Bird Notes from Mount Pinos, California
Bird Notes from Mount Pinos, California
During the past thirty or more years the region of Mount Pinos, lying in Ventura and Kern counties, California, has been visited by many collectors and a knowledge of its avifauna has increased constantly. I made two trips to this locality during the summer of 1932 and obtained some notes which may be of interest. These observations were made in the vicinity of San Emigdio public camp, elevation 6900 feet, at the west end of Cuddy Valley, Kern County.
Sphyrapicus varius daggetti. Sierra Nevada Red-breasted Sapsucker. Rather uncommon on the mountain. A male seen June 12, 1932, is my only record for the locality.
Phainopepla nitens lepida Phainopepla. I was surprised on June 12, 1932, to notice a male of this species flying about high among the yellow pines and perching in them. This bird was noticed about a quarter of a mile west of the camp at 6200 feet. It evidently was a straggler from the Mohave Desert via. Cuddy Valley.
Myadestes townsendi. Townsend Solitaire. Has been noticed only once on Mount Pinos during the summer. On June 8, 1929, Seth Benson noticed a pair at 8000 feet and collected an adult male (Condor, 32, 1930, p. 102). On August 4, 1932, I observed an adult solitaire in the public camp grounds on the edge of the sage belt. The next day, while watching a small band of Clark Nutcrackers close to camp, I discovered an immature solitaire. This bird, a male, was collected. The Mount Pinos region is probably the westernmost breeding ground for the species in southern California.
James Stevenson
Berkeley, California, February 11, 1933
