February 2005

Clark's Grebe/Western Grebe – 27 Feb, pairs of both species were doing breeding displays on Whale Rock Reservoir (TME)

Wood Duck – 4 Feb, 2 males and a female were at Lopez Lake (TME) and a pair was on the Atascadero Sewage Ponds on 7 Feb (RHZ)

Eurasian Wigeon – 1-24 Feb, a male was seen at several locations around the Morro Bay Estuary (mob)

Blue-winged Teal – 1-24 Feb, high numbers continued with up to 70 reported on Baywood Cove (mob)

Green-winged Teal – 1-28 Feb, the Eurasian “Common Teal” was seen off and on at Sweet Springs (mob)

Redhead – 3 Feb, rare in SLO County, a male was at Whale Rock Reservoir (MLS) with a female there 24 Feb (PR)

Ring-necked Duck – 24 Feb, rare on saltwater, one was on the Morro Bay Estuary (MLS)

Long-tailed Duck – 20 Feb, the immature found on the Morro Bay Christmas Count continued near the south jetty in the Morro Bay Harbor mouth (TME) and 25 Feb, the immature wintering in Port San Luis Harbor was still present (BKS)

Black Scoter – 1-24 Feb, two of the three female plumaged birds off Yerba Buena Street in north Morro Bay since Nov (mob) actually appear to be fi rst winter males on 12 Feb (TME)

Harlequin Duck – 1 Feb, the male found along Hwy 1 near milepost 59 last month was still present (PR) Harlequin Duck – 1-24 Feb, the male wintering along the Estero Bluffs was near the lone cypress tree (MLS)

Hooded Merganser – 1-27 Feb, up to one male and two females were at Whale Rock Reservoir (PR,TME)

Common Merganser – 4 Feb, 60 on Lopez Lake was not unusual (TME) and 9 Feb, the male at Oceano County Park since last year continued its stay (MLS)

Osprey – 4 Feb, one was at Lopez Lake (TME) and 22 Feb, one was on Morro Bay (MLS)

Bald Eagle – 4 Feb, an adult was at Lopez Lake (TME), an adult was at Whale Rock Reservoir 21-28 Feb (MLS), and 25 Feb, a subadult was fl ying along the coast just north of Point Estero (BKS). A wing-tagged male at Santa Margarita Lake around mid-Feb was hatched at the west end of Catalina Island in 2002. Apparently this bird has frequented Whale Rock Reservoir, Montana de Oro State Park, Lopez Lake, and Santa Margarita Lake this winter. It was seen over Santa Cruz Island on 15 Feb.

Sandhill Crane – 16 Feb, 14 fl ying NW from Soda Lake at dawn provided the only report for the month (MLS)

Mountain Plover – 2 Feb, between 62 and 96 were recorded along San Diego-Simmler Road at mid Carrizo Plain (mob) American Avocet – 13 Feb, 402 on Soda Lake provided a high count for that location (TME)

Black Skimmer – 21 Feb, three were on the inside of the Morro Bay sandspit across from the boat launch (JLR)

Pigeon Guillemot – 25 Feb, 2-4 off Montana de Oro State Park were early arrivals (BKS,TME)

Greater Roadrunner – 12 Feb, one was along Hwy 101 between Templeton and Atascadero (AN)

Rufous Hummingbird – 1-16 Feb, a fi rst cycle male in Nipomo since 24 Jan was early and stayed longer than expected (JA)

Allen's Hummingbird – 1 Feb, an early nest with eggs was found at Oso Flaco Lake (MLS)

Lewis's Woodpecker – 2 Feb, one continued to be seen about 1.7 miles south of Hwy 58 along Pozo Road (PR)

Red-naped Sapsucker – 9 Feb, the male wintering at El Chorro Regional Park was still present (MLS)

Cassin's Kingbird – 13 Feb, 30+ were along Arroyo Grande Creek in the Arroyo Grande “Village” (MB); 13 Feb, one was on Estero Ave in Morro Bay (MDH); and 20 Feb, one was near the Los Osos Cemetery (RF)

Mountain Bluebird – 8 Feb; 4 in SLO County at Camp Roberts were along the Salinas River where few are recorded (JM)

Sage Thrasher – 13 Feb, two were on the Carrizo Plain (TME,DML) with another there on 16 Feb (MLS)

Le Conte's Thrasher – 13 Feb, four were found in saltbush on the east side of the Carrizo Plain (TME,DML,MLS)

Nashville Warbler – 1 &20 Feb, the wintering bird at the Oceano Campground was reported twice (MLS)

Black-throated Gray Warbler – 4 Feb, latest report of the male wintering at the Oceano Campground (TME)

Wilson's Warbler – 1-2 Feb, one at Oso Flaco Lake was the sole report for the period (MLS) Summer Tanager – 4 Feb, a female in willows along Meadow Creek adjacent to the Pismo Monarch Buttery Preserve was likely the bird fi rst reported on 30 Nov (TME)

Savannah Sparrow – 6-9 Feb, a single “large-billed” race bird was seen along the edge of Morro Bay near the State Park Marina (TW,MLS)

Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow – 6 Feb, latest report from the edge of Morro Bay near the State Park Marina (TW)

Tricolored Blackbird – 13 Feb, 1000+ on the North Chimineas Ranch is a high count for the county (BS)

OBSERVERS: Thanks to the many birders that report their sightings. The following people are cited above: Jackie Allison, Molly Brown, Tom M. Edell, Rosemary Flamion, Dave M. Lawrence, Jennifer Moonjian, Andy Needles, John L. Roser, Paul Rosso, Jim S. Royer, Alan F. Schmierer, Brad K. Schram, Maggie L. Smith, Bob Stafford, Mike D. Stiles, Tom Wurster, Roger H. Zachary, and many observers (mob). For information about birds or locations mentioned in this report, contact Tom Edell at (805) 995-1691 or tedell@aol.com….Tom Edell 7