June 29, 2005
Out of luck!
Well, it was about time! Marcel and I drove to the extreme NE corner of California in the hope of hearing the reported Yellow Rail (an extremely rare bird in the state). We listened unsuccessfully for just over two hours, left the site at 10pm and arrived back in Davis at 4am! Fortunately, the birding en route was very pleasant, and we had stunning views of some higher-elevation species.
First stop was Burney Falls, in search of Black Swift. After about 20 minutes, we observed one seemingly flying through the waterfall to its nest site. Over the next hour we had stunning views of several birds as they circled the pool to gain height, before disappearing into the stratosphere. We were equally impressed by the falls themselves, which must rank among the most scenic in California.
Our route to the Surprise Valley took us via the the Warner Mountains, where we had some excellent birding around the Patterson Meadow and campground. White-headed and Black-backed Woodpeckers showed very well, but this stunning Red-breasted Sapsucker stole the show.
Other cooperative birds at this site included many Dusky Flycatchers...
... and a singing male Cassin's Finch.
As we dropped onto the drier east slope, we were surprised to see this Common Nighthawk flying over, and even more surprised when it landed on a rock in front of us!
The sedge meadow from which the Yellow Rail had been reported was about as far north and east as it is possible to get within California. Over the two-hour period spent listening for this bird, we were treated to a great aerial display by several Common Nighthawks (they whizzed past within inches of us, perhaps attracted by our attending swarm of mosquitoes). Judging by the extent of the yellow in the wings, the Red-winged Blackbirds here appeared to be of the nominate race (as opposed to the Bicolored which breeds in the Central Valley).
We also had great looks at a pair of Vesper Sparrows.
Driving back through the sagebrush, we encountered a number of nocturnal mammals, by far the most abundant of which was the Kangaroo-Rat. We had a job trying to avoid them as they sprung out kamikaze-like into the road - here's one that didn't quite make it...
