Eighty people attended the the Escondido CBC held on January 5.  We recorded 149 or 150 species, a little below the previous ten-year average of 154.  Four species were noted that were recorded on fewer than ten previous counts.  

A Sagebrush Sparrow observed in Ramona by Jay Desgrosellier and Courtny Achenbach is a likely addition to our overall count circle total.  This species is still being discussed by the San Diego experts.  If accepted, this will bring our total number of species recorded in this count circle to 235.  

Other species with fewer than ten previous records include:

Clark’s Grebe, six on Lake Wohlford, actually being regularly reported in recent years.

Harris’s Hawk near the Ramona Airport, also noted on last year’s CBC and intermittently since.

White-winged Dove, a total of twenty-five noted by three teams covering northeast Ramona, the Ramona Airport, and the east end of the San Pasqual Valley.  This is our third straight year that we have recorded this species which appears to be expanding its range toward the coast.

Cedar Waxwings, Western Bluebirds, Hermit Thrushes, and American Robins occurred in above average numbers, but many songbirds were in notably low numbers.  Thirty Hooded Mergansers was a new high count.

I also note the following species that were recorded on this year’s Escondido CBC that were not listed on the 2017 San Diego CBC:  Ross’s Goose, Wood Duck, Common Mergasner, Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, Ferruginous Hawk, Western Screech-Owl, White-throated Swift, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Mountain Chickadee, Canyon Wren, Mountain Bluebird, Bell’s Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Scott’s Oriole, and Purple Finch.

Ken Weaver

count compiler