Sawbuck Rangers Big Day Trip Report 2025

Yesterday (April 20), my intrepid Birdathon team of Eve, Liz, Jackie, and I ranged hither, thither and yon to find as many species as possible all day. I had a personal best day in: checklists (12), species(116) and distance walked while birding (>10 miles). 

My birding lesson of the day (aside from how amazing my team is, of course): I hadn't realized breeding Dunlin can have black bellies. That puzzled me for some time. 

When the whole tale was told, the Rangers found 140 species. With my promised Sawbuck-per-species and other donations from the team, we raised $1580 for the SCVBA's Education Program.

While truly recounting my team's odyssey would require Epic Greek Poetry, I will highlight a few finds from each of the locations scouted, without repeating species :-): 

Metcalf and Las Animas Roads: Western Screech Owl and about 30 California Quails (standing in the road, of course). 

Heintz Open Space: Purple Finch and California Thrasher.

Laguna Ave:  American Goldfinch and 5 Great Egrets.

Shannon Valley OSP: Hooded Oriole and Northern House Wren.

Dr. Gross ponds: Bullock's Oriole and Brewer's Blackbird. 

Coyote Valley OSP: Yellow-billed Magpie and American Kestrel.

Los Alamitos Creek Trail (Singer/McKean): Western Flycatcher and Band-tailed Pigeon.

Sanborn CP (entrance): MacGillivray's Warbler (!!!) and Cassin's Vireo.

Calero Reservoir: 29 Common Mergansers and a Virginia's Rail (HO, naturally).

Santa Teresa CP (BGJ Ranch): American Barn Owl.

Parkway Lakes: Golden Eagle and Gadwall.

Santa Teresa (Stile entrance) was visited 3 times: Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Lazuli Bunting, Common Poorwill, and Great Horned Owl.

Bear Creek Redwoods Pond: Northern Rough-winged Swallow and Pygmy Nuthatch.

SCV Water District: Ring-necked Duck and Black-crowned Night Heron (they were scarce today, only 4 seen in all locations).

Calero Creek Trail (Harry Rd): Say's Phoebe and Lawrence's Goldfinch (HO).

Sanborn (John Nicholas): Pacific Wren and Black-headed Grosbeak.

Shoreline kite flying area: Burrowing Owl and Savannah Sparrow

Shoreline Park (lake); Lesser Yellowlegs and around 50(!) Black Skimmers. 

Sanborn (Lake Ranch Res): Wood duck and Pileated Woodpecker.

Casey Forebay: Marsh Wren and a ton of Barn Swallows. 

One of the ranger's backyard: Vaux's Swift.

PA Baylands: 9(!) Whimbrels at the boat launch and a huge number of Marbled Godwit in the distance. 

Sunnyvale Shopping Center: Mitred Parakeet.

Emily Renzel: Common Gallinule and White-tailed Kite