August 21, 2024 California City Central Park & Galileo Hill, Kern County CA (45 Species)
Weather: Fair; 82°F to 100°F; wind WNW 4-8 mph.
Time: 0910-1230 hrs.
Observers: Hai-Dang Phan and I
Areas Covered: We carpooled from the Avenue S Park n Ride, Palmdale, initially making three brief stops in the vicinity of Blackbird Airpark and vacant land adjacent to Blackbird Drive (BD), looking for LeConte’s Thrasher and Cactus Wren — potential life-birds for Hai-Dang. No luck there. We then drove north on CA-14 via Mojave, to California City Central Park (CCP), our principal birding destination for the day. We covered most of the park on foot, including the overgrown borders of the Lakeside Inn — gutted, vandalized and abandoned. After having our lunch in the almost vacant, trashed-out and largely neglected CCP, we drove northeast on the historic Twenty Mule Team Parkway, stopping briefly at Water Tank #2 (the site where a vagrant Gray Catbird was found about 27 years earlier) to walk in the open desert, dominated by Creosote Bush, dissected by numerous ORV tracks (TMT).
Our next destination was a few miles further northeast on TMT — Galileo Hill Park (GH), formerly the Silver Saddle Ranch & Resort. We spent about fifteen minutes on the paved roadway near the posted and vandalized main entrance, scanning with binoculars. Nearly all the resort trees (i.e., cottonwoods, willows and pines) appeared dead and/or lacking foliage; an abundance of fallen limbs were scattered beneath them. Artificial ponds with plastic liners were dry and contained fallen limbs and other debris. Birdlife here, once abundant and diversified, especially in autumn and spring, was now scarce. The resort grounds appeared to have been neglected for years (i.e., since 2020), if not entirely abandoned. Without surface water and associated vegetation, few resources have remained to attract migratory birds.
With air temperatures reaching 100°F by 1200 hrs., we returned to CCP to briefly survey the abandoned clubhouse area bordering the golf course, peripheral marsh and lake at the southwest corner of the park. No new species of bird for our day-list were found. We then drove to the main parking area of CCP adjacent to the Community Garden (CG) where a parade of about thirty vehicles proceeded to a tent where free food was being distributed to the public. We skipped a second bird survey of the CG area, which had been fairly productive earlier, and drove back to Palmdale, fairly certain we had found most of the birds occurring in the park on that day, including four life-birds for Hai-Dang (Costa’s Hummingbird, Say’s Phoebe, Bell’s Sparrow and Western Tanager).
BIRDS NOTED
- Canada Goose 17 greg. relatively tame; foraging and resting on shaded lawns, CCP.
- Gray-lag Goose (domestic) 1 with CAGO, CCP.
- Wood Duck 1 (fem.- imm) swimming near shore near main beach, CCP.
- Teal sp, cf. GWTE 1 in shallows with MALL, CCP.
- Mallard 60 (m,f) greg. most relatively tame; dabbling in shallows and resting on shores throughout, CCP.
- Pied-billed Grebe 1 (ad) swimming in algal-surfaced lake on west side, CCP.
- Feral Rock Pigeon 1 in flight over open field, BD.
- Eurasian Collared Dove vocal, greg. 1 BD; 12 CCP.
- Mourning Dove 5 in flight, BD; 8 greg. pairs in flight and on the ground in open desert, CCP; 20 TMT; 2 GH.
- Black-chinned Hummingbird 2 (f) in and around trees bordering water, CCP.
- Costa’s Hummingbird 1 (f – imm m) in leafless tree with BCHU, edge of pond-marsh, CCP.
- Selasphorus sp. c.f. rufus 1 (f – imm m) rufous flanks, green back, hovering by lakeside trees, CCP.
- American Coot 7 greg. at edges of lake and ponds, CCP.
- Spotted Sandpiper 1 on shore at main beach, CCP.
- Great Blue Heron 2 (bsc. plmg.) individuals at edge of marsh, CCP.
- Great Egret 1 flushed from edge of marsh, CCP.
- Snowy Egret 2 one flushed from edge of pond; another foraging in shallows, CCP.
- Green Heron 1 (ad) flushed from backwater marsh, CCP.
- Turkey Vulture 60 (conserv. est.) circling 50 -100 ft. agl in kettles of 20-30 birds soaring on thermals; others roosting in tall pines, possibly being shot by locals (a pile of TUVU feathers found beneath a pine tree roost site next to apartments) CCP.
- Cooper’s Hawk 1 perched about 15 ft. agl in tree at edge of backwater pond, then flew low to a nearby tree, CCP.
- Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) soaring on thermals, CCP.
- Downy Woodpecker 1 (m) vocal in flowering community garden tree, CCP.
- Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1 (f) vocal; gave brief series of calls; flew to top of utility pole, CCP.
- Olive-sided Flycatcher 2 one atop tall deciduous tree snag; another sallying from upper limbs of willows and tamarisk adjacent to a backwater pond, CCP.
- Western Flycatcher 1 sallying in shaded lower-mid level of pines and willows adjacent to the blocked off wooden bridge; WIWA and BLPH active nearby, CCP.
- Black Phoebe 5 individuals sallying from low perches throughout, CCP.
- Say’s Phoebe 3 (1 imm; 2 ad.) individuals sallying to lawns and ground in ruderal fields, CCP.
- Warbling Vireo 2 individuals foraging in deciduous tree foliage overhanging marshes and lawns, CCP.
- Loggerhead Shrike 2 (one in fresh bsc. plmg.) seen while driving slowly on a little-traveled roadway; individuals perched and flying between creosote bushes near roadway, TMT- GH.
- Common (Northern) Raven 4 vocal, greg., BD; 10 (including a vocal pair in pines above picnic tables) CCP; 1 TMT.
- Horned Lark 12 greg. on roadway and adjacent ground, BD; 60 greg. cohesive flocks on ground and short grass, playing fields and ruderal lots, CCP.
- European Starling 4 (ad., imm) greg. vocal, perched on stealth aircraft display, BD; 10 in deciduous tree canopies, CCP.
- Northern Mockingbird 5 greg. (ad., imm.) apparently a family cohort in and around CG area, CCP.
- House Sparrow 20 (m,f) greg. foraging in patches of ruderal ground and on pavement, CCP.
- House Finch 15 (m,f) greg. vocal, fence line, BD; 12, drinking from dripping faucet in CG and on ground in adjacent ruderal patches, CCP; 2 GH.
- Lesser Goldfinch 1 (m) on fence with HOFI, BD.
- Lark Sparrow 2 on ground and in sidewalk puddle, CG, CCP.
- Bell’s Sparrow 1 on ground with HOFI and HOSP, CG, CCP.
- Bullock’s Oriole 1 vocal (unseen) deciduous and pine tree grove adjacent to CG, CCP.
- Red-winged Blackbird 4 (m) greg. a small flock in a tall deciduous tree, CCP.
- Brown-headed Cowbird 50 (imm) greg. a large, fairly cohesive flock of exclusively juvenile cowbirds foraging on short grass around the driving range club house, CCP.
- Great-tailed Grackle 5 (m,f) vocal, individuals in flight between tall pines and deciduous trees bordering water, CCP.
- Wilson’s Warbler 2 (m) in msf with WEFL and BLPH, foraging quickly in shaded lower limbs of pines and shrubs bordering a marsh near the blocked wooden bridge, CCP.
- Western Tanager 3 (2m, 1 f) greg. foraging in small trees along CG fence, CCP.
- Black-headed Grosbeak 2 (f) individuals moving through mid to upper level foliage of deciduous trees bordering lawns and marsh, CCP.
May 7, 2022 California City Central Park, Kern County CA (40 Species)
Weather: Fair; 68°F to 75°F; wind ENE 5-20 mph.
Time: 0742-1045 hrs.
Area Covered: I parked in the north lot on North Loop Blvd., adjacent to the golf driving range, and walked the pathways through California City Central Park (Figure 1). The park has been poorly maintained; a wooden bridge across the north pond was in disrepair and blocked off, as was the circular concrete walkway overlooking the south pond. A gutted, graffitied apartment complex on the northeast side of the park, reeked of urine and had much overgrown ornamental vegetation. Nevertheless, adequate cover by pine and eucalyptus trees, as well as open water bordered by cattails and overgrown shrubs, seemed attractive to a large variety of resident and migrant birds. A native desert plant garden has been recently installed adjacent to the central parking lot. Rather unexpectedly for a Saturday morning, most of the survey area was quiet with only a few visitors; some with unleashed dogs. The adjacent golf course on the south side of the park appeared to be closed and inaccessible.
Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, White-faced Ibis (6), Osprey (1) and American Redstart (1).
BIRDS NOTED
Mallard (wild type) 5 edge of main pond; Mallard (domestic/hybrid) 4 greg., edge of main pond; Feral Rock Pigeon 6 greg., central lawns and picnic area; Eurasian Collared Dove 10 vocal, greg. (pairs) uibquitous; Mourning Dove 12 greg (pairs) ubiquitous; Anna’s Hummingbird 2 (m,f) in and around junipers, n; Black-chinned Hummingbird (f) in and around pines and riparian vegetation, n; American Coot 6 in shallows near cattails of largest pond; Killdeer 2 vocal in native desert plant garden and adjacent driving range; Spotted Sandpiper 4 (alt. plmg.) individuals on pond shorelines; Great Egret 2 individuals flying and standing at edge of cattails in main pond, se; Snowy Egret 1 standing at edge of cattails, main pond, se; White-faced Ibis 6 (alt. plmg.) tightly gregarious on shoreline of main pond, central (photo); Turkey Vulture 10 greg., leaving their overnight roost in pines as I approached, n; Osprey 1 circling low over main pond, se; Dryobates sp. 1 (unseen; probably D. scalaris) vocal (a slighly higher-pitched, harsher sounding call than D. nuttallii), trees surrounding central picnic area; Western Wood Pewee 2 sallying from 8-10 ft. perches in pines, n, sw; Willow Flycatcher 1 riparian patch, se; Dusky Flycatcher 1 low to mid-level in pines, n; Gray Flycatcher 1 in overgrown ornamental shrubs and brush pile, ne; Hammond’s Flycatcher 1 low in pine understory, n; Say’s Phoebe 1 fence line, n; Black Phoebe 2 riparian edge, n, w; Western Kingbird 1 sallying to ruderal patch at desert plant garden entrance; Warbling Vireo 4 individuals foraging in pines and Chinese elms, central picnic area; Northern Raven 12 vocal, greg., ubiq.; Tree Swallow 2 flying low over n pond and driving range; Marsh Wren 1 flushed from cattails at margin on n pond; European Starling 10 greg. on lawn in central picnic area; House Sparrow 12 (m,f) vocal, greg. on ground around buildings and picnic area; House Finch 8 (m,f) vocal, gregarious, central picnic area and riparian edge; Common Yellowthroat 1 edge of main pond, s; American Redstart 1 (m imm.) salling in subcanopy of pines adjacent to abandoned apt. complex, ne; Wilson’s Warbler 20 (m,f) greg. foraging in junipers and pines, Western Tanager 1 (m) in pines, ne; Black-headed Grosbeak 1 vocal in elm adjacent to driving range, n; Red-winged Blackbird 6 (m) vocal in cattail margins of main lake, s; Yellow-headed Blackbird 2 (m) repeatedly vocal (unseen) in cattails of main lake, sw; Brewer’s Blackbird 6 (m,f) greg. (pairs) on lawn in central picnic area; Great-tailed Grackle 20 (m,f) vocal, greg. edges of ponds throughout; Brown-headed Cowbird 4 (m,f) vocal, greg. on lawn in central picnic area.
April 25, 2022 Butterbredt Springs, Kern County CA (30 Species)
Weather: Fair, 49°F to 75°F; wind WNW 0- 3 mph.
Time: 0646-0920 hrs.
Observers: Jonathan Franzen, Charles Hood and I; about 8 other birders.
Area Covered: I drove north on CA-14, turning off onto Jawbone Canyon Rd, then proceeding slowly on rough back roads (4WD and high ground clearance required) in a northeasterly direction, SC 176 to SC 251 – Jawbone Canyon Rd. – Cheyenne Blvd. – Butterbredt Springs (BS). Following the bird survey, I returned to CA-14 from BS, using the newly graded Jawbone Canyon Road, which was the fastest, easiest route and probably passable with an ordinary passenger vehicle (the final 0.2 mi of a narrow, sandy road leading to the BS parking area, required a high ground clearance vehicle). Signage of the Butterbredt Springs Important Bird Area was present at the junction of Jawbone Canyon Rd. and Cheyenne Blvd..
From the entrance road BS parking area, we walked pathways through and around a ca. 3-acre, canyon-riparian patch and adjacent desert scrub; visually with binoculars, our observations extended perhaps to a distance of about 0.1 mile. Although the spring did not appear to have surface water, it supported a heavy growth of mature cottonwood and willow with an understory broken limbs, of grasses and herbaceous plants.
Black willow and Fremont cottonwood provided shade, shelter and inflorescences with insects that attracted numerous birds, particularly vireos, warblers, black-headed grosbeak and house finch. Those species were most easily viewed in the northwest corner of the riparian canyon (photo). A number of species, including Ash-throated Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Bewick’s Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow and Bell’s Sparrow, were found in adjacent desert scrub, dominated by Creosote Bush, Saltbush (Atriplex spp.), Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus sp.) and Joshua Tree. A colorful variety of Mojave Desert herbaceous plants was in flower, e.g. Prince’s Plume, Gilia, Chia and Goldfields.
BIRDS NOTED
Mountain Quail 2 a pair moving swiftly on ground in desert hillside scrub along Route SC 251 about 0.3 mi s of Butterbredt Springs; California Quail 3 (m,f) gregarious, vocal on ground in desert scrub and edge of riparian patch; Chukar 3 crossing the dirt road and moving onto a rocky hillside, Route SC 251 in the vicinity of the MOQU sighting; Mourning Dove 20 gregarious, mostly in and near the riparian patch; Cooper’s Hawk 1 flying low over the parking area at BS; Hammond’s Flycatcher 1 moving quickly between desert shrubs adjacent to the riparian patch; Pacific Slope Flycatcher 1 sallying from middle to upper mid level of cottonwood canopy; Gray Flycatcher 1 at edge of riparian patch, low to mid level in willows and cottonwoods; Ash-throated Flycatcher 2 vocal in desert scrub adjacent to the riparian patch; Western Kingbird 2 vocal, gregarious on edge of riparian patch in cottonwoods and creosote bush Cassin’s Vireo 3 gregarious while foraging in flowering willows (photo); Warbling Vireo 2 a pair foraging in subcanopy of flowering willows; Horned Lark 2 flying low over desert scrub, JCR about 0.5 mi. s of BS; Verdin 1 (unseen) vocal at edge of riparian patch; Bewick’s Wren 1 flushed from shrubs in desert scrub near BS parking area, about 3 more flushed along SC 251; Toxostoma sp. (redivivum ?) 1 seen briefly running between rabbitbrush shrubs at the edge of the riparian patch; Phainopepla 1 in desert scrub adjacent to BS parking area; House Finch 22 (m,f) vocal, gregarious, gathering nest material in tall cottonwood riparian patch; Orange-crowned Warbler 2 in creosote bush and other shrubs adjacent to the riparian patch; Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 1 in cottonwood canopies; Townsend’s Warbler 1 (m) in subcanopy of willows and cottonwoods; Wilson’s Warbler 4 (m,f) in canopy of willows and cottonwoods; Green-tailed Towhee 1 (unseen by me – reported by other birders, interior understory of riparian patch; Chipping Sparrow 1 perched on lower cottonwood limb; Fox Sparrow 1 scratching ground interior riparian patch; Bell’s Sparrow 1 in saltbush adjacent to BS parking area; Lincoln’s Sparrow 2 in desert shrubs adjacent to riparian patch;White-crowned Sparrow (gambeli) 10 (ad) gregarious, riparian edge and understory; Black-headed Grosbeak 10 (m,f) gregarious in riparian patch and adjacent saltbush; Lazuli Bunting 1 in desert shrubs adjacent to riparian patch; Bullock’s Oriole 2 (m) vocal in subcanopy of cottonwoods
October 9, 2019 Galileo Hill, Kern County CA (35 Species)
Weather: Fair; 63°F to 78°F; wind WSW 2 mph, increasing to 20 mph.
Time: 0710-0930 hrs.
Area Covered: The Silver Saddle clubhouse, rental units, facilities and gate were closed and locked when I arrived this morning. When I was leaving the property at 0930 hrs., I spoke with a friendly manager, who informed me that birders may park along the paved entry road (owned by the city) and walk around the property during the closure. A couple of ranch workers were present at the corrals and stables but the horses and petting zoo animals are gone. Sprinklers and water features were working this morning and the grass uncut yet green, indicating a minimal maintenance schedule remains in effect during the closure. The manager mentioned that the owners intend to reopen the resort when possible but did not give a definite date, nor offer an explanation for the rather abrupt closure about two weeks ago. According to their website, the Silver Saddle property is now for sale.
As far as I can remember, i.e. since I have been birding here in the middle 1980’s, the resort has been open to the public, though occasionally closed to an increasing number of birders, reportedly due to complaints from residents in rental units, combined with injury and liability concerns. Since birders have been requested to sign liability waivers and avoid the rental unit areas, everything had apparently gone well in recent years.
The current bird species list for Galileo Hill hovers around 340 species, making it one of the premier birding locations in Southern California. This property would therefore be a prime candidate for purchase and management by one or more conservation agencies, e.g. The Nature Conservancy and National Audubon Society. Presumably, those agencies have been contacted regarding the recent closure of the resort. In my view, this wonderful little desert oasis is long overdue for inclusion in the California collection of designated wildlife preserves.
Today, due to some initial confusion regarding parking and access to the property, my bird survey was abbreviated. I began walking south along the petting zoo fence, across the lawn to the pavilion (closed). I continued birding the perimeter of the resort, finding abundant bird life clinging to a dry patch of rosemary and assorted trees; further eastward, through a weedy camping area, more flocks of sparrows and warblers were found. I also surveyed a small, largely evaporated pond and dry marsh adjacent to the archery range, then cut across a soggy lawn paralleling the main lake and marsh leading back to the Silver Saddle clubhouse parking area. The last part of my survey was a walk south on a short, paved road through the stables and back to my car next to the petting zoo. I did not survey the pond and gardens in front of the short-term rental units, which has often been productive for warblers and other migratory land birds. Other birders arriving after me apparently covered this area.
BIRDS NOTED
California Quail 10 vocal, gregarious, in brushy area around pond, se; Pied-billed Grebe 1 swimming near the marsh in the main lake, e; Eurasian Collared Dove 20, gregarious, mostly around buildings, n; Mourning Dove 3 edge of the desert, e; Anna’s Hummingbird 1 (f) sw; Cooper’s Hawk 1 flying low from a row of trees on the entrance road, nw; Sharp-shinned Hawk 1 flushed from cottonwoods, sw; Northern (RS) Flicker 4 vocal, gregarious, se; Northern (RS x YS) Flicker, in a tall cottonwood, sw; Ladderbacked Woodpecker 3 (m,f) a vocal pair foraging in adjacent cottonwoods, sw; Black Phoebe 1 flew into pines next to the lake, e; Say’s Phoebe 1 vocal, sw; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 in creosote bush and tumble mustard, s; Ruby-crowned Kinglet 8 gregarious, often in msf with YRWA, s; Common Raven 3 vocal, gregarious, central; Hermit Thrush 3 staying low in ornamental shrubs, central; Fox Sparrow 2 (sooty subsp.) in rosemary patch, s (photo);
Savannah Sparrow 12 gregarious, vocal in brushy border of pond, se; Lincoln’s Sparrow 5 with WCSP in weedy campground, s; White-crowned Sparrow 40 vocal, gregarious, ubiquitous; Black-throated Sparrow 2 in creosote scrub at edge of campground, s; Orange-crowned Warbler (dull-colored subsp.) 12 gregarious, vocal (calls) often in msf with YRWA and sparrows, s; Black-throated Gray Warbler 1 in cottonwoods, sw; Wilson’s Warbler 2 (m,f) individuals cottonwoods, sw; Yellow-rumped (A) Warbler 50, (m,f) gregarious, vocal (calls), ubiquitous, esp. s; Common Yellowthroat 1 in bulrush patch at edge of main lake, e; Chipping Sparrow 4 gregarious in weedy campground, s; Dark-eyed Junco 2 in rosemary, s; Rock Wren 1 on roof of campground restroom, s; House Wren 1 staying low and concealed, msf of WCSP, LISP and CHSP, campground, s; European Starling 4 vocal, gregarious, n; House Finch 30 (m,f) gregarious, vocal, mostly s; Lesser Goldfinch 5 vocal, gregarious, s; Red-winged Blackbird 6 vocal, gregarious, around main lake, e; Great-tailed Grackle 2 (m) vocal, w-central area next to clubhouse.
September 13, 2019 Galileo Hill, Kern County CA (47 Species)
Weather: Fair; 62°F to 90°F; wind WSW 2-5 mph.
Time: 0710-1300 hrs.
Observers: Dan Byrne and I; Jon L. Dunn leading several Wings tour participants birding independently.
Area Covered: Most of the resort grounds, including water features around the main clubhouse. The resort was relatively quiet and undisturbed by human activities except for birders and a few maintenance workers.
Birds of seasonal and/or distributional interest found today included, Red-breasted Nuthatch (2), Northern Waterthrush (1), American Redstart (1); additionally, Jon Dunn reported finding a Pacific Wren and Lucy’s Warbler in a patch of sapling cottonwoods in the southeast corner of the resort; that we did not observe. A relatively high diversity of migratory landbirds was found here today but no waterbirds were observed.
BIRDS NOTED
Eurasian Collared Dove 16 gregarious, ubiquitous, especially around clubhouse; Mourning Dove 10 individuals and pairs, ubiqutious; Black-chinned Hummingbird 8 with ANHU and RUHU at hummingbird feeders suspended from cottonwoods over the main clubhouse deck (photo).
Anna’s Hummingbird 2 (f) vocal at feeders with BCHU and RUHU; Rufous Hummingbird 5 (m,f; imm) at feeders (photo).
Cooper’s Hawk 2 (imm) flushed from cottonwoods, nw; 1 circling archery range, se; Great Horned Owl 1 flushed from cottonwoods, sw edge of main lake; Ladderbacked Woodpecker 1 (m) vocal, foraging in canopy of a large cottonwood, sw; Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 sallying from snag over pond, nw; Western Wood Pewee 4 sallying from middle to upper limbs of cottonwoods throughout; Willow Flycatcher 3 sallying from outer low limbs of cottonwoods and willows, n (photo).
Black Phoebe 1 n-central; Say’s Phoebe 2 n, s; Ash-throated Flycatcher 1, in willow at edge of clubhouse pond, nw; Cassin’s Vireo 1 foraging in cottonwoods adjacent to main pond; Warbling Vireo 2 foraging in willows and cottonwoods, n-central; Common Raven 2 vocal, w; Horned Lark 12 flying over edge of desert, nw; Verdin 4 in willows and cottonwoods, w, e; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 1 in msf with OCWA, HOWR, BESP and others, patch of seedling cottonwoods, se; Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 (ad, imm) vocal in cottonwoods, nw, central; House Wren 1 in msf with WCSP, OCWA, BESP and others, patch of seedling cottonwoods at edge of campground, se (photo).
Bewick’s Wren 2 in cactus garden with BTSP and CHSP, nw; Cedar Waxwing ? 8 flying nw; House Sparrow 16 (m,f) gregarious in shrub next to petting zoo, sw; House Finch 12 (m,f) gregarious in cottonwoods throughout; Northern Waterthrush 1 moving quickly from oleander hedgerow, lawn and willows at edge of pond by clubhouse, nw (photo).
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1 in poplars, central; Orange-crowned Warbler 16 (at least 2 subsp., including celata, gregarious in msf throughout; Nashville Warbler 1 in willows with OCWA, adjacent to clubhouse; MacGillivray’s Warbler 3 vocal (calls) staying low in shrubs, w, central; Common Yellowthroat 10 (m,f) vocal, gregarious, msf, ubiquitous near water; American Redstart 1 (f) foraging on insects (an adult lepidopteran taken) in cottonwoods and willows over pond, nw (photo).
Yellow Warbler 6 (m,f) often in msf with OCWA and WIWA in cottonwoods and willows near water, w; Wilson’s Warbler 3 (m,f) foraging with OCWA in cottonwoods and willows, nw; Green-tailed Towhee 1 in cactus garden with CHSP and BTSP, w; Chipping Sparrow 8 (bsc. plmg.) gregarious on ground and low shrubs, w; Black-throated Sparrow 8 gregarious on ground in cactus garden and creosote scrub, w (photo); White-crowned Sparrow 3 with CHSP in cactus garden, w; Bell’s Sparrow 1 in msf with CHSP and OCWA, se; Vesper Sparrow 1 in sapling cottonwood, se; Lark Sparrow 5 gregarious on ground at edge of corral, s; Lincoln’s Sparrow 2 in cactus garden and creosote scrub edge, w; Western Tanager 2 (f) in canopy of cottonwoods, w; Black-headed Grosbeak 2 (f; imm m) vocal in canopy of cottonwoods, w; Lazuli Bunting 1(imm) at edge of pond, w; Great-tailed Grackle 10 (m,f) vocal, gregarious, ubiquitous;