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!
