SANTA CLARA COUNTY BIRD LIST DISCUSSION ARCHIVE 2020
| January | February | March | April | 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"
Go back to the Santa Clara County Bird List 2020 or view all the cumulative year lists.
January
We started off 2020 with 170 countable birds seen on January 1, and a total of 208 countable birds for the month of January. The average for January 1st is 155, and the average for the month of January is 200. This year I am also keeping track, separately, of the birds that are not ABA-countable. There were 3 such birds in January. 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 countable 208 birds that were recorded for January, there were 2 birds rated as rarity (6) and 9 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:
Tropical Kingbird, 1/1/2020, Near the End of Embarcadero Road, by Bill Bousman
Lesser Black-backed Gull, 1/11/2020, Salt Pond A16, Don Edwards NWR, by Steve Rottenborn
Rarity Code 5’s:
Evening Grosbeak, 1/1/2020, Downtown Los Altos, by Multiple Observers
Red Crossbill, 1/1/2020, Sanborn County Park, Skyline Trail, by Steve Tucker
Yellow-headed Blackbird, 1/1/2020, between Salt Pond A4 and Twin Creeks Complex, by Brooke Miller
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, 1/2/2020, Santa Clara Valley Water District Headquarters, by Janna Pauser
Palm Warbler, 1/2/2020, Byxbee Park next to the WQTP, by Susan Weinstein
Swamp Sparrow, 1/10/2020, Alviso County Park, and Palo Alto Baylands, by Brooke Miller, and Bob Reiling
Summer Tanager, 1/16/2020, Backyard near Stevens Creek Trail, Mtn View, by Mike Danzenbaker
Red-naped Sapsucker, 1/26/2020, Guadalupe Creek Trail near Guadalupe Mines Rd, by Mike Mammoser
Black Rail, Sensitive Species - so date, location, and observer/s are hidden from output
Starting 1-January, eBird has classified Black Rail as a ‘Sensitive Species’ in the County, and therefore specific date, location, and observer/s are hidden from output. I have arbitrarily used the last day of the month in my reports and records.
The 3 ABA non-countable birds for January were:
Mitred Parakeet, 1/1/2020, Las Palmas Park, by Eve Meier and Patricia Lynch
Red-masked Parakeet, 1/2/2020, Las Palmas Park, by Gena and Jeff Zolotar
Scaly-breasted Munia, 1/7/2020, Yard at the base of Coyote Ridge near 101/85, by Craige Edgerton
My monthly reports are made up of eBird sightings, postings on SBB, and direct emails.
Brooke Miller
February
Before reporting February’s numbers, I received some late data, after I published last month’s reports, which increased our January 1 count from 170 countable birds to 174. The total number for January, 208 countable birds, did not change.
For February we had 8 countable birds, for a total of 216 countable birds at the end of February. The average for the month of February is 9 new birds, and the average total is 209 birds. This year I am also keeping track, separately, the birds that are not ABA-countable. There were 0 such birds in February. Thank you to everyone who birded, and took the time to report birds either on SBB, eBird, or send emails directly to me.
10-Feb: Greater Roadrunner, (4), Kirby Canyon Landfill Office, reported by Craige Edgerton
11-Feb: Ash-throated Flycatcher, (2), Coyote Ridge OSP, reported by Craige Edgerton
15-Feb: Hooded Oriole, (3), San Tomas Aquino Creek Trail, reported by Allison Fluty
16-Feb: Plumbeous Vireo, (6), Charleston Road Marsh, reported by Gena Zolotar
18-Feb: Northern Rough-winged Swallow, (2), Lake Cunningham, reported by Bill Pelletier
24-Feb: Cliff Swallow, (1), Los Gatos Creek County Park, reported by Jason Vassallo
26-Feb: Cassin’s Kingbird, (5), San Felipe Road, reported by Bob Hirt, Patricia Lynch, Mike Mammoser, and Eve Meier
27-Feb: Rufous Hummingbird, (4), Chaparral Ranch Entrance Road, reported by Garrett Lau.
March
For March we had 11 countable birds, for a total of 227 countable birds at the end of the month. The average for the month of March is 13 new birds, and the average total is 222 birds. This year I am also keeping track, separately, the birds that are not ABA-countable. There were 0 such birds in March. Thank you to everyone who birded, and took the time to report birds either on SBB, eBird, or send emails directly to me.
Here are the 11 countable birds for March, including rarity codes:
1-Mar: Snowy Plover, (4), Salt Ponds A9, A13, and Triangle Pond N of Crittenden Marsh, reported by Richard Jeffers, Mike Mammoser, and Mike Rogers
4-Mar: Common Poorwill, (3), Stile Entrance to Santa Teresa County Park, reported by Bill Pelletier
5-Mar: Western Kingbird, (2), Coyote Creek Trail, reported by Bill Bousman
6-Mar: Warbling Vireo, (2), Calero Creek Trail, reported by Brooke Miller and Janna Pauser
13-Mar: Vaux’s Swift, (3), Calero Reservoir, reported by Brooke Miller
14-Mar: Caspian Tern, (2), Sunnyvale WPCP, reported by Mike Shafto
15-Mar: Wilson’s Warbler, (1), San Jose backyard, reported by Sean Mac Aodha
17-Mar: Pacific-slope Flycatcher, (2), Spring Valley area of Ed Levin County Park, reported by Brooke Miller
28-Mar: Swainson’s Hawk, (5), Near Gilroy, reported by Steve Rottenborn
28-Mar: Purple Martin, (4), Coyote Valley OSP, reported by Chuq Von Rospach
30-Mar: Cassin’s Vireo, (2), Willow Street Park, Home in the Lexington Hills, and Santa Teresa CP, reported by Multiple Observers.
April
For April we had 18 countable birds, for a total of 245 countable birds at the end of the month. The average for the month of April is 21 new birds, and the average total is 243 birds. This year I am also keeping track, separately, of the birds that are not ABA-countable. There was 1 such bird in April. Thank you to everyone who birded, and took the time to report birds either on SBB, eBird, or send emails directly to me. Here are the 18 countable birds for April, including rarity codes:
5-Apr: Calliope Hummingbird, (5), Almaden Valley home feeder, reported by Janna Pauser
5-Apr: Black-chinned Hummingbird, (4), Willow Glen home feeder, reported by Brooke Miller
9-Apr: Nashville Warbler, (4), Calero Creek Trail, reported by Brooke Miller
10-Apr: Hermit Warbler, (4), Lexington Hills area, reported by Peter Wilton
11-Apr: Red-necked Phalarope, Salt Ponds A15 and A16, reported by multiple observers
12-Apr: Lazuli Bunting, (2), Coyote Lake-Mendoza Ranch entrance, reported by Steve Tucker
12-Apr: Hammond’s Flycatcher, (5), Smith Creek, reported by Chris Johnson
13-Apr: Vermilion Flycatcher, (6), Joseph Grant County Park, reported by Kitty O’Neill and Bill Pelletier
15-Apr: MacGillivray’s Warbler, (4), Loma Prieta Lower Saddle, reported by Nick Levendosky and Alex Rinkert
15-Apr: Western Wood-Pewee, (2), Rancho Canada del Oro, reported by Janna Pauser
16-Apr: Olive-sided Flycatcher, (3), Upper Thompson Rd., reported by Mike Voydanoff
18-Apr: Swainson’s Thrush, (2), Rancho San Antonio, reported by Mike Rogers
19-Apr: Townsend’s Solitaire, (5), Lick Observatory area, reported by Elinor Gates
20-Apr: Red Knot, (5), Don Edwards NWR, reported by Steve Sanders
23-Apr: Solitary Sandpiper, (5), Penitencia Creek Trail, reported by Savannah Weaver and the Bucknell Birders
26-Apr: Yellow-breasted Chat, (5), Joseph Grant County Park, reported by an anonymous eBirder
26-Apr: Ruddy Turnstone, (5), San Francisquito Creek mouth, reported by Adam Burnett
28-Apr: Blue Grosbeak, (4), Agua Caliente Trail at Ed Levin County Park, by Monica N, and Palo Alto Golf course, reported by Bob Strobe
May
For May we had 9 countable birds, for a total of 254 countable birds at the end of the month. The average for the month of May is 9 new birds, and the average total is 252 birds. This year I am also keeping track, separately, of the birds that are not ABA-countable. There were no such birds in May. Thank you to everyone who birded, and took the time to report birds either on SBB, eBird, or send emails directly to me.
Here are the 9 countable birds for May, including rarity codes:
2-May: Dusky Flycatcher, (5), Loma Prieta Area, found by Jason Vassallo
6-May: Black-and-white Warbler, (5), Rancho Canada del Oro, reported by Janna Pauser
9-May: Black-chinned Sparrow, (4), Loma Prieta Area, heard by Kitty O’Neil and Bill Pelletier
21-May: Northern Parula, (6), New Almaden area (Bertram x Alamitos x Almaden Rds), reported by Janna Pauser
21-May: Franklin’s Gull, (5), over the East Pond at Sunnyvale WPCP, seen by Adam Burnett
22-May: Bank Swallow, (5), over the East Pond at Sunnyvale WPCP, found by Mike Mammoser
27-May: Wilson’s Phalarope, (2), in the East Pond at Sunnyvale WPCP, seen by Dave Weber
30-May: Hooded Warbler, (6), Lexington Hills area, heard by Peter Wilton
31-May: Ovenbird, (6), Loma Prieta Area, heard by Jasper Barnes
June
I received a sighting for May, too late to include in my May report: A Willow Flycatcher, found on 28-May in the South San Jose yard of Hita Modha. That increased May’s totals to 10 countable birds, for a total of 255 at the end of May.
For June we had 2 countable birds, for a total of 257 countable birds at the end of the month. The average for the month of June is 4 new birds, and the average total is 255 birds. This year I am also keeping track, separately, of the birds that are not ABA-countable. There were no such birds in June.
Here are the 2 countable birds for June, including rarity codes:
4-Jun: Magnolia Warbler (6), Loma Prieta Area, seen by Mike Mammoser and Liam Murphy
19-Jun: Rose-breasted Grosbeak (5), seen by Taylor Gilbert in his yard on Old Summit Road
July
For July we had 5 countable birds, for a total of 262 countable birds at the end of the month. The average for the month of July is 4 new birds, and the average total is 260 birds. This year I am also keeping track, separately, of the birds that are not ABA-countable. There was 1 such bird in July, a female Mandarin Duck, found by Dave Nickerson on 24-July, at the Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Plant. Thank you to everyone who birded, and took the time to report birds either on SBB, eBird, or send emails directly to me.
Here are the 5 countable birds for July, including rarity codes:
2-Jul: Semipalmated Sandpiper (4), found by Pete Dunten, at Salt Pond A17
5-Jul: Common Tern (4), found by Lucas and Mark Stephenson, on an island in Salt Pond A16
9-Jul: Least Tern (4), found by Eve Meier, at Salt Pond A2E
30-Jul: Elegant Tern (4), photographed by Sha Lu, at Shoreline Lake
31-Jul: Red-eyed Vireo (6), found and photographed by Hallie Daly, in the Ranch House area of Joseph D Grant County Park
August
For August we had 8 countable birds, for a total of 270 countable birds at the end of the month. The average for the month of August is 6 new birds, and the average total is 265 birds. This year I am also keeping track, separately, of the birds that are not ABA-countable. There were no such birds in August. Thank you to everyone who birded, and who took the time to report birds either on SBB, eBird, or send emails directly to me.
Here are the 8 countable birds for August, including rarity codes:
12-Aug: Ruff (4), found by Mike Ambrose in New Chicago Marsh
19-Aug: Costa’s Hummingbird (5), seen and photographed by an anonymous birder in Morgan Hill
25-Aug: Common Murre (5), found by Brooke Miller at the Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Plant
26-Aug: Brewer’s Sparrow (5), found by Eve Meier at Alviso Marina County Park
26-Aug: Brandt’s Cormorant (6), found by Raja Bhadury in Charleston Slough/Coast Casey Forebay
26-Aug: Northern Waterthrush (5), found by Matthew Dodder at Vasona Lake County Park
30-Aug: Clay-colored Sparrow (5), seen by Brooke Miller at Ulistac Natural Area
31-Aug: Black Turnstone (6), found by David C, at Salt Pond A8.
September
Last month, August, I missed a bird for the report. There was a sighting of a Long-tailed Jaeger (6) at Shoreline Lake, by Emilie Danna on 4-Aug. That increased August’s totals to 9 countable birds, and 271 at the end of that month. For September we had 12 countable birds, for a total of 283 countable birds at the end of the month. The average for the month of September is 10 new birds, and the average total is 275 birds. This year I am also keeping track, separately, of the birds that are not ABA-countable. There were no such birds in September. Thank you to everyone who birded, and who took the time to report birds either on SBB, eBird, or send emails directly to me.
Here are the 12 countable birds for September, including rarity codes:
2-Sep: White-winged Dove (6), seen by Pete Dunten flying above the Lockheed Ponds and Marsh at the Sunnyvale WPCP
2-Sep: Parasitic Jaeger (5), seen by Steve Tucker flying above Salt Pond A8
5-Sep: Sabine’s Gull (5), flying over Salt Pond A4 by Adam Burnett, Garrett Lau, and Susan Weinstein
5-Sep: Pectoral Sandpiper (4), found by Monica Iglecia in Charleston Slough from the Adobe Creek Loop
13-Sep: Green-tailed Towhee (5), found in her yard in Los Altos by Meg Barron
19-Sep: Vesper Sparrow (5), found by Mike Ambrose in the native garden outside the EEC at Don Edwards NWR in Alviso
19-Sep: Tennessee Warbler (6), found in a backyard in the Duveneck/St Francis neighborhood of Palo Alto, by an Anonymous Birder
21-Sep: Red Phalarope (5), found by Ryan Phillips in Salt Pond A1
26-Sep: Blackpoll Warbler (5), found at Vasona Lake County Park by Steve Tucker
26-Sep: Bay-breasted Warbler (6), found at Vasona Lake County Park by Susan and Mark LeClair, and identified by Brooke Miller
27-Sep: Wandering Tattler (6), found by Julio Mulero at Shoreline Lake
27-Sep: American Redstart (5), found at Vasona Lake County Park by Mike Danzenbaker
October
After I published last month’s report, I received a late report from Mike Mammoser of 2 Baird Sandpipers he saw at an undisclosed location on 2-Sep. That increased September’s totals from 12 to 13 countable birds, and from 283 to 284 at the end of the month.
For October we had 6 countable birds, for a total of 290 countable birds at the end of the month. The average for the month of October is 5 new birds, and the average total is 280 birds. This year I am also keeping track, separately, of the birds that are not ABA-countable. There were no such birds in October. Thank you to everyone who birded, and who took the time to report birds either on SBB, eBird, or send emails directly to me.
Here are the 6 countable birds for September, including rarity codes:
3-Oct: Chestnut-sided Warbler (6), found by Amy and James in the trees at the Rengstorff House at Shoreline at Mountain View.
7-Oct: A Thick-billed Kingbird (a new county bird), was found by Bill Bousman at Mount Umunhum OSP
13-Oct: A Pacific Golden-Plover (5), was found by Frank Vanslager along the entrance road to Don Edwards NWR – EEC
24-Oct: Julio Mulero saw, and photographed a Common Loon (4) flying over Monte Bello OSP
25-Oct: An Orchard Oriole (6) was found by Gena Zolotar at the Charleston Road Marsh
27-Oct: Three Tundra Swans (5) were seen and photographed by Bob Bolles, flying over Ulistac Natural Area
November
For November we had 4 countable birds, for a total of 294 countable birds at the end of the month. The average for the month of November is 3 new birds, and the average total is 283 birds. This year I am also keeping track, separately, of the birds that are not ABA-countable. There was one bird in November, a European Goldfinch, reported on 15-November by an Anonymous eBirder, on Andalusia Way. Thank you to everyone who birded, and who took the time to report birds either on SBB, eBird, or send emails directly to me.
Here are the 4 countable birds for November, including rarity codes:
5-Nov: Five Cassin’s Finch (6), were seen by Elinor Gates at her feeder near Lick Observatory on Mount Hamilton
10-Nov: A Blackburnian Warbler (6), was seen by Carlin Otto in her South Palo Alto backyard
11-Nov: A Cattle Egret (5), was found by Chuq Von Rospach along Laguna Avenue in Coyote Valley
15-Nov: A Mountain Bluebird (6) was found and photographed by Bobbi Goodman at the Sandy Wool Lake area of Ed Levin County Park
December
For December we had 1 countable bird, ending the year with a total of 295 birds, the highest count for the county since 1998. The average for the month of December is 3 new birds, and the average annual total is 286 birds. I also kept track, separately, of the birds that are not ABA-countable, of which there were none in December. Thank you to everyone who birded, and who took the time to report birds either on SBB, eBird, or send emails directly to me.
The one new bird found in December was a Brant (6), found by Ryan Phillips, at Shoreline Park in Mountain View, on 7-December.