Page:Condor11(6).djvu/7

Nov., 1909 185 BIRD NOTES FROM THE COAST OF SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY By G. WILLETT ORTH of Port Harford, in San Luis Obispo County, the coast for about fifteen miles is very rough and broken. A range of high, pine-covered hills comes down to the ocean's edge and is abruptly cut off forming bluffs and rocky precipices, in many cases high and overhanging. From the surf-line out to about a mile are occasional small, rocky islands which have from time to time been detatcht from the mainland by the action of the Water.. The coast here being unprotected from the swell of the ocean, the surf runs very high; and the bird student finds that in order to cover the territory to any great extent he must lay himself liable to frequent drenchings by a cold and unpitying ocean, and numerous bruises and cuts from sharp-pointed rocks. Indeed he may call himself fortunate if he escapes broken bones. I verily believe that I left nearly as much of my cuticle on the rocks up there as I brought home with me. The above locality was chosen by me as an ideal place to spend my 1909 vacation of fifteen days. Accompanied by Mr. Antonin Jay of the Cooper Club, the writer with his family left Los Angeles on May 5 for San Luis Obispo, taking a full camping outfit. On the morning of May 6 we left San Luis Obispo by wagon and after a long day's journey over rough mountain roads, made almost impassable by recent rains, we finally pitcht camp on a small creek about a half mile from the ocean. This creek, by the way, was fairly alive with trout, and being well supplied with fishing tackle we were not slow to take advantage of this fact. Between trout, rabbits, ?nussels and abalones, we were plentifully supplied with fresh meat during our entire stay. I had previously visited this locality in 1895; but my stay at that time being limited to two days, it was practically a new territory to me. This year, however, we managed to go over the ground pretty thoroly, and I do not think that many species of birds that were breeding here escaped our notice. I believe this is the most southern point in California where the seabirds breed in any numbers on the mainland coast. Of the large land birds the Golden Eagle, Turkey Buzzard, Western Redtail, Duck Hawk and Raven were common; but, altho the location seemed ideal for Bald Eagles and Fish Hawks, none of these latter were seen. The cominGnest of the smaller land birds was the Nuttall Sparrow (?7onotm'c?ia leuco?rys nullalii) which was breeding abundantly in the low brush from the water's edge to a mile or more back into the hills and canyons. Horned Larks, House Finches, Song Sparrows, Lazuli Buntings, Willow Goldfinches, California Jays, Mourning Doves, Brewer and Red-winged Blackbirds, Anna and Allen Hum- mers, Flickers, Willow Woodpeckers, Wren-tits, Russet-backt,Thrushes, Yellow and PileGlared Warblers, Western Flycatchers, and other common species were breeding abundantly. The Willow Goldfinches were breeding almost entirely in the low brush on the hillsides altho there was plenty of willow timber along the creeks. Barn, Cliff, Bank and Violet~green Swallows were breeding commonly and at least two pairs of Kingfishers (Ceryle alcyon) were feeding young in holes in the creek banks. White-throated Swifts were frequently seen in the canyons, and two specimens ?aken May 15 were evidently about to breed. Of the seabirds we found breeding the Western Gull, Brandt and Baird Cormorants, Tufted Puffin, Pigeon Guillemot and Black Oystercatcher. Tattlers,