Cooler Weather-More Birds-Xmas day and 12/26/12

Two days of cooler weather has brought many birds into the valley. We have been surrounded by rainy weather. Unfortunately all we get is a spit. But many birds have moved down from higher elevation. Today I counted well over 100 Yellow-rumped Warblers on one lawn. The highlights for the past 2 days include a bright Vermillion Flycatcher (two distant to photograph), Sage Sparrows, Common Merganser, many Costa's and Anna's Hummers, Redhead Duck and many others. A few days ago I was hiking near Lute Fault and several White-Pelicans flew over. 

Sage Sparrow-12/25/12-HC

Redhead Duck 12/26/12-HC

All fluffed up Raven-12/26/12-HC

White Pelicans-12/21/12-HC

First Canada Goose of fall-12/26/12/HC

Eurasian Collared Dove in motion 12/26/12-HC

House Sparrow-12/26/12-HC

A mess of hummers-at least 30 coming to feeder 12/26/12-HC

Common Merganser giving us the feather! 12/26/12-HC

Night Hereon-12/25/12-HC

Male Monarch Butterfly-12/26/12-HC

Birds Are Back in Town 12/19/12

A very birdy day at The Springs and Roadrunner Club. The cooler temperatures at night probably prompted birds to descend into the valley and move toward feeders. Highlights included close ups of a female Kestel; good looks at at Snowy Egret; lots of Western Bluebirds; 2 Black-crowned Night Herons and many more birds. 

Female Kestrel 12/19/12-HC

Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron 12/19/12-HC

Western Bluebirds-12/19/12-HC

Say's Phoebe 12/9/12-HC

Mockingbrid-12/19/12-HC

Snowy Egret-12/19/12-HC

Female Kestrel-12/19/12-HC

Wonderful Birding Day at The Springs RV Park and Roadrunner Club-12/12/12

We had a great day for birding at Roadrunner Club and The Springs RV Park. The highlights included the first Red-shouldered Hawk of the season; a strange hummer; a Redhead Duck; a nice Black-crowned Night Heron; a Snowy Egret with a Great Egret in the background; Bluebird eating seeds; close up of a Kestrel and Song Sparrow.

Red-shouldered Hawk 12/12/12-HC

Redhead Duck 12/12/12-Hal

Song Sparrow eating tobacco flower-12/12/12-HC

White-billed Hummer-probably a dirty billed Anna's-12/12/12-HC

Good close up of a Kestrel-12/12/12-HC

Western Bluebird eating a palm seed-12/12/12-HC

Juvenile Black-crowned Night Heron 12/12/12-HC

Another Great Birding Day in Borrego Springs 12/5/12

The Springs Birding group had a nice day with everyone seeing an immature Harris's Sparrow, Lawrence's Goldfinch and a Canvasback Duck. Not lots of species but a fine day to view a few rarities.

Black-crowned Night Heron-12/5/12-HC

Canvasback, Coot and Ring-necked Duck 12/5/12-HC

Harris's Sparrow 12/5/12-Sharon Woods

Harris's Sparrows (2) in Borrego Springs 12/2/12

Yesterday I got an email from Mary Ann Cincotta with photo's of 2 Harris's Sparrow from her yard in Borrego Springs. I went over to her home and sure enough, they were active at her feeder. Today I took a group of 8 birders over to see the sparrows. We had good luck watching them for some time.

Adult Harris's Sparrow in Borrego Springs 12/2/12-HC

Great Costa's Hummer-VS

Great Blue Heron-VS

Robin-12/2/12-HC

Robin-12/2/12-HC

Vivian Stauber from The Springs RV Park took some nice photo's of a Great Blue and a Costa's Hummingbird to share as well. And finally, my first Robin in my yard today.