From the Santa Maria river mouth via Brad Hines

The Sunday morning highlights include: three SemiSandpipers,one
Red Knot,two Bairds,and many juv Leasts and Westerns

Congratulations to Jamie Chavez for creating the Santa Barbara County
Birding Group.

As reports of migrating birds begin to filter in from local hotspots
it's a good time to start thinking about forming a team to participate
in the Central Coast Birding Rally which highlights birding sites along
the Central Coast Birding Trail.
The Rally is the weekend of October 15-17, 1999. Remember, all Rally
events are absolutely free to participants and sponsors. Check out the
Rally webpage for all the details.
http://homepages.go.com/~lpas/lpas.html

There are two categories of competition, and ,for those who don't want
to compete on a birding team, the Rally could use volunteers for
staffing the checkpoints during the competition and for helping with the
picnic. For monitoring the checkpoints call Eldora Barton, 736-2684, and
for the picnic call Patsy Warwick, 688-8733.
It's not too soon to register!

Gene Lynch, President
La Purisima AS

Hi Joan,
Four gallons of sugar water! I hope you have stock in C&H. I didn't see any
Costa's when I hiked Aliso Loop on Friday--now I know where they've gone. I had
a lovely hike early Friday morning. It was very quiet birdwise, but the day
was perfect--cool, slight cloud cover, no crowds. I'm really growing fond of
that trail!

G&B and Chris and I birded at McGrath State Beach yesterday. According to Guy,
it was a little slow, but as far as I was concerned, it was great. No Baird's
or Stilt (which have been seen recently), but did have Semi-palmated Sandpiper.
Beautiful looks at White-faced Ibis in the sunlight, good tern i.d. session
(Elegant, Forster's, Common, Caspian), lots of the usual shorebirds.

I'll have to get out to Devereaux one of these afternoons.
Rebecca

JHcynwren@... wrote:

Hello SB Co. Birding subscribers,
You just received a message from me intended to go to Joan Hardie. In replying
to her email, I replied to you all. Now you all know a little bit more about me
than you intended...most of you don't know me at all! But there it is--I'm
still fine-tuning this high-tech messaging. My apologies for the clutter--and
thanks to Jamie Chavez for organizing the group!

Rebecca

Hello,

First of all, it might be time for an update on the sbcobirding group.
There are now 45 subscribers to this listserve in just about two weeks
time. Thank you for your interest and participation. This should get
even more exciting as fall migration rolls around. If you know of
someone that might be interested in subscribing, please refer them to
the web site address (found at the bottom of the page) or send their
email address to me and I will forward the auto invitation to them. Also
wanted are addresses for people that might contribute sightings from the
Channel Islands. We may not make it out there but it would be nice to
hear about what is being found on the islands. Please help me to keep
this group growing in size so we can all benefit from it.

A reminder, I intentionally set this up so "Reply To" messages would be
sent to the entire group (see the welcome message in the archive).
Responses to a posted message can be of interest to the entire group,
especially when a question is posed, or someone is seeking information,
and everyone else is wondering what the answer might be. A private
response would not provide this to the rest of the group. If you wish to
reply to the originator of the message, send it to their private email
address. Rebecca's reply to a posted message was of interest to the
group (I thought) and adds to the information that we can receive from
this list group. However, I can change the settings so "Reply To"
messages are not seen by the group. Let me know your opinions about that
if you have any.

Secondly, there is obvious post breeding bird movement going on.
Preisker Park in Santa Maria today had a few Yellow Warblers,
Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Hooded and Bullock's
Orioles, and a Western Tanager. This park is a good migrant trap but
does not support these birds as breeders. Also, there is absolutely no
sign of the "mystery grackle" that gave everyone fits in early summer. I
have not seen it during several lunch hour visits now. For those that
didn't get to see it, go to Joe Morlan's web site where there are a few
pictures of it and comments from experts on its identity. A great web
site for many reasons. Go to the California Birding and Mystery Photos
links. I concede the point that it is not a Common Grackle but a hybrid
Great-tailed Grackle X Brewer's Blackbird as many suspected (perhaps the
first ever seen). It had me fooled, but it was fun while it lasted! I've
learned a lot because of that experience. Good birding.

http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/

Jamie Chavez
Santa Maria
jcwings@...

I vote for reply to defaulting to the whole list.

Q

Last evening, an adult Curlew Sandpiper in nearly complete breeding plumage
was found at the Goleta Sewage Plant on William Moffet Place (between the
airport and Goleta Beach). The plant can be reached by staying on Fairview
Avenue going south, passing the airport and looking for the gate opening on
the left between two large white pillars. Note that the south-bound
Fairview off-ramp is closed due to freeway construction, so you'll have to
get off at Los Carneros, turn right and go to Hollister, left on Hollister,
then right from Hollister onto Fairview.

The bird was still present this morning, but seems to be very skittish. The
sewage plant folks have said it is okay to broadcast this bird (which we are
doing on Calbird, BirdWest, etc.), but ask for your cooperation in the
following:

PLEASE SIGN IN AT THE OFFICE BEFORE HEADING OUT TO THE PONDS.

If you should see the bird, please call me (964-1316) and/or Joan Lentz
(969-4397) with an update.

Good birding!

Karen Bridgers
kbridgers@...

An adult Curlew Sandpiper in almost full breeding plumage was found late
yesterday at the Goleta Sewage Treatment Plant. The bird was still
present this morning, but is quite skittish. The treatment plant is on
William Moffet Place at the south end of Fairview Avenue, across from the
Santa Barbara airport. Please park by the Administration Building, check in
at the office, and sign their log book before proceeding to the ponds.
There are only 2 small ponds with water and the bird has been moving
between the two. This facility has been very gracious in providing
access; please act appropriately.

The Fairview Avenue off-ramp from Highway 101 southbound is closed due to
construction, so you'll need to take an alternative route if coming from
the north.

This is only the second county record for this bird. Please call Karen
Bridgers at 964-1316 with updates.

Guy Tingos
Santa Barbara, CA
gtingos@...

Late-breaking information from the sewage plant is as follows:

There will be no access on Sundays.
The plant has agreed to be open for birders THIS SATURDAY (8/14) ONLY, from
9-4, which is a great deal if the bird is still there.

Also, you can park near the administration building, or they are going to
rope off a parking area further east, near the heavy equipment storage area.
(This is closer to the ponds, but remember that you need to sign in at the
office first anyway.)

Also, they have asked that birders do not walk on the road at the eastern
edge of the ponds (where the fence is bordered by the creek, directly across
from the entrance to the pond area).

These are minor considerations given the generosity of the personnel at the
plant, so please honor these requests.

Thank you.

Karen Bridgers
kbridgers@...
Goleta

Last evening, an adult Curlew Sandpiper in nearly complete breeding
plumage
was found at the Goleta Sewage Plant on William Moffet Place (between
the
airport and Goleta Beach). The plant can be reached by staying on
Fairview
Avenue going south, passing the airport and looking for the gate opening
on
the left between two large white pillars. Note that the south-bound
Fairview off-ramp is closed due to freeway construction, so you'll have
to
get off at Los Carneros, turn right and go to Hollister, left on
Hollister,
then right from Hollister onto Fairview.

The bird was still present this morning, but seems to be very skittish.
The
sewage plant folks have said it is okay to broadcast this bird (which we
are
doing on Calbird, BirdWest, etc.), but ask for your cooperation in the
following:

PLEASE SIGN IN AT THE OFFICE BEFORE HEADING OUT TO THE PONDS.

If you should see the bird, please call me (964-1316) and/or Joan Lentz
(969-4397) with an update.

Good birding!

Karen Bridgers
kbridgers@...

The Curlew Sandpiper was still at the Goleta Sewage Plant at 5:30 this
evening (Wed.). The people at the plant have really gone out of their way to
welcome birders. If you go straight ahead as you come in, you'll find a
special barricaded "Birdwatcher's Parking Area." Please remember to sign in
at the office however. As you walk down the road toward the ponds, the bird
has been in the left pond, on the mudflat feeding. This is where it was last
evening and also when I saw it at 5:15 this evening.

Around the ponds, the sewage plant people have posted signs that say, "No
birdwatchers beyond this point." Please respect the signs at all times.

We will try to keep you updated on the bird, and will post again in the
morning if it's still there.

Karen Bridgers
kbridgers@...

Land migration is underway now at Atascadero Creek in Goleta. Last night,
between 6:00 and 6:30, there were at least two male Indigo Buntings and
three Blue Grosbeaks, mixing with good numbers of Lazuli Buntings and a few
other migrants, in the first 300 yds downstream from the South Patterson
bridge. Fall is creeping up on us.
Dave Compton

On Wednesday, Rebecca and I had at least 6 Blue Grosbeaks and several
Lazuli Buntings on Atascadero Creek near Walnut.

This morning, there were at least 6 Turkeys along 154 across from the
overlook at the east end of Lake Cachuma.

Guy Tingos
Santa Barbara, CA
gtingos@...

SBCO Birders:

For those interested, the Morro Coast Audubon Society's eight hour pelagic
trip out of Morro Bay is scheduled for Sunday, 26 Sep '99.

As of this AM there are about 10 spots still open out of the 40 total capacity
for the boat. $40.00 per head to Morro Coast Audubon Society, PO BOX 160,
Morro Bay, CA 93443-0160 reserves your spot - but act now - its filling up
fast. We will have a waiting list if necessary. Contact Field Trip Chairman
Ted Pope (4_popes@..., 547-0242) for reservations or Tom Edell
(tedell@...) for trip information. Jim Royer and Tom Edell will be the
trip leaders. Thanks.

Tom

Tom Edell
Cayucos, CA
tedell@...
805-995-1691

Hi all,

FYI, I received a message from eGroups that the web site and mail
service will be taken down this Sunday, August 15, for nine hours to
upgrade the database system. Three new database servers will be added to
enhance performance of the site. This will begin at 9:00 a.m. PT until
around 6:00 p.m. PT. If you find any truly outstanding birds on Sunday,
please notify the Santa Barbara Audubon RBA (964-8240), or for those
that rely on this listserve for reports, try posting your sightings
after 6:00 p.m. to sbcobirding when the system will be back up. Sorry
for the inconvenience.

Jamie Chavez
Santa Maria
jcwings@....

For those of you who haven't heard, Morro Coast Audubon is hosting its
annual Pelagic Trip out of Morro Bay on Sunday, 26 September 1999. The boat
will leave from Virg's at 6:45AM and return about 3 PM. Birds viewed on
previous trips include six species of shearwaters, five species of
storm-pertrels, three species of jaeger, skua and numerous marine mammals.
This is a great time of year to be off the coast on a pelagic trip.

Cost is $40.00 per head - very reasonable for a trip of this type - and
reservations can be made by sending a check to : Morro Coast Audubon
Society, PO BOX 160, Morro Bay, CA 93443-0160. We will be taking 40 persons
total, and we currently have reservations for about 30 - so send your $$$
in soon to assure a spot. We have chartered a 65 foot boat which will
handle our number comfortably.

Trip leaders are Tom Edell (995-1691) and Jim Royer (528-8933). Contact
Tom,Jim or myself if you have any questions.

Ted Pope
MCAS Field Trips
4_popes@...
547-0242

Hello all , I birded the Santa Ynez River mouth this evening. At 5:40
I located a very colorful adult Curlew Sandpiper feeding along the wet
edge west of the train trestle on the north side. The midway point is
best described as the area where the sand meets the green vegetation and
the driftwood. The shorebirds were quite active along this and the south
edge. My observation was painfully brief -30 seconds in the late day
sun. Fortunately, I my recent observations of the Goleta bird left quite
an impression. This bird abruptly flew north toward the brackish pond
approximately 300 yards north of river mouth. Those of you familiar with
this pond know that the water level may vary. I glassed the pond from
the trestle as I was leaving. LOOKS GOOD! I could see an assortment of
birds around the edges. You may reach the pond by walking along tracks
until just southeast of the area. Access without flushing the birds can
be difficult. The bird is a very bright brick red from throat to belly.
Darker overall than the Red Knots passing through at this time. Long
dark legs, thin dark curved bill and a Dunlin-like appearance
distinguish it from the rather heavy looking Knot. I plan to cover the
area Saturday morning hoping to relocate this bird. Boots may be needed
as you approach the pond; it can be very slimy. Also seen this evening
was a juv Semipalmated Sandpiper along the south side (beach trail).
With some luck, maybe we can refind this bird for those unable to see
the Goleta bird. This may be the Goleta bird! Good Luck to all!

Hi all

Brad Hines managed to re-locate the Curlew Sandpiper he found last night at
the Santa Ynez River Mouth. Last night it was feeding west of the railroad
trestle, on the north side along the wet edge near the old driftwood and
vegetation. Then it flew about 300 yards further north to a brackish pond.
This morning about 8:30 it was found in the same pond.

Good luck and keep me posted, please. I have already put it out on Calbird
and am about to change the SB County tape.

Karen Bridgers
kbridgers@...

Brad Hines managed to re-locate the Curlew Sandpiper he found last night
at
the Santa Ynez River Mouth. Last night it was feeding west of the
railroad
trestle, on the north side along the wet edge near the old driftwood and

vegetation. Then it flew about 300 yards further north to a brackish
pond.
This morning about 8:30 it was found in the same pond.

Cool Bird, Brad!
On Thursday, 12 August, some UCSB folks, accompanied by Liz Mason of the
Park, entered the closed areas of Lake Cachuma to look at late season
indications of breeding. There was very little of note in either Santa Cruz
Bay or the Santa Ynez River delta. In the latter, no teal, no Ruddy Ducks,
many fewer Gadwall than Mallards (perhaps a 1:10 ratio), but about 6 Wood
Ducks and 3 Northern Shovelers. In Santa Cruz Bay, we saw 6 Common
Mergansers, 7 Wood Ducks, and 7 Ruddy Ducks and not much else of special
note. Overall on the lake we saw fewer than 100 Aechmophorus grebes and
about 10% of those were Clark's and another family group of Common
Mergansers. Only a couple of pairs of grebes were seen doing courtship
displays.
In a larger patch of tules East of Arrowhead Island, we had a single
Common Moorhen, and a pair of Least Bittern together. These appear to be
significant records with respect to 'Birds of SB Co., CA' I have complete
notes of our Cachuma trip if that is of interest to anyone.
This morning, Saturday, 14 August, several folks saw a juvenile Baird's
Sandpiper that landed briefly on algae on the Dune Pond and was gone 4 or 5
minutes later.
Mark
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
* Mark Holmgren, Associate Director 805 893-4098 office
* Museum of Systematics and Ecology 805 893-4724 dept. fax
* Ecology, Evolution, and Marine Biology
* University of California
* Santa Barbara, CA 93106 holmgren@...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~