When Kay and I used to visit So Cal we often stayed in Orange with Keith, and a favorite morning birding spot was Peter’s Regional Park just a couple of miles down the road. Draught in the west has changed lots, this place included. The reservoir is dry, so to large rafts of wintering ducks, shorebirds, waders, grebes, loons etc were not there. I also had a delay getting out due to lingering details on our Tacoma rental place sale so didn’t get there until about 9 AM. Still it was nice to get out and walk a couple of miles an not feel so sick I couldn’t manage like the last few days.
Best birds of the day were a pair of California Thrashers. Initially heard singing, then flushed before I saw one, but then silently returned to a recording appearing near the ground at very close range. One then perched nearby for good photos and closeup views for several minutes while the other sang from a distance.
No gnatcatchers found today, I had been hoping for both California and Blue-gray, and the only raptor was a single RTHA. I kept eyes up a lot looking for a Zone-tailed hawk that has been seen at a nearby ridge, but not today.
25 Species and a nice walk had. Species list.