This morning, May 12, five PAS birders conducted a field trip on private Pala Indian Reservation land accompanied by the Tribal Wildlife Biologist, Kurt Broz. The trail followed the San Luis Rey River bed in an area behind and west of the casino. This is a fantastic birding spot and we all had a great time. We found 53 bird species, including the seldom seen Willow Flycatcher. Thanks to TomTrowbridge, the highlight of the morning had to be finding the high-up and distant nest along with the two Golden Eagles perched on nearby rocks.

Here’s our list:

Mallard

Ruddy Duck

California Quail

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Egret

Turkey Vulture

Red-shouldered Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Golden Eagle

American Kestrel

Common Gallinule

American Coot

Band-tailed Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Anna’s Hummingbird

Acorn Woodpecker

Nuttall’s Woodpecker

Northern Flicker

Western Wood-Pewee

Willow Flycatcher

Pacific-slope Flycatcher

Black Phoebe

Ash-throated Flycatcher

Cassin’s Kingbird

Hutton’s Vireo

Warbling Vireo

Western Scrub-Jay

American Crow

Common Raven

Northern Rough-winged Swallow

Cliff Swallow

Oak Titmouse

Bushtit

Bewick’s Wren

House Wren

Western Bluebird

California Thrasher

European Starling

Phainopepla

Yellow Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Wilson’s Warbler

Yellow-breasted Chat

Western Tanager

Spotted Towhee

California Towhee

Song Sparrow

Black-headed Grosbeak

Red-winged Blackbird

Brewer’s Blackbird

Hooded Oriole

House Finch

Lesser Goldfinch

JIM BECKMAN