tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7531940064696749802024-03-05T15:10:19.191-07:00Such-n-Such Bird BlogAll photographs copyrighted by the photographer
ENJOY!Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.comBlogger98125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-4164629625355246752013-08-26T21:34:00.001-06:002013-08-26T21:37:36.439-06:00Preamble in PortlandThis past June, my friend, Levi, and I (Joel) had the opportunity to attend the legendary Hog Island Coastal Bird Studies camp in Maine. Typically, traveling by air from Colorado to the East coast can be quite tricky in terms of cost and logistics. In order to get a relatively good deal on fares, as well as to guarantee that we'd make it to the camp on time, we flew into Maine two days early. Luckily, our all-day flight sequences didn't have any major hiccups. Staying in a hotel in South Portland, we had some solo time to explore the Portland area. Despite finding the hotel area to be the most bird rich place on this leg of our trip, we still made a few interesting trips away utilizing bus and cab transportation. The definite highlight was a visit to Scarborough Marsh.<br />
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<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Traveling by canoe, Levi and I snaked our way up a river surrounded by tall coarse grasses. The river, not a typical one, runs through the largest saltwater marsh in Maine . . . Scarborough Marsh. Comprised of Spartina grasses (cord grass and salt hay), Nelson's and Saltmarsh Sparrows were the only passerines detected in the marsh while canoeing. From the black and white flash of a Willet's wing to a Double-crested Cormorant emerging from the murky nutrient rich water, we anticipated something new around every bend. </span></b><br />
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Levi and I aboard the canoe at Scarborough Marsh</div>
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While paddling up this river, small clusters of Glossy Ibis frequently wheeled overhead.</div>
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Being a tidal marsh, the depth of the water rapidly changed during our time on the river.</div>
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After a couple hours of paddling, we arrived back at the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center where we had rented the canoe. Not entirely finished with the Scarborough area, we walked a quarter mile down the road to the Eastern Trail, a wide gravel pedestrian and bike path that also traverses Scarborough Marsh. With Song Sparrows singing in almost every tree, Snowy Egrets and other wading birds hunting along the mud banks, and numerous gulls swirling about, the bird life was drastically denser than on our canoeing excursion. Unfortunately, hunger and diminishing snack supplies turned us around a short distance down the trail.</div>
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As you can see, the Eastern Trail travels in a straight line for quite a distance. Actually, this trail is part of the East Coast Greenway. Starting in northern Maine, the East Coast Greenway follows the coast all the way to Key West in Florida.</div>
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Four-spotted Skimmer</div>
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Song Sparrow</div>
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Glossy Ibis</div>
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Double-crested Cormorant</div>
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To close out our first complete day in Maine, we took the bus to the Old Port in downtown Portland. Chocked full of redundant gift shops, this historic district is known for its 19th century architecture and fishing piers. While we strolled the cobbled streets, Chimney Swifts swirled above the old brick buildings. Eventually, we found our way out to a public pier. Fringed with reckless casting fishermen, we managed to get our eyes on a low flying Black-crowned Night-Heron just before it disappeared behind another pier.</div>
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With trails winding through and around it, we decided to spend our last morning before camp exploring the golf course near the hotel. Over rolling hills, asphalt paths covered the massive golf course in numerous loops. Edged with towering trees, the Sable Oaks Golf Club had great wildlife habitat including cattail ponds, swamps, and thickets.</div>
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Red-winged Blackbird and Baltimore Oriole outside the hotel.</div>
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Wild Turkeys grazing on the hotel's front lawn.</div>
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Sable Oaks Golf Course</div>
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Black-throated Green Warbler</div>
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Thickets, Forests, and Greens</div>
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Ovenbird with a Mouthful</div>
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Ebony Jewelwing</div>
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Dirt trails through densely wooded areas were abundant on the perimeter of the golf course.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWmr786cRwu2pPsfADTxVHLCriSPo7Ws9H0gjHhUANPzU3Zt3Y1zWTIVlhsyoLJTdXkhyphenhyphenN4QpFEAr-e7jJdLZ0lU39e9pXBM8ZrU3m8O76NRpdVPF_JMcLiqBjRmSteiYVzALPP7gAYw/s1600/sableaoksbirds-3.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="315" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWWmr786cRwu2pPsfADTxVHLCriSPo7Ws9H0gjHhUANPzU3Zt3Y1zWTIVlhsyoLJTdXkhyphenhyphenN4QpFEAr-e7jJdLZ0lU39e9pXBM8ZrU3m8O76NRpdVPF_JMcLiqBjRmSteiYVzALPP7gAYw/s400/sableaoksbirds-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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Eastern Bluebird</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi119NfdYqcCr1zJOwkez_BUeNHt2BTd3Wbx1JVw7b8f5BxjL2YPMikyO3DopRFi2MeLhFHcL2KXtohAUw-cGq6tb-os3qH9GZUHNt9kjiGotGGCXp1HlYF3wOFAsV70juqfQccMPoOD-g/s1600/sableaoksbirds-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi119NfdYqcCr1zJOwkez_BUeNHt2BTd3Wbx1JVw7b8f5BxjL2YPMikyO3DopRFi2MeLhFHcL2KXtohAUw-cGq6tb-os3qH9GZUHNt9kjiGotGGCXp1HlYF3wOFAsV70juqfQccMPoOD-g/s400/sableaoksbirds-8.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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North American Porcupine</div>
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Next up: I will cover the other leg of our trip . . . Hog Island!</div>
<!--EndFragment-->Joel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12750114091321820568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-89703703101881748612013-07-19T09:46:00.000-06:002013-07-19T09:57:30.910-06:00Basin and Range CountryOver the last week of June, I (Marcel) had the great privilege of attending a Western Field Ornithologists' field trip to the Northeastern Counties of California, thanks to an extremely generous <a href="http://westernfieldornithologists.org/" target="_blank">WFO scholarship</a>. Led by Ken Able, Jon Dunn, Lena Hayashi, and Dave Quady, we explored the varied habitats of the Sierra Valley, Modoc Plateau, and the Warner Mountains. There was great avian diversity to be found in the sagebrush, alkali flats, pine forests, oak woodland, and spruce highlands, as the group tallied over 170 species in eight days. Thanks again to WFO for providing me with the opportunity to enjoy this once-in-a-lifetime experience!<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MFk1bTMtGL-XkXylUuHl-Q-s7ho-_c8KyfLdHEt-8VrwgcJDLxFSY0A1iclF0ZHozpl80q-zqau8VrQPdEYlX0xsv3YoE8HCqNSR4HPQ-6l6cc8SzS88zBl3r7xW8taZjqM_xeRu59Y/s1600/NECA-35.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4MFk1bTMtGL-XkXylUuHl-Q-s7ho-_c8KyfLdHEt-8VrwgcJDLxFSY0A1iclF0ZHozpl80q-zqau8VrQPdEYlX0xsv3YoE8HCqNSR4HPQ-6l6cc8SzS88zBl3r7xW8taZjqM_xeRu59Y/s400/NECA-35.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Surprise Valley</i></div>
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Following is a series of my best photos from the trip, including birds, landscapes, people, and other things.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQip35bpAtnpYL2eFAtIaiIaAfnyPbOf4GMugkls3V1_puUdmlPJw0QYLZUFCYe4MSnGB3UDGKKkg0tQTnPPX4yVUKrTdXmnTM9krlh9ktO2PyqeQqCUuFbtY2bbA9ETiyXrLCktrmEZ0/s1600/NECA-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQip35bpAtnpYL2eFAtIaiIaAfnyPbOf4GMugkls3V1_puUdmlPJw0QYLZUFCYe4MSnGB3UDGKKkg0tQTnPPX4yVUKrTdXmnTM9krlh9ktO2PyqeQqCUuFbtY2bbA9ETiyXrLCktrmEZ0/s400/NECA-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>A young member of a family of Western Scrub-Jays (coastal subspecies </i>californicus<i>) at the eastern extremity of its range in Reno, NV.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysUOOjhN0c4rHk9V59OHHf14XFdFB4t5NjrK8p3dixiO3Gg3BUjYNSFGc4hcNgLFoQxGauyhtoEtH6j14nk2ag__tQeXDRz2-eLSPE8D_8zP6GRNKFtLE11lHyiBDNeh7E8-U7rdTmqE/s1600/NECA-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiysUOOjhN0c4rHk9V59OHHf14XFdFB4t5NjrK8p3dixiO3Gg3BUjYNSFGc4hcNgLFoQxGauyhtoEtH6j14nk2ag__tQeXDRz2-eLSPE8D_8zP6GRNKFtLE11lHyiBDNeh7E8-U7rdTmqE/s400/NECA-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>A male Williamson's Sapsucker at a nest (just out of the photo).</i></div>
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<i>Lemon Valley Road, where there were Barn Owls to be found.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwcH9f9X3ppPiqL-bYda2qc9QI_iZJnZVA_KDh8ptsh2kfpwhrjolqKDveYTU8LrNO40MsciqWn-KDkdOGrCQBmvdEtwcNxUVOH9Id63ndvxL1j8IXBzB4GStYr_59bh60VUIk0-ikpI/s1600/NECA-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNwcH9f9X3ppPiqL-bYda2qc9QI_iZJnZVA_KDh8ptsh2kfpwhrjolqKDveYTU8LrNO40MsciqWn-KDkdOGrCQBmvdEtwcNxUVOH9Id63ndvxL1j8IXBzB4GStYr_59bh60VUIk0-ikpI/s400/NECA-3.jpg" width="266" /></a></div>
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<i>Snow Plant (</i>Sarcodes sanguinea<i>) was an abundant species at the higher elevations.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGOOLAsH9WjaSEfZnMnlLJZp4NMLHvGbGRf5s0kkJ4ZH3UfJof2B6WdkhCqTZ-ZYNjuFHZDzZCgMH1eUsJZfATxxQm7zPtMmm6tIHBkUopA_0_FXLKBUajmfhmsSjAKn5D5WznSDch5o/s1600/NECA-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSGOOLAsH9WjaSEfZnMnlLJZp4NMLHvGbGRf5s0kkJ4ZH3UfJof2B6WdkhCqTZ-ZYNjuFHZDzZCgMH1eUsJZfATxxQm7zPtMmm6tIHBkUopA_0_FXLKBUajmfhmsSjAKn5D5WznSDch5o/s400/NECA-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Sierra Valley, with storm clouds brewing.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivat2-UjPGH5FyaVhqJOtoLvwyOLfDWBMj7eJJh0C5uaSODZgpboUx9eG_R1DR6V88dRNDAor59vGZA5xoQhX9Zf2nJv3OqgTdxecqAVVacBNoDG-8rDSSOSnXiO1veM41hEZiOzIEnGg/s1600/NECA-15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivat2-UjPGH5FyaVhqJOtoLvwyOLfDWBMj7eJJh0C5uaSODZgpboUx9eG_R1DR6V88dRNDAor59vGZA5xoQhX9Zf2nJv3OqgTdxecqAVVacBNoDG-8rDSSOSnXiO1veM41hEZiOzIEnGg/s400/NECA-15.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>American Bittern in the Sierra Valley.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjd7cHKNk8ir1_9i93Ve5nV4bpWdrop4TOt4J-575aYdgBUzbdZ4VJlew1AzVUbsqYL05I5zwtCqXsUtsArJVzEExky4qAnQnnjek_b1QgEPmbQV82ghDmotfxn_Mrz2OdUnmQ5NfgUEg/s1600/NECA-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjd7cHKNk8ir1_9i93Ve5nV4bpWdrop4TOt4J-575aYdgBUzbdZ4VJlew1AzVUbsqYL05I5zwtCqXsUtsArJVzEExky4qAnQnnjek_b1QgEPmbQV82ghDmotfxn_Mrz2OdUnmQ5NfgUEg/s400/NECA-6.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Smithneck Creek County Park</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOHotDfXLtyMOwJ0xNpTWbKn3nZb-WnQkw19orngOuUc8W1JRSh4sQH4Fm88tatcgtXaeATx8MgR5pzdlLiuTMWMVwW29h0KwvNMuFpCKhrm59hwUjo56Sqep_JXzKh-Kn-wFgI11UyI/s1600/NECA-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiFOHotDfXLtyMOwJ0xNpTWbKn3nZb-WnQkw19orngOuUc8W1JRSh4sQH4Fm88tatcgtXaeATx8MgR5pzdlLiuTMWMVwW29h0KwvNMuFpCKhrm59hwUjo56Sqep_JXzKh-Kn-wFgI11UyI/s400/NECA-7.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Lewis's Woodpecker, with nest located at top of photo, at Smithneck Creek County Park.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7gVveLBne9HbGb04hyCVxrG5KwY_clgNLgXxPPj3iaj0JP_mPkjelYWGG3ECTV4f1NX_7var4nY19vmabrQ-zC5qz5e8h1sFvhGdIcgVVszC8nqYKxzsGNAzr4qyAEysOO0Kni99KtQ/s1600/NECA-9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEio7gVveLBne9HbGb04hyCVxrG5KwY_clgNLgXxPPj3iaj0JP_mPkjelYWGG3ECTV4f1NX_7var4nY19vmabrQ-zC5qz5e8h1sFvhGdIcgVVszC8nqYKxzsGNAzr4qyAEysOO0Kni99KtQ/s400/NECA-9.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Carmen Valley (there was a Hairy Woodpecker nesting in one of the fence posts).</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFDFjzVBDL6erfkIZUCgjuRmhH5LCFDst1Q1a01bAv50GfFhTLJlYmB7C23iYv0zhxfmOrrH-d3-UvzekxL70woESVDu1oKJg3ICGKArFSd7tI1npUst86ipmJM5pgQlt0c1Vmy7rm3o/s1600/NECA-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZFDFjzVBDL6erfkIZUCgjuRmhH5LCFDst1Q1a01bAv50GfFhTLJlYmB7C23iYv0zhxfmOrrH-d3-UvzekxL70woESVDu1oKJg3ICGKArFSd7tI1npUst86ipmJM5pgQlt0c1Vmy7rm3o/s400/NECA-10.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Mountain Quail Road (though I have heard that its namesake is almost unheard of at this location).</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmO41pNg5sN97bPhkxfkP4I0X3aDfLwq-lwmhgL_9hF-L7H1Y1YJE99bN1BHjjs0ijO1nBBcHXIa3l-6sI2sjx2An3G6WBfbvAPnejayeHGCmdrL9allE6EtVl6D98vIZkGy8p4E2gDjM/s1600/NECA-11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="170" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmO41pNg5sN97bPhkxfkP4I0X3aDfLwq-lwmhgL_9hF-L7H1Y1YJE99bN1BHjjs0ijO1nBBcHXIa3l-6sI2sjx2An3G6WBfbvAPnejayeHGCmdrL9allE6EtVl6D98vIZkGy8p4E2gDjM/s400/NECA-11.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Lifer Rubber Boa!!!</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUCM4NZ6x4rHeBclmFBRTZNpgdz1QQZjqASvbD8LNtpMCOdM1uNPaevQgBdvaaUwvG7V5yHRPMPn-LSCJwqmDJxFm7C-kbxXs5iN57mV4zvz3ZzK4e7fK1HJephysMBGcHlHm1o4CruE/s1600/NECA-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGUCM4NZ6x4rHeBclmFBRTZNpgdz1QQZjqASvbD8LNtpMCOdM1uNPaevQgBdvaaUwvG7V5yHRPMPn-LSCJwqmDJxFm7C-kbxXs5iN57mV4zvz3ZzK4e7fK1HJephysMBGcHlHm1o4CruE/s400/NECA-12.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>We heard a Mountain Quail calling from down this slope.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvtlBfi99ZtZmpbJe0v0lX8Ci8IVb4VWSSxT_fQnGI_pp7K926OvPQi9QmJ7LTbIyNhkTdNd2a8ds9ZiBT1dXHOpxPdZI8pVzo5lbIf2Da5ECqWF65uIMi4sM_1MBsvpTgbjAytHB46Y/s1600/NECA-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgfvtlBfi99ZtZmpbJe0v0lX8Ci8IVb4VWSSxT_fQnGI_pp7K926OvPQi9QmJ7LTbIyNhkTdNd2a8ds9ZiBT1dXHOpxPdZI8pVzo5lbIf2Da5ECqWF65uIMi4sM_1MBsvpTgbjAytHB46Y/s400/NECA-13.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Birding Yuba Pass</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0lScGlGfAt2skACKD8fMbjti-bsBCqDz_FdIgHL_6ZaxZ1y_7wd4qnIHml6qVl8OYwSPpO8ty8emDKYx2F6yV-2SXWua_k5JAaM929UviyKBOr9JTgkPxVMRMKlSv7XA6xXJxOymLyw/s1600/NECA-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="286" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq0lScGlGfAt2skACKD8fMbjti-bsBCqDz_FdIgHL_6ZaxZ1y_7wd4qnIHml6qVl8OYwSPpO8ty8emDKYx2F6yV-2SXWua_k5JAaM929UviyKBOr9JTgkPxVMRMKlSv7XA6xXJxOymLyw/s400/NECA-14.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Fox Sparrow, Thick-billed subspecies group (</i>megarhyncha<i>), on Yuba Pass.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5nzjE2b5jp-MF0GaYKtwZrr7t2dOtCRmjPrj682JonY0yP7Dnqq-yuvYTlfBniZKKjC-Elqf0hQhPEHXvnz-LCkxWD5XtxIR-1nouJQ9gTq7R5l2kYq4s0TDhVugb1Qe3YIDy3xXBf4/s1600/NECA-17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR5nzjE2b5jp-MF0GaYKtwZrr7t2dOtCRmjPrj682JonY0yP7Dnqq-yuvYTlfBniZKKjC-Elqf0hQhPEHXvnz-LCkxWD5XtxIR-1nouJQ9gTq7R5l2kYq4s0TDhVugb1Qe3YIDy3xXBf4/s400/NECA-17.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Red Rocks Road, which burned a few days after we visited in search of Gray Flycatcher (successful) and Juniper Titmouse (unsuccessful).</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65XjLDghjKhgazSBDi22S0TwjaVzd2HBGMK3p2HhHG-LFDuF4YdZDtJIMES5EImZXAl_6586x-oiemOCdZrTLJNKURm9lYtE3SmWBCvxYC0MOf0XTjJIOtxScY72tHTTULomafeNx3HI/s1600/NECA-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj65XjLDghjKhgazSBDi22S0TwjaVzd2HBGMK3p2HhHG-LFDuF4YdZDtJIMES5EImZXAl_6586x-oiemOCdZrTLJNKURm9lYtE3SmWBCvxYC0MOf0XTjJIOtxScY72tHTTULomafeNx3HI/s400/NECA-18.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Common Branded Skipper</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLosTzrje32htVAHKgRQaivcGiCchVfGy7_atH0d50L95C96FhNV72Z-ZEyxjbB_VpWeeZHTEqILsdcmnqs4-lKkEx3Zp4ds9B_WhtgvK3CkndxtnGCm1IIaPiAKJdoztsScyuzl1wm4/s1600/NECA-16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFLosTzrje32htVAHKgRQaivcGiCchVfGy7_atH0d50L95C96FhNV72Z-ZEyxjbB_VpWeeZHTEqILsdcmnqs4-lKkEx3Zp4ds9B_WhtgvK3CkndxtnGCm1IIaPiAKJdoztsScyuzl1wm4/s400/NECA-16.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Male Western Pondhawk</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf50KEo2hcx8vGiL_vUtYMmV3b9V_c4foUki8uviFRsHyk7VxmSubifvXORE-l41_LAC0i4z96YgGyaHkVf_cQEZabEKx_cjxZzD0l2EAPAw_jxUNLkMbt1KtAb0VbMtE-6mRaJAhUhjw/s1600/NECA-51.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgf50KEo2hcx8vGiL_vUtYMmV3b9V_c4foUki8uviFRsHyk7VxmSubifvXORE-l41_LAC0i4z96YgGyaHkVf_cQEZabEKx_cjxZzD0l2EAPAw_jxUNLkMbt1KtAb0VbMtE-6mRaJAhUhjw/s400/NECA-51.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>The Red Rocks Fire, en route back to Reno.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEguaTsV2K2v1zrKZXefNWCgiz_lobDqCt31t9huiKF-pOPHVNFEW2jyMktv3y_E3MnHt7o0D2JWxYaFLezQjEsxymj8voQAH1N7ypdv-jarVGoXtPH0Xo7arG0ajReq1HMCPIxfvkx8/s1600/NECA-19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhrEguaTsV2K2v1zrKZXefNWCgiz_lobDqCt31t9huiKF-pOPHVNFEW2jyMktv3y_E3MnHt7o0D2JWxYaFLezQjEsxymj8voQAH1N7ypdv-jarVGoXtPH0Xo7arG0ajReq1HMCPIxfvkx8/s400/NECA-19.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Papoose Meadows, just south of Eagle Lake, held a couple of Yellow Rails.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHwZbKlbm8IJpApn1R9fZCRlYkKSdOqbrCZc3Jdy05SheEFZxMqKeiQDOToBVjykOZeWpKrmDM0VHzeXgIJdcCsRUD3PchSG-qLC-FkxCVlDkkSIgPLnLdmLXb0zuDIeONqCYAlcpkyo/s1600/NECA-20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaHwZbKlbm8IJpApn1R9fZCRlYkKSdOqbrCZc3Jdy05SheEFZxMqKeiQDOToBVjykOZeWpKrmDM0VHzeXgIJdcCsRUD3PchSG-qLC-FkxCVlDkkSIgPLnLdmLXb0zuDIeONqCYAlcpkyo/s400/NECA-20.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Acorn Woodpeckers, playing on high voltage lines in Janesville.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWig_0xktoGtH31_3-QdGNSxlOEbeHVZxXVqY7v9_vg5DnqWfJ9NOi8330W0Dyhz7mJudP5FUfTuBG1pOUmM8z8fl8R8e9h8k3LlJrNd_FCHRuZYPCugoz232dWPJzXwN7oSPy-c-5ylg/s1600/NECA-21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWig_0xktoGtH31_3-QdGNSxlOEbeHVZxXVqY7v9_vg5DnqWfJ9NOi8330W0Dyhz7mJudP5FUfTuBG1pOUmM8z8fl8R8e9h8k3LlJrNd_FCHRuZYPCugoz232dWPJzXwN7oSPy-c-5ylg/s400/NECA-21.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Lewis's Woodpecker being mobbed by a feisty Western Kingbird.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuu02SsPLf8ziTdZFc1VVpsnLvXoZQgrAmjROeFC6QbrlgZdXjoSHUwI_Xix1gMFE6h-Ins-2MTbpyv0lN6gC1rkzp0u0XybJkvfP3i36UqqDK-SxV8bbsbCgSlDzTMVt0OeFXZ_e1B98/s1600/NECA-22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiuu02SsPLf8ziTdZFc1VVpsnLvXoZQgrAmjROeFC6QbrlgZdXjoSHUwI_Xix1gMFE6h-Ins-2MTbpyv0lN6gC1rkzp0u0XybJkvfP3i36UqqDK-SxV8bbsbCgSlDzTMVt0OeFXZ_e1B98/s400/NECA-22.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Pacific Wren in the Warner Mountains.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjm6NmUnXpaObOv0eT7kzZYavXnlekIltQ_Q2BVqSXVvAgcZNTsRmeQ_gfL7sj8vx3fNWh-eQk5nLrmPuBt_dJoAix__vWSiTtRytBpzx1k-CcPYkYeOCQWB5VFuaJ97JGGpNAtf52-c/s1600/NECA-24.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYjm6NmUnXpaObOv0eT7kzZYavXnlekIltQ_Q2BVqSXVvAgcZNTsRmeQ_gfL7sj8vx3fNWh-eQk5nLrmPuBt_dJoAix__vWSiTtRytBpzx1k-CcPYkYeOCQWB5VFuaJ97JGGpNAtf52-c/s400/NECA-24.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Blue Lake</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPjK6BTcAWC_pi6rNBiF7sEVMEVXnFGtVXWgu5RCtopy0KPQIt70chR2ZQ_BQPsRxIVxzBQr9cbXCWtMg8OXC06jek82E2uQFgzDY3LpdzRbNze0YBaMS798s2zRKGbe26A6EW6e6-GM/s1600/NECA-23.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUPjK6BTcAWC_pi6rNBiF7sEVMEVXnFGtVXWgu5RCtopy0KPQIt70chR2ZQ_BQPsRxIVxzBQr9cbXCWtMg8OXC06jek82E2uQFgzDY3LpdzRbNze0YBaMS798s2zRKGbe26A6EW6e6-GM/s400/NECA-23.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>One of California's only nesting Eastern Kingbirds, at Blue Lake.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJI_upFC0w-VNUAqtQcZ1bsKlAEkE3psMri_wVZGehWWNbIEL_daCHOeh7IHP1bdX5f8nqxcgfsPozm1vymod4BrVjkVX0nuEba2MX7piqnA1o_AOtBMuTG-UMxlmbSRfLCOejDWqwBKU/s1600/NECA-27.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJI_upFC0w-VNUAqtQcZ1bsKlAEkE3psMri_wVZGehWWNbIEL_daCHOeh7IHP1bdX5f8nqxcgfsPozm1vymod4BrVjkVX0nuEba2MX7piqnA1o_AOtBMuTG-UMxlmbSRfLCOejDWqwBKU/s400/NECA-27.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Eastern Kingbird Nest</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrT-aZw32GL0IIWUyOG9wta5jknzDcjdu6l8J5IL0BEX3Vkx9keffMvRgfK75V47fGV-xR-7B40gGxNjHXoKVNr6jut-ZQHz-8qTNMJWB29FlOZFryDqKG8Smx3UEfXZ1-jsgPS52c70/s1600/NECA-25.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="247" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVrT-aZw32GL0IIWUyOG9wta5jknzDcjdu6l8J5IL0BEX3Vkx9keffMvRgfK75V47fGV-xR-7B40gGxNjHXoKVNr6jut-ZQHz-8qTNMJWB29FlOZFryDqKG8Smx3UEfXZ1-jsgPS52c70/s400/NECA-25.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Singing male MacGillivray's Warbler, at Blue Lake.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipX8WflO2OsAUcP5j7hwOFVK79S8fv3xOHNfSHBT2M5web1QBuq18ZmOsZBVILREhPnWlYG-854mi0901MBLQRXX51sOwzA7FKLugQ3-TkbzremzCdtRznm-SsMp3_zsT3N__isy8lwj4/s1600/NECA-26.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="288" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipX8WflO2OsAUcP5j7hwOFVK79S8fv3xOHNfSHBT2M5web1QBuq18ZmOsZBVILREhPnWlYG-854mi0901MBLQRXX51sOwzA7FKLugQ3-TkbzremzCdtRznm-SsMp3_zsT3N__isy8lwj4/s400/NECA-26.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Nesting Tree Swallow, at Blue Lake.</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxJdFaE72kN6zkczAE4zokM-tAejmD4VyTjaXVxHfWleQt8-IDPRdCTmASVqcde5y6NtoIBAkNcvXqHcq9Wk2wqrwRm4CGJRuoScdLGU0h8vcAfmMJjisIv2O8N4VOyKFlNx13zlp76Y/s1600/NECA-31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRxJdFaE72kN6zkczAE4zokM-tAejmD4VyTjaXVxHfWleQt8-IDPRdCTmASVqcde5y6NtoIBAkNcvXqHcq9Wk2wqrwRm4CGJRuoScdLGU0h8vcAfmMJjisIv2O8N4VOyKFlNx13zlp76Y/s400/NECA-31.jpg" width="400" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Brewer's Sparrow, at Blue Lake.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3ZEpxZVcD4stwFTB0gk-onmOahs1mYEweyUs_ZcA85JF9jqguznKPSNeu6XMkvJ_W6gbhM7eFgfhwkeqAa1sYQLowYJphN4hr9d8NunNwbl8Cb6XOXj3uockReqE1LR7sU2DoJVkNYU/s1600/NECA-28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="291" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM3ZEpxZVcD4stwFTB0gk-onmOahs1mYEweyUs_ZcA85JF9jqguznKPSNeu6XMkvJ_W6gbhM7eFgfhwkeqAa1sYQLowYJphN4hr9d8NunNwbl8Cb6XOXj3uockReqE1LR7sU2DoJVkNYU/s400/NECA-28.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Variable Checkerspot, at Blue Lake.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDTx4zGAj9Kaa9GmdlwlzFr2u7O9NKDCqoKYtx7aDbNq6v25U12OBQ3APc7AiY6JlTxcDKjLHJ2bdte5BTAMHYcSJaSWwNJC1yCsHQ5NvpCvbwmJGW9inwB2pJmZ5UpttFY08Zuhv3fE/s1600/NECA-29.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNDTx4zGAj9Kaa9GmdlwlzFr2u7O9NKDCqoKYtx7aDbNq6v25U12OBQ3APc7AiY6JlTxcDKjLHJ2bdte5BTAMHYcSJaSWwNJC1yCsHQ5NvpCvbwmJGW9inwB2pJmZ5UpttFY08Zuhv3fE/s400/NECA-29.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Eight-spotted Skimmer, at Blue Lake</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Z4papKkYQeVoIi7cV9hia6mFWx_cINYGGP7iB0CX9IrnLx74AFRr38Mk5qiu5IBqp9nkIzx-wyh9K50C5KAdq8uuO3xjMfjp41ZiUQP-CR_hb6-iK8nQNBHzIz7Rkf_U_zc96XyGDhA/s1600/NECA-30.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="260" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2Z4papKkYQeVoIi7cV9hia6mFWx_cINYGGP7iB0CX9IrnLx74AFRr38Mk5qiu5IBqp9nkIzx-wyh9K50C5KAdq8uuO3xjMfjp41ZiUQP-CR_hb6-iK8nQNBHzIz7Rkf_U_zc96XyGDhA/s400/NECA-30.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Female Western Pondhawk</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixz0GzAgh1Sx9vptInCoWCpobEgyZfK8hzGPdjwPkk0xeswe7-xvNqj_jCf8-H2i3PzDxOuqQ4ASQThOMOsQbuixNu64srqRkB6e2cJKu9Ct0bObhUGqbYultbHfGrNTy_YCgfeCUIoaU/s1600/NECA-32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEixz0GzAgh1Sx9vptInCoWCpobEgyZfK8hzGPdjwPkk0xeswe7-xvNqj_jCf8-H2i3PzDxOuqQ4ASQThOMOsQbuixNu64srqRkB6e2cJKu9Ct0bObhUGqbYultbHfGrNTy_YCgfeCUIoaU/s400/NECA-32.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Cordilleran Flycatcher, in the Warner Mountains, the only regular location for this species in California.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz69kge86GSVRZ2QeG9mljoGi3tDrYU0xWGuZ-w7K-MTiCIxZdhWznRAvW_7S-lfV4AAjfXv0M0cVgByKqQ2WBdnofc8pGbfXPF1z67w6iZfIosoSiNJIqfO7iCVeAv8e3USTndsRwwRo/s1600/NECA-33.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz69kge86GSVRZ2QeG9mljoGi3tDrYU0xWGuZ-w7K-MTiCIxZdhWznRAvW_7S-lfV4AAjfXv0M0cVgByKqQ2WBdnofc8pGbfXPF1z67w6iZfIosoSiNJIqfO7iCVeAv8e3USTndsRwwRo/s400/NECA-33.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>Sworinger Reservoir, in the foothills of the Warner Mountains.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRUJkbbCQUGvqyGD7dNPCxzbWsl9Ax7r8ESulfV2BGne3EYpNCspTDEKR7S3tiaHDCz3OxApzomU9gaXvjK4M59Gfmf8pj1smEPsdDX_f86X-QXsbosDpdrei642tm4pixqix0_D-p5w/s1600/NECA-34.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWRUJkbbCQUGvqyGD7dNPCxzbWsl9Ax7r8ESulfV2BGne3EYpNCspTDEKR7S3tiaHDCz3OxApzomU9gaXvjK4M59Gfmf8pj1smEPsdDX_f86X-QXsbosDpdrei642tm4pixqix0_D-p5w/s400/NECA-34.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>North American Pronghorn</i></div>
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<i>Warbling Vireo taking flight in Oregon, en route to California, on the other side of the road.</i></div>
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<i>Birding near the almost dry lakebed of Goose Lake.</i></div>
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<i>We encountered a flock of Bushtits on Fandango Pass which appear to show intermediate characteristics between the more western Brown-crowned subspecies </i>californicus<i> and the more eastern Gray-crowned subspecies </i>plumbeus<i>.</i></div>
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<i>This Northern Pygmy-Owl flew in to check out Dave Quady's tooting, while we photographed the flock of Bushtits.</i></div>
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<i>Jon Dunn and Dave Quady search for Sagebrush Sparrows.</i></div>
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<i>Osprey at Stough Reservoir.</i></div>
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<i>Boisduval's Blue at Stough Reservoir.</i></div>
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<i>Female Bufflehead, likely nesting, at Stough Reservoir.</i></div>
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<i>Scanning the gull and tern colony at Dorris Lake.</i></div>
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<i>Cassin's Vireo on Day Road.</i></div>
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<i>A silhouetted Ash-throated Flycatcher on Day Road.</i></div>
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<i>A view of Mount Shasta from near the town of Day.</i></div>
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<i>Birding near Day.</i></div>
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Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-54607911061083663002013-04-08T22:38:00.000-06:002013-04-09T10:31:33.797-06:00Industrial OwlsThis morning, we had the great privilege of observing and photographing a Great Horned Owl nest at the Lyons Cemex cement plant. Situated about 50' feet up the side of a building atop supporting I-beams in an old Common Raven nest, the pair of adults has successfully hatched two young. We donned hard hats and safety glasses, climbed on catwalks high above the ground, and attained a unique view into its nest from above, while maintaining a comfortable distance for the owls.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvm532OhieWGLTWf_uC17opqPheqokpusRyi4Rf4579oOHlpJsnOgOF1wRGbFnL_LOssTvHA0bR4d9FwlYyrEbxpHeredYgxcZq1wF4XAmtLdn86R6Hyqw3vC_-5u8Qz9wh0O4Ay8_paM/s1600/MS_GHOW_cemex.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="267" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvm532OhieWGLTWf_uC17opqPheqokpusRyi4Rf4579oOHlpJsnOgOF1wRGbFnL_LOssTvHA0bR4d9FwlYyrEbxpHeredYgxcZq1wF4XAmtLdn86R6Hyqw3vC_-5u8Qz9wh0O4Ay8_paM/s400/MS_GHOW_cemex.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4j3N3HrjDbsm3Mz-3g7o_GxKF8WiAkit2rqEJk8PdgQVdRSikOCNDmPngDS6k8eSiNFbFaLH-rsiJzB-wMbEQhiQbQ_Bf-I6RU8v2LafXzhE65_YmDeUo-wPzoGApC0yG4RLHNHso80/s1600/MS_GHOW_cemex1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="306" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF4j3N3HrjDbsm3Mz-3g7o_GxKF8WiAkit2rqEJk8PdgQVdRSikOCNDmPngDS6k8eSiNFbFaLH-rsiJzB-wMbEQhiQbQ_Bf-I6RU8v2LafXzhE65_YmDeUo-wPzoGApC0yG4RLHNHso80/s400/MS_GHOW_cemex1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kDuDEFjxREKlCvTjjgqI2ELiv_Ly2GEA6vbmzd5LiNZjAKI_Gj1KEPLtUfpCl5dbuNIqHHiaptviJEfb3OAe-2k4Wl7qr_wWUWYBLGOw4gjGynlXb1LCcqkmAr-T3VDlItGxVZVXeEA/s1600/JS_GHOW_cemex-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="273" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1kDuDEFjxREKlCvTjjgqI2ELiv_Ly2GEA6vbmzd5LiNZjAKI_Gj1KEPLtUfpCl5dbuNIqHHiaptviJEfb3OAe-2k4Wl7qr_wWUWYBLGOw4gjGynlXb1LCcqkmAr-T3VDlItGxVZVXeEA/s400/JS_GHOW_cemex-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTw9qAW30T0HoTSlFZRDN34SSq_mkX_VyLnoTDxmlUMVq_zDztLoa01M8eJZjGW555bZkoqd7vNg57u7kOpAvvV05jw9B4GRInN683WbSUaStKCJKDnfTJpVdHVmvIdsJ8RnOAmcduMgQ/s1600/JS_GHOW_cemex-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTw9qAW30T0HoTSlFZRDN34SSq_mkX_VyLnoTDxmlUMVq_zDztLoa01M8eJZjGW555bZkoqd7vNg57u7kOpAvvV05jw9B4GRInN683WbSUaStKCJKDnfTJpVdHVmvIdsJ8RnOAmcduMgQ/s400/JS_GHOW_cemex-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<i>by Joel Such</i></div>
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The following photographs give a better perspective of the nests location at this industrial site.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajjx6CcJWrTz-3shHtjM1A22ajFnbUtwT476IN9hIo-KrgwkyiUdU9Ccg_a1NR7KwoRFI5WbLtfGppi_ph5WBlLG2cVrFYCLy2rgv4B7g7nc196ZCDYYJw54eZa1Xq3gZCKRInxcS4tE/s1600/JS_GHOW_cemex-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiajjx6CcJWrTz-3shHtjM1A22ajFnbUtwT476IN9hIo-KrgwkyiUdU9Ccg_a1NR7KwoRFI5WbLtfGppi_ph5WBlLG2cVrFYCLy2rgv4B7g7nc196ZCDYYJw54eZa1Xq3gZCKRInxcS4tE/s400/JS_GHOW_cemex-2.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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The nest is in the central part of this image.</div>
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<i>by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoVhzkdPAR2ao89-U-HaUl32zAg8kKWXNPGBiK09l0tkSZldfDKYlb8lfChah37ilqkNcDYy-B8ULiBOU5VQymFxJKpP2faXL4xRWAJxvxsLP5IXFGjqqFZxbjMuyxfCK9ZB7cIjKca0/s1600/Cemex-GHOW-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXoVhzkdPAR2ao89-U-HaUl32zAg8kKWXNPGBiK09l0tkSZldfDKYlb8lfChah37ilqkNcDYy-B8ULiBOU5VQymFxJKpP2faXL4xRWAJxvxsLP5IXFGjqqFZxbjMuyxfCK9ZB7cIjKca0/s400/Cemex-GHOW-2.jpg" width="270" /></a></div>
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Zooming out even farther, the nest is located just to the right of the lower "X."</div>
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<i>by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8ml_KTANZsJWmc30QVvkFZvzfMefRdGOkTaQl4gGOPkQ7NNH1Rp5hygui-Zo_JSOZdr5OOlN_S_NGmLYxF-k8wHI4SwvxBX5MVfchKrbWgUzp81PsB8PBvxhe1YhXhu-CK-IhKiTiGI/s1600/Cemex-GHOW-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8ml_KTANZsJWmc30QVvkFZvzfMefRdGOkTaQl4gGOPkQ7NNH1Rp5hygui-Zo_JSOZdr5OOlN_S_NGmLYxF-k8wHI4SwvxBX5MVfchKrbWgUzp81PsB8PBvxhe1YhXhu-CK-IhKiTiGI/s400/Cemex-GHOW-5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Looking up from the ground, the nest is on the structure to the left.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
We photographed from the catwalk and stairs in the middle of the cylindric structure.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>by Renée Haip</i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhFyatkQvu5A5dUsntYzVI_wTGKDgAU6XD7sjIre_IlqQxQ_aD80Kczc-DwjlF-J7vzx9k7UZm-deAa68q_OosuoONwpDaHnAjno3A1xVS5dBf0nnRqcfLoF0-NcytobZea6_ZmbVheU/s1600/Cemex-GHOW.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOhFyatkQvu5A5dUsntYzVI_wTGKDgAU6XD7sjIre_IlqQxQ_aD80Kczc-DwjlF-J7vzx9k7UZm-deAa68q_OosuoONwpDaHnAjno3A1xVS5dBf0nnRqcfLoF0-NcytobZea6_ZmbVheU/s400/Cemex-GHOW.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Joel photographing the nest.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>by Renée Haip</i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPglXLzm2v6qvVeR6-8Y2J0ZuHOEbA8wxpqDtmHZZ0S7Gx1lTmrgl4aalGLX9Nor9V5Z7pWCdl71wCP81hHp8g45YopGeQl-1i3hN_LHPYUPQfQx-7MOy7iFxg65XqomZs7KHgSdPLBo/s1600/Cemex-GHOW-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVPglXLzm2v6qvVeR6-8Y2J0ZuHOEbA8wxpqDtmHZZ0S7Gx1lTmrgl4aalGLX9Nor9V5Z7pWCdl71wCP81hHp8g45YopGeQl-1i3hN_LHPYUPQfQx-7MOy7iFxg65XqomZs7KHgSdPLBo/s400/Cemex-GHOW-3.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Joel, Marcel, and Ron Harden atop the catwalk.</div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>by Renée Haip</i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwtHL-6g_-Z3Qq5xkcNeMY9IJ7F3Q6MaOmc08vERxT-gKVLEkHvqXo_JeSHZUDF2XLh4euWDbLyBaHqNlZEYSTTVVT6Gd2GEpQ8lt3QUODMJYmjfofhxxwZvR-kncFOFMIkDh5U_eB9Q/s1600/Cemex-GHOW-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFwtHL-6g_-Z3Qq5xkcNeMY9IJ7F3Q6MaOmc08vERxT-gKVLEkHvqXo_JeSHZUDF2XLh4euWDbLyBaHqNlZEYSTTVVT6Gd2GEpQ8lt3QUODMJYmjfofhxxwZvR-kncFOFMIkDh5U_eB9Q/s400/Cemex-GHOW-4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
Ron Harden of Foothills Audubon and Sally Stine-Villani of Cemex</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
working their way down the long inclined catwalk.</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i>by Renée Haip</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Though the owls are nesting in the midst of a modest sized
industrial complex, the plant is situated on about 1,800 acres, which includes
an open pit mine, reclaimed lands, and natural areas—prairie and riparian.
Additionally, there are Boulder County Open Space lands and farms surrounding
the Cemex lands giving the owls plenty of territory for hunting.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Thanks to Denise Arthur, Environmental Manager at Cemex for extending the invitation to see this unique nesting site and to Sally Stine-Villani for being our guide.</i></div>
Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-65228393820628094902013-03-18T11:32:00.000-06:002013-03-23T09:27:08.374-06:00The Cranes of LewellenThis past weekend, Boulder County Audubon Teen Naturalists travelled 3 1/2 hours northeast to the Nebraskan panhandle. Our group mentor, naturalist Steve Jones<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">—</span>author of The Last Prairie: A Sandhill Journal and co-author of the Peterson Field Guides: The North American Prairie<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman"; font-size: 12.0pt; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "MS 明朝"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-fareast;">—</span>guided us around a place he's studied for the past twenty-five years. Also on our trip was the photographer and filmmaker, John Weller<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; font-size: 16px;">—</span>Check out his work on the Ross's Sea at johnbweller.com; it's amazing and relevant!<br />
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Our primary mission for this trip was to see cranes . . . lots of them, in fact. 15,000 to 20,000 Greater Sandhill Cranes stop over on the North Platte River near Lewellen, several miles upstream from Lake McConaughy. Additionally, thousands of ducks and geese also use the river and surrounding cropland to gather on their journey north in the spring. It was an amazing trip full of opportunities to photograph and record birds, hike through historically and biologically rich landscapes, and hang out with others interested in the natural world.<br />
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Prior to meeting up with the rest of the group in Nebraska, we stopped at Jumbo Reservoir in Northeastern Colorado. Wind was blasting our faces as white caps raced across the reservoir through immense numbers of waterfowl. The biggest spectacle was a massive flock of Snow Geese clustered tightly in the center of the reservoir. Suddenly, a Bald Eagle passed overhead and the geese began to lift and shift like specks in a freshly shaken snow globe only to resettle when danger had passed.<br />
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Once at Lewellen, a small, friendly town of 226 or so people, we wandered back roads and came across cranes lifting off from a nearby field and flying right over the top of us at fairly close range. The following photos are all Greater Sandhill Cranes.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYqdeb8v1avyPQtnhF1sLFA25UhzaUTAq-I_QPZGr6qD6zzzFIwgvRaFy3pQA89P5USNy6QQEuqhsFpqWJlKlxpapkpowIgPFgU2LOPSORxWse8c5xH62hyphenhyphentPPfmitsi00LJ2C6sBAgE/s1600/Nebraska-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsYqdeb8v1avyPQtnhF1sLFA25UhzaUTAq-I_QPZGr6qD6zzzFIwgvRaFy3pQA89P5USNy6QQEuqhsFpqWJlKlxpapkpowIgPFgU2LOPSORxWse8c5xH62hyphenhyphentPPfmitsi00LJ2C6sBAgE/s320/Nebraska-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Renée Haip</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiz5BW3vtkQTO5dlAun-IJXRBXot8YOI-2jUQ8g24tTzlCw-Rc2iWM41Q8KMEbuMiBUPhqCUrY8Cz04E0RjzoPRGlh4N6mpchrkFMfLGYbk9kfKpg5V_TFxHl0Rak6wcc-AuUqAvAA13U/s1600/MarcelNebraska-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiz5BW3vtkQTO5dlAun-IJXRBXot8YOI-2jUQ8g24tTzlCw-Rc2iWM41Q8KMEbuMiBUPhqCUrY8Cz04E0RjzoPRGlh4N6mpchrkFMfLGYbk9kfKpg5V_TFxHl0Rak6wcc-AuUqAvAA13U/s320/MarcelNebraska-1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Marcel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeskkq1qFjunWFV7bR4Izqx_H25YZ4sZ6hMPk54SC1Mkzh9lqNUQewqII8i7s1YhoffloLZDoKjGHFhCahSHC3Zw0LPAionWxdtUa8k7HUQorJpU1eBV6G63qlGhOPT4d5ecrMABA46wE/s1600/JoelNebraska1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeskkq1qFjunWFV7bR4Izqx_H25YZ4sZ6hMPk54SC1Mkzh9lqNUQewqII8i7s1YhoffloLZDoKjGHFhCahSHC3Zw0LPAionWxdtUa8k7HUQorJpU1eBV6G63qlGhOPT4d5ecrMABA46wE/s320/JoelNebraska1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Joel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkk313CvLZJp6s4LKoPTuWtpYEUKDuLgDJEQCQtYT6iMx9O10aaBFSKciRg6ijUgmMadeHgi7N4FsJw05gW0MUweNqd9ap_9DLmAh2ygmWOuYED3HuA6v7EmmZQUueT224QtqHfwTadQ/s1600/MarcelNebraska-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="139" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfkk313CvLZJp6s4LKoPTuWtpYEUKDuLgDJEQCQtYT6iMx9O10aaBFSKciRg6ijUgmMadeHgi7N4FsJw05gW0MUweNqd9ap_9DLmAh2ygmWOuYED3HuA6v7EmmZQUueT224QtqHfwTadQ/s320/MarcelNebraska-2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Marcel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T4QiWBRrXXuaM5JRGVIFhH1viDR-pwncOKBQ-TtLj9X5JjNeYUVKyNh1xuXWJ_k3EHV9LyiJhQPH851v5HBfid2cQkzbZrT4LDcdPgfhaAPJLsh46JrmBKNlZ6E3GyitY5O-8bQfnp8/s1600/MarcelNebraska-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5T4QiWBRrXXuaM5JRGVIFhH1viDR-pwncOKBQ-TtLj9X5JjNeYUVKyNh1xuXWJ_k3EHV9LyiJhQPH851v5HBfid2cQkzbZrT4LDcdPgfhaAPJLsh46JrmBKNlZ6E3GyitY5O-8bQfnp8/s320/MarcelNebraska-3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Marcel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHwJ8hSFybpXMRFaOq2bEObgvbyHyhP1rxmH-M_D1-qeGhBXp-zz_9vXTE6fiYuRsxkGIDClFXK5e2OmyxPbKXp68ya5t2fzeewRGZXnpcT34IB-QBFgRnZY3xngQCcwHqsnBz7f4Auc/s1600/JoelNebraska2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVHwJ8hSFybpXMRFaOq2bEObgvbyHyhP1rxmH-M_D1-qeGhBXp-zz_9vXTE6fiYuRsxkGIDClFXK5e2OmyxPbKXp68ya5t2fzeewRGZXnpcT34IB-QBFgRnZY3xngQCcwHqsnBz7f4Auc/s320/JoelNebraska2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Joel Such</div>
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We met up with the others at dusk on the south side of the Old Lewellen Bridge to have dinner and watch the cranes fly in and practice our hand at photographing in the fading light. Some of the images capturing a sense of motion turned out to be very interesting.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ALpjkMRQkdlUdns9ef0Y7kspZVbHuPrPCIcSBmop-uPKGmv3IQa7CYd425mf1Ymm_xXOfQC1iIYksPLzcSZlGPbUtc9pU810Snfo-BPNgMcpiayvNrK2XA-r9cO194c_f3OPSSN-2t0/s1600/JoelNebraska11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="305" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh7ALpjkMRQkdlUdns9ef0Y7kspZVbHuPrPCIcSBmop-uPKGmv3IQa7CYd425mf1Ymm_xXOfQC1iIYksPLzcSZlGPbUtc9pU810Snfo-BPNgMcpiayvNrK2XA-r9cO194c_f3OPSSN-2t0/s320/JoelNebraska11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Northern Pintails - by Joel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eEkjY57VuwY1LNkVkDLV9F9eMC-FToIOEWVJxSUp0HvvlQiu9bc5icNj3v5g8w2HgSjXZZMrkG-ShMwXiHd2p5LleE44pBNlXdGzzZePh2rw30Dmf8SYsM_Yk0s_HlLBZg8rJ2WQNzU/s1600/JoelNebraska12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="205" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2eEkjY57VuwY1LNkVkDLV9F9eMC-FToIOEWVJxSUp0HvvlQiu9bc5icNj3v5g8w2HgSjXZZMrkG-ShMwXiHd2p5LleE44pBNlXdGzzZePh2rw30Dmf8SYsM_Yk0s_HlLBZg8rJ2WQNzU/s320/JoelNebraska12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Snow Geese - by Joel Such</div>
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Greater Sandhill Cranes - by Joel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IjXr82cPsytebVesLByTjNeRMyLnNPSXYsJpTZgpZ6BlffkS0kNI6vzihLUNfLCtIihKUo_5iFF2nzm9YTwmda80FUDWfuQiaTJMJxZpbKqCOiT4JBndLcjMstMgUOCv7cbfJ1WfBIw/s1600/JoelNebraska3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj2IjXr82cPsytebVesLByTjNeRMyLnNPSXYsJpTZgpZ6BlffkS0kNI6vzihLUNfLCtIihKUo_5iFF2nzm9YTwmda80FUDWfuQiaTJMJxZpbKqCOiT4JBndLcjMstMgUOCv7cbfJ1WfBIw/s320/JoelNebraska3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Greater Sandhill Cranes - by Joel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SMYo5t4yn0T1UVebOfy4f7yb4Ur6C9QVY-EvZoK7NYGURG9rGGSWtEyjvPm1K6VMmb6c6AfoJL6DMpdt-qsn7eT9R_zKIfWYAIubZXLkW0tz1veZnOa23bqckjpcb1OkWNddFVLGmuE/s1600/Nebraska-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh-SMYo5t4yn0T1UVebOfy4f7yb4Ur6C9QVY-EvZoK7NYGURG9rGGSWtEyjvPm1K6VMmb6c6AfoJL6DMpdt-qsn7eT9R_zKIfWYAIubZXLkW0tz1veZnOa23bqckjpcb1OkWNddFVLGmuE/s320/Nebraska-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Greater Sandhill Cranes and the Moon - by Renée Haip</div>
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We split up into two spots for camping; our group of four was stationed right along the river in ear shot of roosting cranes and the nearly ever present whistles of trains. The morning fly out was spectacular though a bit too dark and far to successfully photograph.</div>
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<span style="text-align: center;">Sunrise - by Joel Such</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJF6gZ_JrX1pPFlWoXVtcVvd6oe5_MrghmXnh4Ioaasvutd7UKUCO_P4am6LW_pbprATY__HJYpNCOqlqBoYklk1v6927bGcYk95Wp4bwFqVTyapfRAGrC0M-kKFpwDgS9Bnl2DokaGk/s1600/Nebraska-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSJF6gZ_JrX1pPFlWoXVtcVvd6oe5_MrghmXnh4Ioaasvutd7UKUCO_P4am6LW_pbprATY__HJYpNCOqlqBoYklk1v6927bGcYk95Wp4bwFqVTyapfRAGrC0M-kKFpwDgS9Bnl2DokaGk/s320/Nebraska-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sunrise on the North Platte River - by Renée Haip</div>
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Cranes Flying Over in the Early Morning - by Joel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIioBBPOAkq9h5WLtk4t4g8kAzW7slbKlWAq-iFcS3vU8rBXRIvOFZIk1o1alGbvZYnZObuse87S8Fjc-1GrE1ZyYwuHDHYPEnXh04fN48kCQyHh-W-qcfnIKRXKmqV8H10noynFoT2M/s1600/Nebraska-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="172" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtIioBBPOAkq9h5WLtk4t4g8kAzW7slbKlWAq-iFcS3vU8rBXRIvOFZIk1o1alGbvZYnZObuse87S8Fjc-1GrE1ZyYwuHDHYPEnXh04fN48kCQyHh-W-qcfnIKRXKmqV8H10noynFoT2M/s320/Nebraska-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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White-tailed Deer near the Old Lewellen Bridge</div>
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by Renée Haip</div>
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Our morning wanderings took us to the Ash Hollow Cemetery and Ash Hollow State Historical Park, a major stop along the Oregon Trail due to the fresh spring water found there. Distinct wagon wheel ruts were visible on a distant hillside and the cemetery includes one of the few marked graves along the trail. Scratched into local stone, we read that Rachel Pattison, recently wed, died of cholera at the age of 18 in 1849.</div>
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Ash Hollow State Historical Park - by Renée Haip</div>
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On our way back to Lewellen for a break at The Most Unlikely Place (coffee shop/art gallery/local town hangout), we drove by a grass fire. Though it may have begun as a controlled burn, it had definitely gone wild by the time we got there.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfcf2QMWLflJIks9XI49cKrBwKz8Z9WfVBbuZV4so-XVxIzzFZqHgK6GPtHklGHX8y2hzd-mMeoooCjeAhNje81PQWbluKxjJfu0Eng0Q0BRqB6sm0CUCNqHV5V9VSIzj3vQIBn1ul2A/s1600/Nebraska-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkfcf2QMWLflJIks9XI49cKrBwKz8Z9WfVBbuZV4so-XVxIzzFZqHgK6GPtHklGHX8y2hzd-mMeoooCjeAhNje81PQWbluKxjJfu0Eng0Q0BRqB6sm0CUCNqHV5V9VSIzj3vQIBn1ul2A/s320/Nebraska-8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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by Renée Haip</div>
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Our afternoon was marked by setting up camp in a more sheltered area, as temperatures were expected to begin dropping. Once that was accomplished, we had some free time to explore before heading back out to watch the evening fly-in once again.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVjksOET86iTCHTlTQNXH5tIwdtUoOgUN6sJzqWNM_35HFFMMkg81ZSFrw1AsjBma_jNVnoO6l_C0rvNRsqjJGN_ubbw7MVb9fiECetqhutrDKwLm38oVBGyqROFE5i1fllxiWbNs_YI/s1600/NEPortraits-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhsVjksOET86iTCHTlTQNXH5tIwdtUoOgUN6sJzqWNM_35HFFMMkg81ZSFrw1AsjBma_jNVnoO6l_C0rvNRsqjJGN_ubbw7MVb9fiECetqhutrDKwLm38oVBGyqROFE5i1fllxiWbNs_YI/s320/NEPortraits-10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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The Crew (left to right) - Joel Such, Marcel Such, Levi Stone, Emi Roberts, Alex Posen, and Skye Lewis</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHnbsY1cFVtrSwiLoiax7cV9Y8hJnj_GlUXFQ3P4yVByg71qUcyLpxZbybhdHnCjEo_cVhJS8WFUgTTCg4ktJ-knG5VAgtNZI3tIAv9CsVaoxaIrknoFfW6lSKQqv7WOz9zsgG_-0Oho/s1600/NEPortraits-8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAHnbsY1cFVtrSwiLoiax7cV9Y8hJnj_GlUXFQ3P4yVByg71qUcyLpxZbybhdHnCjEo_cVhJS8WFUgTTCg4ktJ-knG5VAgtNZI3tIAv9CsVaoxaIrknoFfW6lSKQqv7WOz9zsgG_-0Oho/s320/NEPortraits-8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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A chance to rest . . . getting up early isn't Levi's forte. </div>
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by Renée Haip</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53j8M3KKuF-ZXCkeIjCd-NGqLoEZJt3t80yf20ya7xeDPHXYXLeEK8MloEGrTMPX03OJN1sHuoQ1U4vVkKbp5m94JM1ZetQ5L-y_-E1XloqOTyz9Th_sxCuWC6MO8tb4X4UX6aMtHAK0/s1600/Nebraska-10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh53j8M3KKuF-ZXCkeIjCd-NGqLoEZJt3t80yf20ya7xeDPHXYXLeEK8MloEGrTMPX03OJN1sHuoQ1U4vVkKbp5m94JM1ZetQ5L-y_-E1XloqOTyz9Th_sxCuWC6MO8tb4X4UX6aMtHAK0/s320/Nebraska-10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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This raccoon appeared to have been injured by a predator.</div>
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by Renée Haip</div>
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We were back at the Old Lewellen Bridge one last time for the evening fly-in, and the sunset and birds did not disappoint.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-5EQimbFk9RwxnqkeKPp6t_6zADd4k0pQw2AozweIIQRCNYY2a169aR0zZ2SIuapsEmihpqK2FPdqWsBk2AFWmBW3jBZG8zmbKUOeaujCJbZcb_Biv35A0-_Lmp6_wdFHg0u8HI6P-g/s1600/MarcelNebraska-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="114" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjb-5EQimbFk9RwxnqkeKPp6t_6zADd4k0pQw2AozweIIQRCNYY2a169aR0zZ2SIuapsEmihpqK2FPdqWsBk2AFWmBW3jBZG8zmbKUOeaujCJbZcb_Biv35A0-_Lmp6_wdFHg0u8HI6P-g/s320/MarcelNebraska-4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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By Marcel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2NFhKV6AGfUKu11jwtmXSSqTmfsKasXZzLuWbjf4kddcZcrUOvNX912wNykZlCnOUElCAAp9Auf3x-Qp5ohX-4H1Xe6PYJGsJGqMmF7WUvUs4Hb65hIGiSSkph0JteTmN_o6HCVWIhE/s1600/MarcelNebraska-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjV2NFhKV6AGfUKu11jwtmXSSqTmfsKasXZzLuWbjf4kddcZcrUOvNX912wNykZlCnOUElCAAp9Auf3x-Qp5ohX-4H1Xe6PYJGsJGqMmF7WUvUs4Hb65hIGiSSkph0JteTmN_o6HCVWIhE/s320/MarcelNebraska-5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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By Marcel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jnpuQ6P-h-S8Zz0hxN9fKqK7irFnLBG2zEH3CE_fyUMGliS5BWsIWUTgYftPGLabjjbfhNNOwKW0pMsuSpbZSIJqItwzBCdGJ3x1aA9QtsiWjHeWvhrrP2BFt0ZIFI6EMXfwncgZIrQ/s1600/MarcelNebraska-6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5jnpuQ6P-h-S8Zz0hxN9fKqK7irFnLBG2zEH3CE_fyUMGliS5BWsIWUTgYftPGLabjjbfhNNOwKW0pMsuSpbZSIJqItwzBCdGJ3x1aA9QtsiWjHeWvhrrP2BFt0ZIFI6EMXfwncgZIrQ/s320/MarcelNebraska-6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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By Marcel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFW0rthZlKTPMVP5AwbIuy7gH4thSl6Kf_T1MMIVgSO1ZXv5WpMTDZL1EkuX60GPuMlNQ7Dd1wQZEmgoaDN3D1js2Xs_YC0PWohSOBOqhPQjLQ1uGpaD2peHey5EAvhOvIL3MnRs1xJRQ/s1600/JoelNebraska10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFW0rthZlKTPMVP5AwbIuy7gH4thSl6Kf_T1MMIVgSO1ZXv5WpMTDZL1EkuX60GPuMlNQ7Dd1wQZEmgoaDN3D1js2Xs_YC0PWohSOBOqhPQjLQ1uGpaD2peHey5EAvhOvIL3MnRs1xJRQ/s320/JoelNebraska10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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By Joel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRY0ClDAmGMpWlpkQa6_TTq8Di7kKyOioNuH8icE6fshvoA0rHNF_JTTvHJ8z9Fi6UvJsPxEFPWokfLLIVVYVOe70_5quTsPXPxSJA0BXp4GkGwzf1K__U8DjZIXLfmMU5D7nKTGIE2k/s1600/JoelNebraska6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="188" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFRY0ClDAmGMpWlpkQa6_TTq8Di7kKyOioNuH8icE6fshvoA0rHNF_JTTvHJ8z9Fi6UvJsPxEFPWokfLLIVVYVOe70_5quTsPXPxSJA0BXp4GkGwzf1K__U8DjZIXLfmMU5D7nKTGIE2k/s320/JoelNebraska6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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By Joel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOe_fyxd9Ed33_s8qxbYNYz4nBFq46eMP5wHbLWp77o9_0P88nVBtuHPoy4BSfHTzuzF4dJvDCeez9EdNHk9QtXh_r2NtsMdWpcSS_evBavUSgUc2IceR9w0V0XjwpZ4PeE1ly8rD0GnE/s1600/JoelNebraska7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="175" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOe_fyxd9Ed33_s8qxbYNYz4nBFq46eMP5wHbLWp77o9_0P88nVBtuHPoy4BSfHTzuzF4dJvDCeez9EdNHk9QtXh_r2NtsMdWpcSS_evBavUSgUc2IceR9w0V0XjwpZ4PeE1ly8rD0GnE/s320/JoelNebraska7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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By Joel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIE-zjxqJfzjeSbZkpIb0cajXNLGP0g7QmLRxatTVwM1goDLFffOuGVcG1Wi7xDhnYE7-a3mkEroYoxCyzenz49i-xWTfVM1KcLWfcOkaoP1fNQUEYsR7Hzalj4QqYUUEXs2vjMw_r6I/s1600/JoelNebraska8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhiIE-zjxqJfzjeSbZkpIb0cajXNLGP0g7QmLRxatTVwM1goDLFffOuGVcG1Wi7xDhnYE7-a3mkEroYoxCyzenz49i-xWTfVM1KcLWfcOkaoP1fNQUEYsR7Hzalj4QqYUUEXs2vjMw_r6I/s320/JoelNebraska8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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By Joel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu8tmt12xDSu6IhOwSd0Rv3-28rkkSYYrn8fPhN5jD8zs3XrZYvivlTDpX5YSBgHAWIq6yPLA-aUh1ltDOenJO0TCX2LwpDYVoKKVhL1QdRxU2Cd4_XGRtYwGF_J9fETw2XvQ-52QDGM/s1600/JoelNebraska9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUu8tmt12xDSu6IhOwSd0Rv3-28rkkSYYrn8fPhN5jD8zs3XrZYvivlTDpX5YSBgHAWIq6yPLA-aUh1ltDOenJO0TCX2LwpDYVoKKVhL1QdRxU2Cd4_XGRtYwGF_J9fETw2XvQ-52QDGM/s320/JoelNebraska9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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By Joel Such</div>
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Our final morning with the cranes was spent just downstream of the new Lewellen Bridge. It was bitter cold, and the windchill and humidity gave it an extra measure of bite.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNC7bxwvFtjKJFJT3yY75mvDfltkJSGOwXGo-BRKsbBBk9Pl-qu_Sn88sHVhSyy0djnUYg3EfW534Pw0tMNY1e3AU3aTxr7Go3j0AEEHg6OZ44S7RBv5f0uNRuOaI6UtN5vSi4ooqX8-Y/s1600/JoelNebraska14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiNC7bxwvFtjKJFJT3yY75mvDfltkJSGOwXGo-BRKsbBBk9Pl-qu_Sn88sHVhSyy0djnUYg3EfW534Pw0tMNY1e3AU3aTxr7Go3j0AEEHg6OZ44S7RBv5f0uNRuOaI6UtN5vSi4ooqX8-Y/s320/JoelNebraska14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Sunrise with the Cranes - By Joel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wZJT4iFDTmGJFghopfMFEucbDD1dy5v6mTPMyB6DQehWBw4rA_midjIP0H7jpHi7y5DrnYBbqU5qPMw5bP8758a9-sextsND503th0f79NKtV4G8t6A64dLJka1KvojHaPjmRG3obgo/s1600/JoelNebraska15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9wZJT4iFDTmGJFghopfMFEucbDD1dy5v6mTPMyB6DQehWBw4rA_midjIP0H7jpHi7y5DrnYBbqU5qPMw5bP8758a9-sextsND503th0f79NKtV4G8t6A64dLJka1KvojHaPjmRG3obgo/s320/JoelNebraska15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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By Joel Such</div>
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<iframe frameborder="no" height="166" scrolling="no" src="https://w.soundcloud.com/player/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fapi.soundcloud.com%2Ftracks%2F84504539" width="100%"></iframe><br />
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This sound clip of Sandhill Cranes was recorded during the fly-out.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhml7JN1EL4OvBFer_vqhCXaE_3Au-J_OtWe_8ntPJHA2ThZ2oM8Z6oe-nSvRw1lwJG1orLUjm02i6tGY-mqjmIRIhWM6zDbkJEZH9LEf6sMccZlxb23osz1xtEPVmkzEQTndKfjc80hY/s1600/NEPortraits-18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhml7JN1EL4OvBFer_vqhCXaE_3Au-J_OtWe_8ntPJHA2ThZ2oM8Z6oe-nSvRw1lwJG1orLUjm02i6tGY-mqjmIRIhWM6zDbkJEZH9LEf6sMccZlxb23osz1xtEPVmkzEQTndKfjc80hY/s320/NEPortraits-18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Waiting for Cranes to Fly - by Renée Haip</div>
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After the cranes roost on the river for the night, they disperse into surrounding agricultural fields to feed.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HCYzXocnbc5sCVAxR9GrUuhaU97SYUuD5k4OBAMK2-cdH6EBHPcbnADcirQOVuSstbKo4jNJU41h5K2iUbR4PA3U-cdvwhAijyQGa_jceFj54GV2922Pqcd_vvmwPhEQyE2_9Xu-FaE/s1600/MarcelNebraska-7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="249" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1HCYzXocnbc5sCVAxR9GrUuhaU97SYUuD5k4OBAMK2-cdH6EBHPcbnADcirQOVuSstbKo4jNJU41h5K2iUbR4PA3U-cdvwhAijyQGa_jceFj54GV2922Pqcd_vvmwPhEQyE2_9Xu-FaE/s320/MarcelNebraska-7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Snow Geese - by Marcel Such</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToMQZ68XGjAptnAusfe5ibh7-Re5y4T7rVvIQs8BpsHjinM-wPRtE7UjwJfeIDNeQIef-BzZyW9QOAKel4O_cKB24kAajXZxIgyn1oM2dYEiLdDKo4AC_HUApNfd8NgsiPok0qzDJ93A/s1600/JoelNebraska16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiToMQZ68XGjAptnAusfe5ibh7-Re5y4T7rVvIQs8BpsHjinM-wPRtE7UjwJfeIDNeQIef-BzZyW9QOAKel4O_cKB24kAajXZxIgyn1oM2dYEiLdDKo4AC_HUApNfd8NgsiPok0qzDJ93A/s320/JoelNebraska16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Feeding Greater Sandhill Cranes - by Joel Such</div>
Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-53214613551800584872012-11-12T12:48:00.001-07:002012-11-12T12:49:44.868-07:00Wintering Raptor Season Begins!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
The wintering raptor season has officially started! We (Boulder County Audubon Teen Naturalists) surveyed a route north of Boulder yesterday, and had an excellent morning. We found a total 32 raptors consisting of 6 different species, plus an additional four that were seen outside of the count protocol. A Rough-legged Hawk was notably special, as that species has become particularly uncommon in Boulder County in recent years. Other unusual finds were a flock of 11 pure-white domesticated doves (apparently a dwarf-sized variety of Rock Pigeon) and a very late Greater Yellowlegs at Lagerman Reservoir.</div>
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Bald Eagle - 2 (1 immature and 1 adult)</div>
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Northern Harrier - 2 adult males</div>
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Ferruginous Hawk - 2 (plus 1 extra)</div>
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Red-tailed Hawk - 18 (plus 2 extras)</div>
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"Harlan's" Red-tailed Hawk - 1</div>
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Rough-legged Hawk (dark-morph) - 1</div>
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unidentified buteo - 1</div>
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American Kestrel - 2 (plus 1 extra)</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrmP-IC2ARirEnPZ5mzWLHGYszvXplGjbtupK63JjgeGT8lGnCEQE_98Pj40468y8Grm1wJwpWvBssKnVszb950OmLi6XzMi7WKDHWRq2JxI_ov1_A2WfMOkgLZeTICpuCmWeSC1Lsv8/s1600/raptorsurveys4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGrmP-IC2ARirEnPZ5mzWLHGYszvXplGjbtupK63JjgeGT8lGnCEQE_98Pj40468y8Grm1wJwpWvBssKnVszb950OmLi6XzMi7WKDHWRq2JxI_ov1_A2WfMOkgLZeTICpuCmWeSC1Lsv8/s320/raptorsurveys4.jpg" width="289" /></a></div>
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<i>Immature Bald Eagle - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>Ferruginous Hawk - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Male American Kestrel - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Rough-legged Hawk - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>by Joel Such</i></div>
Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-76628660109001441792012-08-08T20:33:00.002-06:002012-08-09T11:01:15.812-06:00Northern Pygmy-Owls in the Hood<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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On August 4th, we got a call from our neighbors, Pete and Val, about the little owl being back. She’d seen it previously, searched the Internet, and decided it was a Northern Pygmy-Owl. We immediately headed over to indeed find a Northern Pygmy-Owl in the top of a cottonwood tree in broad daylight. Meanwhile, we heard high-pitched trills emanating down the ponderosa covered hillside, so we worked our way up a bit to investigate. The Chipping Sparrow-like trills were coming from young Northern Pygmy-Owls. Completely unconcerned about us, the owls were curiously bobbing their heads back and forth, and trilling every minute or so. One sported a Pygmy Nuthatch in its talons while another had a lizard. At least four of these small mountain owls hung around in close proximity to our neighbors’ back door treating us to a spectacular show.</div>
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<i>Note the lizard in this photo.</i></div>
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<i>All the above photos by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Press on the arrow to hear one of the fledglings vocalize.</i></div>
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Yesterday, while we were out, Val called again. She reported that they’d seen one of the owls using their birdbath.</div>
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<i>Photos by Val Peterson</i><br />
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<i>Thanks to the Petersons for giving us updates and allowing us to observe these birds!</i></div>
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<i>If you haven't previously seen it, you may want to check out our December 2009 <a href="http://suchbros.blogspot.com/2009/12/harriss-sparrow-has-met-its-doom.html">post</a> featuring a Northern Pygmy-Owl taking out a Harris's Sparrow!</i></div>
</div>Joel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12750114091321820568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-67998986695832681142012-08-07T08:31:00.000-06:002012-08-07T08:31:50.566-06:00California Wanderings, Part 11: Final DayLeaving Visalia on June 27, we prepared for our biggest travel day
yet, eight hours to Las Vegas,
with only a negligible amount of stopping as we re-traversed the Mojave Desert.<br />
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On Jawbone Canyon Road, we stopped to try our luck for Le
Conte’s Thrasher in an off-road vehicle area strewn with giant pipes funneling water to Los Angeles.
Joel and I hiked cross country for nearly an hour without luck. Suddenly, Joel spotted one. We followed it, then there was another,
and we followed both until we had some documentary photographs (they were so
finicky, we couldn’t hope for much more).
Back on the road, we had another flush from the sparse roadside foliage. So much for the hour-long hike…</div>
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<i>Le Conte's Thrasher - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Birding Jawbone Canyon - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5q65mdQXU9u_bVoqOLwpF_zjvT3JYUCmZ7Oq9Is-UjJGT-NfT3dMbCw_xtyklJY1NYWmB8go1U_fqCH3CfyN7L_1iDIKlDNIJLpdzQVJtbpNafQ3ICbKkyTqRmGqmZgSBoUNdyDaYv4Q/s1600/Mojave+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5q65mdQXU9u_bVoqOLwpF_zjvT3JYUCmZ7Oq9Is-UjJGT-NfT3dMbCw_xtyklJY1NYWmB8go1U_fqCH3CfyN7L_1iDIKlDNIJLpdzQVJtbpNafQ3ICbKkyTqRmGqmZgSBoUNdyDaYv4Q/s320/Mojave+1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i>By Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdx7a3U-3FDUipUMLyfcal_wxP-oXAVPL1ds4KIH-QVb-1bee-xjbLZkiIxoLSVMFy8_bD2Da3OgBy9oqGCCWwHa6bIBDIlbseN-41s2NcVoq8cKUz-UFvx2qLVh-2TyW2zUyglR3cCB8/s1600/MojaveLastDay+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdx7a3U-3FDUipUMLyfcal_wxP-oXAVPL1ds4KIH-QVb-1bee-xjbLZkiIxoLSVMFy8_bD2Da3OgBy9oqGCCWwHa6bIBDIlbseN-41s2NcVoq8cKUz-UFvx2qLVh-2TyW2zUyglR3cCB8/s320/MojaveLastDay+3.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i>By Joel Such</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i></i>Though the mid-day heat was rapidly approaching, we managed
a brief stop at the famous Butterbredt Spring Wildlife Area. An isolated oasis in the middle of the
desert, this series of riparian pockets becomes an irresistible stop-over
location for migrants flying across the Mojave. Many off-route eastern migrants can sometimes be found here,
and in other similar locations. Though it was the middle of summer, and the car
thermometer was already reading close to 90°F (at 9:00 in the morning), we also
found the draw irresistible.
During our short visit, we had our first Ladder-backed Woodpeckers and
Costa’s Hummingbirds.
Additionally, a roosting Great Horned Owl was our only owl of the entire
trip (besides the heard-only Great Gray in Yosemite), despite hours of
night-time birding.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyV5CiAnkwVi-afnuKiJQyd6L_bA1l3MU3KU1deBzsUpNKYT-o0cld5t64RT6ySlvba5vZe85IOTsJIZUSoP5Aob33wMtuxQSj1eqm_8xRp_EwLZMWkOr4c8CjkRdNMD9fp55mnQA-6k/s1600/Mojave+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyV5CiAnkwVi-afnuKiJQyd6L_bA1l3MU3KU1deBzsUpNKYT-o0cld5t64RT6ySlvba5vZe85IOTsJIZUSoP5Aob33wMtuxQSj1eqm_8xRp_EwLZMWkOr4c8CjkRdNMD9fp55mnQA-6k/s320/Mojave+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuyV5CiAnkwVi-afnuKiJQyd6L_bA1l3MU3KU1deBzsUpNKYT-o0cld5t64RT6ySlvba5vZe85IOTsJIZUSoP5Aob33wMtuxQSj1eqm_8xRp_EwLZMWkOr4c8CjkRdNMD9fp55mnQA-6k/s1600/Mojave+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><i>Note the sliver of green on the hillside.</i></div>
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<i>This is Butterbredt Springs.</i></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i>By Renée Haip</i></div>
</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtJ_1FuYLHVYo3qsfNiPv5ZTKXQFmv9oS5aYonf78C0ug-3KramYtNB0RMrzjnYwDDA0dYK9rkQUBWhzNhxK-5fYPqf_V1pgc__hS_zXVYDi15bXkedZdis0iDQhtMBAwX0ypAjXR0Ns/s1600/Mojave+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCtJ_1FuYLHVYo3qsfNiPv5ZTKXQFmv9oS5aYonf78C0ug-3KramYtNB0RMrzjnYwDDA0dYK9rkQUBWhzNhxK-5fYPqf_V1pgc__hS_zXVYDi15bXkedZdis0iDQhtMBAwX0ypAjXR0Ns/s320/Mojave+3.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Butterbredt Springs - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZwnTqSgXql-psCY4k-mQm_wmC59zCR3-lIjoGV7TSlt6shs-660ahGHAjR6p6-GTsxSBf_NFA8OEK4hTuiAy-mUkuoNdr8VjMSzc07Bv74J6nnAE5_csTUPj_vxSYLqP5Vh0fsvOkGY/s1600/MojaveLastDay+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgEZwnTqSgXql-psCY4k-mQm_wmC59zCR3-lIjoGV7TSlt6shs-660ahGHAjR6p6-GTsxSBf_NFA8OEK4hTuiAy-mUkuoNdr8VjMSzc07Bv74J6nnAE5_csTUPj_vxSYLqP5Vh0fsvOkGY/s320/MojaveLastDay+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Western Wood-Pewee - by Joel Such</i></div>
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At 3 that afternoon, we found ourselves in Death
Valley. With the car reading an
outside temperature of 120°, we didn’t see any birds at all, except for a
handful of Eurasian Collared-Doves and Common Ravens on the Furnace Creek Golf
Course. Obviously, birds were not
our main reason to be here.
Besides being a very scenic, world-famous National Park, we were
acclimating for our return home to a baking and burning Colorado. We figured that 110° heat would not
feel so bad after 120°. It turns
out that Colorado started cooling off, clouding up, and raining almost as soon
as we got home. Even so, 120° was
a new personal high temperature record for us by about 9 degrees, and was
definitely worth the experience.</div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9csYGT_CjlIDizytBlMIXDosftHeVM2BDl7NfsSXOLCIPbfOsTqraouJVnAOJjmqsmgKchRjpqSSxakVWmNvx_VCfJKJjtlc5DGn_fjbM7VnLbYD34v_e_yHjS9dsNd5WwomOEvc5p0/s1600/MojaveLastDay+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD9csYGT_CjlIDizytBlMIXDosftHeVM2BDl7NfsSXOLCIPbfOsTqraouJVnAOJjmqsmgKchRjpqSSxakVWmNvx_VCfJKJjtlc5DGn_fjbM7VnLbYD34v_e_yHjS9dsNd5WwomOEvc5p0/s320/MojaveLastDay+4.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a><br />
<i>Desert rock creatures somewhere</i><br />
<i>to the west of Death Valley National Park.</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>By Joel Such</i></div>
</div>Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-23003944066735076842012-08-04T13:53:00.002-06:002012-08-04T13:53:40.801-06:00California Wanderings, Part 10: Kings Canyon and Sequoia<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A quick national park hop to the south on June 25, we
entered the combined Kings Canyon and Sequoia National Parks. Besides being home to the largest trees
on the planet, the Giant Sequoia, these parks also host an incredibly diverse
array of habitats, from the foothills at 1,300’ to the high sierra at 14,494’
(the highest elevation in the lower 48).</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJr2-lbkra33Y24T-CrwSda80rnaHSeJ9UUb09HaHoOmwr_-wncFqeUOp1V3jxy6T8KyFg0BaVAYnqosSdWXfoXnvTUzz_YXdARg345zZJYXqmxB740BQrL76Po4xnCfNZkbUtTpmEx2Q/s1600/Kings+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJr2-lbkra33Y24T-CrwSda80rnaHSeJ9UUb09HaHoOmwr_-wncFqeUOp1V3jxy6T8KyFg0BaVAYnqosSdWXfoXnvTUzz_YXdARg345zZJYXqmxB740BQrL76Po4xnCfNZkbUtTpmEx2Q/s320/Kings+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>Controlled Burn</i></div>
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Because we got to the park in the late afternoon and there
were pending road closures, we practically drove straight down the Generals
Highway to the small city of Three Rivers with only a few stops between. We were loath to miss exploring Kings
Canyon, which is spectacularly wild and mostly road-less, but a return trip
someday with backpacks is on the wish list. The following morning as we were packing up to head back
into the park, we suddenly noticed half a dozen Black Swifts hunting above the
parking lot! They won silver as
the most random bird of the trip (behind our Kelso Blackburnian Warbler).<o:p></o:p><br />
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOcbvw7V0vUz_YG0xQVGqyifw5X_zIznxnY9M9AtfiLbjGxmdobJaVJZ5-bcLjjDmmXXWpeJgMaNzXG5u68iB9eS7YKCIsUpJZ6FS-vacIo_sgWlWwkrYpYtDCd3aehPGJfOnYK3UZCU/s1600/KingsCanyon+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAOcbvw7V0vUz_YG0xQVGqyifw5X_zIznxnY9M9AtfiLbjGxmdobJaVJZ5-bcLjjDmmXXWpeJgMaNzXG5u68iB9eS7YKCIsUpJZ6FS-vacIo_sgWlWwkrYpYtDCd3aehPGJfOnYK3UZCU/s320/KingsCanyon+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i></i></div>
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<i>Black Swift - by Joel Such</i></div>
</div>
</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGwedMmzZpOgkECvkSzrNQKzlxP7ppP3ha6DFYzBSAcUX-WyISwA6AWw1xDrGhoP_DWrY46MZQStnrqvOHOEZc1ZNaZH4UNpFDhpPxmZrYsM9P8ULa6dvIV7eLFsIiRYieyYT9WwArR4/s1600/KingsCanyon+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMGwedMmzZpOgkECvkSzrNQKzlxP7ppP3ha6DFYzBSAcUX-WyISwA6AWw1xDrGhoP_DWrY46MZQStnrqvOHOEZc1ZNaZH4UNpFDhpPxmZrYsM9P8ULa6dvIV7eLFsIiRYieyYT9WwArR4/s320/KingsCanyon+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Anna's Hummingbird - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i><br /></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ36iPMV7vaZo5NIxlaDiuTgd8bpvNzNj4OAW4BqNph11XQgIvaJKT9ZGb3mqK7VUJ5Tz-0Xm1C9CBIn97bjBL3ticD-X85gOvg1vyZUz6Qo4qGx6IOL-nLh3i3wF4TRsvCoG3y4fzhdU/s1600/KingsCanyon+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="295" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjQ36iPMV7vaZo5NIxlaDiuTgd8bpvNzNj4OAW4BqNph11XQgIvaJKT9ZGb3mqK7VUJ5Tz-0Xm1C9CBIn97bjBL3ticD-X85gOvg1vyZUz6Qo4qGx6IOL-nLh3i3wF4TRsvCoG3y4fzhdU/s320/KingsCanyon+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Western Bluebird - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncnaX9a1N5f4JmcD3zVGW791_Mz-c7lFHZwmOqNCMNNCDmb40BFSUB3K4XjhKrUPhovCi55zBdNxdnHhPrE3s459zwATuRpd4SoTatzY7XSN_pOsmFKbU_gDMx2O1gq4qgU1s5ynGdzo/s1600/KingsCanyon+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjncnaX9a1N5f4JmcD3zVGW791_Mz-c7lFHZwmOqNCMNNCDmb40BFSUB3K4XjhKrUPhovCi55zBdNxdnHhPrE3s459zwATuRpd4SoTatzY7XSN_pOsmFKbU_gDMx2O1gq4qgU1s5ynGdzo/s320/KingsCanyon+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Western Scrub-Jay - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i><br /></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2oqKpwbdV6A96y-pYUpaMQ8azJT3Wp7BygGVAbYKAZwXnxkz34ypU9oC85kNl8TgYs2ChyOiUPN1ENcRk2flww2c7dV4ObeThiVuZaX4jXMeCiEtbHjXL-HM9cHh3GG6E0_5kdYsBdY/s1600/KingsCanyon+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjc2oqKpwbdV6A96y-pYUpaMQ8azJT3Wp7BygGVAbYKAZwXnxkz34ypU9oC85kNl8TgYs2ChyOiUPN1ENcRk2flww2c7dV4ObeThiVuZaX4jXMeCiEtbHjXL-HM9cHh3GG6E0_5kdYsBdY/s320/KingsCanyon+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Great Horned Owl Feather - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
From the Buckeye Flat Campground, a hike up the beautiful,
tumultuous, and crystal clear Paradise Creek was one of our favorite hikes of
the trip and had some very nice birds.
Our first Black-throated Gray Warblers sung from the scrub-oak, a lone
female Common Merganser rode the rapids, and an American Dipper chattered on
its way downstream.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHT6FckWZ4HdeCsbDa5fGwkg5Q-130XLcGEA0gfpb4dTwP9Aa83zHHaJ2CFI9lAJKGroWLYYRe2QBzvC45811dffG5Q4U8GiQjga5v8T4QYDMJ2KquL4_l2rZvqLxdcWUoCAgzUKwjhg/s1600/Kings+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqHT6FckWZ4HdeCsbDa5fGwkg5Q-130XLcGEA0gfpb4dTwP9Aa83zHHaJ2CFI9lAJKGroWLYYRe2QBzvC45811dffG5Q4U8GiQjga5v8T4QYDMJ2KquL4_l2rZvqLxdcWUoCAgzUKwjhg/s320/Kings+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>by Joel Such</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhJsTkM1R-LfEuhdQC5gsWD1yT4b5cSOC5TzUz0nZl9t7bntnBCiKQkOPEGlw1_5THplBHldYa11bglWLLSCRNwVKUzdgH1wISWcqHW8R3ix8xQ7EvFGC0qNTdJ7VlLm4ZJbleevCEQw/s1600/Kings+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDhJsTkM1R-LfEuhdQC5gsWD1yT4b5cSOC5TzUz0nZl9t7bntnBCiKQkOPEGlw1_5THplBHldYa11bglWLLSCRNwVKUzdgH1wISWcqHW8R3ix8xQ7EvFGC0qNTdJ7VlLm4ZJbleevCEQw/s320/Kings+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i>by Renée Haip</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDCMS4mr_CKFnN1K-UD8QgwifT-NdegvYFLEQpEokj2jso2MgQkAOJx5vu_KHapqAPEJzHzSCDFnNhIrU8B_ZO9nqLHR1vH7Ouh6NHPkgv-tg8iQO8jBhWKbDR21ylZQxe3Tfa6wT_GA/s1600/Kings+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbDCMS4mr_CKFnN1K-UD8QgwifT-NdegvYFLEQpEokj2jso2MgQkAOJx5vu_KHapqAPEJzHzSCDFnNhIrU8B_ZO9nqLHR1vH7Ouh6NHPkgv-tg8iQO8jBhWKbDR21ylZQxe3Tfa6wT_GA/s320/Kings+4.jpg" width="257" /></a></div>
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<i>by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPLFOVnBHY7l60AXWAjHxOJH4-rLtmdRI5FTl1u0Tdtw_9fFYVGbzo3VszCT891nPciwRcZKjWneTr0HHVraNv0lQBnuUcl-gpbmT9Ar-UJwsWvsEW-_BJjev58siBHvu8S8EmHdE3pE/s1600/KingsCanyon+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="151" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPLFOVnBHY7l60AXWAjHxOJH4-rLtmdRI5FTl1u0Tdtw_9fFYVGbzo3VszCT891nPciwRcZKjWneTr0HHVraNv0lQBnuUcl-gpbmT9Ar-UJwsWvsEW-_BJjev58siBHvu8S8EmHdE3pE/s320/KingsCanyon+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjbPLFOVnBHY7l60AXWAjHxOJH4-rLtmdRI5FTl1u0Tdtw_9fFYVGbzo3VszCT891nPciwRcZKjWneTr0HHVraNv0lQBnuUcl-gpbmT9Ar-UJwsWvsEW-_BJjev58siBHvu8S8EmHdE3pE/s1600/KingsCanyon+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><i>California Whiptail (Cnemidophorus tigris mundus) - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfLs9xceMNJrqYKbzc5taDgQ0pfgA0g7sXDPFyn-x_rOWlq5D8E8jSqGqAh-tRyYAbbwo0HCXJmuebAzXKLf2MKjpNcLuk6k3qqTBcFXBEcAR1OLoIn4nxTduAFOdvxCnx40-xBRhPps/s1600/Kings+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinfLs9xceMNJrqYKbzc5taDgQ0pfgA0g7sXDPFyn-x_rOWlq5D8E8jSqGqAh-tRyYAbbwo0HCXJmuebAzXKLf2MKjpNcLuk6k3qqTBcFXBEcAR1OLoIn4nxTduAFOdvxCnx40-xBRhPps/s320/Kings+6.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5Q8s3tCG4fLMfyzBcga1ceGYOtdgiVC-ju-OdC4dwvgpe57lMwX0Wq2-VyfV4dajJP3yMOZ8A1cfijxwvsmldSuYd_dQhQJw3wryCiUC5OyVhFyzkY-M6VEt8QVZCJh2-EbBPBgkEHo/s1600/sequoia+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT5Q8s3tCG4fLMfyzBcga1ceGYOtdgiVC-ju-OdC4dwvgpe57lMwX0Wq2-VyfV4dajJP3yMOZ8A1cfijxwvsmldSuYd_dQhQJw3wryCiUC5OyVhFyzkY-M6VEt8QVZCJh2-EbBPBgkEHo/s320/sequoia+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Common Merganser - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
Upon a ranger’s suggestion for Mountain Quail and Sooty
Grouse, an hour-long drive up a winding dirt road to the Mineral King site and
Silver City commenced. Upon arrival
at the rustic Silver City Resort, Joel was immediately out and about scouring
the surrounding area while I took a catnap hoping to revive my sleep-deprived
mind. So it should come as no
surprise when Joel rushed back to the car to fetch me after he had heard a
Mountain Quail up the hillside.
Despite much searching, the quail failed to re-proclaim themselves.<o:p></o:p></div>
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Hiking up the Eagle Lakes trailhead at the end of the road
was our last chance of the trip for Sooty Grouse, and we were not disappointed
(as I was with my now nemesis Mountain Quail). A mere half-mile up the extremely steep trail, we heard a
male booming down the slope. We
descended quietly, and stumbled across a female and two chicks, which
distracted us enough to lose track of the male. Booming continued on up the trail, with additional females
with families, until our Sooty Grouse total reached an incredible nineteen (our
conservative estimate, as the booming males are extremely hard to count due to
the considerable distance their calls travel). Other notable birds include Calliope and Rufous
Hummingbirds, American Dipper, Red-breasted Sapsucker, Willow and Dusky
Flycatcher, Red Crossbill, and Hermit Thrush.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWrBRu8ncAcKHySE3TPke9Dy0dl93n6uLAcJkZM9kj9gdeN6Bh5XCKRBwyiE4QWy5YEKzGGzFMyg6p-AYwFM3unQLMGHI7T1Ou39OAEP8FQylvyTglD8UTRznx4qdbN-FHAKoO07cVGU/s1600/Kings+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWrBRu8ncAcKHySE3TPke9Dy0dl93n6uLAcJkZM9kj9gdeN6Bh5XCKRBwyiE4QWy5YEKzGGzFMyg6p-AYwFM3unQLMGHI7T1Ou39OAEP8FQylvyTglD8UTRznx4qdbN-FHAKoO07cVGU/s320/Kings+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Mineral King area of Giant Sequoia National Park</i></div>
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<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-J1yOO7faAlLY0NhGdnB7HjhNk1ZIAcGrIlhD11UNOje1i735EctG5BiQc-nKGt92nRf_YWoCICLYwP4ueUFo1PW31Mil5q-zJ7q60_Qgr1MX4Nf5r-vTrpQCFNbFZgJPu60Dgmmz5wM/s1600/KingsCanyon+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="222" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-J1yOO7faAlLY0NhGdnB7HjhNk1ZIAcGrIlhD11UNOje1i735EctG5BiQc-nKGt92nRf_YWoCICLYwP4ueUFo1PW31Mil5q-zJ7q60_Qgr1MX4Nf5r-vTrpQCFNbFZgJPu60Dgmmz5wM/s320/KingsCanyon+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Wilson's Warbler - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgi8cxlgkvsgGmW-Qaw1BYCnyGJHQmdaIJwDKoc9almNjV2yqFFpASU7qmFArRDNMKoygcUuh-ykuNIJ8xxV1NQpM4Az0c5xM5UhZnNkRjXWgIRI64W_9XHz2DDdA9G_OJbUryZ1Ui9Fc/s1600/KingsCanyon+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgi8cxlgkvsgGmW-Qaw1BYCnyGJHQmdaIJwDKoc9almNjV2yqFFpASU7qmFArRDNMKoygcUuh-ykuNIJ8xxV1NQpM4Az0c5xM5UhZnNkRjXWgIRI64W_9XHz2DDdA9G_OJbUryZ1Ui9Fc/s320/KingsCanyon+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>White sp.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl4dflGI43xzHw4dF74sAfUZnc__4UDBhnzt_jBaZL8pmYzQSO_VeCY0esMC8NlzZByRj-EkYQh0DQADoGOzDayIsl18zdzYHTKQTDXfoLm2II5dmCwjr9dlLvuP7eGbZcScYm-0HVDo/s1600/KingsCanyon+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDl4dflGI43xzHw4dF74sAfUZnc__4UDBhnzt_jBaZL8pmYzQSO_VeCY0esMC8NlzZByRj-EkYQh0DQADoGOzDayIsl18zdzYHTKQTDXfoLm2II5dmCwjr9dlLvuP7eGbZcScYm-0HVDo/s320/KingsCanyon+12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Black-tailed Deer - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWe_eT3CECJWayaDEPUVIBGNy7sSthARuSd_dISxpiOw0xqEKX3ESKiYNDmPUi2xVzjGnDWnfFQTgnOBc8i-1ZxaXx2DxUvsYS4sT2Vh0zOPgC5-1YJdjTFt1G43f6B2Ay_i9wRZucEU8/s1600/KingsCanyon+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWe_eT3CECJWayaDEPUVIBGNy7sSthARuSd_dISxpiOw0xqEKX3ESKiYNDmPUi2xVzjGnDWnfFQTgnOBc8i-1ZxaXx2DxUvsYS4sT2Vh0zOPgC5-1YJdjTFt1G43f6B2Ay_i9wRZucEU8/s320/KingsCanyon+13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Male Sooty Grouse - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYElbI1k0ngJIJTMcBNRdOgDrZEoVweoYpMxdc2qe074KadGNotxSh-Z4r7SscAzvdDt84tewsFHKC47VKipeGS1WUbQo0zoYDl7RS6GNdf2rv3zkXtadxFWJOLz0tiRFHHyWUql5aI0/s1600/KingsCanyon+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCYElbI1k0ngJIJTMcBNRdOgDrZEoVweoYpMxdc2qe074KadGNotxSh-Z4r7SscAzvdDt84tewsFHKC47VKipeGS1WUbQo0zoYDl7RS6GNdf2rv3zkXtadxFWJOLz0tiRFHHyWUql5aI0/s320/KingsCanyon+14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Female Sooty Grouse - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhubmhKiBU_1c3ql_j02fG0Lwj794eglt-8SYlWRBtOU2E9nN3b2ulx4mhyphenhyphenwJhIUwR0dfmc3V4zhiGqVXXw16QF7GJ61nL46vmjJsqA2ZUNS3Hz4yTGR2NLQmTdg5weriOOWOlps0LW8/s1600/KingsCanyon+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="162" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhubmhKiBU_1c3ql_j02fG0Lwj794eglt-8SYlWRBtOU2E9nN3b2ulx4mhyphenhyphenwJhIUwR0dfmc3V4zhiGqVXXw16QF7GJ61nL46vmjJsqA2ZUNS3Hz4yTGR2NLQmTdg5weriOOWOlps0LW8/s320/KingsCanyon+15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBhubmhKiBU_1c3ql_j02fG0Lwj794eglt-8SYlWRBtOU2E9nN3b2ulx4mhyphenhyphenwJhIUwR0dfmc3V4zhiGqVXXw16QF7GJ61nL46vmjJsqA2ZUNS3Hz4yTGR2NLQmTdg5weriOOWOlps0LW8/s1600/KingsCanyon+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><i>Female Sooty Grouse - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgda5FF3lfdqksji4YMu99N-Sy9TBhO8q8KWKW1f2RKEueoPeM11Nmg2_6phb5_qqPgVse9BCauJJIh3uQvdX48uWUep2MzseSMhxq9c6rhjytC7FaJvucYL9nKIbrhnpOakAKdXBErtTI/s1600/KingsCanyon+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgda5FF3lfdqksji4YMu99N-Sy9TBhO8q8KWKW1f2RKEueoPeM11Nmg2_6phb5_qqPgVse9BCauJJIh3uQvdX48uWUep2MzseSMhxq9c6rhjytC7FaJvucYL9nKIbrhnpOakAKdXBErtTI/s320/KingsCanyon+16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgda5FF3lfdqksji4YMu99N-Sy9TBhO8q8KWKW1f2RKEueoPeM11Nmg2_6phb5_qqPgVse9BCauJJIh3uQvdX48uWUep2MzseSMhxq9c6rhjytC7FaJvucYL9nKIbrhnpOakAKdXBErtTI/s1600/KingsCanyon+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><i>Female Sooty Grouse - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsIGnwGz8iG8j8YsuLUWNERoQ5DrXE_jjkrlDfdsLxNgSIpbpYHEPWhXeR5mREdTcaDLjCtyc_K4t2oEyxcAH5J0oDXA_O9zXqPgoFQZubr8rsbyGPHqYtkBVVZrbACfky5ZDRwSVzNo/s1600/KingsCanyon+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZsIGnwGz8iG8j8YsuLUWNERoQ5DrXE_jjkrlDfdsLxNgSIpbpYHEPWhXeR5mREdTcaDLjCtyc_K4t2oEyxcAH5J0oDXA_O9zXqPgoFQZubr8rsbyGPHqYtkBVVZrbACfky5ZDRwSVzNo/s320/KingsCanyon+18.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Sooty Grouse Chick - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsQ6WumaAnTnIyOViaeZfaT52h_WB28OneprXfxCvVJIRZT86OpkEdHVxSbLOiEeaF0NJ-elQBwx_5VeySwKOinUZkDk1Cz7A0PvVjjy_25dRQur2igaEslgzvUDCvo7EiqITs3w2Xxo/s1600/KingsCanyon+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="229" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWsQ6WumaAnTnIyOViaeZfaT52h_WB28OneprXfxCvVJIRZT86OpkEdHVxSbLOiEeaF0NJ-elQBwx_5VeySwKOinUZkDk1Cz7A0PvVjjy_25dRQur2igaEslgzvUDCvo7EiqITs3w2Xxo/s320/KingsCanyon+11.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Sooty Grouse Chick - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-xaj66LAlZoZKI49brALDjJH_fp-x1v4nXNUQ2TZXXaAe00HnS2BtaMHvmHn0qW8zLZO1IXt0ZqvxCPpkfEnVMruNCJsmW0onG1aeGvvg_2yRy1GGMENp92m3KD_3sg3v5OJ0nthk1g/s1600/KingsCanyon+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhh-xaj66LAlZoZKI49brALDjJH_fp-x1v4nXNUQ2TZXXaAe00HnS2BtaMHvmHn0qW8zLZO1IXt0ZqvxCPpkfEnVMruNCJsmW0onG1aeGvvg_2yRy1GGMENp92m3KD_3sg3v5OJ0nthk1g/s320/KingsCanyon+17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Marmot - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>These guys love to nibble on car tires, so it was interesting to see the backpackers' vehicles and their attempts to safeguard their tires. The chicken wire fortress was the most impressive.</i></div>
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Following another car-sickening ride back down the valley,
we emerged from the mountains at the end of our last full day of the trip. The next blog post will cover our final
day, and the birds and experiences that made it memorable.</div>Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-21283031906531913602012-08-03T21:40:00.000-06:002012-08-03T21:40:06.809-06:00California Wanderings - Part 9: Yosemite<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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The glacially carved landscape of Yosemite National Park is
a place of extreme beauty.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bold
granite domes, lush meadows, tall waterfalls, and giant sequoias grace this
designated World Heritage Site.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Drawing crowds from all over the world, over 3.7 million people visit
the park each year and most of those folks crowd into the 7 square miles of
Yosemite Valley threatening to love the place to death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>95% of the park is designated as
wilderness and with elevations ranging from 2,127 to 13,114 feet and containing
five major vegetation zones, there is plenty to explore.</div>
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On the evening of June 23, we took our first foray into
Yosemite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still needing to get in
our run for the day, we ran on the trails around Tuolumne Meadows while our
parents hiked around Lembert Dome and Soda Springs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Being a couple thousand feet higher than any other place on
the trip yet (8600’), we saw a good number of new species including Spotted
Sandpiper, Mountain Bluebird, Pine Grosbeak, and Cassin’s Finch.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the light began to fade, we slowly
made our way back down to Lee Vining near Mono Lake, stopping here and there
hoping to hear some owls, but only had a distant calling Common Poorwill!</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnC__23Imf5Fzg0Q4dcVC9hoP0l82jImJzlAkf6DnepHXCiOT3XxZxlQIApUuF8XS3fEo_vv4mOTor8LL0Y97Xrlwd6uf3rP6iApnuxtx0vYKDrS2iZdUHV_jr66wd1VBvLKeRg4ljmc/s1600/Yosemite+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCnC__23Imf5Fzg0Q4dcVC9hoP0l82jImJzlAkf6DnepHXCiOT3XxZxlQIApUuF8XS3fEo_vv4mOTor8LL0Y97Xrlwd6uf3rP6iApnuxtx0vYKDrS2iZdUHV_jr66wd1VBvLKeRg4ljmc/s320/Yosemite+4.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Lembert Dome from Tuolumne Meadows - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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Anticipating the Sunday crowd in Yosemite Valley, we
departed at 4:45 AM and worked our way over Tioga Pass to the west side of the
park.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our plan was definitely a
good one, as we saw very few vehicles on the road and had every scenic pull off
to ourselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>By the time we
actually entered Yosemite Valley, the traffic was starting to pick up and by 9
am the place was swarming with tourists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We had smartly nabbed a parking spot and walked or took the free
shuttle to our destinations of choice.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrwhuoK20CYEcwZBSrOiKyqJVlCaddbFbovNFLXVxKxGU3ZlFWpT3lP9VFsjYIYQuKXAtLFg5e1uFVNg-wWY41OS_igmgxQiBhcEMcX7auRErbsaypm6jB5XercU095vLNpf1zkTACXY/s1600/Yosemite+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWrwhuoK20CYEcwZBSrOiKyqJVlCaddbFbovNFLXVxKxGU3ZlFWpT3lP9VFsjYIYQuKXAtLFg5e1uFVNg-wWY41OS_igmgxQiBhcEMcX7auRErbsaypm6jB5XercU095vLNpf1zkTACXY/s320/Yosemite+5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>First glimpse of Half Dome (Olmstead Point).</i></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<i>By Renée Haip</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVTPYVtEqrWvFfth6yKScDwOX-ViRjbqapV571GY0JgSMpwh1K0sFiXgwwZcnvVlY47wF-Uui4zBlVp3vko01mzDdEjtDnshRcot1xJjLIrVnRSu05evA5plr4PC4LyY6DiMbnDHyz34/s1600/Yosemite+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhqVTPYVtEqrWvFfth6yKScDwOX-ViRjbqapV571GY0JgSMpwh1K0sFiXgwwZcnvVlY47wF-Uui4zBlVp3vko01mzDdEjtDnshRcot1xJjLIrVnRSu05evA5plr4PC4LyY6DiMbnDHyz34/s320/Yosemite+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Another View of Half Dome.</i></div>
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<i>By Renée Haip</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-9PD5qYNGIqI5n23j4Ero2rFVUHJ6Kb-Rq4OrvOvStK1eeh1hKNb-T43Rm-bd0du9lGK4rAOGQtnP7imvqKWiEDVPOCgcaicT1WLGSfjSZWVLzuw8Hwt9e6DP7vJ8ZRMBje1c_kHyis/s1600/Yosemite+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgm-9PD5qYNGIqI5n23j4Ero2rFVUHJ6Kb-Rq4OrvOvStK1eeh1hKNb-T43Rm-bd0du9lGK4rAOGQtnP7imvqKWiEDVPOCgcaicT1WLGSfjSZWVLzuw8Hwt9e6DP7vJ8ZRMBje1c_kHyis/s320/Yosemite+9.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Another view of Half Dome, depicting the reality of Yosemite Valley!</i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>By Renée Haip</i></span></i></div>
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<i>
</i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">For our time in the valley, we went on a few short
hikes. First, we worked our way
from the parking area to the base of Yosemite Falls. Plummeting off a 2,325-foot cliff, Yosemite Falls is the
highest waterfall in North America.
Vaux’s and White-throated Swifts swirled around above the old growth oak
and pine forests where we saw birds such as Acorn, Hairy, and White-headed
Woodpeckers, Cassin’s Vireos, Hermit Thrushes, Golden-crowned Kinglets,
Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Canyon Wrens, Nashville and Hermit Warblers,
Western Tanagers, and Black-headed Grosbeaks. In a small rocky brook downstream from the Lower Yosemite
Fall, we saw our first American Dipper of the trip.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kNsAnStvEy35tVmPkry8GEXaErCOS45HQoZgwzjp0SPxfdQ95Md9xYIE_zmPSqVmfAjsK87A6yElhtil9_UluXk0XTV3rjKvVGz-SSoM2BpV3yWywsgC35P7rGjR4OUUGhD47KS-lJQ/s1600/Yosemite+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj4kNsAnStvEy35tVmPkry8GEXaErCOS45HQoZgwzjp0SPxfdQ95Md9xYIE_zmPSqVmfAjsK87A6yElhtil9_UluXk0XTV3rjKvVGz-SSoM2BpV3yWywsgC35P7rGjR4OUUGhD47KS-lJQ/s320/Yosemite+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Hiking through the meadows of Yosemite Valley - by Renée Haip</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline; color: #0000ee; font-style: normal;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHMcyXos9-Ah9RKZt14UrLGdV9F3WgSB3yiKtoCu48LuGxC4USbvjZFN46SPn0Zjg7hTmXcVm6QC1pjgIEN4_ARRNwbQYXo3iTrjPigsIqyEptLk4DpulJcgISsMI06Mgg3oTcFta7wL4/s320/Yosemite+8.jpg" width="320" /></span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: underline;"><i>Yosemite Falls - by Renée Haip</i></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhc2eu8BEfooXu5DxmOA6DZtCGG0LOm5dlsea3FHWkvLNkk5Ww0iNwr52D4QNOdrbrZsIcNHGjjErLsqBgIBbA3UdCHNLoPqf97Fe6ucYQ05FQyH5T6xvcYE1U2dPP7ocg_Br2tStw_M/s1600/YosemiteJ+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKhc2eu8BEfooXu5DxmOA6DZtCGG0LOm5dlsea3FHWkvLNkk5Ww0iNwr52D4QNOdrbrZsIcNHGjjErLsqBgIBbA3UdCHNLoPqf97Fe6ucYQ05FQyH5T6xvcYE1U2dPP7ocg_Br2tStw_M/s1600/YosemiteJ+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Cassin's Vireo - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjie6gECP88Hvp5SdqQckrRU1fdH1EpdIofApkhizoivLuShSdq0OW4DeMgjK5y_ibFXWyn7RllhZPHoV_aps17eSZHoLEkWhfQeI-eSmGCJ9Off1RZZBYdXFVq_Cy_F7aCs8NxfRJcQO0/s1600/YosemiteM+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjie6gECP88Hvp5SdqQckrRU1fdH1EpdIofApkhizoivLuShSdq0OW4DeMgjK5y_ibFXWyn7RllhZPHoV_aps17eSZHoLEkWhfQeI-eSmGCJ9Off1RZZBYdXFVq_Cy_F7aCs8NxfRJcQO0/s320/YosemiteM+(1).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>California Ground-Squirrel - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaY9uhnLRKZeH49kjhWuVAKZ2yZF_v-0rQJBVZ-cP2eykUyEVfWmup9xGvQlolAqVIEf-58JdFQYlrlVRh1j7xnwMiyb5OBFzFyZ5YiIHpx2NrLjaLqDVChbW4Irfo0RtsNm6gIfcFovs/s1600/YosemiteJ+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaY9uhnLRKZeH49kjhWuVAKZ2yZF_v-0rQJBVZ-cP2eykUyEVfWmup9xGvQlolAqVIEf-58JdFQYlrlVRh1j7xnwMiyb5OBFzFyZ5YiIHpx2NrLjaLqDVChbW4Irfo0RtsNm6gIfcFovs/s320/YosemiteJ+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Western Tanager - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdnKhOfZZDYrpwhvLIypGMxQ3Pb1EOwsxcfxaO1b4ClZiVUYYhVqJH9jmHZjjz9V5d8-MYABI9_0qc0c5bmbNel9wU7dHkzHgh4v9cVt8yYulynIeNluGtOZhk9Id7tdwmDqTC8DvYpQ/s1600/YosemiteJ+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJdnKhOfZZDYrpwhvLIypGMxQ3Pb1EOwsxcfxaO1b4ClZiVUYYhVqJH9jmHZjjz9V5d8-MYABI9_0qc0c5bmbNel9wU7dHkzHgh4v9cVt8yYulynIeNluGtOZhk9Id7tdwmDqTC8DvYpQ/s320/YosemiteJ+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Vaux's Swift - by Joel Such</i></div>
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Next, we took the shuttle to the trailhead for Mirror Lake. During this time of year, the lake vanishes, but Tenaya Creek is flowing. This nice little hike provided Mallards, a Western Wood-Pewee, a Cassin's Vireo, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Brown Creepers, Golden-crowned Kinglets, Yellow Warblers, Song Sparrows, a Black-headed Grosbeak, and a Bullock's Oriole. A small marshy area held dragonflies such as Four-spotted Skimmers, Twelve-spotted Skimmers, and Common Whitetails.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hJZF6kN-u1ZSoFnENoDK4E-rk5Gvalhq9eTKdJ0VjaKl7y4G1dpdbCcSh6mFwJtldfNpQyWB9J7lZ6guzjCdnjJzUqCXZ_iTDZzzIm7V_8Z5Qkjno7N1eCy401q9hPS_IJO5yT6jgbw/s1600/Yosemite+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2hJZF6kN-u1ZSoFnENoDK4E-rk5Gvalhq9eTKdJ0VjaKl7y4G1dpdbCcSh6mFwJtldfNpQyWB9J7lZ6guzjCdnjJzUqCXZ_iTDZzzIm7V_8Z5Qkjno7N1eCy401q9hPS_IJO5yT6jgbw/s320/Yosemite+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Hike to Mirror Lake - by David Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IFbTpSb71qZNnwCwI6OtiqBfHeDfSnTdcf9XTk23qap0790HKe7qcC_7mL9wjJ0-yQEuGPj2nCxeDbH2VJDYdGrMopIZrvj6mXmUD6P34WpU_L8SR_6neaRPhCQDD0jt4IQfxVveIN4/s1600/YosemiteJ+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="280" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_IFbTpSb71qZNnwCwI6OtiqBfHeDfSnTdcf9XTk23qap0790HKe7qcC_7mL9wjJ0-yQEuGPj2nCxeDbH2VJDYdGrMopIZrvj6mXmUD6P34WpU_L8SR_6neaRPhCQDD0jt4IQfxVveIN4/s320/YosemiteJ+5.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Four-spotted Skimmer - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghg6ohN1YghL90Yh08gXqA13ITaItEvLk1xE6i61_uiYBJsTEy_RqNvvcairW8LQ82IKAuY-8vLJvo__EI0YVma-0e-mPIPewyak261GG374Wxqj-rQ8xVsWEXukp71NUv3ps1Y9Hnxck/s1600/YosemiteJ+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEghg6ohN1YghL90Yh08gXqA13ITaItEvLk1xE6i61_uiYBJsTEy_RqNvvcairW8LQ82IKAuY-8vLJvo__EI0YVma-0e-mPIPewyak261GG374Wxqj-rQ8xVsWEXukp71NUv3ps1Y9Hnxck/s320/YosemiteJ+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Yellow Warbler - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXx12Vy34rKvxfe9wJ6Tc8CLEGzdmFHURsrfyNhd8G3D1SCESTBpu-ctk-pllqtqAo502WVBgaMT5Z0ZOQBc0dTATQxvlNcHMYZYH2GE87Zu1HYMt92PKVEaJDrTHU3kd-Zse7dvvfas/s1600/YosemiteJ+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPXx12Vy34rKvxfe9wJ6Tc8CLEGzdmFHURsrfyNhd8G3D1SCESTBpu-ctk-pllqtqAo502WVBgaMT5Z0ZOQBc0dTATQxvlNcHMYZYH2GE87Zu1HYMt92PKVEaJDrTHU3kd-Zse7dvvfas/s320/YosemiteJ+4.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Tailed Copper - by Joel Such</i></div>
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By mid-afternoon, we joined the masses and headed out toward
Glacier Point to enjoy the views, which did not disappoint.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the evening, we hiked to McGurk Meadow hoping to at least hear, if not actually see a Great Gray Owl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Hiking three-quarters of a mile through
upper montane forest, we arrived at a lush meadow overrun with blood-sucking
mosquitoes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the fading light,
we started to hear the drumming of at least three Black-backed
Woodpeckers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Eventually we found
one of the elusive Black-backed Woodpeckers in the top of a tall dead snag!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A Calliope Hummingbird, calling
Red-breasted Nuthatches, a Dark-eyed Junco on a nest, and singing Lincoln’s Sparrows were also present along
with a Long-tailed Weasel scurrying across the trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waiting patiently for any hint of a Great Gray Owl, we heard
the screech of a young bird!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Following the sound, we heard it a few more times along with a band of
scolding Steller’s Jays and Mountain Chickadees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We sat on the edge of the meadow hoping to get a bit
luckier, but sadly we never saw the owl.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>However, in the dim light, we enjoyed a spectacular aerial show of
leaping brook trout snatching mosquitoes over the small pools of water in the
meadow.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibObL2n9JdfJ0jr1TVxb7TNVtNLbNU_zuxyaR04LEU08EPSR2NiZF1SEirWxB8y1ClTSeSOfF5q-yKDhksIp8ZdteLolH3fJ1zIGpDuXv5B9aOUwR1gy80MWHQt7IOkwuSOSqF2lRqcs/s1600/Yosemite+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjibObL2n9JdfJ0jr1TVxb7TNVtNLbNU_zuxyaR04LEU08EPSR2NiZF1SEirWxB8y1ClTSeSOfF5q-yKDhksIp8ZdteLolH3fJ1zIGpDuXv5B9aOUwR1gy80MWHQt7IOkwuSOSqF2lRqcs/s320/Yosemite+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>The iconic Tunnel View overlook - by David Such</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNqV1dL0iHZalWkJ4NI-rd6h6Q7BrfpeMCD2G6JA-Sonlp2zPSzS-_8sOXGbed3xw8PoRWSUJtennZjOlqvseJrQjEOBw_QlG15PY1D4BEdWYnF-IVHRKL9UpyCXvesf8Kdtc-CYtp6Q/s1600/Yosemite+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKNqV1dL0iHZalWkJ4NI-rd6h6Q7BrfpeMCD2G6JA-Sonlp2zPSzS-_8sOXGbed3xw8PoRWSUJtennZjOlqvseJrQjEOBw_QlG15PY1D4BEdWYnF-IVHRKL9UpyCXvesf8Kdtc-CYtp6Q/s320/Yosemite+3.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Half Dome from Glacier View - by </i><i>David Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINxtCMQzl4deexSO-EGIwLaE7fGpWTYnz9oZhaj0pjTkbLigxDcusf6MBp16etXefl7NqhT9HZdM8AVhA5ydMhrpNMMVe9H-EesjGpXiu6YSs9D2VhZKlRRE8xt4i70Dly1ezgYtQbzc/s1600/YosemiteJ+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjINxtCMQzl4deexSO-EGIwLaE7fGpWTYnz9oZhaj0pjTkbLigxDcusf6MBp16etXefl7NqhT9HZdM8AVhA5ydMhrpNMMVe9H-EesjGpXiu6YSs9D2VhZKlRRE8xt4i70Dly1ezgYtQbzc/s320/YosemiteJ+7.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Common Raven - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Je4HbSjAMDj48hyphenhypheng3iXK3cEdxOGSm_PlM8qZeo3M7cbQRuF-FQw4XNvvxIGHj0IcSuaK5jjLZl6fU7nnnfdfivDlMVQrnhLkV7dvYAExlyr9xTvutWc0m1rss5f7rpDNm5JHV1Ows_E/s1600/Yosemite+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0Je4HbSjAMDj48hyphenhypheng3iXK3cEdxOGSm_PlM8qZeo3M7cbQRuF-FQw4XNvvxIGHj0IcSuaK5jjLZl6fU7nnnfdfivDlMVQrnhLkV7dvYAExlyr9xTvutWc0m1rss5f7rpDNm5JHV1Ows_E/s320/Yosemite+13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>McGurk Meadow - by David Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWd5cH1jPxSHoub7nKVOqQTIfUDgtLiQP4d94uYvUaIpEhZagLvVmSzEDK3M_zwxLfHP7isj_fhWWkKt1eNJvfyCzQoCGVo-GbbhvKo3ZJuPdIekgNhgMoFpVBICWdZ5bjBzCMFwLJuhM/s1600/YosemiteJ+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjWd5cH1jPxSHoub7nKVOqQTIfUDgtLiQP4d94uYvUaIpEhZagLvVmSzEDK3M_zwxLfHP7isj_fhWWkKt1eNJvfyCzQoCGVo-GbbhvKo3ZJuPdIekgNhgMoFpVBICWdZ5bjBzCMFwLJuhM/s320/YosemiteJ+9.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="317" /></a></div>
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<i>Black-backed Woodpecker - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGusIuXU61FRUdesxyz5IYVyvF0llvvnSz_I12KqZZbP54dBaskHKroEwpA_aO-FEQrlSs9GiQHUffRg764jGunAHFQw9Tu-4AV2bjcuxNivw8ihuIGM7LeDg3XMbLQ8_EAucCv8kCkIQ/s1600/JUNCONEST.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGusIuXU61FRUdesxyz5IYVyvF0llvvnSz_I12KqZZbP54dBaskHKroEwpA_aO-FEQrlSs9GiQHUffRg764jGunAHFQw9Tu-4AV2bjcuxNivw8ihuIGM7LeDg3XMbLQ8_EAucCv8kCkIQ/s320/JUNCONEST.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Oregon Junco Nest - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXrQfh3n8oxwUVC_vLrtd0SMsXrluhZLaYVL7e7fbVPZuOcVcXRCToGPKjMENr80d9H98p0K1nGrm8-7IbU2a0FbZliq9C77coD67fdDJBPpKTXjRMgmChgWhc3zIsFo9xjyMmb3SA78/s1600/YosemiteJ+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVXrQfh3n8oxwUVC_vLrtd0SMsXrluhZLaYVL7e7fbVPZuOcVcXRCToGPKjMENr80d9H98p0K1nGrm8-7IbU2a0FbZliq9C77coD67fdDJBPpKTXjRMgmChgWhc3zIsFo9xjyMmb3SA78/s320/YosemiteJ+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Brook Trout - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">On our way to lodging in Oakhurst, we stopped at the
Mariposa Grove and studied the Giant Sequoias in the moonlight! The next morning, after sleeping in for
a change, we headed back into Yosemite to see the fabled Mariposa Grove in the
daylight. Arriving at 10 am, the
parking lot was packed and we had to drive farther down the road to Wawona to
catch a shuttle bus with every seat and every inch of the aisle crammed tightly
with passengers. On our way
to the oldest tree in the grove, the “Grizzly Giant,” a fifteen-inch sugar pine
cone (aka widow maker) plummeted from the sky missing us by a couple feet. I jumped back in response and took a
big fall landing atop a sharp-edged rock and spent the rest of my time limping
back to the parking lot. Marcel
continued on through a less traveled section of the grove and added a lot more
species to the Mariposa Grove list including Red-breasted Sapsucker, Hairy and
White-headed Woodpecker, a Townsend’s Solitaire feeding a fledgling, and
Pacific Wren.</span></div>
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1ZkYoXEki5ryQ1-9PIjb0w2gfd9pQtBBDNkLisjMzaWzrz7H5dJnwIdaa_iWIbtQgxOAGdFe_WRYTZkxTdI5K80SMaue1GDN5Ni-cqZqDhVMa52B7LmAQrV85Rp0z-u46d32m3ecqYA/s1600/Yosemite+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU1ZkYoXEki5ryQ1-9PIjb0w2gfd9pQtBBDNkLisjMzaWzrz7H5dJnwIdaa_iWIbtQgxOAGdFe_WRYTZkxTdI5K80SMaue1GDN5Ni-cqZqDhVMa52B7LmAQrV85Rp0z-u46d32m3ecqYA/s320/Yosemite+14.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a><br />
<i>Giant Sequoias in Mariposa Grove - by Renée Haip</i><br />
<i><br /></i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5svjzSMfJbN8yfqBbMMwSzbKCkjiFcLSU3nKmnYccjvI-hNU9jBg5zSRcFsqAbf57E6qmcfslWyHDUJ4l27Y_N8hVvtzPRsEKr9SKz4IPuO6Lmu2NRW47Y5uQGGLO82ojq7hanPyyz2I/s1600/YosemiteM+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="230" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5svjzSMfJbN8yfqBbMMwSzbKCkjiFcLSU3nKmnYccjvI-hNU9jBg5zSRcFsqAbf57E6qmcfslWyHDUJ4l27Y_N8hVvtzPRsEKr9SKz4IPuO6Lmu2NRW47Y5uQGGLO82ojq7hanPyyz2I/s320/YosemiteM+(2).jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>Silver-spotted Skipper - by Marcel Such</i><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Up next: Kings Canyon and Giant Sequoia National Parks</span></div>
</i></div>
Joel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12750114091321820568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-91879970791019308222012-07-30T21:15:00.001-06:002012-07-30T21:35:48.706-06:00California Wanderings, Part 8: Mono Lake<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89JsbsCM4Cg8A5O4OU6BBh3yZvDhD8kQ4enJfx_0vRJlh8MbWH3zQb5MFnLKISYDd5H6Mmz_z-cyiI06yelJef3Qb8rYVZK4x7YM67OY3Gy_DIpgEm2ZzO1r4pv8a0CR3j-9Fjt5hw2w/s1600/MONO+20.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89JsbsCM4Cg8A5O4OU6BBh3yZvDhD8kQ4enJfx_0vRJlh8MbWH3zQb5MFnLKISYDd5H6Mmz_z-cyiI06yelJef3Qb8rYVZK4x7YM67OY3Gy_DIpgEm2ZzO1r4pv8a0CR3j-9Fjt5hw2w/s320/MONO+20.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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On June 23, we drove from Lake Tahoe, across the beautiful Sierra Nevada
to the salty waters of Mono Lake.
Covering 60 square miles and being over 700,000 years old, Mono Lake is
one of the oldest lakes in North America. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaNV3RMY6UnkQnEZPdoqqBRKyf-RkP6fPas1XXcOI9tC05u4g1SsKRBNFO2_OPcexE1sJm4iMxs5fx-yH0RBycbHakPh_fL22akh62QdPtqUL5S1AMGWpeHx3j-mjdiRuVgWjxAe0guM/s1600/Mono+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhoaNV3RMY6UnkQnEZPdoqqBRKyf-RkP6fPas1XXcOI9tC05u4g1SsKRBNFO2_OPcexE1sJm4iMxs5fx-yH0RBycbHakPh_fL22akh62QdPtqUL5S1AMGWpeHx3j-mjdiRuVgWjxAe0guM/s320/Mono+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Faux Cattle Guard (painted lines on the road), Mono County</i></div>
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<i>Are cattle that dumb?</i></div>
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<i>By Renée Haip</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqn0Sq8xtdjUNtfhjCKZu4awgUf3BgWOMej7JKc9WIA9h11_sJUcgu6Mo_H6mEMEBK_G9YX8-MLrtrFI-ar9IG6YJFufKy-J8exYOnXpPdSn1gdnaysHCukv78lSvRIY68_NJ2Br0RTZo/s1600/Mono+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqn0Sq8xtdjUNtfhjCKZu4awgUf3BgWOMej7JKc9WIA9h11_sJUcgu6Mo_H6mEMEBK_G9YX8-MLrtrFI-ar9IG6YJFufKy-J8exYOnXpPdSn1gdnaysHCukv78lSvRIY68_NJ2Br0RTZo/s320/Mono+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Sierra Nevada, Mono County - b</i><i>y Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i><br /></i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yZZ_a4riuGu4Q_yTMfPEz5VjdCygNyL_gTDNKJ8bR8T-_eXHUUIYDKdROG2XY8IYN-fS9UTqqGPYStGbj3GprNfUr0e3FYSvup2y5_qtHfEt2C2twmDOJ81Rx1TfTAbpEofhA6N4O80/s1600/MONO+21.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="196" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi4yZZ_a4riuGu4Q_yTMfPEz5VjdCygNyL_gTDNKJ8bR8T-_eXHUUIYDKdROG2XY8IYN-fS9UTqqGPYStGbj3GprNfUr0e3FYSvup2y5_qtHfEt2C2twmDOJ81Rx1TfTAbpEofhA6N4O80/s320/MONO+21.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Wilson's Phalarope, Mono County - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqn0Sq8xtdjUNtfhjCKZu4awgUf3BgWOMej7JKc9WIA9h11_sJUcgu6Mo_H6mEMEBK_G9YX8-MLrtrFI-ar9IG6YJFufKy-J8exYOnXpPdSn1gdnaysHCukv78lSvRIY68_NJ2Br0RTZo/s1600/Mono+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div>
With only an afternoon to explore this scenic location, we
only had time to make a few stops.
Around Mono Basin’s visitor center, we picked up our first sage dwelling
species of the trip. The trills
and buzzes of a singing Brewer’s Sparrow was the first to be heard shortly
followed by singing Sage Thrashers and a Sage Sparrow. A scorpion was additionally discovered
under a rusty piece of metal.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVwIkOer3FR3fQhEO8j_Gi11pGdg-B7PV02aoubYqUerRh26Cer9muYaVgQAp5t9C2UNaosqhwpSeAphuBqMFivWh78JomZ0OsGsM1P2TjojybyrM4MIFBhkL7U0AEpBOT_qMs5gxr3g/s1600/MONO+19.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="262" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzVwIkOer3FR3fQhEO8j_Gi11pGdg-B7PV02aoubYqUerRh26Cer9muYaVgQAp5t9C2UNaosqhwpSeAphuBqMFivWh78JomZ0OsGsM1P2TjojybyrM4MIFBhkL7U0AEpBOT_qMs5gxr3g/s320/MONO+19.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Brewer's Sparrow - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHLpNFWcpkHPNu1MAO8JZR-R_iwVHyqIMHU_1l3MbzrtL4kWyCB_pkIddFu7nKSKB56zK0JChjthCGLIGpfIgC1VRMVkEPuZqtHPhyZSOC-Tc04ljibYtcnjG3JJx-Ex_JAZiYxkCZYY/s1600/MONO+18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvHLpNFWcpkHPNu1MAO8JZR-R_iwVHyqIMHU_1l3MbzrtL4kWyCB_pkIddFu7nKSKB56zK0JChjthCGLIGpfIgC1VRMVkEPuZqtHPhyZSOC-Tc04ljibYtcnjG3JJx-Ex_JAZiYxkCZYY/s320/MONO+18.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Sage Thrasher - by Joel Such</i></div>
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Our next stop was at Old Marina on Mono Lake’s western
shore, a location known for its colony of California Gulls nesting on a rocky
island a short distance offshore.
California Gulls were everywhere along with Brewer’s Blackbirds,
Green-tailed Towhees, Violet-green Swallows, and a singing Lazuli Bunting. Here we were able to watch some of the
foraging techniques of the California Gulls including one, which was running,
mouth open, through a swarm of Brine Flies.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmN7WZOp4ia2h8XG4g7EIDJVseWQkCODw8gpgzQPAPwO_vAIj57DNOWYl9x-FFM-tK0jrHTGmmevbePvIyAJmAeGb3aSReJyndOvHt76lAdoN7tfMHtliM62_ZZJTP20Vw6cPWvUOwFco/s1600/MONO+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmN7WZOp4ia2h8XG4g7EIDJVseWQkCODw8gpgzQPAPwO_vAIj57DNOWYl9x-FFM-tK0jrHTGmmevbePvIyAJmAeGb3aSReJyndOvHt76lAdoN7tfMHtliM62_ZZJTP20Vw6cPWvUOwFco/s320/MONO+15.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>California Gull Nesting Colony - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7chuKPbnbiOEVcsXeF75Bv7wJdlpqLlA9IAUNzMfV0fNhxrmzz7Ea-EsGXG9LBR9kINdqUgraeGicXmgxswhUtRDo3m4t2iW7rdy6-elJXoQX9BdaUtwLr4VbEB61tb4nYyGluhvyyqk/s1600/Mono+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7chuKPbnbiOEVcsXeF75Bv7wJdlpqLlA9IAUNzMfV0fNhxrmzz7Ea-EsGXG9LBR9kINdqUgraeGicXmgxswhUtRDo3m4t2iW7rdy6-elJXoQX9BdaUtwLr4VbEB61tb4nYyGluhvyyqk/s320/Mono+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Scanning the Lake - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeh4WYSV_7pcwG3CuJyeOQoREO3G_IaxFYwOOj1Yv38qFacCHduIyyQHog0A1rzaIVziUGVFMtzH8Dot6Qa4r-vlp-3z8u8wfQXLXFwEv1T0CI9bHs_hKkD5IKf-MIHZTB_iBkeGLVuN4/s1600/monoM+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgeh4WYSV_7pcwG3CuJyeOQoREO3G_IaxFYwOOj1Yv38qFacCHduIyyQHog0A1rzaIVziUGVFMtzH8Dot6Qa4r-vlp-3z8u8wfQXLXFwEv1T0CI9bHs_hKkD5IKf-MIHZTB_iBkeGLVuN4/s320/monoM+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>California Gull Chowing Down Brine Flies - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6-ts4yCPcW0FqhOH_2tCWrJFB2IiHOMZ6LWhopN3VLnzgFSguB_g2Sy82dRQUdQp0nD-lbs5muE1NpNOridFQhGTGxlU_agBsDocnZ7RtxvyFPJ8LuCy9k4aDx5t7AZ4L9ZXS8qiz5o/s1600/MONO+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgt6-ts4yCPcW0FqhOH_2tCWrJFB2IiHOMZ6LWhopN3VLnzgFSguB_g2Sy82dRQUdQp0nD-lbs5muE1NpNOridFQhGTGxlU_agBsDocnZ7RtxvyFPJ8LuCy9k4aDx5t7AZ4L9ZXS8qiz5o/s320/MONO+14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>California Gull Foraging on Brine Flies - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcS3qWeyjDOjf4B8QGgka0AoR0ocp8_s3KQMlpCsgKAvSWKxFS9MNyJi5-NGdxsVT-v9J4u17MWy4N-CQllG-XQviyJeZ3D3ZulFgDCVg50pYbDfch8zhVx51IVEzG6vDylBrhhIi9Jo/s1600/MONO+17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYcS3qWeyjDOjf4B8QGgka0AoR0ocp8_s3KQMlpCsgKAvSWKxFS9MNyJi5-NGdxsVT-v9J4u17MWy4N-CQllG-XQviyJeZ3D3ZulFgDCVg50pYbDfch8zhVx51IVEzG6vDylBrhhIi9Jo/s320/MONO+17.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Brine Flies - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TiJkbmoiQts0-LD0H_NLDYLyDmwvfu8M4pZTr8-l2Ypxc327Y0lZ2XFFZdaVDawiudNp6eCITk1sGsq26RZLplS9SSCpi9QgNair3PIm2zvaK0trJLND0jyuu_jj7O1aNyCdfSNWO7k/s1600/MONO+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="225" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8TiJkbmoiQts0-LD0H_NLDYLyDmwvfu8M4pZTr8-l2Ypxc327Y0lZ2XFFZdaVDawiudNp6eCITk1sGsq26RZLplS9SSCpi9QgNair3PIm2zvaK0trJLND0jyuu_jj7O1aNyCdfSNWO7k/s320/MONO+16.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>California Gull - by Joel Such</i></div>
<br />
Along the far northwest corner of Mono Lake, we ambled down
Mono Lake County Park’s boardwalk through willows and marsh to the shore of the
lake. A variety of birds were
present including Canada Geese, American Avocets, Yellow Warblers, Song
Sparrows, Red-winged Blackbirds, and a Virginia Rail darting through the
partially submerged grass followed by a black fluffy chick.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1lNqZYajrYcSjZ35ovUkxs9O2eLuC3VqMT20mynqjpWqnKSPAchzEXJ-Dnkns92jmyWFk5vEk8zNK04i1fr4ickQTvPREK7Rz7B-hVlV0s0GOeTdvvh8LbZU-KDVVJaqzh7IXQtWp8k/s1600/Mono+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT1lNqZYajrYcSjZ35ovUkxs9O2eLuC3VqMT20mynqjpWqnKSPAchzEXJ-Dnkns92jmyWFk5vEk8zNK04i1fr4ickQTvPREK7Rz7B-hVlV0s0GOeTdvvh8LbZU-KDVVJaqzh7IXQtWp8k/s320/Mono+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>View from the Boardwalk - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz66IJqOrjNQJbXwsnO1uTBfCpy6NzDuoZsd9ywgLKfSZ3SDeFQJaFQ8ZNuAtFg-LLS5HKVRgqa0z-XWHh_am27hF3SSAkSoa1KqgThAsf2lLkBRsnoAy-WHa6sJ0AIq0YSta-Cv32ho4/s1600/MONO+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgz66IJqOrjNQJbXwsnO1uTBfCpy6NzDuoZsd9ywgLKfSZ3SDeFQJaFQ8ZNuAtFg-LLS5HKVRgqa0z-XWHh_am27hF3SSAkSoa1KqgThAsf2lLkBRsnoAy-WHa6sJ0AIq0YSta-Cv32ho4/s320/MONO+12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Violet-green Swallow - by Joel Such</i></div>
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With time slipping away, we closed the afternoon with a hike
through the famous South Tufa area.
We saw Say’s Phoebes, Savannah Sparrows, California Gulls sifting
through the water for brine shrimp, and two occupied Osprey nests constructed
on the tops of island tufas.
Saltier than seawater, no fish live in the water requiring the Osprey to
fish elsewhere.<br />
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<i>Tufa Towers - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgu0kw5rrBYucr8NHF94PerKUkXvUZJ715QVwBgUGVw6eLq_o_BUzzw_6zf5eI8ln4rdhEstn0FVney6Hzz20wWEI-iKRKWnBjAAZ8UXlfjpIMzCi93txbZ2U2qfxx0srZTBEZWziNLQ/s1600/Mono+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTgu0kw5rrBYucr8NHF94PerKUkXvUZJ715QVwBgUGVw6eLq_o_BUzzw_6zf5eI8ln4rdhEstn0FVney6Hzz20wWEI-iKRKWnBjAAZ8UXlfjpIMzCi93txbZ2U2qfxx0srZTBEZWziNLQ/s320/Mono+6.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>By Renée Haip</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdFRr0THaQP11nUgL-lbY-NXTfVOaUNboXGtlMe70VEhBo_-j56W_OP84BMCUBBcG4oo84MflTSb6EyIE0jnAbxaYX5nPvvEDyy5IKddIfWbGYW5DBWRx_wRr_p_hlPBwOdn5Goskqhs/s1600/Mono+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="233" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFdFRr0THaQP11nUgL-lbY-NXTfVOaUNboXGtlMe70VEhBo_-j56W_OP84BMCUBBcG4oo84MflTSb6EyIE0jnAbxaYX5nPvvEDyy5IKddIfWbGYW5DBWRx_wRr_p_hlPBwOdn5Goskqhs/s320/Mono+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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California Gulls <i>- by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVL-_B12GEPnjNpAKKiBDhoX1IFzs9VgsCdPyw9wKcmyepEfYbIS8CjWl7_625EGKBITxf5KsAdjl7DwBQgQIgL6GG1HFdN1euw1x3W_ykejTUTvNkYftR3jVEgq66QChC0IVhjycWgOA/s1600/MONO+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhVL-_B12GEPnjNpAKKiBDhoX1IFzs9VgsCdPyw9wKcmyepEfYbIS8CjWl7_625EGKBITxf5KsAdjl7DwBQgQIgL6GG1HFdN1euw1x3W_ykejTUTvNkYftR3jVEgq66QChC0IVhjycWgOA/s320/MONO+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>California Gulls - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXmOefmlIminhhJETIaEBQbUUIiGAIyANChpZ7cBrJykXSFnLOG5bF5cFXufL-E-oymp0Pzo7J_nHfqoKlhVC-JPdHIX1r6chlUVQbTmjIamMnPqu574ee_mdBXw8nDCtDxSpfsHlqBU/s1600/MONO+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieXmOefmlIminhhJETIaEBQbUUIiGAIyANChpZ7cBrJykXSFnLOG5bF5cFXufL-E-oymp0Pzo7J_nHfqoKlhVC-JPdHIX1r6chlUVQbTmjIamMnPqu574ee_mdBXw8nDCtDxSpfsHlqBU/s320/MONO+10.jpg" width="212" /></a></div>
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<i>Brewer's Blackbird atop Tufa Tower - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil55uYGqxQQJ9n2fOm1KYpfDYZiQScJlaqZo0C7qU26faZVWQM4FgKiJjhWpvS6gg_9A_uRYk4ZOQr-TodecpGLW7HLTfxPQG5jcp1UhViqlkqRE4u3mpiV7xx7AVzb7xGvuo8BiYrLKs/s1600/MONO+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil55uYGqxQQJ9n2fOm1KYpfDYZiQScJlaqZo0C7qU26faZVWQM4FgKiJjhWpvS6gg_9A_uRYk4ZOQr-TodecpGLW7HLTfxPQG5jcp1UhViqlkqRE4u3mpiV7xx7AVzb7xGvuo8BiYrLKs/s320/MONO+2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>California Gull - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNjw9occXWN-YEKgkEGF26MXrQTVEjLNranK2-5ZeSlz2JpDjZq8SS7uPDK7-S64JP2xvBLPX8w62Z_ul9fDMc-EXoZhHuW96-YBuylglIcHOcmWuEUKxkrihyphenhyphenwa2cNaTBy7knVnWD2Y/s1600/MONO+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMNjw9occXWN-YEKgkEGF26MXrQTVEjLNranK2-5ZeSlz2JpDjZq8SS7uPDK7-S64JP2xvBLPX8w62Z_ul9fDMc-EXoZhHuW96-YBuylglIcHOcmWuEUKxkrihyphenhyphenwa2cNaTBy7knVnWD2Y/s320/MONO+5.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Osprey Nest - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjCcg_pefXnaCCy-J5ZXqGLgjpZ78STvbR7s3x5p_DT7MG_7Zlvc7mMXojZrDPbAO0EOuE9ZJpq98BlBJhz4-pCT8V5TVBEmNFrNxfalFbDho7Ro42LJRs-2QnCsJZBHnZwpPr4MyrV4/s1600/MONO+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivjCcg_pefXnaCCy-J5ZXqGLgjpZ78STvbR7s3x5p_DT7MG_7Zlvc7mMXojZrDPbAO0EOuE9ZJpq98BlBJhz4-pCT8V5TVBEmNFrNxfalFbDho7Ro42LJRs-2QnCsJZBHnZwpPr4MyrV4/s320/MONO+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Male Brewer's Blackbird - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcaPKqbNO8oEpToE3fev7uh6v-RL1UfhtwX2XTmIjF7U2zMUqXf8ZO3ejtoUvidWYM5G-MCyEYRjNHLXXD9ACgiECq8hQELo5uQtVlQzPP7CyvZr4RargKP7J0OalNWdmMU2hcPLePBA/s1600/MONO+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZcaPKqbNO8oEpToE3fev7uh6v-RL1UfhtwX2XTmIjF7U2zMUqXf8ZO3ejtoUvidWYM5G-MCyEYRjNHLXXD9ACgiECq8hQELo5uQtVlQzPP7CyvZr4RargKP7J0OalNWdmMU2hcPLePBA/s320/MONO+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Female Brewer's Blackbird - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PEJil3cLB14LByQi4tvaUkYhHZ9HjzSVjNpTaDa6NNsRSZJw_xGmJ6CNpIgBTncQcS0spPtVqZI2Apfh4OyjSJlV0oWy1A7h1aa_vhyphenhyphen0GV-xu_ejl5Qt-dHYjojdsjG673Nyio3Vq0k/s1600/MONO+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3PEJil3cLB14LByQi4tvaUkYhHZ9HjzSVjNpTaDa6NNsRSZJw_xGmJ6CNpIgBTncQcS0spPtVqZI2Apfh4OyjSJlV0oWy1A7h1aa_vhyphenhyphen0GV-xu_ejl5Qt-dHYjojdsjG673Nyio3Vq0k/s320/MONO+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Female Brewer's Blackbird - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>-----</i></div>
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Our next entry will feature Yosemite National Park!</div>
</div>Joel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12750114091321820568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-57431015259598676682012-07-29T19:08:00.001-06:002012-07-30T15:42:51.544-06:00Cornell Young Birders' Event - July 19-22When Joel and I were five and seven years old, you could often hear nested in our conversation “When we go to Cornell this…” and “When we are at Cornell that…” For two young bird nerds, it wasn't the oddest thing to say. Cornell University and its Cornell Lab of Ornithology in
Ithaca, New York, are legendary institutions in the birding community, as the university offers an excellent
ornithology program, and the world renown lab is the hub of important avian research
and citizen science projects. At
one point, somebody popped our bubble by informing us that there was tuition involved in our grand scheme. I tried to break it lightly to Joel . . . “Joel, we’re not going
to Cornell; we can’t afford it.” After I had caught wind that there were things called "scholarships," I went back to Joel and told him . . . "Hey Joel, we're going to Cornell after all; we're going for free." As I head into my junior year of high school this fall, college seeking has become more necessary and daunting than when I was seven. Birds still consume my everyday life and aspirations, and thus Cornell still looms on my list of post-high school possibilities. So when the opportunity presented itself to visit, I jumped on it. Back in April I heard that I was
one of the ten lucky teens accepted to the annual Cornell Young Birder Event. I booked my
tickets to Ithaca and settled in to wait.<br />
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<o:p><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;">Sapsucker Woods</span></o:p></div>
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The day of departure finally came, with the accompanying
sleep-<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: italic;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">deprivation and stress of flying from the Mountain West to a minor East Coast airport. Foreseeing difficulties, I fortunately
had scheduled to arrive a day early. After surviving
a 3 AM alarm clock, a series of delayed departures, reroutings, and multiple cancelled flights, I finally
managed to get the last seat of the day to Binghamton, another small airport 40
minutes southeast of Ithaca. This
also happened to be the last flight to anywhere near Ithaca until the next
afternoon, so I was extremely grateful.
Chris Wood and Tom Johnson obligingly picked me up at close to 11
o’clock PM. In true extreme birder
form, we made a stop on the way back to Ithaca for a try at American Woodcocks
(which were silent, but a calling Great Horned Owl furnished the first species
on my brand-new New York state list).
Just before midnight, three whinnying Eastern Screech-Owls in Chris and
Jessie’s backyard furnished #2.</span></span></div>
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Before the immanent arrivals of the other teen birders the
following afternoon, Jessie Barry, Chris Wood, and I joined Andy Johnson (of Tropicbirds fame, now a junior
at Cornell) to do the grocery shopping.
This ordeal quickly turned hilarious as Andy and I re-cracked old inside jokes
about dried mangos, beef jerky, and pop-tarts, argued about the best cereals,
ardently discussed how only real men eat crunchy peanut butter, and jokingly bemoaned
shopping for people with dietary limitations. After collecting Ethan Gyllenhaal at the airport and Eamon Corbett at the bus stop, our trio of YB's birded around Sapsucker Woods. The eastern birds, such as
Northern Cardinals, Great Crested Flycatchers, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks,
were as exciting as ever for this westerner. The remaining seven arrived, and we shuffled inside the
auditorium to listen to an inspiring kick-start talk by Lab director John
Fitzpatrick on how birds can save the world. The day wrapped up with a quick lab tour, barbeque dinner,
and a discussion with Andrew Farnsworth on nocturnal migration
and flight calls before we turned in for the night.</div>
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Our first full day (the 20<sup>th</sup>) started off
with an audio and video recording workshop at Myers Point on the shore of Cayuga Lake. We tried our hands at video taping
nearby Least Sandpipers, Killdeer, Belted Kingfishers, and Caspian Terns with
DSLR cameras and the “Big Bertha” HD movie camera rig. In between the fickle rain showers,
attempts were made at collecting audio recordings of Purple Martins, European Starlings,
Song Sparrows, and Warbling Vireos with an awesome parabolic microphone
set-up (Joel, be jealous).</div>
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<i>Myers Point</i></div>
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<i>Cayuga Lake</i></div>
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<i>Caspian Tern</i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Birding Hammond Hill was a change of pace as we walked through this stereotypical wet deciduous forest of the northeast.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Veery called out eerily from the shadows, and Blue-headed and Red-eyed Vireos sang from the canopies.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">We finally found our main target for this spot, singing away, invisible, from just a few feet off the trail in the undergrowth.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">We finally managed to coax it halfway out into the open, my lifer Mourning Warbler.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">We also had Canada, Black-throated Blue, and Magnolia Warblers plus Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers at this productive spot.</span></div>
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<i>Hammond Hill</i></div>
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<i>Red Eft</i></div>
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After lunch, we were back at the lab editing some of our fresh sound recordings, and listened to a series of informative, inspiring, and thought-provoking talks by director John Fitzpatrick, taxonomic specialist Tom Schulenberg (also author of the Birds of Peru), director Steve Kelling, undergraduate Andy Johnson, ex-undergrad Tom Johnson, professor David Winkler, and graduate student Nate Senner. Post dinner, we descended into the ornithological collection for Irby Lovette’s Night at the Museum. We toured through the specimen prep room, the ichthyology and herpetology collections, and attempted to complete a puzzle of warbler phylogeny before Irby turned us loose in the bird collection. We perused drawers full of motmots, birds-of-paradise, South American tanagers, and loads of other exotic specimens. We even got to look into the drawer of extinct and critically endangered species, even holding an Ivory-billed Woodpecker specimen! All were loath to leave when the time finally came, with so many cabinets still left unexplored.</div>
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<i>Irby's Night at the Museum</i></div>
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<i>Working on Irby's Warbler Challenge</i></div>
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<i>Wilson's Bird-of-paradise (and yes, their tails are actually like that)</i></div>
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<i>Yours truly holding an Ivory-billed Woodpecker</i></div>
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<i>The random stuff one can find in a museum collection...</i></div>
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<i>Snowy Owls</i></div>
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<i>Hoatzins</i></div>
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<i>I honestly don't remember which motmot Eamon is holding here . . . Blue-crowned maybe?</i></div>
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The following morning, we arose and groggily departed for a full day of birding on the far northern end of the Cayuga Lake basin
(Ithaca is in the south). Seneca
Meadows held lots of different species, with Bobolink and Savannah Sparrow song
rolling across the grasses. We also saw Dickcissel, Wood Ducks, and a
Yellow-throated Vireo. Montezuma
National Wildlife Refuge’s Topath Road was extremely productive, with tons of
shore birds, heron, and ducks. We
saw three individuals from the locally re-established Trumpeter Swan
population, plus no less than four Least Bitterns, which was incredible. A one-eyed Great Horned Owl roosting in a roadside tree was quickly named Nick Fury (if you’ve seen the Avengers, you’ll
understand). Throughout the
morning, we birded many other locations in the vast Montezuma NWR, seeing such
birds as Solitary Sandpiper, Black Tern, and Swamp Sparrow. On Armitage Road in Wayne County, we were fortunate enough to hear a distant Cerulean Warbler and see a young
Ruby-throated Hummingbird on a nest. Later that night, we were treated to an
inspiring talk by Matt Young on Red Crossbill identification and taxonomy. Chris Wood ran an <a href="http://ebird.org/" target="_blank">eBird</a> tutorial, and Jessie Barry discussed her project, <a href="http://www.allaboutbirds.org/labs/" target="_blank">Merlin</a>, an in development online bird identification program.</div>
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<i>Seneca Meadows</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqokfKINo3aDMhFvUKBx-ilIZcqBDYLxOQJGcKZQTJN8j30RLIBeuMa0OMZYmLRXrEzwsXW_KkxY3210sUMeLZPrtUYFDs3V-VFSvGjXBYowQEfqPp7m2CVFcTMR0GGRvrC7y_cGTqx0/s1600/CornellD10+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaqokfKINo3aDMhFvUKBx-ilIZcqBDYLxOQJGcKZQTJN8j30RLIBeuMa0OMZYmLRXrEzwsXW_KkxY3210sUMeLZPrtUYFDs3V-VFSvGjXBYowQEfqPp7m2CVFcTMR0GGRvrC7y_cGTqx0/s320/CornellD10+14.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Seneca Meadows</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-6-DTbOCDOBxRHBjuyiqXq5GEGV-PMVJEUMTSlSP1iVOO9toFkKGFJzt5hTmFxVV273RncdP4l_5F8RZIB1lSgbG_lk0a29X1vooGucn_hCiEIIKLUU5xlpebVQIKtDVkjq0YNR0tvs/s1600/Cornell40D+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEid-6-DTbOCDOBxRHBjuyiqXq5GEGV-PMVJEUMTSlSP1iVOO9toFkKGFJzt5hTmFxVV273RncdP4l_5F8RZIB1lSgbG_lk0a29X1vooGucn_hCiEIIKLUU5xlpebVQIKtDVkjq0YNR0tvs/s320/Cornell40D+4.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Widow Skimmer</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQqt2L4ken6rnRNZLJ4s9ZCwh8VdoylQghxe89rdqgks7X9Ri7wEr5HXXutDf0llF-rMI1JIPbewKSoX4gbaHD-bseVi0c5wrrUxGWiGYd_sSXM-_mhVVMmJdTNcIEkvzuzF-RcXaSVM/s1600/Cornell40D+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkQqt2L4ken6rnRNZLJ4s9ZCwh8VdoylQghxe89rdqgks7X9Ri7wEr5HXXutDf0llF-rMI1JIPbewKSoX4gbaHD-bseVi0c5wrrUxGWiGYd_sSXM-_mhVVMmJdTNcIEkvzuzF-RcXaSVM/s320/Cornell40D+6.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="206" /></a></div>
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<i>Nick Fury, the one-eyed Great Horned Owl</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwodLF4fZtUibkwM6fvPq2EJnu3k5KRQfL5e2ozhUOdTalt03gs-aVayrHASfPfb28Zc0CSvP5lASvlXJNztbtwEkh97qd-Rf5OCmoLkHw880Uygxy6NBq0IKJeto-VwOeqy6NLc_Ifw/s1600/CornellD10+15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKwodLF4fZtUibkwM6fvPq2EJnu3k5KRQfL5e2ozhUOdTalt03gs-aVayrHASfPfb28Zc0CSvP5lASvlXJNztbtwEkh97qd-Rf5OCmoLkHw880Uygxy6NBq0IKJeto-VwOeqy6NLc_Ifw/s320/CornellD10+15.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Armitage Road</i></div>
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Our final morning was spent at the Roy H. Park Preserve,
which was the most avian diverse location we birded. We saw 68 species, including Black-billed and Yellow-billed
Cuckoos (the former being my second and final lifer of the trip), Pileated
Woodpeckers, Field Sparrows, Alder Flycatchers, Chestnut-sided, Prairie,
Black-throated Green, and Blue-winged Warblers, Ovenbirds, Scarlet Tanagers,
and Barred Owls. It was a truly
memorable way to end my brief visit to New York. A couple of short hours later, I was saying good-bye to all
of my newly made friends (or old friends in a few cases). As I had the last flight out, I had a
few hours of hang time.
I occupied it by admiring some of <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 16px;">Vanya Rohwer's</span> brilliant bird nest photographs, which hopefully will be part of a book project someday<span style="font-style: normal;">. Upon viewing some of Vanya's incredible American Woodcock images, Chris Wood was seized
with more woodcock mania and Chris, Vanya, and I promptly departed to try our luck at a likely spot. In reality, we would be extremely lucky and fortunate if we happened to stumble across one. A mere handful of minutes later, we realized that I needed to be at the
airport. All of my flights home surprisingly went exactly as planned, and I considered myself extremely fortunate. Maybe it was all of the luck that
those woodcocks had withheld from me…</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDW2r7BWYBO7umnXWnrvmHNarpDgBkniqOxcZyZLB16oysA39rgt1AAul6TfN2rMxlx_ezdVC90vsujpl1DyHQGlF6BeCgKOaC9dJmkFM-avoezCQlkFWJL-HkeQLznGH4PEBUVAoyF10/s1600/CornellD10+16.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDW2r7BWYBO7umnXWnrvmHNarpDgBkniqOxcZyZLB16oysA39rgt1AAul6TfN2rMxlx_ezdVC90vsujpl1DyHQGlF6BeCgKOaC9dJmkFM-avoezCQlkFWJL-HkeQLznGH4PEBUVAoyF10/s320/CornellD10+16.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Roy H. Preserve Park</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzulpUs2w7eK9F5sMEZWTlr6pFsnjVvnBwReuvOcNtkxYNRQwVz7mshmRE-D2vnxmXFf3MW3dbTvLlAADQSF6t1pTfYR3ogrMvIrYBHTJUJ8-20O9pGXN3OwNWnx7xxdQysmP1crcPdMg/s1600/Cornell40D+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgzulpUs2w7eK9F5sMEZWTlr6pFsnjVvnBwReuvOcNtkxYNRQwVz7mshmRE-D2vnxmXFf3MW3dbTvLlAADQSF6t1pTfYR3ogrMvIrYBHTJUJ8-20O9pGXN3OwNWnx7xxdQysmP1crcPdMg/s320/Cornell40D+7.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Cedar Waxwing</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqx7gEspLd4UlHfQF1_OaluWCi6H6YNtdgk7ydApKDDT_ZAmmtBuiOs8se6dRKMNgJJOVI_jrZVnpaQ2pcgKYt2nw8SFJ_4ZXAB65RnoChJcZkByz2oq6m_E05KyAe58DrgvYsAB2Ht6k/s1600/Cornell40D+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="241" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqx7gEspLd4UlHfQF1_OaluWCi6H6YNtdgk7ydApKDDT_ZAmmtBuiOs8se6dRKMNgJJOVI_jrZVnpaQ2pcgKYt2nw8SFJ_4ZXAB65RnoChJcZkByz2oq6m_E05KyAe58DrgvYsAB2Ht6k/s320/Cornell40D+9.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Chestnut-sided Warbler</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwx_0EZQOavSslqcPjKvsbIBFm0ZRMxdHV6TaqtpU8S_tykrGQ8mtPpL4nOkNd5GJWCO2SptxQUa8J5n6FqS5wk85OiDnsuzHd0LEz8zZtlI2_SjTwTv9FljIBHBceizPTtkHg-NuFMbM/s1600/Cornell40D+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiwx_0EZQOavSslqcPjKvsbIBFm0ZRMxdHV6TaqtpU8S_tykrGQ8mtPpL4nOkNd5GJWCO2SptxQUa8J5n6FqS5wk85OiDnsuzHd0LEz8zZtlI2_SjTwTv9FljIBHBceizPTtkHg-NuFMbM/s320/Cornell40D+10.jpg" width="293" /></a></div>
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<i>This was about to be one unlucky Leaf-footed Bug (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-style: normal;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;">Acanthocephala terminalis</span> I believe)</span></i></span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWYsik7uIaIRZipRMJh-rzuqnHjQWKRC-EN6NLzGPBQh5wX1XfGXcs876Ziif6t4s2y1XBZgMqq_L0u98WJk-TdywbDzCRxKLqU0cWYVGu4Ta9nQS7vSJApLYiQLrcU4LvFuuULuw8Zw/s1600/Cornell40D+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKWYsik7uIaIRZipRMJh-rzuqnHjQWKRC-EN6NLzGPBQh5wX1XfGXcs876Ziif6t4s2y1XBZgMqq_L0u98WJk-TdywbDzCRxKLqU0cWYVGu4Ta9nQS7vSJApLYiQLrcU4LvFuuULuw8Zw/s320/Cornell40D+11.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Black-throated Green Warbler</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRfBCQxQMGMbY-ppnuiG34Ez68WgaLpyHxpkKSN0N2LyTncYZFG9PcVeNUtTnta-bVpBHBERr0S_hRIRNozaJWBhMrMO2WV2EyLFb8Np80UBRAECxU2h3j03TwBq32IQ2FL2NAl1d2ZM/s1600/Cornell40D+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibRfBCQxQMGMbY-ppnuiG34Ez68WgaLpyHxpkKSN0N2LyTncYZFG9PcVeNUtTnta-bVpBHBERr0S_hRIRNozaJWBhMrMO2WV2EyLFb8Np80UBRAECxU2h3j03TwBq32IQ2FL2NAl1d2ZM/s320/Cornell40D+12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Black-throated Green Warbler</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9XZC3QQ9c6feoeWHLkQRpuWmdkZyBjUWIxvDVNby2MoG9eVdYKgJOCvZTSzMjc5jOiuybzI_3z0uW3TlfXKLItTvqVeqlLhi21lXvLclHeSlLtLATcLgdA4VLIbC6stRkiQ6TjTKkOA/s1600/Cornell40D+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="285" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI9XZC3QQ9c6feoeWHLkQRpuWmdkZyBjUWIxvDVNby2MoG9eVdYKgJOCvZTSzMjc5jOiuybzI_3z0uW3TlfXKLItTvqVeqlLhi21lXvLclHeSlLtLATcLgdA4VLIbC6stRkiQ6TjTKkOA/s320/Cornell40D+13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Common Wood-Nymph</i></div>
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<i>Thanks to everybody at Cornell University who made this unique opportunity possible and to Zeiss Optics for its corporate sponsorship of the event. Special thanks to Chris Wood and Jessie Barry for their above and beyond efforts to accommodate my travel schedule and to Nate Senner for putting up with our late night antics.</i></div>Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-66041970217622404262012-07-13T16:38:00.000-06:002012-07-30T21:34:05.137-06:00California Wanderings, Part 7: Lake Tahoe<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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The next day (June 19) was effectively a travel day from Petaluma to our Such family
reunion in North Lake Tahoe. The day's travels took us through California's famed wine-country, the Central Valley, and on up into the Sierra Nevada. We only made a single birding stop along the four-hour drive, and that
was at the Davis Wetlands just north of Davis. A large network of marshland, our time at this great
location was cut short by the entrance gate closing promptly at 1:00 PM. But in the 35 minutes we did have, we
managed to rack up 37 species, including 9 new species for the trip (Swainson’s
Hawk, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Cattle Egret, White-faced Ibis, Cinnamon Teal,
American Bittern, Ring-necked Pheasant, Black-necked Stilt, and Wilson’s
Phalarope).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZIPCfB1bDUmrFOCf1PeN9s6ZenPQ4k_SHMGLqyXm1kA2KCb2sZW5g96epPOvoiGDww5OUhYhRipl5tzMO-_OV2-TRBUXgKzUsNHwLgfxvKByczH9AC80HEV9xtV0lSMXnGwcD-13enY/s1600/tahoe+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="166" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZZIPCfB1bDUmrFOCf1PeN9s6ZenPQ4k_SHMGLqyXm1kA2KCb2sZW5g96epPOvoiGDww5OUhYhRipl5tzMO-_OV2-TRBUXgKzUsNHwLgfxvKByczH9AC80HEV9xtV0lSMXnGwcD-13enY/s320/tahoe+1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Davis Wetlands - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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Though our time in Lake Tahoe was focused on family, our
daily runs and the occasional hike got us out birding. The home we stayed at was situated in a mature forest of sugar pine, ponderosa pine, and incense cedar, which hosted many of the typical California mountain species, such as Fox Sparrow,
Mountain Chickadee, White-headed Woodpecker, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Western
Tanager, Steller’s Jay, Evening Grosbeak, Dusky Flycatcher, Band-tailed Pigeon,
“Audubon’s” Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Vaux’s Swift. A quick two-mile hike to Emerald Bay State Park on the east
shore was also productive (though we were without any optical assistance). On another short, pleasant hike along
the Truckee River we found Red Crossbill, Hermit Warbler, Red-breasted
Sapsucker, Townsend’s Solitaire, and Brown Creeper.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxPdnRsJ0aOeR-XY7b9prd91kTEjh8RasC9W6kfdQqeAGtOkY8Eo7rt74H_FMAZs3nj6vzJs8jxTD1YU2YTTPmI4kELtzbJlv0YDdzzNnvh7fLTnMVVfeGHoKc-m-AzqndE9sXbe44OM/s1600/tahoe+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="198" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAxPdnRsJ0aOeR-XY7b9prd91kTEjh8RasC9W6kfdQqeAGtOkY8Eo7rt74H_FMAZs3nj6vzJs8jxTD1YU2YTTPmI4kELtzbJlv0YDdzzNnvh7fLTnMVVfeGHoKc-m-AzqndE9sXbe44OM/s320/tahoe+2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Soccer with the Family - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4SVizacVbgHVmb5KPqeDBVOje-V7mX0InnqT2tF-bQzfJ0LfDwga08BtamxJAHvenLIbwu2eCe1kHlxbCOp76g_7CtqRxcFjORhjAqXLL982sbqUqYs12Fsk0c6z2wKan8ofMD1WtVE/s1600/tahoej.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir4SVizacVbgHVmb5KPqeDBVOje-V7mX0InnqT2tF-bQzfJ0LfDwga08BtamxJAHvenLIbwu2eCe1kHlxbCOp76g_7CtqRxcFjORhjAqXLL982sbqUqYs12Fsk0c6z2wKan8ofMD1WtVE/s320/tahoej.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Mountain Chickadee carrying food to a nest cavity a mere foot off the ground. - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEbBhmFZWLuHhh_Nrz-jJGKBeayMHaHCsiqekD74CHoxOjAzumNh8i_XdJvtoSLpzugsAU2uVxcJqLQl9vJfhcTqAEaEwpXcAxxbJ5DhbJnTjX8PK_ckcOx_Y8U7htYaLGQv9yDAM8mo/s1600/tahoem.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmEbBhmFZWLuHhh_Nrz-jJGKBeayMHaHCsiqekD74CHoxOjAzumNh8i_XdJvtoSLpzugsAU2uVxcJqLQl9vJfhcTqAEaEwpXcAxxbJ5DhbJnTjX8PK_ckcOx_Y8U7htYaLGQv9yDAM8mo/s320/tahoem.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Hermit Warbler - by Marcel Such</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwsqExA0blACwatOSAtCGrb24nmM9FAbkkKnlqu11K65zqlADq0bYpCf0gIie99UUkATii6ehlM2q5GhbZklbusOfx8U-JSmrc_rlYRDgP8398JOMsx5Wjhy5S_F5mdiWlhgT2U6WY0k/s1600/tahoej+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiEwsqExA0blACwatOSAtCGrb24nmM9FAbkkKnlqu11K65zqlADq0bYpCf0gIie99UUkATii6ehlM2q5GhbZklbusOfx8U-JSmrc_rlYRDgP8398JOMsx5Wjhy5S_F5mdiWlhgT2U6WY0k/s320/tahoej+(1).jpg" width="316" /></a></div>
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<i>Fox Sparrow - by Joel Such</i></div>
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On departure day (June 22), we got up at 4:15 AM to watch the 5 AM start
of the Western States 100 mile Endurance Race at the Squaw Valley Ski Resort
and Olympic Training facility (Nearly 15 hours later, the winner would cross the
finish line, smashing the old course record by more than 20 minutes.). With it raining and being so early in
the morning, not very many birds were out, but we did pick up our first
Hammond’s Flycatcher of the trip.
Just down the highway on Alpine Meadows Road, the birding was decent,
and we saw MacGillivray’s Warbler and Lincoln’s Sparrow, both of which were new
for the trip. We then began our journey south towards our next destination, Mono Lake and Yosemite, making few stops. Car birding through El Dorado and Alpine Counties was still good though,
as we saw Northern Rough-winged Swallows and Brewer’s Sparrows, and more Red
Crossbills and MacGillivray’s Warblers.</div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrmAgbQcvZ4mIHRTZeqBfzpUd86IojvSsV_1CgnRttejYAgL3wJFG79T91mZGhS29CStr0My0qcigfJuk57S0mE5ROLVYuQOa0yggf-TNtP85L-76UXaSDFI6E90o0y4yEQwRTdxRl3g/s1600/tahoeco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmrmAgbQcvZ4mIHRTZeqBfzpUd86IojvSsV_1CgnRttejYAgL3wJFG79T91mZGhS29CStr0My0qcigfJuk57S0mE5ROLVYuQOa0yggf-TNtP85L-76UXaSDFI6E90o0y4yEQwRTdxRl3g/s320/tahoeco.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Alpine County View - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>Next blog post will be on Mono Lake!</i></div>Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-59256101576871045042012-07-12T12:56:00.001-06:002012-07-30T21:37:16.904-06:00California Wanderings, Part 6: Point Reyes<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
A Mecca for birders across the planet, world-famous Point
Reyes National Seashore is one of the most avian diverse places in North
America with an incredible 490 species recorded. This can no doubt be attributed to its being located right
in the middle of the Pacific flyway, and the exceptional habitat diversity that
can be found in the area. From
Douglas-fir, to Bishop Pine, to native grassland, to cattail marsh, to beach,
and finally to open ocean, this 71,028 acre preserve certainly merits more than
the one day of exploration we allotted.</div>
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Our day on the point (June 18) started at the Bear Valley Visitor
Center, where we did a short two-mile hike through the adjacent Douglas-fir
forest before the visitor center opened. The area was alive with 37 species, with representatives from
both meadow and forest habitats. The nearby Great Blue Heron rookery was
audibly apparent, and clutches of newborn families of California Quail scurried
across the trail. A flyover
White-tailed Kite was our only one of the entire trip. Other species that we saw include
Wrentit, Swainson’s Thrush, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Kinglet,
Pacific Wren, Allen’s Hummingbird, Western Bluebird, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, and
Osprey.<br />
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<i>Joel making some audio recordings - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>Birding the Woodpecker Trail - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>California Quail - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Fledgling Great Blue Heron - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Great Blue Heron Nest with Young - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Chipping Sparrow - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>Western Bluebird - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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On the drive to Limantour Beach, we found multiple Band-tailed
Pigeons and Olive-sided Flycatchers.
At Limantour, the White-crowned Sparrows were singing their heads off
and a lone Northern Harrier patrolled the marsh, where multiple Common
Yellowthroats were calling. A lone
Savannah Sparrow of an odd California subspecies caused some confusion, but we
finally figured out what it was.
Many Great Egrets and American White Pelicans roosted and hunted in the
brackish backwaters of Estero de Limantour. The surf birding on the beach was excellent, with numerous
Surf Scoters right off shore, and two Red-throated Loons.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<i>"Nuttall's" White-crowned Sparrow - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Spotted Towhee - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>Savannah Sparrow - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>Surf Scoter - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Surf Scoter - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Red-throated Loons - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>Isabella Tiger Moth - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>Birding Limantour - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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Five Brooks, a riparian area with a small, mucky pond
surrounded by Douglas-fir, was another worthy stop. Here we saw our first Wood Ducks and Pileated Woodpecker of
the trip, as well as Allen’s Hummingbirds, California Towhee, Swainson’s
Thrush, Wilson’s and Orange-crowned Warbler, Osprey, and Great Egret. A brief visit to Palomarin on the
extreme south end of the park, home of the Point Reyes Bird Observatory’s
banding station, produced most of the usual suspects. Though it was a non-banding day, one of PRBO’s interns
generously spent some time with us discussing their work and showing us around.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbV6gPrkKZHWdfJTklW9Eho0i6W5LHpFAUPZZJWb0DgsQjNaaZfN5WeE8wkq-tZVN42d3feV8MWMip_mQUYMIxB1MnUZ2quFHqnJ3K3mCYhqF1Ulgpuc5XQ5A3TMVylAlr1ap3MoKg_Y/s1600/PRj+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjbV6gPrkKZHWdfJTklW9Eho0i6W5LHpFAUPZZJWb0DgsQjNaaZfN5WeE8wkq-tZVN42d3feV8MWMip_mQUYMIxB1MnUZ2quFHqnJ3K3mCYhqF1Ulgpuc5XQ5A3TMVylAlr1ap3MoKg_Y/s320/PRj+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Anna's Hummingbird - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6863azKbWaQA3KQFGTLpyqR-mqeSfIQiy9wTqI-dYPED8nq_WpCK-Qpn5iMJJVIwmJ-fm80F7-Vcg2AA4A_DRuisZuy9J0C9BS9xpv-YqRoEdD5hRIznl0qHwCvSHwnRVCUWcz0SH_8/s1600/PRm+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO6863azKbWaQA3KQFGTLpyqR-mqeSfIQiy9wTqI-dYPED8nq_WpCK-Qpn5iMJJVIwmJ-fm80F7-Vcg2AA4A_DRuisZuy9J0C9BS9xpv-YqRoEdD5hRIznl0qHwCvSHwnRVCUWcz0SH_8/s320/PRm+6.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Gray Fox - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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Making the hour-long trek back out to the extreme tip of
Point Reyes, we managed to make it to the Point Reyes Lighthouse just before it
closed for the day. Rewarding us
for the descent of the multiple hundreds of extremely steep steps down to the
lighthouse, rafts of Pigeon Guillemots in the hundreds, Common Murres, and
distant spouting Gray Whales could be seen in the ocean below. I even thought I may have seen a
handful of Tufted Puffins, but unfortunately I had to leave them
unidentified. Our first Rock Wren
of the trip was seen creeping around on the cliffs back up at the top of the
seemingly endless stairs, and we watched the spouting of a pod of Gray Whales
off in the distance. Off to the
north, as far as the eye could see, there are miles of unspoiled and un-peopled
beach, and though it seemed to call our names for a barefoot long run, we were
told it was prone to unpredictable and deadly sneaker waves. Factoring those waves into the
equation, we returned to the more protected Limantour Beach for an eight-mile
evening barefoot run in the sand, a perfect end to our day.<br />
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<i>Point Reyes Lighthouse - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>The Stairs - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>Birding from the Lighhouse - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>A Raft of Common Murres - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>Point Reyes Beach - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>Another post is soon to come!</i></div>
</div>Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-30799440571740826962012-07-11T12:58:00.000-06:002012-07-30T21:47:12.464-06:00California Wanderings, Part 5: Monterey to San Francisco<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Our tour of the bay area started at Point Lobos on the
southern end on June 16. How far north we
have traveled is quickly apparent, with White-throated Swifts swooping overhead
and Pygmy Nuthatches peeping from the trees. As background noise for the incredibly beautiful scenery,
White-crowned and Song Sparrows, Spotted Towhees, Dark-eyed Juncos, Bushtits,
and Western Gulls added their calls to the roar of the surf breaking upon the
cliffs.<br />
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<i>Point Lobos - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>Point Lobos - by David Such</i></div>
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<i>Stunted Tree on Point Lobos - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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Before dark, we drove the Pebble Beach 17-Mile Drive. Despite traveling solely along the
road, the bird life along this stretch of coast was excellent. In the evergreen forests leading down
to the ocean, Oregon Juncos, Pygmy Nuthatches, Steller’s Jays, Brown Creepers,
and Spotted Towhees called, along with a flyover Sharp-shinned Hawk. Along the ocean, the usual suspects
were easily perceptible. A single
Black-bellied Plover on the beach added to the excitement. The Bird and Seal
Rocks were incredible to see with their many thousands of nesting Brandt’s
Cormorants and Western Gulls, who share their piece of real estate with Harbor
Seals and California Sea Lions.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<o:p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnc7_oMQC-9QH4McnK0o2MWWXENorWRewiOJFw8_eQWwlx3y1nxdLw-Hl7q6XvfHSFKDBqEUZQUqprd6qBe34yF6sUMVBIbTEVo9MOTSFrUGlTUq7L5m9LaIoI9_MarEG6M0emJmuPASo/s1600/monterey+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjnc7_oMQC-9QH4McnK0o2MWWXENorWRewiOJFw8_eQWwlx3y1nxdLw-Hl7q6XvfHSFKDBqEUZQUqprd6qBe34yF6sUMVBIbTEVo9MOTSFrUGlTUq7L5m9LaIoI9_MarEG6M0emJmuPASo/s320/monterey+(3).jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></o:p></div>
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<i>Birding Pebble Beach - by David Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsv_DscqcFDKMCU2OwDTf2pWnbkQ8jgtVfCALGhj9TFvxvXxlqxwsbHTVMqsET0QkPOBrGjVKqWXc3mQLBxUop4ZzGaqJF_7y4ZxNlwElasPlQb4VCwdfKhM2G7krgj6ISveTyUofx1o/s1600/monterey+(4).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAsv_DscqcFDKMCU2OwDTf2pWnbkQ8jgtVfCALGhj9TFvxvXxlqxwsbHTVMqsET0QkPOBrGjVKqWXc3mQLBxUop4ZzGaqJF_7y4ZxNlwElasPlQb4VCwdfKhM2G7krgj6ISveTyUofx1o/s320/monterey+(4).jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Bird Rock - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6TEIYySSpcMdyILwaE7MT3GgYit66qL5LlyRLnAJw_f64LLqc9k3BwUv6UzbHuDhk0wY9MKLNYO3NA_yqdGBi7Lrs4OFqzAZBqTVorlZrgUX3iDBq8H8BGW0chsghTYy7ILV1bHygq0/s1600/monterey+(5).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-6TEIYySSpcMdyILwaE7MT3GgYit66qL5LlyRLnAJw_f64LLqc9k3BwUv6UzbHuDhk0wY9MKLNYO3NA_yqdGBi7Lrs4OFqzAZBqTVorlZrgUX3iDBq8H8BGW0chsghTYy7ILV1bHygq0/s320/monterey+(5).jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>"The Lone Cypress" - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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The next day (June 17), we started out with some early birding at
Fisherman’s Wharf and the Monterey Bay Aquarium site in hopes of some
sea-watching due to the close proximity of the continental shelf along this
stretch of shoreline. With the low
visibility and lack of a scope, we didn’t see much at all, but the many Pigeon
Guillemots and sea lions right under the wharf were great to see. At the aquarium, nesting guillemots and
Pelagic and Brandt’s Cormorants were the subject of our lenses, until the fog
completely enveloped us and made it too dark to get any decent shots.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfc8sIO1lE18TMcb3jjXEvhwNkSCM1AYHGgmsBOlK-NpHKd5D1-3hSyHwpu9T_Hkix6YjOQNjtDu_-3dWq64tPrrTiE4x-YhJ-8uegs6X5SrmHXo7chw8g9FtAuFU5l6AUf5CraLGJso/s1600/MSFj+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilfc8sIO1lE18TMcb3jjXEvhwNkSCM1AYHGgmsBOlK-NpHKd5D1-3hSyHwpu9T_Hkix6YjOQNjtDu_-3dWq64tPrrTiE4x-YhJ-8uegs6X5SrmHXo7chw8g9FtAuFU5l6AUf5CraLGJso/s320/MSFj+1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Pigeon Guillemot - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpiQFHjSnUyLVCeV_1kbh_3VcVsmLe0xN428zjV-SIvvnwLy6ICDVhZZcVTITZVBML3R39ZPwnHZ25ZB0qKu5CPy8SXDc_5Mu0loLTq1TanSoDTZQ1R3TeaDFmAB35w5eBWnV6vC-s1Q/s1600/MSFj+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="250" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbpiQFHjSnUyLVCeV_1kbh_3VcVsmLe0xN428zjV-SIvvnwLy6ICDVhZZcVTITZVBML3R39ZPwnHZ25ZB0qKu5CPy8SXDc_5Mu0loLTq1TanSoDTZQ1R3TeaDFmAB35w5eBWnV6vC-s1Q/s320/MSFj+2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>California Sea Lions - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsqMxoJ20K-Ish2txNhdY8uUlO9A3GR9OSCtxmgHOj9_VHdCxJ0Zujw5bqwRrD_PkofwpuYQaSAjXl5nYklIXoV9C9_lkPcU6hkyLAW9ASBgVsRUdwx9vD9IhUBZa4sPlwvAV9vbJdok/s1600/MSFj+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivsqMxoJ20K-Ish2txNhdY8uUlO9A3GR9OSCtxmgHOj9_VHdCxJ0Zujw5bqwRrD_PkofwpuYQaSAjXl5nYklIXoV9C9_lkPcU6hkyLAW9ASBgVsRUdwx9vD9IhUBZa4sPlwvAV9vbJdok/s320/MSFj+3.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Adult Western Gull - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcx4buA3sjY_ssjEBwHWgyi5ZfH62p-rywkiPSpJ5rGgCsZWgwcTLyfi7ygRfbJyrkxGOmmNfluDXJat_wfnjAdRZkbZPIsdBvEjjq_Cpm-Tb6BhZyHElHvLyS-73VSneU6O_iJP2xMu0/s1600/MSFj+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjcx4buA3sjY_ssjEBwHWgyi5ZfH62p-rywkiPSpJ5rGgCsZWgwcTLyfi7ygRfbJyrkxGOmmNfluDXJat_wfnjAdRZkbZPIsdBvEjjq_Cpm-Tb6BhZyHElHvLyS-73VSneU6O_iJP2xMu0/s320/MSFj+4.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Immature Western Gull - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidh89fkI1t1mABzKC5zXFCr-eT-iMnqk2xN6Je_odz8Rya7MBpPdLhmYB-Fc-m5XwY-EsMcTgBny7AkzS6x1W0RPpyP1VR2nsOolziuEX_QgU4-KCz-i0tlh821EgGlau8KQuFAZyrAsk/s1600/MSFm+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidh89fkI1t1mABzKC5zXFCr-eT-iMnqk2xN6Je_odz8Rya7MBpPdLhmYB-Fc-m5XwY-EsMcTgBny7AkzS6x1W0RPpyP1VR2nsOolziuEX_QgU4-KCz-i0tlh821EgGlau8KQuFAZyrAsk/s320/MSFm+1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Immature Pelagic Cormorant (I think) - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTepVDSp-HaVyaUiHVbCkguPAI_bX74hFZBgBLEtTuiAozdZ4elLwqv5V_HM_H6MjoH3VT8Erz57J20uFjD8VhW-ApN2h9RUZlgasxLX-KLiryeqjDITZzHkb4ZJczuTB4YVKYNp78Cc/s1600/MSFj+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgXTepVDSp-HaVyaUiHVbCkguPAI_bX74hFZBgBLEtTuiAozdZ4elLwqv5V_HM_H6MjoH3VT8Erz57J20uFjD8VhW-ApN2h9RUZlgasxLX-KLiryeqjDITZzHkb4ZJczuTB4YVKYNp78Cc/s320/MSFj+6.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Pelagic Cormorant - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkY_VCDUxdWq2F2Wz3gIQioEi9CF7O-TBOLP3hi3M33fy4ezFRORO8x7LyAVYyWOhIPgiwOdud4E8MVyArqbjCh2M1_4id29s0VSfm68MAXRIhEJ2JwahGHFS7XUknw1HFVyakdjpa3Lw/s1600/MSFj+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkY_VCDUxdWq2F2Wz3gIQioEi9CF7O-TBOLP3hi3M33fy4ezFRORO8x7LyAVYyWOhIPgiwOdud4E8MVyArqbjCh2M1_4id29s0VSfm68MAXRIhEJ2JwahGHFS7XUknw1HFVyakdjpa3Lw/s320/MSFj+7.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Pigeon Guillemot - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQA-iJtfSIOH5K_-P2tuZxub1zba-_KFs4O-4Ar0FPs0Er8vgGLtLau1xf7Z61EPCaGujJpo6_4ftbqB4h-K_E7BF84fl60-TYs4jEMmJmSCCC4gVB6KILyKYj0YmIZwMEz9DpXcpzOQ/s1600/MSFj+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDQA-iJtfSIOH5K_-P2tuZxub1zba-_KFs4O-4Ar0FPs0Er8vgGLtLau1xf7Z61EPCaGujJpo6_4ftbqB4h-K_E7BF84fl60-TYs4jEMmJmSCCC4gVB6KILyKYj0YmIZwMEz9DpXcpzOQ/s320/MSFj+9.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="262" /></a></div>
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<i>Pelagic Cormorants, adult and chick - by Joel Such</i> </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhen8vXhG3586_xuEnsh_TfSMjHr5EdhnCwE2_7l6orfeVidYszcgLux995jYbnk9RXq0I7SMbFqXiFoLh9BsNoOpB3NhBlWUCKb1n8OKRp0yDjB-rVJkeHV1nV-mPWZoG6VQ_UJ0r4vjs/s1600/MSFj+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhen8vXhG3586_xuEnsh_TfSMjHr5EdhnCwE2_7l6orfeVidYszcgLux995jYbnk9RXq0I7SMbFqXiFoLh9BsNoOpB3NhBlWUCKb1n8OKRp0yDjB-rVJkeHV1nV-mPWZoG6VQ_UJ0r4vjs/s320/MSFj+8.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Harbor Seal - by Joel Such</i></div>
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An unplanned stop at the Big Basin Redwoods State Park in
Santa Cruz County was perhaps one of the best accidents we had on the
trip. What was originally going to
be a brief afternoon stop quickly turned into a nearly three-hour stay with a
five-mile hike. We tallied 44
species, with our first Hairy Woodpeckers, Olive-sided Flycatchers, Band-tailed
Pigeons, Golden-crowned Kinglets, and Pacific Wrens of the trip. Other abundant species include
Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Swainson’s Thrush, Wrentit, Orange-crowned and
Wilson’s Warblers, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Purple Finch.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3YRE5G8Sp8SrNiFuuzs7PgvmP3PCI4Rw3W6xLQNEvUK-2PhzmRR1FopaGbhGO3PDYmaV0l6vK7nQ4z1w3DhYO9aoFKutGEopNVRdt74pUI-eZ9Qp4Fuw8qqaPcQ7njv1qrT1wBXH374/s1600/monterey+(11).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH3YRE5G8Sp8SrNiFuuzs7PgvmP3PCI4Rw3W6xLQNEvUK-2PhzmRR1FopaGbhGO3PDYmaV0l6vK7nQ4z1w3DhYO9aoFKutGEopNVRdt74pUI-eZ9Qp4Fuw8qqaPcQ7njv1qrT1wBXH374/s320/monterey+(11).jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Big Basin Redwoods State Park - by David Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNgIX-e_7nyvCr6ONpQyftUy_sahnUAka9SCLXnd-A4xtjXLtgjo0zqtDNepLt1cx3rrK8XeOW6fIMZ8mKU-m49FyhqZwX8oxo4HSFJNSCQEQbKQrBP2Q7QhWjJiStkKySG61isLEDRA/s1600/monterey+(12).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEirNgIX-e_7nyvCr6ONpQyftUy_sahnUAka9SCLXnd-A4xtjXLtgjo0zqtDNepLt1cx3rrK8XeOW6fIMZ8mKU-m49FyhqZwX8oxo4HSFJNSCQEQbKQrBP2Q7QhWjJiStkKySG61isLEDRA/s320/monterey+(12).jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
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<i>Birding the Coastal Redwoods - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7BHsq_4P8CC6vKyV1HNuweK1wZCaMH-FMlwGWtIMO5I6YHaoxx_dbunOb9S5qWpKygn-T8bkK86n5_JqZqDVcstX0uUDCQjhB521A_5Gl0iLiVSYZfHTkQ5-U4Ay_CUg2N5404g8URs/s1600/MSFj+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjs7BHsq_4P8CC6vKyV1HNuweK1wZCaMH-FMlwGWtIMO5I6YHaoxx_dbunOb9S5qWpKygn-T8bkK86n5_JqZqDVcstX0uUDCQjhB521A_5Gl0iLiVSYZfHTkQ5-U4Ay_CUg2N5404g8URs/s320/MSFj+10.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Wrentit - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Chestnut-backed Chickadee - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>Band-tailed Pigeon - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Band-tailed Pigeon - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Western Scrub-Jay - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>Western Scrub-Jay - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Green Comma - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Northern Checkerspot - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>Foxglove - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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Completing our drive to San Francisco (we were spending the
night just north of town), we drove through Golden Gate Park and hiked the 456
stairs up to Telegraph Hill and the Coit Tower. We didn’t see any birds beyond the normal coastal and urban
species in the extreme fog (we couldn’t even see the top of the Golden Gate
Bridge when we drove through it!), but we did find a raccoon rummaging under
the steps leading up Telegraph Hill.
The famous feral parrot flock was nowhere to be seen, but I think we may
have been there just a little too early in the evening.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Golden Gate Park - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>Climbing the Stairs to Telegraph Hill - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>Coit Tower - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>Golden Gate Bridge in the Fog - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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--<o:p></o:p></div>
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Part 6 is forthcoming!</div>Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-52323519190113235942012-07-10T18:21:00.001-06:002012-07-30T21:46:02.577-06:00California Wanderings, Part 4: San Luis ObispoOn June 16, we birded the border region between Santa Barbara
County and San Luis Obispo County (SLOCo). The Guadalupe Dunes County Park was our first morning
destination. With the combination
of beach, dunes, willow thickets, mudflat, and chaparral, the birding was
excellent. We finally managed to
pick a California Thrasher out of the coastal Chap, our first lifer of the
day. Other highlights for the
location include American Avocets, American White Pelicans, and a federally
endangered Western Snowy Plover.<br />
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<i>California Thrasher - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>California Thrasher - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx0eo8zlQArPcMjz5fxdmw8iEqAlOFi8rjhI2TJgQOtE1xS_yiVznSrX1ngfe19WM5quQP1NlF86-xB2Cg1fjyIQjMjCjCRKGmcnagb4nAcJ43sBMuSvvq5IJ4b88tWgKHX8cgdH7gMY/s1600/SLOj+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgMx0eo8zlQArPcMjz5fxdmw8iEqAlOFi8rjhI2TJgQOtE1xS_yiVznSrX1ngfe19WM5quQP1NlF86-xB2Cg1fjyIQjMjCjCRKGmcnagb4nAcJ43sBMuSvvq5IJ4b88tWgKHX8cgdH7gMY/s320/SLOj+2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Snowy Plover - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Horned Lark - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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Just up the road was the Guadalupe Waste Water
Treatment. Though it was closed, a
public view of a nearby feedlot was more than enough to keep us occupied. Though primarily dominated by House
Sparrows, European Startlings, Brewer’s Blackbirds, and Red-winged Blackbirds,
the dozen or so Tricolored Blackbirds couldn’t be missed, with the obvious
white patches accompanying the red (the Red-wings have yellow and red). The Tricolors are yet another California
specialty, and one we were very glad to see.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIB6VLl3n-18pTV65mbz-TEdTqHSJUdqb8rJghBv4iGDfLd-R8aeS9GfpTl9Kdtv4I_3dcnd_p2fATka4FkEznkYjK_1G1E4PXp_cKnN4T0wqemg62_TRY5jXkoA9SZJ5fLQlsZUBkME/s1600/SLOj+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTIB6VLl3n-18pTV65mbz-TEdTqHSJUdqb8rJghBv4iGDfLd-R8aeS9GfpTl9Kdtv4I_3dcnd_p2fATka4FkEznkYjK_1G1E4PXp_cKnN4T0wqemg62_TRY5jXkoA9SZJ5fLQlsZUBkME/s320/SLOj+4.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Tricolored Blackbirds - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Juvenile Cliff Swallow - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgozsQAHYx1VpVmzTVFOrywOdz2OiTqYLelO50DwHT7hx0HMZtgWDjkKvY7Kb40vYgeZ0S5ZdumWOmbQPmMHcxQKkBQkjTOLQNWTE4MP-FmMdQZW-nNdzPbmW5C5siQAGJYeKjKbllP8/s1600/SLOj+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhQgozsQAHYx1VpVmzTVFOrywOdz2OiTqYLelO50DwHT7hx0HMZtgWDjkKvY7Kb40vYgeZ0S5ZdumWOmbQPmMHcxQKkBQkjTOLQNWTE4MP-FmMdQZW-nNdzPbmW5C5siQAGJYeKjKbllP8/s320/SLOj+6.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Adult Cliff Swallow - by Joel Such</i></div>
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Oso Flaco Lake (Skinny Bear in English) had some of the best
species diversity of the trip, where we saw 45 species in just over two
hours. The trail starts off
through a corridor of lush deciduous trees and undergrowth with calling Song
Sparrows, Yellow and Wilson’s Warblers, Swainson’s Thrushes, Bewick’s Wren,
Chestnut-backed Chickadees, and Bushtits.
After a quarter of a mile, you are on a boardwalk over the weedy lake
lined with cattail marsh. While
Marsh Wrens and Common Yellowthroats chattered away in the reeds, Mallards,
Gadwall, Ruddy Ducks, Pied-billed Grebes, and Double-crested Cormorants swam
under the trail, and Barn and Tree Swallows swooped overhead with a single
Least Tern.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECxVIvEdkuS_n6qh-Nyg5Iarb2Dq6XtIfQbk2IEhry7jyoV_UdsHda-iMSe3d-fP-5dw9jrWY5B5TisrvjSkgeZK8Oce6VokPerQ2VSzkUZ4KkaPWj8OuwdPLupZedJKO_ETDc3ztSB8/s1600/SLOm+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="219" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjECxVIvEdkuS_n6qh-Nyg5Iarb2Dq6XtIfQbk2IEhry7jyoV_UdsHda-iMSe3d-fP-5dw9jrWY5B5TisrvjSkgeZK8Oce6VokPerQ2VSzkUZ4KkaPWj8OuwdPLupZedJKO_ETDc3ztSB8/s320/SLOm+3.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Bewick's Wren - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijH4aA1ni2NTWjSrdhSEw-bjJqohcCfx0D3TpFi_oezGChxSEx7738R-mYEgJKG-F1uT5sJyz34-AYiN1OKSvou916Vxf0skUGXeoE3SYJcw5LocC27NG9BmqDaKpC4fAK_TvppdUlAZM/s1600/SLOm+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="243" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijH4aA1ni2NTWjSrdhSEw-bjJqohcCfx0D3TpFi_oezGChxSEx7738R-mYEgJKG-F1uT5sJyz34-AYiN1OKSvou916Vxf0skUGXeoE3SYJcw5LocC27NG9BmqDaKpC4fAK_TvppdUlAZM/s320/SLOm+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Brush Rabbit - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>Oso Flaco Lake - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>Least Tern - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>American Coot - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Ruddy Duck - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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Beautiful flowing coastal chaparral greeted us on the far
side of the lake, with numerous California Thrashers, Wrentits, and
White-crowned Sparrows calling from their midst, along with many unidentified
lizards and butterflies. To
complete the many habitats we traversed in this diverse area, the coastal dunes
and the beach were the final areas we birded. Brown Pelicans, Heermann’s, Western, and Ring-billed Gulls
patrolled the surf, and up into the dunes Horned Larks, another Snowy Plover,
and a few Western Willets stood guard.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>Western Fence Lizard - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5Vnhh9hxhigiRJAnYoHQe-bjc4kvLgrd6dReKQgkKHw4nkRXOSH7uVyx3Y-37qjvz095XDcJqeEBhAQ5yyCUeiZXCFlNvRV95UMUKLdcyMPwichDiUm5CayOC89_DzagD1Hgx5AYpgU/s1600/cali+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEir5Vnhh9hxhigiRJAnYoHQe-bjc4kvLgrd6dReKQgkKHw4nkRXOSH7uVyx3Y-37qjvz095XDcJqeEBhAQ5yyCUeiZXCFlNvRV95UMUKLdcyMPwichDiUm5CayOC89_DzagD1Hgx5AYpgU/s320/cali+2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Dunes - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-wHZNOXYECo_Jo_A-8wzzD6EuKc3pWSSB5jj6BKT0VhjK-e4VsBI5ZFMrwO6wIH9FBqX2ds36Wdb8wIAapTtpTdKmu3LyzEQKsqk9o_huOPs7UmQvuGN3mRgfZ33cqlMcVrV1yCSc3s/s1600/SLOj+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjU-wHZNOXYECo_Jo_A-8wzzD6EuKc3pWSSB5jj6BKT0VhjK-e4VsBI5ZFMrwO6wIH9FBqX2ds36Wdb8wIAapTtpTdKmu3LyzEQKsqk9o_huOPs7UmQvuGN3mRgfZ33cqlMcVrV1yCSc3s/s320/SLOj+13.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Aberrant Heermann's Gull (they typically don't have that white patch in the wing) - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CNof-_ShjXYNDO6Sdqi4eFWyUQ1Am997SCyBQvFkHy8NN1Zo4TWvgCIfG3t8NfZyl5q1nkabUOpsCArxFX_j23FtUil8knOyImt0iMG6vJieIUvJZvi9kb09lQrTLP-RqAS7W0Uo5_w/s1600/calid.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5CNof-_ShjXYNDO6Sdqi4eFWyUQ1Am997SCyBQvFkHy8NN1Zo4TWvgCIfG3t8NfZyl5q1nkabUOpsCArxFX_j23FtUil8knOyImt0iMG6vJieIUvJZvi9kb09lQrTLP-RqAS7W0Uo5_w/s320/calid.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Birding the Beach - by David Such</i></div>
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We continued our drive up the extremely scenic Highway 1 to
Monterey. We made few stops, as we
were trying to get up to the Bay Area before dark, but we still saw a few
birds. Just north of Morro Bay, we
stopped to view the Northern Elephant Seals that drag their humungous, blubbery
bodies up onto the beach, and stay put for weeks while they molt their thick
fur. Another brief stop on the
Salmon Creek Trail over the line into Monterey County was enough to get us our
first coastal Steller’s Jays, and car birding also produced a magnificent
Peregrine Falcon careening over the cliffs near Big Sur.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWDff0a9T8ZpLY9QTWhyphenhyphenMl02ucaGeRpWxiyimfQ_DI0qPicqUBi73t49vtAH12wKuyqh-fRG0HNrRYZFikzreFJ_rUw5ZIcdEn2KVeAx_avW7DAHyT_-TPXJzR2HlnljujLAeoMXX8BY/s1600/cali+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbWDff0a9T8ZpLY9QTWhyphenhyphenMl02ucaGeRpWxiyimfQ_DI0qPicqUBi73t49vtAH12wKuyqh-fRG0HNrRYZFikzreFJ_rUw5ZIcdEn2KVeAx_avW7DAHyT_-TPXJzR2HlnljujLAeoMXX8BY/s320/cali+3.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Elephant Seals in the distance - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>Northern Elephant Seals - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOI7NiWgcmJ4vEaH1Vj_78rAH4PZe6fI9w_qBn3_miNJi7r8JBpU1I3Z30r7z_Q_seglLC2kgGBYnqFXRpiVlcj475va6diEIJ777DnKPsuXKhu3qNsPGpvDff_jnO9juPMa0kNZ2mTc/s1600/SLOj+19.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoOI7NiWgcmJ4vEaH1Vj_78rAH4PZe6fI9w_qBn3_miNJi7r8JBpU1I3Z30r7z_Q_seglLC2kgGBYnqFXRpiVlcj475va6diEIJ777DnKPsuXKhu3qNsPGpvDff_jnO9juPMa0kNZ2mTc/s320/SLOj+19.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJELglkfT0QJ5Xdc-d0WUEF_sB_qjE0xyacSej-OPhJZgC1vQGd33RffaogzNYIsg8Kch7lNTedfQyJHl76ikP6z_Xsr96hSZxShCeY1RNEo5uGjEwwPJZNSPA2fQICd-kZa8W4c4Jups/s1600/SLOj+22.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJELglkfT0QJ5Xdc-d0WUEF_sB_qjE0xyacSej-OPhJZgC1vQGd33RffaogzNYIsg8Kch7lNTedfQyJHl76ikP6z_Xsr96hSZxShCeY1RNEo5uGjEwwPJZNSPA2fQICd-kZa8W4c4Jups/s320/SLOj+22.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0ohBX4Gydhhp6aJ2NJSZ3Ll7VRJIsnu42SIju0vFE2quYyLCzXF65dclw9O0RIGoFsEC2EKc8zCgNP-vKGXYYGOqQgyNKW45GDOInrh6LH-Zkh2ffankzqqd7XIV2uMdp3WPoXOSeUY/s1600/SLOm+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjX0ohBX4Gydhhp6aJ2NJSZ3Ll7VRJIsnu42SIju0vFE2quYyLCzXF65dclw9O0RIGoFsEC2EKc8zCgNP-vKGXYYGOqQgyNKW45GDOInrh6LH-Zkh2ffankzqqd7XIV2uMdp3WPoXOSeUY/s320/SLOm+10.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>by Marcel Such</i></div>
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Check back soon for our next installment, the Bay Area.</div>Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-65735845020587263952012-07-09T20:17:00.000-06:002012-07-30T21:45:09.711-06:00California Wanderings, Part 3: Santa Barbara<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Departing from Ventura on June 15, we continued up the coast to Santa
Barbara. While burning time before
meeting photographer David Litschel and watercolor artist Martha Shilliday (friends of our mom) f</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">or lunch and a hike, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">we birded the Rocky Nook Park
next to the Santa Barbara Arboretum.
The oak woodland held a great diversity of bird life, with Hutton’s
Vireo, Bushtit, Acorn Woodpecker, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, and Oak Titmouse
calling from the trees (the latter two being lifers and California specialities),
Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Oregon Junco, and Spotted Towhee
calling from the underbrush, and Anna’s Hummingbird, American Crow, and Lesser
Goldfinches flying overhead.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Oak Titmouse - by Marcel Such</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">After lunch, we hiked in the Ellwood Mesa Open Space. Perhaps most well known as a premier
wintering location of Monarch butterflies in the Eucalyptus groves, it also
proved to be one of the birdiest spots of the trip. Extremely varied in habitat, we birded everything from
Chapparal, open grassland, beach, and riparian Sycamore. Here, we finally found our first
positively identified Allen’s Hummingbirds, which was a lifer. Other birds we found include California
Towhee, Yellow Warbler, Caspian Tern, Hooded Oriole, Oak Titmouse, Cooper’s
Hawk, and Black-chinned Hummingbird.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRDZMmpJcZh2ABpKY40zYusXqzcoEqKyv-k-Kl2l59khnnOvMEcUeAoyKXsWnDhVM-F5zJfsCCClYIbuwHWaoD9V9IHbkpsRjW3XzR0autsAlE7rdsYHbsqbNLHjLnD1TpnXxpj8KksIo/s320/mom+3.jpg" width="320" /></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Hummingbird Paparazzi - by Renée Haip</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Ellwood Mesa Open Space - by Renée Haip</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6S0b8bPV9S_NAJH5cfshucX9ZVHr4m8bemQSCes6z60_Ble5RIvmMP0RTPLv8Q2ODu7VxD5H_cEIYcwVUQpfueDhRNFeHbHVhPYKphh45jnroHVOQP7EZEk-YwKZvSKK5cIXJTSI562U/s1600/mom+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi6S0b8bPV9S_NAJH5cfshucX9ZVHr4m8bemQSCes6z60_Ble5RIvmMP0RTPLv8Q2ODu7VxD5H_cEIYcwVUQpfueDhRNFeHbHVhPYKphh45jnroHVOQP7EZEk-YwKZvSKK5cIXJTSI562U/s320/mom+2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Birding the beach below Ellwood - by Renée Haip</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wmU2IgiZIldPJ-XbnbeHIvyMSmIDQ7uLfCehklw0IeeLJ5bn9NGLABVb1dbICRSR7flRwY7wz0Sg6nXdA5EhG9pK6tbF9QIfXg0Zi1_Cfvuyjej4ITAM7tP0eUKnLRJqhbvez0TVy5s/s1600/SBM2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi-wmU2IgiZIldPJ-XbnbeHIvyMSmIDQ7uLfCehklw0IeeLJ5bn9NGLABVb1dbICRSR7flRwY7wz0Sg6nXdA5EhG9pK6tbF9QIfXg0Zi1_Cfvuyjej4ITAM7tP0eUKnLRJqhbvez0TVy5s/s320/SBM2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>This reminded Joel and I of "Inception" - by Marcel Such</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2PpFsOcK9nxc0CfKk2jHtBUWh26tqFFW3pPrxlMv_HGMcGntuMrG9p2xtzebUJgt5N1j9cKspooDCfXWW1bT2cy2oj95wwfVtx2ZZlFENb3LEy4_NoOs2ZrutWGup8v-gpYP9Mx1YRw/s1600/SBJ1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjY2PpFsOcK9nxc0CfKk2jHtBUWh26tqFFW3pPrxlMv_HGMcGntuMrG9p2xtzebUJgt5N1j9cKspooDCfXWW1bT2cy2oj95wwfVtx2ZZlFENb3LEy4_NoOs2ZrutWGup8v-gpYP9Mx1YRw/s320/SBJ1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="289" /></a></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Allen's Hummingbird - by Joel Such</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Hooded Oriole - by Joel Such</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>California Towhee - by Joel Such</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Nojoqui Falls Park and Alisal Road was our next
destination. Even as we pulled off
the highway, the new habitat was apparent, with Western Bluebirds disappearing
off their barbed wire perches into the roadside grass in search of grasshoppers. The short hike up to the picturesque
Nojoqui Falls was fairly quiet with evening quickly approaching, but a
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Wrentit, and Canyon Wren were
all nice birds. Back down in the
open park, we were pleased to find a couple members of the resident
Purple Martin colony, a rare and local breeder in the west.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Alisal Road - by Renée Haip</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbukwjC0KnGSJCjtlfX3755AGMDshHpxz5QN7WMacNzFIAgUqk0WV_NsdKMfMGdWEmPkbXz_QChPiNFDk0dSAGUEJ9wl_VyySjsMsj-x_PAe2dLLVu3Mzsu_OfLv8-4dgqGPue0XZTjE/s1600/SBJ4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="308" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkbukwjC0KnGSJCjtlfX3755AGMDshHpxz5QN7WMacNzFIAgUqk0WV_NsdKMfMGdWEmPkbXz_QChPiNFDk0dSAGUEJ9wl_VyySjsMsj-x_PAe2dLLVu3Mzsu_OfLv8-4dgqGPue0XZTjE/s320/SBJ4.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Purple Martin - by Joel Such</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Purple Martin - by Marcel Such</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6CHtGuxNTX3kiCRU-ZGPfuIRkL4wyhKBYHYOzDjOB4mnHaoLhq8blYo7BJYye0P3texc4jqXVSZ6Dt129VKePX9egsRLbUDUsds2GUwTgCGjZ30PgABsh5wvN9PkwsAoIajRo2UVYHM/s1600/SBM3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="302" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEje6CHtGuxNTX3kiCRU-ZGPfuIRkL4wyhKBYHYOzDjOB4mnHaoLhq8blYo7BJYye0P3texc4jqXVSZ6Dt129VKePX9egsRLbUDUsds2GUwTgCGjZ30PgABsh5wvN9PkwsAoIajRo2UVYHM/s320/SBM3.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></span></i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Joel inside a hollow oak - by Marcel Such</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">As a finale to this very fine day, we were fortunate enough
to spot a roadside Yellow-billed Magpie on the drive up to Santa Maria, where
we would spend the night. One of
the most anticipated target species of the trip, everyone was overjoyed to see
this yellow-mandibled cousin of our own Rocky Mountain magpie.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Yellow-billed Magpie - by Marcel Such</i></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMNHOINWT26wk2WN98vLkdzCXCELFMOWjKKgL01a_hpsADeJBh0xRNpUL6oa3ADvzeFLA3bZF_XAzHYc845kuBNdpMIoUeTSDT9WYGb_heJAq0LvGBw7Reb3KIzSaqdXLkZ1riikQjBo/s1600/SBJ5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiYMNHOINWT26wk2WN98vLkdzCXCELFMOWjKKgL01a_hpsADeJBh0xRNpUL6oa3ADvzeFLA3bZF_XAzHYc845kuBNdpMIoUeTSDT9WYGb_heJAq0LvGBw7Reb3KIzSaqdXLkZ1riikQjBo/s320/SBJ5.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></span></span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Yellow-billed Magpie - by Joel Such</i></span></div>Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-49142944292741813362012-07-08T21:57:00.003-06:002012-07-30T21:44:33.241-06:00California Wanderings, Part 2: Ventura and the Channel Islands<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">June 13-14, 2012</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">From the sweltering Mojave Desert, we booked it to the
gloomy coast of California. In May
and June, fog incases the coast of California making for the names May Gray and
June Gloom. A hike up in elevation
and away from the coastal fog at the Ventura River Preserve provided many new
birds, including Wrentit, Phainopepla, Red-shouldered Hawk, Black Phoebe, and
California Towhee. Usually a
flowing river, the Ventura River held only small, isolated pools of water with
crayfish fighting for survival, and a few dancers, bluets, and forktails (damselflies).</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GNm5Im-7Im0VT6BuWI6OAD5wrzg07JcI6fZbvXMZVwxdu49czTiC42F-kjLZdIY7M1ucipnDxejrXkByrtgVa6czYexw8PNZyD-R1-qcH9AR1MDh_XAc3IQULKvL4bGqH206bkAbbGk/s1600/ventura+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="234" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6GNm5Im-7Im0VT6BuWI6OAD5wrzg07JcI6fZbvXMZVwxdu49czTiC42F-kjLZdIY7M1ucipnDxejrXkByrtgVa6czYexw8PNZyD-R1-qcH9AR1MDh_XAc3IQULKvL4bGqH206bkAbbGk/s320/ventura+2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Crawdad - by Joel Such</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9Ot5tw6nILfF5UEauJTr44NHMtzuAO3icpvvw0Q7LzCeL_uDcKjC0unf7j3zar-wKXg08_beWG3edv6HDFOMuU61kKFleV7J2B1a-8REeOh87SPTS0gKGs8gYr2M7cAcAwYVwPACp-U/s1600/venturaM.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9Ot5tw6nILfF5UEauJTr44NHMtzuAO3icpvvw0Q7LzCeL_uDcKjC0unf7j3zar-wKXg08_beWG3edv6HDFOMuU61kKFleV7J2B1a-8REeOh87SPTS0gKGs8gYr2M7cAcAwYVwPACp-U/s320/venturaM.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Dragonfly sp (need to ID) - by Marcel Such</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9657xXWhxJrV-aY0C7jCzK1jf6GucPyDWjMcqz2IU_gMkrx3LUb9b6xd-DvrozG55yfnhSymSYCWOd0wi1O3aiLRU2L8bSdIJdDyvtO_sYPgj443HXfndCir0U-UN5A7vMrPgloVlA0/s1600/venturaM+%25285%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjl9657xXWhxJrV-aY0C7jCzK1jf6GucPyDWjMcqz2IU_gMkrx3LUb9b6xd-DvrozG55yfnhSymSYCWOd0wi1O3aiLRU2L8bSdIJdDyvtO_sYPgj443HXfndCir0U-UN5A7vMrPgloVlA0/s320/venturaM+%25285%2529.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Vivid Dancer - by Marcel Such</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBB89HSwdgWIc5JADtKdklof3g3aF3fCq_D3ShJ4z66A1JV2tcDG0X6dReCPo8quEnIytRGgBXw7vB_XU5UVhq7ai8Uyc2J2Kq8iwqdaUOGDzwq_OMbkPlWRbtvVed5Jr0cNa1MHG2new/s1600/venturaM+%25284%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="223" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBB89HSwdgWIc5JADtKdklof3g3aF3fCq_D3ShJ4z66A1JV2tcDG0X6dReCPo8quEnIytRGgBXw7vB_XU5UVhq7ai8Uyc2J2Kq8iwqdaUOGDzwq_OMbkPlWRbtvVed5Jr0cNa1MHG2new/s320/venturaM+%25284%2529.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Unidentified snake - by Marcel Such</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">To end our first day on the coast, we stopped at Marina Park
to swim, run, and bird. We saw our
first coastal species here, with Brown Pelicans, Western Grebes, Heermann’s
Gulls, Black Oystercatchers, and a Caspian Tern among the highlights.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">The next morning (June 14), we boarded up on an Island Packers cruise
out to Santa Cruz Island in Channel Islands National Park. Even before we left the harbor, the sea
life of the area began presenting itself.
California Sea Lions lounged on bouys, Elegant, Caspian, and Forster’s
Terns wheeled overhead, cormorants, Double-crested and Brandt’s, dove beneath
the prow, and Western Gulls and Brown Pelicans were everywhere. And once we started getting out away
from shore, Sooty Shearwaters began flying out from the wake, along with
Xantus’s Murrelets (which Marcel somehow managed to miss), Pigeon Guillemots,
and Cassin’s Auklets. Joel also
saw a Black Storm-Petrel on the way back to the mainland, which was a great
find for him and another tragic miss for Marcel.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNY4G3X-6uCEhbsV7toX55OiX7ExelCM0ilksCA1sx4uQcVUedUDkyZZ-dKPgMSqQGFLqk6SVfesvRraoehbHCk96Ohgemr4O0TtmgIpiINlIYlYr3JPbda3TcsgQBwMoZ-wIH6ceAL7I/s1600/ventura+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNY4G3X-6uCEhbsV7toX55OiX7ExelCM0ilksCA1sx4uQcVUedUDkyZZ-dKPgMSqQGFLqk6SVfesvRraoehbHCk96Ohgemr4O0TtmgIpiINlIYlYr3JPbda3TcsgQBwMoZ-wIH6ceAL7I/s320/ventura+3.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Brown Pelicans and Cormorants - by Joel Such</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_wN_FVZI2aZCRUugF0Uz21uY_9bjOR6dZ_SanJDy2GRkqaN9T_H90g7pbitbbeYhANzwYGdg6DUbTUsvKOsFc9QBbzdIBktNCxNybe8CBKG7PhC9DXt-G9ZlY6mXiPgzRFj1NhNLN80/s1600/ventura+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil_wN_FVZI2aZCRUugF0Uz21uY_9bjOR6dZ_SanJDy2GRkqaN9T_H90g7pbitbbeYhANzwYGdg6DUbTUsvKOsFc9QBbzdIBktNCxNybe8CBKG7PhC9DXt-G9ZlY6mXiPgzRFj1NhNLN80/s320/ventura+12.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="289" /></span></a></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Forster's Tern - by Joel Such</span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQRrEXIWsqPznD3fxhsrJp0U4EWTyrL8ylUalrN2UI02WX_DW0sdlBbaQTafrw8b7_-yFqx1jXfFR5D1IbSMCZq1NheVcY9FScEZo07Zu_Z4UuDKx3ixpAM0GlnsTnD6s37a5oVnz2os/s1600/venturaM+%25283%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhzQRrEXIWsqPznD3fxhsrJp0U4EWTyrL8ylUalrN2UI02WX_DW0sdlBbaQTafrw8b7_-yFqx1jXfFR5D1IbSMCZq1NheVcY9FScEZo07Zu_Z4UuDKx3ixpAM0GlnsTnD6s37a5oVnz2os/s320/venturaM+%25283%2529.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></span></i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">California Sea Lion - by Marcel Such</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlP6otTJ5P9ge8jEZ0gJF_h8DJF3rp4V1QoHIp7CTPsHE-asUSuuy09UDOxi2ZW1SS7inndgHDbK5IEltgQfqvNlxNL-Y70Y1q7YBEDqgGRObWHqYcoN0NuyRbmHLhRMLiRWubxq9phyphenhyphen4/s1600/ventura+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlP6otTJ5P9ge8jEZ0gJF_h8DJF3rp4V1QoHIp7CTPsHE-asUSuuy09UDOxi2ZW1SS7inndgHDbK5IEltgQfqvNlxNL-Y70Y1q7YBEDqgGRObWHqYcoN0NuyRbmHLhRMLiRWubxq9phyphenhyphen4/s320/ventura+10.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sooty Shearwater - by Joel Such</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12hBY6DP9j2BUdrhCr5zvKKg_eh5I3mY_BSEuSOJs_58m8dGxYEfoahY8d1tvO3Uigy2vBwbLppUHEM20ILCjykoDvwJgx4Q5i64Ml706PeF9nIWeBLRWRuBjrqu24LtEmS649V7AAkU/s1600/ventura+11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="261" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi12hBY6DP9j2BUdrhCr5zvKKg_eh5I3mY_BSEuSOJs_58m8dGxYEfoahY8d1tvO3Uigy2vBwbLppUHEM20ILCjykoDvwJgx4Q5i64Ml706PeF9nIWeBLRWRuBjrqu24LtEmS649V7AAkU/s320/ventura+11.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Sooty Shearwater - by Joel Such</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNy_hs0RXdaKsASOncQTK_3yG_GNBaX92FDcMV3sLKayskbuRQ21Rl4ngflUz0QJ98GiFXUZBXhMrGqUclktvnBMMZFTlPuoIMzb9EAYwUbtSfyP_-KjcyrsRgpssMZJopVlSwiB2fZs/s1600/ventura+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiJNy_hs0RXdaKsASOncQTK_3yG_GNBaX92FDcMV3sLKayskbuRQ21Rl4ngflUz0QJ98GiFXUZBXhMrGqUclktvnBMMZFTlPuoIMzb9EAYwUbtSfyP_-KjcyrsRgpssMZJopVlSwiB2fZs/s320/ventura+8.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Black Storm-Petrel - by Joel Such</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">After landing in Prisoner’s Harbor, the island’s unique
avi-fauna was immediately apparent, with its own subspecies of Pacific-slope
Flycatcher, Orange-crowned Warbler, Bewick’s Wren, and Song Sparrow. This island even has its own unique
bird species, the Island Scrub-Jay (as many of our readers probably know). Only a few minutes passed on the island
before one went screeching overhead.
We took a guided hike into The Nature Conservancy property (which occupies
76% of the island), which proved to be a very birdy choice. Acorn Woodpeckers, Oregon Juncos,
Lesser Goldfinches, Red-shafted Flickers, Chipping Sparrows, and Ash-throated
Flycatchers, and Bushtits were abundant along the trail, with the occasional Hutton’s
Vireo, Common Yellowthroat, Black-headed Grosbeak, or endemic Island Gray Fox.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_m_UP7Xwg5QMBuXHnemJHJs-4Q38TOIwNrVMqSfM-gR8PbKsbe1a9xKmqDlHob2VhLq77QxRWasuFDqXsyvNhYKRlwN22rxrge2EM3ZOIpylbBpPgQls2Lehy8nz4RNvz9svz4t_si6M/s1600/Ventura.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_m_UP7Xwg5QMBuXHnemJHJs-4Q38TOIwNrVMqSfM-gR8PbKsbe1a9xKmqDlHob2VhLq77QxRWasuFDqXsyvNhYKRlwN22rxrge2EM3ZOIpylbBpPgQls2Lehy8nz4RNvz9svz4t_si6M/s320/Ventura.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuhuW50Ydydd84Fk_rcLMe0RZL64i-n93ENudAxBETUHF48o2GAxUCOg7IUg29uljn7p0gl_2Su7xO6R3pTkzfwY8JbHxlExJkVbAEcNAwgabiNv4LbqFF6y8xkTdR5K2cZ3LkFFOfLk/s1600/Ventura+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibuhuW50Ydydd84Fk_rcLMe0RZL64i-n93ENudAxBETUHF48o2GAxUCOg7IUg29uljn7p0gl_2Su7xO6R3pTkzfwY8JbHxlExJkVbAEcNAwgabiNv4LbqFF6y8xkTdR5K2cZ3LkFFOfLk/s320/Ventura+(2).jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTFESqu2bXrmCQIp4HdpRWciRMICgao6Nvjp2dTLPlchnLwp02OCyeM3nSMRqAXYUzRTfls_i3iVMUVVPK7_Li_7A6iPmzatwV2GCDIEmBXyy8h0Qbu9Srccu-MfK9li-pWm7t04G7so/s1600/venturaM+%25282%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiDTFESqu2bXrmCQIp4HdpRWciRMICgao6Nvjp2dTLPlchnLwp02OCyeM3nSMRqAXYUzRTfls_i3iVMUVVPK7_Li_7A6iPmzatwV2GCDIEmBXyy8h0Qbu9Srccu-MfK9li-pWm7t04G7so/s320/venturaM+%25282%2529.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Island Scrub-Jay - by Marcel Such</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfZIwiIPMD69VTAyIXWgTUbuTqTyK7GdyiFOBuF4VHljpxqe2g0iml1buCDVU1DDg4GIvM0XeXkLdGIwyMtxLLTnUAW3CGwxFEEoXbdxzfJv5UZ-BM1NCXzDx5wpCsH66NnaqsUhGlq8/s1600/venturaM+%25281%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRfZIwiIPMD69VTAyIXWgTUbuTqTyK7GdyiFOBuF4VHljpxqe2g0iml1buCDVU1DDg4GIvM0XeXkLdGIwyMtxLLTnUAW3CGwxFEEoXbdxzfJv5UZ-BM1NCXzDx5wpCsH66NnaqsUhGlq8/s320/venturaM+%25281%2529.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Common Raven - by Marcel Such</span></i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XDiFsurUal_JpSQZ4WxKyl2Fjq-fLwszinCOkECqpOs2MHlGoMNpjtnOybnajv8VVKjUvlon2V-HTfTqUZdK8sZ-2eIdq59aNMmM7vO8YJEhDlh7VbuMfpdy7vLN_14UjULLq0Jg_Fs/s1600/ventura+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="237" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2XDiFsurUal_JpSQZ4WxKyl2Fjq-fLwszinCOkECqpOs2MHlGoMNpjtnOybnajv8VVKjUvlon2V-HTfTqUZdK8sZ-2eIdq59aNMmM7vO8YJEhDlh7VbuMfpdy7vLN_14UjULLq0Jg_Fs/s320/ventura+5.jpg" width="320" /></span></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Island Gray Fox - by Joel Such</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Returning to the mainland after only a few hours on such a
biologically unique site was difficult, and while we certainly wished we could stay behind and explore some more, we reluctantly re-boarded the boat back to
Ventura Harbor.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMlgpMiKTOrVFvl4SeZok0HdtVnY4u4QamQOo7DGFSoYpCsuXV8cMXaoErGzENI3XF0W0UfhooDzWhuAbnUiTtks2P_KMLJmrg_t-6hem2IOL2NiRh8RiWBqMKrvlHcOqg_1xyU9FZa0/s1600/Ventura+(3).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="289" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjrMlgpMiKTOrVFvl4SeZok0HdtVnY4u4QamQOo7DGFSoYpCsuXV8cMXaoErGzENI3XF0W0UfhooDzWhuAbnUiTtks2P_KMLJmrg_t-6hem2IOL2NiRh8RiWBqMKrvlHcOqg_1xyU9FZa0/s320/Ventura+(3).jpg" width="320" /></a></span></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Special thanks to the Holdorf family for hosting us in Ventura! We enjoyed our time with you.</span></i></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit;">Stay tuned for part 3, coming soon!</span></div>Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-33382773487668735302012-07-03T17:18:00.003-06:002012-07-30T21:23:06.888-06:00California Wanderings, Part 1: The Mojave<div style="text-align: left;">
Three weeks ago today (June 11), we left Denver for an epic road trip,
starting in Las Vegas, Nevada and encompassing a good chunk of the enormous and
ecologically diverse state of California.
For 16 days, we traveled 4,017 miles exploring the hot and barren Mojave
Desert, the beautiful and unique Channel Islands, the stunning coastline and
chaparral-covered hills of Highway 1, the vineyards of the central valleys, and
the extremely varied habitats of the Sierra Nevada range.</div>
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For the first part of the trip we transected the Mojave
Desert from Las Vegas to the coast north of Los Angeles. After a quick, early morning drive down
Las Vegas Boulevard, or the famous Strip, for a “cultural experience,” we
headed out to the Red Rocks National Conservation Area just west of the
city. Greeting us in the Visitor
Center Parking Area were the sociable Cactus Wrens (the only ones we saw on the
trip) and fleet-footed and shade-seeking White-tailed Antelope Squirrels. The bird life was very thin, as it was
already approaching the heat of the day, but at a stop at the Red Springs oasis
we managed to draw out a few Violet-green Swallows, Black-throated Sparrows, Western Scrub-Jays, and an Ash-throated Flycatcher.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMKAyk0C6LJQhyphenhyphenSSVkV_v3-_JRT_WRxsExiakhf6M_gBOhHkxw1aF5v12L1VP6LKXb2w3O_n6rrInhQZfB8chpJfrInhXp9NSJ3eAOUReycQ74VEqPlSr5BHSlNBQHY0XUXHnfmR_jwg/s1600/Mom+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfMKAyk0C6LJQhyphenhyphenSSVkV_v3-_JRT_WRxsExiakhf6M_gBOhHkxw1aF5v12L1VP6LKXb2w3O_n6rrInhQZfB8chpJfrInhXp9NSJ3eAOUReycQ74VEqPlSr5BHSlNBQHY0XUXHnfmR_jwg/s320/Mom+1.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Road to Red Rock National Conservation Area - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis46TTUkGWcpiollEk0k2wM1f6irAFNEADL6-n17hCaLmqijWCOQqu6iJeTnGcN8bl9dvG85qYLCaGNMqbXG7Ddp7cmoohH4Jq5KjxoAjSMWcF1ZU6eiIiGYoXssnVo3Ysp07T6huC-yw/s1600/01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="253" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEis46TTUkGWcpiollEk0k2wM1f6irAFNEADL6-n17hCaLmqijWCOQqu6iJeTnGcN8bl9dvG85qYLCaGNMqbXG7Ddp7cmoohH4Jq5KjxoAjSMWcF1ZU6eiIiGYoXssnVo3Ysp07T6huC-yw/s320/01.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>White-tailed Antelope Squirrel - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9VRwUfmCgXGzOS7jOl3ZwLjrafnF5AsaQN0PUh3jO2iKe1oHkRvVGbsdlXTM009L8I7dqj2Iy77gL8LIgywEkwrAkW-Wug1b2CKlvC8MfNu8HTWa5ccR2t5e4l83NV2MnG8xkeSgyf0/s1600/Mom+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhc9VRwUfmCgXGzOS7jOl3ZwLjrafnF5AsaQN0PUh3jO2iKe1oHkRvVGbsdlXTM009L8I7dqj2Iy77gL8LIgywEkwrAkW-Wug1b2CKlvC8MfNu8HTWa5ccR2t5e4l83NV2MnG8xkeSgyf0/s320/Mom+2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Red Rock National Conservation Area - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MWsghGtETNAgSfA1obigZFiln936r5Yz2aFhb3Ld8nJKqvvFFanC81fneIsUffM7Tq-T0Dr07e91NRSq9vMVChpZP88TQwbqDdS6nxOmjStbp-sYmdbq4WbwjzGLj22nIoYasSFQ040/s1600/02.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4MWsghGtETNAgSfA1obigZFiln936r5Yz2aFhb3Ld8nJKqvvFFanC81fneIsUffM7Tq-T0Dr07e91NRSq9vMVChpZP88TQwbqDdS6nxOmjStbp-sYmdbq4WbwjzGLj22nIoYasSFQ040/s320/02.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Flame Skimmer - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtv2ELX9uutJA_7ad2AlFrLzt578gCJNC-hUghynKHW61D7btucnA6voULhcbL7q7wAiDXVy9IlkhbpyOme4NSYp18mV38tHrr9ryj1DQEWO9QYg7sqrgox78ftjyIlzL7hrQIeO72XMU/s1600/03.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtv2ELX9uutJA_7ad2AlFrLzt578gCJNC-hUghynKHW61D7btucnA6voULhcbL7q7wAiDXVy9IlkhbpyOme4NSYp18mV38tHrr9ryj1DQEWO9QYg7sqrgox78ftjyIlzL7hrQIeO72XMU/s320/03.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Ash-throated Flycatcher - by Joel Such</i></div>
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California’s vast Mojave National Preserve was
our next destination. Dominated by
impressive Joshua Trees (<i>Yucca brevifolia</i><span style="font-style: normal;">),
which are actually an oversized and tree-like member of the Agave family, and
the volcanically formed Cima Dome, this area is home to many regional
specialties. Driving the long,
empty road to the towns of Cima and Kelso, we encountered numerous species,
including Loggerhead Shrike, Say’s Phoebe, Ash-throated Flycatcher,
Black-throated Sparrow, and a Red-tailed Hawk nest built high up in a Joshua
Tree. A brief stop at the Kelso
Depot proved to be most fortunate, as it produced the most unexpected bird of
our trip, an off-route adult male Blackburnian Warbler! A late migrant Western Tanager was also
a good find. Driving back to I-15
on Kelbaker Road also produced better-than-normal views of a Bendire’s Thrasher
perched in the top of some road-side shrubbery. Upon an attempt at closer approach, however, it disappeared
back into the undergrowth.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDvKop_xSjILoMldm57Zpi-bpeJupu0qb-NQ2KSQm1BrQcDnhUxdF-_D_Dbk2shFgzQ9jyMeXkzJ4qQ2ermg_6aRoysISjKzoZvv5gdql48vOuI_NaGaQr7sLAwvrKS5Dv_YkmQEw_3w/s1600/Mom+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjYDvKop_xSjILoMldm57Zpi-bpeJupu0qb-NQ2KSQm1BrQcDnhUxdF-_D_Dbk2shFgzQ9jyMeXkzJ4qQ2ermg_6aRoysISjKzoZvv5gdql48vOuI_NaGaQr7sLAwvrKS5Dv_YkmQEw_3w/s320/Mom+3.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Cima Road - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6yc9J2bornTCAdT-ihJKWUbPQpqHV2xlagUGZQ9w9IONO3xsOa1wO7uZjJa7SYp-Tgvpa2tJj92W-Y3E9Rsb23cmIRUokS43-YQqA_3ttZrNf_aDzBA4aRGptLAHspdLdjckWxj2DXE/s1600/Mom+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhD6yc9J2bornTCAdT-ihJKWUbPQpqHV2xlagUGZQ9w9IONO3xsOa1wO7uZjJa7SYp-Tgvpa2tJj92W-Y3E9Rsb23cmIRUokS43-YQqA_3ttZrNf_aDzBA4aRGptLAHspdLdjckWxj2DXE/s320/Mom+4.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Joshua Tree with active Red-tailed Hawk nest - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhszxNx0gfGuxeNx96lLowEuTANht1IYBjz7WGwhjbSqt8ODe9XUgyCz7NENHeaCIxshiM0YUPeqjr7QGya8UimtdVWlaZUrqw99AtR8x_5tsbzRny8Y0GjHc1NZdxdajDyMQytVAbu6k/s1600/RTHA1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="270" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhhszxNx0gfGuxeNx96lLowEuTANht1IYBjz7WGwhjbSqt8ODe9XUgyCz7NENHeaCIxshiM0YUPeqjr7QGya8UimtdVWlaZUrqw99AtR8x_5tsbzRny8Y0GjHc1NZdxdajDyMQytVAbu6k/s320/RTHA1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Red-tailed Hawk - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NSTdQVDg0_5bldTkJFgtKy6ytw2qg-HOXmDxLJP9qQ6wJC-W48-AqB3G37W7Wc21bePOAcoWvEaj3L67UzJH-_Zy-LvGf7P6EDy1Ayl91DGQQ4VWSKFzNuaeYanY_vLfb4IGu-u2iOs/s1600/Mom+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2NSTdQVDg0_5bldTkJFgtKy6ytw2qg-HOXmDxLJP9qQ6wJC-W48-AqB3G37W7Wc21bePOAcoWvEaj3L67UzJH-_Zy-LvGf7P6EDy1Ayl91DGQQ4VWSKFzNuaeYanY_vLfb4IGu-u2iOs/s320/Mom+7.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Joshua Tree - by Renée Haip</i></div>
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<i>Blackburnian Warbler - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqzzQNcdOc28lUsxZdTtOp7oRHk92TksD2JwyYx6mnkPY_BDE3Y_8QRt63LPHl5mxXy5aK_kdXg25UvGYmpCB6i4Ezz6qOeulJSpkCJbgB9U6yAAjqXbfmFHZOlV7cuIIjH4wRB-4W68/s1600/blbw+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="251" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcqzzQNcdOc28lUsxZdTtOp7oRHk92TksD2JwyYx6mnkPY_BDE3Y_8QRt63LPHl5mxXy5aK_kdXg25UvGYmpCB6i4Ezz6qOeulJSpkCJbgB9U6yAAjqXbfmFHZOlV7cuIIjH4wRB-4W68/s320/blbw+1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Blackburnian Warbler - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqQJO4TbYfMMNsq4h44VM8vM_fDj_3KR9F_uSSNE6dBhgY01C0xlBD2cbC9HkQksldEs7IdYRYCW1YSQ7Ds3TA6btvOgXQVrO-D2LUYj9rT7bQp3bghLM3Ijtf1lBypvllKDsGJStO88/s1600/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjaqQJO4TbYfMMNsq4h44VM8vM_fDj_3KR9F_uSSNE6dBhgY01C0xlBD2cbC9HkQksldEs7IdYRYCW1YSQ7Ds3TA6btvOgXQVrO-D2LUYj9rT7bQp3bghLM3Ijtf1lBypvllKDsGJStO88/s320/12.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>Bendire's Thrasher - by Joel Such</i></div>
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After spending the night at the $40 per night Stardust Inn
along the historical Route 66 in Barstow, we got up early to check some local birding
spots before leaving the Mojave for Ventura. Just outside of town along a dry wash, I was gazing out the
window when what I thought were quail caught my eye. Stopping for a closer look, it turns out that they were
actually Chukar! Though an
introduced species, it was still exciting to see this flock of seventeen, which was a lifer and which I have
missed numerous times on the Western Slope of Colorado. We also attempted to visit the enticing Mojave
Narrows Regional Park in Victorville, but it was closed due to a multi-day “Huckleberry
Finn Jubilee” bluegrass festival, and the $99 dollar per person entrance fee deterred us.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpj3DY8yD1UpV593yTAPb5svXoOrWO7WsyUu8QclLcz4nwp7DeuvcgsMv_Ee6xKisOLjL4ub60fkUIlYRWBXTWKXw7Byk9yz8H8PS59QAmflC-v9rG5Ap4K_ElTz4-Sd1ZsYROqdBtYHk/s1600/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpj3DY8yD1UpV593yTAPb5svXoOrWO7WsyUu8QclLcz4nwp7DeuvcgsMv_Ee6xKisOLjL4ub60fkUIlYRWBXTWKXw7Byk9yz8H8PS59QAmflC-v9rG5Ap4K_ElTz4-Sd1ZsYROqdBtYHk/s320/13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Chukar - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Click on any photo to bring up the photo gallery in a larger size.</i></div>
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Stay tuned for the second part of this series, which will
cover Ventura County, the Santa Barbara Channel, and Santa Cruz Island!</div>Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-76454154247208660472012-07-02T21:27:00.000-06:002012-07-02T21:37:38.543-06:00More Plains AtlasingLast summer, Joel and I had a job doing paid breeding bird surveys for the <a href="http://www.cobreedingbirdatlasii.org/" target="_blank">second Colorado Breeding Bird Atlas</a>. The purpose of this project, which is conducted every twenty years, is to record the status, distrubution, breeding phenology (the range of dates for the different stages of breeding, such as courtship, nest building, fledglings, etc.), and habitat usage for the state's breeding bird species. This past weekend, Joel, our dad, and I headed back out to the
eastern plains south of Yuma to survey two of our breeding bird atlas blocks
that were left unfinished from last year’s field season. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29Cnw9HUjtD4bVJe8J9f5ZyRoeArY7o5-5fb6x5LU7nmZJXWvEkiOTgh3bnkyXMM149p4QQga1L_EaMPnMDHyNV1oCReWzcwEDn0QS5xT791eqpMO2ev1sPFGE1wHGrd0QfyJ_teA_ws/s1600/marcel1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj29Cnw9HUjtD4bVJe8J9f5ZyRoeArY7o5-5fb6x5LU7nmZJXWvEkiOTgh3bnkyXMM149p4QQga1L_EaMPnMDHyNV1oCReWzcwEDn0QS5xT791eqpMO2ev1sPFGE1wHGrd0QfyJ_teA_ws/s320/marcel1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Birding the Sandhills - by Dave Such</i></div>
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Below is a collection of some of the photos from our trip. We managed to finish up both blocks,
with fledgling Upland Sandpipers and two "Plains" Hog-nosed Snakes being among the
highlights.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkIYwZTQ4tY0WUgdqYIDGiPigYoiqzhHWC1RxeIGwOgQobS8NwR7ynQ6mQnFsyceumHZqhqWfp_mmAZPSHOiCQQV9HOMIf21OUojFEXLUvvSBsWHxqBtPjC7vWgRyk50YDyp_IzBC1K0/s1600/buow1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqkIYwZTQ4tY0WUgdqYIDGiPigYoiqzhHWC1RxeIGwOgQobS8NwR7ynQ6mQnFsyceumHZqhqWfp_mmAZPSHOiCQQV9HOMIf21OUojFEXLUvvSBsWHxqBtPjC7vWgRyk50YDyp_IzBC1K0/s320/buow1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Burrowing Owl Fledglings - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4tc1b7J1fpVd7GeAncRgHtivK_fIxniAKdBAcD32576rs_gndjnfv1QwOsvIn9cAMU-2gAf93p3Vda3SvDaGDCGLEN0wOOb6aV78MtA-CB6tDXIntTRWnlNoAWwUF6_NWToXWT9McDQ/s1600/buow2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjv4tc1b7J1fpVd7GeAncRgHtivK_fIxniAKdBAcD32576rs_gndjnfv1QwOsvIn9cAMU-2gAf93p3Vda3SvDaGDCGLEN0wOOb6aV78MtA-CB6tDXIntTRWnlNoAWwUF6_NWToXWT9McDQ/s320/buow2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Burrowing Owl Adult - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb2716912DHxqROYWctjla8EU0BA4g1K9kRkVcLXWlFJAKMtHXfgoFtPxzQlighWTrkAV_P-VRUnAF_rANtMhzBudU8Geij2Ey0iEK2CoHmjGoOOP-gL2N8q4SL1ltbiphb7iGcY4y1k/s1600/hognose1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="177" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZb2716912DHxqROYWctjla8EU0BA4g1K9kRkVcLXWlFJAKMtHXfgoFtPxzQlighWTrkAV_P-VRUnAF_rANtMhzBudU8Geij2Ey0iEK2CoHmjGoOOP-gL2N8q4SL1ltbiphb7iGcY4y1k/s320/hognose1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><i>"Plains" Western Hog-nosed Snake (Heterodon nasicus nasicus)</i></span> - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWLBusfJ1Z_gXK9LKRnM-HJ4oYX6w8NsQNBcSWhUGdNHoJf8eEnk3EMQij4zSSqPdzozOmhBjGl7e3oUmnvEkjXg9AmDBcxKMHhQQx0Pa2CchdocDVDqERsD2U_rVyh94O88pGE-tc5g/s1600/hognose2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="239" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiaWLBusfJ1Z_gXK9LKRnM-HJ4oYX6w8NsQNBcSWhUGdNHoJf8eEnk3EMQij4zSSqPdzozOmhBjGl7e3oUmnvEkjXg9AmDBcxKMHhQQx0Pa2CchdocDVDqERsD2U_rVyh94O88pGE-tc5g/s320/hognose2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-C1X7aDdcWzNTlT7RzPCuOGHRkDisjSz20LPmNcHcXthy_dsh07DAxuCnHkW8zCbZuUqUA6YOflPPP3w4PSBj2NqU9IiI72q4uCZMCSlIK0Y3stt4ivA4UwK6h9RC25vFNdspD7bDp5c/s1600/hognose3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="220" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-C1X7aDdcWzNTlT7RzPCuOGHRkDisjSz20LPmNcHcXthy_dsh07DAxuCnHkW8zCbZuUqUA6YOflPPP3w4PSBj2NqU9IiI72q4uCZMCSlIK0Y3stt4ivA4UwK6h9RC25vFNdspD7bDp5c/s320/hognose3.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7GkJBe1xdJ6TqsgwFK5HBMv66tczDettIJUE2qEm9qkxGH6kW6aIyVZDHaS49ZBLA29IAO8KbkcpkxLVci6qywZcvs3y0EuUYb33H1yQGwz-4lttZ3DmD5ZIqXMLV9WR1MQ9QVeAopI/s1600/hognose4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="269" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT7GkJBe1xdJ6TqsgwFK5HBMv66tczDettIJUE2qEm9qkxGH6kW6aIyVZDHaS49ZBLA29IAO8KbkcpkxLVci6qywZcvs3y0EuUYb33H1yQGwz-4lttZ3DmD5ZIqXMLV9WR1MQ9QVeAopI/s320/hognose4.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Hog-nosed Snake Playing Dead - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiy64xYRAo_yHSHXhrjd75KCgvx57o3fbShLNkL2Nczj_7SiPKmozmYka_iPcLV23JKrJW9DvWAM50yR6YWEPu-iAQ-s-_Gn0Fj1ZKkI_shN5vjlnfrJvllghZNKVdh_ianmTBoUs2fg/s1600/hognosemj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhHiy64xYRAo_yHSHXhrjd75KCgvx57o3fbShLNkL2Nczj_7SiPKmozmYka_iPcLV23JKrJW9DvWAM50yR6YWEPu-iAQ-s-_Gn0Fj1ZKkI_shN5vjlnfrJvllghZNKVdh_ianmTBoUs2fg/s320/hognosemj.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="308" /></a></div>
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<i>Photographing the Hog-nosed Snake - by David Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3WsYjJRmV9sb5P-mINKOlq9gFkWdVWRQ9cWnK7Vzfpcfc6nAYly4DtCb-iD9YxQhACQyCjY16l3a4dVeYIkikTodxImC5zsVEUdGTUCtqgYSciVrkJciucHDnH6_Zu-B-4D0PQYWG3c/s1600/losh1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="255" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiy3WsYjJRmV9sb5P-mINKOlq9gFkWdVWRQ9cWnK7Vzfpcfc6nAYly4DtCb-iD9YxQhACQyCjY16l3a4dVeYIkikTodxImC5zsVEUdGTUCtqgYSciVrkJciucHDnH6_Zu-B-4D0PQYWG3c/s320/losh1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>A Family of Loggerhead Shrikes - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lXNQylzbZnRt8pV22QED3e4mYEeA-cB5r-uVCYJSm7wo4eFtwHRwRdFzKdn3TLWlqBj_K717C4xWEqqTP4R9WQxNGXv4sUNTESZ6thPsJC6uuWrmAJAN18esdcWed1nOBsKhR0nkte4/s1600/modo1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6lXNQylzbZnRt8pV22QED3e4mYEeA-cB5r-uVCYJSm7wo4eFtwHRwRdFzKdn3TLWlqBj_K717C4xWEqqTP4R9WQxNGXv4sUNTESZ6thPsJC6uuWrmAJAN18esdcWed1nOBsKhR0nkte4/s320/modo1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Fledgling Mourning Dove - by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGRp8I_0L5wv3asAWZuUeU-uuzmY8kOBeRrYpMB9GCCIzkEGy7KzOELJ_zlyHuVtSj3S2JhIlsxho_RQ7jLhsweuJJSOh-jaStlJBs9Uiw5Ys-PQyDjp5W1Pjtka1T5UC2CRvmkqaN9s/s1600/racermj.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaGRp8I_0L5wv3asAWZuUeU-uuzmY8kOBeRrYpMB9GCCIzkEGy7KzOELJ_zlyHuVtSj3S2JhIlsxho_RQ7jLhsweuJJSOh-jaStlJBs9Uiw5Ys-PQyDjp5W1Pjtka1T5UC2CRvmkqaN9s/s320/racermj.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Marcel photographing a Racer - by David Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjk-awkMbIvjSoHJBdXRUtJvGcjPiqYevnCykcK97wusF1D9armIn98bnCLEG5HjARGceOBhngcWYHpYqwZpFry87p1e0G9ef3FT9G21PK9H7cD7LY1iZJ1t6ibGDtLzDZzk9mX25ujLA/s1600/racer1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjk-awkMbIvjSoHJBdXRUtJvGcjPiqYevnCykcK97wusF1D9armIn98bnCLEG5HjARGceOBhngcWYHpYqwZpFry87p1e0G9ef3FT9G21PK9H7cD7LY1iZJ1t6ibGDtLzDZzk9mX25ujLA/s320/racer1.jpg" width="175" /></a></div>
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<i>Young Racer (Coluber constrictor) - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i>Lance-tipped Darner - by Marcel Such</i></div>
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<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-style: normal;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfAZQmzRAxGdeBWraeU_cFQxA-1FjbczP5UceBFHIdrIinHy8tfmB6hb78RlYyjYLOOXZFc7QTuamF-NXfLSrsjZbehgFuLUfYdpN5t6eg2U7FXVbgajx0VLfjkEJK4gnAMBm4D6QZAk/s1600/hayfield.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOfAZQmzRAxGdeBWraeU_cFQxA-1FjbczP5UceBFHIdrIinHy8tfmB6hb78RlYyjYLOOXZFc7QTuamF-NXfLSrsjZbehgFuLUfYdpN5t6eg2U7FXVbgajx0VLfjkEJK4gnAMBm4D6QZAk/s320/hayfield.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></span></i></div>
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<i>by David Such</i></div>Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-62397500761524797522012-06-07T12:26:00.004-06:002012-06-07T12:56:44.985-06:00Brett Gray Ranch<div class="MsoNormal">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Rvab26pZb15MxVBVXqxCfzJOhDCwjX7TQq9yEutsCNy6mlAqL9fWxoDqzFbQgKbVhH_S2F0i-gF8VJyLanu_ZqWi7hr_9365DUrP_SH9ThKD-5hG7WcHidNNxnDbg_iBd4mjgbf-qeI/s1600/brettgray.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3Rvab26pZb15MxVBVXqxCfzJOhDCwjX7TQq9yEutsCNy6mlAqL9fWxoDqzFbQgKbVhH_S2F0i-gF8VJyLanu_ZqWi7hr_9365DUrP_SH9ThKD-5hG7WcHidNNxnDbg_iBd4mjgbf-qeI/s400/brettgray.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />
On June 1<sup>st</sup>, a group of nine packed up and headed
out to a Nature Conservancy owned ranch in Lincoln County on the eastern plains
of Colorado. We arrived at the
Brett Gray Ranch, a riparian zone surrounded by short grass prairie, fully
geared for an overnight Black Rail survey. The headquarters of the ranch, located in a patch of big
burly cottonwoods, hosted numerous singing Swainson’s Thrushes, a Say’s Phoebe
nest holding four chicks, a Blue Grosbeak pair, and a fly-by Yellow-billed
Cuckoo. Once it started to get
dark, we began the Black Rail survey.
For most of our stops at the different marsh patches, we only heard
Wilson’s Snipes and Virginia Rails, and not a single call of the anticipated
small dark rail. By midnight, we
were still out of luck in hearing the far traveling song of the Black Rail. In
previous years, several Black Rails had been heard indicating probable
breeding. We crawled into our
tents with hopes of hearing one at some point during the night.<br />
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At 6 am the next morning, I woke up disoriented and fumbled
out of the tent to be greeted by Mark Peterson asking if a Connecticut Warbler
would wake me up. Ted Floyd and
the others were itching to get moving, so we grabbed our gear and jumped in the
car. A short distance down a
two-tracked ranch road, we hopped out the doors and immediately heard the song
of a Connecticut Warbler! Up to
this point, I had thought all this Connecticut Warbler talk was just a ploy to
get us out of bed. We spent a long
while following this rarity down a cottonwood-lined creek bed and were rewarded
with stunning views of this dazzling, singing male.<o:p></o:p><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_lp64ISPlXc3HiZqBT1kbw1YX_xsU7vtso9ZW0kJBaNi-fyyF2ygNy-FtbQtgwJkHDWSfNWlAczfRm52kwktDLGwuoGan0ny7qsMYXrwauIjroeIlQ2WYCDK7ydlEr9YC5HcU0_8UPY/s1600/brettgray+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgx_lp64ISPlXc3HiZqBT1kbw1YX_xsU7vtso9ZW0kJBaNi-fyyF2ygNy-FtbQtgwJkHDWSfNWlAczfRm52kwktDLGwuoGan0ny7qsMYXrwauIjroeIlQ2WYCDK7ydlEr9YC5HcU0_8UPY/s400/brettgray+(1).jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQocJVu_jkhuFjtQSuAQQRudaPlu9XVjpw3fTXIAnW-MUQWz_Y2ONxUWlntnuVcIGubAPAvFGb-s2amNYL99A2PayPUz_kplpYZFFy6OOZSuW2qmdCnIfZESj_h-ib6GtWwUzIIqNDfc/s1600/brettgray+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="355" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYQocJVu_jkhuFjtQSuAQQRudaPlu9XVjpw3fTXIAnW-MUQWz_Y2ONxUWlntnuVcIGubAPAvFGb-s2amNYL99A2PayPUz_kplpYZFFy6OOZSuW2qmdCnIfZESj_h-ib6GtWwUzIIqNDfc/s400/brettgray+2.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Connecticut Warbler</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRaLsIeL5fATnBLyf_b1doSYoSQ1kgjhcrF9jW4kcSQiHy5G_t_AKEG-krlvtb_3YxtgHvaYwrnhmM_bL9m7DzofEZXXG-XhU5D0rogwmkP_kUF_3KxUcwMjab2WMFHXGQJk3mB9dIMo/s1600/brettgray+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiRaLsIeL5fATnBLyf_b1doSYoSQ1kgjhcrF9jW4kcSQiHy5G_t_AKEG-krlvtb_3YxtgHvaYwrnhmM_bL9m7DzofEZXXG-XhU5D0rogwmkP_kUF_3KxUcwMjab2WMFHXGQJk3mB9dIMo/s400/brettgray+3.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Connecticut Warbler</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Connecticut Warbler</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADJgNHhHXS7JTR5JR21KWooN5HW945G3OT3JmYNAlmyXbdAzrWfEf-rDgiN4RydJ3TOucBmUkMEu3zl4wf4RViZlGfv8XDHataIFgTBw5bdvLZYFS0ZzuiDMOHTukWwd2U4SFtK2qFaQ/s1600/brettgray+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="301" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiADJgNHhHXS7JTR5JR21KWooN5HW945G3OT3JmYNAlmyXbdAzrWfEf-rDgiN4RydJ3TOucBmUkMEu3zl4wf4RViZlGfv8XDHataIFgTBw5bdvLZYFS0ZzuiDMOHTukWwd2U4SFtK2qFaQ/s400/brettgray+5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prairie Rattlesnake</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoCn1FVUpKyjMNbY2R4FGCBItlIIx1HlJlBHrX7BfPQL9mIjJGqa2nXeMHEwEmufTnuCOa_drs1fe1_wl_J6spSLYQ0DuFxLDhZ42gOPKHxA7SfnstNat1ZPfSNP-5LZMJO0UoEms92w/s1600/brettgray+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="312" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyoCn1FVUpKyjMNbY2R4FGCBItlIIx1HlJlBHrX7BfPQL9mIjJGqa2nXeMHEwEmufTnuCOa_drs1fe1_wl_J6spSLYQ0DuFxLDhZ42gOPKHxA7SfnstNat1ZPfSNP-5LZMJO0UoEms92w/s400/brettgray+6.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Prairie Rattlesnake</td></tr>
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<b>Trip List:</b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Gadwall</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
American Wigeon</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Mallard</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Blue-winged Teal</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Northern Shoveler</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Green-winged Teal</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Redhead</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Ruddy Duck</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Pied-billed Grebe</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
American White Pelican</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Great Blue Heron</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Great Egret</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Black-crowned Night-Heron</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
White-faced Ibis</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Swainson's Hawk</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Red-tailed Hawk</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: #073763;">Ferruginous Hawk</span></span></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
American Kestrel</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Virginia Rail</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
American Coot</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Killdeer</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Mountain Plover</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Spotted Sandpiper</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Wilson's Snipe</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Wilson's Phalarope</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Rock Pigeon</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Mourning Dove</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Yellow-billed Cuckoo</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Great Horned Owl</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Common Nighthawk</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Belted Kingfisher</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Red-headed Woodpecker</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Downy Woodpecker</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Northern Flicker</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Western Wood-Pewee</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Dusky Flycatcher</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Say's Phoebe</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Western Kingbird</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Eastern Kingbird</div>
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Blue Jay</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Black-billed Magpie</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Horned Lark</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Northern Rough-winged Swallow</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Barn Swallow</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
White-breasted Nuthatch</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
House Wren</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Swainson's Thrush</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
American Robin</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Northern Mockingbird</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Brown Thrasher</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
European Starling</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Cedar Waxwing</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Connecticut Warbler</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Common Yellowthroat</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Yellow Warbler</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Yellow-breasted Chat</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Cassin's Sparrow</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Lark Sparrow</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Lark Bunting</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: right;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Black-headed Grosbeak</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Blue Grosbeak</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Lazuli Bunting</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Red-winged Blackbird</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiw2L0Byr-wZrt3ha0Mm69xy2b3Q2xT5dbp8jl6K2avpvP-pprfkN8r20L1YnmpptA_tjZzM506-eOf1C06iYXBfbkocfW8Wduhw7oGfxj8-dLk6bi1Nk6VyE6YDpYRqJHM91NUrokTfXw/s1600/brettgray+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a>Western Meadowlark</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Yellow-headed Blackbird</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Common Grackle</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Great-tailed Grackle</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Brown-headed Cowbird</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Orchard Oriole</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Bullock's Oriole</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Lesser Goldfinch</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
American Goldfinch</div>
<br />
Thanks to Ted Floyd and The Nature Conservancy for making this trip possible and to the other participants - Todd Deininger, Seth Gallagher, David Gillian, Mark Peterson, Joe Roller, Tim Smart, and Marcel Such.</div>Joel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12750114091321820568noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-64625112613638151982012-05-25T15:32:00.001-06:002012-06-07T12:57:18.815-06:00Nesting Osprey<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
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Marcel and I found a pair of Osprey nesting at one of our Burrowing Owl survey areas in Boulder County in late April. They've got a nice fishing pond adjacent to the Saint Vrain River to the south and great views of the Twin Peaks - Longs and Meeker. We were just back to the site yesterday (May 24) and oddly, there were five Osprey around the nest. BTW: There are no Burrowing Owls at this site.</div>
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<i>All photos by Joel Such</i></div>
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The Ospreys have a couple avian neighbors of interest . . . a Red-tailed Hawk pair and Bobolinks. The Red-tailed Hawk pair are on a nest in a grove of Cottonwoods, which is conveniently located in the middle of the prairie dog town. They raised a couple of young here last year. The lush, grassy fields to the east harbor nesting Bobolinks that we've been observing for years. Boulder County now works with that landowner to ensure that the young are able to fledge before these fields are cut.</div>
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Bobolink</div>Joel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12750114091321820568noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-77007018547206291022012-04-29T19:52:00.000-06:002012-04-30T05:46:08.310-06:00Dodd Reservoir Restoration ProjectAmong the projects Joel and I are working on this summer, one of the most exciting is a habitat restoration taking place at Dodd Reservoir with our Boulder County Audubon Teen Naturalists program. This area, located between Boulder and Longmont off of the Diagonal Highway, is owned by Boulder County Audubon. The grassland and riparian areas are being restored to native vegetation from highly-invasive and biologically sterile Smooth Brome gras<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">s (<i>Bromus inermis</i>). I</span>f successful, this will be the first time that a Smooth Brome-infested property in Boulder County has been restored. This being ground-breaking research, the things we discover will likely be implemented into other such projects in the future. Among the tasks that we, the Teen Naturalists, have been assigned are bird and butterfly surveys to track population and biodiversity changes throughout the project, as well as the planting of native shrubs and trees on the property and the drilling of holes for native pollinators.<br />
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So far, we have made two visits out to the site. During the first, in mid-March, we set up the survey transects on the property and made initial surveys. For the second, in late-April, we continued with our bird and butterfly surveys as well as planted nearly 50 native shrubs along the southern shore of the lake. Before that last visit the entire north shore was supposed to be burned by the county, but this will have to be postponed nearly a year because of a state-wide fire ban due to a "controlled" burn near Evergreen that got out of control and destroyed numerous homes and took three lives.<br />
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If you are a teen in the Boulder County area, and want to participate, please contact us. And for anybody wanting further information and updates, <i>like us (Boulder County Teen Naturalists) </i>on Facebook <a href="http://www.facebook.com/pages/Boulder-County-Audubon-Teen-Naturalists/199091616844053">here</a>!<br />
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<br />Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-65560616238353174462012-02-05T18:00:00.002-07:002012-02-05T18:08:43.690-07:002012 Valmont Gullapalooza!Yesterday, February 4<sup>th</sup>, was the annual American
Birding Association/Boulder Bird Club/Colorado Field Ornithologists/Denver
Field Ornithologists/Xcel Energy Valmont “Gullapalooza” field trip, with
leaders Ted Floyd, Nick Komar, Bill Kaempfer, Steve Mlodinow, Christian Nunes,
Joel Such, and Marcel Such. For an
overview of this event’s history, see my previous blog post here: suchbros.blogspot.com/2011/01/valmont-gullapalooza-2011.html<br />
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No doubt due to a recent blizzard and accompanying cold
weather for the past two days and right up to the morning of the trip, participation
numbers were brought down to a “mere” total of 92 birders (compared to last
year’s all-time high of 227). To
reward the courageous folks that came to brave the knee-high snow and slush
around the power plant property, good duck diversity was seen on the lakes,
including a Tundra Swan, excellent views of Golden Eagle, Bald Eagle, and
Prairie Falcon. Additionally,
there was an unexpected and very exciting Red-necked Grebe that was a lifer for
many (including yours truly).</div>
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As the sun dipped below the horizon at the end of the day,
the die-hards who were still present in the dropping temperatures were awed to
see the thousands of floating gulls flocked on Valmont Reservoir rise up into a
“snow globe of gulls*,” and drop back down into adjacent Leggitt
Reservoir. Gull diversity wasn’t
the best this year (most likely due to the abnormally warm temperatures in
previous weeks that has left most area water completely open), but three
California Gulls and five Thayer’s Gulls were good additions to the Ring-billed
and Herring Gulls that predominantly made up the flock.</div>
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*Bill Schmoker coined this most accurate term.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbh3ydDRYJ91o6K5LAp5RhEdpujFOv47CDOjC5PcGZiN7YTMndxQsWhrfOmUpov3jXtEO0nPOUWMl8ny8W6jeeiLmWXCZXYt2zSqZuc5ojP7VcBRnuwL5QzCko1D5Ac77pjIAuM_Bsa4o/s1600/Joel+4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbh3ydDRYJ91o6K5LAp5RhEdpujFOv47CDOjC5PcGZiN7YTMndxQsWhrfOmUpov3jXtEO0nPOUWMl8ny8W6jeeiLmWXCZXYt2zSqZuc5ojP7VcBRnuwL5QzCko1D5Ac77pjIAuM_Bsa4o/s320/Joel+4.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>A dead American Coot</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkImOaCqvg1L6WLCD2W46nPkJaAw8exAI6qkKCKMLG69NhbwlrBnSBnpSiA78nqTTa5lEjwQjgMV7YCTSkmuiJQJU5Q54AB4xj8FybyTwZW81jcatZ7VKI12gIFt9lhmbHUO9Rt6YF_c0/s1600/Joel+7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjkImOaCqvg1L6WLCD2W46nPkJaAw8exAI6qkKCKMLG69NhbwlrBnSBnpSiA78nqTTa5lEjwQjgMV7YCTSkmuiJQJU5Q54AB4xj8FybyTwZW81jcatZ7VKI12gIFt9lhmbHUO9Rt6YF_c0/s320/Joel+7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1xKEwFiYIuz-tpuqoVOuK2WsyaVUZmm1GL33UvBtZ5v1FNbbqdBQrdqZ5wLh_-MHzRZv4ulRFb8ALcn8tgCehZp6w-jJXOGe3SF7NVmjVV8qv_3JqahFJKIiehMIweQmL5pVXS17PU8/s1600/Joel+8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhs1xKEwFiYIuz-tpuqoVOuK2WsyaVUZmm1GL33UvBtZ5v1FNbbqdBQrdqZ5wLh_-MHzRZv4ulRFb8ALcn8tgCehZp6w-jJXOGe3SF7NVmjVV8qv_3JqahFJKIiehMIweQmL5pVXS17PU8/s320/Joel+8.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhb1qxJpCZMIM6c9wnmU6joT4i36kItPH18QQcxocGZklJ2t3o85i3L4bN9Rhgb_-JM8JGSmWGPw2gFjaGCrb9psx5NxYXG7o4cCddk_8iuHtUE3g3fiB8mQsme1TvbIeazQXZbcWz6mk/s1600/Joel+9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjhb1qxJpCZMIM6c9wnmU6joT4i36kItPH18QQcxocGZklJ2t3o85i3L4bN9Rhgb_-JM8JGSmWGPw2gFjaGCrb9psx5NxYXG7o4cCddk_8iuHtUE3g3fiB8mQsme1TvbIeazQXZbcWz6mk/s320/Joel+9.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIItmTvag4GbyK_0dUg2uHfAO8fxTxc8jjlxNtvQWuCrR8Naxw9FW9Wuh_uUy31wBy0vijyXtrstis11HNLPphxhGxpnfY3AcFyl_6HFFiigFTBjN9OOaNjR0bOX92UMYJOFzsB3_HVPE/s1600/Joel+10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="284" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIItmTvag4GbyK_0dUg2uHfAO8fxTxc8jjlxNtvQWuCrR8Naxw9FW9Wuh_uUy31wBy0vijyXtrstis11HNLPphxhGxpnfY3AcFyl_6HFFiigFTBjN9OOaNjR0bOX92UMYJOFzsB3_HVPE/s320/Joel+10.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Red-necked Grebe with Common and Red-breasted Mergansers</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvt4KaSGuFCsDBskepnaNsrR9BrNhWTUQxkoMXkcTm6JXMLtkY9QOx3GcvebtGMxlccE9U0tF_wSPjoYebq5scydj09Ob_zanoFb6wdnW4SPgADlXfniUzzL8loXccpUlNNKadedTueuU/s1600/Joel+12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvt4KaSGuFCsDBskepnaNsrR9BrNhWTUQxkoMXkcTm6JXMLtkY9QOx3GcvebtGMxlccE9U0tF_wSPjoYebq5scydj09Ob_zanoFb6wdnW4SPgADlXfniUzzL8loXccpUlNNKadedTueuU/s320/Joel+12.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Bald Eagles</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOroYPPu5KBfWtYwql70IiRI9QTn-4U0NnETDSwaiOc0_SnH__dimECufiQRJ3GpHGegCB4lCdYTRW0w_Ixm1VOeRoeW_71od1-YhsdQs0bxQZxQBp6rolODKEItmLimrtdl5Ad_teVdU/s1600/Joel+13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjOroYPPu5KBfWtYwql70IiRI9QTn-4U0NnETDSwaiOc0_SnH__dimECufiQRJ3GpHGegCB4lCdYTRW0w_Ixm1VOeRoeW_71od1-YhsdQs0bxQZxQBp6rolODKEItmLimrtdl5Ad_teVdU/s320/Joel+13.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikC2UacmiFGBsK9b0BgSCpt0TUl0aMvFZtyfFX-tEBh_IZelYRdADe7ZELbp3i3O3RrZOdj7uA-x6u7F65rjzAq2GoxMwWL1G-JG-VmEkDb8zED89iFyFukaJQKGXf6ai8_ipKTTka5Qw/s1600/Joel+14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="277" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEikC2UacmiFGBsK9b0BgSCpt0TUl0aMvFZtyfFX-tEBh_IZelYRdADe7ZELbp3i3O3RrZOdj7uA-x6u7F65rjzAq2GoxMwWL1G-JG-VmEkDb8zED89iFyFukaJQKGXf6ai8_ipKTTka5Qw/s320/Joel+14.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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Prairie Falcon</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rL2eQRvEWHHG5O7eRW86qmilgvLNyH7WUuuUmWUHJTPcdjbo5FJmOSVyBeTKYYEONhYPXkn_W1xGOptx-3vNNlOuFZhLpK620m4tbfTniWa3UPwW_eZUUe45uXk3U9vLE0qeWGTrR-Y/s1600/Marcel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="245" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2rL2eQRvEWHHG5O7eRW86qmilgvLNyH7WUuuUmWUHJTPcdjbo5FJmOSVyBeTKYYEONhYPXkn_W1xGOptx-3vNNlOuFZhLpK620m4tbfTniWa3UPwW_eZUUe45uXk3U9vLE0qeWGTrR-Y/s320/Marcel.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Golden Eagle</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0leCtRWe5gFwyWoBFo9MLkWYbO6BoxMcgmVtHIOytVeAFKP_KhlT4X_ffUgwNwpBhkbVTfRPPLQq9i7gV97xikCRSDFwuQWwlPrZ_IUailPGXiFCZcYZtwgQbV1XajYS2di5IU6JWEo/s1600/Joel+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjz0leCtRWe5gFwyWoBFo9MLkWYbO6BoxMcgmVtHIOytVeAFKP_KhlT4X_ffUgwNwpBhkbVTfRPPLQq9i7gV97xikCRSDFwuQWwlPrZ_IUailPGXiFCZcYZtwgQbV1XajYS2di5IU6JWEo/s320/Joel+6.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0x_-7IibTA5zqJi6i28-W9rHGXuioqZFFX6FUVX073hkFFCn7TtM50MSGn1WJ7im_L4PfhGFRUq1MGG8HTrShthoDfmsa1ANtG1ugV_jsz5fpnEn3CD8bN7bAlvkB8Onh3z3Qab4VS0g/s1600/Joel+5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0x_-7IibTA5zqJi6i28-W9rHGXuioqZFFX6FUVX073hkFFCn7TtM50MSGn1WJ7im_L4PfhGFRUq1MGG8HTrShthoDfmsa1ANtG1ugV_jsz5fpnEn3CD8bN7bAlvkB8Onh3z3Qab4VS0g/s320/Joel+5.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j_DWM5jre52tC65SRYXXldTpQf14CcRaJAtiGmbxGTf9IFDt3U86tpJhZjtF29wtm8n5uiAcLbzb69zU1J7qfuGu_6ohYwcUJyLZlKlc0FPkY6S04Cr5UciZeEeP4B4mBJIjHS3KWnM/s1600/Joel+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4j_DWM5jre52tC65SRYXXldTpQf14CcRaJAtiGmbxGTf9IFDt3U86tpJhZjtF29wtm8n5uiAcLbzb69zU1J7qfuGu_6ohYwcUJyLZlKlc0FPkY6S04Cr5UciZeEeP4B4mBJIjHS3KWnM/s320/Joel+2.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>A "snow-globe" of gulls.</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGds7cBTh1GbtJrHJxZmh4PLOpfTu0NIEaSfFHcPwIXn_oeJH2irUrtbhcSu7PeNxAnRKszbabqVBsS1XP94Vq6GKhWRTyy3iC-3VBO4s3l08pgCYrWTESQXQ-6kjY4uIx0813GW1aivI/s1600/Joel+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiGds7cBTh1GbtJrHJxZmh4PLOpfTu0NIEaSfFHcPwIXn_oeJH2irUrtbhcSu7PeNxAnRKszbabqVBsS1XP94Vq6GKhWRTyy3iC-3VBO4s3l08pgCYrWTESQXQ-6kjY4uIx0813GW1aivI/s320/Joel+1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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Cackling Goose</div>
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Canada Goose</div>
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Tundra Swan</div>
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Gadwall</div>
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American Wigeon</div>
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Wood Duck</div>
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Mallard</div>
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Green-winged Teal</div>
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Lesser Scaup</div>
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Canvasback</div>
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Redhead</div>
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Ring-necked Duck</div>
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Common Goldeneye</div>
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Hooded Merganser</div>
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Common Merganser</div>
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Red-breasted Merganser</div>
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Hooded Merganser</div>
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Ruddy Duck</div>
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Pied-billed Grebe</div>
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Horned Grebe</div>
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Red-necked Grebe</div>
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Western Grebe</div>
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Double-crested Cormorant</div>
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Great Blue Heron</div>
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Black-crowned Night-Heron</div>
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Bald Eagle</div>
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Red-tailed Hawk</div>
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Ferruginous Hawk</div>
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Golden Eagle</div>
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American Kestrel</div>
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Prairie Falcon</div>
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American Coot</div>
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Ring-billed Gull</div>
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California Gull</div>
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Herring Gull</div>
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Thayer's Gull</div>
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Eurasian Collared-Dove</div>
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Rock Pigeon</div>
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Belted Kingfisher</div>
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Downy Woodpecker</div>
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Northern Flicker</div>
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Black-billed Magpie</div>
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American Crow</div>
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Common Raven</div>
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Brown Creeper</div>
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Townsend's Solitaire</div>
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American Robin</div>
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European Starling</div>
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American Tree Sparrow</div>
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Song Sparrow</div>
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White-crowned Sparrow</div>
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Red-winged Blackbird</div>
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House Finch</div>
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House Sparrow</div>
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54 species</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-35691328667349600622012-01-01T18:32:00.000-07:002012-05-25T15:36:53.186-06:00New Year BirdingA Great Horned Owl hooted in the distance. A few minutes before we had heard a Canada Goose, our first bird of the new year, 2012. It was 6 in the morning, first light still an hour or so off. Along with me were Ted Floyd and Joel (a common group as of late). We walked down the gravel path towards a grove of cottonwood trees at Pella Crossings in Hygiene, Colorado, where we hoped for Eastern Screech-Owl. Another Great Horned joined the first, and soon we were able to distinguish four owls calling out somewhere in the dark - two males and two females. Though rather difficult to sex a single bird by call alone, being able to hear them together makes the lower-pitched call of the male easily identifiable. <br />
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Now entering the grove, Ted starts whistling an exact imitation of the tremulous, haunting call of the screech-owl. For several tense minutes, nothing happened. Then, emanating from a stand of trees on the far side of a meadow, we heard the real thing. For half a minute, Ted and the owl "sang" with each other. Then the owl fell silent, as did the imitator. A new Boulder County species. Walking as quietly as one can on two inches of old, crusty snow and dry grass, we made our way across the field. Trying again to coax the little owl into calling again, we stood still and waited as Ted again tried to work his magic. But to no avail, the woods stood silent.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrk60I8yXiV-ZU1EZO3cbSb8D-E4WHyWUqOuMUL1ns4RssG7gFA3Ei5S2gHP_mYL8ND2w1HJpX8yobUOIBwFTcSfT55DkjP8NZw0x2lLEeanSTsoYnvVECMDdVmQlqguXPlRY_OQ6Kio/s1600/Joel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjyrk60I8yXiV-ZU1EZO3cbSb8D-E4WHyWUqOuMUL1ns4RssG7gFA3Ei5S2gHP_mYL8ND2w1HJpX8yobUOIBwFTcSfT55DkjP8NZw0x2lLEeanSTsoYnvVECMDdVmQlqguXPlRY_OQ6Kio/s320/Joel.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>photo by Joel Such</i></div>
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With the sun now breaching the horizon, other birds started awakening. A flock of starlings whirred overhead - they would cause us trouble later by uttering perfect imitations of both Killdeer and Blue Jay. Red-winged Blackbirds called from a nearby cattail marsh as Brown Creepers and a Downy Woodpecker worked the overarching cottonwood branches above our heads. Though surrounded by ponds, we had to search for open, un-iced water. We found this in the form of two private ponds bordering the public land. Ducks and geese clogged these refuges in an otherwise frozen world. Despite our probing searches of these flocks, we neglected to turn up anything beyond the normal species: Canada Geese, American Wigeons, Redheads, Ring-necked Ducks, Common Goldeneyes, Common Mergansers, and American Coots.<br />
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Returning to the car, we also encountered a flock of wintering passerines near the trailhead. Searching through the flock, we found it contained numerous Song Sparrows, <i>gambelii</i> White-crowned Sparrows, Dark-eyed Juncos (of the Slate-colored, Oregon, and Pink-sided flavors), plus an incredible three Harris's Sparrows (a new county bird for me and Joel) and two "Myrtle" Yellow-rumped Warblers.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3B2sBD9FjqjI5ln87XhE6rf6a1GExkhRuHiiad1tDncLRjuCDQMsr8lqfH5M26mmkChBuRdq_YoBjxRYfVjpCU4Cb93IU3nA9DB_KGc4bWMx5dELvmEQDcLWnZoynFHl0_U-kgXLv_9E/s1600/Marcel.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="203" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh3B2sBD9FjqjI5ln87XhE6rf6a1GExkhRuHiiad1tDncLRjuCDQMsr8lqfH5M26mmkChBuRdq_YoBjxRYfVjpCU4Cb93IU3nA9DB_KGc4bWMx5dELvmEQDcLWnZoynFHl0_U-kgXLv_9E/s320/Marcel.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Immature Harris's Sparrow - photo by Marcel Such</i></div>
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Continuing on up into the mountains, we encountered a herd of completely unconcerned Bighorn Sheep licking salt off of Highway 7 just up canyon from Lyons. In Allenspark at the famous Fawnbrook Inn, we watched the feeders there and listened for an incoming flock of rosy-finches. Unfortunately, we never heard the raucous chatter that accompanies a massive flock of these mountain finches. However, we still saw two rosy-finches, a normal interior west Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch and coastal "Hepburn's" Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch, along with a flock of Evening Grosbeaks. At the Olive Ridge Campground near the Wild Basin trailhead in Rocky Mountain National Park, we saw a beautiful adult male Pine Grosbeak.<br />
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<i>Bighorn Sheep - photo by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzrMBpBBn2Ijfuv2xvsZOBukgylz0oXRkTcLSaiF1pzDCQ9VK5nBVFyjZEvDs1wTuBRd6HddnzE4N5BIJ05zx52tt-nFlBQlHcKo9cyuwsgQnXccTcvKhtqSzGbVDMmSFS7WcIizGSYo/s1600/Joel+1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqzrMBpBBn2Ijfuv2xvsZOBukgylz0oXRkTcLSaiF1pzDCQ9VK5nBVFyjZEvDs1wTuBRd6HddnzE4N5BIJ05zx52tt-nFlBQlHcKo9cyuwsgQnXccTcvKhtqSzGbVDMmSFS7WcIizGSYo/s320/Joel+1.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="315" /></a></div>
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<i>"Hepburn's" Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch - photo by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Evening Grosbeaks - photo by Joel Such</i></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTy_UAGtXT00i7OeHtqmNChDd-zueRIKWysbvlOfZeGi-mEse7mmzn4tV-41s6EN1tBolndoI8PHA5cKoaaL6Z26QrN4EK6NnT8MEvs0k4zziGSRFCAq_1d6T77b9MMb0Sd2Ha7-2y5WU/s1600/Joel+6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhTy_UAGtXT00i7OeHtqmNChDd-zueRIKWysbvlOfZeGi-mEse7mmzn4tV-41s6EN1tBolndoI8PHA5cKoaaL6Z26QrN4EK6NnT8MEvs0k4zziGSRFCAq_1d6T77b9MMb0Sd2Ha7-2y5WU/s320/Joel+6.jpg" style="cursor: move;" width="316" /></a></div>
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<i>Evening Grosbeak - photo by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Pine Grosbeak - photo by Joel Such</i></div>
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<i>Red-breasted Nuthatch - photo by Marcel Such</i></div>
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Returning back to the foothills level, we stopped by our neighbor Davis's house. The purpose of this: Ted hadn't seen Pinyon Jays in Boulder County since he started <a href="http://ebird.org/">eBirding</a> in 2007. Davis resides in Larimer County, a mere stone's throw from the county line. Reclining on deck chairs overlooking his feeders, Davis sets out a handful of peanuts in an attempt to draw these Pinyon Pine specialists out of the depths of the adjacent Sisk conservation property. For a half-hour, we waited in suspense, for their gaudy calls to reveal their presence. With time constraints on Ted's part, we were forced to retreat to the car. Before that, however, we made a quick trip up to the top of the boulder pile just east of the Davis house. There, we caught the distant calls of a flock of Pinyon Jays. Staying just long enough to confirm that at least some of the birds were calling from the Boulder County side of the fence, Ted returned us to our house by noon. It was a productive morning of birding with 45 species seen on the first day of 2012.Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-753194006469674980.post-46606524767446024142011-12-30T10:29:00.000-07:002012-01-03T08:29:59.439-07:00Oldsquaw Twitching<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
Yesterday we "chased" an Oldsquaw, or to be more scientifically and politically correct, a Long-tailed Duck, <i>Clangula hyemalis</i>. Though not particularly rare in Colorado, this species has eluded us ever since we started birding. I (Marcel) finally saw my lifer Long-tailed Duck in Maine this summer, but Joel had yet to see one. Seizing the opportunity of visiting the Denver Art Museum, we took the short side trip to the Denver City Park to look for a long-staying immature male bird. True to form, we easily found it in the Duck Pond behind the Denver Zoo, among the more common Mallards, Northern Shovelers, Redheads, Ring-necked Ducks, Common Goldeneyes, American Coots, and Canada Geese.</div>
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<i>All photos by Joel Such</i></div>
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Canada Goose - 3000</div>
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American Wigeon - 4</div>
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Mallard - 16</div>
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Northern Shoveler - 8</div>
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Northern Pintail - 4</div>
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Redhead - 8</div>
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Ring-necked Duck - 14</div>
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Long-tailed Duck - 1</div>
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Bufflehead - 6</div>
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Common Goldeneye - 11</div>
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Pied-billed Grebe - 2</div>
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American Coot - 12</div>
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Ring-billed Gull - 35</div>
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Rock Pigeon - 3</div>
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Black-billed Magpie - 3</div>
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American Crow - 20</div>
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American Robin - 4</div>
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European Starling - 100</div>
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House Sparrow - 6</div>
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19 species</div>Marcel Suchhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01839425039279287108noreply@blogger.com0