Quite a difference from the beginning of the month until the end. Much of the month was very hot and dry, with temperatures in the 80's. However, we end the month 30 degrees cooler and with bucketing rain. I guess winter finally arrived. I have been seeing so many fewer birds than this time last year. I don't know the cause, but I hope they are just late arriving. It will be interesting to see what happens in December after this late storm.

It was nice to be back to a regular routine, not missing any of my regular surveys. My local visits found (or should I say refound  as reported by others) some 'good' birds, those considered rare or less common in our area. Madrona Marsh had Painted Bunting, Bobolink, Bronze Mannikin, and Pine Siskin. Cabrillo Beach had a Nazca Booby and a Red-throated Grebe. Wardlow Park had a Summer Tanager. Most of my birding was local, but I did get out on a quick trip to the north slope of the San Gabriel Mountains for sapsuckers. I spent a night in Pasadena at a charming B&B for my anniversary with my wonderful and patient husband. It was nice to wake up to some different birds outside the window. Red-whiskered Bubuls and Yellow-headed Parrots are introduced exotic species that have grown in population in that area.

I had some monoprints I had done in the past, that I wasn't happy with for one reason or another. I had stuck them in my drawer of art that is incomplete or I don't like but I think may be salvageable. I used these as backgrounds and added ink and gouache. I like the result. Lesson learned: something good can come out of it if you put it down and come back to it with new eyes.

My Irvine Ranch butterfly survey had decent numbers of butterflies, and as expected very dry vegetation. It was good to get back after missing a few times due to heat. I always enjoy the people, butterflies, and views. It was still warm, but not too bad. However, what you don't want to see when hiking is smoke. The water helicopters were flying past us to Irvine Lake. Turns out it was fire about 5 miles away, and fortunately it was put out quickly. We had just ended our butterfly survey and we left the area quickly.

The wetlands bird survey was at the end of the month. I was impressed by all the water from the King Tide. In one of our brackish puddles I noticed a lot of small insects swimming. While my photos were not good and not posted here, I was able to identify Water Boatmen and Water Striders. Both are generally in the area and would not mind the brackish water. Interesting how they quickly find and occupy a new source of water. The insect the Kestrel was carrying looked like it might be a Jerusalem Cricket. The Say's Phoebe maybe carrying a large cockroach. My photos were not good enough to positively identify the insects, but do identify the birds. We also had a late in the season Checkered White butterfly.

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KimMooreNaturalist/

Watch the slideshows or click on the links to look through at your own pace. Links open in a new tab.

Enjoy the show! I always appreciate corrections to ID's.

Local stuff:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/new_nov-2019

Irvine Ranch butterfly survey:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/irc_nov-2019

 

Wetlands Bird Survey:    https://kimssight.zenfolio.com/hellman_nov-2019