Road Trip: Southern California 2023

Road Trip: Selected Southern California National Parks, National Forests and Nature Preserves, May 6 – 23, 2023

Callyn Yorke

Introduction

Visitors are sometimes surprised to discover that there are vast areas of wilderness in Southern California. Many of those places are readily accessible by automobile — at least in most years and at nearly any season. This year (2023) was a notable exception. An atmospheric river of storms produced record rainfall levels in Southern California and a formidable snowpack in the Sierras (nearly 75 ft. at Mammoth Mountain). Swollen streams and frequent landslides resulted in many road closures, particularly on the western side of the Sierras. With the summer holidays approaching, vacation plans were dicey. Yosemite had recently announced indefinite closures for popular sections of the park.

Reluctantly, lodging reservations for Yosemite and Sequoia National Park had to be canceled. By late April, deteriorating road conditions due to rapid snow-melt, dictated that a new travel itinerary was needed. I expected that my distinguished guest from Poland, Marek Jackowski, arriving the first week of May and visiting California for the first time, would be sadly disappointed. Missing the grandeur of Yosemite Valley, its waterfalls, glacially polished walls of granite and incomparable Giant Sequoias, would be regrettable.

Happily, as it turned out, Marek and I were quite satisfied with the revised trip itinerary, staying mainly within the rain shadow of the Sierra Nevada, transverse and south coast ranges. We traveled a roughly clockwise loop through a series of basin & range ecosystems, beginning and ending at my Green Valley home in the oak woodland – chaparral foothills of the Angeles National Forest (see maps below).

Initially, we motored northward on CA-14 and US-395 into the scenic Owens River Valley paralleling the Eastern Sierras. Our base would be the historic town of Lone Pine, a favorite location for old-time Hollywood Westerns. Views of the southern Sierra escarpment were as famously dramatic as ever. Patches of riparian habitats provided plentiful birding and photographic opportunities; the Owens River and adjacent Alabama Hills were teeming with Spring migrants. Colorful displays of wildflowers were partially concealed amongst the many oddly shaped rock formations. Landscapes were photogenic in all directions, the air cool, crisp and clear. Marek and I were witnessing one of the last remaining gems among California’s wilderness areas. We were off to a good start.

Next, we drove eastward and southward, spending several days in the oases of Death Valley National Park, Joshua Tree National Park and the Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge. Proceeding westward, we stopped briefly for birding in Anza Borrego State Park, then to stretch our legs in the quaint mountain town of Julian. By the end of the day we had reached our final overnight base of operations in the affluent suburb of Encinitas, San Diego’s version of ‘Surf City.’

Taken together, we transected a full range of low to mid-elevation life zones with their varied natural communities. From 282 ft. below sea level (Badwater Basin, Death Valley) to about 5,000 ft. in elevation (Whitney Portal Rd.), our route included multiple biomes, i.e., three North American deserts (Mojave, Great Basin and Colorado), montane-coniferous forest (upper slopes of the Alabama Hills; Julian), nearshore Pacific Ocean (La Jolla, Encinitas), tidal estuary, fresh water and riparian wetlands (San Elijo), river valleys and foothills (San Joaquin Marsh, Irvine; Green Valley). We also made day-trips from Green Valley to the Antelope Valley (western border of the Mojave Desert), Venice Beach (freaks and fridge magnets), La Brea Tar Pits (Pleistocene fossil memorabilia), and an overnight visit to Big Bear Lake for montane birds missed elsewhere during our travels, i.e. White-headed Woodpecker and Mountain Chickadee (San Bernardino Mts., Elevation 6,759 ft.).

Our objectives included observing and photographing nature; or almost anything else of interest along the way. I was the host and natural history guide in familiar territory, all of which was new for Marek. Seeing the country through his eyes was a refreshing change for me. Marek’s enthusiasm for photographing the natural diversity and scenic splendor of Southern California, was contagious.

The journey was not without lighter moments, e.g. a drive-through of Slab City, an abandoned military base adjacent to Niland, near the eastern shore of the Salton Sea. From the Hummer window (a mild irritant in some resident eyes), we photo-documented what superficially appeared to be a comically makeshift trailer park, a living ‘Unknown Museum,’ e.g. SF Bay Area artist, Mickey McGowan, consisting of contemporary art in the form of auto-part sculptures, tattered flags, askew trailer homes (most apparently occupied), hand-painted, windowless cars, effigies of presumed notoriety, countless signs advertising this and that, ranging from souvenirs to eternal salvation; spiritual monuments, a community church, a pet cemetery, and everywhere sanctimonious graffiti. Each homestead, usually demarcated with a ring of stones, had a numbered address, suggesting the rudiments of modern civilization, perhaps even mail service.

Such a description, while reasonably fair and accurate from a conventional viewpoint, might be overlooking the sublime. The residents of Slab City may be, deliberately or by tacit association, making more than the obvious statement, “Hey, we tried living by the rules in manicured suburbs, now let’s try this.” What some of these people are evidently seeking is indeed fundamentally human, yet rarely obtainable — a transformative experience of life. An epiphany that perhaps can only be obtained by rising like a phoenix from an apocalypse. Slab City for some residents could be a metaphysical portal to perpetual bliss, profound happiness, nirvana, enlightenment, heaven on earth. Name it and stake your claim. The signed toilet displayed in the front yard of one of the residences, is perhaps a humorous reference to the community credo: “There Are No Shitty Days in Slab City.”

However one might judge it, Slab City is an authentic counter-culture establishment. It is a decidedly remote settlement, an odd detour from the American dream, marginalized and mostly forgotten, if not entirely unknown to the rest of the nation. It is perhaps taken seriously only by artists, ambitious young journalists and older folks seeking a bit of pachouli nostalgia from the 1960’s. For Marek and I, Slab City was a memorable side trip that, like a bold piece of contemporary art, was both provocative and unsettling.

By the end of the journey, we had covered a distance of 1,100 miles in a fully loaded 2003 Hummer. Our payload was literally thousands of digital images, combined with voluminous, handwritten field notes. The treasure would be edited and digitally archived as a snapshot of California natural history, as well as a permanent record of a delightfully adventurous road trip.

To say that our interests frequently converged on nature photography, would be somewhat of an understatement. In addition to binoculars, we carried our bulky camera equipment everywhere and always within reach while driving. There was scarcely a moment in our journey when we were not searching for and/or documenting interesting aspects of nature.

A backstory note. Marek is a full-time, professional wildlife photographer, who travels the globe capturing extraordinary images; many of those can be viewed on his website (Marek Jackowski Wildlife Photography). We had met some years earlier while doing wildlife photography at the world renowned La Laguna Del Lagarto Lodge in Costa Rica. With similar goals, camera gear and indefatigable curiosity, just as in Costa Rica, we got along well during Marek’s California sojourn.

Marek, characteristically polite, inquisitive and laser-focused on the pursuit of excellence, was generously forthcoming with helpful suggestions for my photographic technique, e.g. the tricky business of obtaining clear images of birds in flight. Marek’s advice on camera settings for motion shots in particular, was spot on and resulted in a noticeable improvement in the quality of my in-flight bird photos.

Marek had recently upgraded his Nikon camera gear with the Nikon Z9 mirrorless system. The California journey would be an opportunity to hone his technical skills with the new camera and lenses. Judging from some of the superb images he obtained on our trip, it was clear that Marek passed the Nikon Z9 field test with a very high score. By contrast, I resisted the temptation to switch from the old Nikon digital equipment to the new Z9 technology, relying instead on my recently repaired and overhauled D850 with a collection of comparatively obsolete Nikon lenses. Just prior to our trip I invested in an upgrade to my Google Pixel 3X cell phone, by purchasing a Google Pixel 7 Pro, that produced remarkably sharp results for general photography, including hand-held nighttime shots.

On The Road

Below are brief descriptions of the principal locations we visited as extended overnight stays or stopovers in transit. These are listed in chronological order. Each location is given an abbreviation which is referenced in the Annotated Bird List, found in the last section of this report.

Lone Pine, Inyo County, CA, Elevation, 3,727 ft. (LP: May 6-7, 2023): Including, Lone Pine City Park, riparian patches, pasture, gardens and adjacent suburbs; riparian and sage scrub habitats on the Owens River at the Narrow Gauge Road crossing (OR), Alabama Hills (AH), including Mt. Whitney Rd.(closed to vehicles below Mt. Whitney Portal) and Turtle Creek Campground (TC). The Lone Pine region is a southwestern extension of the Great Basin Desert.

Under partly cloudy skies and mild air temperatures (72F at 1400 hrs.), we enjoyed strolling the semi-rural backstreets of Lone Pine, including a quiet little city park with a well developed riparian patch bordering a stream. Later that afternoon, we drove northward to the edge of town, turning east on Narrow Gauge Rd. and stopping for birding and photography at the Owens River crossing.

The following morning we drove to Alabama Hills for about two hours of photography and birding, noting that the scenic campground at Turtle Creek had a few vacant spots and seemed to be an excellent place to camp for those interested in birding and natural history (we were pre-booked at the Lone Pine Inn for the day of our arrival). Generally, birding and photography were very good throughout the Lone Pine area. Two or three more nights spent there might have been worthwhile.

Death Valley National Park (DVNP: May 7-10, 2023). Including, Furnace Creek Ranch (FCR), part of the Great Basin and Mojave Desert. Here we spent three nights and completed morning and late afternoon bird surveys of the resort grounds, an oasis composed largely of a well-watered, vacant golf course with two ponds and adjacent alkali-mesquite scrub. Accommodations, facilities, services and food, were adequate and reasonably priced (2.5 stars). Best of all was the location (5 stars). We used FCR as a base, driving to points of scenic interest along HWY 190, including Mesquite Dunes, Stovepipe Wells (SPW), Zabriski Point, Artist’s Palette, and Badwater Basin.

We spent most of our time walking the fairway borders of the Furnace Creek Ranch golf course, outlined by mature windbreaks of salt cedar and pines. Lawns and gardens at the resort were well watered with automatic sprinklers (birders, be forewarned). Two small ponds on the golf course attracted migratory waterbirds. Habitat surrounding the resort was mostly disturbed, alkali-mesquite scrub, where we occasionally found interesting birds, e.g. Cassin’s Kingbird, Plumbeous Vireo (both migratory species) and Crissal Thrasher (probably resident). But most of the notable birdlife, e.g. White-winged Dove and Yellow-headed Blackbird, was found on the 18-hole course, where, luckily, only a few parties were carting around during our surveys. Common mammals in the area included a semi-tame Coyote (hand-fed by golfers) and very approachable Desert Cottontail. Sign of kangaroo rat and other small rodents was found in the sandy wash immediately outside the golf course; we did not survey that area after dark and thus did not establish the specific identity of those particular animals.

Birding in Death Valley is almost exclusively confined to a handful of desert oases, e.g. Panamint Springs, Stovepipe Wells and Furnace Creek. Outside of those areas is a barren moonscape with perhaps only an occasional raven passing overhead. Early pioneers must have been brave indeed to cross the many miles of scorching rocks and sand. And yet, it is precisely those extremely inhospitable conditions that bring thousands of motorists to Death Valley each year. By most accounts, landscapes here, particularly at sunrise and sunset, are among the most stunningly beautiful found anywhere in the Southwest. Marek and I spent considerable time attempting to capture images at a few of the most popular sites.

One morning, well before sunrise, we drove northwest about fifteen miles on CA-190 to Mesquite Dunes. With headlamps and camera gear, we hiked in about 0.25 miles from the parking area, boots sinking into the soft sand, and scrambled up to the highest dune ridge for the sunrise. Our timing was perfect. The predawn glow highlighted a jagged ridgeline to the east; details of the foreground began taking shape. A gentle, cool breeze wafted in from the north. I was reminded of the Edward Abbey classic, “Desert Solitaire.”

Two other people showed up a few minutes later to join us: a young Chinese couple employed by the Silicon Valley tech industry. The four of us, standing atop a narrow dune ridge for several minutes, were silenced by the austere beauty of the sunrise. It was a surreal experience, as distant, pastel-colored peaks and hidden canyons were illuminated, merging with the delicate, windblown dune sculptures. Marek went down into an adjacent dune basin for another perspective and lighting angle.

Joshua Tree National Park, San Bernardino and Riverside Counties (JNP: May 10 -12, 2023). Including Hidden Valley Campground (Mojave Desert), Elevation 4,183 ft. (HVC). We camped here for two nights and completed several bird surveys of the largely pristine Joshua Tree Woodland with desert wildflowers in bloom amongst scattered granite outcrops. Groups of rock-climbers were active throughout the area during our visit.

We also made a driving tour of the park with brief stops at Horror Rocks, Turtle Campground (full) and Key’s View — a ridgetop providing a rather hazy view of our upcoming route through the Coachella Valley (Colorado Desert Biome).

After cruising most of the main park roadways, we were fairly certain that Hidden Valley, a first-come-first served, dry campground, had just about everything we might expect to see in JTNP. Fortunately, we secured one of the last remaining campsites the day we arrived; all other campgrounds in the park were pre-booked and/or completely full.

The best birding and nature viewing was in the vicinity of HVC, where we obtained close-up photos, including multiple poses of a territorial Granite Spiny Lizard (Sceloporus orcutti) doing his ‘push-ups.’ At sunset, Marek found a lively adult specimen of Southwestern Speckled Rattlesnake (Crotalus pyrrhus), reportedly making its presence audible. The iconic Southwestern reptile was a lifer for Marek – the first rattlesnake he had encountered in the wild. Marek obtained ground-level, face-to-face photos and thankfully, emerged unscathed. His gleeful report was a wake-up call for me. I needed to keep an eye on him, especially when wandering around in snake country.

Across the road from our campsite, an hour after sunrise, a vocal colony of White-throated Swift commuted to and from a nest cavity in a hidden rock crevice. Capturing a clear image of those sleek little feathered missiles was a sporting challenge.

Although there was abundant fresh sign of kangaroo rat and other small mammals in dry washes throughout the HVC area, we failed to find any of them, despite our searches with flashlights. Instead, Marek set up a ground-level tripod and camera with front lighting to highlight Joshua Trees against an inky black, starry sky. He obtained several stunning and unusual images which I’m sure would be a welcomed addition to the current park brochure, should the JTNP advertising director happen to visit Marek’s website.

At the end of our journey, I asked Marek if he had a favorite among the national parks and nature preserves we had visited. Without hesitation, he recalled the scenic campsite and many fine photo opportunities in Joshua Tree National Park; it was at the top of his list of favorites.

Interestingly, I added Joshua Tree National Park to our new itinerary only a few days before Marek arrived. Had we been able to visit Yosemite and Sequoia National Parks, we would have probably bypassed JTNP altogether. I wonder if the former two parks, among the most popular in the United States, if not the entire planet, would, in Marek’s view, come in second place behind JTNP. I suppose Marek will have to make another trip to California to judge that contest.

BIg Morongo Canyon Preserve, San Bernardino County, CA, Elevation 2,500 ft. (MCP: May 12, 2023, 1030 -1300 hrs.). A delightful stopover enroute from JTNP to the Salton Sea, by way of Palm Springs. This area, a desert- lower montane transition zone, Included elevated boardwalks through a mature willow-cottonwood riparian canyon and adjacent chaparral-desert scrub.

I took it slow on the boardwalks, listening to numerous different bird sounds, and finished the loop observing and photographing birds at the visitor center and feeding station (suspended sugar water and an assortment of seed feeders). Additionally, a small artificial stream and waterfall feature was attractive to goldfinches and other birds. Marek spent most of the time doing bird photography and chatting with a local naturalist at the feeding station. Highlights (new species for our trip list) included a Gilbert’s Skink sunning itself on the boardwalk; a pair of Brown-crested Flycatcher, singing Bell’s Vireo; Spotted Towhee and Summer Tanager.

Salton Sea, Riverside and Imperial Counties, CA, Elevation, -227 ft., Colorado Desert (SS: May 12-14, 2023). Including mainly the southeastern and eastern shores of SS, with much of our time spent between our base in Westmoreland (WM), Sinclair Rd. (SR) and the Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center (SBVC). We also made a short, late afternoon trip to Niland (NL) and Slab City (see Introduction).

Wikipedia briefly describes the Salton Sea as, “… a shallow {maximum depth, about 43 ft.}, landlocked {no natural outlet}, highly saline body of water {resulting from a Colorado River irrigation canal accident} in Riverside and Imperial counties {mostly in Imperial County} at the southern end of the U.S state of California {Bienvenido a America}.” Not bad for an encyclopedic summary. But there’s a bit more about the Salton Sea that some folks might like to know.

Three terms, taken from the name, are telling, ‘salt’ ‘ton’ and ‘sea’.

The Salton Sea literally contains tons of dissolved salts (43,000 ppm, c.f. ocean water at 35,000 ppm) to the extent that swimmers would hardly need a safety vest to remain afloat. Prehistorically, the Salton sink connected with the Gulf of California. When it separated, ostensibly from a combination of tectonic uplift, subsidence and evaporation, The salty sea- bed sediments remained and were naturally inundated by seasonal flood waters from the Colorado River. In 1905, a Colorado River irrigation canal breached and the Salton sink refilled to roughly its current dimensions (343 sq. mi.). A high rate of annual evaporation increases the salinity (and toxicity) of the water. A number of scientific studies have been made in an effort to conserve the natural resources of the Salton Sea, yet the future of California’s largest inland body of water remains uncertain.

Are there signs of life in the Salton Sea? Yes, in fact everywhere. But only a small variety of exotic, euryhaline fish survives there, e.g. Mozambique Tilapia (Oreochromis mossambicus) and Redbelly Tilapia (Coptodon zillii). Together with swarms of midges and other seasonal invertebrates, this hardy assemblage is an important part of the food web supporting hundreds of thousands of wintering waterbirds each year.

The winter migratory bird spectacle attracts folks from opposite ends of the wildlife appreciation spectrum: birders and shotgun-toting hunters. The rest of the year, with ambient air temperatures hovering in the triple digits, the Salton Sea has comparatively few visitors, feathered or otherwise. The southeast portion of the Salton Sea is regulated (mainly for waterfowl hunting) as a National Wildlife Refuge; the Sonny Bono NWR visitor center and surrounding area attracts a large variety of resident and migratory birds; it was one of the key areas we surveyed during our visit.

From almost any shoreline viewpoint, the Salton Sea shimmers and fades like an ocean into a distant horizon of eroded desert mountains. For Californians who might have casually heard of it or glanced at a map, the Salton Sea is pretty much the end of the civilized world. Most of the state’s residents have probably never been there, nor presumably would they have much interest in trying to find something of value in such appalling desolation.

That would be their loss. What a perfect place for an enthusiastic, open-minded, nature photographer from Poland! If nothing else, I reckoned Marek could appreciate the novelty of the region. That was essentially my impression from the first visit to the Salton Sea, four decades earlier; sometime later, Gambel’s Quail and Abert’s Towhee were added to my life bird list.

I didn’t bother trying to sell it to Marek when outlining our revised travel itinerary. I thought best that he simply experience the Salton Sea and form his own opinion. However, I was somewhat apprehensive that he might secretly Google it and conclude that the area was primarily a barren wasteland of abandoned, toxic agricultural land with little potential for wildlife photography. For whatever reason, Marek had few questions about us going there and was soberly diplomatic even when, following a lengthy drive from JTNP with stopovers in Morongo Canyon and Cathedral City, we rolled into a hot, windy farm town called Westmoreland and checked into a cheap hotel for a two-night stay.

Marek soon discovered that I hadn’t completely lost my mind. The following two mornings, which included a series of productive, roadside birding sites, also gave us photo opportunities with a family of resident Burrowing Owl, a widespread species that has elsewhere in California suffered a significant reduction in its population and breeding distribution. Early one evening, back in Westmoreland, we celebrated by ordering delicious milkshakes made with locally grown palm dates. Redemption.

Anza Borrego Desert State Park, Borrego Springs, San Diego County CA, Elevation, 800 ft., a transitional Colorado Desert- lower montane zone (AB: May 14, 2023, 0900-0940 hrs.). We made a brief stop for birding/photography at the Anza Borrego Park Visitor Center (closed). But with the ambient air temperature rapidly climbing into the high 80’s, there wasn’t much avian activity in and around the visitor center, featuring an attractive cactus-mesquite garden.

Notably, a pair of Roadrunners, adult and young, were hunting grasshoppers (locally abundant this year) for breakfast. We both got identifiable photos of those birds; Marek, in relentless pursuit, managed to capture images of one of the ‘celebrity cartoon’ birds holding a grasshopper in its beak. Roadrunner: Check. That was another Southwestern icon Marek had wished to photograph on this trip. We then drove non-stop, westward on CA-79, through the Cuyamaca mountains to Julian. Mid-day parking there was tight. Gaggles of weekenders were in queues outside bakeries, cafes and souvenir shops.

Encinitas, San Diego County, CA, Elevation 0 – 82 ft. (EN: May 14 -15, 2023). Including Moonlight Beach (MB), Lower Cottonwood Creek (LCC), Upper Cottonwood Creek (UCC), San Elijo Lagoon (SEL) and La Jolla Cove (LJC).

In the afternoon of our arrival in Encinitas, we walked from our lodging at the Moonlight Beach Motel, on a pathway through Lower Cottonwood Creek restored riparian patch, a natural wetland that drains into a narrow stream channel at Moonlight Beach.

The tide was high at that time, covering most of the shore. Hundreds of people were on the beach and several surfers were riding 2-5 ft., fast-breaking waves, closing out near the shore. Birds were scarce here and we reversed our heading, crossing the South Coast Highway and entering the comparatively quiet, Upper Cottonwood Creek nature preserve. Birding was fairly slow throughout the area; a low, coastal overcast and northerly winds cast a chill in the air. We repeated essentially the same walking survey route later the following afternoon, circumventing a group of homeless people with dogs on the LCC trail.

As a general rule, particularly in California coastal towns, the homeless population is positively correlated with real estate prices. And to a large extent, so is the level of community tolerance. Encinitas police seldom hassle homeless campers if they are reasonably well behaved, which the majority of them appears to be. Both upper (UCC) and lower (LCC) sections of the restored Cottonwood Creek riparian preserve, two of the best birding spots in northern San Diego County, continue to be denizens for an increasing number of homeless people. These folks usually mind their own business. But some of them, understandably, keep guard dogs. For visiting birders, the dogs can be an obstacle, sounding off at the first sign of strangers. Hmm. How to solve that problem. Dog biscuits? Donating bird books and binoculars?

The following day (May 15, 2023) began with a drive to La Jolla Cove, where Marek set up his camera and tripod overlooking cliffs with nesting Brandt’s Cormorant and Western Gull (0630-1100 hrs.).

Meanwhile, I walked through the adjacent park, featuring manicured ornamental trees and mowed lawns, continuing along to a series of cliff-top overlooks. Comparing notes afterwards, Marek and I had seen and photographed mostly the same birds and marine mammals (California Sea Lion and Harbor Seal). We had a rather mediocre, yet pricey breakfast at a nearby cafe, then drove north on I-5 to San Elijo Lagoon.

The visitor center parking lot at San Elijo Lagoon was nearly full when we arrived. Around thirty people were in the area during our survey, several with leashed dogs. We walked the riparian loop trail next to the visitor center, then crossed a new foot bridge leading to the southwestern section of the lagoon, previously inaccessible without a bridge.

We took the southwest trail to its terminus through the Amtrack tunnel passage facing a mudflat island on the west side of the tracks. We returned along the same route. I estimated we walked a total distance of about 3 mi., surveying birds in the tidal salt marsh, tidal channels (outgoing tide), mudflats, riparian woodland and coastal sage. About thirty- acres of the combined habitats were visually surveyed (1130-1300 hrs.).

As expected, coming out of the desert, we found the cool, bracing coastal climate quite refreshing (65 F with mostly overcast skies). Additionally, we encountered new communities of coastal birds, adding many species to our trip list (see Annotated Bird List).

San Joaquin Marsh Nature Preserve and Wildlife Sanctuary, University of California at Irvine, Orange County, CA, elevation 55 ft. (SJM: May 16, 2023, 0700-1000 hrs.). This was another one of Marek’s favorite places that we visited on our road trip. It was also our last birding/photography stop before returning home to Green Valley. We were determined to make the most of it.

The 320-acre nature preserve is composed of numerous shallow, fresh-water ponds (a functional part of an adjacent water treatment facility), bordered by marsh, coastal sage scrub and riparian woodland.

A mosaic of microhabitats within those natural communities, supports a large variety of birds and other animals not easily found elsewhere in the region. Pathways throughout the reserve provide good visibility of waterbirds and exceptional opportunities for wildlife photography. Almost immediately upon exiting our vehicle, Marek had his tripod and camera set up and was in the prone position at the edge of a pond. From that ground-level position, Marek captured some outstanding images of American Avocets foraging in the shallows.

Complimentary with Marek’s ambush tactics, I walked the many connected pathways around the ponds, observing and photographing mainly waterbirds, which were diversified and in some cases remarkably abundant, e.g. Caspian Tern and Black Skimmer. The latter two species had evidently initiated a colonial nest site on a shallow island-peninsula at the west end of the preserve.

Green Valley, Angeles National Forest, Los Angeles County CA, Elevation 3,000 ft. (GV: May 4,5; 16-20; 23-24, 2023). My Green Valley home served as both a wildlife photography station and base of operations during Marek’s visit.

The yard includes artificial ponds and predominantly native vegetation, i.e. Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), Sycamore (Plantanus racemosa), Blue Elderberry (Sambucus mexicana), California Buckwheat (Eriogonum fasciculatum), California Coffeeberry (Frangula californica), Toyon (Heteromeles arbutifolia), Sugarbush (Rhus ovata), Greenbark Ceanothus (Ceanothus spinosus), Chamise (Adenostoma fasciculatum), Thick-leaved Yerba Santa (Eriodycton crassifolium) and Wild Cherry (Prunus ilicifolia). Prevalent herbaceous plants currently in flower, include, Scarlet Bugler (Penstemon centranthifolius) and Golden Yarrow (Eriophyllum confertiflorum). Fallen logs and limbs bordered by river rocks, were arranged as settings for close-up photography of common birds (e.g. California Quail, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Anna’s Hummingbird, Band-tailed Pigeon, Acorn Woodpecker, Nuttall’s Woodpecker California Scrub-Jay, Oak titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch) and mammals (e.g. Merriam’s Chipmunk) that were more or less habituated. Mixed bird seed, suet and sugar-water were available to these species on a daily basis. The kitchen window provided a convenient photography hide; Marek improvised by setting up a ground-level tripod and camera using a Tragopan tent-blind and/or a camouflage blanket.

DAY TRIPS

Apollo County Park, Los Angeles County, CA, Elevation 2,350 ft. associated with a nearby water treatment facility — an LA County Park with small, shallow, lakes, with mature pines and mowed lawns, located in the southwestern corner of the Mojave Desert (AP: May 18, 2023, 0643-0725 hrs.). Fair skies, 72F with calm winds. We walked a counter-clockwise route on paved pathways, mainly on the perimeter of the park. There was intermittent aircraft noise from the adjacent airfield, otherwise it was a relatively quiet morning in the park. A comparatively low bird species diversity was found (21 species), including a partially crippled Tundra Bean Goose, initially found by Jon Feenstra, about two months earlier in a nearby waterfowl hunting area on Edwards AFB.

Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino County, CA Elevation, 6,759 ft., a large, freshwater lake in a upper elevation, coniferous forest zone of the San Bernardino Mountains (BBL: May 21-22, 2023). We drove from Green Valley to Big Bear Lake via CA-138 and CA-18 (Bear Valley Rd.), staying one night at Wolf Creek Lodge on the south-central side of the lake. The first afternoon, we walked around in the adjacent neighborhood in the vicinity of Eureka and Park Street. Roadways and walkways were clear; almost no sign of a heavy snow accumulation earlier this year. The upscale neighborhood was set amongst mature pines with ornamental flowering shrubs and trees in most of the yards. A small park (Meadow Park) with a lawn was also in this neighborhood. Marek remained in that area, setting up his camera and tripod across the street from a residence with a bird-feeding station. I continued walking west to the lakeside area of Ski Beach Park, which featured an open field bordered by a narrow shoreline patch of marsh-willow riparian habitat. The area was relatively quiet with light auto traffic and a few pedestrians.

We revisited the same neighborhood at sunrise the following morning where Marek again set up his camera and tripod, having secured permission from the resident owner of the bird- feeding station the previous afternoon. Meanwhile, I drove to Fawnskin Rd. on the north side of the lake to join several members of the Southwest Bird Study Club, having their annual field trip in the BBL area. I spent about an hour birding with the group, initially at a pair of residences on Fawnskin Rd. with bird-feeding stations, then relocating to the northwest section of the lake (see below).

Subsequently, Marek and I compared notes and found that we had seen mostly the same birds in the two areas, with the notable exception of a Red-necked Grebe in the lake near mile marker 58.77 in the northwestern section.

ANNOTATED BIRD LIST

Road Trip: Southern California (May 6-23, 2023) compiled by Callyn Yorke

Observers: Callyn Yorke (CY) and Marek Jackowski (MJ). Initials are given when only one of us observed a particular species.

Abundance: Number of individuals counted follow each species entry. A maximum count number is given when multiple surveys of an area were made. Age, sex and molt (when known): ad = adult; imm = immature; m = male; f = female; bsc plmg = basic (non-breeding plumage; alt plmg = alternate (breeding) plumage.

Localities (In chronological order – see map and text for abbreviations )

LP (Lone Pine, Inyo County), including Owens River (OR) and Alabama Hills (AH).

FCR (Furnace Creek Ranch, Death Valley National Park, Inyo County).

HVC (Hidden Valley, including the campground, Joshua Tree National Park, San Bernardino County).

BMC (Big Morongo Canyon Nature Reserve, San Bernardino County).

WM (Westmoreland, Salton Sea, Imperial County); SBVC (Sonny Bono NWR Visitor Center); SR (Sinclair Rd., Salton Sea); NL (Niland, Salton Sea).

AB (Anza Borrego State Park Visitor Center, Borrego Springs, San Diego County)

EN (Encinitas,San Diego County); MB (Moonlight Beach, Encinitas); LCC (Lower Cottonwood Creek, Encinitas); UCC (Upper Cottonwood Creek, Encinitas).

LJC (La Jolla Cove and vicinity, San Diego County).

SEL (San Elijo Lagoon Visitor Center and adjacent wetlands, San Diego County).

SJM (San Joaquin Marsh, Irvine, Orange County)

GV (Green Valley home and neighborhood, Los Angeles County)

AP (Apollo County Park, Los Angeles County).

BBL (Big Bear Lake, San Bernardino County).

Ecology and Behavior: aerial insect hawking (ah); taking fruit, berries or parts of flowers (fr); gleaning insects from foliage (ig); probing into surface (pr); estimated height (m) above ground (agl); gregarious (greg); mixed-species flock (msf).

Systematics and Nomenclature used herein, is an amalgam of Avibase, Birdlife International, International Ornithological Congress (IOC) and current (2023) online resources, i.e. Birds of the World, Cornell University, USA.

Vagrants and/or rarities are listed with bold lettering.

• Snow Goose Anser caerulescens 2 greg. ne island, AP
• Tundra Bean-Goose Anser serrirostris 1 (a continuing vagrant) with drooping primaries on right wing, indicating an injury, which probably explains why it is still in the area; swimming in open water, loosely associated with CAGO, n, AP
• Canada Goose Branta canadensis 25 greg. SJM; 60 (ad, imm) greg., on land and in water, AP
• Gray-lag Goose Anser anser 12 (exotic) wild-types and hybrid, mostly on shore, greg. AP
• Swan Goose Anser cygnoides 3 (exotic) greg. on shore, ne, AP
• Egyptian Goose Alopochen aegyptiaca (exotic) 2 in ponds and flying, SJM
• Muscovy Duck Cairina moschata (exotic) 3 (m,f) greg. on shore, n, AP.
• Blue-winged Teal Spatula discors 2 (m) greg. swimming near marsh, e, SJM.
• Cinnamon Teal Spatula cyanoptera 3 (m) greg. in shallows, marsh, e, SJM.
• Gadwall Mareca strepera 3 (m,f) greg., resting on channel shore, SEL; 8 (m,f) greg. at edge of ponds, throughout, SJM.
• American Wigeon Mareca americana 1 (m) swimming near marsh in golf course pond, FCR.
• Mallard Anas platyrhynchos 5 (m,f) in ponds, FCR; 5 (m,f) on channel banks, marsh and shallows, SEL; 75 (about 50 wild type; 25 hybrid) (m,f) greg. (mostly in pairs), AP; 20 (m,f) greg. pairs BBL.
• Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis (m – mostly in alt. plmg., f), 4 (m,f) FCR; 50 SBVC (MJ); 1 (f) in marshy shallows, SEL; 8 (m,f) SJM.

• California Quail Callipepla californica 1 calls, hedgerow next to pasture, LP; 2 (m,f) greg., twice daily at feeding station, GV.
• Gambel’s Quail Callipepla gambelii 10 (m,f) greg. pairs in fallow fields and mesquite scrub, SBVC.
• Red-necked Grebe Podiceps grisegena 1 (alt. plmg.) swimming near shore, repeated shallow dives, apparently bothered by monofilament fishing tackle caught in its mouth. Reportedly a returning rarity to BBL.
• Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis 1 vocal, w pond, SJM; 4 vocal, sw cove, BBL.
• Clark’s Grebe Aechmophorus clarkii 4 loosely greg., vocal, w SJM; 5 vocal, s and ne, BBL.
• Feral Rock Pigeon Columba livia (exotic) 20 greg. in town, Brawley, SS; 5 greg. LJC.
• Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata 10 greg. frequent at feeding station, GV.
• Eurasian Collared Dove Streptopelia decaocto (exotic) 2 greg. ubiq. LP; 20 FCR; 3 BMC; 60, WM; 6 SBVC; 10 AP; 2 GV.
• White-winged Dove Zenaida asiatica 2 greg. pair on lawns, FCR.
• Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura 20 greg. often in pairs, SBVC; ubiq.
• Common Ground Dove Columbina passerina 1 on ground at edge of garden, SBVC.
• Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus 1 SR; 2 (ad, imm) chasing grasshoppers, AB; 1 SJM (MJ).
• Common Nighthawk Chordeiles minor 2 flying low over open areas at dusk, OR.
• White-throated Swift Aeronautes saxatilis 12 greg. 0745-0845 hrs., flying to and from hidden rock crevice about 20 ft.agl on east side of large granite outcrop; also seen in same area in late afternoon, HVC; 1 flying 60-90 ft. agl over ponds, FCR.
• Black-chinned Hummingbird Archilochus alexandri 3 (m,f) intermittently at feeder throughout the day, GV.
• Anna’s Hummingbird Calypte anna 1 (m) in flowering tree, LP; 3 LCC, UCC; 2 at feeder, GV; 4 at feeder, BMC; 3 (m,f) LJC; 2 SEL; 10 (m,f) vocal, individuals in shrubs and trees bordering marsh, SJM.
• Allen’s Hummingbird Selasphorus sasin 3 (m) EN, LCC, UCC; 4 (m) trees and tall shrubs bordering ponds, SJM.
• American Coot Fulica americana 7 greg. in ponds, FCR; 3 SJM.
• Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus 2 (alt. plmg.) greg. a pair foraging in shallows, SJM; 10 wetlands, SBVC (MJ).
• American Avocet Recurvirostra americana 8 (alt. plmg.) pairs foraging in shallows, SJM.

• Black Oystercatcher Haematopus bachmani 2 greg. on outer rocks in tide pools, LJC.
• Killdeer Charadrius vociferus 1 on golf course, FCR (MJ); 10 vocal, ubiq. roadside and fields SE SS; 4 loosely greg. pairs, SJM; 4 AP.
• Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus 60 (conserv. est. – not all within the flock were clearly visible) greg. in msf with CAEG, WFIB and other birds in flooded agricultural field, SR. 1 flying low over tidepools, LJC.

• Spotted Sandpiper Actitis macularius 16 (all alt. plmg.) greg. a cohesive flock at the marshy edge of both ponds, readily flushed and flying together to the other side, reluctant to leave the area, and often perched low on snags, FCR; 1 in adjacent, mostly dry riverbed, SJM; 1 se shoreline, AP.
• Wandering Tattler Tringa incana 4 (alt. plmg.) greg. foraging on sandy shore at the tide line between rocks, LJC.
• Heermann’s Gull Larus heermanni 3 (imm.) greg. on rocks above tide line, loosely associated with WEGU, LJC.
• Western Gull Larus occidentalis 25 (ad, imm) several adults apparently on active nests on cliff ledges, LJC.

• Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis (ad.) greg. msf with WFIB, CAEG in flooded agricultural field, SR.
• California Gull Larus californicus 5 (ad, imm) greg. msf with RBGU, CAEG and WFIB in flooded agricultural field, SR.
• Gull-billed Tern Gelochelidon nilotica 20 greg. in and around ponds (nesting? – MJ) two individuals flying over fields, SBVC.
• Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia 3 (alt. plmg.) flying back and forth over nearshore waters, LJC; 80 (alt. plmg.), vocal, greg., a few birds resting motionless on the ground, evidently nesting or attempting to nest, on barren, shallow island-peninsula, along with numerous BLSK, sw; one individual skimming the pond surface in flight similar to BLSK, sw SJM.
• Forster’s Tern Sterna forsteri 6 (alt. plmg.) individuals flying back and forth, about 20 ft. above the sw pond, in same vicinity with CATE and BLSK, SJM.

• Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus 2 ( one in alt. plmg.), flying 30 ft. over nearshore waters, LJC.
• Elegant Tern Thalasseus elegans 3 greg. flying 30-50 ft. over nearshore waters, LJC; 1? appeared long-winged and with typical wing-stroke and flight profile of an ELTE; seen briefly flying w over ponds; perhaps an occasional visitor at this location? SJM.
• Black Skimmer Rynchops niger 120 (est. difficult due to flight and landings of individuals, mostly in the sw pond) vocal, greg. often in pairs, at least one pair repeatedly engaged in synchronized aerial courtship maneuvers, including steep vertical ascents and dives, 80 + ft. above the pond; others performing tandem surface-skimming; at least 50 individuals and pairs apparently establishing a nesting colony on a shallow, island-peninsula with CATE; Three BLSK carcasses were visible on the ground in one area on the south side of the island, SJM. 6 greg. a cohesive flock flying low over nearshore waters, LJC.

• Brandt’s Cormorant Urile penicillatus 60 (ad, imm, eggs) vocal, active on cliff ledges adjacent to walkways; displays and a few birds sitting on nests with 2-3 eggs or with young being attended to by adults. Adults also commuting back and forth from the colony, some returning with nest material (dry algae and other vegetation). Numerous individuals swimming/diving in nearshore waters near the colony; also in low flights well offshore, LJC.

• Pelagic Cormorant Urile pelagicus 1 flying sw, low offshore, LJC.
• Double-crested Cormorant Nannopterum auritum 3 individuals flying low, offshore; none seen on cliffs or near BRCO colony, LJC; 5 greg. standing on sw island, SJM; 2 resting on island, AP.
• American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos 1 resting on se island, AP.
• Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis 80 (ad, alt., bsc. plmg., imm) most on cliff ledges with BRCO and WEGU; frequent small flocks (5 -8 individuals) flying low over surf zone; nesting not observed anywhere in the area, LJC.

• Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias 2 (alt. plmg.) edge of marsh and on pathway, SJM.

• Great Egret Ardea alba 2 in flooded agricultural field with WFIB and CAEG, SR; 2 in marsh and adjacent riverbed, SJM.
• Snowy Egret Egretta thula 1 in roadside marsh, Garst Rd, SS; 3 at edge of tidal channel, SEL.
• Cattle Egret Bubulcus ibis 100 (conserv. est.) alt. plmg. greg., in flooded agricultural field with WIIB, SR.

• Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax 3 in dense tule marsh at edge of ponds, SJM; 15 (ad., imm) apparently nesting in pines on two ne islands, AP.
• Green Heron Butorides virescens 1 flying low over pond, FCR; 1 in flight, LCC; 1 flying low over marsh, SJM.
• White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi 150 (alt. plmg.) greg. with CAEG, WHIM and other birds in flooded agricultural field, SR; 1 resting on small island, SJM.
• Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura 1 flying 80 ft. agl over open field, LP; 1 flying 120 ft. agl, AH; 6 (ad, imm) greg. in crown of mature salt cedar, FCR; 1, soaring over open area adjacent to roadway, HV; 4 greg. in crown of dead tree, adjacent riparian area, n SJM.
• Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii 1 flushed from garden trees in town, EN.
• Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus 1 (ad) in cottonwood tree, LP.
• Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis 2 circling over distant rock outcrops, AH; 1 soaring on thermals, HV; 1 in tree, adjacent riparian patch, n SJM.
• Western Screech Owl Megascops kennicottii ? 1 vocal (unseen) after dark, HVC (MJ)
• Burrowing Owl Athene cunicularia 6 loosely gregarious (possibly a family cohort) along a roadside irrigation ditch with an elevated berm; some birds flushed quickly, flying, low to another, similar perch, 50- 100 yards away; while other individuals remained stationary, SR.

• Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus 2 (m,f) frequenting feeding station, GV.
• Downy Woodpecker Dryobates pubescens 1 on trees at feeding station, BMC; 2 (f) in riparian woodland trees, ne SJM.
• Nuttall’s Woodpecker Dryobates nuttallii 2 (m,f) frequenting feeding station, GV.
• Ladder-backed Woodpecker Dryobates scalaris 1 (m) on Joshua Trees, HVC; 1 at feeding station, BMC; 1 flying from mesquite tree, SBVC.

• White-headed Woodpecker Dryobates albolarvatus 2 (m,f) on pines around feeding stations, s and n side of the lake, BBL.
• Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus 1 in park riparian trees, LP; 2 vocal, on pines and ground near feeding stations, n, s, BBL.
• American Kestrel Falco sparverius 1 (m) initially on utility pole, then flew across field, SBVC.

• Red-crowned Parrot Amazona viridigenalis (exotic) 5 vocal, greg. pairs interacting, flying to palms around the park, LJC.
• Olive-sided Flycatcher Contopus cooperi 4 individuals seen daily sallying from tall Salt Cedar snags, FCR.
• Western Wood Pewee Contopus sordidulus 1 sallying from ornamental tree at edge of pasture, LP.
• Willow Flycatcher Empidonax traillii 1 repeated low sallies from streamside shrubs in campground, TC.
• Hammond’s Flycatcher Empidonax hammondii 1 on a low limb perch in willow over marsh, OR.
• Gray Flycatcher Empidonax wrightii 1 in a fruiting shrub at base of large granite outcrop, HVC.
• Dusky Flycatcher Empidonax oberholseri 1 mid-level in pinyon pine woodland, AH.
• Pacific Slope Flycatcher Empidonax difficilis 2 mid to lower level of willows at edge of water, OR; 1, upper level of trees in campground riparian-streamside, TC.
• Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans 1 sallying through swarms of midges, from lower to mid level in trees at the edge of the marsh, OR; 1 sallying from fence, BMC; 3 in shrubs and on mounds at edge of irrigation canal, SR; 2 low to mid-level in trees at edge of stream and open areas, LCC, UCC; 1 in trees at edge of lawn, LJC; 5 individuals sallying from shrubs at edge of marsh throughout, SJM. 1 vocal, in pines, AP.
• Say’s Phoebe Sayornis saya 1 vocal (unseen) edge of garden, SBVC; 1 vocal atop large boulders; later seen (possibly a different individual) sallying to ground and trunks of Joshua Trees, HVC; 1 vocal (unseen) trees at edge of open area near visitor’s center, SJM.
• Ash-throated Flycatcher Myiarchus cinerascens 2 a pair nesting in riparian woodland next to marsh; one capturing and consuming a large, blue dragonfly, OR; 1 edge of riparian patch and desert scrub, TC; 4, vocal, greg. flying between shrubs, HVC; 4 vocal, greg. in cottonwoods at edge of clearing, BMC; 1 vocal, flying to exposed perches in oaks; 1 briefly on deck railing, investigating the hummingbird feeder, GV.

• Brown-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus tyrrannulus 2 vocal, greg. active in subcanopy of mature cottonwoods, BMC.
• Cassin’s Kingbird Tyrannus vociferans 2 perched on exposed Salt Cedar snag; 1 flying low over pond, FCR.
• Western Kingbird Tyrannus verticalis 1, in cottonwood at edge of pasture, LP; 3 greg. perched on snag of tall salt cedar, part of a wind break grove at south border of golf course and alkali-mesquite desert scrub, FCR; 1 in flight over open area, HVC; 3 in mesquite trees around garden, SBVC.
• Bell’s Vireo Vireo bellii 1 vocal (unseen) entrance to narrow canyon riparian area, BMC.
• Plumbeous Vireo Vireo plumbeus 1 active, low in isolated mesquite tree, FCR.
• Warbling Vireo Vireo gilvus 1 active in mesquite subcanopy with YEWA, FCR; 2 active in subanopy of mesquites, SBVC.
• Steller’s Jay Cyanocitta stelleri 2 a vocal pair in pinyon pines, AH; 5 vocal, greg. pairs on ground and in pines, n, s, BBL.
• California Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica 1 seen once around campsite in afternoon, HVC; 1, in cottonwood, LCC; 3 frequenting feeding station, GV.
• Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma woodhouseii 2 vocal, a pair active in shrubs and a in tall pine, riparian ravine, AH.
• American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos 10 vocal, greg. in parks and garden trees, LJC; 5, EN; 6 SJM; 1 in flight over lake, s BBL; 4 mainly along Spunky Canyon Rd., GV.
• Common (Northern) Raven Corvus corax 5 vocal, individuals and pairs throughout, LP; 10 vocal, greg. most in flight over the area, AH; 5 vocal, greg. on ground in shade, FCR; 6 vocal, greg. pairs flying around campground, HVC; 3 flying over entrance, BMC; 5 individuals and pairs around visitor center and agricultural fields, SBVC, SR; 2 flying over marsh, SEL; 10 (ad, imm) greg. vocal (especially imm.) on lawns and in pines throughout, AP; 5, vocal, individuals and pairs flying around town and lakeside areas, BBL.
• Mountain Chickadee Parus gambeli 2 greg. vocal, a pair in pines around feeding station, BBL.
• Oak Titmouse Baeolophus inornatus 1 vocal, riparian woodland, BMC; 1 daily at feeding station, GV.
• Verdin Auriparus flaviceps 2 mesquite thickets in and around garden, SBVC.
• Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris 1, roadside, AH; 6 loosely greg. roadside agricultural fields and canal, SR.
• Northern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopterix serripennis 2 greg. a pair flying back and forth low over canal, occasionally alighting on a drainage pipe, SBVC.
• Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor 20 (ad, imm) young being fed in nest boxes; adults flying low over adjacent ponds and marsh, SJM.
• Violet-green Swallow Tachycineta thalassina 2 a pair flying 10-20 ft. above ponds and marsh, SJM; 10 loosely greg. in msf with CLSW, flying back and forth over lake surface, s BBL.
• Bank Swallow Riparia riparia 3 greg. 30-50 ft. over pond, FCR; 1 flying 15-30 ft. over ponds, SJM.
• Barn Swallow Hirundo rustica 5 greg. at dusk, a cohesive flock flying low over river and marsh, OW; 10 (alt. plmg.) greg. low over ponds and marsh throughout, SJM; 1 msf with VIGS and CLSW, flying low over lake, s BBL.
• Cliff Swallow Petrochelidon pyrrhonota 1 flying over riparian ravine, AH; 5 greg. flying low over agricultural fields, SR; 1 flying low over vacant lot in town, WM; 12 greg. flying back and forth, low over lake, s BBL.
• Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus 2 a pair, active in riparian shrubs and trees, LCC.

• Wrentit Chamaea fasciata 1 vocal (unseen) BMC (CY); 1 vocal (unseen) SJM.
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet Corthylia calendula 1 active at mid to upper level in pinyon pines, AH.
• White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis 1 active on and at base of tree trunks in Meadow Park, s BBL.
• Black-tailed Gnatcatcher Polioptila melanura 2 individuals active in and around mesquite trees, SBVC.
• Gnatcatcher Polioptila sp. 1 silent and not seen clearly, active in coastal sage scrub next to the visitor center, SEL.
• Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus 1 active on boulders, ig. on ground and Joshua Trees, HVC.
• Bewick’s Wren Thryomanes bewickii 1 vocal in roadside riparian patch next to pasture, LP; 3 vocal throughout the area, HVC.
• House Wren Troglodytes aedon 2 vocal (song) active in shrubs and riparian understory, LCC.
• Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris 2 vocal in dense tule border of ponds, SJM.
• Cactus Wren Campylorhynchus brunneicapillus 1 vocal (unseen) HVC.
• European Starling Sturnus vulgaris (exotic) 12 greg. vocal, flying over pastures and riparian areas, LP; 2 on lawns with BHCO, FCR; 15 in fields, on utility lines and around visitor center, SBVC. 10 on utility lines in suburbs, EN; 8 greg. on lawns and shoreline, AP; 6 greg. in flight; on ground in town and suburbs, BBL.
• Crissal Thrasher Toxostoma crissale 1 vocal (repeated calls and partial song), secretive and difficult to see clearly in mesquite thickets, w margin of golf course, FCR.
• California Thrasher Toxostoma redivivum 3 understory and ground in riparian woodland and at feeder, BMC.

• Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos 1 vocal (song) repeated song in willow next to marsh, OR; 1 vocal in garden at Panamint Springs lunch stop, DVNP; 1 in Brawley suburbs, SS; 1 in garden with mesquite trees, AB.
• Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana 2 (m,f) on ground and in garden trees, MB; 4, two pair in gardens, s, n BBL.
• Swainson’s Thrush Catharus ustulatus 1 on ground in riparian woodland, LCC; 1 flew into a shady, trailside riparian patch, SJM.
• American Robin Turdus migratorius 1 perched low in cottonwood at edge of pasture, LP; 6 individuals on lawns and in ornamental flowering/fruiting trees, s, n BBL.
• Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum 8 vocal, greg. in garden trees, MB.
• Phainopepla Phainopepla nitens 1 (m) photographed by MJ, HVC.
• House Sparrow Passer domesticus (exotic) 12 (m,f) vocal, greg. LP; 10 greg. on lawns and in gardens, FCR; vocal (unseen) BMC; 5 on ground in hotel garden, WM; 5 gardens and riparian, EN, LCC; 10 on ground in park, LJC; 3 around visitor center, SJM; 25 (m,f) vocal, greg. around buildings, gardens and lawns, AP; 10 (m,f) vocal, greg. in town and suburbs, s BBL.
• House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus 8 (m, f) vocal, greg. individuals and pairs in trees in riparian patches and gardens, LP, 1 vocal (unseen) riparian ravine, AH; 1 photographed by MJ, HVC; 4 in and around visitor center garden and water feature, SBVC; 10 (m,f) vocal, greg. in garden shrubs and trees, LJC; 10 vocal, greg. ubiq. EN, MB, LCC, UCC; 12 (m,f) vocal, greg. on ground and in trees throughout, SJM; 5 (m,f) vocal, greg. in and around suburban gardens, s BBL.
• Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus 2 (m,f) greg. a pair in pines around homes, s BBL;
• Cassin’s Finch Haemorhous cassinii 2 (m,f) mid level in willows, riparian patch behind city park, LP; 2 (m,f) a pair in garden with feeding station, n, BBL.
• Lesser Goldfinch Spinus psaltria 8 greg. vocal, at dusk in riparian woodland edge, OR; 8 (m,f) greg. frequenting water feature and feeding station, BMC; 2 vocal, greg. in willows, LCC; 3 vocal, greg. in sycamores near visitor center, SJM; 4 vocal, greg. in suburban gardens and visiting feeding station, s BBL.
• Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina 5 greg. roadside rocks and pinyon pines, AH; 1 on ground at base of boulders, HVC.

• Black-throated Sparrow Amphispiza bilineata 4 greg. vocal, open, desert scrub, AH; 4 (ad, imm) greg. vocal, on ground beneath saltbush and atop Joshua Trees, HVC.

• Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco Junco hyemalis 2 greg. in garden, LJC.
• Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis 5 (beldingi) vocal on fence railing and in salt marsh, SEL; 3 lakeshore at dusk, s BBL.
• Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia 3 vocal, edge of riparian, BMC; 6 vocal riparian edge and understory, LCC, UCC; 10, vocal in marsh and riparian edge, SEL; 30 vocal, ubiq. SJM.
• Abert’s Towhee Melozone aberti 3 active on ground in and around visitor center garden with water feature, SBVC.
• California Towhee Melozone crissalis 2 active on ground in riparian areas, BMC; 2, vocal in riparian woodland, SEL; 2 active on ground at edge of riparian, UCC; 1 vocal, SJM.
• Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus 2 (m,f) in trees and on ground at feeding station, BMC; 1 vocal riparian edge, SJM.
• Yellow-headed Blackbird Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus 2 (f) on lawns in msf with BHCO, FCR.
• Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta 8 vocal, loosely greg. in agricultural fields, SR.

• Hooded Oriole Icterus cucullatus 3 (m,f) subcanopy of cottonwoods, at feeders, BMC; 1 (m) in garden tree, EN.

• Bullock’s Oriole Icterus bullockii 2 (m,f) in riparian woodland behind the city park, LP; 2 (m,f) vocal in subcanopy of cottonwoods, BMC; 1 vocal in cottonwood, SJM.
• Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus 5 (m,f) vocal, greg. riverside marsh-riparian, OR; 60 (conserv. est.) (m,f) greg. vocal, inundated fields, and canals, SR, SBVC; 3 vocal, greg. in trees on lake shore, s BBL.
• Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater 2 (m,f) in pasture, LP; 12 (m,f) greg. foraging on lawns, often in msf with GTGR, FCR; 1 vocal, riparian woodland, SJM.
• Brewer’s Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus 5 (m,f) greg. on park lawns and pasture, LP; 6 (m,f) greg. on lawns, AP; 8 greg. on park lawns, s BBL.
• Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus 3 (m,f) greg. vocal, restaurant gardens and commercial area, SPW; 6 (m,f) vocal, greg. throughout the resort area, FCR; 20 (m,f) greg. in most of the developed areas, WM, SBVC, SR, NL; 5 (m,f) greg. vocal around visitor center, SJM.
• Orange-crowned Warbler Leiothlypis celata 2 in shrubs and trees of a streamside riparian patch, TC; 1 active in shrubs and trees, flying between tall shrubs, HVC; 1 in willow canopy, BMC; 1 in cottonwoods, LCC;
• Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas 2 marsh-riparian, OR; 1 streamside riparian, TC; 1 in marsh and salt-cedars bordering pond, FCR; 1 roadside marsh (mostly dry), Garst Rd., SS; 1, vocal in marsh riparian clearing (unseen) BMC; 10 (m,f) vocal throughout pond and marsh areas, SJM;
• Yellow Warbler Setophaga petechia 2 (m,f) vocal, active at low-mid level in riparian trees over marsh and river, OR; 1 (m) ig. with WAVI in canopy of mesquite tree, FCR; 4 (m,f) loosely gregarious, ig, in mesquite tree canopies, SBVC; 1 (m) in cottonwood, LCC.
• Yellow-rumped (Audubon’s) Warbler Setophaga coronata 1 (f) in riparian streamside trees, TC.
• Hermit Warbler Setophaga occidentalis 1 (m) AH (MJ- photo).
• Wilson’s Warbler Cardellina pusilla 5 (m,f) vocal, loosely gregarious, a pair foraging low in riparian and adjacent marsh, OR; 2 in streamside trees and shrubs, TC; 4 vocal in riparian woodland, BMC; 1 active in riparian shrubs and trees, LCC; 1 in a flowering mesquite tree next to an irrigation canal, SR; 15 throughout area in cottonwoods, willows and shrubs, SJM.
• Summer Tanager Piranga rubra 8 (m,f) loosely gregarious in subcanopies of cottonwoods and willows and at feeding station, BMC.

• Western Tanager Piranga ludoviciana 2 (m,f) individuals in canopies of cottonwoods, LP; 2 in streamside trees, TC; 3 (m) greg. in salt cedar canopy, FCR; 3 (m,f) greg. in cottonwood canopies, BMC.
• Black-headed Grosbeak Pheuticus melanocephalus 2 vocal (calls) cottonwoods next to pasture and around city park, LP; 1 (f) in riparian streamside tree, TC; 1(m) at feeder, BMC; 1 vocal (unseen) SJM.

• Blue Grosbeak Passerina caerulea 3 (m,f) vocal, low to mid-level in riparian woodland, BMC; 1 (f) in mesquite tree, SBVC; 1 vocal, riparian-marsh, SJM;
• Indigo Bunting Passerina cyanea 1 flew low across roadway between pasture-sage field, OR.

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