Late Spring Islay Creek Birding

 In every direction is a wild and beautiful landscape. This morning the hill were aglow with blooming Sticky Monkey Flower and GoldenYarrow (below). 

The morning sun was warm, the breeze a caress.  Islay Creek was alive with song - all the usual birds plus Swainson's Thrush, Purple Finch, and Cliff Swallow.  I was birding without binoculars.  There are several bird APPS that can be helpful with identification.  I use IBird Plus which does not require an internet connection; there are songs and call for each bird that one can listen to.  

This morning I recorded one minute of bird sounds.  How many can you identify? 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T4pD9Og2jXs 
 

Names of birds are noted in the morning's bird list by an asterisk. 

Bird List - *Northern Flicker, *Spotted Towhee, *Wilson's Warbler, *Wrentit, *Purple Finch, Calif. Thrasher, Calif. Towhee, Bushtit, Calif. Quail, Scrub Jay, Bewick's Wren,  Pacific Flycatcher, Song Sparrow, Cliff Swallow, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture

Birding Islay Creek

Yesterday Morning walked about a mile and a half up Islay Creek in Mondaña de Oro State Park.   Weather was mild and sunny.  The creek, located on the south side of the trail, is dense with a robust growth of vegetation consisting, primarily of Willow, Cottonwood, Bay and a few Oaks.  As one progresses up the road, the creek is deeper and farther away.  The adjoining hillsides are covered with lush chaparral; beauty and tranquility prevail.

I was birding by ear - no binoculars.  Wilson's Warbler, one of my many favorites, was carrying on something fierce.  Wrentit sang every time Mr. Wilson paused.  In the distance Swainson's Thrush was singing. See photo borrowed from Wikipedia (thank you very much).

As I progressed up the creek the Swainson's Thrush was dominant, nearly drowning out Orange-crowned Warbler, Pacific-slope Flycatcher and the precious Western Wood-Pewee.  From what I heard this perky, migrant Thrush had found a home in Islay Creek.

To hear the song of the Swainson's Thrush I am including a link to a 22 second video.   The loudest sound is a Calif. Quail.  The flute like sound is the song of the Thrush.

http://youtu.be/U6ijBBgJ-3o

BIRDING ISLAY CREEK

Islay Creek in Montana de Oro State Park (above and below) is a haven for nesting song birds; the creek flows through a canyon dense with willows and riparian vegetation, so dense that the creek cannot be seen unless you are standing on its moist bank.  Last weekend I meandered along the Reservoir Flats Trail until I found the path that went down to the creek.  To say the bird songs were intense is an understatement.  Boldly singing were Swainson's Thrush, Song Sparrow, Wilson's Warbler, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Common Yellowthroat, Northern Flicker, Wrentit, and California Quail.

I have to admit, I do have a favorite songster, the Swainson's Thrush, whose song is an upward series of musical, whistling notes.  On the following minute YouTube Swainson's Thrush comes through loud and clear.    http://youtu.be/XjqbeKTe6G8

I was in high hopes of including a "Reservoir Flats Trail" video, but its extreme length at 1.38 min. is causing me to do more tweaking.  Will include it in the next posting.