California Trip ~ January 12, 2011

In the early morning, we found the Black-throated Green Warbler that was reported in Brawley, a rare find for southern California. We went back out to Vendel Road to see if the "Taiga/Tundra" Bean-Goose might be closer to the road. It was there, but was about the same distance away as the day before. Considering the long distance, I was happy to get a few identifiable photos of the bird.

"Taiga/Tundra" Bean-Goose along Vendel Road at the southwestern end of the Salton Sea near Westmorland, California. This bird associated with 8 Greater White-fronted Geese. The orange-yellow band near the tip of the bill is barely visible here.

"Taiga/Tundra" Bean-Goose (facing right) along Vendel Road at the southwestern end of the Salton Sea near Westmorland, California. Again, note the orange-yellow band near the tip of the bill.

At the northern end of Vendel Road, a 'Large-billed' Savannah Sparrow perched in a bush near a Black Phoebe.

Black Phoebe along Vendel Road near Westmorland, California.

The nearby roads held a number of Mountain Plovers, Long-billed Curlews, and a Ferruginous Hawk.

Ferruginous Hawk at the southern end of the Salton Sea near Westmorland, California.

We scanned the sea and the shoreline from Lack Road and found Eared and Western Grebe, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Snowy Plover, Willet, Western and Least Sandpiper, Dunlin, California Gull, and Caspian Tern. Other birds seen along the way included Snowy Egret, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Peregrine Falcon, Black-bellied Plover, Marbled Godwit, Stilt Sandpiper, Long-billed Dowitcher, American Pipit, Loggerhead Shrike, "Audubon's" Warbler, and Western Meadowlark.

A stop of the heaquarters of the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge produced Gambel's Quail, Common Ground-Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Verdin, Black-tailed Gnatcatcher, and Abert's Towhee.

Gambel's Quail at the headquarters of the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, California.

Common Ground-Doves at the headquarters of the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, California.

Anna's Hummingbird at the headquarters of the Sonny Bono Salton Sea National Wildlife Refuge, California.

At the headquarters, we found out about three Lesser Flamingos that were being seen at the north end of Garst Road. So, we took the short drive there and, sure enough, they were still there. They were several hundred yards out in the shallow water, so I took a crude photo of one of them through my scope.

Lesser Flamingo at the southeastern end of the Salton Sea, California.

A stop at Salton City on the west side of the sea yielded Surf Scoter, Merlin, Black-bellied Plover, Willet, Long-billed Dowitcher, a Laughing Gull, California Gull, and two Burrowing Owls that stood along one of the streets.

Two Burrowing Owls at Salton City, California.

We drove back to Los Angeles and slept a few hours in the car in a nearby parking lot before heading to the airport.

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