I figure I should post an update of some of the more uncommon birds we've seen in the last 3 weeks California.
Back in late October, we swung down to Santa Cruz to chase a Yellow-green Vireo. Guess what, we completely missed it. Oh well. Not as rare but still pretty uncommon as a fall migrant in California, we had this CHESTNUT-SIDED WARBLER:
On 25 October, several of us with PRBO were birding at Pescadero Marsh in San Mateo County when this grosbeak popped up. Thinking it had to be late for either Black-headed or Rose-breasted, I took a couple of pictures. Turns out, yup, it was a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK:
Later that week, a YELLOW-BILLED LOON was found in Sunnyvale. We spun over one evening and had amazing looks:
While working on 28 October in Merced County, I found this SAGE THRASHER along a dry roadside mixed with a sparrow flock:
Definitely not as uncommon as SATHs, this BURROWING OWL down the road from the thrasher was still fun to look at:
The best bird (in my opinion) lately was a continuing RED-THROATED PIPIT over in Sunnyvale. My shots aren't anything special but you can get the gist of it:
