California Thrashers (1 Viewer)

[Adamos]

Ive been birding for a while, and I have never seen a Thrasher. I live in Monterey County California, and although I live in the right spot for them, (great chaparral area) I cant seem to ever spot California Thrashers. I believe I heard them a couple times, but didnt see them close ebough to be sure. Any advice on watching them?

 

[Terry O'Nolley]

Ive been birding for a while, and I have never seen a Thrasher. I live in Monterey County California, and although I live in the right spot for them, (great chaparral area) I cant seem to ever spot California Thrashers. I believe I heard them a couple times, but didnt see them close ebough to be sure. Any advice on watching them?

I have only seen one once - at Rancho San Antonio in Palo Alto.

I was lucky enough to spot it running across towards a stand of trees. I crawled into the undergrowth and waited. It finally decided to come out and I got to watch it eat a small green ribbon snake and got some good pictures. See here:
http://www.birdforum.net/pp_gallery/showphoto.php/photo/67046/sort/1/cat/500/page/1

If you check the gallery for pictures you will see that most of the California Thrasher pictures were taken during Spring, when the males will find a very exposed branch and sing. That is probably your best bet. They aren't rare or particularly wary, they just spend most of their time on the ground in brush.

 

[Adamos]

Good, thanks. Looks like one of those birds that just takes some patience or skill to spot.

 

[Terry O'Nolley]

Good, thanks. Looks like one of those birds that just takes some patience or skill to spot.

Or blind luck

 

[jekatz]

I live in Davis, just inland and north, and I go west to a rock outcrop on the east edge of the coast range to see them in the spring. I have only seen them in the spring (I am only here winter and spring, so that's biased), singing from an exposed perch as mentioned, and I have had good luck mimicking their call as one would a marsh wren to lure them closer. otherwise, when they are calling, I find I have to look as far as 100+ meters ahead of me to spot them before they dive back under the bushes, and then it takes a lot of waiting in silence if I walk up and try to get a closer view. Have some technu handy for treating the poison oak when you get back to your car.

Jon
Northern Cal

 

[Terry O'Nolley]

I have only seen them in the spring ....., singing from an exposed perch as mentioned, ....... I find I have to look as far as 100+ meters ahead of me to spot them before they dive back under the bushes,

Exactly.

 

[DavidP]

Ive been birding for a while, and I have never seen a Thrasher. I live in Monterey County California, and although I live in the right spot for them, (great chaparral area) I cant seem to ever spot California Thrashers. I believe I heard them a couple times, but didnt see them close ebough to be sure. Any advice on watching them?

I never see too many although they are very neat birds. saw two last weekend down at Montana de oro state park near Morro bay. Not too far away from you.

 

[Adamos]

cool, thanks. yeah thats about a couple hours south of here.