RBA
* California
* Southeastern
* May 10, 2006
* CASE0605.10
This is the Southeastern CA weekly RBA summary. We cover Imperial,
Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
Birds mentioned
Lesser Scaup
Wood Duck
Brant
Gull-billed Tern
Black Tern
Red-shouldered Hawk
Zone-tailed Hawk
Long-eared Owl
Gambel’s Quail
American Bittern
Green Heron
Marbeled Godwit
Willet
Whimbrel
Long-billed Curlew
Eurasian Collared Dove
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Vaux’s Swift
White-throated Swift
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Bank Swallow
Cassin’s Kingbird
Vermilion Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
“Western” Flycatcher
Western Wood-Pewee
Western Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Bendire’s Thrasher
Phainopepla
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
Hutton’s Vireo
Bell’s Vireo
Plumbeous Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Lucy’s Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Hermit Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Common Yellowthroat
Western Tanager
Summer Tanager
Bullock’s Oriole
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow (dark-lored)
Lawrence’s Goldfinch
Blue Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Green-tailed Towhee
- Transcript
Reports summarized this week are from San Bernardino, Riverside and
Imperial Counties.
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
April 27, Tom Benson reported seeing about 30 WESTERN TANAGERS, half in a
bottle brush and half flying among nearby trees, on campus at Cal State
San Bernardino. He also had a BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD, a female
RUFOUS/ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD, several BULLOCK’S ORIOLES and continued to
report on the BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK migration in the county. Later, on May
7, he reported on birding in Zyzzx, where he say a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW,
a HERMIT THRUSH ( pale gray race), 2 LUCY’S WARBLERS, 2 LONG-EARED OWLS,
and good numbers of WILSON’S, NASHVILLE, and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. On
Cima Road between I-15 and Morning Star Mine Road, he had 3 BENDIRE’S
THRASHERS.
The Mojave Desert Bird Club reported on a visit to Big Morongo Preserve
and Covington Park on April 29. They saw LUCY’S WARBLERS, near the midway
point along the marsh trail, BELL’S, WARBLING, PLUMBEOUS, and CASSIN’S
VIREOS (the Bell’s at the upstream limit of the riparian habitat), SUMMER
TANAGERS, at least 1 BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, several young YELLOW-
BREASTED CHATS, the continuing pair of VERMILION FLYCATCHERS at Covington
Park nesting in a cottonwood, and two more pairs at Yucca Golf Course, a
male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD at the feeders, a GREEN HERON near the beginning
of the Mesquite Trail, a black-lored WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW along the
Desert Willow Trail, and many continuing LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCHES and LAZULI
BUNTINGS.
Joel Weintraub and his ornithology class also noted the presence of the
LUCY’S WARBLER along the Marsh Trail at Big Morongo Preserve on May 1.
Sandy Koonce reported from the preserve on May 3. He spotted a BLACK-AND-
WHITE WARBLER at the southern end of the Marsh Trail, near marker 26. He
also saw 2 dark-lored WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, 2 singing BELL’S VIREOS, and
at least 6 BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS. At Covington Park he found a calling
EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE and a PLUMBEOUS VIREO, and echoed the report of the
nesting VERMILION FLYCATCHERS. On May 4 Sandy reported on the unusual
migration this year in the Redlands area. He noted abnormally high numbers
of HERMIT WARBLERS (3 in Ford Park and 3 more in Wildwood Canyon in
Yucaipa), and 7-8 LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCHES in Ford Park and another 4 in
Wildwood Canyon Park in Yucaipa.
Larry LaPre reported on May 4 from Horsethief Springs in the Kingston
Mountains of far eastern San Bernardino County. Migrants seen included:
WESTERN TANAGER, WESTERN FLYCATCHER, WILSON’S WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER.
A PLUMBEOUS VIREO was seen the desert about two miles away, while Kingston
Wash, about eight miles away, had WESTERN TANAGERS, A WESTERN FLYCATCHER,
WILSON’S WARBLERS, and lots of GAMBEL’S QUAIL and PHAINOPEPLAS.
Ron reported spotting a BULLOCK’S ORIOLE in his yard in Chino Hills, the
first seen in that area in his memory.
Chet McGaugh reported on the SBVAS field trip to Morongo Valley on May 6.
He noted the continuing Morongo specialties, VERMILION FLYCATCHER, BROWN-
CRESTED FLYCATCHER, and SUMMER TANAGER. He hear YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and
spotted LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH, a CASSIN’S VIREO, a WARBLING VIREO, BLUE
GROSBEAKS, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, and BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS.
Joel Mundall reported after birding Montecito Cemetary on May 7.
Highlights included: WARBLING VIREO, HERMIT THRUSH, HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHER,
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, HERMIT WARBLER WARBLER, TOWNSEND’S WARBLER,
LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH, and WESTERN BLUEBIRD.
Howard King reported from the Tees and Trees Golf Course in Barstow on May
7. The most exciting finds there were a BLACK TERN, a LUCY’S WARBLER, and
a BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER. At Barstow College he saw GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE,
SWAINSON’S THRUSH, and LAZULI BUNTING.
May 6, Jim Pike reported from the Big Morongo Canyon Road (approximately
1-2 miles up Hwy 62 from the preserve turn-off, on the opposite side of
the road). He saw 1 male and 2 female SUMMER TANAGERS, and 2 HUTTON’S
VIREO.
WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS have been reported from different areas this
week. One report came from Brian Elliott, who spotted one after the ½ mile
mark on the Mt. Baldy trail on May 3. The other report came from a
resident of Rim Forest who has a deck with a built-in tree that has been
selected as a nesting site by a pair of woodpeckers. The home owner has
agreed to accept calls from birders interested in seeing the nest. Please
call 909 744-0277 for information.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
April 27, Rick Clements spotted a singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROW singing from
the barbed wire fence along the entrance road to Hidden Valley Wildlife
Reserve in Norco.
Larry LaPre reported from Hidden Valley on April 29. His report noted
seven species of warblers, including YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, BELL’S VIREOS,
WOOD DUCKS, and a notable flight of VAUX’S SWIFTS. These same bird
sightings were echoed by others on May 2, and on May 5, Martha Estus also
spotted an AMERICAN BITTERN.
Roger Higson’s reports this week noted the rising temperatures in Barstow
and included a warning about being prepared for birding there. Birds he
has seen in the area include: WESTERN TANAGER, YELLOW WARBLER, NASHVILLE
WARBLER, COMMON YELLOW THROATS, WARBLING VIREO, LONG-BILLED CURLEW,
WHIMBREL, MARBLED GODWIT, and WILLET. A later report said there is still
one CLIFF SWALLOW colony.
Madeline Bauer spotted HERMIT WARBLER, TOWNSEND’S WARBLER, and YELLOW-
RUMPED WARBLER working the trees along 66th St. at Lorena (the north
border of the Goose Creek golf course). She also saw a “WESTERN”
FLYCATCHER, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, CASSIN’S KINGBIRD,
and a GREEN HERON.
Chet McGaugh reported from Lake Perris on May 5, where he saw WARBLING
VIREO, TOWNSEND’S WARBLER, HERMIT WARBLER, WILSON’S WARBLER, BLACK-
THROATED GRAY WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, and
LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH. Several spots had both BLUE GROSBEAKS and BLACK-
HEADED GROSBEAKS, WESTERN TANAGER, and LAZULI BUNTING. Chet also spotted a
SWAINSON’S THRUSH, and WESTERN WOOD PE-WEE. Chet’s reports this week also
included notes from San Jacinto Wildlife Area on May 7, where he had
HERMIT WARBLER, VAUX’S SWIFT, WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRD, and a MERLIN.
Howard King reported seeing an adult ZONE-TAILED HAWK fly past as he was
working on Hamner Ave. in Norco on May 5.
Larry Schmahl sent in a report on May 7 from the north end of the Salton
Sea where he and friends found 1 GULL-BILLED TERN, 3 LESSER SCAUP, 35
BRANT, 1 BANK SWALLOW, and several LESSER NIGHTHAWKS.
IMPERIAL COUNTY
Henry Detwiler reported highlights of an afternoon birding trip on May 3
in Imperial County. Birds seen included: RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (close to
Bard), 3 BRONZED COWBIRDS (Laguna Dam RV Park), and TREE SWALLOW, NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, BANK SWALLOW, CLIFF SWALLOW, and BARN SWALLOW (over
West Pond).
Guy McCaskie reported on a full day of birding Imperial county. The day
turned into a “big day” with a total of 172 species. A full accounting and
description of specific birds can be seen on the inland county birds
website.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That's it for today. This summary is done weekly, usually on Thursday.
GOOD BIRDING!
Kirk and Linda Stitt
secalrba@earthlink.net
San Bernardino, CA
RBA phone (909)793-5599
* California
* Southeastern
* May 10, 2006
* CASE0605.10
This is the Southeastern CA weekly RBA summary. We cover Imperial,
Riverside and San Bernardino Counties.
Birds mentioned
Lesser Scaup
Wood Duck
Brant
Gull-billed Tern
Black Tern
Red-shouldered Hawk
Zone-tailed Hawk
Long-eared Owl
Gambel’s Quail
American Bittern
Green Heron
Marbeled Godwit
Willet
Whimbrel
Long-billed Curlew
Eurasian Collared Dove
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Calliope Hummingbird
Vaux’s Swift
White-throated Swift
Tree Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Bank Swallow
Cassin’s Kingbird
Vermilion Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Brown-crested Flycatcher
Hammond’s Flycatcher
“Western” Flycatcher
Western Wood-Pewee
Western Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
Swainson’s Thrush
Bendire’s Thrasher
Phainopepla
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
Hutton’s Vireo
Bell’s Vireo
Plumbeous Vireo
Cassin’s Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Lucy’s Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Hermit Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Common Yellowthroat
Western Tanager
Summer Tanager
Bullock’s Oriole
Lincoln’s Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow (dark-lored)
Lawrence’s Goldfinch
Blue Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Green-tailed Towhee
- Transcript
Reports summarized this week are from San Bernardino, Riverside and
Imperial Counties.
SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY
April 27, Tom Benson reported seeing about 30 WESTERN TANAGERS, half in a
bottle brush and half flying among nearby trees, on campus at Cal State
San Bernardino. He also had a BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD, a female
RUFOUS/ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD, several BULLOCK’S ORIOLES and continued to
report on the BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK migration in the county. Later, on May
7, he reported on birding in Zyzzx, where he say a WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW,
a HERMIT THRUSH ( pale gray race), 2 LUCY’S WARBLERS, 2 LONG-EARED OWLS,
and good numbers of WILSON’S, NASHVILLE, and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. On
Cima Road between I-15 and Morning Star Mine Road, he had 3 BENDIRE’S
THRASHERS.
The Mojave Desert Bird Club reported on a visit to Big Morongo Preserve
and Covington Park on April 29. They saw LUCY’S WARBLERS, near the midway
point along the marsh trail, BELL’S, WARBLING, PLUMBEOUS, and CASSIN’S
VIREOS (the Bell’s at the upstream limit of the riparian habitat), SUMMER
TANAGERS, at least 1 BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHER, several young YELLOW-
BREASTED CHATS, the continuing pair of VERMILION FLYCATCHERS at Covington
Park nesting in a cottonwood, and two more pairs at Yucca Golf Course, a
male CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD at the feeders, a GREEN HERON near the beginning
of the Mesquite Trail, a black-lored WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW along the
Desert Willow Trail, and many continuing LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCHES and LAZULI
BUNTINGS.
Joel Weintraub and his ornithology class also noted the presence of the
LUCY’S WARBLER along the Marsh Trail at Big Morongo Preserve on May 1.
Sandy Koonce reported from the preserve on May 3. He spotted a BLACK-AND-
WHITE WARBLER at the southern end of the Marsh Trail, near marker 26. He
also saw 2 dark-lored WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, 2 singing BELL’S VIREOS, and
at least 6 BROWN-CRESTED FLYCATCHERS. At Covington Park he found a calling
EURASIAN COLLARED DOVE and a PLUMBEOUS VIREO, and echoed the report of the
nesting VERMILION FLYCATCHERS. On May 4 Sandy reported on the unusual
migration this year in the Redlands area. He noted abnormally high numbers
of HERMIT WARBLERS (3 in Ford Park and 3 more in Wildwood Canyon in
Yucaipa), and 7-8 LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCHES in Ford Park and another 4 in
Wildwood Canyon Park in Yucaipa.
Larry LaPre reported on May 4 from Horsethief Springs in the Kingston
Mountains of far eastern San Bernardino County. Migrants seen included:
WESTERN TANAGER, WESTERN FLYCATCHER, WILSON’S WARBLER, TENNESSEE WARBLER.
A PLUMBEOUS VIREO was seen the desert about two miles away, while Kingston
Wash, about eight miles away, had WESTERN TANAGERS, A WESTERN FLYCATCHER,
WILSON’S WARBLERS, and lots of GAMBEL’S QUAIL and PHAINOPEPLAS.
Ron reported spotting a BULLOCK’S ORIOLE in his yard in Chino Hills, the
first seen in that area in his memory.
Chet McGaugh reported on the SBVAS field trip to Morongo Valley on May 6.
He noted the continuing Morongo specialties, VERMILION FLYCATCHER, BROWN-
CRESTED FLYCATCHER, and SUMMER TANAGER. He hear YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT and
spotted LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH, a CASSIN’S VIREO, a WARBLING VIREO, BLUE
GROSBEAKS, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, and BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS.
Joel Mundall reported after birding Montecito Cemetary on May 7.
Highlights included: WARBLING VIREO, HERMIT THRUSH, HAMMOND’S FLYCATCHER,
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, HERMIT WARBLER WARBLER, TOWNSEND’S WARBLER,
LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH, and WESTERN BLUEBIRD.
Howard King reported from the Tees and Trees Golf Course in Barstow on May
7. The most exciting finds there were a BLACK TERN, a LUCY’S WARBLER, and
a BLACK-TAILED GNATCATCHER. At Barstow College he saw GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE,
SWAINSON’S THRUSH, and LAZULI BUNTING.
May 6, Jim Pike reported from the Big Morongo Canyon Road (approximately
1-2 miles up Hwy 62 from the preserve turn-off, on the opposite side of
the road). He saw 1 male and 2 female SUMMER TANAGERS, and 2 HUTTON’S
VIREO.
WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKERS have been reported from different areas this
week. One report came from Brian Elliott, who spotted one after the ½ mile
mark on the Mt. Baldy trail on May 3. The other report came from a
resident of Rim Forest who has a deck with a built-in tree that has been
selected as a nesting site by a pair of woodpeckers. The home owner has
agreed to accept calls from birders interested in seeing the nest. Please
call 909 744-0277 for information.
RIVERSIDE COUNTY
April 27, Rick Clements spotted a singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROW singing from
the barbed wire fence along the entrance road to Hidden Valley Wildlife
Reserve in Norco.
Larry LaPre reported from Hidden Valley on April 29. His report noted
seven species of warblers, including YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT, BELL’S VIREOS,
WOOD DUCKS, and a notable flight of VAUX’S SWIFTS. These same bird
sightings were echoed by others on May 2, and on May 5, Martha Estus also
spotted an AMERICAN BITTERN.
Roger Higson’s reports this week noted the rising temperatures in Barstow
and included a warning about being prepared for birding there. Birds he
has seen in the area include: WESTERN TANAGER, YELLOW WARBLER, NASHVILLE
WARBLER, COMMON YELLOW THROATS, WARBLING VIREO, LONG-BILLED CURLEW,
WHIMBREL, MARBLED GODWIT, and WILLET. A later report said there is still
one CLIFF SWALLOW colony.
Madeline Bauer spotted HERMIT WARBLER, TOWNSEND’S WARBLER, and YELLOW-
RUMPED WARBLER working the trees along 66th St. at Lorena (the north
border of the Goose Creek golf course). She also saw a “WESTERN”
FLYCATCHER, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, LINCOLN’S SPARROW, CASSIN’S KINGBIRD,
and a GREEN HERON.
Chet McGaugh reported from Lake Perris on May 5, where he saw WARBLING
VIREO, TOWNSEND’S WARBLER, HERMIT WARBLER, WILSON’S WARBLER, BLACK-
THROATED GRAY WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, and
LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH. Several spots had both BLUE GROSBEAKS and BLACK-
HEADED GROSBEAKS, WESTERN TANAGER, and LAZULI BUNTING. Chet also spotted a
SWAINSON’S THRUSH, and WESTERN WOOD PE-WEE. Chet’s reports this week also
included notes from San Jacinto Wildlife Area on May 7, where he had
HERMIT WARBLER, VAUX’S SWIFT, WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRD, and a MERLIN.
Howard King reported seeing an adult ZONE-TAILED HAWK fly past as he was
working on Hamner Ave. in Norco on May 5.
Larry Schmahl sent in a report on May 7 from the north end of the Salton
Sea where he and friends found 1 GULL-BILLED TERN, 3 LESSER SCAUP, 35
BRANT, 1 BANK SWALLOW, and several LESSER NIGHTHAWKS.
IMPERIAL COUNTY
Henry Detwiler reported highlights of an afternoon birding trip on May 3
in Imperial County. Birds seen included: RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (close to
Bard), 3 BRONZED COWBIRDS (Laguna Dam RV Park), and TREE SWALLOW, NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, BANK SWALLOW, CLIFF SWALLOW, and BARN SWALLOW (over
West Pond).
Guy McCaskie reported on a full day of birding Imperial county. The day
turned into a “big day” with a total of 172 species. A full accounting and
description of specific birds can be seen on the inland county birds
website.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
That's it for today. This summary is done weekly, usually on Thursday.
GOOD BIRDING!
Kirk and Linda Stitt
secalrba@earthlink.net
San Bernardino, CA
RBA phone (909)793-5599