(February 26–March 1, 2010)

This week’s photo, taken December 6, 2009, features a FOX SPARROW enjoying a peaceful moment atop a bush outside Tolteca Gym. Click here for an enlarged view.

When I return to the Ranch on Friday after 3 days off, a guest tells me that she saw the young ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRDS in the nest Tuesday afternoon, yet by 10am Wednesday they were gone. So, the fledglings left the nest either on February 23 or 24. Although we miss them, we celebrate the successful raising of two tiny creatures by a remarkable mother who endured some of the wettest weather the Ranch has experienced in years. Momma hummingbird should stop by the health center and treat herself to a massage. She deserves it.

The Dove Trail, used each week for a meditation hike, is well named. On Friday morning I walk this short but scenic route, and at the inspiration point I count 22 MOURNING DOVES, which is way above my average Ranch sighting of 1 to 2 doves per week. Atop a nearby boulder, a COOPER’S HAWK silently sits; it’s probably meditating on the doves.

Other Birds of Note:
BEWICK’S WREN (gathering nesting material near the dining room)
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT
FOX SPARROW
WESTERN MEADOWLARKS (2 singing in the meadow)
LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCHES (5 feeding on sweet alyssum by the art studio)

(February 19–22, 2010)

This week’s photo, taken February 21, 2010, features the ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD twins. No doubt they are looking forward to their first flights, and a little breathing room. Click here for an enlarged view.

On Friday morning I find the largest flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS that I’ve seen so far this winter. In a tree near the Sol Villas, the Waxwings sit still long enough for me to tally all 77 of them. The lack of leaves facilitates the count. Later that morning, 22 AMERICAN ROBINS, the largest number I've witnessed this season, perch in a sycamore tree on the north side of Kuchumaa Gym.

Nest News: The COOPER’S HAWKS are building a nest in the oak grove near the labyrinth. They are familiar with the area since they have nested in this grove several times before. The RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS continue construction of their palm tree nest near the Villa Pool. As the ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD chicks grow, their living space shrinks. It’s difficult for them to move in their tiny quarters, yet they are beginning to wiggle their tails, twist their heads and stick out their tongues. They will probably leave the nest within a few days.

Other Birds of Note:
DOWNY WOODPECKER
PHAINOPEPLA
WHITE-THROATED SPARROW
WESTERN MEADOWLARK (singing!)

(February 12–15, 2010)

This week’s photo, taken February 12, 2010, features a LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH. The adult male is lingering on a branch of a fruit tree behind Kuchumaa Gym, waiting for a signal that it’s safe to return to the ground to feed. Click here for an enlarged view.

The two baby ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRDS are growing rapidly, but I have yet to obtain a decent photo of them. I will keep trying, but I better hurry. They will probably fledge within a week or so.

For several weeks now, as many as 16 LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCHES have been dining frequently on the Sweet Alyssum, a ground cover plant that grows along the track and near the Art Studio. The “Lawrence’s” are a tight bunch. They often feed together, and when people approach, the tiny yellow-winged birds usually fly to the same tree or bush and sit together until the area feels secure again. Then one by one they drop back down to the ground to eat more alyssum seeds.

Other Birds of Note:
COOPER’S HAWK
ZONE-TAILED HAWK
DOWNY WOODPECKER
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER
PHAINOPEPLA
HUTTON’S VIREO
LARK SPARROW

(February 5–8, 2010)

This week’s photo, taken east of the Quail Trail on January 31, 2010, features a ROCK WREN basking in the early morning light. Click here for an enlarged view.

Early Saturday morning an hour of steady rain gets the creek flowing swiftly, but not yet enough to add whitewater rafting to our list of activities. When the rain stops, I check on the hummingbird nest. I’m hoping to see evidence that the eggs have hatched, but instead I become concerned because the female ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD is nowhere in sight. Moments later she returns, and as she lands on the rim of the nest, a tiny head pops up with its bill aimed skyward. Somebody’s ready to be fed. With a surprising amount of force, Mom jams her bill down the baby’s throat and jerks her head up and down a few times, and then she turns to one side and feeds baby #2. Looks like the eggs have hatched. Hopefully, I will have a photo to share with you next week.

For over 90 minutes during and after Sunday’s 3pm Bird Walk, the juvenile ZONE-TAILED HAWK puts on an amazing display above the track as it soars, circles, banks, tucks and dives, sometimes while being chased by AMERICAN CROWS. Occasionally, it disappears from view, and then just when you think the show is over, the Zone-tail reappears above our heads.

Other Birds of Note:
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER
ROCK WREN
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW
PURPLE FINCH
LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCHES (15!)

(January 29–February 1, 2010)

It’s 3:50pm on Friday, and the sky is loaded with large birds circling effortlessly above the track. 15 TURKEY VULTURES dominate the scene, but a few COMMON RAVENS, a RED–TAILED HAWK and a RED–SHOULDERED HAWK also join in the fun. Some soar high, some fly low, but few are flapping their wings. As we enjoy this amazing sight, we notice an AMERICAN CROW dive–bombing one of the Turkey Vultures, and we wonder why it has singled out that particular vulture.

The reason is because “that particular vulture” is not a vulture; it’s the ZONE–TAILED HAWK that’s been associating with the vultures. Thanks to the crow for helping us locate the rare hawk. Sunday afternoon I return to the track, hoping to see a repeat of Friday’s aerial circus. Only a few vultures are soaring this day, and there’s no sign of the Zone–tail.

However, a flock of 15 LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCHES entertain us as they land for a few seconds in a bush, then explode out and quickly descend on another plant along the edge of the track. Thanks to a tip from a guest, we have learned that the RED–SHOULDERED HAWKS are building a nest in a palm tree by the villa pool.

Other Birds of Note:
GREATER ROADRUNNER
DOWNY WOODPECKER
HUTTON’S VIREO
WHITE–THROATED SPARROW
PURPLE FINCH

(January 22–25, 2010)

My vote for Mother of the Year is the ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD that is still sitting on her nest, despite 6 straight days of heavy rain. As if that wasn’t enough excitement for her, she also endured a bit of hail, thunder and lightning. The waterlogged parent–to–be has been on the nest for 2 weeks, so her eggs could hatch any day now.

The rare ZONE–TAILED HAWK continues to hang out with the TURKEY VULTURES, and for good reason.

Small birds know that vultures are not a threat to them, yet the similar–looking Zone–tail blends in with the vultures and waits for an opportunity.

Other Species of Note:

• GOLDEN–CROWNED SPARROW (singing its “oh, poor me” song)
• WESTERN MEADOWLARK
• LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH
• CHIPPING SPARROW

(January 15–18, 2010)

The female ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD now spends most of the day on her nest. Occasionally she takes a break to grab a quick meal, since she has yet to find a restaurant that delivers. In other hummingbird news, on January 17th, behind Kuchumaa Gym, I am surprised to find an adult male COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD, the first Costa’s that I’ve ever observed here in winter. WESTERN BLUEBIRDS are frequenting the nesting cavity in the utility pole by my room. One of them even shows up with nesting material in its bill. Do the bluebirds intend to move in? Will the regular residents, the starlings, kick them out? Will the original architects of the abode, the Acorn Woodpeckers, set up residence while the bluebirds and starlings are battling each other?

Stay tuned for answers to these questions, and more, as the story develops.

Birds of Note:
DOWNY WOODPECKER
RED–NAPED SAPSUCKER
GOLDEN–CROWNED SPARROW
WHITE–THROATED SPARROW
PURPLE FINCH

(January 8–11, 2010)

The female ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRD has completed her nest, which is adorned with lichen and bound together with spider webs. She’s now sitting on her future family’s new home. Rumor has it that the furniture has been ordered, but it hasn’t arrived yet. Friday morning, just before sunrise, 3 AMERICAN CROWS chase a large and very dark bird across the south vineyard and directly over my head. In the dim light conditions, the target bird looks like a Turkey Vulture. The Crows soon stop their pursuit, and the bird comes back into view, close enough for me to realize that it’s a ZONE–TAILED HAWK, the first one I’ve ever seen at the Ranch. During the Sunday afternoon Bird Walk we observe the Zone–tail, along with a large group of TURKEY VULTURES, as they soar high above Kuchumaa Gym.

Other Birds of Note:
AMERICAN KESTREL
SAY’S PHOEBE
LINCOLN’S SPARROW
BREWER’S BLACKBIRD
PURPLE FINCH

(January 1–4, 2010)

Early Saturday morning in the grasslands north of the SoI Villas, I slowly approach the large flock of LARK SPARROWS that I’ve seen before. I hope for a close up photo of one of our most beautiful sparrows, but the last time I tried, the flock flew before I could get close. Sure enough, the 35 birds take flight and settle down farther away. But wait a minute. Only 34 Lark Sparrows have moved on. One brave or foolish bird remains, staring at me suspiciously as I fire off a few photos.

As we enter the oak grove on our return from the Saturday afternoon hike, two adult RED–SHOULDERED HAWKS sit side–by–side on a low branch in an oak tree near the labyrinth. They seem to be having an intimate conversation. Perhaps they are discussing how large a family they hope for in the spring.

Speaking of matters of the nest, on Monday morning a hummingbird with fuzzy material in its bill, leads me to its nest, which is under construction on a small branch near my room. It will be exciting to watch developments in the upcoming days and weeks.

Other Birds of Note:
SHARP–SHINNED HAWK
ORANGE–CROWNED WARBLER
WHITE–THROATED SPARROW
PURPLE FINCH
LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH

As of January 1st, I am reporting Ranch bird observations to eBird, which gathers information on bird populations and distribution. To view my checklists: go to eBird.org

after you register, click on View and Explore Data
click on “top 100” click on “United States” and scroll up to “Mexico”
click on “State/Province” and scroll to “ Baja California”
click on “87” Species (or whatever the current Baja count is), and you will see my checklists.

Also explore data in your own state and county. I think you will find eBird to be quite fascinating.

(Central Florida Bird Report: December 23–27, 2009)

If you are ever in Central Florida in the winter, take a drive (with your binoculars, of course) along the Black Point Wildlife Drive, which is part of the Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge. Another easy, drive–by birding site is Blue Heron Water Reclamation & Wetland Area (Titusville). As we enter the Reclamation & Wetland Area, 5 beautiful birds (a SNOWY EGRET, an ANHINGA, a TRI–COLORED HERON, a GREAT BLUE HERON and a LITTLE BLUE HERON) greet us by lining up in a row on raised posts.

Along the Scrub Ridge Trail on Merritt Island, I find my one Life Bird of the trip, the FLORIDA SCRUB–JAY. Although it closely resembles our Western Scrub–Jay, because of its whitish forehead and gray back, the Florida bird appears elderly. Perhaps it should be called the Senior Citizen Scrub–Jay.

Other Birds of Note:

REDDISH EGRET
WOOD STORK
HOODED MERGANSER
BLACK VULTURE
COMMON GROUND–DOVE
RED–BELLIED WOODPECKER
WHITE–EYED VIREO
BLUE–HEADED VIREO
PALM WARBLER
PINE WARBLER
BLACK–AND–WHITE WARBLER
YELLOW–THROATED WARBLER

I wish everyone a Happy New Bird in 2010.

(December 18–21, 2009)

We are treated to several “Birding Moments” during Saturday morning’s Bird Walk, and all the action occurs in front of the museum. At eye level we get amazingly long looks at an ORANGE–CROWNED WARBLER and a RUBY–CROWNED KINGLET as they search from leaf to leaf for insects in a nearby tree. On the ground 2 CALFORNIA THRASHERS demonstrate different foraging techniques with their long, curved bills. One of them digs a hole, while the other thrasher tosses leaf litter in all directions.

But 2 NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS steal the show. They stand face to face and begin to copy each other’s movements. When one of the mockingbirds hops to the side, the other bird hops to that side. When one of them jumps in the air, the other one jumps in the air. When one of them crouches, the other one crouches.

I read on the internet (so it must be true) that the mockingbirds may be having a territorial dispute. However, I suspect they are mocking the famous Marx Brothers comedy routine where Groucho and Harpo face off and mirror each other’s movements.

Other Birds of Note:
WESTERN BLUEBIRD
PHAINOPEPLA
LINCOLN’S SPARROW
GOLDEN–CROWNED SPARROW
BULLOCK’S ORIOLE (adult male)
LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH (adult male)

Next week’s bird report will originate from Titusville, Florida, where I will be spending the holiday with my brother and his family.

Happy holidays and happy birding, to all of you.

(December 11–14, 2009)

During the Tour on Saturday afternoon, the new guests and I are standing on the track outside Montana Gym. The sun has just set. WHITE–CROWNED SPARROWS are gathering, as they do every evening at dusk, in the dome–shaped bush above the entrance to Montana Gym, where they excitedly sing and converse with each other about their day. The volume of the chorus is so high that I have to raise my voice to be heard by the guests. I’m tempted to yell at the chatty sparrows, “Hey, can you keep it down for a few minutes, please?” The birds are a delightful distraction. On Sunday’s Bird Walk, between Kuchumaa and Montana Gyms, the low afternoon sun brightens the colors of a LESSER GOLDFINCH and an AMERICAN GOLDFINCH that are relaxing high up in a leafless tree. Also, in the same tree we spot a female PURPLE FINCH, my 105th species of the year.

Other Birds of Note:
RED–SHOULDERED HAWK
YELLOW–SHAFTED X RED–SHAFTED FLICKER
CASSIN’S KINGBIRD
HERMIT THRUSH
WHITE–THROATED SPARROW

(December 4–7, 2009)

Friday afternoon, east of the Quail Trail, we watch the LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE pose in the same tree as last week, and we notice movement in the tall grass between the Shrike and us. A GREATER ROADRUNNER slowly wanders by, repeatedly raising and lowering its foot–long tail. It also raises and lowers its crest a few times. We are so entranced by the bizarre behavior of the cartoon bird, we completely forget about the Shrike.

The Ranch is hosting 2 rare birds this week. The WHITE–THROATED SPARROW continues for at least its sixth consecutive week, and a YELLOW–SHAFTED race of NORTHERN FLICKER, usually found in the east, appears Sunday morning in a tree outside the Art Studio.

Other Birds of Note:
LARK SPARROW (40)
CHIPPING SPARROW (10)
WESTERN MEADOWLARK (7)
BULLOCK’S ORIOLE (adult male)

(November 27–November 30, 2009)

During the Friday morning Bird Walk 3 or 4 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS gather in a tree near the south vineyard bluebird box, and one of them even lands briefly on the box itself. Hopefully, they will use it for nesting in the spring.

On Saturday the Ranch enjoys a glorious day of rain. Not just a light drizzle, but significant streams of liquid sunshine fall from the sky much of the day. At 9am it’s raining, and 2 serious (not TOO serious, but TWO serious) bird–watchers show up for the morning walk. Soon the rain stops for a while, and dozens of hungry birds scamper out of the bushes to work the moist ground in search of food. In the south vineyard 15 – 20 WHITE–CROWNED SPARROWS appear, joined by 8 – 10 DARK–EYED JUNCOS, several YELLOW–RUMPED WARBLERS and the single wintering WHITE–THROATED SPARROW.

Sunday morning, in the grasslands near the Quail Trail, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, my first at the Ranch in 4 1/2 years and my 102nd species of the year, poses in a leafless tree. Late that afternoon a high–flying GREAT BLUE HERON passes over the Ranch, and that’s #103 for 2009.

(November 20–November 23, 2009)

ACORN WOODPECKERS are storing acorns in the palm trees just east of the Activity Pool. They pluck the acorns out of the live oak trees just west of the pool, then fly a straight line to the palm trees at the other end of the pool. Then they return to the oaks and repeat over and over again. They probably complete more laps in the air than Michael Phelps does in a pool.

On a breezy afternoon we stroll along the east side of the track and watch RED–TAILED HAWKS and COMMON RAVENS soar the ridge lift on the mountain. An alert birdwatcher in our group spots a dozen CEDAR WAXWINGS clinging tightly to the thin branches of a leafless tree behind Montana Gym, and everyone gets a good look through the scope.

Other Birds of Note:
AMERICAN KESTREL
GREATER ROADRUNNER
WESTERN BLUEBIRD
WHITE–THROATED SPARROW
GOLDEN–CROWNED SPARROW
LINCOLN’S SPARROW
LARK SPARROW

 

(November 13–November 16, 2009)

Our rare WHITE–THROATED SPARROW continues to hang out with its WHITE–CROWNED SPARROW friends, and we spot it during both Friday’s and Monday’s Bird Walks. Not everyone sees it, however, so I urge everybody to scan the ground for the sparrow with the white throat. “I see it,” remarks a woman in our group.

Actually, she finds a LINCOLN’S SPARROW instead (which, to some extent, also sports a white throat). Her misidentification is not a problem at all because her efforts add an uncommon species to our morning search for interesting birds. Twice this week, some of the best birding happens before the Bird Walk begins. Sunday afternoon, from the lawn by the gazebo, we notice 2 ACORN WOODPECKERS clinging to the bare branches atop the eucalyptus tree by the museum. Then a 3rd woodpecker flies in, then a 4th, and as everyone frantically reaches for binoculars, a 5th Acorn Woodpecker velcroes itself to a branch. More pre–birding excitement occurs just before Monday’s Bird Walk. A SAY’S PHOEBE lands in a tree outside the Main Lounge, then a RED–NAPED SAPSUCKER flies in to the same tree. We enjoy 2 unusual birds we hardly ever see during a Bird Walk, and we haven’t even left the Gazebo.

Other Birds of Note:
ROCK WRENS (common on the Meditation Hike)
CEDAR WAXWINGS (a flock of 15–20)
TOWNSEND’S WARBLER
LARK SPARROW
FOX SPARROW

(November 6–November 9, 2009)

West of the art studio on Friday’s Bird Walk, we stumble upon a small flock of WHITE–CROWNED SPARROWS feeding on the ground in the vineyard. Mixed in with the White–Crowns is a WHITE–THROATED SPARROW, probably the same rare bird seen last week. A few guests from the east coast comment that they are quite familiar with that species back home.

Friday afternoon as I stroll along the old Meadow Trail, about 40 LARK SPARROWS explode off the ground and fly 100 feet to a nearby tree. Although birders sometimes struggle to tell one sparrow species from another, if you get a good look at the strikingly beautiful facial pattern of a Lark Sparrow, then you really can’t mistake that bird for any other sparrow.

Other Notable Sights and Sounds:
BARN OWL (heard)
RED–NAPED SAPSUCKER
CASSIN’S KINGBIRD
FOX SPARROW
GOLDEN–CROWNED SPARROW

(October 30–November 2, 2009)

Early Sunday morning between the Activity Pool and Azteca Weight Room, a mixed flock of 8–10 YELLOW–RUMPED WARBLERS and WHITE–CROWNED SPARROWS busily feeds on the ground. But one of the sparrows is not a White–crown. It’s stockier, has a darker bill, a white throat, and yellow in front of its eyes. It’s a WHITE–THROATED SPARROW, my 100th Ranch bird of 2009.

Later that same morning, a ROCK WREN perches on the roof of my room, perhaps the same bird that hopped onto my patio wall a few weeks ago. I may have a Rock Wren residing in my neighborhood, and I’m ok with that. Usually you must hike the mountain or do the Quail Hike to observe a Rock Wren. Luckily, I could see one right outside my door.

Other Birds of Note:
GOLDEN–CROWNED SPARROW
LARK SPARROW
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH

(October 23–October 26, 2009)

This is one of those weeks when it seems like anything could show up. Early Friday morning, my first day back after 3 days in San Diego, I catch a glimpse of a large white bird flying by the museum. It’s my first SNOWY EGRET at the Ranch. I learn later that guests saw it the day before hanging out at the Activity Pool, the Villa Pool, the dining room pond, and even at the fountain on the west patio of the dining room.

Above the south vineyard during Friday’s Bird Walk, a EUROPEAN STARLING and an ACORN WOODPECKER aggressively chase a green, long–tailed parrot off our property. Although I have no idea what species of parrot it is, it must be a released or escaped pet.

During the Saturday morning Bird Walk, we spot a large sparrow–like bird on the brick path by the laundry room. It has a reddish cap, a white throat and greenish wings and tail. It’s the first GREEN–TAILED TOWHEE I’ve seen at the Ranch in 3 ½ years, and it’s my 99th Ranch bird of the year.

Other Birds of Note:

RED–BREASTED SAPSUCKER (first of season)
AMERICAN ROBIN (first of season)
HUTTON’S VIREO
WESTERN TANAGER (male)
GOLDEN–CROWNED SPARROW (first of season)

(October 16–October 19, 2009)

Friday morning, just after sunrise, I am walking through the oak grove south of the Activity Pool. A small bird is moving quickly from branch to branch, while fanning its tail feathers and swinging its tail from side to side. It’s a PAINTED REDSTART, a warbler more likely found in Southeast Arizona and south to Nicaragua. It’s very rare in this area, and it’s a new Ranch bird for me.

WHITE–CROWNED SPARROWS are now here in big numbers, singing their lovely melody throughout the Ranch. Many YELLOW–RUMPED WARBLERS have also arrived for their winter stay, and their ‘snip’ call is as common as the White–crowns’ song.

Sunday afternoon we are watching 30 to 40 birds at the feeders by the mountain hike stretch bars. Out of nowhere a juvenile COOPER’S HAWK sweeps in with incredible speed and tries to snatch anything wearing feathers. Although it fails in its attempt, it does change the mood of the area. The instant the hawk appears, birds scatter in every direction into the bushes and trees, and the scene becomes very, very quiet.

Other Species of Note:
SAY’S PHOEBE
HERMIT THRUSH
CEDAR WAXWING (15) (first of season)
LINCOLN’S SPARROW
CHIPPING SPARROW (first of season)
BULLOCK’S ORIOLE (2)
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (3) (first of season)

(New York City Bird Report: October 8–October 11, 2009)

This past week, instead of spending my usual 4 days at the Ranch, I spent 4 full days in the Big Apple, visiting friends, enjoying the city and watching birds in Central Park. Birding in the Park is excellent in the spring and the fall, and the local birders are plentiful, friendly and very knowledgeable. The next time you’re in New York, for a good time, visit the park. For a great time, bring binoculars with you.

Often what is common in the east is uncommon out west, and vice versa. WHITE–THROATED SPARROWS are abundant in Central Park, but rare at Rancho La Puerta. WHITE–CROWNED SPARROWS are numerous at the Ranch right now, yet we only saw one in New York.

The Park is a wonderful place to observe thrushes. I saw 6 kinds, including a GRAY–CHEEKED THRUSH, my one life bird of the trip. I identified 13 warbler species, including PINE, PALM, NORTHERN PARULA, BLACK–THROATED GREEN and BLACK–THROATED BLUE. Most birds are not singing this time of year, and many are not wearing their colorful breeding plumage, so it can be more difficult in the fall to determine what you are seeing. But it’s fun to try, and if I didn’t like a good challenge, I wouldn’t be a birder.

(October 2–October 5, 2009)

Impressive numbers of birds and bird–watchers gather this week for fall migration. Despite cold, blustery conditions during Sunday’s afternoon Bird Walk, 17 guests attend and enjoy high–flying TURKEY VULTURES, COMMON RAVENS and a RED–TAILED HAWK. The large soaring birds seem quite content with the windy weather.

Monday morning blesses us with still air, clear skies, 13 budding birders and almost too many birds to count (but we’re not complaining). We find plenty of action at the north end of the track, including a family of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, a singing CALIFORNIA THRASHER, a flock of 10–12 CASSIN’S KINGBIRDS performing an aerial ballet above Montana Gym, the first PHAINOPEPLA I’ve seen in nearly 2 months, and my first SAY’S PHOEBE of the season (my 95th species of the year).

The highlight on Monday’s Bird Walk is a brightly colored male WESTERN TANAGER perching and posing in an olive tree next to Kuchumaa Gym.

Other Notable Species this Week:
BARN OWL (heard on Friday and Saturday night)
RUBY–CROWNED KINGLET (first of season)
LINCOLN’S SPARROW (first of season)

(September 25–September 28, 2009)

On Friday, after a morning of roaming the Ranch to photograph birds, I return to my room to transfer my images from camera to computer. I’m quite surprised when a BLACK–THROATED SPARROW appears on my monitor because I have never seen this species at the Ranch before, AND I do not remember taking those shots! It’s as if someone snuck into my room, grabbed my camera, raced outside, snapped a few fast photos, and then returned my camera before I noticed it missing. I eventually conclude that I probably took the pictures.

After the First–Timers Lunch on Sunday I escort 6 guests to the Villas Health Center for a tour of that beautiful facility. As we approach the building, a TOWNSEND’S WARBLER dangles from a branch of a California pepper tree that stretches over the path. We pause to admire one of the most attractive birds that migrate through the Ranch. Then the warbler comes closer. It’s now 8 feet away, and we are getting stunning looks at the bird’s brilliant colors. If we had binoculars, we would be too close to focus them on the bird. It’s weird and wonderful that the best birding moment of the week occurs in the middle of a warm day and involves a small, elusive bird and a non–birding group without binoculars.

Birds of Note:
WHITE–CROWNED SPARROW (first of season)
DARK–EYED JUNCO (first of season)
FOX SPARROW (first of season)
ROCK WREN (on my patio)

(September 18–September 21, 2009)

A popular feeding area Friday morning is the group of eucalyptus trees by the museum. Foraging high in the towering trees are numerous WESTERN TANAGERS and one SUMMER TANAGER, probably the same orange and yellow individual seen 2 weeks ago. Also present are a few WESTERN SCRUB–JAYS, several ORANGE–CROWNED WARBLERS and WILSON’S WARBLERS, and the first TOWNSEND’S WARBLER and the first YELLOW–RUMPED WARBLER that I have seen this fall. The Townsend’s is probably migrating farther south, while the Yellow–Rump may be arriving for the winter.

On 2 occasions this week by the dining room pond, I hear and then see a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, a bird that has not been common during the past few months. Monday morning while we are hiking the Quail 1 trail, we spot a GREATER ROADRUNNER posing atop a large rock off to the east. Clearly, from that high point the Roadrunner is surveying its vast kingdom below.

Other Species of Note:
WILLOW FLYCATCHER
WRENTIT
BLUE–GRAY GNATCATCHER
WESTERN BLUEBIRD
HUTTON’S VIREO

(September 11–September 14, 2009)

On Friday morning a male ROSE–BREASTED GROSBEAK feeds in the eucalyptus tree outside the laundry room. It’s probably the same rarity from the east that was seen here in July and August. If it is, it’s losing its breeding plumage. The pink on its breast is fading, and it now has a pronounced white line above its eye that it didn’t have in August.

Fall migration is heating up. Friday afternoon near my room, I find my first MACGILLIVRAY’S WARBLER in 3 ½ years. Other migrants include: WILSON’S WARBLER, BLACK–THROATED GRAY WARBLER, YELLOW WARBLER and several WARBLING VIREOS. Well before first light on Saturday morning we hear a WESTERN SCREECH OWL near Kuchumaa Passage. Because owls work the night shift, they can be incredibly secretive and mysterious, so it’s quite a surprise Monday morning, 2 hours after sunrise, when I spot 2 AMERICAN CROWS chasing a BARN OWL above the Central Pool.

Possibly the owl was trying to snooze in a nearby tree, the crows found it and they decided that the owl would sleep more soundly somewhere else.

(September 4–September 7, 2009)

In the open field to the east of the Quail hike, we get great looks at a GREATER ROADRUNNER. How could any sighting of a Roadrunner be less than great? While the cartoon character bird comically wanders around the area in search of a meal, it repeatedly raises and lowers its incredibly long tail. Sometimes when the Roadrunner disappears behind a bush for a few moments, its vertical tail is still in sight, just as the mast of a ship may remain visible after the ship has disappeared below the horizon.

Near the dining room pond, a small light–colored bird flies from a tree into a bush, then onward to the top of a large granite rock. It’s a ROCK WREN. While it’s not unusual to see it on a rock, it is a pleasant surprise to see a Rock Wren in the main area of the Ranch.

This week I add 2 new species to my Year List. As we step out of the gazebo to begin the Bird Walk on Friday morning, a SUMMER TANAGER with orange splotches poses for a moment in the tree above the gazebo. It’s my 89th species of 2009. On Monday morning behind my room, I get #90 when 3 BLUE–GRAY GNATCATCHERS playfully leap from branch to branch in a bush just a few feet from my face. As luck would have it, my camera is safely stored in my room at the time, so the only photo I capture is in my mind.

Other Birds of Note:
CASSIN’S KINGBIRD
WESTERN BLUEBIRD
HUTTON’S VIREO
WARBLING VIREO

(August 28–August 31, 2009)

Early one morning I am standing at the dining room pond, scanning the shrubbery and looking for movement that might indicate a bird is foraging amongst the foliage. Nothing’s happening. But upon closer inspection I notice 3 birds sitting motionless in a small bush, and with my binoculars I identify them as a WRENTIT, a SONG SPARROW and a YELLOW–BREASTED CHAT. The shy and beautiful Chat is a delightful surprise. Seeing movement often helps us find birds, but sometimes we have to peer deeper to discover something special.

One evening at dusk, more than 30 CALIFORNIA QUAIL gather on the lawn near the bird feeders. Although a group of Quail is called a covey, this gathering resembles a convention. About half of them begin to move, marching across the dry creek bed toward their nighttime roost, a large oak tree near the quote board.

Saturday afternoon we are standing at the Miracle Oak Tree, our first stop during the tour for our new guests. A juvenile COOPER’S HAWK swoops down, lands in a nearby pine tree, and stares at us. I point the bird out to the guests, and I ask them if they know what type of food that hawk likes to eat.

One of the guests responds, “Tourists?”

Other Birds of Note:
WILLOW FLYCATCHER
WESTERN BLUEBIRD

(August 21–August 24, 2009)

This time of year our guests eat most evening meals on the outside patios of the dining room. Those who dine on the east patio enjoy watching the ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRDS, especially when the avian dynamos land on the rim of the fountain and bathe.

Meanwhile, behind the Main Lounge, hummingbirds are attracted to another watery work of art. It’s a magnificent life–size sculpture depicting two women. One woman is standing, the other is sitting, and each woman is pouring water from a pot in her hands. A few Anna’s Hummingbirds routinely zoom over to the standing woman’s pot, hover next to the cascade of water and take a drink.

One morning a guest is standing motionless on the path. She is staring at a hummingbird while it floats in mid–air at the waterfall created by the art piece. This woman is absolutely mesmerized by what she sees. She is so engrossed in the hummer’s drinking technique that she fails to notice that I’m standing a few feet away watching her watch the bird. Maybe she’s on her way to her next class; maybe she has a massage appointment in a few minutes. But at this moment, nothing else matters to her. She’s in the zone.

Other Notable Species:
RUFOUS/ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD
ASH–THROATED FLYCATCHER
WESTERN BLUEBIRD
BLACK–THROATED GRAY WARBLER
YELLOW–BREASTED CHAT

(August 14–August 17, 2009)

On Thursday evening, while we are enjoying dinner and a comfortable climate on the outdoor patio of the dining room, a GREEN HERON flies by. It’s the 86th species I’ve identified at the Ranch this year, and it is no big surprise that it’s winging its way toward the dining room pond. The next morning we visit the pond to look for the heron, but we arrive just in time to see it flying away. Probably, someone walking on the pathway spooked it.

On Friday I spot a pair of AMERICAN KESTRELS, my 87th species of 2009. The next day a Kestrel soars above our heads while we are birding by the south vineyard. Then on Sunday we observe another Kestrel (or one of the same individuals) perched atop a leafless tree just north of the Villas Sol. It’s interesting how a species can elude you for 7 ½ months, and then appear in plain view 3 days in a row.

ORANGE–CROWNED WARBLERS are a common bird this week. In fact, a few are seen frequently on the rosemary bushes behind the Main Lounge. In the pepper tree outside my room I hear and then see my first WILSON’S WARBLER of fall migration (one week earlier than past years).

2 fledgling ACORN WOODPECKERS playfully follow the adults from sycamore trees to eucalyptus trees and back to the sycamores. This is the third year in a row I have observed an increase in our Acorn Woodpecker population, and it’s a delight to observe these clown–faced birds on a more frequent basis.

(August 7–August 10, 2009)

On Friday morning the ROSE–BREASTED GROSBEAK poses for a few seconds in the sycamore tree by the Activity Pool. This vagrant from eastern North America, first seen and photographed by a Ranch guest on July 3, has blessed us with its presence for at least 5 weeks so far.

On the Sunday afternoon Bird Walk we sight two of the most colorful birds that ever visit the Ranch, an adult male HOODED ORIOLE and an adult male WESTERN TANAGER. Both beauties are attending the Grape Festival, which is now in its third week.

A well–humored guest arrives at the Gazebo for her first Bird Walk with a smiling, long–necked creature cradled in her arms. It’s the inflatable subspecies of Flamingo. She places the large pink bird in the agave plant next to the Gazebo so I can take a photo of it in its “natural” habitat. Unfortunately, it suffers a puncture wound and partially deflates. But our saga ends well. Through the miracle of duct tape, the wound is patched and the flamingo inflates to live another day.

Other Birds of Note:
LESSER NIGHTHAWK
DOWNY WOODPECKER (heard)
WHITE–BREASTED NUTHATCH
PHAINOPEPLA
ORANGE–CROWNED WARBLER

(July 31–August 3, 2009)

2 families of CALIFORNIA QUAIL have joined forces, creating a covey of 14 young and 4 adults. Apparently, it takes a village to raise baby quail. One of their favorite feeding areas is the lawn outside Montana Gym.

The Grape Festival continues in the South Vineyard, with ACORN WOODPECKERS and EUROPEAN STARLINGS joining the BLACK–HEADED GROSBEAKS, HOODED and BULLOCK’S ORIOLES, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS and WESTERN TANAGERS.

The CALIFORNIA TOWHEE is a rather drab–looking bird, since it’s basically a plain brown bird. Yet one individual at the Ranch stands out from the crowd because a white feather is growing out of its body. The bird frequently feeds on the grass below the feeders, so we see this unique bird fairly often.

Other Birds of Note:
BARN OWL (heard)
RUFOUS/ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD
ASH–THROATED FLYCATCHER
BULLOCK’S ORIOLE

(July 24–27, 2009)

Our 2009 Grape Festival has begun in the vineyard just north of the new Activity Pool. This annual event is strictly for the birds. Participants fly in from all directions, and this year’s list of attendees (so far) include BLACK–HEADED GROSBEAKS, HOODED and BULLOCK’S ORIOLES, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS, WESTERN TANAGERS, NORTHERN FLICKERS and HOUSE FINCHES. On Friday I am standing on the festival grounds and photographing a Western Tanager that has just flown down to a grapevine, when out of the corner of my eye I notice a pinkish–colored bird landing to my left. I swivel my head to look, and I see perched on a vine a rare visitor from the eastern side of the continent. The ROSE–BREASTED GROSBEAK stares back at me while I take a few photos. It may win the prize for traveling the greatest distance to the festival.

Other Birds of Note:
ROCK WREN
CANYON WREN (heard)
BLUE GROSBEAK

(July 17–20, 2009)

We continue to observe young birds, including CALIFORNIA QUAIL, CALIFORNIA TOWHEES, SPOTTED TOWHEES, BEWICK’S WRENS, and WESTERN SCRUB–JAYS. Friday afternoon I spot 8 fledgling bird–watchers, ages 8 to 13, at the Gazebo. Actually, they happen to be children of Ranch employees, and I have the pleasure of leading a Bird Walk just for them. I notice 2 distinct differences between the kids’ approach to birding compared to my typical adult group. The children do not wait for me to find the birds for them. They are noticing birds (as well as lizards, butterflies, squirrels and rabbits) long before I find them myself. Also, when they make a discovery, they get more outwardly excited than the adults usually do. After the kids spot something, they tend to shake and point and jump up and down and start screaming. Although the children thoroughly enjoy the birds, they seem to be even more thrilled about seeing the rabbits, and I’m ok with that.

Other Birds of Note:
DOWNY WOODPECKER (heard)
ROCK WREN (heard)
YELLOW WARBLER

(July 10–13, 2009)

Humans could learn a lot from quail. Take our local covey of 12 CALIFORNIA QUAIL, for example. The group’s organized and disciplined family structure is quite impressive. When the 10 young quail feed, an adult perches above ground and stands guard. When the family travels, mom and dad provide supervision at the front and also at the back of the pack, similar to our leader and shepherd system on our hikes. A safe haven of thick brush always seems to be nearby for the quail, and when danger looms, the youngsters dart into the middle of the densest vegetation available and remain still and quiet until the threat passes. I know many human parents who would be grateful if they could keep their kids still and quiet for even a few moments.

In the willows south of the sand volleyball court, I hear a new Ranch bird for me, a BELL’S VIREO. Coincidently, after breakfast that same morning I hear another Bell’s Vireo behind Kuchumaa Gym.

Other Birds of Note:
EURASIAN COLLARED–DOVE
ASH–THROATED FLYCATCHER
HOODED ORIOLE
BLUE GROSBEAK (singing its sweet song each morning in the Arboles area)
LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH

(July 3–6, 2009)

On a warm afternoon a flock of 20 BUSHTITS play at a tiny sprinkler on the ground near the wooden bridge. Ok, maybe they’re actually hydrating themselves to cool off, but to me it looks as if they’re simply having fun. As I attempt to walk by, the entire flock explodes into the air and lands on the lower branches of a live oak.

While I stand still and watch this extremely sociable species gather in the tree, a brave Bushtit returns to the sprinkler to “play,” even though my 2 feet are only 2 feet from the spray of water. Then a second Bushtit drops down to their play station, then a third and then a fourth. Soon, they all completely ignore me and resume their good times together.

On Friday a guest (who also happens to be an experienced birder) spots an adult male ROSE–BREASTED GROSBEAK in the large oak tree that hosts the bird feeders. She even gets a photo to verify her sighting. It has been 6 years since I’ve seen an adult male Rose–breasted Grosbeak at the Ranch, so I scan the area the next few days in search of this rare visitor, but without success.

Other Notable Winged Species:
HUTTON’S VIREO
YELLOW WARBLER
ORANGE–CROWNED WARBLER
RUFOUS–CROWNED SPARROW
LARK SPARROW
BLUE–EYED DARNER (dragonfly)

(June 26–29, 2009)

The Season of Young Birds continues. When I arrive at Montana Gym to teach Friday’s Restorative Yoga class, a guest is staring out the north window at 4 tiny and adorable baby CALIFORNIA QUAIL as they unsuccessfully attempt to jump up from the patio to a ledge. The parents stand nearby and demonstrate great patience, knowing that while their little ones are struggling, they are learning at the same time.

An adult male LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH feeds a fledgling on the forest floor of the oak grove north of the labyrinth. Nearby a fledgling COOPER’S HAWK perches in a sycamore tree and preens. Later that day one of the 2 fledgling RED–SHOULDERED HAWKS loiters in the eucalyptus tree outside the laundry room and screams repeatedly, as Red–shouldered Hawks tend to do. In a willow tree next to the Main Lounge, a NUTTALL’S WOODPECKER chick, sporting the red cap of a male, pokes its head out of the cavity hole.

Other Birds of Note:
NIGHTHAWK
ROCK WREN
WESTERN BLUEBIRD
YELLOW–BREASTED CHAT (heard)
BLACK–HEADED GROSBEAK
BLUE GROSBEAK

(June 19–22, 2009)

Behind Kuchumaa Gym, an adult male CALIFORNIA QUAIL sprints across the brick path, followed closely by 10 baby quail that must run even faster to keep up with Dad since they suffer from Short Leg Syndrome. After a 5–second pause, an 11th baby darts across the path with Momma Quail right behind it.

Two mornings in a row near Kuchumaa Passage, two fledgling COOPER’S HAWKS perch high in a sycamore tree and realign their feathers as we stride past during the start of the hikes. Later in the week we find 4 fledgling Coopers hanging out in the oak grove. Most likely the 2 we saw earlier are part of this gang of 4.

Speaking of babies, the male and female NUTTALL’S WOODPECKERS continue to deliver insects to their tree cavity nest outside the Main Lounge. We can hear the young woodpeckers beg for food. Soon, they will crawl out of the hole and begin to explore their new world. Hopefully we’ll be there to witness the event.

Because of my work schedule I seldom get to visit our Organic Garden, but on Saturday morning I make the 4–mile round trip trek. At the garden or along the way we find NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS, BLACK–HEADED GROSBEAKS, a LARK SPARROW, a BLUE GROSBEAK, a WHITE–THROATED SWIFT and 2 GREATER ROADRUNNERS, my first Roadrunners of the year.

Other Birds of Note:
BLACK–CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
ROCK WREN
YELLOW WARBLER (heard)
YELLOW–BREASTED CHAT (heard)
BULLOCK’S ORIOLE
LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH

(June 18, 2009)

This time of year LESSER NIGHTHAWKS are seen occasionally at dusk flying low over the Ranch. Recently, while I am taking a post–dinner stroll just beyond the oak grove, a nighthawk pops up and flies right by me. Because of its silent flight and tendency to be active in faint light conditions, a nighthawk is as special and mysterious to me as an owl. A RED–TAILED HAWK, with a squirrel in its talons, soars high above Alex’s Oak Tree. Maybe the rodent is a meal for a brood of Red–tails. I often wonder where our Red–tails nest each year. The fact that the Red–shouldered Hawks always nest in the center of the Ranch may be one reason that the Red–tailed Hawks choose to raise their young elsewhere.

The trumpet vine atop the dining room is beginning to flower, and it’s no coincidence that the hummingbird traffic is increasing significantly at the dining hall. Our smallest birds like to hang out where we humans like to hang out, and for the same reason. It’s all about the food.

(June 5–June 8, 2009)

The 2 fledgling RED–SHOULDERED HAWKS are doing well. The older one is already displaying the flying skills of an adult. The younger hawk also looks impressive in the air; however, it doesn’t yet project the confidence of its more mature sibling. Now, as I think back to last year’s batch of 3 Red–shouldered Hawks, I conclude that their living space was quite crowded and the scene was often chaotic. This year’s brood of 2 fits better in that modest–sized nest. Two is company; three’s a crowd.

More Nesting News:

It’s exciting for us when birds decide to raise their young right in front of us. A female NUTTALL’S WOODPECKER, with an insect in its bill, flies into a cavity in a willow tree just outside the back door of the Main Lounge. Meanwhile, a pair of PHAINOPEPLAS is nesting deep in a bush outside the entrance of Pine Tree Gym. We often hear their soft, single–note call when we walk by.

Other Birds of Note:
BLACK–CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
WESTERN KINGBIRD
CASSIN’S KINGBIRD
CLIFF SWALLOW
BULLOCK’S ORIOLE
BLUE GROSBEAK

(May 29–June 1, 2009)

At the exact moment that 28 yoga students assume the position in Tree Pose in Montana Gym, a CALIFORNIA TOWHEE appears outside the northern window and begins to repeatedly jump up and tap its bill against the glass. The towhee must be attracted to the forest of trees in the room.

The young RED–SHOULDERED HAWKS continue to explore the palm trees that surround their nest tree, but I suspect they have yet to venture beyond their immediate neighborhood. They spend most of their time in the nest, which makes perfect sense since that’s where mom and dad deliver their meals. Species that have left their nest but are still being fed by their parents include HOUSE WRENS, OAK TITMICE, WESTERN BLUEBIRDS and ROCK WRENS.

Random Observations of Avian Activity:

A NIGHTHAWK (probably Lesser) teeters and turns as it flies low by my room one evening at dusk. PHAINOPEPLAS are very visible and vocal this week, and their soft, single note call is heard from many areas of the Ranch. Behind Kuchumaa Gym a BLUE GROSBEAK lands in a leafless tree, briefly sings a few renditions of its song and then departs. Possibly it’s the same young male we saw a month ago. If it is, it is bluer and less brown than before.

Other Birds of Note:
COOPER’S HAWK
DOWNY WOODPECKER (heard)
ASH–THROATED FLYCATCHER (heard)
YELLOW WARBLER
YELLOW–BREASTED CHAT (heard)
BULLOCK’S ORIOLE
LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH

(May 22–May 25, 2009)

The RED–SHOULDERED HAWK babies are now big and brown. At least one of them is testing its boundaries by hopping from branch to branch in the neighboring palm trees. They will be flying soon, which means exciting times are ahead for the bird watchers of Rancho La Puerta, and exciting times are ahead for the hawks as well.

Assorted Avian Activities:

A pair of PACIFIC–SLOPE FLYCATCHERS is nesting at the stone bridge next to the bird feeding area. Near Oaktree Pavilion, a young male COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD chases the larger hummingbirds out of his self–proclaimed feeding area. 12 CEDAR WAXWINGS fly over our heads in the late afternoon on May 22. That is 9 days later in the spring than I have ever before seen waxwings at the Ranch. Our newest hike is providing some new bird sightings. Naturally, the latest route is called the Dove Hike. Toward the end of the trail, 2 HUTTON’S VIREOS, a RUFOUS–CROWNED SPARROW (my first of the year), HOUSE FINCHES, BEWICK’S WRENS and a few ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRDS move about in a small grove of trees, while nearby a ROCK WREN bounces from rock to rock.

Other Birds of Note:
PHAINOPEPLA
SAGE SPARROW
LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH

(New York Bird Report May 14–May 18, 2009)

The warbler activity is impressive in Central Park, featuring CANADA, BAY–BREASTED, BLACKBURNIAN, and even a CAPE MAY WARBLER, a species we did not find in Cape May. Perhaps they should change its name to Central Park Warbler.

During spring migration in Central Park, you witness not only huge quantities of birds, but generous numbers of birders as well. One of my favorite sightings early one morning is a man wearing a dark suit and tie who is also equipped with a laptop computer–type bag slung over his shoulder. Most importantly, he has binoculars, and they are glued to his eyes and aimed upwards as he partakes in some pre–work birding. Some people catch up on television news before marching off to their workplace. This man chooses to check the bird news in the park. Clearly, he has his priorities in order.

Other Central Park Birds of Note:
WOOD THRUSH
VEERY
SWAINSON’S THRUSH

For a change of pace, one day I drive north an easy and scenic 50 miles to Bear Mountain State Park, where HOODED, BLUE–WINGED and CERULEAN WARBLERS, and PILEATED WOODPECKER (at its nesting cavity) bless me with their presence.

Next week’s report will originate from one of my favorite birding sites: Rancho La Puerta.

(May 8–May 13, 2009)

After seeing or hearing a total of 157 species in 6 days of birding, I now know why Cape May, New Jersey is considered one of the premier bird migration routes in North America. During the time our San Diego Audubon group is in New Jersey, the 26th annual World Series of Birding takes place. The winning 4–person team identifies 229 species in 24 hours.

Unlike the 77 competitive teams, we decide to sleep at night. Rested and alert on the morning of day 4, we discover a YELLOW–BILLED CUCKOO feasting on tent caterpillars in a cherry tree in the front yard of a private residence. We then notice a BLACK–BILLED CUCKOO in the same tree. Cuckoos are difficult to find anywhere in North America. To see both of these cuckoo species in the same tree is amazing.

Even with our binoculars we struggle to make out detail as we stare along the beach at a distant pair of endangered PIPING PLOVERS. But as all 15 of us stand perfectly still with binoculars pressed against our faces, the male chases the female towards us. At one point I slowly lower my binoculars and lift my camera as they continue to run straight at us and reward us with great looks. Sometimes, when we stand still and quiet, the birds come to us.

Other Birds of Note:
NORTHERN GANNET
LEAST BITTERN
TRICOLORED HERON
GLOSSY IBIS
CLAPPER RAIL
WHITE–RUMPED SANDPIPER
PURPLE SANDPIPER
GULL–BILLED TERN
CHUCK–WILL’S–WIDOW (heard only)
WHIP–POOR–WILL (heard only)
RED–HEADED WOODPECKER
BLUE–WINGED WARBLER
YELLOW–THROATED WARBLER
BLACKPOLL WARBLER
PROTHONOTARY WARBLER
WORM–EATING WARBLER
SUMMER TANAGER
SALTMARSH SHARP–TAILED SPARROW
ORCHARD ORIOLE

(May 1–May 4, 2009)

A frequent sight outside the dining room entrance this week: guests observing and discussing the RED–SHOULDERED HAWK nest in the nearby palm tree. While the guests stand and wait for their next meal, they watch the baby hawks, which are waiting for their next meal.

Guests returning from the Organic Garden Hike on Thursday morning report exciting news: 2 WHITE–TAILED KITES soaring above the northern part of the Quail Hike trail. That means that since the fire of October 2007, all of our resident bird species have now returned to the Ranch.

Species of Note:
WESTERN WOOD–PEWEE BROWN THRASHER (seen May 1,2 & 3)
HUTTON’S VIREO
WILSON’S WARBLER
YELLOW–BREASTED CHAT (heard)
SAGE SPARROW
LAZULI BUNTING
LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH

I will be away from the Ranch for the next two weeks, on a weeklong bird trip with San Diego Audubon to Cape May, NJ; then I will spend 5 days in NYC where, of course, I will do some birding in Central Park. I will send 1 or 2 East Coast Bird Reports when I get the chance to put my binoculars down.

RLP Bird Week Report (Part II April 23–27, 2009)

Bird Week is a big success, with over 60 species spotted by enthusiastic bird–watchers. Thanks to Judy Irving, Mark Bittner, Phil Pryde and Neil Solomon for their expert contributions, and thanks to all the guests and birds that participated. The next RLP Bird Week will be April 10–17, 2010.

Results of the Bird of the Week voting:

• 1st Place: BLUE GROSBEAK
• 2nd Place: BROWN THRASHER
• 3rd Place Tie: WESTERN TANAGER and the nesting RED–SHOULDERED HAWKS

Congratulations to the Oregon Scrub J’s, who identified 38 species in one day during the Big Day event.

As Bird Week 2009 ends, the good birding gets even better. On Saturday the bottlebrush tree at the Central Pool hosts a bird convention, featuring 2 kinds of orioles (HOODED and BULLOCK’S), 4 species of hummingbirds (ANNA’S, BLACK–CHINNED, COSTA’S and RUFOUS/ALLEN’S), WESTERN TANAGERS, WESTERN SCRUB JAYS and a NUTTALL’S WOODPECKER.

On Sunday, April 26, while the 4pm Bird Walk group stands at the stone bridge to observe the action at the bird feeders, we notice beyond the far end of the lawn that the elusive and rare BROWN THRASHER is calmly tossing leaves as it forages in the dirt. Everybody gets a decent look at the shy bird through the spotting scope.

RLP Bird Week Report (Part I April 18–21, 2009)

4 1/2 Weeks after microdiskectomy surgery, I have returned to work at the Ranch, just in time for Bird Week. I feel good, I’m getting stronger each day, and I’m walking well. Also, I am bird–watching again without pain. Speaking of birds, Bird Week 2009 is off to a great start. Here’s a recap of the first few days.

The dawn chorus is a daily delight. BLUE GROSBEAKS sing from the sycamore trees along the creek bed near Kuchumaa Passage. Also rehearsing for their “American Idol” tryouts are LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCHES, CHIPPING SPARROWS, WARBLING VIREOS, BLACK–THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, NASHVILLE WARBLERS and WESTERN TANAGERS. HOUSE WRENS are nesting in the sycamore tree near the Activity Pool. NORTHERN FLICKERS are nesting in a tree cavity south of the sand volleyball court. The best nesting news of all: on April 19 we watch for the first time as a RED–SHOULDERED HAWK feeds its babies in the palm tree nest outside the dining room. Although we detect movement in the nest, we don’t yet know how many baby hawks have hatched this year.

Another exciting event is the reappearance of the BROWN THRASHER, the rare bird that visited the Ranch last November/December and became the 500th species identified in Baja California. We had assumed it left the Ranch in late 2008, but instead it probably just relocated to another area of the Ranch. It was rediscovered April 17 in a bush north of the wooden bridge, and it has been hanging out in that area during the past few days.

Other Species of Note:
LAZULI BUNTING
BLACK–CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD
HOODED ORIOLE
BULLOCK’S ORIOLE

(March 6, 2009)

While Cedar Waxwings have certainly mastered the basics of air travel, their group flying skills are legendary. They often roam around the Ranch in a very tight flock, and although their meandering path gives the impression that they don’t have a clue where they are going, it’s amazing how they all seem to change direction at the same instant.

It’s as if they all had hands–free (or would that be wings–free?) phones attached to their heads, and when the leader calls out a command to bank right, everyone turns to the right together. The largest flock of waxwings I’ve seen at the Ranch this winter contained about 40 birds. A few years ago I once observed 3 large waxwing groups at the same time, each flock wandering independently of the other two. Suddenly, the 3 groups came together and formed a single flock of more than 200 birds.

They continued to twist and turn through the air without a destination in mind, yet they performed their aerial ballet with perfect precision. Clearly, they were all wearing their headphones.

(February 20–February 23, 2009)

This week’s photo, taken January 2, 2009, features 7 CEDAR WAXWINGS blending in well with the few remaining leaves on a sycamore tree behind Kuchumaa Gym. These silky flycatchers use the tree as a platform from which they leap off and dive down to a nearby toyon bush to consume its tasty berries. Cedar Waxwings, one of our many wintering species, arrive at the Ranch in late September and depart by early May. Their presence is quite erratic. Sometimes they are not seen for several days or even a few weeks at a time, and then all of a sudden we find 30 or 40 waxwings sitting motionless in a tree. The type of tree they congregate in varies, but often close by there is a toyon or pyracantha bush filled with red berries.

(February 13–February 16, 2009)

I was not at the Ranch this past week, so this week’s report will focus on a common Ranch bird. The YELLOW–RUMPED WARBLER, probably the most abundant bird at the Ranch during the winter months, begins to arrive in late September, and some individuals linger until early May. Perhaps some of them delay their departure so they can fit in a few more Ranch massages before heading north to breed. They show varying amounts of yellow on their throats, flanks and crown, but they all have bright yellow rumps, hence the nickname “Butter–butt.” Sometimes when you watch one fly by, you can see their yellow rump patch with your naked eye. Most of our Yellow–rumps are the “Audubon’s” form with yellow throats. The “Myrtle” form, common in eastern North America, has a white throat.

(February 6–February 9, 2009)

On Friday morning 5 hardy guests show up for a Bird Walk in the rain, and despite the moisture, no one complains and we find some nice birds. That night a steady rain falls, and by Saturday morning the stream under the wooden bridge is flowing more like a river. When the Bird Walk starts, the sun is out and the birds are all around us. A gorgeous COMMON YELLOWTHROAT pops in and out of bushes by the dining room pond, providing everyone with stunning looks at the bright yellow throat and black facial mask of this sun–drenched warbler. Birds always shine brighter after a rain. On Sunday the AMERICAN ROBINS and the CEDAR WAXWINGS decide that the pyracantha berries by the Central Pool are now ripe to eat, and the feasting begins. The two species with a common food interest congregate in the large pine tree by the pool. Mixed flocks of 10–15 birds at a time dive down to the bushes where each bird quickly tosses down multiple berries before flying back up to the pine tree to digest their snacks. This feeding cycle repeats for hours, and I tell the guests that standing under that pine tree is not advised at this time.

(January 30–February 2, 2009)

On Friday morning’s Bird Walk we begin by taking the path toward the administration building. Shortly after we pass the Mercado, we stop by the tennis courts to survey the avian activity, but we neither see nor hear a single bird. So, to keep the bird–watchers from dwelling on the complete lack of bird life at that moment, I aim the spotting scope at the palm tree where the Red–shouldered Hawks raised three chicks last year, and I begin to share the hawks’ story. As I casually peer through the scope, I notice that fresh pine needles and eucalyptus branches have been placed on the old nest ledge. That’s exciting news because it means one of the most remarkable bird events of last year may be repeated in 2009.

Sunday afternoon we watch 2 PHAINOPEPLAS and several CEDAR WAXWINGS feed on the mistletoe berries in the large sycamore trees next to Arroyo Gym. These beautiful white–barked trees have finally lost all their leaves, so the thick green clusters of mistletoe that cling to those trees are as obvious as ever, and the birds that visit the trees are easier to see as well.

Species of Interest:
RED–BREASTED SAPSUCKER
HUTTON’S VIREO
FOX SPARROW
GOLDEN–CROWNED SPARROW
EURASIAN COLLARED–DOVE

(2008 Brief Recap)

Although I spent this past week in San Diego, I still have a Ranch Bird Report for you. But instead of reviewing one week, I will briefly recap bird happenings during the past year.

Highlights of 2008:

RED–SHOULDERED HAWKS nesting (and producing 3 young hawks) in a palm tree by the dining room.

A BLACK–CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD raising two babies in her nest.

PHAINOPEPLAS and BLUE–GRAY GNATCATCHERS tending to their nests along the lower part of the mountain trail.

Of the 103 bird species I identified at the Ranch in 2008, 5 were new Ranch birds for me:
LESSER NIGHTHAWK
BROWN THRASHER*
BLACK–AND–WHITE WARBLER
CHIPPING SPARROW
BREWER’S SPARROW (I heard it singing several times, but never saw it)

*Rancho La Puerta’s Brown Thrasher, observed from Nov 24 to Dec 22, represents the first of that species in the state of Baja and also the 500th (and most recent) species sighted by anyone in Baja.

(January 16–January 17, 2009)

This week’s windy days provide good soaring for the big birds of the Ranch. We stand behind Kuchumaa Gym and watch a RED–TAILED HAWK hover in the strong breeze that flows up the mountain. As a TURKEY VULTURE slowly glides east, it shrinks its 6–foot wingspan to 4 feet, in order to penetrate the formidable headwind. A RED–SHOULDERED HAWK circles directly above us, forcing us to tilt our heads way back and aim our binoculars straight up. When the hawk decides to move on, I tell everyone to be careful they don’t fall over backwards while watching the hawk cruise behind us.

AMERICAN ROBINS visit a toyon bush behind Montana Gym and feast on the red berries with great enthusiasm. I read on the internet (therefore, it must be true) that birds do not get tipsy on toyon, but they might have an “intoxicating” experience on pyracantha berries. That’s why after the robins dine at a pyracantha plant, for the rest of the day we do not permit them to operate heavy machinery.

Other Notable Sightings:
RED–BREASTED SAPSUCKER
WHITE–BREASTED NUTHATCH
PHAINOPEPLA

(January 9–January 12, 2009)

2 PRAIRIE FALCONS fly high overhead in a westerly direction, circling a few times and then disappearing behind the mountain. As I take a few pictures I am not certain which falcon species they represent, but when I transfer the photos to my computer, I notice that the images match perfectly with the illustrations in my guide books. The last time I saw Prairie Falcons at the Ranch was 15–20 years ago when we discovered a nesting pair and three chicks on a cliff–side nest above the old Mountain Breakfast Hike route. During her third Bird Walk of the week, an experienced birder comments that she has yet to see a woodpecker during this trip to the Ranch. I respond that she’ll probably see one soon. A minute or two later she not only finds a woodpecker, she has found the least common of the Ranch's six woodpeckers.

For a few minutes we enjoy a close and eye–level sighting of a female DOWNY WOODPECKER as it busily works the thin branches of a fruit tree behind Kuchumaa Gym. It’s the best view I’ve ever had of a Downy at the Ranch, so it’s a shame I do not have my camera with me.

Other Notable Species:
WESTERN BLUEBIRDS (the usual gang of 5)
ORANGE–CROWNED WARBLER
GOLDEN–CROWNED SPARROW
LINCOLN’S SPARROW
BULLOCK’S ORIOLE

(January 2–January 5, 2009)

During Monday morning’s Bird Walk 7–8 humans are standing on the brick road behind and south of Kuchumaa Gym. As we stand perfectly still to admire a small flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS perched high in a sycamore tree, behind us a few YELLOW–RUMPED WARBLERS start chipping and flitting in and out of a leafless tree.

A CALIFORNIA THRASHER begins to sing from the same tree. A couple of WHITE–CROWNED SPARROWS feed in the dirt surprisingly close to us, and then two CALIFORNIA TOWHEES join the White–crowns. A flock of 5 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS drop out of the sky and alight upon a red berry bush in front of the sycamore tree. A HOUSE FINCH and a squawking WESTERN SCRUB–JAY also appear in the same bush. Sometimes, if you are still and quiet, the birds will come to you.

Other Notable Species:
CASSIN’S KINGBIRD
WHITE–BREASTED NUTHATCH
FOX SPARROW
GOLDEN–CROWNED SPARROW
BULLOCK’S ORIOLE (young female, I think)

I see no sign of the Brown Thrasher this week, although one bird–watcher thinks he caught a glimpse of it grabbing an olive on the lawn before running back into the bushes (note: the thrasher grabbed the olive and ran back into the brush, NOT the bird–watcher). I will certainly try again next week to re–find our rare bird.