After a long weekend away from the chase, it was good to get down to business again. There were a couple of interesting recent (and reliable!) ebird reports from Goleta that I thought would be worth checking out. I did not expect to add any birds to the year's list (and did not) but had a great time watching interesting birds and before I knew it the clock said it was time to head for home.
I started out at Farren Road, where Rebecca Coulter had reported not one but two Common Ground Doves. I managed to hear one calling from an Avocado Orchard, but it would not come out and show itself. There were other interesting things to see, like a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers attending to their nest; a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher harassing a Red-tailed Hawk (David and Goliath!); and no less than 7 Phainopeplas eating some red berries in bushes by the roadside.
I then headed over to the end of Coronado Drive where there is often a puddle of water that attracts birds (the "Coronado Seep"). There was some good activity there, including a cavity-creating Downy Woodpecker, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Purple Finches, and a stunning male Western Tanager that would not show itself for the camera.
Nearby I encountered the male Baltimore Oriole recently reported by Libbey Patten. A beautiful male but camera shy. Up on top of the mesa I saw one and heard another Grasshopper Sparrow.
Today turned out to be a pretty good day for adding species to the photographed list ...
After today the year's total still stands at 228.
I started out at Farren Road, where Rebecca Coulter had reported not one but two Common Ground Doves. I managed to hear one calling from an Avocado Orchard, but it would not come out and show itself. There were other interesting things to see, like a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers attending to their nest; a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher harassing a Red-tailed Hawk (David and Goliath!); and no less than 7 Phainopeplas eating some red berries in bushes by the roadside.
I then headed over to the end of Coronado Drive where there is often a puddle of water that attracts birds (the "Coronado Seep"). There was some good activity there, including a cavity-creating Downy Woodpecker, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Purple Finches, and a stunning male Western Tanager that would not show itself for the camera.
Nearby I encountered the male Baltimore Oriole recently reported by Libbey Patten. A beautiful male but camera shy. Up on top of the mesa I saw one and heard another Grasshopper Sparrow.
Today turned out to be a pretty good day for adding species to the photographed list ...
Wrentit - distant shot, this bird is most often heard and not seen.
Phainopepla - male
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher on nest.
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher harassing a Red-tailed Hawk!
California Quail
Downy Woodpecker
A wet Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Oak Titmouse
Purple Finch
Grasshopper Sparrow
Today I rode a total of 37.2 miles
More later,
Glenn
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