Looking for something a little different today I headed up to Toro Canyon Park above Carpinteria. I was hoping for some montane birds, perhaps a Golden-crowned Kinglet or Townsend's Solitaire. These species have recently been seen in a couple of places at lower elevations in Santa Barbara County. Heck, I would even settle for another look at a Varied Thrush or a Brown Creeper.
The climb up to the park was no less steep than I had remembered. When I arrived the first thing I encountered was a Cooper's Hawk sitting on a bridge railing while about 8 California Quail huddled down below in the bushes fearing for their lives. The hawk flew off and the quail lived to see another day, or at least a bit more of today.
There was a reasonable amount of bird activity in the park but none of the hoped-for montane species were to be found, not even a Brown Creeper. I suppose it is still a bit early in the season though it really felt like winter up there with a cool Northerly breeze coming down off the mountains.
This breeze grew to a full-on unpleasant headwind for the ride home. Somehow this seemed like a fitting end to a rather unproductive morning (bird-wise).
Just one photo today:
Hermit Thrush
After today the year's total still stands at 269
The Score: Vermont 265, Green Big Year 269
Today I rode a total of 32.2 miles
More later,
Glenn
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