Rare bird: Hudsonian Godwit at the San Diego River mouth

Hudsonian Godwit. San Diego River mouth, Ocean Beach, California. June 1, 2019.

On Memorial Day, Monday, May 27, a Hudsonian Godwit was found and reported at the San Diego River mouth by Daniel Hite of Mesa, Arizona. This is a first San Diego County record. It was located again in the afternoon and many birders saw it. One of those birders is Guy McCaskie, a long-time resident and birding mentor to many. It was Guy's 500th San Diego bird species! Quite an accomplishment, as the county total ever seen is something less than 525.

Many spring rarities are "one day wonders," as birds in spring are usually strongly driven by hormones to migrate each day (usually, night). Thus it was no surprise that the bird was no where to be found early the next morning. Disappointed birders spread out along the river mouth, and local beaches, hoping beyond reason that it was still somewhere nearby. How startling, then, that Jeff Spaulding reported the bird a mile or so north at Mission Beach on the open beach!

The bird remained the rest of the day on this very popular and crowded beach. About 2:30 the bird disappeared. Not long after, Becky & Steve Turley of Long Beach ( I assume California and not Washington State) reported that the bird was back at the river mouth. And that's the way it went throughout the rest of the week. At high tide the bird fed on the crowded beach; at low tide it returned to the mudflats in the river mouth, easily identifiable among the larger and paler Marbled Godwits.

Of course, I was a hundred road miles away in the Anza-Borrego Desert when the bird was first discovered. And I was back at work Tuesday when it was rediscovered. So I had no reason to expect that the bird would still be around on Sunday, June 1, when I finally had time to go look. And I didn't find it on the beach where it had been reported first thing in the morning. I didn't even see any birders in either direction. So I drove the short, but twisted, route to the San Diego River mouth through the heavy beach town traffic. As I walked up on the dike, Matt Sadowski was setting up his scope on the bird! It was mostly on the opposite shore. Matt had watched it on the beach (even farther north than I had been) when it flew south toward the river mouth.

After Matt left, I drove across the river and was able to view and photograph this beauty in good light at much closer range. It wasn't anything like the views of those who photographed it at point blank range on the beach, though.

The next day, June 2, the bird was on the beach early, and at the river mouth in the afternoon. The last eBird report was after 3:00 pm by John Bruin. It was not reported again.

My photos are nice, but there are 465 photos of this individual bird on eBird! Many are much closer and much better. Check them out here.

Rare bird: Neotropic Cormorant at Lake Cuyamaca

First found on April 4th, 2019 by Jim Pawlicki, two Neotropic Cormorants were at Lake Cuyamaca for several days. I was able to visit on April 7th and get the photos presented here.

From left to right: Double-crested Cormorant, immature Neotropic Cormorant, 2 more Double-crested Cormorants, 

and adult Neotropic Cormorant. April 7, 2019. Lake Cuyamaca, California.

I'm not sure I would have identified these birds if I didn't know they were there. Oh, I would have had I really looked at them. But I don't think I would have bothered looking closely at cormorants in the mountains! I would have counted the lumps as Double-crested, added them to eBird, and moved on. It's all about expectation. There are a couple of photos here of birds isolated that certainly would have broken through my expectation bias had I seen them--a bird only 2/3 the size, but perhaps only 1/4 the bulk of the Double-crested Cormorants.

Here are San Diego records of Neotropic Cormorant (from eBird photos):
1) October 12 to December 6, 2014 Lake O'Neill, Camp Pendleton.
2) October 3 to November 26, 2015 Lake O'Neill, Camp Pendleton (presumed same individual as above).
3) October 16 to November 2, 2016 Lake O'Neill, Camp Pendleton (presumed same individual as above).
4) March 6, 2017 Lower Otay Reservoir.
5) April 4, 2019 to April 9, 2019 Lake Cuyamaca.

So this is apparently the 5th record, but only the 3rd and 4th different individuals. October to April, with Double-crested Cormorants, anywhere on fresh water. You can bet I'll be more aware going forward. I suspect I'm not the only one.

This bird was quite distant and the low light made photography difficult. I ended up taking about 500 frames of the birds, changing settings constantly, in order to get these pics. You can click on any of the photos to bring up a larger size.

The adult Neotropic Cormorant on the right with wings open shows the characteristic small orange throat pouch

 shaped as a sharp point outlined with white feathers (especially on the bottom).

An adult Double-crested Cormorant (right, wings open) dwarfs the adult Neotropic Cormorant (left).

The size difference is obvious, but the shape of the throat pouch is easily seen and compared 

(pointed on Neotropic, left; rounded or squared on Double-crested Cormorant, right).

Interestingly, there were two Neotropic Cormorants together, an adult and apparent immature. The immature bird presented some problem as it appeared much more pale and faded than typical. There was some hesitancy about this pale second bird. Eventually, though, the "hybrid hypothesis" for this second bird was dismissed. Apparently, rarely, immature Neotropic Cormorants can be this pale.

Below are photos specifically of this pale bird. The size and throat pouch shape match those of the adult bird. Again, you can click on the photos to bring up a larger view.

Click to enlarge. Compare the yellow throat pouches of the two immature birds together. 

Double-crested (swimming) has a broad throat pouch that also encircles the eye with yellow skin.

The Neotropic Cormorant (3rd from right, wings open) has a pointed throat pouch restricted to the lower face.

Rare Bird: Red Crossbill at Stonewall Mine

I hiked around the top of the hill in the forest at Stonewall Mine for about an hour without seeing or hearing the reported Red Crossbill. The constant piping notes of Pygmy Nuthatches sometimes would give me pause--"Is that a crossbill call?" No.

Finally I heard unusual finchlike singing. It started with an 3-6 loud rising grating calls ("trreeet") along with a jumble of cheery whistled notes. Oh, there it is!

The large head and short forked tail gives the bird its distinctive plump shape. Bills vary throughout its forested range depending upon the cone size, the seeds of which is this species main food. Some have quite small and petite bills and feed on small, soft Sitka spruce cones in the coastal areas of the Pacific Northwest. Others that feed on ponderosa pines have heavy, large bills, as did this bird. The Coulter pines of this area have giant cones of 10-16 inches and are the heaviest of all pine cones.

Thus, although Red Crossbills are highly nomadic--and aren't frequent in San Diego, this bird matches physical characteristics of Red Crossbills found regularly in nearby areas, both north and south of the county.

Red Crossbill. Stonewall Mine, California. March 18, 2019.

Rare bird: Black Merlin in Borrego Springs

Slam on the breaks; back up!

There it is. A Merlin. Not only that, it is a Black Merlin Falco columbarius suckleyi. This dark and heavily streaked form of the coastal Pacific Northwest rarely gets this far south. And here in the Anza-Borrego Desert it is also a long ways inland (see subspecies map in National Geographic field guide 7th Edition, Amazon affiliate link to purchase here). It is the rarest of the three forms of Merlin found in San Diego County.

Note that the cheeks are primarily dark, the black breast streaks are broad and extensive, and tail bands are nearly absent.

I spotted this bird in Borrego Springs on my way to the Swainson's Hawk evening hawk watch count site.

Merlin. Borrego Springs, California. March 17, 2019.

Eurasian Wigeon in Borrego Springs

Eurasian Wigeon is a rare winter visitor with about 5-10 sightings per winter in the San Diego region.

A pair (presumably the same pair?) has wintered the past 3 years at the Roadrunner Golf & Country Club ponds in Borrego Springs. The male is easier to pick out. Females can appear similar to the female American Wigeon with their contrasting gray heads, or have brown heads matching the flanks. I have photos below.

Be aware that American and Eurasian Wigeon have frequent hybrids that show a combination of characters on the sides and flanks and head (though a small green eye patch doesn't necessarily indicate a hybrid on an otherwise solid Eurasian Wigeon).

Male Eurasian Wigeon. Borrego Springs, California. February 18, 2019.

Three males and a female American Wigeon.

A female and male Eurasian Wigeon.

Male Eurasian Wigeon

Female Eurasian Wigeon with brown head matching sides.

Female American Wigeon showing gray head and brown sides.

Male Eurasian Wigeon

More photos of Eurasian Wigeon in San Diego from eBird. Click on the photos to rate (1 awful, 2 poor but identifiable, 3 average or small, 4 very good, 5 magazine cover worthy). (Rating eBird photos: How and why.)

Fieldcraft: What is a King Tide? What good is it for birding?

In January there was a King Tide in San Diego, appearing on the news.

What, exactly, is a King Tide?

Well, according to NOAA (here), a King Tide is the unofficial name for an unusually high tide. It may also be known as a Spring Tide that "springs forth" with no relation to a particular season that comes to mind with that particular word.

There are always higher tides twice a month as the sun and moon line up (New moon and Full moon). When accompanied by storms or high waves or wind, these tides can be especially high, flooding coastal areas that are usually above the high water line. Thus, during the December to February "winter" in southern California, any new or full moon accompanied by high waves will create conditions of a King Tide.

Since the beaches are submerged and the tidal marsh is flooded, why should birders care? I'll tell you. But first, some photos...

Seacoast Drive in Imperial Beach closes during King Tides.

Ocean waves splash over the breakwater and run down the street.

Residents take in the view from their back deck.

King Tide running down the street.

Famous Lemonade Berry bush on edge of Tijuana Slough along Seacoast Drive.

Why is the lemonade berry (Rhus integrifolia Wikipedia page here) above famous? Well, last year during very high tides, a couple Nelson's Sparrows were flooded out of the marsh. That bush was the only place to hide! And hide they do. One could be in that bush right now for all I know. But it's not budging, nor giving itself away.

The nearest nesting Nelson's Sparrows breed from extreme north central US into the Canadian Prairie region. They winter in the coastal marshes of the Gulf Coast (other populations in Hudson Bay and SE Canada and NE US winter along the Atlantic coast). A very few end up every year wintering in California's few remaining salt marshes. Some of those winter in San Diego.

I stumbled upon one in San Elijo Lagoon a couple of years ago. I hadn't paid any attention to the tides when I made my birding plans. So, luck one, intention zero. That's the way birding is sometimes.

A Nelson's Sparrow briefly comes out of hiding. San Elijo Lagoon, California. January 1, 2014. Greg Gillson.

I should mention that other birders were watching a Nelson's Sparrow about 15 miles away at Mission Bay. But views were distant and it had already been seen, and I'm picky proud lazy (pick your own adjective)--I generally prefer to find my own rarities!

What I did find on my recent King Tide Adventure were lots of other sparrows, especially Savannah Sparrows, including this dark resident form, Belding's Savannah Sparrow.

Belding's Savannah Sparrow. Imperial Beach, California. January 20, 2019.

I was hoping for Large-billed Savannah Sparrows. They are at the extreme northern edge of their range in San Diego County, I find them occasionally in winter on beach-cast seaweed piles, apparently feeding on flies (kelp flies?). I figured with the beaches under water and the marsh grasses providing no cover that these birds might be right out on the edge of the marsh. But what do I know? I didn't find any. [Previous post on Large-billed Savannah Sparrows is here.]

And King Tides are well known for pushing rails into view. The local Ridgway's Rails were visible in the tops of the grass.

Zoomed in... they were way out there!

Cropped too far, but you can make their shape out a bit.

Such high tides may also reveal Virginia Rails and Soras, as well as push all the herons and egrets up to the edge. And this day a Merlin was hunting the marsh edge for sparrows. You never know what you might find.

Next winter you may want to mark the new and full moon on your calendar in advance. If the seas are stormy, you may want to visit your nearest tidal wetland during a King Tide.

Rare bird: Chestnut-sided Warbler in "lerpy euc"

On November 23, 2018, Nancy Christensen located a Chestnut-sided Warbler at Batiquitos Lagoon. These birds breed in scrubby forests in eastern North America.

eBird told me I saw 3 birds in a visit to New York in May 1982 and vagrants twice in Oregon in May 1999 and July 2003. As "Nancy's bird" stuck around for more than a month, and was not too far from my home, I decided to go look for it one sunny morning before work.

I spent about a half hour watching many NON-Chestnut-sided Warblers chase insects in the first rays of sun on the eastern edge of the specified grove of trees. It was frosty in the shade, but with my back grabbing the sun's meager warmth it was tolerable. Then I encountered Stevan Brad also looking for the bird. After another half hour I spotted the target bird inside the grove rather than on the sunny edge. I called Stevan over and we both got great looks and some workable photographs.

This is probably a first-year female, totally lacking its namesake chestnut sides. The lime green crown, thin white eye ring, and two ample wing bars clinch the ID, though.

Chestnut-sided Warbler, Carlsbad, California. January 4, 2019.

What is a "Lerpy Eucalyptus"? I had encountered this term numerous time on the San Diego bird listserv, but nowhere else. Nancy's description of the location of this bird was that it was in a "grove of lerpy euc." However, no Google search turned up any helpful information. In fact, if you search today for "lerpy eucalyptus" it changes your first search term from lerpy to Leroy!

Lerpy eucalyptus refers to a eucalyptus tree infested with lerps. Lerps, according to a very unhelpful Wikipedia entry, are a crystalized honeydew produced by the larvae of psyllid bugs as a protective cover. Interpretation: See those white bumps on the leaves in the above two photos? Yes, I think those are the infamous lerps!

[As I put the final edits on this post I note this term is described in an upcoming new book by the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Gregory B. Pauly et al., called Wild L.A. (March 2019 publication date). Quoting from this book that doesn't exist yet: "In nature, a lerp is the sugary protective covering produced by larvae of psyllid bugs. These bugs are commonly known as lerp insects, and when they infest a tree, birds like warblers swarm in to feast. Birders love to find lerpy eucs (eucalyptus trees)--that's where the birds are."]

There have been 3-6 Chestnut-sided Warblers reported in San Diego County on average over the past few years, primarily during the fall migration, September to October. Thus it was very obliging of this bird to remain for the winter.

More photos of Chestnut-sided Warblers in San Diego from eBird. Click on the photos to rate (1 awful, 2 poor but identifiable, 3 average or small, 4 very good, 5 magazine cover worthy).

Rare Lesser Black-backed Gull at Coronado

The beach at the historic Hotel del Coronado was the picturesque site of a rare bird this winter. Ron and Shawn Miller of Wisconsin discovered a Lesser Black-backed Gull there on November 23, 2018.

Lesser Black-backed Gull. Coronado, California. December 30, 2018. Greg Gillson.

The identification of this gull is straight-forward, but it will be unfamiliar to most West Coast birders. Large with a dark mantle it has a white eye and yellow legs. Western Gulls have pink legs and often pale grayish or brown eyes. California Gulls are slightly smaller but always have dark brown eyes.

The Miller's didn't identify it immediately; it was "discovered" a few days later, apparently after they posted photos of it on iNaturalist. Fortunately for local birders, the bird was settled in for the winter and will probably remain until early April.

This species breeds on the Atlantic coasts of Europe. It winters south to West Africa. In the last third of the 20th century it underwent a range expansion. It now shows up regularly in eastern North America (southern Atlantic Canada and Great Lakes southward through the Mississippi River Valley), but especially right on the Atlantic coast.

It is more or less annual in San Diego county, now. It wasn't reported in 2010 or 2013, but has averaged about 3 birds per winter since then.

Being the big chaser of rarities that I am (NOT), I didn't make plans to go see it until it had been present over a month. But as you can see, my sloth mattered not. I'm an unenthusiastic chaser, even though I love to find rare birds on my own. Yes, even this life bird.

View of Point Loma and the mouth of San Diego Bay from Coronado.

The Lesser Black-backed Gull is on the rocks dead center of the photo,

while a Heermann's Gull and Brown Pelican fly past.

Photos of this and other Lesser Black-backed Gulls in San Diego on eBird. Click on the photos to rate (1 awful, 2 poor but identifiable, 3 average or small, 4 very good, 5 magazine cover worthy).

Green-tailed Towhee in Laguna Mountains

I have previously photographed Green-tailed Towhees twice in San Diego. Those photos were so poor and out-of-focus that they were unusable. On a recent visit to the Laguna Mountains I was able to view a couple of birds together that weren't as camera shy as usual. Now I finally have some good photos of Green-tailed Towhees!

San Diego is near the southern edge of this large sparrow's breeding range and the northern edge of their wintering range. San Diego's mountains are also near the altitudinal edge of their preferred habitat: montane chaparral above 5000 feet (San Diego County Bird Atlas, Unitt, 2004). The highest peaks in San Diego are 4900-6500 feet of elevation.

Green-tailed Towhees breed on certain brushy mountains within San Diego County, specifically Cuyamaca Peak. Their primary habitat is Greenleaf manzanita (Arctostaphylos patula) and various shrubs in the genus Ceanothus known collectively as California Lilac. Although there appears to be no evidence for it, I have to wonder if towhees might have increased as breeders after the 2003 fires in the Cuyamacas. Certainly, potential breeding habitat increased, though now beginning to grow back up into forest.

These birds also are found rarely in migration and winter in shrubby landscapes along the coast. Nevertheless, they can really be considered rare, both in absolute numbers and because they are shy and hide very well in thick brush.

I was alerted to the presence of migrant Green-tailed Towhees at Agua Dulce Creek during my visit in October. Two birds were actually not difficult to find. They were feeding out in the open on the trail as Tuck Russell and I found.

Fortunately, they showed some curiosity as to our activities and we were able to get some decent photos. I'm not sure of the shrub--perhaps California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica)?

Green-tailed Towhee. Mount Laguna, California. October 7, 2018.