Southern California Trip ~ September 14, 1985

Early on Saturday morning, we toured the Joshua Tree National Monument. A Ladder-backed Woodpecker was seen on the trunk of one of the Joshua Trees and a Black-throated Sparrow was seen in the Pinto Basin. The Joshua Trees and the round rock formations were extremely unique.

The Hidden Valley Picnic Area at the Joshua Tree National Monument near Twentynine Palms, California.

We escaped the heat by traveling up into the San Jacinto Mountains. I couldn't locate White-headed Woodpecker in Idyllwild, but near Mountain Center, I did see a female Phainopepla. At the back of the Hurkey Creek Campground, I saw a small group of Lawrence's Goldfinches. A noisy flock of Pinyon Jays were along the highway just beyond the campground. I searched in vain for Rock Wren on the way down the mountain into Palm Springs.

We then drove back to Los Angeles and spent the night there.

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