Sunday, April 8, 2012

Birding Southern California: San Diego to Salton Sea

By Luke Musher

I've spent the last week in Southern California visiting friends and doing some birding.  Big thanks to Melissa Graham (new PhD Candidate at Clark University) for showing me around and putting me up at her place.  Early in the week I birded around San Diego and spent Friday and Saturday birding the Salton Sea.  Highlights included Reddish Egret, Little Blue Heron, Snowy Plover, Stilt Sandpiper, 3 Heerman's Gulls at Salton Sea, a total of 6 tern Species, including Gull-billed and Black Skimmer, lots of Burrowing Owls in the Salton Sea, Thick-billed Kingbird, a couple Cactus Wrens in various places, Nashville and Black-throated Gray Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Bullock's Oriole among other great stuff.  Here are lots of photos from the week.
Cassin's Kingbird, San Diego, CA [Photo © Lukas Musher]
Whimbrel, San Diego, CA [Photo © Lukas Musher]
California Towhee, San Diego, CA [Photo © Lukas Musher]
Rufous-crowned Sparrow, San Diego, CA [Photo © Lukas Musher]
Western Bluebird, San Diego, CA [Photo © Lukas Musher] 
Thick-billed Kingbird, San Diego, CA [Photo © Lukas Musher]
Western Kingbird, Salton Sea, CA [Photo © Lukas Musher]
Great-tailed Grackle, Salton Sea, CA [Photo © Lukas Musher]
White-crowned Sparrows, Salton Sea, CA [Photo © Lukas Musher]
This Barn Owl was roosting in a palm tree.  Salton Sea, CA [Photo © Lukas Musher] 
Common Ground-Dove, Salton Sea, CA [Photo © Lukas Musher]
Black-throated Sparrow, Mountain Springs Rd, west of Ocotillo, CA, [Photo © Lukas Musher]
Gull-billed Tern, Salton Sea, CA [Photo © Lukas Musher]
Gambel's Quail, Salton Sea, CA [Photo © Lukas Musher]
Burrowing Owl, Imperial Valley, CA [Photo © Lukas Musher]
Cattle Egret, Imperial Valley, CA [Photo © Lukas Musher]
Black-throated Gray Warbler, Imperial Valley, CA [Photo © Lukas Musher]
After the week, my year list is at 258, 256 of which are in California.  Five birds seen this week were lifers.  My complete list from SoCal this week is:

SNGO, ROGO, GADW, AMWI, MALL, BWTE, CITE, NSHO, NOPI, GWTE, REDH, SUSC, RBME, RUDU, GAQU, CAQU, COLO, EAGR, PBGR, WEGR, DCCO, AWPE, BRPE, GBHE, LBHE, REEG, BREG, SNEG, CAEG, GRHE, BCNH, WFIB, TUVU, OSPR, NOHA, COHA, RTHA, AMKE, PEFA, CLRA, SORA, COGA, AMCO, BBPL, SNPL, SEPL, KILL, BNST, AMAV, GRYE, WILL, WHIM, LBCU, MAGO, SAND, WESA, LESA, DUNL, STSA, LBDO, HEEG, RBGU, CAGU, GWGU, WEGU, GBTE, CATE, ROTE, ELTE, FOTE, BLSK, ROPI, EUCD, WWDO, MODO, COGD, GRRO, BANO, BUOW, WTSW, BCHU, ANHU, RUHU, BEKI, GIWO, ACWO, NUWO, BLPH, ATFL, WEKI, CAKI, TBKI, LOSH, WAVI, CORA, HOLA, NRWS, TRES, BARS, CLSW, VERD, CACW, HOWR, MAWR, BGGN, NOMO, EUST, CEDW, OCWA, NAWA, COYE, YRWA, BTYW, TOWA, SPTO, ABTO, CALT, RCSP, CHSP, BRSP, LASP, BTSP, SAVS, SOSP, WCSP, BHGR, RWBL, WEME, YHBL, BRBL, GTGR, BHCO, BUOR, HOFI, LEGO, AMGO, HOSP

1 comment:

  1. I was birding at the Salton Sea a few weeks ago and most likely saw the same Heermann's Gull in the same exact location.

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