A beautiful sunny day, enhanced by a light breeze and temperatures from the 60s to upper 70s, was perfect for our Birdwatchers impromptu excursion to the City of Escondido’s Dixon Lake Recreation Area.  The lake (a reservoir) is surrounded by the reserve’s 527 acres of scenically attractive landscapes in the northern Escondido hills.  The first of three stops was at an area of pines, pepper trees, live oaks, eucalyptus and other beautiful trees, where we saw and heard such birds as Western Scrub-Jays, California Towhees, California Thrashers, Black Phoebes and the ever-gregarious Acorn Woodpeckers.  The second stop was at a scenic overlook above the lake.  And the third brought us to the lakeshore, where a trail led us along part of the lakeshore.  We saw Gadwalls, Ruddy Ducks, Mallards, Coots, Pied-billed Grebes, Great Blue Herons, and a close-up view of a Common Yellowthroat (warbler) at the edge of lake-bordering cattails.  We briefly heard the rattling call of a Belted Kingfisher, and our walk climaxed with the sudden appearance of an Osprey flying near us.  We stopped for lunch at J&M’s Family Restaurant in Escondido before heading home.