Finding a Lazuli Bunting was why my day started at 4:30am. It is a summer resident in the San Jacinto mountains but until a month ago, I had never been able to see one. My goal on this day was to find one and get a photo..no guarantees.
Thomas and Little Thomas Mt are easy to overlook when you drive through Garner Valley since you tend to look at the taller, majestic mountains on the opposite side of the valley. These mountains have their own unique beauty.
To reach the mountain peak, you follow a narrow, dirt USFS road and hope you don't encounter too many people driving in the opposite direction. Ribbonwood, Chamise and Scrub Oak dominate the chaparral landscape until you reach the higher elevation.
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| Black-chinned Sparrow |
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| Western Scrub Jay |
There is a huge diversity of birds that call this habitat home. The Black-chinned Sparrow is a summer resident but the Scrub Jay is here all year round.
When we reached the peak, the air was filled with blooming flowers mixed with the vanilla scent from the Jeffrey Pine trees.
Today was my lucky day! The first bird that I saw after reaching the top was singing from the tallest snag overlooking the valley far below. It was the beautiful, turquoise feathered Lazuli Bunting! I had hoped for a closer, clearer photo but I was happy to at least catch a glimpse of this bird!
Last year when we were here, there was a meadow filled with California Poppies and Lupine. This year, the invasive grass dominated the meadow.
In other areas of the mountain, we saw unfamiliar Mariposa Lilies in bloom.
A nice surprise was finding a couple of Lark Sparrows. Sparrows are generally hard to distinguish from each other but this sparrow has a striking facial pattern so it's easy to recognize.
It was great to see a patch of one of my favorite summer blooming flowers, the Prickly Poppy. If you look close you can see a cute little bug peeking over the petals.
Wishing you some peaceful, inspiring moments in Nature this Summer.
Click on photos to enlarge.
Content and photos by Robin Roberts.
Content and photos by Robin Roberts.
