- Date: 07/13/2010
- Time: 06:00:00 AM
Crystal Basin
Field Trip
If you’re up for an early start, a look at the Sierra Nevada bird habitats in summer, this trip is for you. It’s worth taking a day off from ordinary hot summer days in the valley; go to the mountains! Play hooky mid week, avoiding the busyness of the weekend recreational traffic. Conifers, aspens, snowy vistas and sparkling lakes/creeks will be the backdrop for this full day birding trip up Hwy 50 to Icehouse Road. On this “big day,” we’ll check out Icehouse Reservoir, Union and Loon Lakes, and go up Big Hill lookout.
See a map here
Target birds will include: White-headed Woodpecker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, Mountain Bluebird, Mountain Quail, McGillivray’s Warbler, Bald Eagle, Calliope Hummingbird, many warblers, flycatchers and vireos and perhaps all three nuthatch species. Many of these birds will be found in various stages of nesting or raising of young.
At midday, when birds are not so active, we’ll have time to stop and enjoy the native plants, which bloom later in these diverse mountain environments. In addition, we too will rest up for the second half of our excursion, at a dazzling picturesque spot. So bring picnic food to share with the group, potluck style; paper plates, utensils, ice chest (to keep foods cool) etc. will be provided. Bring your own beverage.
Plan on an early start 6:00 AM and a full day, we’ll avoid commuter traffic by going early and stay until dusk. Bring binoculars, sunscreen, hat, snacks and (if you have) a spotting scope.
Meet at the park and ride off Mace Blvd. If you plan to drive, fill up your gas tank before joining the group. Carpooling will be encouraged and riders should contribute $$ to driver.
RSVP: Contact leader Sami La Rocca, (sami182@wavecable.com), 530 908-0288 prior to trip for information update.
TRIP HIGHLIGHTS
This big day got underway early, our first stop at Cleveland Corral; highlight birds seen were House Wren and Lazuli Bunting. Calliope Hummingbirds were seen in the big meadow along Silver Creek, heard but not seen were Mountain Quail. Mammal highlight was a quick look at a mother Black Bear and two cubs by half the group. Also seen were Western Wood Peewee and Olive-sided Flycatcher and close call of a Pileated Woodpecker. Moving along we were next at Icehouse Reservoir; on cue an Osprey passed directly overhead carrying a fish! A few more species where added such as Cassin’s Vireo, Purple Finch and Brown Creeper. Always beautiful, Mt. Bluebirds and Green-tailed towhee made the stop at Big Lookout special. After our potluck picnic at Fashoda Campground on Union Valley Reservoir we took a walk where we added Western Tanager, White-headed Woodpecker and heard the high pitched song of the Golden Kinglet high in the confer canopy. Arrived at Loon Lake about 4:00 PM, here we added a remarkable highlight, a Common Loon on Loon Lake in Mid-summer! Other species seen in the boat landing were Hermit Warbler
This very full day provided the eleven in our group a sighting of 48 species. Watch for this trip next summer if this is the way you’d like to spend a great summer day.