William F. Riley Wilderness Park – San Juan Capistrano Christmas Bird Count for December 20, 2014

Greetings – Here’s a partial summary of today’s CBC for San Juan Capistrano

I met up with Darrell Wilson, Jerry Tolman, Sandy, Stephanie and Jerry at the parking lot of William F. Riley Wildereness Park earlier today at approximately 10 a.m.  Mike Sanders also joined us in participation for the annual CBC San Juan Christmas Bird Count.  This leg of the journey focused primarily on the south east end of the park.  The trail is called “South Wagon Wheel Canyon Trail”.  The Lewis’s Woodpecker, Lark Sparrow and Northern Harrier pictures were photographed near the parking lot and bird feeder area.

Highlights of the day were two Lewis’s Woodpeckers, 3 Varied Thrushes and 3 female Hooded Mergansers which were near the sanctuary / wildlife preserve area (for more see our Thomas F. Riley Wilderness Park page – note last 8 photos on this page).

A total count of 47 species from 10 a.m. until 3:30 pm were counted and are posted on eBird for December 20, 2014. Darrell Wilson and others started earlier and perhaps have a slightly different bird count than what is posted here.  Though ultimately I had stayed a bit longer and met up with Ryan Winkleman and Jeff Bray to add a few more species such as the male Northern Harrier (aka Gray Ghost), Savannah Sparrows and a Northern Flicker.

Below are a few photos from today’s journey.