BMB06/02 San Jacinto Wildlife Area 16th January 2006
We found perfect weather, at 830am or thereabouts, and an army of 34 BMBs in eleven vehicles found a lot to see at San Jacinto. The large numbers were better handled than at the Salton Sea last week, and a number of our visitors, Cam, Kelly and Jeanne among them, managed to squeeze in a final walk before their departure. Sig was ahead of the game and called to report Mountain Bluebirds before the main party arrived there - but we did see them later!
| Cooper's Hawk | Raven | Brewer's Blackbird |
| Starling | House Sparrow | Rock Pigeon |
| Red-tailed hawk | Crow | Mourning Dove |
| Red-winged Blackbird | Cattle Egret | Horned lark |
| Grackle | White-crowned Sparrow | Savannah Sparrow |
| White tailed Kite | Western Meadowlark | Sage Thrasher |
| Northern Harrier | Loggerhead Shrike | Ring-billed Gull |
| Say's Phoebe | Black Phoebe | California Towhee |
| House Finch | Vesper Sparrow | Prairie Falcon |
| Coot | Yellow-rumped Warbler | Cinnamon Teal |
| Pintail | Green-winged Teal | Greater Yellowlegs |
| Black-necked Stilt | Common Yellowthroat | Marsh Wren |
| Northern Shoveler | Virginia Rail | Long-billed Dowitcher |
| Blue-winged Teal | White-faced Ibis | American Pipit |
| Song Sparrow | Killdeer | Least Sandpiper |
| Avocet | Spotted Sandpiper | Snipe |
| Sora | Gadwall | American Widgeon |
| Ruddy Duck | Eastern Phoebe | Common Moorhen |
| Ruby-crowned Kinglet | Pied-billed Grebe | Bushtit |
| Spotted Towhee | Orange-crowned Warbler | American Goldfinch |
| Western Grebe | Lincoln's Sparrow | Snowy Egret |
| Red-shouldered Hawk | Turkey Vulture | Willet |
| Roadrunner | Mountain Bluebird | Osprey |
| Long-billed Curlew | Barn Swallow | Rough-winged Swallow |
| Forster's Tern | Mockingbird |
| California Thrasher | Phainopepla | Lesser Goldfinch |
| Bewick's Wren | Western Scrub Jay | California Thrasher |
| Verdin | Mountain Chickadee | Hermit Thrush |
| Northern Flicker | Nuttall's Woodpecker | Red-breasted Sapsucker |
Eighty six species is a lot of species, and it includes sightings to and from the hi-desert.
Oak Glen Saturday 4th February 2006
Meet at Denny's, Indian and I10 at 730am, Hi-desert at Big Morongo at 7am, for car pooling. Bring water and a snack if you are hungry, but we will be back before lunch.
We intend revisiting the Salton Sea shortly, but with a smaller group. If you are interested send me an email and I will keep you informed.
Big Morongo Canyon Preserve
Most of the trails on the Preserve have now been reopened, although the Marsh trail still has a gap after #26 - this is expected to be repaired by the end of the month. The Canyon Trail is now open but via what previously was the Barn Trail. The West Fork trail to the Canyon Trail provides an interesting loop to part of the Mesquite Trail, the whole of which is expected to be opened by the end of January, as is the Yucca Ridge. Up to date maps are available at the kiosk.
My thanks to Margaret for her work on the specie lists and paper work and to Mr Smiley for his (speedy) leadership, to say nothing of their eyes and ears making a wonderful combination..................Good Birding.........bb
Barry Parkes
