Desert Birding

Leaving Vegas mid-morning we headed north to Corn Creek to do some desert birding. The reserve is superb and I only wish we could have stayed longer than the couple of hours we had, and birded earlier in the day. New birds here were Black-chinned Hummingbird, Dusky Flycatcher, Horned Lark, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Black-throated Sparrow, Scott's Oriole, American Redstart, and Phainopepla.

So, then the big journey south and then west back to LA. We did have one stop en-route at Mojave were we drove the road looking for birds but the only two birds we saw in about an hour were a pair of Ravens and a Loggerhead Shrike as well as an American Pika. However, stopping at at the service station when coming out of the park at the junction with the 15, Tom (who was again pretty hot with mammals) managed to pull out a final new mammal in White-tailed Antelope Squirrel.

Arrived back at Laguna Beach just in time for Sam to have a swim.

Corn Creek Desert Wildlife Range
31 August 2012
Black-crowned Night-Heron, Snowy Egret, Turkey Vulture, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Black Phoebe, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Dusky Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Horned Lark, Barn Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Chipping Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow, Western Tanager, Scott's Oriole, Great-tailed Grackle, Yellow Warbler, American Redstart, Phainopepla

Mojave National Preserve
31 August 2012
Loggerhead Shrike, Common Raven

Death Valley to Vegas

A short walk before everyone was up turned up a few birds, as did birding from the balcony before breakfast (it was already too hot to venture outside for long!) which overlooked the golf course where most of the birds centred. These included a a flock of White-faced Ibis and a single Marbled Godwit that flew over. Feeding on the course were small flocks of Kildeers and Yellow-headed Blackbirds as well as singles of Greater Roadrunner and Western Kingbird and a migrating Yellow Warbler and a Desert Cottontail.

After the boys had an early morning swim we took the scenic drive south. A hungry Coyote came to meet us and later, although Tom’s directions were generally spot-on throughout, a slight wrong turning took us to a small oasis at Tecopa Hot Springs. This was fortunate as it held a new bird for us in American Avocet. There were also other water birds there like Green-winged Teal and a Northern Harrier spooked a flock of Western Sandpipers.

 

I’d planned to do some birding more birding just outside the park, but a huge storm about 20 miles outside of Vegas ended that. Once in Vegas, we decided birding was over for the day, but I managed to add House Sparrow to the list.

Furnace Creek
30 August 2012
White-faced Ibis, Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, Marbled Godwit, Greater Roadrunner, Western Kingbird, Common Raven, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Yellow Warbler

Tecopa Hot Springs
30 August 2012
Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Northern Harrier, Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Western Sandpiper

Yosemite to Death Valley

Beautiful views first thing as we started the day watching American Dipper from our hotel balcony whilst having coffee. An earlier start today where we intended to drive out of the park birding the northern section before continuing to Mono Lake and Death Valley. In just a few stops we hit more good birds in a in a couple of hours than in the whole of yesterday. Highlights were White-headed Woodpecker and Pileated Woodpecker at Chevron Meadows and hitting a mixed Warbler flock at White Wolf Campsite that included Nashville Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Grey Warbler, Hermit Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson’s Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet as well as Western Wood-Pewee, Mountain Chickadee, and Brown Creeper.

 

Once out of the park we drove to the south end of Mono Lake. The Tufas were interesting but it was extremely hot. We did manage to get a couple of Cassin’s Finches, but apart from the numerous Eared Grebes, Kildeers, Brewer’s Sparrows, California Gulls, Brown-headed Cowbirds and a distant Osprey, birds were few and far between. With time running on and only one of the hoped for species seen, we pressed on.

  

Driving south a few miles I pulled over to look at the map, and on a fence-post sat a Mountain Bluebird! Our luck continued when we pulled over for something to eat at a service station at June Lake junction. Whilst I was ordering hotdogs, Tom was on the trail of a couple of rodents (Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel and Panamint Chipmunk) in a woody garden behind the station. Here he also stumbled upon Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-headed Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, and best of all, one of our target birds, Green-tailed Towhee.

  

No more stops as it was getting late and we had a huge drive to DeathValley. Apart from one stop for gas and one stop to look at the Death Valley from above before we entered, we drove without stopping and no interesting birds were seen. It was 7:30pm when we arrived at the entrance. It was getting dark, with overcast clouds and the air-conditioning on in the car gave the impression that it was probably not that warm outside. It was a shock therefore to step out to a temperature of 110F (about 44C)! We continued the drive to our lodge at Furnace Creek and, despite it being pitch black, the atmosphere felt like a oven. Fortunately the pools were open until late, and although Michelle did not join us, we had a dip before eating in the bar.

Chevron Meadows
29 August 2012
Red-tailed Hawk, Acorn Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Steller's Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Red-breasted Nuthatch, American Robin, Lesser Goldfinch, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Common Yellowthroat

White Wolf Campground
29 August 2012
Acorn Woodpecker, Western Wood-Pewee, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Mountain Chickadee, Brown Creeper, Dark-eyed Junco, Nashville Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hermit Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler

Mono Lake
29 August 2012
Snowy Egret, Eared Grebe, Osprey, Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, California Gull, Cassin's Finch, House Finch, Brewer's Sparrow, Brown-headed Cowbird, Brewer's Blackbird

June Lake Junction
29 August 2012
Red-breasted Nuthatch, White-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, Green-tailed Towhee, Brewer's Blackbird

Yosemite

I thought it best to allow Michelle a late start, so I went out and birded the river by the hotel. I was very pleased to pick up American Dipper (a species that I’d somehow missed in British Columbia) which meant I’d now completed the family. A Red-crowned Kinglet was another pleasing find. When the family were ready we headed into the park. Today we concentrated on the Southern half of the park, beginning with Glacier Point and finishing with the Wawona Redwoods. Birding started well. We continued well and we picked up Townsend Solitaire some how managed to park in just the right parking place at Glacier Point, right next to a Sooty Grouse (no more were seen, probably due to the crowds).

From early afternoon, the birding was very slow (only picking up Mountain Chickadee). Hot evergreen forests in the middle of summer don’t make for good birding. However, Michelle was feeling better, the views were absolutely magnificent, and we all had a good day which was the most important thing.

  

El Portal
28 August 2012
Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Acorn Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Common Raven, American Crow, Western Scrub-Jay, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Violet-green Swallow, American Dipper, Dark-eyed Junco, Brewer's Blackbird

Glacier Point
28 August 2012
Sooty Grouse, Turkey Vulture, Acorn Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Clark's Nutcracker, Common Raven, Steller's Jay, Mountain Chickadee, Townsend's Solitaire, Dark-eyed Junco

Wawona
28 August 2012
Mallard, Acorn Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Clark's Nutcracker, Common Raven, Steller's Jay, Bewick's Wren, European Starling, American Robin, Brewer's Blackbird, Black-throated Gray Warbler

Drive to Yosemite

A long drive to Yosemite today, but the first stop was nearby at Carmel river-mouth. Here we easily picked up Hutton’s Vireo before moving to nearby Carmel River State Beach. This beautiful stop held Virginia Rail, a few Western Sandpipers, and a couple of hendersoni Short-billed Dowitchers.

  

We then headed north to Moss Landing, half way up the bay to look for Tri-coloured Blackbirds. I’d been given the details on the boat and told it was “guaranteed”. Indeed, even before we arrived at the Dairy Farm I was told about, we spotted some by the road-side, so after picking up some fruit to provide breakfast over the next few days from one of the many road-side stalls, we decided we had time for a brief visit to Salinas, the setting of Mice and Men. We then continued east towards Yosemite. With a Golden Eagle and a Sharp-shinned Hawk seen on the journey, we made a stop half way at Los Banos which was supposed to hold White-faced Ibis.

It was now mid-afternoon and very hot. Fortunately the reserve was aimed more at drivers than walkers and provided a few species such as Loggerhead Shrike and another Coyote, but no Ibises. With time pressing on we made a dash for Yosemite arriving just as it was getting dark. Fortunately the pools were open until late (it was very hot still) so we myself and the boys were able to have a dip. Unfortunately Michelle had relapsed somewhat so we just picked up pizzas to watch in front of the baseball whilst she slept. The boys then went to play with the Racoons!

 
 

Carmel River Mouth
27 August 2012
California Quail, Mourning Dove, Acorn Woodpecker, Hutton's Vireo, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, California Towhee Carmel River State Beach

27 August 2012
Canada Goose, Mallard, Brandt's Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Great Egret, Virginia Rail, Western Sandpiper, Short-billed Dowitcher, Western Gull, American Crow, Barn Swallow, Song Sparrow Moss Landing

27 August 2012
Northern Harrier, American Kestrel, Turkey Vulture, Killdeer, Rock Pigeon, American Crow, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Tricolored Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird Los Banos

27 August 2012
Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Double-crested Cormorant, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, Western Grebe, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, White-tailed Kite, American Kestrel, Turkey Vulture, Black-necked Stilt, Mourning Dove, Black Phoebe, Loggerhead Shrike, American Crow, Western Scrub-Jay, Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, European Starling, House Finch, Brewer's Blackbird

More Pelagic Birding

Myself and Tom were booked on an eight hour sea bird pelagic today run by the same people as yesterday. It was superb. A few seabirds weren’t seen but this was made up for by seeing the two largest animals in the world (Blue and Fin Whale) together on either side of the boat and later by a huge pod of Pacific White-sided Dolphins performing spectacularly for us. My big regret is that I didn’t take Sam. A count was kept by Dan Singer.

         

More pictures are on my Pelagic Page.

Tom, to his credit, had refused to tick the Condor and insisted we drive the Big Sur again. I’d been given some information on the boat about a spot that was supposedly between three-quarters of an hour and one and a half-hours (!) south. So mid-afternoon we all set off (including Michelle who had missed some of the journey as she’d been sleeping) to have another drive along the Big Sur. After over an hour of driving, and without finding the spot, I decided we had better turn around as it was getting late and Michelle wanted to take us to Cannery Row in Monterey which she had visited (including the Aquarium) with Sam. Pulling into a view point to turn around, I stepped out of the car to stretch my legs for a few minutes and admire the view, when an adult Californian Condor with gleaming White coverts circled above me. Quickly calling the others out of the car, we were all able to get on it and have good views as it circled a thermal. Whilst there we also connected with Rufous-crowned Sparrow. A good place to turn around! Then a quick dash back to Monterrey and out to a sea-side restaurant on Cannery Row. .

At Sea (California)
26 August 2012
Black-footed Albatross, Sooty Shearwater, Pink-footed Shearwater, Buller's Shearwater, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Ashy Storm-Petrel, Double-crested Cormorant, Brandt's Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Great Egret, Red-necked Phalarope, Red Phalarope, Pomarine Jaeger, Parasitic Jaeger, Sabine's Gull, Heermann's Gull, Western Gull, California Gull, Elegant Tern, Arctic Tern, Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Cassin's Auklet, Rhinoceros Auklet

Big Sur
26 August 2012
Brandt's Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Turkey Vulture, California Condor, Western Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Band-tailed Pigeon, Anna's Hummingbird, Common Raven, American Crow, Western Scrub-Jay, Barn Swallow, European Starling, Song Sparrow, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Brewer's Blackbird

Whales and Condoors

Today we had all been booked on a Whale watching trip run by Monterey Bay Whale Watch. Unfortunately Michelle was not up to it, so I went with the boys, leaving her to rest in the hotel. The trip was enjoyable, though slightly disappointing in that they managed to pick up a pod of Killer Whales and spent nearly the whole time concentrating on these. This would have been great had we not had good views of these creatures a couple of years ago off Vancouver Island. Killer Whales are not often seen on these trips apparently which is why they spent so much time looking at them, but we would have preferred searching for other species. We did get good views of a Humpback and apparently no other whales were seen by any other groups. The trip ended at:

Black-footed Albatross x 3
Sooty Shearwater x 1000s
Pink-footed Shearwater x 50?
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Brown Pelican
Western Grebe
Black Turnstone
Red-necked Phalarope
Sabine's Gull x 2
Heermann's Gull
Western Gull
Elegant Tern
Common Murre
Pigeon Guillemot
Cassin's Auklet x 5
Rhinoceros Auklet x 2
Sea Otter
Californian Sealion
Harbour Seal
Common Dolphin
Killer Whale
Harbour Porpoise
Humpback Whale

     

Meeting up with Michelle who was feeling slightly better, we dropped her off at Carmel (the worst signposted town in North America) before we headed south down the Big Sur to have another go for Californian Condor. Within only ten minutes we managed to pick up a distant juvenile and Sam also picked up our first ever Coyote! Unfortunately Tom got very poor views of the Condor and wasn’t happy ticking it, so we continued south for another half hour or so before eventually turning round to collect Michelle. Still no Condors. Picking up Michelle in Carmel (where we had good views of Red-Shouldered Hawk), we went on the 17 Mile Drive until nightfall, seeing more Sea Otters and the usual sea birds, before we headed off to McDonalds for dinner.

At Sea (California)
25 August 2012
Black-footed Albatross, Sooty Shearwater, Pink-footed Shearwater, Brandt's Cormorant, Pelagic Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Western Grebe, Black Turnstone, Red-necked Phalarope, Sabine's Gull, Heermann's Gull, Western Gull, Elegant Tern, Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Cassin's Auklet, Rhinoceros Auklet

Big Sur
25 August 2012
Brandt's Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Turkey Vulture, California Condor, Heermann's Gull, Western Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Common Raven, American Crow, Western Scrub-Jay, Barn Swallow, European Starling, Brewer's Blackbird