At mid-morning on 21 October 1991 I visited Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery on Point Loma in San Diego, California. While searching for a reported Scarlet Tanager (Piranga olivacea), I stopped to look through a small flock of Chipping Sparrows (Spizella passerina) feeding in the short grass. I was immediately attracted to a rusty-colored bird with prominent chestnut cheek patches that was about the size of the Chipping Sparrows. The flock was alarmed by my presence and flew up into the trees. As the bird flew I saw white on the outer tail feathers and heard a junco-like “tick” note, and when it landed I saw black streaks on the underparts. I felt the bird was one of the Asiatic buntings, and suspected it was probably a Rustic Bunting (Emberiza rustica), but had no books to consult for verification. Realizing I needed confirmation, I rushed to the nearest telephone and told Richard E. Webster of the bird’s presence. Webster alerted birders in southern California before leaving his office for the cemetery.