Continuing the sharing of my favorite birding destinations near the Salton Sea …
After visiting Poe Road, my next stop is usually at Unit #1 of the Salton Sea NWR. To access this area, one uses Vendel Road north from Bannister Road. Vendel Road is a dusty gravel road that ends 2.2 miles later at a parking area with an elevated lookout platform.
The first mile of Vendel Road crosses commercial agriculture fields regularly used for raising hay crops. Western Meadowlarks, American Kestrels and various sparrows and pipits can often be found in these fields. Drainage ditches parallel the drive in, where egrets and herons often hunt prey.
Crossing the boundary into the reserve, the birding possibilities increase. Burrowing Owls are sometimes found on the eastern side of the road. Here begins a row of Mesquite trees on the east side of the road that reaches 400 yards to the north. These trees can host a variety of bird-life ranging from raptors down to the smallest passerines.
A half mile further the road bends to the west by 45° and then back due north 170 yards later. The fields on either side of the road grow crops that are used as forage for hundreds of Sandhill Cranes and thousands of white geese (Snow and Ross) through the winter season. Bird-life through the summer months in these fields is quiet, but in winter it’s a different story. Besides the cranes and geese, curlews, ibis, blackbirds, pipits and sparrows frequently haunt these grounds.
The western fields north of the last bend northward are flooded in winter and can host shorebirds, waterfowl and cranes, but are dry through the summer season. Further north these fields transition to marshy wetlands that extend from the end of the road stretching out to the shores of the ‘sea’. Aside from a few trails that weave through these wetlands, these marshes are strictly for the birds. That’s a *good* thing!
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: The lead bird looks like a Ross's Goose to me. Vendel Road, Salton Sea NWR. Imperial County, Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:23 15:07 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: D3X1700-SnowGoose |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Sandhill Crane(Antigone canadensis) |
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Description: Crane numbers have increased from a dozen or so when I first began visiting the Salton Sea, to hundreds in more recent times. Vendel Road, Salton Sea NWR. Imperial County, Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:30 9:48 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X2810-SandhillCrane |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTree-Imaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: With a few Ross's Geese in the mix at Vendel Road, Salton Sea NWR. Imperial County, Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:30 9:49 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/5000 |
File Name: D3X2823-SnowGeese |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Vesper Sparrow(Pooecetes gramineus) |
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Description: Vesper Sparrows sometimes are seen in the winter season at Vendel Road, Salton Sea NWR. Imperial County, Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:30 10:01 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: D3X2856-VesperSparrow |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Greater Yellowlegs(Tringa melanoleuca) |
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Description: Vendel Road's marshy areas will provide opportunities to meet shorebirds in the winter season. Salton Sea NWR. Imperial County, Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:30 10:58 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X2862-GreaterYellowLegs |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Greater Yellowlegs(Tringa melanoleuca) |
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Description: Vendel Road's marshy areas will provide opportunities to meet shorebirds in the winter season. Salton Sea NWR. Imperial County, Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:30 11:00 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X2881-GreaterYellowLegs |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Turkey Vulture(Cathartes aura) |
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Description: Vultures sometimes winter in the Imperial Valley. Vendel Road, Salton Sea NWR. Imperial County, Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:30 11:12 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: D3X2891-TurkeyVulture |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
American White Pelican(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) |
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Description: Formation flight to catch the mornig thermals at Vendel Road, Salton Sea NWR. Imperial County, Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:30 11:29 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: D3X2913-AmericanWhitePelican |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
American White Pelican(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) |
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Description: Formation flight to catch the mornig thermals at Vendel Road, Salton Sea NWR. Imperial County, Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:30 11:30 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X2954-AmericanWhitePelican |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Snow and Ross's Geese spend winters at the Salton Sea. Vendel Road, Salton Sea NWR. Imperial County, Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:30 12:15 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: D3X2984-SnowGeese |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Snow and Ross's Geese spend winters at the Salton Sea. Vendel Road, Salton Sea NWR. Imperial County, Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:30 12:16 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: D3X3008-SnowGeese |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Snow Goose(Anser caerulescens) |
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Description: Snow and Ross's Geese spend winters at the Salton Sea. Vendel Road, Salton Sea NWR. Imperial County, Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:30 12:18 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/6400 |
File Name: D3X3054-SnowGeese |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Ross's Goose(Anser rossii) |
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Description: This bird flew in with a group with Snow Geese at Vendel Road, Salton Sea NWR. Imperial County, Southern California. |
Date Taken: 2014:11:30 12:21 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: D3X3144-RossGeese |
| © 2014 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Sandhill Crane(Grus canadensis) |
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Description: Crane numbers are on the increase during the winters at Vendel Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2011:10:12 10:58 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: D3X3247-SandHillCrane |
| © 2011 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Killdeer(Charadrius vociferus) |
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Description: Vendel Road at Unit #1 in the Salton Sea NWR in Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2016:03:28 15:31 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D7200, 800 mm, f/6.3, 1/1600 |
File Name: D727684-Killdeer |
| © 2016 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Common Gallinule(Gallinula galeata) |
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Description: These birds were once called Common Moorhen. This juvenile bird was found foraging in the marsh at Vendel Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California USA 2009-07-06. |
Date Taken: 2009:07:06 14:06 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/5.6, 1/1500 |
File Name: JCD3043.CommonMoorHen |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
American White Pelican(Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) |
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Description: With a Catfish that refused to be swallowed. Vendel Road. Salton Sea NWR and Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2007:12:25 10:04 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 400 mm, f/4.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: JCD3088AmericanWhitePelican |
| © 2007 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Marsh Wren(Cistothorus palustris) |
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Description: There is no shortage of Marsh Wrens in the wetlands south of the Salton Sea. Vendel Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2008:12:01 11:00 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1250 |
File Name: JCD3353MarshWren |
| © 2008 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Common Yellowthroat(Geothlypis trichas) |
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Description: Encounter at Vendel Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California USA 2009-11-27. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:27 11:36 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD8241.CommonYellowThroat |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging |
Long-Billed Curlew(Numenius americanus) |
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Description: Foraging in the fields by Vendel Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California USA 2009-11-27. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:27 12:30 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/1500 |
File Name: JCD8290.LongBilledCurlew |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadetree-imaging |
White-faced Ibis(Plegadis chihi) |
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Description: Foraging in the fields by Vendel Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:27 12:40 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: JCD8337.WhiteFacedIbis |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
White-faced Ibis(Plegadis chihi) |
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Description: Foraging in the fields by Vendel Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:27 12:47 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: JCD8365.WhiteFacedIbis |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
American Pipit(Anthus rubescens) |
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Description: Foraging in the fields by Vendel Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:27 13:03 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: JCD8400.AmericanPipit |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
American Pipit(Anthus rubescens) |
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Description: Foraging in the fields by Vendel Road. Salton Sea Vicinity. Imperial County, California. |
Date Taken: 2009:11:27 13:03 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D2X, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2500 |
File Name: JCD8407.AmericanPipit |
| © 2009 Jack Daynes, shadeTree Imaging |
Red-Winged Blackbird(Agelaius phoeniceus) |
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Description: Birds feeding with Sandhill Cranes and Snow Geese at Unit 1 (Vendel Road), Salton Sea NWR in Imperial County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:01:17 14:10 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/2000 |
File Name: RedWingedBlackBird_D5X3519 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Sandhill Crane(Grus canadensis) |
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Description: Dawn lift off at Unit 1 (Vendel Road), Salton Sea NWR in Imperial County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:01:17 4:54 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: SandhillCrane_D5X2970 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Sandhill Crane(Antigone canadensis) |
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Description: Birds Grazing and cavorting at Unit 1 (Vendel Road), Salton Sea NWR in Imperial County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:01:17 12:40 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/3200 |
File Name: SandhillCrane_D5X3278 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Sandhill Crane(Antigone canadensis) |
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Description: Birds flying in to feed along side Snow Geese at Unit 1 (Vendel Road), Salton Sea NWR in Imperial County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:01:17 13:17 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/4000 |
File Name: SandhillCrane_D5X3367 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
White-Faced Ibis(Plegadis chihi) |
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Description: A fly-over Unit 1 (Vendel Road), Salton Sea NWR in Imperial County California. |
Date Taken: 2017:01:17 14:46 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D5, 800 mm, f/8.0, 1/800 |
File Name: WhiteFacedIbis_D5X3560 |
| © 2017 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
Burrowing Owl(Athene cunicularia) |
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Description: These charming little owls seem to do well in the agriculture fields around the Salton Sea. Salton Sea NWR at Vendel Road. Imperial County near Westmoreland, California. |
Date Taken: 2015:04:27 18:30 |
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Location:
Vendel Road |
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Camera Information: NIKON D3X, 800 mm, f/10.0, 1/1600 |
File Name: D3X7879-BurrowingOwl |
| © 2015 Jack Daynes, shadeTreeImaging.com |
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