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Locations
Dates
Weather
Species Summary 
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I left Ventura at 5:35AM for Butterbredt Springs and arrived at Jawbone canyon just about 8:00AM. It was quite breezy and cool out and the pump station near the mouth of the canyon was almost bird-free aside from starlings and house sparrows. I made the Preserve at about 8:30AM.
Entrance to Butterbredt Spring Preserve I soon encountered the perrenial and broadly celebrated desert birding pair Liga Auzins and Tom Wurster who ushered me to an Ovenbird which had been found the day before by Susan Steele. It foraged among the leaf litter in typical Overbird fashion providing excellent looks. Liga and Tom left about that time and I soon encountered Stan Gray and the McMorran brothers, Allison, et al. The birding was slow by Butterbredt standards and it didn't take long before the others lost interest and I was left alone to hike down the canyon looking among rock outcroppings for lizards, and hopefully a snake. There were Desert Spiny Lizards here and there basking on rocks but most were very wary and I could only muster a few decent images This was my first close hand experience with this species and I really enjoyed the golden flecked pattern on their spiny scales.
Desert Spiny Lizard One nice surprise was flushing a covey of Chukar which flew across the canyon to disappear behind a ridge. At first I wasn't sure of what they were and was hoping for Mountain Quail which I believe has not been seen this year in the canyon. On searching the ridge with my bins I noticed just one peeking over a rock with the characteristic Chukar face pattern. Another find was a House Finch nest in a Joshua Tree right next to the trail at eye level.
House Finch nest
A closer view On my return fom down the canyon I spotted what I thought might be Chuckwalla perched on a rock high up on the hillside but couldn't quite be sure so I hiked up the hill and after about 100 yards I remained in deliberation but since it hadn't moved I was beginning to fear that it was smiply a spur on the boulder. A little bit further on and my fears that I would be dupped by a stone anomaly were confirmed, but the stone lizard was such a ringer for a "chuck", the right size, shape and everything. I wonder how many others have fallen for that one. Never the less, my ascent was rewarded with a lovely perspective of the famous piece of birding heaven.
An overview of the oasis I hiked till around noon and then ate a sandwhich and made off for Kelso Valley. On the way I met the McMorran group heading out who informed me that while hiking around in the Piute Mountain area Jimmy had reached down to pick up a pine cone and had come very close to being bitten by a small Mojave Rattlesnake. They had apparently been around the southern route to Piute Mountain and I wound up attempting the northern entrance which is a steep washboarded series of switchbacks.
View from the road to Piute Mountains looking eastward with Kelso Valley Road below in the distance I went up only a couple miles before deciding it was not worth the 20 mile round trip and so returned to Kelso Valley Road and on to the Kern River Preserve (KRP). On the way I noticed that there was at least 12 miles of asphalt lined with good habitat which I felt boded well for cruising that evening.
Entrance to the Kern River Preserve On arrival at KRP I set off to hike the nature trail, which has been reduced from that of years past. The birding was slow but the temperature and dappled light along trail seemed great for the prospect of a snake crossing the trail...My hunch was ultimately confirmed as I found a robust California Kingsnake crossing the trail just as I doubled back to retrace my path.
California Kingsnake crossing the KRP nature trail The snake was very warm to the touch and gave me a fecal washing on the hands as I picked it up. I was very active and would not stop no matter what I did so the only decent images I got were of snake in hand.
This snake was very restless
It seemed like an old soul, showing several small scars
The trail where I found the Kingsnake I hiked on some more, took some evnening light pictures of a rustic old barn and finally left the preserve some time around six o'clock to hang out and await sundown for the night's cruise.
Old barn with Raven perched on top Toward dusk the temperature was dropping fast and I finally donned a jacket. My hopes for a good night dimmed and I almost decided to call it a night but finally darkness came and the temperature even seemed to increase slightly. During the day there had been almost no traffic on the road but now there were people out and about coming and going from where I could hardly guess. I believe at least two of the 7 cars I saw after dark were also cruising. One of them even came up behind me and refused to pass even as I slowed to 15MPH and put on my right blinker. They finally passed, but driving very slowly and braking intermittently, just as one would if looking for stuff on the road. Funny thing is, the black mini-van was headed up the road toward the Butterbredt end and I never passed it returning..very odd. Anyway, prior to that incident I did find one adult Glossy Snake on the road at around 8:30 which was a very difficult photo subject barely allowing any decent opportunities. There were also a couple California Toads on the road.
A very active Glossy Snake held by the tail
I finally got it to stay still for bit I was near the end of my drive for the night when about one quarter of a mile from the end of the pavement I rounded a turn and saw a large mammal trotting along in front of me at about 25 yards. I soon realized the it was a Mountain Lion! The animal stopped and made a lunge up the 20 foot embankment, pausing at the top to briefly look back, then disappeared into the brush. As Tom and Liga had reported a Glossy Snake around 10:30PM the previous evening at the entrance to Butterbredt, and the McMorran's had found a sidewinder on Jawbone Canyon Road that night as well, I hoped to find something along the dirt road back to Butterbredt but nothing more appeared. It was a breezy night and so I sat in the truck, soaked up a beer while reflecting on the days adventures, then turned in for the night. The next morning I birded the oasis with the McMorran party along with Tom and Liga but things were very slow, aside from the continuing Overbird, so I decided to leave around 8:00AM for home. |
