[ Itinerary ] [ Site List ]
[ Systematic List ]
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The basis for this trip in October 1990 was the use of a fly/drive deal with
Virgin Atlantic. The deal was for return flights from
London Gatwick to Los Angeles and car hire, from Alamo for three weeks. I was fortunate that
I had relatives living in Santa Monica so I had a base to stay for
both the beginning
and end of the trip. However, for the most part I spent a good two weeks on the road using motels
as a base.One thing I did find is that although the birding was good, it was my first
US birding trip after all, I did find that I'd missed the majority of the summer visitors and a number of
the winter visitors had yet to arrive. However, it should be pointed out, the wader/shorebird
viewing was particularly good as they appear so tame and approachable.
The
weather throughout the trip was warm and sunny, although it was initially
quite humid in Los Angeles on arrival. With clear nights
and being at altitude, 6,500 feet, around Lake Tahoe, I did experience early morning
frost but this soon cleared as the sun got above the trees. The only
other thing of note is the humidity around the Salton Sea. It must be
nearly 100% as I discovered as soon as I got out of the air-conditioned car I
found I was immediately soaking wet.
The itinerary, site and trip list are shown below:
ITINERARY
| 1st October
|
London Gatwick to Los Angeles
|
| 2nd
October
|
Pick
car up am, Santa Monica mountains
|
| 3rd
October
|
Disneyland
|
| 4th
October
|
Malibu lagoon, Lake
Kasitas, Novoqui Falls Country
Park, overnight in San Luis Obispo
|
| 5th
October
|
Morro Bay, Pacific Coast highway,
overnight in Monterey
|
| 6th
October
|
Monterey Bay, San Francisco, overnight in Pinole
|
| 7th
October
|
Golden Gate NP, San Francisco, overnight in Pinole
|
| 8th
October
|
Sacramento, El Dorado NP, overnight Lake Tahoe
|
| 9th
October
|
Lake Tahoe area
|
| 10th
October
|
Bridgeport Lake,
Lake Mono, overnight Mammoth Lakes
|
| 11th
October
|
Yosemite NP, overnight Mammoth Lakes
|
| 12th
October
|
Devils Postpile NM, Trout Hatchery, overnight Mammoth Lakes
|
| 13th
October
|
Lone Pine, overnight Ridgecrest
|
| 14th
October
|
Mojave Narrows NP, Morongo Valley, overnight Palm Springs
|
| 15th
October
|
Salton Sea, overnight El Cajon
|
| 16th
October
|
Sea World (San Diego), overnight El Cajon
|
| 17th
October
|
Tijuana River Valley,
San Diego, overnight El Cajon
|
| 18th
October
|
San Diego Zoo, overnight El Cajon
|
| 19th
October
|
Newport Beach, Seal Beach, overnight Santa Monica
|
| 20th
October
|
La Brea tar pits, overnight Santa Monica
|
| 21st
October
|
Harbour Lake Park, Palos Verdes botanical park, Santa Monica Beach, overnight Santa Monica
|
| 22nd
October |
Santa Monica am, flight home. |
SITE LIST
Santa Monica mountains
An attractive set of wooded hills giving
spectacular views of the ocean. Full of the more commoner
species and an ideal location to get aquainted with the more common
birds.
Malibu lagoon
A small
lagoon adjacent to the main coastal highway through Malibu. Well
worth a stop for the abundant waders.
Lake Kasitas
Very large lake inland. Contained
huge numbers of Western Grebes and a few Black-necked Grebes.
Worth a look.
Novoqui falls country park
Small country park along main highway
between Malibu and San Luis Obispo. Good spot for more common
woodland birds.
Morro Bay
Probably the most amazing sea bird spectacle I've
seen so far anywhere in the world. This bay attracts huge
numbers of sea birds into feed and you could literally spend all day
here watching them. A must visit place, particularly in early
October.
Pacific coast highway
As the name suggests, this highway stretches all
the way up the Pacific coast, turning coastwards at the southern end
near San Luis Obispo and takes you north all the way to San
Francisco. It is worth stopping almost anywhere along this road
to not only admire the spectacular coast line, but also to check out
the abundant sea birds and mammals.
Salinas Refuge, Monterey Bay
An area of low salt scrub to the north of
Monterey. an excellent spot for Hen(Northern) Harriers. Worth
checking out the river margins for Wrens and also American White
Pelicans. The shore line was also productive for waders and the
sea is always worth checking for shearwaters and divers.
Golden Gate National Park
Spectacular views over the bay and San
Francisco. An area of wooded hills full of the smaller woodland
species. Particularly good for Acorn Woodpeckers and Dark-eyed
Juncos, the Oregon race. Also very good for Kinglets.
El Dorado National Park
Situated between Sacramento and Lake Tahoe,
this small park has a fast flowing river through it which is good for
American Dipper. Densely wooded area that is good for Thrushes.
Lake Tahoe
A large lake situated in the mountains,
primarily a ski resort in the winter. Shore lined with
coniferous woodland that is particularly good for all three
Nuthatches.
Bridgeport Lake
When I arrived at this lake, it was
virtually dried up and presumably fills up again with the melt water
from the snows of the winter. However, excellent spot for
wildfowl and Bonaparte's Gull.
Lake Mono
Another lake that had suffered from lack of
water. This lake is saline in content and is particularly
attractive to millions of brine flys that line the waters edge.
However, amazingly they do not bother humans and keep to themselves
close to the ground. The lake itself was home to literally
thousands of Black-necked Grebes when I visited and the lake shore is
good for warblers and flycatchers.
Mammoth Lakes/Trout hatchery
Another ski resort rising up to 9,400
feet. Spectacular scenery dominated primarily by coniferous
woodland. Particularly good for Nuthatches again and a good area
for Evening Grosbeak. The trout hatchery to the east of Mammoth
is also worth visiting and is good for Sparrows.
Yosemite National Park
A wonderful park that spans a large area on
the western slope of the mountains. Ranges from nearly 10,000
feet at the Tioga Pass down to the main valley at 3,600 feet.
Bird life wasn't particularly abundant when I visited but I should
imagine it is an excellent spot for Summer visitors.
Mojave Narrows regional park
An oasis in the Mojave desert and well
worth visiting as it naturally attracts plenty of birds to shelter and
to drink. When I visited it I found plenty of warblers and
hummingbirds. Worth checking out the undergrowth for Quail as
well.
Morongo Valley
Another oasis but I found little of
interest when I visited. However, it was early afternoon and it
was pretty hot so most birds were pretty quiet. Apparently a
good spot for Vermillion Flycatcher earlier in the year.
Salton Sea
As the name suggests, this is a huge inland
lake/sea situated below sea level to the south east of Palm
Springs. It's a very hot and humid location but it is a magnet
to waders, wildfowl, egrets and herons. A must visit location
and apparently later into the year a host to thousands of Snow Geese.
Check out the bushes at the visitor centre as these are good for
Verdin and Abert's Towhee.
Tijuana river valley
This area follows the border with Mexico to
the south of San Diego. An area of salt scrub and arable
fields. Fields good for Lesser Goldfinch and Shore Lark whilst
the scrub is good for California Thrasher.
Newport Beach
Another must visit area, particularly the
river estuary. A useful road runs adjacent to the south shore
and provides an excellent viewing location. Full of waders and
wildfowl and an excellent spot for Clapper Rail where it is easy to
find.
Harbour Lake park
A small park at the southern end of the Los
Angeles conurbation that although not particularly renowned as a
birding spot but is a reliable place for Clarke's Grebe.
Palos Verdes botanical park
A small park on the Palos Verdes peninsula
to the south of Los Angeles that is a reliable location for Allen's
Hummingbird. Naturally attracts plenty of the more common
woodland and parkland species.
| SYSTEMATIC
LIST |
|
| Great Northern Diver |
Singles Morro Bay 5/10, Monterey 6/10,
San Diego 17/10 & Newport Beach 19/10 |
| Pacific Diver |
1 Morro Bay, 5.10 & 1 Monterey ,
6/10 |
| Red Throated Diver |
1 Morro Bay, 5/10 |
| Clark's Grebe |
1 Harbour Lake Park, 21/10 |
| Western Grebe |
Frequent |
| Slavonian Grebe |
2 Newport Beach 19/10 |
| Black Necked Grebe |
Frequent |
| Pied Billed Grebe |
Frequent |
| Sooty Shearwater |
50+ between Morro Bay & Monterey
5/10, 1 Monterey 6/10 |
| Pink Footed Shearwater |
500+ between Morro Bay & Monterey
5/10 |
| Black Vented Shearwater |
3000+ between Morro Bay & Monterey
5/10, 200+ Monterey |
| American White Pelican |
3 Monterey bay, 6/10 |
| Brown Pelican |
Common on coast |
| Double Crested Cormorant |
Common |
| Brandt's Cormorant |
Frequent |
| Pelagic Cormorant |
Frequent |
| Night Heron |
Frequent |
| Cattle Egret |
5000 + Salton Sea, 15/10 |
| Green Backed Heron |
2 Harbour Lake Park, 21/10 |
| Snowy Egret |
Frequent |
| Great Egret |
Frequent |
| Great Blue Heron |
Frequent |
| White Faced Ibis |
4 Salton Sea, 15/10 |
| Canada Goose |
30 Lake Tahoe 9/10 & 10/10 |
| Wood Duck |
2 San Diego 16/10 |
| American Wigeon |
Frequent |
| Green Winged Teal |
10 Bridgeport Lake 10/10, 4
Mojave Narrows 14/10, 30 Newport Beach 19/10 |
| Mallard |
Common |
| Pintail |
Frequent |
| Shoveler |
10 Bridgeport Lake 10/10 |
| Blue Winged Teal |
5 Malibu Lagoon 4/10 |
| Cinnamon Teal |
10 Salton Sea 15/10, 20
Newport Beach 19/10 |
| Redhead |
20 Salinas refuge, Monterey
6/10 |
| Ring Necked Duck |
8 Mojave Narrows 14/10 |
| Velvet Scoter |
4 Morro Bay 5/10, 1 Santa
Monica bay 22/10 |
| Goosander |
1 Lake Tahoe 8/10 |
| Ruddy Duck |
Frequent |
| Osprey |
Signles Salton Sea 15/10,
Newport Beach 19/10 |
| Turkey Vulture |
Common |
| White tailed Kite |
2 Trout hatchery, 12/10 |
| Hen Harrier |
Frequent |
| Sharp Shinned Hawk |
1 Lake Tahoe 10/10 |
| Cooper's Hawk |
Frequent |
| Red Shouldered Hawk |
Frequent |
| Swainson's Hawk |
1 Mojave Desert 14/10 |
| Red Tailed Hawk |
Common |
| Ferruginous Hawk |
Singles Monterey Bay 6/10,
Lake Mono 10/10, Salton Sea 14/10 |
| Golden Eagle |
Frequent |
| American Kestrel |
Common |
| Merlin |
2 Monterey Bay 6/10 |
| Gambel's Quail |
15 Mojave Narrows NP 14/10,
5 Salton Sea 15/10 |
| Clapper Rail |
5 Newport Beach 19/10 |
| Moorhen |
1 Tijuana River valley
17/10, 1 Sea World 18/10, 4 Newport Beach 19/10 |
| American Coot |
Common |
| American Oystercatcher |
1 Monterey Bay 6/10 |
| Black Necked Stilt |
75 Salton Sea 15/10 |
| American Avocet |
50 Salton Sea 15/10 |
| Grey Plover |
Frequent |
| Snowy Plover |
Frequent on sandy beaches |
| Semipalmated Plover |
1 Tijuana River valley 17/10 |
| Killdeer |
Frequent |
| Marbled Godwit |
Frequent on coast |
| Whimbrel |
Frequent |
| Long Billed Curlew |
Frequent |
| Greater Yellowlegs |
3 Newport Beach 19/10 |
| Lesser Yellowlegs |
Frequent |
| Willet |
Common on coast |
| Spotted Sandpiper |
Frequent |
| Wandering Tatler |
Common on coast |
| Turnstone |
3 San Diego Bay 17/10, 15
Newport Beach 19/10 |
| Black Turnstone |
Singles Morro Bay 5/10,
Monterey Bay 6/10 |
| Snipe |
1 Salton Sea 15/10 |
| Short Billed Dowitcher |
Frequent |
| Long Billed Dowitcher |
2 Monterey Bay 6/10, 5
Newport Beach 19/10 |
| Knot |
10 Santa Monica beach 21/10 |
| Sanderling |
Frequent |
| Western Sandpiper |
Frequent |
| Least Sandpiper |
Frequent |
| Dunlin |
Frequent |
| Wilson's Phalarope |
20 Salton Sea 15/10 |
| Red Necked Phalarope |
100+ Lake Mono 10/10 |
| Pomarine Skua |
1 Morro Bay 5/10 |
| Heerman's Gull |
Common on coast |
| Ring Billed Gull |
Frequent |
| Herring Gull |
Frequent |
| California Gull |
Common |
| Western Gull |
Common |
| Bonaparte's Gull |
20+ Bridgeport Lake 10/10 |
| Caspian Tern |
1 Salton Sea 15/10 |
| Common Tern |
2 Monterey 6/10 |
| Forster's Tern |
Frequent |
| Elegant Tern |
Frequent |
| Black Skimmer |
15 San Diego harbour 17/10 |
| Pigeon Guillemot |
1 Monterey harbour 6/10 |
| Rock Dove |
Feral form common |
| Band Tailed Pigeon |
2 Monterey 5/10 |
| Ringed Turtle Dove |
Frequent |
| Spotted Dove |
2 Santa Monica 3/10 |
| American Mourning Dove |
Common |
| Ring Necked Parakeet |
2 Los Angeles 2/10, 1 San
Luis Obispo 4/10 |
| Black Chinned Hummingbird |
1 Morongo Valley 14/10 |
| Anna's Hummingbird |
Frequent |
| Allen's Hummingbird |
3 Palos Verde 21/10 |
| Belted Kingfisher |
1 Salton Sea 15/10, 2
Harbour Lake park 21/10 |
| Acorn Woodpecker |
Common |
| Red Breasted Sapsucker |
Singles Novoquoi Fall CP
4/10, Yosemite NP 11/10, Palos Verde 21/10 |
| Northern Flicker |
Common |
| Nuttall's Woodpecker |
1 Morongo Valley 14/10 |
| Pileated Woodpecker |
1 Yosemite NP 11/10 |
| Western Kingbird |
1 Monterey bay, 6/10 |
| Black Phoebe |
Common |
| Say's Phoebe |
4 Tijuana River valley
17/10, 2 Palos Verde 21/10 |
| Dusky Flycatcher |
1 Santa Monica 2/10 |
| Western Flycatcher |
1 Lake Mono 10/10 |
| Shore Lark |
5 Tijuana river valley 17/10 |
| Tree Swallow |
20 Salton Sea 15/10, 30
Tijuana River valley 17/10 |
| Barn Swallow |
Frequent |
| Cliff Swallow |
4 Lone Pine 13/10 |
| Buff Bellied Pipit |
2 Yosemite NP 11/10 |
| Loggerhead Shrike |
Frequent |
| American Dipper |
2 El Dorado NP 8/10, 1
Yosemite NP 11/10 |
| House Wren |
2 Palos Verde 21/10 |
| Bewick's Wren |
Frequent |
| Marsh Wren |
20+ Monterey Bay 6/10, 15+
Newport Beach 19/10 |
| Cactus Wren |
1 Mojave desert 14/10 |
| Northern Mockingbird |
Frequent |
| Crissal Thrasher |
1 Morongo Valley 14/10 |
| California Thrasher |
2 Tijuana River valley 17/10 |
| Western Bluebird |
3 Novoqui Falls Park 4/10, 2
Morongo Valley 14/10 |
| Mountain Bluebird |
1 Golden Gate NP 7/10, Lake
Mono 10/10 |
| Townsend's Solitaire |
1 Lake Mono 10/10 |
| Varied Thrush |
1 El Dorado NP 8/10 |
| Hermit Thrush |
Singles Golden Gate NP 7/10,
Morongo Valley 14/10, Palos Verde 21/10 |
| American Robin |
2 Lake Tahoe 8/10 |
| Greater Necklaced Laughing
Thrush |
1 escape San Diego 18/10 |
| Wrentit |
Frequent |
| Blue Grey Gnatcatcher |
4 Salton Sea 15/10 |
| Black Tailed Gnatcatcher |
2 Santa Monica 4/10 |
| Ruby Crowned Kinglet |
Frequent |
| Golden Crowned Kinglet |
4 Yosemite NP 11/10 |
| Bushtit |
2 Novoqui Fall Park 4/10, 1
Lake Mono 10/10 |
| Verdin |
1 Salton Sea 15/10 |
| Mountain Chickadee |
Frequent |
| Chestnut Backed Chickadee |
10 Golden Gate NP 7/10, 4
Yosemite NP 11/10 |
| White Breasted Nuthatch |
10 Lake Tahoe 8/10, 3 Lake
Tahoe 10/10, 2 Devils Postpile NM 12/10 |
| Red Breasted Nuthatch |
4 Lake Tahoe 8/10, 3 Devils
Postpile NM 12/10 |
| Pygmy Nuthatch |
2 Lake Tahoe 8/10 |
| Brown Creeper |
2 Yosemite NP 11/10 |
| Lark Bunting |
1 Lone Pine 13/10 |
| Song Sparrow |
Frequent |
| Sage Sparrow |
3 Lake Mono 10/10 |
| Rufous Crowned Sparrow |
2 Mammoth Lakes 12/10, 1
Lone Pine 13/10 |
| Chipping Sparrow |
10 Novoqui Falls Park 4/10,
4 Monterey Bay 6/10, 10 Salton Sea 15/10 |
| Dark Eyed Junco |
Frequent |
| White Crowned Sparrow |
Common |
| Golden Crowned Sparrow |
2 Monterey Bay 6/10, 3
Golden Gate NP 7/10 |
| Lincoln's Sparrow |
4 Mammoth Lakes 9/10, 6 on
10/10 |
| Rufous Sided Towhee |
Singles Santa Monica 3/10,
Golden Gate NP, Morongo Valley 14/10 |
| Brown Towhee |
Frequent |
| Abert's Towhee |
2 Salton Sea 15/10 |
| House Sparrow |
Common |
| Orange Crowned Warbler |
2 Salton Sea 15/10 |
| Yellow Rumped Warbler |
Common |
| Black Throated Grey Warbler |
1 Mojave Narrows Park 14/10 |
| Townsend's Warbler |
Singles Santa Monica 3/10,
San Diego 18/10 |
| Yellow Warbler |
1 Golden Gate NP 7/10, 2
Salton Sea 15/10 |
| Common Yellowthroat |
4 Monterey Bay 6/10 |
| Hutton's Vireo |
1 Mammoth Lakes 13/10 |
| Solitary Vireo |
1 Mammoth Lakes 10/10 |
| Northern Oriole |
2 Santa Monica 2/10 |
| Red Winged Blackbird |
Frequent |
| Tricoloured Blackbird |
300+ Salton Sea 15/10 |
| Brewer's Blackbird |
Common |
| Brown Headed Cowbird |
50+ Salton Sea 15/10 |
| Great Tailed Grackle |
4 Morongo Valley 14/10 |
| Pine Siskin |
25 Mammoth Lakes 13/10 |
| American Goldfinch |
5 Monterey Bay 6/10 |
| Lesser Goldfinch |
10 Tijuan River valley
17/10, 4 Palos Verde 21/10 |
| Crossbill |
5 Lake Tahoe 11/10 |
| Evening Grosbeak |
15 Devils postpile NM 12/10 |
| Purple Finch |
Frequent |
| Cassin's Finch |
2 Golden Gate NP 7/10 |
| House Finch |
Common |
| Starling |
Common |
| Steller's Jay |
Frequent |
| Scrub Jay |
Common |
| Black Billed Magpie |
Frequent |
| Yellow Billed Magpie |
1 Santa Maria 4/10 |
| Clark's Nutcracker |
Frequent, particularly above
7000 feet altitude. |
| American Crow |
Common |
| Raven |
Common |