Sunday, February 18, 2007

Windy Birds are Gone



Who would have thunk that on a bright, sunny day like today that the winds would be blowing all over San Jacinto Wildlife Area in Perris. We were deep into fulfilling our tradition at McDonalds totally unaware of what was in store for us. Luck has not been with us birding-wise the past month or so. We thought it will change today. Alas, as we turned into Davis Road where we had great shots of birds before (Meadowlarks, Sage Thrasher, White-tailed Kites - to mention a few), we could see dust storms ahead of us.

Undaunted, we entered the wildlife reserve area. Not surprisingly, birds were few and far between. The creek where wading birds were once plentiful are now devoid of its avian denizens. The only consolation we had were Northern Harriers. They were all over the place. So abundant that Cynthia remarked: The more the Harrier.

Frustrated, we left the reserve to try the agricultural fields at the corner of Bridge St and Ramona Expressway where there were reportedly thousands (!) of Tri-colored Blackbirds. Well, we did find one, count 'em, one, Tri-colored foraging on the sods amidst Brewer's and Red-winged Blackbirds.
By golly, our luck better change soon.

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