ML639969503

Observation details

Four or five observed while stationary at the base of a single flower-strewn slope rising up from the dunes of the Pacific Ocean, plus a few well-spaced others while continuing to walk along the Lost Coast Trail. Despite much effort, I failed to get definiteve spread-tail photos. Merlin audio ID tended to vacillate between Allen's and Rufous while they were chasing each other around. I did get a short recording of one that only registered as Allen's, although it's not clear whether calls of the two species can even be differentiated with certainty. Given the breeding range of Allen's and the typical fall migration pattern of Rufous, I thought for this specific habitat/location/date that it would be safe to presume at least one of these individuals was Allen's; however, a reviewer politely cautioned otherwise, which really was all for the better because I was already having some reservations about picking up a lifer based on probabilities