Imperial
Valley & Salton Sea
Jan 19,
2003
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60-77
degrees
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narrated by Henry Detwiler
Suzanne and I took Roz and Kleyton on a whirlwind half-day tour of some
of the area highlights.
83
species (list follows at end
of page)
Click on
thumbnail pictures for full-sized shots.
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We started out in Brawley and headed north to
Niland to look for sparrows. They didn't disappoint us
either--Vesper, Brewer's, Chipping, Savannah, White-crowned,
Dark-eyed Junco, and Le Conte's.
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Kleyton, Roz, & Suzanne |
Peregrine Falcons off
Davis Road |
At Wister Waterfowl Management Area we found one
of the male American Redstarts, Cinnamon & Green-winged
Teal, handsome Northern Shovelers & Pintails, and Abert's
Towhees. And just north of Wigeon Road we found both of
the American Bitterns! Farther south along Davis, we were
treated to this pair of Peregrine Falcons hanging out by the old
bath house. They originally had their backs towards us,
then the male turned around, and finally the female. The
size difference between the two was marked.
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A little farther south and we took in the local
geology exhibit. The escaping gases were making some fine mud
volcanoes and bubbling away nicely. From here we traveled
south along English Road, where Suzanne spotted a pair of
Burrowing Owls along a ditch bank. They were most accommodating,
and allowed us fine scope views and few photos.
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Kleyton peering into a mud
pot
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Also along English Road were good numbers of Mountain
Bluebirds, their backs reflecting like pools of iridescent turquoise.
At Eddins and Sperry, we looked for an eventually found the wintering Ruddy
Ground-Doves. Four of them were "hiding" in the mulberry
tree next to the house, mixed in with their Inca cousins.
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Inca Doves & Ruddy
Ground-Dove (right-center)
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At the corner of Eddins and Brandt, we saw the Lewis' Woodpecker
working away. Next to Red Hill Marina we studies some
shorebirds and a few more waterfowl. Then we headed back to
Brawley and said goodbye to our new friends.
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After a lunch at Su Casa, Suzanne and I headed up to the
Calipatria State Prison to try for the Sprague's Pipit and some
longspurs. The Horned Lark posed on the side of the dirt
road.
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Horned Lark
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Sprague's Pipit
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Two fields directly east of the Calipatria State Prison we hiked
through the bermuda grass field for about fifteen minutes before
flushing a little bird. By watching where it landed, and
watching it run through the grass with its head hunched down, we
even got some pretty good looks! |
Imperial Valley Sunset
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