Eureka !

THE BIRDS OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY – March 2007

Extended Version

For sightings with photos see http://www.flickr.com/photos/tedell/ .

Snow Goose – 1-31 Mar, the first-year bird continued through the month at the Cloisters Pond in Morro Bay (CWE)

Snow Goose – 15-27 Mar, a small first-year bird photographed at Laguna Lake in San Luis Obispo was thought to be a Ross's/Snow hybrid (GPS)

Ross's Goose – 1-31 Mar, the first-year bird continued with the Snow Goose through the month at the Cloisters Pond in Morro Bay (CWE)

Wood Duck – 8 Mar, a female was seen on Smith Reservoir at Cal Poly (MDS)

Eurasian Wigeon – 9 Mar, a drake was at a pond on the west side of Foothill near Los Osos Valley Road (JSR)

Blue-winged Teal – 3 Mar, an estimated 40 at Sweet Springs included at least 30 males (TME)

Eurasian Green-winged Teal – 3-30 Mar, a male, first found in Feb, was in the tidal channel at Sweet Springs and later near the Cuesta Inlet area along the south side of Morro Bay in Los Osos (TME, photo)

White-winged Scoter – 24 Mar, a loose flock of 35 off the Morro Strand State Beach Campground provided the high count for the winter (TME)

Black Scoter – 1-9 Mar, the adult male continued off the Northpoint Natural Area (TME) and was joined by an immature male on 9 Mar (DML-photo)

Greater Scaup – 18 Mar, two males were at Whale Rock Reservoir (TME)

Hooded Merganser – 18 Mar, five females continued at Whale Rock Reservoir (TME) and 26-30 Mar, a male and female were in the small pond next to Foothill Blvd (JSR)

Chukar – 28 Mar, a total of nine were seen in the southern Carrizo Plain National Monument along Blue Well Road , in the vicinity of Quail Springs, and in the Lawson Springs area (AFS)

Fork-tailed Storm Petrel – 22 Mar, a fresh dead specimen was collected on the Morro Bay Sandspit (RO)

Osprey – 20-31 Mar, two continued at Lopez Lake (DML)

Bald Eagle – 20 Mar, an adult at Lopez Lake could be one of last year's breeders (DML) while an adult at the Cholame Road wetland on 31 Mar was away from any known breeding sites (RHZ)

Swainson's Hawk – 28 Mar, seven seen flying over the Quail Springs area on the Carrizo Plain National Monument accounted for the highest spring count recorded in the county for at least the past 30 years (AFS-photo)

Rough-legged Hawk – 21 Mar, late date for the birds along Cholame Road about 3.6 miles north of Hwy 46 (MLS)

Virginia Rail – 21 Mar, one was seen from the Bitterwater Road Bridge over Cholame Creek, which is a likely breeding location for this species (MLS)

Black-necked Stilt – 4-31 Mar, up to three were at the Cholame Road wetland where this species breeds (TME)

American Avocet – 31 Mar, 15 were at the Cholame Road wetland where this species breeds (TME)

Glaucous Gull – 15 Mar, a first-cycle bird with some gray on mantle was found at Arroyo Laguna (AFS,MLS) and 19 Mar, a first-cycle bird was at the Baywood Pier in Los Osos (BS)

Black-legged Kittiwake – 26-28 Mar, strong onshore winds accounted for up to three immatures on the beach in Cayucos (LT, TME) and an adult at the mouth of Morro Creek (TME)

Pigeon Guillemot – 15 Mar, early date, seven were off the San Simeon Pier (AFS)

Greater Roadrunner – 21 Mar, one was in the foredunes north of Oso Flaco Lake where this species is rarely observed (JI)

Calliope Hummingbird – 29 Mar, a male at a feeder in Atascadero provided the county's first Mar record (RHZ)

Red-naped Sapsucker – 8 Mar, late date for the wintering male at the Cal Poly Library (MDS)

Eastern Phoebe – 8 Mar, late date for the bird wintering at Cal Poly (MDS)

Pacific-slope Flycatcher – 13 Mar, early date, individuals were along Arroyo Grande Creek below Lopez Dam (MLS) and in upper Deer Canyon in northeast Arroyo Grande (BKS)

Western Kingbird – 13 Mar, two were at the MU Ranch in the southern Carrizo Plain National Monument (KS)

Cassin's Vireo – 30 Mar, early date, one was at Deer Canyon in northeast Arroyo Grande (BKS)

Warbling Vireo – 12 Mar, early date, one was in upper Deer Canyon (BKS)

Yellow-billed Magpie – 4-9 Mar, small numbers near nests wer e at the upper end of Cottontail Creek Road and along Santa Rosa Creek Road a few miles from the intersection with Hwy 46 (SCS) and 10 Mar, one in a large grove of eucalyptus on Binscarth in Los Osos was an unexpected transient as these birds are very sedentary (JSR)

Common Raven – 22 Mar, one that flew over Montana de Oro State Park was west of this species expected range (JLR)

Purple Martin – 23 Mar, early date, two males and two females were at potential nest sites near the intersection of Hwy 41 and San Gabriel in Atascadero (MLS)

Winter Wren – 14 Mar, twelve, many of which were singing, were along Coon Creek in Montana de Oro State Park (AFS)

Golden-crowned Kinglet – 8 Mar, one was in a mixed flock in the upper campground at San Simeon State Park (DML) and 14 Mar, five were along Coon Creek in Montana de Oro State Park (AFS)

Varied Thrush – 11 Mar, an individual lacking any orange plumage was seen at Cerro Alto (AFS, photo)

Sage Thrasher – 30 Mar, three were along Van Metre Ranch Road on the Carrizo Plain (AFS)

Le Conte's Thrasher – 30 Mar, three were along Van Metre Ranch Road, east side of the San Andreas scarp, near Elkhorn Road on the Carrizo Plain (AFS)

Northern Parula – 4-5 Mar, one at Pismo State Beach Oceano Campground was too early for a migrant and may have wintered in the area (RHZ)

Hermit Warbler – 4 Mar, a female was at Pismo State Beach Oceano Campground likely wintered nearby (MLS)

Chipping Sparrow – 28-30 Mar, alternate plumaged migrants were on the Carrizo Plain near Quail Springs and at a residential pond along Hwy 58 (AFS)

Brewer's Sparrow – 28 Mar, a singing bird on the north side of the Caliente Range was about half-way between Quail Springs and Padronnes Springs (AFS)

White-throated Sparrow – 1-31 Mar, one continued at a feeder on Canet Road in the Chorro Valley (AFS); 4 Mar, one continued at Pismo State Beach Oceano Campground (RHZ); 11 Mar, at least one remained near the start of the road to Cerro Alto Campground (TME); and 17 Mar, one was in the Morro Bay State Park Campground (DB)

Dark-eyed Junco – 28 Mar, a “slate-colored” race bird was in the vicinity of Quail Springs, in the southern Carrizo Plain National Monument (AFS)

Black-headed Grosbeak – 28 Mar, early date, males were on Santa Rosa Creek in Cambria and in Los Osos (MLS, GPS)

Great-tailed Grackle – 25 Mar, three displaying males and four females were at Atascadero Lake (TME)

Bullock's Oriole – 16 Mar, early date, a male was in blue gum eucalyptus trees along Dana Foothill Road in Nipomo (AFS)

Lawrence 's Goldfinch – 4 Mar, a male at the north end of Nancy Street in Los Osos was along the coast where rare (JSR)

OBSERVERS : Thanks to the many birders that report their sightings. The following people are cited above: Dick Barth, Chris W. Edell, Tom M. Edell , Joanna Iwanicha, Dave M. Lawrence, Regena Orr, Alan F. Schmierer, Brad K. Schram, Steve C. Schubert, Kathy Sharum, Greg P. Smith, Maggie L. Smith , Bob W. Stafford, Mike D. Stiles , Brian Sullivan, Jim S. Royer, Linda Tanner, Deb Villa, Roger H. Zachary, and mob = many observers. For information about birds mentioned in this report, consult the Morro Coast Audubon publication “The Birds of San Luis Obispo County, California” or contact Tom Edell at (805) 995-1691 or tedell@aol.com…. Tom Edell