Imperial
Valley & Salton Sea
Feb 22,
2003
-
60-78
degrees
-
narrated by Henry Detwiler
Charu, Raj, and I spent the
day traveling the Imperial Valley in search of unusual birds and Salton
Sea specialties.
90
species (list follows at end
of page)
Click on
thumbnail pictures for full-sized shots.
|
I met Charu and Raj at Cattle Call Park in
Brawley at 8:00 a.m. Gila & Ladder-backed Woodpeckers,
and N. Flickers were quite visible, as was a chortling Cactus
Wren, this Western Meadowlark, and a talented Northern
Mockingbird with a varied repertoire.
|
Western Meadowlark
|
Burrowing Owl |
The Barn Owl Condo (haystack) was our next stop,
and we peered in a nest to see the tops of two heart-shaped
faces. Along Lack Road
we got excellent views of several hundred American Pipits and a
single Chestnut-collared Longspur in 90% breeding
plumage. At the refuge headquarters we watched a pair of
Cattle Egrets give merciless chase to a third, who had a mouse
in its bill.
|
|
This pair of Burrowing Owls was along English
Road, standing outside their nest burrow. We watched them
through the scope as they watched us.
|
Burrowing Owl pair
|
|
|
At the corner of Eddins and Brandt, we saw the Lewis' Woodpecker
flying about and feeding on a palm. At Niland, we searched
unsuccessfully for the LeConte's Sparrow, but we did see Brewer's, Vesper,
Savannah, and a Lincoln's. A quick trip up to Wister netted us a
Gambel's Quail and this Black Phoebe.
|
Black Phoebe
|
|
East of the Calipatria State Prison, we marched out into the
Bermuda grass field and flushed a Sprague's Pipit. Probably
because I'd left my camera in the Pathfinder, we got truly awesome
looks at it. Finally, at Eddins & Sperry, we saw four Ruddy Ground-Doves and
many Eurasian Collared Doves.
|
|
We said our goodbyes back at Cattle Call Park, and I made my way
slowly back to Yuma. Off of Keystone, I looked over some
hunting club ponds, and watched these avocets and stilts feeding
in the sunset. A fine ending to a great day!
|
American Avocets at sunset
|
|
American Avocets and
Black-necked Stilts
|
|
