December 27 - Long Island birding

This morning my friend Bill E and I went to Southampton, Long Island to try for the Black Guillemot tha has been seen there for more than a week. We arrived just past 8 and ran into Sean Sime who reported seeing the bird about an hour earlier flying in off the ocean to the calmer bay.
We then waited in heavy fog for the bird and during this time met another birder who had driven from Maryland. After about an hour the fog lifted and Bill located the bird next to a seawall only about 30 feet offshore ! We had tremendous looks at the bird for about a quarter-hour before it swan farther offshore. We were able to see it eat a very large fish as well.

More images can be seen here, at Shai Mitra's website.


Next we stopped at Capri Lake in West Islip. This brackish pond has a wonderful diversity of duck species each winter, and today was no exception. Canvasbacks, Red-Headed Ducks, Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, Black Duck, Mallard, Lesser Scaup, Ruddy Duck, Hooded Merganser were all seen well.
Our next stop was Massapequa Preserve where we tallied 4 Tundra Swans.

The Tundra Swan & Guillemot bring my NY State Life bird list to 300 !

December 12 - Brigantine & Barnegat Light

With friends Bill E and John W a trip was made to two coastal spots to view some seasonal specialties. First up at Brigantine NWR we spotted a pair of Tundra Swans. Nearby we had very fine views of American Bittern, as well as, five Wilson's Snipe.
Later we saw Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, a late Osprey, numerous Dunlin, a lone Sanderling, a few Greater Yellowlegs, Long-Billed Dowitcher, and a Great Egret.

Barnegat Light produced several handsome male Harlequin Ducks, plenty of Common Eider - and possibly 3 King Eider females, but they were quite far away to be 100% certain. Also seen were Purple Sandpipers, Ruddy Turnstone, more Dunlin, Great Cormorant, both Loon species, and the Ipswich subspecies of Savannah Sparrow. A nice surprise was 3 American Oystercatchers, quite late to still be seeing these birds !

December 5 - Spotted Towhee

This morning my friend Rob took me to Palmyra Cove Park, which is along the Delaware River near the town of Cinnaminson.
Upon arriving we ran into another friend Rick who was already spying the bird. We got quick looks at it and then it disappeared. It would reappear every 20-30 minutes, so we got to see it several times over the next 2 hours or so.

The rain then changed to snowflakes, so we headed home with another New Jersey rarity (I believe this is just the 5th record ever) on our life lists.
Here is the Range Map:

November 28 - Ivory Gull

Early this morning I met up with friends Bill E, Rob F, and Jennifer C for the trip down to Cape May for the recently found Ivory Gull. We had the bird as soon as we arrived & then got to enjoy it flying around and coming directly over us as it patrolled the Breezy-Lee Marina where it has been most frequently seen.
credit: Don Haas



These images and more can be seen here: http://www.birdcapemay.org/blog/

Later we had a few Eurasian Wigeons near the State Park, but never got to see the long-staying Swainson's Hawk.

November 13 - Western Grebe in Piermont

Ultimately this day turned out to be lucky for me, however at first it did not appear so good. I arrived in Piermont just after sunrise and found the entire area being flooded due to the exceptionally high tide due to the strong northeast winds. In fact I could not even walk down the Pier as Ferry Road was almost a foot deep underwater.


I decided to try again at low tide about 6 hours later. So I returned during lunchtime and was abel to drive down the now-dry pier and see the Western Grebe. I believe this bird is a first-ever record for Rockland County, and it was my first ever in New York State.

More images can be seen here at the Rockland County Audubon website

November 1 - Overpeck Park

credit: John C Avise

My friend Bill and I did some local birding this morning and were surprised to see a Greater White-Fronted Goose in the playground area of the park. Many other species were seen over the course of our nealry 4 hour walk. Notables included Orange-Crowned Warbler, Monk Parakeets, Purple Finch,
Sparrows seen were House, Song, Swamp, Savannah, Chipping, Field, White-Throated, Fox and others of Dark-Eyed Junco and Eastern Towhee. One surprise was a Common/Wilson's Snipe and yet another surprise was a pair of flyover Ravens !

So a very good day of birding was had in a local spot.

October 27 - Le Conte's Sparrow

This morning in the rain with friends Rob F. and Steph S., we were able to see the rare Le Conte's Sparrow. The typical range for this bird is shown here.

This bird was found yesterday by my friends Andy E. and Jennifer C. at the Overpeck Park in Leonia, NJ.

credit: Jed Hertz @http://www.fnal.gov/ecology/wildlife/pics/Le_Contes_Sparrow.jpg

October 20 - Sage Thrasher at Sandy Hook

Today was the perfect recipe for allowing me to chase a rarity. I had been at work for a half-day, so any big issues were taken care of, and I was able to get the Rare Bird Alert just minutes before my normal lunch hour, plus I knew exactly the location of the bird, and lastly the weather was a typical beautiful autumn day.

In just over an hour after getting the alert, I was at Sandy Hook's Plum Island and viewing the western vagrant Sage Thrasher.

credit: Tommy Boyle




final 3 images credit: Trina Anderson

This is ABA area bird # 595 for my list.

October 11 - Warren Geeen Acres/Glenhurst Meadows

No rarities were found today but some good sparrows were seen, along with some other nice species. This spot is a former golf-course which has laid fallow for several decades now, save for the trails that are maintained by the Green Acres folks.

Some "late in the season" birds were Green Heron and Solitary Sandpipers, and Red-Eyed Vireo. While woodpeckers seen included Red-Headed, Red-Bellied, Downy, Northen Flicker, and Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker.
Raptors included Red-Shouldered, Red-Tailed, and Harrier plus American Kestrel.

A Tennessee Warbler was a nice find, but the predominant species seen were sparrows. today's list included Chipping, Field, Savannah, Song, Lincoln's, Swamp, White0-Throated, White-Crowned, Dark-Eyed Junco and Eastern Towhee.

Red-Headed Woodpecker credit

October 4 - Sandy Hook & DeKorte

This morning my friend Bill E. and I made the trek to Sandy Hook, however last night's cold front didn't clear out the fog, and most of the morning here had very limited visibility. A good find was a Great Horned Owl, the first I have seen here. Otherwise it was very slow until we decided to stop at Plum Island on the way out. Here our friend Rob F. pointed out a Nelson's Sparrow and we ultimately found at least 3 of them.

Later we stopped at a nearby field and flushed up a Connecticut Warbler.

On the way home we briefly stopped at the De Korte park in the Meadowlands for looks at shorebirds. Here we saw several Stilt Sandpipers, about 15 Pectoral Sandpipers, and some Dunlin:

credit: Kevin Bolton

September 26 - Meadowlands

I made the short trip to the DeKorte Park in the Meadowlands to see the Sora rail, which I had not seen since 2007. There were at least 3 of these seen today, and two were incredibly close.

Photo by Michael L. Baird

Also seen today was Least Bittern. Blue-Winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler. Pectoral Sandpiper, Western Sandpiper, Dunlin, Long-Billed Dowitcher and both Yellowlegs species

September 14 --> 18 - Cape May visit

A week long trip here with my wife had nice weather and great birds, highlighted by the very rare sighting for New Jersey of a Cinnamon Teal. This is only the 4th ever record of this species in NJ.
credit: Michael O'Brien


credit: Mike Crewe

Besides time in Cape May, I also visited Stone Harbor and Brigantine NWR.

Here is the full trip list of 140 species:
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Green-winged Teal
Cinnamon Teal
Surf Scoter
Black Scoter
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Brown Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Glossy Ibis
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Bald Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Common Moorhen
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Killdeer
American Oystercatcher
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Lesser Yellowlegs
Whimbrel
Ruddy Turnstone
Sanderling
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Royal Tern
Black Skimmer
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Fish Crow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Carolina Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Carolina Wren
House Wren
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Northern Parula
Yellow Warbler
Magnolia Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Palm Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
American Redstart
Worm-eating Warbler
Northern Waterthrush
Common Yellowthroat
Eastern Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Common Grackle
Baltimore Oriole
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Roseate Spoonbill
Snow Goose
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
American Avocet
Marbled Godwit
Western Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Dunlin
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Seaside Sparrow
Boat-tailed Grackle

September 6 - Brigantine

A return trip here was done today, thanks to my friend John who came to my house after I was initially going to drive, but last night found a nail in my tire. And I'm glad I did not miss this trip as we had very nice views of a trio of Hudsonian Godwits

We also had terrific flight views of the Roseate Spoonbill as this bird continues its long stay here.

Here is today's list:

Canada Goose
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Glossy Ibis
Roseate Spoonbill
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Clapper Rail
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
American Oystercatcher
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Lesser Yellowlegs
Whimbrel
Hudsonian Godwit
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Laughing Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Royal Tern
Black Skimmer
Mourning Dove
Eastern Kingbird
White-eyed Vireo
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Savannah Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Seaside Sparrow
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
American Goldfinch

August 30 - Brigantine NWR

Late August brings the highest diversity of birds to the Brigantine National Wildlife Refuge and yesterday was full of different birds to enjoy. Over 80 species of birds were seen today, including some rare & uncommon birds.

I took the pre-dawn drive of two hours with my friend Bill and we were both rewarded with a fantastic day.
Highlights included the vagrant, but long-staying Roseate Spoonbill. Some of you may remember that this species made a visit to Brigantine back in 2007.
http://jerseybirder.blogspot.com/2007/07/july-15-brigantine-brooklyn.html

Other exciting birds seen were the Hudsonian Godwit, Baird's Sandpiper and Buff-Breasted Sandpiper.
credit: Tim Studebaker


Here is the full list:
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Northern Bobwhite
Pied-billed Grebe
Brown Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Glossy Ibis
Roseate Spoonbill
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Peregrine Falcon
Clapper Rail
Black-bellied Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
American Avocet
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Lesser Yellowlegs
Whimbrel
Hudsonian Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Red Knot
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Dunlin
Stilt Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Phalarope
Laughing Gull
Herring Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Black Skimmer
Mourning Dove
Chimney Swift
Belted Kingfisher
Eastern Phoebe
Eastern Kingbird
American Crow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Gray Catbird
European Starling
Common Yellowthroat
Chipping Sparrow
Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Northern Cardinal
Blue Grosbeak
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Boat-tailed Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch

August 29 - Swallow-Tailed Kite

Between raindrops, and painting at home today, I ran up to Wallkill NWR in Wantage, New Jersey to see the Swallow-Tailed Kite.
This bird was found on Wednesday, and I tried to see it after work that day but it was too late when I arrived after 6 pm.
On Saturday my friend John called and alerted me that the bird was being seen. So I went up there right away and got the bird immediately. Very nice views were had as the bird coursed around a large field next to the Wallkill River.



The last time I saw this species was back in the spring of 1998 at the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary in Florida, so it was fantastic to see after such a long interval. I hope the next one doesn't take so long !

As the map below illustrates this species is found mainly in the southeastern US, so seeing one less than 30 minutes from home was a real treat..

August 23 - Jones Beach & Jamaica Bay

With Hurricane Bill passing through on Saturday night my friend Bill and I tried our luck out at Jones Beach this morning. While no storm birds were seen we did have some nice success. First at the Coast Guard Station we had numerous species of shorebirds & sandpipers. Notables were Red Knots, Plovers of Piping, Semi-Palmated, and Black-Bellied, both Yellowlegs, Ruddy Turnstone, Willet, Oystercatcher, flyover Bobolinks, and a fly through Peregrine Falcon. A male Kestrel was perched nearby.
Later in the West End 2 area we saw a pair of Baird's Sandpipers, and numerous Black Skimmers, and a single Black Tern.
Red Knot credit: RJ Wiley

We then traveled to Jamaica Bay where we enjoyed some more good fortune. We were able to see all of the recently reported rarities of American Avocet, Marbled Godwit, Wilson's Phalaropes along with the expected Stilt Sandpipers, both Dowitcher species, another Black Tern, both Night-Heron species, Glossy Ibis, White-Rumped Sandpipers and Little Blue Heron.

Avocet credit: J Reynolds
Marbled Godwit credit: Ken Lillis


A great morning of birding !

August 16 - Jamaica Bay Refuge

I made a visit to see the southbound migrating shorebirds at Jamaica Bay, which is next to JFK Airport. Although the numbers of birds were a bit low the diversity of species was good. I only stayed a few hours as the heat got to be too much before Noon.

Shorebirds seen were:
Least Sandpiper
Semi-Palmated Sandpiper
White-Rumped Sandpiper
Stilt Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Spotted Sandpiper
Lesser Yellowlegs
Greater Yellowlegs
Short-Billed Dowitcher
Black-Bellied Plover
American Oystercatcher
Ruddy Turnstone

Herons seen were:
Little Blue
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Great Blue
Yellow-Crowned
Black-Crowned
Green-Backed

July 4 - Meadowlands birding

This morning I made a brief visit to the Meadowlands areas near De Korte Park. While I did not see the Common Moorhen that I was looking for I did find my other target birds. There were several Least Bitterns as I saw two in the reeds and another 3-4 in flight.



credit: www.birdspix.com

Credit: Burt Barnett


I was able to get stunning views of a pair of Barn Owls:


What surprised me today was just how long their legs are !

Other interesting birds seen today: Willow Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole, Indigo Bunting, Wood Duck, Eastern Kingbird, Osprey, Swallows of Tree, Rough-Winged, and Barn.

June 29 - Black Rail

I was very fortunate in seeing the Black Rail that has been at the South Cape May Meadows for the past several days. I got some very nice views as it ran across the path.




Credit final 3 images: Steve Kacir

June 20 - Robert Moses State Park

I took the ride out to eastern Long Island this morning to do some sea-watching. The results were good as I added a lifer (#593) in the Cory's Shearwater. I saw at least 3 of them today.

credit: http://web.me.com/birdmom/LI_Birds


Also seen were a few Greater Shearwaters:

credit: http://web.me.com/birdmom/LI_Birds


We also saw nearly a dozen of the Wilson's Storm Petrels:
credit: http://www.neseabirds.com/graphics/cicconewsp62808.jpg

June 7 - Ventura area

I stayed local today on my last morning of birding on this trip. Tomorrow is the long flight back home...

I stopped on the oceanfront at Mugu Rock and later hiked up part of Sandstone Peak on the advice of local guy and former Jersey native named Dave Perekstra. Thanks to him I added another lifer !

Pacific Loon (#592)

Brandt's Cormorant
Brown Pelican
Western Gull
Heerman's Gull
W Grebe
White-Throated Swift
Rock Wren

Red Tail hawk
Cal Quail
Modo
Anna's Hummer
Black Phoebe
W Scrub Jay
Raven
VG Swallow
WT Swift
Bushtit
Bewick's Wren
Canyon Wren
Wrentit
Gnatcatcher
Mocker
Cal Thrasher
Black-Headed Grosbeak
Spotted Towhee
Cal Towhee
Black-Chinned Sparrow
Lesser Goldfinch

Eurasian Dove
Killdeer
TV
Least Tern

I dipped on the Sage Sparrow. I heard it sing twice but never got to see it, so I'll have to try again for this one some day in the future when I am out west again...

June 6 - SoCal Pelagic to Santa Cruz

The long-awaited pelagic trip took place today and there were fine results. I suspect that I won't ever have another day in North America where I get 6 life-birds !

All images copyright Jo McKenzie.

Birds seen today:

Black-Footed Albatross (#586)

Pink-Footed Shearwater (#587)

Sooty Shearwater (#588)

Brown Pelican
DC Cormorant
Brandt's Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Black Oystercatcher
Forster's Tern
Western Gull
Heerman's Gull
Pigeon Guillemot
Xantu's Murrelet (#589)

Cassin's Auklet (#590)
White-Throated Swift
Allen's Hummingbird
Pacific-Slope Fly
Black Phoebe
Ash-Throated Fly
Island Scrub-Jay (#591)

June 5 - Santa Barbara

I had only a few hours free today and the first hour was filled with showers. So there was more driving than birding today. I did get the Yellow-Billed Magpie as a lifer but dipped on the Chestnut-Backed Chickadee.

W Grebe
Brown Pelican
DC Corm
Brandt's Corm
TV
Red-Shoulder Hawk
Red-Tailed Hawk
Kestrel
Western Gull
Heerman's Gull
Royal Tern
Modo
Rodo
Anna's Hummer
Allen's Hummer
Acorn Woodpecker
Nuttal's Woodpecker
Western Pewee
Pac-Slope Fly
Black Phoebe
W Kingbird
W Scrub Jay
Yellow-Billed Magpie (#585)

credit: http://k43.pbase.com/g6/73/614773/2/73377495.8XQFXW4t.jpg

Raven
Rough-Wing Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Oak Titmouse
W Bluebird
Robin
Mocker
Starlng
Cal Towhee
Song Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Oregon Junco
W Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Hooded Oriole
L Goldfinch

June 4 - Ventura

A long drive from the desert to the ocean but a very nice change of scenery. The ocean smells great !

House Finch
Rock Pigeon
Eurasian Dove
Anna's Hummer
Western Gull
Heerman's Gull
Cal Gull
Glaucous-Winged Gull (#584)

Brandt's Cormorant
DC Corm
Brown Pelican
Common Tern
Cliff Swallow
Crow
Raven
Western Grebe - I stopped counting at 500 and there were easily several hundred more.

Tomorrow is north up to Santa Barbara...

June 3 - Salton Sea

In a word, overwhelming. A great day of birding, including a life bird yet I wonder how many species I also missed !

Temp was 108 while I was 226 feet below Sea Level.



Thousands and thousands of birds. An example is the baker's dozen of Long-Billed Curlews, or the hundreds of Caspian Terns.

Eared Grebe
Pied-Billed Grebe
Western Grebe
Clark's Grebe
White Pelican
Brown Pelican
DC Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Cattle Egret
Black-crowned Heron
White-Faced Ibis
Gadwall
Pintail
Shoveler
Redhead
Red-breasted Merganser
TV
Osprey
Kestrel
Gambel's Quail
Moorhen
Coot
Killdeer
Avocet
Black-necked stilt
Willet
LB Curlew
Marbled Godwit
Bonaparte's Gull
Cal. Gull
Yellow-Footed Gull (#583)

Caspian Tern
Elegant Tern
Royal Tern
Common Tern
Forsters Tern
Gull-Billed Tern
Black Tern
Skimmer
Modo
White-winged Dove
Eurasian collared Dove
Ground Dove
Roadrunner
Lesser Nighthawk
Black-Chin Hummer
Gila Woodpecker
W Pewee
Black Phoebe
Cassin's Kingbird
Western Kingbird
Raven
Crow
Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Verdin
Marsh Wren
Black-Tailed Gnat
Moclingbird
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow warbler
Abert's Towhee
W Meadowlark
Cowbird
Yellow-Headed Blackbird
Red-winged Blackbird
House finch
House sparrow

And a few species of gulls were missed I am sure !

June 2 - Big Morongo / Joshua Tree

I dipped on the desert thrashers at Joshua Tree but saw some great birds nonetheless. The Costa's Hummer was gorgeous !

TV
Coopers
Kestrel
Gambels Quail
Modo
WT Swift
Anna's Hummer
Black-Chinned
Costa's

Nuttall's WP
Ladder-Backed WP
Black Phoebe
Say's Phoebe
Western Pewee
Vermillion Fly

Ash-Throated Fly
Brown-Crested Fly
Western Kingbird
Loggerhead Shrike
"Least" Bell's Vireo
W Scrub Jay
Raven
Horned Lark
Oak Titmouse
Bewick's Wren
Cactus Wren
Rock Wren
W Bluebird
Swainson's Thrush
Cal Thrasher
Mockingbird
Starling
Phainopepla
Yellow Warbler
Western Tanager
Summer Tanager
Blue Grosbeak
Cal Towhee
Hooded Oriole
Scott's Oriole

Black Throated Sparrow
Lesser Goldfinch

Tomorrow Salton Sea....

June 1 - Upper San Jacinto

A return trip to the higher elevations saw morning temp of 39 degrees -- while it will be over 100 in the valley later today...


Great Blue Heron
Mallard
Red-tail
Kestrel
Cal Quail
Modo
Rodo
Black Swift
Black-Chinned Hummer
Acorn Woodpecker

Red-Breasted Sapsucker (#582)


Nuttall's Woodpecker
White-headed WP
Flicker
Olive-sided Fly
Western Pewee
Ash-Throated Fly
Black Phoebe
Western Kingbird
Stellar's Jay
Western Scrub Jay
Pinyon Jay
Raven
Crow
Violet-Green Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Oak Titmouse
Mountain Chickadee
Pygmy Nutter

Bewick's Wren
Rock Wren
Black-Tailed Gnatcatcher
Western Bluebird
Robin
Mockingbird
Starling
Yellow-Rumped Warbler
Black-Throated Gray warbler
Western Tanager
Black-Headed Grosbeak
Spotted Towhee
Cal. Towhee
Black-Throated Sparrow
Black-Chinned Sparrow
Oregon Junco
Western Meadowlark
Tri-colored Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Great-Tailed Grackle
Scott's Oriole
Cassin's Finch
Lawrence's Goldfinch

Lesser Goldfinch