Thrasher search, Part 3: Clark Dry Lake

Ocotillo in bloom. Clark Dry Lake, California. March 22, 2015. Greg Gillson.

My search for Crissal Thrasher was finally successful at the Mesquite Bosque. So now I wanted to find LeConte's Thrasher. This thrasher hides successfully in sandy soils with scattered bushes. You'd think it would hard to hide in a such dry, sparse, landscape, but there aren't very many of these birds, and there is a lot of places they could hide.

First, I went over to the Old Springs Road Open Space Preserve and edge of the landfill. [See map for the Borrego Springs area in the site guide to the Borrego Springs waste treatment ponds and Mesquite Bosque.] LeConte's Thrashers have been found here in the past. However, as is often the case, no birds whatsoever after 20 minutes.

Leaving, I turned onto Peg Leg Road and immediately found other bird watchers viewing the Swainson's Hawks feeding on caterpillars and kettling into the sky. After a few minutes here I continued on S22 past Henderson Canyon Road, then turned left (north) into the Clark Dry Lake area.

I drove through the dry-camp area along the west edge of the dry lake bed heading north. I stopped just before the main road heads across a portion of the alkaline flats, maybe about 3 miles in.

I walked the edge of the dry lake bed where creosote bushes were sparse and the soil sandy. No luck on the LeConte's Thrashers. I'm not sure if I was in the best place, or not. Birds often sing at dawn; after the sun rises over the horizon, however, singing soon ceases. They may also sing again at dusk.

I did find two Sage Thrasher's, though, a rather uncommon wintering bird. I also found a new County Bird for me, Brewer's Sparrow. And I got a better photo of Loggerhead Shrike than I got at the Mesquite Bosque earlier in the morning.

Sage Thrasher. Clark Dry Lake, California. March 22, 2015. Greg Gillson.

Brewer's Sparrow

Loggerhead Shrike

Well, I still didn't find the LeConte's Thrasher or the Lucy's Warbler. Theoretically, I do have until early May to keep looking, I guess. Then the summer heat arrives and breeding (and singing) season is over again for this year. Realistically, my chances of seeing these yet this year are poor; I'll have to try again next year.