Today I headed east to explore a new area Oak Glen Preserve in the San Bernadino Mountains foothills. Got there just as it opened at 8 AM, about 1 hour 25 minutes from Fullerton following google maps directions from eBird hotspot map. It was very birdy early, taperd off about 9 AM but still a great walk. I circled the major trails, and decided not to go the extra 0.9 miles each way out and back trail to the Chaparral vista. Had FOY Evening grosbeaks almost immediately, and FOY White-breasted nuthatch soon after. The nuthatches were in the Giant Sequoia grove near the start of the trail.
The rest of the walk was pretty much expected birds for an oak-dominant canyon, but the scenery was beautiful.
The walk took just over 2 hours and I left just after 10:20 AM to head for the U. C. Riverside Botanical Gardens. This is supposed to be a reliable place for Bell’s Sparrow, though Kay and I are 0-for-2 on previous visits. Today I have better luck. In the heat of mid-day I walked through the gardens up onto the straight ahead trail into the open areas. Just where the trail tee’s off at the fence line where there is a lot of Bottle Brush and some sage in the fields behind the fence I heard what I thought was a Bell’s sparrow singing briefly. I played song 1 (CA) on Sibley’s app just once and the bird immediately came to the fence line right in front of me and sang as it posed for photos.
The rest of the walk was pretty but nothing special for birds.
Headed home about 12:45. It’s less than 1 hour back from here to Fullerton even with moderate traffic in early afternoon.