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So far, the only records for Red Saddlebags
in Monterey County were individuals seen during June-September 2004, an
apparent flight year for this species. Red Saddlebags is resident in
southern California but 'erupts' northward from time to time; it
appears that summer 2004 was one of those times.
Rob Fowler reported the first one on 8 June
2004 near the Big Sur River mouth in Andrew Molera State Park. He
thereafter saw a few daily throughout June and July during his avian
surveys for the Big Sur Ornithology Lab. Later that same summer, Steve
Rovell saw a female in his Marina yard on 6 Sep 2004, but efforts to
capture or photograph it were unsuccessful.
This is one of only two species found on the
MTY checklist that is supported solely by sight records. It is hoped
photographs will be obtained in the near future. Identification is
covered by Manolis (2003).
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The map shows the only reported locations for
Red Saddlebags in MTY to date: at the Big Sur River mouth and at
Marina. It likely occurs widely in the lowlands, both along the coast
and inland, during eruptive flight years. The species occurs widely in
southern California, using habitats similar to Black Saddlebags.