Natural History Wanderings

Started the day with a bird walk led by a park Volunteer, Ann.  We went around the visitor center and then walked out to water tank in the opposite direction.  Although 323 species of birds have been seen at Anza Borrego and 119 species were seen at this year’s Christmas count, we didn’t do quite that well.  We saw many white-crowned sparrows, and lesser goldfinches.  We saw quite a few verdons and Costa’s hummingbirds.  Also seen were ravens, black-throated sparrows, house finches and heard black-tailed gnatcatcher.   Outside of the walk we have seen a kestrel, a ladder-backed wood-pecker (yesterday) and today several Eurasian collared doves.

The visitor center reported that the best flower spots were Coyote Canyon and the east end of Henderson Road so that is where we went.  As soon as Di Giorgio Rd. ends and the road becomes the unpaved Coyote Canyon Jeep Trail there were lot of flowers.   Flowers include Dune Evening Primrose, Desert Lily, Sand Verbena, Desert Dandelion, Desert Chicory, Poppies, Phacelia, Brown-eyed Primrose, Popcorn, Lupine, and Desert Pincushion.

Further on were Ocotillo, pink Yellow-Throat Monkey Flower, Whispering Bells, Cactus (not flowering), and Chuparosa.

The west end of Henderson Rd. had a few Desert sunflowers, some Dune Evening Primrose, Brown-eyed Primrose, and Sand Verbena.  The west end of Henderson Rd. was very flowery with lots of Sand Verbena, Evening Primrose, Lupine, Desert Pincushion, Spectacle-Pod, Spanish Needle, and Desert Lily.

Here are a few photos from today.  Click on pictures to see a larger version.