Birds at Shea Parkside

Last updated August 1, 2006

Many different bird species frequent Shea Parkside. Here are the ones I've been able to obtain decent pictures of.

Click on each thumbnail for a full-res uncropped version.

For detailed raptor sighting information, please see my latest raptor report that I sent to the Coastal Commission.

Allen's Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)

This species is on the Audubon Watch List.

"County" parcel near the mesa.

American Avocet (Recurvirosta americana)

Pair seen in March 2005.

American Coot (Fulca americana)

American Goldfinch (Carduelis tristis)

On the upper "county" parcel adjacent to the Wintersburg Channel.

American Kestrel (Falco sparverius)

American Pipit (Anthus rubsecens)

Seen in the fallow agricultural zone during ponding season.

American Wigeon (Anas americana)

Hanging out with some mallards, March 2005, "AP" wetland area.

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

"City" parcel slope south of the northernmost eucalyptus grove.

Two views of the same individual as seen on the former county parcel.

Ash-throated Flycatcher (Myiarchus cinerascens)

"County" parcel near the mesa.

Barn Owl (Tyto alba)

September 2005. Photo courtesy of Jeff Wear.

October 2005.

Belted Kingfisher (Ceryle alcyon)

Sighted in the Shea portion of the paintball "shooting gallery", then stalked until finally photographed in the SLC pocket area.

Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheuctius melanocephalus)

Photo courtesy of Steve Smith.

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)

A trio in the "WP" wetland area by the Wintersburg Channel in October 2004.

Mating dance at the "AP" wetland area, May 2006. Photo courtesy of Steve Smith.

Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)

"County" parcel near the long-duration vernal pools.

Black-throated Gray Warbler (Dendroica nigrescens)

Goodell pine tree, May 2006.

Blue Grosbeak (Guiraca caerulea)

Photo courtesy of Steve Smith.

Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors)

Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Brown-headed Cowbird (Molothrus ater)

Juvenile Brown-headed Cowbird parasite being fed by a male Common Yellowthroat.

Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)

Seen primarily on the slopes of the adjoining mesa.

A pair mating in March 2005.

California Gnatcatcher (Polioptila californica)

This federal-threatened species was discovered on the adjacent Shea Parkside and Hearthside Brightwater properties during Fall 2004. California gnatcatchers have a distinctive kitten-like mewing call. To listen to the call of the Bolsa Chica gnatcatchers, choose either the native video clip (6777KB, may require Quicktime) or the highly-compressed version (414KB, Windows Media Video).

Doug Willick, the Orange County editor for North American Birds (the quarterly journal published by the American Birding Association), and Kimball Garrett of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, have both viewed various photos and video clips of these sightings and concur that these are indeed California Gnatcatchers.

Pair photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Male perched in some fivehorn smotherweed.

Female perched in a palm tree.

California Thrasher (Toxostoma redivivum)

This species is on the Audubon Watch List.

Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

California Towhee (Pipilo crissalis)

Canada Geese (Branta canadensis)

The geese arrived on the "city" parcel in December 2003 and stayed to feed on the fallow oats until the end of February 2004.

Hanging out in the central lake in the fallow agricultural zone in February 2005.

Cassin's Kingbird (Tyrannus vociferans)

Former county parcel, November 2004.

Two views of the same individual.

Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera)

Flock seen in the big lake in the middle of the "city" parcel during February 2005.

A group of Cinnamon Teals chasing a Blue-winged Teal, March 2005. Photo courtesy of Vince Thomas.

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)

Building nests under the Wintersburg Channel utility bridge adjacent to the Slater Pump Station. The EIR makes no mention of the impact to these birds if this bridge gets removed in the future.

Splashing in the "AP" wetland area, May 2006. Photo courtesy of Steve Smith.

Common Raven (Corvus corax)

"City" parcel in the northernmost eucalyptus grove.

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

Male on the former "county" parcel, March 2005.

Female, October 2005. Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Male / female pair, June 2006.

Cooper's Hawk (Accipiter cooperii)

This is a California species of special concern.

Hawk in nest, former "County" parcel, February 2004.

A pair of Cooper's hawks, February 2004. The second hawk is in the lower right background with its back to the camera.

Cooper's hawks are most commonly found on the "county" parcel, but are sometimes sighted in the northernmost eucalyptus grove on the "city" parcel.

In the far southwestern corner of the property near the natural gas pipe.

Pair seen just after mating in March 2005 near the nest in the northern eucalyptus grove.

In the nest in the northern eucalyptus grove, April 2005.

Pair in the act of mating, northern eucalyptus grove, March 2006. Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

The successful result of the 2006 nesting season. June 2006.

Dark-eyed Junco (Junco hyemalis)

Poking around in the underbrush in the northern eucalyptus grove near the Cabo del Mar condos.

Profile view. Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Downy Woodpecker (Picoides pubsecens)

Female on the "county" parcel.

Male on the "county" parcel in the same tree as the above female.

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)

Gadwall (Anas strepera)

Female/male pair in March 2005.

Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)

Two views of the same individual with first winter plumage. Photos taken November 2004.

Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias)

As seen on the "city" parcel adjacent to Graham Street.

On the "city" parcel amidst the newly sprouting oats.

On the upper "county" parcel.

Lower "county" parcel, February 2005.

Great Egret (Casmerodius albus)

Upper "county" parcel.

Upper "county" parcel, February 2005.

"City" parcel. Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus)

"County" parcel near the natural gas pipe. Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)

In the large pond by the Wintersburg Channel in October 2004.

Green Heron (Butorides virescens)

"AP" wetland area, May 2006.

Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus)

"County" eucalyptus grove at base of mesa.

Hermit Warbler (Dendroica occidentalis)

This species is on the Audubon Watch List.

Goodell pine tree.

Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus)

Horned Lark (Eremophilia alpestris)

House Finch (Carpodacus mexicanus)

"City" parcel slope south of the northernmost eucalyptus grove.

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)

Juvenile, May 2006.

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)

"County" parcel eucalyptus grove at base of mesa.

"Wren Pole" nesting site, May 2006. Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus)

Seeking refuge in the middle of the "city" parcel bean field.

In the large pond by the Wintersburg Channel in October 2004.

One of the first photos taken with my 500mm lens.

Lazuli Bunting (Passerina amoena)

Photo courtesy of Steve Smith.

Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)

In the large pond by the Wintersburg Channel in November 2004.

In the plowed remains of the large pond by the Wintersburg Channel in mid-November 2004.

Lesser Goldfinch (Carduelis psaltria)

Munching on tocalote seeds on the former county parcel near the Wintersburg Channel.

Lesser Nighthawk (Chordeiles acutipennis)

Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Lincoln's Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)

Former county parcel eucalyptus grove at the base of the mesa.

Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)

This is a California species of special concern.

Former county parcel. Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus)

In the "city" parcel lake, March 2005.

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Feeding in Lake Metzler on the lower "county" parcel.

In the "city" parcel lake just south of the Cabo del Mar condos, February 2005.

"AP" ponding area, February 2006.

Pair of mallards in the main vernal pool complex, former "county" parcel, April 2006. Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Mandarin Duck (Aix galericulata)

Male mandarin (foreground), female mallard (background). February 2005. Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa)

Near the large pond by the Wintersburg Channel in October 2004.

In the large pond by the Wintersburg Channel in December 2004.

A flock in the agricultural zone central lake in February 2005.

Merlin (Falco columbarius)

This is a California species of special concern.

A female munching on a rodent in the eucalyptus trees adjacent to the former county parcel vernal pool.

Former "county" parcel, October 2005.

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Northern Cardinal (Cardinalis cardinalis)

This is a California species of special concern.

Goodell mesa, June 2006.

Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus)

"County" parcel.

A pair on the "county" parcel (female left, male right).

Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus)

This is a California species of special concern.

Adult male on the northern (Parkside) bank of the Wintersburg Channel just upstream from the utility bridge adjacent to the Slater Pump Station.

Adult male, November 2005.

Adult male, former city/county border, January 2006. Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Northern Mockingbird (Mimus polyglottos)

Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Northern Pintail (Anas acuta)

Female (left) and male (right) as seen in the big lake in the middle of the "city" parcel in February 2005.

March 2005. Photo courtesy of Vince Thomas.

Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis)

Photo courtesy of Steve Smith.

Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata)

In the mega-lake in March 2005.

Nutmeg Mannikin (Lonchura punctulata)

Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi)

This species is a Fish and Wildlife Service Bird of Conservation Concern.

Orange Bishop (Euplectes franciscanus)

Osprey (Pandion haliaetus)

This is a California species of special concern.

Photographed from the Shea property while perched atop a telephone pole on the adjacent Goodell property.

Soaring above the Shea property in October 2005.

Pacific-slope Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis)

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

This is a California fully-protected species.

September 2004 on the former "county" parcel. Photos courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Red-necked Phalarope (Phalaropus lobatus)

May 2006, "AP" wetland area.

Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)

A juvenile drying out in the Goodell hanging tree overlooking the Shea property after a major rainstorm the previous night.

An adult just after having relocated from the Smokey's eucalyptus grove to the Goodell telephone pole.

September 2005. Photo courtesy of Jeff Wear.

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Perched high in the "city" parcel eucalyptus grove near the Cabo del Mar condos.

Same bird as above being chased by crows.

A pair as seen in November 2004.

Tall dead condo tree, north eucalyptus grove, January 2006.

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Perched on the city parcel Coastal Development Permit notice adjacent to the Wintersburg Channel utility bridge.

These birds tend to show up each spring when the main agricultural area is full of oats and/or mustard.

The female of the species is very drab compared to the male.

Ring-billed Gull (Larus delawarensis)

A flock in the large pond by the Wintersburg Channel in November 2004.

Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula)

Former county parcel eucalyptus grove at the base of the mesa.

Bath time; ruby crown faintly visible.

Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis nevadensis)

Perched on one of the old city/county border fence posts.

Large-Billed Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis rostratus)

This California species of special concern can be found in the upper portion of the "county" parcel adjacent to the Wintersburg Channel.

One of a pair of large-billed savannah sparrows.

Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)

Perched on a pole near the old city/county border.

Semipalmated Plover (Charadrius semipalmatus)

Near the large pond by the Wintersburg Channel in October 2004.

Sharp-shinned Hawk (Accipiter striatus)

Short-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus griseus)

Near the large pond by the Wintersburg Channel in October 2004.

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

"AP" ponding area at the western edge of the beanfield, March 2006. Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Former county parcel in November 2004.

Swainson's Thrush (Catharus ustulatus)

Townsend's Warbler (Dendroica townsendi)

Photo courtesy of Steve Smith.

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)

Tricolored Blackbird (Agelaius tricolor)

This is a California species of special concern.

Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura)

Upper "county" parcel. Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Circling over the northern eucalyptus grove and then perched in same.

Picking at a skunk carcass on the "city" parcel.

Four, count 'em, FOUR vultures in a tree on the "county" parcel, June 2006. Photo courtesy of Dena Hawes.

Warbling Vireo (Vireo gilvus)

Western Gull (Larus occidentalis)

A juvenile (top) and an adult (bottom) in the large pond by the Wintersburg Channel in November 2004.

Western Kingbird (Tyrannus verticalis)

Northernmost eucalyptus grove on the "city" parcel.

Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)

Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)

In the pond adjacent to the Wintersburg Channel in February 2005. Also noted in the pond at the western edge of the fallow agricultural zone.

Western Tanager (Piranga ludoviciana)

Western Wood Pewee (Contopus sordidulus)

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

"County" parcel near the mesa.

White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi)

This is a California species of special concern.

A flock seen for a couple of weeks in March 2005.

March 2005. Photo courtesy of Vince Thomas.

White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus)

This is a California fully-protected species.

Adult on the "county" parcel eucalyptus near the old city/county border.

Juvenile on the "county" parcel eucalyptus overlooking the gas pipe area.

A pair of adults on the "county" parcel on February 12, 2005.

Closer view of same pair as above.

Same pair as above, having a confrontation of some kind.

Pair of kites at sunset on February 26, 2005, in the same stand of trees as the February 12, 2005 observation. One of these birds was observed flying with a 12-15" twig, as if nest building was occurring in the area.