Irvine Regional Park on Friday

Male Wood Duck--Aix sponsa swimming in the lake at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California

Decided to take off a few days to bird. Joined the Sea and Sage Audubon field trip to Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California. I like to join field trips to learn from the leader and other members about the birds we see and about the place we are going. Sometimes even places I have gone many times before like Irvine Regional Park, has places I haven't gone or there are facts I haven't learned before.

A male Peacock in a hurry at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California.

There is a small population of Peacocks that are in Orange and go between Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California and Santiago Oaks Regional Park.

Male Ring-necked Duck at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California

The Ring-necked Duck has a thin cinnamon ring around its neck that can't always be seem. I do almost always see Ring-necked Ducks in the lake at Irvine Regional Park.

Male Ring-necked Duck with his cinnamon ring showing at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California.


The great thing about Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California is the oak woodlands and the large areas of grass. It is that combination that attracts some great birds like the Acorn Woodpecker--Melanerpes formicivorus, Western Bluebird--Sialia mexicana, Wood Duck--Aix sponsa, Red-Shouldered Hawk, and the American Robin--Turdus migratorius.

Female American Robin--Turdus migratorius at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California.

In the picnic area across the railroad tracks from the lake, there was an American Robin--Turdus migratorius couple foraging in the grass.

Male American Robin--Turdus migratorius at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California.


It was nice to see the American Robins--Turdus migratorius. I don't see them that much any more. The leader of the field trip had studied with Sea and Sage leader Sylvia Gallagher who teaches several classes including "Birding by Ear." American Robins evidently have several songs.

European Starling. An unwelcome sight in the Colonies and here at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California. This aggressive cavity nester kills other cavity nesting birds and punctures their eggs. Partly responsible for the decline of cavity nesters in the United States. Released in New York's Central Park by a misguided Shakespeare fan in the 1800s. Not a nice bird.



Unfortunately, there were lots of European Starlings competing with the cavity nesters at the park. European Starlings are very aggressive alien birds that will kill birds and puncture their eggs if they are in a cavity they want or even in a nearby cavity.

Male Western Bluebird--Sialia mexicana on the lawn searching for a meal at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California.


There didn't seem to be as many Western Bluebirds--Sialia mexicana as usual and I wondered if the presence of so many European Starlings had anything to do with it.

Male Western Bluebird--Sialia mexicana on a tree trunk at Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California. It is not unusual to see a Western Bluebird--Sialia mexicana perched on a tree trunk.



We also went up into the hills and had a nice walk with great views of the park.

Hilly terrain above the more developed Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California proper. There are several natural wilderness-type areas that are part of the park, but provide great hiking and birding.




We saw a lot of wildflowers.

Gooseberry--lots of animals like the flower and the berries.




And a large group of Turkey Vultures--Cathartes aura soaring below us.

Turkey Vulture--Cathartes aura flying high above Irvine Regional Park in Orange, California.


And above us at times.

Turkey Vulture--Cathartes aura from the ridge looking down a about 7 circling Turkey Vultures--Cathartes aura. This is the only vulture we have in Orange County.


We also saw an American Kestrel--Falco sparverius and several wrens.

Dodder is also called "Witch's Hair." It is a parasitic plant that often kills the host plant.

Dodder has always been an interesting plant to see in the hillsides. I don't see it along the roads like I used to see it.

Raven at the park. Ravens are larger than Crows, have a diamond or wedge-shaped tail and make deep croaking noises rather than repetitive caws.

The croaking Ravens made some unusual noises.

One of many feral parrots that live at Irvine Regional Park and in the nearby area including Santiago Oaks.

The parrots were noisy. The crows were noisy. The Acorn Woodpeckers were noisy. A difficult place to take a nap.

Parrot checking out a potential nesting cavity. These parrots are competing for nesting cavities with Acorn Woodpeckers, owls, and European Starlings to name a few.


And of course, we saw a Black Phoebe--Sayornis nigricans. It is a very common bird in Orange County.

A Black Phoebe on a log.



Red-tailed Hawk soars above.


A Red-Tailed Hawk--Buteo jamaicensis and a fast moving Red-Shouldered Hawk after the trip.

A flock of American White Pelicans above headed for a lake or river. They often fly for long distances each day to find good fishing spots in fresh water. It is not unusual to see them overhead in Orange County on their way somewhere.


The most unexpected, but not unusual sighting was of a flock of American White Pelicans. I stayed after the field trip and took a lot of pictures. It was a great field trip with the leader knowing the park well and knowing how to identify birds by their song as well as their appearance. I learned a lot birding with Sea and Sage Audubon.

External Link

Dodder

An informative article on the parasitic orange plant called Dodder.

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