SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIRD LIST DISCUSSION ARCHIVE 2018
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | June | July | August | September | October | November | December |
Compiled by: Brooke Miller. Please email additions, corrections, or comments to Brooke at idbirds@me.com. Monthly reports are made up of eBird sightings, postings on South Bay Birds, and direct email reports.
Please post all your sightings at southbaybirds@groups.io and/or eBird. You can use eBird to follow first-of-the-year sightings. Due to the fact that not everyone uses eBird, not all sightings will be included, however. To see first-of-the-year sightings in eBird do the following:
Click on "Explore Data" at the top of any eBird page
Select "Explore a Region"
Type in "Santa Clara" and wait for the page to fill it in
Select "Current Year" and click "set"
Click on "First Seen"
See the Santa Clara County Bird List 2018 or view all the cumulative year lists.
January
We started off 2018 with 166 birds seen on January 1, and a total of 200 birds for the month of January. The average for January 1st is 154, and the average for the month of January is 199. Thank you to everyone who birded, and took the time to report birds either on SBB, eBird, or send emails directly to me.
Of the 200 birds that were recorded for January, there were, 2 birds rated as rarity (6) and 4 birds rated as rarity (5). As a reminder, here is what each rarity code means:
**Rarity Codes:
1 = common, always seen in habitat in season.
2 = fairly common, usually in habitat in season, but missed sometimes.
3 = uncommon, always around, but sometimes you can't find.
4 = rare, occurs yearly in the county, but not always in same places.
5 = very rare, does not occur every year.
6 = casual or vagrant, generally fewer than 10 records.
Rarity Code 6’s:
1. A Pelagic Cormorant was found on 28-January on a levee next to Salt Pond A14 at Don Edwards NWR by Richard Jeffers and Mike Rogers; and
2. The Vermilion Flycatcher, found on 30-December during the Morgan Hill-Calero CBC, was first seen in 2018 on 1-January continuing at the corner of Palm and Laguna in Coyote Valley by multiple observers.
Rarity Code 5’s:
1. Eve Meier was the first person of the year to find the continuing Red-naped Sapsucker on 1-January at Almaden Lake;
2. A Cassin’s Kingbird was found by Bill Pelletier and Kitty O’Neil on 2-January at the Gilroy Water Treatment Plant;
3. On 2-January Larry Spivak found the, continuing from 2017, Evening Grosbeak in downtown Los Altos; and
4. A Swamp Sparrow was seen by James Brooks and Will Brooks on 13-January at the Palo Alto Baylands across from the airport runway.
I have now revised the list of birds to conform to the taxonomic changes adopted by the AOS (American Ornithological Society) in 2017.
February
We had 9 new birds in February, bringing the total count to 209. We are one above the average of 208 total birds, but are right at the average of 9 birds for February. The new birds for February, with rarity codes in parentheses were:
1-Feb: A Rufous Hummingbird (4) was seen by Marion Farber in an Almaden Valley yard;
3-Feb: Several Cliff Swallows (1) were seen by Jean Myers at the Bailey Road overpass of Monterey Road;
6-Feb: An Allen’s Hummingbird (3) was seen by Edward Rooks in the Cambrian neighborhood of San Jose;
8-Feb: A couple of Northern Rough-winged Swallows (2) were heard then seen above Los Capitancillos Ponds by Steve Tucker;
8-Feb: Two Red Knots (5) were found by Bob Reiling at the mouth of Stevens Creek;
13-Feb: A Black Skimmer (4) was seen by Cynthia Berg at Charleston Slough;
13-Feb: A Short-eared Owl (4) was seen by Ryan Phillips from Palm Ave. in Coyote Valley;
25-Feb: A Townsend’s Solitaire (5) was found by Sergio Perez at Henry Coe State Park; and
26-Feb: A Nashville Warbler (4) was found by Patrick Baglee at Ulistac Natural Area.
March, April, and May are traditionally months with many new birds species, with averages of 13 for March, 21 for April, and 9 for May.
March
We had 16 new birds in March, bringing the total count to 225. The average new birds found in March is 13, while the average total bird species recorded through March is 222. The new birds for March, with rarity codes in parentheses were:
4-Mar: A Greater Roadrunner (4) was seen by Kirsten Holmquist in the parking lot for Grant Lake;
5-Mar: A juvenile Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (5) was found by Janna Pauser near the parking lot for Rancho Canada del Oro OSP;
7-Mar: A Red-throated Loon (4) was found by Frank Vanslager on Shoreline Lake;
7-Mar: A Black Rail (5) was heard in the Marsh at Alviso Marina County Park by Patrick Baglee;
9-Mar: A Warbling Vireo (2) was found at Coyote Lake County Park by Edward Rooks;
10-Mar: A Common Poorwill (3) was heard by Michael Hawk in a neighborhood East of Santa Teresa County Park;
17-Mar: A Slaty-backed Gull (6) was found by Noah Arthur at Don Edwards NWR in Alviso;
18-Mar: Two Swainson’s Hawks (5) were seen by Rob Furrow and his birding by ear class flying above Arastradero Preserve;
19-Mar: A Hooded Oriole (3) was seen by Janet Thomas in her backyard in San Jose;
24-Mar: Pacific-slope Flycatchers (2) were found by three separate people on the same day - Brooke Miller at Stevens Creek County Park, Mike Mammoser and Marilee Mifflin at McClellan Ranch Preserve;
26-Mar: A Caspian Tern (2) was observed by Tom Grey at Coyote Lake County Park;
28-Mar: Western Kingbirds (2) were found by Garrett Lau, one at Coyote Ridge OSP and one at Coyote Valley OSP;
28-Mar: A Black Oystercatcher (6) was seen by Jasen Liu at the San Francisquito Creek Mouth;
29-Mar: A Cassin’s Vireo (2) was found by Brooke Miller at Rancho Canada del Oro OSP;
31-Mar: A Vaux’s Swift (3) was seen by Vivek Khanzode at Shoreline Park; and
31-Mar: A Black-headed Grosbeak (1) was found by Matthew Dodder at Rancho Canada del Oro OSP.
April
During the month I received an email from Owen Holt who wrote that he had seen the Greater Roadrunner run across the road near the Grant Lake parking lot on 16-February, which is an earlier date than I had recorded. So, I’ve made that revision.
We had 18 new birds in April, bringing the total count to 243. The average new birds found in April is 21, while the average total bird species recorded through April is 243. The new birds for April, with rarity codes in parentheses were:
7-Apr: An Ash-throated Flycatcher (2) was seen and photographed by Garrett Lau at Guadalupe Oak Grove Park;
8-Apr: Three Grasshopper Sparrows (4) were found along the Stile Ranch Trail in Santa Teresa County Park, by Eve Meier;
10-Apr: A Hammond’s Flycatcher (5) was found by Mike Mammoser along Old Oak Glen Avenue, on the South side of Chesbro Reservoir;
11-Apr: Four Purple Martins (4) were seen and heard on the Santa Clara County side of the Loma Prieta lower saddle by Brooke Miller;
11-Apr: A Summer Tanager (5) was found at Vasona County Park, by Jeff Smith and Scott Terrill;
12-Apr: A Western Wood-Pewee (2) was found by Dave Nickerson along Old Oak Glen Avenue, on the South side of Chesbro Reservoir;
12-Apr: A Lazuli Bunting (2) was discovered by Sam Roberts, at the Bernal Historic Ranch area of Santa Teresa County Park;
13-Apr: A male Calliope Hummingbird (5) was found by Janna Pauser and Karen Burnson along the Stile Ranch Trail of Santa Teresa County Park;
14-Apr: An Olive-sided Flycatcher (3) was found at Picchetti Ranch by a group that included Bill Pelletier, Kitty O’Neill, Garrett Lau, Patricia Lynch, and Sergio Perez;
15-Apr: A Red Crossbill (5) flew over the Loma Prieta lower saddle and was noted by Alex Rinkert and Nick Levendosky;
15-Apr: A Hermit Warbler (4) was found by Alex Rinkert and Nick Levendosky at the Loma Prieta lower saddle;
15-Apr: A Black-chinned Hummingbird (4) was seen at a hummingbird feeder at the residence of Brooke Miller, in the Willow Glen neighborhood of San Jose;
16-Apr: A MacGillivray’s Warbler (4) was found by David Rankin at the Blue Oak Ranch Reserve (restricted access);
19-Apr: A Clay-colored Sparrow (5) was found at Mission City Memorial Park in San Jose by Jason Vassallo;
21-Apr: Two female Red-necked Phalaropes (2) were seen by Bill Bousman on Salt Pond A14 in Alviso;
21-Apr: A Bell’s Sparrow (3) was found by Alan Krakauer along San Antonio Valley Road;
24-Apr: A Dusky Flycatcher (5) was “decoded” by Mike Mammoser along Canada Road about 1/2 mile from Gilroy Hot Springs Road; and
29-Apr: A Swainson’s Thrush (2) was found by Dan Wenny at CCFS.
May
We had 10 new birds in May, bringing the total count to 253. The average new birds found in May is 9, while the average total bird species recorded through May is 251. The new birds for May, with rarity codes in parentheses were:
2-May: Two Wilson’s Phalaropes (2) were seen by Bill Pelletier at the Alviso Marina County Park (Salt Pond A12);
4-May: A Gray Flycatcher (5) was found along the Los Gatos Creek Trail near Meridian Ave., by Louise Liou;
8-May: A Black Swift (5) was seen by Garth Harwood near the Monte Bello OSP Gate 5;
8-May: A Yellow-breasted Chat (5) was heard by Ozzie Altus along the creek at West Valley College;
9-May: Two Blue Grosbeaks (4) were seen by Alex Rinkert at CCFS (Coyote Creek Field Station;
9-May: A Yellow-headed Blackbird (5) was seen by Richard Jeffers at Ulistac Natural Area;
12-May: A Black Tern (5) was seen and photographed by Raymond Liao flying above Salt Pond A12;
12-May: A Common Nighthawk (6) was seen flying by The Junction Café by several members of a GGAS (Golden Gate Audubon Society) field trip including Anne Hoff and Dan Brown;
21-May: Two Black-chinned Sparrows (4) were seen flying above the canyon by Bill Pelletier on the Santa Clara County side of the Loma Prieta Area;
22-May: A Northern Parula (6) was discovered by Gena Zolotar at Mitchell Park in Palo Alto.
We had NO new birds in June. For July we had 6 new birds, bringing the total count to 259. The average new birds found in June is 3, and for July 5, while the average total bird species recorded through June is 256, and for July 259. The new birds for July, with rarity codes in parentheses were:
6-Jul: A Semipalmated Sandpiper (4) as found along the entrance road to Don Edwards NWR by Louise Liou;
13-Jul: A Least Tern (4) was seen flying above the Bay Trail near Moffett Field by Ryan Phillips;
22-Jul: Two Black Turnstones (6) were seen on the mudflats from the sailing station at the Palo Alto Baylands, by Louise Liou;
23-Jul: A Ruddy Turnstone (5) was at Stevens Creek delta, by Louise Liou;
26-Jul: An Elegant Tern (4) was seen flying over Salt Pond A2E, by Louise Liou;
29-Jul: Two Bank Swallows (5) were observed flying over Alviso Marina County Park, by Ralph Baker.
I’d like to mention the status of both Mute Swan and Fischer’s Lovebird, both seen recently in Santa Clara County. Mute Swan is considered an “invasive” species according to California Dept. of Fish and Game. Fischer’s Lovebirds, locally, are escaped caged/pet birds. The Oakland Zoo website says they are “near threatened” in the wild, that listing by IUCN. They are endemic to North-central Tanzania.
August
In August we had 5 new birds, bringing the total count to 264. The average new birds found in August is 6, while the average total bird species recorded through August is 265. The new birds for August, with rarity codes in parentheses were:
4-Aug: A Heermann’s Gull (5) was seen flying over Pond A16 at Don Edwards NWR by Louise Liou;
9-Aug: A Baird’s Sandpiper (4) was seen by Garrett Lau and Louise Liou at the end of Gold and Elizabeth Streets in Alviso;
16-Aug: A Zone-tailed Hawk (6) was seen by Kate Wilmot at Anderson Lake County Park – Rosendin Park;
18-Aug: A Wandering Tattler (6) was seen at Alviso Marina County Park, by Louise Liou;
18 Aug: A Willow Flycatcher (4) was seen by Janna Pauser at the Guadalupe River Trail between Blossom Hill and Chenowyth.
A Nanday Parakeet was seen in Alviso by several birders on different occasions in August. This bird is most likely a local escapee.
September
In September we had 13 new birds, bringing the total count to 277. September’s average is 10, while the average total bird species recorded through September is 275. The new birds for September, with rarity codes in parentheses were:
4-Sep: White-faced Ibis (4) were seen at 3 separate locations on this day, by the separate birders: Frank Vanslager saw one fly over Byxbee Park, Dave Weber saw one in New Chicago March, and Louise Liou saw one fly over Alviso Marina County Park;
5-Sep: A Tennessee Warbler (6) was seen by Bob Reiling at Vasona County Park;
7-Sep: A juvenile LeConte’s Sparrow (6) was found by Mike Mammoser near the EEC at Don Edwards NWR in Alviso;
7-Sep: Four Pectoral Sandpipers (4) were seen along the entrance road to Don Edwards NWR in Alviso by James Buckingham and Bill Buckingham;
7-Sep: A Green-tailed Towhee (5) was found by Garrett Lau at Don Edwards NWR in Alviso;
8-Sep: A Blackburnian Warbler (6) was found by field trip participants of the Los Gatos Birdwatcher at Vasona Lake County Park;
9-Sep: A Rose-breasted Grosbeak (5) was found by Gena Zolotar at Don Edwards NWR;
11-Sep: Two Bobolinks (6) were heard and recorded as they flew over, by Tom Johnson at Alviso Marina County Park;
15-Sep: A Solitary Sandpiper (5) was found by field trip participants of the SCVAS at Arastradero County Park;
21-Sep: A Blackpoll Warbler (5) was found by David Nickerson at Ulistac Natural Area;
22-Sep: A Chestnut-sided Warbler (6) was seen at Ulistac by Steve Tucker;
23-Sep: A Black-and-White Warbler (5) was found at Ulistac Natural Area by Ryan Phillips; and
30-Sep: Two Common Terns (4) were seen on the levee between Salt Ponds A10 and A11 at Don Edwards NWR in Alviso, by Richard Jeffers and Mike Mammoser.
There were a four ‘honorable mentions’ found during the month as well. These sightings, according to eBird, are ‘non-confirmed’ but they deserve mention:
1. On 3-September Steve Tucker saw a Brewer’s Sparrow (5) at the Santa Clara Valley Water District Headquarters on Almaden Expressway;
2. On 23-September Ann Verdi found a Hooded Warbler (6) in a fennel patch just west of the Mountain View Forebay;
3. On 26-September Louise Liou photographed an American Redstart (5) at Charleston Slough/Coast Casey Forebay;
4. On 29-September Louise Liou photographed a possible Canada Warbler (6) at Ulistac Natural Area.
October
In October we had 9 new birds, bringing the total count to 286. October’s average is 5, while the average total bird species recorded through October is 280. The new birds for October, with rarity codes in parentheses were:
3-Oct: A Parasitic Jaeger (5) was found by Ryan Phillips at Salt Pond A11;
7-Oct: A female-type American Redstart (5) was seen by Steve Rottenborn at Sunnyvale Baylands Park;
16-Oct: A Pacific Golden-Plover (5) was found by Ginny Marshall and Donna Pomeroy along the entrance road to the EEC;
16-Oct: A Tropical Kingbird (6) was found by Louise Liou at Charleston Slough/Coast Casey Forebay;
18-Oct: A Lapland Longspur (6) was seen at Byxbee Park by Louise Liou;
19-Oct: A Magnolia Warbler (6) was photographed by Louise Liou at Ulistac Natural Area;
21-Oct: Palm Warblers (5) were found in the upland area of the EEC by Louise Liou, and another one was found at Los Capitancillos Ponds by Janna Pauser and Karen Burnson;
26-Oct: A Stilt Sandpiper (4) was seen by Terry Blows in the Spreckles Pond; and
28-Oct: A Black-throated Green Warbler (6) was photographed at Vasona Lake County Park by Louise Liou.
November
First, due to unusual circumstances, the following 8 bird sightings prior to November have been permanently removed from the list of birds seen in 2018: Black Turnstone, Wandering Tattler, Heermann’s Gull, Gray Flycatcher, Tropical Kingbird, Lapland Longspur, Magnolia Warbler, and Black-throated Green Warbler.
Secondly, first of the year sightings of the following 6 birds have been revised to: Ruddy Turnstone (29-Jul, Mike Mammoser, A10/A11 levee), Baird’s Sandpiper (observer change), Semipalmated Sandpiper (26-Aug, Steve Rottenborn, Don Edwards NWR entrance road), Elegant Tern (5-Aug, Winnifred Homer-Smith, Don Edwards NWR), White-faced Ibis (26-Aug, Steve Rottenborn, Don Edwards NWR entrance road), and Palm Warbler (observer change).
Thirdly, Steve Tucker’s sighting, on 3-Sep of a Brewer’s Sparrow (5) at the Santa Clara Valley Water District Headquarters on Almaden Expressway, has now been added to the list.
This changes our list total as of 31-October (from 286) to 279. In November we had 6 new birds, bringing the total count to 285. November’s average is 3, while the average total bird species recorded through November is 283. The new birds for November, with rarity codes in parentheses were:
3-Nov: A Tropical Kingbird (6) was seen and photographed by Dorian Anderson along the Bay Trail near Moffett Field;
7-Dec: An American Golden-Plover (5) was found along the entrance road to Don Edwards NWR by Matthew Dodder;
10-Nov: A Chestnut-collared Longspur (6) was found by Steve Rottenborn at the Shoreline Park Kite Flying area;
10-Nov: A Lesser Black-back Gull (6) was seen and photographed flying over Don Edwards NWR by Noah Arthur;
12-Nov: One or two Mountain Bluebirds (6) were found by David Zittin at the Shoreline Park Kite Flying area; and
13-Nov: Three Tundra Swans (5) were seen flying over Ogier Ponds by Rick Herder.
December
Finally, the last month of the year and the finals for 2018. First of all, there was a sighting that was missed earlier in the year. This was a Little Stint seen by Steve Rottenborn in the impoundment east of Salt Pond A12 on 24-April.
This increases our list total as of 31-November from 285 to 286. In December we had 2 new birds, bringing the total count for the year to 288. December’s average is 3, while the average total bird species recorded through December is 286. The 2 new birds for December, with rarity codes in parentheses were:
6-Dec: A flock of 13 Cattle Egret (5) were seen flying in a “V” over DeAnza Blvd. by Ryan Phillips; and
16-Dec: A Long-tailed Duck (5) was seen at the SE corner of Salt Pond A15 by Mike Rogers.