BIRDING PASO ROBLES

Spent a delightful day in Paso Robles birding with Harry and Norma. Moments after arriving at Harry and Norma's, their resident Phainopela made an appearance. The male is glossy black with red eyes and a perky, up-swept hairdo. Phainopela eat berries, and can consume more than 1,000 Mistletoe berries in a day. (photo - deciduous Cottonwood - green patches are Mistletoe)

We birded in three locations: along the Salinas River Bed, an Sycamore/Oak Woodland, the Paso Robles Cemetery.

Our first sighting at the Salinas River was of Turkey Vultures warming their wings. They flew off before I could get their photo. (the more focused I am on birding, the fewer the photos) White-breasted Nuthatch were active in the trees and in the grassy area were many Western Bluebird and White-crowned Sparrow. We saw 11 species.

Next stop, the Sycamore/Oak Woodland. Acorn Woodpeckers were prolific and very talkative. Our most fun was with the perky, little Oak Titmouse. I recorded its call, then played it back. Several responded.

In the bushes along the creek, that meanders through the woodland, were scads of Lesser Goldfinch and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Overhead soared Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawk.

Our final birding hotspot was the Paso Robles Cemetery. Best sighting was a small flock of Cedar Waxwing - They can become intoxicated from eating fermented berries in the winter.

Highlight of the day was lunch. Harry and Norma introduced me to the La Reyena Market on the corner of Oak and 24th. in Paso Robles. They have the best soft taco I have ever had the pleasure to consume.

EASY BIRDING SUNDAY

This mornings walk was delightful. The weather was warm with very little wind. The birds were cooperative, and there were fourteen enthusiastic and cheerful birders (photo-birder, Barbara Akle) . What more could one possibly want?

Good sighting of the Meadowlark (one was attempting to sing). Great sighting of two Blue-gray Gnatcatcher. Many Black-crowned Night-Heron around the pond and a couple of Great-blue Heron. As the walk was winding down, we watched two Red-shouldered Hawk diving on a Red-tailed Hawk that was perched at the top of a Eucalyptus. The Red-tailed did not seem fazed by the testy Red-shouldered Hawks. Our bird count for the morning was 27. Not bad for a 2 hour walk in the Cloister's Park.

NO ONE GAVE A HOOT

Yesterday, gave the first of two "Easy Birding" walks in the Cloister's Park. Weather was coolish with a slight breeze, and puffy clouds. Our total bird count was 21. Most exciting was the brilliant yellow breast of a Meadowlark. A flock of these fine looking birds can be found in the grass east of the playground. Many of them were posturing, with head and neck pointing up, much like a Bittern. Co-leader Sylvia (photo) and I thought the posturing was part of their mating ritual. A lovely morning, but there was a bit of a snag. No one showed up. I do hope attendance is better for tomorrow's walk.

Well, that was yesterday. On to this morning. For some unknown reason, after a cup of delicious coffee and dressed in several layers of warm clothing, and with flashlight in hand, I headed toward Sweet Springs, to listen for the gentle hoot of a Great Horned Owl. The time was 6:00a.m. In route I had a phenomenal sighting - a meteor flashed by. It was in our atmosphere. It was not a tiny dot, but a bright object moving very fast from south to north east.

The Owl was gently hooting from somewhere in Sweet Springs. No one was about. A breeze came up. Not wanting to come across a skunk or raccoons I opted not to enter the dark and spooky looking forest. I did go a few yards in but turned around when it got winder. A wise move on my part. Suddenly there was a large crash, more than likely one of the Eucalyptus falling. Fortunately it was not the tree the Owl was perched in, as he continued to hoot.