BIRD SURVEYS OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

FIELD NOTES

© Callyn Yorke

RIVERSIDE COUNTY

San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Lakeview, Riverside County CA

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May 12, 2017 San Jacinto Wildlife Area

May 12, 2017 SAN JACINTO WILDLIFE AREA (37 Species)

San Jacinto Wildlife Area Riverside County CA 12 May 2017

Weather: Fair; low fog, mostly burning off by 0930 hrs. 55F to 76F. winds calm.

Time: 0700-1054 hrs.

Area Covered: Stopping frequently to walk on roadways and side trails, I drove the Auto Tour route around the entire pond and marsh complex, beginning and ending at the Davis Rd. entrance (photo). The route, on flat unpaved roads and gravel levees, traverses grassland with adjacent rocky hills, the Old San Jacinto River flood plain (supporting a riparian woodland), artificial ponds and sloughs, freshwater marsh and mudflats. The north pond complex had the greatest abundance and diversity of waterbirds. One other vehicle was touring the same area during my visit.

BIRDS NOTED

American Wigeon 1 (m) n on edge of n pond.

Gadwall 2 (m,f) swimming together in shallow pond, n.

Mallard 10 (m,f; imm) ubiquitous, though not numerous anywhere.

Cinnamon Teal 1 (m) edge of n pond.

Redhead 1 (f) resting on shore, n pond.

Ruddy Duck 2 (f) dabbling n pond.

Great Egret 3 individuals at edges of ponds and marshes throughout.

Snowy Egret 1 foraging in shallow slough near entrance, s.

Black-crowned Night Heron 1 (ad) flying over marsh, n.

Red-tailed Hawk 1 flying over grassland, s.

American Coot 20 ubiquitous in ponds.

Killdeer 4 on mudflats in marsh at entrance, s.

Black-necked Stilt 6 vocal, gregarious; one adult and chick on an islolated, island-like nest in a shallow pond, n. (photo).

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus) San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Riverside County CA 12 May 2017

American Avocet 6 (m,f alt. plmg.) gregarious; foraging in shallows and on mudflats; one adult on an island nest in a shallow pond, n (photo).

American Avocet (Recurivostra americana) San Jacinto Wildlife Area, Riverside CO CA 12 May 2017

Short-billed Dowitcher 5 (alt. plmg.) foraging together in shallows at edge of marsh, n.

Mourning Dove 6 ubiquitous in brushy areas and riparian.

Anna's Hummingbird 1 (f) in a brushy island at the edge of a grassy field, s.

Nuttall's Woodpecker 2 (m,f) vocal; riparian woodland, sw.

Black Phoebe 2 edge of marsh-riparian, s.

Western Kingbird 4 vocal; pairs and individuals at edge of riparian and grassland, s.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 2 vocal; edge of riparian and grassland, s.

Loggerhead Shrike 3 flying to leafless tree in grassland, s; flying over edge of marsh, n.

American Crow 2 flying over riparian area, s.

Common Raven 1 flying over grassland, s.

Tree Swallow 20 flying back and forth over marsh; several perched on riparian woodland snags, s.

Marsh Wren 10 vocal; ubiquitous in marsh.

Rock Wren 1 on rocky hillside, s.

Northern Mockingbird 1 vocal, edge of riparian, s.

Yellow Warbler 1 (m) vocal; active in willows of an isolated riparian patch at edge of grassland, s.

Common Yellowthroat 12 vocal; ubiquitous in marsh and riparian edge.

Black-chinned Sparrow 1 perched on rock outcrop on hillside surrounded by grassland and flowering shrubs, s.

Song Sparrow 8 vocal; active in riparian edge throughout.

Red-winged Blackbird 30 (m,f) vocal, gregarious; ubiquitous in wetlands.

Western Meadowlark 4 vocal; on barbed wire fence at edge of grassland near entrance, s.

Brown-headed Cowbird 1 (m) vocal; riparian edge, s.

Bullock's Oriole 2 (m) vocal, edge of riparian, sw.

House Finch 5 (m,f) vocal, gregarious, edge of riparian, sw.