A Birder's Journal: The Last Thrasher

Worldwide there are 34 species of the family of birds known as Thrashers. Twelve of these species can be found in North America and if you want to see them you need to visit the southwest. Most have rather long decurved bills and all are notable singers and some are capable of mimicry. Probably the best known member of this family is the Mockingbird. Over the years of my birding career I have seen all but one of this family's North American contingent. In recent years this last thrasher, Le Conte's, has become a nemesis bird for me.

This term "nemesis bird" refers to a bird that should not be too difficult to see but for whatever reason you just can't manage to see it. A few years back Michael, Jeff, and I did an entire trip with the focus of seeing this bird and we missed it. Last spring Jeff and I went to the Mojave and down into eastern San Diego County and missed it again. Given this bird is uncommon and secretive and has suffered from development for housing and agriculture, it should not be overly difficult to see if you are in the right place at the right time.

Le Conte's Thrasher Range Map

If you look at the range map you can see that there is an extirpated population at the southern end of the San Joaquin Valley on its western side. I don't think that this is a large population but there is an e-bird hotspot here that has a pretty good record for producing Le Conte's Thrashers. This past weekend, while visiting my mother-in-law in Bakersfield, I had a chance spend a little time birding and so I headed out to Petroleum Club Rd. near Maricopa to hunt for this elusive bird. Well, it turns out that they were done hiding from me, as I arrived in the area I saw one perched up on top of a bush waiting for me before I even got out of the car. One bird turned into a pair and I spent some time photographing and observing them. In addition to the Le Conte's there were also Bell's Sparrows and a pair of Loggerhead Shrikes.

Le Conte's Thrasher

This year is also a major year for wildflowers so I took the twisting drive past Bitter Creek National Wildlife Refuge, up and over the shoulder of Mt. Pinos through Frazier Park and stopped at Fort Tejon State Historic Park. From here I returned to Bakersfield and drove up Breckenridge Road to round out my day. Notable birds along the way were Juniper Titmouse, Chipping Sparrow, Black-throated Gray Warbler, White-breasted Nuthatch, Warbling Vireo, Black-headed Grosbeak, Horned Lark, and Bullock's Oriole.

Bell's Sparrow

It is indeed a great year for wildflowers and I expect that over the next several weeks the blooms will continue to put on a show for those who take the time to look up and see what surrounds them.