What to Look For Now—Timely Birding
Matthew Dodder
SCVAS Executive Director
Everything happens on schedule, and for a reason. At least in the natural world. Take Autumn for example. The shortening day, the lowering temperatures, the disappearance of flowers, the appearance of seeds and berries... All due to that small tilt of the earth. These circumstances then provoke birds to respond, in a variety of ways, with each species on its own schedule.
On Time
Late summer we saw the arrival of some post-breeding Terns. Elegant, Least, Black. They had completed their nest cycle and paused here before heading toward their wintering grounds. The Black Tern showed up earlier than usual this year, impressing scores of birders with its fabulous jet black breeding plumage. It looked for all intents and purposes like a three-dimensional silhouette—eyeless and impossibly cool. As it lingered, we began to see its plumage change—slowly dusting white, making it look more like the later summer Black Terns we usually get. That change in appearance was another sign of the new season we face and the transitory conditions.
Adults within many bird families undergo dramatic changes after breeding. Their colorful feathers show the wear and tear of wind, sun and the exertion of raising young. Among our migrant Shorebirds, the crisp and colorful juveniles show up after the worn adults. Almost everyone is traveling south, from one seasonal opportunity to another, making fuel stops wherever the habitat can provide. Shorebirds assemble in enormous mixed species groups in the marsh and on the salt ponds where food fuel is abundant, and Warblers find the woods and thickets where weary travelers can hide and seek. All of them feeding voraciously before moving on again. Clearly, many birds arrive and stay for the Bay Area winter, and their first arrivals occur now.
For two years now, I’ve written about Shorebirds and Warblers that show up in fall. These two large groups are conspicuous arrivals and among the most welcome among birders, especially when something less common shows up. This is an established pattern, and our checklist confirms these occurrences. But exactly when and where the next rarity will be discovered is the question on everyone’s mind. We birders gather in droves to search for what we need.
Wonderfully Common
This year I want to focus on some common arrivals. Cedar Waxwings—the handsome and familiar eater of berries. As I write this, there isn’t a Waxwing in sight. A month from now when this issue is released, I expect flocks of Waxwings and their sibilant whistles will be heard throughout the day as they feast on small berries on my street. Someone asked me recently if they could find a Waxwing during their summer vacation. My answer was disappointing, but honest. “Come back in September.” That’s when the food they like will
be available.
The first few of the many thousands of “Crowned Sparrows”, (Golden-crowned and White-crowned) that will dominate the area begin to arrive... in September. They are highly migratory, of course. But interestingly, if you find yourself on the coast in July and spot a White-crowned Sparrow, it’s not a rarity. That will be one of the resident populations, a non-migratory subspecies confined to the fog belt on the immediate coast.
There are more than a few Lincoln’s Sparrows reports in spring and summer in the Bay Area, but almost without fail, these turn out to be the confusingly similar juvenile Song Sparrow. The bulk of our real Lincoln’s Sparrows will start to arrive in September. While we’re on the topic, I wonder what Melospisa lincolnii will be called if its eponymous name is abandoned...
Similarly, the replacement of breeding Swainson’s Thrush with wintering Hermit Thrush is worth watching. The two species are famously puzzling to birders, especially during the time when both may be encountered—September. Yes, keep an eye open for the rufous tail of Hermit Thrush, but alsowatch for its frequent nervous wing and tail flicking, which
is not performed by Swainson’s Thrush. Their call notes are distinctive as well as their facial pattern—Hermit with an eye ring, Swainson’s with “spectacles”.
Look Up
The annual fall Raptor migration can be spectacular on Hawk Hill in the Marin Headlands. One thing that has always baffled me is the large numbers of Broad-winged Hawks that show up on Hawk Hill each fall. From mid-September through October, Broadwings can be seen by the dozens as they cross the Golden Gate and onto the Peninsula. What happens to them after that? Primarily they are seen south in the hills and along the coast from Pacifica to Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz and Monterey. But only rarely in Santa Clara County. They clearly show a preference for the cooler climate. But let’s make this the fall we intercept one or two of them, possibly in... September.
And now one of my favorite topics, Gulls. I do love a challenge, and the occasional surprise among the hundreds of expected birds is quite a reward after you patiently scope through a flock. California Gull is our default. It breeds right here. The Western Gull breeds on the immediate coast and on offshore islands. So finding Western Gull in Santa Clara County is not easy, until September, or so. That’s when our checklist sees a bump in Western Gull numbers and they are easier to find. Herring Gulls begin to increase in numbers about this time too. They remain with us for the winter, but of course they breed far to the north. Both of these birds are large, but if anything, Glaucous-winged Gull is even bulkier. Look for it in September too. I can’t help but notice that it was September of 2020 that a Sabine’s Gull showed up at the Sunnyvale ponds... Might be worth another look there this month. We can talk about the other Larids in the winter issue.
In closing, the September-October period has its traditional and expected natural events. But year after year we see more obvious impacts of climate change such as unseasonably severe weather. On top of that, we have experienced devastating fires. All of this must have an impact on ourbirds. So in addition to watching for what is expected, and what is historically verifiable, let’s all watch for the new and unexpected—changes in the pattern... Everything happens for a reason.
Photos L to R: Lincoln's Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Western Gull, Hermit Thrush, White-crowned Sparrow Tom Grey