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