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