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Post by tmanson on Feb 24, 2009 5:57:00 GMT -8
Hi all: Got some free internet time, and so I thought I would bring members up to date on my s.w. birding odyssey. Using off topic section, so as not too interfere too much with local birding news. As usual I am target birding, which meant for me I didn't start birding until I got to Ventura California. Couldn't help but notice, however, the thousands of birds seen from the highway at Klamath Falls, Oregon, and the Sacremento River National Wildlife Refugel. Worth a trip in itself. From Ventura took the ferry over to Santa Cruz Island to try for the Island Scrub Jay. A quite beautiful bird, and easy to get on its island endemic location. On the way saw Xantu's Murrets, and Black Vented Shearwater, two more lifers. On to South Central L.A. to look for Spotted Doves. L.A. Audubon Society says there is no reliable location for this bird, but when I stepped out of the car at Huntingdon Park, 5 or 6 greeted me. Thanks to Brian and Dorothy for the tip. South to the Elijhio Lagoon for California Gnatcatcher. Found it after about an hour of looking in the chapparal. Over to the Salton Sea via Anza Borrega Park. About halfway through the park I remembered that Lawrence's Goldfinch occasionally winter in the interior of California. Checked a few locations, but no luck on this bird- better in the spring. At the Salton Sea found the Yellow footed Gull easily, even though it is supposed to be a summer bird. On to West Phoenix to look for the LeConte's Thrahser. I met up with a Birding Pal there, and four of us found the thrasher in about 2 hours- quite an elusive bird when it is not singing. Writing this from Green Valley where I am about to look for a rarity- Rufous Capped Warbler, and then, another, the Blue Mockingbird in Douglas- could be dip time, but have to stay positive. So far so good. Cheers, thor
Thor Manson Hope, B.C.
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Post by Gord on Feb 24, 2009 9:16:50 GMT -8
Thor, great to hear from you! No worries about it interfering with anything; I moved it up to here.
Congrats on the new birds and good luck on continued good luck. Look forward to hearing any updates you are able to give.
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Post by Dave on Feb 24, 2009 18:15:16 GMT -8
Hi Thor! Thanks for the update. You sure have had success so far. That LeConte's Thrasher sure sounds easy compared to the hunting I did (and still missed the bird). I guess I will have to head down in March. Surprised you got Yellow-legged Gull so early in the year. Glad to hear San Elijo pulled through for you. I share the same spot for my life California Gnatcatcher. You already have 5 birds that I would like on my life list! And now Rufous-capped Warbler?? Blue Mockingbird? You aren't messing around! Let us know how it goes . Dave
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Post by tmanson on Mar 2, 2009 11:06:46 GMT -8
Hi all: More free internet time. Updating the pilgrimage through some of the birding hotspots of the American Southwest. Managed to get the Rufous crowned Warbler in a canyon next to the Florida Work Station, which is near Green Valley. Took about 5 hours of hard looking, with almost no other birds seen- weird! Also found the Blue Mockingbird on the Slaughter Ranch, outside Douglas- beautiful, and very skulky bird, but worth the look in the 90 degree heat. Now I am developing a couple of jinx birds. I cruised Ruby Road outside Nogales a few times looking for Montezuma Quail without success. Also spent a day and a half in beautiful Fort Davis State Park looking for the same bird. The park advertizes the bird on its brochure, and then I find out no one has seen ( reported )the bird for the whole month of February. The park natualist says it used to come to the park feeders; but no more. Will have to try again on the way back. In between Arizona, and Texas, I did drive up Scandia Peek in New Mexico, and saw all 3 Rosy Finches at the feeders they have installed there. Great to be able to see all 3 in one spot. Also, on a clear day, a breatakingly spectacular view. Am now in Zapata Texas, having spent almost a full day looking for the White Collared Seedeater. Lots of mosquitoes, but no bird, so far. I did eliminate another jinx bird this a.m., however, when I stumbled across an Olive Sparrow. A lot of the Rio Grande specialities are showing themselves- Green Jay, Plain Chacalacha, Altamira Oriole, Great Kiskadee, etc. Okay, back to the trenches, and loving it. Cheers, Thor
Thor Manson Hope, B.C.
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Post by Deleted on Mar 2, 2009 14:15:27 GMT -8
Hi. Thor.
You're not the only one jinxed by Montezuma Quail. We tried all over SE AZ, met birders who had just seen one two minutes ago, the whole works.
We tried for the seed-eater at San Ygnacio, just up the road from Zapata, where one was being seen fairly regularly, but no luck for us. No luck on the Brown Jays at Zapata either, although we would have seen them if we had stopped there on our way to San Ygnacio in the morning. So it goes.
Good luck in the LRGV. It's a great place to bird. And I hope you get the quail on the way back.
Stan
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Post by Dave on Mar 2, 2009 23:10:03 GMT -8
Wow. Rufous-capped Warbler! Thanks for the update, Thor! I am enjoying this trip right with you.
Dave
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Post by oldfulica on Mar 3, 2009 7:01:10 GMT -8
It is great getting those updates Thor. We leave Yuma tomorrow for the SE Arizona area and we will be following up on your sightings. That Blue Mockingbird is only the 3rd sighting for Arizona as you know and was first seen Feb.9 I think. Great to see it is still around. We tried one last time yesterday for the Black Rail. Saw a bird fly out of the reed, across the pond, and into other reeds, which I am almost certain was the target but didn,t get enough of it for a positive ID. Very frustrating. s231.photobucket.com/albums/ee144/oldfulica/?action=view¤t=Aberts-Towhee-Yuma-Feb09.jpg
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Post by Gord on Mar 5, 2009 22:57:52 GMT -8
Enjoying following the progress and seeing the pictures. Keep it up guys! Good luck as you continue on your journeys.
One day...one day Ill follow these footsteps!!
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Post by oldfulica on Mar 6, 2009 19:06:16 GMT -8
Hi Dian and I are now in Benson AZ. I hope Thor doesn't mind using his thread. He must be in Texas now. We got his Blue Mockingbird yesterday and Ruddy ground Doves in the same location on the Mexican border. Today we found the Rufous-capped Warbler and Bridled Titmouse where Thor was a week ago. Also got the Broad-billed Hummingbird for another lifer. The wind has picked up here so we are waiting for it to calm down before heading out for Elegant Trogon and Sinaloan Wren. A Black-throated Magpie Jay was seen today down south so now we have something else to chase. Good to hear the Swallows are back. Every time I see one I wonder if it is on its' way up there. I haven't been able to get some good pix lately but will post them if I get some.
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Post by tmanson on Mar 8, 2009 13:21:28 GMT -8
Hi all: Chapter 3 of my trip, and am enjoying Stan's descriptions as well. I am on a time constricted computer this time, so will have to be quick. Stan is right that the lower Rio Grande is a birders' paradise, especially if you have the time to go back to a few places again, if you dip the first time on a bird. Also great infrastructure down here to help you find birds, and the weather ain't too bad either. Great to hear the swallows, ( tree, I imagine ) are back home. That seems to be the prevailing swallow down here too, although Cliff, and Barn have been seen. Not quite sure where I left off, but am continuing to target bird, although all the LWRG birds are showing themselves with a few exceptions. Found the Crimson Collared Grosbeak at Frontera Audubon, as well as Yellow throated Warbler, and Clay Coloured Thrush. At Estero Llande State Park had Fulvous Whistling Duck, and Rose Throated Becard. At Laguna Atacosta today I saw a Groove Billed Ani, and the other day a Blue Bunting, Northern and Tropical Parula. Brownsville, on the border of the dump coughed up a Tamaulipas Crow. Saw a Hook Billed Kite at Bensten State Park, and heard a Ferruginous Pygmy Owl the other day, and am going back tomorrow to see if I can see one. Elf Owl is also in there. Now that the time has changed, I can walk in at 6:30a.m., instead of 5:30. Will stay on the Rio Grande until I can find those two owls, Muscovy Duck, Red Billed Pidgeon, and White Collared Seedeater. Cheers, Thor
Thor Manson Hope, B.C.
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Post by tmanson on Mar 9, 2009 13:15:06 GMT -8
Hi all: Yesterday, when I did a report, I must have been more tired than I thought. I meant to say I have also been enjoying LEN'S reports. Today, I walked into Bensten State Park at 6:30 a.m., in the dark. About a half an hour later, I heard an Elf Owl calling. I had staked out a dead tree the day before which I had been told might contain an Elf Owl. Sure enough, with just enough light to see by, I saw a male fly in to check on his mate, or feed her. I shone my flashlight on his little face and got great looks for about 2 seconds. One of my long thought about lifers. I've also heard Feruginous Pygmy Owl calling in there, but have to find out where they are hanging out. Tomorrow is another day. Forgot to mention yesterday, that I saw a Purple Sandpiper after walking out on a rip rap jetty on South Padre the other day. Sure looks a lot like our Rock Sandpiper. Also had excellent daytime, ( and nightime ), looks at Common Parauque. The daytime looks were obviously at a roost. Boy can they ever camouflage, which is probably just as well with bobcats, ocelots, and javelinas, not to mention snakes, moving around. Saw a huge Indio snake the other day, about six feet, and a similar sized bull snake. Quite a place for variety of species this South Texas. Cheers, Thor
Thor Manson Hope, B.C.
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Post by butterfly on Mar 11, 2009 20:22:20 GMT -8
We are really enjoying your reports! Envious of the birds and warmth!!!!
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Post by tmanson on Mar 14, 2009 16:41:08 GMT -8
Hi all: Over the last 3 days I have been birding in Canadian weather here in south Texas along the Mexican border. Four nights ago, I was standing next to a pond in Zapata, on a day that reached 86 degrees, F, when I noticed it was starting to cool down a bit. In the next 6 hours it actually cooled down 40 degrees; luckily my winter clothes were stashed in the bottom of the suitcase, and that's what I have been wearing since, including gloves. Anyway, back to the heat tomorrow- what a place. On the banks of the Rio Grande yesterday at dawn, while scanning for Muscovy Duck, these 3 dudes in camouflage, ski masks, carrying serious weaponry show up on the either side, just about 20 metres away. Me, and this other birder look at them, they look at us, and then they proceed to fill their water jugs from the river, and then walk away. Later I asked the American border guards what that was all about. They said they are the Mexican Gov't forces, but they don't want to be recognized by their own people because of the drug wars on the Mexican side, and all the ramifications of that. Serious stuff. At San Ygnacio, I am standing alone in the bush by the river when I hear this motor boat roar up. Several guys jump out tear up the embankment where a truck is waiting for them, and I can hear the tires squealing as they make their getaway. The border guards tell me there are informants on the American side who radio when the coast is clear. Sure enough the border guards show up about 5 minutes later, but those guys were long gone. Anyway about the birds: After seeing the Elf Owl, at Bentsen, I headed east to Zapata, and San Ygnacio. I had a frustrating 3.5 days looking for the White Collared Seedeater, but finally found one this evening in Zapata. In Salineno, I quite easily found Red-Billed Pigeon, and Muscovy Duck. Last night I checked out a staked out culvert at dusk to get good, and definitive looks at Cave Swallow. Some other good birds- Altimara, Hooded, and Audubon Orioles a possible Common Black Hawk, ( but not callable), Scissor Tailed Flycatcher, Neotropic Cormorant, Common Ground Dove, Crested Caracara, White Tailed Hawk..... Now I am heading back west to have another crack at Feruginous Pygmy Owl, before heading up to Rockport/Aransas. Cheers, Thor
Thor Manson Hope B.C. currently in Zapata.
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Post by deb&tony on Mar 14, 2009 16:54:45 GMT -8
Wow Thor, careful out there! I think there is a book waiting to be written when you get back. Exciting stuff. Really enjoy reading about your journey and Len's in the south west. Deb
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Post by butterfly on Mar 15, 2009 12:50:35 GMT -8
That's a bit more excitement than needed for birders! Lots of great birds reported though! Good work, take care.... We are enjoying your reports!
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