ML646161732

Observation details

Conservative count. Although they were never heard or recorded, we eventually saw at least 25 quite clearly, males and females, in the eastern trees, with a mixed flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers (Audubon) and Lesser Goldfinch. (In the din of constant chatter, Merlin app could only detect the Yellow-rumps and the Lessers. During three 5-minute recording sessions of the loud chatter, the Merlin app was "hearing a bird," but could not name ANY specific bird.) There was a constant stream of birds flying between the tree and the small canal close by. We observed this for 20 minutes; Nick got photos of 6 to 8 Lawrence's, bathing. We then saw a flock of 100 to 200 birds quickly rise up as a flock (all pale undersides) out of the nearby ag field plants (broccoli?) and disappearing into the plants of other nearby rows, and of the photos Nick was able to get, we decided they were also Lawrence's Goldfinch. And no vocalization of them was ever heard or recorded today.