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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Hamhed" data-source="post: 3666498" data-attributes="member: 70825">Day 3Our birding day started at Mugu Rock, an easy viewing point for the crashing surf below.  A good number of Surf Scoters were diving in the rough waters at base.  Many Brown Pelicans flew past, assumed to be the California sub-species since they breed on nearby Channel Islands.  One loon dove, never to be seen again.The Christmas Bird Count was taking place that day and we chatted with four counters that had set up with their scopes.   Moving down the coast a few miles, we parked and walked into Sycamore Canyon for some shore bound species.  Stepping out of the car, we laid eyes on our first CA Thrasher, in amongst a good number of White-crowned Sparrows and CA Towhees.   Walking on several trails until well after the midday hour was enjoyable; various common western songbirds were in good numbers.  Exotic Nanday Parakeets sunned in a dead oak paying little attention to a nearby American Kestrel.  CA Scrub Jays were abundant, CA Quail scrabbled about and cried “Ah!” in the underbrush, the Oak Titmouse was a bird we hadn’t seen in years, Dark-eyed Juncos of the Oregon race gleaned crumbs around the picnic tables, one Red-tailed Hawk soared overhead and our first hummingbird, an Anna’s, gave us fits trying to catch that shimmering red gorget.  The yellow-throated or Audubon’s race of Yellow-rumped Warblers were very common.  Meeting a pair of birders doing the Christmas count, we were given instructions on where to look for Wrentit, a true west coast bird.  Following those directions, we found them immediately, an engaging species, not shy at all.Another helpful directive given to us by our friends in Sycamore Canyon was details on finding Bell’s Sparrow, not long split from the Sagebrush Sparrow of the interior deserts.  We were warned that the Chumash Trail would be tough and a leg killer it was.  900 feet (275M) up in 3/4 of a mile (1.2K) brought us nice views, laboring lungs and into the habitat of Bell’s Sparrows.  The level path in the low scrub of the hillside was fairly exposed to the western sun; birds were somewhat scarce though White-crowned Sparrows, CA Towhees and the Audubon’s race of the Yellow-rumped Warbler kept our interest.   We were retracing our steps when Liz spotted our bird, far downslope but showing well.   A smartly colored bird; my photo does not do it justice.A nice view of a Rufous-crowned Sparrow on the steep walk down capped off our late day trek.  Bird lists here:<a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S41138452" target="_blank">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S41138452</a><a href="http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S41138308" target="_blank">http://ebird.org/ebird/view/checklist/S41138308</a></blockquote>

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