crested Caracara was in Ventura Co at Port Hueneme Beach Park 5 Jan (Sammy Cowell) and Barlow Canyon 6 Jan (Mike Moss).

Flycatchers

In addition to returning wintering Dusky-capped Flycatchers in San Gabriel, Los Angeles Co 6 Nov–8 Mar (Caleb Peterson) and the Sepulveda Basin in Encino, Los Angeles 2–20 Jan (Patricia Bates), individuals were at Carlsbad, San Diego Co 29 Dec–31 Jan (Gjon C. Hazard), the Rio Bend Golf Course near Seeley, Imperial Co 22 Dec (Josh McLaughlin), and Palm Springs, Riverside Co 31 Dec–21 Jan (Steve Eckert). A few Ash-throated Flycatchers on the southeastern deserts, where regular, were augmented by coastal slope birds at Santa Barbara 1 Dec–4 Jan (Gavin Awerbuch), Hansen Dam, Los Angeles Co 9 Jan (Brad Rumble), and San Timoteo Canyon in Redlands, San Bernardino Co 5 Feb (Andrew Karpenko). The roughly 27 Tropical Kingbirds during the period on the coastal slope were as expected, but more unusual were three on the southeastern deserts—a returning bird at Palm Springs 5 Dec–21 Jan (Scott Freeman) and birds in Imperial County at Westmorland and Niland, both on 10 Dec (Todd Easterla). Thick-billed Kingbirds returning for the third winter were present from fall to 26 Apr at Griffith Park in Los Angeles (Andrew Birch) and from fall to 15 Mar at Ontario, San Bernardino Co (Thomas A. Benson, Brittany O’Connor); new birds were at Rancho Cucamonga, San Bernardino Co 12 Dec–7 Apr (Michael Peralez, Thomas A. Benson) and Palo Verde, Imperial Co 22 Oct–10 Feb (Todd Easterla). Western Kingbirds, very rare but increasingly regular in winter, were represented by five birds in Los Angeles Co during the period, plus one at Huntington Beach, Orange Co 1 Jan–1 Feb (Roger A. Schoedl, Brian E. Daniels) and one at Carlsbad, San Diego Co 3–4 Jan (Jenna Asperslag). The venerable Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Chula Vista, San Diego Co had returned for its ninth winter 5 Dec–22 Mar (Paul E. Lehman).

An Olive-sided Flycatcher at Fullerton 28 Dec–3 Jan (Maia Nguyen, Ynez, Diaz) was only the fourth ever in winter in Orange Co. A Greater Pewee in Montecito, Santa Barbara Co 14 Dec–25 Feb (John Callender) had returned for a second winter; another was at Chula Vista, San Diego Co 7 Dec–18 Apr (Bonnie Henson). Casual in winter, Least Flycatchers were at Torrance, Los Angeles Co 28 Dec–28 Jan (Kiera Carvalho) and the Kenneth Hahn State Recreation Area in Los Angeles 14–19 Feb (Christopher Hinkle). Also very rare in winter were Dusky Flycatchers at Hahamongna Watershed Park in Pasadena, Los Angeles Co 7 Dec–20 Jan (Darren Dowell), Laguna Hills, Orange Co 14 Dec–27 Feb (Tom F. Fangrow), and National City, San Diego Co 15 Mar–21 Apr (PEL); the last bird was almost certainly wintering as spring migrants are not expected until mid-April. Our three more expected winter Empidonax included fifteen coastal slope Hammond’s Flycatchers, with another at Lowell Park in Bakersfield, Kern Co 14 Jan (Russ Namitz), some 40 Gray Flycatchers on the coastal slope and another eight on the deserts, and at least 54 Western Flycatchers on the coastal slope. An above-average 22 Eastern Phoebes included 18 on the coastal slope (including birds on Santa Cruz and Santa Catalina Is.) and four on the deserts.

Vireos through Thrushes

A Bell’s Vireo at Rio de Los Angeles State Park, Los Angeles Co through the period (Jabz Palomino) was likely a returning bird of the “Least” subspecies pusillus; one at Palo Verde, Imperial Co 1 Dec (Gjon C. Hazard) appeared to be of the slightly greener subspecies arizonae.

Eight Cassin’s Vireos during the period, all on the coastal slope, were well outnumbered by over 50 Plumbeous Vireos on the coastal slope and another four on the deserts; a bright “Solitary Vireo” at Windermere Park in La Mirada, Los Angeles Co 9–23 Dec (Chef Ito) was a candidate for Blue-headed, but not identified for certain. Returning for its twelfth winter was a Warbling Vireo

continuing from fall to 7 Feb at Bohnett Park in Santa Barbara (Hugh Ranson); one in National City, San Diego Co 18–22 Feb (Michelle Haglund) may also have been wintering, though spring migrants can arrive in the last week of February.

At least 39 Loggerhead Shrikes in Orange Co during the winter was the highest count in many years for a species that has declined drastically on the coastal slope in the last three decades.

Rare mid-winter Bank Swallows were near Niland, Imperial Co 11 Dec (Todd Easterla) and at the Ventura Settling Ponds, Ventura Co 29–30 Jan (Matt Brady). Early “spring” arrival

Cliff Swallows were one at Piute Ponds, Los Angeles Co 4 Feb (Kimball L. Garrett) and five at S.E.S.S. 13 Feb (Erik Van Den Kieboom, Bobby Figarotta). In the near-absence of any lowland irruptions of montane birds this winter, a Pygmy Nuthatch at Spring Valley Lake in Victorville, San Bernardino Co 8 Feb (William R. Deppe) was of note. Well-documented Winter Wrens were at Goleta, Santa Barbara Co 4 Dec–12 Jan (Alex Castelein) and Cerro Alto Campground, San Luis Obispo Co 20–22 Feb (Kevin J. Zimmer).

Gray Catbirds were in the Tijuana River Valley, San Diego Co from 1 Nov to 26 Jan (Paul Marvin) and at Dana Point, Orange Co 7 Nov–8 Feb (Gina Easley). A Curve-billed Thrasher was at the River Lodge Resort on the Parker Strip of the lower Colorado River, San Bernardino Co 29 Jan (William R. Deppe), with others remaining from the fall to 24 Dec at Baker, San Bernardino Co. (Nicholas Belardes) and to 2 Apr at the Rio Bend Golf Course near Seeley (Todd Easterla). A Brown Thrasher continued from fall to at least 1 Jan at Furnace Creek Ranch, Inyo Co (Todd Easterla) and another was at Goleta 3–21 Jan (Danico Taber). A Bendire’s Thrasher continued from the fall to 31 Jan at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Riverside Co (Robert Packard). Sage Thrashers were found in exceptional numbers through most of the region this winter, but it is always hard to draw the line between wintering birds and spring migrants (which routinely appear as early as late January); most birds were well inland on the coastal slope or on the deserts, but some were on the immediate coast and one reached Santa Cruz I. 16 Jan–10 Feb (Colby Merrill).

Casual in California, a Rufous-backed Robin was at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve 24 Dec–10 Jan (Kiandra Mitchell).

Pipits through Sparrows

A Siberian Pipit, recently split and thus prompting increased scrutiny of fall and winter pipits, was at the Ballona Wetlands in Playa del Rey, Los Angeles Co 21–28 Dec (Kevin Lapp). Lapland Longspurs were at the Carrizo Plain, San Luis Obispo Co 11 Dec (Will K. Knowlton), Santa Barbara I. 21 Dec (Joelle Buffa), Lompoc, Santa Barbara Co 29 Dec (Wes T. Fritz), Palmdale, Los Angeles Co 3 Dec–16 Feb (Jodhan Fine, Grigory Heaton; up to three birds), and Mission Bay, San Diego Co 2–7 Dec (Paul E. Lehman). The only two Chestnut-collared Longspurs were at Palmdale 4–13 Dec (Mark Scheel) and Harper Dry Lake, San Bernardino Co 2 Jan (Gary McClarty). Up to three Thick-billed Longspurs were at Palmdale 3 Dec–10 Mar (Jodhan Fine, Grigory Heaton), and another was on the Kern Co portion of the Tejon Ranch 15 Dec (Dessi Sieburth, Frank and Susan Gilliland).

Five Lark Buntings were well inland on the coastal slope during the period, including the San Joaquin Valley, with others on the coast at Isla Vista, Santa Barbara Co 4 Jan–12 Feb (Max Laubstein) and Carlsbad 15–23 Feb (Tito Gonzalez). Up to 54 Chipping Sparrows established a high winter count for San Luis Obispo Co, where the species is normally scarce. Only twelve Clay-colored Sparrows were found during the period, all on the coastal slope except for one near El Centro 14 Jan–5 Apr (Kenneth Z. Kurland). A Black-chinned Sparrow at Santa Ynez 20 Jan (Cruz Phillips) established only the third winter record for Santa Barbara Co. A strikingly marked “Red” Fox Sparrow frequented a yard near El Centro 10 Jan–22 Mar (Kenneth Z. Kurland); blackish tones to the underpart streaking suggested it was of the expected subspecies zaboria rather than the even redder nominate subspecies breeding in eastern Canada. Both Harris’s sparrows this winter were on the deserts, at Borrego Springs, San Diego Co 15 Dec (Paul E. Lehman) and Furnace Creek Ranch 9 Jan (Eve Meier).

We are slowly gaining a better understanding of the fall and winter distribution of Sagebrush Sparrows in the region as observers become more familiar with the distinctions from the more abundant and widespread canescens Bell’s Sparrow. There were three reports involving up to five birds at the Carrizo Plain National Monument in San Luis Obispo Co 2 Jan–21 Feb (Tom M. Edell, Barry and Virginia Langdon-Lassagne), and the four birds found in the Cuyama Valley 25–30 Jan (one likely continuing from fall; Linus Blomqvist, Bradley Hacker, Hugh Ranson et al.) established the second through fifth Santa Barbara Co records; two birds in Quatal Canyon 18 Jan–8 Feb (Spencer Seale, Sammy Cowell) were the first documented in Ventura Co. Scattered birds were in the Antelope Valley of Los Angeles Co, with a high count of twelve together in a mostly pure group at Adobe Mtn. near the San Bernardino Co line 8–22 Feb (Kimball L. Garrett).

The 26 Swamp Sparrows during the period, all on the coastal slope except for one continuing from fall to 1 Dec at Harper Dry Lake, San Bernardino Co (Arthur Davenport), were somewhat fewer than in recent winters. An above-average showing of Green-tailed Towhees this winter included some 20 birds in coastal San Diego Co and one as far north as Los Osos, San Luis Obispo Co 8 Feb (Mark Mushkat).

Yellow-breasted Chat through Wood Warblers

Casual in winter, a Yellow-breasted Chat spent 15 Dec–15 Mar at Carpinteria, Santa Barbara Co (Matt Brady). A flock of 30 Yellow-headed Blackbirds at Piute Ponds 16 Feb (Daniel Sexton) was an unusually high count for the northern desert in winter. Fourteen Orchard Orioles were found in coastal areas this winter, with a total of nine in San Diego Co alone. Among our other regular wintering orioles, some 21 Hooded Orioles were in coastal areas, with additional outliers being a male through the period in Bakersfield, Kern Co (with a female to 16 Jan; Kelli Heindel), one in Aguanga, Riverside Co 9 Jan–15 Feb (L. Jones), and one in Palm Springs 21–25 Jan (Steve Lima); in addition, well over 120 Bullock’s Oriole were on the coastal slope. An exceptional 20 Baltimore Orioles were found on the coastal slope during the period, including eight in Los Angeles Co and seven in San Diego Co. Fourteen Scott’s Orioles were found on the coastal slope from Santa Barbara Co south, with four others on the desert foothills of the San Gabriel Mts in Los Angeles Co where they are regular in winter.

The Ovenbird found at Coronado, San Diego Co 11 Nov remained to 12 Feb (Paul E. Lehman). The rarest passerine of the winter was a Louisiana Waterthrush that played hide and seek with birders along a small flood control channel in Solana Beach, San Diego Co 4 Jan–19 Mar (Jay Desgrosellier); it was only the fourth to be found in the winter period in the region. Two Northern Waterthrushes continued from the fall well into the winter period at the Tijuana River Valley, and others were at San Elijo Lagoon, San Diego Co 3–15 Jan (Robert T. Patton) and at Salton Hot Springs near Bombay Beach, Imperial Co 11 Dec (Luke Tiller). Thirty-two Black-and-white Warblers were on the coastal slope, plus three birds found near the Colorado R. at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve on 10 Jan (Dessi Sieburth, Adrian Hinkle, Lucas Stephenson). Tennessee Warbler numbers vary considerably from year to year; this year’s count of seven, less than a quarter of the 2022–23 winter total but nearly twice the total from winter 2021–22, were at Morro Bay S. P. 14 Nov–9 Feb (Kevin J. Zimmer), Carpinteria from fall to 5 Feb (Laurel Luby, Tom Beland), Ken Malloy Harbor Regional Park, Los Angeles Co 1 Dec (Manuel Duran et al.; possibly continuing from November), San Diego 14 Dec (Andrew Newman), Heartwell Park in Long Beach 5 Jan (Christine Jacobs), Westchester, Los Angeles Co 22 Feb (Christopher Hinkle), and Kearny Mesa in San Diego 24 Feb (Paul E. Lehman). An impressive seventeen Lucy’s Warblers occurred this winter on the coastal slope. Forty-nine Nashville Warblers this winter on the coastal slope were augmented by one on the desert at Barstow 28 Jan (Chris Dean). Perhaps our scarcest “western warbler” in winter, a MacGillivray’s Warbler was at Seal Beach, Orange Co 14–26 Dec (Robert A. Hamilton).

Some twenty American Redstarts were on the coastal slope along with two at the Palo Verde Ecological Reserve 13 Jan (Adrian Hinkle) and one near El Centro 22 Oct–23 Apr (Kenneth Z. Kurland). A female Cape May Warbler on the Loyola Marymount University campus in Westchester, Los Angeles Co 19 Oct–8 Mar (Kevin Lapp) was present for its third winter. Northern Parulas were at Chumash Park in Ventura 21 Dec–7 Jan (Logan Kahle, Dessi Sieburth), Vista, San Diego Co 11 Jan (Alex Abela), Oceanside 16 Jan–10 Feb (Sally Veach), and on the lower Colorado River at Bard, Imperial Co 13 Dec (Todd Easterla). A Bay-breasted Warbler frequented Seabridge Park in Huntington Beach 23 Dec–8 Jan (Federico Pacheco), and one at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area 23 Feb (Travis Trance) established the first winter record for Riverside Co. Not unexpected were some 140 Yellow Warblers during the period, most being found on the coast. Returning for a second winter were Chestnut-sided Warblers at Santa Barbara (Chase Palm Park) from fall to 19 Jan (Florence Sanchez) and Lake Murray, San Diego Co 28 Nov–17 Jan (Paul Chad); another at Irvine, Orange Co 26 Dec–18 Jan (Sam Sue James) was also likely a returning bird. Ten Palm Warblers were found in the coastal counties during the period. Two of the three Pine Warblers found in November at Mentone Basin Park in Grover Beach, San Luis Obispo Co continued 6 Dec–21 Feb (Herb D. Elliott, Kevin J. Zimmer); others were at Hilltop Park in Chula Vista  8 Dec–12 Apr (Rusian Balagansky, Adrian Hinkle), Lake Forest, Orange Co 13 Dec (Tom F. Fangrow), and Windermere Park in La Mirada 16 Dec–16 Mar (Jonathan Rowley, William Baker). Returning Grace’s Warblers were at Encinitas, San Diego Co 4 Nov–7 Feb (Susan E. Smith) for a seventh winter, and National City, San Diego Co 9 Nov–22 Feb (Paul E. Lehman); one at Arroyo Verde Park in Ventura continued from fall to 25 Mar (Spencer Seale, Georgia Wyatt), and another was at Knollcrest Park in Irvine 16 Jan–28 Feb+ (Sasha Cahill). Returning wintering Black-throated Green Warblers were at Victor Lugo Park in San Gabriel 10 Jan–25 Mar (Chef Ito, Andrew Jacobson) and Sorrento Valley, San Diego Co 22 Feb (“Liz & Kev”; eBird); new birds were on the U. C. Irvine campus 29 Dec–20 Jan (Sasha Cahill) and Kearny Mesa, San Diego Co 24 Feb (Paul E. Lehman). About 125 Wilson’s Warblers were found in coastal areas through the winter. In addition to the three returning Painted Redstarts present through the end of the fall period, a bird at Point Loma, San Diego Co 13 Nov was refound and remained to 9 Mar (Paul E. Lehman) and new birds were found at Mission Valley San Diego Co 10 Dec–18 Jan (Dan Jehl), Rancho Park in Los Angeles 21 Dec (Sylvie Silverstein), and Sierra Madre, Los Angeles Co 14 Feb (Laura Paul).

Cardinalids

A bumper crop of winter Hepatic Tanagers was centered in San Diego Co, where eight birds included three returning; other returning birds were in Goleta from fall to 11 Jan (Nick Lethaby) and Griffith Park in Los Angeles 15 Dec–2 Mar (Ben Batzel), and new males were at La Mirada Community Regional Park, Los Angeles Co 6 Feb–2 Mar (Jonathan Rowley) and

Redlands, 1–5 Jan (Matthew A. Grube), the last only a second winter record for San Bernardino Co. Summer Tanagers are scarce but regular in the region in winter, but this year’s total of about 80 birds was modest compared to many recent winters. Western Tanagers are regular winter features of well-wooded parks and residential areas on the coastal slope, with some 240 birds found this winter along with one on the desert in Barstow 28 Dec (Chris Dean). Eight

Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were on the coastal slope during the period, along with at least nine Black-headed Grosbeaks. Exceptionally late was a Blue Grosbeak at Carpinteria 8 Dec (Nick Lethaby); other rare winter Passerina included a Lazuli Bunting at Victory Park in Pasadena, Los Angeles Co 1 Feb–3 Mar (David Bell) and Indigo Buntings at Twentynine Palms, San Bernardino Co 8–12 Dec (Johnny C. Bovee), Playa Vista, Los Angeles Co 5–11 Dec (Lisa Fimiani), and Santa Barbara 16 Feb (Zach Nett). After an exceptional fall for Painted Buntings, just one remained through the winter period, at Carpinteria 24 Oct–28 Feb+ (John Callender, Russ Namitz, Leisyka Parrott).

Report processed by Andrew Keaveney, 21 Jun 2025.