The tundra swan was present at the railroad bridge on lower Carpinteria Creek at dusk today. A plumbeous vireo was seen again in the cottonwoods by the nursery school last Sunday.

An Elegant Tern was on the beach at the mouth of Carp Creek, along with two Royal Terns. Wintering birds along the creek included Black-throated Gray Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Western Tanager, and Bu

Mark Holmgren will be conducting the third in a series of Nature Talks entitled "Spring Bird Migration in Santa Barbara County," Tuesday, March 11. at the Carpinteria Public Library at 7 p.m. From San

A trip on the Vanguard out of Channel Islands Harbor to Anacapa today produced the following: Western Grebe, 2500 just outside the harbor; Northern Fulmar, 2; Pink-footed Shearwater, 1; Black- vented

A Common Poorwill, bedded down for the day in the shade of the wild flowers, was flushed from the burned area of the Aliso Trail this morning.

On Saturday the resident Stellar's Jays were present at about 1500' on the north side of the Santa Ynez Mountains along the Arroyo Burro Trail. Also present was a very late Ruby-crowned Kinglet. In Ca

Cassin's Vireo, Swainson's Thrush, and Black-throated Gray Warbler were all singing on the Tequepis Trail this morning, along with all the usual riparian suspects.

About 9 A.M. I flushed a Short-eared Owl from the grassy bluff about 1/4 mile south of Pt. Arguello on Vandenberg AFB. It was roosting below some Coyote Brush, then landed on a nearby sand dune, where

The Northern Waterthrush was seen again this morning along Carpinteria Creek about 100 yards above the 101 bridge. Another 100 yards upstream was the continuing Black-and-white Warbler. An early White

There are about 150 Black Skimmers at the mouth of Mission Creek, along with one Canada Goose. Notably absent along the waterfront were Elegant Terns. Larry Ballard

With the campgrounds closed at Gaviota and Refugio, the birds have reclaimed their territory. At Refugio around 1 today there were approximately 2500 to 3000 gulls resting along a quarter mile of beac

A juvenile Little Blue Heron was at Carpinteria Salt Marsh today, east of Santa Claus Lane along the private road with no public access. The bird appears pure white, but pale dusky wing tips could be

While conducting a plant survey with Liz Mason this morning, in the dense riparian area at the east end of what used to be Lake Cachuma, two Virginia Rails were heard calling, one from about 10' away.

A White-winged Dove was in my Carpinteria yard this morning. Also, for the past five months, an itinerant flock of 50-60 Band-tailed Pigeons has been dropping in, frequently toppling the bird bath. La

The Little Blue Heron found July 11 was still present this morning at the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Preserve on Ash Ave. Also present were four Blue-winged Teal, along with a Horned Grebe in the c

The Little Blue Heron was at the Carpinteria Salt Marsh Nature Park on Ash Avenue this evening at low tide. At high tide this morning, a Cattle Egret was there. The only Clapper Rail remaining in the

Seen this afternoon (and present since July 11), the Little Blue Heron at Ash Avenue in Carpinteria now shows some slate colored feathers on its head and neck. Thanks primarily to this bird, the speci

A Black-throated Sparrow was in my back yard this afternoon in Carpinteria.

Ever since the June 2004 Gaviota Fire, small numbers of Rock Wrens have been seen scattered throughout the rocky slopes of Gaviota State Park. Today a family group of eight birds (presumably two adult

There was a raucous flock of a dozen Great-tailed Grackles at the Five Points shopping center today, alternately visiting the Jacarandas and the dumpsters. Several males were soliciting females, with