ML388627201

Age

Not specified

Sex

Not specified

Observation details

First record for San Clemente Island, a flock of 12 together. Nicole and I separately heard unfamiliar calls overhead, vaguely siskin-like, including some "jeer-jeer" calls, and watched as a group of 12 finch-sized birds dropped out of the foggy sky into a small pan of water that had been placed near our office. Sneaking around the building, we could see the birds drinking from the water pan and foraging in the adjacent toyon, seemingly eating the fruit. The identification (at least to genus) was obvious, given the yellow head, back, wings, and tail, conspicuous and thick white eye ring, and gray belly. Identification to species presumed based on advised eBird treatment in Southern California. We watched them for several minutes when they suddenly took to the air, when Nicole was able to record a brief video with their flight calls. They disappeared south into the fog and were not heard again the rest of the day in Wilson Cove. This species is definitely expanding its range from coastal Los Angeles/Orange counties with growing occurrence in San Diego, now as far south as the Tijuana River Valley, and northward with the recent first (?) record in Oxnard, Ventura County, in late October 2021. Records of 1-5 birds from Catalina Island date back to 2 December 2018, but only intermittently (with birders visiting during spring/fall?). It is unclear if those Catalina records are multiple dispersing events from the mainland, or a persistent, but intermittently seen population. I suspect the former, given the aptitude for island expansion and speciation this genus has.

Technical information

Dimensions

2142 pixels x 1611 pixels

Original file size

844.03 KB