Stoneman Lake was dry as usual, but we were happy to be out of the Valley heat. The day was overcast and cool. Flocks of Bullocks Orioles greeted us in the trees around to lake, also lots of Black-headed Grosbeaks and a good look at a Virginia's Warbler. Vera took a picture of a snake on the road as we walked by, when we turned around a Red-tailed Hawk was flying away with the snake and another Red-tail was trying to get it from him. That was the highlight of the day for us, but not for the snake! 

After lunch, we drove to Bill Back Pond hoping to see Red-faced Warblers, but no such luck. A Juniper Titmouse and a Dark-eyed Junco did come out for us there. We had a great trip.

The 44 birds seen or heard were: Great Blue Heron, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture, Acorn Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern (red-shafted) Flicker, Broad-tailed Hummingbird, Violet-green Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Western Kingbird, Cassin’s Kingbird, Western Wood-Peewee, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Black Phoebe, Say’s Phoebe, Dusky-capped Flycatcher, Hammond’s Flycatcher, Cordilleran Flycatcher, American Robin, Stellar’s Jay, Scrub Jay, American Crow, Common Raven, Juniper Titmouse, Whitebreasted Nuthatch, House Wren, Rock Wren, Virginia Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Common Yellow-throat (h), Western Tanager, European Starling, Red-winged Blackbird, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Great-tailed Grackle, Brown-headed Cowbird, Bullock’s Oriole, Chipping Sparrow (h), Lark Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch and Black-headed Grosbeak.

Birders: Martin and Linda Gutowski, Vera Markham, Darlene Gatto, Gladyne Douglas, Carolyn Modeen, Charles Kangas, Tom Lazzelle, Dan Bohlmann, Ed Jeter, and Donna Smith, Leader.