Bird Bath

Our birdbath continues to attract migrants. We hope the townsend's warb;er spends the winter.

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Townsend's warbler

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White-breasted nuthatch


Yellow-rumped Warbler

Townsend's Warbler

We went to Mason Park in Irvine to see some migrating warblers. We did spot a few, but there were more birders than birds.

Christmas Bird Count

We participated in the Christmas Bird Count. Here are the two best photos from the day.



Anna's Hummingbird


Townsend's Warbler

Back to Fairmount Park for the Chestnut-sided Warbler

As we were leaving Fairmount Park on Wednesday, some people found a chestnut–sided warbler and we didn't have time to stay as sometimes Mike's job gets in the way of birding. When there was a break in today's rain, we decided to take another look. We had seen Chestnut-sided Warblers while living on the East Coast and they always had the obvious chestnut side. This is apparently a young first winter bird without the distinct marking, so we were a little unsure about what we were seeing. Fortunately, a group of birders were hanging around the "Prothonotary Warbler tree" and they were able to confirm for us it was the Chestnut-sided Warbler. We also got better looks, and photos, of some Townsend's Warblers today.

Townsend's Warbler at Lacy Park

We returned to Lacy Park in hopes of getting a better look at the painted redstart, but no such luck. A Townsend's Warbler was present, so it wasn't a wasted trip.





Perhaps this hawk is the reason that many birds were not flying around.

Lacy Park: Painted Redstart and Red Whiskered Bulbul

Painted Redstart




Red-whiskered bulbul


Townsend's Warbler

We went to Lacy Park on Thanksgiving to see if we could find the painted redstart that has been reported. No luck then, but we returned early Saturday and found it in the exact tree it had been reported visiting. It was quickly chased off by a red whiskered bulbul singing loudly from the same tree. We also spotted a townsend's warbler in the same tree.