A pair of Blue-winged Teal were feeding along the east side of the slough. Besides Snowy Plovers, not much in the way of shorebirds except a Black-bellied Plover along the beach and 2 Avocets at NCOS.

I went back to the sandspit at noon and found that the Pacific Loon had beached itself. I gave the Wildlife Care Network a call, and they were going to attempt to catch the bird. I imagine that would

This morning there was a Pacific Loon in breeding plumage in the harbor as seen from the breakwater sandpit. The loon has a little oil on the sides of the breast (and perhaps elsewhere). It was very f

The cormo-runt was in the eucs at the Devereux half-a-bridge at 12:30 this afternoon. This morning I rode my bike around hoping for singing eastern warblers and vireos. Not a one. There were two Green

I birded a few spots in Goleta/Santa Barbara today. Some highlights: Cathedral Oaks, west of La Patera (34.441517, -119.862203)--at least one Chestnut-backed Chickadee in willows Farren Road: Blue Gro

A week ago I heard an unfamiliar song in my yard but couldn't find the singer. This morning he was singing again, and this time I clapped eyes on him; I was surprised to see a Lincoln's Sparrow in ful

Hot on the heels of the Pygmy Nuthatch at the Gaede abode, I was surprised to hear and then see a Mountain Chickadee near the south-east corner of the La Cumbre Junior High campus, specifically at the

Dave mentioned the lack of geese. On Thursday I saw a skein of geese heading west over Hollister School that consisted of c. 30 Canadas and two white geese. I’m guessing they were flying from Laguna B

Took a family walk around the lake this afternoon and saw a couple of birds that have been in short supply this winter. There was a female Canvasback in the northern part of the lake, and a flock of 1

Best bird was a Tropical Kingbird at the SB Cemetery--almost certainly the same bird seen intermittently at the Bird Refuge. The White Pelican continues at the west end of the Refuge. No sign of the R

I birded bits of the Wilcox Property (aka Douglas Preserve) and Arroyo Burro Creek at Hendry's Beach. Not much at the latter, but the former had a couple of decent sparrow flocks, one of which, right

I spent an hour or so looking around the Mesa Lane area this afternoon. I didn't find any blooming eucs. There is an overgrown yard opposite 107 Cooper Road that had lots of White-crowned Sparrows, a

I poked around bits of Goleta this afternoon. The area along the creek east of Pine Avenue, and opposite the UPS building, was virtually birdless. I walked along the south side of Twin Lakes Golf Cour

I did a little CBC scouting this morning. Cieneguitas Creek was very quiet, almost devoid of birds. The eucs overlooking Vieja Valley School (along Vieja Drive) held an adult male Bullock's Oriole. He

Late this afternoon there was a Grasshopper Sparrow at Elings Park. It was to the east of the main north-south path that heads to the paragliding take off spot. I've been to Bohnett Park twice recentl

The Red-necked Grebe continues, midway between Sea Landing and the wharf. I walked out to the wharf's end, but there was very little to see. Zero loons. One Osprey. Hugh Ranson SB

... at the SB Harbour this morning, fairly close to shore as seen from Sea Landing. Hugh Ranson SB

Late this afternoon I went to pick up food at El Sitio restaurant on upper De la Vina (opposite Grocery Outlet, used to be Ralphs), and as is my habit, I pished into the tipu tree that's right outside

Yes, Dave is correct. I wish I'd seen the Varied, but the Catbird was a nice consolation. Photo here: https://www.flickr.com/photos/159344319@N03/with/45655260482/ Hugh Ranson SB

This afternoon there was a Vesper Sparrow at Elings Park in SB, approx. half way between the Calle Montilla entrance and the stone bench. Also present was a fairly tight flock of 12 White-throated Swi