The peak spring migration is ahead of us. Time to get out and see what you can find! I've been trying to bird every weekend, if not more. My Tehachapi list for March is incredible...

Today Christine and I hiked the Sycamore Ridge Trail in Bear Valley Springs. We started where it crosses Deertrail and hiked all the way to the water treatment plant - took us about 3-1/2 hours. Lots of House Wrens (which I haven't been seeing anywhere else), and a BIG flock of Purple Finches singing.

But the highlight of the hike - and totally unexpected - was hearing the unmistakable song of a Canyon Wren repeated over and over just as we entered the canyon paralleling Rolling Oak Drive on the north side. There's an access trailhead from Rolling Oak so you don't have to hike all the way in from Deertrail. It was slightly before the "G" marker post.

The Tehachapi Mountains checklist says Canyon Wrens are rare year-round. I'll have to return next month and see if he's still there for the April sightings list! It would be great to identify a reliable location to find them.

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