Journal 20 March 1979 N. Shaner, San Luis Obispo C. Calif. to Pigeon road, and east to Queen Bee campground, hence Chester Spring and up Pine Mtn. road about 1 mile. Started & hiked up to River Ridge, 3800' (and 1240) thence 6 miles along ridge to head of Pleatrops Canyon. Hoped to see a carver or golden eagle, & to see if any eagle nest near old can deer nest. Droppings of apparent bobcats, coyotes, foxes on trail; no deer tracks, but 2 or 3 possible old scratches. Found 2 real & [illegible] cartridge shells & 2 .5 gauge shell casings on trail. Occasional Prairie falcon call in brush. Saw jays. 1 Evening, near Shell Creek, saw 2 marsh hawks (7+8) attack a red-tailed hawk in air over grassy hills. 1 Overcast with dark- battered cumulus clouds, cool, & slight breeze. About 1320 a golden eagle soared above crest above old nest cliffs & apparently went in to S. We heard calls of a prairie falcon near cliffs, but did not see it. A kestrel flew over brush near us. 1 Good view to Conejo's Plain, but some haze. Discovered 2 ns-nests in the cliff face, using 20x spotting scope. Light hail about 1415. We started back. Saw 2 turkey vultures atop a conglomerate level; one seemed about to mount, but did not. One soared off, & the other soon joined it in air; headed SE. Arrived car 1530. Drove down road, to Queen Bee camp, to Pigeon Rd, & back way we had came. On Benton's just after leaving Hwy. 59, saw magpie atop fence post. We stopped at old Benton office and visited Larry Hurty, Col Poly, San Luis Ob. student. He said that a redtail nest and prairie falcon nest in mud cliffs, about 1 mile to W. 1 We drove to Lani & had dinner w. him and May. Much talks and carver and ODT discussions. Camped in my shack. Overcast night, cold. 21 March 1979. High fog morning. Talks w. Dan Gregory