BMB 03/08 Salton Sea 14th January 2008

Wednesday was rather unfriendly birding weather at the preserve – too much for your scribe – but the hard core, and you know who they are, found 31 species by virtue of not inconsiderable effort. Cold with wind surely can’t last for ever!

Monday at the Salton sea was a very different affair; fine weather, a group of 19 BMBs and not too many cars. All in all I am told, a fine birding day, and here is Margaret’s count:

Salton Sea
January 14, 2008
Turkey Vulture	Raven	White-tailed Kite
White Pelicans	Eurasian Collared Dove	Northern Harrier
Red-winged Blackbird	Brown-headed Cowbird	Snow Geese
Great-tailed Grackle	Verdin	American Coot
White-faced Ibis	American Kestrel	Yellow-rumped Warbler
Mallard	Double-crested Cormorant	Red-tailed Hawk
Northern Shoveler	Marsh Wren	Black Phoebe
Dark-eyed Junco	Vermilion Flycatcher	American Avocet
Dowitcher	Say's Phoebe	Great Egret
Snowy Egret	Loggerhead Shrike	Peregrine Falcon
Black-necked Stilt	Killdeer	Least Sandpiper
Marbled Godwit	Savannah Sparrow	Western Meadowlark
Green-winged Teal	Ring-billed Gull	Greater Yellowlegs
Eared Grebe	Great Blue Heron	Ruddy Duck
House Sparrow	Abert's Towhee	Gambel's Quail
Long-billed Curlew	Horned Lark	American Pipit
Willett	Burrowing Owl	Belted Kingfisher
Brewer's Blackbird	Cattle Egret
Total number species = 53.

• Diary Update
• Monday January 28th San Jacinto Wildlife Area. Meet for car pooling at 7am BMCP, 730am Palm Springs Denny's at Indian and I10.
• Monday February 25^th Joshua Tree. Meet for car pooling at 7am Denny’s Palm Springs, Indian &I10 – 7.30 at Yucca Park & Ride, Kickapoo and 62 – 8am at Blackrock Visitor Centre, five miles south of HWY62/247 Junction. Time at Kickapoo and Blackrock approximate. The plan is to bird at Blackrock, Oasis of Mara, Luckie Park (home of the Scissor-tailed Flycatcher, but don’t hold your breath) and perhaps more. We will conclude our walk with lunch at 29 Palms Inn where, as many of you know, Bear is Executive Chef. Given the lunch arrangements will you please email me if you plan to attend?
• Saturday March 1st Oak Glen. Meet for car pooling at 7am BMCP, 730am Palm Springs Denny's at Indian and I10

As always any queries call Dee at 363 7190 or your scribe at 328 6750................bb

BMB08/02 Schedule Update

In the midst of several storms and generally inclement weather in the Coachella and Morongo Valleys, similar and deteriorating weather in San Jacinto, and following consultation with Dee, we have concluded that the San Jacinto Wildlife Area is already a quagmire. In consequence the walk at San Jacinto scheduled for Monday January 7th will not now take place and has been re-scheduled.

• Diary Update
• Monday January 14th Salton Sea. Meet for car pooling at 7am BMCP, 730am Costco Palm Desert at Monterey.
• Monday January 28th San Jacinto Wildlife Area. Meet for car pooling at 7am BMCP, 730am Palm Springs Denny's at Indian and I10.
• Saturday March 1st Oak Glen. Meet for car pooling at 7am BMCP, 730am Palm Springs Denny's at Indian and I10

As always any queries call Dee at 363 7190 or your scribe at 328 6750.

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

BMB 08/01 2007 CBC and Update.

We had a fine Christmas Bird Count last month in very pleasant if cool weather. We had a small increase in the specie count but a drop of around 25% in the bird count. Thanks to Margaret, David and Betty for a job well done; all we need now is a solution to the time consuming confusion over the sign in routine.

This morning was very pleasant - sunny and cold (46) but fine with no wind. We had 41 species which is a substantial improvement on recent walks.

Diary Update

• Monday January 7th San Jacinto Wildlife Area. Meet for car pooling at 7am BMCP, 730am Palm Springs Denny's at Indian and I10.
• Monday January 14th Salton Sea. Meet for car pooling at 7am BMCP, 730am Costco Palm Desert at Monterey.
• Saturday February 2nd Oak Glen. Meet for car pooling at 7am BMCP, 730am Palm Springs Denny's at Indian and I10

Please bring water, a snack or picnic and warm clothing; call Dee/Betty at 363 7190 for information. All will be full day outings except Oak Glen which should bring you back to Denny's by late lunch time.

Very best wishes to you all and good birding for 2008!............bb

Barry Parkes

bbparkes@ix.netcom.com

ranchobb@yahoo.com