I decided to bird the stretch of Road from 3051 WCC by walking east to where the pavement ends just before the Las Cumbres Observatory. The forecast was for wind but it looked like the accompanying fog wasn't along that section of road. Not quite the case when I got to the starting point! Light wind, fog, and temp of 42 degrees, not the best birding weather for sure! But I did it anyway and though bird activity was very light, I found some things to enjoy.
Like the group that went up last week, I found no Black-chinned sparrows and only 1 singing Lazuli Bunting along this stretch of road. I heard several Mountain Quail below the road and flushed at least 4 small flocks of California Quail. I also found two Ash-throated Flycatchers and a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers that might have been trying to nest. Spotted towhees were abundant.
This can be a great road for flowers, but I found many of the things I look for were not out yet: pitcher Sage, Santa Ynez False-Lupine, Snapdragon, and others. However the Bush Poppies along this stretch of road were lush and spectacular, as were several stands of Ceanothus in varying shades of blue. The highlight was a truly spectacular large Madrone in full bloom. I also found some very large white Fairy Lanterns in a grassy stretch of the road about .5 miles from the intersection with Refugio Road.
In addition, the first part of the road beyond the houses and the hairpin turn has a great display of fire-recovering plants, such as lavender phacelia, bush sunflower and other composites, and white morning glory. I regret not being able to take a photo on this narrow section of road.
I suspect the upper road will be more profitable birdwise and flower-wise in a couple more weeks.
Florence Sanchez