Post by Dave on Jan 7, 2008 20:49:02 GMT -8
On Saturday, December 29, we got the rental van for the morning and went to the San Diego River as well as Point Loma. The San Diego River was great for photos of herons and egrets, as well as only my second Tri-coloured Heron of my life, a good bird for San Diego. Sanderling, Dunlin, Long-billed Curlew, Willet, Whimbrel, Turnstones, Dowitchers, well, you get the idea…..
The best bird of Point Loma was a singing California Thrasher that didn’t seem to have a care in the world! Usually I have to crawl under a bush to see this guy. Wow!
Sunday, December 30 – We went to church in the morning and relaxed at La Jolla in the afternoon. Wandering Tattler made an appearance with the loads of pelicans, gulls, cormorants, etc….
Monday, December 31 – Spent the entire day at SeaWorld and New Year’s Eve watching fireworks over Mission Bay.
Tuesday, January 1
Tuesday, was incredible. We were off to Borrego Springs in Anza Borrego Desert, and planned to camp at Palm Canyon Campground (a well-researched decision, if you know the area). I was online at the previous campground, and learned about a wintering oriole near Borrego Springs. Since I was driving the motorhome, and my passengers were rather sleepy that morning (I had woken up, took a shower, and slipped into the driver's seat with everyone still zonked out for the night - sure is nice to do with the motorhome). Two hours later, we were making a mysterious stop at a palm grove outside of Borrego Springs. I stepped out, and literally within 15 seconds, in flies......
....Scott's Oriole!!! Wow.....
A Prairie Falcon tried to distract me from my new life bird
We were 15 minutes from our campsite, and we pulled in to beautiful desert scenery. Within minutes, I was at the booth claiming an "outside loop site" we had found in the state campground. Meanwhile, the others had found a bird that I needed! We were all looking for it at this point, because I had told them how they were "hit and miss" birds, and last time in California we had missed it. Now I was at the entrance paying for the next 2 nights, and right in our site was the bird!
The good news is I made it back in time, as here is 1 of only 2 we saw the whole trip.
While walking after this Greater Roadrunner, Brian came to me and said he found a bird that he matched in Sibley and thinks it is a Lesser Goldfinch. Another lifer in the campground? Yep...1 minute later this dude was sitting for the camera.
In the meantime, John brings his camera to me while I was taking pictures of this guy, and said, "look at this bird I just took a picture of..what is this guy?" I just about flipped as that was another bird I had missed last trip. With in a few minutes, I had Cactus Wren on my life list as well!
I had just seen 3 lifers in our campsite, before setting up our camper for the night??? Wow! Well, we set up house and then biked to the visitor center (1/2 mile) for maps/info. A different note calling from the bushes attracted me, and I had a few guesses of what it might be. With my Ipod, I matched the call, and soon another life bird jumped up for a photo op.
A Verdin! Back at the campsite, White-winged Doves flew in for lifer number 9 and the last lifer of this trip. I think I have cleaned up all the easier birds to get in Southern California during the winter now!
We went for a hike up Palm Canyon, where we had great views and poor pictures of California Gnatcatcher. Canyon Wren, Costa’s and Anna's Hummingbird, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet were at the spring.
Palm Canyon
Oh, and I can't forget the beautiful Black-throated Sparrows right in the campground as well!
The best bird of Point Loma was a singing California Thrasher that didn’t seem to have a care in the world! Usually I have to crawl under a bush to see this guy. Wow!
Sunday, December 30 – We went to church in the morning and relaxed at La Jolla in the afternoon. Wandering Tattler made an appearance with the loads of pelicans, gulls, cormorants, etc….
Monday, December 31 – Spent the entire day at SeaWorld and New Year’s Eve watching fireworks over Mission Bay.
Tuesday, January 1
Tuesday, was incredible. We were off to Borrego Springs in Anza Borrego Desert, and planned to camp at Palm Canyon Campground (a well-researched decision, if you know the area). I was online at the previous campground, and learned about a wintering oriole near Borrego Springs. Since I was driving the motorhome, and my passengers were rather sleepy that morning (I had woken up, took a shower, and slipped into the driver's seat with everyone still zonked out for the night - sure is nice to do with the motorhome). Two hours later, we were making a mysterious stop at a palm grove outside of Borrego Springs. I stepped out, and literally within 15 seconds, in flies......
....Scott's Oriole!!! Wow.....
A Prairie Falcon tried to distract me from my new life bird
We were 15 minutes from our campsite, and we pulled in to beautiful desert scenery. Within minutes, I was at the booth claiming an "outside loop site" we had found in the state campground. Meanwhile, the others had found a bird that I needed! We were all looking for it at this point, because I had told them how they were "hit and miss" birds, and last time in California we had missed it. Now I was at the entrance paying for the next 2 nights, and right in our site was the bird!
The good news is I made it back in time, as here is 1 of only 2 we saw the whole trip.
While walking after this Greater Roadrunner, Brian came to me and said he found a bird that he matched in Sibley and thinks it is a Lesser Goldfinch. Another lifer in the campground? Yep...1 minute later this dude was sitting for the camera.
In the meantime, John brings his camera to me while I was taking pictures of this guy, and said, "look at this bird I just took a picture of..what is this guy?" I just about flipped as that was another bird I had missed last trip. With in a few minutes, I had Cactus Wren on my life list as well!
I had just seen 3 lifers in our campsite, before setting up our camper for the night??? Wow! Well, we set up house and then biked to the visitor center (1/2 mile) for maps/info. A different note calling from the bushes attracted me, and I had a few guesses of what it might be. With my Ipod, I matched the call, and soon another life bird jumped up for a photo op.
A Verdin! Back at the campsite, White-winged Doves flew in for lifer number 9 and the last lifer of this trip. I think I have cleaned up all the easier birds to get in Southern California during the winter now!
We went for a hike up Palm Canyon, where we had great views and poor pictures of California Gnatcatcher. Canyon Wren, Costa’s and Anna's Hummingbird, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet were at the spring.
Palm Canyon
Oh, and I can't forget the beautiful Black-throated Sparrows right in the campground as well!