SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA 
A worn and faded but singing Yellow-green Vireo in riparian growth at the 
southern edge of San Elijo Lagoon in Solana Beach, San Diego County 22-27 (here 
24) July 2009 provided the first record for California in summer. Photograph by 
Eric G. Kallen. 
to be declining at the species’ southernmost 
breeding site near Big Bear L. in the San 
Bernardino Mts., with only 2 there 15 Jim 
(SR). Two calling Whip-poor-wills were at 
Green Canyon in the San Bernardino Mts. 2 
jul-26 Aug (TB) and another was at the upper 
South Fork of Big Rock Creek in the San 
Gabriel Mts., Los Angeles 19 jun-2Jul (M&NF, 
Oj); nesting has yet to be documented in Cal- 
ifornia. Up to 4 Chimney Swifts around De- 
Forest Park in Long Beach 11 Jun-22 Aug 
(KSG, AKL) were the only ones reported — a 
far cry from the numbers present in the 1970s. 
The Broad-billed Hummingbird in Borrego 
Springs remained through 24 Jun (RT). A Red- 
naped Sapsucker at Green Canyon in the San 
Bernardino Mts. 20-28 Jun (ET) was w. of the 
species’ known breeding range. 
A singing Least Flycatcher at S.EK.R.R 1-3 
Jul (OJ) was at a locality where the species 
has been recorded frequently in summer. 
Hammond’s Flycatcher has never been 
recorded nesting s. of the Sierra Nevada, but 
the capture on 27 Aug of a juv. judged to have 
fledged only a week or two earlier in Round 
Valley in the San Jacinto Mts., Riverside was 
highly suggestive of local breeding (PU); an- 
other, somewhat older juv. was captured the 
following day. An exceptional 27 Dusky Fly- 
catchers in the vicinity of Big Pine Mt., Santa 
Barbara, two years after much of the area was 
burned by the Zaca fire, suggests a positive 
fire response in this species (PGa). The Ver- 
milion Flycatcher population at California 
State University in San Bernardino continues 
to grow, with up to three pairs and several 
fledglings over the period (TAB), and a pair 
raised two broods at Prado R.P, Sun Bernardi- 
no 1 Jun-26 Jul (DG); a male 
in Brawley 25 Jun (BM) was 
one of the few to be found re- 
cently in summer in the Impe- 
rial Valley. Hard to classify 
were single Eastern Kingbirds 
in Kelso Valley, Kern 9 Jul (DL) 
and Long Beach, Los Angeles 
14 Jul (KSG). 
VIREOS THROUGH 
FINCHES 
White-eyed Vireos continued 
to appear into summer, with 
singles in Santa Barbara 17 Jun 
(GR), Goleta 20-27 Jun 
(NAL), and Long Beach 2-4 Jul 
(KSG). Late Cassin’s Vireos 
away from breeding habitat 
were in Costa Mesa, Orange 4 
Jun (BED) and near Pico 
Rivera, Los Angeles 8 Jun 
(JEP). A singing male 
Plumbeous Vireo along Big Rock Creek 20 
Jun (KLG) was among the few to have been 
found in summer in the San Gabriel Mts., Los 
Angeles. In addition to those noted in the 
spring report. Yellow-throated Vireos were in 
Los Angeles at El Monte 21-22 Jun (JLF) and 
Hansen Dam 3 Jul (KLG), as well as inland at 
Bishop, Inyo 20 Jun (C&RH) and summering 
at G.H.P.’lO Jul-2 Sep (K&BK). Red-eyed 
Vireos appeared in Big Tujunga Canyon, Los 
Angeles 22 Jun (MSanM), Pacoima Wash, Los 
Angeles 30 Jun (BED), and at the San Diego 
Zoo 10 Jul (TRS). A singing Yellow-green 
Vireo at San Elijo Lagoon, San Diego 22-27 Jul 
(SES, PEL) established the first summer 
record for California. 
An ad. Steller’s Jay and 2 fledglings at 100 
m elevation near Santa Ynez 6 Jun QD) were 
well below the expected breeding elevation in 
Santa Barbara. A singing Winter Wren at Alta 
Sierra in the Greenhorn Mts., Kern 26-30 Jun 
(BB) was s. of the species’ known Sierra Ne- 
vada breeding range. Two juv. Ruby-crowned 
Kinglets in different areas of Round Valley, 
San Jacinto Mts. 25-28 Aug (TM, PU) estab- 
lished the first breeding documentation there 
since the early twentieth century; this species 
has decreased greatly as a breeder in the mts. 
of California. A pair of Black-tailed Gnat- 
catchers raised young in creosote/Joshua tree 
scrub w. of Mojave 2-31 Jul OSF), establishing 
the first nesting record of this species in Kent. 
A very late coastal Townsend’s Solitaire was 
on Point Loma 2 Jun (SBM). Also unseason- 
able was a Sage Thrasher on San Clemente 1. 
22 Jun (MDG). 
A Tennessee Warbler at The Village Green 
in Los Angeles 25 Jun (DSt) was emblematic 
of the many late spring eastern wood-war- 
blers that occur in the Region during the 
“summer” season. A Virginia’s Warbler slight- 
ly away from known breeding areas was along 
Pine Cr., w. of Bishop, Inyo 10 Jun 063:DP). 
Up to 2 ad. Lucy’s Warblers and a fledgling 
were at C.L. 29 Jun-2i Jul (SLS), establishing 
the first breeding confirmation for Kent; early 
fall vagrants were in Long Beach 23 Jul (KSG) 
and in Brawley 24 Jul (GMcC). Another 
Northern Parula nesting was documented this 
summer in the Region after an exceptional 
showing by the species this spring; a pair at 
The Village Green in Los Angeles remained 
through the period, with the nest located on 
29 Jul and 3 near-fledging young observed 2 
Aug (DSt, RB). Another 10 late vagrant or 
summering parulas were found on the coastal 
slope 3 Jun-31 Jul (in addition to those tallied 
in the spring report), and interior birds were 
at Green Canyon in the San Bernardino Mts. 
14 Jun (BS), G.H.R 23 Jun (K&BK), and As- 
pendell, Inyo 2 Aug (SLS). A straggling Black- 
throated Blue Warbler was at G.H.P 17 Jun j 
(K&BK), and a Chestnut-sided Warbler there j 
1 Jun (BB) was followed by an unseasonable 
mid-summer bird in Santa Clarita, Los Ange- 
les 20 Jul (MJB). Breeding of Black-throated 
Gray Warbler was confirmed in the Santa Ana 
Mts., Orange, with 4-5 birds in upper Silvera- 
do Canyon and Maple Springs, including 2 
singing males and a female carrying food, 20 
Jun (NAG); one at G.H.R 10 Jul (K&BK) was 
midway between the latest spring and earliest 
fall dates for e. Kern. Casual in spring, a Bay- 
breasted Warbler was photographed in Gole- 
ta 11 Jun (LW). A singing male Blackpoll 
Warbler was in the Prado Basin, Riverside 9 
Jim OEP)' A. late spring Black-and-white War- 
bler was near Poway, San Diego 23 Jun 
(A&GB). Straggling American Redstarts were 
in Santa Barbara 18 Jun (HPR) and Playa del 
Rey, Los Angeles 20 Jun (DeP), and inland at 
G.H.P. 1 (BB) &17 Jun (K&BK) and at Sheep 
Creek Spring, e. San Bernardino 13 Jun QEP)- 
Also late was an Ovenbird on Point Loma 20 
Jun (CH). A male Hooded Warbler was in the 
rarified (2400 m elevation) air of Aspendell, 
Inyo 27 Jun-7 Jul (SLS); 2 late migrants were 
at G.H.R 23 Jun (K&BK). 
A Brewer’s Sparrow on San Clemente 1. 10 
Jun-18 Jul established first mid-summer 
record for the island (DMG, TDD). A strag- 
gling Golden-crowned Sparrow was present 
through 4 Jun in Arroyo Grande, San Luis 
Obispo (BKS). Dark-eyed (Oregon) Juncos are 
expanding their breeding range in the Los An- 
geles basin, with juvs. noted in Jul at The Vil- 
lage Green, Kenneth Hahn S.R.A., and 
Westchester (RB, A&EB, KGL), and territorial 
birds found at several other localities in Jun. 
656 
NORTH AMERICAN BIRDS 
