US birding update in the California desert

[marg]

thirty minutes ago I dashed out the door with my camera after seeing something fly over....a Coopers Hawk.

[marg]

and now playing catch up.....early one morning when I went out to get the newspapers, I heard one.  Then there were a pair in our front yard:  Ladder-backed Woodpeckers.

[marg]

We have a little creek behind us separating yards/houses from the golf course.  And, it is also creates a flight path.  Long-legged Waders:  Great Blue Heron, Black-crowned Night and Great Egrets are fairly common sights.

[marg]

back to work.....last year we did not get to Africa because of Covid.  We did not go to central Oregon because of the forest fires and the smoke.  So, last fall we went to the beach.  Santa Barbara is not so far away but the change from the desert sun to the morning fog was wonderful.  And, the birds.  So many we also see here. Familiar sightings: Great Blue Heron preening, Great Egret, Black-crowned Night Heron juvenile,  Snowy Egrets, House Sparrow, Great-tailed Grackle female and Double-crested Cormorant.  

[marg]

We spent all of our time at the beach, walking and sitting looking at the birds.  It took time to identify them:  Western Gulls, juveniles and adults, Willets, Black Turnstone, Black Skimmers, Marbled Godwit.

[marg]

 Brown Pelicans...they were every where.

[Kitsafari]

Lovely additions!

 

[marg]

And, Harbor Seals  We plan to return next summer.  Santa Barbara first for the beach and the birds then on to the wine country for a bit of sipping.  Hopefully prior to going back to Africa!

[marg]

@Kitsafarithanks!  I am so trying to get caught up with everything at my desk and will get in touch soon!

[marg]

wow!  I am really tardy.  Six years ago I had one sighting of one American White Pelican out in one of the lakes on the golf course.    Then the first of March I saw several fly over.  Hubby saw a few in a lake.  The next day I found fifteen of them.  They did not stay around but they were nice to see.

[marg]

and another first sighting...Eurasian Collared-Dove.  I do not know if it is a visitor or here to stay.  Our Mourning Doves are year-round residents.  And, the White-winged Dove comes just in the summer.

[marg]

Spring/summer brought mating and little ones.  There was a lot of Mourning Dove activity but I did not see the results.  Anna's Hummingbirds were another story.  I watched this nest daily for five weeks as it was next to the patio, unfortunately in the shade.  Two weeks on the nest and three weeks more before the nest was once again empty.  The nest is in the lower left branch of the cactus.

[marg]

more little ones...Gambel's Quail.  We had several families going through the yard several times each day.  You could usually hear them before seeing them.  And, the male would sit on top of a bush keeping a lookout....similar to a prairie dog or a meerkat.

[marg]

on a mission to catch up before it is time to leave for Africa and then a new big batch of photos.....Greater Roadrunner at the water dish.

[marg]

I am always tardy......late January for one day only there were American Robbins here.

Nearly every day we have a Greater Roadrunner or two go across the patio, often looking into the house.

Then, when the weather got hotter the water dish was put out.  This year it has been disappointing.  The only user is a Cowbird.

 

 

 

 

Edited July 31, 2023 by marg
switched photos

[offshorebirder]

That Roadrunner is a nosy neighbor @marg

[marg]

It is not always easy to bring new life into the world especially if it involves a Black-chinned Hummingbird.   The nests were in precarious places in our yard.  The first one was build on a pod hanging from an ebony tree.  I watched for several days and then the pod and the nest were gone.  The next nest was outside our bathroom window hanging on a twig.  I did not even notice it until there was a young one in the nest.  Again, one day no nest, no youngster and no mother.  In both cases I could not find anything on the ground.  Too bad.

Verdins however were much more successful.  Another nest outside another bathroom window.

[marg]

More success...mid June a Gambel's Quail with eight little ones walked along side the pool.  No sightings until last week when an extended family of quail came through the yard.  Sixteen young and an adult.  Sightings this summer have not been plentiful.

[Tom Kellie]

~ @marg:

 

WOW!

 

Your photos above are terrific!

 

Thank you.

 

      Tom K.

[marg]

@Tom Kelliethanks Tom!

[marg]

We are seeing flycatchers.  First, a Say's Phoebe.  Then, a Vermilion Flycatcher.  I stand in the kitchen and look out and one lands in this tree.  It looks like a Christmas tree ornament as the red is so vivid.