Del Puerto Canyon and Mines Road 05-31-08
It's not every trip that can generate this many satisfying moments! One week after Cricket's and my scouting tip, our class came back with a slightly different species list, and while several target birds were missed, I'd have to say this was one of the most successful visits we've made to the area. The weather was sunny and clear, with very little wind and mild temperatures.
We began one hour earlier than usual, meeting at the traditional "Grasshopper Sparrow" turnout on Del Puerto Canyon Road at 7:00 am. As feared, no Grasshopper Sparrows were detected, and in fact, the birds were rather slow in appearing. There were Cliff Swallows foraging overhead and here and there we picked up a few birds to start our day: American Kestrel, Western Kingbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Common Raven, Horned Lark, Western Meadowlark, Red-winged and Brewer's Blackbirds, and House Finch. The immature Blue Grosbeak Cricket and I had found in the drainage was not to be found.
Photo: Patty McGann
Several roadside stops before the overlook of the creek were unproductive, at least for target birds, but the whole day was ahead of us. When we reached wide bend prior to the overlooks a small bird flushed from the ground proved to be a Burrowing Owl. As it moved from one location to another, we could see how oddly the bird was proportioned--long wings, short tail and essentially headless in flight. Wonderful! We admired it for several minutes and heard it call several times.
Photo: Patty McGann
Photo: Patty McGann
At several places where we spotted tree tobacco we paused to search for Costa's Hummingbird, but it wasn't until the famous Graffiti Rock that we finally found our target. A spectacular male with full purple gorget, blazing in the sun. We could hear his thin rising and falling call occasionally, but it scarcely helped locate the bird. We finally spotted him as he flew into position and allowed us scope looks. Also present at this stop were several Rufus-crowned Sparrows and a brilliant male Blue Grosbeak. What a stop!
Photo: Patty McGann
Photo: Patty McGann
Photo: Patty McGann
Photo: Patty McGann
Photo: Patty McGann
Photo: Patty McGann
At Owl Canyon we continued to hear Costa's Hummingbird, but could not locate the bird. Ash-throated Flycatcher, Oak Titmouse, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows were added to our list at this point, as well as Bewick's Wren. No Owls...
It seemed like a very long time before we reached our lunch stop at Frank Raines picnic area, only to find that the restrooms were locked! We sat in the shade and listened to House Wren in the willow thicket and spotted a White-breasted Nuthatch as it flew into a treetop across the road. Lesser Goldfinches showed up on the field, and while they were wonderful new additions to our list, they were not accompanied by the hoped-for Lawrence's Goldfinches. Also found here was an invisible, but recognizable Western Wood Pewee, and Tree Swallow over the tiny creek.
The campground located a short distance further was definitely a welcome stop... After visiting the restrooms we moved into position with the hope of relocating the Evening Grosbeak, first discovered by Juliette Bryson on May 21. Cricket and I had refound it the following Sunday, and several other birders had seen it again on Monday. Despite a concerted effort, the bird was not located, but the creek side habitat produced a female Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak and several Bullock's Orioles. Lots of color, in other words. Our first Bushtits of the day were nesting close to the creek crossing and Western Kingbirds were nesting noisily above campsite 31. We found some evidence of Wild Turkey in the form of huge footprints freshly pressed in the mud. We left very slightly defeated, but not for long....
Photo: Patty McGann
Photo: Patty McGann
A few hundred yards west of the campground entrance, as we drove along a patchy pine slope on a straight section of the road, an oddly shaped "pine cone" caught our attention. A closer look revealed it was a very angry looking Northern Pygmy Owl perched just above the road. We rolled to a stop and slowly opened our doors. At a distance of about 20 feet our entire group watched it for about 15 minutes, snapping pictures and allowing passing cyclists a look through our binoculars. It was a spectacular sight and softened the disappointment at not finding the Evening Grosbeak... As we continued to watch the Owl, it turned its head from side to side as well as directly at us. It glared, laser-like at our group for a while before closing its eyes again, At one point, two Phainopepla passed through our view as well. It was strange how little the Phainopepla registered on the scale of things when the Owl was right there staring us down. He couldn't take his eyes off of us, and neither could we take our eyes off of him...
Photo: Patty McGann
Photo: Patty McGann
After that experience it was hard to concentrate, but birds were still being added to our list. We easily found Rock Wren at a wide turnout at the base of a rocky wall and a lush creek with willows. A dense patch of chaparral did not produce any Sage Sparrows, but Purple Finch, Wrentit, California Thrasher and a excited pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were easily viewed. And when we reached to the freshwater pond before the junction, a probable Wood Duck lifted off the water and flew away, and dozens of Tricolored Blackbirds gave their strange catcalls from the reeds. Our only water birds of the day were also found here, Pied-billed Grebe and American Coot, both attending downy young.
Photo: Patty McGann
The junction was filled with bikers and was doing a good business selling cold drinks to everyone. We rehydrated and headed south on San Antonio Valley Road, where we quickly found a high-count of at least 9 Lewis's Woodpeckers, some at very close range, and all squeaking loudly like rubbing blocks of styrofoam. We returned north, stopping for a few moments at the old fire station. It has recently been sold and now has a prominent No Trespassing sign on a large tree. The place was silent, so there was little motivation to linger. We drove right past the cattle guard, judging the day too hot to hope for Sage Sparrows, but we later found a single Sage Sparrow on the summit. Cricket and I had heard one here the week before, so it seemed like a reasonably good chance we'd find it again. Well, a few verses form the iPod got a reaction from uphill and within a moment we had a very skittish Sage Sparrow perched in a bush 30 yards away. He sang for a moment and then dashed away. Too bad for anyone who was dozing back at the cars...
Photo: Patty McGann
Photo: Patty McGann
Wood Duck (probable)
Mallard
Wild Turkey (evidence)
California Quail
Pied-billed Grebe
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
American Kestrel
American Coot
Killdeer
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Northern Pygmy Owl
Anna's Hummingbird
Costa's Hummingbird
Lewis's Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood Pewee
Black Phoebe
Say's Phoebe
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Loggerhead Shrike
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub Jay
Yellow-billed Magpie
American Crow
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Oak Titmouse
Bushtit
White-breasted Nuthatch
Rock Wren
Canyon Wren
Bewick's Wren
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Western Bluebird
American Robin
Wrentit
Northern Mockingbird
California Thrasher
European Starling
Phainopepla
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Sage Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Tricolored Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bullock's Oriole
Purple Finch
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
