Don Roberson

Hit 400 mark: 10 Oct 1988 with Gray Wagtail at Salinas R. mouth
Current total [December 2024]: 480
Has been birding MTY since: 1971, resident since 1979, and Resides in Pacific Grove
Occupation: research attorney
Most satisfying birds? a Mottled Petrel from Pt. Pinos during a gale (12 Dec 1984) and a Yellow-bellied Flycatcher in Crespi trees (21 Sep 2004) are good memories. Yet, for years I've been amazed by our yard birds, including Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Ovenbird, and Grace's & Blue-winged & Canada Warblers.
Worst miss? I missed a Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher at Pt. Lobos by five minutes and I dipped on a LeConte's Sparrow at Odello by 10 minutes — but a long-term nemesis is Magnificent Frigatebird.
What he likes about MTY? My first visit to MTY was in fall 1971, 53 years ago — two pelagic trips and a visit to Pt. Pinos. Looking back, I appreciate that Monterey Bay and Pt. Pinos are still great for birds, despite only limited access to the cypresses now. I'm glad that the PG Museum still has its bird collection, and that Monterey Audubon still operates. Yet, a lot has been lost during changing times. In the 1980s, MoonGlow Dairy was "discovered" as a major vagrant spot, adding multiple birds to the county list. Alas, in 2022, the owners passed away and both the dairy and the freshwater pond on a tidal slough are gone. The Salinas WTP were also "discovered" in the 1980s and anyone could bird there. Then the 1989 earthquake damaged the site, and the City restricted access. From 1992 to 2010, the Big Sur Ornithology Lab ("BSOL") netted migrants, and interns searched Andrew Molera SP for vagrants both spring and fall. It was then the center of MTY birding, surpassing Pt. Pinos and Carmel River mouth as a rich vagrant trap. In the 1990s and early 2000s, the Wild Bird Center in Del Monte Shopping Center hosted annual birdathons and events. It is now gone. Access to birding at Andrew Molera and our montane forest has been limited or closed for years after fires and floods. Still, birders have found that Monterey and Pacific Grove cemeteries, Laguna Grande, and Palo Corona Reg. Park offer fine birding. In recent years, the annual Pt. Pinos Seawatch (1 Nov-15 Dec, dawn to dusk) has produced lots of excitement as Monterey Bay transitions. It comes now when global warming turns our thoughts away from eiders and instead they welcome tropical boobies (5 species from the Point). Change is inevitable, and what I've liked about Monterey is watching it all go by.

Photo: June 2022 in his Pacific Grove backyard , with the historic Moon Glow Dairy sign © Rita Carratello

Rita Carratello

Hit 400 mark: 2 Feb 1999 with Grace's Warbler at Jacks Peak
Current total [December 2024]: 460
Has been birding MTY since: 1988 and Resides in Pacific Grove
Occupation: retired educator, now adult ed birding instructor
Most satisfying birds? My bird class and I found a Hudsonian Godwit in August at the Salinas River NWR. I was able to use it as a teachable moment on how to arrive at a confident identification. The class doesn't realize how famous they became when birders all over the state knew about how “Rita and her bird class found the first Hudsonian Godwit of the year.” We also found the most-chased and photographable Canada Warbler in county history in the Carmel River Oct 2018. We didn't find the Sprague's Pipit in 2024 — Steve Tucker did — but the teacher in me was fulfilled when the pipit stayed long enough to show to both classes.
Worst miss? The Sulfur-bellied Flycatcher at Point Lobos. I could've taken the left turn and seen the bird before it flew off never to be seen again in Monterey County in my lifetime. But no, I was standing 3 minutes farther up the right side of the trail. I could have left my volunteer post to chase the only Great Frigatebird along the coast, but I felt obliged to honor my commitment.
What she likes about MTY? I can travel the world and still be happy to return home. I have a great yard list where, while sweeping the front deck, I discovered an Ovenbird (Oct 2019). We've also had other notable visitors such as Blue-winged Warbler, Townsend‘s Solitaire, Hooded Warbler, and wintering Green-tailed Towhee and Summer Tanager. Most of these species I was able to share with my friends in our close-knit birding community.

Photo: Sep 2016 O'Reilly's, Queensland, Australia © D. Roberson

Kent Van Vuren

Hit 400 mark: 6 Jan 2005 with Cackling Goose at Moss Landing
Current total [December 2024]: 451
Has been birding MTY since: 1976, resident since 1982, and Resides in Prunedale
Occupation: retired teacher
Most satisfying bird?: Kent saw a Zone-tailed Hawk fly over his Prunedale home (20 Nov 2005), and had American Tree Sparrow at his feeder (12-13 Nov 2006). He helped pioneer birding in San Benito Co., and has found many first-county records in other northern California counties while living in the Sacramento Valley.
What he likes about MTY? "I like birding in Monterey because of all the varied habitats. In 15 minutes I can be at Moss Landing or the Salinas wastewater ponds. Great weather and plenty of opportunity to find rare birds."

Photo: Mar 2006, Prunedale © Kent Van Vuren

Bob [Robert F.] Tintle

Hit 400 mark: 23 June 1996 with Mexican Whip-poor-will at Big Sur R. mouth
Current total [December 2024]: 446
Has been birding MTY since: 1983 and now Resides in Carmel
Occupation: retired Biology and Chemistry teacher, Stevenson School
Most satisfying birds? "Great Crested Flycatcher (30 Sep 1984 Molera SP) & Grace's Warbler (12 Dec 1998 Jacks Peak) since I found those myself but Broad-billed Hummingbird, found with Chris Tenney (29 Sep 1984 Carmel R. mouth) and Pine Warbler, found with Bob Maurer (24 Oct 1993 Molera), are right up there."
Worst miss? "Laysan Albatross, Gray Flycatcher, and Common Grackle rank at the top."
What he likes about MTY? "Monterey County has an incredible variety of habitats easily accessible, with a remarkable diversity of plant species, all of which favors a wonderful assortment of animals of all types. The county is located coastally at a latitude that favors vagrants from both the far north and the south. Plus, Monterey County is home to a terrific group of birders in whose company I have enjoyed some of the best times of my life."

Photo: 11 Apr 2004, atop Pt. Sur © D. Roberson [pictured with wife Rosemary]

Steve Rovell

Hit 400 mark: 28 July 1999 with Yellow-throated Vireo at Big Sur R. mouth
Current total [December 2024]: 446
Has been birding MTY since: 1990, and Resides in Marina
Occupation: Science teacher at Alisal High School
Most satisfying birds?: “In my opinion, my best find were some Clark's Nutcrackers up at Jacks Peak."
Worst miss?: "Zone-tailed Hawk !!! I looked for that guy maybe a dozen times!"
What he likes about MTY?: “While Monterey County is large, the variety of birds is even larger. That’s what I like most about the county. I don’t have to go elsewhere to see a lot of species. Even my Marina yard has hosted some cool rarities, such as Harris’s Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, American Redstart, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, and White-winged Dove, as well as some unexpected species such as Green Heron, Belted Kingfisher and a 3-day visit by a singing Yellow-breasted Chat!”

Photo: 23 May 2004, Big Sur R. mouth © D. Roberson

Rick Fournier

Hit 400 mark: 8 May 2003 with White-winged Dove at Carmel R. mouth
Current total [December 2024]: 445
Has been birding MTY since: 1988 and Resides in Walker Valley near Elkhorn Slough
Occupation: After 28 years, retired from Monterey Birding Adventures guiding, but still conduct seasonal avian surveys within the Elkhorn Slough Watershed.
Most satisfying bird?: "For me the most satisfying birds I've found have been the Curlew Sandpiper (15 Aug 2013), Common Eider at Bird Rock, Pebble Beach (12 Feb 2019) and, most recently, Sulfur-bellied Flycatcher at Pt. Lobos (16 Sep 20119)."
Worst miss?: Black-tailed Gull
What he likes about MTY? Rick discovered many new birding spots and has a long list of rarities in his "home patch" around Elkhorn Slough. "Two of my county fantasy birds are Eurasian Dotterel and Golden-winged Warbler."

Photo: 5 Dec 2023, Stillwater Cove, Pebble Beach © D. Roberson

John Luther

Hit 400 mark: 31 Oct 2014 with Mountain Plover at Zmudowski
Current total [December 2024]: 438
Has been birding MTY since: his "first list might have been in June 1968 with Dr. Howard Cogswell's ornithology class at Pt. Lobos." John never lived in MTY, but birded here for 50 years. Resides in Oakland, Alameda Co., CA
Occupation: retired Biology/Natural History teacher from College of Alameda
Most satisfying bird?: "standing next to Steve Howell on a pelagic trip when Great-winged Petrel flew by long ago" (18 Oct 1998).
Worst miss?: Streaked Shearwater
What he likes about MTY? "I like Monterey County for its great diversity of habitats, including its spectacular coast and ocean." John keeps his county lists NIB [=no introduced birds"] for purposes of comparison on John Sterling's web site, and didn't notice reaching 400 in MTY until he got to 400 NIB with Philadelphia Vireo on 12 Sep 2015 at Big Sur R. mouth. [John's total for this 400 Club has the standard non-native species].
Recent successful chases include Yellow-crowned Night Heron, Common Redpoll, and Common Ringed Plover.

Photo: 13 Oct 2024 at Salinas WTP © D. Roberson

Stephen F. Bailey

Hit 400 mark: 4 Nov 1997 with Brown Thrasher at Pfeiffer-Big Sur S.P.
Current total [December 2024]: 436
Has been birding MTY since: 1971, resident 1992–2004, now Resides in Italy (where he is a legal resident) when not birding the world
Occupation: Bird tour leader; retired Director, Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History
Claim to fame: found the rarest vagrant during the breeding bird atlas — a Yellow-throated Warbler. Steve was seabird editor for American Birds for 14 years.
What's he doing lately? Steve saw 3110 birds while globe-trotting in 2007, the 5th highest world year list on record at the time. Steve reports that as of 20 Nov 2024, his world lists had "8,955 birds, 1,021 mammals (including 92 marine mammals), and 487 reptiles."

Photo: Jan 2004, Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History © D. Roberson [with MTY specimen of Mottled Petrel]

Brian J. Weed

Hit 400 mark: 29 Nov 1997 with Williamson's Sapsucker at Jacks Peak
Current total [life]: 435
Has been birding MTY since: 1981 (keeping lists since '83) and Resides in Pacific Grove
Occupation: Grandparent
Most satisfying bird?: "My favorite bird is the one from my yard: the Rusty Blackbird" (3 Jan 1987)
Worst miss?: "My worst miss is the Zone-tailed Hawk. I spent many hours looking for this bird while others close by in space and time were reporting 'I just saw the Zone-tailed.' I did, however, make the acquaintance of almost every Turkey Vulture in the county. Some I knew by name."
What's he doing lately?: a long-time Pt. Lobos docent and expert, Brian taught a popular adult education class on birding for decades. He and his class discovered a Yellow-billed Loon at Del Monte Beach, Monterey, on 31 Jan 2012, which became perhaps the most chased Yellow-billed in local history.

Brian passed away at age 84 on 10 January 2024.

Photo: 1 May 2004, Monterey © D. Roberson

Blake T. Matheson

Hit 400 mark: 25 Jan 2017 with Lesser Black-backed Gull in Marina
Current total [December 2024]: 434
Has been birding MTY since: 2000, when, as a High School senior, he took Bob Tintle’s ornithology elective. Blake was gone for much of 2002-2009 for undergrad and grad school, and missed some fine rarities during that era. Resides in Pacific Grove
Occupation: CEO
Most satisfying bird?: "From a rarity perspective, seeing a Hawaiian Petrel from Point Pinos was a thrill. Tufted Puffin, California Condor, Mountain Quail, any Albatross, Golden Eagle and Ferruginous Hawk are all special birds to me, even though they are, in some cases, resident. Every encounter with one of them feels supremely 'satisfying'.”
Worst miss?: "Missing 2016’s Great Frigatebird by less than five minutes."
What's he likes about MTY?: "Five generations of my family have now lived on the Monterey Peninsula. Discovering the birding lifestyle has deepened my relationship with home, ineffably so. Whether I'm finding a rarity like Scarlet Tanager or Slaty-backed Gull or simply watching a Pacific Wren forage in some dark, conifer-strewn canyon, the feeling I get when out in the field is a sense of profound place and deep belonging."

Photo: 3 Sep 2017, El Carmelo Cemetery, Pacific Grove © Don Roberson

Scott Terrill

Hit 400 mark: 24 Oct 2011 with Black-throated Blue Warbler at Pt. Pinos
Current total [December 2024]: 431
Has been birding MTY since: 1964 (he did his first boat trip that year) but has never lived in Monterey Co.
Scott resides in Los Gatos SCZ
Occupation: environmental consultant
Worst miss?: "Terek Sandpiper, Long-toed Stint, and Gray Wagtail — I was living in Germany at the time!" ["Bad timing," Scott says].
Most satisfying bird(s) in MTY? "Best birds found by me were probably Greater Shearwater off Pt. Lobos (29 Nov 2008) and Streaked Shearwater off Cypress Point (30 Sep 2006)."
What he likes about MTY? "I have really enjoyed birding in Monterey County since I was a kid. It's an amazing and wonderful place to bird with a remarkable diversity of habitats."

Photo: 31 Dec 2023, Aptos, Santa Cruz Co. © D. Roberson

Craig Hohenberger

Hit 400 mark: 9 Sep 1998 with Yellow-throated Warbler at Carmel R. mouth
Current total [December 2024]: 430
Has been birding MTY since: 1975, resident since 1985, but now Resides in Creston, Montana
Occupation: retired Biology Teacher & Field Ecologist
Most satisfying bird? most satisfying was "the Garganey that I found with my MPC class" (25 Apr 1998)
Worst miss? "the bird that got away was an Upland Sandpiper at Molera"
What's he doing lately? After founding Big Sur Ornithology Lab in the 1990s and initiating a banding project at Carmel Middle School, Craig retired in 2012 and moved to Montana, where he has built a home. Craig writes "We live near a little town called Creston, which is between Kalispell and Bigfork at the north end of Flathead Lake. We are doing well, traveling, enjoying the beauty of Montana, retirement, and birding."

Photo: photo courtesy of C. Hohenberger

Brian L. Sullivan

Hit 400 mark: 16 Oct 2018 with Bell's Vireo at Pt. Pinos
Current total [December 2024]: 426
Has been birding MTY since: 2005, and Resides in Carmel Valley
Occupation: Published author / co-author of multiple bird books (with more in preparation), and Project Leader for Cornell's Science & Technology Digital Publications
Most satisfying bird?: Common Ringed Plover [ed: was a first MTY record and a major State-wide rarity]
What he likes about MTY? Don't know what Brian would say, but in addition to Common Ringed Plover, Brian discovered first Monterey County for Slaty-backed Gull, Arctic Loon, Neotropic Cormorant, and Black-headed Gull. So it is good place for him to bird.

Photo: 27 Aug 2017 on a boat in Monterey Bay © D. Roberson

Bill Hill

Hit 400 mark: 5 Nov 2009 with American Tree Sparrow at Carmel R. mouth
Current total [December 2024]: 426
Has been birding MTY since: 1992, resident since 1945 (3d generation), and Resides in Carmel and Arizona
Occupation: retired fire chief, Carmel
Most satisfying bird?: "No doubt my personal best find is the shared discovery of the Little Curlew at Carmel River mouth in 1994."
What he likes about MTY? "I love birding in Monterey County because it is a top place to bird that people travel many miles to see. I am already here. I am pretty sure I hold the record for a Monterey County list that is the highest percentage of a life list. When I started birding seriously in the early 1990s I was fortunate to meet and bird with experienced people who were very generous with their knowledge about birds and birding. That continues today. I am not much for travel so this is a pretty good place to be settled down." Bill has become one of the county's premier bird photographers.

Photo: 4 Sep 2023, El Carmelo cemetery, Pacific Grove © D. Roberson

Paul Fenwick

Hit 400 mark: 27 Sep 2019 with Plumbeous Vireo at San Carlos Cemetery, Monterey
Current total [December 2024]: 423
Has been birding MTY since: 20 Apr 2012 [Blue-winged Teal], and Resides in Carmel Valley
Occupation: Fire Captain – City of Salinas
Most satisfying bird?: "Nelson’s Sparrow (Nov 2012) at Moon Glow Dairy; Blue-footed Booby (Sep 2013) Moss Landing, a 7-species Hummingbird day (May 2014) at my home feeders, and Plumbeous Vireo (27 Sep 2019) at San Carlos Cemetery, Monterey."
Worst miss?: "Great Frigatebird – after spending 8 hours at the Point Pinos Seawatch, the Great Frigatebird flew past the Seawatch at point-blank range within 10 minutes of my departure."
What he likes about MTY? "The habitat diversity in Monterey County is incredible! From the rolling grassland hills of Gabilan Range to the rugged Sugar Pine-capped Santa Lucia Range that fades dramatically into the vastness of the Pacific, the species potential for our County is immense. This variety of territory allows one the potential to tally 200+ species in a day with a little determination."

Photo: 17 Oct 2018 Pt. Pinos © D. Roberson

Ronald L. Branson

Hit 400 mark: 4 Sep 1988 with Hudsonian Godwit at Salinas R. mouth
Current total [life]: 423
Has been birding MTY since: 1961, was a long time resident of Monterey and Carmel, now deceased
Occupation: retired Physician
Claim to fame: Ron was very active in finding first MTY records in the late 1960s, and was the first observer to record 400 birds for Monterey County. At the time he was the county's premier bird photographer, and many of his photos from the 1960s-1970s have not been repeated.
What's he doing lately? Ron once traveled widely, photographed a lot of flowers, and he participated in his 60th consecutive Monterey Peninsula Christmas Bird Count in Dec 2019.

Ron passed away at age 93 on 17 October 2023.

Photo: Jan 1994, Carmel R. mouth © D. Roberson

Cooper Scollan

Hit 400 mark: 28 Sep 2019 with Great Crested Flycatcher at Laguna Grande Park, Seaside
Current total [December 2024]: 423
Has been birding MTY since: 1987, and Resides in Monterey
Occupation: Landscape Designer & Contractor
Most satisfying bird?: Cooper mentions three: (1) "a Little Gull flyover at Zmudowski Beach which was the finale at the end of our record-setting MTY Big Day" on 28 Apr 2017; (2) finding a "Rusty Blackbird at San Carlos Cemetery just as we were leaving," that remained to "put on a show for many;" and (3) the "Gyrfalcon found by Blake Matheson, which is on my son's very first eBird checklist!"
Worst miss?: Two frustrations from fall 2019: Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher ["Just missed it!"] and "Yellow-throated Warbler ["Never should have stopped for coffee!"]
What he likes about MTY? "I love the immense diversity of Monterey County and all of its different habitats and ecotypes. On the same day I went from a flyby Laysan Albatross miles out at sea to the Big Sur mountains where a California Condor stole my backpack and lunch! My favorite Hotspot is the Carmel River mouth and surrounding area. I grew up a block away and walked down there almost every afternoon in Middle School to see what was there. With habitat loss and some of our finest hotspots disappearing seemingly annually, hopefully we can find a way to preserve what we have and find new areas to bird and explore in this great county!"

Photo: 28 Sep 2019, Monterey © D. Roberson

Larry Rose

Hit 400 mark: 1 Nov 2018 with Broad-winged Hawk over his Monterey home
Current total [December 2024]: 423
Has been birding MTY since: 2001, and Resides in Monterey
Occupation: retired physician's assistant [after 40 years]
Most satisfying bird?: Locally, it was "seeing my first Merlin on attack." From Neotropic travels, Larry mentions "Harpy Eagle with fledgling [Panama]; Rufous-bellied Seedsnipe at 13000 ft. [Andes]; and the rare Orange-throated Tanager [southern Ecuador]."
Worst miss?: "Snowy Owl in November 2017 in Oklahoma. [We didn't know about it] and drove right by it." [Worst miss in Monterey — he mentions missing the Pt. Lobos Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher in Sep 2019 by just a few minutes.]
What he likes about MTY? Larry is from Oklahoma, but he admires Monterey for "The climate, bird diversity, and local birders."

Photo: 13 Dec 2024 at Lagunita Mirada, Monterey © D. Roberson

Carole Rose

Hit 400 mark: 28 Sep 2019 with Plumbeous Vireo at San Carlos Cemetery, Monterey
Current total [December 2024]: 422
Has been birding MTY since: 2001, and Resides in Monterey
Occupation: retired
Most satisfying bird?: Carole mentions these: "We went to Paul Fenwick’s hummingbird feeders to see a stakeout Costa’s. Paul wasn't but he invited us to his backyard anyway. We were getting satisfied looks at Black-chinned and another Costa's when a male Calliope came in and surprised us. I got multiple photos and really enjoy this rarity in Monterey.", and "We were at Carmel River mouth to chase a Blue-winged Warbler that Tim Armaral had found, and I happened to photograph a vireo that turned out to be a Blue-headed Vireo. Others got to chase it too. Nice when you can share the find!"
Worst miss?: "Great Frigatebird (2 Nov 2016) "I was just around the corner when it passed by Pt. Pinos;" and Sulphur-bellied Flycatcher (16 Sep 2019) "I was heading to where it was last seen when others found it at the parking lot I just came from. First record for Monterey and would have been a great #400 bird for me!"
What she likes about MTY? "Besides being a large county with varied habitats hosting such a great diversity of birds, I like the community of birders here with this shared passion. Before moving to Monterey I didn't have any mentors to learn the art of birdwatching. Rob Fowler changed that as well as others since. It has become a fun pastime that has resulted in great travel opportunities, but it is always nice to come home and know the birdwatching will continue not far from our backyard. "

Photo: 5 Dec 2023, Stillwater Cove, Pebble Beach © D. Roberson

Tim Amaral

Hit 400 mark: 5 Jan 2013 with Arctic Loon in the Monterey harbor
Current total [December 2024]: 420
Has been birding MTY since: 1994, and Resides in Prunedale
Occupation: Adult education teacher
Most satisfying bird?: "My favorite find is the 12 Oct 2008 Streaked Shearwater on a Monterey Seabirds trip. It was one of those rare moments where my brain and my tongue were actually synchronized. I called out the Seabirds' leader trifecta: the right bird, the right directions, and the a "stop the boat!" shout that everyone could hear."
Worst miss? "My arch-nemesis bird is Evening Grosbeak."
What he likes about MTY? "Reasons why I love birding in Monterey County: First, because I don't get to travel very often (I only have an ABA list of 537 species but because I live in this area I have 400 of them in one county). Second, after a tough day in the field, I can get a really good taco just about anywhere. And most of all, I can go to sea and find cool things with a great group of people on Monterey Seabirds."

Photo: Aug 2015, Monterey harbor © fide Tim Amaral

Alan Baldridge

Hit 400 mark: 15 Nov 2001 with Scarlet Tanager at Laguna Grande Park, Seaside
Current total [life]: 413
Had been birding MTY since: 1966, was a long time resident of Pacific Grove, now deceased
Occupation: Retired librarian, Hopkins Marine Station; now deceased
Claim to fame: co-wrote The Bird Year (1980), a natural history of local birds. Alan discovered the Swallow-tailed Gull at Hopkins in 1985, and had hosted many rarities in his yard, including a Kentucky Warbler! (21-29 Oct 1990). Alan was honored, along with wife Sheila, long time librarian at the Moss Landing Marine Lab, at the Monterey Bay Aquarium for exceptional service to local natural history studies, and was an important mentor with the Monterey chapter of the American Cetacean Society. The research vessel "Sheila B" was named for her.

Alan passed away at age 80 on May 28, 2014; his wife Sheila passed away at age 88 on August 11, 2023.

Photo: 8 Aug 2013 Carmel Valley, on Alan's 80th birthday © Rita Carratello

John Sterling

Hit 400 mark: 7 June 2018 with Eastern Kingbird at South Bank Trail, Carmel Valley
Current total [December 2024]: 413
Has been birding MTY since: first birding trip in Monterey was in 1975 and John has returned many times but always as a visitor; he has never lived in MTY. Resides in Woodland, Yolo Co., California
Occupation: biologist
Most satisfying bird?: "A Magnificent Frigatebird that flew up from its perch on the Monterey Harbor jetty in 1977 was very satisfying. John Parmeter & I were still in high school in Napa County and were dropped off to do some birding. The frigatebird circled over our heads and slowly drifted out to sea. Also, standing next to [Laurie] Binford as he pointed out field marks of Wedge-rumped Storm-Petrel in Monterey Bay in 1977 was a treat."
Worst miss?: John writes: "Way too many, but it still hurts when I remember telling the Parmeters and Binford that I wouldn't join them on a trip to Monterey in January 1978. I had just finished a State big year and was a senior in high school. I made a conscious effort to focus on high school. Crap, I missed Roseate Spoonbill and the state’s first record of Lesser Black-backed Gull that my friends found at Roberts Lake."
What he likes about MTY? John says: "I love the magic of the vagrant traps and their history, including many of my fond memories of lifers and exciting vagrants when I was a kid. And I love the pelagic birding and the habitat diversity still found in the county!"

Photo: 29 Apr 2023 at Novato © D. Roberson

Sarah Lane

Hit 400 mark: 25 Oct 2022 with Pine Warbler at Monterey
Current total [December 2024]: 412
Has been birding MTY since: 2004, and Resides in Pebble Beach
Occupation: retired
Claim to fame: Sarah has traveled extensively with husband Jerry Stengel across North America, including long stays in coastal Texas. She enjoys photographing birds, as well as her West Highland terriers, and is often in the field with Jerry, her terriers, and her camera.
What's up lately? Sarah discovered Monterey County's first Yellow-crowned Night-Heron at a day roost at Stillwater Cove, Pebble Beach, in December 2023. In fact, she's photographing it in this photo.

Photo: 5 Dec 2023, Stillwater Cove, Pebble Beach © D. Roberson

Bruce Gerow

Hit 400 mark: 22 Nov 1998 with Chestnut-collared Longspur near Gonzales
Current total [life]: 412
Had been birding MTY since: 1981, was a life-long county resident; now deceased
Claim to fame: discovered the birding potential at the Salinas wastewater ponds and found MTY's first Upland Sandpiper there on 12 Sep 1997

Bruce passed away at age 73 on 15 June 2004. His son Steve was a premier birder in Santa Cruz until his death at age 61 on 10 May 2017.

Photo: Sep 1992 (digitized from slide), Moss Landing © D. Roberson

June Buntin

Hit 400 mark: 3 Jan 1999 with Grace's Warbler at Jacks Peak
Current total [life]: 410
Had been birding MTY since: 1984, a long-time resident in Salinas, now deceased
Claim to fame: discovered (with Ruth Doudiet) the first on-shore Masked Booby in California, at the Salinas R. mouth in June 1992. She also hosted such great backyard birds as Harris's Sparrow and Dickcissel in her Salinas yard

June was in her 80s when she passed away on 23 Nov 2008

Photo: Sep 1985 (digitized from slide), Moonglow Dairy © D. Roberson

Chris Tenney

Hit 400 mark: 7 Sep 2000 with Yellow-throated Vireo at Carmel R. mouth
Current total [December 2024]: 407
Has been birding MTY since: 1980, and Resides in Pacific Grove (when not traveling)
Occupation: retired teacher, now freelance researcher & traveler
Claim to fame: co-editor of Monterey County Breeding Bird Atlas (1992); during the Atlas project, spent more hours atlasing than anyone and created the data-base used for publication. He also authored two fascicles in Birds of North America project (Black-chinned Sparrow, Northern Beardless Tyrannulet).
What's up lately? Chris's primary natural history interests have evolved from birds to photography to butterflies. He has become a local expert on butterflies and in fall 2023, with Jan Austin, published Butterflies of Monterey County. In 2015 he set a record doing a "Big Year" for U.S. butterflies.

Photo: 6 May 2023, South Bank Trail, Palo Corona RP © D. Roberson

Todd Easterla

Hit 400 mark: Todd is in the final month of a potentially record-breaking Big Year in California, and hit the 400 mark for MTY sometime this year, but he will sort that out in 2025 -- the recitation here is by D. Roberson. If all goes well, the words below will be replaced with Todd's words next year.
Current total [December 2024]: ~405
Has been birding MTY since: at least 1992, and Resides in Rancho Cordova, Sacramento Co., California
Occupation: biological surveys & bird tour leader
Background: from a birding biography for a 2007 "World Series of Birding" big day competition: "Todd Easterla has been an avid birder since childhood. It was in his home state of Missouri that he honed his keen observation skills and inherited a lifelong passion for bird identification from his father, Dr. David Easterla, co-author of the Birds of Missouri."
MTY & California background: Todd is a remarkable bird finder. He found Monterey County's first (and so far, only) Thick-billed Longspur back on 3 Dec 2000. Todd discovered California's first Common Ringed Plover at the Yolo County wetlands on 19 Aug 2011; that breeding-plumage male was successfully chased by birders around the state, including some from MTY. Also in Yolo County, Todd found and photographed the first juvenile Red-necked Stint in the Lower 48, and published the photos and analysis (W. Birds 143: 112-115, 2012). Other finds here in MTY include Buff-breasted Sandpiper (Aug 1993), Lesser Black-backed Gull (Nov 2003, the 2d MTY record), Little Stint (a juv at Moonglow in Sep 2008, a 2d MTY record), and this year, a Common Ringed Plover on 31 Aug 2024 (also a 2d MTY record).

Photo: 13 Oct 2024 at Salinas WTP © D. Roberson

Richard Ternullo

Hit 400 mark: 27 Feb 2013 with Nelson's Sparrow at Moonglow Dairy
Current total [life]: 403
Had been birding MTY since: 1992, legendary boat captain; now deceased
Most satisfying bird? "Prairie Warbler -- it was recorded at the old milk truck at MoonGlow, I walked up and there it was, took about 10 seconds. Chasing is easy!" [ed: Richard also probably saw more MTY pelagics than all the rest of us combined!]
Worst miss? "I hate Evening Grosbeak."
What he likes about MTY? Richard wrote in 2015: "I've grown up here all my life (nearly). Birding has led me to know many wonderful people that helped 'show me the way' by their helpfulness and kindness. I can't help driving around the county and see the changes that I would have never appreciated without keeping a list. Listing, if done well, is the most educational of experiences. And we never are done learning, are we?"

Richard passed away at age 66 on August 24, 2016.

Photo: Apr 2007, Monterey Bay © D. Roberson

Fred Hochstaedter

Hit 400 mark: 22 Oct 2024 with Sprague's Pipit at Salinas River NWR
Current total [December 2024]: 402
Has been birding MTY since: 2012, and Resides in Pacific Grove
Occupation: Soon to retire from a quarter century of teaching geology and oceanography at Monterey Peninsula College
Most satisfying bird?: The one that comes most often to mind is the Gyrfalcon found by Blake Matheson in 2018. On the day that bird was discovered, I was talking with Don Roberson about how to relocate it. His suggestion was to visit the coastal dunes that resemble the wide-open tundra of its native habitat. So the next morning I did just that, going to the Salinas River NWR and scanning the dunes. On one of my scans, there it was--sitting on a dune, gazing at the brackish pond near the trail. I quickly set up my scope and, with shaking hands, snapped a few hand-held digiscope photos. I checked the photos to see that I had gotten it, and when I looked up, it was gone. I stood in the exact same spot six years later to see my 400th Monterey bird, the Sprague's Pipit.
Worst miss?: The most egregious is Bank Swallow, but others include Swainson's Hawk, Laysan Albatross, and Wilson's Storm-Petrel
What he likes about MTY? We're lucky enough to live within a few miles of Pt Pinos, the best seawatching location on the west coast. But it's the people that make Monterey special, and most importantly, fun. Whereas I've gotten probably more than my fair share of those dreaded "About your eBird observation...." emails, Don Roberson and Rita Carratello have always been welcoming and generous with their time to teach and share their knowledge. Don's website with its histories of Monterey birding, periodic rarity updates, and the 400 Club have made birding in Monterey more fun. It's incredible to be mentored by some of the world's best birders. I was seawatching at Pt Pinos a few days ago when I turned to the guy standing next to me and said, "hey will you point out a 1st-winter Herring Gull to me if you see one? I'm having trouble picking them out." Without missing a beat, he replied, "Well there's one coming in right there. See the pale base to the bill and the checkered pattern on the back." As I was locating and digesting those ID characteristics, Brian Sullivan had his camera out and was focusing on the tail. "Check out the pale base to those tail feathers! That might be a Vega Gull!" Sure enough, after correspondence with gull experts, it was confirmed. Boom! County bird #402. And it's multi-generational. It's inspirational to feel the enthusiasm of younger birders like Kai Russel and Amanda Preece. It is not possible to curb their excitement and enthusiasm. It's contagious. Every year we're lucky to have Alison Vilag visit for six weeks of seawatching and counting loons. She's taught us the profound value of simultaneously documenting the details and quietly witnessing the splendor of one of nature's great spectacles. And of course my biggest favorite is birding with my partner, Catherine Webb. I always see more birds when birding with Catherine. We've got a special thing going here in Monterey County. Thank you to everybody who contributes in their own unique ways. Don't take it for granted.

Photo: 22 Oct 2024, Salinas River NWR (having just seen Sprague's Pipit!) © Rita Carratello

Jim Booker

Hit 400 mark: 24 May 2000 with White-eyed Vireo at Big Sur R. mouth
Current total [December 2024]: 402
Has been birding MTY since: 1978, resident 1995-2001, now based in China, teaching English
Occupation: environmental consultant and teacher
Most satisfying bird?: "finding, and then assisting other birders to see, birds that were on the county list but had no recent records at that time, so were nemesis birds for many people. Cape May Warbler, Bay-breasted Warbler, and Brown Thrasher are good examples." [Jim mentions a couple Asian pheasants as recent adventures — Elliot's Pheasant and Cabot's Tragopan].
Worst miss?: "mega-rare pelagics — I went to extraordinary lengths to try and increase my odds of seeing some of the incredible pelagic species on the county list but came up rather short. Pelagic rarities really are rare and hard to see. No Streaked Shearwater, Short-tailed Albatross, or Horned Puffin, among many others."
What he likes about MTY? "best thing about Monterey County: it has a little something for everybody, so many different habitats for so many different species . . and a tenacious county overlord to rule them all! It was great birding with you Don!"

Photo: 2019 at a hide for Hume's Pheasant in Asia © J. Booker

HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
Rich Stallcup

Current total [life]: ~395, maybe more
     As far as we know, Rich Stallcup's MTY list was in the 390s when he passed away in 2012. John Sterling's "county birding" pages list his MTY total at a "minimum" of 387 NIB [=no introduced birds], and to this we must add the prior standard of 5 introduced populations in MTY, for a "minimum" total of 392. There have been taxonomic splits since then, and his final MTY total may be about 395, without any serious effort on his part to add species on his occasional visits, often when leading birding tours. For all his accomplishments in Monterey County, he is entitled to "honorary" membership here, although, given his many honors during his lifetime, I suspect he wouldn't have noticed this one.
Had been birding MTY since: early 1960s but never lived here, except for a short stint as a soldier at Fort Ord in the 1960s. During much of his life he resided at Point Reyes Station, Marin County, CA.
Occupation: Naturalist, environmentalist, teacher, writer, and magic-man; now deceased
Claim to fame: Drafted in the Vietnam War era and posted to Monterey for a short time, Rich became a force in Monterey County. He is associated as finder or co-finder of 18 first MTY records from as far back as 1967 (Broad-winged Hawk) to as recent as 2002 (Crested Caracara), more than any one else, even those who lived here. He always had a serious interest in seabirds, and his paper on the Pelagic Birds of Monterey Bay (1976) is a classic; the article has been reprinted as a booklet and sold for years. His Ocean Birds of the Nearshore Pacific (1990) provided an exceptional introduction to sea-birding, but also to cetaceans and sea-turtles. Rich also took what he learned from teaching bird classes and leading bird tours to self-publish Birds for Real (1985), a detailed critique of the then-popular Robbins et al. (1966) Golden Press field guide. In Marin County, Rich was a co-founder of Pt. Reyes Bird Observatory in 1967 (now Point Blue). His i.d. pieces in the PRBO newsletter in the 1980s-90s were gems on our common birds, from "Gnat-kings" [Empidonax flycatchers] to the "Eye-ringed Leaf-gleaners" [Hutton's Vireo vs. Ruby-crowned Kinglet] that were heavily used by students and others, like me, who taught birding classes at some point in time. -- D. Roberson

Rich passed away at age 67 on 15 Dec 2012. More on Rich's impact on the California birding community between 1965-1989 is on this website.

Photo from a pelagic trip, perhaps in the 1980s © Janet Wessel

there may be one or two other observers who may qualify