Hi, Birders,
It was another great day at SJWA–good weather, fall colors, a bit of snow on the top of Mt. Gorgonio, convivial company and great birding and cookies.
The highlight for most, if not all of us, was the seemingly tame American Bittern hunting along the shore of the first big pond on the left side of the auto tour road, not the side ponds. It stayed some time as those of us who missed it went back after lunch and easily spotted it. My feeling was that it was a juvenile and really didn’t know the dangers of hanging out in the open.
Thirteen duck species, not as good as the hunters who bagged 16 duck species and 2 snow gees a week or so earlier.
Please click on the ebird list to see the photos provided by Isabelle and Tsiwei. Perhaps someone can download a shot of the bittern to the list.
Thank you for your help, Steve, in counting and making the list and for all of you who helped us find the birds.
Sally Sanderson
Trip facilitator
San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Riverside, California, US
Nov 27, 2022 7:27 AM – 11:37 AM
Protocol: Traveling 2.0 mile(s)
Checklist Comments: Palomar Audubon bird walk
61 species
Cinnamon Teal (Spatula cyanoptera) 30
Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata) 15
Gadwall (Mareca strepera) 7
American Wigeon (Mareca americana) 30
Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos) 12
Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca) 12
Redhead (Aythya americana) 1
Ring-necked Duck (Aythya collaris) 2
Lesser Scaup (Aythya affinis) 2
Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) 3
Common Goldeneye (Bucephala clangula) 1
Hooded Merganser (Lophodytes cucullatus) 1
Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) 30
Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) 4
Virginia Rail (Rallus limicola) 1
Sora (Porzana carolina) 4
American Coot (Fulica americana) 300
Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) 40
Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) 6
Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla) 6
Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) 40
Wilson’s Snipe (Gallinago delicata) 18
Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca) 3
Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis) 20
American Bittern (Botaurus lentiginosus) 1
Great Egret (Ardea alba) 17
Snowy Egret (Egretta thula) 3
White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) 100
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) 1
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) 1
Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius) 2
Cooper’s Hawk (Accipiter cooperii) 1
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus) 1
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) 5
Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) 2
Nuttall’s Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii) 1
American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) 1
Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus) 1
Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) 5
Say’s Phoebe (Sayornis saya) 4
Vermilion Flycatcher (Pyrocephalus rubinus) 4 Continuing birds, 1 bright red male, 1 female, orange undertail coverts and streaked white breast, 2 brighter red undertail coverts and belly, juveniles?
Cassin’s Kingbird (Tyrannus vociferans) 6
Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) 2
Common Raven (Corvus corax) 4
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) 1 Plain brown on top, brown head throat, neck and breast. Dirty white underneath.
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) 1
Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus) 1
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Corthylio calendula) 2
Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus) 1
Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) 1
Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii) 1
European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris) 2
Mountain Bluebird (Sialia currucoides) 4
American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) 23
House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus) 4
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) 2
Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) 6
Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) 2
Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus) 10
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) 3
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) 10
