The weather was perfect for 24 birders.  The highlight was a Merlin that took a Cliff Swallow and ate it in a nearby tree.  We had a lot of discussion if it was a Peregrine Falcon, Cooper’s or Merlin.  Later, a Lake Hodges ranger confirmed our consensus.  Other enjoyable sightings with good viewing were Hooded Oriole, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Western Bluebirds.

We saw the following 72 species:
Mallard
California Quail
Horned Grebe
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Clark’s Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Cattle Egret
White-faced Ibis
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Cooper’s Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Coot
Black-necked Stilt
Killdeer
Spotted Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Ring-billed Gull
Caspian Tern
Mourning Dove
Anna’s Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Acorn Woodpecker
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Black Phoebe
Say’s Phoebe
Cassin’s Kingbird
Western Kingbird
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Tree Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Oak Titmouse
Bushtit
White-breasted Nuthatch
House Wren
California Gnatcatcher
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Wrentit
Western Bluebird
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
Red-winged Blackbird
Great-tailed Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Hooded Oriole
Bullock’s Oriole
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch

Leader:  Jeff Ebright