I visited the world-famous Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens in the beautiful community of San Marino, CA, yesterday. My wife, son, and daughter-in-law joined me for a birding adventure, or more accurately, a glorious walk through a stunning park on a typical Southern California fall day. I use the word birding loosely. It’s hard to call it that when there’s barely any bird activity, at least on this visit.
Field Notes
- Location: The Huntington Botanical Gardens
- Target Species: Red-whiskered Bulbul & Band-tailed Pigeon
- Time/Conditions: 11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m., sunny and mild
- eBird Checklist: Checklist 1
I’m sure visiting on a Saturday limited birding opportunities. We walked throughout the gardens and, with a few exceptions, saw very few birds. Even the usual suburban species were mostly absent, no Rock Doves, no House Finches, and not much else.
We noticed three pockets of bird activity:
- Acorn Woodpeckers were abundant but elusive in two areas.
- One of those areas also hosted a flock of Red-whiskered Bulbuls.
- A third spot offered Bushtits feeding on flowers and Band-tailed Pigeons roosting high in a nearby tree.
Bird Nerd Milestones
I would have considered the trip a bust, if not for the fact that I added four new species to my Bird Nerd Project. I went from 144 to 148 species. Just two birds short of my 150-goal for the year. I think I might actually do it.
Photographed New Species
- Red-whiskered Bulbul
- Band-tailed Pigeon
- Spotted Towhee
- Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Seen but Not Photographed
- Northern Flicker (stunning and beautiful)
- Cedar Waxwing (also amazing)
If I were a better photographer, I’d be done. Instead, I settled for a clear memory and a decent audio recording. Both birds were buried deep in tall foliage. I haven’t quite cracked the code on photographing those situations yet. Also, it’s a day later and my neck still hurts from all the looking up.
The Garden and the Day
The Huntington Botanical Garden is absolutely stunning. I recommend visiting just to walk the grounds. The weekend crowds may ruin the birding, but they don’t touch the scenery. People-watching is nearly as entertaining as birding, though I draw the line at photographing strangers, no matter how overdressed they are for a garden stroll.
Despite the slow birding, I consider the trip a success. Strolling beside my wife is always a win. I also helped my son and daughter-in-law learn a bit more about birding, although, to be fair, my son prefers lizarding (is that a word?). And my daughter-in-law finally got to see Blue Boy for the first time, which made her day.
Most of my photos from the trip are ID-quality, but that’s okay. Sometimes, a high-quality photo just isn’t in the cards. The one photo I really liked was a shot of a California Thrasher that hopped onto the path ahead of me near the end of the day. One good photo is still a win.
A Healthier Me
I’m especially happy with my improving fitness. On my last visit, I was gasping for air and walking from bench to bench, in constant pain, waiting while my family explored without me. That visit felt like a low point in my life.
This visit was the opposite.
I walked the entire park without needing breaks. No pain. No discomfort. And I was carrying seven pounds of camera gear. I felt good. Really good. That alone would’ve made the trip worthwhile, even if I hadn’t seen a single bird.
Peanuts In My Pocket 
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