The San Dieguito Monthly Bird Count finished its seventh year of data collection this month! Click here for the PDF document with the detailed monthly results from January 2010 through December 2016.

114 bird species were identified in the December 2016 bird survey, including 2 new species! Ross’s Goose and Swamp Sparrow were seen for the first time. This brings the cumulative species total to 233.

Bird survey leader Jayne Lesley reports these other species of special interest this month: a Pomarine Jaeger over the ocean; a Vermilion Flycatcher in the Horsepark/Polo Fields area; Common Merganser, Red-throated Loon, and Herring Gull between the freeway and Horsepark north of the river; two Loggerhead Shrikes and a Fox Sparrow in the Dust Devil Nature Trail area; and a Sharp-shinned Hawk in Crest Canyon.

According to The Cornell Lab of Ornithology All About Birds website, the Ross’s Goose is smaller than a Snow Goose and usually spends winter in Central California. The featured image was taken by Cameron Rognan. The Swamp Sparrow usually is found east of the Rockies.

Click here for more information about the San Dieguito Lagoon Bird Surveys.