It was a pleasure to lead this trip to two of my favorite birding locations—Dos Picos County Park in Ramona, followed by Rangeland Road. After four days of rain, we were rewarded with a gorgeous, sunny day, perfect for exploring the avian wonders these spots have to offer. Our enthusiastic group of approximately 30 birders was in high spirits, and we were treated to some truly memorable sightings. At Dos Picos, we were thrilled to hear the call of a Wild Turkey and to get excellent views of two Sora Rails showing off. A Hermit Thrush made a brief but delightful appearance, peeking out from under a bush, while above us, Red-tailed Hawks performed their impressive mating ritual.
Rangeland Road did not disappoint, delivering incredible raptor sightings. We were lucky enough to observe two Golden Eagles soaring gracefully overhead, along with two Bald Eagles—always a majestic sight. Adding to the excitement, we spotted two Ferruginous Hawks and five Burrowing Owls standing guard over their territory. The Western Meadowlarks were particularly striking, both in appearance and in song, as they basked in the sunlight.
All in all, it was another fantastic day of birding with our wonderful Palomar Audubon Society friends. We ended the day with  69 species, total for both locations. Below, you’ll find links from Steve Ellis to our eBird list, along with some stunning photos captured by our talented photographers.  ebird.org/checklist/S213595337       ebird.org/checklist/S213595336

Hal Benham, Trip Leader