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April 21st: Piute Ponds and Apollo Park Our trip to Piute Ponds and Apollo Park was very productive, with birds like Tricolored Blackbird, Macgillivaray's Warbler, Cassin's Vireo, Dusky Flycatcher, Prairie Falcon, Swainson's Hawk, Wilson's Phalarope, Yellow-headed Blackbird, and more being highlights. For many, it was their first visit to the hotspot. Located near a military base, the ponds are often a hotspot for rarities stopping over the desert. Photos by Cameron Tescher |
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March 31st: California Condor Trip
Our March 31st trip to Hopper Mountain Wildlife Refuge, led by biologist Joseph Brandt, took us to incredible scenery and amazing views of the endangered California Condor in their nesting range, including a wild-born bird (top left photo). We also toured the biologist lodging and watched a live nest cam of a California Condor on a nest. Picture credits: Elisa Yang, group picture via parents |
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San Bernardino (6/3-4/17) and MAPS Banding (7/22/17)
Our June camping trip in the San Bernardino mountains took us through Bluff Lake, Arrastre Creek, and almost a dozen other small spots near Big Bear. Mexican Whip-poor-will was a state bird for everyone and a lifer for many others. Black Swifts at Monkeyface Falls were another highlight. Birds like Williamson's Sapsucker, Mountain Quail, Green-tailed Towhee, Black-chinned Sparrow, Pinyon Jay, Townsend's Solitaire, Indigo Bunting, and numerous others were other highlights. Attending teens: Elisa, Maia, Alex, Ryan, Daniel, James and Max. On July 22nd, the California Young Birders' banding trip took us to Starr Ranch, Orange County, where we explored MAPS banding in a beautiful oak-riparian habitat. Attending teens: Elisa, Max, Charlotte, and Diego. Photo creds: Elisa, Diego, and James (hover on photos to read captions and photo credits). |
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Hover or click on photos to see captions.
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Channel Islands (5/20/17)
The Southern California Young Birders group embarked on a boat ride to Prisoner's Harbor, Santa Cruz Island through the Island Packers company. On the channel crossing, we had Scripp's Murrelet, Red-necked Phalarope, Parasitic Jaegar, Pigeon Guillemot, Cassin's Auklet, Common Murre, Sooty Shearwater, and Black-vented Shearwater. On the actual islands, we came across an abundance of Island Scrub-jays, including two juveniles. We also found the unique Channel Islands subspecies of Orange-crowned Warbler, Allen's Hummingbird, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Bewick's Wren, and Song Sparrow. We also had an Island Fox, Baja California Tree Frogs, a pseudoscorpion, and great views of a Blue Whale. Photo credits: Elisa Yang (@chiccadeelisa)
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Yucca Valley and Morongo Valley (4/28/17 - 4/29/17)
After a night in Desert Hot Springs, we embarked on a six-mile hike at Panorama Loop, then finally drove to Big Morongo for some relaxing birding. Panorama Loop was a gorgeous trail, with Joshua Tree type desert blending into a higher elevation juniper-pinyon habitat. Highlights were Lesser Nighthawk, Pinyon Jay, Scott's Oriole, Black-chinned Sparrow, Green-tailed Towhee, Gray Flycatcher, Hermit Warbler, Cassin's Vireo, and Summer Tanager. There were also an incredible number of spring migrants such as buntings, grosbeaks, tanagers, and warblers. We also ended up with many different species of reptiles, butterflies, insects, and plants. Some of the highlights were two Blainville's Horned Lizards, a Patchnose snake, a Long-nosed Leopard Lizard, a Desert Night Lizard, and a scorpion sp. Attendees were Maia, Ryan A. Alex, Thomas, Brian, Elisa, and Max. |
Hover or click on photos to read captions.
PHOTO CREDIT
Summer Tanager 2: Max Leibowitz (@maxkewlbirder) Summer Tanager 1 and Pinyon Jay: Ryan Andrews Scott's Oriole: Brian Dooley Lizards and scorpion: Alex Bairstow (@alex_bairstow) |
Photo Cred: Elisa's Dad
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Photos: Elisa Yang (@chiccadeelisa)
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Borrego Springs: Birds and Wildflowers 3/28/17
Alex, Max, Maia, Thomas, and Elisa did some early morning birding in the beautiful Borrego Springs, starting at the Roadrunner Club, then moving to Mesquite Bosque and Tamarisk Grove Campground later in the day. Highlights were Crissal Thrasher, Inca Dove, Lawrence's Goldfinch, Gambel's Quail, and Long-eared Owl, all really great birds for San Diego county. Flowers were abundant. 
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Kayaking and Museum Trip. 1/28/17
After a fun morning kayaking in Mission Bay and a quick stop for a Painted Redstart, we headed over to the San Diego Natural Museum for a tour of the collection, where Phillip Unitt taught us about the museum and gave us a skinning demonstration. Maia, Teodelina, Justina, Drew, Ryan A, Brian, Elisa, and Alex were the attending teens. |
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Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve. 1/1/17
We performed the only 100% young-birder-only CBC in Southern California. It was a good start to our yearlists, with American Bittern being a highlight for many of us. Ryan V., Diego, Rachel, Alex, Cayenne, Maia, and Elisa were the attending counters. Big Sit Fundraiser 2/13/17
Maia, Alex, Ryan, and Elisa counted for our Big Sit, raising $1,200 for our club. Funds will be used for future field trips. |
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