Rural Road Birding

Toro Creek Road - The morning was beautiful! We were barely off Hwy One when we began to see flycatchers. Farms on both sides of the narrow road, cattle and horses peacefully grazing in the fields, clusters of huge rocks, tall Eucalyptus and dense Monterey Cypress (below photo) - plenty of habitat for birds to nest and feed.

As we stepped from the car we saw Cassin’s Kingbird perched on barbed wire fencing.  Within a few moments we had identified a Female Hooded Oriole, Say’s Phoebe, Meadowlark, Western Bluebird (photo), Red-winged Blackbird, and Northern Rough-winged Swallow. 

Toro Creek Road has a rich history.  In the year 1857 the Reverend Alden Bradford Spooner, one of the early settlers and the first Protestant Minister in San Luis Obispo, began farming 150 acres of government land about three miles up Toro Creek.  In the good old days, the 20 mile trip into San Luis Obispo, which Spooner made frequently, required an overnight, usually spent at a friend's or relative's house.

Santa Rita Road - The road passes over Santa Rita Creek which feeds into Whale Rock Reservoir, located in the hills above Cayucos.  The area where the road passes over the creek (photo) was our destination.  Not much of the creek can be seen, as surrounding vegetation, such as willow, Sycamore,  Coast Live Oak, Blue Berry Elder, Nettles, and Poison Oak make identification rather challenging, but we persevered. 

Due to the presence of mature oaks, we saw Nuttle's and Downy Woodpecker.  Spotted Towhee was highly visible. (below) I do like birds that are not shy about showing off their beauty.

Heard but not seen, except for a fleeting glimpse, Warbling Vireo, Wilson's Warbler, Pacific Flycatcher, and my recent favorite, the Ash-throated Flycatcher. (below)

I have used this photo several times as it is the only presentable photo I have of this beauty.  This Ash-throated could be related to the one we heard singing, as the photo was taken about a mile from Santa Rita Creek.  We did have a little excitement when a brightly colored American Kestrel took off after a Red-tailed Hawk.  The much smaller Kestrel dove on the Hawk, managing to make contact a few times.  Yeah, for the little guy! 

I do like birding rural roads.  It's as if the birds are waiting for you to come by.  And there is wire fencing and the occasional post to perch on, and there are the creeks where a variety of birds can bath, nest and find insects to feed their nestlings.  

Birding Dairy Creek

                   Dairy Creek Trail
 San Luis Obispo County, El Chorro Regional Park - A storm was brewing - cumulus clouds gathering, winds increasing in strength - A perfect morning on the Central Coast, and a perfect day to bird Dairy Creek.  The vegetation along the trickling creek (below) was thick with Oak, Willow, and California Bay -  dried young bay leaves can be used as flavoring (use sparingly).
       
 My first sighting was of six Canada Goose flying in the direction of Morro Bay.  A few moments later heard gobbling from a male Turkey, always a day brightener. 

Dense Stands of Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia) cover the low hills (top photo).  Birds heard in the oaks and creek bed - Pacific-slope Flycatcher (heard frequently but never seen),  Wilson's Warbler (migrant), Bewick's Wren, Junco, Nuttall's Woodpecker, and a migrant Ash-throated Flycatcher (below).

 The Ash-throated Flycatcher is about the size of a robin (9-16).  Even at a distance it's bushy crest and pale grey (looks white at a distance) underparts, and smallish bill are recognizable.  In flight it's deep cinnamon tail and pale belly are very noticeable.  I believe the Ash-throated Flycatcher is well established along Dairy Creek.

About a mile up the creek, after crossing over a quaint, yet sturdy collapsed wooden bridge, the landscape opens into grasslands (above).  Waves of wind were rolling through the grass.   Ahead of me perched on a barbed wire fence were a pair of Western Bluebird and a Lark Sparrow.  The Lark Sparrow and the female Bluebird flew off and an Ash-throated Flycatcher landed on the wire.  When the flycatcher departed the scene, a perky looking California Towhee arrived.  In spite of the wind, I managed a fuzzy photo.  The male Bluebird is perched on the post, on the wire is the Towhee.  Notice the blackening sky, upper right.  

Time to begin the trek back.  I checked the wind velocity, gusts at 25mph, yikes!  Birding Dairy Creek on a windy day proved delightful.  Perhaps if I walk up the Creek about every two weeks I may get a sighting of fledglings perched on this popular barbed wire fence.  Now that would be a thrill!