So as I reported earlier, I hiked Baron Ranch this morning, covering the Arroyo Quemada Trail and a good portion of the loop trail. Due to a somewhat confusing sign on the loop trail, I eventually turned back and retraced my steps down rather than completing the full circle, but I figure I hiked closed to 8 miles round trip. I good birding along the entire route, though things did quiet down on the last part of my way out in the afternoon.
The big highlight was the Bell's Vireo reported earlier. At that same point where I was trying to chase down the Vireo for a photo, There was a Costa's Hummingbird, Swainson's Thrush, and a Chat calling from below in the creek. It was that kind of a day. There were fewer Wilson's Warbler on the upper portion of the creek than I found on Tuesday, but otherwise, bird activity was just as high or higher. Especially interesting was the high number of Black Headed Grosbeaks and Lazuli Buntings I found on a half-mile stretch at the top of the loop, which was mainly grassland and burned oaks: six of each on this part alone.
Here are some selected birds and totals: Costa's HB-2, both male Black-chinned HB-1 male Ash-throated Flycatcher-4 Olive-sided Flycatcher-2 Western Wood Pewee-1 (in the upper burned section) Bell's Vireo -1 Warbling Vireo-9 Swainson's Thrush-2 Yellow-breasted Chat-3 (including 1 in the burn area) Yellow Warbler-5 Wilson's Warbler-6 Bullock's Oriiole -2 Hooded Oriole -3 Blue Grosbeak-2
Florence Sanchez