Salton
Sea & Imperial Valley
Mar 25,
2002
Guide - Bob
Miller
A full day in the Imperial Valley with Florida birder Robin Diaz.
88
species (today's list follows at end
of page)
Click on
thumbnail pictures for full-sized shots.
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Lewis's
Woodpecker
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Started out the day on the feeders in my yard. Lark,
Chipping, White-crowned Sparrows, Inca, Common Ground-Dove, Mourning
Dove, Gila Woodpecker, Common Raven...nice start. Into El Centro
where we had nice looks at a Lewis's Woodpecker for an un-
expected lifer. |
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We searched in vain for our first target, Mountain Plover but missed
them by one week! There was no shortage of swallows though, we had
LOTS of all but Banks. The north wind had been extreme for 3
days straight and today was just beautiful and calm so migrants were
really stacked up. We found this Loggerhead Shrike tending a nest
with it's mate!
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Loggerhead Shrike
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Sage Thrasher
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From the
south end we shot all the way to the far north end to try for our
second target, Sage Sparrow. None. This Sage Thrasher was an
unexpected treat and fun to watch.
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A really
unexpected treat were the two birds that landed just a few yards
from us. Robin saw them first, "oh.. oh.. Lawrence's
Goldfinch!" What a sweet way to find a lifer!
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Lawrence's Goldfinch
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Lawrence's Goldfinch |
From there we headed for the Salton Sea for target
three, Yellow-footed Gull. If you have been following the reports
of the number wintering here this year, you already know we struck
out! As Pete says, bird wins! |
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At Obsidian Butte we were just picking out our third Ruddy Turnstone when I heard
Flipper, and several of his friends in the distance!! Here they came, 7
Gull-billed Terns, first of the season, circled over us and settled onto the
islands! Now that and a red sunset will make anyone's day!
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Lawrence's Goldfinch
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