AV04/51 Christmas Bird Count 18th December 2004

On Saturday 18th December we had a fine Christmas Bird Count, using about 35 birders and this year using a dedicated team for Mission Creek. We found 74 species, the same as last year, though a different mix, from 7am to rather later than we might have been, after a pizza and salad celebration.

Birding this morning was a challenge. At 8am with a temperature of 50° and blustery winds Big Morongo was less than comfortable, and in poor condition to welcome back Kaybird. The wind calmed and we had a good morning with 35 species including a Brown Creeper, our Red-naped Sapsucker and a glimpse of the Harris’ Sparrow.

We send seasonal greetings to all, and our very best wishes for good health and good birding in 2005....bb

AV04/50 Lake Cahuilla 16th December 2004

This visit was arranged, with some unspoken reservations, on a casual mention of interesting birding and the fact that in thirteen years I had never been there. Thirteen Big Morongo Birders (including those from Savannah!) arrived by 8am to sunny skies and 62°, just a regular Coachella Valley day. We had a most enjoyable morning, helped by a rare visit from Sandy, and saw 44 species of a variety we do not see at the Preserve. Thanks to Steph for the specie list.

Eared Grebe
Great Tailed Grackle
White Pelican
Ring-billed Gull
Common Raven
Spotted Sandpiper
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Western Sandpiper
Mockingbird
Cactus Wren
Clarke’s Grebe
Say’s Phoebe
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher
Ladderback Woodpecker
American Coot
Snowy Egret
House Sparrow
Verdin
House Finch
Bufflehead
Mourning Dove
Caspian Tern
Black Phoebe
American Widgeon
Pied-billed Grebe
Common Merganser
Herring Gull
Least Sandpiper
Red-tailed Hawk
Vermillion Flycatcher
Rock Wren
Yellow-rumped Warbler
White-throated Swift
Redhead
Lesser Scaup
Ring-necked Duck
Ruddy Duck
Killdeer
Canvasback
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Anna’s Hummingbird
American Kestrel
Loggerhead Shrike


This was a fine haul and the lake a discovery for a return visit. Good to know that the folks at the campground take care of birders, and Jo asked for a specie list that could be passed out to interested visitors.

The hard core made it's way to Elmers where we had our usual modest brunch - eat your hearts out, MrsM, Dee, Wander Woman.......

See you on Saturday the 18th December at the Big Morongo Christmas Bird Count. Good Birding………….bb


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

AV04/49 Activities Update

A reminder, for those who rarely open email, plus an addition.

Thursday 16th December to Lake Cahuilla. Meet at Big Morongo for car-pooling at 7am and 7.30am at the Beer Hunter in La Quinta, Washington and Highway 111. Bring water and maybe a snack (but there have been murmurs of Elmer’s).

Saturday 18th December Christmas Bird Count Big Morongo 7am. All day, fun day, all welcome and pizza afterwards. No experience necessary - we give instant training!

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

Friday 14th January Salton Sea. Meet for carpool at Big Morongo 7am, T/A Truck stop (Burns Bros) at Dillon & I10 in Coachella at 7.30am. Bring water and lunch.

Any queries, email or call me 760 328 6750 cell 760 333 2366.

See you at the Bird Count - and good birding..........bb


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

AV04/48 Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 8th December 2004

With an 8am temperature of 41 our group of twelve had a fine morning, a little reminiscent of Saturday when Dee and I started with a heavy emphasis on raptors. We soon saw a Northern Harrier, a Sharp-shinned, Red-shouldered and several Cooper’s Hawks. Also of note were the Yellow-shafted Flicker, many Western Bluebirds, but no Robins. Barney is very much in evidence, now favouring the middle palm tree. Oregon- and Slate coloured Juncos were in evidence as was the Harris’ Sparrow which your scribe finally saw – with help from Mr Smiley.

David Novick was with us, thankfully as our recorder, back from a visit to Mexico with lengthy tales of exotic sightings to die for. Mrs M missed out again, slaving over a hot kitchen, and Wander Woman is wandering again, this time back to London and Amsterdam. We miss them all.

Don’t forget:
Thursday 16th December to Lake Cahuilla. Meet at Big Morongo for car-pooling at 7am and 7.30am at the Beer Hunter in La Quinta, Washington and Highway 111. Bring water and maybe a snack (but there have been murmurs of Elmer’s).

Saturday 18th December Christmas Bird Count Big Morongo 7am.

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

Good Birding………….bb

AV04/47 Big Morongo Canyon Preserve 1st December 2004

This was challenging weather at 8am - Desert folks take hard to temperatures of 41, and below 30 earlier in the morning. However, it was a glorious morning with not a cloud in the sky, and sunny; all 17 of us had layers on and tried to ignore the light wind.

We saw 28 species including the Harris' Sparrow which some saw, in the same corner of Laurie's yard. Barney the Barn Owl was absent from his Palm and is a sad loss, but we imagine still in the vicinity.

At the Cafe Dee and Betty, arriving last, were greeted with applause and thought it was caused by their late arrival: but Laurie Geeson was there to present them with an award of 'Citizens of the Month' from the Hummingbird Moon Lodge of Morongo, a group of charitable ladies. Also present were non-birding friends of Dee and Betty for whom it was a very pleasant surprise.

Congratulations to Mark and Karma whose first grand daughter, Maxine Finster, was born in New York this morning; all are well!

.....And Linda Charest was on the front page of The Desert Sun this morning fighting, (if figuratively), for sensible control of hiking trails in and around the Coachella Valley.

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

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