BIRDING THE BOB JONES TRAIL

 The Bob Jones Trail - Warm sun filters through the Sycamore and the Coast Live Oak.  Heavy with leaves, the trees provide a variety of birds with endless opportunities to feed, nest and perch. ( Scroll down for a Bob Jones Trail map.)

The unusually heavy January rain flooded the trail.  Trees, and all the flora along the creek that had suffered from years of drought were now dense with healthy green foliage.  Finding a bird in dense vegetation can be difficult, if not impossible, but this morning I was birding by ear - no binoculars and I was using an App.

 I had added to my phone the Free Merlin Bird ID App created by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.  To say the App is fabulous and fun to use is an understatement.  I was near the creek when I though I heard a Kingfisher, (above) opened the Merlin ID App, clicked on "Sound ID;" Merlin, nearly instantly, identified Kingfisher plus House Finch, Spotted Towhee and Bewick's Wren.  Each recording comes with a list of the bird's various songs and calls.  The Merlin App is very helpful, especially when vegetation is dense or you would love to know the identity of a tiny bird singing from atop a tall tree.  

The highlight of the morning was a magnificent view of a Steller's Jay.  It was about 20 feet from me digging through leaves when it hopped onto the trail, pecked for a few moments at what looked like a cracker crumb and then flew into a nearby Oak.  I was delighted to see, up close, a Steller's Jay, as I had not seen one for several years. 

Eventually the topography along the trail changes; vegetation is less and the creek can be seen.  I was fortunate to see two Green Heron; one patiently perched on a sandbar, the other on a twig hanging over the creek.  Their song is a sharp croak and when disturbed a piercing shriek. 

Within an hour of birding I had observed or heard 15 species - The memorable birds were Nuttall's Woodpecker and Acorn Woodpecker, Hooded Oriole, Pacific Flycatcher (nest's in the creek), Bewick's Wren (singing), and a flock of Chestnut Chickadee (no Chestnuts but bushels of Acorns).

I really like the Bob Jones Trail as it is shaded, has a variety of birds, and midway along the trail is the Woodstone Marketplace with a charming trailside patio and excellent coffee.  Guess where I go after birding the Bob Jones?

Trail Map. The (1) is the location of the Woodstone Marketplace.  

           

A Raptor Kind of Day

The morning was beautiful!  I was driving slowly up Turri Road looking for Raptors and what ever else I could find.  First sighting was a Red-shouldered Hawk perched in a willow close to the road.  The ephemeral cattle pond (photo) that appears after a rain, held three Cinnamon Teal, and a Greater Yellowleg.  The hills were just beginning to green out.

Perched in a willow thicket across from the pond was a Cooper’s Hawk. (above)  In the vicinity of the windmill watched a Sharp-shinned Hawk fly in and out of twiggy willows.  Twice lately I have seen a Sharp-shinned chase birds into a large bushy tree near my bird feeder.  The Sharp-shinned has amazing maneuverability. 

In the fields and perched on barbed wire fencing were Meadowlark (many singing), Western Bluebird, Say's Phoebe, Song Sparrow, and numerous Lark Sparrow (below), a favorite of mine.  

High above, soaring with Turkey Vultures, a Red-tailed Hawk.  It always pays to look closely at soaring Turkey Vultures, as there could be among them a visiting Black Vulture that can be identified by its dark brown head and white wingtips.  An American Kestrel was the  final raptor of the morning.  It was perched on a fence post eating something small and furry.  The American Kestrel is the smallest, most colorful falcon in North America. 

After Turri Road I checked out a portion of the Bob Jones Trail which begins in Avila Beach.  Besides walkers and bikers, the bridge (photo) is used by golf carts, as the golf course is on both sides of the creek.  From the bridge saw several Common Goldeneye, numerous Pied-billed Grebe, Coots, and three Canada Goose.  About a half mile up the creek had a marvelous sighting of a Green Heron.  It was in the shadows, perched on a little branch that extended over the water.  Its greenish, rufous coloration blended in perfectly with the creek side environment.  The Green Heron photo was taken from a small bridge that crosses over San Simeon Creek in San Simeon State Park.  When looking for Green Heron, persist.