Sightings - September 2026

Hudsonian Godwit, 9/10/2026, Caspar Creek, Roger Adamson.

With southward migration in full swing, numerous notable sightings occurred in September. But first we should note a handful of truly rare birds. The White-eyed Vireo, first found in late August, stayed along Big River until Sept. 11, so that many birders were able to see or, at least, hear it (MF). On 9/10, after having failed to find the WEVI at Big River, two birders stopped at Caspar Creek and found a Hudsonian Godwit (RA & BK). This bird was the second seen this year; the first was a northward migrant in May. Other than these two, the only other reports are from 2009, when four birds were found in late August and stayed in the area for about a month. The “Hudwit” is the least well-known of the four godwit species and has a relatively small population of 50,000 to 70,000.

Typically, during southward migration, individuals fly east, then south to southern South America. Northward migrants favor the Central Flyway. Also on 9/10, an unexpected bird call was heard and recorded at Chadbourne Gulch, but the bird was not seen (PP). Within two days, recordings were reviewed, and the identity was confirmed as a Wood Thrush! Over the next week, several observers took good photos in addition to audio recordings. This bird was the first county record for Mendocino and is a species very rarely found in California, especially along the coast. Last, on 9/30, a Rusty Blackbird was found and photographed at Laguna Point in company with the Brewer’s Blackbird flock that regularly visits the rocks near the west platform at the point (JB). According to eBird online data, this is only the third RUBL reported in Mendocino County; previous reports of RUBL were in 1986 and 1989!

Cocos Booby with Brown Pelican, 9/27/2026, photo by Roger Adamson.

Several sightings were less rare, but also notable. On 9/1, Rufous Hummingbirds were found at Westport Beach Campground and in Elk (PP & TB, resp.). An Eastern Kingbird, first seen on 9/4, spent a day or two near a home just south of Fort Bragg (PP). At Spring Ranch, a female Ruff was found on the shore, and a group of seven Forster’s Terns were photographed as they flew by on 9/7 (PP). South of Point Arena at Moat Creek, a group of keen birders ran into a Magnolia Warbler on 9/7 (OS, LH, EM, & LS). While checking Caspar Creek, a Solitary Sandpiper was spotted among several Spotted Sandpipers on 9/9 (CL). A second juvenile Ruff, this one a male, was photographed at Ward Avenue on 9/11. On 9/12, a Yellow-breasted Chat, unusual on the coast, was seen near Westport (KB). A Yellow-headed Blackbird was noted on the haul road near the Silvergate entrance to MacKerricher State Park, just north of the Beachcomber Motel on 9/15 (SKJ &JG). A Tennessee Warbler was found in a flowering eucalyptus at the Mendocino Coast Botanical Gardens (MCBG) during our monthly third Wednesday walk on 9/16 (RA, TB, CL). Near Inglenook Creek along Ten Mile Beach on 9/18, a Short-eared Owl was flushed and photographed flying away (PP). Also in MCBG on 9/20, a Tennessee Warbler, a Blackburnian Warbler, an American Redstart, and a Rufous Hummingbird were recorded (PP). A Hermit Warbler was found at a home just south of Fort Bragg on 9/21 (MF). 

A Franklin’s Gull was reported from Hare Creek in Fort Bragg on 9/21 (JB). A Clay-colored Sparrow was sighted near Westport on 9/21 (PP), and on 9/23 two more were reported, one at a home just south of Fort Bragg (PP) and one near Elk (MF). An Evening Grosbeak was a welcome addition to a yard list of a home just north of Mendocino Village on 9/24 (PM). Two more warblers, a Tennessee on Windy Hollow Road and a Chestnut-sided on Alder Creek were added on 9/24 (MF). A very bright juvenile Pacific Golden-Plover was found with a big flock of Black-bellied Plovers at Ward Avenue on 9/25 (CL). A Semipalmated Sandpiper was identified there on 9/26 when another birder (PP) went to check on the Pacific Golden-Plover (PP), which remained through the month. 

  Finally, we should note that on the 9/27 trip with Noyo Pelagics out to the Noyo Canyon area about 15 miles west of Cleone, birders were astonished to find on the order of 400 (!) Black Storm-Petrels. On a trip in August of this year, we found about 35. And, prior to that, only about 10 Black Storm-Petrels had ever been reported on pelagic trips out of Noyo Harbor. Observing so many this year may be a result of poorer food availability much farther south where the BLSP are usually found, likely related to warm unproductive waters associated with El Niño. 

Pacific Golden-Plover, 9/25/2026, Ward Avenue, found by Chris Lamoureux, photo by Roger Adamson.

Thanks to all who reported sightings:  Marty Freeland (MF), Roger Adamson (RA), Bob Keiffer (BK), Peter Pyle (PP), Junco Bullick (JB), Tim Bray (TB), Owen Sinkus (OS), Liam Hutcheson (LH), Ethan Monk (EM), Lucas Stephenson (LS), Chris Lamoureux (CL), Ken Burton (KB), Sam Koski-Jones (SKJ), Jim Gibson (JG), Paul Miller (PM).