The date: 7/29/2026
The week number: 31

The walk number: 1882
The weather: 88 F; sunny

The walkers: Alan Cummings, Chip O’Connor, Bella Barrera,

Kevin Kan, Wan-Ying Kan, John Beckett, Katie Clark,

Maria Kretzmann, Ellen Yu, Travis Cummings

The birds (19)

No. First Name Last Name Prob

1	Western	Bluebird	0.25
3	Red-whiskered	Bulbul	0.88
30		Bushtit	0.75
1	American	Crow	0.75
4	Mourning	Dove	1
1	House	Finch	0.75
2	Lesser	Goldfinch	1
3	Selasphorus	Hummingbird	0.75
4	Dark-eyed	Junco	1
1	Cassin’s	Kingbird	0
1	Northern	Mockingbird	0.62
4	Hooded	Oriole	0
1	Black	Phoebe	0.88
1	Band-tailed	Pigeon	0.38
1	Common	Raven	0.75
1	California	Scrub-Jay	0.25
2	California	Towhee	0.38
5	Acorn	Woodpecker	1
3	Bewick’s	Wren	0.12

Walk lasted between 12:00 and 13:53

We had a good walk, observing 19 species when the prediction was 15.6. We were short of the record for the week, for a change, which was 21. Last week, we had two Kevins on the walk, and I asked Wan-Ying if it had ever happened before that two people with the same first name had walked a walk together. She answered this week. See below. She also asked herself which were the hottest and coldest walks. I was surprised to see we walked one at 108 F! And further surprised that 6 people went on that one. We had a couple of interesting observations. At the corner of Del Mar and Michigan (?), we debated about two birds and finally entered them as a Hooded Oriole and a Kingbird, sp. The lighting and distance made the two calls a little iffy. But, then, a short time later on Holliston, we clearly saw a Kingbird and were able to call it a Cassin’s when it flew and there were no white edges on the tail feathers. Then at the Turtle pond, we saw a family of Hooded Orioles, male included! So, that sealed the deal on the earlier iffy call. And, also at the Turtle pond we saw a family of three Bewick’s Wrens. So, it was an interesting walk. What was missing was an Anna’s Hummingbird and a House Sparrow. With those two, we would have tied the record. But, the Anna’s was not guaranteed, as its probability was only 62%. The House Sparrow was more likely at 88%, but the Polytechnic school crew have made a concerted effort to keep them out of the attic of the building where we usually record them. Anyway, no real complaints; good walk.

Alan,

7/30/2026