Birds of Borrego Springs (and wildlife and plants): Birding The Springs 1/16/13

Lots of birders today (15) and some nice looks at: American Wigeon, Mallard Duck, Ring-necked Duck, Pied-billed Grebe, Great Egret, American Coot, Killdeer, Eurasian Collared Dove, White-winged Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Costa's Hummingbird, Black Phoebe, Say's Phoebe, Common Raven, Verdin, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Western Bluebird, Northern Mockingbird, European Starling, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Lark Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch and House Sparrow. Look at the list, refer to your book then go out and find the birds again.

Although we didn't spend time with the Mockingbirds, here is a puzzle you might consider. It is available at the Anza-Borrego Foundation in the front of the west mall. The sale provides funding for scholarships for local kids. The bird still comes to my pyracantha in front of my home.

Here is some info about the Say's Phoebe. It is interesting to note that many Western birds have names for people while most Eastern birds are named by locals. As naturalists moved west they found new birds and named them after friends or other naturalists. Thomas Say (June 27, 1787—October 10, 1834) was an American naturalist, entomologist, malacologist, herpetologist and carcinologist. A taxonomist, he is often considered to be the father of descriptive entomology in the United States. Say was one of the founding fathers of the Entomological Society of America (ESA). The ESA maintains several series of publications and awards that are named after Say.

Note the feet of the Coot. On land the lobes fold back for easier movement. I didn't take the shot of the feet. All shots were taken today. The Verdin hung around my car at the end of the walk.