The following are narrative summaries of significant sightings in 2014. For a searchable spreadsheet of all sightings in 2014, please see the Archives on the main Observations page.

BRUCE MAST compiles Observations and may be contacted at observe@goldengatebirdalliance.org.

November 1 – December 31, 2014

Ducks to Herons

The L. Merritt (Oakland) Tufted Duck failed to return this winter but a male Tufted joined a scaup flock on Abbotts Lagoon, PRNS, MRN, Nov. 23-Dec. 6 (ECl; MDe) and a female Tufted graced Stafford L., MRN, on Dec. 26 (DG). Harlequin Ducks were regularly reported, usually in the company of Surf Scoters, from their preferred mussel hunting grounds around Battery Godfrey, SF (PSa), Mussel Rock in Pacifica, SM (CM; JMo), Mile Rock, SF (AH, oob), and Drakes Bay, PRNS (DG).

Several lakes and salt ponds in SCL hosted birds more commonly found off the coast: a Pacific Loon Dec. 18-22 on Salt Pond A16 in Alviso (BB, CL, GZ; mob); a Common Loon Dec. 6 at Almaden Res. (DNi; mob); another Common Loon Dec. 14-16 on Salt Pond A4 at Sunnyvale WPCP (DNi, GZ; mob); a Red-necked Grebe Dec. 9-31 at Coyote L. CP (SRs, JD; mob); and a 2nd Red-necked Grebe Dec. 27-31 at Calero CP (BP, oob; BMi). On Dec. 3, a shearwater with a flight style similar to a Sooty Shearwater was noted offshore at Ballena Ave. in ALA, ALA (BR).

The Blue-footed Booby (Sula nebouxii) and Northern Gannet (Morus bassanus) continued at SE Farallon Island, SF (mob). On Nov. 29 and 30 birders searching for a rare murrelet found instead a Brown Booby perched on the sea stacks at Chimney Rock, PRNS (DG, LK, oob; TK). A female Brown Booby made the Mile Rock (SF) lighthouse her preferred roost Dec. 6-31 (JMo; mob). Yet another Brown Booby joined an offshore feeding frenzy at Princeton Harbor, SM, on Dec. 14 (DM, PJM, oob). Starting Nov. 16, a Least Bittern lingered through the end of the year at Foothill RP, SON, just up the road from Shiloh Ranch where a Least had been located the previous month (CR, fide RR; mob)

Raptors to Terns

A California Condor wandered north to the Palo Alto foothills, SCL, on Nov. 18 (DC). A Northern Goshawk in flight over Eagle Peak at Mt. Diablo SP, CC, provided diagnostic photos on Nov. 11 (DWi). On Dec. 30, 3 Sandhill Cranes circled over L.…

The following are narrative summaries of significant sightings in 2013. For a searchable spreadsheet of all sightings in 2013, please see the Archives on the main Observations page.

BRUCE MAST compiles Observations and may be contacted at observe@goldengatebirdalliance.org.

December 1–31, 2013

December invariably brings the excitement of CBCs and the possibility of rare ducks, gulls, and raptors, pushed south by severe weather to our north. This year, except for a brief cold snap at the beginning of the month, conditions remained unseasonably warm and dry—great for bird counters but not so good for birds and their habitats. Drought conditions limited food supplies and stressed many local birds. While overall species diversity appears to be unaffected, numbers of ducks and other northern breeding birds appear to be way down. In addition, there seems to be no sign of montane species irruptions that the region has experienced in previous years. We need rain!

Loons to Ducks 

In MRN, a couple of Red-necked Grebes remained at Las Gallinas WTP through Dec. 14 (MF). Northern Fulmars congregated in impressive numbers off the SM coast, with 221 reported from a Dec. 4 seawatch from Pigeon Pt. and another 246 logged Dec. 21 from Pillar Pt. (RT, LBa). The same seawatches tallied 10 Pink-footed Shearwaters and a couple of Short-tailed Shearwaters.

The pair of juvenile Blue-footed Boobies (Sula nebouxii) hung out on Gull Rock near Stinson Beach, MRN, at least through the 22nd (mob). Also on the 22nd, a female Brown Booby was spotted heading north past Pillar Pt. Bluffs, SM (AJ). A few Cattle Egrets added to CBC tallies, turning up at Pleasanton Sports Park for the Eastern ALA County count on Dec. 20 (TB, YMh; mob) and at Coyote Cr. Golf Course and Kirby Cyn. Landfill for the Calero-Morgan Hill (SCL) CBC on the 28th (SR, fide AV).

Trumpeter Swans at Lagoon Valley. Photo by Joseph Morlan, http://fog.ccsf.edu/jmorlan

Visitors to Lagoon Valley Park near Fairfield, SOL, photographed 6 Trumpeter Swans (Cygnus buccinator) on Dec. 22; the birds lingered on the lake through the 29th (LaS, GS; mob). Fide JSt, there are very few records of this species south of the rice country in the Sacramento Valley and rarely a group this large south of the Klamath and Modoc basins in NE CA.

A female Tufted Duck was ID’d on Dec. 13 at L. Merritt in Oakland, ALA (ST), where the male Tufted maintains its regular winter residence.…

The following are narrative summaries of significant sightings in 2012. For a searchable spreadsheet of all sightings in 2012, please see the Archives on the main Observations page.

BRUCE MAST compiles Observations and may be contacted at observe@goldengatebirdalliance.org.

December 1–31, 2012

December invariably brings the excitement of CBCs and the possibility of rare ducks, gulls, and raptors, pushed south by severe weather to our north. This year, our winter birding pleasure was saddened by the loss of Rich Stallcup, who passed away on Dec. 15, the evening of the Pt. Reyes CBC. His tremendous influence on the birding community has been amply noted and honored in other forums; suffice it to say that this space will also be diminished by the loss of his incredible expertise and bird-finding skills.

Loons to Ducks

A Red-necked Grebe returned to Crystal Springs Res., SM, on Dec. 2 (GC). Short-tailed Shearwaters were ID’d from a Dec. 2 Ocean Beach seawatch, SF (HC), and the following day from Pigeon Pt., SM (RT). Coastal movements of Black-vented Shearwaters didn’t match November totals, but south winds associated with recent rain storms still brought 172 Black-venteds past Pigeon Pt. on the 3rd (RT). The itinerant Brown Booby relocated to N. Dome Rock in SF waters, where it entertained admirers from Sutro Baths Dec. 6–10 (BF; mob). The bird has been sighted periodically along the coast since Oct. 12.

Tufted Ducks continued at L. Merritt and Oyster Bay RS, ALA (mob), and a 3rd duck was located among the scaups on Tomales Bay at Inverness, MRN, on Dec. 6 (JE). Beginning the 16th, Harlequin Ducks were reported from Tomales Pt., MRN (JC, IS); Pescadero Beach, SM (MK); and the Marin Rod & Gun Club in San Rafael, MRN (HK; oob).

The continuing male Black Scoter at Richmond Marina, CC, was last reported on the 9th (mob). Five Long-tailed Ducks visited the region this month, reported from Mile Rock, SF (JC; mob); the USS Hornet Museum in ALA (PC); Tomales Pt., MRN (JC, IS); Bolinas Lagoon, MRN (BB); and the Cliff House, SF (PS). A hybrid Bufflehead x Common Goldeneye posed for photos on Shoreline L., SCL, Dec. 20 (TGr).

Raptors to Alcids

Raptor watchers enjoyed sightings of at least 12 Ferruginous Hawks, 4 Rough-legged Hawks, and half dozen Prairie Falcons, along with multiple Peregrines, Bald and Golden Eagles, etc. The Dec. 16 Santa Rosa CBC produced a Mountain Quail at Shiloh Ranch RP, SON (DS).…