Alright folks, sorry for the big wait. I have been trying to update my species total the past few days and it hasn't worked. I'll figure out that kink soon I hope. I'm up to 304 species and only 3900 miles on the bike!!!
My goal for the year was 300, so all these other birds are just a bonus now. I'm back at work after a great summer off, so the pace is cooling off a bit. Plus, each new bird is getting incredibly hard to find (11 new birds in the past 700 miles on my bike). At least it's fall migration and birding has been fun. It's hard to complain about this migration season (though I'm sure I can find a way) considering what has been going on in California. BOOBIES!!!
Yup, BLUE-FOOTED BOOBIES have been all over California, including a few inland sightings. Mono Lake had the first sighting back in late August. A cool record, that didn't get too much attention due to the fact that the folks who found it and took a picture, walked off with it and disappeared. Fortunately, a birder from out there got a look at the picture and reported it. No else ever saw the bird.
Then, a few weeks later, others appeared on the coast. September 16, the first two San Mateo County record birds were seen. There had been several other coastal birds seen by that point in SoCal, but I figured I better give it a shot. I went out the next day and found the third San Mateo County bird the next day off of the Pescadero Creek mouth. I got a great view as the bird flew very close to shore. Since then, I have seen 3 other birds, including two on September 28 while helping to lead the Gay Birders of North America around my stomp here on the south coast of the county.
August and September were fantastic. I've done about as good as I think I'll do for shorebirds this year. Some highlights were my first county CLAPPER RAIL, BAIRD'S, SEMIPALMATED, and PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and a RED KNOT.
I did another weekend trip right before starting the new school year. A weekend in San Francisco. It was a blast. I got to visit some friends, watched my childhood baseball team (the Pirates) beat the Giants, and got involved in a high speed chase with the SF Cops (yeah, it's a really crazy story-ask me about it sometime). Certainly the bird highlight was getting to track down an ORCHARD ORIOLE.
A few other birds I added recently were TENNESSEE WARBLER, TROPICAL KINGBIRD, and then today added POMARINE JAEGER and BULLER'S SHEARWATER (we're having an amazing anchovy year here on the central coast of California).
Well, more soon... I promise not to let so much time pass before the next post.
Sunday, October 6, 2013
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
At Long Last-Pictures of the Tour
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| MINES ROAD-- DAY 3 Great Birds up Mines Road included Phainopepla, Rufous-Crowned Sparrows, Yellow-Billed Magpie, Golden Eagle, White-Breasted Nuthatch and Bullock's Orioles |
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| DROPPING DOWN DEL PUERTO CANYON--DAY 4 Added Lawrence's Goldfinch, Ash-Throated Flycatcher, Lark Sparrow, Black-Chinned Hummingbird, and Greater Roadrunner |
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| SIERRA BUTTES No time to climb them and look for Gray-Crowned Rosy Finches this year. Regardless, they are beautiful from afar. |
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| SIERRA NEVADA FIELD CAMPUS Arriving at the Field Campus was great. Just above 5000 feet in elevation, lots of great birds could be found in the Lakes Basin/ Yuba Pass area. I was lucky to get to be there for about 10 days. Five of those days I helped out with Jim Steele's Birding By Ear course. What was better, finding Spotted Owl, Northern Goshawk, Black-backed Woodpecker, Evening Grosbeak and Williamson's Sapsucker OR not having to cook for myself over a campstove with just one pot? Thanks Field Campus Staff!!! |
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| SIERRA VALLEY Yellow-Headed Blackbird |
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| SIERRA VALLEY White-Faced Ibis are abundant down there. I wish I would have gotten a good shot of the American Bitterns that are often readily viewable off of Marble Hot Springs Road. |
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| TRUCKEE RIVER TOWARDS LAKE TAHOE A gorgeous day riding. |
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| LAKE TAHOE |
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| LAKE TAHOE (Surrogate) Momma Merganser with her hands full. Certainly not all of these are genetically hers. |
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| RIDING UP MONITOR PASS Monitor gave me so much trouble in 2011 riding up it from the east side. I got my sweet revenge this summer riding from the Markleeville side this year. That day started with a marauding group of PINYON JAYS in the town of Markleeville. |
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| MONO COUNTY AT LAST!!! |
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| ARRIVING AT MONO LAKE |
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| WAY UP LUNDY CANYON Yeah, okay, I missed finding a Cordilleran Flycatcher, but it's hard to feel like it wasn't worth the ride and hike up. |
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| EAST SIDE OF THE SIERRA This shot is near Bishop. My camera was acting up on the east side, so this is one of my few pictures from that area. |
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| RED ROCK CANYON STATE PARK TOO HOT!!! |
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| RED ROCK CANYON STATE PARK Riding my bicycle through Joshua Trees in July was maybe a little bit stupid. It was 108 degrees the day I arrived. I feel better about it now that I'm home. The birds were nearly silent, even at dawn. Fortunately, a couple of Cactus Wrens were around. |
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| DOWN IN THE MOJAVE Some birds were surprises along the way. Certainly, this Western Screech Owl was a big surprise. The surrounding was a monocrop of Creosote Bush, not to mention this was 9:30 in the morning and about 90 degrees. |
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| BIG SUR Riding through the Big Sur was amazing. I didn't mind the climbing since the headwind died down a little after Cambria. California Condors!!! |
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| ROADKILL RINGTAIL IN THE BIG SUR Certainly would have rather seen a living animal, but I'm glad to know they are around. |
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| PURPLE MARTINS JUST OUTSIDE OF BIG SUR THE TOWN Sorry for the poor quality picture. I need a new camera. There were ten Martins in the area. Twenty minutes later a Black Swift fly overhead. Certainly one of the most exciting twenty minutes of the whole trip! |
Monday, July 22, 2013
The Final Leg--Pine Mountain Club to HOME!
I last left off when I was in Pine Mountain Club at the top of the Grapevine in southern California. LA County. It was an absolute treat to be able to spend a couple of days with my friends Scot and Kristin. I birded just a little bit in those couple of days. One morning I hiked through San Emigdio Canyon and encountered a couple of Black Bears. The first one I just scared off of the trail in order to keep hiking, but later I came across a bear cub and decided it was time to turn around. The birds were fairly quiet in the canyon, though I found my first RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD of the year there.
Leaving the Transverse Range was interesting. The best birding in that area seems to be through Quatal Canyon, though that road is dirt. My other options were to head south to Ojai and then the coast which would have added about 100 miles to the trip, or ride through Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge then through the Cuyama Valley. The only problem is that there are no services (no water) beyond New Cuyama until you are almost to the coast. So camping wouldn't be an option. Despite that, I decided to go that way. It meant getting an early start and riding almost 100 miles to Santa Maria.
Most of that ride was downhill, so it turned out that it wasn't even the hardest day of the trip despite being the longest by about 20 miles. Plus, I found a couple of BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS while riding down the mountain. The other great thing about that ride was feeling the first cool breeze coming inland off of the coast. I was so happy to be getting back to the ocean.
A night in Santa Maria meant that in the morning I could ride out to the coast and look for LEAST TERNS, which I got to see at Oso Flaco Lake. Another real treat turned out to be thousands of SOOTY SHEARWATERS just passed the surf at the Oso Flaco Beach. I looked for an early Royal Tern, but found none among the Caspian and Elegants.
Up to Morro Bay, I camped out at the State Park. In the morning, I rode over to Turri Road to look for CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS. As the morning got later and later, I was about to count them as a miss. Finally, I heard a flock of Kingbirds working the open fields together. Five Westerns and two Cassin's! Yahoo, I made for the coast again.
The ride north was pleasant enough until about Cambria. At that point, with the late start that I got, the wind was fierce. Yup, another headwind. Seems my loop through California was planned backwards in terms of the wind, though I'm happy with the planning in terms of the birds I got to see.
Anyway, back in the wind, I also had a spring break in my rear brakes. Because of the headwind, I have no idea how long I rode with one breakpad touching the wheel! When I figured it out, I simply disengaged my rear brakes and kept going. Big Sur or bust!
Riding into the Big Sur was great. The wind actually died down in the mountains. Then there was the nice family who waited for me most of the way up one of the mountains to offer me a basket of strawberries. Those strawberries, that I ate on that cliff were the most delicious strawberries I have ever tasted. 70 miles that day.
One night in Plaskett Creek. Finally, I was on a route that had other bike touring folks. It was fun to find a culture of tourers and to be a part of that for a couple nights.
The next day was wild. Gorgeous views, so I took it slow. CALIFORNIA CONDORS were soaring about near the waterfall that drops down to the beach at Julia Pfeiffer.
I was really shocked to find a roadkill RINGTAIL on Hwy 1. I took pictures as it seemed important to document that it had once lived there.
Camped in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. I was excited to get north towards Monterey, I thought I'd just stop briefly along the way to bird here and there. Turns out the biggest surprise of the trip occurred just north of the town of Big Sur. I heard a chatter that wasn't familiar that was coming from a meadow by the side of the road. 10 PURPLE MARTINS were flying about chasing bugs and each other and perching in a tree.
Now I did try to do my homework before starting the trip, but Purple Martin was just not on the radar. Apparently, they breed in Big Sur. Now I know
For the next 20 minutes, I was thinking how wonderful it was to see Purple Martins and scratching my head that I didn't know that I could see them there, when suddenly, a lone BLACK SWIFT flew overhead. Wow, two big shocks in 20 minutes. This was some good birding. I had never seen a Black Swift before, so I was absolutely elated by my luck.
I camped in a hotel room in Seaside that night. Luxurious.
The next night was Santa Cruz where I stayed with my friends Emily and Eric. Another night with a bed. Thanks yall.
The ride home the next day was bitter sweet of course. Well, mostly it was just sweet. It's good to be home.
And, now that I'm home, all the pictures will be going up soon. Right after one more nap on the couch...
Leaving the Transverse Range was interesting. The best birding in that area seems to be through Quatal Canyon, though that road is dirt. My other options were to head south to Ojai and then the coast which would have added about 100 miles to the trip, or ride through Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge then through the Cuyama Valley. The only problem is that there are no services (no water) beyond New Cuyama until you are almost to the coast. So camping wouldn't be an option. Despite that, I decided to go that way. It meant getting an early start and riding almost 100 miles to Santa Maria.
Most of that ride was downhill, so it turned out that it wasn't even the hardest day of the trip despite being the longest by about 20 miles. Plus, I found a couple of BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWS while riding down the mountain. The other great thing about that ride was feeling the first cool breeze coming inland off of the coast. I was so happy to be getting back to the ocean.
A night in Santa Maria meant that in the morning I could ride out to the coast and look for LEAST TERNS, which I got to see at Oso Flaco Lake. Another real treat turned out to be thousands of SOOTY SHEARWATERS just passed the surf at the Oso Flaco Beach. I looked for an early Royal Tern, but found none among the Caspian and Elegants.
Up to Morro Bay, I camped out at the State Park. In the morning, I rode over to Turri Road to look for CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS. As the morning got later and later, I was about to count them as a miss. Finally, I heard a flock of Kingbirds working the open fields together. Five Westerns and two Cassin's! Yahoo, I made for the coast again.
The ride north was pleasant enough until about Cambria. At that point, with the late start that I got, the wind was fierce. Yup, another headwind. Seems my loop through California was planned backwards in terms of the wind, though I'm happy with the planning in terms of the birds I got to see.
Anyway, back in the wind, I also had a spring break in my rear brakes. Because of the headwind, I have no idea how long I rode with one breakpad touching the wheel! When I figured it out, I simply disengaged my rear brakes and kept going. Big Sur or bust!
Riding into the Big Sur was great. The wind actually died down in the mountains. Then there was the nice family who waited for me most of the way up one of the mountains to offer me a basket of strawberries. Those strawberries, that I ate on that cliff were the most delicious strawberries I have ever tasted. 70 miles that day.
One night in Plaskett Creek. Finally, I was on a route that had other bike touring folks. It was fun to find a culture of tourers and to be a part of that for a couple nights.
The next day was wild. Gorgeous views, so I took it slow. CALIFORNIA CONDORS were soaring about near the waterfall that drops down to the beach at Julia Pfeiffer.
I was really shocked to find a roadkill RINGTAIL on Hwy 1. I took pictures as it seemed important to document that it had once lived there.
Camped in Pfeiffer Big Sur State Park. I was excited to get north towards Monterey, I thought I'd just stop briefly along the way to bird here and there. Turns out the biggest surprise of the trip occurred just north of the town of Big Sur. I heard a chatter that wasn't familiar that was coming from a meadow by the side of the road. 10 PURPLE MARTINS were flying about chasing bugs and each other and perching in a tree.
Now I did try to do my homework before starting the trip, but Purple Martin was just not on the radar. Apparently, they breed in Big Sur. Now I know
For the next 20 minutes, I was thinking how wonderful it was to see Purple Martins and scratching my head that I didn't know that I could see them there, when suddenly, a lone BLACK SWIFT flew overhead. Wow, two big shocks in 20 minutes. This was some good birding. I had never seen a Black Swift before, so I was absolutely elated by my luck.
I camped in a hotel room in Seaside that night. Luxurious.
The next night was Santa Cruz where I stayed with my friends Emily and Eric. Another night with a bed. Thanks yall.
The ride home the next day was bitter sweet of course. Well, mostly it was just sweet. It's good to be home.
And, now that I'm home, all the pictures will be going up soon. Right after one more nap on the couch...
Thursday, July 11, 2013
The Eastern Sierra and Western Mojave
Only a few people know what I'm talking about when I describe where I am right now. Some people know Frazier Park, less know Pine Mountain Club, where I actually am. The best way to explain it is that I am in the east/west running mountain range that seperates the Coast Range and Central Valley from Los Angeles. My good friends Scot and Kristin have put me up for a few days rest after crossing the Mojave kind of worked me. What a relief this overcast day in the mid-eighties is!
So a lot has happened since I last wrote from Bridgeport. Put simply 500 miles and 12 new species. But that leaves out a lot of what really happened.
Leaving Bridgeport, I made my way down to Lee Vining. I birded the County Park area on the north end of Mono Lake. The nesting Osprey were a treat as the parents took turns flying off to other lakes and coming back with fish. Wilson's Phalaropes spun in the water.
After a day at Mono I hustled back north to Lundy Canyon where the birding was decent, though I didn't pick up any new species. A BALD EAGLE up in the canyon was a very cool sight, as was a nice show of wildflowers.
Back to Lee Vining, I watched a band play at the famous Mobil Station while I ate a nice meal from the gas station. Those who have been there, know that the food is actually decent. The band played a couple of Townes Van Zandt songs which was a great way to end the evening and head down into the sagebrush for a night's sleep.
Out in the sage, COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were everywhere, and upon waking, there were multiple GRAY FLYCATCHERS calling around my tent. Southbound to Mammoth Lakes.
Due to a heatwave, I had to hangout in the Mammoth area for several days. Bishop (where I was headed next) was 110 degrees, and Ridgecrest was 117! Yikes. Mammoth was alright with me.
One night, while waiting for the heat to break, I headed out to the ESE side of Glass Mountain to a little aspen grove called Wildrose Canyon. It was an awesome morning birding. A RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER was a great bird to find for the year! I missed a Virginia's Warbler that people had seen a couple of weeks earlier. Damn! I've still never seen one. Looks like I'll have to get back there sometime.
Fortunately, a friend of mine, Sierra, was staying with her family in Mammoth. They were so sweet to put me up for a few days while I waited out the heatwave. Two night sleep in a bed did wonders for the body! Thanks Sierra!!!
So with the heatwave beginning to subside, I rode down towards Bishop. I think the high that day was only 104! I was shocked when I stopped on the way into town in Birchim Canyon to find quite a bit of bird activity at around 11 am. The creek running through was substantial, and I had to dunk my hair to cool off. In all the heat, I managed to hear one and see another YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. Very cool to watch them sing. The BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS there, were my first of the trip.
Views from the eastside were incredible. Unfortunately, my camera is a bit temperamental. I didn't get any good shots of Mt. Whitney for example.
Lone Pine was another stop for the night, camping out in the random sage again. I got up at 5 am (what had become my normal schedule to beat the heat) and headed for Carl's Jr. Don't worry, I had already eaten breakfast. Folks had told me that the land behind this fastfood joint was good birding. It sure was! A BLUE GROSBEAK was a new bird for the year. Again however, I missed another good bird that was supposed to have been around...Summer Tanager. Maybe one will turn up again this year in Pescadero. Slim chance, but I've got to hope.
South to Ridgecrest. GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE on the way down at Diaz Lake, well actually five of them.
Ridgecrest was hot. 108 or so. I got a hotel and tried to fix my flat.
Up in the morning at 5 am. Flat again. Pulled lots of metal out of the tire, put in a new tube and started headed towards Red Rock Canyon State Park. I got nine miles out of town and...FLAT TIRE AGAIN!!! I didn't get it. It was already 9:30 and nearing 95 degrees. I was trying to get out fast, but had to hitch a ride back into town. It didn't take more than 25 minutes to get a ride with a guy who was retired military. He said he felt bad for me standing out in the heat. He even took me to a bikeshop, where I learned I had pinched the tube when I replaced it and that's what caused the flat. At least all the metal was out!
Back out riding that same nine miles out of town. 11am. Sure was later than when I had wanted to start. Sure was hotter (100+).
Now the heat is one thing. I can handle a little heat, but when you add a headwind. Now that's just cruel. Fortunately, despite the Mojave being hot and desolate, I kept running into service stations at the right times. I made it to Red Rock just in time to run into a couple of other birders from Sacramento. The encounter went like this:
"Is that your bike over there?"
"Yeah."
"Do you want a cold beer?"
"Wow... yes."
Those sweet folks gave me one for then and one for after dinner too. Wish I could remember their names. (If you are reading, drop me a line and THANKS AGAIN.) Nice moments in bike touring happen when you least expect them.
Then we found out we were all birders...
Too bad the birds were so quiet, it would have been fun to have all walked around together. I birded the evening and the morning there and found a whopping 9 species. At least there were a couple of CACTUS WRENS about.
Next day, I rode to Lancaster. Near the town of Mojave, at 9:30 am, there was a WESTERN SCREECH OWL on an exit sign. Pictures to come... It was, in fact, my first screech of the year. I never thought my first one would be in the Mojave Dessert.
Okay... I've got to run. I'll have to catch yall up the rest of the way soon.
So a lot has happened since I last wrote from Bridgeport. Put simply 500 miles and 12 new species. But that leaves out a lot of what really happened.
Leaving Bridgeport, I made my way down to Lee Vining. I birded the County Park area on the north end of Mono Lake. The nesting Osprey were a treat as the parents took turns flying off to other lakes and coming back with fish. Wilson's Phalaropes spun in the water.
After a day at Mono I hustled back north to Lundy Canyon where the birding was decent, though I didn't pick up any new species. A BALD EAGLE up in the canyon was a very cool sight, as was a nice show of wildflowers.
Back to Lee Vining, I watched a band play at the famous Mobil Station while I ate a nice meal from the gas station. Those who have been there, know that the food is actually decent. The band played a couple of Townes Van Zandt songs which was a great way to end the evening and head down into the sagebrush for a night's sleep.
Out in the sage, COMMON NIGHTHAWKS were everywhere, and upon waking, there were multiple GRAY FLYCATCHERS calling around my tent. Southbound to Mammoth Lakes.
Due to a heatwave, I had to hangout in the Mammoth area for several days. Bishop (where I was headed next) was 110 degrees, and Ridgecrest was 117! Yikes. Mammoth was alright with me.
One night, while waiting for the heat to break, I headed out to the ESE side of Glass Mountain to a little aspen grove called Wildrose Canyon. It was an awesome morning birding. A RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER was a great bird to find for the year! I missed a Virginia's Warbler that people had seen a couple of weeks earlier. Damn! I've still never seen one. Looks like I'll have to get back there sometime.
Fortunately, a friend of mine, Sierra, was staying with her family in Mammoth. They were so sweet to put me up for a few days while I waited out the heatwave. Two night sleep in a bed did wonders for the body! Thanks Sierra!!!
So with the heatwave beginning to subside, I rode down towards Bishop. I think the high that day was only 104! I was shocked when I stopped on the way into town in Birchim Canyon to find quite a bit of bird activity at around 11 am. The creek running through was substantial, and I had to dunk my hair to cool off. In all the heat, I managed to hear one and see another YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT. Very cool to watch them sing. The BLACK-THROATED SPARROWS there, were my first of the trip.
Views from the eastside were incredible. Unfortunately, my camera is a bit temperamental. I didn't get any good shots of Mt. Whitney for example.
Lone Pine was another stop for the night, camping out in the random sage again. I got up at 5 am (what had become my normal schedule to beat the heat) and headed for Carl's Jr. Don't worry, I had already eaten breakfast. Folks had told me that the land behind this fastfood joint was good birding. It sure was! A BLUE GROSBEAK was a new bird for the year. Again however, I missed another good bird that was supposed to have been around...Summer Tanager. Maybe one will turn up again this year in Pescadero. Slim chance, but I've got to hope.
South to Ridgecrest. GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE on the way down at Diaz Lake, well actually five of them.
Ridgecrest was hot. 108 or so. I got a hotel and tried to fix my flat.
Up in the morning at 5 am. Flat again. Pulled lots of metal out of the tire, put in a new tube and started headed towards Red Rock Canyon State Park. I got nine miles out of town and...FLAT TIRE AGAIN!!! I didn't get it. It was already 9:30 and nearing 95 degrees. I was trying to get out fast, but had to hitch a ride back into town. It didn't take more than 25 minutes to get a ride with a guy who was retired military. He said he felt bad for me standing out in the heat. He even took me to a bikeshop, where I learned I had pinched the tube when I replaced it and that's what caused the flat. At least all the metal was out!
Back out riding that same nine miles out of town. 11am. Sure was later than when I had wanted to start. Sure was hotter (100+).
Now the heat is one thing. I can handle a little heat, but when you add a headwind. Now that's just cruel. Fortunately, despite the Mojave being hot and desolate, I kept running into service stations at the right times. I made it to Red Rock just in time to run into a couple of other birders from Sacramento. The encounter went like this:
"Is that your bike over there?"
"Yeah."
"Do you want a cold beer?"
"Wow... yes."
Those sweet folks gave me one for then and one for after dinner too. Wish I could remember their names. (If you are reading, drop me a line and THANKS AGAIN.) Nice moments in bike touring happen when you least expect them.
Then we found out we were all birders...
Too bad the birds were so quiet, it would have been fun to have all walked around together. I birded the evening and the morning there and found a whopping 9 species. At least there were a couple of CACTUS WRENS about.
Next day, I rode to Lancaster. Near the town of Mojave, at 9:30 am, there was a WESTERN SCREECH OWL on an exit sign. Pictures to come... It was, in fact, my first screech of the year. I never thought my first one would be in the Mojave Dessert.
Okay... I've got to run. I'll have to catch yall up the rest of the way soon.
Tuesday, June 25, 2013
Tahoe to Bridgeport
Well friends, I got my revenge. In 2011, I did another bike tour in which I came up from Bridgeport and rode up Monitor Pass in a day that was hellish, brutal, but absolutely beautiful. I had such a difficult time with that climb that I had a hard time appreciating how beautiful Alpine County really is. Fortunately, just a few days ago, I camped near Markleeville (near the base of Monitor), and made it up without too much trouble. It was beautiful up there too. I got my sweet revenge on the other side of the pass, where I let myself have a bit of fun going down. 43mph of fun! Kind of stupid, but I had to do it. Don't worry Mom I make it a habit of going much slower down mountains usually. This was a special situation.
The past couple of days, I've hung out around the Bridgeport area, mostly just recovering from some hard riding. Once I made it down Monitor, I had a pretty strong headwind. It got me down for about an hour, but I eventually snapped out of it. Ah, the journey!
Birding has been really nice here lately. I camped out in the Pinyon Pine/Juniper last night. This morning I started the day with a PRAIRIE FALCON flying right by camp at about 6:30 this morning. Actually, I really started the day with a PLUMBEOUS VIREO singing outside of my tent (Thanks Peter!). I took some time this morning to look and listen to the difference between them and Cassin's Vireos. Plumbeous song seems to be a bit more slurred. At least that was just my impression this morning.
At last I found a JUNIPER TITMOUSE. I tried to find one in 2011, but missed them. This morning I finally found a small group of them. I had been searching for them up the hill above my campsite until I realized that I was getting into more Pinyon and less Juniper. I decided to go lower, and found more Junipers, and that's where those buggers were.
One more cool find this morning was a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER nest. Very nice morning.
Well, I'm off to Lundy Canyon this afternoon, then Mono Lake for a couple of days after that.
More when I can...
The past couple of days, I've hung out around the Bridgeport area, mostly just recovering from some hard riding. Once I made it down Monitor, I had a pretty strong headwind. It got me down for about an hour, but I eventually snapped out of it. Ah, the journey!
Birding has been really nice here lately. I camped out in the Pinyon Pine/Juniper last night. This morning I started the day with a PRAIRIE FALCON flying right by camp at about 6:30 this morning. Actually, I really started the day with a PLUMBEOUS VIREO singing outside of my tent (Thanks Peter!). I took some time this morning to look and listen to the difference between them and Cassin's Vireos. Plumbeous song seems to be a bit more slurred. At least that was just my impression this morning.
At last I found a JUNIPER TITMOUSE. I tried to find one in 2011, but missed them. This morning I finally found a small group of them. I had been searching for them up the hill above my campsite until I realized that I was getting into more Pinyon and less Juniper. I decided to go lower, and found more Junipers, and that's where those buggers were.
One more cool find this morning was a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER nest. Very nice morning.
Well, I'm off to Lundy Canyon this afternoon, then Mono Lake for a couple of days after that.
More when I can...
Friday, June 21, 2013
Sierra Valley to Lake Tahoe
Well readers, it was hard to say goodbye to the Field Campus, but at least the birding has continued to be good.
I stopped in Carmen Valley which is situated just off of Sierra Valley. The birding was a bit slow there, but I did find a beautiful MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD. The first of many as it turns out. I saw a bunch more as I rode up Smithneck Road the next day.
I decided to camp in one of my favorite locations in the area that night. There is a nice stand of aspen trees near the top of Antelope Valley Rd. where I camped a few times last year. The birds are often active where a small seep flows into the trees. I've also found bear tracks each and everytime I've gone there and this time was no different.
Camping there was very nice once again. I was anxiously waiting for dusk to come because I love watching COMMON NIGHTHAWKS in flight. Finally, they came out, along with some COMMON POORWILL. I slept well that night.
Then next morning I took the back roads to Truckee. This meant riding dirt roads towards Stampede Reservoir. So along Smithneck Road leading out of Loyalton, I was able to find a few LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS (yes, of Lewis and Clark). I also got looks at a couple of BLACK-BILLLED MAGPIES.
Higher up Smithneck Road, there are some nice meadows where the Nighthawks like to come out and fly around. I watched for a while and tried to get photos. They're a pretty difficult bird to capture with a small point and shoot camera. They dart around quick and sometimes almost moth-like. Several CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS (yes, of Lewis and Clark) were around the Stampede area as well.
While riding way out in the middle of nowhere, a man on horseback passed the other way. He looked like a real cowboy with his hat, boots and waxed mustache. He had two other pack horses with him and what looked to be some oldtime camping gear. He said, "Howdy" as we passed. Turns out, I just read about him in the paper today in Tahoe City. He's riding the original Pony Express Trail. Wish I would have known at the time. He would have be fun to chat with (hey Scot, think cowboy version of Catfish Keith).
So I've made it to Lake Tahoe. I rode into town on a bike trail along the Truckee River. It was gorgeous and I was having a blast. When I reached the Lake there was a farmers market going on on a beach on the lake. Talk about idyllic. I was so happy to be in Tahoe and able to buy fresh tomatos and basil. I'm loving this trip.
Tonight I'll be on the lake again at D.L. Bliss State Park, then on to Markleeville at the base of Monitor Pass. I can't wait to get over to the east side of the Sierra.
I haven't done much birding in the past couple of days. Mostly just getting around and spending some time in civilization. I did see a FORESTER'S TERN on a buoy this morning.
Talk to you when I'm on the East Side...
I stopped in Carmen Valley which is situated just off of Sierra Valley. The birding was a bit slow there, but I did find a beautiful MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD. The first of many as it turns out. I saw a bunch more as I rode up Smithneck Road the next day.
I decided to camp in one of my favorite locations in the area that night. There is a nice stand of aspen trees near the top of Antelope Valley Rd. where I camped a few times last year. The birds are often active where a small seep flows into the trees. I've also found bear tracks each and everytime I've gone there and this time was no different.
Camping there was very nice once again. I was anxiously waiting for dusk to come because I love watching COMMON NIGHTHAWKS in flight. Finally, they came out, along with some COMMON POORWILL. I slept well that night.
Then next morning I took the back roads to Truckee. This meant riding dirt roads towards Stampede Reservoir. So along Smithneck Road leading out of Loyalton, I was able to find a few LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS (yes, of Lewis and Clark). I also got looks at a couple of BLACK-BILLLED MAGPIES.
Higher up Smithneck Road, there are some nice meadows where the Nighthawks like to come out and fly around. I watched for a while and tried to get photos. They're a pretty difficult bird to capture with a small point and shoot camera. They dart around quick and sometimes almost moth-like. Several CLARK'S NUTCRACKERS (yes, of Lewis and Clark) were around the Stampede area as well.
While riding way out in the middle of nowhere, a man on horseback passed the other way. He looked like a real cowboy with his hat, boots and waxed mustache. He had two other pack horses with him and what looked to be some oldtime camping gear. He said, "Howdy" as we passed. Turns out, I just read about him in the paper today in Tahoe City. He's riding the original Pony Express Trail. Wish I would have known at the time. He would have be fun to chat with (hey Scot, think cowboy version of Catfish Keith).
So I've made it to Lake Tahoe. I rode into town on a bike trail along the Truckee River. It was gorgeous and I was having a blast. When I reached the Lake there was a farmers market going on on a beach on the lake. Talk about idyllic. I was so happy to be in Tahoe and able to buy fresh tomatos and basil. I'm loving this trip.
Tonight I'll be on the lake again at D.L. Bliss State Park, then on to Markleeville at the base of Monitor Pass. I can't wait to get over to the east side of the Sierra.
I haven't done much birding in the past couple of days. Mostly just getting around and spending some time in civilization. I did see a FORESTER'S TERN on a buoy this morning.
Talk to you when I'm on the East Side...
Monday, June 17, 2013
Sierra Nevada at Last
I can't tell you how great it's been to be in the Sierra! As soon as I hit the Yuba River, just beyond Nevada City, I was overjoyed. Goodbye valley, foothills, and heat, I was ready for the mountains.
Unfortunately, the heatwave lasted a few more days and my first couple days of climbing the Sierra were still in the mid 90s. My attitude however, was much better as I climbed up out of the grasslands and into the Black Oak and Conifers. As I rode up, CASSIN'S VIREOS and HERMIT WARBLERS were numerous. Yellow-rumped Warblers also became prevalent. By the time I got to Union Flat Campground on Highway 49, I was seeing and hearing almost the full compliment of mountain breeding warblers. Two of these were MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS and NASHVILLE WARBLRS singing about the campground. A pair of AMERICAN DIPPERS were feeding a fledgling on the rocks in the Yuba River. Always a fun find.
Camping in Union Flat left only a short, uphill ride to San Francisco State's Sierra Nevada Field Campus. I worked in the kitchen at the field campus last summer and was excited to be heading back there to assist Jim Steele with the Birding By Ear course. The field campus is located right on the Yuba River at about 5400 feet. It's an incredible place were folks come to learn about natural history out in the field. Check out the website:
http://www.sfsu.edu/~sierra/
The classes are fantastic, the food is great, and the community is inspiring. This place draws some great naturalists and life long learners. It's the type of place where you can run into people excited to collect fungi, stop and look at strange bugs, or sketch a flower they've never seen before. Last year, I came home to the field campus one evening and found fifteen people surrounding a bright light and a sheet that was hung up behind it. They were taking turns shouting out latin names of moths and other nocturnal insects coming to the light. I thought, "Ah... I've found my people." It was good to be back this year.
With several days before the Birding By Ear course began, I set out to tune my ear to mountain bird voices. The Lakes Basin near Sierra Buttes is an incredible place for birds, butterflies, and wildflowers (A dry winter/spring meant that the wildflowers and insects were pretty far along in their life cycles compared to last year). I was surrounded by new song that I just don't hear down in the Bay Area. FOX SPARROWS and GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES sang from the chaparral with the Buttes as a backdrop. CASSIN'S FINCHES and EVENING GROSBEAKS are common at the Field Campus' feeders. This year, like last, there is a MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE nest in the wall of the dining hall.
Yuba Pass, just five miles above the Field Campus, is known as a great birding hotspot. I love spending time up there. This year, there have been a good number of LAZULI BUNTINGS. One can also turn up singing CHIPPING SPARROWS and LINCOLN SPARROWS. This year, someone discovered a WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER nest at the pass. As of yesterday 6/16, it is still very active. A single PINE GROSBEAK was a really fun bird to hear singing at the pass on June 6. This was another bird I wasn't sure I was going to turn up for the year.
There were several birds up here that I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to find. Fortunately, word of mouth and bird listserves help considerably. Bob Power found a WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER at Packer Lake in early June. I went up and looked around for an hour and was just leaving as the bird flew in to the east end of the lake. A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was a bit out of place singing from a Lodgepole Pine just below Packer Lake.
Another bird that can be challenging to see is the BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER. Last summer I had a handful of sightings over the course of three months. Fortunately, after a few searches in the Bassett's Fire Burn area across the street from the Field Campus, I found one.
The mix of mature Red Fir forests and more open chaparral habitat make this area a great place to work on separating HAMMOND'S and DUSKY FLYCATCHERS. I find these species easiest to discern by ear though habitat and a number of visual cues help too.
The Birding By Ear course went very well. I believe we heard right around 90 species. We saw but did not hear more than 30 species in addition to that.
Birding By Ear, the course, meant a break from "birding by bike". When we drove to Salmon Creek Campground for the class and saw a NORTHERN GOSHAWK fly by, I got nervous that I wouldn't see another one to count towards the big year. Fortunately, yesterday 6/16, I saw one heading south at Yuba Pass.
Another bird I just recently found was a SPOTTED OWL. That bird was near Yuba Pass off of Haskell Creek Road. I saw it fly across the sky as the sun was setting and the COMMON POORWILL were just starting to sing. Riding back down Highway 49 at 10:30 pm was cold, but absolutely worth it. Afterall, what can be more satisfying than a full day of bird finding and cycling?
Well, I leave the Field Campus tomorrow. I really feel that I only "missed (or "dipped on", as birders say) the Sooty Grouse. I'll be going through some other mountainous areas, so I still have a small chance at seeing one. It's pretty easy to let that one go considering I've seen so much up here.
I'll miss the campus. Many thanks to J.R. Blair and the Sierra Nevada Field Campus Staff for having me, Jim Steele for allowing me to help with the Birding By Ear class, and to all the eBirders out their who help contribute to the conservation database and make their sightings available to bird finders like me.
I'm off to Truckee, Lake Tahoe, Markleeville, and then the east side of the Sierra.
More from somewhere down the road...
Unfortunately, the heatwave lasted a few more days and my first couple days of climbing the Sierra were still in the mid 90s. My attitude however, was much better as I climbed up out of the grasslands and into the Black Oak and Conifers. As I rode up, CASSIN'S VIREOS and HERMIT WARBLERS were numerous. Yellow-rumped Warblers also became prevalent. By the time I got to Union Flat Campground on Highway 49, I was seeing and hearing almost the full compliment of mountain breeding warblers. Two of these were MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS and NASHVILLE WARBLRS singing about the campground. A pair of AMERICAN DIPPERS were feeding a fledgling on the rocks in the Yuba River. Always a fun find.
Camping in Union Flat left only a short, uphill ride to San Francisco State's Sierra Nevada Field Campus. I worked in the kitchen at the field campus last summer and was excited to be heading back there to assist Jim Steele with the Birding By Ear course. The field campus is located right on the Yuba River at about 5400 feet. It's an incredible place were folks come to learn about natural history out in the field. Check out the website:
http://www.sfsu.edu/~sierra/
The classes are fantastic, the food is great, and the community is inspiring. This place draws some great naturalists and life long learners. It's the type of place where you can run into people excited to collect fungi, stop and look at strange bugs, or sketch a flower they've never seen before. Last year, I came home to the field campus one evening and found fifteen people surrounding a bright light and a sheet that was hung up behind it. They were taking turns shouting out latin names of moths and other nocturnal insects coming to the light. I thought, "Ah... I've found my people." It was good to be back this year.
With several days before the Birding By Ear course began, I set out to tune my ear to mountain bird voices. The Lakes Basin near Sierra Buttes is an incredible place for birds, butterflies, and wildflowers (A dry winter/spring meant that the wildflowers and insects were pretty far along in their life cycles compared to last year). I was surrounded by new song that I just don't hear down in the Bay Area. FOX SPARROWS and GREEN-TAILED TOWHEES sang from the chaparral with the Buttes as a backdrop. CASSIN'S FINCHES and EVENING GROSBEAKS are common at the Field Campus' feeders. This year, like last, there is a MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE nest in the wall of the dining hall.
Yuba Pass, just five miles above the Field Campus, is known as a great birding hotspot. I love spending time up there. This year, there have been a good number of LAZULI BUNTINGS. One can also turn up singing CHIPPING SPARROWS and LINCOLN SPARROWS. This year, someone discovered a WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER nest at the pass. As of yesterday 6/16, it is still very active. A single PINE GROSBEAK was a really fun bird to hear singing at the pass on June 6. This was another bird I wasn't sure I was going to turn up for the year.
There were several birds up here that I wasn't sure if I was going to be able to find. Fortunately, word of mouth and bird listserves help considerably. Bob Power found a WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER at Packer Lake in early June. I went up and looked around for an hour and was just leaving as the bird flew in to the east end of the lake. A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was a bit out of place singing from a Lodgepole Pine just below Packer Lake.
Another bird that can be challenging to see is the BLACK-BACKED WOODPECKER. Last summer I had a handful of sightings over the course of three months. Fortunately, after a few searches in the Bassett's Fire Burn area across the street from the Field Campus, I found one.
The mix of mature Red Fir forests and more open chaparral habitat make this area a great place to work on separating HAMMOND'S and DUSKY FLYCATCHERS. I find these species easiest to discern by ear though habitat and a number of visual cues help too.
The Birding By Ear course went very well. I believe we heard right around 90 species. We saw but did not hear more than 30 species in addition to that.
Birding By Ear, the course, meant a break from "birding by bike". When we drove to Salmon Creek Campground for the class and saw a NORTHERN GOSHAWK fly by, I got nervous that I wouldn't see another one to count towards the big year. Fortunately, yesterday 6/16, I saw one heading south at Yuba Pass.
Another bird I just recently found was a SPOTTED OWL. That bird was near Yuba Pass off of Haskell Creek Road. I saw it fly across the sky as the sun was setting and the COMMON POORWILL were just starting to sing. Riding back down Highway 49 at 10:30 pm was cold, but absolutely worth it. Afterall, what can be more satisfying than a full day of bird finding and cycling?
Well, I leave the Field Campus tomorrow. I really feel that I only "missed (or "dipped on", as birders say) the Sooty Grouse. I'll be going through some other mountainous areas, so I still have a small chance at seeing one. It's pretty easy to let that one go considering I've seen so much up here.
I'll miss the campus. Many thanks to J.R. Blair and the Sierra Nevada Field Campus Staff for having me, Jim Steele for allowing me to help with the Birding By Ear class, and to all the eBirders out their who help contribute to the conservation database and make their sightings available to bird finders like me.
I'm off to Truckee, Lake Tahoe, Markleeville, and then the east side of the Sierra.
More from somewhere down the road...
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