Birding in Unique Saltbush Scrub Habitat to Find a Secretive Species (LeConte's Thrasher)

Saltbush Scrub habitat hosts a unique set of species in California, inclduing Bell's Sparrows and LeConte's Thrashers. We travel with our guide Rachel from Central California Birding Tours, to see if we can find these specialized birds.
To learn more about Rachel's guiding services, check out her website here: centralcalifor...
Gear Links (As Amazon Associates we do earn from qualifying purchases)
Panasonic LUMIX FZ80 4K Digital Camera
Used for most bird videos) - check credits as we do source some photos/videos elsewhere which is noted in the description
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Cayer FP2450 Fluid Head Tripod, 75 inches Aluminium Tripod
Derek's lighter tripod
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Andoer Video Tripod Aluminum Alloy 67 Inch
Derek's heavier tripod
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Nikon D5300
Derek's vlogging and macro camera
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Rode VideoMicPro Compact Directional On-Camera Microphone
Derek's external microphone for Nikon D5300
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Thanks to Terry Sohl for allowing us to use his range maps
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All other photos and videos by Derek and Ryan Sallmann
#Birding #BirdWatching #BadgerlandBirding

[@elainepersons9662]

No other birding channel packs in as much information is a short span as yours. I always learn something new and enjoy everything you put out. Always look forward to your new content.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Thank you! Glad you’ve been enjoying it!

[@shannonniemeyer3931]

I want to be Rachel when I grow up! ❤

[@harrisonbrand8985]

really loving the videos in my home state :) this is one of my favorite habitat types. growing up here i’ve become really obsessed with harsh and interesting habitat types from the unique geology and climate conditions. also hope you guys got to see a condor during your california trip! went and saw my first one the other week.

[@waterbuck]

I love how excited Rachael gets when she spots a target.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

@@waterbuck Rachel’s a gem

[@bradhines4137]

Looks like Kern Co. Oil Jacks outnumber House Sparrows.

[@torinkyifh5085]

When you take the sunglasses off you know it's serious. Love this lady haha!

[@barbaracole709]

I love the curved bill on the LeConte’s thrasher! It looks cool. Thanks for taking us along to another new habitat! It is interesting. It’s not a place I would have thought to go birding.

[@richardhendrix7894]

Thank you for hunting down those beautiful birds for us.

[@andyjay729]

Is this the Carrizo Plain? I used to live in California (now Seattle) and regret that I never went there, although my family and I did manage to see a lot of the state.

[@BadgerlandBirding]

I’m not entirely sure what it was called actually :/ very arid though

[@Hummingbirder1]

Aahh, the nostalgia! More California Birding... *and* you got to see (and film!) the LeConte's Thrasher!!! A good guide is worth gold, but so is luck... ;-)

[@Soaaron-m3i]

Nice to see the ghostlike LeConte's Thrasher

[@BadgerlandBirding]

Yeah! We were super pleased!

[@HhhHhh-ew6pr]

Did you all see Ruby the red footed booby at Monterey Harbor? Saw the end of the last video right next to where the booby was. Great vids!

[@pauraque]

How did y'all find a BNST near McKittrick?!

[@BadgerlandBirding]

It was in a little area with water on the roadside

[@pauraque]

@@BadgerlandBirding Ah nice!

[@MRIVERSSC]

Man, great video . . . So jealous!

[@janeenpfeiffer3465]

Awesomesauce!! 🎉

[@henrylehman3756]

My favorite type of your videos!

[@Beryllahawk]

Fantastic!!! Challenge accepted and blown out of the water, haha!! The landscape looks so familiar to me - I've never once been to California, but the area of southern Arizona where my aunt lives is VERY similar - the low mountains and the scrub, and for sure that insanely dry and hot climate. I swear I could feel it just from memory, from summers ages and ages ago spent visiting. Though I expect the flora and fauna are MUCH different in the Sonora desert, with far more cactus and so forth, and correspondingly different birds too. Back then I was a very active little kid and wouldn't have held still to look for birds though! If ever someday I get to go see my aunt again, I'll have to make sure we do some birding together, heh!

[@mr1pearl]

Great score guys amazing hope you get to see a California Condor while you are out there !