Today I participated in the Santa Barbara Botanic Garden trip to Rattlesnake Canyon - led by Cathy Rose and Karen Telleen-Lawton. Karen is the author of a book about Rattlesnake Canyon. An excerpt from her book:

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A pair of White-tailed Kites is present in the Eucalyptus trees on the eastern border of Santa Barbara Shores Park. They have been seen in a bare tree overlooking Pebble Beach Drive - which tree they sometimes share with Turkey Vultures. One of the kites was seen foraging on Sunday 18th, in the area west of the Eucalyptus trees. Last year, a pair of kites nested in these trees and two fledglings resulted. Pictures are difficult to take, and nest observation is not possible without disturbing the kites. It is probably best to wait to see if any chicks fledge in a few months.

BIRDS
On Sunday 11th March, went briefly to More Mesa to get pictures for the monthly news. Photographed a bird that appeared to be a type of Savannah Sparrow - the birds were in a group of three or more. The large beak made me think of a Large-billed Sparrow, but there was a suggestion that it looked like a Belding’s Savannah Sparrow - which are not known on More Mesa. Unfortunately the bird was on the wrong side of the sun, and its head was mostly in shadow. Click on the picture below for a larger version on Flickr. Returned to More Mesa on Thursday 15th and on Saturday the 17th, to see if a better photo of the Savannah Sparrow could be taken - but no luck. Unless these birds are seen again, the mystery remains.

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