I’ve made quite a few visits to OC over the years to visit with Kay’s family, but have not been here in summer often. Yesterday we took a hike in the hills outside Laguna Beach, and except for some singing Wrentits, Common Yellowthroats, and House Finches it was really pretty quiet, though a hike at Read More…
Category: Orange County CA
Figured Out Call Note: Hooded Oriole Chatter
Kay and I have been hearing a call note repeatedly in several different areas, but have been unable to get a visual to confirm here in SoCal. Kay has insisted it was the “Pid-er-ik” of Western tanager, but I’ve argued it is just not right. Today again I heard right from the front driveway as Read More…
Carbon Canyon Regional Park
I got out for a mid-morning walk and birding at a real gem of a park, right nearby in Brea. Pretty birdy, diverse habitat, and I’ll likely go back with Kay. Surprises of the day were 11 Cackling geese flying low overhead as I parked, and Pacific slope flycatchers calling everywhere. I’ve been out almost Read More…
Irvine Regional Park Morning
Today I headed for Irvine Regional Park, getting there just at 8 AM when it opened and was amazed at the que at the check in kiosk. Obviously a very popular place on a sunny Saturday morning. I was hoping to find a couple of first for me CA birds here, Lewis Woodpecker and White-breasted Read More…
LEOW and Black-and-white Warbler Today
Today Kay and I went to the Irvine area of Orange County first to look for Lawrence’s goldfinch (again) at William R. Mason Regional Park. It is a nice park in the city, near UCI, with a good riparian stand running along University Rd, and near the end of about 2 hours Kay located a Read More…
Hiltscher Park- Local AM Walk
This morning I decided not to drive, so just walked to the local micro-canyon trail Hiltscher Park and got out for a bit over an hour. It’s always nice to walk here, and today the highlight was a pair of Cooper’s Hawks apparently on territory calling repeatedly. I don’t remember hearing their Cah-cah-cah call, so Read More…
No LAGO at El Toro Today
Kay and I had a great half day of birding today, first visiting El Toro Memorial Park (read cemetery) about 20 miles but nearly an hour in AM traffic on I-5 in Lake Forrest, Orange County. We were hoping to find Lawrence’s goldfinch which had been seen there a few times over the last month Read More…
Peter’s Regional Park
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, Read More…
San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary and Upper Back Bay Newport
If yesterday was exploring a new area, today was a visit with old acquaintances. I started at the San Joaquin Wildlife Sanctuary at about 8:20. From Fullerton took the 91 to the 55 to just past John Wayne Airport, and got off at Jamboree. It was very birdy in the earlier morning, much less so Read More…
Fullerton Arboretum
This morning Kay and I took an hour walk and birding outing at the Fullerton Arboretum. Best finds of the day were Townsend’s warbler, Allen’s hummingbirds everywhere, and an incredibly bright Song sparrow that had us studying it for a few minutes. Lots of habitat variation and plantings so a great place nearby to visit. Read More…