California Trip ~ June 1, 2001

We slept for about three hours and got up at 3:30 AM to give the ‘Flams’ one last try since the moon wouldn’t be a factor at this time of the morning. At the spot west of Buckhorn Flat, the best we could do was get more looks at one flying around. A Great Horned Owl also called in the background. As it got light, we got nice looks at an Olive-sided Flycatcher on a snag and heard Mountain Quail. We then zonked out at the motel until checkout time.

We left Wrightwood and drove Highway 138 past Silverwood Lake into the San Bernardino Mountains. Following the “Rim of the World Highway” to Big Bear Lake, we took Highway 38 to the Grout Bay picnic area where we found Pied-billed Grebe, Ruddy Duck, Osprey, American Coot, Acorn Woodpecker, Violet-green Swallow, Western Bluebird, American Robin, and Brewer’s Blackbird. After stopping at the Big Bear Discovery Center, we took a short drive up Polique Canyon Road. After only a few miles, the road got a little too rough for our low-clearance car, so we turned around, checked into the Motel 6 in Big Bear Lake, and went to eat.

Next, we headed to Baldwin Lake. There’s supposedly a good spot for Calliope Hummingbird along Forest Road 2N02, but we couldn’t find the road using the Lane Guide’s directions. We finally got help from a woman who told us that Road 2N02 had been rerouted and could only be reached by using a road over a mile away. We eventually found the road; but, again, we found it too rough to attempt with our car.

We drove up Highway 38, over Onyx Summit, and down to Jenks Lake Road. Along it, we found Common Nighthawk, Western Bluebird, Western Tanager, and Brown-headed Cowbird, but had no luck with owls after dark. At one owl stop on the way back Highway 38, several loud growls that must’ve came from a bear that was much too close for our liking, kept us right next to the car.

After returning to Big Bear Lake, we drove the first few miles of Polique Canyon Road to look for Common Poorwill. As we started to get to the rougher parts, Babe heard one calling. I got out the spotlight and played the tape. The bird immediately increased the cadence of its calls. During a second play of the tape, the bird flew right over the car and landed in the road. After hearing it in three other states, I finally got to see my first Common Poorwill! With the bird still calling in the road and Babe holding the spotlight on it, I got out my camera and slowly walked towards it, snapping pictures every so often. Amazingly, I got within three feet of it! I slowly backed away and held the light for Babe while she, too, walked up to the bird. After she backed off, the bird finally got up and flew away. It was a sighting that I’ll never forget.

Common Poorwill near Big Bear Lake, California. I finally got to see this bird after hearing them on several occasions in a few different states. This bird was seen sitting on Polique Canyon Road. Despite slowly creeping up to within 3 feet of it, it never flushed. I took this photo using the car's headlights and slowly backed away, leaving the bird right where it was found.

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