The new year has begun and so has the spring migration for some bird
species in Santa Cruz County. Watch for Allen’s Hummingbirds, which will be
returning in early January. Many Anna’s Hummingbirds and Bushtits begin
nest building, while other species such as Great Horned Owls, doves and
pigeons can be seen tending active nests. Many resident breeding birds such
as Hutton’s Vireos and Dark-eyed Juncos begin singing more frequently this
month.
January is a good time to look for Red-breasted or rarer Red-naped or
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, or a hybrid. Though quite rare, winter is when
there is the best chance of finding a Dusky-capped Flycatcher. Other rare
flycatchers such as Hammond’s, Dusky, and Pacific-slope occasionally
overwinter as well. Tropical Kingbirds can also be found in places like the
Watsonville Sloughs or lakes and marshes on the mid-county coast.
While this winter has been a bit slow, rare warblers can still turn up.
American Redstart, Nashville, Black-and-white, Hooded, Hermit, Wilson’s,
Black-throated Gray, Palm, and MacGillivray’s, and Northern Waterthrush
have all been found in January in recent years. Watch for many of these
where there are flowering Eucalyptus.
This month is also a good time to listen for owls. Great Horned, Barn,
Western Screech, and Northern Saw-whet are the most widespread. Northern
Pygmy is more difficult to find, but some reliable places to try are Rancho
Del Oso and headquarters at Big Basin State Park. In some places, such as
the fields near Wilder Ranch State Park, Long-eared and Short-eared Owls
have sometimes been seen as well.
January is a good time to look for ducks. All the regulars can be found now
in the sloughs and waterways providing an instructive opportunity to
compare male, female, and immature plumages. Rarities such as Eurasian
Wigeon are worth looking for in lakes and sloughs near Watsonville. With
diligence and some luck, all three scoter species can be spotted in January
off the coast. Snow, Ross’s, Greater White-fronted, and Cackling Geese are
more likely to be seen now than later in the winter. Don’t forget to keep
checking College Lake for an occasional Tundra Swan.
This month is also a great time to study the gulls near Harkins Slough and
at creek and river mouths. Lots of Mew Gulls are around now, along with
Herring, Iceland, and perhaps even a Glaucous Gull or one of the several
Lesser Black-backed Gulls found recently. Both Black-legged Kittiwakes and
Laughing Gulls have been spotted in January, too. If you want to take the
next step, this is a good time to begin learning how to identify hybrid
gulls. A gull study field trip will be offered by the Santa Cruz Bird Club
this month.
Don’t forget to keep an eye on the weather forecast. Even though this
winter has begun slowly, some storms should be on the way. Watch for
interesting birds that may be blown ashore along the coast when the storms
arrive.
The start of a new year brings excitement at the prospect of new county
birds and, perhaps, even some lifers, too. May this be your best birding
year ever!