Outdoors: Keep an eye out for the Christmas Bird

When it comes to nature, readers know I wear my heart on my sleeve, as I am often moved by the things I see or challenged by the mysteries and wonders that I have witnessed during a lifetime in the outdoors.

One of those great wonders is another encounter this year with a stunning bird visitor I call the Christmas Bird.

Others have referred to this spectacular 6-inch creature as a “ruby with wings,” and when you see one, you will understand.

The bird’s name, vermilion flycatcher, might give you some clue as to its beauty.

But until you’ve seen one of the dazzlingly colored males, you’ve missed out on that inevitable “oh wow” moment that comes with the first glimpse.

My love of this energetic and colorful flycatcher has historically been from a distance, since they were uncommon to rare here, but I frequently encountered them on birding trips to Arizona.

My first encounter with a vermilion flycatcher was during a morning hike along the meandering San Pedro River in Southern Arizona when I spotted this scarlet-feathered ball bouncing around the needled thickets of entangled mesquite trees.

It was captivating, and I was hooked.

Returning home, I was surprised to learn that these bright red birds were a rarity here in San Diego at best, until a few years ago when their numbers began to rise, especially during winters when the desert dwellers would come to visit.

According to the database ebird.org, vermilion flycatcher records in Southern California have changed from “mostly vagrant winter visitors to more consistent residents and even local breeders in places like Los Angeles and Orange Counties.”

The increased population has been attributed to warmer winters that are suitable to support this subtropical bird species, but that has now established scattered resident populations in the county.

That makes me happy.

My first encounter here with a vermilion flycatcher was on a gray December day in 2020 when I was slowly splashing along the brushy edge of Lake Hodges looking for grebes, phoebes and yellow-rumped warblers. These winter visitors are always enjoyable to watch.

A black phoebe, a related species in a family known as tyrant flycatchers, was busy feeding on the cloud of small insects hovering at the water’s edge.

The typical pattern of tyrant flycatchers is to perch on an exposed object and then explode into action with great agility to snatch a flying insect from the air, returning to the perch to wait for the next opportunity.

This tactic apparently works very well, with studies showing their success rate is around 70%.

Standing in the shallow lake water, I was lost in this aerial ballet when suddenly something bright red flashed past my view.

Landing not more than 20 feet away on a weathered branch was a vermilion flycatcher, and my fascination of watching the black phoebe hunt insects was quickly replaced by the thrill of seeing this magnificent bird right here at home.

This was December so this had to be the Christmas Bird.

For a moment I was paralyzed.

As a wildlife photographer there is often that time when you forget to start taking pictures because you are so captivated by the scene.

But I could not miss this opportunity, and my cooperative crimson friend stayed in place as I began to shoot.

While the male vermilion flycatcher is unmistakable with its bright red color and distinctive black eye mask and wings, the female is much less colorful and can often be mistaken for a Say’s phoebe, with a brownish head, back and wings, a white throat and upper breast, with a reddish belly.

The good news is they are here, with sightings recorded on ebird.org from Jacumba and Borrego Springs to our coastal areas where they seem to be most concentrated.

Some of the more active hot spots include the east end of Batiquitos Lagoon in Carlsbad, Whalen Lake Bird Sanctuary in Oceanside, Kit Carson Park in Escondido, the Ramona Grasslands Preserve Wildflower Loop, Lindo Lake in Lakeside, Rohr Park in Bonita and Dairy Mart Ponds in San Ysidro.

And while vermilion flycatcher numbers vary, avian scientists have determined there are scattered breeding populations now in the county with increasing numbers found throughout the year.

While no longer rare, the colorful flycatcher is not yet abundant, but worth the effort to try and spot.

Spend a little time searching the ebird.org species maps before heading out to see the most recent sightings.

It’s a good excuse for a visit to a local park, lagoon or grassland preserve and a chance to find your own Christmas Bird.

Cowan is a freelance columnist. Email ernie@packtrain.com or visit erniecowan.substack.com.