Sightings - November 2025

Canada Warbler, Westport, November 23, 2025, photo Roger Adamson.

November is often a “slow” month for special sightings because most of fall migration is done and birders are turning to other activities. Nonetheless, we have several good sightings to report. On November 1st a late Western Tanager was reported in Mendocino Village (KM). A Tropical Kingbird, regular this time of year, was seen on Stoneboro Road near Manchester (CK, TB). A Bullock’s Oriole was found in the Rose Cemetery in Fort Bragg on the 3rd (LW), and on the 6th at least three Bullock’s Orioles were in northeast Fort Bragg (PP). On the 7th a Swamp Sparrow was skulking along Ten Mile River upstream of the bridge and was heard from the Old Smith Ranch Trail (PP). The latter trail is under used and I highly recommend it if you have not been there. Another late Western Tanager was heard in Ukiah on the 11th (GG). This is the same area where two or three Western Tanagers spent last winter. Maybe this one will stay.

On a trip to Usal campground on the 11th, a Red-breasted Grosbeak was a standout sighting (TB, MF, PP). On the 12th of November, Sandhill Cranes (4?) were reported from a field south of Talmadge and were later seen by several birders (DA). These are not frequent in the county and are usually just heard overhead. Also on the 12th, a Horned Lark was heard over the Stoneboro Road fields (PP). A late Chipping Sparrow was found near Elk on the 16th and a Swamp Sparrow was seen the same day along the Navarro River estuary area (LW). The only unusual bird reported from the Raptor Run on the 17th was a lone Cattle Egret found in the Garcia River Flats (TB, DJ, others). An single Tundra Swan was found along Big River on the 20th (GC). A Burrowing Owl was reported on the offshore rocks at the northeast corner of Mendocino Headlands on the morning of the 21st (CL).

Northern Parula, Rose Cemetery, Nov. 26, 2025, photo by Roger Adamson.

There was a pelagic trip scheduled for the 21st of November but it was cancelled due to rough sea conditions. That resulted in several sightings by keen observers who went birding locally instead of on the ocean. On the 21st, a Swamp Sparrow was seen at the Garcia River mouth (LK, MF, EC, CC) and the same group found a Tennessee Warbler along Kinney Road. The next day, a Tropical Kingbird was found in Westport (LK, MF, CC). However, the best bird of the month, also found in Westport along Pelican Way, was a Canada Warbler (LK, MF, CC). This was only the second (possibly the third) sighting of Canada Warbler in the county that is recorded on eBird; the previous sighting was in 2008. Also on the 22nd, a Swamp Sparrow was seen along the Noyo River and a Rock Sandpiper was found at Virgin Creek Beach (LK, MF, CC). On the 24th, a late Chipping Sparrow was seen at the Ukiah water treatment plant (CV) and a Clay-colored Sparrow appeared at a home just south of Fort Bragg (PP). And last, a Northern Parula, a very fine bird, was found in a camelia at the Rose Cemetery in Fort Bragg on the 26th (PP).

Thanks to all who reported sightings: Kate Marianchild (KM), Catherine Keegan (CK), Tim Bray (TB), Lisa Walker (LW), Peter Pyle (PP), George Gibbs (GG), Matt Franks (MF), Deborah Attaway (DA), Dave Jensen (DJ), Gail Coffey (GC), Chris Lamoreux (CL), Logan Kahle (LK), Marty Freeland (MF), Caitlin Chock (CC), Chuck Vaughn (CV).