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08 May Planning Southeast Arizona trip ["Michael McQuerrey" ] 07 May Re: hybrid warbler ["Mark Brown" ] 07 May Kern ABC Preliminary Results [Bob Barnes ] 07 May Re: hybrid warbler at Galileo Hill 5/6/08-need HELP!! [] 07 May Re: hybrid warbler at Galileo Hill 5/6/08-need HELP!! ["Robert McNab" ] 07 May hybrid warbler at Galileo Hill 5/6/08-need HELP!! ["Ken and Brenda Kyle" ] 07 May Birding Galileo Hill 5/6/08 ["Ken and Brenda Kyle" ] 06 May Cerro Coso Community College -- Hooded Warbler ["Bob and Susan Steele" ] 06 May White-winged Dove and camping at Butterbredt ["kernkel" ] 5 May More Owls: Sunday night [Lance Benner ] 05 May Owls, Nature Festival ["Michael McQuerrey" ] 04 May Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Butterbredt ["Bob and Susan Steele" ] 4 May phainopepla in bakersfield [Tiffiny Stamps ] 01 May America's Birdiest County ["Bob and Susan Steele" ] 02 May Northern Waterthrush at Galileo Hill 5/1/08 ["Ken and Brenda Kyle" ] 1 May Galileo birds of interest ["Dennis McDonnell" ] 29 Apr more Butterbredt Springs ["merlin_mira_loma" ] 28 Apr Butterbredt waterthrush ["bewickwren" ] 27 Apr Sa & Su, 26 & 27 Apr 06 [Bob Barnes ] 27 Apr Red-throated Loon on Isabella Reservoir [Bob Barnes ] 27 Apr Fw: Common Black-Hawk Photos ["Bob and Susan Steele" ] 27 Apr Re: Common Black-Hawk Photos [] 27 Apr Fwd: more on black hawk [] 27 Apr BLACK HAWK [] 27 Apr Cassin's Kingbirds ["Michael McQuerrey" ] 27 Apr Butterbredt Regulations ["Adam Searcy" ] 27 Apr Butterbredt ["Adam Searcy" ] 25 Apr Grosbeak Week ["Bill Lydecker" ] 25 Apr Re: re: re: birders behaving badly ["Mary Prismon" ] 24 Apr Galileo Hill Park on Apr 21 ["jwd2000" ] 23 Apr re: bad birders ["enicurus" ] 23 Apr Re: Butterbredt and etiquette [] 22 Apr Butterbredt and etiquette [Andrew Howe ] 22 Apr Fw: re: re: birders behaving badly ["Bob and Susan Steele" ] 22 Apr Ridgecrest: Eurasian Collared Dove [Barb Walls ] 22 Apr Galileo Hill highlights ["rogercoley" ] 22 Apr re: re: birders behaving badly ["enicurus" ] 22 Apr re: birders behaving badly ["enicurus" ] 22 Apr Eastern Kern, 21 April ["barbarac2003" ] 20 Apr 4/19/08 Galileo Hill & Cal City ["Richard N. Sparks" ] 19 Apr 19 Apr 08 - Butterbredt, CA City, Galileo [Bob Barnes ] 19 Apr Migrants seen today at Galileo Hill 4/18/08 ["Ken and Brenda Kyle" ] 18 Apr birders behaving badly -- and birds this AM at Butterbredt and in the Piutes ["Bob and Susan Steele" ] 18 Apr 18 Apr 08 - Oasis 18 to Migrant Corner [Bob Barnes ] 17 Apr Scott's Oriole ["Dennis McDonnell" ] 17 Apr 17 Apr 08 - Canebrake ER to Chimney Peak CG [Bob Barnes ] 16 Apr 16 Apr 08 - Tillie Creek to Greenhorn Summit [Bob Barnes ] 16 Apr 15 Apr 08 - Inyokern to Mtn. Mesa [Bob Barnes ] 15 Apr Butterbredt Spring Access ["Mike Stiles" ] 14 Apr California Condors ["Maggie Smith" ] 14 Apr Kern Audubon Society Field Trip ["lstephensgreene" ] 14 Apr Re: New to Kern Co. - Mt. Pinos Birding Areas ["Oscar Johnson" ] Subject: Planning Southeast Arizona trip From: "Michael McQuerrey" <macbirder AT juno.com> Date: Thu, 08 May 2008 02:56:27 -0000 Birders: In order to facilitate planning for anyone interested, I am in the planning stages of my annual pilgrimage to Southeast Arizona. I will spend several days in the Chiricahua's, then several in the Huachuca's, before spending several days in Madera Canyon. While at the final destination, I will venture down into California Gulch for the Five-striped Sparrows and Buff-collared Nightjars. If you'd like to join me for part or all of the trip, contact me offlist. My tentative departure date is on or about July 15th (or the beginning of the "monsoon season.") Macbirder AT juno.com Michael McQuerrey Bakersfield, California Subject: Re: hybrid warbler From: "Mark Brown" <lawoffmarkbrown AT verizon.net> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 21:03:04 -0000 All: Regarding the probable Myrtle x Townsend's hybrid warbler; I did see one mentioned in Lehman's Birds of Santa Barbara. I quote, "A hybrid Myrtle x Townsend's warbler was present in Carpenteria 23 November-3 December 1983. " The detail of the mention of this bird in the American Birds for that fall said: "was an unexpected hybrid previously undescribed." The bird may have been collected and given to the Carnegie Museum of Natural History?? This combination is mentioned in table 3 of Sibley's 1994 hybrid article in Birding, "Some bizarre and unique hybrid combinations. Most of these combinations have been recorded only once or twice. All of them are documented either by specimen or photograph." http://www.aviary.org/csrv/Latta/10_Hybrid%20in%20Auk.pdf . Is an article that talks about how warblers usually hybridizing with species really close to each other or really far apart. Regards, Mark Brown Santa Maria Subject: Kern ABC Preliminary Results From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 13:32:26 -0700 Hi, Kern County, CA, America's Birdiest Inland County effort 5pm, Thursday, May 1 through 5pm, Sunday, May 4, 008 I'll start with the "misses." Please e-mail me if you saw any of the following or have additions to the overall list found further along below: "MISSES"... Canvasback Common Goldeneye Red-breasted Merganser Chukar Red-throated Loon (observed a few days before at Isabella Reservoir) Least Bittern California Condor Sharp-shinned Hawk Black-bellied Plover Whimbrel Short-billed Dowitcher Herring Gull Long-eared Owl Pileated Woodpecker (found Monday am, May 5th) Black-and-white Warbler (a few days before) Northern Waterthrush (May 1 just before ABC start) Hooded Warbler (May 6th) Black-chinned Sparrow Vesper Sparrow (Found May 6th on territories at Troy Meadow, Tulare County) Grasshopper Sparrow (May 6th) Evening Grosbeak Species reported for prior ABC efforts, but not this year: Horned Grebe, Red Knot, Stilt Sandpiper, Pectoral Sandpiper, Yellow-footed Gull, Least Tern, Bell's Vireo, Varied Thrush, Sage Thrasher, Northern Parula, Swamp Sparrow, White-throated Sparrow, Harris's Sparrow, Rose-breasted Grosbeak,... Species not yet on California or ABA lists: Rose-ringed Parakeet 2008 Preliminary List (c. 236 species): Ross's Goose Canada Goose Tundra Swan Wood Duck Gadwall American Wigeon Mallard Blue-winged Teal Cinnamon Teal Northern Shoveler Northern Pintail Green-winged Teal Redhead Ring-necked Duck Greater Scaup Lesser Scaup Bufflehead Common Merganser Ruddy Duck Ring-necked Pheasant Wild Turkey Mountain Quail California Quail Common Loon Pied-billed Grebe Eared Grebe Western Grebe Clark's Grebe American White Pelican Double-crested Cormorant American Bittern Great Blue Heron Great Egret Snowy Egret Cattle Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night-Heron White-faced Ibis Turkey Vulture Osprey White-tailed Kite Bald Eagle Northern Harrier Cooper's Hawk Northern Goshawk Red-shouldered Hawk Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Golden Eagle American Kestrel Merlin Peregrine Falcon Prairie Falcon Virginia Rail Sora Common Moorhen American Coot Snowy Plover Semipalmated Plover Killdeer Black-necked Stilt American Avocet Spotted Sandpiper Solitary Sandpiper Greater Yellowlegs Willet Lesser Yellowlegs Long-billed Curlew Marbled Godwit Sanderling Semipalmated Sandpiper Western Sandpiper Least Sandpiper Dunlin Long-billed Dowitcher Wilson's Snipe Wilson's Phalarope Red-necked Phalarope Franklin's Gull Bonaparte's Gull Ring-billed Gull California Gull Caspian Tern Black Tern Forster's Tern Rock Pigeon Band-tailed Pigeon Eurasian Collared-Dove Spotted Dove Mourning Dove White-winged Dove Common Ground-Dove Greater Roadrunner Barn Owl Flammulated Owl Western Screech-Owl Great Horned Owl Northern Pygmy-Owl Burrowing Owl Spotted Owl Northern Saw-whet Owl Lesser Nighthawk Common Poorwill Vaux's Swift White-throated Swift Black-chinned Hummingbird Anna's Hummingbird Costa's Hummingbird Calliope Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Acorn Woodpecker Red-breasted Sapsucker Ladder-backed Woodpecker Nuttall's Woodpecker Downy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker White-headed Woodpecker Northern Flicker Olive-sided Flycatcher Western Wood-Pewee Willow Flycatcher Hammond's Flycatcher Gray Flycatcher Dusky Flycatcher Pacific-slope Flycatcher Black Phoebe Say's Phoebe Vermilion Flycatcher Ash-throated Flycatcher Brown-crested Flycatcher Cassin's Kingbird Western Kingbird Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Loggerhead Shrike Cassin's Vireo Plumbeous Vireo Hutton's Vireo Warbling Vireo Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay Pinyon Jay Clark's Nutcracker American Crow Common Raven Horned Lark Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Bank Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Mountain Chickadee Oak Titmouse Verdin Bushtit Red-breasted Nuthatch White-breasted Nuthatch Pygmy Nuthatch Brown Creeper Cactus Wren Rock Wren Canyon Wren Bewick's Wren House Wren Winter Wren Marsh Wren American Dipper Golden-crowned Kinglet Ruby-crowned Kinglet Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Western Bluebird Townsend's Solitaire Swainson's Thrush Hermit Thrush American Robin Wrentit Northern Mockingbird California Thrasher Le Conte's Thrasher European Starling American Pipit Cedar Waxwing Phainopepla Orange-crowned Warbler Nashville Warbler Yellow Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's and Myrtle) Black-throated Gray Warbler Townsend's Warbler Hermit Warbler MacGillivray's Warbler Common Yelllowthroat Wilson's Warbler Yellow-breasted Chat Summer Tanager Western Tanager Green-tailed Towhee Spotted Towhee California Towhee Rufous-crowned Sparrow Chipping Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow Lark Sparrow Black-throated Sparrow Sage Sparrow Savannah Sparrow Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Lincoln's Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Black-headed Grosbeak Blue Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Indigo Bunting Red-winged Blackbird Tricolored Blackbird Western Meadowlark Yellow-headed Blackbird Brewer's Blackbird Great-tailed Grackle Brown-headed Cowbird Hooded Oriole Bullock's Oriole Scott's Oriole Purple Finch Cassin's Finch House Finch Red Crossbill Pine Siskin Lesser Goldfinch Lawrence's Goldfinch American Goldfinch House Sparrow Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest Kern County, California [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: hybrid warbler at Galileo Hill 5/6/08-need HELP!! From: scre AT aol.com Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 13:21:09 -0400 To me this bird looks like it might be a Townsend's x Audubon's Warbler.? The yellow supercilium, black flank streaking, yellow below the black on the chest, the black mask with a yellow mark below the eye, and wing bars all seem good for that species.? While the yellow throat, back,? slight wing panel,? and overall color seem good for Audubon's.? Good birding David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, Az [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: hybrid warbler at Galileo Hill 5/6/08-need HELP!! From: "Robert McNab" <wahooking AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 16:48:23 -0000 Seems to have several characteristics that would strongly suggest Blackburnian, such as the general facial pattern, yellow throat, extensive white wingbars and white outer edges to the tail, and I believe it also appears to have faint broad stripes on the back, consistent with Blackburnian. The extent of black on the upper chest creating a vest/bib reminds me of yellow-rump. I cannot tell if there is a yellow rump though, I thought I detected a faint bit of yellow color in the rump area in the flying picture. The broad black side stripes have me most intrigued, but may be consistent with yellow-rump. So, my guess is Blackburnian x Yellow-rumped Warbler (Myrtle). Robert McNab Laguna Niguel, CA --- In kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com, "Ken and Brenda Kyle" wrote: > > Yesterday,Tuesday, 5/6/08, while birding Galileo Hill-Silver > Saddle Resort in the eastern Kern desert, we observed and photographed > an unusual warbler. We believe this warbler is a hybrid. This warbler > was seen with a few Yellow-rumped Warblers(Audubon's) near the bicycle > racks. We would appreciate your help in identifying this hybrid warbler. > > Seven photos of this warbler can be viewed in the photo album > labled 01BIRDS in the kerncobirding photo section. > > Ken and Brenda Kyle > Bakersfield > Subject: hybrid warbler at Galileo Hill 5/6/08-need HELP!! From: "Ken and Brenda Kyle" <kbgoldennugget2 AT aol.com> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 15:22:35 -0000 Yesterday,Tuesday, 5/6/08, while birding Galileo Hill-Silver Saddle Resort in the eastern Kern desert, we observed and photographed an unusual warbler. We believe this warbler is a hybrid. This warbler was seen with a few Yellow-rumped Warblers(Audubon's) near the bicycle racks. We would appreciate your help in identifying this hybrid warbler. Seven photos of this warbler can be viewed in the photo album labled 01BIRDS in the kerncobirding photo section. Ken and Brenda Kyle Bakersfield Subject: Birding Galileo Hill 5/6/08 From: "Ken and Brenda Kyle" <kbgoldennugget2 AT aol.com> Date: Wed, 07 May 2008 03:04:36 -0000 Today, Tuesday, 5/6/08, we saw the following birds at Galileo Hill: Green-winged Teal(1), Green Heron(1), Sora(1), Black-necked Stilt(1), Spotted Sandpipers(4+),Belted Kingfisher(1), Yellow Warblers(2), Yellow- rumped Warblers(Audubon's)20+, Townsend's Warbler(1), MacGillivray's Warblers(6+),Common Yellowthroat(6+), Wilson's Warblers(35+),Yellow- breasted Chat(1), Western Tanagers(4), Black-headed Grosbeaks(12+), Lazuli Buntings(5), Ruby-crowned Kinglet(1), and one Green-tailed Towhee. Ken and Brenda Kyle Bakersfield Subject: Cerro Coso Community College -- Hooded Warbler From: "Bob and Susan Steele" <steele7 AT verizon.net> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 19:13:45 -0700 Greetings all, Bob and I received a call from Alison Sheehey that she had a male Hooded Warbler and a brief glance at a large hummingbird at the college. They were both in the sculpture garden area. Unfortunately, we couldn't find either, but while we were looking Bob found a female Hooded Warbler. Too weird. She was under the pines along the fence at the NE area of the sculpture garden. Also, I had 12 or so fly over Red Crossbills. Susan Steele Inyokern, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: White-winged Dove and camping at Butterbredt From: "kernkel" <kernkel AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 01:46:42 -0000 There was a White-winged Dove at Butterbredt on Saturday, May 3rd. I saw the bird in the morning about 300 yards north of the parking lot as it was flying straight toward the spring. In the evening as I drove north of the parking lot (in order to find suitable camping) I saw the bird again - a little further north than in the morning but it was, once again, flying straight toward the springs. For anyone interested, it might be worth looking near the first widened area in the road where there is a post that blocks ohv access on the west side of the road. What follows pertains to camping. Nobody likes the desert B & B better than I, so when I first started birding Butterbredt I asked the local birders (those who have spent countless hours over countless years) about camping at Butterbredt. I was told it was a no-no based on an agreement with Onyx Ranch. I didn't question that, as it didn't seem any problem to move a mile or so away, and I sure didn't think it wise to decide I knew better than the many who have come before me here. Sadly, there is no shortage of land that has been adversely affected by the hoards of off-roaders, so let's agree that camping at the parking lot is for convenience, not some desire to keep pristine the surrounding untouched landscape. I don't see the BLM regulations that have been posted as black and white as has been suggested. First of all, these regulations sound like rules set forth primarily to govern the off-roaders so abundant in the East Kern deserts, and, I hope that we will hold ourselves to a higher standard. Second, I'm not sure where you want to begin the 200 yard measurement, but if it is more than 200 yards to the cattle troughs then it is not by much. And, is it the troughs we want to measure from? Or, are the pond and pipes considered a part of the 'development'? I am not looking for answers to these questions, so no one need waste their time bringing in the tape measures on their next visit; it is just that I am shocked that there would be such a push to assert that camping here is OK by those who come to visit on a rare weekend or two when it is abundantly clear that those who bird here regularly, who have the most to lose, and who have and maintain positive interactions with the ranch owners ask otherwise. Not to mention how the rancher feels about camping here. How hard is it to move up, down or side canyon a few hundred yards??? If you take the time to look around you'll find that there are plenty of spots that fit the BLM definition without question. So, we ask again: come, enjoy our desert and the free camping (you'll have to bring your own beer) but do so at a reasonable distance from the parking lot. Kelli Levinson Bakersfield, Ca Subject: More Owls: Sunday night From: Lance Benner <lbenner AT charter.net> Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 12:29:32 -0700 Greetings Everyone, To follow up on Michael's email about owls on during the Kern Nature Festival, on the Sunday night owl trip in the Greenhorn Mountains we had Northern Pygmy Owl, two Northern Saw-whet Owls, Spotted Owl, two Western Screech Owls, and Great Horned Owl (although not everyone heard it) all before 11 pm. Regards, Lance Benner Altadena, CA Subject: Owls, Nature Festival From: "Michael McQuerrey" <macbirder AT juno.com> Date: Mon, 05 May 2008 01:03:43 -0000 Birders: According to the word I received, all the owls were seen during the Kern River Valley Nature Festival (BioFest). Gary File and I led the trip up Breckenridge Mountain, and we had 3 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS and 5 FLAMMULATED OWLS. We didn't concentrate on Spotted Owls and didn't have any, even in the territory of last year's pair. In our two days with the festival, our field trips had GREAT HORNED, NORTHERN PYGMY, and BARN, in addition to the Breckenridge birds. Michael McQuerrey Subject: Scissor-tailed Flycatcher at Butterbredt From: "Bob and Susan Steele" <steele7 AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 04 May 2008 14:38:25 -0700 During yesterday's Kern River Valley Spring Nature Festival field trip to Butterbredt, Steve Hilbig from Texas, found a scissor-tailed flycatcher in the canyon below the spring. As they are yard birds for him, he wasn't that excited. He really was more interested in the Dusky flycatchers. Most of the rest of the group ran towards the scissor-tail and had nice looks at the long forked tail and the bright pink underwings. The bird flew up the canyon headed towards Kelso Valley and has not been re-found. Susan Steele Inyokern, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: phainopepla in bakersfield From: Tiffiny Stamps <tiffinyelizabeth AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 06:57:06 -0700 (PDT) Seeing a phainopepla was the highlight of a walk Saturday morning along the Kern River Bike Path. We saw it flying west about 2 miles west of Stockdale Hwy. It's white wing patches against it's black body were unmistakable. It perched momentarily at the top of a bare tree so we were able to see the crest on it's head, but unfortunately it didn't stay long enough for us to get a picture. Jeff and Tiffiny Wagner Bakersfield --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: America's Birdiest County From: "Bob and Susan Steele" <steele7 AT verizon.net> Date: Thu, 01 May 2008 20:56:04 -0700 Greetings birders, this weekend is Kern's attempt at the America's Birdiest County title. Bob Barnes is heading it up. So, please keep track of your sightings on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and get them to Bob. Susan Steele Inyokern, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Northern Waterthrush at Galileo Hill 5/1/08 From: "Ken and Brenda Kyle" <kbgoldennugget2 AT aol.com> Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 01:45:07 -0000 Today, Thursday, 5/1/08, we birded Galileo Hill. This afternoon we saw a Northern Waterthrush near the bridge that crosses the creek which is across from the hotel. There was a Townsend's Solitaire south of the trailer area. Other birds seen by us and other birders at Galileo Hill were: Green Backed Herons (3), a Sora(next to the pond that is by the Rosemary Bushes), Spotted Sandpipers(6), Hermit Warbler(1)on the grass that surrounds the pond which is directly in front of the hotel, MacGillivray's Warbler(1)in a small tree next to the restroom by the petting zoo, Wilson's Warblers(20+), and four Black-headed Grosbeaks. Ken and Brenda Kyle Bakersfield Subject: Galileo birds of interest From: "Dennis McDonnell" <dmcdonnell AT bak.rr.com> Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 15:08:16 -0700 This morning at Galileo, Kathy and I had three notable species: HERMIT WARBLERS, VERMILION FLYCATCHERS, and RED-NECKED PHALAROPES. All three species were found within 200 yards of the archery range. Dennis & Kathy McDonnell Bakersfield [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: more Butterbredt Springs From: "merlin_mira_loma" <mbauer AT usc.edu> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 22:40:59 -0000 There were tons of Wilson's Warblers at Butterbredt Springs on Monday, in addition to the Northern Waterthrush (thank you John Green for being the remote reporter!). Perhaps spring migration is swinging in? Madeline Mira Loma (briefly in Bakersfield, back to Galileo Hill!) Subject: Butterbredt waterthrush From: "bewickwren" <bewickwren AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:28:26 -0700 Birders, Unfortunately, I spent my day in offices and meetings. Madeline Bauer was at Butterbredt though, and she called to tell me that she saw a Northern Waterthrush there. John Green Riverside, CA No virus found in this incoming message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.5/1400 - Release Date: 4/27/2008 9:39 AM No virus found in this outgoing message. Checked by AVG. Version: 7.5.524 / Virus Database: 269.23.6/1402 - Release Date: 4/28/2008 1:29 PM [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Sa & Su, 26 & 27 Apr 06 From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:44:44 -0700 Hi, Lots of birders and birding in the Kern River Valley this weekend. Other than the Red-throated Loon (and two Common Loons), it was a nice diversity of expected species, yet no overwhelming numbers characteristic of spring migration movement ... ones and twos of most everything. Kern River Preserve (Fay Ranch Road, Kern River Preserve Headquarters, Migrant Corner)/South Fork Wildlife Area/Tillie Creek to Greenhorn Summit Transect Highlights: Wood Duck, Mountain Quail, COMMON LOON, RED-THROATED LOON, Western Grebe, Clark's Grebe, American White Pelican, Northern Goshawk, Virginia Rail, Solitary Sandpiper, Wilson's Snipe (winnowing over breeding/nesting territory), Calliope Hummingbird, Red-breasted Sapsucker, White-headed Woodpecker, PILEATED WOODPECKER, nine warbler species (no Hermit, no Chat), Summer Tanager (KRP Headquarters, Sierra Way), Green-tailed Towhee, Blue Grosbeak (several locations), Lazuli Bunting, Tricolored Blackbird, Cassin's Finch, Lawrence's Goldfinch (several locations, up to 12 birds per location, numbers much better than last year, still much lower than previous ten years or so before last year's severe drought). Continued Happy & Productive Birding, Bob Barnes [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Red-throated Loon on Isabella Reservoir From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:31:41 -0700 Hi, John Schmitt reports two breeding plumaged Common Loons and one breeding plumaged Red-throated Loons at Isabella Reservoir on Saturday morning. The were observed from the point of land just south of the marina at Wofford Heights on the west shore of the reservoir south of Tillie Creek Campground. This is the second record for Isabella Reservoir. The recommendation for searching for these birds, should they still be present, is to simply work around the reservoir and scope. Apologies for the late posting leaving Saturday and Sunday attempts to find these loons out of the question for all of you. We have been out in the field all weekend and away from Internet access. We did make one or two phone calls. But, we do not know if word was passed on or not. Continued Happy & Productive Birding, Bob Barnes [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Fw: Common Black-Hawk Photos From: "Bob and Susan Steele" <steele7 AT verizon.net> Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 17:55:56 -0700 One thing I found interesting about the bird was the rattyness of its plumage. What particularly struck me was the frayed look to the lower belly feathers. I had no idea what would cause this until I watched it drop into a pond. Then I saw the water came up to about its mid-belly. I said a-ha, now I understand it is wear from all the dropping it has done into the water. Susan Steele Inyokern, CA ----- Original Message ----- From: scre AT aol.com To: kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Sunday, April 27, 2008 5:41 PM Subject: Re: [kerncobirding] Common Black-Hawk Photos Amazing photos as always!? I especially liked the photo of the bird eating a fish, living in central Az now I've been seeing a number of these guys (but no birds in this plumage) and a couple days ago Lauren Harter and I watched one that had caught a fish as well. Anther birder also had one a couple days later take a fish from a pond. We also saw a rehab bird that was fed rats (we felt bad for it), which it apparently loved and has been eating for a?year (makes a meadowlark not seem out of the question). The plumage of this bird seems kind of interesting as C Black Hawks molt before they are about a year old into definitive plumage and the rehab bird I mentioned above is an SY and has molted into definitive plumage. Neither Lauren (in 4 years) nor I have seen a bird like this. Do C Black Hawks molt on the wintering grounds? As this seems likely it then seems likely that this bird wintered locally? Comments? David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, Az [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Common Black-Hawk Photos From: scre AT aol.com Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:41:34 -0400 Amazing photos as always!? I especially liked the photo of the bird eating a fish, living in central Az now I've been seeing a number of these guys (but no birds in this plumage) and a couple days ago Lauren Harter and I watched one that had caught a fish as well. Anther birder also had one a couple days later take a fish from a pond. We also saw a rehab bird that was fed rats (we felt bad for it), which it apparently loved and has been eating for a?year (makes a meadowlark not seem out of the question). The plumage of this bird seems kind of interesting as C Black Hawks molt before they are about a year old into definitive plumage and the rehab bird I mentioned above is an SY and has molted into definitive plumage. Neither Lauren (in 4 years) nor I have seen a bird like this. Do C Black Hawks molt on the wintering grounds? As this seems likely it then seems likely that this bird wintered locally? Comments? David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, Az [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Fwd: more on black hawk From: scre AT aol.com Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:10:25 -0400 -----Original Message----- From: Gray, Stanley K Civ USAF AFMC 912 AMXS/MXAC To: scre AT aol.com Cc: Bob and Susan Steele ; Andrew Howe ; liga auzins ; John Wilson ; Kimball ; SanMigBird AT aol.com; skua AT msn.com; Kelli Levinson ; Chris Rasmussen ; Oscar Johnson ; feenstra AT alumni.caltech.edu; JOHN STERLING ; Todd Easterla ; Morton, Greg ; Jon Dunn ; Koonce, Sandy ; bewickwren AT earthlink.net; Chet McGaugh ; Ryan Terrill ; Scott Terrill ; Gray, Stanley K Civ USAF AFMC 912 AMXS/MXAC ; Mary Freeman Sent: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 4:25 pm Subject: RE: [inlandcountybirds] N Cardinal Dave, Please feel free to post this message: Those of us who saw the Common Black Hawk that Susan and Bob Steele found at Galileo this morning, sat and made numerous phone calls to try to get the word out to everyone. I watched this bird at several locations and waited a few hours for the second wave of birders. Many of them got to see it after Mike San Miguel and I re-located it near the parking lot early this afternoon. But the bottom line is that the bird was working all of the ponds, and by mid morning was photographed and observed taking at least two fish (Bob Steele). So it may not be SHARP this afternoon and could in fact move on. However to me, the bird looked very famished, and Todd McGrath thought that it might be too late in the day for it to move on, (this I generally agree on). In my opinion: The bird is not and adult- but clearly not like the hatch year birds that I've seen in Arizona--making it a (2nd year sub-adult). I believe there may be a good chance that this bird will be around tomorrow, if anyone is interested in chasing it. Note: My first impression this morning was that the bird was an immature Zone-Tailed Hawk, but one really has to see it fly to get the full impact. And one aspect of its feeding pattern seems to be that every now and then it will go over to the white fence by the shooting range and just set awhile. Good Luck to all and Thank Bob & Susan! Stan Gray -----Original Message----- From: inlandcountybirds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:inlandcountybirds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of scre AT aol.com Sent: 2008/04/27 2:30 PM To: inlandcountybirds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [inlandcountybirds] N Cardinal I just got a phone call from Sean Fitzgerald who has been surveying the desert washes along the Colorado River.? He told me that his boss yesterday in Chemehuevi Wash about 4 km east of Highway 95, had a female N Cardinal.? The bird was apparently moving around a lot in the wash.? Good Luck. David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, Az [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] ------------------------------------ To Post a message, send it to: inlandcountybirds AT eGroups.com To Unsubscribe, send a blank message to: inlandcountybirds-unsubscribe AT eGroups.comYahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: BLACK HAWK From: scre AT aol.com Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 14:47:55 -0400 I got a call from Andrew Howe that Bob and Susan Steele found a young BLACK HAWK (presumed Common) this morning at Galileo Hill.? The bird has been wandering around but typically near water.? Remember that Galileo Hill and Silver Saddle Ranch are private property and they have graciously allowed birders to visit so be on your best behavior.? Good Luck David Vander Pluym Flagstaff, Az [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Cassin's Kingbirds From: "Michael McQuerrey" <macbirder AT juno.com> Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 18:18:31 -0000 Good morning, birders. "Suddenly" there were several CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS in the "nesting tree" on the west shoreline of Lake Ming, this morning. The tree is a large Eucalyptus to the left the swing set. Michael McQuerrey Bakersfield Subject: Butterbredt Regulations From: "Adam Searcy" <adamski711 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 07:32:04 -0000 Hello all, Access to Butterbredt spring, and accurate knowledge regarding the limitations of that access, if any, are relevant topics for anyone hoping to bird this area. Multiple posts on this list have stated that camping is not allowed at Butterbredt: this is NOT the case. According to the Ridgecrest BLM office RE Butterbredt camping: "Camping is allowed in this area on public lands but please use a previously disturbed area instead of making a new campsite. Camping is prohibited within 600 feet of any developed water source such as guzzlers or watering troughs so that the water is accessible to wildlife and stock. When using a motorized vehicle for camping access within a Limited Use Area, limit your parking and vehicle based camping to no more than 300 feet from an established road or 50 feet from the road within a Desert Wildlife Management Area (Red Mountain-Cuddeback Lake area). Within Open Use Areas(Spangler, Olancha, Jawbone and Dove Springs OHV Areas) there is no distance from route restriction. Please don't forget the "Leave No Trace" principles when you camp: Plan ahead and prepare, Camp and travel on durable surfaces, pack it in, pack it out, Properly dispose of what you can't pack out, Leave what you find, Minimize the use and mipact of fires." The open area around the road above Butterbredt is the most impacted by humans, and camping here will result in the least impact on native flora and fauna. For future birders visiting the area and wishing to camp, as well as those that have camped here many times in the past, it is perfectly legal, and does not jeopardize access to this site. Good birding (and camping), Adam Searcy Subject: Butterbredt From: "Adam Searcy" <adamski711 AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 07:13:38 -0000 Hello all, Subject: Grosbeak Week From: "Bill Lydecker" <wlydecker AT bak.rr.com> Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 21:37:18 -0000 This week started Sunday with the first appearance of a Black-headed Grosbeak at our backyard feeder (near Stockdale High School). White- crowned Sparrows by their absence have vacated the vicinity. So to have most of the goldfinches. On the Kern River Bicycle trail west of Bakersfield this week I have seen a Blue Grosbeak on two occasions, numerous Bullock's Orioles, many Western Kingbirds, many Brown-headed Cowbirds, Northern Mockingbirds, many swallows, a few Song Sparrows, Loggerhead Shrike, American Kestrel, White-tailed Kite, Western Scrub Jay, Northern Harrier, Bewick's Wren, House Finch, Turkey Vulture, Northern "Red-shafted" Flicker, Western Meadowlark, Anna's Hummingbird, many California Quail, Red-tailed Hawk, Black Phoebe, Kildeer, American Robin, European Starling, Common Raven, Great-tailed Grackle, many Mourning Dove, California Thrasher, Greater Roadrunner. In the mammal category, three coyotes were close to the seven-mile marker near the trail early in the morning Thursday. A beautifully marked bobcat was observed Friday morning near the two-mile marker. Also present are ground squirrels and rabbits. At Panorama Vista Park in Bakersfield on Wednesday, I observed Wood Ducks and two Red-shouldered Hawks just below Panorama Drive. Subject: Re: re: re: birders behaving badly From: "Mary Prismon" <goldcrownking AT msn.com> Date: Fri, 25 Apr 2008 11:01:31 -0700 Everyone, It is interesting to hear that the parties mentioned are great birders/conservationists, and power to them! But the facts suggest that the Spring was trashed, if temporarily, to the detriment of the birds and other birders, and a very bad precedent set that others might be likely to follow. (Leaving evidence of "potty" activity in the area would not seem to indicate "cleaning up after oneself.) As has been noted, camping activities in and near the Spring violate the original agreement re. access. In our enthusiasm for the "great birding" at such a site, we might tend to be thoughtless about consequences, but I believe Santa Monica Bay Audubon and Keith join me in asking everyone to faithfully follow the established guidelines, and, simple courtesy to others and wildlife, while visiting this Sanctuary. We don't want to lose our privileges there. By all means, enjoy desert camping, partying, and, of course, Birding, but please, choose your site wisely, legally, and, distantly from a riparian area. And, of course, leave no trace behind! Thanks, Mary Prismon, SMBAS Malibu ----- Original Message ----- From: enicurus To: kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 2:37 PM Subject: [kerncobirding] re: re: birders behaving badly Hi everyone- Woops. I meant to send that to friends. I guess everyone knows my attitude on camping in the desert now. Those guys cleaned up after themselves, and left no trace behind, which is great to me. I know these people well, and they are two of the most active conservationists I have ever met. Oh man, if drinking beer and camping and birding is wrong, I don't want to be right! Good Birding! -Ryan Terrill (& Adam Searcy) ------------------------------------ To post a message to the group, email: kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com Message archives and files can be found at: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kerncobirdingYahoo! Groups Links [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Galileo Hill Park on Apr 21 From: "jwd2000" <jdawson AT silcom.com> Date: Thu, 24 Apr 2008 17:45:20 -0000 A group of four of us from Santa Barbara birded Galileo Hill Sunday night the 20th and Monday morning the 21st. We saw many of the already reported birds on this grouplist. We did have 2 Lesser Yellowlegs along with several Greater. Two things perhaps bear reporting: one, a close flyover by a Merlin near the entrance to the resort in the morning. It was a fairly light bird underneath consistent with columbarius but I agree with Matt Heindel's caution about calling out subspecies. He lists April 24 as the latest spring date, so this was a late find. Second, we found an active nesting site of Vermilion Flycatchers, visited by both the male and female. In addition to the mating pair, there was a agonistic contact from another male. I see other posts reporting this bird, but is this nest just generally known, or should it be? It appears that breeding Vermilions are rare in California. We gave it a fairly wide latitude, but it is in what could be a fairly public area. Great birding spot! Jared Dawson Santa Barbara Subject: re: bad birders From: "enicurus" <enicurus AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 22:33:09 -0000 Hi everyone- Ill just write one more thing, then leave it. Sorry, again for posting that. Like I said, it was never meant for the public forum (and certainly is not appropriate for a RBA-style listserv), it was meant as a private email, to my small, eccentric group of friends, to whom things like that are "funny". I apologize, and look forward to seeing you all (including Tonya and Felix!) in the desert soon. I certainly hope that in a world where developers are bulldozing huge tracts of land, areas are being opened up for drilling, off-roaders are free to trample the desert, poachers slaughter endangered wildlife en masse, and war seems to be the fix-all international solution, that those with conservation in mind can see our 99% similarities, instead of the 0.1% difference. -Ryan Terrill back in Santa Cruz! Ca Subject: Re: Butterbredt and etiquette From: GWPOTT AT aol.com Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2008 02:43:43 EDT According to Keith Axelson, in his write up on Butterbredt Spring in A Birder's Guide to Southern California, "camping is not permitted at or near the spring." So, trash or no trash, these birders have broken the agreement which Keith and Santa Monica Bay Audubon Society have worked out with Onyx Ranch, thus possibly endangering our further access to this wonderful birding gem. Thank you Susan for bringing this up. Hopefully all birders will take heed, and show better etiquette in the future. --Gary **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Butterbredt and etiquette From: Andrew Howe <howe395 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:30:44 -0700 (PDT) There's nothing wrong with drinking beer, or sleeping in the desert. However, those who harp on these issues with flip emails completely miss Susan’s point. The point is this: most of the birding spots in the Kern desert region are "gray" areas, with limitations on access (either semi-public like Butterbredt, or semi-private like Galileo). For this reason, it is incumbent upon all those who visit to be on good behavior, as this serves to ensure future access privileges. Now I have seen birders (including ones from Santa Cruz) camp by the side of the road at Butterbredt, and do so unobtrusively and in an ecologically friendly manner (no trash). But in this case there is photographic documentation! It doesn’t matter if the trash was packed out eventually; clearly, trash from the night before was still strewn out on the ground the next morning. Thank goodness none of the BLM people who have been occasionally policing Butterbredt this spring happened by, as I'm not sure what their reaction might have been. Furthermore, the last two years, birders have convinced ATVers to stop playing their radios full blast and stop discharging their weapons by pointing out the environmental importance of the springs. This argument wouldn't go over so well, I think, with birder trash littering the road. With the upcoming construction of a nearby solar wind farm and increased pressure from ATVs, Butterbredt is in a fairly precarious position, making it all the more necessary for birders, whether it be their 1st visit to Butterbredt or their 100th, to be on their best behavior. And the vast majority are, birding the spring while doing their part to ensure that we all get to enjoy this location for years to come. Andrew Howe Riverside, CA howe395 AT yahoo.com Subject: Fw: re: re: birders behaving badly From: "Bob and Susan Steele" <steele7 AT verizon.net> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 20:19:13 -0700 Greetings all, and thank you Ryan/Irene for that thought provoking response. If anyone is looking for a bird report, no need to read further. I guess I need to really spell out what I found so offensive. You may get this, you may not, but here goes. I spent a couple weeks reading about BLM enforcement at Butterbredt. Several emails, several list serves. From that I could only conclude that there have been problems at the spring. This causes me to think, we should be on our best behavior. Why? Well, from what I know of Butterbredt it is not BLM land. It is privately owned. How it came to be beloved by birders and how tenuous our access is, I don't know. I do know Keith Axelson and Santa Monica Bay Audubon were involved in the process that gave us access and at the very least we owe them our thanks. I believe it is owned by the Onyx Ranch. If the BLM is doing enforcement at the spring, they have some sort of agreement with the owners. That must mean there have been some serious problems. Some more background info. Onyx Ranch owns a great deal of land, some in the Butterbredt area, some over in Kelso Valley. It fact, they own one of my favorite Oak Woodlands. Two years ago, I could stop there and sit on a rock and enjoy the oaks and flowers. No more. It is all posted private property and no trespassing. Why, because there have been problems there. Personally, I would like to continue birding at Butterbredt, so I try and minimize my impact. Now I'd clear up some misconceptions. First, our badly behaving birders, or as they are know in other circles "conservationists," ate their meal and consumed their cold delicious foaming beverages on a BLM road. All I can say to this is whatever. There are some nice campsites within a mile, but if the road is your sort of scenery, go for it. What angered me was that they choose to leave their beer cans laying about. Let me explain this better. Stuff that is laying around where it shouldn't be is called trash. As the wind blows in the desert, anything that isn't put up properly immediately is likely never to be seen again. Second, our birders didn't choose to sleep in the desert. They slept and eliminated their wastes AT the spring. Why should I be aggrieved by this? Well, several reasons. First, when I'm out birding at a nationally known spot I find it annoying to have to bird around someone's inappropriate camp site. I had the common courtesy not to go over and walk on their ground cloth or sleeping bags, which were left behind while they birded. No, I don't feel the need to destroy their belongings, but since their stuff occupied most of that area, my choice was either to pick up their stuff, or wait until they got around to it. I really don't need to know what cartoon character is on anyone's jammies, so, I birded elsewhere. I hope one day they will have enough courtesy so that I won't have to do that. And last, but hardly least, springs in the desert are rare. They even have a special name - riparian. These places are where animals come to drink and bathe. They may not have another choice for water. This may be it. If they're put off by people they do without water. They suffer. These are the places that real conservationists try to preserve. And with that I bid you good night, Irene. Susan Steele Inyokern, CA ----- Original Message ----- From: enicurus To: kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Tuesday, April 22, 2008 2:37 PM Subject: [kerncobirding] re: re: birders behaving badly Hi everyone- Woops. I meant to send that to friends. I guess everyone knows my attitude on camping in the desert now. Those guys cleaned up after themselves, and left no trace behind, which is great to me. I know these people well, and they are two of the most active conservationists I have ever met. Oh man, if drinking beer and camping and birding is wrong, I don't want to be right! Good Birding! -Ryan Terrill (& Adam Searcy) [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ridgecrest: Eurasian Collared Dove From: Barb Walls <_jestergirl AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 19:09:05 -0700 (PDT) I had a Eurasian Collared Dove in my yard in Ridgecrest! I'm hoping to get a picture if it comes back. Also, I had a lesser goldfinch, Cassin finches, a female Oriole, black-chinned hummingbird, Anna's hummingbird, and a dark eyed junco. Barb Walls --------------------------------- Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Galileo Hill highlights From: "rogercoley" <rcoley AT bak.rr.com> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 23:22:51 -0000 Kern Audubon Society's field trip today to Galileo Hill saw 51 species, including these highlights: Townsend's solitaire, red crossbill, lazuli bunting, plumbeous vireo, warbling vireo, vermillion flycatcher, and the following warblers: hermit, Wilson's, yellow-rump, Townsend's, MacGillivray's, yellow, black-and-white, and black-throated gray. Thanks to Ken and Brenda Kyle for leading the trip! Subject: re: re: birders behaving badly From: "enicurus" <enicurus AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:37:27 -0000 Hi everyone- Woops. I meant to send that to friends. I guess everyone knows my attitude on camping in the desert now. Those guys cleaned up after themselves, and left no trace behind, which is great to me. I know these people well, and they are two of the most active conservationists I have ever met. Oh man, if drinking beer and camping and birding is wrong, I don't want to be right! Good Birding! -Ryan Terrill (& Adam Searcy) Subject: re: birders behaving badly From: "enicurus" <enicurus AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 21:33:11 -0000 Well, I, for one, was disgusted to hear about this tragedy. Not only were people from out the area (from a dirty hippy town, no less), birding a by-invitation-only spot, but they had the gall to think that they could sleep outdoors? On BLM lands? Well, that just burns my buns. Who in their right mind would camp in the desert? Nevermind the driving snow and Grizzly Bears, those people were clearly in the way of ATVers, and could have, at any moment, possibly slowed down a Dirt Bike, mildly dampering the enjoyment of one of our respected off-road visitors! Now, to get at the beer issue. This is completely ludicrous. Everyone knows that birders don't drink beer. Those must have been planted there. Also, everyone knows that birders don't clean up after themselves, so, someone must have picked those up, too. What I really can't believe, is that they peed outside!!!! How could they not bring their own restroom facility with them! I thought Santa Cruz was civilized! It saddens me to no end to see Barbarians like this, mildly annoying upstanding citizens of the birding community. Really. We should kick these savages out of birding. I can think of no more important thing for the birding community to rally around than to stop people like this. -Irene McLusky Trona, Ca Subject: Eastern Kern, 21 April From: "barbarac2003" <barbarac2003 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 22 Apr 2008 04:06:24 -0000 Paul Lehman and his WINGS group birded California City and Galileo Hill Park today, seeing a fair number on migrants overall. Highlights at California City was a Plumbeous Vireo and a male Red Crossbill. Highlights at Galile ao Hill Park was Solitary Sandpiper, another Plumbeous Vireo and Cassin's Finch. According to Paul, Plumbeous Vireo is normally very rare. There appears to be more than the usual number of reports this year. Happy birding! Barbara Carlson San Diego Subject: 4/19/08 Galileo Hill & Cal City From: "Richard N. Sparks" <sparkosis AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 20 Apr 2008 16:23:46 -0000 Christine and I birded Galileo Hill and Cal City Saturday morning, 4/19/08. Despite the steady wind, birding was better than expected with 9 warbler species. Here's the full list (61 species): Galileo Hill---- Mallard, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Turkey Vulture, American Coot, Killdeer, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Belted Kingfisher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Say's Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Cassin's Vireo, Plumbeous Vireo, Common Raven, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Verdin, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Swainson's Thrush, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Hermit Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Western Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, Sage Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch, House Sparrow California City---- Ross' Goose, Tundra Swan, White-faced Ibis (7), Double-crested Cormorant, Cooper's Hawk, Black-necked Stilt, Red Crossbill Richard & Christine Sparks Tehachapi Mountains Birding Club Subject: 19 Apr 08 - Butterbredt, CA City, Galileo From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 20:07:24 -0700 Time/Date: 6am-12pm, Saturday, April 19, 2008 Coverage: Kelso Valley Ponds (6am-6:10am), Butterbredt Spring (6:30am-8:30am), California City Central Park (9:15am-10am), Galileo Hill (10:30am-12pm), en route Observers: Bob Barnes-Ridgecrest, John Denborg-Denmark, Linda Oberholtzer-Whittier Species List: Tundra Swan, Snow Goose, Ross's Goose, Mallard, Cinnamon Teal, Mountain Quail, California Quail, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, White-faced Ibis, Turkey Vulture, Prairie Falcon, American Coot, Rock Pigeon, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Costa's Hummingbird, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, Hammond's Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Say's Phoebe, Vermilion Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Cassin's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Common Raven, Verdin, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Rock Wren, Bewick's Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, European Starling, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow-rumped Audubon's Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Hermit Warbler, MacGillivray's Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Western Tanager, California Towhee, Chipping Sparrow, Brewer's Sparrow, Black-throated Sparrow, Sage Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, Brewer's Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bullock's Oriole, House Finch, Red Crossbill, Lesser Goldfinch, Lawrence's Goldfinch, House Sparrow,...c. 68 species. The Sparks from Tehachapi birded Galileo Hill from 7am-11:45am. Additional species seen by them there included: Red-shouldered Hawk, Belted Kingfisher, Yellow Warbler, Townsend's Warbler (among ten warbler species they observed at Galileo this morning ... All "regulars" except Yellow-breasted Chat), and Blue Grosbeak,... Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Migrants seen today at Galileo Hill 4/18/08 From: "Ken and Brenda Kyle" <kbgoldennugget2 AT aol.com> Date: Sat, 19 Apr 2008 00:30:10 -0000 Today, Friday, 4/18/08, we spent an enjoyable day birding Galileo Hill. We saw the following birds: Green Heron(1),a Solitary Sandpiper, Olive-sided Flycatcher(1),Vermilion Flycatcher(2),Empidonax Species(2), Warbling Vireo(2),Orange-crowned Warbler(3),Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)10+, Black-throated Gray Warbler(2),Townsend's Warbler(7), Hermit Warbler(1), MacGillivray's Warbler(3),Wilson's Warbler(12+), male Western Tanager(1),and a male Black-headed Grosbeak(1). Ken and Brenda Kyle Bakersfield Subject: birders behaving badly -- and birds this AM at Butterbredt and in the Piutes From: "Bob and Susan Steele" <steele7 AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 16:46:35 -0700 Greetings, Bob and I started the day at Butterbredt. Lowlite of the morning were fellow birders. Yep, we pulled up to the parking area and what to my wondering eyes should appear, no it wasn't Santa and eight tiny reindeer. It was campers and six empty Pabst Blue Ribbon beer cans laying on the ground about their car. I also really appreciated their sleeping at the spring and using it as their sand box. Sweet. So, when you two read this, please take this as an invitation to stay in Santa Cruz. BTW, they did manage to eventually pick up their beer cans, but only because the wind was calm and the cans hadn't blown out into the desert. And since everyone deserves their 15 minutes of fame, I added a photo under the birders behaving badly photo album, so everyone can share in my joy. This is the end of my public service announcement, now onto the birds. Butterbredt had good numbers of Warbling Vireo, YR Warbler, OC Warbler, BTG Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, and Nashville Warbler. I also managed to see Mac Warbler, Blue Grosbeak, Lazuli Bunting, Larry's Goldfinch, AT Flycatcher, Western Flycatcher, Gray Flycatcher, Hermit Thrush, Nutgall's Woodie, Chipping Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, WC Sparrow, Costa's Hummer, RB Nuthatch, CA Thrasher, Bewicks' and Rock Wren, MT Quail, BH Grosbeak, GC Sparrow, RC Kinglet, Lesser Goldfinch, RW Blackbird, House Finch, House Sparrow, Great Horned Owl, Bullock's Oriole. Western Tanager, CA Quail, Dusky Flycatcher, Mourning Dove, Then we headed up in the Piutes to Lander Meadow and then tried to go out via Bodfish, but turned around due to snow on the road. Still a bit early in the season and no Evening Grosbeaks. Bummer. We did have Clark's Nutcracker, Stellar's Jay, Oak Titmouse, Pygmy and WB Nuthatches, Robin, Spotted Towhee, VG Swallow, Hairy Woodie, Scrub Jay, Junco, Western Bluebird, Chipping Sparrow, YR Warbler. Susan Inyokern, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 18 Apr 08 - Oasis 18 to Migrant Corner From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Fri, 18 Apr 2008 15:53:10 -0700 Hi, Scouting for the April 30-May 6 Kern River Valley Spring Nature Festival birding from the oasis located 18 miles south on Kelso Valley Road from CA Hwy. 178 across from the entrance to Audubon California's Kern River Preserve in Weldon, Kern County, Southern Sierra Nevada, then Audubon California's Kelso Creek Sanctuary located on both sides of Kelso Valley Road 15 miles south of Hwy. 178, then Frog Spring located on BLM road SC47 1/4-1/2 mile east of Kelso Valley Road and 14.5 miles south of Hwy. 178, then Rocky Point riparian area located on the west side of Kelso Valley Road about 7 miles south of Hwy. 178, then the Kern River Preserve's Migrant Corner Trail off the east side of Sierra Way 1.2 miles north of Hwy. 178of Onyx of the north side of CA Hwy. 178. Birding conditions were favorable for observing with clear skies, bright sun, and no wind. Clouds started to move in at the end of the observation period. Oasis 18 Highlights: Mountain Quail, California Thrasher, Scott's Oriole,... Kelso Creek Sanctuary Highlights: Mountain Quail, Pinyon Jay, Golden-crowned Sparrow,... Frog Spring Highlights: Migrant diversity - Hammond's Flycatcher, Cassin's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, 7 warbler species (Orange-crowned, Nashville, Yellow, Yellow-rumped Audubon's, Black-throated Gray Townsend's, Wilson's), Western Tanager, Black-headed Grosbeak; Scott's Oriole,... Rocky Point Highlights: None (10 minute visit) Migrant Corner Highlights: Hermit Warbler, Lawrence's Goldfinch,... Time/Date: 6:30am-11:30am, Friday, April 18, 2008 Coverage Key: E-en route, F-Frog Spring, K-Kelso Creek Sanctuary, M-Migrant Corner Trail, O-Oasis 18, R-Rocky Point Observers: Bob Barnes-Ridgecrest, John Denborg-Denmark, Linda Oberholtzer-Whittier KEY: ho - heard only Species List: Mallard 4M; Mountain Quail F, K, O (ho - numerous); California Quail 6F, 1K, M, O, R; Great Blue Heron 2E; Turkey Vulture 2E; Red-tailed Hawk 2O; American Kestrel 2E, 2K; Killdeer 1O; Mourning Dove 10E, 6F, 4K, 8M, 3O, 2R; White-throated Swift 2F; Black-chinned Hummingbird 1M (male); Anna's Hummingbird 1K; Ladder-backed Woodpecker 1F (male); Nuttall's Woodpecker 2K, 2M, 1R; Hairy Woodpecker 1K; Northern Flicker 2K, 1M, 1R; Hammond's Flycatcher 1F; Say's Phoebe 1E; Ash-throated Flycatcher 1F, 4K, 2O, 2M, 1R; Western Kingbird 5E, Cassin's Vireo 1F, 1M; Warbling Vireo 1F; Western Scrub-Jay 1O, 1F, 2K, 1M, 1R; Pinyon Jay 14K; Common Raven 70E, 2F, 2K, 4M, 1O, 1R; Tree Swallow 4E; Oak Titmouse 1K, 1M, 1R; Bushtit 2O, Rock Wren 1K; Bewick's Wren 5F, 4K, 1M, 3O, 1R; House Wren 2F, 2K, 5M, 1O, 2R; Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2F, 1K, 1M, 1O; Western Bluebird 4K; Hermit Thrush 1O; American Robin 1F, 1M; California Thrasher 1F, 1O; European Starling 1K, 2M; Orange-crowned Warbler 2F; Nashville Warbler 1F; Yellow Warbler 1F, 4M, Yellow-rumped Audubon's Warbler 10F, 10K, 10M, 7O, 1R; Black-throated Gray Warbler 1F, 1M; Townsend's Warbler 1F; Hermit Warbler 1M; Common Yellowthroat 3M; Wilson's Warbler 10F, 5M; Western Tanager 1F; Spotted Towhee 1F, 1K, 1O, 1R; California Towhee 2K, 1M, 1R; Chipping Sparrow 1F; Brewer's Sparrow 6F; Song Sparrow 2F, 5M; Lincoln's Sparrow 1M; White-crowned Sparrow 15F, 5K, 4M; Golden-crowned Sparrow 4K; Dark-eyed Junco 1F; Black-headed Grosbeak 2F, 4M; Red-winged Blackbird 4F, 2K, 4M; Tricolored Blackbird 40E; Western Meadowlark 1M; Bullock's Oriole 2K, 4M, 1R; Scott's Oriole 1F (male); 1O (ho); House Finch ; Lesser Goldfinch 1F, 10M; Lawrence's Goldfinch 5M;...c. species. Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Scott's Oriole From: "Dennis McDonnell" <dmcdonnell AT bak.rr.com> Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 16:17:15 -0700 Very slow birding today at Butterbredt Spring, so Kathy and I headed north from there on SC123 to check on the possibility of finding nesting Bendire Thrashers. Twice in the past we've found them nesting in Joshua trees, 3.5 miles north of Butterbredt. No luck today with thrashers; however, 2.5 miles north of Butterbredt, we had a perched male Scott's Oriole just 20 feet off the trail. Dennis & Kathy McDonnell Bakersfield [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 17 Apr 08 - Canebrake ER to Chimney Peak CG From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Thu, 17 Apr 2008 15:55:29 -0700 Hi, Scouting for the April 30-May 6 Kern River Valley Spring Nature Festival birding from Canebrake Ecological Reserve (CER) located 5 miles east of Onyx of the north side of CA Hwy. 178 , then up Chimney Peak National Backcountry Byway to Chimney Creek Campground in far southeastern Tulare County, then back to the CER parking lot. Birding conditions were favorable with clear skies, bright sun, and no wind. However, RESIDENT bird species were noticeably scarce at CER, the least productive birding I have had there in 15 years of actively birding that site in winter (My Christmas Bird Count territory for 15+ years), spring, and early summer.. Canebrake Ecological Reserve Highlight: Virginia Rail - excellent visual of two individuals Chimney Peak National Backcountry Byway (in Kern County) Highlights: Wrentit - excellent visual, Brewer's Sparrow - in abundance. Chimney Creek Campground (in Tulare County) Highlight: Clark's Nutcracker - first record for this well-worked birding site. Time/Date: 7am-12pm, Thursday, April 17, 2008 Coverage: Canebrake Ecological Reserve Public Access Trail, Chimney Peak National Backcountry Byway, Chimney Cree Campground. Observers: Bob Barnes-Ridgecrest, John Denborg-Denmark, Linda Oberholtzer-Whittier, June Persson-Sacramento KEY: * - Chimney Creek Campground in Tulare County only, ho - heard only Species List: Mallard 3, California Quail (ho), Mountain Quail (ho - several), Turkey Vulture 1, Accipiter species 1, Red-shouldered Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 1, Virginia Rail 5 (2 visuals), Mourning Dove 4, Greater Roadrunner 1 (ho), Anna's Hummingbird 3, Nuttall's Woodpecker 1, Northern Flicker 2 (ho), Hammond's Flycatcher 1, Black Phoebe 1, Ash-throated Flycatcher 1, Western Kingbird 5, Cassin's Vireo 1, Steller's Jay 2*, Western Scrub-Jay 3, Clark's Nutcracker 2*, Common Raven 4, Tree Swallow 2, Violet-green Swallow 4, Mountain Chickadee 2*, Oak Titmouse 2, Bushtit 2, Red-breasted Nuthatch 2*, Rock Wren 1, Bewick's Wren 3, House Wren 6, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2, Hermit Thrush 1, American Robin 1, Wrentit 1, European Starling 1, Orange-crowned Warbler 1 (ho), Yellow Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 20 (all Audubon's), Common Yellowthroat 3, Spotted Towhee 2, California Towhee 3, Brewer's Sparrow 20, Song Sparrow 1, White-crowned Sparrow 15, Dark-eyed Junco 2, Black-headed Grosbeak 2, Red-winged Blackbird 10, Tricolored Blackbird 30, Western Meadowlark 1, Great-tailed Grackle 1, Brown-headed Cowbird 4, Bullock's Oriole 5, House Finch , Lesser Goldfinch 3, House Sparrow 2,... Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 16 Apr 08 - Tillie Creek to Greenhorn Summit From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 17:46:43 -0700 Hi, Scouting for the April 30-May 6 Kern River Valley Spring Nature Festival birding from Tillie Creek Campground in Wofford Heights up CA Hwy. 178 to 6102' Greenhorn Summit, then back down to Tillie Creek via Old State Road. A quick stop was made in an unsuccessful attempt to find American Dipper along the Kern River below Isabella Reservoir's Main Dam Campground. Birding conditions were favorable with clear skies, bright sun, and no wind. Tillie Creek Campground Highlights: Hammond's Flycatcher, Gray Flycatcher, & Pacific-slope Flycatcher, six species of warbler, Brewer's Sparrow (visual and singing). Greenhorn Summit Highlights: Northern Goshawk, Pileated Woodpecker (female). Time/Date: 8am-1:30pm, Wednesday, April 16, 2008 Coverage: Tillie Creek Campground in Wofford Heights, Greenhorn Summit, Old State Road. Observers: Bob Barnes-Ridgecrest, John Denborg-Denmark, Linda Oberholtzer-Whittier, June Persson-Sacramento Species List: California Quail, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Osprey, Northern Goshawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, White-headed Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, Pileated Woodpecker, Hammond's Flycatcher, Gray Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Cassin's Vireo, Steller's Jay, Western Scrub-Jay, Common Raven, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Mountain Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Brown Creeper, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Wrentit, Northern Mockingbird, California Thrasher, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Phainopepla, Orange-crowned Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (all Audubon's), Black-throated Gray Warbler, Common Yellowthroat, Wilson's Warbler, Spotted Towhee, California Towhee, Brewer's Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bullock's Oriole, Purple Finch, House Finch, Pine Siskin, Lesser Goldfinch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow,... Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: 15 Apr 08 - Inyokern to Mtn. Mesa From: Bob Barnes <bbarnes AT lightspeed.net> Date: Wed, 16 Apr 2008 05:31:47 -0700 Hi, Started scouting for the April 30-May 6 Kern River Valley Spring Nature Festival birding from Terri Middlemiss's yard north of Inyokern to the Lakeview Motel in Mountain Mesa with John Denborg from Denmark and June Persson from Sacramento. Birding conditions were very unfavorable due to high winds. We had to work hard to find and see birds. Middlemiss Property Highlights: Hammond's, Dusky (whitting), & Pacific-slope (see-ipping) Flycatchers, Cassin's Finches. Scodie Park in Onyx Highlights: Hooded Oriole, Cassin's Finches, Red Crossbills, and Lawrence's Goldfinch. Kern River Preserve Headquarters Highlight: Tricolored Blackbirds Isabella Reservoir Highlight: 30-40 American White Pelicans Time/Date: 6:30am-1:30pm, Tuesday, April 15, 2008 Coverage: Middlemiss property north of Inyokern, Scodie Park in Onyx, Fay Ranch Road in Weldon, Kern River Preserve Headquarters in Weldon, Isabella Reservoir at Kissack Cove in Mountain Mesa Observers: Bob Barnes-Ridgecrest, John Denborg-Denmark, June Persson-Sacramento Species List: Mallard, California Quail, American White Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Mourning Dove, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Anna's Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Northern Flicker, Hammond's Flycatcher, Dusky Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Western Kingbird, Warbling Vireo, Common Raven, Tree Swallow, Violet-green Swallow, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Oak Titmouse, House Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Western Bluebird, American Robin, European Starling, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler (all Audubon's), Lark Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Black-headed Grosbeak, Red-winged Blackbird, Tricolored Blackbird, Brewer's Blackbird, Hooded Oriole, Bullock's Oriole, Cassin's Finch, House Finch, Red Crossbill, Pine Siskin, Lesser Goldfinch, Lawrence's Goldfinch, American Goldfinch, House Sparrow,... Bob Barnes, Ridgecrest, Kern County [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Butterbredt Spring Access From: "Mike Stiles" <mstiles AT calpoly.edu> Date: Tue, 15 Apr 2008 15:16:19 -0700 The following is from Kathy Sharum, a BLM biologist regarding the recent incident where a birder was asked for ID: I did a little investigating and spoke with a couple of BLM biologists for this area. They told me there has been some recent vandalism to some of the fences. They also said there had been a couple of rangers from somewhere else working there on assignment as well as a couple of non-law enforcement rangers that may not have been familiar with the setup at Butterbredt Spring. Word has been sent to the lead ranger to make sure everyone understands that this area is open to birders. The biologists were not aware of any written permission requirement, the spring is on private land and there is an agreement between the landowner and Audubon who maintains the spring/trough to allow birding/birders. This spring is under the juridiction of the Ridgecrest BLM Office, you can call there if you have questions. I would ask for a law enforcement person or a biologist. If I learn of anything else, I will post it. Kathy Sharum Carrizo Plain National Monument Posted by Mike Stiles Los Osos, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: California Condors From: "Maggie Smith" <milleniummaggs AT charter.net> Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 19:53:55 -0700 This morning Doug Stinson and I drove up Cerro Noroeste Road looking for California Condors. We parked at a pullout where we could scope the distant ridges of the Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge. We were astonished to see 11 CALIFORNIA CONDORS feeding on 2 carcasses. As we watched from 9:30 to 11:00, the number increased to 19 condors. We saw several in flight and the sight through a scope was amazing. At least 4 were adults with clearly orange heads. The ravens in attendance looked puny in comparison. We saw one Turkey Vulture circling close to the carcass, but it was driven off twice by the ravens. One adult GOLDEN EAGLE flew over us and then below a ridge. We never saw it interacting with the condors. Maggie Smith Arroyo Grande, CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Kern Audubon Society Field Trip From: "lstephensgreene" <lgreene AT bak.rr.com> Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:33:40 -0000 You are invited to a Kern Audubon Society field trip on TUESDAY, April 22nd to Galileo Hill (Silver Saddle Resort). Trip leaders will be Ken and Brenda Kyle. Meet at 6:45 a.m. in the NW corner of Sears parking lot (by automotive dept.) at Valley Plaza. The "oasis" at Galileo Hill is known for an extraordinary spring migration. The guided tour will end about 12:30 p.m. Bring a field guide, something to eat, insect repellant and binoculars. For more information, call 832-1820 or check www.kernaudubonsociety.org. --Linda Greene, Publicity for Kern Audubon Society Subject: Re: New to Kern Co. - Mt. Pinos Birding Areas From: "Oscar Johnson" <henicorhina AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 14 Apr 2008 18:07:17 -0000 Katy and others, Tooting the horn for the coastal counties, you are very close to numerous good birding places just right around Mt Pinos and Lockwood Valley. You can take the road to the top of Mt Pinos (if it is open) and the entire stretch is some of the best montane birding in Southern California. McGill and Mt Pinos campgrounds are both generally productive areas, and Iris Meadow at the top has had good birds in the past (ex Green Violet-Ear). Much of Lockwood Valley Road has good birding, and along with Mutah Flat is a small isolated pocket of great basin sagebrush that holds breeding Brewer's Sparrows amongst others, and is great for raptors. Owling is also fun up on Mt Pinos, with Saw-Whet, Pygmy, and Flammulated all found up there. Flams should starting to call soon as well. Once you drop down into the Cuyama Valley there is a lot of birding as well, and all of the side canyons are a lot of fun (Ballinger, Quatal, Dry, Santa Barbara Canyons, etc). The fire station at the corner of Lockwood Valley Road and hwy 33 can be productive. Frazier Peak is also a great birding spot, but I haven't spent much time there. These next two months will be a lot of fun in the desert as well, and you are rather close to the coastal birding sites in LA and Ventura. Good birding, Oscar Johnson Santa Barbara --- In kerncobirding AT yahoogroups.com, Bob Barnes wrote: > > Katy (and any interested others), > > May I suggest that you purchase the latest (March 2007) edition of > the American Birding Association's "A Birder's Guide to Southern > California." Mt. Pinos is well-covered on pp. 114-117 in the "Carrizo > Plain, Maricopa, and Mount Pinos Areas" chapter. Nearby Maricopa has > LeConte's Thrasher. Be sure to check on the Wind Wolves Preserve off > the south side of CA Hwy. 166 between I-5 and Maricopa, too, even > though it is not covered in the book. > > Pages 328-332 in the "Other Good Birding Spots" covers several Kern > County birding sites which are relatively close (one-two hours) to > Frazier Park ... Bakersfield's Kern River County Park, Buena Vista > Lake/Tule Elk Reserve, Kern National Wildlife Refuge, and Tehachapi. > > Kern County coverage in the ABA SoCal guide is completed via the > "Kern River Valley and Southern Sierra Nevada" and "Kern Desert Oases > and Piute Mountains" chapters. Birding areas described in these > chapters are reached two to three hours from Frazier Park or 1.25 > hours from Bakersfield. > > For information on several Kern County birding sites not covered by > the above, check Alison Sheehey's comprehensive Kern County birding > web pages at: > http://natureali.org/birding.htm > > FYI: The ABA guide is available from ABA Sales or the Los Angeles > Society Bookstore (both have on-line bookstores). > > Bob Barnes > Kern River Valley Birding > 1009 Las Cruces Ave. > Ridgecrest, CA 93555 > P: 760-382-1260 > E: bbarnes AT ... > > At 09:26 AM 4/12/2008, you wrote: > > >Hi birders, > > > >Just moved to Pine Mtn Club two months ago and am eager to find > >birding areas here in the Mt. Pinos area. Have had FOS Black- headed > >Grosbeak and Violet-green Swallow just this morning from my deck, and > >25 other species so far, but would love to know of more wild places in > >this far western area of the county. As soon as the FS roads are open > >at higher elevations, I plan to scope them out but would appreciate > >any suggestions anyone would care to share. Thanks! > > > >Good birding, > > > >Katy Penland > >Pine Mtn Club (15 miles west of Frazier Park) > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] >