March 25, 2009: Palm Springs to Kern County, California

After the conclusion of the conference today I had some time to run up to Kern County to do some birding. The drive north was also very nice, with the desert blooming (driving up US-395 from just north of San Bernardino, to near Inyokern). Then I headed over Walker Pass (Route 178) to the Kern River Valley. Then, in the evening, I headed over to Bakersfield, and south on I-5 to the LAX area.

US-395 shots:

This was a lonely road!

Above and Below: Joshua Tree desert

Above and below: Blooming Desert

Scenery around Inyokern, CA

Spent some time in the Middlemiss family backyard in Inyokern - they have a landscaped backyard with the elusive Le Conte's Thrasher... and some good scenery!

Above and below: Cactus in the yard

Dried berries from last season

A sick looking Lesser Goldfinch

Pine Siskins

Above and Below: California Quail

Nice backyard scenery (above and below)

Above and Below: Le Conte's Thrasher

Verdin

Some nice Joshua tree scenery on the way to Kern River Valley

Kern River Preserve

Lark Sparrow

Dark-Eyed (Oregon) Junco

Turkey Vulture

Tri-Colored Blackbirds?

Brewer's Blackbird (above and below)

Scrub Jay (Walker Pass - CA Route 178)

A portion of the Pacific Crest Trail that I hiked on briefly, near Walker Pass

March 24, 2009: Big Morongo Preserve (California)

I again had a little bit of free time before classes/presentations, so I headed out to nearby Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. It was a slow day for birding, and I did not have much time but at least I got in a few decent photos...

More windmill pictures

White Crowned Sparrow (X2)

Ladder Backed Woodpecker

A jumping Bewick's Wren

Verdin

Hooded Oriole (female)

Yellow-Rumped Warbler

Below: Vermillion Flycatchers (nearby Covington Park)

Above and Below: San Bernardino Mountains

Back to the conference!

March 23, 2009: Pinyon Flats and Palm Springs, California

had a little bit of time before the conference to do some birding and visit the desert. I stopped at the Pinyon Flats Cahuila Tewanet Overlook (link) on Highway 74 south of Palm Springs in the high desert. Then, a brief stop before class at Indian Canyons in Palm Springs.

Cahuila Overlook photos:

Cactus in the AM sun
Bewick's Wren

Above and Below: Morning desert views

Spotted Towhee (above and below)

more desert yucca

Northern Flicker (Pinyon Crest, CA)

View from CA-74 looking down at Palm Springs

Indian Canyon Photos:

Side-Blotched Lizard

Flyover Red-Tailed Hawk

California Towhee

Barrel cactus

Pacific Slope Flycatcher

Lincoln's Sparrow

Palms in the canyon

Above and Below: Costa's Hummingbird

Above and Below: Scott's Oriole

White-Crowned Sparrow

Above and Below: Cooper's Hawk