Birding the Americas Trip Report
and Planning Repository
Return to the Main Index
Return to the North
America Index
Return to the U.S.A. Index
Return to the California
Index
U.S.A. -- CALIFORNIA: SAN DIEGO COUNTY
A Selection of Day-Trips
August 2001
by Mary Beth Stowe
INDEX:
08 Aug 2001 - Palomar Divide Road (incl. Riverside County)
11 Aug 2001 - Daley Ranch/Dixon Lake
13 Aug 2001 - Dixon Lake to Lake Hodges
15 Aug 2001 - Mini Coastal Route
17 Aug 2001 - Lake Hodges to Penasquitos Canyon
20 Aug 2001 - Steltzer CP to Jasper Trail
22 Aug 2001 - Old Springs Road to Salton City (incl. Imperial
County)
24 Aug 2001 - Rancho Cuyamaca SP
27 Aug 2001 - Roberts Ranch to Dos Picos County Park
31 Aug 2001 - Highland Valley to San Pasqual
08 Aug 2001 - Palomar Divide Road (incl. Riverside
County)
Today I only had time for one stop, but it was a biggie: Palomar Divide Road,
a rough dirt road which starts way up in north San Diego County and dumps
off in Riverside County. It was pretty warm and pretty quiet, so there
wasn't a real big list, but there were larger numbers of certain species
(understandably this time of year) like Wrentits, California Towhees, and
Scrub Jays. The only Hutton's Vireo of the day was in the oak woodland
at the very start of the road, and got brief glimpses of Mountain Quail running
across the road (and heard several more with their flicker-like chuckle).
Things that are normally very conspicuous in the spring, like Black-chinned
and Sage Sparrows, were virtually nowhere to be seen or heard, except for
a couple individuals that popped up in response to pishing. Several
Rock Wrens called, which I had not recorded up here before, and a family
of Phainopeplas was new as well. The views of Lake Henshaw and environs
were spectacular, as always, making the drive up there worth it for that
alone!
The oak grove at the top wasn't as pretty as last November, but there were
several unique things such as Purple Finch and Western Wood Pewee.
Chickadees were up here along with the titmice, interestingly, as well as
lots of Acorn Woodpeckers and a few House Wrens and White-breasted Nuthatches.
Instead of heading straight down the other side I decided to backtrack, because
I remember that part of the road into Riverside County being so bad last
time that I told myself I wouldn't do it again! Turns out I really
should have braved it: the drive back was almost an hour, although I did
pick up what was probably the most unusual bird of the day on the way out:
a Hairy Woodpecker in the chaparral!!
I had wanted to go up the other end anyway, just to see how far I could get
before running into the really bad stuff, but it was getting late in the
morning and things were pretty quiet; I DID get a Loggerhead Shrike "whisper
singing" at the start of the dirt road just inside the Rancho California
RV Park. What makes this leg of the road so bad is that, after the
oak grove, it becomes rough, windy, and goes STRAIGHT down, so your car has
to tread carefully! After going UP said road a bit, I decided that,
rough road or no, it's better just to grit your teeth and take the whole
thing through. But I will say this: do NOT try this road without a
4WD vehicle ("Jip" had a few new rattles by the time we were through)!
A Canyon Wren calling on the way back down was a nice compensation for my
efforts, and a Roadrunner going up highway 79 was a real treat, too!
Bird List:
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
Mountain Quail
Oreortyx pictus
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Greater Roadrunner
Geococcyx californianus
Great Horned Owl (at home)
Bubo virginianus
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
Costa's Hummingbird
Calypte costae
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Picoides nuttallii
Hairy Woodpecker
Picoides villosus
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Western Wood-Pewee
Contopus sordidulus
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Myiarchus cinerascens
Phainopepla
Phainopepla nitens
Rock Wren
Salpinctes obsoletus
Canyon Wren
Catherpes mexicanus
Bewick's Wren
Thryomanes bewickii
House Wren
Troglodytes aedon
California Thrasher
Toxostoma redivivum
Wrentit
Chamaea fasciata
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
Mountain Chickadee
Poecile gambeli
Oak Titmouse
Baeolophus inornatus
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
Loggerhead Shrike
Lanius ludovicianus
Western Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common Raven
Corvus corax
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Hutton's Vireo
Vireo huttoni
Purple Finch
Carpodacus purpureus
House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser Goldfinch
Carduelis psaltria
Orange-crowned Warbler
Vermivora celata
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
California Towhee
Pipilo crissalis
Black-chinned Sparrow
Spizella atrogularis
Sage Sparrow
Amphispiza belli
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
41 SPECIES
11 Aug 2001 - Daley Ranch/Dixon Lake
Today went up to Daley Ranch and Lake Dixon with my friend Suzanne; only
got about three trails put in (it was pretty hot, so that slowed us down,
plus a picnic break), but we had a good variety. One of the best birds
of the day was a singing Ground Dove right next to the car as we stepped
out to hike the north end of Daley Ranch, off Cougar Pass Road! Didn't
see a whole lot on this beautiful oak savannah trail, but heard a lot, including
Lazuli Bunting, Hutton's Vireo, and lots of Wrentits. Titmice came
in to pishing, and a Black-chinned Hummer did battle with someone; whether
another Blackchin or something else I couldn't tell.
Down at Dixon Lake we hiked the Chaparral Nature Trail, which took awhile
because of the heat and incline. A young Red-shouldered Hawk popped
up in the riparian area here, and California Quail called from the hillside,
along with a Canyon Wren. This time the Anna's put on a show, and up
in the open area at the end of the trail, the Costa's was buzzing around
and calling. A flock of Bushtits happened by and entertained us, checking
out the pishing noises! Lots of Lesser Goldfinches bounced around,
but at one point a flock of Lawrence's tinkled overhead, along with a lone
Acorn Woodpecker. Suzanne likes to read the signs along the trails,
so I admit I learned a lot about the native plant life as well! After
that was our picnic, where we enjoyed Black Phoebes, Scrub Jays, Nuttall's
Woodpeckers, and House Wrens while trying to keep the bees at bay!
Finally, checked out the loop at Whisker Bay, where we added the expected
waterbirds to the list (Pied-billed Grebe, coot, cormorant, and mallard,
along with a lone Forster's Tern on a buoy). A mess of Turkey Vultures
soared overhead, with more individuals heading in, and a family of Rufous-crowned
Sparrows peered at us from the bushes. A Green Heron flushed from the
lakeside while I was scanning the shore. Suzanne was pretty pooped
by about that time, so I brought the car down to where she was and we headed
on home (it was after 11:00 anyway).
Bird List:
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
Double-crested Cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritus
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
California Quail
Callipepla californica
American Coot
Fulica americana
Forster's Tern
Sterna forsteri
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Common Ground-Dove
Columbina passerina
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Archilochus alexandri
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
Costa's Hummingbird
Calypte costae
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Picoides nuttallii
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Myiarchus cinerascens
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Canyon Wren
Catherpes mexicanus
Bewick's Wren
Thryomanes bewickii
House Wren
Troglodytes aedon
California Thrasher
Toxostoma redivivum
Wrentit
Chamaea fasciata
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
Oak Titmouse
Baeolophus inornatus
Western Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
Hutton's Vireo
Vireo huttoni
House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser Goldfinch
Carduelis psaltria
Lawrence's Goldfinch
Carduelis lawrencei
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
California Towhee
Pipilo crissalis
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Aimophila ruficeps
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Lazuli Bunting
Passerina amoena
Hooded Oriole
Icterus cucullatus
40 SPECIES
13 Aug 2001 - Dixon Lake to Lake Hodges
Today started where I left off at Lake Dixon and worked my way south (kind
of, after Lake Wohlford) to Elfin Forest, Felicita CP, and Lake Hodges along
the Del Dios Highway.
At Dixon Lake, hiked the trail that hugs the lake near the boat docks, where
the most unusual thing was a lone Black-necked Stilt in with the Mallards.
A baby titmouse was still chasing its mom in the oaks, and up along the road
coming back got my first Wilson's Warbler of the season. A Black-chinned
Hummer called from one of the deciduous trees as well, and a couple of American
Goldfinches flew over.
Then went to the back side of Lake Wohlford and hiked the dirt road down
to the lake, where most of the usual oak/chaparral stuff was hanging out,
including a White-breasted Nuthatch and Orange-crowned Warblers that were
still singing! Had Great and Snowy Egret at the lake, but no waterfowl
outside of Mallards and a single Pied-billed Grebe (but, hey, a Pacific Loon
showed up here one summer, so you never know).
Took Valley Parkway over to Elfin Forest, where it was a little more lively
in the riparian woodland: a Belted Kingfisher zipped down the creek, and
in a dead tree full of Mourning Doves and House Finches, a female Western
Tanager sat pretty! Also had a very cooperative California Thrasher
put on a show amongst the many California Towhees.
"Felicita Pond" was all but dried up, with a lone turtle basking in the mud!
Got a female Hooded Oriole mad at any rate, plus the only Killdeer of the
day. The nature trail at the park was gorgeous as always, with lots
of Nuttall's Woodpeckers and yet another Wilson's Warbler, along with a very
friendly House Wren. A nice Red-shouldered Hawk flew up into an oak
and ruffled his feathers, seemingly unafraid as I passed by pretty close.
The last stop was the west side of Lake Hodges along Del Dios Highway, where
the first thing to greet me was a little memorial marker which was new since
I had been there last (saw another one down the trail, which made me wonder
who got themselves killed back there...). Picked up a handful of new
waterbirds, including Clark's Grebes (there were probably some Westerns,
too, but with the distance and lousy light I couldn't tell) and Ring-billed
Gulls. The Acorn Woodpeckers came through just back at the car!
Bird List:
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
Clark's Grebe
Aechmophorus clarkii
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
American Coot
Fulica americana
Black-necked Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Archilochus alexandri
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
Belted Kingfisher
Ceryle alcyon
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Picoides nuttallii
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
Bewick's Wren
Thryomanes bewickii
House Wren
Troglodytes aedon
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
California Thrasher
Toxostoma redivivum
Wrentit
Chamaea fasciata
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
Oak Titmouse
Baeolophus inornatus
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
Western Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common Raven
Corvus corax
Hutton's Vireo
Vireo huttoni
House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser Goldfinch
Carduelis psaltria
American Goldfinch
Carduelis tristis
Orange-crowned Warbler
Vermivora celata
Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
Wilson's Warbler
Wilsonia pusilla
Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
California Towhee
Pipilo crissalis
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Hooded Oriole
Icterus cucullatus
42 SPECIES
15 Aug 2001 - Mini Coastal Route
Marjorie Hastings wanted to go somewhere for my birthday ;-) so we decided
to poke up the coast a little, seeing as it was supposed to be 99 inland
today! We started at Tijuana Slough, where we hiked the McCoy Trail
and had the usual stuff, including good views of Clapper Rails bathing and
preening. Belding's Sparrows were all over the place, but interestingly
we also had several good views of a couple of Large-billed Sparrows, which
left us wondering if it was part of a post-breeding dispersal (they evidently
used to breed there many years ago). The most common shorebirds were
Least Sandpipers and Semipalmated Plovers, but there was also a nice Long-billed
Curlew by himself, and several Whimbrels flushed when a Harrier flew overhead.
The only duck of the day, a Mallard, sat along the water's edge along the
trail. Barn Swallows seemed to be all over, plus a few Cliffs overhead.
Back at the visitor's center we had a Selasphorus hummingbird challenging
an Anna's, and Marjorie had a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher while I was predisposed
in the ladies' room! What we presumed was a family of Yellow Warblers
were chasing each other over by the maintenance building; seems you can't
get away from sibling in-fighting even in the animal world!
Next stop was South Bay at the end of 7th Street, which was just loaded with
stuff! Lots of Elegant Terns and lesser numbers of Forster's, with
Least calling in the distance, and one Gull-billed among them. A few
Black Skimmers joined them on the spit, and in the "pond" were just TONS
of egrets, along with a token Great Blue and a couple of Little Blues as
well. Lots and lots of Black-necked Stilts, one Avocet, and bunches
of Marbled Godwits and dowitchers, and a single Black-crowned Night Heron
that allowed close approach were all fun to watch.
Then we went up to Robb Field, which was comparatively quiet. The dominant
bird was Western Gull, of course, but we also had several nice Black-bellied
Plovers (some still in breeding plumage) and a handful of Sanderlings and
Ruddy Turnstones. A Belted Kingfisher rattled overhead as well, and
added Caspian to the tern list.
We finished up by walking along Sunset Cliffs, where we added several Heermann's
Gulls right away, plus a couple of Black Turnstones, which was nice.
Ross Rock was lined with Brandt's Cormorants, but no Pelagics (or even Double-crested)
this time. Did have a couple of Royal Terns fly by, so that made for
a nice (reasonable) tern sweep for the day.
Had a Baskin Robbins treat afterwards, then headed home!
Bird List:
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Double-crested Cormorant
Phalacrocorax auritus
Brandt's Cormorant
Phalacrocorax penicillatus
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Little Blue Heron
Egretta caerulea
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Nycticorax nycticorax
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Northern Harrier
Circus cyaneus
Clapper Rail
Rallus longirostris
Black-necked Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
American Avocet
Recurvirostra americana
Black-bellied Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
Semipalmated Plover
Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
Short-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus griseus
Marbled Godwit
Limosa fedoa
Whimbrel
Numenius phaeopus
Long-billed Curlew
Numenius americanus
Greater Yellowlegs
Tringa melanoleuca
Willet
Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Ruddy Turnstone
Arenaria interpres
Black Turnstone
Arenaria melanocephala
Sanderling
Calidris alba
Western Sandpiper
Calidris mauri
Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
Heermann's Gull
Larus heermanni
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
Western Gull
Larus occidentalis
Gull-billed Tern
Sterna nilotica
Caspian Tern
Sterna caspia
Elegant Tern
Sterna elegans
Royal Tern
Sterna maxima
Forster's Tern
Sterna forsteri
Least Tern
Sterna antillarum
Black Skimmer
Rynchops niger
Rock Dove
Columba livia
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
Selasphorus Hummingbird
Selasphorus sp.
Belted Kingfisher
Ceryle alcyon
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common Raven
Corvus corax
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus
Yellow Warbler
Dendroica petechia
Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
Savannah Sparrow
Passerculus sandwichensis
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
56 SPECIES
17 Aug 2001 - Lake Hodges to Penasquitos Canyon
Today started at Lake Hodges and then headed south to Blue Sky and the east
end of Penasquitos Canyon. First stop was the trail immediately off
the first pulloff going west on West Bernardo Drive from I-15. The
lake is, of course, lower than I've ever seen it before, so there was no
water visible on this trail, but there was a good selection of chaparral/wetland
songbirds about, particularly Song Sparrows. Had several young Lazuli
Buntings as well; in fact, EVERYTHING seemed to be young-un's!
Down the road at Rancho Bernardo Community Park, I had to walk a bit past
the first cactus patch to get to any water, but it was worth it: close to
60 White-faced Ibis lined the shore, along with lots of Long-billed Dowitchers
and Western Sandpipers, and a few Leasts. The "Western" Grebes were
WAY out there (really couldn't even tell which they were), and there were
lots of egrets and Forster's Terns hanging around, as well as a single Great
Blue Heron and Osprey on a dead snag. A lost young Brown Pelican was
floating around among the egrets as well. Did at least hear Cactus
Wrens from this spot (probably from across the "pond"), and in the willows
was at least one Yellow Warbler. California Gnatcatchers were scattered
around, an American Goldfinch flew over at one point, and more Lazuli Buntings
buzzed from the vegetation.
Went down the road to Duenda Road and made a right, continuing on to a trail
next to a little creek that I had hiked only once before, but it was very
productive and scenic. It goes by a residential area but with lots
of riparian-type trees; a Western Tanager was calling along this stretch.
Out in the open area had several Rufous-crowned Sparrows "peowing", and on
the way back a Canyon Wren was upset at something. Apparently (according
to my records) the water was visible from my resting spot the last time,
but not this time!
Continued on down West Bernardo to Rancho Bernardo and over to Blue Sky,
where it was rather quiet in the oak woodland, but did pick up the titmouse
and a VERY friendly Orange-crowned Warbler! A Spotted Towhee was at
the resting spot, and a couple of moms with their kids were getting themselves
lost... Last stop was the east end of Penasquitos Canyon, where the
most interesting thing was a Yellow-breasted Chat that was evidently stirred
up by the line of horses going by!
Bird List:
Aechmophorus Grebe
Aechmophorus sp.
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
White-faced Ibis
Plegadis chihi
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Osprey
Pandion haliaetus
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
California Quail
Callipepla californica
American Coot
Fulica americana
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
Long-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus scolopaceus
Western Sandpiper
Calidris mauri
Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
Forster's Tern
Sterna forsteri
Rock Dove
Columba livia
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
Selasphorus Hummingbird
Selasphorus sp.
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Picoides nuttallii
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
Cassin's Kingbird
Tyrannus vociferans
Cliff Swallow
Petrochelidon pyrrhonota
Cactus Wren
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Canyon Wren
Catherpes mexicanus
Bewick's Wren
Thryomanes bewickii
House Wren
Troglodytes aedon
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
California Thrasher
Toxostoma redivivum
Wrentit
Chamaea fasciata
California Gnatcatcher
Polioptila californica
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
Oak Titmouse
Baeolophus inornatus
Western Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common Raven
Corvus corax
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser Goldfinch
Carduelis psaltria
American Goldfinch
Carduelis tristis
Orange-crowned Warbler
Vermivora celata
Yellow Warbler
Dendroica petechia
Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
Yellow-breasted Chat
Icteria virens
Western Tanager
Piranga ludoviciana
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
California Towhee
Pipilo crissalis
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Aimophila ruficeps
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Lazuli Bunting
Passerina amoena
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
54 SPECIES
20 Aug 2001 - Steltzer CP to Jasper Trail
Today I started at Steltzer County Park, then went up Wildcat Canyon Road
to Mount Gower, then over and up to Santa Ysabel Mission, then up to the
PCT near Ranchita, then onward to the Jasper Trail.
By the time I had gotten halfway down the Riparian Trail, I had forgotten
that I wanted to start doing the entire Wooten Trail loop at Steltzer (discovered
during the Atlas Project), and it's better to do that starting from the picnic
area and then coming back UP the Riparian Trail, but since it was still quite
cool I figured I could handle that leg of the trail that would (from this
direction) go straight up into the chaparral; boy, did I get a workout!
Things were pretty quiet in the woodlands first thing (except for tons of
California Towhees), but up at the observation deck had a Canyon Wren singing,
which was nice. Further up was a family of Rufous-crowned Sparrows,
and back in the oaks an Orange-crowned Warbler came in to pishing.
A Hutton's Vireo decided to sing just before I left.
There was a suspicious character in the parking lot to El Capitan (probably
harmless, but I don't like to take chances), so I went on to Mount Gower
OSP. Technically, the park is closed the whole month of August, but
apparently you can still walk in, which I did and crawled up the hill where
the trail splits. No Sage Sparrows this time; just lots of House Finches
and a California Quail calling from somewhere.
Santa Ysabel Mission had a cute family of Western Bluebirds halfway between
juvenile and adult plumage, and a single Lark Sparrow got added to the list.
The PCT along S22 was quite productive, the best show being no less than
three families of Mountain Quail! One group tentatively poked across
the trail, the most scruffy-looking bunch of Mountains I had ever seen!
But they gave great looks! A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher scolded from the
top of an oak, and had a Mountain Chickadee at the car, which was a nice
addition.
Ranchita Pond was non-existent, so I went on to Jasper Trail, where it was
warm enough for a water-dousing! Cactus Wrens were at the boulders,
and on the way back had quite a bit of activity in one little bush, with
a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, juvenile Bewick's Wren, and a whole family of Black-throated
Sparrows!
Headed home after that.
Bird List:
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Mountain Quail
Oreortyx pictus
California Quail
Callipepla californica
Rock Dove
Columba livia
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Picoides nuttallii
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
Cactus Wren
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Canyon Wren
Catherpes mexicanus
Bewick's Wren
Thryomanes bewickii
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
California Thrasher
Toxostoma redivivum
Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
Wrentit
Chamaea fasciata
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
Mountain Chickadee
Poecile gambeli
Oak Titmouse
Baeolophus inornatus
Western Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common Raven
Corvus corax
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
Hutton's Vireo
Vireo huttoni
House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser Goldfinch
Carduelis psaltria
Orange-crowned Warbler
Vermivora celata
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
California Towhee
Pipilo crissalis
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Aimophila ruficeps
Lark Sparrow
Chondestes grammacus
Black-throated Sparrow
Amphispiza bilineata
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
38 SPECIES
22 Aug 2001 - Old Springs Road to Salton City (plus
Imperial County)
Today started at Old Springs Road out in the desert (after nearly running
down a herd of Turkeys on Banner Grade), then up to Clark Dry Lake, then
over to Salton City. It was actually quite pleasant, relatively speaking;
didn't have to douse myself with water, even at the Salton Sea!
Ironically, Old Spring Road, usually the most reliable place in the county
for LeConte's Thrasher, was dead this morning: nothing but a distant Raven
and a couple of Mourning Doves on the way out! Ran into another couple
of birders who had been here two weeks ago, at ten in the morning, in 110
degree heat, and the thrashers were all over! Go figure...
Clark Dry Lake was a little more productive, but not much: at least got the
Black-tailed Gnatcatchers and a Loggerhead Shrike, but the highlight was
a family of Gambel's Quail on the other side of the lake: their goal was
to make it from Oasis A to Oasis B without my seeing them ;-), and when it
came time to scoot across the open area, their little legs were going so
fast their feet hardly touched the ground! Talk about cute!
The drive out to Salton City was pretty, as usual, and Crystal Court was
full of birds (and smell): tons of stilts; Caspian, Forster's, and Black
Terns; Ring-billed and California Gulls; and a good number of the local specialty,
the Yellow-footed Gull. Other shorebirds included Willets and Short-billed
Dowitchers, and several Brown Pelicans sitting on the pilings out in the
water. A crowd of Snowy Egrets was in one spot, along with a few Greats
and many Great Blues. In the songbird department a pair of Western
Kingbirds hung out around the houses amongst all the Great-tailed Grackles.
A poke down Sea Port Road to the dike produced lots more of the same (particularly
Black Terns), and in addition a few Marbled Godwits. The highlight
had to be a beautiful Black Turnstone that flew among the crowd, and then
took off over the water. I was fiddling with something in the car when
I looked up, and what was either yet another Black Turnstone or the same
bird that had wheeled around unseen was sitting right in front of me!
He allowed a couple of documentation shots before taking off again.
The little park next to Sea Port had some peeps on the shoreline, in addition
to a single Semipalmated Plover and tons more gulls, terns, and pelicans.
American Whites sailed low over the water in single file, and over at Johnson's
Landing almost overlooked another couple of cute Snowy Plovers on the shoreline!
Alas, no Blue-footed Booby today...
Bird List (anything obviously non-desert was an in-transit
bird):
American White Pelican
Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Brown Pelican
Pelecanus occidentalis
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Great Egret
Ardea alba
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
Gambel's Quail
Callipepla gambelii
Black-necked Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
American Avocet
Recurvirostra americana
Black-bellied Plover
Pluvialis squatarola
Semipalmated Plover
Charadrius semipalmatus
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
Snowy Plover
Charadrius alexandrinus
Short-billed Dowitcher
Limnodromus griseus
Marbled Godwit
Limosa fedoa
Willet
Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Black Turnstone
Arenaria melanocephala
Western Sandpiper
Calidris mauri
Least Sandpiper
Calidris minutilla
Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis
California Gull
Larus californicus
Yellow-footed Gull
Larus livens
Caspian Tern
Sterna caspia
Forster's Tern
Sterna forsteri
Black Tern
Chlidonias niger
Rock Dove
Columba livia
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
Western Kingbird
Tyrannus verticalis
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
Wrentit
Chamaea fasciata
Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
Polioptila melanura
Loggerhead Shrike
Lanius ludovicianus
Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri
Western Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common Raven
Corvus corax
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus
Great-tailed Grackle
Quiscalus mexicanus
45 SPECIES
24 Aug 2001 - Rancho Cuyamaca SP
Today spent the morning in the Cuyamacas, starting at Paso Picacho and working
my way down to Descanso. It was quite cool starting off and I wore
my down jacket for the first two hikes. The normal high mountain stuff
was along the Azalea Glen Trail; nothing out of the ordinary and things were
pretty much still hiding. Ran into a cross-country team training on
the trail at Cold Springs (aka Headquarters), where despite all the hubub
a large group of Turkeys calmly grazed in the field (interesting how the
hens and the toms were in separate groups!). Several Wilson's Warblers
"chapped" from the willows; migration is definitely underway!
Went down to the Sweetwater River Trail after that, where both Lesser and
Lawrence's Goldfinches were calling from the riparian area (a juvenile Lawrence's
finally decided to show itself). Several birds were making a big fuss
down the trail, and what I thought was probably a jay mimicking a hawk turned
out to be a REAL Cooper's Hawk who had evidently caught lunch and was being
harrassed for it! On the way back several California Quail chuckled
and "Chicagoed", and a Pine Siskin called from somewhere.
It was really warming up at Green Valley Non-Falls, but the Arroyo Seco Trail
was still pretty; more Turkeys grazed by the trail (seemingly unafraid),
and a pewee sat with me at the resting spot lazily catching bugs and "purring"
in between. On the way back a nice Band-tailed Pigeon posed at the
very top of a pine, and a Black-throated Gray Warbler decided to show itself
as well! The Oakzanita Trail was just as hot (and even quieter), but
a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher called from an oak, which was unique for the day.
A nice adult Cooper's Hawk flew by at the overlook, and a Black-headed Grosbeak
called back at the car.
Last stop was the old familiar Merrigan Fire Road, which had a lot of Phainopeplas
as well as the expected oak woodland fare. A Western Kingbird posed
on top of the old dead tree in the meadow on the way back.
Bird List:
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Cooper's Hawk
Accipiter cooperii
Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo
California Quail
Callipepla californica
Rock Dove
Columba livia
Band-tailed Pigeon
Columba fasciata
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Picoides nuttallii
Hairy Woodpecker
Picoides villosus
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Western Wood-Pewee
Contopus sordidulus
Western Kingbird
Tyrannus verticalis
Phainopepla
Phainopepla nitens
House Wren
Troglodytes aedon
California Thrasher
Toxostoma redivivum
Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
Wrentit
Chamaea fasciata
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Polioptila caerulea
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
Mountain Chickadee
Poecile gambeli
Oak Titmouse
Baeolophus inornatus
Pygmy Nuthatch
Sitta pygmaea
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
Steller's Jay
Cyanocitta stelleri
Western Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common Raven
Corvus corax
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
House Sparrow
Passer domesticus
Hutton's Vireo
Vireo huttoni
House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus
Pine Siskin
Carduelis pinus
Lesser Goldfinch
Carduelis psaltria
Lawrence's Goldfinch
Carduelis lawrencei
Orange-crowned Warbler
Vermivora celata
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Dendroica nigrescens
Wilson's Warbler
Wilsonia pusilla
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
California Towhee
Pipilo crissalis
Dark-eyed Junco
Junco hyemalis
Black-headed Grosbeak
Pheucticus melanocephalus
43 SPECIES
27 Aug 2001 - Roberts Ranch to Dos Picos County Park
Today started at Roberts Ranch off Japatul Road, then over to the Riding
and Hiking Trail across from Loveland Reservoir, then up to Palos Verde Lake,
then over to Lake Jennings, then up to Iron Mountain and finally to Dos Picos
CP.
Overall it was rather quiet this morning and got pretty hot as well; Roberts
Ranch had more juvenile-to-adult plumaged Western Bluebirds, and a couple
of young titmice hopping along in the trail. Phainopeplas, House Wren,
and an Orange-crowned Warbler were unique for this area, as well as an Acorn
Woodpecker back at the car.
With the exception of California Towhees and Wrentits, the R&H Trail
was REAL quiet with nothing of note except another Oak Titmouse in the solitary
eucs, which was strange in this chaparral habitat! Palos Verde Pond
was a little more productive, with lots of Coots and Mallards, and a lesser
number of Wood Ducks, Pied-billed Grebes, and snoozing Ruddies. A single
Great Blue Heron and Snowy Egret foraged, while a juvenile Green Heron flew
across the pond. Across the street in the oak woodland two Band-tailed
Pigeons flushed, and a brilliant Flicker flew overhead.
For the first time I can recall, I heard or saw NO Cactus Wrens at Lake Jennings
this time (at least in the stretch I do; had I walked further down I'm sure
I would have run into some)! California Gnatcatchers were mewing, however,
and a wandering Western Gull was sitting on the water next to a buoy.
Even here there were no other water birds to speak of, and the songbirds
were relatively quiet as well; did have some California Quail chuckling at
the overlook, however.
I thought the little loop trail I take at Iron Mountain was gonna be a killer
in the heat, but it didn't turn out to be too bad: once I got over the hill
and down to the little pond it was quite pleasant! Still weren't many
birds: a colony of Red-winged Blackbirds was unique for the day, and of course
Song Sparrows and Yellowthroats were around the pond. The day's only
California Thrasher chucked here as well.
Last stop was Dos Picos, where I picked up a few new oak woodland birds,
such as Red-shouldered Hawk and White-breasted Nuthatch. The pond was
REALLY low, but even still had a family of Mallards and yet another Green
Heron feeding away. Back by the spillway a Nuttall's Woodpecker called,
and a real surprise was a Downy calling from the oaks; more Downy-friendly
habitat was nearby, so I guess he was just looking for a shadier place to
spend mid-morning... Crows were all over.
Headed home after that.
Bird List:
Pied-billed Grebe
Podilymbus podiceps
Great Blue Heron
Ardea herodias
Snowy Egret
Egretta thula
Green Heron
Butorides virescens
Wood Duck
Aix sponsa
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Ruddy Duck
Oxyura jamaicensis
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
Cooper's Hawk
Accipiter cooperii
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
California Quail
Callipepla californica
American Coot
Fulica americana
Western Gull
Larus occidentalis
Rock Dove
Columba livia
Band-tailed Pigeon
Columba fasciata
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Picoides nuttallii
Downy Woodpecker
Picoides pubescens
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
Cassin's Kingbird
Tyrannus vociferans
Phainopepla
Phainopepla nitens
Bewick's Wren
Thryomanes bewickii
House Wren
Troglodytes aedon
California Thrasher
Toxostoma redivivum
Western Bluebird
Sialia mexicana
Wrentit
Chamaea fasciata
California Gnatcatcher
Polioptila californica
Oak Titmouse
Baeolophus inornatus
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
Western Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common Raven
Corvus corax
House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser Goldfinch
Carduelis psaltria
Orange-crowned Warbler
Vermivora celata
Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
California Towhee
Pipilo crissalis
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
43 SPECIES
31 Aug 2001 - Highland Valley to San Pasqual
Today started in Highland Valley, then headed over towards Lake Hodges, then
up to Kit Carson Park and over to San Pasqual Battlefield. It was a
wonderful day, and while this isn't the best time of year for Highland Valley,
there were plenty of goodies with lots of Kestrels and meadowlarks, and along
Rangeland Road, at the little riparian crossing there, had American Goldfinch,
Yellowthroat, and Orange-crowned Warbler. Heard a Black-necked Stilt
yipping from the hidden sewage ponds, and a flock of Tricolored Blackbirds
flew over while checking out the creek. A Loggerhead Shrike perched
on a rock way in the distance. Also had a flock of Barn Swallows whiz
by at Highland Valley Court.
Headed over the hill to the Hodges area towards the San Deguito Trail.
On the way I had a start: I saw what looked like an infant in a white dress
lying by the side of the road, so I turned around to double check, and it
turned out to be an animal of some kind (probably a cat) in a white plastic
bag! When I finally found a turnaround point to head back in my original
direction, even the second time it STILL looked like an infant! Yeesh!
Anyway, the San Deguito Trail was full of California Gnatcatchers which came
very close. Hodges was dry, of course, so there were no waterbirds,
but there WAS a pair of White-tailed Kites in the distance. A third
bird hovered above the trail, when suddenly a cacophany of House Finches
exploded into the air, and in the middle of it was a male Cooper's Hawk!
He landed in a tree up the incline, at which time a cloud of hummingbirds
(three species' worth) emerged and gave him heck! (A Black-chinned
was especially aggressive...) The hawk just sat there and preened, paying
them no mind. In the nice little oak woodland a Nuttall's Woodpecker
and Oak Titmouse called, and I noticed that one of the big ol' oaks right
next to the trail had an active beehive going right at eye level! They
obviously weren't Africanized or else I wouldn't have made it anywhere else
today...
Headed over to the trailhead right next to I-15 after that, where despite
the traffic noise was able to pick up Red-shouldered Hawk for the day (beautiful
individual soaring overhead), and another California Gnatcatcher only yards
from the trailhead! Selasphorus hummers fed in the tree tobacco just
before the underpass, and at the bench on the other side had another gnatcatcher.
On the way back a little pointy-headed flycatcher popped up briefly, sitting
ram-rod straight with no tail wag to be seen; guess the pewees are starting
to move out of the mountains already! I was amazed at how big the willows
were in the basin; maybe Hodges HAS been dry longer than I thought!
Went up to Kit Carson Park after that, where they were digging around my
favorite pond trail, so I skipped that and went straight to "The Annex",
a nice little woodland trail across from the school. Got the token
Acorn Woodpeckers on the palms, where they were evidently still feeding one
of the youngsters! Picked up a couple of things I had never recorded
for this trail before, like White-breasted Nuthatch and Downy Woodpecker.
A brilliant male Flicker came in and posed, along with a female Hooded Oriole
that was making a noise not unlike the chuckling noises I've heard Western
Bluebirds make.
Last stop was San Pasqual Battlefield; the main park is closed during the
week, so I usually take the killer trail up from the roadside marker, which
I may not do any more: the trail's become terribly overgrown, and there are
a couple of spots that, as I get older, make me more nervous as I try to
maneuver down them without slipping! But it's good for gnatcatchers
and Cactus Wrens (although I only heard one of the latter today), and with
all the Turkey Vultures circling around there's always a slight chance that
one of the local Zone-tailed Hawks might be in with them (have yet to see
one, though). There was also a slight chance at spotting the freeloading
Wood Stork over at the Wild Animal Park, but I haven't seen that in ages,
either. I'll probably start saving this area for Saturdays when the
other, much easier end of the trail is open!
Battled the road construction on the way home...
Bird List:
Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos
Turkey Vulture
Cathartes aura
White-tailed Kite
Elanus leucurus
Cooper's Hawk
Accipiter cooperii
Red-shouldered Hawk
Buteo lineatus
Red-tailed Hawk
Buteo jamaicensis
American Kestrel
Falco sparverius
Black-necked Stilt
Himantopus mexicanus
Killdeer
Charadrius vociferus
Mourning Dove
Zenaida macroura
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Archilochus alexandri
Anna's Hummingbird
Calypte anna
Costa's Hummingbird
Calypte costae
Allen's Hummingbird
Selasphorus sasin
Acorn Woodpecker
Melanerpes formicivorus
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Picoides nuttallii
Downy Woodpecker
Picoides pubescens
Northern Flicker
Colaptes auratus
Western Wood-Pewee
Contopus sordidulus
Black Phoebe
Sayornis nigricans
Cassin's Kingbird
Tyrannus vociferans
Barn Swallow
Hirundo rustica
Cactus Wren
Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus
Bewick's Wren
Thryomanes bewickii
House Wren
Troglodytes aedon
Northern Mockingbird
Mimus polyglottos
California Thrasher
Toxostoma redivivum
Wrentit
Chamaea fasciata
California Gnatcatcher
Polioptila californica
Bushtit
Psaltriparus minimus
Oak Titmouse
Baeolophus inornatus
White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis
Loggerhead Shrike
Lanius ludovicianus
Western Scrub-Jay
Aphelocoma californica
American Crow
Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common Raven
Corvus corax
European Starling
Sturnus vulgaris
House Finch
Carpodacus mexicanus
Lesser Goldfinch
Carduelis psaltria
American Goldfinch
Carduelis tristis
Orange-crowned Warbler
Vermivora celata
Common Yellowthroat
Geothlypis trichas
Spotted Towhee
Pipilo maculatus
California Towhee
Pipilo crissalis
Song Sparrow
Melospiza melodia
Red-winged Blackbird
Agelaius phoeniceus
Tricolored Blackbird
Agelaius tricolor
Western Meadowlark
Sturnella neglecta
Brewer's Blackbird
Euphagus cyanocephalus
Hooded Oriole
Icterus cucullatus
50 SPECIES
Mary Beth Stowe
San Diego, CA
MiriamEagl@aol.com