GOING BACK IN TIME….
7/4 – 7/21/2025 We flew into Tucson, wandered from Mount Lemon to the canyons (including Madera and Miller), then went visiting family in Las Vegas, after which we headed through the CA Mountains to San Diego for a pelagic trip. Highlights were: Hearing the Buff-collared Nightjar, seeing hummingbirds including a Broad-billed/Berylline Hummingbird hybrid, catching images of the Flame-colored Tanager and Buff-breasted Flycatcher, Mountain Quail and White-headed Woodpecker, and finally, Craveri’s Murrelet and Scripp’s Murrelet in San Diego where we also caught a “speck picture” of the visiting White-winged Tern! Had a super trip!
7/20/25 San Diego, CA: With just a few hours left of our trip, we had to pursue the Scripp’s Murrelet being seen at a jetty point nearby!
7/19/25 Pelagic trip with Paul Lehman out of San Diego, CA: A BIG thanks to him and all the spotters! We caught some Black-footed Albatross and Black-vented Shearwater coming closer to the boat. Rarer birds seen were: Craveri’s Murrelet , Ashy Storm-Petrel (3pics), Leach’s Storm-Petrel (Chapman’s) (2pics- note white on rump), and Sabine’s Gull. Western Gull , Elegant Tern , and Black Storm-Petrel were prevalent . We also caught Sooty Tern and various Dolphin pods out feeding.
7/18 to 20/25 San Diego, CA: On 7/18/25 Paul Lehman (Thanks again!!) was kind enough to hang at J street and show a large group of birders the visiting White-winged Tern , a USA lifer for most of us. The tiny bird (second from right) was distant, but distinguishable. Also from 7/18 and 7/20: Long-billed Curlew , Marbled Godwit , Willet , Western Sandpiper , Heermann’s Gull , Whimbrel , Least Tern , and Western Sandpiper flock .
7/17/25 Buckhorn Campground area, CA: There were a number of White-headed Woodpecker individuals giving us good looks! Also: Orange-crowned Warbler , Townsend’s Solitaire , Pygmy Nuthatch group feeding together, and Steller’s Jay .
7/17/25 Buckhorn Campground area, CA: On the road up we were excited to see a head pop over the side of the road at a pull off. We caught two Mountain Quail hanging behind, waiting for us! The trees higher up were dripping with birds: Black-throated Gray Warbler , Brown Creeper , Cassin’s Finch , Northern House Wren , Hairy Woodpecker , Mountain Chickadee , Nuttall’s Woodpecker , Western Flycatcher , Western Bluebird, and Rufous Hummingbird .
7/16/25 Horseshoe Meadow, CA: On the way up to 10,000 feet, we caught Chukar that were kind enough to hang for some pics. Williamson’s Sapsucker (m,f) were seen in the campground, and Dusky Flycatcher , Northern Parula , Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon’s), Mountain Chickadee , and Dark-eyed Junco (juv.) in the meadowlands.
7/15/2025 Onion Valley Campground, CA: California Quail family on the road, Mountain Chickadee , Western Tanager (m,f) , juv. Red-breasted Sapsucker , and Western Wood-Pewee .
7/12/13/14/2025 Henderson, NV and eastern CA: a Crissal Thrasher trio was feeding right in front of us in great light. Also a showy Ruddy Duck and White-faced Ibis gave us good looks. Then: Ash-throated Flycatcher , American Robin (juv.), an American Kestrel (trying to cool down), Bell’s Sparrow , Brewer’s Blackbird , a distant LeConte’s Thrasher, Red-breasted Sapsucker , and Western Meadowlark .
7/11/2025, Palo Verde Eco. Reserve, CA: Had a quick morning stop to look for hawks and found a few! We spied a hawk buried in the trees almost immediately and a we walked closer, a lovely Zone-tailed Hawk actually flew from the forest and land in front of us as if to say hello. We were thrilled! Also: American Kestrel , two Red-tailed Hawk individuals , and numerous Lesser Nighthawk flyovers were captured.
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