Islay Creek Riparian Habitat - Birding by Ear

Montaña de Oro State Park - Islay Creek is located in a lush Canyon.  From the road one is looking down into a creek that is dense with Willows, Oaks and occasional Sycamores.  On the other side of the road, the north side, are the chaparral covered hills, favored habitat for the entertaining songster, the California Thrasher.  The above photo was taken at the only access point on the creek.  It allows one to cross from the Reservoir Flats Trail to the Islay Road.

If you enjoy birding by ear, spring is the perfect time to hike up the Islay Creek Road.  The male Swainson's Thrush flute-like sound can be heard throughout the creek.  It is difficult to describe the beauty of two miles of Swainson's Thrush song.

The birds that nest in Islay Creek may be difficult to see as the trees are dense with spring growth, and you are standing above them, looking down.  Once you hear the Swainson's Thrush song you will never forget it.  In the video, accompanying the Thrush is the male Wilson's Warble, whose song is not exactly dramatic, but it is persistent, forceful, and also not easily forgotten.  In the first frame of the video you will hear Swainson's Thrush, accompanied by Wilson's Warbler; second frame, you may need to turn up your sound to hear the quiet Pacific-slope Flycatcher, accompanied by the call of a California Quail and the song, once again, of the male Swainson's Thrush.
 https://youtu.be/5RDe87x2PnQ

AUTUM BIRDING

I wish I was more adept at identifying Warblers and other little migrant passerines. Trying to identify one, as it rapidly moves thru dense vegetation, is a real challenge to my birding skills. At Islay Creek (photo), after spending 2 hours and nearly bleary eyed, I managed to see a female Lazuli Bunting, Orange-crowned Warbler, Yellow Warbler, and a Clay-colored Sparrow.

In the campground I spotted a pair of Townsend Warbler. I am very fond of the Townsend as they are easy to see and linger longer in their pursuit of insects. In the same tree was a Hermit Warbler. Bewick's Wren seemed quite upset at this Warbler invasion and gave them a thorough scolding. Do enjoy the feisty little Wren.

Other birds of note were a pair of Western Bluebirds hanging around the restrooms and a late batch of baby quail about the size of walnuts - so precious!!

Popped by Sweet Springs. Great sighting of one of my most favorite favorites, the Brown Creeper. The little darling was working his/her way up a gnarled old cypress trunk, stopping every few moments to gobble down a tasty insect.

Stopped by the Audubon Overlook at the end of 4th. The tide was perfect for viewing shorebirds. Birds of note: 20 or so Semipalmated Plover, two Dowitcher, Virginia Rail in the reeds, and two Black-bellied Plover (wearing their winter plumage).

BETWEEM STORMS

At times last night the rain was fierce. 4.75 inches in my rain gauge this morning. After a few morning sprinkles, the rain stopped. Made hast to Montana de Oro. The sea was roiling. It was the color of chocolate mocha coffee. There was a battle going on between the out going flow of the creek and the incoming surge of the ocean.

In spite of the tough conditions there was a Great Egret, a Greater Yellowleg, a Kingfisher, and a Song Sparrow singing his delightful song. A few Pigeon Guillemots have arrived, but none were in sight.

WEEKEND BIRDING

Saturday birded with a couple of friends. Best birds at Islay Creek in Spooner's Cove (photo): Brewer's Sparrow and Willow Flycatcher. Up by the Visitor Center there were 6 plus Western Bluebirds dashing back and forth across the road. We really enjoyed their antics. We also observed 3 Wrentits chasing each other.

Only one Greater Yellowleg at the Turri Road Ponds. Most of the ponds have dried out. It takes a very high tide to fill them up. About a mile down the road we watched 4 or more Kingfishers chasing each other. A behavior none of us had seen before.

From the Marina Sandspit we observed a wild feeding frenzy out in the bay, saw and heard a flock of 20 White-fronted Geese fly in from the north and land out in the estuary; also sighted, flying over the west side of the bay, a med. size flock of Brant Geese. Bob, the sea otter, that comes into the marina on the incoming tide, was snoozing peacefully in his bed of kelp.

This afternoon, near the largest pond at Sea Pines Golf Course were 6 White-fronted Geese and at the smaller back pond, 20 Canada Geese. I was hoping to see a warbler or two in the willows by the putting green but no such luck.

SOUNDS OF ISLAY CREEK

Islay Creek, Montana de Oro State Park - Yesterday morning, around 10:00 am, the creek was alive with sound. The little Nano did not capture the sound of the Flicker, but it did capture the intense singing of a Swainson's Thrush that was perched in a willow across the creek. One can also hear the single note of a male Calif. Quail. Not so distinct is the song of a Wilson's Warbler. (Calif. Quail photo by Mike Baird)