Rare Bird Alert - December 15, 2023

Pacific Golden-Plover | Little Gull | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Swainson’s Hawk | Zone-tailed Hawk | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Brown-crested Flycatcher | Dusky Flycatcher | Western Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Cassin’s Vireo | Clay-colored Sparrow | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Hooded Oriole | Rusty Blackbird | Black-and-white Warbler | American Redstart | Chestnut-sided Warbler | Palm Warbler | Pine Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager

Rare Bird Alert - December 8, 2023

Pacific Golden-Plover | Red Knot | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Flesh-footed Shearwater | Brown Booby | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Zone-tailed Hawk | Short-eared Owl | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Dusky Flycatcher | Western Flycatcher | Cassin’s Vireo | Pacific Wren | Grasshopper Sparrow | Dark-eyed “Pink-sided” Junco | Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Rusty Blackbird | Black-and-white Warbler | Nashville Warbler | American Redstart | Palm Warbler | Pine Warbler | Painted Redstart | Hepatic Tanager | Summer Tanager

Rare Bird Alert - December 1, 2023

Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Western Cattle Egret | Zone-tailed Hawk | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Northern “Yellow-shafted” Flicker | “Prairie” Merlin | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Dusky Flycatcher | Yellow-green Vireo | Pacific Wren | Brown Thrasher | WHITE WAGTAIL | “Red” Fox Sparrow | Dark-eyed “Pink-sided” Junco | Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Hooded Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | Chestnut-sided Warbler | Palm Warbler | Painted Redstart | Hepatic Tanager | Summer Tanager

Western Tanager, Nov-Dec 2023, Vol. 90 No. 2

Western Tanager, Nov-Dec 2023, Vol. 90 No. 2

Observing the Coastal California Gnatcatcher

Observing the Coastal California Gnatcatcher

Spotting a coastal California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica californica) takes patience. They can be shy and elusive, never sitting still. They might appear in front of you when you’re least expecting it, only to dart away before you get a good look. And it’s necessary to get a good look because they can be easily confused with the more commonly seen Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. In fact, it wasn’t until recently that it became its own species separate from the blue-gray. Though elusive, the birds’ call can more easily be heard- a squealing “meeew” that sounds like a squeaking dog toy pleading for help.

Rare Bird Alert - November 24, 2023

TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE | Pacific Golden-Plover | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Western Cattle Egret | Swainson’s Hawk | Zone-tailed Hawk | Short-eared Owl | Ash-throated Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Dusky Flycatcher | Western Flycatcher | Eastern Phoebe | Cassin’s Vireo | Yellow-Green Vireo | Pacific Wren | Brown Thrasher | “Red” Fox Sparrow | Dark-eyed “Pink-sided” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Black-and-white Warbler | Bay-breasted Warbler | Chestnut-sided Warbler | Palm Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager

Rare Bird Alert - November 17, 2023

TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE | Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | Lesser Black-backed Gull | Pacific Loon | Western Cattle Egret | Yellow-crowned Night-Heron | Swainson’s Hawk | Zone-tailed Hawk | Short-eared Owl | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | Pacific Wren | Western Wood-Pewee | Hammond’s Flycatcher | Dusky Flycatcher | Tropical Kingbird | THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD | Brown Thrasher | Varied Thrush | Lapland Longspur | Evening Grosbeak | Grasshopper Sparrow | Lark Bunting | Swamp Sparrow | Dark-eyed “Gray-headed” Junco | Dark-eyed “Pink-sided” Junco | White-throated Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Baltimore Oriole | Black-and-white Warbler | Lucy’s Warbler | Chestnut-sided Warbler | Palm Warbler | Painted Redstart | Summer Tanager | Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Rare Bird Alert - November 10, 2023

TUNDRA BEAN-GOOSE | Surf Scoter | Pacific Golden-Plover | Mountain Plover | Zone-tailed Hawk | Short-eared Owl | Northern “Yellow-shafted” Flicker | Tropical Kingbird | Lark Bunting | Clay-colored Sparrow | American Tree Sparrow | Swamp Sparrow | White-throated Sparrow | Green-tailed Towhee | Orchard Oriole | Tennessee Warbler | Palm Warbler | Grace’s Warbler | Summer Tanager | Black-headed Grosbeak