Peanuts In My Pocket

My wife and I visited Ralph B. Clark Regional Park in Buena Park on Friday for some birding. Well, I went birding, and my wife humored me by acting as my spotter. Her company always helps. For reasons I can’t explain, she sees birds far better than I do. With her help, I captured several shots of the Vermilion Flycatcher shown below. The bright red immediately caught her eye; I missed it even after she pointed it out. At first, I thought it was orange, but a friendly birder helped me identify it correctly. I’d seen one before, but it had been years.

The park itself is lovely. We remembered visiting a few years ago on an overcrowded weekend and leaving without staying – unable to find parking and overwhelmed by the chaotic mix of parties, picnics, and activities. This time was completely different. Our morning visit found the park nearly empty, with only a few dog walkers, hikers, and anglers scattered around. The trails were wide open, and the atmosphere was serene.

As a birding destination, the park shows real promise, offering multiple habitats that could attract a variety of species. We spent about 40 minutes walking around the park and its lakes, spotting 11 species along the way. While nothing new appeared for us this time, I can see how this could become a small birding hotspot.

My eBird checklist for the day:

1. Mallard
2. Allen’s Hummingbird
3. Pied-billed Grebe
4. Black-crowned Night Heron
5. Great Blue Heron (flyover)
6. Black Phoebe
7. Vermilion Flycatcher
8. American Crow
9. Scaly-breasted Munia
10. California Towhee
11. Great-tailed Grackle

I also spotted what I believe were Western Bluebirds, but they were too far away for a positive ID. A Bluebird nest box confirmed my suspicion that they reside in the park.

The Great-tailed Grackle was a surprise. I didn’t recognize it at first; it was a juvenile being fed by its mother, and her tail didn’t seem especially long. After photographing them several times, I realized what they were and later confirmed my hunch with a birding app.

I plan to revisit the park each season over the next year. Now that I’m familiar with the layout, I’ll spend more time and bring a tripod. I’m curious to see which ducks arrive during migration and whether raptors make an appearance, given the abundance of squirrels and rabbits, I’d bet they do.

One thing I found surprising: no Canada Geese. Most local parks are full of these territorial terrors. Just today, we encountered a flock of about 30 blocking the road near the Cerritos Farmers Market. They fear nothing.

Orange County seems to manage its regional parks well. I’m going to compile a list and schedule more birding visits to them. If you know of a good park in O.C., please share your recommendation.