On Thursday, May 24th, at about 8:30 am, Morro Bay State Park was left behind and good travel time was made to Basalt Campground, San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area. The afternoon was spent setting up camp and observing the birds in the campsite area. The campsite is an oasis of trees in the surrounding hilly grassland, and it is understandable that many birds would make it their home, and a large number do. The birds are also attracted to the food morsels left by campers and readily available water from frequently used outdoor faucets. The older trees are mostly exotics; the younger trees are natives.

(Yellow-billed Magpie at San Luis Reservoir Basalt Camp)

On May 25th, San Luis National Wildlife Refuge San Luis Unit, a short distance away from the Basalt Campground, was visited. The San Joaquin River flows through this refuge, which serves as a haven for the wildlife of the San Joaquin Valley. Even though it was not the height of bird season, and the winter rain had been poor, it was still an interesting and beautiful place to visit. There are a number of different habitat types: Native Grasslands and many Wetland types such as Alkali Sinks, Seasonal Marshes, Permanent Marshes, Riparian Woodlands and Salt Sloughs. These different habitat types are a mere remnant of what used to be in the area some 150 years ago.

(San Luis National Wildlife Refuge)

Wetlands can be permanent or seasonal, but are very important in providing areas that can absorb flood water, and river silt and sediment. Many of the wetland areas seen on the visit were dry, but could be recognized by the types of plants that were growing there — sedges and rushes — and despite the dryness, there was much wildlife. Soaring or flying over the flat, drier parts, were many Red-tailed Hawks and a couple of Northern Harriers, indicating that their prey lived in those areas. A group of newly fledged Song Sparrows were hidden in a circular area of rushes, at the center of which was a small pool of water from which the birds were drinking. Killdeer and many Red-winged Blackbirds were seen in the drier areas, but the latter species was found all over the Refuge. However, in summer, the refuge could probably be called the Kingdom of Western Kingbirds, which were seen in large numbers all over the Refuge. The Refuge is also a home for Tule Elk.

(Song Sparrow amongst some rushes “rushes are round, sedges have edges”)

The Refuge opens every day, and consists of two (free) very well-marked auto-tour routes, along which there are places to stop for viewing opportunities. There are also four hiking trails along the auto-tour routes, one of which is only open in spring and summer. On three of the trails, there are wide, very sturdily built observation platforms that allow access for handicapped visitors. Areas that were off-limits to cars were very clearly marked — it was not easy to go down the wrong road.

(Great Blue Heron - one of the few that hesitated before flying off)

Unfortunately, even if one drives very slowly (<5 mph), most of the birds are spooked, even when they are far from the car. Walking does not help much either; the majority of birds flew off even with a very slow approach. When I returned, I learned that hunting is allowed in certain areas of the refuge; this probably explains the wariness.

(San Luis National Wildlife Refuge - San Joaquin River)

Nevertheless, many birds were seen and a few photographed. One particularly fascinating event was an encounter with some young Tree Swallows being fed by their parents. After some observation and slow walking to a reasonably good observation point, I was able to watch the incoming parents dropping food into the mouths of the fledged youngsters. Eventually I learned that I could get ready for photographing this food exchange when the youngster started flapping its wings (here-I-am-indicator?), and opening its mouth so that it was ready for the food. On one of my slow creeps, the youngsters were disturbed and flew into the air where they were fed on the wing. But shortly after that, they flew back to their perches where I was able to get better shots from the closer position.

(Tree Swallows - adult feeding youngster)

From the many interpretation signs located in the Reserve, it appears that the winter season would be the best for waterfowl. Sandhill Cranes also visit the Reserve at that time.

(Lazuli Bunting, through the open car window)

The following day, May 26th, I went to the Keterson Unit (closed to traffic), the West Bear Unit (interesting but small) and the San Luis Unit again to finish off the day. It was on this trip, that I parked near an area where I had seen a Northern Harrier taking off. While I was sitting in the car, a very bright blue bird suddenly appeared and started plucking at grass and plant seeds. I sat silently in the car until it flew briefly to a branch where it was not obscured, and took a few pictures. It was the first Lazuli Bunting I have seen. The Harrier did appear and flew very close-by. It took me by complete surprise, and a blurry picture was the result - too bad, it could have been a good capture.

(Western Kingbird nest at Romero Visitor Center)

On Sunday May 27th, I left the San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area at 6 am in the morning, and stopped off at the Romero Visitor Center, which I had visited on the way in. The center appears to be permanently closed, but I discovered a Western Kingbird nest on the property on the first visit - with two parents watching over the nest. I was hoping to possibly see youngsters in the nest, but in the early morning there was a chilly wind blasting through the Pacheco Pass. It was impossible to take pictures, and I am sure the birds were hunkered down in the nest. The top of the Pass was under thick fog, and it took almost an hour to get to the 101. Downtown SF was reached by about 8:30 am, in good time to find parking for the Carnaval.

(Pacheco Pass)

Birds seen at Basalt Campground:

• Brewer’s Blackbird
• Bullock’s Oriole
• House Finch
• House Sparrow
• Loggerhead Shrike
• Mourning Dove
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Robin
• Yellow-billed Magpie
• Western Kingbirds

Birds seen at the Refuge:

• Ash-throated Flycatcher
• Black-winged Stilt
• Brown-headed Cowbird
• California Towhee
• Cliff Swallow
• Crow
• Great Blue Heron
• Great Egret
• Bullock’s Oriole
• House Finch
• Killdeer
• Lazuli Bunting
• Mallard
• Marsh Wren
• Moorhen
• Mourning Dove
• Northern Harrier
• Northern Shoveler
• Quail
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Snowy Egret
• Song Sparrow
• Tree Swallow
• Western Kingbird
• Western Meadowlark
• Wood Duck

Slideshows

• San Luis Recreation Area, San Luis National Wildlife Refuge
• Carnaval SF

Links of Interest

• San Luis Reservoir State Recreation Area
• The San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Complex
• USGS - San Luis National Wildlife Refuge Bird List
  
• National Wildlife Refuges: Profile - San Luis National Wildlife Refuge
  
• Interesting post by Mon@rch on bird nests

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