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
