Pine Grosbeaks and other birds at Minaret Vista parking area, Mono County

Observers: Jon Dunn and Andy Zdon
Email: cerwa@earthlink.net
Verification: MONO
Remote Name: 72.47.2.219
Date: 07/21/2007
Time: 03:57 PM -0400

Sighting

Early this morning (0630-0815, 21 July) Andy Zdon and I birded the Minaret Vista Parking area above Mammoth and found a nice selection of birds, including three female plumaged Pine Grosbeaks. The area straddles the county lines between Madera and Mono. We also had five Band-tailed Pigeons, a group of four and then a single, all flying west to east over the divide. More than a week ago we had a single bird late in the day flying east to west, so perhaps this refelects some sort of regular movement, the direction depending on the time of day. Other species of interest included two (one a begging juvenile) White-headed Woodpeckers, a female Williamson's Sapsucker, a female plumaged Calliope Hummingbird, and a Nashville Warbler (fall migrant). The location seems best just after dawn and there is much movement along the ridge. JLD