2008 BGBY List
This is all walking from my home, no bike or public transit; and certainly not a car.
February 9, William R. Mason
- Swan Goose
- Canada Goose
- American Wigeon
- Mallard
- Ruddy Duck
- Horned Grebe
- Eared Grebe
- Great Egret
- Snowy Egret
- White-faced Ibis
- American Coot
- Whimbrel
- Long-billed Curlew
- Ring-billed Gull
- Mourning Dove
- Rufous Hummingbird
- Black Phoebe
- American Crow
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet
- Western Bluebird
- European Starling
- Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon’s)
- Chipping Sparrow
- Song Sparrow
- Lesser Goldfinch
San Diego Creek, 2008-02-16
- Gadwall
- Northern Shoveler
- Pied-billed Grebe
- Great Blue Heron
- Turkey Vulture
- American Coot
- Anna’s Hummingbird
William R. Mason, February 17
- Cackling Goose
- Egyptian Goose
- American Wigeon
- Double-crested Cormorant
- Osprey
- Red-shouldered Hawk
- Red-tailed Hawk
- Greater Roadrunner
- Nuttall’s Woodpecker
- Northern Flicker
- Hutton’s Vireo
- Common Raven
- Bushtit
- Orange-crowned Warbler
- Townsend’s Warbler
- Common Yellowthroat
- Spotted Towhee
- California Towhee
- White-crowned Sparrow
- House Finch
San Joaquin Wildlife Refuge, 2008-03-01
- Cinnamon Teal
- Green-winged Teal
- Bufflehead
- Black-crowned Night-Heron
- Black-necked Stilt
- American Avocet
- Spotted Sandpiper
- Greater Yellowlegs
- Tree Swallow
- Barn Swallow
- Marsh Wren
- Great-tailed Grackle
San Joaquin Wildlife Refuge, 2008-03-13
- White Pelican
- Bonaparte’s Gull
- Killdeer
- Brewer’s Blackbird
San Diego Creek/Upper Newport Bay, 2008-03-19
- Lesser Scaup
- Willet
- Western Grebe
- American Goldfinch
- Allen’s Hummingbird
San Joaquin Wildlife Refuge, 2008-03-19
- Belted Kingfisher
March 23, William R. Mason
- Sharp-shinned Hawk
- California Quail
- Downy Woodpecker
- Pacific Slope Flycatcher
- Purple Finch
San Joaquin Wildlife Refuge, 2008-03-27
- Blue-winged Teal
- Long-billed Dowitcher
- Least Sandpiper
William R. Mason, 2008-04-02
- House Wren
San Joaquin Wildlife Refuge, 2008-04-03
- Northern Rough-winged Swallow
- Caspian Tern
- Clark’s Grebe
William R. Mason, 2008-04-04
- Ash-throated Flycatcher
William R. Mason, 2008-04-11
- Black-throated Gray Warbler
William R. Mason, 2008-04-12
- Yellow Warbler
Stanford Terrace, 2008-04-13
This one I found while walking to San Joaquin:
- American Robin
San Joaquin Wildlife Refuge, 2008-04-13
This was the monthly trip with the Sea & Sage Audubon Society. I can’t believe I missed the Green Heron. Last month I saw it, but I had driven to the refuge so I can’t count that one.
- Cliff Swallow
- Brown-headed Cowbird
- Common Moorhen
William R. Mason, 2008-04-27
I was away in China for about 10 days, and quite a lot of new species had migrated
in by the time I returned:
- Western Tanager
- Nashville Warbler
- Bullock’s Oriole
- Wilson’s Warbler
- Warbling Vireo
The riparian strip on the east end of the park has been incredibly productive lately.
San Joaquin Wildlife Refuge, 2008-04-27
- Red-necked Phalarope
William R. Mason, 2008-05-01
About 12 in a small flock by the ponds.
- Cedar Waxwing
William R. Mason, 2008-05-03
- Black-headed Grosbeak
San Joaquin Wildlife Refuge, 2008-05-11
- Vaux’s Swift
- White-throated Swift
- Virginia Rail
- Yellow-breasted Chat
- Least Tern
If we don’t count exotics, then we have to reduce this list by two: Swan Goose and Egyptian Goose.
San Joaquin Wildlife Refuge, 2008-06-08
- Green Heron
- California Thrasher
- Bell’s Vireo
Bell’s Vireo was a life bird on this trip, but the real prize was the Green Heron. I swear this was my nemesis bird this year. I’ve seen it multiple times at the marsh, but only when I had driven over, never when I had walked, so until now I couldn’t count it for the BGBY list.
Now the only bird I’ve seen there while driving and not walking is American Bittern, but that’s going to be even harder to refind. Usually you’re lucky to see one or two bitterns a year, even though they may breed there. They’re extremely secretive.
William R. Mason, 2008-06-10
- Western Kingbird
Upper Newport Bay, 2008-05-16
All of the above are walking only. I can add one more species from my bike:
- Brown Pelican
If we don’t count exotics, then we have to reduce this list by two: Swan Goose and Egyptian Goose.
Obvious Misses
What should be on my list but isn’t (yet):
- Swainson’s Thrush
- House Sparrow
- Rock Pigeon
- Costa’s Hummingbird
- Black-chinned Hummingbird
- Western Scrubjay
- California Gnatcatcher (nesting at UCI Arboretum, but I’ve never found them after multiple trips)
- Short-billed Dowitcher
- Cassin’s Kingbird (missed at San Joaquin earlier this year)
- Tropical Kingbird (missed at San Joaquin earlier this year)
- Hooded Oriole
- Yellow-headed Blackbird (saw this one within walking diatnce at the UCI Arboretum but I’d driven to work that day)
- Common Ground-dove (regular at San Joaquin)
- Willow Flycatcher (May have seen this one at San Joaquin 6-14-08 after four hours of searchng but it didn’t call so I couldn’t be sure!)
- Western Wood-peewee
