Redgannet

Friday, 1 July 2011

Angeles Crest Highway, Los Angeles, LAX

Regular readers will have noticed that I am prone to getting mixed up in all manner of unfortunate events and misadventures. This week, for the third time this year, my wanderings were disrupted by mountain fires. Little did I know it (or feel it) at the time, but I had actually been very lucky in visiting at a time when the mountain road was fully open.

The ‘Station Fire’ burned for more than 7 weeks back in 2009, resulting in the death of two fire-fighters and the loss of over 160,000 acres of National Forest in the San Gabriel Mountains. Such is the financial muddle of the state’s government, that money and resources were slow in being allocated to aid the recovery of the infrastructure and the Angeles Crest Highway was closed indefinitely. It had only been open for 3 months following storms and landslides that had affected it for the preceding four and a half years. Just 3 weeks ago, it reopened again, but some of the side-roads, trails, picnic areas and campsites remained closed. Works are still ongoing as road collapse and landslides are a permanent feature of the highway.

Not knowing any of this history, I started along the Angeles Crest Highway from its junction with Highway 210, just north-west of Pasadena. Just beyond the suburbs, a Coyote was attacking a Mourning Doves’ nest. It had killed one squab and was chasing one of the parent birds along the side of the road. The adult was either already hurt in the attack or was feigning injury to distract the coyote from the rest of its brood.

The effects of the fire were still visible on the lower slopes, but higher up in the tree zone, it became very apparent. My first planned stop had been at the Switzer Picnic area, which was barred and I was worried that my Arizona experiences would be repeated all over again. The trail leading to the west fork of the San Gabriel River was open though and I was able to start looking for some birds. The trail starts at the Red Box Ranger Station and leads downhill from the parking lot there. This canyon had escaped the ravages of the fire and the scrub and mature trees held plenty of birds. First was a Bewick’s Wren that responded well to a ‘pish’.

Further down the slope, Oak Titmice, Black Phoebe and Western Wood-pewee were seen. Spotted Owl are said to breed at the bottom of the canyon, but I was not able to find any. In a small meadow, Ash-throated Flycatchers hawked from a dead tree while Orange-crowned Warblers fed in a low bush.

Charlton Flat Picnic area is another recommended site that was closed and when I arrived at Chilao Visitor Center to find that this too was shut, I became rather disgruntled and dispirited. Rangers from the Visitor Center maintained feeders that attracted Mountain Quail, which would have made for an easy lifer if the place had not been abandoned. Western Scrub-jays were common and my spirits were raised momentarily by a White-headed Woodpecker.

A small road leads from the Visitor Center back past the closed Chilao campgrounds to the highway and gave me the opportunity to drive slowly and enjoy a bit of the scenery. Birds along here included Mountain Chickadee, Dark-eyed Junco, and Acorn Woodpecker. An old forestry hut near the Visitor Center shows what happens if you build your home in Acorn Woodpecker country.

My next stop was to be Buckhorn Campground where I had a slim chance of finding an American Dipper. The way was barred again, but on this occasion, I understand that work is being carried out to upgrade the site. Nevertheless, I could not gain access and had to overshoot. I was cursing my luck by now and decided to head on to Wrightwood for lunch. Fortified and willing myself into a better mood, I began the return journey by dropping in at Grassy Hollow Visitor Center.

The center was open and the feeders here were filled. White-breasted Nuthatches and Steller’s Jays were seen here and in the surrounding areas, Violet-green Swallows swooped across an open area and through the trees. Pygmy Nuthatches fed in the conifers and Western Bluebirds fed hungry chicks. Suddenly it was as though the troubles in the mountains had melted away. Sure enough as I travelled back downhill, the campgrounds and picnic areas were opening. People were moving in, putting up their tents and all was well with the world.

I returned to The Chilao complex where the network of roads behind the now open campgrounds brought a California Quail and some more Western Scrub-jays. It also caused me an ID dilemma in that the hummingbird that was displaying by flying J shapes should have been a Rufous Hummingbird, but when it perched, I would swear it was an Allen’s Hummingbird. I was in a better mood now and decided to take both.

The Charlton Flats Picnic area was open on the return leg and a Western Tanager greeted me as I stopped for a look here. Mountain Chickadees and a Spotted Towhee came out to be added to the list. It occurred to me then that next weekend will be the Fourth of July celebrations and the Forest Service had probably been using whatever resources they could muster to get as many facilities open as possible for what will probably be a very busy holiday weekend. Please, just please, be sensible with your fires and don’t use fireworks in the forest! It's only been open for 3 weeks!

I stopped by chance at a pull in to scan a mountainside that had a look about it. I felt that if I were a bear in the forest around here, that would be the mountainside that I would choose to be on. Actually, there were no bears, but there was a small flock of Purple Finch. What have I been doing all my life that I get a red tick for a Purple Finch I wonder.

To stop and park in any forest facility or pull in requires an ‘Adventure Pass.’ This can be purchased online or at a store near you. In Long Beach for example, they can be bought for $5 from the Big 5 store. If it is not possible to get one in advance, a ranger can issue one, but cannot take money. You are obliged, under pain of criminal record, to send a money order. It is easier to get it in advance, just in case.

If you leave Long Beach at 05.00, you can reach the lower slopes of the Angeles Crest Highway by 06.00. Stopping a couple of times on the way up and a couple more on the return can easily use up a day and Wrightwood is well positioned for a lunch stop. There are plenty of toilet facilities available, but no provisions for food. Water may be available at open visitor centres.

Birds seen; 33

Wednesday, 29 June 2011

Skimmers at Bolsa Chica, Los Angeles, LAX

This evening’s outing was directed specifically at watching the Black Skimmers feeding on the lagoon at Bolsa Chica, Orange County. Earlier posts describe long bus journeys for what is a simple 20 minute drive south from Long Beach. From my previous experiences, I had discovered that skimmers are more active and more likely to be seen ‘skimming’ later in the day.

From May 2010 visit.

They drop their enlarged lower mandible into the water as they fly along and fish by sense of touch which is just as easy to do in low light levels and even in the dark. My only concern would be crashing into man-made obstacles such as the boardwalk that stretches across their fishing lanes. Just a thought, skimmers completely submerge the black section of the lower mandible. Is the bill-tip black to conceal it from prey in the water and does the bird use it as a Plimsoll-line to guage how far to lower it in?

On the tern breeding island in the distance, to the south of the boardwalk, they appeared as large black birds with red bills. Only when they fly do the white underside and the long black bill-tip become visible.

I had arrived earlier than expected and still had a couple of hours until dusk. A group of big cameras were gathered further up at the inlet from the northern lagoon and were probably taking pictures of the terns fishing in the current there. I considered going up to join them for a while before the skimmers started, but was sidetracked by a Peregrine Falcon flying over and moments later the tern colony exploded.

Perhaps there was more than one falcon, or perhaps it was unsuccessful, anyhow, a short while later the Willets behind me flew up and were chased across the upper lobe. The terns rose spectacularly again several more times, so I didn’t feel that I was missing out on the fishing terns. Each time the colony rose, the skimmers would rise too and fly languidly around, occasionally passing the boardwalk and circling around before settling down again. The light was beautiful and in a perfect direction. I hoped that the light breeze that ruffled the water’s surface would give the birds extra lift, enabling them to fly slightly slower as they came towards me. All was set very fair.

Elegant terns flew in synchronised pairs, screeching. Forster’s Terns flew back and forth carrying fish. A few young ones were already providing for themselves.

Some Black Skimmers had already ventured past the boardwalk, but at around 45 minutes before dusk they began to move in greater numbers. They did not seem anxious to start feeding and for the most part cruised by and up towards the inlet.

Perhaps the cameras had been able to predict that a rising tide would attract them to the current as it passes through the pipe. It would have made a good vantage point with the light behind and the birds approaching straight up the lagoon, pulling out at the last moment and arcing round for another run (but that is merely fanciful speculation as I did not go up to join them).

Back at the boardwalk, I had been joined by Mark, another photographer and the skimmers were giving some nice fly-bys, making us duck with their close passes, but there was very little skimming going on. Just the same, it was a glorious evening, if a little chilly in the wind.

Other birds that put in an appearance included a very accomodating Great Egret that flew to and fro a couple of times for our photographic pleasure and big numbers of Brown Pelican that had found a roost beyond the boardwalk, sheltered from the wind.

Find the boardwalk at Google Earth ref; 33 41' 46"N 118 02' 45"W

Birds seen; 16

Brown Pelican 300, Double-crested Cormorant 20, Great Egret 1, Reddish Egret 1, Black-crowned Night Heron 1, Peregrine Falcon 1, Black-necked Stilt 1, Willet 25, California Gull 4, Western Gull 150, Caspian Tern 25, Elegant Tern 150, Forster’s Tern 60, Black Skimmer 60, Mourning Dove 3, Savannah Sparrow 3.

The numbers shown above cannot reflect the amount of terns in the breeding colony, only those flying past the boardwalk. When the colony rose under threat from the Peregrine there were thousands of birds in the air and counting them would be for someone more diligent than I am.

Follow the links below for other posts from Bolsa Chica and Los Angeles;

http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/01/bolsa-chica-ecological-reserve-los.html

http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/05/bolsa-chica-los-angeles-california.html

http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2009/08/come-on-in-waters-great.html

http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/03/los-angeles-california.html

http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/06/la-river-los-angeles.html

http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/10/la-river-long-beach-california-usa-lax.html

http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/12/long-beach-california.html

http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/01/bolsa-chica-ecological-reserve-los.html

http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/10/el-dorado-park-area-iii-long-beach.html

http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/12/san-juaquin-wildlife-sanctuary-los.html

http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/12/upper-newport-bay.html

http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/12/long-beach-california.html

Visit the dedicated USA and Canada page for more posts from the region.

Skimmers at Bolsa Chica, Los Angeles, LAX

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Crandon Park, Key Biscayne, Miami, MIA

I am feeling even more stupid than usual today. Having braved thunder, lightning, biting insects and crocodiles in Crandon Park on Key Biscayne, I proceeded to inadvertently delete all the photographs on my return home. The whole set went “ whoosh” into the deepest recesses of digital space at the click of a button. This sort of thing never used to happen with slides.

If this has ever happened to you, there is a solution (well partly at least). Programs exist to retrieve erased data from discs and cards. The one I used was from a software house called WhataPillock.com. The upshot was that I was able to salvage a few of my hard won snaps. Thanks to Joshua 14321 on the Canon Forum for the advice.

I knew that I would get wet, it was merely a question of depth. Miami in June tends towards heavy rain and thunderstorms. A sharp shower hit the bus as we crossed the Rickenbacker Causeway on to Key Biscayne, but cleared up before I had to step out. It wasn’t long before the clouds built up and storms began to threaten again. The few cyclists and joggers quickly disappeared with the first roll of thunder and I headed for shelter under the cover of a concrete shade by the roller-skating rink.

The flashes and crashes came almost simultaneously as the storm raged, blew the lights and made my hair (note singular) stand on end. Numerous small flocks of White Ibis didn’t seem to mind and sucked up the drips before they fell from their beaks. Some seemed to positively revel in the rain.

Stuck under cover with nothing else to see, I watched the ibis for some time, noting a few oddities that I had not seen before. There was quite a distinct difference in size between individuals. And I later learned that the males average 15% bigger than the females. I have yet to explain the grey/brown staining on some that gave them the colour of antique underwear.

When the rain eventually stopped, I made my way into Cranford Park Garden. An exotic collection of Egyptian Goose, Common Peafowl and Guineafowl meant that any really exciting rarities would have to be taken with a pinch of salt, but the Sandhill Crane was probably close enough to the resident Florida population to count (although I am not sure of the original provenance of the birds from the Sunshine State).

The gardens feature a meandering tarmac road that takes the visitor round a palm-filled enclosure of lawns and lakes (It may once have been a small zoo(?)). Warnings of Crocodiles put me off getting too close to the water’s edge to look for damselflies, but their larger relatives were easy enough to see and could be photographed with the long lens.

Some were recognisable, but this one was new. I believe it is a 4-spotted Pennant Brachymesia gravida

Great Egret and Tricoloured Heron were seen along the banks and Anhinga fished in the deeper water or dried themselves on the bank, but the bulk of the biomass was split between large lizards and biting insects. I had been very liberal with the mosquito repellent on all exposed skin, but that didn’t stop the little biters going straight through my shirt. The lizards took many forms with at least two species having the talent to ‘walk on water.’

Crandon Park looks inviting on maps and leaflets with the whole area coloured green, but the truth of the matter is that it is mostly car parking hard surface or private club. Google Earth gives a more faithful representation at ref; 25 42’ 21”N 80 09’ 28”W. These coordinates also correspond to the pedestrian entrance of Crandon Park Gardens. Opening times are advertised as 08.00 onwards, but the pedestrian entrance did not have a gate and allows entrance at any time.

There are said to be crocodiles present and this one made me stop in my tracks as I rounded a corner. It took a couple of looks.

Crandon Park is shown as an extensive area of Key Biscayne, but only the side to the east of Route 903 is accessible as a birding option (to the west is the golf course and Tennis Center). The northern part is Bear Cut Preserve, which looks like the best choice for wildlife, but it has no shelter beyond the nature Centre, so I am saving that for another time when the weather is more amenable. The park’s most famous feature is its beach, which I did not visit. A bird list for the park shows that a good crop of waders and gulls could probably be found there. The extensive provision for parking makes me think that it must get very busy at holiday time and weekends.

Take the Metromover monorail to Brickell. Buses 102 or B cross the Rickenbacker causeway and continue onto Key Biscayne. Crandon Park is on the left as the bus travels south. Bear Cut Preserve and the Nature Center is the first stop after the second bridge. Crandon Park Gardens is at the southern end just before the town.

Species seen; 17

Brown Pelican 1, Double-crested Cormorant 3, Anhinga 2, Great Egret 1, Tricoloured Heron 1, Snowy Egret 3, White Ibis 300, Black Vulture 3, Sandhill Crane 1, Common Moorhen 2, Eurasian Collared Dove 8, Mourning Dove 4, Red-bellied Woodpecker 4, Northern Mockingbird 2, Fish Crow 6, Northern Cardinal 1, Boat-tailed Grackle 3.

Back in Miami, I took a little walk along the river and found what I suspect to be a Barracuda.

For other posts about trips to Miami follow the links below:

http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/11/matheson-hammock-miami-usa.html
http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/11/miami-dragonflies-august-2009.html
http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/11/miami-dragonflies-november-2009.html

For other trip reports from the USA and Canada, go to the dedicated page.

http://redgannet.blogspot.com/p/posts-from-usa-and-canada.html

Crandon Park, Key Biscayne, Miami, MIA

Monday, 20 June 2011

Hotel Golf Course, Phoenix, PHX

Beside our hotel in Phoenix is a small golf course that has produced Gopher Snakes, Black-tailed Jackrabits and Great Horned Owl in the past. I asked for permission at reception and went out to brave the hazards and high handicappers.

None of the creatures featured above were seen, but there were a couple of species that boosted my Phoenix trip list to 60+. There are plenty of large trees here though many of them are alien gums. A Canada Goose watched over its brood in the shade of a big eucalyptus and a Blue Dasher took the obelisk position on a stalk of grass by the lake.

As I came around the raised bank a movement caught my eye as an Osprey launched itself from a stout branch. It is amazing how much stuff can pass through your mind in an instant. Having recognised it as an Osprey, it flashed into my head that it might be about to swoop down onto the water and pick out a fish. I dropped everything except the camera and threw myself to the ground hoping to get a low angle on that classic Osprey picture. I recall wondering whether Ospreys ate carp (which was the fish that I had seen in the lake) or if they discriminated between species. Did it have a chick nearby to feed? Other strange stuff occurred to me during the split second that the bird took to complete its downward trajectory before beginning to gain height for its climb.

Two golfers watched, bemused, from the tee across the lake as I picked myself up, cursing a proturding sprinkler head. Ospreys are obviously too common a sight to excite interest here, but birders making a dash across the course and sprawling into the damp patch from a recent watering make for good watching.

A Say's Phoebe was the penultimate bird with the PHX trip list rounded out at 67 by a Black-necked Stilt in the storm drain.

Birds seen; 12

Double-crested Cormorant 1, Green Heron 1, Canada Goose 6, Mallard 3, Osprey 1, Mourning Dove 16, White-winged Dove 18, Common Ground Dove 2, Black-chinned Hummingbird 6, Say's Phoebe 1, Northern Mockingbird 2, Great-tailed Grackle 20.

Golf course, Phoenix, PHX

Sunday, 19 June 2011

Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, PHX

50 acres of cactus and mesquite brush would be a reasonable description of the Desert Botanical Garden, but would undersell it terribly. It is a beautifully laid out garden with art features, special exhibits and very photogenic birds.

The receptionist, who took my $15 entrance fee, noted my binoculars and offered me a bird list which gives status and incidence of over 100 species that frequent the gardens. I had already found a few in the car park, adding Verdin and Cactus Wren to my trip list.

A cactus patch just inside the main entrance gate held my attention for a while. A White-winged Pigeon sat at the top of a Saguara cactus feeding from the pulp of the flowers, while families of Gambel’s Quail were a little shy and stayed in the shadows. The females were far more inclined to stand for a picture than the males.

A few local photographers were already taking pictures and one told me that Lesser Nighthawks could been seen during the morning at a point on the western extreme of the gardens and I headed out in that direction along the Plants and People trail. At the trailhead a Greater Roadrunner came out onto the path ahead of me and looked up hungrily at a Mourning Dove’s nest which held two chicks.

The tops of the cacti were blooming with fleshy red flowers which the birds love to eat. At the top of almost every flowering cactus was either, a Cactus Wren, a Gila Woodpecker, a House Finch, or a Curve-billed Thrasher.

White-winged Doves were especially common and the pulp of the flowers covered their faces as if it were lunch-time at nursery school.

Along the trail is a small pond which held a few dragonflies and I succumbed for while to the odonata. This one is a Flame Skimmer, Libellula saturata.

There appeared to be a pecking order that was decided by size and aggression. The White-winged Dove took top slot by virtue of its greater bulk. The aggression of the Gila Woodpecker was too much for the Cactus Wren and the House Finch seldom got a moment to relax.

I reached the point where the nighthawks might be seen and stopped there for a while with no success. Four American Kestrels kept me watching as they mobbed a Turkey Vulture that had strayed into their airspace. Other birds seen along the trail included Northern Flicker and Abert’s Towhee and Brown-crested Flycatcher. Some reptiles that I think are the Horned Lizard were quite common. A couple told me that they had seen a snake, so I high-tailed it back to the spot that they indicated on the map, but it had moved on.

Next I tried the Sonoran Desert Nature Loop Trail. This is a quarter of a mile of cacti that climbs gently to a small pagoda that affords a great view of more birds on top of more cacti. It is raised a few feet above the surroundings and allows a much better angle for pictures.

The gardens and the nearby zoo are part of Papago Park. This is a public area of mesquite scrub and cactus, but not half as nicely laid out as the gardens, but access can be had at any time. There are 3 lakes here however and if I ever go back, this will be one of the first places that I visit. It could also serve as an early-morning starter before the gardens open at 07.00, a late evening sundowner, or a cheap alternative to the $15 entry. It would probably be a very inferior choice if the gardens are open.

Find Papago Park and the Botanical Gardens at N. Galvin Parkway (Google Earth ref; 33 27’ 35”N 111 56’ 57”W ). From Route 202 come off at N. Center Parkway. Continue straight as if about to rejoin the freeway. Turn north, right, at N. Priest, which becomes N. Galvin Parkway after 1.5 kms. 1km further is a roundabout and the gardens are signposted to the right. Signs to the zoo earlier will give public access to Papago Park by keeping left.

Birds seen; 23

Green Heron 1, Mallard 3, Turkey Vulture 2, American Kestrel 4, Gambel’s Quail 20, Mourning Dove 30, White-winged Dove 150, Inca Dove 2, Greater Roadrunner 1, Black-chinned Hummingbird 15, Anna’s Hummingbird 1, Gila Woodpecker 20, Northern Flicker 2, Brown-crested Flycatcher 1, Cactus Wren 15, Curve-billed Thrasher 15, Verdin 25, Common Starling 2, House Sparrow 20, House Finch 40, Lesser Goldfinch 2o, Abert’s Towhee 4, Northern Cardinal 3.

Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, PHX

Redgannet

Friday, 1 July 2011

Angeles Crest Highway, Los Angeles, LAX

Wednesday, 29 June 2011

Skimmers at Bolsa Chica, Los Angeles, LAX

Wednesday, 22 June 2011

Crandon Park, Key Biscayne, Miami, MIA

Monday, 20 June 2011

Hotel Golf Course, Phoenix, PHX

Sunday, 19 June 2011

Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, PHX

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