Fairly lively morning as I wandered around Embudito Canyon today looking for all the birds that have started showing up there that I’ve noticed in the last few days. A surprise this morning was a Ruby-crowned Kinglet in the scrub oaks along the north side of the arroyo, which also held a Spotted Towhee. Between yesterday and today, also present were the Cactus Wrens, Ladder-backed Woodpecker, and Gambel’s Quail just inside the wilderness boundary (The Scaled Quail were also calling this morning.).
Cactus Wren
Ladder-backed Woodpecker
Curve-billed (mostly) and Crissal Thrashers were about, along with the Juncos, Bushtits, House Finches, White-crowned Sparrows, Canyon Towhees, and Scrub Jays.
Crissal Thrasher
Curve-billed Thrasher
A couple of Mourning Doves were cooing from the rocks, and several Robins, Western Bluebirds, and Northern Flickers were dashing about as I got closer to the spring. Yesterday, a Canyon Wren was calling from the mouth of the canyon, but never quite managed to see it. An interesting show was provided yesterday of a Red-tailed Hawk with a fresh Desert Cottontail rabbit in his claws; the hawk just kept dashing back and forth and soaring around, apparently not quite sure if lunch was ready. Earlier this week, I spotted a Black-throated Sparrow in the canyon.
Red-tailed Hawk
Natural Moments 