We just got this update from ornithologist and educator Holly M. Garrod, reporting from the Audubon Starr Ranch Sanctuary in Orange County:

This week proved to be very exciting bird-wise. The other day I watched a Merlin fly right through the canyon! (And no, not the wizard). A Merlin is a small falcon-like bird that often spends winter down in Southern California. And speaking of wintering birds...

This week the focal bird species is the Red-breasted Sapsucker (Sphyrapicus ruber)! They have just finished their migration and will be spending their winter here. Sapsuckers look a bit different than the familiar Acorn Woodpecker. Their head and breast is entirely red (hence the name). They have a dark back, yellow belly and are easily recognized by a white vertical stripe running up their side. I've been hearing their 'waah' call around the oaks. Be sure to keep an eye out for them near the persimmon tree, it's one of their favorite spots to hang out. When sapsuckers aren't munching on fruit, they make wells in the tree where sap pools and they can drink it. Interestingly, several hummingbird species have been observed following Red-breasted Sapsuckers and making use of their sap wells as a food source. (photo above of a red-breasted Sapsucker with sap wells, by Greg Gillson)

Here is a list of all the birds seen and heard at Starr Ranch this past week:

1. Turkey Vulture

2. Red-shouldered Hawk

3. Red-tailed Hawk

4. Band-tailed Pigeon

5. Mourning Dove

6. Barn Owl

7. Great Horned Owl

8. Anna's Hummingbird

9. Acorn Woodpecker

10. Red-breasted Sapsucker

11. Nuttall's Woodpecker

12. Northern Flicker (Red Shafted subspecies)

13. American Kestrel

14. Merlin

15. Black Phoebe

16. Say's Phoebe

17. Cassin's Kingbird

18. Loggerhead Shrike

19. Hutton's Vireo

20. American Crow

21. Western Scrub Jay

22. Common Raven

23. Oak Titmouse

24. Bushtit

25. White-breasted Nuthatch

26. Bewick's Wren

27. Cactus Wren

28. Ruby-crowned Kinglet

29. Wrentit

30. Western Bluebird

31. Hermit Thrush

32. American Robin

33. California thrasher

34. Northern Mockingbird

35. European Starling

36. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon subspecies)

37. Spotted Towhee

38. California Towhee

39. Fox Sparrow

40. Song Sparrow

41. Golden-crowned Sparrow

42. White-crowned Sparrow

43. Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon subspecies)

44. Western Meadowlark

45. Scott's Oriole

46. House Finch

47. Lesser Goldfinch