California - Day 7 - 18/1/16

Another day in the mountains, but this time in the San Jacinto Mountains just west of Palm Springs. The weather was superb today, though annoyingly it was a public holiday so not as quiet as we'd hoped. Many areas were checked and more often then not proved to be worthwhile. We were very lucky to find a Townsend's Solitaire as today was our last chance, and was initially found by its Bullfinch-like call! 

The day ended at The Living Desert Zoo in Palm Springs where our main target was easy to find, the superb Costa's Hummingbird. In fact, it was the first bird seen after getting out of the car. Very little driving today which was nice, though back to normal tomorrow. 

Night in Palm Springs. 

San Jacinto Mountains

Great Blue Heron - 1

Oak Titmouse - 2

Steller's Jay - 10

Nuttall's Woodpecker - 3

Townsend's Solitaire - 1

Spotted Towhee - 2

Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 4

Western Bluebird - 15

Pygmy Nuthatch - 1

Sharp-shinned Hawk - 2

Hurkey Creek & Lake Hemet, San Jacinto

Lesser Goldfinch - 6

Hairy Woodpecker - 1

Mountain Chickadee - 5

Northern Flicker - 3

Slate-coloured Junco - 1

Brown Creeper - 1

Bald Eagle - 1 adult

Northern Harrier - 1

House Finch - 25

Living Desert Zoo

Costa's Hummingbird - 5

Verdin - 10

Northern Mockingbird - 3

White-throated Swift - 10

Phainopepla - 3

American Wigeon - 3 flew south

 Dark-eyed Junco in San Jacinto Mountains

 Steller's Jay at San Jacinto Mountains

Costa's Hummingbird in Palm Springs