Sunday March 24 to April 9
This was a quirky route. The plan was to drive to the desert for wildflowers, thrashers and other arid avians and then up to Colorado and Kansas for chickens, ie Gunnison sage grouse and prairie chickens.
First stop: May 24th Merced National Wildlife Refuge
On our way south to out favorite desert Anza Barrage State Park we stopped at the Merced National Wildlife Refuge
The National Wildlife refuges throughout the United States our awesome. President Theodore Roosevelt, who is my favorite president, established Pelican Island on the Atlantic Cost as the first National Wildlife refuge unit.
From their website:
Our Mission
The mission of the National Wildlife Refuge System is to administer a national network of lands
and waters for the conservation, management and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish,
wildlife and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
That is a pretty good statement and we rely on this refuge to find birds in some of the best habitats in the United States. The bird of the day at Merced was a gorgeous pair of Swainson Hawks
Thirst for Thrashers
We now headed down to Taft, California for our first thrasher, the LeConte's. Taft is still oil country. The birds are found near pipelines in open range. Luckily, on our way in to town we stopped at a pullout. I am not sure why I stopped but then we heard a LeConte's thrasher calling.
Thrashers, like the Leconte's, we often see singing at the end of the day.
We stayed at the old Best Western with the oil field photos from the There will be Blood Days. The next
Bells photo by Molly
day we went over to the well known Petroleum Road spot. But we did not find any more LeConte's. Though we did sample the great collection of Bells sparrows among the pipelines.
Into the Desert:
With the Bells and the first thrasher in hand we headed to our favorite desert Anza Borrego State Park, the largest state park in California.
This year we were treated not only with great birds but a timely wildflower bloom.
Our favorite hike in Anza Borrego is Hell Hole Canyon. Besides the flowers, this is a great wren hike with numerous Cactus wren, usually one or two lovely Canyon wrens, and Rock wrens. This was also an excellent Scott's oriole year.
Rock wren, Hellhole
Waterfall hellhole
Cactus Wren on blooming Ocotillo.
Barrel Cactus
Black-tailed gnatcatcher
Canyon Wren
Scott's on Ocotillo
Verdin, Lemon drop of the desert
3:10 to Yuma
Birding knows no boundaries and economic realities (for the most part). After picking up the Grey Vireo in the East San Diego hills we headed to Arizona. We had blown by Yuma in the past but this time we stopped to explore the arid habitat. We found our next thrasher at the beautiful Yuma West Wetlands, a former landfill turned into a beautiful recreation area.
And without any further adieu here is our photo of the Crissal Thrasher.
We also saw this Roadrunner and it was calling like an owl: Cooo Coooo!
After Yuma we were off to Central Arizona College east of Phoenix. This is our go to spot for the Bendire's Thrasher. We walked over to the ball fields. A bird sang overhead. Yes a sweet Bendire's thrasher sang in the branches over our head.
We also had excellent views of the denizen of the Saguaro, the Gilded Flicker.
Now it was time to head back to Gilbert Water Ranch. We had been looking and listening futilely for a Least Bittern at home. Gilbert Water Ranch is very popular recreation area in the Phoenix area. We had been there on our beginning of the year trip when we saw a Streak-backed oriole.
But we needed the bittern. In the well manicured pond we stared and listened. Then in the reeds the teddy bear of waders was waiting. We watched as he speared a fish.
We also found our old friends from January the male and female Streak backed orioles. Will they mate? Checking Ebird I see only the female being reported shortly after we left and then no reports of her since May 1. She and he must be back in Central America. Vaya con Diss.
Chickens!!
Waunita Hot Spring Lek.
Now it was time to look for chickens. The targets were Gunnison sage grouse, Greater prairie chicken, and Lesser Prairie Chicken. The Lessers and Gunnison are listed as sensitive on Ebird and thus you cannot see exact locations. But don't give up, just hit the Google machine. Gunnison sage grouse can be seen during the lek season from a turnout just off Highway 50 between Montrose and Pancho Springs Colorado.
First we had to stop by Colorado Fish and Game in Montrose for a pass.
(From the Siskadee web site)all visitors to the Waunita Watchable Wildlife Site State Wildlife Area must have a valid Colorado fishing or hunting license or a State Wildlife Area pass.
We camped at a turnout off US 50 and hit the spot in the morning, yes early. Not super early, as a group were already set up in the viewing blind. At about 6:30 we pulled our scope out and placed it next tour van. Western meadowlarks whirled in the field below. After a couple of hours no birds were seen. Then the van next to us open up. We asked the field guide if they had seen birds. She said that they had called just before we arrived but there were still a couple way up on the hill. Heroically, she place them in our scope and we had our birds. Thank you.
According to the guide, the chickens are decreasing in number and use to come right out to the fields in front of us. If you go bring a good scope or consider joining a group.
Now we moved onto Kansas to view prairie chickens. Last year we went to Hays, Kansas and attended their Lek festival. The viewing morning started real early. The guide drove us out somewhere and set up a tent-like blind. The guide retreated to the van and we waited and waited and froze and froze some more. As I write this I am sitting in the Anchorage airport and we just recently traveled to Gambell Alaska (another report) and the guide said it was the coldest Spring birding he had experience on Gambell. Well just say I was even colder on the windswept plains of Kansas.
Last year a couple of chickens showed up and danced. Then they flew off. I called the guide and she said they might come back. I said we all agreed they are not coming back and we will like to go out to the included breakfast right away.
This year we went to Oakley, Kansas, through the Buffalo Bill Center. These visits are strictly chicken focused. It was hella windy in Oakley. But the leader who knew all the ranchers in the area was optimistic. We headed into an old cattle car. The leader, sporting a cowboy hat and the best insulated pants I had ever seen, joined us inside. He talked to us about how the ranch was using some sustainable practices. He was not an expert on all the birds, but he knew his chickens.
And they came and they danced. Best of all one Greater Prairie chicken joined them.
Males lessers dancing Greater prairie chicken
Time to head home. Our hotel was filling up with folks heading the opposite direction for the Solar Eclipse. A couple of stops including a visit with the previously named 'water ouzel' the American dipper. John Muir's favorite bird near Reno.
Now we have to go home and plan to bird across the country. See you out there.
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