SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 
This totally unexpected Snow Bunting at a baseball field in Pacific Beach on the 
exceptional dates of 30 April through 7 (here 4) May 2009 was the SOOth species 
recorded in San Diego County. Photograph by Stephen J. Myers. 
Two or three green Scarlet Tanagers are now found every fail, but brightly col- 
ored spring males are few and far between, so this one photographed on the 
second day of its 1 9-20 May 2009 stay on Point Loma, California drew much at- 
tention. The contrast between the fresh black coverts and the older, slightly 
paler remiges, along with the pale area on the flanks, show that this male is less 
than one year old. Photograph by Trent R. Stanley. 
in spring, were at B.S. 25 May OSF) anci G.H.P. 
28 May (SLS). A Red-faced Warbler at a ranch 
16 km ne. of Lancaster, Los Angeles 29 May 
OD) was one of the few ever found in the Re- 
gion’s desert lowlands. A Painted Redstart at 
B.S. 28 Mar (KH-L) was extremely early but 
certainly did not winter locally; others were 
there 4 (RK) & 30 May (KH-L), and addition- 
al birds were at Tamarisk Grove, San Diego 25- 
26 Apr (SES) and G.H.P. 2 Jun (K&BK); one 
in the Santa Rosa Mts. 28 Apr (PU) was in 
breeding habitat. 
TANAGERS THROUGH FINCHES 
A pair of Summer Tanagers nesting near Bish- 
op 2 May+ O&DP) established the northern- 
most breeding record in the Owens Valley; 
this species was more widespread than nor- 
mal away from its limited nesting areas this 
spring. A second-year male Scarlet Tanager, 
casual in spring, was on Pt. Loma 20-21 May 
QS). At least 7 migrant Green-tailed Towhees 
were along the coast 20 Apr-15 May; one in 
the n. Antelope Valley 31 Mar OSF) was 
record early for e. Kem. Two 
Clay-colored Sparrows were in 
Torrance, Los Angeles 18 Apr 
(TD). An early coastal slope 
vagrant Black-throated Spar- 
row was in Sunland, Los Ange- 
les 12 Mar (KLG); one at 
Salton Sea N.W.R. headquar- 
ters 7 Apr (BMi) was the first 
to be found in spring at 
S.E.S.S. Single Lark Buntings 
were on the Carrizo Plain, San 
Luis Obispo 25 Mar (DMC) 
and at G.H.P 30 May OCW). 
Singing Grasshopper Sparrows 
were noted 25 Mar-t at several 
localities in San Luis Obispo, 
from the Carrizo Plain w. to 
the Chorro Valley near San 
Luis Obispo; up to 24 birds 
were in the latter area 5-7 May 
(AFS). A Red Fox Sparrow (il- 
iaca subspecies group) in the 
Santa Ana Mts., Orange 21 Mar 
OLD) was undoubtedly win- 
tering locally, as was a Swamp 
Sparrow photographed in the 
Puente Hills, Los Angeles 16 
Apr (CMcG). The latest 
White-throated Sparrow re- 
ported was in the Chorro Val- 
ley 2 May (AFS). Coastal ori- 
antha White-crowned Spar- 
rows were in the Baldwin Hills, 
Los Angeles 18 Apr (KLG) and 
in Carpinteria, Santa Barbara 
28 Apr (LRB); a black-lored 
bird at EC.R. 15 Mar (C&RH) was exception- 
ally early for a n. interior oriantha, but nomi- 
nate leucophrys was not ruled out. Two very 
late Lapland Longspurs were at Owens L., 
Inyo 18 Apr (SLS). Quite a shock was the dis- 
covery of a Snow Bunting in Ocean Beach, 
San Diego 30 Apr-7 May 0?) — the farthest s. 
this species has ever been found on the Pacific 
coast of North America and an odd spring 
date; the record put the San Diego species list 
at 500. 
A male Northern Cardinal was photo- 
graphed in Blythe, Riverside 1-3 May (RH); 
birds of the sunspecies superbus are very rare 
visitors to the Colorado R. portion of the Re- 
gion. In addition to the population of eastern 
(nominate?) birds established since the 1920s 
near El Monte, Los Angeles, escapees of e. car- 
dinal subspecies are noted widely on the 
coastal slope; this year, at least one pair bred 
in the Sepulveda Basin, Los Angeles (AD) and 
one or 2 males were at nearby Hansen Dam 
(BED, KLG). Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were 
remarkably numerous in the Region, with at 
least 46 on the coastal slope 11 May-16 Jun 
and 24 on the deserts 14 May-7 Jun, domi- 
nated by second-year birds; one in Poway, San 
Diego 9 Apr (CV) and perhaps the 2 in Ojai, 
Ventura 17 Apr (MA) were probably wintering 
locally. Indigo Buntings were found widely af- 
ter 3 May, with at least 10 on the coastal slope 
and 20 in the interior; at least two breeding 
pairs were n. of Bishop 16 May+ (J&DP). An 
ad. male Painted Bunting in Moreno Valley, 
Riverside 7 Feb-17 Mar would best be consid- 
ered an escapee (DM). The only Dickcissel re- 
ported was at Mesquite Springs, Death Valley 
N.P., Inyo 26 May (PC). 
An ad. male Bobolink was at Death Valley 
Junction, Inyo 28 May (PC). A Common 
Crackle near Inyokern 22 Apr (BSt) was the 
3rd ever for Kem. Bronzed Cowbirds were 
found n. of their normal range at Chino 
Canyon near Palm Springs, Riverside 22 May 
(BMa) and China Ranch, Inyo 31 May (JEP). A 
Hooded Oriole in Inyokern 2 Mar (LB) was 
record early for e. Kem. Vagrant Baltimore 
Orioles were at Yucaipa, San Bernardino 4 May 
(TC), the Tijuana River Valley, San Diego 10 
May (EGK), and Pt Loma 21 May (PEL). A fe- 
male Cassin’s Finch in Atascadero 6 Apr (KJZ) 
was the only one recorded in San Luis Obispo 
this year. A male Evening Grosbeak was in Sil- 
verado Canyon, Orange 10 May (MO), despite 
the lack of a flight this past winter. 
Cited observers (County coordinators in 
boldface): Douglas W. Aguillard, Michael 
Allen, Bernardo Alps, Liga L. Auzins, Larry R 
Ballard, Richard Barth, Linda Bates, Curtis 
Battle, Don Baumann, Thomas A. Blackman 
(TABl), Thomas A. Benson (TABe), Sara Bil- 
sten, Dick Cabe, Eugene A. Cardiff, Butch 
Carter (BCa), Timothy Chapman, Hal Cohen, 
Peter Colasanti, Brian Collins (BCo), David 
M. Compton (Santa Barbara), Chris Conard, 
Daniel S. Cooper, Robin Corcoran, Tracy 
Brake, Alan Dunn, Jerry Dunn, Jon L. Dunn, 
Tom M. Edell (San Luis Obispo), jon S. Feen- 
stra, Walt Fuller, Peter A. Gaede, John Garrett, 
Kimball L. Garrett (Los Angeles), Daniel M. 
Geleynse, Karen S. Gilbert, Peter Ginsburg, 
Steve Glover, Matt D. Gould, John F. Green 
(Riverside), Jonathan R Gunther, Robert A. 
Hamilton, Cynthia Hartley (CyH), Christine 
Harvey (ChH), Gjon C. Hazard, Tom & Jo 
Heindel (Inyo), Kelli Heindel-Levinson, David 
Henderson, Roger Higson, Joe Hopkins, Deb- 
bie J. House, Andrew Howe, Vernon Howe, W. 
Terry Hunefeld, Barbara Johnson, Oscar John- 
son (Ventura), Eric G. Kallen, Jay Keller, Kath- 
leen & Tony Kent (K&TK), Richard Killeen, 
Howard B. King, Peter Knapp, Alexander E. 
Koonce (San Bernardino), Barbara Krause, Ken 
Z. Kurland, Tony Kurz, Keith Kwan, Andy 
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