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MARCH 2012
IN FLIGHT By Richard Cronberg
Most people don’t realize it but we have a most unusual and unique habitat here in Southern Riverside County, a natural lake! Yes, unlike most of Southern California Lake Elsinore is natural unlike the other man- made impoundments. And the best part is that it is a wonderful place to watch birds.
Birder’s Quiz: You are birding at Lake Elsinore and see a white bird
near the shore. Although the plumage is entirely white you notice that the bill is black, the legs are black but the feet are bright yellow. What is it?
Since this lake has been here for so long many of the birds that
live and breed here are ancestors of birds that date back hundreds of years. Birds such as cormorants, egrets, herons, ducks, rails, shore- birds, gulls and terns have called this lake home since early times. And recently it was discovered that Lake Elsinore is one of the larg- est breeding grounds for Clark’s Grebe in the U.S. They breed by the hundreds in the south end of the lake from now till summer.
Water associated birds are not the only birds found here. Over 200 hundred species total have beed recorded which include rap- tors,
hummingbirds, swallows, woodpeckers, thrushes, warblers,
sparrows and many others. It’s not uncommon to spend a day bird- ing Lake Elsinore in the spring and record 100 species of birds!
Although there are several places to view birds the best and most popular access point is behind the Diamond Baseball Stadium on the east side of the lake. There is plenty of parking and miles of trails for hiking and biking on the dikes.
The most obvious birds will be herons and egrets, gulls, terns and
ducks. But be sure to look up! There always seems to be Red-tailed Hawks, American Kestrels and Turkey Vultures flying somewhere. Also you may see the resident Bald Eagles, Osprey and a Peregrine Falcon.
The trees and scrub brush around the lake harbor land birds such
as Western Bluebirds, House Wrens, Yellow-rumped Warblers and many others. Watch the open areas around the dikes for Burrowing Owls, some have been seen
recently.The shore will have shore birds and American Pipits and Horned Larks.
Although there are many areas to look for birds in our part of the coun-
ty I highly recommend a trip to Lake Elsinore. Plan on spending a morning or better yet, a day exploring and enjoying one of our unique treasures, the birds of Lake Elsinore. Bring a lunch, sunscreen, binoculars, and a field guide. You just never know what you’ll see!
Birder’s Tip: A hand-held recorder is a great tool when watching birds.
You can speak into it while watching the bird so that you can note field marks that can be checked later.
Birder’s Quiz answer: You have spotted a Snowy Egret!
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