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This was an especially excellent birding day, with bright sunshine, temperatures in the 60s, and a light breeze.  The walk around the pond at Dos Picos Park was especially enjoyable, with song sparrows singing, and a female wood duck and four elegant male ring-necked ducks paddling back and forth on the pond.

Dos Picos Park, Ramona Grasslands, Pamo Valley

January 13, 2015 

Our time at the Ramona Grasslands was highlighted by observing a roadrunner perched on a boulder, a Ferruginous hawk sitting on the ground for a while before flying off, and another Ferruginous hawk on a nearby power pole.  We were thrilled to watch the beautiful mountain bluebirds flying back and forth, splashing in a pool, and sitting on roadside fences.  It was wonderful to hear the liquid music of the meadowlarks, as they sang so loudly that it seemed as though their notes were enhanced by megaphones.  It was a pleasure to see all the grasslands and surrounding countryside lush green from the December rains – in contrast to last year’s drab and depressing brown.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We broke for lunch at the Boll Weevil of Ramona restaurant, where food and service were very good.  We then headed to our final destination: Pamo Valley -- its beauty enhanced by the new carpet of green grass beneath the mighty live oak trees.  The highlights there were catching sight of three deer (two were bucks) dashing up the mountainside and then spotting a bobcat – at first quickly glimpsed but later observed for a while as it relaxed in the shade of some shrubbery.

BIRDS IDENTIFIED--45 SPECIES

Canada goose – 100s – Ramona Grasslands (RG)

Crow – Dos Picos Park (DP), RG, and Pamo Valley (PV)

Red-shouldered hawk – 1 near DP

House finch – heard at DP

Cedar waxwing – a flock of 50+ at DP

White-crowned sparrow – heard at DP and saw a few at PV

Western scrub-jay – DP and PV

Mockingbird – DP

California towhee – DP and PV

Song sparrow – singing at DP and saw at PV

Mallard – a few on the pond at DP

Wood duck – 1 female on the pond at DP

Coot – a few on the pond at DP

Yellow-rumped warbler – DP and RG

Ring-necked duck – 4 males on the pond at DP

Gadwall – 1 on the pond at DP

Raven – DP and RG

Dark-eyed junco – DP and PV

Western bluebird – DP and RG

Marsh wren – 1 heard at DP

Red-tailed hawk – several at DP and RG

Mourning dove – RG

 

Western meadowlark – a few seen and heard singing at RG            

Cassin’s kingbird – RG and PV

Greater roadrunner – 1 at RG

Turkey vulture – 1 at RG

American kestrel – several at RG and PV

Ferruginous hawk – 2 at RG

Black phoebe – RG and PV

Starling – RG and PV

Bald eagle – 2 at RG

Mountain bluebird – a few at RG

Tri-colored blackbird – a large flock of around 100 at RG

Red-winged blackbird – several at RG

Cowbird – a few at RG

Lark sparrow – a few at RG

Snow goose – 1 at RG

Northern shoveler – lots of them on pond at RG

Anna’s hummingbird – 2 at PV

Acorn woodpecker – a few at PV

Northern flicker – a couple at PV

Rock wren – 1 at PV

Say’s phoebe – 1 at PV
Ruby-crowned kinglet – heard at PV

American Pipit - 2 at PV

 

 

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