SAN JACINTO MOUNTAINS: Lake Hemet, Hurkey Creek Park and Idyllwild
RIVERSIDE COUNTY, CALIFORNIA
BIRD SURVEYS
Weather: Fair 64F. Winds 2-5 mph.
Time: 1238 - 1530 hrs.
Observers: Merissa Mendez and I.
Area Covered: We drove from Palm Desert, S and NW ,on HWY 74 (see map from Dec. 31, 2008), stopping first at Lake Hemet (LH). We walked along the shoreline inside the USFS area, and E along the main road about 0.1 mi. Habitats surveyed (Elevation about 4200 ft.) included chaparral, pine-oak, shoreline and
open waters of the western portion of Lake Hemet. A few fishermen and picnickers were present during our survey (1238-1340 hrs). We then drove a short distance on HWY 74 to Hurkey Creek Park (HCP), paying the $4 entry fee. Habitats surveyed here included parkland lawns with tall conifers, riparian creekside (with running water), chaparral and adjacent rangeland (1350-1438 hrs.) Bird species added to our day-list here were: Acorn Woodpecker, Stellar's Jay, California Towhee and
House Sparrow. Our last stop on the bird survey was the Idyllwild Nature Center (INC), located about one mile NW of Idyllwild on HWY 243. We paid the $8 entry fee at the educational visitor's center (well-stocked with books and information), and ate our lunch on the deck overlooking feeders (Elevation, 5,550 ft.). Habitat surveyed is an ecotonal chaparral and pine forest. The feeders attracted several Western Gray Squirrels (photo) and two additional species of bird for our day-list,
Band-tailed Pigeon and Pygmy Nuthatch. A few hikers and visitors were present during our survey; conditions were good for identifying birds by vocalizations.
Western Gray Squirrel (Scurius griseus) Idyllwild Nature Center, Riverside County, CA March 28, 2010 © 2010 Callyn Yorke
BIRDS NOTED
1) White Pelican 8 LH circling high over E side of lake.
2) Double-crested Cormorant 2 LH flying low and swimming.
3) Red-tailed Hawk 1 (ad) LH soaring on thermals, N.
4) American Coot 4 LH shallows of N shore.
5) California Quail 4 LH calls from chaparral.
6) Anna's Hummingbird 1 (m) LH singing from low branches of pine.
7) Mourning Dove 2 LH flying low through trees.
8) Band-tailed Pigeon 5 INC in trees around feeder; calls.
9) Northern Flicker 1 LH on low pine branch; 1 HCP, calls.
10) Acorn Woodpecker 1 HCP top of pine.
11) American Crow 2 LH shoreline (photo)
American Crow (Corvus brachyrynchos) Lake Hemet, CA March 28, 2010 © 2010 Callyn Yorke
12) Common Raven 2 LH; 2 HCP, calls and flying around picnic area.
13) Western Scrub Jay 4 LH; 2 HCP around picnic areas.
14) Stellar's Jay 4 HCP around feeders, cabins and in parkland; calls.
15) White-breasted Nuthatch 1 LH, on pine; calls; 2 HCP parkland and riparian; calls.
16) Pygmy Nuthatch 2 INC in pines near feeding station; ID by calls.
17) Western Bluebird 2 LH; 2 HCP, calls and active around holes in pines.
18) Bewick's Wren 1 LH singing in chaparral.
19) European Starling 3 LH on ground near seepage; calls.
20) Oak Titmouse 2 LH active in chaparral and pines; calls.
21) Mountain Chickadee 2 LH; 2 INC in pines around feeder (photo).
Mountain Chickadee (Poecile gambeli) Idyllwild Nature Center, March 28, 2010
© 2010 Callyn Yorke
22) Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 LH in pines.
23) White-crowned Sparrow 4 LH; 5 HCP in brushy areas.
24) Golden-crowned Sparrow 1 INC singing near visitor's center.
25) Spotted Towhee 2 HCP creekside riparian; calls.
26) California Towhee 1 HCP creekside riparian; calls (photo).
California Towhee (Pipilio fuscus) Hurkey Creek Park, March 28, 2010
© 2010 Callyn Yorke
27) Dark-eyed Junco 4 LH chaparral and pines, calls.
28) Brown-headed Cowbird 1 (m) LH singing in chaparral.
29) House Finch 4 LH singing in pines.
30) House Sparrow 4 HCP near buildings.
DECEMBER 31, 2008 (24 Species)
