Day 294 - Goleta Beach

Today was Wednesday so that means Bird Class once again.  Today we visited Goleta Beach.  There was a good level of bird activity.  I ended up with 43 species on the checklist and certainly missed a few along the way.

We saw some interesting birds, including 2 Peregrine Falcons, a Bonaparte's Gull, and a Kingbird of species that was difficult to determine.  It has the characteristics of a Tropical Kingbird but in subdued ways.  It does not look quite like other Tropical Kingbirds I have photographed in the past.  It is remarkable how variation in the appearance of individuals can make identification a challenge.  Photos were taken and circulated for opinions.  Final determination - Cassin's Kingbird!

After our class at Goleta Beach I headed out to the Coronado Seep to see if anything was happening out there.  I was also hoping to see the Rose-breasted Grosbeak again.  The water level at the seep had dropped quite a bit since my last visit.  It was pretty quiet bird-wise, and I did not see any sign of the Rose-breasted Grosbeak.

Though no new species were seen today, it was another great morning with the birds.

In other news the folks in Vermont have added a couple to their list and are now at 264 species.  I need to make some progress and catch up!

Some photos from today:

Bonaparte's Gull

Clark's Grebe

Clark's Grebe

Cassin's Kingbird

California Towhee

After today the year's total still stands at 261

The Score: Vermont 264, Green Big Year 261

Today I rode a total of 26.9 miles

More later,

Glenn

Day 290 - Two Great Birds!

Yesterday while my bike was in the shop getting some worn out parts replaced Nick Lethaby reported a Magnolia Warbler at Refugio State Beach.  This is a bird I have only seen once, and never in Santa Barbara County.  I headed that way this morning hoping that it might still be around.

When I arrived Matt Victoria and Brad Hacker were already there looking for it.  There were hardly any birds around - it took about twenty minutes to see our first Yellow-rumped Warbler.  After about an hour Brad left, and as Matt and I were surveying the creek from the bridge the bird activity level began to pick up.  In among the Yellow-rumped Warblers and various sparrows was a Nashville Warbler which we watched forage for a few minutes.  Suddenly Matt said "Magnolia!"  and there was our bird taking a bath in the creek.  It did not stay long, but long enough to join the year's list at #260!  Matt did get some photos.  We stuck around for another 45 minutes hoping the Magnolia Warbler would return.  It did not.  In fact the bird activity dropped down to practically nothing once again.

 Magnolia Warbler - Photo By Matt Victoria

Note - this incident perfectly demonstrates one of my pet theories.  When there is an unusual bird around the chances of it showing up increase dramatically if one of the birdwatchers leaves.

I headed for home and stopped in Goleta for a bite to eat.  I figured I got my bird for the day so was not planning on looking for birds anywhere else.  As I was getting on the bike to head for home the phone rang.  It was Matt - "Have you seen a Rose-breasted Grosbeak yet this year?"  He and Peter Gaede were looking at one at Coronado Drive.  So I turned around and sprinted the 4+ miles back to Coronado Drive where I found Matt looking up near the top of a large Eucalyptus tree where he had last seen the Grosbeak.  Sure enough after a couple of minutes it appeared and began foraging in the top of the tree.  It appeared to be a young male (perhaps just a male in winter plumage) and its lovely rose-colored breast could easily be seen from below.  It slunk back into the foliage and we did not see it again.  Matt also has photos of this bird (I had not even gotten my camera out when the Grosbeak appeared).  Rose-breasted Grosbeak for #261!  Interestingly enough the only other time I have seen this species in Santa Barbara County was about 50 yards from where we were standing.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak - Photo By Matt Victoria

Thanks Matt!

Last time I checked Vermont was holding steady at 261 species.  When I looked again this afternoon Vermont had gained 1 and is now at 262 species.  The race remains very tight!

Some photos from today:

Red-breasted Sapsucker

Nashville Warbler

Black Phoebe

A rather distant Hairy Woodpecker

After the addition of these 2 species, the year's total stands at 261

The Score: Vermont 262, Green Big Year 261

Today I rode a total of 54.7 miles

More later,

Glenn

Day 288 - The Case Of The Curious Vireo

A couple of days ago Peter Schneekloth reported a very bright-looking Cassin's Vireo at the Bella Vista Open Space in Goleta.  This bird can be hard to find but not super rare.  Yesterday a number of people went and found the bird again.  Due to its unique appearance someone suggested it may actually be a Blue-headed Vireo - this would be a super rare bird for our area.

Photos of the bird were distributed to the local experts in an attempt to determine which species this bird is.  Sometimes even the experts aren't sure, so these experts sent the photos along to the uber-experts - the people who write bird identification books.  At least one of these uber-experts gave the opinion that the bird was indeed a Blue-headed Vireo.  (I looked at some photos and leaned towards Cassin's Vireo, but what the hell do I know?)

Last night an email was sent out noting that the experts were thinking it may be a Blue-headed Vireo, so this morning I headed out to Bella Vista Open Space to try and find it.  Shortly after I arrived Dave Compton showed up, then later Florence Sanchez joined us in trying to relocate this mysterious Vireo.  There was very little bird activity in the park, and we were unsuccessful in our quest and departed after an hour.

Since the bird had previously been seen in the afternoons I decided to visit a few spots around Goleta and return around noon.  The Coronado Seep area got hit by a thunderstorm yesterday and there was water all over the place - no bird magnet there today.  I continued to the UCSB lagoon where the wintering duck population is growing - there were a good number of recently arrived American Wigeon and also a few Redheads.  I also had a nice visit with a rather cooperative Marsh Wren.

I headed back to Bella Vista Open Space around noon.  There were a number of excellent and very experienced birders there searching for the mysterious Vireo, but it was not present.  I put in another hour of searching to no avail then headed home.

Some photos from today:

Marsh Wren

Snowy Egret

Black-crowned Night-heron

Greater Yellowlegs

After today the year's total still stands at 259.

The Score: Vermont 261, Green Big Year 259

Today I rode a total of 41.2 miles

More later,

Glenn

Day 287 - Virginia's Warbler!

Today is Wednesday, so time again for Bird Class.  Today we explored the shore to the west of UCSB and Isla Vista, Coal Oil Point, and Devereux Slough.  It was quite foggy early on which made the birding challenging.  Visibility was limited and we relied mostly on the shape and behavior of the birds for identification, as very little color could be seen.  It was actually a good exercise in bird identification.  Also it was high tide which cut back on the shorebird numbers, but we did get a decent variety of those along the way.

Right about now I find Devereux Slough pretty depressing - far more dried mudflats than water, and not nearly as many birds around as normally would be.  Hopefully it will rain soon!  Nothing wildly unusual during today's class, but as always an enjoyable and educational morning out.

After class I made my way over to the Coronado Seep.  There have been reports of a Rose-breasted Grosbeak in the area, and this would be a really great bird to see.  Along the way I ran into local birders Gage and George, who reported nothing out of the ordinary birdwise in the area.

I arrived at the seep and began my vigil.  There was a good burst of bird activity with a number of birds visiting the water.  Gage and George stopped by for awhile.  While they were they we had an unexpected visit from a Virginia's Warbler.  It did not stay long, certainly not long enough for photos, but long enough to join the year's list at #259!

I sent out a message that this bird had been seen and then settled in, hoping it would return.  For the next half an hour it was pretty quiet.  A couple of other birders arrived, and soon enough the next wave of birds began coming down to the water.  Among them were 2 Fox Sparrows, the first I have seen this season.  Sure enough the Virginia's Warbler returned.  This time it stuck around long enough for two extended baths, giving us really nice views of all the pertinent ID marks.  A great way to end the morning!

Today's photos:  A bit distant and dark but better than nothing:

Virginia's Warbler

Virginia's Warbler

Virginia's Warbler

Black-throated Gray (front) and Virginia's Warblers

Purple Finch

Fox Sparrow (Slate-colored, I believe)

After the addition of this 1 species, the year's total stands at 259

The Score: Vermont 261, Green Big Year 259

Today I rode a total of 27.2 miles

More later,

Glenn

Day 286 Part 2 - Crossing The Sewage Line

Shortly after putting up my post contemplating the endgame for the year I got a message from Wim Van Dam that there was a Bobolink at the Goleta Sewage Treatment Plant.  This is a bird I have not ever seen in Santa Barbara County, or anywhere else for that matter.

Now all over the world sewage treatment plants tend to be bird magnets and often draw lots of unusual birds.  This makes them popular places for birders to visit.  In spite of the draw of great birds I have not yet been able to bring myself to visit our local one.  That changed today.  I crossed the line so to speak.

When I arrived at the ponds inside the plant I found Wim still there and Tom Turner as well, but no Bobolink.  I stayed around for two hours hoping it would return, but no luck.  There were a number of other birds in the area to keep me entertained, but nothing too unusual.  I left the plant, got some lunch, checked out the Kingfishers at nearby Atascadero Creek, and headed home.

By the time I arrived home the Bobolink (and possibly another one) had been seen again.  Oh well, perhaps they will stick around until tomorrow.  Now that I know the sewage treatment plant is actually not a bad place to visit I imagine I'll be back.  Soon.

Some photos from today:

Goleta Sewage Treatment Plant

Western Sandpiper (Left) and Dunlin (Right)

Black-necked Stilt (juvenile)

Long-billed Dowitcher

After today the year's total still stands at 258.

Today I rode a total of 21.2 miles

More later,

Glenn

Day 286 - Updated End Of Year Prediction

With the end of year approaching I thought it might be fun to revisit the prediction for total number of species I might find on this adventure.

Way back in January I made a guess as to how many species I might be able to find this year. I took the results and rounded up to 250 species. Things seem to be going quite wall since I am presently at 258 species, already well past the original estimate. In addition to doing well on the species I expected to see I have picked up a total of 23 species I had not counted on finding.  So, with about 2 and a half months remaining here is an updated guess as to how things might end up.

Along the South Coast I have seen most everything I can expect to see but there are still a few species I could pick up. These include Brewer’s Sparrow, Swamp Sparrow, a warbler such as Chestnut-sided, and Grace’s Warbler. Assuming something unexpected also is found, that is 5 species.

Moving into the Santa Ynez Valley and Figueroa Mtn area (which I plan on visiting soon) there are a number of common species I have yet to find such as: Yellow-billed Magpie, Horned Lark, Northern Pygmy Owl, Mountain Chickadee, and Pygmy Nuthatch. If I can return again near the end of the year I should be able to add Lewis’ Woodpecker, Common Merganser, and Common Goldeneye. That is 8 more species.

Going farther afield to the Cuyama Valley, which I hope to do, I could add Ferruginous Hawk, Prairie Falcon, Tri-colored Blackbird, and Mountain Bluebird. That is 4 more species.

So total that all up and I could add 17 more species, which would put the total for the year at 275. That would be a really great result, as at the beginning of the year I figured the best possible result would be about 270.

Of course there are many factors that will impact the final total. This prediction also assumes I remain healthy, motivated, and available (fingers crossed this is the case!). Also predictions of a wet winter may reduce my ability to get farther afield.

Only time will tell.

More later,
Glenn

Day 284 - Blackburnian Warbler!

I took yesterday off to do a little "Non-green" Birding.  I went on a boat trip out of Ventura and had a great day on the ocean watching some great seabirds.  An added bonus was that it was not quite so hot out on the water.

I went out for a quick jaunt this morning before the heat cranked up again.  I met up with a couple of birders and we were lucky to find a Blackburnian Warbler, which joins the year list at #258.  The only other time I had seen this bird was in Ecuador.  Although the bird was not in its spiffy breeding plumage it was still a nice-looking specimen, so it was too bad I was unable to get a photo.  I did have witnesses, which is the next best thing.

After that I went home and took a nap in the heat of the day.

After the addition of this 1 species, the year's total stands at 258

The Score: Vermont 261, Green Big Year 258

Today I rode a total of 15.1 miles

More later,

Glenn