[SBB] Panoche Valley

[Bill Bousman <[[email protected]]>]

Folks:

I made a trip to Panoche Valley today, 3/1/2005.  I saw one adult BALD 
EAGLE at Paicines Reservoir, as is typical.  On Panoche Road from Paicines, 
just before M.P. 4.00, I saw the pair of GREAT HORNED OWLS in the cliff 
face over the bridge, as previously described by Phil Gordon.  I presume 
the bird on the left is an incubating female.  Further on, just before M.P. 
5.0, there were two GREATER ROADRUNNERS along the alluvial soils of the 
creek to the right of the road.  The male continuously gave his descending 
"coo-coo-coo", but there were no courtship dances for which the species is 
famed.  From M.P. 13.86 to 19.49, I say two male and two female 
PHAINOPEPLA.  I enjoyed birding the valley, but was skunked on all 
specialties.  I drove across Shotgun Pass into Fresno County and up the BLM 
access road into the Panoche Hills.  At the top of the ridge (after the 
yellow gate) I ran into a flock of 200 or so AMERICAN PIPITS and 
associating with them were at least seven MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS that have yet 
to depart.

Bill

P.S. Many of the dirt roads in the Panoche Valley have sections washed out 
from the recent rains.  There is no difficulty in backing out and turning 
around--you just can't do the usual dry-winter routes.

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