From the trip taken in May 2008. Here's a 5-photo panoramic stitch of Big Morongo Canyon Preserve. This upper part of the canyon is in the Mojave Desert, while the canyon itself on the left ends up in the lower-elevation Colorado Desert. This area, with its perennial stream, cottonwood and willow trees, is an area rich in upland and lowland birds. A disastrous fire swept through the area in 2005, but the area has made a remarkable recovery.

From atop the ridge overlooking the preserve one can look down the canyon. It's about a 4-mile walk down to the hot and dusty end -- and then you have to walk back...

Looking west towards Morongo Valley and the San Bernardino Mountains in the distance, still snow-capped in the middle of May.

Vermilion Flycatcher, Covington Park, April 2 2009.

Vermilion-on-the-wing, April 2 2009.

Hooded Oriole, Covington Park across from Big Morongo, April 2 2009.

I was greeted in the early morning of May 11 2008 by what I discovered to be one of a pair of Red-tails. I would encounter them in the preserve throughout the day.

A curious hummingbird buzzing around caught the Red-tail's eye...

There were quite a few Flycatchers in the 2 days I visited, including this Ash-Throated --- or is it Brown-Crested? They're virtually identical and both known to be here.