Day 15: Volcano and French Bar

     We got up early (for us) this morning and went for a jog out on French Bar road. The road was free of other people and cars and there were plenty of birds out and about, Western King Birds, Western Blue Birds, Phoebes and Orioles, all the usuals were flying around catching up the morning bugs. The only unusual bird I spotted was a pair of Western Wood Pewees, which are newer to me as of a couple of weeks ago but unfortunately no new birds were added to my list this morning.
    After Locke's nap and lunch we headed out to Volcano, quickly, as to avoid the bad weather later in the day. We started out behind the St. George hotel but we didn't get lucky until we went over to the Volcano Park in Soldier's Gulch.
     Volcano is so named because during the California Gold Rush the major mining conglomerates basically stripped all the top soil out of the valley to collect the gold dust and powder that had settled into the soil during the period when the Mokeulmne River ran through this part of Amador. The resulting landscape, in some place 30 feet lower than originally, resembled a volcanic landscape. The pioneers who settled in the region named it thusly.  The original European discoverers of this area were a group of soldiers who had been moving through the valley and found the area rich in gold. They decided to spend the winter but were unable to survive the unusually harsh weather that year. The following spring Mexican miners found the bodies of the soldiers and buried them on a hill over Sutter Creek which still runs through town; hence Soldier Gulch.
     But I digress, Locke and I were playing hide and seek around a large rock in the center of the park when I spotted a bright yellow bird flit overhead into a maple tree. There was no doubt what the bird was once I got a good look at it, a Yellow Warbler. The Yellow Warbler is definitely a lifer for me and therefore another bird added to the list.
    The bad weather is supposed to continue part way into tomorrow so I'm not sure where we are going to head out to. I'm thinking Pardee Reservoir and a small pond near the Coast to Crest trail to try to rustle up some water birds.

Day 14: Ione and Sutter Hill

Today was another strange and unproductive day. Locke woke late and then took a 3 hour nap after lunch which derailed our plans to head out to Volcano for some birding. After dinner though we headed down to Howard Park for the last few minutes of day light and then over to the Sutter Hill transit station, where there is a small pond, for the sunset.
     No new species for the day and rain in the forecast for tomorrow and Wednesday. My plan is to head out extra early for a jog down French Bar and then too drive up to Volcano before lunch. 

Day 13: Volcano

We didn't spot any new birds today, more of that "responsibility" stuff I mentioned.
   We spent the day fixing up the house and garden, at least we finally have the Swamp Cooler set up and a weed-free front walk.
    This evening we did make it to Volcano to enjoy the summer weather but we didn't rack up any new birds.

Day 12: Middle Bar and The Moke

  We set out on Middle Bar Road this afternoon, a beautiful day with only mild heat, but unfortunately also only a couple of new birds to add to the list.
    The Bridge was really busy today with loads of fishermen taking advantage of the nice weather and swollen river. They all complimented us on our "beautiful little girl", Achille says it was because  I dressed the baby in a white jumper with blue sandals. We didn't correct them. Right away we saw a flock (a gaggle?) of Canada Geese swimming against the current towards us. Not an uncommon bird certainly,  but one of our personal favorites. In college I helped with Achille's wildlife project on the Aleutian Cackling Goose so this particular species is in our hearts. 
     The usuals were all there, the ever-present Lesser Goldfinch and Black Phoebes and quite a few Acorn Woodpeckers as well, nothing in the trees was too interesting to note. However we stopped in a shady spot overlooking the river where we noticed a pair of small waterbirds calling to eachother and diving. A quick peek through the binocs revealed them as Pied-billed Grebes. A species I was very surprised to see as I did not know that they lived around here. We also saw a Western Pond Turtle basking nearby and a mamma Mallard leading her 5 young ducklings downstream where they attempted a water take-off unsuccessfully.
   Our goal was to make it all the way up to the gold mine near Paloma but we turned around after a couple of hours so we could pursue our other duties for the day which included trying to persuade the boy to eat and sleep. He got his 18 month shots yesterday and he's been extra crabby today.
  Tomorrow I plan on heading out to Volcano to do a little geocaching and of course, birding.

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!