Sightings - August 2026
Bank Swallow, near Manchester, May 27 2021. Photo by Roger Adamson..
Land-birding was slow in August, not surprisingly, being very early in migration. Nonetheless, a Loggerhead Shrike seen on the fenceline at the Pacific Star Winery on 7/31 was an excellent bird to start the report, but unfortunately it was not refound (EV). Also on 7/31, an early Townsend’s Warbler was seen near Hopland (CV). At the Ukiah Water Treatment Plant (UWTP) an early Wilson’s Snipe made an appearance (CV & GG). An early returning Ring-billed Gull was noted near Brush Creek (Manchester) on 8/3 (PP). The same day a Bank Swallow was seen near the Garcia River mouth (PP); Bank Swallows are not unexpected, but they are uncommon throughout the county and therefore notable (PP).
Townsend’s Storm-Petrel, Aug 3, 2026. Photograph by Roger Adamson.
There was a pelagic outing on 8/3 on the Kraken by about 25 birders. In-shore the winds were slight and the swell not at all difficult. We headed out toward the depths of the Noyo Canyon and at about 17 miles from shore we found 15-20 knot winds and plenty of seabirds. Very exciting for most on the boat were up to nine Cook’s Petrels, a species that until last year had only been seen in Mendocino County waters 40-50 miles off shore from cruise ships. Even more exciting for the county listers was the observation and photographing of about six Townsend’s Storm-Petrels (TOSP). This was the first clear record of this species in Mendocino waters (after analyzing and accepting this year’s records, a single bird from August 2025 was also deemed to be a Townsend’s Storm-Petrel). Although difficult to distinguish from the similar Leach’s Storm-Petrel (LESP), which is relatively common off Mendocino, TOSP has a wider white band on the rump (measured from the tertials toward the tail), is slightly smaller and is overall slightly darker than LESP. These were in addition to two Wilson’s Storm-Petrels, and several of the three more expected species, Leach’s, Fork-tailed, and Ashy Storm-Petrels. On the same trip a single Manx Shearwater was also seen.
The season’s first two Semi-palmated Sandpipers were recorded at the mouth of Inglenook Creek on 8/9 (PP). From a cruise ship on 8/10 five Cook’s Petrels, one Hawaiian Petrel, and one Short-tailed Albatross were seen (ST). A Lawrence’s Goldfinch was spotted in Manchester on 8/13 (CA). A very unexpected Black Skimmer was found from the Gualala Bluff Trail on 8/14 (KM) and very likely the same bird was seen on the morning of 8/15 on the lagoon at the Navarro River mouth by several birders from Pacific Union College (FH); this appears to be only the third county record. Also on 8/15, the PUC group found a Franklin’s Gull at Lake Cleone (LB, RT, et al.). The PUC group was out for a half-day pelagic trip on the Kraken on 8/16 and they encountered a Hawaiian Petrel much to everyone’s delight. A Rufous Hummingbird visited a home on Middle Ridge near Albion (TB, CK). And on 8/26 a juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron was noted at Caspar Pond (CL). On a successful full-day pelagic trip on the Kraken about 25 happy birders encountered a Hawaiian Petrel, a Nazca Booby, and a second county Least Storm-Petrel in addition to several distant and not satisfying Cook’s Petrels. Finally, on 8/31 near the Big River parking area a White-eyed Vireo was found (MF). This appears to be only the second county record of this eastern vagrant.
Leach’s Storm-Petrel, Aug 3, 2026. Photograph by Roger Adamson.
Thanks to all who reported sightings: Eric Versteeg (EV), Chuck Vaughn (CV), George Gibbs (GG), Peter Pyle (PP), Simon Thompson (ST), Chad Aakre (CA), Kevin Miller (KM), Floyd Hayes (FH, who was with several others), Linda Becker (LB), Ralph Trecartin (RT), Tim Bray (TB), Catherine Keegan (CK), Chris Lamoureux (CL), Marty Freeland (MF).
