The Western Scrub-Jay was split into 2 species over the summer of 2016. The California Scrub-Jay is found west of the Sierras and the Woodhouse's Scrub-Jay east of the Sierras making 11 Jay species in North America. I have seen 7 of the 11 species. All the Jays I have encountered are very approachable and therefore make great subjects.
Owls are usually heard so it is a treat when you actually see one. A couple of weeks ago a report came across the NVbird listserve of a North Pygmy Owl at the Davis Creek County Park, which is located between Reno and Carson. When I arrived there were a couple of other photographers there so it was easy to find the owl.
Changes are a coming but not to our National Symbol: the Bald Eagle. I have been seeing more Eagles (Bald and Golden) and many other raptors this Fall in the Washoe Valley, which is located between Reno and Carson City, NV. This adult Bald Eagle I first saw in a tree at the northwest end of the Little Washoe Lake.
The gang and I decided to take a trip over the 9-30-2016 weekend into Oregon with Bend being our goal. We camped at Tumalo State Park, which was very nice and under the conifers. The birding at the campsite was pretty good with the first being a Townsend's Solitaire and over the 2 days we were there I recorded 33 species. More on the birds of Bend later.
This year's 2016 Monterey Bay Bird Festival was held September 22-25 and there were many pelagic trips into Monterey Bay. I joined Debi Shearwater on her Shearwater Journeys trip on Sunday. The weather started to warm up with temperatures reaching into the 90s along the coast. This happens during the fall with the fog and heat taking turns controlling the weather. Just after sunrise our boat left the harbor and we cruised through both Monterey and Santa Cruz counties.
