Date: 6/5/25 7:34 am From: Guy McCaskie via groups.io <guymcc...> Subject: [inlandcountybirds] Salton Sea (south) 4 June 2025
I spent most of Wednesday 4 June 2025 (5;45 AM to 3:00 PM) with Therese R.
Clawson looking for birds at a few select locations in the Imperial Valley
and along part of the south shore of the Salton Sea. We started the day near
the west end of Young Road then drove northeastward along the seawall to
Obsidian Butte (no birds along the shore away from near the west end of
Young Road). We then drove east to the algie plant on Highway 111 (no
nesting gulls). From the algie plant we drove north into Niland. In Niland
we birded north along International Avenue, and west to the west end of 4th
Street. We then drove northwestward to the Wister Unit HQ. At the Wister
Unit we looked at the area around the headquarters and at the fishing lake.
From the Wister Unit HQ we drove southwestward to the Salton Sea National
Wildlife Refuge HQ, stopping to look at Morton Bay, the north end of Garst
Road and within the Hazard Track on the way. At the Salton Sea National
Wildlife Refuge HQ we looked around the Visitor Center and at the ponds
adjacent to Rock Hill. After looking at the Salton Sea National Wildlife
Refuge HQ, we drove south through Westmorland, then southeastward into
Brawley. In Brawley we only looked at Riverview Cemetery. We then drove
southwestward to the intersection of Carter and Fites Roads. From there we
drove southward to near the southeast corner of El Centro, stopping at the
flooded area adjacent to Neckel Road on the way (no gulls). After spending
time near the southeast corner of El Centro, we drove west to San Diego,
stopping at Rio Bend and Fig Lagoon before leaving the Imperial Valley.
Mostly clear with no wind, and with temperatures ranging from 75 to 98
degrees.
Most of the waterfowl and shorebirds have departed. One or two late spring
migrant passerines. None of the post-breeding visitors encountered.
Species seen and/or heard - Cinnamon Teal (3), Northern Shoveler (7),
Gadwall (1), Mallard (75), Northern Pintail (3), Redhead (3), Ruddy Duck
(75), Gambel's Quail (5), Pied-billed Grebe (5), Eared Grebe (10), Western
Grebe (10), Clark's Grebe (10), Rock Pigeon (20), Eurasian Collared-Dove
(50), Inca Dove (10), Common Ground-Dove (5), White-winged Dove (30),
Mourning Dove (30), Greater Roadrunner (3), Lesser Nighthawk (6),
Black-chinned Hummingbird (5), Anna's Hummingbird (10), Costa's Hummingbird
(2), Common Gallinule (1), American Coot (25), Black-necked Stilt (250),
American Avocet (50), Black-bellied Plover (5), Killdeer (15) Snowy Plover
(5), Ring-billed Gull (10), California Gull (80 - most nesting near the west
end of Young Road), Gull-billed Tern (15), Caspian Tern (20), Forster's Tern
(10), Black Skimmer (15), Double-crested Cormorant (10), Neotropic Cormorant
(10), American White Pelican (30), Great Blue Heron (10), Great Egret (5),
Snowy Egret (5), Cattle Egret (20), Green Heron (2), Black-crowned
Night-Heron (3), White-faced Ibis (50), Turkey Vulture (6), Red-tailed Hawk
(1), Great Horned Owl (3 - one at the Wister Unit HQ and two near the
southeast corner of El Centro), Burrowing Owl (15), Gila Woodpecker (1),
Ladder-backed Woodpecker (1), American Kestrel (6), Ash-throated Flycatcher
(1), Western Kingbird (10), Western Wood-Pewee (2), Willow Flycatcher (1),
Western Flycatcher (1), Black Phoebe (6), Vermilion Flycatcher (4 -
including a female at a nest at Rio Bend), Warbling Vireo (2), Common Raven
(1), Verdin (10), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (5), Barn Swallow (4 - at
least two pairs with nesting Cliff Swallows at the intersection of Carter
and Fites southwest of Brawley). Cliff Swallow (250 - most in a large flock
at the Wister Unit Fishing Pond), Black-tailed Gnatcatcher (1), Marsh Wren
(10), Northern Mockingbird (6), European Starling (25), House Sparrow (10),
House Finch (15), Lesser Goldfinch (5), Song Sparrow (10), Abert's Towhee
(10), Western Meadowlark (10), Red-winged Blackbird (50), Bronzed Cowbird (1
- one adult male at the south end of International Avenue), Brown-headed
Cowbird (10), Brewer's Blackbird (15), Great-tailed Grackle (50), Common
Yellowthroat (5), Wilson's Warbler (1) and Western Tanager - 84 species.
