San
Diego to Salton Sea
18-20 Jan
2004, 45-70 degrees
Led
by Henry Detwiler
An excellent birding adventure, beginning on the Pacific Coast and
ending at the Salton Sea
165
species
Click on
thumbnail pictures for full-sized shots.
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I met up with Carolyn, Jim, and Cindy in La Mesa,
the morning after they arrived from Chicago. Our weather was
considerably better! Our first stop was at La Jolla, where we
found lots of cormorants, pelicans, gulls, and an accommodating
Wandering Tattler. |
Carolyn, Jim, & Cindy
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Gadwall
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Then it was off to San Elijo Lagoon where many varieties of ducks
and shorebirds put on a show. In addition, we saw several
species of chaparral birds, such as California Towhee, California
Thrasher (Jim's favorite!), and California Gnatcatcher.
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| Later that afternoon we were to round out the
chaparral birds at Cabrillo National Monument, where we got
mouth-watering views of two Wrentits, California Quail, and
Golden-crowned Sparrows. |
Green-winged Teal
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Harlequin Duck
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At Mission Bay we hunted down the wintering Harlequin
Duck. It was most accommodating--until I went back to the car
and got my camera, that is. Fortunately, we all had scope
views by then! |
| On Monday we ventured over the Laguna
Mountains. At Live Oak Springs the birds were out in
force. These Lawrence's Goldfinches were drinking at the lip
of the waterfall. |
Lawrence's & Lesser
Goldfinches |
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Lesser Goldfinch at Julian
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Farther south at Jacumba, we tracked down the
resident Tri-colored Blackbirds. In the Laguna Recreation Area we
found Oak Titmouse, Pygmy Nuthatch, and Mountain Chickadee.
And in Julian we got more excellent looks at Lesser Goldfinches. |
Double-crested Cormorants at
the Salton Sea
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Black-necked Stilt &
American Avocet
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On Tuesday we spent the day traversing the
Imperial Valley and the Salton Sea. Our first good birds, in
Brawley, were Lewis' Woodpecker and Gray Flycatcher.
East of Niland we missed the Harris' Sparrow, but saw Prairie
Falcons and White-tailed Kites. Among the many Black- necked
Stilts and American Avocets, Cindy pointed out a different-looking
shorebird, and we had our Ruff!
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Ruff
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| East of the Calipatria Prison we scored on Mountain
Plovers and a forced march through the Bermuda grass field netted
us a Sprague's Pipit. Obsidian Butte gave up the
Yellow-footed Gull, and the fields east of there were alive with
Snow & Ross' Geese. |
Ross' Goose |
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Sunset over Finney Lake
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We ended the day at Finney Lake, surveying the
egret and ibis rookery, and finishing up with a pair of courting
Clark's Grebes. A fine trip indeed!
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