California
Saturday 5th to Saturday 19th September 2009
AA9031
California is
without doubt one of the best birdwatching destinations in the United
States, boasting a bird list of more than 600 species. This diversity
results from the occurrence of a remarkable variety of habitats, not least
of which is a coastline of some 1,500 miles, much of which is wonderfully
scenic. Seabirds and shorebirds abound and one of the major highlights of
this tour will be a pelagic trip in Monterey Bay which promises albatrosses,
shearwaters, storm-petrels, alcids and much more, including Blue & Humpback
Whales. Two species, Yellow-billed Magpie and Island Scrub-Jay are endemic
to California and to make sure of seeing the latter we will be taking a boat
to Santa Cruz Island, the only place in the world that it occurs. Away from
the coast, we will be spending two days in Yosemite National Park where we
will look down some 3,200 feet from Glacier Point to the valley below, an
irresistible distraction from the main business of birdwatching.Day 1: A morning flight from London to Los Angeles, followed by a drive to our hotel.
Overnight – Ventura
Days 2 - 4: We have three full days in the Ventura area. One of these will be spent visiting the Santa Clara River estuary and a number of other local sites. Another will see us heading for the Sierra Madre Range, where California Condors are possible, but Golden Eagles, Red-tailed Hawks, Prairie Falcons and American Kestrels perhaps more likely. Here we may also find Oak Titmouse, Phainopepla and Tricoloured Blackbird. A day will also be devoted to a boat trip across to Santa Cruz Island, 20 miles off-shore and part of the Channel Islands National Park, where we expect to see the endemic Island Scrub-Jay, recognised as a separate species only since 1996. Also on the island, we will look for the endemic non-migratory race of Allen’s Hummingbird. On the trip across there will be a chance to look for seabirds, including Pink-footed Shearwater and Craveri’s Murrelet. Brandt’s & Pelagic Cormorants are resident breeding birds.
Overnights – Ventura
Day 5: We head north to Morro Bay, diverting on the way to Bradbury Dam overlooking Lake Cachuma, Alisal Canyon, where Yellow-billed Magpies are regular and Nojoqui Falls County Park which is good for a variety of common species such as Acorn Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch and Western Bluebird. At picturesque Morro Bay, we will look for Peregrines and Canyon Wrens on the 581-feet tall Morro Rock, which dominates the town. The bay here can be good for shorebirds.
Overnight - Morro Bay
Day 6: We visit Montaña de Oro State Park, located just south of Morro Bay, where we hope to find migrant warblers in the pines, cypresses and willows, as well as resident species such as Wrentit, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, California Quail, Hutton’s Vireo, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and California Thrasher. The cliffs and beaches here make this a very attractive birding area. Nearby Morro Bay State Park is also good for migrants and shorebirds.
Overnight - Morro Bay
Day 7: Today we travel the famous stretch of scenic highway north from Morro Bay through Big Sur to Monterey. Birding on the way, we will stop at Andrew Molera State Park, another excellent site for migrants, where there is a ringing station. Resident birds here include Bushtit, Downy Woodpecker, Red-shouldered Hawk, Steller’s Jay, Bewick’s Wren and Spotted Towhee. California Condors and Golden Eagles are occasionally seen overhead. We will also stop at Pt Lobos State Reserve where we may see Sea Otters. Black Oystercatcher and migrant Black Turnstone, Surfbird and Wandering Tattler occur along this coast.
Overnight - Monterey
Day 8: One of the highlights of our tour should be today’s pelagic trip in Monterey Bay. Early September is one of the prime times for such a trip and species to be expected include Black-footed Albatross, Pink-footed & Sooty Shearwaters, Ashy Storm-Petrel, Sabine’s Gull, Rhinoceros Auklet, Red-necked & Grey Phalaropes, Pomarine & Arctic Skuas, Blue & Humpback Whales, Common, Risso’s & Pacific White-sided Dolphins. Monterey Bay is quite sheltered, so boat trips are rarely cancelled due to weather and we have seldom had anyone be seasick. Many of the birds and cetaceans can be seen at close range, making this an experience not to be missed.
Overnight – Monterey
Day 9: Our day will be spent at Elkhorn Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve and Moss Landing. Here a tidal area and adjacent freshwater ponds combine to provide for some of the best birding in California. As a staging and feeding area for migratory shorebirds, it has been recognised as an Important Bird Area of international significance. There is an extensive network of trails and a variety of other habitats including live oak woodland. Many rarities have been recorded here over the years, but there will be more than enough resident and regular migrant species to keep us occupied. The cattle pens at nearby Moonglow Dairy hold flocks of Tricoloured Blackbirds.
Overnight – Monterey
Days 10 - 12: We transfer to Yosemite National Park with Hollister Sewage Ponds and Merced National Wildlife Refuge among several possible sites for birding on the way. Yosemite is understandably a very popular year-round tourist attraction, but in spite of the crowds there is good birding and, of course, the scenery is stunning. From Glacier Point the views are spectacular and there is the possibility of Blue Grouse, Red-breasted & Williamson’s Sapsuckers and Cassin’s Finch. Other species on our target list will include White-throated Swift, Steller’s Jay, American Robin, Pileated, White-headed & Black-backed Woodpeckers, Golden-crowned Kinglet, American Dipper and maybe even Great Grey Owl.
Overnights - El Portal
Day 13: The day will be spent crossing the Sierra Nevada Mountains over the 9,945-feet Tioga Pass. Among the birds we look for en route will be Clark’s Nutcracker and Townsend’s Solitaire. Eventually we descend to Mono Lake, an oasis in the Great Basin, teeming with brine shrimps and alkali flies and a vital habitat for literally millions of birds. In fact, as many as two million Eared Grebes have been recorded here, not to mention 60,000 Red-necked Phalaropes and about 50,000 nesting California Gulls. These are three species we should definitely see, but there should be plenty more, including the first American Magpies on our tour.
Overnight - Lee Vining
Day 14: There may be time for some early morning birding before we set off to San Francisco for our return flight which arrives in London on Day 15.