Date: 3/18/25 4:56 pm From: Florence Sanchez via groups.io <sanchezucsb11...> Subject: [sbcobirding] Nojoqui Park and Alisal Road March 18
I checked the park this morning and afterward walked up Alisal Road as far as the washout point from a few years back. It was a great morning for a walk with lots of activity from local birds, but few spring arrivals yet. Best birds in the Park were the continuing Steller's Jay and an adult Chipping Sparrow. Purple Finches were singing to beat the band. But I didn't see or hear a single Turkey, which is unusual for this location.
I heard one Western Flycatcher on my walk up the road. The falls are running nicely.
Our odd rain and weather pattern this winter has left some plants rather confused. I saw white-flowered Ceanothus blooming at the base of the Gaviota Tunnel--they usually bloom in January. I saw the same plants in bloom on Saturday on San Marcos Pass Road, along with Manzanitas that also usually bloom in January. Annual wildflowers along the road were very few--a couple of Milkmaids in a shady stretch and just a couple of Buttercup plants were all I could find.
Florence Sanchez
