Bell View Trail East – Lazuli Bunting and a late Merlin April 13 in Rancho Santa Margarita
Today while canvassing the Bell View trail East and hiking a total distance of approximately 4 miles, I was able to relocate the Lazuli Bunting originally seen on 3/25/17 in the same location. The GPS coordinates are: 33.64221,-117.55877 and the … Continued
Northern Harrier (male) aka “The Gray Ghost” – Moulton Meadows Park, Laguna Beach CA April 10
After two attempts at trying to locate the unique Calliope Hummingbird at Moulton Meadows Park In Laguna Beach, all efforts failed however as with most bird outings, the element of surprise is what kindles the intrigue. A brief glance of … Continued
A Treat At Pinecrest Park in Mission Viejo
A seldom seen White-throated Sparrow recently made an appearance at Pinecrest Park in Mission Viejo on March 17th and found by Ryan Winkleman. This is a migratory species. The bird continues at least through today, March 20. If you are … Continued
In The Desert, You Have To Remember Their Names.. March 4
Or their calls which are somewhat similar, can be confusing. They are of the Wrentit and the Cactus Wren. Both songs of the males are quite similar in this respect; they offer sort of an old car having a tough … Continued
Barn Owl – daytime sighting at Riley Wilderness Park – Coto De Caza February 21
The winter gloom of clouds, rain and cooler weather here in southern California always seems to strike a nerve that owls may be more prevalent as mice and other vermin surface in drenched, muddy or flooded areas. The recent re-openings … Continued
Green-tailed Towhee – Lake Forest at Rancho Serrano Park on February 18
An eBird report was released earlier in the morning by Jeff Bray and Bruce Aird. They had located a Green-tailed Towhee (rare for Orange County) in Lake Forest. Mike Sanders and I opted to pay a visit while dodging the … Continued
Bell View Trail East – Rancho Santa Margarita on February 13
With a 3:30pm arrival time and in between a series of wet days, it seemed an optimum time to seek out what species might be at hand on the Bell View Trail. A few of the usual suspects had made … Continued
Red-naped Sapsucker AND Red-breasted Sapsucker share the same branch – September 27
While canvassing O’Neill Regional Park this afternoon on the park road the parallels itself with Live Oak Canyon Road, I noted a cluster of Acorn Woodpeckers attempting to nab every single drop of water from a nearby faucet. The temps … Continued
The Ruff continues on the Santa Ana River – Anaheim, CA
An uncommon visitor to Orange County (Eurasia origins) and considered rare in this area and all throughout all of North America. The Ruff does not migrate, winter or summer anywhere in the US. Its reappearance this year and in the … Continued
Sound Recordings of the Broad-tailed Hummingbird which continued on August 20
A revisit to the park today with the sole intent on recording this Broad-tailed Hummingbird’s mechanical in flight sounds proved fruitful (note these are “not” vocalizations but sounds made by the wings movement while in flight). Here are several audio … Continued