The first Olive-backed Pipit (Anthus hodgsoni) recorded in California was banded on 26 September 1998 on Southeast Farallon Island, 42 km west of San Francisco. The bird arrived just prior to the largest wave of migrants on the Farallones in ten years, as hundreds of western birds and several eastern vagrants descended on the island during the next five days. During this period, no Red-throated Pipits (A. cervinus) and only small numbers of American Pipits (A. rubescens) were observed. The Olive-backed Pipit was seen each day through 29 September.