It's an illusion.
Roadrunner isn't in a sandy wash, but in a wind-eroded cave in a cliff over a seasonal creek.
A narrow and precarious path led to it.
It looked like perfectly respectable ringtail habitat.
The cave is under the lower overhang.
But no ringtail visited the place in 2 months.
What did visit were a wood rat, Merriam's chipmunk, California ground squirrel, a cottontail rabbit of all things, and the usual deer mice.
And there were brown towhees, scrub jays, and perhaps a mockingbird that perched on the camera.
I concur that it appears to be a mockingbird Chris. I like the roadrunner. Keep trying you will get your Ringtail.
ReplyDeleteChris,
ReplyDeleteI believe your mockingbird is a Say's Phoebe. The tail is pretty short and the buffy pink wash on the underside also points towards a Say's. The habitat is also good for the phoebe as well.
Great Roadrunner. I also think that it's a Say's Phoebe.
ReplyDeleteThanks a lot guys. According to Sibley they are year round residents down there.
ReplyDeleteI stand corrected and thank you
ReplyDeleteJohn.
Never having seen a Say's Phoebe myself, I can sure see why you thought it might be a mockingbird.
ReplyDelete