Just got this very cool update from Holly M. Garrod, ornithologist at the Audubon Starr Ranch Sanctuary in Orange County:

It feels like this week has been extra birdy! And with the creek flowing, there have been some rather interesting bird sightings. The other day walking up the road I was surprised when two Mallards flew up out of the creek. Then while doing a morning bird walk, I was thrown off when I heard a shorebird. Upon further listening, I realized it was a Killdeer. While they aren't restricted to wet areas, still a bird that isn't commonly heard on the ranch.

This week's featured bird friend is....

California Towhee (Melozone crissalis). California Towhees are large brown sparrows, easily identified by orange-brown on the underside of their tail and the same warm orange-brown on their face. Towhees are ground foragers; they have large claws they use for flipping over leaves, looking for tasty seeds and insects. These guys are year round residents, and you can hear their high pitched metallic 'chip' song when hiking around. Even though we may not be a huge fan of poison oak, California Towhees love it! Not only can they be found foraging in poison oak, but they also nest in it too!

Here are other birds seen and heard on the ranch this week:

1. Mallard

2. California Quail

3. Red-shouldered Hawk

4. Red-tailed Hawk

5. Bald Eagle

6. Killdeer

7. Band-tailed Pigeon

8. Mourning Dove

9. Great Horned Owl

10. Western Screech Owl

11. Barn Owl

12. Common Poorwill

13. Anna's Hummingbird

14. Allen's Hummingbird

15. Acorn Woodpecker

16. Nuttall's Woodpecker

17. Red-breasted Sapsucker

18. Northern Flicker (Red shafted)

19. American Kestrel

20. Black Phoebe

21. Say's Phoebe

22. Cassin's Kingbird

23. American Crow'

24. Common Raven

25. Western Scrub Jay

26. Oak Titmouse

27. Bushtit

28. White-breasted Nuthatch

29. Bewick's Wren

30. Cactus Wren

31. Ruby-crowned Kinglet

32. Wrentit

33. Hermit Thrush

34. American Robin

35. Varied thrush ?

36. California Thrasher

37. Northern Mockingbird

38. European starling

39. American Pipit

40. Cedar Waxwing

41. Phainopepla

42. Orange-crowned Warbler

43. Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)

44. Rufous-crowned Sparrow

45. California Towhee

46. Spotted Towhee

47. Savannah Sparrow

48. Fox Sparrow

49. Song Sparrow

50. Golden-crowned Sparrow

51. Dark-eyed Junco

52. Western Meadowlark

53. House finch

(photos by Holly Garrod from Jan MoSI banding)