(January 27 – January 30, 2012)
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This week’s photo, taken January 27, 2012 near the dining room pond, features the first GREAT EGRET that I have observed at the Ranch in over 4 years. Click here for an enlarged view. |
Thursday night at 7:20pm, when I arrive to begin another 4-day stay, I step out of the staff office near the wooden bridge and hear BARN OWLS vocalizing more than ever before. Not only are they screeching repeatedly, they also are producing a “tick, tick, tick” sound that I seldom hear. When the sounds increase in volume, I look up and see 2 Barn Owls flying 100 feet above my head. The owl flyover provides an exciting start to my workweek.
An uncommon visitor frequents the dining room pond this week. The GREAT EGRET is not interested in our vegetarian meals. It will be having the fish. Fortunately for the goldfish in the pond, the egret is skittish around people, and since there’s a steady flow of human traffic passing by the pond all day long, often when the egret is attempting to grab a scaly snack, someone walks by and the egret takes flight.
On a warm Sunday afternoon, an AMERICAN KESTREL, a RED-TAILED HAWK, a few COMMON RAVENS and several TURKEY VULTURES share the ridge and thermal lift above the mountain slope by Alex’s Oak. A large falcon also circles high in the sky for a few minutes, before gliding west and out of sight behind the mountain. It’s the first PEREGRINE FALCON I’ve ever seen at the Ranch.
Other Birds of Note:
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE
TOWNSEND’S WARBLER
WESTERN TANAGER
FOX SPARROW
LINCOLN’S SPARROW
SCOTT’S ORIOLE (3)
(January 20 – January 23, 2012)
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This week’s photo, taken January 22, 2012 along the Dove Trail on the lower slope of the mountain, features a CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, a year-round resident that is easy to find on the mountain as well as on the main grounds of the Ranch. Click here for an enlarged view. |
The plants are smiling on Saturday morning as a gentle yet steady rain falls on the Ranch. Due to the wet weather, I’m the only bird watcher who shows up for the 9am Bird Walk. While I silently scan the area from the edge of the Gazebo, a MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE calls from the leaning pine tree by the Mercado, and the wintering TOWNSEND’S WARBLER quietly feeds in a nearby tree. From the other side of the Gazebo, I hear and then spot our wintering HEPATIC TANAGER in one of the eucalyptus trees by the museum. Our rare tanager makes no attempt to get out of the rain. 50+ CEDAR WAXWINGS, the most waxwings that I’ve seen so far this season, also seem to relish the rain as they alight and then linger on treetops beyond the old volleyball court.
Before breakfast on Sunday, a large covey of CALIFORNIA QUAIL gathers on the brick road behind Montana Gym. Additional quail are feeding on either side of the road, and still more are perched atop the bushes and leafless fruit trees that line the wide path. I tally the numbers and come up with at least 62 California Quail, a figure that is nearly double my previous high count at the Ranch. Perhaps a covey of 62 qualifies as a “convention” of quail.
Other Species of Interest:
BARN OWL (heard)
HOUSE WREN
CANYON WREN (heard)
WESTERN TANAGER
SCOTT’S ORIOLE
(January 13 – January 16, 2012)
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This week’s photo, taken January 13, 2012 near the museum, features an adult male ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD enjoying an energy boost from the nectar of the flowering aloe plant. Click here for an enlarged view. |
On Saturday’s Bird Walk, at Kuchumaa Gym, we aim our binoculars at the two sycamore trees where lots of birds have been gathering lately. This morning several WESTERN BLUEBIRDS are feeding on the mistletoe berries in the middle of the trees. Then we watch with wonder as dozens of CEDAR WAXWINGS drop out of the sky and descend on the tree branches. Since many birds are in constant motion, it can be very difficult for someone to accurately count them. But Cedar Waxwings often make it easy by perching close together in neat rows and sitting perfectly still. Adding them up can be as simple as counting books on a shelf. This morning there are exactly 33 Cedar Waxwings in those sycamores, and that’s my final answer.
Then we notice an adult male SCOTT’S ORIOLE near the top of one of the sycamores. Then a second Scott’s appears, and then a third. Then our wintering HEPATIC TANAGER joins the crowd for its first appearance of the year.
Earlier that morning, before breakfast, the wintering WESTERN TANAGER (female) paused briefly in one of those same trees.
A TOWNSEND’S WARBLER, seen Friday and again on Monday in the vicinity of the Gazebo and Main Lounge, seems also to be spending the winter months with us.
Other birds of note:
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT
LINCOLN’S SPARROW
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW
(January 6 – January 9, 2012)
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This week’s photo, taken January 7, 2012 along the road behind the dining room, features a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, perched in perhaps the most berry-laden pyracantha bush on the Ranch. Click here for an enlarged view. |
Friday morning, while we are birding near Sol Villa 8, a GREATER ROADRUNNER sprints away from us through the open field. When we step behind the villa, 2 more roadrunners dart across the dirt with their long tails swaying from side to side. Never before have I seen as many as 3 roadrunners at the same time, not at the Ranch or anywhere else. The experience makes me ponder some of life’s deepest questions: What do you call a group of roadrunners? Is it a “highway” of roadrunners? Or perhaps a “freeway” or an “interstate?” If any of you know the official term, please enlighten me.
On Saturday, along the road behind the dining room, a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW pops out of a pyracantha bush, poses for a few photos with a festive background of red berries, then flies across the road and disappears into the dense foliage. The White-throated Sparrow, although a common species back east, is seldom seen out west.
Other Birds of Note:
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (5)
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE
CEDAR WAXWING (15)
PHAINOPEPLA
FOX SPARROW
SCOTT’S ORIOLE (3)
(December 30, 2011- January 2, 2012)
As another year ends, I look back at a few of my avian highlights of the past 12 months. Among this past year’s notable birds:
CALIFORNIA QUAIL babies – the amazing and amusing sighting of 6 miniature quail on July 9, each one consisting of mammoth legs supporting a miniscule body
WHITE-TAILED KITE - after an absence of 3 years, this magnificent raptor is back and was observed regularly in 2011
And a few rarities:
ZONE-TAILED HAWK – here for the third winter in a row
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE – 3 or more are wintering with us (the first chickadees that I have seen at the Ranch in nearly 8 years)
HEPATIC TANAGER – here for the second winter in a row
SCOTT’S ORIOLE – at least 3 are wintering with us
4 new Ranch species seen (or heard) in 2011:
RING-BILLED GULL
COMMON POORWILL (heard)
HAIRY WOODPECKER
ORCHARD ORIOLE
For those of you who are wondering, I tallied 114 species in 2011 (one less than my record total of 115 in 2010).
(Central Florida Bird Report Dec 22 – Dec 24, 2011)
While I visit my brother and his family in Titusville (near Cape Canaveral), we do some local birding, including at the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Outside the visitor’s center, a flock of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS descend on the seed feeder, along with a single, stunningly gorgeous male PAINTED BUNTING.
Also in the wildlife refuge, I walk the 1-mile loop Scrub Trail and, eventually, I spot a FLORIDA SCRUB-JAY far ahead on the trail. The jay sees me and immediately flies at me and lands in a bush 6 feet away. Then it drops to the ground and hops to within 2 feet of my shoes. The Florida Scrub-Jay resembles the Western Scrub-Jay that is so visible at Rancho La Puerta. They look similar, and the Florida species clearly shares the fearless trait of our jay.
Other Notable Sightings:
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN
WOOD STORK
BALD EAGLE
BLACK VULTURE
PILEATED WOODPECKER
WHITE-EYED VIREO
BLACK-THROATED GREEN WARBLER
YELLOW-THROATED WARBLER
Besides wishing you all a healthy New Year, I also encourage you to have a “Big Year,” where you try to identify as many bird species as you can in 2012. It’s a fun exercise that improves your birding skills, makes you more aware, and enriches your bird-watching experience. You get to choose the playing field. The simplest (and cheapest) Big Year is counting the birds you see or hear from your residence and yard. Check out eBird (ebird.org), a handy place to keep track of your Big Year birds.
Happy Bird Year!
(December 16 - December 19, 2011)
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This week’s photo, taken November 11, 2011 along the fence line at the northern edge of the grasslands area, features an adult LARK SPARROW. Click here for an enlarged view. |
This week, all three morning Bird Walks begin with a MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE (or two) calling and feeding in trees or shrubs just a few feet from our starting point – the Gazebo. On Monday morning, we soon spot another rare Ranch bird when a juvenile ZONE-TAILED HAWK zooms over our heads while we are standing near the dining room.
Some birds are uncommon at the Ranch, yet sometimes present in plentiful numbers in certain habitats. On Saturday morning before breakfast, I stumble upon a flock of at least 31 LARK SPARROWS feeding on the ground in the grasslands area. This handsome sparrow with the white, black and chestnut-colored face is seldom seen anywhere else on the Ranch.
Other Birds of Note:
HUTTON’S VIREO
WESTERN TANAGER
HEPATIC TANAGER
FOX SPARROW (2)
BULLOCK’S ORIOLE
SCOTT’S ORIOLE
(December 9 - December 12, 2011)
Saturday morning a flock of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS descends on a tree in the Luna Villa area. The birds calmly rest for a few minutes while I tally a total of 18, easily the most bluebirds I’ve ever seen at the Ranch. It’s nice to see their numbers increasing.
Sunday morning, also in the Luna Villa area, a PRAIRIE FALCON perches with perfect posture in a eucalyptus tree. This fast flying raptor allows me to approach fairly close for a photo shoot. It’s the first time I’ve ever observed a Prairie Falcon perching on the main grounds of the Ranch.
Other Birds of Note:
GREATER ROADRUNNER
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER
PHAINOPEPLA
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (first of season)
SCOTT’S ORIOLE
(December 2 - December 5, 2011)
At the beginning of Friday’s 9am Bird Walk, a PRAIRIE FALCON circles slowly several times above us, allowing our novice bird-watchers to practice their binocular-using skills on a bird that’s seldom seen at the Ranch. After that exciting start, we stroll towards Oaktree Pavilion. In the eucalyptus tree behind the Pilates Studio, a stunning yellow and black adult male SCOTT’S ORIOLE feeds on flower nectar. When it flies, an equally colorful orange and black adult male BULLOCK’S ORIOLE appears in the same tree and grants us great looks. Currently, orioles are here in good numbers. Most mornings, an ORCHARD ORIOLE, at least 3 Scott’s Orioles and an immature Bullock’s Oriole feed in the eucalyptus trees between the Luna Villas and the Pajaro area.
Other Birds of Note:
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (first of season)
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE
HEPATIC TANAGER
SAVANNAH SPARROW
(November 25 - November 28, 2011)
Friday afternoon I spot a GREATER ROADRUNNER in the grasslands area north of the Sol Villas. With every step I take to get closer for a decent photo, the long-legged cartoon character takes ten quick strides away from me, and I begin to identify with Wily E. Coyote. So I scrap the roadrunner photo-shoot idea and move on. I soon stumble upon a colorful bird perched in a leafless tree by the old soccer field. It looks like an oriole, but smaller. It actually is North America’s smallest oriole, and it’s also my first ORCHARD ORIOLE at the Ranch.
Another unique birding moment occurs Saturday morning when at least 80 high-flying gulls move across the sky from west to east. After a couple of expert birders examine my gull photos, they conclude that some (if not most) of the flock consists of RING-BILLED GULLS, also a new species for the Ranch.
Other Birds of Note:
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
AMERICAN KESTREL
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES (3)
WESTERN TANAGER
TOWNSEND’S WARBLER
(November 18 - November 21, 2011)
Lately, a Chinese Pistacio tree (Pistacia chinensis) on the grassy knoll at the Sol Villa area, has been very popular with our avian friends. Numerous birds have found its berries to be irresistible. Most individuals attempt to hover momentarily, as a hummingbird would do, in order to grab a tasty treat from the tree. Of course, that means that these birds are working hard for their snacks because no bird hovers as effortlessly as a hummingbird does.
The list of birds feeding in this tree during the past two weeks is impressive:
ACORN WOODPECKER
NUTTALL’S WOODPECKER
CASSIN’S KINGBIRD
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
WESTERN TANAGER
WESTERN BLUEBIRD
WARBLING VIREO
AMERICAN ROBIN
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
HERMIT THRUSH
The list of visitors to the magnet tree include 4 of the rarest birds seen recently at the Ranch:
HAIRY WOODPECKER
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE
HEPATIC TANAGER
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (rare in November)
(November 11 - November 14, 2011)
A stroll through the grasslands area on Friday morning produces 22 LARK SPARROWS, 4 SAVANNAH SPARROWS and numerous WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS. Also on Friday and again on Sunday, a SAY’S PHOEBE, which is often observed in grassland habitat, is instead spotted fly-catching behind Kuchumaa Gym. At one point a BLACK PHOEBE approaches, the two phoebes have a brief but heated exchange, and then they appear to agree that each of them has a right to be there.
Saturday morning, 3 CEDAR WAXWINGS, my first waxwings of the season, perch motionless in a tree just north of the Central Pool. The highlight of Sunday’s afternoon Bird Walk is a spectacular view through the spotting scope of an adult male BULLOCK’S ORIOLE, whose brilliant orange body shines brighter than ever, thanks to illumination by the setting sun.
Rare Bird Sightings:
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Saturday – Sunday)
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE (Sunday)
HEPATIC TANAGER (Friday – Sunday)
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (Friday)
(November 4 - November 7, 2011)
Several special birds appear this week. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS and WARBLING VIREOS are rare this late in the fall, yet one of each is here now. Perhaps they find it difficult to leave the Ranch, as do many of our human guests.
The female HEPATIC TANAGER has returned after a 7-month absence. It need not attend Tour and Orientation on Saturday. It’s already familiar with the layout of the Ranch, since it was here last November to April.
A HAIRY WOODPECKER, calling loudly from a eucalyptus tree at the Sol Villa area on Saturday, is a new Ranch bird, my 111th species of 2011, and the eighth variety of woodpecker I’ve seen here. Everybody on Sunday’s Bird Walk enjoys a fabulous look at a bright yellow SCOTT’S ORIOLE as it perches atop the sycamore tree by the Activity Pool. A PRAIRIE FALCON, sitting on a snag next to Alex’s Oak Tree during Monday’s Bird Walk, is #112 for the year. Soon after we finish Monday’s walk, a few of us get surprisingly close views of a GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE in the vineyard near the Activity Pool fountain.
(October 21 - October 24, 2011)
Occasionally, a guest misbehaves during a Bird Walk. One morning I am telling the group that quail are smart, and a guest says, “They are also delicious.” Sunday morning, 31 tasty CALIFORNIA QUAIL assemble on the lawn at the bird feeding area. Fortunately for the quail, the hungry guest is not present. He’s probably attending a cooking class.
Rare birds this week include the 2 continuing MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES by the old volleyball court. They have now been here at least 7 weeks. On Monday, a GREEN HERON (my 110th species of the year) lingers at the dining room pond, hoping to seize a few minnows. One of my most interesting finds of the week (spotted on the mountain) is not a bird, but a large deer, the first one I’ve ever seen at the Ranch.
Other Species of Note:
GREATER ROADRUNNER
SAY’S PHOEBE
WESTERN TANAGER
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW (3) (first of season)
(October 14 - October 17, 2011)
Midday on Monday, 3 AMERICAN CROWS are verbally harassing a BARN OWL that’s perched high in a live oak tree in the oak grove. When the owl decides to move on, one of the crows follows. The owl banks and turns to lose the crow, and the two birds happen to fly directly over my head as the owl seeks a quieter roosting spot.
Go see the movie “The Big Year,” (it opened in theatres last Friday). It’s an enjoyable and amusing look at 3 obsessed birders who attempt to see as many bird species as possible in North America in a calendar year. Anyone who likes birds will probably like this movie.
For the seventh consecutive year, I’m doing a Big Year at the Ranch, and this week I added 3 species to my 2011 list:
CHIPPING SPARROW (#107)
SUMMER TANAGER (female) (#108)
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER (#109)
Other Birds of Note:
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (first of season)
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER
BULLOCK’S ORIOLE (adult male)
(October 7 - October 10, 2011)
On a Monday morning Bird Walk, as we stroll down the road toward the bird feeding area, an adult male ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD welcomes us. He flies to within one or two feet of one of the guests, hovers in mid-air and stares at her, while the rest of us watch in amazement. Then he zooms over to another guest, then to another person. I tell the group that some people like to bird-watch, and some birds like to people-watch.
When the tiny creature zips over to me and stares me down for a few seconds, I finally figure out what he’s doing. He’s wondering which one of us has the hummingbird feeder. I had removed it for cleaning a few hours earlier, and this in-your-face bird is making it clear that he wants his easy energy source returned promptly. Fortunately, nectar-filled flowers abound in the vicinity, so Mr. Hummingbird will not starve.
(September 30 - October 3, 2011)
Friday’s 9am Bird Walk exceeds all expectations. At precisely 9:00am by the Gazebo, one of the year’s rarest birds, a MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE, begins to sing and flit a few feet away in a century plant. We’re off to a great start. Soon we stroll a short distance and east of the Mercado to view a BARN OWL that 3 WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS helped me find earlier that morning. With the spotting scope aimed high toward the top of a large, leaning pine tree, everyone savors an intimate view through the scope of a sleepy creature with a heart-shaped face.
Next, we march to the bird feeding area, where the avian action is so good that we spend the rest of our time there. Besides the usual gathering of sparrows, towhees, thrashers, goldfinches, finches, hummingbirds and quail, a GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (my 106th species of 2011) forages for seeds in plain sight on the grass below the feeders. Then our first of the season LINCOLN’S SPARROW joins the crowd, and soon a flashy WILSON’S WARBLER appears in the low brush at the far end of the lawn.
Other Species of Note:
CANYON WREN
SWAINSON’S THRUSH (3) (first of season)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (first of season)
(September 23 - September 26, 2011)
Friday evening, about an hour after sunset, I am walking past the guest laundry room and a BARN OWL flies low over my head. It turns and glides toward the wooden bridge in the Arboles area. The next afternoon an instructor and I are strolling past Arboles 10, and we hear a “plop” sound a few feet away. An owl pellet has just dropped from the palm tree to the brick path, and when we squat down to examine it, we are amazed by how moist it is, a reminder that the Barn Owl in the palm tree has expelled, through its mouth, the indigestible parts of its last meal. When I search the web to learn more about this subject, I discover that there are companies that sell owl pellets, further proof that you can buy anything on the internet. Of course, we have no need to purchase pellets here at the Ranch. Thanks to our roosting owls, we get ours for free.
Other Birds of Note:
SAY’S PHOEBE
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE
HUTTON’S VIREO
LARK SPARROW
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (beginning to arrive for the winter)
(September 16 - September 19, 2011)
After the Monday morning Bird Walk, I saunter (armed with my camera and long lens) along a seldom-used path between the old volleyball court and the tennis court. That’s one of the areas where I last saw the Mountain Chickadee one week ago. Within a few minutes I hear “chick-a-dee-dee-dee” and, to my surprise, I spot not one but two MOUNTAIN CHICKADEES. These hyperactive individuals forage for a few moments and then fly toward the track. I re-find them – thanks to their non-stop chatter – in a eucalyptus tree near the museum. They move on to one of the tall pines by the road, and then to the sycamore trees south of Arroyo Gym. I continue my pursuit, using my ears more than my eyes to keep track of them. When they take flight from the sycamore, two other small birds follow them. Could they also be chickadees? Stay tuned for further developments.
Other Species of Note:
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE
ROCK WREN
WARBLING VIREO
LAZULI BUNTING (2)
(September 09 - September 12, 2011)
Thursday evening at dusk, as I walk past Arboles 10 on my way to retrieve, clean and refill the hummingbird feeder, a BARN OWL explodes out of the tall palm tree to begin its night patrol. At the base of the tree, several owl pellets are scattered on the ground, evidence that an owl is a regular daytime inhabitant of that palm.
Several guests ask me this week about a lovely and lengthy bird song that they are hearing around the Ranch. The veteran vocalist is the CALIFORNIA THRASHER, our year round resident with the long, curved bill. The MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE is spotted multiple times this week, outside the dining room, between the tennis court and the old volleyball court, and on top of our Miracle Oak next to the museum. The lone chickadee seems to be enjoying its stay at the World’s Best Destination Spa.
Fall Migrants:
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE
WILLOW FLYCATCHER (my 105th species of the year)
WARBLING VIREO
NASHVILLE WARBLER
YELLOW WARBLER
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER
(September 02 - September 05, 2011)
From behind Kuchumaa Gym during Friday’s Bird Walk, we watch 8 TURKEY VULTURES carve lazy circles high in a thermal north of us. Then a large bird glides towards us. At first glance it appears to be another vulture, but it has black and white bands on its tail. It’s an adult ZONE-TAILED HAWK, a species I hoped to see here this coming winter for the 3rd year in a row. Finding one as early as September 2 is an unexpected treat.
Another surprise species announces its presence Sunday morning from the large pine tree at the Central Pool. A bird repeatedly calls: “chick-a-dee-dee-dee.” It’s the first MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE that I’ve seen at the Ranch in nearly 8 years. If it weren’t calling, I never would have found the tiny bird. During Monday’s Bird Walk, we search for the chickadee in the same tree, but without success. A few minutes later, up the slope from the Pilates Studio, we are tilting our necks way back while admiring a handsome male WESTERN TANAGER high in a eucalyptus tree. Then we begin to hear “chick-a-dee-dee” from the side, and we soon spot the Mountain Chickadee foraging low in a small pine tree. We quickly shift our attention and our binoculars from the colorful bird to the rare bird, and we enjoy much better views of the chickadee than we did yesterday.
Other Species of Interest:
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW
HUTTON’S VIREO
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE
(August 26 - August 29, 2011)
The very moment I collect everyone’s binoculars at the end of Sunday’s Bird Walk, we spot something good. While we linger near the Miracle Oak, 2 WRENTITS magically appear right next to us in a bush at eye level. Even without using binoculars, we all get great looks at these shy birds with the long, turned-up tails. Interestingly, during the next morning’s Bird Walk, we are standing at the stretch bars near the Labyrinth, and 2 more Wrentits materialize a few feet away in an elderberry bush, providing us views equal to the day before.
Other Birds of Note:
WHITE-TAILED KITE
GREATER ROADRUNNER (2)
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (fall migrant)
WESTERN BLUEBIRD (5)
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
WILSON’S WARBLER (fall migrant)
(August 19 - August 22, 2011)
It’s amazing how quickly birds develop. On Friday at the Gazebo, through the spotting scope we can barely see 3 little bills poking out of the PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER nest. Saturday morning, 3 large heads with big eyes and wide bills stare back at us from the nest. By Sunday afternoon, the nest is empty. The young flycatchers have grown and flown.
Other Notable Species:
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
RED-TAILED HAWK
WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (heard)
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER
CASSIN’S KINGBIRD (4)
(August 12 - August 15, 2011)
The PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER nest in the Gazebo contains at least two chicks. When a parent delivers food, we can hear the babies cry and we can see two tiny bills poking out of the nest. During Friday’s Bird Walk, a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY feeds a young jay on the track a few feet from us, providing us great looks at an adult and a juvenile.
After my 4-day week at the Ranch, I’m in my car at the border, waiting in line to drive into California. High above my Honda a LESSER NIGHTHAWK gracefully cuts through the sky. Whenever I have tried to photograph nighthawks at the Ranch, it was either dawn or dusk and I never had sufficient light to get decent results. Well, there’s ample light now. In fact, the setting sun is casting a warm glow on the underside of the bird, and I decide I can’t pass up this opportunity. I set my emergency brake, step out of my car and point my camera and telephoto lens straight up. Other drivers, as well as the U.S. Border Patrol agent on the other side of the fence, must wonder what the heck I’m doing. Fortunately, while I’m out of my vehicle, no cars ahead of me move forward and nobody honks their horn at me. In 51 adrenalin-filled seconds I capture 32 shots of the golden bird that’s sky-dancing far above the ground.
Other Species of Note:
BARN OWL (briefly seen flying out of an oak tree near Kuchumaa Passage)
PHAINOPEPLA (juvenile)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (my 103rd species of the year)
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
(August 5 - August 8, 2011)
Saturday morning, half an hour before sunrise, we are standing quietly near the northernmost part of the Professor’s Trail. A COMMON POORWILL calls from the canyon below. Then it goes silent, and 2 minutes later it calls again. This is the first time that I’ve had evidence of a Common Poorwill here.
During Saturday’s 9am Bird Walk, between Kuchumaa and Montana Gyms, we catch a glimpse of a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT feeding a large insect to a fledgling. Since Yellow-breasted Chats are quite uncommon at the Ranch, it’s very satisfying to witness North America’s largest warbler raising its young on our property.
Other Birds of Note:
GREATER ROADRUNNER (2)
WESTERN SCREECH-OWL (heard)
CANYON WREN (heard)
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW
BULLOCK’S ORIOLE
(July 29 - August 1, 2011)
The annual Grape Festival for the Birds has begun. Participants, so far, include HOODED ORIOLES, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS and WESTERN TANAGERS. As in previous years, the sycamore tree north of the Activity Pool serves as conference headquarters. Most often, an attendee glides down from there to a vine to grab a grape, and then flies back up to the sycamore to savor its juicy snack.
This week we spot 3 separate families of baby CALIFORNIA QUAIL, which range in physical size from tiny to medium and in numerical size from 7 to 15. At least 2 adults provide constant and close supervision for each group of youngsters.
Other Birds of Note:
BARN OWL (flying at dusk by the wooden bridge)
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (either a breeder or a very early migrant)
WESTERN KINGBIRD (4)
(July 22 - July 25, 2011)
Saturday morning, next to the namesake tree of Alex’s Oak Trail, an AMERICAN KESTREL relaxes on a bare branch and salutes the rising sun. Higher up, near the crest of the Professor’s Trail, I am surprised to find a flock of 30+ CLIFF SWALLOWS lounging atop bushes and boulders. They may be even more surprised to see me; consequently, they all take flight when I approach.
This week’s most predictable bird is the singing adult male BLUE GROSBEAK. On 5 occasions in 4 days, I stroll beyond the oak grove – either solo or with a group of bird watchers – and each time the grosbeak is perched in its favorite sycamore tree along the creek bed. On Monday’s Bird Walk, while we are admiring the grosbeak, we spot a GREATER ROADRUNNER out in the field, and on our return walk, we get spectacular looks at a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT when it briefly comes out of hiding to perch for several seconds on the fence between the labyrinth and Kuchumaa Gym.
Other Species of Note:
WESTERN BLUEBIRD
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
LARK SPARROW
HOODED ORIOLE
(July 15 - July 18, 2011)
A pair of PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS is on a mission. After successfully raising young in a nest atop one of the gazebo’s support beams in early spring, its second nesting attempt of the season has apparently failed. Refusing to give up, one of them spent Friday afternoon snatching plant material from the gazebo’s ceiling and taking it to a new nest under construction above another beam.
Monday morning along the creek bed north of the oak grove, an adult male BLUE GROSBEAK perches nearby and belts out its song. We all get fabulous views through the spotting scope, and we can even see its throat moving when it sings. I warn everyone that a birding moment like this could turn some of them into birding addicts for life.
Other Birds of Note:
WHITE-TAILED KITES (2)
AMERICAN KESTREL
LESSER NIGHTHAWK
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
(July 8 - July 11, 2011)
At the beginning of the Saturday Bird Walk, a guest tells me that she wants to see quail and a roadrunner. Well, quail should be easy to track down, but a roadrunner may be tough to find. However, twenty minutes into the walk, we are standing just north of the oak grove, and we spot a GREATER ROADRUNNER in the distant field. It’s hunting, and it’s putting on quite a show for us. It runs quickly, spins and changes direction, sprints again, leaps in the air, and then over and over it repeats a variation of that routine. Frequently, it lifts and lowers its long tail, probably to help it maneuver and also to flush out some potential prey.
With 3 minutes remaining, we arrive at the track. Outside Kuchumaa Gym we surprise half a dozen baby CALIFORNIA QUAIL, the first young quail we have seen this year. These youngsters are incredibly cute, and their legs appear to be way too big for their tiny bodies. A great end to a wonderful walk.
On Monday, after a 3½-week absence, Palmera the BARN OWL returns to her daytime roost in the palm tree by the wooden bridge. Welcome back, Palmera.
Other Birds of Note:
LESSER NIGHTHAWK
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW
BLUE GROSBEAK
(July 1 - July 7, 2011)
Believe it or not, fall migration has started. On Saturday, July 2, a RUFOUS or an ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD (they often are difficult to tell apart without a DNA sample) relaxes on a branch of a fruit tree behind Kuchumaa Gym, before it resumes its practice of chasing larger hummingbirds away from a nearby flowering plant which it has claimed as its exclusive food source.
A couple of months ago a pair of PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS nested above a ceiling beam in the Gazebo, and the two of them are at it again. They spend a lot of time perched on the lights and on the backs of the chairs; eventually, they fly up to the nest to feed their young. They are used to sharing the Gazebo with our guests, so they don’t appear to alter their routine when the area is filled with people.
Other Birds of Note:
WHITE-TAILED KITES (2)
GREATER ROADRUNNERS (2)
WESTERN KINGBIRD
ROCK WREN
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT
LARK SPARROW
(June 24– June 27, 2011)
An afternoon Bird Walk to the field north of the oak grove yields good results. In a span of 10 minutes we find:
WHITE-TAILED KITE (performing aerial patrols above the Quail Trail)
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (in an oak tree near a Sol Villa)
COOPER’S HAWK (perched low in the oak grove)
GREATER ROADRUNNER (hunting in the open field)
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER (posing briefly in a sycamore tree)
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (heard by all; seen by some)
BLUE GROSBEAK (heard)
Early Sunday morning an AMERICAN KESTREL gracefully lands atop a small sycamore along the northern fence line of the old Rolling Hills Trail. It stays until a White-tailed Kite parachutes down to the same perch, forcing the smaller bird to take off. Using a row of trees as a blind, I stealthily approach, hoping to capture close up photos of the kite. But when I get near, the kite flies away. Thinking that the kestrel might come back to its former roost, I linger for a bit, and within a few minutes the compact and colorful raptor does indeed return (see photo below).
Other Birds of Note:
BARN OWL (exploding out of the oak grove during daylight hours)
SAY’S PHOEBE
YELLOW WARBLER (heard)
LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH
(June 17– June 20, 2011)
The most active avian area this week lies just west of Kuchumaa Passage, in the vicinity of the fence line and the nearby oaks and shrubs that border the base of the mountain. Sometimes there are so many fledglings begging to be fed that the location resembles a bird nursery. Friday morning, perched in rows on the barbed wire fence are many young birds, including at least 4 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, 4 LAZULI BUNTINGS, 1-2 BLACK PHOEBES, several HOUSE FINCHES, 1-2 HOUSE WRENS and 2 ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS. In the hub of the Ranch we are beginning to find young WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS. They are adult-size, but their gray heads identify them as juveniles.
Other Species of Note:
AMERICAN KESTREL
CLIFF SWALLOW (my 100th Ranch species of 2011)
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT
BLUE GROSBEAK
Breeding activity continues at the Ranch. One morning we hear the slow “COO-Coo-coo” song of a GREATER ROADRUNNER. From behind Kuchumaa Gym, we finally find the singing roadrunner perched on a large boulder on the slope of the mountain below Alex’s Oak Tree. Through our spotting scope, everyone enjoys nice views of this remarkable bird and its 12-inch tail.
Three young BLACK PHOEBES dart from tree to tree near Kuchumaa Passage. They are waiting for their parents to bring them a meal, and it doesn’t take long for the adults to deliver. Nearby, a female BLUE GROSBEAK poses in high grass with nesting material in its stout bill. In mid-April a pair of BEWICK’S WRENS nested in a cavity on the west side of the dining room, and that couple may be at it again. Each time we watch an adult wren disappear into the hollow space behind a beam, we hear “cheep-cheep” calls from hungry chicks.
This week, Palmera the BARN OWL, sits every day on her favorite branch in her favorite palm tree by the wooden bridge. When she’s not sleeping, she often preens, patiently cleaning and organizing her feathers. One morning she is especially active, at one point fully extending one of her lengthy wings, while at the same time stretching one of her legs out to the side. Clearly, she qualifies to teach our Balance and Coordination class.
Other Birds of Note:
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER
CANYON WREN (heard)
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (heard and seen)
WESTERN TANAGER
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW
BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW (heard)
(May 27 – May 30, 2011)
Early one morning I approach the wooden bridge, and a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY is squawking at the palm tree. Most likely, the Scrub-Jay is protesting the presence of an owl. The moment I stop on the bridge, a BARN OWL explodes out of the tree, weaves around the branches and disappears. Never before have I seen an owl fly out of that tree during daylight hours. Then I notice Palmera calmly sitting on her usual branch in the palm. It must have been her mate, Palmer, who took flight when I arrived. Moments later Palmer flies by and continues toward another palm tree along the creek bed.
If the owl couple does indeed have a nest nearby, perhaps the young owlets are big enough to be left alone during the day, allowing the parents to spend more of their days at their regular roosts.
Near Kuchumaa Passage, in a dead oak tree next to the trail, a female ACORN WOODPECKER pokes her head out of the entrance of her nesting cavity. When she flies, we can hear the babies inside begging for food.
Near the high point of the Quail 2 Trail, I spot a PHAINOPEPLA balancing atop a laurel sumac shrub. Hoping to get closer for a photo, I slowly move to within 20 feet of the silky flycatcher with the punk-rock hairdo. When I lift my camera, unfortunately the Phainopepla dives into thicker vegetation. Fortunately, a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT hops into view exactly where the Phainopepla had been. After frequently hearing a Chat singing at the Ranch during the past 3 weeks, I finally get to see one, for the first time in 2 years.
In the oak grove near the labyrinth, 2 young, streaky-brown RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS perch on branches outside their nest. Nearby at the other hawk nest, 4 similarly streaked COOPER’S HAWKS, each festooned with downy white feathers on its forehead, pose in or near their nest.
Other Birds of Note:
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE
ROCK WREN
YELLOW WARBLER
WILSON’S WARBLER
BLUE GROSBEAK (3)
(May 13 – May 16, 2011)
Palmera, the BARN OWL, has returned to her daytime roost (at least 3 of the past 4 days) in the palm tree by the wooden bridge. It's been about 2 months since she's spent her days there. Sunday evening at dusk, Palmera perches outside the palm tree. She is waiting for the sky to grow darker before she begins the night shift. While she sits, another Barn Owl flies by and above her head, barely clearing the tops of the trees. It's probably her mate, Palmer.
Saturday morning in the oak grove, we peer through the spotting scope and count 3 fluffy white chicks in the COOPER'S HAWK nest. We also detect one young bird in the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK nest. With the thick foliage, we cannot see clearly into either nest; therefore, there may be more baby hawks in each nest waiting to be discovered.
Other Birds of Note:
SAY'S PHOEBE
SWAINSON'S THRUSH
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT (heard)
WESTERN TANAGERS (12 on Friday)
BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW
LAZULI BUNTING
LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES (5)
(May 5 – May 8, 2011) Central Park, NYC
Early May is a prime period for birding in Central Park, and my days in New York City's premier park produces sightings of large flocks of bird-watchers, and plenty of birds as well. The west coast may boast better weather and bigger surf than the east coast, but the east easily wins in the warbler department. In 4 days of birding, I tally 20 colorful warblers, including:
BAY-BREASTED
BLACKBURNIAN
BLACKPOLL
CANADA
CAPE MAY
CHESTNUT-SIDED
PRAIRIE
WILSON'S
Other Birds of Note:
RED-HEADED WOODPECKER
EASTERN KINGBIRD
YELLOW-THROATED VIREO
SCARLET TANAGER
SAVANNAH SPARROW
SWAMP SPARROW
ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK
INDIGO BUNTING
(April 29 – May 2, 2011)
A pair of BEWICK'S WRENS continues to deliver a variety of insects to the nest inside the water fountain at the Pilates Studio. When one of the parents disappears inside, we now can hear high-pitched cheeps coming from the interior of the fountain. Those are some very well fed babies.
Three new species for the year show up this week, and all three are seen or heard along the creek north of the oak grove. On Saturday we detect the presence of a BLUE GROSBEAK, first by hearing its warbling song. Soon, we find it perched high in a sycamore tree by the streambed. On Sunday morning a VAUX'S SWIFT makes several passes above my head as it chases insects in the air. A few minutes later I hear a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT sing its remarkable song that consists of chatters, pops and whistles. Yet, for now the shy chat stays hidden, at least visually, in the dense foliage of a coast live oak tree.
Other Birds of Note:
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW
LARK SPARROW
LAZULI BUNTING
(April 20 – April 25, 2011)
Bird Week 2011 is well attended by the guests, and by the birds. Wednesday dawns as a fine warbler-watching day, when 8 different species show up. (Yes, bird-watchers back east might see 15-20 warblers in a single day during spring migration, but out west an 8-warbler day is pretty good).
Bird Week participants select the colorful WESTERN TANAGER as the Bird of the Week, with the WHITE-TAILED KITE a very close second in the voting. The "Competitive Cardinals," a two-woman team from Virginia, win the Big Day event, tallying 45 species in 24 hours.
Other Birds of Note:
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
NASHVILLE WARBLER
YELLOW WARBLER
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER
HERMIT WARBLER
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
WILSON'S WARBLER
LAZULI BUNTING
(April 15 – April 18, 2011)
Several signs of spring are observed this week. On Friday a PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER gathers nesting material by the wooden bridge, as it repeatedly jumps up to snatch tiny needle-sized branches from a cottonwood tree. This year the COOPER'S HAWKS are nesting in the large oak grove just north of the labyrinth and directly above the hiking path that cuts through the grove. About 200 feet farther north and in the same grove, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK sits on her nest. (Thanks to the observant guest who found this nest). On the west side of the dining room, a BEWICK'S WREN makes frequent visits to its cavity nest, located behind a wooden beam outside the ladies room.
Bird Week is off to a great start. Next week I will send a summary, highlighting special avian moments and sightings.
Other Birds of Note this week:
WHITE-TAILED KITE
GREATER ROADRUNNER
WESTERN TANAGER
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH
(April 8 – April 11, 2011)
Hiking the mountain at the Ranch can be an inspiring experience anytime, but at this time of year, the slopes are blanketed in green and the hills are alive with the sound of music. No less than 7 species of sparrow (BLACK-CHINNED, SONG, FOX, SAGE, GOLDEN-CROWNED, RUFOUS-CROWNED and WHITE-CROWNED) are belting out their lovely songs on the mountain. Adding to the sweet tunes of spring is the beautiful cascading melody of the CANYON WREN.
Other Birds of Note:
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
NASHVILLE WARBLER
WILSON'S WARBLER
HEPATIC TANAGER (Fri, Sat, Sun)
Spring is in the air. Early Saturday morning, north of Kuchumaa Passage, a SWAINSON'S HAWK flies out of the eucalyptus grove, circles once above the Woodlands Trail and then heads north, exactly the direction migrating Swainson's should be traveling this time of year. Apparently, the rare (in this area) raptor had spent the night at the Ranch, and we were fortunate enough to be in the right place at the right time to watch it lift off and continue its journey.
Next to Kuchumaa Gym on Sunday morning, a male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD repeatedly performs its back and forth display flight, as it tries to impress a female. The same morning a GREATER ROADRUNNER stands on a large rock along the ridge by the Dove Trail. From its raised platform, it continually emits a series of 7-8 descending coos, and remarkably, its low-pitched calls can be heard as faraway as the track. Most of the CALIFORNIA QUAIL seen this week are in groups of two. On Friday, while I teach a Stretch Class in Tolteca Gym, a male and female quail wander outside the building, perhaps looking for a suitable nesting spot.
Other Birds of Note:
WESTERN SCREECH OWL (heard only [Friday at 8pm])
BARN OWL (heard only [Friday at 8:09pm])
HEPATIC TANAGER (April 1, 2 & 3)
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW
This week is about big numbers. Late Friday afternoon, 170 CEDAR WAXWINGS perch in leafless trees by the guest rooms along the track. (I can count that high because I used to teach math). The same afternoon, 32 WESTERN KINGBIRDS settle on tree branches near the Activity Pool. Sunday morning, at least 8 adult male BULLOCK'S ORIOLES chatter and fly from tree to tree in the eucalyptus grove by the Sol Villas. On Sunday, 28 bird watchers gather at the gazebo for the 4pm Bird Walk.
Our resident BARN OWL, absent since March 7 from her usual daytime perch, reappears on Saturday, March 26 in her favorite palm tree by the wooden bridge. On Sunday and Monday, she's gone again.
Other Birds of Note:
BELTED KINGFISHER
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD
COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD
WESTERN TANAGER
HEPATIC TANAGER
SCOTT'S ORIOLES (2 males)
FYI:
This year's Bird Week is April 16-23, 2011.
Next year's Bird Week will be April 7-14, 2012.
Please join us if you can.
(March 18 – March 21, 2011)
As of one week ago, I had not yet seen a WESTERN KINGBIRD at the Ranch this year. Now, there are plenty. Sunday morning behind Milagro Gym, 10 kingbirds pose in a leafless tree, showing off their bright yellow bellies. A few of them are CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS, but most of them reveal white edges on their tail feathers, indicative of Western Kingbirds.
On Monday at 9am it's pouring rain, but 3 guests join me for the Bird Walk, and off we go. Ten minutes later, the rain stops, and birds are everywhere, a reminder that lousy birding conditions can dramatically improve in a very short time. Near the fitness staff office, we spot the HEPATIC TANAGER high in a tree. To our surprise and delight, it drops down to our level, settles on an exposed branch a mere 15 feet away and, for the next five minutes, 4 bird watchers are treated to the most magnificent view of our rare tanager in the four months it's been wintering here. It has an olive in its bill, and after it patiently picks apart and finishes off the olive, it grabs a small berry and tosses it down its throat. Then it captures a bee and skillfully separates the edible and non-edible sections. The sun comes out, illuminating the tanager's lovely orangey-red body. It's a fabulous birding moment for us, yet bittersweet for me, since my camera is not with me. Instead, it's securely stored in my room, where it is fully protected from the rain. You know, the rain that is not falling and hasn't fallen for 5 incredible minutes.
Other Species of Note:
RUFOUS/ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
BULLOCK'S ORIOLES (6, including 4 adult males)
Signs of Spring:
3 species arrive earlier than I've ever noticed in the past. On Friday, the first PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER of the season appears by the wooden bridge (2 days early). Also on Friday morning, a handsome male WILSON'S WARBLER, (a full 18 days sooner than before), bounces through the eucalyptus trees along the creek near Kuchumaa Passage. Our first WESTERN KINGBIRD, (early by 3 days), relaxes in a sycamore tree by Arroyo Gym.
Other Notable Birds:
NORTHERN HARRIER
HEPATIC TANAGER
HOODED ORIOLE (adult male)
BULLOCK'S ORIOLES (3 adult males)
Noticeably Absent This Week:
Barn Owl
On Saturday morning 20 birding enthusiasts from the San Diego Bird Festival visit the Ranch to enjoy our birds and to feast on our tasty vegetarian lunch. One attendee says she'd love to see a Cedar Waxwing, which would be a life bird for her. Half an hour later, she is thrilled when we discover 30+ CEDAR WAXWINGS in a sycamore tree next to Kuchumaa Gym.
Other requested species from the Bird Festival group include LINCOLN'S and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH and our rare HEPATIC TANAGER. Although we do not find those birds on Saturday, the participants still manage to have a great time as they walk the grounds in warm sunshine. Naturally, the aforementioned species all show up on Sunday or Monday, so the group may just have to come back and join us again next year.
To see 24 of my best photos from Trinidad & Tobago (in addition to some Ranch photos that I may have added to my Flickr site since you last visited), click on:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/sweeneyfit/
(February 22, 2011 –March 1, 2011)
Although it's difficult to leave the paradise that is Rancho La Puerta, a few times each year I do just that. In search of some easy tropical birding, I fly to Trinidad, a 2-island country that includes Tobago and is situated 7 miles off the coast of Venezuela. I stay at the Asa Wright Nature Centre, a world famous birding destination located 1000 feet above sea level in the rain forest, where one can sit on the veranda all day long sipping tea while watching dozens of incredibly colorful tropical birds just a few feet away. Actually, there's little time for tea because the action is non-stop. It's also worth it, occasionally, to leave the comforts of the shaded porch and walk the grounds. Nearby is a GOLDEN-HEADED MANAKIN lek, where males gather to perform their finest dance moves, hoping to impress a female. The males are short and stocky dark-bodied birds with bright golden heads, and they are hilarious to watch. A male glides backwards on a thin, horizontal branch. His moves resemble a combination of Michael Jackson's "moonwalk" and Kramer's sliding entrance into Jerry's apartment on "Seinfeld."
Four days later I take a short flight (18 minutes) north to Tobago and spend 2 nights at the Blue Waters Inn, about 50 feet from the beach along the northeast edge of the island. The next day, a 20-minute boat ride to Little Tobago Island, followed by a short hike to a ridge top, offers us spectacular views of ridge-soaring BROWN BOOBIES, RED-FOOTED BOOBIES and RED-BILLED TROPICBIRDS. These seabirds often float by at eye level and so close to us that we can almost reach out and touch them.
Of 120+ Species Seen, a Few More Highlights:
SCARLET IBIS
SQUIRREL CUCKOO
OILBIRD
TUFTED COQUETTE (hummingbird)
PYGMY KINGFISHER
RUFOUS-TAILED JACAMAR
BEARDED BELLBIRD
WHITE-BEARDED MANAKIN
PURPLE HONEYCREEPER
(February 18, 2011 – February 21, 2011)
Although it's raining Saturday morning, 7 hardy (or crazy?) people show up for the 9am Bird Walk. Equipped with binoculars and umbrellas, we trudge along the wet paths, hoping to keep our optical equipment dry while we search for some avian life. After a night of heavy rainfall, the creek is roaring, so we don't hear many bird sounds at the bird feeding area, but there's a decent amount of activity. At least 7 AMERICAN and LESSER GOLDFINCHES are competing for space on the thistle feeder, and several HOUSE FINCHES are jostling for position on the mixed seed feeder. Soon, we turn around and discover that the best show is behind us. In a black locust tree by the creek, 3 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS are feeding on a cluster of mistletoe, and 3 ACORN WOODPECKERS are clinging motionless to another black locust tree. It's raining hard now, and 2 CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS, perched atop two separate trees and fully exposed to the elements, decide to take advantage of the situation. They spread their wings and fan their tail feathers, and they each take a shower in the downpour.
Other Species of Note:
WHITE-TAILED KITES (2)
BARN OWL
HEPATIC TANAGER
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE
SCOTT'S ORIOLES (2)
(February 11, 2011 – February 14, 2011)
Early Friday morning the HEPATIC TANAGER calls "chup. . . chup. . . chup. . . chup," sounding its now familiar single note call about every second and a half. It seems to be particularly chatty early in the day. Finally, I spot our rare tanager high in a sycamore tree by the wooden bridge; a moment later, it dives into an olive tree by the Fitness Staff Office and disappears from view. I slowly walk along the brick path below the olive tree, and while scanning the tree's upper branches, I notice an orangey-red bird munching on an olive. The tanager has been with us for about 3 months now, and it appears to enjoy the Ranch diet.
While I am leading Monday's Meditation Hike on the Woodland's Trail, up ahead 2 WHITE-TAILED KITES are roosting in separate sycamore trees along the creek. Even though we approach slowly and silently, the kites leave their lofty perches and fly away from us, perhaps to provide us more space for our meditation.
Other Species of Note:
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
GREATER ROADRUNNER
BARN OWL
CEDAR WAXWINGS (only 2)
SAVANNAH SPARROW
SCOTT'S ORIOLES (2)
(February 4, 2011 – February 7, 2011)
It's a challenge and a treat to bird-watch in the grasslands north of the Sol Villas. It's a treat because of the solitude and the spaciousness, and the fact that the species seen there – for instance, the 3 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES and the WHITE-TAILED KITE observed Saturday morning – are rarely found in the central area of the Ranch. The challenge is that some of the ground-feeding species – for instance, the 8 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS and the 14 LARK SPARROWS also seen Saturday morning – blend in so well with the vegetation that the birds are very difficult to detect until they flush.
On Friday, in the sycamore trees south of Arroyo Gym, the male and female SCOTT'S ORIOLES are feasting on the mistletoe that clings to the trees, and a few WESTERN BLUEBIRDS drop by to enjoy the same snack. A few minutes later behind Montana Gym, a total of 10 Western Bluebirds (probably the most I've ever seen here) descend on a leafless tree for a brief meeting. It's always nice to see healthy numbers of an uncommon Ranch bird.
Other Notable Species:
ZONE-TAILED HAWK (juvenile; first sighting since November 28)
HEPATIC TANAGER (seen or heard every day)
(January 28, 2011 – January 31, 2011)
Two BUSHTITS lay motionless on the brick path in the Arboles area. Their wings are open, but in disarray; their bodies are twisted; the legs of one Bushtit are intertwined with the legs of the other. The situation looks grim. When I approach, the 2 tiny birds leap to their feet and fly up to the oak tree above the path. One of them immediately wraps its wings around the other, and bound together they drop to the ground, not like a rock, but more slowly, like a ball of feathers. Sprawled on their backs, they begin to vigorously push against each other with their legs, as two young children might do during a session of rough play. I step closer, and again they launch themselves up into the tree. Again, one of them clings to the other, and again they float to the ground. My room is nearby, so I rush for my camera, but by the time I return, they are gone. Whether these birds are engaged in a mating ritual, or just having fun or trying to kill each other, their behavior is mesmerizing. When we watch the birds around us, we enter their world while taking a leave of absence from our world, and that is often a journey worth taking.
Other Notable Species:
WHITE-TAILED KITE (2)
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
BARN OWL
HEPATIC TANAGER
SAVANNAH SPARROW
WESTERN MEADOWLARK (7)
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE
SCOTT'S ORIOLE (2) (male and female)
LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH (3)
(January 21, 2011 – January 24, 2011)
t's 6:35am on Monday morning, about 15 minutes before sunrise, and we quietly exit the Main Lounge to begin the Woodlands Meditation Hike. At the same time, about 25 TURKEY VULTURES leave their roosting trees and fly low over our heads toward the mountain, where they circle together and gain altitude in the ridge lift. Soon, they turn downwind and glide out of sight as they begin their day. They do it all without uttering a sound, perhaps out of respect for our silent hike, but more likely due to the fact that they are not equipped with voice boxes.
Timing is everything. Minutes before the 9am Monday Bird Walk, I get the HEPATIC TANAGER in the scope. But when I turn around to share the sighting with the gathering group of guests, the tanager disappears, and we do not find it during the walk. I seem to be the only person who is disappointed, however; after all, everybody sees the BARN OWL during our walk. Therefore, the guests are happy and excited. Minutes after the walk, I store the equipment in the staff office, and as I step out the door, the Hepatic Tanager flies by and lands in a eucalyptus tree by the Activity Pool. Yep, timing is everything.
(January 14, 2011 – January 17, 2011)
Fortunately, no birds need to be rescued this week. However, with the strong easterly winds on Friday afternoon, the TURKEY VULTURES attempt risky landings on the swaying eucalyptus branches by the museum. Most of them eventually touch down and spend the night in the eucalyptus trees by the tennis courts. The HEPATIC TANAGER, the BULLOCK'S ORIOLE and the young male SCOTT'S ORIOLE are becoming fast friends. For the second Sunday in a row, I observe them feeding together, this week in the sycamore trees next to Arroyo Gym. At the beginning of the Monday morning Bird Walk, we hear the Hepatic Tanager and then spot it in the leafless tree above the Gazebo. How cool it is that one of the first birds that our novice bird watchers get to focus binoculars on also happens to be the most rare bird (that we know of) presently at the Ranch. A few minutes later, we relocate the Hepatic in the museum's eucalyptus trees, and the male Scott's Oriole is foraging nearby. At one point, all 11 of us bird watchers are able to simultaneously view the tanager and the oriole with the binoculars.
Other Birds of Note:
BARN OWL
PHAINOPEPLA
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
(January 7, 2011 – January 11, 2011)
Sunday at 1:15pm, I learn that a hawk is trapped inside the storage room in Kuchumaa Gym. It's an adult COOPER'S HAWK, a skilled and confident predator in nature, but a scared and confused creature in a building. I turn off the lights in the long, narrow room, thinking the bird might be drawn to the natural light coming from outside the door. The hawk flies and lands on top of the door, providing some hope that it might leave on its own. Instead, it sees light coming from the window, and it leaps over a huge cabinet, collides with the window and slides down, disappearing from my view. I open a folding chair, step on it and hoist myself up onto the massive piece of furniture. Lying on top of the cabinet, I look down at the most stressed out hawk I've ever seen. It's on the ledge below the window, facing out with its wings spread. It's wedged between the cabinet and the window in a space so small that it can hardly move. All it can do is shuffle sideways along the ledge, like a crab with wings. Mindful that this seemingly helpless bird might dig its talons or bill into my hand if I get too close, I cautiously reach down to release the latch that unlocks the window. Unfortunately, when I push on the glass, the window doesn't budge. To open the window, I must turn the crank at the bottom, but I can't reach the crank. The window to the left is missing its crank lever, so I'm doubtful that it will open. Nevertheless, I release its latch and push my hand against the glass, and – to my surprise – the window easily swings open. To coax the hawk toward the way out, I step down to the floor to grab a pole, and moments later when I return to the top of the cabinet, I glimpse the hawk flying out the window.
As I walk across the hardwood floor toward the exit of the large gym, I'm feeling both relieved and exhausted. A guest who has just arrived for the 2pm class and has no idea what has just happened, gives me a friendly smile and says:
"Are you staying for the Latin Dance class?"
I answer, "No, thanks. I've just had my workout for the day."
Other Notable Species:
BARN OWL
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER
HEPATIC TANAGER
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE (adult male)
SCOTT'S ORIOLE (2) first-year male and immature female
HOMO SAPIENS (29) on Friday's Bird Walk
(December 30, 2010 – January 3, 2011)
Shortly before sunset on January 1, the TURKEY VULTURES leap out of the towering eucalyptus trees by the tennis courts and the museum, fly over to the mountain and start soaring in the ridge lift. Perhaps the spontaneous group flight is their way of celebrating a new year, but whatever the reason for the aerial show, it is a spectacular sight. Before returning to roost for the night, they all glide north for a few minutes and that's when I'm able to get an accurate count of 68 birds, the most vultures I've ever seen at the Ranch.
Sunday morning before breakfast, I notice movement at the window of the small structure behind the museum. Initially, I think it's a moth, yet when I lift my binoculars to my eyes I realize it's an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD. It's repeatedly bouncing against the glass from the inside, desperately looking for a way out. When I open the door, I determine that it had entered through the open back window. The tiny bird is certain that its path to freedom is through the front window because that's where the morning light is entering the room. It can see the outside world that it wishes to rejoin, yet it is stymied by the invisible barrier made of glass. I use my hand to escort the tired hummer to the open door, and as it blasts out of the room, I believe that I hear it utter a soft "thank you."
Birds of Note:
BARN OWL
SAY'S PHOEBE
HUTTON'S VIREO
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER
HEPATIC TANAGER
