Shipley Nature Center Huntington Beach, CA

Shipley Nature Center provides some of the best year-round birding in Southern California. The mix of Oak Woodland, Torrey Pines, meadows, Riparian, Sycamore-Alder Grove and Coastal Sage Scrub habitats make Shipley one of the best places in Orange County to spot a variety of songbirds. There are abundant numbers of California native plants which supply nectar to hummingbirds and wrens. Old groves of Redwood Forest and Coast Live Oak attract foraging raptors. Mature willows around the natural, freshwater pond draw grebes, herons, coots and ducks.

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Monthly bird survey reports are posted to www.eBird.org  under Huntington Central Park–Shipley Nature Center. View checklist:   July 29, 2022

Shipley Nature Center Survey Results 34 species

July 29, 2022

Monthly Shipley bird survey with Lena Hayashi, Sandy Smith, Betty Kanne, Dave and Sharon Telford, Kelly Coles, Jim Kendall, Jim Currie, and Rick Shearer.  Sunny, calm, clear, humid 70 degrees.

The most vocal species heard throughout Shipley were the Swinhoe’s White-eyes though the noisiest were the juvenile Great Egrets.  13 egrets were seen on the nests with one parent feeding its young.  Unfortunately, a few weeks ago, one fledgling was found dead on the nursery grounds.  We hope the others will fledge successfully.  Young House Finches, Swinhoe’s White-eyes, House Wrens, and Mallard ducklings were observed to be still under the care of their parents.

A bit disturbing were the sightings of European Starlings, a Rock Pigeon, and House Sparrows.  These species have previously only been seen flying over Shipley or touching down only for nesting material.

Rick Shearer, from Sandy Smith’s group spotted an early Wilson’s Warbler.  Though others got good looks, a photo wasn’t able to be taken as it flit about and then flew off.

Enjoy the list below and photos online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S115975836

By Lena Yee Hayashi, Volunteer, Friends of Shipley Nature Center

Huntington Central Park–Shipley Nature Center, Orange, California, US

Canada Goose (Branta canadensis)  4

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)  16     4 ducklings

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)  2

Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon) (Columba livia (Feral Pigeon))  1

Eurasian Collared-Dove (Streptopelia decaocto)  3

Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna)  1

Allen’s Hummingbird (Selasphorus sasin)  20

Great Egret (Ardea alba)  14     Parents still feeding young

Green Heron (Butorides virescens)  1

Red-shouldered Hawk (elegans) (Buteo lineatus elegans)  2

Downy Woodpecker (Dryobates pubescens)  2

Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans)  4

Hutton’s Vireo (Vireo huttoni)  2

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)  4

Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)  1

Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica)  1

Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus)  27

Swinhoe’s White-eye (Zosterops simplex)  33

House Wren (Troglodytes aedon)  18

European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris)  2     first time within Shipley

Scaly-breasted Munia (Lonchura punctulata)  4

House Sparrow (Passer domesticus)  2     first time inside Shipley

House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)  21

Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria)  6

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)  7

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)  14

California Towhee (Melozone crissalis)  6

Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus)  1

Hooded Oriole (Icterus cucullatus)  2

Orange-crowned Warbler (Leiothlypis celata)  6

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)  14

Yellow Warbler (Setophaga petechia)  3

Wilson’s Warbler (Cardellina pusilla)  1     adult male first seen by Rick Shearer and then by rest of team. Yellow bodied warbler, black cap. Tree top foraging and then in flight

Black-headed Grosbeak (Pheucticus melanocephalus)  1

Volunteers do a bird count on the last Friday of the month which is recorded on the bird board. There is also a Field Form for visitors to record sightings of birds. For information on volunteering for the bird surveys, visit our Volunteer page.