As a native southern Californian, I find this a joy to watch. One of my best birding memories is from when I was a kid in the Del Mar Terrace, that, at the time, was sparsely populated with scattered housing and lots of open, brushy empty lots. While playing in our yard, I heard the sweetest bird melody and looked up at our TV antenna. Perched thereon and singing his heart out to the world was a Western Meadowlark. He stayed up there long enough for me to grab my binoculars and get a closer look. Meadowlarks like to nest on the ground in open fields and meadows, and those empty, brush-filled lots were the perfect place back then for Meadowlarks to nest. I never found its nest, but really enjoyed its song. I knew it had to have a nest around, somewhere nearby. Today, that area is filled with wall-to-wall houses, not a single vacant lot left, and very little habitat for Meadowlarks, Bullocks Orioles, or other birds that once were common in that area. Like so many once rural places, it has become overcrowded. We revisited in 2014, and I was shocked to see how drastically this area had changed. But I'll always have my memory of that Western Meadowlark singing from the top of our TV antenna in the 1960s. Thank you for sharing this video. I used to feed White-Crowned Sparrows and House Finches (Dad called them Linnets) in our yard after erecting the very first bird feeder I ever had. They gobbled up the sunflower seeds I set out for them. Great video -- the volume could stand to be just a bit louder.
As a native southern Californian, I find this a joy to watch. One of my best birding memories is from when I was a kid in the Del Mar Terrace, that, at the time, was sparsely populated with scattered housing and lots of open, brushy empty lots. While playing in our yard, I heard the sweetest bird melody and looked up at our TV antenna. Perched thereon and singing his heart out to the world was a Western Meadowlark. He stayed up there long enough for me to grab my binoculars and get a closer look. Meadowlarks like to nest on the ground in open fields and meadows, and those empty, brush-filled lots were the perfect place back then for Meadowlarks to nest. I never found its nest, but really enjoyed its song. I knew it had to have a nest around, somewhere nearby.
Today, that area is filled with wall-to-wall houses, not a single vacant lot left, and very little habitat for Meadowlarks, Bullocks Orioles, or other birds that once were common in that area. Like so many once rural places, it has become overcrowded. We revisited in 2014, and I was shocked to see how drastically this area had changed.
But I'll always have my memory of that Western Meadowlark singing from the top of our TV antenna in the 1960s.
Thank you for sharing this video. I used to feed White-Crowned Sparrows and House Finches (Dad called them Linnets) in our yard after erecting the very first bird feeder I ever had. They gobbled up the sunflower seeds I set out for them.
Great video -- the volume could stand to be just a bit louder.
Very cool! Thank you for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for the feedback.
It's interesting to compare east and west coast birds. We share lots of the same birds. Nice birding. Congrats on finding Lewis' Woodpecker. 👍
Thanks for watching!
Well, hello there Thomas... fancy meeting you here! ;-)
@@Hummingbirder1 Last summer I visited San Diego. There are so many interesting birds that I don't get here in Florida. 🙂
Love these videos! If you ever want to see a Cassia Crossbill or a Himalayan Snowcock let me know. Got a pretty good handle on where to go and when.
Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed it! Yes I am interested in seeing those species. I hope to do many trips in the future!
I saw a Bells vireo there a few years back ..then saw a Graces Warbler up in Escondido.! Then one in La Jolla ! SoCal birding is great
Those are great sightings! Yes So Cal is awesome for birding!
Great stuff sir👍🏻
Thanks Mark for watching! I'm glad you enjoyed it.
Awesome video!
Thanks for watching and I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Nice!
Thanks for watching!
What time of day do you usually go birding?
Normally in the morning, but this trip was mid to late morning.