Santa Barba to Monterey via the Big Sur

I left the family sleeping in our posh hotel and went birding first thing for about an hour at the nearby Andre Clark Bird Refuge. This proved good birding; nothing spectacular but allowed me to catch up with some UK vagrants I’d not seen for a while like Pied-billed Grebe, Black-crowned Night-Heron, American Coot, Forster's Tern, Belted Kingfisher, Cliff Swallow, and Common Yellowthroat. I also managed a new mammal in Brush Rabbit.

When everyone was up and ready we began our drive to Monterey via the Big Sur. Several stops were planned on route, the first being Nojoqui Falls Park. We didn’t have time to walk to the falls (they are supposed to be quite beautiful but require a walk), but birded the area around the carpark. We only birded here a short while (as it was really a stop on the way to Alisal Road) but managed to get a pair of Nuttall’s Woodpeckers, and just before we entered the park, the first of numerous Western Scrub-jays and Western Bluebirds in the area. After half an hour or so, we were ready to go, but just as I was driving off, I noticed a small group of Wild Turkeys which was a real bonus. Another couple of mammals were also added to the list: Mule Deer and California Ground-squirrel.

The target along Alisal Road was the Californian endemic Yellow-billed Magpie. After hearing but not seeing any whilst driving the road, Tom picked up a flock on the golf course (the best place to see them) and we all had good views. We then stopped at the bridge over the river just short of the Danish town of Solvang, where we had several White-throated Swifts amongst numerous Violet-green Swallows.

We’d got three of the four target species for the day, so after a quick stop for fuel and snacks we pressed on to the Big Sur where we planned to take in the scenic drive to Monterey and hopefully see our final target, Californian Condor. The drive was, as promised spectacular, we made several stops to either admire the view or look at wildlife. One stop produced several Turkey Vultures, Red-tailed Hawks, White-tailed Kites, American Kestrels, and Northern Harriers in the air together, but no Condors. Another stop was made at Hearst Castle where we watched the Northern Elephant Seals and close in Sea Otters. But, after several hours we eventually arrived in Monterey Condor-less. Unfortunately Michelle was also sick as she had a reaction to a wasp sting that she picked up on Venice Beach a couple of days earlier. First stop in Monterey was therefore to the doctors before picking up drive-through burgers and retiring to the hotel.

Andre Clark Bird Refuge, Santa Barba
24 August 2012
Mallard, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Snowy Egret, Pied-billed Grebe, American Coot, Forster's Tern, Mourning Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Black Phoebe, American Crow, Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Marsh Wren, European Starling, Purple Finch, House Finch, California Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Common Yellowthroat

Nojoqui Falls
24 August 2012
Wild Turkey, American Kestrel, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Acorn Woodpecker, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Western Scrub-Jay, Western Bluebird

Alisal Road, near Solvang
24 August 2012
California Quail, Green Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, White-throated Swift, Acorn Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Yellow-billed Magpie, American Crow, Western Scrub-Jay, Violet-green Swallow, Barn Swallow, American Robin

Big Sur
24 August 2012
Brandt's Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Northern Harrier, Red-tailed Hawk, White-tailed Kite, American Kestrel, Heermann's Gull, Western Gull, Rock Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Common Raven, American Crow, Western Scrub-Jay, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Barn Swallow, European Starling, American Robin, House Finch, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle