THE BIRDS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – April 2005

Pacific Loon – 12 and 16 Apr, 25,000-35,000 migrated past Point Piedras Blancas both days (RAR)

Western Grebe – small numbers annually nest on Whale Rock Reservoir where four pairs and at least one nest was present on 24 Apr (GPS). 20 Apr, two nests were on the back arm of Santa Margarita Lake (KH)

Clark's Grebe – 1-24 Apr, the nesting pair on the Cottontail Creek arm of Whale Rock Reservoir continued (LT,GPS)

Pink-footed Shearwater – 17 Apr, one seen off Point Piedras Blancas was the fi rst of spring (RAR)

Brown Booby – 22-30 Apr, a female feeding in the cove south of Pt. Piedras Blancas provided the 5th county record (RAR)

Canada Goose – sightings at inland locations included a pair on the Chimineas Ranch in the Caliente Range on 16 Apr (BS), one at the Chandler Ranch Pond – intersection of Hwy 41 and Hwy 229 - on 22 Apr (TME), and one at the Cholame Road wetland on 22 Apr (DML). 30 Apr, a pair with 6 goslings on San Luis Creek in Avila provided only the second confi rmed nesting in SLO County (MLS)

Cackling Goose – 26 Apr, the bird that wintered at the mouth of Pismo Creek was still present (BKS)

Brant – large northerly movements were noted with estimates of 10,000 passing by Point Piedras Blancas on 12 Apr, 5000 on 15 Apr, and 20,000 on 17 Apr (RAR). 18 Apr, 40 remained on Morro Bay (JLR) with only 6 left on 23 Apr (TME)

Wood Duck – interesting sightings included a female with 7 young at Atascadero Lake on 17 Apr (RHZ), a pair with young at the Atascadero wastewater ponds on 22 Apr (TME), and two pairs on the Chimineas Ranch on 22 Apr (BS)

Eurasian Wigeon – 3 Apr, late date, a male was seen from the Elfin Forest overlook (MLS)

Blue-winged Teal – numbers on Morro Bay decreased in April with 41 on 5 Apr (GPS), 17 on 18 Apr (JLR), and only 5 on 21 Apr (MLS). 17 Apr, a male and female fl ew past Point Piedras Blancas with a string of scoters (RAR) and a displaying pair was at Santa Margarita Lake on 20 Apr (KH)

Harlequin Duck – 24-27 Apr, the male that wintered off the vista point south of the main elephant seal parking lot on Hwy 1 in north SLO County was “refound” (KC)

Black Scoter – 12 Apr, an adult male fl ew past Point Piedras Blancas (RAR) and 19 Apr, a female was in the Morro Bay Harbor Mouth (MB)

Hooded Merganser – 1-21 Apr, two female-plumaged birds at the Cal Poly sports complex pond stayed more than two weeks longer than the county's previous late date (MLS)

Osprey – 12-22 Apr, six recorded during the period was above average and included one inland at Santa Margarita Lk.

(KH) Bald Eagle – 5 Apr, a water tour of Nacimiento Lake recorded 7 birds that included pairs at two nests in SLO County (CF)

Ferruginous Hawk – 9 Apr, late date, one on the Carrizo Plain (FT)

Merlin – 15 Apr, late date, one at Oso Flaco Lake (MLS) Black-necked Stilt – 22 Apr, 7 seen at the Cholame Road wetland may have included recently fl edged young (MLS)

American Avocet – 22 Apr, 8 adults were at the Cholame Road wetland where breeding occurred last spring (MLS)

Red-necked Phalarope – 17 Apr, an estimated 11,600 migrated past Point Piedras Blancas (RAR)

Franklin's Gull – 14 Apr, a breeding plumaged adult fl ew by Point Piedras Blancas (RAR) Bonaparte's Gull – 11-16 Apr, a few thousand passed by Point Piedras Blancas each day (RAR)

Elegant Tern – 19 Apr, several at the Santa Maria River Mouth were exceptionally early (MB)

Common Tern – 19 Apr, one was at the Santa Maria River Mouth (MB)

Black Skimmer – 19 Apr, one was on Morro Bay (MB)

Marbled Murrelet – 13 Apr, a pair fl ew past Point Piedras Blancas (RAR)

Xantus Murrelet – 16 Apr, a scrippsi race bird landed just outside the surf break at Point Piedras Blancas (RAR)

Ancient Murrelet – sightings off Point Piedras Blancas were three on 17 Apr, one on 19 and 24 Apr (RAR)

Tufted Puffin – 28 Apr, one seen from Point Piedras Blancas was a pleasant surprise (RAR)

Common Ground Dove – 28 Apr, five were along Dana Foothill Road just before Clam Shell Road in eastern Nipomo (MLS)

Long-eared Owl – 9 Apr, typically a riparian nester, an adult was on a nest in a juniper tree on the Chimineas Ranch (SCS)

Lewis's Woodpecker – 2-27 Apr, one continued 1.7 miles from Hwy 58 on Pozo Road (MLS)

Olive-sided Flycatcher – 7 Apr, early date, one was heard at Spooner's Cove Campground (JLR) Common Raven – 22 Apr, one along Estrella River Road 1-2 mile east of North River Road (TME)

Purple Martin – 5-30 Apr, up to nine were recorded at San Gabriel and Hwy 41 in Atascadero (MLS) and 14 Apr, two likely migrants were over Deer Canyon (BKS)

Red-breasted Nuthatch – 19 Apr, late date, two at Oceano Campground (MB)

Swainson's Thrush – 15 Apr, early date, one to two heard at Oso Flaco Lake (MLS) Palm Warbler – 16 Apr, one at Sweet Springs Nature Preserve likely wintered nearby (KSG)

Fox Sparrow – 20 Apr, late date, one at a residence on the Nipomo Mesa (JA)

White-Throated Sparrow – 23 Apr, one was inland along River Road (MB) and 24 Apr, a bright adult appeared at a feeder in Atascadero (RHZ)

Golden-crowned Sparrow X White-throated Sparrow – 14 Apr, this hybrid spent its 2nd winter in Deer Canyon (BKS)

Great-tailed Grackle – aside from the usual locations, a male and female were at the Cuesta ponds on 21 Apr (BT), a male was at a pond just south of Hwy 166 across from the Rock Front Ranch on 24 Apr (TME), and 30 Apr, 3 males and a female were at the Cal Poly Sports Complex pond (MLS)

Exotics and/or Escapees

Mute Swan – 8 Apr, a pair of with 5 cygnets were on the pond behind Heilman Park in Atascadero (MLS)

Nutmeg Mannikin -- 3 Apr, three were at a backyard feeder in San Luis Obispo (MM)

OBSERVERS: Thanks to the many birders that report their sightings. The following people are cited above: Jackie Allison, Matt Brady, Karen Clarke, Tom M. Edell, Cal French, Karen S. Gilbert, Kara Hagedorn, Dave M. Lawrence, Mike Multari, John L. Roser, Richard A. Rowlett, Alan F. Schmierer, Brad K. Schram, Steve C. Schubert, Gregory P. Smith, Maggie L. Smith, Bob Stafford, Mike D. Stiles, Linda Tanner, Francis Toldi, Bonnie Thompson, Mike Tyner, Deb Villa, and Roger H. Zachary. For information about birds or locations mentioned in this report, contact Tom Edell at (805) 995-1691 or tedell@aol.com….Tom Edell