Friday, August 27, 2004

AV04/29 Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 25th August 2004

Five Big Morongo Birders, including Geralde, back from her Summer sojourn in Europe, gave the Marsh trail a very thorough examination and then moved over to the park. A 7am start and a mild morning led to a very interesting list of 37 species.
Cooper's Hawk
Black-chinned Humbird
Black Phoebe
Western Kingbird
Cactus Wren
Warbling Vireo
Wilsons Warbler
Spotted Towhee
House Finch
Mourning Dove
W. Wood-pewee
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Gambel's Quail
Anna's Hummingbird
Say's Phoebe
Scrub Jay
Bewick's Wren
Orange-cr Warbler
Summer Tanager
California Towhee
Lesser Goldfinch
White-br Nuthatch
Bell's Vireo*
Comm Yellowthroat
Virginia Rail*
Rufous H'bird
Vrm Flycatcher
Mtn Chickadee
Cal Thrasher
McGillivray's Warbler
W. Tanager
Song Sparrow
House Sparrow
Black-headed
Grosebeak
Hooded Oriole
* Heard Only
Dee and Betty are on vacation in Washington State. Mike Smiley had successful knee surgery yesterday; Betty tells me he is 'grumpy'. MrsM, banding at Motte, is on cloud nine after netting a pair of Calliope Hummingbirds.
Patrick Casey has developed a Bird Specie List for the Preserve web-site, similar to the one in the kiosk, which will highlight birds recently seen. This attractive module is presently being tested and will be released shortly.

Don't forget Big Bear on Monday 30th August. Car-pool from Big Morongo at 7.30am and for those who choose to go direct to Big Bear, meet at the Discovery Centre on North Shore Drive (HWY 38) at about 9am. Bring water and a picnic and expect to be back by around 4pm.........bb

Barry Parkes
bbparkes@ix.netcom.com