California Trip ~ January 11, 2011

I left home at 2:30 AM, headed for the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport, and caught my flight to Philadelphia. From there, I transferred to a flight to Los Angeles. In Los Angeles, I met up with Jason Horn and Devich Farbotnik and we headed for south end of the Salton Sea.

We stopped along Vendel Road and spotted the group of dark geese among the many Snow Geese. Among the eight Greater White-fronted Geese was the "Taiga/Tundra" Bean-Goose! It was a life bird for all of us. The bird never came closer than a hundred yards but was very obvious with a scope. Some Ross's Geese were in among the Snow Geese flock. Other birds seen from there were Eared Grebe, Great Egret, White-faced Ibis, Green-winged Teal, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, White-tailed Kite, American Avocet, Long-billed Curlew, Long-billed Dowitcher, Black and Say's Phoebe, Horned Lark, White-crowned Sparrow, and Red-winged Blackbird.

In the waning daylight, we drove to the north end of Vendel Road. From the observation deck, we watched the numbers of Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese flying in to their roost locations.

Sandhill Cranes flying over the Salton Sea near Westmorland, California after sunset. A Northern Harrier cruises the area at the bottom of the photo.

Also seen from there were Ruddy Duck, American White Pelican, Cattle Egret, Black-necked Stilt, and Marsh Wren. At dusk, we had Sora, Virginia Rail, American Bittern, and the 'Yuma' Clapper Rail. We spent the night at the Brawley Inn.

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