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While in the area, I like to hike the Borrego Palm Canyon Trail at Anza Borrego Desert State Park because of the flowing creek and the possibility of seeing the majestic Peninsular bighorn sheep and birds such as verdin, phainopepla and roadrunners.

The phainopepla migrates from southern California to the desert southwest to breed in the spring before flying to California coastal woodlands to breed again in summer.

Dchūrr, dchūrr; when flying, a shrill huit like call-note of Phainopepla.

A phainopepla's nest right on my own doorsill!

Growing restless, I moved the bushes a little—they were so stiff they made a very good chair-back if one got into the right position—when suddenly, looking up I saw my phainopepla friend vault into the air from a bush behind me, where, apparently, he had been sitting taking notes of his own!