Saturday, November 27, 2004

AV04/46 Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 27th November 2004

We were eight birders, when we finally assembled, on what was another very fine morning. At the outset the temperature was 41, clear sky, sunny and no wind; this has to be one of the better parts of the year for weather, so long as the occaissional rain and snow can be avoided.

We saw 34 species, including a Brown Creeper, a Yellow-shafted Flicker spotted by Ed and Cindy, Pine Siskins, a Slate-coloured Junco and a Greater Roadrunner (not at all common, despite what the specie list says; we saw it en route to the ball park). Interesting that we saw many Western Bluebirds but no Cedar Waxwings.

Heard that Jeanne Howard took the scenic route to Seattle via Phoenix and checked out Cibola to see the Sandhill Cranes: most impressed! She also found a Gila Woodpecker and Le Conte's and Curved-billed Thrashers in Phoenix.

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

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

Wednesday, November 24, 2004

AV04/45 Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 24th November 2004

What a wonderful morning for birding; clear blue skies and crisp, sunny weather, required layers of woolies but it comes no better. We saw 29 species and our 22 birders included the return of Catlady, who was fortunate to see a Yellow-shafted Flicker and Black-throated and Golden-crowned Sparrows. TheRed-naped Sapsucker and the Loggerhead Shrike are still in evidence, as are numbers of Cedar Waxwings and Western Bluebirds.

Thursday 16th December Lake Cahuilla Meet for carpool at Big Morongo 7am or at the Beer Hunter in La Quinta at Highway 111 and Washington at 7.30am.

Saturday 18th December at Big Morongo for the Christmas Bird Count. Details later.

Friday 7th January San Jacinto Wildlife Area Meet for carpool at Big Morongo 7am or at Denny's Palm Springs at Indian and I10 at 7.30am.

Have a super Thanksgiving - and Good Birding...........bb

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

Friday, November 19, 2004

AV04/44 Coachella Valley Wild Bird Centre 19th November 2004

Finally!! Having intended for some time to take Morongo Birders to 'Linda's Place' we managed to have seventeen there this morning including Geralde on a first time visit (going dangerously close to Linda's giant Green Iguana). Wonderful weather, cool to begin at 8am but sunny and clear as is only to be expected.

We saw 46 species, short of David Novick's walk but nonetheless very satisfying;
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Eared Grebe
Great Egret
Cooper's Hawk
Ring-billed Gull
Common Moorhen
Red-tailed Hawk
Lincoln Sparrow
American Kestrel
Pintail
Caspian Tern
Bufflehead
Northern Harrier
Say's Phoebe
Bonaparte's Gull
American Coot
Ruddy Duck
Cinnamon Teal
Mourning Dove
Rock Pigeon
Killdeer
Red-tailed Hawk
Black Phoebe
American Pipit
Song Sparrow
Green Heron
Lark Sparrow
Marsh Wren
Common Snipe
Common Raven

Yellow-rumped Warbler
White-crowned Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Western Meadowlark
Double-crested Cormorant
Lesser Goldfinch
Great-tailed Grackle
Spotted Sandpiper
Great Blue Heron
Long-billed Dowitcher
White-throated Swift
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-shouldered Hawk
Vermilion Flycatcher
Great Horned Owl
All in all an excellent morning followed by a modest brunch at Elmer’s – and well worth a return visit. Very many thanks to Linda, who promised to come soon to a Big Morongo Wednesday walk; we will be waiting!

We plan a visit to San Jacinto in early January (hi Cam!) and will advise soon. You can check us out on the web at http://bigmorongobirders.blogspot.com/

Good Birding……………..bb

Sunday, November 14, 2004

AV04/43 Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 13th November 2004

It was on a fine and cool autumn morning that sixteen birders, welcoming Nancy and Amy, and Konnie, found a Preserve parking lot heaving with traffic – as though everyone thought it was Spring Migration! In addition to our regular Saturday bird walk, we had a Canyon Hike for twenty or so, plus various displays from Friends, Search and Rescue, and community volunteers, all helping celebrate the tenth anniversary of Joshua Tree National Park, The Desert Protection Act and BLM management of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve.

The morning saw a striking demonstration of nature at it’s best when, gathered by the feeders, the birders saw a Sharpie lift an anonymous (but live) bird from beneath the feeders and make off with breakfast: these are full service feeders!

In two hours or so around the feeders, parking lot, meadow and the park we saw thirty species

Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Gambel’s Quail
Mourning Dove
Barn Owl
Anna’s Hummingbird
Red-naped Sapsucker
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
Black Phoebe
Scrub Jay
Mountain Chickadee
Verdin
White-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick’s Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Phainopepla
Loggerhead Shrike
Yellow-rumped Warbler
California Towhee
Lark Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Lincoln ‘s Sparrow
Oregon Junco
Scott’s Oriole
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Red-shafted Flicker

Of particular note were really good views of the Lark Sparrow, the Scott’s Oriole (opposite the ball park, in Laurie’s yard) and, of course, the Sharp-shinned Hawk saga.

We plan to visit Linda York at the Coachella Valley Wild Bird Centre in Indio on Friday 19th November. Car-pool at Big Morongo at 7.30am or meet at the Wild Bird Centre at 8am.

Thanks to my Word adviser, imported from Scotland, for lining up my specie list!

Queries or questions, call me at 760 328 6750 or cell 760 333 2366.

Good Birding………bb

Sunday, November 07, 2004

AV04/42 Pipe's Canyon 5th November 2004

Twelve birders, including Don and Sylvia returned from Colorado, started at 8am in fine sunny weather and a temperature of 50. We had a fine three-mile walk although the birds were rather thin on the ground, and found

Red-tailed Hawk White-crowned Sparrow Song Sparrow
California Towhee Bushtit Cooper's Hawk
Black-throat Sparrow Red-shafted Flicker Loggerhead Shrike
Scrub Jay Gambel's Quail Oregon Junco
American Kestrel Bewick's Wren Western Bluebird
Mountain Chickadee Ruby-crowned Kinglet Common Raven
Phainopepla.

Most enjoyable, and cleverly timed to make Pappy and Harriet's for a very fine lunch.

Good Birding......bb

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

Wednesday, November 03, 2004

AV04/41 Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 3rd Nov 2004

On a fine and cool morning, 22 birders spent a very pleasant couple of hours seeing 34 species, and of particular note were a Red-winged Blackbird, and a very rare Rose-breasted Grosbeak, both seen in the Park. We also saw a Townsend's Warbler in the large cottonwood in the meadow.

Friday 5th November to Pipe's Canyon. Meet at Big Morongo parking lot at 7.30am for car-pooling, or 8am at Pipe's Canyon trail head. Bring water and note that it should be cool; we should be finished before lunch time. For newcomers, we usually walk two to three miles.

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

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