Today I birded Carpinteria and found it pretty quiet.  First stop was Santa Monica Creek where I spent some time but the Orchard oriole did not show.  Is it still around?

My net stop was Carpinteria Creek.  I birded from Sixth street past the Sewage Treatment plant and then from Sixth street to the bridge at Eighth street and back again.  (I spotted the huge gull flock in the estuary Rob mentioned but did not go down that far).  That area was also very quiet.  In fact, it looked like my total count for this area was going to be 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet until a couple of Chestnut-backed Chickadees and an Oak Titmouse finally showed up.

Finally on to Lake Jocelyn, where for the first time I can remember (except when the lake was dry) there was NOTHING on the water--not even a Coot.

Florence Sanchez