As I prepare for the process of organizing and compiling the Kern River Valley CBC, I must confess that birding and more specifically owling of late has kept me distracted.

So far, I have participated in 3 CBC's and actually left Kern County for one. For those who know me, leaving Kern is normally verboten, but a free trip to Catalina (my first time) was too irresistible. In Orange and LA Counties, I saw a few lifers. Royal Tern (Long Beach, proof that I don't leave the county very often), Wandering Tattler (Catalina), Black-vented Shearwater (ocean), and California Gnatcatcher (Starr Ranch - Orange County).

Back to Kern County Monday evening for the Tehachapi Count on Tuesday Dec 20th and my owling adventure awaits. As I drove towards Tehachapi on Hwy 223, three Barn Owls were hunting along the road (1st owl species of the week). Then I saw a Great-horned Owl hunting at the Keene exit (2nd KC species). Up to spend the night owling at Tehachapi Mtn Park. I hooted before settling in and had 2 Northern Saw-whet Owls hoot back (3rd species).
I got up and hooted in earnest at 1:30 a.m. trying for a Spotted Owl, which I really didn't expect. Four of the saw-whets came in and were tooting up a storm, when I heard two distinctive barks of a juvenile Spotted Owl (4th species). Pleased I decided to get a few hours of shut-eye and would wake again just before dawn to hoot my way down the mountain.

Stopping here and there and hooting - I heard the slow monotonous toot of a Northern Pygmy Owl (5th species). Figuring the ever increasing light would stop any response from a Screech, I frantically starting whistling for a response, one Western Screech Owl obliged and started whistling back (6th species). Just for good measure a Great-horned decided to join the chorus. As dawn became morning, I scrambled to get to breakfast and start the day of birding with the Tehachapi crowd.

Now, I am thinking wouldn't it be great to record the first Burrowing Owl for the Tehachapi/Bear Valley Counts? Try as though I might, no Burrowing Owl or rarity would oblige on Tuesday. A great day of birding in the company of my old friend Frank was good enough, plus a great street corner, where we recorded 4 finch and 4 woodpecker species just birding from the car (siskin, house, American, and lesser goldfinch - acorn, downy, Nuttall's, and flicker).

Segue to Wednesday and the Bear Valley Springs CBC. Dave Ogden, president of TMBC and I birded his Hart Flat territory for brief time in the morning before I headed to my appointed territory. While sitting drinking coffee, I noticed a fairly large Zonotrich with a large buffy eyebrow and a white-throat hanging around a flock of house and golden-crowned sparrows, yep, a White-throated Sparrow, and I hadn't even finished my first cup of coffee. A really fun addition to a week of fantastic birding.

After that I headed down Hwy 223 to the Arvin Water District recharge ponds. The ponds contained a strange hybrid duck that turns out to be what Audubon called a "Brewer's or Bemaculated Duck," (thanks to John Schmitt for clearing up the mystery), it is a mallard / gadwall hybrid. The body is that of a gadwall, the tail and feet looked like mallard, and the head is green and orange like a green-winged teal. It is illustrated on Audubon's plate 338. Try as I might, I never got a decent shot of the bird, but a lone Ross's Goose and male Common Merganser hanging out with the flock of mallards are easily recognized in the photos.

Well, the quest for owls never was far from my mind, and I searched every bank possible for a burrowing owl. Unfortunately, the absence of ground squirrels left me with a sinking feeling that I wouldn't find one... But wait, as I was working my way toward the exit of the southern ponds to begin my search of the northern ponds, who should be quietly sitting by a culvert but a lone Burrowing Owl (7th species), what a thrill! I am sure this will be the final species in the series, although two more inhabit Kern in winter.

So, I continue to pile on the waterbirds and shorebirds along the levees of the recharge basin, including one of my favorite birds, Wilson's Snipe. Looking north to the orchards and vineyards, thousands of blackbirds, starlings, and crows fill the air and ground with a cacophonous symphony of black wings.

One frustration for the day was the lack of hawks and gulls... While gulls eluded me the entire day, I finally found lone, harrier, kite, sharp-shinned, red-shouldered and ferruginous hawks in addition to the numerous red-tails of the day. Birding in the circle ended by sighting a thrilling 3 Mountain bluebirds working a grape vineyard.

Satisfied, I began the drive home after a five day absence, expecting nothing more extraordinary. Driving along Caliente/Bodfish Road, what do I spy on a fence but a Short-eared Owl!!!! (8th species). I can't believe it, eight of the nine wintering owl species of Kern!

What a fantastic 48 hours. But, one species eludes me and now I am determined to find the final owl. Turn on the computer and what do I read but a record 14 Long-eared Owls seen on the China Lake CBC in Ridgecrest.

An invitation to spend Christmas with my friend Ron and his family in Ridgecrest seems to fate me to look for the final coup de owl! Of course having a mind like a steel sieve, I can't remember whether the email said the cemetery or the college was the place to find the flock. So, taking a stab at it, I asked Ron, Richard, and Daryl if they wanted to help me search for the holy grail of owls and they all happily agreed. Off to the cemetery first and then if no success we would drive over to the college.

So, walking through this memorial park, I am trying to be respectful, when we all spied this skinny guy jogging around the park. Imagine our surprise when this jogger turns out to be Bob Barnes, finder of the owls. Teasing us he says he will take us to a tree where he knows one or two owls were known to hang out. We walk back and find a most cooperative Long-eared Owl, just looking at us quizzically. (9th and final wintering owl species for the week!!!) Expecting that it just couldn't get any better, Bob says he will lead us back to the other spots where he has seen owls and we can all search. We found nothing else... So Bob then says he may as well show us the prize... He tells me to go ahead with the camera and look in the tree to the left of the whitewash on the ground.

Yeah, it couldn't be that great could it? Oh, my, god...
Suddenly I am in a Dr. Seuss book, one owl, two owl, green owl, blue owl. No, maybe the Count in Sesame Street, one, two, three, four, five, I see five owls, no wait more, six, seven, eight, nine, ten, eleven, twelve owls, I see twelve owls, but seven have already flown out... 19 Long-eared Owls in one tree!!! Ha, ha, ha as the count would utter. At least 20 Long-eared Owls are wintering there!

A wonderful Christmas present and a wonderful end to a fabulous year. Thanks to all the species and people who helped make this year so special.

Have a great new year!

ROCK PIGEON    Spotted Dove    Ringed Turtle Dove    Eurasian Collared Dove    Rose-ringed Parakeet    European Starling    House Sparrow   

Rare Birds    

Yellow-billed Cuckoo    

Southwestern Willow Flycatcher    

Summer Tanager

Checklist of Birds of Pixley National Wildlife Refuge

Birds of the Kern National Wildlife Refuge by Alison Sheehey

Birds of Kern County, California

Birds of Kern County, California: A photo checklist

Basic Bird Identification

Bird Feeding

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