Greetings Birders,
Yesterday (16 Apr 2023) I explored areas in eastern Imperial County, several of which I haven't visited in fifteen years.
I started off at the Imperial Irrigation District (IID) Managed Marsh south of Niland. It's a wonderful spot to bird, with acres of marsh, open ponds, and even patches of scattered mesquite, cottonwoods, and willows. At least seven RIDGWAY'S RAILS were calling, along with a SORA and a LEAST BITTERN. Shorebirds like AMERICAN AVOCET and LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER were sporting their breeding plumage. The majority of the remaining ducks were teal, along with NORTHERN SHOVELER, REDHEAD, RUDDY DUCK, and GADWALL. A smattering of warblers were in the willows at the northeast corner.
Driving north, I passed by plenty of nicely irrigated fields, many of which were filled with WHIMBRELS, LEAST & GREATER YELLOWLEGS, WHITE-FACED IBIS, and hundreds of CATTLE EGRETS.
The outstanding nature trail that used to traverse the woods at Wister is long gone, but the birding there continues to be excellent. The official name is now Imperial Wildlife Area, Wister Unit. Over the course of an hour and a half I spotted 50 species, including rails, shorebirds, waders, sparrows, and warblers. Nothing unusual, just plenty of birds.
The Niland Boat Ramp is 11 miles northwest of Niland (just past the Border Patrol Checkpoint), and then 2 miles down a little-used access road leading to the Salton Sea. While the era of huge flocks of Brown and American White Pelicans has come and gone with the game fish, the shoreline and sea still have plenty of birds. Best were 6 SNOWY PLOVERS, a DUNLIN, and 10 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS.
Bombay Beach is no longer a birding destination at this time of year (or perhaps ever). However, the primitive artwork (sculptures and dioramas) on the beach are pretty cool.
At Finney Lake I had a "MYRTLE" WARBLER and my first WESTERN TANAGER of the day. My final bird for the day, #101, was a RED-TAILED HAWK at Wiest Lake.
Good birding!
Henry Detwiler
Yuma, AZ
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