Subject: Adventures in S. Cal
Date: Apr 26 18:13:18 1998
From: Christine Vadai - christinevadai at sprynet.com



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This weekend we were in the L.A. area, and having read much about the
imperiled Salton Sea (and very un-imperiled Big Morongo), decided to
check 'em out.

In the morning, we headed out to the Salton Sea... We drove toward the
eastern shore, where it was very dry and scrubby (complete with
tumbleweeds). American Kestrels and Mourning Doves were out in full
force.

When the "sea" came into view, we pulled into the first public access
point. Along the shore, the water was covered with small black birds -
hundreds and hundreds of EARED GREBEs. The beaches here were also thick
with Least Sandpipers, Ring-billed Gulls, ELEGANT TERNs, and there was
even a YELLOW-FOOTED GULL. In the air were also several basic-plumaged
or moulting BONAPARTE'S GULLs.

Moving south to just north of Niland, we pulled into a wildfowl
preserve. We followed a trail of about 1/2 mile of thick chaparral
leading to several fish ponds, and then the sea itself. In the scrub,
we found three VERDINs, several BREWER'S SPARROWs, two CALIFORNIA
GNATCATCHERs and a male CALIFORNIA QUAIL calling from a stump.

The trail ended up at the lake, where we discovered thousands of birds,
including hundreds of GREAT and SNOWY EGRETs, AMERICAN AVOCET,
BLACK-NECKED STILTs, a huge flock of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANs, one single
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, several dozen SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERs, and more of
the grebes and Least Sandpipers. In the lagoons and ponds, there were
also Northern Shovelers and American Coots in large numbers. Pretty
much all them (except a very few of the avocets and grebes) were in
alternate plumage.

Fortunately, we saw no Avian botulism-induced death ravages - no dead
birds or fish.

In the early afternoon, we drove up to Nature Conservancy's Big Morongo
Reserve. The reserve is about 6 miles north of Palm Springs, in a
riparian oasis in the high desert. I was impressed. It was very well
maintained, with about 5 boardwalk trails of different lengths and
habitats. Birding was very good,... when the weather wasn't blustery and
showering..

The good news is, the sudden rain that started immediately after our
arrival sent the GAMBEL'S QUAIL (not to mention the lizards and snakes)
running out into the open along the "Desert Wash" trail. The bad news,
of course, is water droplets on the camera lens, pre-empting any photo
ops.

The weather let up when we arrived at a stand of cottonwoods, where we
found a foraging flock consisting of 3 species of warblers (NASHVILLE,
TOWNSEND'S, WILSON'S), a WARBLING VIREO and a SOLITARY (Plumbeous?)
VIREO. As the sun suddenly came out, we were barraged with tons of
green-backed LESSER GOLDFINCHes, and the loud calls of YELLOW-BREASTED
CHATs and CALIFORNIA THRASHERs.

Continuing back, we came across a male HOODED ORIOLE, a female BULLOCK'S
ORIOLE, several BLACK PHOEBEs, and a male BLUE GROSBEAK. Overhead,
there were a couple of BLACK SWIFTs and around 6 Turkey Vultures. We
found two Common Bushtit nests under construction right off the
boardwalk.

Next we followed the "Mesquite Trail", which ends up in a lush riparian
habitat nestled between two sagebrush-covered hills. In this one spot
alone were: a male NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER working on a nest, a GRAY
FLYCATCHER, several Western Wood-Pewees, a pair of PHAINOPEPLA, two
pairs of nesting ROCK WRENs, a raucous male SUMMER TANAGER, a male
WESTERN TANAGER, a curious female BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD, a few
loud/obnoxious Marsh Wrens, and a male American Kestrel perched high on
a dead tree high above the cattails.

The second time through the "Desert Wash" area, the quail were gone, but
we finally saw a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, as well as a Bewick's Wren, a couple
of SAGE SPARROWs, and every so often, a male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
in sentry position.

The most-pursued species here is the VERMILLION FLYCATCHER. We did see
a male flying over the wash, but our attempt to find it again to
photograph was not to be.

No complaints here. All in all, it was a great day, 87 total species.

Good birding,

Christine Vadai
Mill Creek, WA
christinevadai at sprynet.com

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<HTML>


<P>This weekend we were in the L.A. area, and having read much about the
imperiled Salton Sea (and very un-imperiled Big Morongo), decided to check
'em out.

<P>In the morning, we headed out to the <U>Salton Sea</U>... We drove toward
the eastern shore, where it was very dry and scrubby (complete with tumbleweeds).&nbsp;
American Kestrels and Mourning Doves were out in full force.

<P>When the "sea" came into view, we pulled into the first public access
point. Along the shore, the water was covered with small black birds -&nbsp;
hundreds and hundreds of EARED GREBEs.&nbsp; The beaches here were also
thick with Least Sandpipers, Ring-billed Gulls, ELEGANT TERNs, and there
was even a YELLOW-FOOTED GULL.&nbsp; In the air were also several basic-plumaged
or moulting BONAPARTE'S GULLs.

<P>Moving south to just north of Niland, we pulled into a wildfowl preserve.&nbsp;
We followed a trail of about 1/2 mile of thick chaparral leading to several
fish ponds, and then the sea itself.&nbsp; In the scrub, we found three
VERDINs, several BREWER'S SPARROWs, two CALIFORNIA GNATCATCHERs and a male
CALIFORNIA QUAIL calling from a stump.

<P>The trail ended up at the lake, where we discovered thousands of birds,&nbsp;
including hundreds of GREAT and SNOWY EGRETs, AMERICAN AVOCET, BLACK-NECKED
STILTs, a huge flock of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANs, one single SEMIPALMATED
PLOVER, several dozen SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERs, and more of the grebes and
Least Sandpipers.&nbsp; In the lagoons and ponds, there were also Northern
Shovelers and American Coots in large numbers.&nbsp; Pretty much all them
(except a very few of the avocets and grebes) were in alternate plumage.

<P>Fortunately, we saw no Avian botulism-induced death ravages - no dead
birds or fish.

<P>In the early afternoon, we drove up to Nature Conservancy's <U>Big Morongo</U>
Reserve.&nbsp; The reserve is about 6 miles north of Palm Springs, in a
riparian oasis in the high desert.&nbsp; I was impressed.&nbsp; It was
very well maintained, with about 5 boardwalk trails of different lengths
and habitats. Birding was very good,... when the weather wasn't blustery
and showering..

<P>The good news is, the sudden rain that started immediately after our
arrival sent the GAMBEL'S QUAIL (not to mention the lizards and snakes)
running out into the open along the "Desert Wash" trail.&nbsp; The bad
news, of course, is water droplets on the camera lens, pre-empting any
photo ops.

<P>The weather let up when we arrived at a stand of cottonwoods, where
we found a foraging flock consisting of 3 species of warblers (NASHVILLE,
TOWNSEND'S, WILSON'S), a WARBLING VIREO and a SOLITARY (Plumbeous?) VIREO.&nbsp;
As the sun suddenly came out, we were barraged with tons of green-backed
LESSER GOLDFINCHes, and the loud calls of YELLOW-BREASTED CHATs and CALIFORNIA
THRASHERs.

<P>Continuing back, we came across a male HOODED ORIOLE, a female BULLOCK'S
ORIOLE, several BLACK PHOEBEs, and a male BLUE GROSBEAK.&nbsp; Overhead,
there were a couple of BLACK SWIFTs and around 6 Turkey Vultures.&nbsp;
We found two Common Bushtit nests under construction right off the boardwalk.

<P>Next we followed the "Mesquite Trail", which ends up in a lush riparian
habitat nestled between two sagebrush-covered hills.&nbsp; In this one
spot alone were: a male NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER working on a nest, a GRAY
FLYCATCHER, several Western Wood-Pewees, a pair of PHAINOPEPLA, two pairs
of nesting ROCK WRENs, a raucous male SUMMER TANAGER, a male WESTERN TANAGER,
a curious female BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD, a few loud/obnoxious Marsh
Wrens, and a male American Kestrel perched high on a dead tree high above
the cattails.

<P>The second time through the "Desert Wash" area, the quail were gone,
but we finally saw a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, as well as a Bewick's Wren, a couple
of SAGE SPARROWs, and every so often, a male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
in sentry position.

<P>The most-pursued species here is the VERMILLION FLYCATCHER.&nbsp; We
did see a male flying over the wash, but our attempt to find it again to
photograph was not to be.

<P>No complaints here.&nbsp; All in all, it was a great day, 87 total species.

<P>Good birding,

<P>Christine Vadai
<BR>Mill Creek, WA
<BR>christinevadai at sprynet.com</HTML>

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