Monday, March 27, 2006

BMB06/09 Pipe's Canyon 27 March 2006

Our walk at Pipe’s Canyon was a success, but more for pleasant weather with wonderful surroundings than an abundance of birds. More than twenty BMBs saw 20+ species with nothing remarkable save the Mountain Quail which Phyllis saw as she arrived.

National Trails Day on Saturday was a great success with a substantial attendance, estimated at around 300 with a substantial local involvement. We celebrated the re-opening of all the trails with a ribbon cutting and generally had a good time.

Friday 7th April 2006 Coachella Valley Wild Bird Centre

Car pooling at Big Morongo parking lot 730am. Linda’s HQ at 8am or shortly thereafter; bring water but we will be through by lunch time (maybe Elmer’s?)

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

Saturday, March 18, 2006

BMB06/08 Big Morongo Update

The walk this morning was really most enjoyable. Far better weather than we expected: sunny, clear, no significant wind and 45º. We started as a group of eight, with representation from WA and NY, subsequently met and absorbed representatives of MD. Having no recognized recorders, your scribe produced a specie list after the event, showing 35. We did see the Barn Owl in the first palm tree in the park, and found the Vermilion (close by the skate park). We believe our East Coast visitors enjoyed themselves and had zillions of life birds: hope they return!

Several saw a red bird fly by the Nature Centre. This would be unusual for a Vermilion, could have been a lurid Finch, or it could have been a returning Tanager, but in any event, not book-able. Pam found a new HB nest South of the new Helmkamp Deck - great through the scope.

Pipe’s Canyon Friday 24th March 2006. BMCP parking lot at 7.30am for car pooling, 8am at Pipe’s Canyon trail head. Bring water and maybe a snack, but we will be through before lunch – don't forget there is Pappy and Harriet’s! There should be plenty of water (!) and we hope for wild flowers.......bb

Barry Parkes
bbparkes@ix.netcom.com

Saturday, March 04, 2006

BMB06/07 Louis Robidoux Nature Centre/Rancho Jurupa Park 3rd March 2006

Eleven Big Morongo Birders arrived at Riverside in threatening weather but had a good walk before rain stopped play and we returned to the Centre. We were most fortunate to meet Park Interpreter Sherrie Chandler who welcomed us to the Museum and gave us a very interesting, impromptu, discourse on the Regional Park and guided us to Rancho Jurupa Park. Four of our party went there and found, the rain having miraculously stopped, interesting birding around the campground and lakes, adding some 15 species to bring our day's total to 47. Most definitely a day to repeat when we can more easily rely on the weather - we missed our picnic! Thanks, Margaret, for the specie list.
Kath has left us for the frozen North (or is it East?) but promises to return, and Cam was fortunate to have a good day during a too brief visit to the Desert. Pam & John are back for theirannual dose of high quality birding with weather to match. Doris has now completed Birding 101
Louis Robidoux Nature Center



Cooper's Hawk Starlings Northern Flicker*
Mourning Dove* Red-winged Blackbird* Black Phoebe*
House Wren Turkey Vulture Red-tailed Hawk
Violet-green Swallow Red-shouldered Hawk Rock Pigeon
Ruby-crowned Kinglet* White-crowned Sparrow House Finch
Anna's Hummingbird Common Yellowthroat* Mallard
Downy Woodpecker Blue-gray Gnatcatcher* Song Sparrow
Nuttall's Woodpecker Yellow-rumped Warbler* Bushtit*
Brown Creeper Orange-crowned Warbler Cattle Egret
Oregon Junco Kestrel Grackle*
American Crow Western Bluebird*



* Also seen at Jurupa County Park
Total number of species in Rubidoux at L. Robidoux Nature Ctr. , 32






Jurupa County Park

(Additional species not seen in Rubidoux)



Coot Great Blue Heron Great Egret
Pied-billed Grebe Ring-necked Duck Barn Swallow
Rough-winged Swallow Sharp-shinned Hawk Ruddy Duck
Phainopepla Scrub Jay White-tailed Kite
Marsh Wren Ring-billed Gull Chipping Sparrow



Total number of Species at Jurupa County Park, 27
Total number of species at both locations, 47
Banding is in the news and Hummingbird banding on the Preserve resumes on Saturday 11th March. Turkey Vulture banding is already under weigh on the Preserve, lead by Pete Bloom, and in addition to banding, numeric markers are being attached to the wings and solar powered radio transmitters to the tail. Last week we had a return visit from Lauri who is involved in Bluebird banding in Northern Oregon.
Big Morongo Canyon Preserve Monday 13th March 2006. We will meet at 7.30am in the parking lot and cover the West Fork loop as a bird walk. By that time all the trails should be open - Dee tells me that all the trails are now complete, although some finishing work remains.......bb.