Sunday, October 03, 2004

AV04/36 Malki Museum & Big Morongo Canyon Preserve Oct 5/6 2004

Five Big Morongo Birders had a very pleasant visit to the Malki Museum, followed by a gourmet taco lunch at the Fields Road lunch stop, and it was rewarding to see MrsM finally manage to join one of her own outings! We hope to arrange a repeat outing in the Spring and tie it in to a tour of the canyons for wildflowers.

Yesterday we had thirteen birders at the Preserve, including a welcome short visit of Cam and Dave, and we spent three hours in rather too warm weather. In addition to seeing three Bobcats and four Mule Deer, we saw a remarkable 50 species of birds. We saw two Barn Owls, one of which was flushed from his cottonwood perch by screaming Scrubs, Red-naped Sapsucker, Red- and White-breasted Nuthatches, increasing numbers of Red-shafted Flickers, and after a long absence a Phainopepla! We had a late staying Ash-throated Flycatcher plus both Tanagers, but the star had to be an Evening Grosbeak which has been seen for the last several days; needless to say your scribe missed it.
See the full list of this week's sightings at http://bigmorongo.org/a3Birds.htm

The Student Conservation Association, working with biologists and BLM are seeking volunteers to be trained to observe the Bald Eagles at Lake Hemet. I know Dianne will be there but if others have an interest, please contact Emily at 951 658 9651 or email sca-fs-emily@yahoo.com

Good Birding.............bb

Barry Parkes
bbparkes@ix.netcom.com
bigmorongobirders@earthlink.net