El Dorado Audubon took a trip to Piute Ponds. The weather was wonderful and we saw over 35 species (a few we couldn't get a good enough look at to identify). Northern Harriers, American Coots, Ruddy Ducks, and Common Ravens were the most abundant. Northern Shrikes and a surprise from a Great Horned Owl (no photo :-() were unexpected delights. We were treated to air ballet between White-tailed Kite and a Red-tailed Hawk. Large flocks of birds over beautiful scenery made for a great trip. This is not what I think of when I think of the Mojave Desert!
Piute Ponds is situated in the southwestern portion of Edwards Air Force Base in the western region of the Mojave Desert, on the southern margin of Rosamond Dry Lake Bed.The freshwater marsh is comprised of channels, dikes and evaporation ponds with water supplied from a Los Angeles County waste-water treatment plant.
http://www.piuteponds.com/Species: Gadwall (Anas strepera) , American Wigeon (Anas americana) , Cinnamon Teal (Anas cyanoptera) , Northern Shoveler (Anas clypeata) , Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) , Bufflehead (Bucephala albeola) , Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis) , Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) , Eared Grebe (Podiceps nigricollis) , Double-crested Cormorant (Phalacrocorax auritus) , Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias) , Black-crowned Night-Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax) , White-faced Ibis (Plegadis chihi) , White-tailed Kite (Elanus leucurus) , Northern Harrier (Circus cyaneus) , Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis) , Sora (Porzana carolina) , American Coot (Fulica americana) , Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus) , California Gull (Larus californicus) , Great Horned Owl (Bubo virginianus) , Northern Flicker (Colaptes auratus) , American Kestrel (Falco sparverius) , Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans) , Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus) , Common Raven (Corvus corax) , Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis) , Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor) , Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris) , American Pipit (Anthus rubescens) , Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) , Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus) , Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis) , Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia) , White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys) , Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)
All images © Kim Moore (contact for use)
