CA ~ Big Morongo Canyon Preserve ~ con't

White-throated Sparrow

 Black-throated Gray Warbler

 Anna's Hummingbird

And how cool was it the a Mule Deer came into drink from the water feature!

CA ~ Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

This morning started with a birding walk at the Preserve that I looked forward to all week.  Last year I went on this walk also and was excited then to add 11 life birds to my list.  I didn't have any hopes to add more birds to my life list this year but I was pleasantly surprised to add a Black-throated Gray Warbler seen at the water feature when Margaret and I were sitting chatting.  We were a group of 14 birders including host Dee plus leaders Margaret, Gary and several others whose names I didn't get.  It was great to meet a couple from nearby MD who I can connect up with to bird in their area.  Hal and Joanne were here to see if Joanne could add to life birds to there lists - California Thrasher and Nuttall's Woodpecker both of which we saw on the walk.

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Scrub Jay

California Towhee

CA ~ Desert Willow Resort ~ American Kestrel

While sitting at the pool this afternoon I saw a fairly large bird flew by to a cactus.  I wasn't motivated to get out of the pool to check it out but decided I should.  I was excited to see an American Kestrel with the closest looks I have ever seen of one.

CA ~Big Morongo Canyon Preserve ~ con't

SummerTanager

Lesser Goldfinch

Rufous Hummingbirds

Hummers at the feeder

CA ~Little San Bernardino Mountains ~ Big Morongo Canyon Preserve

Our choice for hiking was Tarquitz Trail but when we got to the entrance we found out it's only open on the weekends.  My suggestion was to go hiking in the Big Morongo Canyon Preserve in the Little San Bernardino Mountains.  To get out to the canyon you pass along the Wind Farms along Hwy 10. It's quite a sight to see all of the wind turbines in lines in the desert.  Once at the Preserve we hiked the Desert Willow Trail and part of the Marsh Trail.  Hiking was pretty hot since we didn't arrive until about noon so when Jim and Dawn wanted to hike the Mesquite Trail I decided to stay back at the sitting area by the bird feeders.  There is also a wonderful water feature with a drip.  There was a great variety of birds to see.

me on the trail

Jim & Dawn

CA ~ Sights around Desert Willow

Afternoons are spent up at the pool as this years temperatures have been anywhere from about 98 to 105F.  Usually at some point during the afternoon I take a break from the pool and go off in search of birds and nature to photograph.  It's a photographers delight here especially as there are good numbers of hummingbirds - both Costa's and Anna's.  The surprise of this afternoon was the Cooper's Hawk that landed along the railing of the pool area.  Later this evening he was out hunting birds for his dinner.

Costa's Hummingbird

Lizard sunning on rodk

Western Tiger Swallowtail

CA ~ Relaxing at Palm Desert ~ Desert Willow Resort

Great Egret

Relaxing for me is to get up and go out walking looking for birds in the early morning  Club Intrawest has lots of good areas to walk around their grounds and see more of my old friends. This morining I saw Pied-billed Grebe's, Great and Snowy Egrets, White-faced Ibis, Verdin's, House Finches, and lots of  Anna's and Costa's Hummingbirds.

Snowy Egret & White-faced Ibis

American Coot

Female and Male House Finches