BAJA CALIFORNIA PENINSULA 
Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow had not been recorded on the Baja California 
Peninsula since February 1961 when this bird appeared at Punta San Car- 
los, Baja California on 13 October 2008 and was photographed the follow- 
ing day. Photograph by Cliff Cordy. 
and Villa Jesus Maria 5 Oct (PAG, MJB). 
Verdins are generally considered sedentary, 
but they have established an interesting pat- 
tern of occurrence at the desert fringe in sw. 
California and nw. Baja California. The latest 
datum: one at La Bufadora 23 Sep (MAGB, 
ph. MJB, RAE) was the hrst for the (relative- 
ly) well-worked Ensenada C.B.C. circle. Two 
Red-breasted Nuthatches reached the Viz- 
caino Desert at Punta Prieta 24 Oct (CLW, 
JHB, SNGH). 
The isolated fields at Villa Jesus Marfa were 
most productive this season. Best of the birds 
found there were different Northern 
Wheatears on 3 Oct (RAE, ph. MJB, ph. PAG) 
and 24-25 Oct (SNGH, JHB, ph. CLW). Two 
previous Mexican records were from the Yu- 
catan Peninsula in 1973 and 1983. Other 
wayward thrushes included the Region’s 
southernmost Western Bluebird, a female at 
Bahia de los Angeles 14 Nov (ME, GE); 3 
Townsend’s Solitaires on the Vizcaino Desert 
3-7 Oct, including Baja California Sur’s 2nd, 
at Rancho San Jose de Castro 4-5 Oct (ph. 
PAG, ph. MJB, RAE); and a Varied Thrush at 
Rancho El Descanso 23 Oct (MSM, RAE). An 
American Robin at Catavina 24 Oct 
appeared to have more white in the 
tail than is typical of w. subspecies 
(ph. CLW, JHB). The only Sage 
Thrasher reported was at Bahia 
Asuncion 8 Oct (KAR, DJP). Addi- 
tional Old World vagrants were 
single Red-throated Pipits at Guer- 
rero Negro 25 Oct OHB, SNGH, 
CLW) and Bahia Asuncion 26 Oct 
(SNGH), and up to 15 at Villa Jesus 
Maria 20-25 Oct (RAE, SNGH et 
ah). In the same fields, but of 
American origin, was the Region’s 
long-anticipated first Sprague’s 
Pipit on 22 Oct, a bird seen in 
flight and exhibiting diagnostic 
calls and behavior (tRAE, tMSM). 
WARBLERS THROUGH 
FINCHES 
Vagrant warblers were again poor- 
ly represented, particularly in the 
California District. With a poor 
showing in s. California as well, 
visiting observers had little incen- 
tive to linger en route to the mid- 
peninsula. A Northern Parula at El 
Sauzal 28 Sep (ph. MJB) and a 
Blackburnian Warbler at La Bu- 
fadora 7 Oct (ph. MJB, PAG) were 
the only reports above the lowest 
tier of species. There was virtually 
no coverage of the Cape District, 
so all other reports were from tra- 
ditional locations on the Pacific slope from El 
Rosario to the Vizcaino Pen. region except for 
2 at Bahia de los Angeles: a Lucy’s 20-21 Oct 
and a Northern Parula 19 Oct (both ph. GE, 
ME). State totals for selected species, includ- 
ing the California District and records al- 
ready discussed: Tennessee 1, 2; Virginia’s 0, 
1; Lucy’s 1, 1; Northern Parula 2, 1; Magnolia 
0, 2; Black-throated Blue 0, 4; Blackburnian 
1, 3; Palm 1, 1; Blackpoll 7, 5; and Hooded 
0,1. Unrecorded: Chestnut-sided, Black- 
throated Green, Prairie, and Ovenbird. As 
usual, however, there were records that rose 
above the rest. A Grace’s Warbler at Bahia 
Asuncion 8 Oct (KAR, DJP) was the Region’s 
4th. Baja California Sur’s first Bay-breasted 
Warbler was at the same location 21 Oct (ph. 
RAE, MSM), and it was followed quickly by 
another at Bahia Tortugas the following day 
(tRAE). At the base of the Vizcaino Pen., a 
Prothonotary Warbler was at Santa Teresita 
25 Oct (SNGH, JHB, CLW). The Region’s 4th 
Kentucky Warbler, and the first to be photo- 
graphically documented in Baja California, 
was at El Rosario 6 Oct (ph. KAR, DJP). 
Three Canada Warblers made an exceptional 
162 
showing: El Rosario 3 Oct (PAG, ph. MJB, 
RAE), Santa Teresita 22 Oct (RAE, MSM), 
and Bahia Asuncion 25 Oct (CLW, JHB, 
SNGH). Two Yellow-breasted Chats at 
Catavina 24 Oct (CLW, JHB, SNGH) appear 
to be the latest ever recorded there. Eour 
Summer Tanagers were on the coastal slope 
in Oct, and one was in the Mexicali Valley, 
near Pescaderos, 14 Nov (GHR). Scarlet Tan- 
agers were at Tecate 10 Oct (ph. JS) and 
Catavina 24 Oct (CLW, JHB). 
Inhabiting some of the Region’s least-birded 
habitats, Black-chinned Sparrow remains 
poorly known, especially away from breeding 
grounds. Records span the length of the 
peninsula in winter, so many birds seen in fall 
may defy categorization. Three at Santo Tomas 
7 Oct (RAE, MJB, PAG) were in an area where 
birds have been seen from May through Oct, 
but one at Bahia Tortugas 22 Oct (RAE) was 
apparently a first for the Vizcaino Peninsula. 
Grasshopper Sparrows are also poorly known, 
throughout the year. Presumed migrants were 
seen on 24 Oct at Catavina and Villa Jesus 
Maria (SNGH, CLW, JHB). The Region’s ob- 
servers have long sought Nelson’s Sharp- 
tailed Sparrow, primarily in the salt marshes 
of the nw. coast, so it came as a surprise that 
one was found in sparse scrub on the beach at i 
Pta. San Carlos, s. of El Rosario, 13-14 Oct 
(ph. CC). Although the species is probably an- 
nual along the coast of s. California, the only 
previous Regional record was from Bahia San | 
Quintin 2 Eeb 1961. Southerly juncos includ- 
ed an Oregon at Arroyo Santo Dominguito 24 
Oct (CLW, JHB, SNGH); Baja California Sur’s 
2nd Pink-sided, at Rancho San Jose de Castro 
21-22 Oct (MSM, RAE); and Gray-headeds at 
Bahia de los Angeles 24-26 Oct (ph. GE, ME) 
and Bahia Asuncion 26 Oct (CLW, SNGH). 
The only longspurs found were up to 2 Lap- 
lands at Villa Jesus Maria 22-25 Oct (MSM, 
CLW et al.). With previous New World 
records restricted to Alaska and California 
(two), the Little Bunting found at Rancho San 
Jose de Castro 8 Oct (ph. KAR, DJP) clearly 
represents the peak of the season’s birding. 
Three Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were at tra- 
ditional migrant traps in Oct, and a Blue 
Grosbeak at Bahia de los Angeles 30 Oct (Mfi 
GE) was late. The only Indigo Bunting seen 
was at Santo Tomas 23 Sep (ph. MJB, ph. 
MAGB). With 6 found in the Vizcaino Desert 
3-17 Oct, Dickcissel rebounded somewhat j 
from recent years, but there was still only one 
Bobolink: at Villa Jesus Maria 24-25 Oct 
(CLW, JHB, SNGH). As is typical in Oct, | 
Great-tailed Crackles dispersed widely; more 
than 30 were reported from six widespread : 
Baja California locations away from known 
breeding sites. Among orioles. Orchards were 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
