Nevada and California 17th Aug to 5th Sept (3 Viewers)

[dandsblair]

We are sitting at Manchester Airport awaiting boarding of direct flight from Manchester to Las Vegas on 17th August at 12.35. Virgin Atlantic 85 arrives 14.55. Thanks for those who gave us advice on possible stops, until last week we were leaving quite a bit flexible but in the end we firmed up arrangements to avoid any need for sleeping in the car or a dodgy motel.
We have both been to West Coast US before but mainly for work or non birding holiday, so a lot of life birds are available to us (25 extra for Sarah). This it is predominantly a nature trip but with four nights in San Francisco for a big birthday.
Plan is spend 1st night in Vega, early evening drive and walk along the strip, then dinner / show at local casino or restaurant.
18th leave early – drive to local birding spot – Corn Creek off the I95 breakfast en-route, drive to Mono Lake stopping at Bishop / Aspendell (Rosy Finch), for lunch then Lake Crawley grouse lek area (near Hot Spring at Benton Crossing) – look for birds including Greater Sage Grouse, Sage Thrasher and Sage Sparrow. After unloading the car find restaurant in Lee Vining and do some sight-seeing / birdwatching around the lake. Possible Owling at Upper Power Station Road
Nights 18th to 20st - Mono lake / Yosemite – Yosemite Gateway Motel
19th Birdwatching and sight-seeing around Mono lake and eastern part of Yosemite including Tuolemne Meadow, possible visit to Bodie if needed for Grouse
20th Glacial Point early for possible Bear and Sooty Grouse, waterfall view points and Valley Floor.
21st Full day in Yosemite various sites try for Great Grey Owl at Dusk then drive out Western exit late on 21st and stay near park.
Hotel outside west entrance – Cedar Lodge El Portal
22nd Early morning visit to Yosemite, Wawona or Crane Flat area, with take away breakfast – then lunch and PM drive to San Francisco.
Nights 22- 25th – San Francisco.
23rd Courtesy bus / Bart in to San Francisco - Museums, lunch at Fisherman’s Wharf and then dinner local to Double Tree possibly Xebec in hotel
24th- explore area with some birdwatching, sight-seeing and drive to Golden gate park, Presidio and Point Reynes – Possible dinner at China Town
25th, Breakfast in SFO, by 9.30 Alcatraz trip 10.30 depart Pier 33 buy packed lunch and then picnic at birding site for the afternoon – eat local to hotel.
26th leave early drive to Monterey, stopping at various sites on route such as Elkhorn Slough route.
Nights 26th - 28th Monterey – Hotel Abrego,
27/08 Breakfast at 7.45 then walk to Harbour - Pelagic then Afternoon by the coast at Moss Landing and Bay looking for sea otters and birds.
28th Birdwatching including Pinnacles / Big Sur etc. Search for Yellow-billed Magpie and California Condor
29th drive to Ventura stops on the way and bird at Ventura Beach (Surfbird and other waders). Overnight at Victoria Motel
30th Early breakfast and possible trip up to Chilao Visitor Centre (am) State High Way2 on Angeles Mountain – then 3-4 hour drive to San Diego PM

30 / 31 and 1st Country Inn & Suites,
30th Local birding (if time) possible Owling - eat near by
31st Museums, and parks, local bays and canyon as per e-bird. Eat in Old Town or Mission bay
1st Sight seeing and local birding – eat nearby.
Leave early on 2nd for drive into Anza Borrega desert NP and on to Joshua Tree via Oasis’
2nd and 3rd Travelodge Inn & Suites,
2nd – early evening visit to Joshua Tree look for Great Horned and other Owls and then dinner locally.
3rd – Drive through Joshua Tree very early start – breakfast on route to Salton Sea / Brawley – try for roosting Lesser Nighthawk at Wister Road near 111, hopeful of Blue-footed Booby and Yellow Footed Gull on the lake, afternoon in visitor centres or towns, arrive back before dark at Joshua Tree
Morning 4th drive back to Las Vegas via any stops determined on e-bird.
Getting back to Vegas by 14.30 for flight back on 4th September 17.30.

Depending on how busy we are and Wi-Fi availability will try to post occasional updates.

 

[dandsblair]

Las Vegas = a busted flush

Plane arrived in Vegas on time just before 3pm, but unfortunately the airport computers were down so for first hour no one not even US citizens got through queues just got longer and longer. Finally the computers rebooted but still progress was painful but just when we got near the front they announced that the Virgin flight information was lost so could we all join another queue and they would try to reload our data. We finally got through and got our car hire over three hours after arrival. Dropped bags at hotel but it was now too late to go to the new park before having some time on the Strip, so a quick look around the trees in the huge parking lot on Avenue of Hiltons where we got a few Great Tailed Grackles, two Hummers we failed to ID and feral pigeons. Things could only get better.

Day 2 -packed and off at 5.45 to Corn Creek part of Desert National Reserves we were there 06.30. We knew visitor centre was closed today but was saw a lady raising the American Flag, when spoke later she confirmed toilets and trails were all open. After yesterday's poor result things started very promisingly with a skulking Le Conteh's Thrasher on top of some scrub about a mile from the centre. This was to be the start of great mornings birding.

 

[dandsblair]

Day 2 continued

For some reason longer edit of last post, seemed to fail. So hope I can remember what I said.
Drive into Corn Creek, Desert National Wildlife Reserves about 30 miles north of Vegas went well with Le conteh's Thrasher seen on the track in and then a run across Roadrunner seen by me but not by Sarah. No sooner parked up than we see Dark-eyed Junco and Black-chinned Hummingbird. Then we had three birds that were all lifers for Sarah, Western Tanager in all his glory, Phainopepla and Lazuli Bunting. As we took the short trail at the concrete pool we had a juvenile BC Night Heron, a Belted Kingfisher and a Bank Swallow. Onto the Bighorn Trail and Verdin (L) were everywhere. I then heard a Roadrunner which until this trip was a bit of a bogey bird, and this time we both saw it well, one bird flew on to the cabin roof while another called, only pity was that light was wrong for anymore than a record shot. When we got back near the creek we had another two life birds in Bell's Vireo and Scott's Oriole and saw a group of Yellow Warblers and a flyover Crissal Thrasher. Last bird before the entrance was Pacific Slope Flycatcher and a bit of a surprise if Sibley maps are to believed when Sarah spotted three Red-billed pigeons which had just flown into the area being watered for a drink, a bit north of where they should be I think.
It was now 9.00 and approaching 100 degrees, time to head off for a late breakfast at Indian Springs.

 

[dandsblair]

Finally the end of day 2

Long days and then no Wi-Fi have meant this must be longest day ever.
At Indian Springs we had breakfast at the Diner & Casino you have to love Nevada. I tried to get some money from the ATM but failed so I tried to pay with the same debit card, the nice cashier, said that the card was refused and I needed to call the bank. I now had 75 cents left having not bothered to change any money as I always use what I have left from a previous trip and then get some money from an ATM (not this time), so I rang The bank, girl was most helpful but I then got through to some idiot in an Indian call centre doing fraud checks, who took 20 minutes asking more and more obscure question before agreeing I could have some money later today. Why do I even mention this, only to excuse my stupidly in ignoring more route planning and allowing the TomTom to guide us. We were meant to be shopping SW of Bishop in Aspendell before trying the Lake Crowley grouse lek. Well I cut off the I95, got on the SH266 but some how ended up in Benton Springs via the I6, so a view missed birds. This was somewhat compensated by a nice Prairie Falcon (L), so we went the long way back to Benton Crossing road and the grouse lek, being afternoon we weren't surprised by lack of Grouse, but this was somewhat made up by Lawrence's Goldfinch and Calliope Hummingbird another couple of lifers, before we had a Pinniyon Jay fly across the open area (new for Sarah).
By now it was late afternoon and we decided on a stop at Mono Lake south Tufa area. There is an entry charge of $3 per person but this is waived if you have a National Park Service entry, fortunately the Yosemite entrance fee that we were buying tomorrow convinced the guy to let us in as we were still potless. The number of birds were a lot less than expected, 3 Wilson Phalaropes (not thousands), a few hundred California gulls and just thousands of Eared Grebes, amongst the supporting cast were Ospreys, Brewers Blackbirds and Snowy plovers, but not a single American Avocet. We did though notch up two more lifers Sage Thrasher and Brewer's Sparrow. It was then off to check in at Lee Viking, get some money at the local ATM then visit the viewing point at the North of the lake just east of the visitors centre, first thing to notice was the 100's of American Avocet a bird we both really wanted. It had been a long day so we agreed we should just go for a meal at Bode Mikes, one of the best BBQ meals we have had, so owing could wait. Tomorrow we are off to Yosemite.

 

[dandsblair]

Yosemite

Very early start to get to Toulume Meadow before first light. This means that you into the park without delay as the roadworks haven't started and no-one is taking entrance fees. As we climbed to Tioga pass temperature reached freezing and there was frost on cars when we stopped. We were trying for unsuccessfully for Great Grey Owl but all we saw were Mountain Chickadees(L), Cassin's Finch and Dark-eyed Junco. It was still pretty cold and we hadn't eaten yet so it was off to White Wolf campsite where they do a buffet breakfast for $12; really good it was too. We had heard that area around here was good, for Woodpeckers, on uphill trail we found an unexpected American Three-toed Woodpecker, then the hoped for Williamson's Sapsucker (another two lifers), then a Northern Flicker, variety was provided by loads of DE Juncos and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Other wildlife were California Chipmunks, Western Grey Squirrel, Golden mantled Ground Squirrel and Thirteen striped Squirrel (we used Audubon book of American mammals to identify but will post photos later in case we have IDs wrong). Finding our next spot was luck but it was most productive spot for passerines we found. It is on left side of road there is small layby, it has foot trails to Tamarac Flag and Yosemite Valley, we only found it because we saw 4 Mountain Quails(L) that ran in here. Having stopped we found a fruiting shrub filled with berries and lots of insects, we quickly found MacGillivery, Yellow rumped and Yellow Warbler, then Spotted Towhee, then Wilson's Warbler showing distinctive black head marking. Having missed all the views in the way in we decided to do the touristy bit around the valley floor as with temperatures climbing bird activity was dropping.

 

[dandsblair]

Spectacular Yosemite

Even with the tourists in the valley floor it is possible to see some superb views in something approaching solitude. The views were just stunning even without the water at the dried up Yosemite Falls, merely a trickle. However El Capitan, Half Dome, Sentinel and Tunnel View were so good that I changed my lens to get some wide angled shots and took loads as did Sarah. The valley floor wasn't without wildlife, we had a family of Acorn Woodpeckers, the youngsters being encouraged to leave the nest (L for S), really confiding Stellar Jays, Dark-eyed Juncos, Western Grey Squirrel, Golden mantled Ground Squirrels and Brewers Blackbirds were plentiful but in the heat of the day now 92 degrees F were just enjoyed the views.
Around five o'clock we had back towards Toulumne Meadow when we got there (around 9000 feet) it was a pleasant 70F and there was loads of activity. On the ground every bit of cover had either a Belding's Ground Squirrel presumably all female or young as males hibernate from August or California Ground Squirrel, there were also a couple of rabbit like Pika and a family of Mule Deer. Bird life was not to be sniffed at with a Peregrine Falcon (is American PF being split) then a couple of lifers Western Bluebird with feeding young that allowed a close approach and Virginia Warbler, in with what looked like a fall of migrants that included Yellow-ramped and Yellow Warbler. We thought we were set for a good evening and some owing but suddenly the wind came in a the rain started following a guy we met said weather is very changeable.
Should have mentioned we got a tip off from a ranger on spot for Grey-crowned Rosy Finch just below Tioga Pass, so tomorrow we would try for that after going to Bodie first thing
So back to Lee Vining for beer and food.B

 

[dandsblair]

Greater Sage Grouse and Rosy Finch

As Jos had mentioned on the preparation thread Bodie NP doesn't open until 9.00 which was too late for us but we decided to drive up as far as we could to look for the grouse. We had a leisurely start about 6.45 and reached the area warning us not to enter beyond this point about 7.30. There were plenty of Sage Thrashers, Brewers and Bells Sparrows about, then a small bird of prey flew over, an American Kestrel, I decided to put the scope on him but before I could I called Grouse, 8 birds were flying right past us but into the park, we saw them well and thought we could probably have driven into the park and saw them better but a police car in the park decided us against a possible fine, so we just had to accept a distant scope view of only one stationary bird, still Greater Sage Grouse was another of our top targets so good tick. We then went to the Mono Lake Country Reserves where we quickly saw American Avocet, Say's Pheobe (a lovely bird says Sarah) Song Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, Wilson Phalarope, Killdeer, Snowy Plover, California Gull and Wilson's Snipe. It was then back into Yosemite, today we had queue to get in as there are major roadworks at the entrance but it proved helpful as I heard then saw a Clarke's Nutcracker fly into a nearby tree and we were both able to study another target bird well before we finally got into the park.
We quickly went to recommended turnout under some pine trees where I gave a quick blast of Rosy Finch Song, unbelievably three birds showed almost immediately, they were seen well enough but when I tried calling again to bring them down to photograph instead of bringing them in it seemed to scare them off, so for anyone trying for Grey-crowned Rosy Finch don't use too much playback here. We also had bonus of White-breasted Nuthatch.

 

[Hamhed]

a bit of a surprise if Sibley maps are to believed when Sarah spotted three Red-billed pigeons which had just flown into the area being watered for a drink, a bit north of where they should be I think.

You might want to recheck that i.d. It has never been recorded on eBird in Nevada nor is it on Nevada's bird checklist. Hope you got a picture!

Steve

 

[dandsblair]

pretty sure on ID

You might want to recheck that i.d. It has never been recorded on eBird in Nevada nor is it on Nevada's bird checklist. Hope you got a picture!

Steve

Sarah called them as Red-billed Pigeon, even said it's Red billed and a Pigeon, as they landed, we have seen them in México so I wasn't that bothered about notes or photos it was only when I looked in Sibley later that I saw they were out of range but I will check among the thousands of photos to see if I got a shot.
On reflection they were quite approachable so not sure of provinence, so they could be escapees from a collection or zoo

 

[Jos Stratford]

We had a leisurely start about 6.45 and reached the area warning us not to enter beyond this point about 7.30. ... 8 birds were flying right past us

Good one, seems the entrance area is indeed a good spot, I had them strolling alongside the sign saying 'no entry'. I have never however, anywhere, seen as Rosy Finch of any description!

 

[dandsblair]

I wasn't too hopeful

Good one, seems the entrance area is indeed a good spot, I had them strolling alongside the sign saying 'no entry'. I have never however, anywhere, seen as Rosy Finch of any description!

I wasn't too hopeful but it seems the big El Portal fire and smoke from it and the controlled burning has brought some high elevation species down a bit, at least that was theory from warden who was a keen birder.

Thanks again for info on Bodie and elsewhere

 

[dandsblair]

End of a good day

After success with the Rosy Finches and Grouse we headed up to Toulumne Meadow, idea was to get food at the Grill or store and walk the river and woods. We parked just after the bridge and decided to walk along the fast flowing part of the river looking for dipper, some kids were throwing rocks into river so we were just agreeing to give up when right in front of us barely 50 yards from the kids was our first American Dipper, we were in luck but it couldn't last no sooner had we finished a snack sharing notes with a Texan birder than the weather starter to change it looked like Thunder and Lightening was on the way. So after a quick walk around the meadow, Dark-eyed Junco and Western Bluebird added before the rain started we decided to head to the mono lake craters where weather would hopefully be better, returning later for some owing if the weather improves.
In the craters we got Sage Thrasher, Downy Woodpecker, Pinyon Jay and Pacific Slope Flycatcher.
By 7 weather seemed better so we headed up to Poole Power Station Road, to try for some owls, but despite trying various points between the two camp sites from just before dusk to after dark we did get a response call from any one of the seven owls that occur here. We think it was probably the strong wind but I suppose we had used up our luck for the day

 

[dandsblair]

other wildlife

Forgot to add other wildlife from last two days. We had

Townsend Ground Squirrel
Mule Deer
Golden mangled Ground Squirrel
California Chipmunk
13 lined Ground Squirrel
3 striped Chipmunk

Last full day in Yosemite

Decided to get up to White Wolf to walk the trail towards Harden Lake and have breakfast at the camp again. Around the stream just after the wardens area we had Band-tailed Pigeon, Mountain Chickadee, Warbling Vireo, Ruby-crowned Kinglet and best of all the bird we were trying for a Black-backed Woodpecker. It was then off to our turn off we discovered a couple of days earlier and believe it or not a Mountain Quail showed the way again, but this time only one bird. However the spot was if anything even more productive with new migrants added to what we saw last time. Warblers were in good numbers with Yellow, Hermit, Nashville and Virginia, Common Yellowthroat and Macgillivary's but biggest surprise was an Eastern Kingbird (actually one of two we saw in California). We also had both Pine and Evening Grosbeak here.
Afternoon we went to Glacier Point and Mono Meadow, not a great deal to see Steller's Jay everywhere, Green-tailed Towhee, Black-billed Magpie and Grey Flycatcher before a good Wiiliamson's Sapsucker to finish.
Around 5 we left the park to dump or stuff at El Portal, fortunately there is no visible signs of the major fire, plan was to quickly unpack and head back to Crane Flat to look for some night wildlife particularly Great Grey Owl. Trip to the motel took longer than expected as it wasn't in El Portal and only RV park we could see was up a mountain track, so we headed up and entered a really overgrown park, as we were about to abandon our search out popped a Sooty Grouse and stayed in sight for a good look, to improve things further a guy appeared and told us our motel was 6 miles after El portal. A quick drive to the hotel and we were back at Crane Flat by 7.20, it gets dark just before 8. First we explored the meadow outskirts but no sign of any owls, we did find a small group of Mule Deer but as it got dark not a sight or sound from a single Owl, we did hear Common Nighthawk but all we saw for our troubles were Western Pipestelle and California Leaf-nosed Bats.
Unfortunately dinner was poor when we eventually got back to the motel

 

[Farnboro John]

Forgot to add other wildlife from last two days. We had

Golden mangled Ground Squirrel


Roadkill?

John

 

[dandsblair]

spell checker

Forgot to add other wildlife from last two days. We had

Golden mangled Ground Squirrel


Roadkill?

John

Auto spell check, bloody stupid thing.
Really enjoying your thread and dead jealous of GG Owl

 

[dandsblair]

Stupid fools miss Great Grey Owl

So rather than go back to Crane Flat before first list we have a tip off that two young GG Owls are showing till late morning and then if you speak to the right people you can fond a roost. Great we thought as we already have Sooty Grouse we will miss Crane Flag and Glacier Point and spend the morning and early afternoon at this part of Yosemite. Warden didn't come on till 8 so we had a leisurely if expensive breakfast at Wawona Hotel to pass the time. Owls are to be found about halfway around the Meadow Loop, they had been active from 7 most evenings and until 9 most days. If we could find the owls ask nicely at the horse stables as they often knew where they day roasted. All sounded pretty straight forward as we set off across the golf course to the start of the track, however after about 20 minutes I was worried that what should be a level track was climbing quite a bit but still we stuck with it, we then came to an area about two miles in that looked like good habitat for owls but nothing was seen and there was no sign of any horses or stables, however we were seeing birds, Brown Creepers, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Hairy Woodpecker, and then two lifers Pygmy Nuthatch and White-headed Woodpecker((sarah didn't see well). We then hit a fall of Warblers by a little bridge but it was clear that this wasn't a circular walk, I said to Sarah we should now be heading north but our walk was still taking us south east. It wasn't until we came across some mountain bikers at the sign where it says "thank you for visiting Yosemite " that Sarah acknowledged we might have gone wrong. So we asked the bikers if we were close to the loop, they laughed and said we were half way to fish camp, so we retreated a little crest fallen, however we soon came across a nice Grey Fox and also picked up Downy Woodpecker, Spotted Towhee and Western Wood Pewee on the way back. By the time we saw where we should have gone it was well past one and our chance of the owls well gone.
I was also disappointed not to see Black Bear at Yosemite, although Sarah insisted she heard one two days ago and that one was watching us in the dark at Crane Flat last night. I love her imagination.
It was now time to drive to San Francisco where first day or so would be birding free. On route we did see Brown Pelican as we crossed San Mateo bridge and Sarah saw her first Heerman's Gull just before the hotel.

 

[hampers]

David
The famous 'its behind you' comes to find about the bear! Another really good write up, most enjoyable read.

Thank you.

Phil

 

[dandsblair]

Saturday 23rd - birding free day

Today was Sarah's 50th and was agreed to be free of looking for birds although I did have bins in small rucksack for emergencies. We had fairly late start after breakfast in the room - left about 8.45.
We started by driving to Presidio to see the Golden Gate bridge, couldn't miss Anna's Hummingbird, Herman Gull, Brandt's Cormorant or the Brewers Blackbird. It was then over to Golden Gate park for museums, then into Fisherman's Wharf for Lunch, can recommend Schoma's for anyone looking to treat a partner. Then some general sight seeing before getting back to the park in time for one last museum the De Young (free within an hour of closing so my type of visit) and then some music that was part of a free festival, only birds were Western Gull, Song Sparrow and Dark-eyed Junco.
Drive back to hotel in time for change and then dinner and fizz at Kincaid's nearby.
Tomorrow we would cross Golden Gate bridge to Point Reyes national seashore.

 

[dandsblair]

Did the earth move for you?

Intention was to have a late start after yesterdays excesses but at around 03.20 the bed suddenly started shaking really vigorously, Sarah said can you feel that, I said are you experimenting with the controls on the bed, the previous day we had spotted some electric controls to adjust the bed up and down but they didn't seem to work when Sarah tried them, no she said. I think it's an earth quake, as other things were also shaking. It soon stopped and we unbelievably just when immediately back to sleep. We set off to Point Reyes over the Golden Gate Bridge (there is no cash option for the toll so for foreigners best bet is to register for Plate Recognition, which just charges to a registered card); anyway it wasn't until we stopped for breakfast just before Muir Beach that we heard that there had been a 6.0 on the Richter scale quake just up the road at Napa.

Birding at Muir Beach was actually pretty ok, we had a large flock of Red-Winged Blackbirds (single color), a California Towhee, White-crowned Sparrows, House Finch, Western Scrub Jay, Wrentit, Thayer's gull and for company some White-tailed Deer and Brush Rabbit.
We then visited the PR Observatory at Palomarin, really friendly people and a couple of good birds in Nuttal's Woodpecker and Golden-crowned Kinglet but best was yet to come at the point, we went first to the Sea Lion overlook, plenty of California Sea-lions and some harbour seal and both Brandt's and Pelagic Cormorant, with many turkey vultures and a Red-tailed Hawk, on the sat to the Elephant Seal overlook we noticed plenty of Surf Scoter but it was only when watching the Northern Elephant Seals through the scope that I spotted a couple of Harlequin Duck (lifers as we were too busy to make it to Scotland for recent birds) and then a Murrulet, confirmed by us and some American birders as Marbled. We were then told of an Eastern Kingbird opposite where we were parked, a second of this species in a week in California.

 

[Farnboro John]

Intention was to have a late start after yesterdays excesses but at around 03.20 the bed suddenly started shaking really vigorously, Sarah said can you feel that, I said are you experimenting with the controls on the bed, the previous day we had spotted some electric controls to adjust the bed up and down but they didn't seem to work when Sarah tried them, no she said. I think it's an earth quake, as other things were also shaking. It soon stopped and we unbelievably just when immediately back to sleep. We set off to Point Reyes over the Golden Gate Bridge (there is no cash option for the toll so for foreigners best bet is to register for Plate Recognition, which just charges to a registered card); anyway it wasn't until we stopped for breakfast just before Muir Beach that we heard that there had been a 6.0 on the Richter scale quake just up the road at Napa.

Birding at Muir Beach was actually pretty ok, we had a large flock of Red-Winged Blackbirds (single color), a California Towhee, White-crowned Sparrows, House Finch, Western Scrub Jay, Wrentit, Thayer's gull and for company some White-tailed Deer and Brush Rabbit.
We then visited the PR Observatory at Palomarin, really friendly people and a couple of good birds in Nuttal's Woodpecker and Golden-crowned Kinglet but best was yet to come at the point, we went first to the Sea Lion overlook, plenty of California Sea-lions and some harbour seal and both Brandt's and Pelagic Cormorant, with many turkey vultures and a Red-tailed Hawk, on the sat to the Elephant Seal overlook we noticed plenty of Surf Scoter but it was only when watching the Northern Elephant Seals through the scope that I spotted a couple of Harlequin Duck (lifers as we were too busy to make it to Scotland for recent birds) and then a Murrulet, confirmed by us and some American birders as Marbled. We were then told of an Eastern Kingbird opposite where we were parked, a second of this species in a week in California.

Wot no Bobcat? I thought they were unmissable at Point Reyes!

John