The Raven Lunatics
Nicole, Bob, Leslie, Mark, Kathie

The results are in!!  The Lunatics had the most FUN!!  We Raven Lunatics wish to thank all of you, the Lunatic Fringe, for supporting us in our endeavor to raise funds for conservation and to heighten awareness of nature around us.  Below is our trip report, written up by Leslie, so sit back for a minute and relive the lunatics wild ride!!  Click  here  for the Lunatics pics from the adventure!!       Bird list is below....168 species!!!

Raven Lunatics
Birdathon 2002

Our 24 hour birding day actually started the night before in the mountains of Kathie's Julian home where the mountain regulars (Pygmy and White-breasted Nuthatch, Dark-eyed Junco, Mountain Chickadee, Steller's Jay, and Oak Titmouse were seen). Bob and Kathie started owling around 7:30 p.m. Friday night, hoping to get a N. Saw-whet Owl and Western Screech, as both had been encountered there before. (One Thanksgiving the N. Saw-whet literally hit Bob in the head while he was calling it - guess that showed him who owned the territory.) The N. Saw-whet turned up as predicted, but alas no Western Screech. Unexpectedly, a Barn Owl responded to Bob’s mouse imitation, adding a new species to Kathie’s yard list.

A surprise at Kathie’s hummingbird feeder, Saturday morning , was a Calliope. Heading down the hill early, serenaded by numerous Western Meadowlarks, Kathie and Bob found an Osprey, Canvasback and Ruddy Ducks at Lake Cuyamaca. Just past the Lake yielded two Lewis’ Woodpeckers, Western Bluebirds and Lark Sparrows.

Leslie and Mark's yard and hill yielded typical backyard birds but also CA Gnatcatcher, Hooded Oriole, Cedar Waxwing, Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper's Hawk, Cassin's Kingbird, Say's and Black Phoebe, Bewick's Wren, CA Thrasher, and Spotted Towhee. En route to the Polinskys, Nicole birded the San Diego River in Mission Valley. She found migrants, Lesser Goldfinch, and several species of swallows, among others.

The Lunatics teamed up at Mission Trails Park which was really "hopping" : singing Yellow Warblers, Yellow-breasted Chats, Common Yellow-throats and Black-headed Grosbeaks were easily found as well as Bullock's Oriole, Lazuli Bunting, Blue Grosbeak, Wrentit, White-tailed Kite, CA Quail, Costa's Hummingbird, Savannah, Song, White-crowned and Grasshopper Sparrows.

Our species total hovered at about l00 before leaving Mission Trails Park and heading for Lindo Lake. At Lindo we found nesting wading birds and beautiful white pelicans. Laid-back Lunatic, Bob, also found baby Black Phoebes and took digital photos of them and other birds throughout the day.

The Lunatics planned to head over to the coast as the day heated up and bird our way up the coast for the late afternoon low tide. We knew we would keep going until we "dropped" or it got dark. The next spot was Dairy Mart ponds near the Tijuana River Valley. The birding at Dairy Mart was fabulous as always, despite the heat of the day. New birds found there included a Black-chinned Hummingbird female, Least Bell's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Green Heron, Common Moorhen, Vaux's Swift, Black-throated Gray and Townsend's Warblers. Up the street in the Tijuana River valley along the river, we found a Western Wood Pewee, American Goldfinch, Hermit Warbler and several graceful Northern Harriers. We also saw our first few shorebirds in the area and several species of duck, then it was over to the coast on the other side of the estuary.

We had not stopped to eat and were too excited to stop. All eating and drinking was done "en route" in the car. Mark drove, Bob scoped, Nicole and Leslie listened and pushed ahead. (Kathie left us after Lindo Lake, needing to go home and tend a sick cat.) At the west side boardwalk at the Tijuana Estuary, we scored two super finds: Little Blue Heron, and the bird the estuary is known for, the famed Clapper Rail.

We had already seen all of the diurnal raptors with the exception of the Peregrine Falcon which eluded us. All six possible hummingbird species and all expected western warblers had also been found. As we hit the coast, many more shorebirds and ducks were quickly added to our ever growing list. By the time we left the Tijuana Estuary, it was late afternoon but our mounting total kept us going – that and adrenaline. We went north up the Silver Strand which proved to be "tern city" – Forster's, Royal and Elegant Terns. The Elegant Terns were gorgeous lined up together with their rosy tinged underparts, characterizing them as early in the breeding stage. What a treat! Clark's, Eared and Western Grebes were seen here as well as Brandts, Black Skimmers and a variety of shorebirds.

We were REALLY excited and a bit giddy as we left the Strand and realized just how well we were doing. We zipped over to the North Island Naval Air Station golf course on the beach at Coronado to find Burrowing Owls, then hopped into the car and crossed the Coronado Bridge heading north toward Hospitality Point. That short drive was the longest rest we had all day. At Hospitality Point, we were amazed and delighted to find four Common Loons, one in spectacular breeding plumage which we rarely get to see in San Diego. Also at Hospitality Point: Red-breasted Mergansers, Caspian Terns, several additional species of ducks and the reliable "bridge" Kingfisher.

It was getting late but the push was on and the Lunatics persevered. Our day could not end until we found the rocky shoreline birds of La Jolla before it got dark. We were lucky to see the nesting Brandt's Cormorants with adorable babies on the cliffs above the caves, Black and Ruddy Turnstones, Wandering Tattler, and Surfbird, just before it got dark. Our total astounded us - l68! We giggled and "high fived" in our excitement and delirium.

As we left La Jolla, Lunatic Bob provided us with super entertainment. He pulled out his laptop and downloaded the bird photos he had taken that day. We ooohed and aaahed in appreciation as we drove down the freeway. We finally ended our day with a Chinese dinner together.

The Raven Lunatics hit a big day for migrants, many wintering ducks and shorebirds remained, the weather cooperated. We were afforded the extra daylight savings hour. This year’s total will be tough to beat but there's always next year and we ARE Raven Lunatics after all.
Leslie Loony Polinsky