California Condor Eben Mcmillan 27 January 1964 The dense ground fog that has persisted throughout the general San Joaquin valley during much of the last three months has not been holding throughout the daylight hours for the last several days. It was clear, but hazy, as I drove down the Bitterwater Valley, eastward, heading towards the east valley foothills, to the east of Famosa, in Kern County. Rain that brought 2.35 inches of precipitation to my place during 20-21-22 and 23 of January did not drop near as much moisture as this on the area below the Standard Oil Pumping Station in the Bitterwater Valley and out towards Blackwell's Corner. In fact in the area of Blackwell's Corner, that is at the crossroads about twelve miles west of Lost Hills, seemed quite dry. A coyote that acted very gentle and undisturbed at our stopping the car and looking at it standing and looking at us, was about 50 yards to the west of the roadway and nearly directly across the roadway from the Old Fred Twisselmann water wells in the Bitterwater Valley. This cyote did not run from us, as we stopped, but moved away a few yards and stood watching us. It was still in the same locality when he drove on eastward after watching it for about three minutes. When writing [illegible] Mrs. Gladys McMillan was with me today and is being referred when I make this plural statement. A tremendous flock of wintering linnets were feeding and flying up from the ground every now and then near the road at the mouth of the Bitterwater Creek that flows northeasey from Choice Valley and the Temblor range.