Section 17

The following is a listing of key locations within this section that may be the most productive based on past experience. Also noted are species that are hard to find within the count circle and are possible within the habitat of this section. Please don't 1imit censussing to just the areas mentioned, but consider them the most important. Cover as much of the section as your time and energy allows. Remember, if your party splits or moves to another section, please begin a new field card. Any constructive comments about this section would be appreciated (i.e. too big or small, access problem, other key locations). Please note actual areas covered. Also note contacts for entrance onto private property.

Laguna Lake

Primary goal is to census around lake looking for water birds, gulls, swallows, and sparrows. Target species include Greater White-fronted, Snow, Ross's, Canada and Cackling Goose, mergansers, Thayer's and Herring gull, American Bittern, Virgina Rail, Sora, and swallows. Eastern Phoebe and Swamp Sparrow have been recorded along the peninsula. Past years’ birds have included Clark's Grebe, Common Mergansers and Common Moorhen.

Check hillsides for Rock Wren, open fields for Burrowing Owl, Cattle Egret, and Mountain Bluebird. Look for Greater Roadrunner over hill in cactus patch behind Madonna center. At dusk check rocky hillsides for Poorwill (use recorded calls) and watch for Short-eared Owl.

Prefumo Creek - walk creek from Los Osos Valley Road to lake if possible (Boots will be necesary). In past Swamp Sparrow, Indigo Bunting, Eastern Phoebe, Black-headed Grosbeak, Wilson's Warbler have been found along the creek.

Los Osos Valley Rd. / Foothill Rd. - Drive and watch for raptors, Burrowing Owl, waterfowl, Mountain Bluebird, and Cattle Egret.

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