Birding Montaña de Oro - Sunday/Wednesday

Birding Montaña de Oro - Sunday/Wednesday

Islay Creek riparian habitat - Right, Islay Creek Road
left 2 mile loop Reservoir Flats Trail

Sunday - Islay Creek is located about 30-40 feet below a rough, unpaved road that follows the creek east for about 3 miles.  Due to the intense growth of Willows, Oak, Sycamore and native shrubbery, there are few places along the road where one is able to glimpse the water, much less see a tiny bird.

Since it was unlikely that I would see a bird in the creek, I identified the majority of them by sound - Birds heard but not seen were: Pacific Flycatcher, Golden-crowned Warbler, Wilson's Warbler (below), and Northern Flicker. Wilson's Warbler were numerous.  I was fortunate to see Mr. Wilson's as he flitted through a cluster of roadside Willow. 

  Wilson's Warbler - 3-5 inches, .30 ounces, is considered by Audubon, "Climate Threatened."

In the brush along the road were California Quail, Bewick's Wren, California Thrasher, Spotted Towhee, Wrentit, a very perky Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and a flock of Bushtit (below).

One of the perks of birding is the other animals one might see.  An Alligator Lizard was in the middle of the road.  It is much longer and thicker than the local lizards, about 15 inches.  The lizard was in no hurry to move.  With my walking stick I encouraged it to move into the brush, as I did not want it to be run over by a bicycle.

 

Sticky Phacelia blooming on the north side of Islay Creek Road

Wednesday - Hazard Canyon, a 1.5 mile road/trail that intersects Manzanita and East Boundry Trails.  The canyon is narrow and has a small seasonal creek.  The birds were the same as the Islay Creek birds with a few exceptions: Swainson's Thrush, a pair of Nuttall's Woodpecker checking out a hole in a Willow tree, and two active Scrub Jay (below).   

One of the marvelous aspects of Montaña de Oro State Park is the vast majority of it is inaccessible to humans.  Poison oak, stinging nettle, and densely vegetated creeks and hills keep people on the trails, which allows birds and the park's wild animals to thrive.