Day 11: Cat Creek and Beyond

  Today we headed up to the forest above Pioneer to seek out a pair of Northern Spotted Owls that Achille has studied in the past. Not only was I able to add this wonderful bird to the year list but we were rewarded with four other species that aren't commonly seen, especially near our home in the foothills.
     Halfway out to the site we stopped by a little meadow that Achille knew there was, back in the 1960's a small corral and home site. The day was gorgeous and the meadow was sprinkled with bright yellow monkeyflowers and dominated by a stone foundation and forgotten food tins and beer cans. It was really lovely, but the hallmark of the stop was the Western Tanager that dropped in to see what we were up to. We love tanagers, their bright colors are reminiscent of parrots almost in the way that their vivid oranges and yellows grade into each other with a distinct delicateness.  We also saw a few Stellar's Jays and Red Tails not to mention the Black-headed Grosbeak.
    Eventually we made our way out to the nest site of the Spotted Owls and immediately Achille, in his very talented way called out the typical call of the bird. I swear that man is 1/4 owl. After a few moments of scanning the forest for flight movement we heard the response call about 300 yards to the left of us and so we hiked out into the woods, the baby on my hip. As we neared the site the spots of white-wash and owl pellets full of rodent bones showed us that were getting close. Finally, about 10 feet up an Incense Cedar, a large male Spotted Owl peered down at us as if to say, "Hoo Hoo Who the hell are you?" He took off and then quickly alit about  ten yards away in another tree, looking towards his female, a bird about 3/4 size of the male with large dark eyes and the appropriate spotted back. We sat with them for about 20 minutes and watched as the female regurgitated and the promptly flew over to her mate where they called to each other, he with his his typical Spotted Owl Call: "Hoooouuu Hoo Hoo Hooooouuuu" and her with her response call, a soft ascending "sawwweeeeee" We sat and watched them while Locke played on the ground and looked up at the birds.
     As we were driving away from the site we spotted a flycatcher perched about 50 feet up a tree. It's dark back and obvious white splotch on its back gave it away as an Olive-sided Flycatcher, a bird that we've seen  before but new to the year list.
     About 20 minutes later we were zeroing in on the nest sites of several Northern Goshawks. Achille headed out on foot to the nests which were close to the road, asking me to give him a warning if the aggressive bird came down to defend its nest from the 6 foot primate. Fortunately/unfortunately the nest sites were inactive. However we were granted the presence of a Band-tailed Pigeon, a bird that I find rather lovely and graceful, no matter what their city-living cousins may represent.
    As we were leaving the Goshawk location, after many sightings of mystery birds that remain unidentified (CURSE YOU PILEATED WOODPECKER!) I spotted a woodpecker swoop across the sky and land in a tall tree to the South, with a quick flick of the binocs I evaluated its solid black body and crisp white head, a small dark line behind the nape of its neck, and added the White-headed Woodpecker to my year list, booyah!
  David Sibley describes the White-headed Woodpecker as a bird with a coloration like no other bird in North America, I have to say that as excited and pleased I was with the Spotted Owl sighting today, the White-headed Woodpecker really made a wonderful finish to a lovely day.
       On a side note, I would like to add that I realize that I have not added very many photos to this blog. There are a few reasons for this

• I am an avid photographer and have many photographs of my adventures in birding, however I often update this blog from my Toshiba Notebook which I have no photos on
• The camera I currently own is not of a high enough quality to take good photos of the birds I see. I am in the shopping process for an awesome camera so please bear with me. I will go back and post photos of birds that I have seen once I take a picture of them

Day 10: French Bar Road Part Deux

  Locke and I took advantage of the cooler (thank God) weather to take an early walk out on French Bar Road. We really didn't see anything that we haven't seen before, the usual Kingbirds, Phoebes, and Goldfinches. But we did spot a couple of birds that we hadn't seen since the list began, at least on French Bar Road. After finally spotting a Lazuli Bunting on Middle Bar Road yesterday we saw at least five this morning on French Bar.
    We were lucky enough to add the Lark Sparrow, a beautiful painted bird with delicate white fringes on its tail, to the list. This is another bird we usually spot on French Bar, but only today we were able to add it to the list.
     Down by the creek about a mile later we were able to spot a pair of House Wrens, which surprisingly enough, is a lifer for me. They were perched on the barbed wire fence and once they saw us they darted into a blackberry bush.
   It's Thursday tonight and the beginning of our weekend so I'll cut this post short. Goodnight

Day 9: Middle Bar Road, Jackson

     This afternoon, after his nap, Locke and I set out to explore Middle Bar Road just south of Jackson. The last time I had been out there the bumpy road was extremely uncomfortable as I was 8 months pregnant at the time, this time, however, the 3 mile drive out to the Middle Bar bridge was much more comfortable and probably won't result in a baby in 3 weeks.
      It was hot, again, but not nearly as it has been the past few days, and the shaded road and many dales made the 2 hour walk quite pleasant.
     Immediately, as we crossed the bridge into Calaveras County, we spotted a heron springing up from the Amador shore side, what I thought to be a bittern at first was actually a Green Heron, a lifer for me so it was quite thrilling to see. The heron was exactly where we had seen an American Dipper almost 2 years ago, but the water level was much higher this time making the habitat unsuitable for the Dipper but ideal for this heron. Score!
    About an hour in we had spotted plenty of Lesser Goldfinches and Black Phoebes, neither of which are new to the year list but we were soon rewarded with the presence of an Ash-throated Flycatcher.
    Near the end of our walk I noticed an entrance to the Coast to Crest trail, a permitted hiking trail along the Mokeulmne that I am very interested in trying. My curiosity was well worth it as we saw a small, familiar blue colored bird lilting across the trail. I pulled out my binocs and was easily able to identify the petite and lovely Lazuli Bunting: a bird that I had seen out on French Bar road several times but only now have been able to add to my year list.
   So one lifer and two other new birds to add to the list. A good day, I can't wait to see what tomorrow will bring!

Day 8: Hotter than a White-crowned Sparrow's Temper

 Mother of God, today was even hotter than yesterday at 107°. After living in Humboldt for six years this weather is really starting to get to me. Locke and I didn't make out to Middle Bar today due to his napping schedule and a WIC appointment in the afternoon, but we were able to squeeze in Howard Park between those times.
    We spotted a bird that I see all the time, but until today hadn't made it onto the year list. The White-crowned Sparrow, one of the larger sparrows if not the largest in this region is a very blustery little bad-ass of a bird. In Humboldt we called them the "Regina Spektor" bird after a part in her song "On the Radio" that sounds a lot like the WCS's dialect for that region. We spotted them near the horse arena dancing around in the shady oaks.
   We also spotted something that may have been a Yellow-rumped Warbler, but without certainty I won't include it yet.

Day 7: 102° and Counting

 Today was by far the hottest day of the year so far but that didn't keep me and Locke from hiking out on French Bar Road. We headed out at about 3:15 with plenty of water and sunscreen and were rewarded for braving the heat by snagging two new birds for the year list.
   The first bird was a bit of a surprise as I had seen it's female counterpart a few times in Howard Park near the stables, and to spot this male Black-headed Grosbeak was certainly serendipitous. We had paused under some shady oaks for a while to rest and also to try and spot those notorious Lazuli Buntings Achille and I had spotted before in the same spot. Turning my head a little to the left, I spotted a bird sitting in a small opening of the branches and was able to quickly zero in on the bird with my binocs. No doubting it, this was definitely a Black-headed Grosbeak. Score!
    After a while we headed out into the sun again where we quickly spotted a bird, just for a moment, that I was unable to ID, it was about the size of a robin with a black and white streaked face. I really have no clue what bird it was as I was unable to see the rest of it before it ducked down under some tall grass.
     Going back up the hill to the car we were granted the presence of an American Kestrel calling out from its perch on a power pole. A common bird, yes, but still one to add to the year list.
   Tomorrow we're going down Middle Bar road where I know there is at least one American Dipper that hangs out near the bridge Ideally I would like to up my finds per day to more than just 2 or 3. Of course this means waking early or going out late, both which are difficult when I have the baby with me.

Day 6: Tiger Creek Reservoir

  Achille, Locke and I headed up to Tiger Creek Reservoir in Pine Grove today to see if we couldn't spot some Northern Spotted Owls and other mountain species. Unfortunately the day was pretty much bust except for the  Dusky Flycatcher I spotted as we were headed back down the mountain. I'm incline to believe that the reason we saw so few animals today was due to a shooting event located less than a mile from where we were looking.
    This evening I was taking a short walk and was able to snag some House Sparrows, a very common species but a new one for the year list none the less.
    I'm in a unique position to get some Spotted Owls and Northern Goshawks on my list this year as Achille's project focuses on those species in particular and he is aware of several locations where there are active nest sites. Next weekend we're hoping to head up the mountain again as a family and spot these birds.
  I'm not sure what tomorrow will entail in terms of birding but I am certain that at some point in the day Locke and I will be outside. Perhaps we'll head out to French Bar road to spot some more birds that I know for certain live out there. Wish me luck

Day 5: Part of Those "Responsibilities " We Discussed

   I didn't spot a single bird today that I haven't already listed. Maybe that's because I hardly left the house only to drive to Folsom in the afternoon to take care of some serious business aka celebrating Father's Day with Achille a day early. On the drive out I kept a eye open for the usual raptors and shore birds that we see along the way, but nothing.
   Hopefully tomorrow will be different.