Arrive at LAX and meet group. Late morning / early afternoon birding on the Palos Verdes Peninsula. California Gnatcatcher can be found here in remnant (and sadly, rapidly decreasing) patches of coastal sage scrub or “soft chaparral.” After several hours of birding along the peninsula we will drive north (with birding stops) to Santa Paula where we will be staying overnight. Dinner at a great Mexican restaurant in town.
Birding along Sespe River, north of Fillmore. This is a historic location for the California Condor (and captive-bred birds can be seen soaring here). Owling in the evening at Sisar Canyon.
Santa Cruz Island and the Island Scrub-Jay. The boat ride to the island can be good for pelagic species including Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters. Other birds of interest on the island include several island races (e.g. Allen’s Hummingbird and Pacific-slope Flycatcher), Cassin's Auklet, and Pigeon Guillemot.
Carrizo Plain and Mt. Abel. Morning departure for the higher elevations and montane habitat around Mt. Abel in the Los Padres N.F (stopping for Tricolored Blackbird along the way). At the Mt. Abel campground we can have lunch and search for White-headed Woodpecker, Cassin’s Finch, and listen to the singing “Thick-billed” Fox Sparrows. On the Carrizo Plain later in the day we will look for Le Conte’s Thrasher and cross the San Andreas Fault. In the evening, we will return to the plain for spotlighting mammals with hopes of seeing the endangered San Joaquin Kit Foxes and kangaroo rats (several species). If time allows, we can do some owling around Mt. Abel and along Quatal Canyon Rd. We stay the night in Maricopa. .
Quatal Canyon Road and Pine Mountain. If need be, we can start in the Carrizo Plain to look for Le Conte’s Thrasher. The Quatal Canyon Road is a fantastic road and a great location for Lawrence’s Goldfinch. Sage Sparrows (canescens), Black-chinned Sparrow, and Brewer’s Sparrow can be encountered along the stretches of sage and scattered bushes. After leaving Quatal Canyon we will drive north for the oak woodlands and Yellow-billed Magpie. On returning to Santa Paula in the afternoon we will visit Pine Mountain for leisurely birding or to search for anything that may have eluded us up to this point (this is a good location for Mountain Quail).
Depart for return flight to Texas.
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