Sierra Nevada Mountains, – Reflections of the Natural World

Killdeer

By Jim Gain

Beautiful Birds of the Sierra Nevada – Blog Post #4

Scientific Name: Charadrius vociferus
Family: Charadriidae
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List species of “Least Concern”
Occurrence, Residency and Breeding Status: Killdeer is a uncommon year-round resident and locally uncommon breeder
Favored Biotic Zone(s): wet meadows, mudflats, and margins of ponds

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

The Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus) is an uncommon year-round resident that is more frequently found in Lower and Upper Montane biotic zones usually not far from water. It is a species of bird belonging to the plover family, Charadriidae.

The Killdeer is a medium-sized shorebird with a distinctive appearance. It measures around 23-28 centimeters in length and has a wingspan of approximately 46-48 centimeters. Its plumage is primarily brownish-tan with bold black and white patterns on the upperparts and face, including two black bands across its breast. It has a long, thin black bill and pink legs. The species is known for its loud, shrill call, often described as its name, “kill-deer.”

Killdeer are primarily insectivorous, feeding on a variety of invertebrates such as insects, worms, crustaceans, and mollusks. They forage in open areas, including meadows, fields, agricultural lands, and shorelines. In the Sierra Nevada, they can be found in a range of habitats, including grasslands, wet meadows, lake edges, and even in suburban areas near water bodies.

Killdeers are ground-nesting birds and create their nests in open, gravelly areas with minimal vegetation, such as riverbanks, shores, gravel bars, or even parking lots. Their nests are shallow depressions in the ground, lined with small rocks, twigs, or grass. One interesting behavior of the Killdeer is its “broken-wing” display, where it feigns injury to distract potential predators away from the nest or young. This behavior is a clever tactic to lead predators away from the vulnerable nest or chicks.

The Killdeer has a wide range and a stable population, and it is not currently considered a species of concern. It is listed as a species of “Least Concern” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). However, like many bird species, it can face threats from habitat loss, pollution, and predation. Conserving and protecting its preferred habitats, such as wet meadows and grasslands, is crucial for the continued well-being of the Killdeer and other avian species in the Sierra Nevada and beyond.

Please visit my Beautiful Birds of the Sierra Nevada Blog Site for more Sierra Nevada Birds blog posts:

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Olive-sided Flycatcher

A PhotoBlog Series by Jim Gain

Beautiful Birds of the Sierra Nevada – Blog Post #3

Scientific Name: Contopus cooperi
Family: Tyrannidae
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List species of “Least Concern”
Occurrence, Residency and Breeding Status: Olive-sided Flycatcher is a fairly common summer resident and regular breeder
Favored Biotic Zone(s): Lower and Upper Montane Zones

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

The Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) is a long-distance migrant that breeds in coniferous forests of North America, especially around the edges of open areas such as bogs, ponds, and clearings. In California, it breeds mostly in the Sierra Nevada mountains, where it prefers tall trees in foothill canyons and subalpine forests . It winters in northern South America and along the Andean mountains.

The Olive-sided Flycatcher feeds mainly on flying insects, such as wasps, bees, ants, beetles, and grasshoppers. It forages by perching on a high, exposed branch, often on a dead tree, and flying out to catch insects in the air. It returns to the same perch or another nearby to eat its prey.

The Olive-sided Flycatcher nests in trees, usually on a horizontal branch well out from the trunk. It builds a flat open cup of twigs, grass, and weeds, lined with finer materials. The nest is usually well hidden among dense foliage or needles. The female lays 3 eggs, which she incubates for about 16 days. Both parents feed the young, which leave the nest after about 22 days. The Olive-sided Flycatcher has a distinctive call that sounds like “pip-pip” or “quick-three-beers”. It sings incessantly in spring to defend its territory and attract a mate.

The Olive-sided Flycatcher is considered a species of conservation concern by several agencies and organizations. It has been declining in some regions for many years, particularly in recent decades. The loss of wintering habitat, fire suppression, logging, and climate change are some of the possible threats to this species.

Please visit my Beautiful Birds of the Sierra Nevada Blog Site for more Sierra Nevada Birds blog posts:

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Golden-crowned Kinglet

A PhotoBlog by Jim Gain

Beautiful Birds of the Sierra Nevada – Blog Post #2

Scientific Name: Regulus satrapa
Family: Regulidae
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List species of “Least Concern”
Occurrence, Residency and Breeding Status: Common Year-Round Resident and regular breeder
Favored Biotic Zone(s): Lower and Upper Montane Zones

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

The Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) is a small, active bird that is commonly found in the Sierra Nevada mountain range of California. This species is migratory, and its range extends from Alaska to the southernmost regions of the United States. The Golden-crowned Kinglet is a primarily insectivorous bird, and it feeds on a wide variety of insects, including spiders, flies, and beetles. This bird is also known to consume small fruits and seeds, particularly during the winter months when insects are scarce.

In terms of habitat preferences, the Golden-crowned Kinglet is typically found in coniferous forests, particularly those dominated by fir and spruce trees. These birds are adapted to living in cold environments and can withstand temperatures well below freezing. They often occupy the upper branches of trees, foraging in small groups and flitting about from branch to branch in search of food.

One interesting behavior of the Golden-crowned Kinglet is its habit of puffing up its feathers to trap warm air and retain heat, which helps the bird to survive in cold environments. This species is also known for its high-pitched, trilling song, which can be heard throughout its range.

In terms of nesting, the Golden-crowned Kinglet builds its nest in coniferous trees, typically in the upper branches. The nest is constructed from moss, lichens, and spider webs, and is lined with soft materials such as feathers and animal hair. This bird typically lays between 5 and 12 eggs, which are incubated by both parents for about two weeks.

Please visit my Beautiful Birds of the Sierra Nevada Blog Site for more Sierra Nevada Birds blog posts:

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White-headed Woodpecker

A PhotoBlog Series by Jim Gain

Beautiful Birds of the Sierra Nevada – Blog Post #1

Scientific Name: Picoides albolarvatus
Family: Picidae
Conservation Status: IUCN Red List species of “Least Concern”
Occurrence, Residency and Breeding Status: Fairly common year-round resident and regular breeder
Favored Biotic Zone(s): Lower and Upper Montane Zones

ABOUT THIS SPECIES

The White-headed Woodpecker (Picoides albolarvatus) is a striking bird species that inhabits the Sierra Nevada Mountains of California. It is a medium-sized woodpecker, measuring between 8 and 10 inches long, with a distinctive black and white plumage. As its name suggests, the White-headed Woodpecker has a white head, which contrasts with its black back, wings, and tail.

Males and females are similar in appearance, although males have a red crescent on the top of their head and a slightly longer bill.

The White-headed Woodpecker is a bird of lower and upper montane coniferous forests, where it feeds on insects, acorns, and pine seeds. It is a specialized forager, using its strong bill to pry off bark and search for food in crevices. The species is also known for its habit of storing acorns and pine seeds in crevices, a behavior known as “caching”.

White-headed Woodpecker is one of the least-studied woodpeckers in North America. In contrast to other parts of its range where populations are dropping, the species is more prevalent in California. The Sierra Nevada is particularly important for White-headed Woodpeckers as it is more often encountered here than anywhere else.

Please visit my Beautiful Birds of the Sierra Nevada Blog Site

Rosy-Finch Rendezvous: Stop 8 – Earthquake Fault Trail

The Strange Case of a Solitary Solitaire and a Missing Phone

By Jim Gain
Rosy-Finch Rendezvous Birding Adventure Series

6/14/2022

As one strolls through old-growth red fir and Jeffrey pine forest to explore this unique and relatively recent geological feature: a deep fissure in a flow of volcanic rock, in places as narrow as 10 feet wide and as deep as 60 feet, that lines up with the Inyo-Mono Craters.

We had barely reached the edge of the amazing physical manifestation of what an earthquake fault looks like when Rich spied a distant perched bird.

As we crossed the somewhat risky-looking bridge to get to the other side of the fault, we paused to admire this force of nature. Briefly, because there was a perched bird waiting to be photographed.

We got back to the spot that we had seen the perched bird and noted that it was a Townsend’s Solitaire, a somewhat drab thrush related to the American Robin.

It flew from tree to tree, pausing and posing like some a model in a fashion show. The paparazzi side of us obliged with a steady stream clicking of mirror-less camera images.

Bird photographers know that you never can be sure how cooperative a bird will be and for how long. We try to balance getting a good shot without causing undue stress on the birds. Fortunately, our Canon R5 comes with an extreme 45 megapixel sensor and 500 mm lens, allowing us to get close, but not too close.

After several scores of images, we walked along the trail admiring the trees and their colorful bark. The ground was scattered with the cones of the magnificent Red Firs. I switched over to my iPhone to try and capture the essence of the scenery in a wide-angle format.

I noticed that Rich seemed preoccupied searching through his pockets and backpack. It seemed that he had misplaced his iPhone somewhere. We backtracked to where we had photographed the Solitaire with no luck. He decided to return to the car to see if he had left it there. In the meantime I would randomly call his number and kept searching the area we had walked by.

As I scoured the ground along the path looking for his iPhone, a White-breasted Nuthatch landed on the fallen trunk in front of me.

I felt obligated to take a couple of images while waiting for Rich to return.

With my iPhone in my hand making call after call to his phone, I also took a couple of images of the trees.

AND NOW, THE REST OF THE STORY…

Soon Rich caught up with me again with a very unhappy face. His iPhone was definitely AWOL. We made a slow return hike back to the car, all the while calling his phone incessantly. As we approached the car, we could hear the tones of his iPhone chiming away, completely hidden between his seat and the center console. Disaster averted, and a little out of breath from the 8,500 altitude, we opted to head back to the hotel to grab dinner and check in on our Pygmy Nuthatch neighbors.

We spotted this interesting sign as we were leaving.

RESPONSIBLE RECREATION

Next Stop: Cottonwood Canyon.

Rosy-Finch Rendezvous: Stop 6 – Wildrose Canyon

By Jim Gain
Rosy-Finch Rendezvous Birding Adventure Series

6/14/2022

We made a brief stop at Convict Lake to show Rich what a beautiful gem of a lake this was.

We headed east towards Lake Crowley and the Glass Mountains along Benton Crossing Rd. with beautiful expanses of sage.

Knowing that Greater Sage-Grouse was on the top of Rich’s target list, I was in constant vigil of the edges of the road as we drove along. I was looking for that large, chicken-shaped bird, probably with chicks, that might take advantage of the feeding opportunities on the edges of their habitat. And in an instant, they were there! An adult Greater Sage-Grouse with at least 3 chicks. I immediately yelled it our and hit the brakes, making a U-Turn in the middle of the highway and we crept slowly back towards where they had been. Unfortunately Rich only got a glimpse of one of the chicks as it ran between shrubs.

Here is an image of one I photographed on a previous visit to Mono County.

Slightly discouraged and excited at the same time by the fleeting sighting, we headed on to Wildrose Canyon. Our target birds here included a recently reported Long-eared Owl, plus the usual suspects frequently found at this particular hotspot; Plumbeous Vireo, Calliope Hummingbird, Lazuli Bunting, Green-tailed Towhee and Blue Gray Gnatcatchers.

As we walked up the dirt road, we had birds singing and calling on all sides. Our first photographic volunteer was a Green-tailed Towhee that perched willingly on a dead snag next to us.

Next up was a Blue Gray Gnatcatcher that gave the photographers numerous poses to show off its fine array of feathers.

We had visits from Mountain Chickadees…

And many Lazuli Buntings…

And suddenly something buzzed right over our heads, like some kind of dive-bombing hummingbird. In fact, it was some kind of hummingbird, a Calliope Hummingbird was claiming its territory and doing dive displays to impress his potential mate. After doing several display dives, it proceeded to just hover in place not very far from us.

As we watched the Calliope Hummingbird, Joshua Stacey, a birder from the Bay Area, caught up to us and we chatted about what we had seen. All the while the hummingbird continued with its dives and hovers.

While Rich continued to look for the Long-eared Owl (unsuccessfully)…

I continued uphill hoping to find one of the MacGillivray’s Warblers that Joshua Stacy had told us about. I eventually found two of them and managed a low-quality, but identifiable image of one.

Next Stop: Earthquake Trail

Rosy-Finch Rendezvous: Stop 5 – Sierra Lodge at Mammoth Lakes

By Jim Gain
Rosy-Finch Rendezvous Birding Adventure Series

6/14/2022

While I was waiting for Rich to fill up the ice chest, I wandered outside of our parking garage to take a photo of our hotel, the Sierra Lodge, with the magnificent backdrop of the Sierra Nevada. I crossed the street to get the best angle and immediately got distracted by the chatter of a Pygmy Nuthatch that was flitting around the trees right next to our hotel. I yelled to Rich to grab his camera and we proceeded to follow not one, but two Pygmy Nuthatches as they bounced around in constant movement between the trees on each side of the road.

And then it happened, one of them flew full-speed into the side of the hotel. Well, not actually into the solid siding, rather, into a neat little perfectly drilled cavity in its side.

They had a nest in the side of the hotel literally 20 feet from our balcony. One of them emerged from the hole with a solid piece of egg shell.

As we watched the nuthatch, an inquisitive Yellow-rumped Warbler flew down from the trees and landed on the ground right next to us.

We packed up and headed to our next stops, returning at lunch to check on the nuthatches and took a couple more photos of them hard at work feeding their babies.

Next Stop: Wildrose Canyon at Glass Mountains.

Rosy-Finch Rendezvous: Stops 4 and 7 – Inyo Craters

By Jim Gain
Rosy-Finch Rendezvous Birding Adventure Series

6/13/2022 & 6/14/2022

Rich and I made two stops here, Stop #4 on Monday afternoon and Stop #7 on Tuesday afternoon.

The Inyo Craters are three north-south-aligned phreatic (steam) explosion craters on the summit and south flank of Deer Mountain. Six hundred years ago, a massive explosion heated rock and ground water, causing a large blast zone. Today, snow melt and rainwater create emerald green pools in the craters. Accessibility: 1.4 miles (2.25 km) round-trip uphill hiking trail.

Creative Commons Image by Matthew Dillon

Inyo Craters is a must-stop birding destination for birders and bird photographers wanting to find many of the high montane birds of the Sierra Nevada. Species reported here at this time of year include: Pine Grosbeak, Evening Grosbeak, Black-backed Woodpecker, Williamson’s Sapsucker, White-headed Woodpecker and Red Crossbill.

Inyo Craters eBird Hotspot Link

Over the course of the two visits here, we only recorded 15 species, missing 4 of the target birds, but hitting on two of them. However, even with so many misses, the walk was amazing and so full of beautiful vistas and mountain bird songs.

As we started up the trail towards the craters, we saw an adult Mountain Chickadee feeding a juvenal on a fallen tree.

Next was a very vocal White-breasted Nuthatch that seemed to be trying to out-sing its cousin, the Red-breasted Nuthatch.

It was still a bit windy and the birds were playing hard to get as we hiked the trail up to the craters and back down again. As we approached the parking lot we spied a pair of Hairy Woodpeckers attending to nestlings in a cavity in a tree right next to the road.

We returned the next day, 6/14/2022, in hopes of finding a Black-backed Woodpecker nest at the end of the parking lot. We had barely walked 20 feet up the road at the end of the parking lot when an adult Black-backed Woodpecker flew over our heads and landed on a tree trunk right next to a nest cavity. It paused briefly before entering the hole. I was NOT prepared to take photos as my camera was in the OFF mode. NOTE TO SELF: Get your camera ready before you walk away from vehicle!!!

We quietly watched the bird as it sat inside of the hole with its head sticking out. It would sink back into the hole and then poke its head out and just sit there looking around.

It eventually, flew to a nearby tree and proceeded to preen and scratch, straightening and accommodating its feathers.

We took a few minutes to wander up the road from where the nest was and noticed that we had transitioned into an area where a fire had burned through several years ago. the blackened trunks stood out from the non-burned trees. Black-backed Woodpeckers like to feed on beetle larvae that are associated with dead and burned stands of trees.

Next Stop: Earthquake Fault Trail

Rosy-Finch Rendezvous: Stop 3 – Mono Lake County Park

By Jim Gain
Rosy-Finch Rendezvous Birding Adventure Series

6/13/2022

The chorus of wrens and vireos hit us as soon as we stepped out of the car. From every clump of cottonwoods along the creek that winds through the park, came the sounds of House Wrens and Warbling Vireos that competed for the bounty of caterpillars found there. The House Wrens’ song was a rolling series of rattles and trills that it intoned from the lower shrubs and branches.

While the Warbling Vireos had more of a run-on warble that it crooned from the upper canopy.

Suddenly the flash of a bright red head appeared from the clumps of leaves on the trunk of a cottonwood. A sharply dressed member of the woodpecker family, the Red-breasted Sapsucker brightened our visit. We followed it to a nest cavity where he and his mate alternated feeding duties with this year’s hatchlings.

After a nice stroll down the boardwalk to the tufas at the lake’s edge, we enjoyed watching the swallows zooming and zipping around in search of their next meal. On a distant tufa was an Osprey nest. I had seen this nest on a previous visit about a year ago with two nestlings.

As we headed back up towards the parking lot we were treated to an American Robin that was carefully clutching a caterpillar in its bill while it searched for more.

Next stop: Inyo Craters

Rosy-Finch Rendezvous: Stop 2 – Virginia Lakes Resort

By Jim Gain
Rosy-Finch Rendezvous Birding Adventure Series

6/13/2022

At a 10,000′ elevation, with a cool temperature of 38 degrees, 32 % humidity and brisk winds at 18-20 mph, the relative temperature of around 20 degrees made this stop a challenge. The folks that manage Virginia Lakes Resort are pretty good at keeping a seed feeder and black thistle seed sock well-stocked for all of the birds (and visiting birders). As we walked towards the store, we spotted Cassin’s Finches and Pine Siskins at the seed feeder.

As we got closer, we could see two Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches flitting between the ground, the tree and the feeder.

A short walk to the restroom and back showed how the altitude at almost 10,000′ was hitting me big time. I was huffing and puffing by the time I got back to the feeders. We chatted with the lady that fills the feeders and she commented that the Rosy-Finches tend to come down from the high elevations once the snow has melted. The Cassin’s Finches showed no fear and landed as close as 6 feet from us as they devoured the freshly placed seed.

As soon as the thistle seed sock was filled the Pine Siskins rejoined the feeding frenzy.

Soon the commotion drew in a pair of Clark’s Nutcrackers and a lone Dark-eyed Junco.

There were also some cute Chipmunks and Belding Ground Squirrels, but there were no squirrel moments for us as WE WERE FOCUSED!

Feeling a little overwhelmed by the very cool breeze and with our primary goal in hand, we took a quick selfie to memorialize the success. Unlike our Operation PhotoTrogon adventure where we got our target bird on the last day of birding, we scored great, although somewhat brief views of two Gray-crowned Rosy-Finches on our first day!

2022 BIRD SPECIES #500

*SIDE NOTE: The Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch also happened to be bird species #500 for 2022 for me. Here’s another shot of this pretty bird.

Next Stop: Mono Lake County Park