Recent Bird Sightings

There is a Tricolored Heron at Salt Creek today, North End of the Salton Sea (NESS). The Purple Martins (adults with young) continue to be seen in Garner Valley - along Highway 74 on the left just after the turnoff to Lake Hemet and just before the turnoff to Hurkey Creek Campground. As you drive along Hwy. 74, look for a tall, dead, snag with holes near the top. Park at the Lake Hemet Road (NOT the Lake Hemet store) turnoff and carefully walk up Hwy. 74 toward Hurkey Creek Campground less than one tenth of a mile. Western Bluebirds were seen flying over the Living Desert today. Evidence of Common Poorwill found in a Palm Desert and a Barstow backyard this week. They may be on the move.

Desert Cities Bird Club is on Facebook!

Desert Cities Bird Club is on Facebook!

www.facebook.com/DesertCitiesBirdClub

Arizona Field Ornithologists Meeting

The Arizona Field Ornithologists will be holding their annual meeting in Lake Havasu City,Arizona, October 26-28, 2012. There will be interesting talks on Yellow-billed Cuckoos and Southwestern Willow Flycatchers and field trips on both sides of the Colorado River. For more information and to register go to www.azfo.org

Birding Opportunities this Fall in the Coachella Valley region

Get Out and Bird! Regularly Scheduled Area Birdwalks Big Morongo Canyon Preserve: bird & nature walks on Weds and Sats (7:00 a.m. Apr-Sept; 8:00 a.m. Oct – Mar) except none the first Sat of any month and no Sats at all in Sept. 11055 East Drive, Morongo Valley, CA. (760) 363-7190. www.bigmorongo.org Coachella Valley Preserve Most first three Thurs 7:45 a.m. Sept thru Apr. 29200 Thousand Palms Canyon Rd, Thousand Palms, CA. For schedule call (760) 343-2733 or check website. www.coachellavalleypreserve.org Coachella Valley Wild Bird Center has a birdwalk on the first Sat of each month (Oct.-May) from 8:00-10:00 a.m. 46500 Van Buren St., Indio, CA. (760) 347-2647. www.coachellavalleywildbirdcenter.org The Living Desert has members-only birdwalks on the second Thurs of each month. Oct - May. Meet at the admissions gate at 7:30 a.m. for early admission. 47900 Portola Ave, Palm Desert, CA. (760) 346-5694 ext 82506. www.livingdesert.org Whitewater Preserve Every second and fourth Tues. 8:00 a.m. all year. 9160 Whitewater Canyon Rd, Whitewater, CA. www.wildlandsconservancy.org/preserve_white water.html (760) 325-7222. Fall Bird Classes Gearing Up There are several classes in the offing aimed at area birders. All are taught by Kurt Leuschner of College of the Desert. The Birds of Joshua Tree National Park—Sept 21-23, Joshua Tree National Park. Contact the Desert Institute at (760) 367-5535 for details. Birds of the Mojave Desert—Natural History & Conservation. Oct 12-14, Desert Studies Center at Zzyzx. Contact UCR Extension at (800) 442-4990 for particulars. Birds of Anza-Borrego—Oct 26-28, Anza-Borrego Desert State Park. Call UCR Extension at (800) 442-4990 for more information.

The Fall newsletter is out!

The Fall (Sept-Dec 2012) issue of "I'd Rather Be Birding", the newsletter of the Desert Cities Bird Club, has been published. If you'd like to receive a copy and/or join the Desert Cities Bird Club leave your email address as a comment to this post. Happy Birding!

Sunnylands Birdwalks

Sunnylands (part of the Annenberg estate) in Rancho Mirage, CA is now open to the public. Check out their website at www.sunnylands.org Free birdwalks are usually led by Kurt Leuschner and the next three are scheduled for Oct. 12, Oct. 26, and Nov. 9, 2012. All fridays, starting at 9:15am and lasting about one hour. Hope to see you there!

Central Valley Birding Symposium this Fall

Central Valley Birding Symposium November 15-18, 2012 Stockton, California - Stockton Hilton www.cvbs.org There will be great workshops, speakers, field trips, and more at this annual event. If you are into birds and birding you should try to attend!