Bird Highlights in San Mateo County
August and September 2009
By Kris Olson
August and September are the time of “fall migration” – birds leaving their northern breeding grounds and making their way south to their wintering grounds. Here are the highlights of what was seen during August and September. Check the SAS website for the complete list of species seen this year.
Waterfowl through Ibis
On Sept. 27 a flock of 50 Greater White-fronted Geese were spotted flying south over Lake Merced into San Mateo County (LB, RT). August saw the continuation of the summering Ring-necked Ducks (LB, RT) at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve and the find of a female Hooded Meganser at Cypress Lawn Cemetery (Aug. 23)(LG, JF). The male Harlequin Duck continued for its 8th year at Coyote Point. (m.ob)
Pelagic bird sightings were boosted by two Monterey-based pelagic trips that veered into San Mateo County waters – one on Aug.2 (GHa, KO, SWJ) and one Aug. 23 (JR, DR, MSB). Single Cook’s Petrels, new record for the county, were seen on both trips. The Aug. 23 trip also saw Buller’s Shearwater and Black Storm-Petrel.
Wild Turkeys have been seen in new locations in the county, including near Dearborn Park Rd and Pescadero Road on Aug. 23 (GHa). One Sept 7, at Coal Mine Ridge 2 adults and five nearly full-grown young were seen (WGB).
Cook's Petrel
Eagles through Murres
Raptors: The fall is shaping up to be a good year for raptors due to the availability of voles along the coast. On August 18, 28 White-tailed Kites were seen in the Pescadero Marsh area (Jordan); 30-45 were counted by 3 observers on the weekend of Aug. 22 (Jordan, GHa, MK). By the end of Sept. observers saw a dozen of Red-tailed Hawks, 4 Red-shouldered Hawks, 3 White-tailed Kites, 2 American Kestrels, 1 Northern Harrier and 1 Cooper's Hawk at Wavecrest in Half Moon Bay and Bluff Top CP (YS, m.ob). Swainson’s Hawks were seen in three locations: 2 in Redwood Shores on Sept. 8 (light-morph adult and light-morph hatch year) (RT, RF): Sept. 12-14 a juvenile dark-morph was in the mowed field just north of Wave Crest (AJ), with another one seen on Sept. 14 (LG, JF). Three Golden Eagles were seen over Portola Valley on Sept. 3 (2 adults and a juvenile (PJM), and one was seen on Aug. 30 off Pescadero Rd (GHa). The first Merlin of the season on Sept. 28 at Pillar Point (AJ).
Shorebird migration continued through August and September. Two American Avocets were at Pillar Point harbor on Aug. 10 (rarely seen on the coast) (BK). Three Solitary Sandpipers showed up in August as well (Aug. 20-26) on the coast in an agricultural pond (RT, DWe, m.ob). Wandering Tattlers have been seen both on the coast and bay since mid-July (m.ob). Of note were Semipalmated Sandpipers found at Pescadero Marsh on August 8 (RT, LB) and again on Aug. 16: one in Pescadero Marsh again and one at Princeton Marsh (RT, LB). Baird's Sandpipers were seen Aug. 17 at a Moss Beach agricultural pond (DMo, JCl) and three on Aug. 26 in the north pond at Pescadero Marsh (GHa) with reports there through Sept. 4. A single Baird’s Sandpiper was seen on Sept. 27 in the Princeton marsh (KO, MS) and again Sept.28 (AJ, JR, NL). Pectoral Sandpipers showed especially well this year, starting with 2 at Radio Rd (Sept. 12) (KO, MS, GW, PR), with one or two continuing until Sept. 27 (m.ob). Two more birds were seen at Gazos Creek mouth on Sept. 20 (DS); two on Sept 25 (one at Princeton and one near the Half Moon Bay Ocean Golf Course) (SL), four in the Princeton Marsh on Sept. 28 (AJ), with one continuing Sept. 29 (RoF). 60 Red Knots were in Foster City on Aug. 27—the first of the season (GC). A Golden Plover, probably American, was seen near the Sam Trans Station off North Access Blvd. in South San Francisco on Aug. 30 (AH). Buff-breasted Sandpiper was briefly sighted on the beach near the Princeton breakwater on Aug. 24 (ADeM).
On Aug.5 three juvenile Wilson’s Phalaropes were at Radio Rd (RT). Red-necked Phalaropes were seen throughout August and into mid-September along the coast and the bay (m.ob). Both August pelagic trips saw Red Phalaropes.
Gulls, Terns and Skimmers : 75 Sabine’s Gulls were seen on the Aug. 23 pelagic trip (MSB, DR, JR). The oldest known California Gull was sighted at Radio Road on Sept. 14. It is 26 years, 4 months old and was banded in Mountain View CA on June 5, 1983 by SFBBO. It has a color band on one leg. (TG) A Black Tern was at Foster City on Aug. 26 (GC). Two Common Terns in breeding plumage and one is basic plumage were seen at Coyote Point on Sept. 12 (LB,RT, KO, MS). An Arctic Tern was seen Aug. 2 on a pelagic trip (SWJ, KO, GHa), and 3 more were seen on the Aug. 23 trip. Black Skimmers have continued at Radio Rd. in Redwood Shores. The high count was 11 Black Skimmers at Radio Rd. on Sept. 4 (10 adults, 1 juvenile (RT) and on Sept. 27, including 3 juveniles (AME). Five were also seen on the Foster City shell mound on Aug. 27, including 1 juvenile (GC). A juvenile Black Skimmer was seen Sept. 4 at Coyote Point (RT); there are only 2 previous records at this location, both in the spring.
On the Aug. 2 pelagic trip, a single Long-tailed Jaeger was seen. On the Aug. 23 trip, 4 South Polar Skuas, 4 Pomarine Jaegers, 9 Parasitic Jaegers and 78 Long-tailed Jaegers were seen (MSB, DR, JR). Two Xantus’s Murrelets were seen on the Aug. 2 pelagic trip (SWJ, KO, GHa). On Sept. 10, a single Ancient Murrelet and Tufted Puffin were seen in Ano Nuevo Bay – an early date for the Ancient Murrelet) (GSt).
Common Tern
Black Skimmer (imm.)
[Ken Schneider]
Pectoral Sandpiper
Xantus Murrelet
Doves through Pipits
A White-winged Dove was sighted on August 29 in Half Moon Bay (AJ). A Yellow-billed Cuckoo was seen at Phipp’s Country Store in Pescadero on Sept. 5 (RT), only the third sighting in the county. Observers were pleased to find two Barn Owls under a bridge in Foster City on Sept. 13 (BMa). A single Lesser Nighthawk was seen Aug. 4 the same date as a Common Poorwill – both in Butano SP (DLSu). On Sept. 26, a second Common Poorwill was heard in Pescadero (GHa). Black Swifts (7) were seen at Ano Nuevo on Aug. 7 and the following days (RT, LB, m.ob), although none was reported breeding there this year (GSt). Another was reported on Aug. 16 (PJM), also at Ano Nuevo. Fourteen Black Swifts were seen on Sept. 27 over San Bruno Mountain (RT, LB). On Sept. 19, a Chimney Swift was seen at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve (RT, LB), another very rare species in San Mateo County. On Sept. 10 a hatch year Purple Martin was seen over agricultural fields east of the Half Moon Bay Airport (RT).
A Red-breasted Sapsucker was seen on Sept. 26 at Mills Creek OSP (not open to the public) (CM, SP). A northern race of the Hairy Woodpecker (the more northern race septentrionalis or the Rocky Mt. race monticola) was seen at Moss Beach on Sept. 7 (LB, RT). This individual had a large white stripe
on the back that was unmarked, underparts bright white and medium white spots on most of the wing coverts. It is highly unusual to have this race wander to the coast.
Flycatchers were well represented. On Sept. 30 at Gazos Creek, a late Western Wood-Pewee was seen (DLSu). Willow Flycatchers were observed in several locations. Along Gazos Creek Road just west of the junction with Cloverdale Road, a Hammond’s Flycatcher was observed Sept. 14 (LB, RT). Further north, at McNee Ranch State Park, a Dusky Flycatcher was observed on Sept. 28 (JR, NL). An adult Pacific-slope Flycatcher was notable as it gave away the position of a late nest with young located on the trunk of a redwood along the west end of Slate Creek Trail on 8/23 (Portola SP) (DLSu).
Another very rare bird for the county was seen Sept. 30 on Tunitas Creek Road: a Plumbeous Vireo (RT, LB). This is apparently the 5th county record. A Red-eyed Vireo was seen Aug. 24 near Skyline and 92 (ADeM). On Aug. 10-12, an estimated 415 Common Ravens were seen in the headwaters area of
Bradley Creek. (Stage Road follows Bradley Creek to its headwaters before crossing over to Pomponio Creek). (DLSu) Unusual thrush sightings include two juvenile Varied Thrushes seen along Jackson Flat
Trail about 800 yards southwest of the junction with Canyon Trail in Butano SP. The spot is a few hundred yards from a sighting of an adult back in early June. (DLSu)
Warbling Vireo
Warblers through Goldfinches
Land bird migration got off to a slow start, but reports trickled in from around the county of the typical “Western” migrants: Yellow Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson’s Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, and the occasional Black-throated Gray Warbler. An additional 9 species of much less common warblers were also reported. A female-type Tennessee Warbler was seen in Pescadero at Duarte’s gardens on Sept. 14 (LB, RT). Nashville Warblers were seen at two locations: Sept 18-19 behind the Nob Hill market in Redwood Shores (PB, RT) and on Sept. 30 near the Gazos Creek parking lot (SCBC, DJSu). At the same Gazos Creek location, a Virginia’s Warbler was seen on Sept 20 (MK, GHa). Also were two sightings of Chestnut-sided Warblers: Sept. 12 at FitzGerald Marine Preserve (KG, Yolo Audubon) and Sept. 19 at Gazos Creek (SS). North of Pescadero on StageRoad was a hatch year Magnolia Warbler Sept. 20 (RT, LB). Back in the Gazos Creek fennel was a hatch year male Prairie Warbler on Sept. 27 (KO, MS). Two Black-and-white Warblers were seen: the first, a female, on the Tarwater LoopTrail in Pescadero Creek CP on Aug. 24 (DLSu), and the second at Ano Nuevo on Sept. 28 (GSt). A male American Redstart was seen on Gazos Creek Rd. on Sept. 20 (RT, LB). And last, a Hooded Warbler was seen along San Pedro Creek in Pacifica on Sept. 13 (DS).
September saw the arrival of migrating and wintering sparrows. Chipping Sparrows were seen on Sept. 8 at the Nob Hill pond (RT) and at Skylawn Cemetery on Sept. 12 (KO, MS). On Sept 5, near the Gazos Creek Access parking lot, a hatch year Clay-colored Sparrow was observed (RT, LB). Other Clay-colored Sparrows were seen behind the Nob Hill store in Redwood Shores on Sept. 22 (RT) and Sept. 27 in SFF (RT, LB). Three Brewer’s Sparrows were seen in the county: Sept. 9 at Coyote Point (RT), Sept . 26 at Pescadero (RT, LB; and Sept 27 at San Bruno Mountain Park (RT, LB). Lark Sparrows were seen at several locations: Sept. 8 at Nob Hill (RT), Sept. 9 at Coyote Pt (RT), Sept. 19 at Gazos Creek (MK,CVR), Sept. 26 (MK, MS)-27 near Gazos Creek parking area. The first wintering Sooty Fox Sparrow was seen Sept 14 near the Princeton Willows (RT, LB) and the first Lincoln’s Sparrow returned Sept 17 at Coyote Point (RT). On Aug. 29th, a Rose-breasted Grosbeak was seen again at the feeders near the Crocker gate entrance to San Bruno Mountain Park (LR). An Orchard Oriole was observed Sept. 17 at Coyote Point (RT) and last, Red Crossbills have shown up in unusual locations including the staging area at Ano Nuevo on Aug. 7 (RWR, FV, SCVAS) and Portola Valley Aug. 11 (PJM).
Prarie Warbler
[Michael Scott]
Lark Sparrow
Cited Observers:
Al DeMartini (ADeM), Alan Hopkins (AH), Alvaro Jaramillo (AJ), Al Eisner (AME), Barbara Kossy (BK), Bill Manley (BMa), Chris Macintosh (CM), Chuq Von Rospach (CVR), David Suddjian (DLSu), Dominik Mosur (DMo), Don Roberson (DR), Dan Singer (DS), Dave Weber (DWe), Frank Vanslager (FV), Garth Harwood (GHa), Gary Strachan (GSt), Josiah Clark (JCl), Jeff Fairclouth (JF), Gary Woods (GW), George Chrisman (GC), Jordan, Kris Olson (KO), Leonie Batkin (LB), Laurie Graham (LG), Lee Rudin (LR), Mark Kudrav (MK), Michael Scott (MS), Monterey Seabirds (MSB), Nelle Lyons (NL), Pati Rouzer (PR), Peter Metropulos (PJM), Rich Ferrick (RF), Robbie Fischer (RoF), Ron Thorn (RT), Bob Reiling (RWR), Santa Cruz Bird Club (SCBC), Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society (SCVAS), Susan Peterson (SP), Scott Smithson (SS), Shearwater Journeys (SWJ), Tom Goodier (TG), Yamil Saenz (YS) ; many observers (m.ob)
Bird species underlined are considered very rare in San Mateo County: “Accidental, recorded fewer than 10 times in San Mateo County and offshore waters” [from the San Mateo County checklist by Peter Metropulos, official San Mateo County bird record keeper]