BMB07/01 San Jacinto 6th January 2007
After numerous cancellations due to a fear of inclement weather, twelve Big Morongo Birders, i.e. all birders with an active connection to Big Morongo, had a wonderful day and saw more than sixty species. Thanks to Margaret for the list and notes
| Bird List, San Jacinto Wastewater Treatment Facility and San Jacinto Wildlife Area | ||
| Saturday January 6, 2007 | ||
| Golden Eagle | Red-tailed Hawk | Black-necked Stilt |
| Northern Harrier | American Kestrel | White-faced Ibis |
| Canada Goose | Common Moorhen | American Coot |
| Wilson's Snipe | Green Heron | Mallard |
| Cinnamon Teal | American Widgeon | Ruddy Duck |
| Fox Sparrow | Red-winged Blackbird | Common Yellowthroat |
| Song Sparrow | Black-crowned Night Heron | Tree Swallow |
| Virginia Rail | Cassin's Kingbird | Say's Phoebe |
| Yellow-rumped Warbler | American Pipit | White-crowned Sparrow |
| Black Phoebe | Ring-necked Duck | Eared Grebe |
| House Finch | Yellow-headed Blackbird | Killdeer |
| Savannah Sparrow | Redhead* | Great-tailed Grackle |
| Starling | American Avocet | Ruby-crowned Kinglet |
| Common Raven | Brown-headed Cowbird | Brewer's Blackbird |
| Burrowing Owl | Long-billed Dowitcher** | House Sparrow |
| Tri-colored Blackbird | Ferruginous Hawk*** | Turkey Vulture |
| Least Sandpiper | Rock Pigeon | Horned Lark |
| White-tailed Kite | American Crow | Mountain Bluebird |
| Great Egret | Great Blue Heron | White Pelican |
| White-throated Swift | Western Meadowlark | Ring-billed Gull |
| Long-billed Curlew | Barn Owl | California Quail |
| Total number of species = 63. | ||
| * Redhead and canvasback similar in appearance. Redhead summers here, but | ||
| only "winters locally" few spots. Canvasback winters this area. Anyone certain? | ||
| ** Long-billed and Short-billed Dowitcher very similar, and both are migrants or | ||
| winter residents in Southern California, but short-billed mainly along coast. | ||
| *** Ferruginous Hawk - similar to red-tail but paler. Seen in flight from below, lacks | ||
| dark leading edge of underwing present in red tail, etc. | ||
Although it was cold at 8am -32!- there was no wind and it was a very pleasant sunny morning. We were welcomed by SBDV Audubon and hurried, in the nicest way, around the pond - rather similar to Linda's. It is rather strange that, although very clearly oriented toward education and wildlife, access is not at all easy. We had a good selection of birds and discovered that San Jacinto Wildlife Area was closed to birding, Wednesday and Saturday being devoted to hunting! After some discussion with those more familiar with the area than your scribe, Bill Moramarco volunteered to take us to Mystic Lake (which is part of San Jacinto Wildlife Area), which he did in spades. With his guidance, we found Tri-coloured and Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Ferruginous Hawks, the Barn Owl in an open field, Mountain Bluebirds and a host of others; we are indebted to him for making a wonderful day. Thanks to Sherri and Steve for putting it all together.
Thursday 11th January 2007 Salton Sea
Meet at Costco at I10 and Monteray in Palm Desert at 7am for car pooling ,intending to arrive at Wister, our first stop, around 8.15am. High Desert folks please get together to arrange car pooling. Bring water and a picnic, we will lunch at Sonny Bono.
Good Birding, and thanks to SBVA..........bbMeet at Costco at I10 and Monteray in Palm Desert at 7am for car pooling ,intending to arrive at Wister, our first stop, around 8.15am. High Desert folks please get together to arrange car pooling. Bring water and a picnic, we will lunch at Sonny Bono.
Barry Parkes
