Hi all,

I had a nice hike with Lance Benner and Kathi Ellsworth this Saturday morning in
(Big) Santa Anita Canyon. The highlight was a Pacific wren (western variety of
winter wren). Lance found it on the way up, at 8:40 AM, and Kathi found it on
the way down, at 11:00 AM. Although difficult to find initially, it was seen
well and photographed. It was mostly silent, but responded to a recording with
a few "chimp" calls. The location
is approximately 34.215 deg N, 118.022 deg W ("34.215,-118.022" in Google
maps). This is on the Gabrielino Trail past the top of Sturtevant Falls, part
of the way toward Cascade picnic area and Spruce Grove campground. At one
point,
this trail crosses the stream from the east side to the west side and climbs
high into drier side canyons to the west of the stream. The bird was below
this stream crossing, perhaps by 100-200 yards. There is a small sloped
waterfall
there, also a remnant stone wall at a small trail switchback, and the bird was
seen
both above and below the waterfall. It was ducking into and out of the English
ivy, giving us occasional views.

We also saw an American dipper on the stream above Sturtevant Falls. On our way
up,
it was in the vicinity of green emergency call box #8, and on our way down, it
was in the more typical area nearing the falls.

There were two golden-crowned kinglets at Spruce Grove Campground.

Darren Dowell
Pasadena, CA