December 5, 2006

Spent yesterday visiting my sister and her family in Clovis, California.  Left early today for the long drive to the Salton Sea State Recreation Area.  We plan to spend three nights here.  Will bird the surrounding area over the next three days.  We so love this area, however, when we got here there were hardly any birds along or in the water.  Too much salt?  No fish?  Hard to know.  Will ask at the Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge tomorrow.  Usually there are thousands of grebes and waterfowl.  The area usually teems with shorebirds, cormorants, herons, and egrets.  All we had today are gulls and a few American White Pelicans.  Weird.  Where are all the birds?

December 6, 2016

Every time we visit the Salton Sea there is always something new or different.  The difference this time is the water level is much lower than last time we were here – January 2016.  Another difference is there are less birds, with the exception of gulls.  While there still are a lot of gulls, who knows maybe even their numbers are down.

This morning was a pleasant surprise with Ring-billed Gull, Western Gull (a rarity), Herring Gull, Bonaparte’s Gull, American White Pelican, Brown Pelican, Say’s Phoebe, American Coot, Northern Pintail, Black-bellied Plover, and Marbled Godwit.  What a difference a day makes.

We got an early start and headed down to the Wister Wildlife Area, managed by the state.  This area generally has thousands and thousands of ducks.  Not so today.  I doubt we saw more than a couple hundred ducks.

Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge

The 32,766 acre Sonny Bono NWR was established in 1930.  Of course then it didn’t have its present name, since Sonny Bono wasn’t even born yet. The refuge was renamed the Sonny Bono NWR in 1998 in honor of Sonny’s Congressional work for restoring the Salton Sea.

The refuge is comprised of two different units located 18 miles apart.  Today we visited the unit containing the visitor center.  This unit includes the Rock Hill trail, which begins at the visitor center and overlooks several fields and ponds, and allows one to check birds utilizing the sea and its shoreline.

Sonny Bono National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) had a number of great species present, including two Burrowing Owls near the visitor center.  These little guys are always a treat.  We later saw a family of Burrowing Owls near their nest.  Another treat was a Black-tailed Gnatcatcher.  Our first gnatcatcher for the trip.  A Caspian Tern was working its way down a drainage channel.  We heard several Sora, but they remained hidden.  We were surprised we didn’t see any Snow Geese.  Maybe they haven’t made it down yet from the Central Valley of California.  And no Long-billed Curlews.  This is a first too.

From the Sonny Bono NWR we continued along several back roads bordering the Salton Sea in search of more birds.  We weren’t disappointed.

On the way back to our campsite – about 30+ miles away – we again took the back roads (many of them dirt) to check out the birds.  We were hoping to see some Long-billed Curlews, which we have always seen in the area, but not today.  We also check out the sides of the roads for more Burrowing Owls.  More than 70 percent of the California Burrowing Owl population can be found within the Salton Sea ecosystem.  And we did see three more of the owls.  Woohoo!!!  They are so small and so cute.

And then the sunset – which is always so beautiful from our campsite.

Bird Species Observed or Heard in the Imperial Valley/Salton Sea

• Pied-billed Grebe
• Eared Grebe
• Clark’s Grebe
• American White Pelican
• Brown Pelican
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Great Blue Heron
• Great Egret
• Snowy Egret
• White-faced Ibis
• Northern Pintail
• Northern Shoveler
• American Wigeon
• Ruddy Duck
• Common Merganser
• Herring Gull
• Ring-billed Gull
• Western Gull
• Bonaparte’s Gull
• Caspian Tern
• Black-bellied Plover
• Killdeer
• American Avocet
• Black-necked Stilt
• Willet
• Marbled Godwit
• Lesser Yellowleg
• Greater Yellowleg
• Long-billed Dowitcher
• Least Sandpiper
• American Coot
• Sora
• Turkey Vulture
• Osprey
• Northern Harrier
• American Kestrel
• Merlin
• Peregrine Falcon
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Gambel’s Quail
• Burrowing Owl
• Mourning Dove
• Eurasian Collared Dove
• Belted Kingfisher
• Common Raven
• American Crow
• Greater Roadrunner
• Loggerhead Shrike
• Black Phoebe
• Say’s Phoebe
• Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
• Marsh Wren
• Barn Swallow
• Tree Swallow
• American Pipit
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• White-crowned Sparrow
• California Towhee
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Great-tailed Grackle
• Western Meadowlark
• House Finch

December 7, 2016

Got a later start than normal.  Our intentions were to head down to the southern unit  of the refuge to bird, and then make our way back up to the headquarters.  Well we didn’t make it down to the southern unit until after lunch – too busy birding along the way.  What prevented us from getting there sooner were the Burrowing Owls we spotted along the way.  Along Shrimpf Road we spotted 6 Burrowing Owls each sitting at  their burrows.  So, assuming each burrow has at least two owls, there were 12 owls total – just along that one stretch of road, which is only a couple of miles long.  In total, at the end of the day, we had seen 15 Burrowing Owls and knew of at least 4 others we had seen the day before, but not today as we did not drive along the road where those owls reside.  That is a lot of Burrowing Owls in one day.  And these owls are ridiculously cute.

We birded along back roads on our way to the southern unit of the refuge – stopping at ponds for waterbirds, and along side the roads in our eternal search for the Long-billed Curlew.  Where are you?

Lots of shorebirds were feeding along the southern Salton Sea shoreline – avocets, stilts, dowitchers, godwits.  The Least Sandpipers liked to feed a little more inland from the water’s edge.

At the southern unit of the refuge we did see around 100 Sandhill Cranes.  Nice to hear their unison call.  Reminds us of home.  The marshes had lots of Virginia Rail and Sora calling.  Fun to listen to, but they were no-shows.

We finally saw some Snow and Ross’ Geese, and hundreds and hundreds and hundreds of waterfowl.  We took a short walk along a trail, checking out the birds.  We did flush a Green Heron.

At the visitor center I heard, but couldn’t find the hooting Great Horned Owl.  These owls are rare for the refuge.  I think the bird was hiding in a palm tree.  In previous years Barn Owls have roosted in the palm trees at the refuge headquarters.

Back at our campsite, we were treated once again to another beautiful sunset.  These sunsets are why we like this particular campground, as there are other places we could camp in the area.

Bird Species Observed or Heard in the Imperial Valley/Salton Sea Area (birds in bold and underlined are species seen today, but not yesterday)

• Savannah Sparrow
• Great Horned Owl
• California Gull
• Ring-billed Gull
• Herring Gull
• Greater Yellowlegs
• Brown Pelican
• American White Pelican
• Northern Pintail
• Common Raven
• Northern Harrier
• Great Egret
• Great Blue Heron
• American Coot
• Double-crested Cormorant
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Burrowing Owl
• Turkey Vulture
• Western Meadowlark
• Black-necked Stilt
• Cooper’s or Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Mallard
• American Wigeon
• Loggerhead Shrike
• Northern Shoveler
• Black Phoebe
• Clark’s Grebe
• Greater Roadrunner
• Long-billed Dowitcher
• Lesser Yellowleg
• Killdeer
• Merlin
• American Kestral
• Rock Pigeon
• Mourning Dove
• Least Sandpiper
• Ruddy Duck
• Marbled Godwit
• American Avocet
• Willit
• American Pipit
• Eared Grebe
• Common Merganser
• Lesser Scaup
• Snowy Egret
• Peregrine Falcon
• White-crowned Sparrow
• Belted Kingfisher
• Cattle Egret
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Sandhill Crane
• Snow Goose
• Viriginia Rail
• Gadwall
• Green-winged Teal
• American Bittern
• Green Heron
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
• Marsh Wren
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Tree Swallow
• Song Sparrow
• Eurasian Starling
• Say’s Phoebe

December 8, 2016

Woke up to sunny skies and a light wind.  We checked out the birds along the shoreline.  What a difference from the day we arrive (two days ago).  We went from gulls and pelicans to 17 different species:

• Ring-billed Gull
• Herring Gull
• California Gull
• Western Gull
• Say’s Phoebe
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Killdeer
• Least Sandpiper
• Black-bellied Plover
• Greater Yellowleg
• Marbled Godwit
• Willet
• Brown Pelican
• White Pelican
• Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
• Northern Shoveler

We packed up the van and headed towards Joshua Tree National Park.  I hated to leave the Salton Sea area.  I always enjoy our visits.  This year, the water is much lower and the smell is almost non-existent.  At times it can be pretty smelly here.  And very little in the way of dead fish – Corvina.  That doesn’t bode well for the pelicans and other birds that feed on the Corvina.

We decided to stop off at the Salton Sea State Recreation Area visitor center and campground to bird.  We walked the campground and checked out the marina.  Lots of bird life.  We had 33 species within 1.5 hours.

Bird Species Observed or Heard at Salton Sea SRA Visitor Center/Campground

• Black Phoebe
• Black-necked Stilt
• Common Raven
• Eared Grebe (they liked hanging out in the marina)
• Ruby-crowned Kinglet
• Verdin
• American White Pelican
• Brown Pelican
• American Pipit
• Common Merganser
• Cactus Wren
• Red-naped Sapsucker
• Least Sandpiper
• Killdeer
• Willet
• Black-tailed Gnatcatcher
• Say’s Phoebe
• Tree Swallow
• Northern Mockingbird
• American Kestrel
• Phainopepla
• Spotted Sandpiper
• Green Heron
• Great Blue Heron
• Hummingbird sp. (most common are Costa’s or Anna’s)
• White-crowned Sparrow
• Herring Gull
• Ring-billed Gull
• Abert’s Towhee
• Northern Shoveler
• European Starling
• Northern Harrier
• Lesser Scaup

[The bird species highlighted and underlined are new to the total list of bird species observed or heard while visiting the Salton Sea area.]

The Salton Sea SRA visitor center is a good place to bird because you have both the water and upland.  The campground has mesquite trees and creosote bushes, which the birds love.  Worth the stop.  In 2013, we even had a Prothonotary Warbler.

From the Salton Sea SRA visitor center and campground we headed to the Dos Palmas Preserve and the San Andres Palm Oasis.  We stopped at the San Andres Palmo Oasis first and took the short hike through the palms.  Man are they tall.  Makes you feel like a dwarf.

We decided to forego the Dos Palmas Preserve.  We have been here several times before, but did not have a dog then.  We weren’t sure whether you could bring a dog in or not.  No signs telling you dogs are not allowed, but it was a bit of a hike on a road, in the hot sun (we are in the desert), and we weren’t sure Doodlebug would be up to the hike.  So off we drove to Joshua Tree National Park via a box canyon.  Interesting geology.  Free camping too if you don’t mind disbursed camping (i.e., no amenities whatsoever).  The area is under the management of the Bureau of Land Management (as is the Dos Palmas Preserve).

 

Tonight we are camping at Belle campground within the national park.  There are only 18 campsites.  We found a nice, somewhat isolated campsite – not too close to other campers, although near the fee station.  Not many birds here – only two Common Ravens, two Cactus Wren, and one Rock Wren.  The desert here is beautiful, especially as the sun shines on the different cactus plants.  And the rocks.  Big (and I mean big) boulders.  We are camped next to one.

December 9, 2016

We had originally planned to stay two nights in Joshua Tree but decided to go onto Kofa NWR.  We took an alternative route – a road less traveled.  I think Highway 62 from Twenty-Nine Palms to the Arizona Border could be called the Loneliest Highway in the U.S.

We made a short detour and took a road into the Sheephole Wilderness Area (BLM).  A well maintained road, and wide.  In fact, someone was grading the road while we were on it.  Not sure what the attraction is, maybe ATV/4Wheel Drive use or access to a mining area?  Beautiful, desolate area.  I would definitely check this area out in the future.  I’m sure there is some off road camping.  In fact, we saw an old VW bus parked just off the road and a lot of gear outside the bus.  Not sure where the owner was – maybe sleeping???

Made it to Kofa NWR while it was still light.  We usually go up the Kofa Queen Canyon Road (4-WD recommended) and camp, but decided to camp (dispersed) just short of the refuge on BLM land.  We set up camp, such as it is, and ate dinner as we watched the beautiful sunset, which seemed to last forever.

Tomorrow – birding at Cibola National Wildlife Refuge.  Until then …

IT’S A GREAT DAY TO BIRD