Stanislaus Audubon Society RECENT SIGHTINGS OF RARE OR UNCOMMON BIRDS MERCED COUNTY: On April 22, David Suddjian saw a BREWER’S SPARROW at the Willow Point parking lot of O’Neill Forebay. Kent van Vuren had an uncommonly large flock of at least 182 WHIMBRELS migrating through on Henry Miller Road. Richard Ranc saw two ARCTIC TERNS at the Los Baños Creek Reservoir on April 28. Kent van Vuren had a DUSKY FLYCATCHER at Dinosaur Point Road on May 5, and a CASSIN’S KINGBIRD at the San Luis Reservoir on May 8.
STANISLAUS COUNTY: Kathryn Parker had a NASHVILLE WARBLER at Orange Blossom Recreation Area on April 19. Nine participants of an Audubon field trip to the San Joaquin River N.W.R. saw two MARBLED GODWITS foraging with Avocets on April 20. A male LARK BUNTING was seen during a Mt. Diablo Audubon field trip in Del Puerto Canyon on April 24. Judith Aukeman reported seeing a male RED CROSSBILL prying open pine cones in a conifer at Beyer Park on April 30. If accepted by the S.B.R.C., this sighting would be the first spring record of this irruptive species in Stanislaus County. Ralph Baker saw a MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER on Adair Road on May 5. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was seen by John Harris near his home, four miles east of Oakdale, on May 8 and 10. In uncanny timing, the last Olive-sided Flycatcher John had at his yard was on May 9, 2012. Jim Gain saw two VAUX’S SWIFTS flying over 10th Street in downtown Modesto on May 11. Kathryn Parker had three SANDERLINGS at the Modesto Water Quality Control Facility on May 11 also, which is the second-Saturday access date set aside for birders.
Olive-sided Flycatcher © John Harris
Red Crossbill © Tom Grey
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