Post by b1schmor on Mar 28, 2007 20:02:22 GMT -8
Hello birders,
I recently returned from a trip to rainy Southern California. My wife Carolynn was attending a conference in Anaheim so I decided to take advantage of the free hotel room and try to find some sun and some interesting birds. I didn't see much sun, but I did find some good birds.
While researching the area I targeted seven birds; Tricolored Blackbird, Lawrence's Goldfinch, Yellow-footed Gull, California Thrasher, California Gnatcatcher, Pinyon Jay, and Oak Titmouse.
The first day I explored from Laguna Beach to Newport Bay. My first stop was Crystal Cove State Park. Two seconds after closing the car door I heard a thrasher-like call and sure enough, there was a California Thrasher on a bush across the parking lot. Two seconds after putting down the bird guide (seriously) on the front seat, I heard a cat-like call; what do you know a California Gnatcatcher. These were the two birds I had just driven an hour and a half in traffic to get and I managed to get them in two minutes. Mission accomplished.
I decided to keep birding. The coastal shrub and the coastline contained some nice birds; Wrentit, Anna's Hummingbird, Willet, Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit. Black Oystercatcher, Bullock's Oriole, Nuttal's Woodpecker, and Hermit Thrush.
My next stop was Upper Newport Bay. There is a one-way drive along the bay. A very nice birding spot. Here I saw Clapper Rail, American Avocet, Snowy Egret, Allen's Hummingbird, Black Phoebe, Common Moorhen, Caspian Tern and loads of Cinnamon Teal.
My last stop for the day was the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Newport Bay. Nice birds here included Whimbrel, Black-necked Stilts, and Great Egret.
The next day I headed to the San Jacinto Mountains. My targets here included Oak Titmouse, Pinyon Jay, and Lawrence's Goldfinch. I missed the Jay and Goldfinch, but I did manage to find to very cooperative Oak Titmice. Other nice birds in the mountains included Townsend's Solitaire, Western Bluebird, Western Scrub Jay, Lesser Goldfinch, Acorn Woodpecker, and Band-tailed Pigeon. These mountains had a very Okanagan feel to them.
The next three days were spent hiking in Joshua Tree National Park. Before we got to the park we stopped at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area to search for Tricolored Black birds with no luck.
Joshua Tree contains incredible rock formations as well as stunning vegetation. Interesting birds included Black-throated Sparrow, Greater Roadrunner, Brewer's Sparrow, Gambel's Quail, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Phainopepla, Loggerhead Shrike, and Cactus, Canyon, and House Wren.
After visiting Joshua Tree we did a loop around the Salton Sea. The bird we were looking for was the Yellow-footed Gull. A number have over-wintered this year but we didn't see a one. We did have great looks a six Burrowing Owls. Also, we saw Common Ground-Doves, Abert's Towhees, Sage Thrasher, hundreds of White-faced Ibis, Western Kingbirds and two Sora. The shear number of birds on the Salton Sea is staggering. Hundreds to thousands of gulls, Avocets, Stilts, Eared Grebes, Shovelers, Snow Geese, Cattle Egrets etc.... Quite amazing.
The last day was spent looping back through the San Jacinto Mountains again. My primary bird (also my nemesis bird for 11 years) was Pinyon Jay. The ABA bird guide to California said they would be found near the Hurkley Campground near Hemet Lake. Of course, birds guides can't guarantee a sighting, but fortunately for us, they were exactly where they were supposed to be, a large flock of about 30.
Thus, we managed to get four out of seven targets and ended with 137 species for the trip. The only unfortunate part was that it rained on us in the desert for four straight days. I had thought that I had taken the BC rain with me, but from the look of the flooded fields in Abbotsford that didn't happen.
I did learn one important lesson that I will share with any birders thinking of going to the Salton Sea; if it rains DO NOT attempt to drive on the dirt roads. They become this thick mud-like substance that is impossible to drive in. We saw three four-wheel drives stuck and another in a ditch.
Cheer,
Brent Schmor
Abbotsford
I recently returned from a trip to rainy Southern California. My wife Carolynn was attending a conference in Anaheim so I decided to take advantage of the free hotel room and try to find some sun and some interesting birds. I didn't see much sun, but I did find some good birds.
While researching the area I targeted seven birds; Tricolored Blackbird, Lawrence's Goldfinch, Yellow-footed Gull, California Thrasher, California Gnatcatcher, Pinyon Jay, and Oak Titmouse.
The first day I explored from Laguna Beach to Newport Bay. My first stop was Crystal Cove State Park. Two seconds after closing the car door I heard a thrasher-like call and sure enough, there was a California Thrasher on a bush across the parking lot. Two seconds after putting down the bird guide (seriously) on the front seat, I heard a cat-like call; what do you know a California Gnatcatcher. These were the two birds I had just driven an hour and a half in traffic to get and I managed to get them in two minutes. Mission accomplished.
I decided to keep birding. The coastal shrub and the coastline contained some nice birds; Wrentit, Anna's Hummingbird, Willet, Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit. Black Oystercatcher, Bullock's Oriole, Nuttal's Woodpecker, and Hermit Thrush.
My next stop was Upper Newport Bay. There is a one-way drive along the bay. A very nice birding spot. Here I saw Clapper Rail, American Avocet, Snowy Egret, Allen's Hummingbird, Black Phoebe, Common Moorhen, Caspian Tern and loads of Cinnamon Teal.
My last stop for the day was the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary in Newport Bay. Nice birds here included Whimbrel, Black-necked Stilts, and Great Egret.
The next day I headed to the San Jacinto Mountains. My targets here included Oak Titmouse, Pinyon Jay, and Lawrence's Goldfinch. I missed the Jay and Goldfinch, but I did manage to find to very cooperative Oak Titmice. Other nice birds in the mountains included Townsend's Solitaire, Western Bluebird, Western Scrub Jay, Lesser Goldfinch, Acorn Woodpecker, and Band-tailed Pigeon. These mountains had a very Okanagan feel to them.
The next three days were spent hiking in Joshua Tree National Park. Before we got to the park we stopped at the San Jacinto Wildlife Area to search for Tricolored Black birds with no luck.
Joshua Tree contains incredible rock formations as well as stunning vegetation. Interesting birds included Black-throated Sparrow, Greater Roadrunner, Brewer's Sparrow, Gambel's Quail, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Northern Mockingbird, Phainopepla, Loggerhead Shrike, and Cactus, Canyon, and House Wren.
After visiting Joshua Tree we did a loop around the Salton Sea. The bird we were looking for was the Yellow-footed Gull. A number have over-wintered this year but we didn't see a one. We did have great looks a six Burrowing Owls. Also, we saw Common Ground-Doves, Abert's Towhees, Sage Thrasher, hundreds of White-faced Ibis, Western Kingbirds and two Sora. The shear number of birds on the Salton Sea is staggering. Hundreds to thousands of gulls, Avocets, Stilts, Eared Grebes, Shovelers, Snow Geese, Cattle Egrets etc.... Quite amazing.
The last day was spent looping back through the San Jacinto Mountains again. My primary bird (also my nemesis bird for 11 years) was Pinyon Jay. The ABA bird guide to California said they would be found near the Hurkley Campground near Hemet Lake. Of course, birds guides can't guarantee a sighting, but fortunately for us, they were exactly where they were supposed to be, a large flock of about 30.
Thus, we managed to get four out of seven targets and ended with 137 species for the trip. The only unfortunate part was that it rained on us in the desert for four straight days. I had thought that I had taken the BC rain with me, but from the look of the flooded fields in Abbotsford that didn't happen.
I did learn one important lesson that I will share with any birders thinking of going to the Salton Sea; if it rains DO NOT attempt to drive on the dirt roads. They become this thick mud-like substance that is impossible to drive in. We saw three four-wheel drives stuck and another in a ditch.
Cheer,
Brent Schmor
Abbotsford