BIRDING THE SAN MATEO COAST PART II: 10/29/06
For my second day of birding the San Mateo Coast I was joined by my companion, Susan Barnes. Due to the ending of Daylight Savings Time Saturday night, we had to get up at 4:00 AM in order to arrive at Wavecrest Avenue before the sun came up. The gate was still locked due to the time change and so we walked from the car to the end of the dirt road and still we saw no owls. There was only one WHITE-TAILED KITE and the only addition to yesterday’s list was a CALIFORNIA QUAIL calling. It was much cooler than the day before and overcast so I was concerned about how sea watching conditions might be. But we drove on to Pigeon Point anyway and hoped for the best.
The gate to the Pigeon Point Lighthouse was locked also because of the time change. So we started our sea watch from the other viewing platform nearest the parking lot. We saw two BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS on the rocks. While the sunrise was magnificently illuminating the ocean to the south, the lighthouse was blocking our view of any potential feeding frenzy to the west. So I suggested we simply climb the fence. Susan was reluctant to break any park rules even though no one was up at that ungodly hour but us. By the time we walked over someone had come and opened it anyway. So we walked out to the end past the lighthouse to the viewing platform and there was indeed a huge feeding frenzy. Within minutes I was picking out easily 50 or more BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS flying around with the BROWN PELICANS, WESTERN GULLS, HEERMAN”S GULLS, BRANDT’S CORMORANTS, and COMMON MURRES (which they closely resemble except for the longer pointed wings and distinct flight pattern). The flock was not too far off-shore allowing excellent study of the field marks and flight pattern of the Black-vented Shearwater. While not studying the flock I saw three WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS flying past. There were also a few flocks of SURF SCOTERS, one juvenile RHINOCEROS AUKLET, one EARED GREBE, and a few WESTERN GREBES, and CLARK’S GREBES. Then finally after an hour of study a PARASITIC JAEGER flew past. It was completely uninterested in the feeding flock and continued flying north. A few minutes later a POMARINE JAEGER flew past heading south. It too was uninterested in the feeding frenzy. A juvenile THAYER’S GULL with beautiful pale scalloping on its back flew within feet of the platform. We were joined for a while by another birder from Berkeley but had to leave shortly thereafter due to foot fatigue. On the way out of the park we saw two AMERICAN KESTRELS on the telephone wires, a few TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRDS, and one SAY’S PHOEBE.
We next drove across Highway 1 to Gazos Creek Road to its intersection with Cloverdale, where we parked and walked the road. We found the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW from yesterday but every time I had my camera set up to take a photo, cars would rattle past or noisy motorcycles and flush the bird. I got one very distant photo but soon gave up. We heard a distinct call from the alder trees overhanging the creek that both of us instantly thought was a vireo, perhaps a Red-eyed Vireo but we never could track it down. While looking for it though, we found a very late BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and a PURPLE FINCH. We re-found the two WILSON’S SNIPES from yesterday and then took a walk down Old Woman Creek Road where we found a WINTER WREN, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, and BROWN CREEPER. California Quail were also calling from the hills here and a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. On the way out of Gazos Creek we saw a flock of first of season, CEDAR WAXWINGS flying overhead.
We walked the trail to Pescadero Marsh from Water Lane but only saw one White-tailed Kite and one NORTHERN HARRIER so we continued on to the part of the marsh across from Pescadero State Beach. On the beach side of the lagoon there were five DOWITCHERS. I was excited to use my new dowitcher identifying tools learned from Birding Magazine but the birds never stopped feeding the entire hour or so we were there making it impossible to determine the curvature of the bill or the loral angle. Along with the dowitchers in the lagoon were GREATER YELLOWLEGS, DUNLIN, BLACK TURNSTONE, and WESTERN SANDPIPER. We crossed under the bridge and walked out to the north pond where we found the five BLUE-WINGED TEALS from yesterday, AMERICAN WIGEONS, BUFFLEHEADS, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, two NORTHERN PINTAILS, and one EURASIAN WIGEON. There was also one HORNED GREBE. MARSH WREN were calling from the pond edge and we saw one COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. From the parking lot at Pescadero Beach I saw some PELAGIC CORMORANTS fly past.
Heading back up Highway 1 to Half Moon Bay we decided not to get on Highway 92 as there was too much traffic. So we continued all the way to Pacifica where we made our last stop of the day at the marsh restoration area at Rockaway Beach. The cloud cover had increased dramatically and the wind had picked up making birding less than optimal. So the last birds our San Mateo Coast Birding Event were just two ordinary MALLARDS in the marsh but that was good enough for us and we headed home to savor a superb birding weekend.
Total species: 107
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Horned Grebe
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Clark’s Grebe
Black-vented Shearwater
Brown Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Brandt’s Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Snowy Egret
Great Egret
Canada Goose
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Mallard
Northern Pintail
American Wigeon
Eurasian Wigeon
White-winged Scoter
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Turkey Vulture
White-tailed Kite
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
California Quail
Virginia Rail
American Coot
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Whimbrel
Marbled Godwit
Black Turnstone
Sanderling
Western Sandpiper
Dunlin
Dowitcher sp.
Wilson’s Snipe
Pomarine Jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
Bonaparte’s Gull
Heerman’s Gull
California Gull
Thayer’s Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Common Murre
Marbled Murrelet
Rhinoceros Auklet
Mourning Dove
Band-tailed Pigeon
Owl sp.
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Black Phoebe
Say’s Phoebe
Steller’s Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Pygmy Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
Marsh Wren
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
Wrentit
Northern Mockingbird
Hutton’s Vireo
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Black-headed Grosbeak
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln’s Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Tri-colored Blackbird
Brewer’s Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Purple Finch
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
Rock Pigeon
European Starling
Sunday, October 29, 2006
Saturday, October 28, 2006
BIRDING THE SAN MATEO COAST: 10/28/06
BIRDING THE SAN MATEO COAST: October 28, 2006
San Mateo County lies just south of San Francisco County on the central coast of California. It is a much larger county than San Francisco, is much less urbanized, and contains a wide variety of habitats including coastal dunes, coastal scrub, Oak woodlands, Douglas Fir Forest, Redwood Forest, salt marsh, and mixed deciduous riparian, to name a few. The diversity of habitat provides abundant birding opportunities and makes possible an amazing county list of over 300 birds. Often the coast is foggy, windy, and extremely unpleasant but in October we usually have our best weather and today bore that out; it was sunny and warm with little or no wind with highs reaching 70 at the coast and much warmer inland. In a word it was spectacular.
I left my house at 6:00 AM intending to start before sun up looking for Short-eared Owls in Half Moon Bay. I made a wrong turn onto Highway 1 after reaching the end of Highway 92 and by the time I realized my error, it was already dawn. I pulled into Wavecrest Drive in Half Moon Bay and drove to the end and parked. I didn’t even need my spotlight by that time. Earlier while it was still dark I had seen a small owl perched on a telephone wire but could not identify it to species. At Wavecrest I neither heard nor saw any owls. There were about six WHITE-TAILED HAWKS hawking even before the sun came up and one Northern Harrier. I heard some LINCOLN’S SPARROWS buzzing but never saw one. I did see one SAVANNAH SPARROW though. It was a very chilly 47 degrees before the sun had a chance to warm everything up and I had left my gloves in the car, so I didn’t linger too long there when it became obvious I had arrived too late for the Short-eared Owls. Oh well, maybe tomorrow.
I continued down Highway 1 which runs along the immediate coast, to Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Since the Pigeon Point sticks so far out into the ocean it makes a nice place to look for seabirds. Many people had been reporting Black-vented Shearwaters and I was anxious to find one as this would be a life bird for me. I was a bit behind schedule arriving only at 8:00 AM but I was lucky there was a feeding frenzy not far off shore from the viewing platform. Hundreds of BROWN PELICANS were diving into the water for whatever unfortunate school of fish was there for the feeding. HEERMAN’S GULLS were frantically diving after the pelicans trying to lap up any of their left overs. Also in the feeding frenzy were of course our resident Western Gulls and then finally I detected two much smaller birds diving with the pelicans and gulls into the fray with all black backs and all white underparts save for the undertail coverts—two BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS! Many COMMON MURRES were flying back and forth but no Marbled Murrelets that I could pick out. A few WESTERN GREBES were on the water and many BRANDT’S CORMORANTS were on the rocks. I saw all three species of Loons, PACIFIC LOON, COMMON LOON, and RED-THROATED LOON flying past and a few BONAPARTE’S GULLS. There was one RHINOCEROS AUKLET sitting on the water not too far out and many long lines of SURF SCOTERS paraded by. On the rocks below the platform there were two BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS, two WHIMBRELS, and one GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL. When I could no longer make out anything besides pelicans and gulls in the feeding frenzy I decided to try another look out spot. On the wires above the parking lot there were numerous TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRDS in with the Red-winged Blackbirds and one AMERICAN KESTREL. From the platform closer to the parking lot I saw one EARED GREBE, two fly-by RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, and a few Harbor Porpoises, one of which completely came out of the water. On the way out of Pigeon Point I spotted a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK crossing Highway 1.
Across Highway 1 from Pigeon Point is Gazos Creek Road. This little used road follows Gazos Creek as it winds through Douglas Fir Forest and a mixed deciduous riparian habitat consisting of mainly Red Alder with some California Buckeye and a few Coast Live Oaks. On the other side of the road from the creek is a much drier south facing slope with mainly Coyote Bush. I parked in a pull out and walked a good portion of the road. WRENTITS were singing from the dry hillsides and the many WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS and STELLER’S JAYS were squawing. Early in the day there was a large flock of TOWNSEND’S WARBLERS, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHECKADEES flitting about the Alder trees. I heard at least two HUTTON’S VIREOS singing. I also heard a high pitched song that I thought could be Brown Creeper or Kinglet. I finally tracked one down and it was a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. In the Coyote Bushes I found a small flock of sparrows including Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, and one WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, a rare winter visitor in California. Two huge flocks of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS flew overhead. As I walked down the road I was surprised to flush two WILSON’S SNIPES from a water filled ditch. Other birds I saw on Gazos Creek Road were one House Wren, one CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, one Dark-eyed Junco, one Downy Woodpecker, a few Northern Flickers, many Yellow-rumped Warblers, one HERMIT THRUSH, and the ubiquitous BLACK PHOEBE. I was unable to identify most of the numerous butterflies flying around the area. The only ones I recognized were Monarch, Red Admiral, California Sister, Cabbage White, and Pale Swallowtail. After a band of noisy motorcycles repeatedly flushed the White-throated Sparrow I was trying to photograph I decided to try for a Marbled Murrelet at Ano Nuevo State Reserve. Ano Nuevo is just seven miles south of Gazos Creek and is the most popular state park in California. It was set aside for the sole purpose of protecting the Northern Elephant Seal which breeds there. I walked the two mile trail to Bight Beach but it was closed so I walked out to North Beach where I finally found a lone MARBLED MURRELET. Marbled Murrelets breed in the very tops of Redwood Trees in northern California and then fly off to sea after the chicks have fledged. They are year round residents here but because they are so tiny they are easily overlooked unless the sea is calm.
There were many of the same birds at Ano Nuevo as at Pigeon Point plus a large flock of BLACK TURNSTONES and SANDERLINGS, and one MARBLED GODWIT. I stopped by a pond on the way back to the parking area and saw a few RUDDY DUCKS, AMERICAN COOTS, EARED GREBES, and one SNOWY EGRET. A few TURKEY VULTURES circled overhead along with two NORTHERN HARRIERS.
After Ano Nuevo I headed north on Highway 1 and tried again to photograph the White-throated Sparrow without success. I found it easily enough but every time I was ready it either flew or a car drove by and flushed it. Due to the lateness of the hour, 3:30 PM, and the warmness of the day there was little bird activity so I left there and continued up Highway 1 to Pescadero Marsh. It was high tide so there were no shorebirds but VIRGINIA’S RAILS and MARSH WRENS were calling from the marsh and I was delighted to find five BLUE-WINGED TEALS (rare in California) along with some AMERICAN WIGEONS, BUFFLEHEADS, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, and one CANADA GOOSE. My last stop was really just to use the bathroom at San Gregorio State Beach but I did check the gull flock there. It was mostly composed of Heerman’s Gulls, Western Gulls, and CALIFORNIA GULLS. I was getting hungry and still had 45 miles to go to my house in San Francisco so it was time to end a glorious day of birding the San Mateo Coast.
San Mateo County lies just south of San Francisco County on the central coast of California. It is a much larger county than San Francisco, is much less urbanized, and contains a wide variety of habitats including coastal dunes, coastal scrub, Oak woodlands, Douglas Fir Forest, Redwood Forest, salt marsh, and mixed deciduous riparian, to name a few. The diversity of habitat provides abundant birding opportunities and makes possible an amazing county list of over 300 birds. Often the coast is foggy, windy, and extremely unpleasant but in October we usually have our best weather and today bore that out; it was sunny and warm with little or no wind with highs reaching 70 at the coast and much warmer inland. In a word it was spectacular.
I left my house at 6:00 AM intending to start before sun up looking for Short-eared Owls in Half Moon Bay. I made a wrong turn onto Highway 1 after reaching the end of Highway 92 and by the time I realized my error, it was already dawn. I pulled into Wavecrest Drive in Half Moon Bay and drove to the end and parked. I didn’t even need my spotlight by that time. Earlier while it was still dark I had seen a small owl perched on a telephone wire but could not identify it to species. At Wavecrest I neither heard nor saw any owls. There were about six WHITE-TAILED HAWKS hawking even before the sun came up and one Northern Harrier. I heard some LINCOLN’S SPARROWS buzzing but never saw one. I did see one SAVANNAH SPARROW though. It was a very chilly 47 degrees before the sun had a chance to warm everything up and I had left my gloves in the car, so I didn’t linger too long there when it became obvious I had arrived too late for the Short-eared Owls. Oh well, maybe tomorrow.
I continued down Highway 1 which runs along the immediate coast, to Pigeon Point Lighthouse. Since the Pigeon Point sticks so far out into the ocean it makes a nice place to look for seabirds. Many people had been reporting Black-vented Shearwaters and I was anxious to find one as this would be a life bird for me. I was a bit behind schedule arriving only at 8:00 AM but I was lucky there was a feeding frenzy not far off shore from the viewing platform. Hundreds of BROWN PELICANS were diving into the water for whatever unfortunate school of fish was there for the feeding. HEERMAN’S GULLS were frantically diving after the pelicans trying to lap up any of their left overs. Also in the feeding frenzy were of course our resident Western Gulls and then finally I detected two much smaller birds diving with the pelicans and gulls into the fray with all black backs and all white underparts save for the undertail coverts—two BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS! Many COMMON MURRES were flying back and forth but no Marbled Murrelets that I could pick out. A few WESTERN GREBES were on the water and many BRANDT’S CORMORANTS were on the rocks. I saw all three species of Loons, PACIFIC LOON, COMMON LOON, and RED-THROATED LOON flying past and a few BONAPARTE’S GULLS. There was one RHINOCEROS AUKLET sitting on the water not too far out and many long lines of SURF SCOTERS paraded by. On the rocks below the platform there were two BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS, two WHIMBRELS, and one GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL. When I could no longer make out anything besides pelicans and gulls in the feeding frenzy I decided to try another look out spot. On the wires above the parking lot there were numerous TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRDS in with the Red-winged Blackbirds and one AMERICAN KESTREL. From the platform closer to the parking lot I saw one EARED GREBE, two fly-by RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS, and a few Harbor Porpoises, one of which completely came out of the water. On the way out of Pigeon Point I spotted a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK crossing Highway 1.
Across Highway 1 from Pigeon Point is Gazos Creek Road. This little used road follows Gazos Creek as it winds through Douglas Fir Forest and a mixed deciduous riparian habitat consisting of mainly Red Alder with some California Buckeye and a few Coast Live Oaks. On the other side of the road from the creek is a much drier south facing slope with mainly Coyote Bush. I parked in a pull out and walked a good portion of the road. WRENTITS were singing from the dry hillsides and the many WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS and STELLER’S JAYS were squawing. Early in the day there was a large flock of TOWNSEND’S WARBLERS, Ruby-crowned Kinglets, and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHECKADEES flitting about the Alder trees. I heard at least two HUTTON’S VIREOS singing. I also heard a high pitched song that I thought could be Brown Creeper or Kinglet. I finally tracked one down and it was a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. In the Coyote Bushes I found a small flock of sparrows including Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, and one WHITE-THROATED SPARROW, a rare winter visitor in California. Two huge flocks of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS flew overhead. As I walked down the road I was surprised to flush two WILSON’S SNIPES from a water filled ditch. Other birds I saw on Gazos Creek Road were one House Wren, one CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, one Dark-eyed Junco, one Downy Woodpecker, a few Northern Flickers, many Yellow-rumped Warblers, one HERMIT THRUSH, and the ubiquitous BLACK PHOEBE. I was unable to identify most of the numerous butterflies flying around the area. The only ones I recognized were Monarch, Red Admiral, California Sister, Cabbage White, and Pale Swallowtail. After a band of noisy motorcycles repeatedly flushed the White-throated Sparrow I was trying to photograph I decided to try for a Marbled Murrelet at Ano Nuevo State Reserve. Ano Nuevo is just seven miles south of Gazos Creek and is the most popular state park in California. It was set aside for the sole purpose of protecting the Northern Elephant Seal which breeds there. I walked the two mile trail to Bight Beach but it was closed so I walked out to North Beach where I finally found a lone MARBLED MURRELET. Marbled Murrelets breed in the very tops of Redwood Trees in northern California and then fly off to sea after the chicks have fledged. They are year round residents here but because they are so tiny they are easily overlooked unless the sea is calm.
There were many of the same birds at Ano Nuevo as at Pigeon Point plus a large flock of BLACK TURNSTONES and SANDERLINGS, and one MARBLED GODWIT. I stopped by a pond on the way back to the parking area and saw a few RUDDY DUCKS, AMERICAN COOTS, EARED GREBES, and one SNOWY EGRET. A few TURKEY VULTURES circled overhead along with two NORTHERN HARRIERS.
After Ano Nuevo I headed north on Highway 1 and tried again to photograph the White-throated Sparrow without success. I found it easily enough but every time I was ready it either flew or a car drove by and flushed it. Due to the lateness of the hour, 3:30 PM, and the warmness of the day there was little bird activity so I left there and continued up Highway 1 to Pescadero Marsh. It was high tide so there were no shorebirds but VIRGINIA’S RAILS and MARSH WRENS were calling from the marsh and I was delighted to find five BLUE-WINGED TEALS (rare in California) along with some AMERICAN WIGEONS, BUFFLEHEADS, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, and one CANADA GOOSE. My last stop was really just to use the bathroom at San Gregorio State Beach but I did check the gull flock there. It was mostly composed of Heerman’s Gulls, Western Gulls, and CALIFORNIA GULLS. I was getting hungry and still had 45 miles to go to my house in San Francisco so it was time to end a glorious day of birding the San Mateo Coast.
Thursday, October 19, 2006
Birding San Francisco: October 18,19, 2006
October 18, 2006
I arrived at S. Lake Merced at dawn and went straight to the east shore of the lake. Immediately I saw one VIRGINIA RAIL and two GREEN HERONS. Another rail flushed and got away. I listened for the kek,kek, kek of the Least Bittern but still after three days none of the early morning bird songs match that I can detect. A SORA was calling and a Great Blue Heron flew by but that was it. In exploring further north of the east shore I discovered two cowering RING-NECKED PHEASANTS, released birds no doubt. On the lake there were several RING-NECKED DUCKS, Ruddy Ducks, and Mallards. The only warblers were Common Yellowthroat and Yellow-rumped Warbler. A HUTTON'S VIREO was scolding from the willows and there was the ever present Black Phoebe and Red-winged Blackbirds. I saw my first of season MEW GULL mixed in with the Western Gulls and California Gulls.
After work duties I stopped by El Polin Spring. I set up beside the spring and many birds flew in to bathe and drink, including many Yellow-rumped Warblers, Townsend's Warblers, and HERMIT THRUSHES. A first of season VARIED THRUSH flew into the overhanging trees but I was unable to photograph or videotape it. Two HUTTON'S VIREOS came to bathe and then I was surprised to see two CHIPPING SPARROWS in the springs (rare in San Francisco). There were also many Northern Flickers, an unidentified woodpecker that looked suspiciously like a Gila but I couldn't get a bead on it before it flew off, Downy Woodpecker, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, White-crowned Sparrow, House Finch, and LESSER GOLDFINCH.
The next day, October 19,2006 I decided to try a sea watch. There had been numerous reports of Black-vented Shearwaters seen from shore lately, a bird I have never seen, and I was hoping for that. I arrived at dawn at Pt. Lobos (Sutro Baths/Cliff House area) and started searching. Immediately there were numerous Elegant Terns fishing off shore, a good sign for Jaegers. Sure enough there were soon Jaegers chasing terns. I had 12 PARASITIC JAEGERS, one POMARINE JAEGER, and best of all one LONG-TAILED JAEGER. Long-tailed Jaeger is the most rare from shore and the first I have ever seen from shore. It was a light morph juvenile and had an obvious whitish head. It even landed on the water briefly. I saw no shearwaters at all but was thrilled to see all those jaegers. There were also a few Forster's Terns, three BLACk OYSTERCATCHERS, one Common Loon, two RED-THROATED LOONS, four COMMON MURRES, many Brandt's Cormorants, Brown Pelicans, Western Gulls, and HEERMAN'S GULLS. I also saw one Snowy Egret in Sutro Baths along with some Coots.
My next stop before starting my work day was a brief one at El Polin Spring. There were many Northern Flickers, one Downy Woodpecker, one Varied Thrush (heard only), some Hermit Thrushes, TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, many Yellow-rumped Warblers, one Brown Creeper (HO), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, and a flock of our resident RED-MASKED PARAKEETS. Then it was off to the work-a-day world.
I arrived at S. Lake Merced at dawn and went straight to the east shore of the lake. Immediately I saw one VIRGINIA RAIL and two GREEN HERONS. Another rail flushed and got away. I listened for the kek,kek, kek of the Least Bittern but still after three days none of the early morning bird songs match that I can detect. A SORA was calling and a Great Blue Heron flew by but that was it. In exploring further north of the east shore I discovered two cowering RING-NECKED PHEASANTS, released birds no doubt. On the lake there were several RING-NECKED DUCKS, Ruddy Ducks, and Mallards. The only warblers were Common Yellowthroat and Yellow-rumped Warbler. A HUTTON'S VIREO was scolding from the willows and there was the ever present Black Phoebe and Red-winged Blackbirds. I saw my first of season MEW GULL mixed in with the Western Gulls and California Gulls.
After work duties I stopped by El Polin Spring. I set up beside the spring and many birds flew in to bathe and drink, including many Yellow-rumped Warblers, Townsend's Warblers, and HERMIT THRUSHES. A first of season VARIED THRUSH flew into the overhanging trees but I was unable to photograph or videotape it. Two HUTTON'S VIREOS came to bathe and then I was surprised to see two CHIPPING SPARROWS in the springs (rare in San Francisco). There were also many Northern Flickers, an unidentified woodpecker that looked suspiciously like a Gila but I couldn't get a bead on it before it flew off, Downy Woodpecker, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, White-crowned Sparrow, House Finch, and LESSER GOLDFINCH.
The next day, October 19,2006 I decided to try a sea watch. There had been numerous reports of Black-vented Shearwaters seen from shore lately, a bird I have never seen, and I was hoping for that. I arrived at dawn at Pt. Lobos (Sutro Baths/Cliff House area) and started searching. Immediately there were numerous Elegant Terns fishing off shore, a good sign for Jaegers. Sure enough there were soon Jaegers chasing terns. I had 12 PARASITIC JAEGERS, one POMARINE JAEGER, and best of all one LONG-TAILED JAEGER. Long-tailed Jaeger is the most rare from shore and the first I have ever seen from shore. It was a light morph juvenile and had an obvious whitish head. It even landed on the water briefly. I saw no shearwaters at all but was thrilled to see all those jaegers. There were also a few Forster's Terns, three BLACk OYSTERCATCHERS, one Common Loon, two RED-THROATED LOONS, four COMMON MURRES, many Brandt's Cormorants, Brown Pelicans, Western Gulls, and HEERMAN'S GULLS. I also saw one Snowy Egret in Sutro Baths along with some Coots.
My next stop before starting my work day was a brief one at El Polin Spring. There were many Northern Flickers, one Downy Woodpecker, one Varied Thrush (heard only), some Hermit Thrushes, TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, many Yellow-rumped Warblers, one Brown Creeper (HO), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Red-tailed Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, and a flock of our resident RED-MASKED PARAKEETS. Then it was off to the work-a-day world.
Monday, October 16, 2006
The Challenges of Birding while Working: 10/16/06
For the past three months I have gotten out of bed at 5:15 AM in order to get some birding in before my work day begins. This requires me to either pull rain pants over my business suit or wear old clothes and bring my business suit to change into after birding for an hour or so. Today I just didn't have the energy to get up before my 8:30 AM hearing to look for birds. With the days getting shorter and shorter it is becoming increasingly difficult to bird at all before work. Last night it rained. I thought maybe the rains would push something interesting in so today I threw an extra set of clothes, jacket, and walking shoes and socks in the car and after disposing of my hearings fairly quickly headed over to what I call the MacArthur Street Ditch in the Presidio. The ditch has been full of water since I first discovered it last Monday when I saw a BALTIMORE ORIOLE in the weedy field beside the ditch. Our regular orioles are Bullock's and Hooded both of which breed in San Francisco, but they have all long since departed. Ocassionally we get a lost Orchard Oriole in the fall and last year one over wintered at Ft. Mason Community Garden. Baltimore Oriole is very rare in the City though. So it was a good find and had me returning to the ditch every day for a week to look for more goodies. It requires a great deal of energy to get up early, trudge off in the dark, look for birds, change clothes in the car, and then go to work and work hard all day.
Today I was surprised to find three Yellow Warblers and one Common Yellowthroat at MacArthur. I thought all the Yellow Warblers had left by now as I saw none all week long. So I was thinking there must be something really rare lurking in there too but I couldn't find it. I was also pressed for time as I had to change after birding and return for my afternoon hearings. About 100 yards from the ditch is a spring, called El Polin Spring, that attracts a lot of birds but is unforunately situated in the Presidio in an area where professional dog walkers like to let their dogs off leash so the can defecate and harass the wildlife. Last week I had an ugly encounter with a professional dog walker, Hot Diggity Dog Walking Service, after he parked in front of the spring and watered and fed his nine dogs for the third day in a row. This is a leash only area but the law is largely ignored in this dog rules the world town. Mr. Hot Diggity was unable to watch that many dogs and so of course when one defecated in the picnic area he didn't pick it up, also against park rules. I told him it was rude to park his truck in front of the spring preventing other people and animals from using it and he claimed the park police told him it was OK (the Presidio is a National Park). I pointed out that he was not allowed to have that many dogs and that he was supposed to pick up after his dogs. He ignored me so I called the Park Police and he ran off to tie three of the dogs up away from the spring so he wouldn't get a ticket for having more than the allowed number of dogs. I was so relieved he wasn't there today, although I did have my phone with me to call the park police again just in case. All I saw at the spring were a bunch of Yellow-rumped Warblers. On October 20, 2005 I found a Wood Thrush, only a second county record and very rare for California in general, at this spring and I keep hoping for some other similar rarity this year but it never happens.
I walked back to the ditch and saw some Fox Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Lincoln's Sparrows, House Finches, and Anna's Hummingbirds. I only heard one Hermit Thrush although normally there are many as they winter here.
I made a brief stop at Lobos Creek Trail also in the Presidio but all I saw there were Northern Mockingbird, White-crowned Sparrows, heard another Lincoln's Sparrow, one Scrub Jay, and a Red-tailed Hawk.
On my way back for my afternoon hearings I stopped at Crissy Field which borders the Bay with outstanding views of the Golden Gate Bridge. This area was recently restored by the park with native plants and is a haven for the endangered Snowy Plover. They really have no chance though due to the large number of off-leash dogs there and to my knowledge have never nested there. In Crissy Lagoon I saw Least Sandpiper, Great Egret, Long-billed Curlew, Double-crested Cormorant, Killdeer, Pied-billed Grebe, Ring-billed Gull, and Western Gull. An American Kestrel was hawking over the lawn (hard to find in the City). Then it was time to change my clothes back to my business suit and back for an afternoon of work. The sun had finally come out after the depressing and chilly weekend weather but it was all inside the rest of the day for me. Ah, the challenges of birding while working.
Today I was surprised to find three Yellow Warblers and one Common Yellowthroat at MacArthur. I thought all the Yellow Warblers had left by now as I saw none all week long. So I was thinking there must be something really rare lurking in there too but I couldn't find it. I was also pressed for time as I had to change after birding and return for my afternoon hearings. About 100 yards from the ditch is a spring, called El Polin Spring, that attracts a lot of birds but is unforunately situated in the Presidio in an area where professional dog walkers like to let their dogs off leash so the can defecate and harass the wildlife. Last week I had an ugly encounter with a professional dog walker, Hot Diggity Dog Walking Service, after he parked in front of the spring and watered and fed his nine dogs for the third day in a row. This is a leash only area but the law is largely ignored in this dog rules the world town. Mr. Hot Diggity was unable to watch that many dogs and so of course when one defecated in the picnic area he didn't pick it up, also against park rules. I told him it was rude to park his truck in front of the spring preventing other people and animals from using it and he claimed the park police told him it was OK (the Presidio is a National Park). I pointed out that he was not allowed to have that many dogs and that he was supposed to pick up after his dogs. He ignored me so I called the Park Police and he ran off to tie three of the dogs up away from the spring so he wouldn't get a ticket for having more than the allowed number of dogs. I was so relieved he wasn't there today, although I did have my phone with me to call the park police again just in case. All I saw at the spring were a bunch of Yellow-rumped Warblers. On October 20, 2005 I found a Wood Thrush, only a second county record and very rare for California in general, at this spring and I keep hoping for some other similar rarity this year but it never happens.
I walked back to the ditch and saw some Fox Sparrows, Song Sparrows, Lincoln's Sparrows, House Finches, and Anna's Hummingbirds. I only heard one Hermit Thrush although normally there are many as they winter here.
I made a brief stop at Lobos Creek Trail also in the Presidio but all I saw there were Northern Mockingbird, White-crowned Sparrows, heard another Lincoln's Sparrow, one Scrub Jay, and a Red-tailed Hawk.
On my way back for my afternoon hearings I stopped at Crissy Field which borders the Bay with outstanding views of the Golden Gate Bridge. This area was recently restored by the park with native plants and is a haven for the endangered Snowy Plover. They really have no chance though due to the large number of off-leash dogs there and to my knowledge have never nested there. In Crissy Lagoon I saw Least Sandpiper, Great Egret, Long-billed Curlew, Double-crested Cormorant, Killdeer, Pied-billed Grebe, Ring-billed Gull, and Western Gull. An American Kestrel was hawking over the lawn (hard to find in the City). Then it was time to change my clothes back to my business suit and back for an afternoon of work. The sun had finally come out after the depressing and chilly weekend weather but it was all inside the rest of the day for me. Ah, the challenges of birding while working.
Sunday, October 15, 2006
One of the Worst Days Birding Ever: 10/15/06
We started out in the dark headed toward the coast for a sea watch. On the way we stopped at the metal fishing pier at S. Lake Merced. I was leaning over the bridge to get a photo of a Virgnia Rail that was just four feet away when plop my lens cap fell into Lake Merced. I was unable to retrieve it. There were also two Soras. We continued on to Ft. Funston Viewing Platform where 25 MPH winds blew into our faces for an hour. The temperature was about 46 degrees with the wind chill factor and we saw nothing very interesting at all. The best birds were one Pacific Loon and a few Common Murres.
In the Ft. Funston Grove all we could come up with were Townsend’s Warbler and Fox Sparrow. We returned home to get a retriever and then back to S. Lake Merced where I dangled out over the fishing pier trying to move some debris to see if my lens cap was still there and couldn't refind it. Ten Chasers were on the Concrete Bridge chasing the non-existent Least Bittern reported by someone no one who birds here has ever heard of, Juan Carlos (I believe it was a hoax)looking at me dangling from the fishing pier like I was nuts. Next we tried the Lake Merced Boathouse and only saw Great Blue Heron and Snowy Egret.
At N. Lake Merced the best birds were Eared Grebe, Horned Grebe, Clark’s Grebe, Western Grebe, Common Yellowthroat, and Ruddy Duck.
Next we tried a new place in Golden Gate Park called Beach Chalet. But the only things there were Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, and White-crowned Sparrow.
None of the great birds from yesterday were at East Fort Miley probably due to the lateness of the hour and that it was overcast and very cold. All we could come up with there was Say’s Phoebe, Black Phoebe, Hermit Thrush, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and White-crowned Sparrow.
We decided to give up and made our last stop the MacArthur Ditch. The only birds there were Hermit Thrush, Townsend’s Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and White-crowned Sparrow. I didn't even bother to count the number of species because it was such a bad day of birding. What happened to our great fall weather we usually have here in San Francisco? It was like winter today in terms of weather and birds.
In the Ft. Funston Grove all we could come up with were Townsend’s Warbler and Fox Sparrow. We returned home to get a retriever and then back to S. Lake Merced where I dangled out over the fishing pier trying to move some debris to see if my lens cap was still there and couldn't refind it. Ten Chasers were on the Concrete Bridge chasing the non-existent Least Bittern reported by someone no one who birds here has ever heard of, Juan Carlos (I believe it was a hoax)looking at me dangling from the fishing pier like I was nuts. Next we tried the Lake Merced Boathouse and only saw Great Blue Heron and Snowy Egret.
At N. Lake Merced the best birds were Eared Grebe, Horned Grebe, Clark’s Grebe, Western Grebe, Common Yellowthroat, and Ruddy Duck.
Next we tried a new place in Golden Gate Park called Beach Chalet. But the only things there were Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Bushtit, and White-crowned Sparrow.
None of the great birds from yesterday were at East Fort Miley probably due to the lateness of the hour and that it was overcast and very cold. All we could come up with there was Say’s Phoebe, Black Phoebe, Hermit Thrush, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and White-crowned Sparrow.
We decided to give up and made our last stop the MacArthur Ditch. The only birds there were Hermit Thrush, Townsend’s Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and White-crowned Sparrow. I didn't even bother to count the number of species because it was such a bad day of birding. What happened to our great fall weather we usually have here in San Francisco? It was like winter today in terms of weather and birds.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Birding San Francisco: October 14, 2006
I started out at dawn at the Cliff House for a sea watch. Hundreds of Elegant Terns were flying south but I only found two Parasitic Jaegers harassing them. I saw all three loons, Common Loon, Pacific Loon, and Red-throated Loon. There were a few Common Murres flying back and forth and several Black Turnstones on the rocks.
Next I stopped at E. Fort Miley which is part of the GGNRA behind the VA Hospital. There were many birds flying about the open area including, California Towhee, a first of season White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, and Song Sparrow. I heard a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and a Downy Woodpecker and a Red-shouldered Hawk flew in as I was leaving. I walked behind the Palace of Legion of Honor the the East Wash which runs down the Coast Trail between tees on the Lincoln Park Golf Course. There were many volunteers pulling out non-native plants in the wash but despite the activity there were many birds in the wash as well. I saw Townsend’s Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Purple Finch, Anna’s Hummingbird, and Fox Sparrow.
From there I drove to MacArthur Street in the Presidio and parked. I walked along the drainage ditch where I had the Baltimore Oriole last Monday and saw Townsend’s Warbler, a late Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, and House Finch. I walked over to El Polin Spring to see if any interesting thrushes had arrived and not finding any I proceeded up the trail that goes up to Inspiration Point. On October 20, 2005 I found a second county record Wood Thrush on this trail but today there was little activity. It was an overcast cool day. On my way back down the trail I saw a birder peering into the spring and saw it was the dreaded, arrogant Paul Saraceni. I did not want to ruin this fine morning by having to talk to the Doubting Thomas who refused to acknowledge my second county record Lark Bunting last year. I will never forgive him for that. So I tried to turn around and make it to my car through the woods. Unfortunately I got enmeshed in a blackberry ramble on a steep slope. I was afraid the residents were going to call the park police on me or worse that I would be crawling out of the woods when those boys were on their way up the trail and would have to make something up like I saw an owl or something. I got back on the Inspiration Point Trail and then headed north on a perpendicular trail that got me back to drainage ditch and back to my car.
From there I drove to Lobos Creek where there was very little activity except for:
Red-tailed Hawk, Townsend’s Warbler, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Then I moved on to Kobbe & Upton where I saw two Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern Mockingbird, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Townsend’s Warbler. I was going to look for raptors from Ft. Scott but it was partly cloudy and after 40 minutes not a single raptor so I left.
Since I wasn't having much luck I decided to look for the American Bittern that had been report from North Lake in Golden Gate Park. I am not a chaser and I am not a lister. I have one list-- my North American Birds list and that is it. I think listers and chasers are completely neurotic. I figured it was safe to look for the bird due to the hour 2:00 PM and that most people had already seen it. I looked from the west side of the lake to the east side where it had been reported and saw a birder on a bike. After awhile he pedaled over to me and it was Matt Zlatunich, one of the nice Big Year Participants from last year. He told me about a Tropical Kingbird he had found and sure enough there it was flycatching right above us. We couldn't find the Bittern but saw a late Warbling Vireo in the willows and then Matt left. As I was heading back to my car I could have sworn I saw a Great-tailed Grackle and was looking when this man approached me and asked if I wanted to see the Bittern. I said sure and there it was right out in the open beside the lake on the west side. The Tropical Kingbird was in the trees above it making a very memorable for the small group of birders who had collected there. Other birds at North Lake were Townsend’s Warbler, American Wigeon, and Common Yellowthroat.
I tried Middle Lake but there was a huge party going on with very loud music and drinking and all I saw was a Great Egret.
Next stop was N. Lake Merced which has not had much this season due to the construction to install the statue of Juan Bautista de Anza and the removal of several vile eucalyptus trees. I did see Ruddy Duck, Eared Grebe, Marsh Wren, and American Goldfinch.
There had been a few juicy sightings at S. Lake Merced the day before and in the morning so I was hesitant to go there but I thought at this late hour who would be there (it was nearly 5;00 PM). Silly me. There were three chasers there chasing. I didn't see any of the sighted birds, Least Bittern, White-winged Dove, or Philadelphia Vireo but I did find 2 Soras, a Green Heron, and a Common Moorhen. I also saw one Yellow Warbler and a Common Yellowthroat and that was the end of a fabulous day of birding San Francisco County. Total species: 76
Next I stopped at E. Fort Miley which is part of the GGNRA behind the VA Hospital. There were many birds flying about the open area including, California Towhee, a first of season White-throated Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, and Song Sparrow. I heard a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and a Downy Woodpecker and a Red-shouldered Hawk flew in as I was leaving. I walked behind the Palace of Legion of Honor the the East Wash which runs down the Coast Trail between tees on the Lincoln Park Golf Course. There were many volunteers pulling out non-native plants in the wash but despite the activity there were many birds in the wash as well. I saw Townsend’s Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Purple Finch, Anna’s Hummingbird, and Fox Sparrow.
From there I drove to MacArthur Street in the Presidio and parked. I walked along the drainage ditch where I had the Baltimore Oriole last Monday and saw Townsend’s Warbler, a late Yellow Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Hermit Thrush, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Fox Sparrow, Song Sparrow, and House Finch. I walked over to El Polin Spring to see if any interesting thrushes had arrived and not finding any I proceeded up the trail that goes up to Inspiration Point. On October 20, 2005 I found a second county record Wood Thrush on this trail but today there was little activity. It was an overcast cool day. On my way back down the trail I saw a birder peering into the spring and saw it was the dreaded, arrogant Paul Saraceni. I did not want to ruin this fine morning by having to talk to the Doubting Thomas who refused to acknowledge my second county record Lark Bunting last year. I will never forgive him for that. So I tried to turn around and make it to my car through the woods. Unfortunately I got enmeshed in a blackberry ramble on a steep slope. I was afraid the residents were going to call the park police on me or worse that I would be crawling out of the woods when those boys were on their way up the trail and would have to make something up like I saw an owl or something. I got back on the Inspiration Point Trail and then headed north on a perpendicular trail that got me back to drainage ditch and back to my car.
From there I drove to Lobos Creek where there was very little activity except for:
Red-tailed Hawk, Townsend’s Warbler, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Then I moved on to Kobbe & Upton where I saw two Red-tailed Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawk, Northern Mockingbird, Hermit Thrush, American Robin, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Townsend’s Warbler. I was going to look for raptors from Ft. Scott but it was partly cloudy and after 40 minutes not a single raptor so I left.
Since I wasn't having much luck I decided to look for the American Bittern that had been report from North Lake in Golden Gate Park. I am not a chaser and I am not a lister. I have one list-- my North American Birds list and that is it. I think listers and chasers are completely neurotic. I figured it was safe to look for the bird due to the hour 2:00 PM and that most people had already seen it. I looked from the west side of the lake to the east side where it had been reported and saw a birder on a bike. After awhile he pedaled over to me and it was Matt Zlatunich, one of the nice Big Year Participants from last year. He told me about a Tropical Kingbird he had found and sure enough there it was flycatching right above us. We couldn't find the Bittern but saw a late Warbling Vireo in the willows and then Matt left. As I was heading back to my car I could have sworn I saw a Great-tailed Grackle and was looking when this man approached me and asked if I wanted to see the Bittern. I said sure and there it was right out in the open beside the lake on the west side. The Tropical Kingbird was in the trees above it making a very memorable for the small group of birders who had collected there. Other birds at North Lake were Townsend’s Warbler, American Wigeon, and Common Yellowthroat.
I tried Middle Lake but there was a huge party going on with very loud music and drinking and all I saw was a Great Egret.
Next stop was N. Lake Merced which has not had much this season due to the construction to install the statue of Juan Bautista de Anza and the removal of several vile eucalyptus trees. I did see Ruddy Duck, Eared Grebe, Marsh Wren, and American Goldfinch.
There had been a few juicy sightings at S. Lake Merced the day before and in the morning so I was hesitant to go there but I thought at this late hour who would be there (it was nearly 5;00 PM). Silly me. There were three chasers there chasing. I didn't see any of the sighted birds, Least Bittern, White-winged Dove, or Philadelphia Vireo but I did find 2 Soras, a Green Heron, and a Common Moorhen. I also saw one Yellow Warbler and a Common Yellowthroat and that was the end of a fabulous day of birding San Francisco County. Total species: 76
Sunday, October 08, 2006
BIRDING SAN FRANCISCO, A FALL CLASSIC
Friday, October 6, 2006
I had to work and so I could only bird part of the day. I started out before work at dawn at South Lake Merced, a large lake just inland from the Pacific Ocean, and a magnet for migrants and vagrants alike. I started out walking to the end of a metal fishing pier where I was delighted to see 3 Soras and 2 Virginia Rails. Next I walked down the famous Concrete Bridge, a bridge that spans the lake and an impoundment pond to the east of the lake. This bridge has been the site of many rare birds over the years and is known throughout California as a rare bird hot spot. On this day I could not relocate the rarities I had seen the day before, Tropical Kingbird, American Redstart, or Palm Warbler and only saw a fly over American Wigeon and a Green Heron. So I left the bridge and headed across the street to the equally famous, Vista Grande Canal. This is basically a paved drainage ditch which directs our runoff to the ocean instead of the lake which is our emergency water source. The canal is lined with cypress trees, oaks, and eucalyptus trees making a sort of urban riparian corridor that attracts migrants in the spring and fall. All I could squeeze out of it today were some Townsend's Warblers and a Lincoln Sparrow.
Next I continued around the lake to the Boathouse. I mostly just wanted to use the always clean restroom there. But upon exiting the bathroom was struck by a low-perched Red-shouldered Hawk that let me get within 10 feet. So I decided that before leaving for work I would check the shrubs around the pier access road and was surprised to find an early SWAMP SPARROW in the myoporum bush. After work I drove to the VA Hospital and parked my car. From there I walked into the NPS area known locally as East Fort Miley. A short trail leads to a picnic area lined with cypress trees and a small open area with lupine and sage. There were many western migrants in the trees and the open area including Townsend's Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Hermit Thrush, Say's Phoebe, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Western Meadowlark, and one Purple Finch. After satisfying myself I had identified all the birds there I continued to Lobos Creek Trail and my secret spot. Lobos Creek runs through the Presidio National Park which is part of Golden Gate National Rrecreation Area. The area was abused by the military while it was a military base but since becoming a national park has undergone extensive rehabilitation including planting of extensive native plants. Unfortunately the creek itself is fenced off and inaccessible to the public. On September 24, 2005 I was walking this trail and saw a second county record, Lark Bunting. So forever after I call it the Lark Bunting Memorial Trail. This day I only saw Zonotrichia Sparrows. I crossed the street to my secret spot which is a series of informal trails used to access Baker Beach. It also overlooks the only accessible part of Lobos Creek and contains a flowering eucalyptus tree which attracts migrating birds. In there I saw three EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVES, Townsend's Warblers, one Hutton's Vireo, and a Western Tanager. Next I stopped at the intersection of Kobbe and Upton also in the Presidio. This area contains some non-native Fan Palms that have made Hooded Orioles a common breeder in the spring. The area has also become a magnet for vagrants in recent years due to the open abandoned Fort Scott parade grounds, proximity to flyway for migrating raptors, and flowering eucaplyptus trees and watered lawns of park residences there. Due to the lateness of the hour I could only scrounge up a lone Band-tailed Pigeon and a resident Red-shouldered Hawk. From there I drove the short distance to El Polin Spring. On October 20, 2005 I found a Wood Thrush here, only a second county record of this rare western vagrant. The spring flows year round and therefore attracts many birds. On this day I saw Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Saturday, October 7, 2006
I dragged myself out of bed at dawn and headed back down to South Lake Merced. I arrived in time to see the moon setting over the cypress trees that form the northern boundary of the rascist and reprehensible Olympic Club Golf Course. This also marks the San Francisco County line and the other side of the Canal. I started out on the metal fishing pier where I was treated to four Soras and two Virginia Rails. In the lake itself there were many Western Gulls and California Gulls as well as two Ring-necked Ducks, one Horned Grebe, and the Western Grebe and Clark's Grebe pairs that nested there this year. The only birds in the canal of interest were Townsend's Warblers and Yellow Warblers.
From there I drove around the lake and parked at Ft. Funston, site of an old WW II battery. This area is also part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area but has been overtaken by zealous dog walkers who are extremely hostile to birders. In past years it has hosted many rare birds but has been abandoned by most birders as too hostile to bother with. I occasionally will check it until too many off-leash dogs begin to bother me and I have to leave or worse I step in dog droppings. I was surprised to see two late migrating Western Wood-Pewees and the resident BEWICK'S WREN, which is scarce in SF. The only warbler was a Yellow-rumped.
I decided to skip my normal stops and proceed to the north end of SF due to an unpleasant encounter with my hated nemesis, David Armstrong, who has designated himself the San Francisco Bird Records Committee. He organized a San Francisco Big Year last year during which he became exremely competitive and overzealous to the point of accusing me of dreaming up birds. Things came to a boiling point on the day I found the Lark Bunting when he flat out accused me of making up the bird. When the San Francisco Bird Journal was published in April my Lark Bunting was absent and since then I have refused to contribute my many San Francisco sightings to their email list or any other forum besides the Rare Bird Alert. I kept scrupulous records and made numerous contributions last year including a first county record Blue-winged Warbler, which was accepted by the California Bird Records Committee, and the previously mentioned second county record, Wood Thrush, which was documented by video and numerous other observers. My relationship with the SF Bird Records Committee of one has subsequently been forever severed and I avoid any further contact with this odious individual. Unfortunately San Francisco is only 16 square miles and so contact with other birders is inevitable. So after seeing this idiot in his ugly mint green car at Lake Merced I decided to alter my path and move to the other side of town. So I ended up next at Ft. Mason, an old military installation on the bay that has a great community garden that has also become an attractant to migrating birds. I walked the garden and saw Townsend's Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, a Western Tanager that has been there two weeks now, and about 14 Anna's Hummingbirds. Next I returned to El Polin Spring and set up my video camera. The sun was up and many warblers were flycatching from the sycamore and pepper tree there catching the many insects that had by then become active. I got some great video footage of Townsend's Warblers bathing in the spring and then was surprised to find a Hermit Warbler actively catching insects. It was difficult but I was finally able to zero in on it and capture a short video and picture which you can see at www.mdbrodie.com under bird photos.
I left the spring to check out Kobbe & Upton. The resident Red-shouldered Hawk was patrolling the parade grounds. In the trees I found a cooperative dull Western Flycatcher plus Northern Mockingbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hermit Thrush, and Fox Sparrow.
From there I returned to Lobos Creek where a Red-tailed Hawk was patrolling and there were more Townsend's Warblers, Yellow Warblers, 3 Eurasian-collared Doves, and one calling Pacific-slope Flycatcher. I went from Lobos Creek to Golden Gate Park where I stopped at the famous Chain-of-Lakes. Middle Lake has been the most productive over the years and I usually just confine my stops to it. On this visit there was little activity other than more Townsend's Warblers and Fox Sparrows so I left and stopped by North Lake Merced. This is usually a great spot for migrants but has been disappointing this year due to the City's ignorant decision to tear up the parking lot and install the stupid statue of Juan Bautista de Anza. They also removed about 12 eucalyptus trees which was a good decision but which for now has left the birds dazed and confused. Maybe next year it will be good again. On this visit I found 10 Green-winged Teal, a rare bird in SF, Ruddy Ducks, Clark's Grebe, Eared Grebe, Common Yellowthroat, and American Goldfinch. The wind was picking up and there were few birds so I decided to end the day at Candelstick Point State Recreation Area which is near my house. This nice park provides one of the few public access points to the San Francisco Bay in San Francisco and is home to the last stand of SF Oak Trees and Fremontadendron, Coyote Brush and other native plants. Around the bay there were Black-bellied Plovers, Willets, fly-by Least Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpipers, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, Black Turnstone (atypical in this location) Forster's Tern, an American Kestrel, and one Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Sunday, October 8, 2006
I was able to convince Susan to get up at dawn and accompany me on my last day of my San Francisco Birding Extravaganza. We arrived at Lake Merced a little late and there were only two Soras at the fishing pier and little at the concrete bridge. We checked the canal and there were few warblers but a large sparrow flock. There we saw one Lincoln's Sparrow and a big surprise, a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW on the fence between the canal and the pretentious Olympic Club Golf Course. The bird flew between the fence and golf course where I last saw it. There was another Western Wood-Pewee, one Hutton's Vireo, Townsend's Warblers, Yellow Warblers, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets as well as Brown Creepers and the ever present Pygmy Nuthatches.
We drove from Lake Merced to the Ft. Funston viewing platform for a sea watch. We spent too much time in the canal and I wasn't expecting much at this late hour. And indeed we saw no Jaegers or Shearwaters. However, as I was scanning the ocean I locked my scope on an interesting gull with a striking black leading edge, black stripe across the neck, and black tail band-- my first ever BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE! I called out the field marks to Susan as I studied it through the scope. It was fairly close to shore and I was able to clearly make out the diagnostic field marks. A few minutes later a BLACK SCOTER flew by. The only other birds of note were Red-throated Loon and Common Murre. At the Ft. Funston groves we found another Western Wood-Pewee, a Red-tailed Hawk, and a few Townsend's Warblers.
We stopped at North Lake Merced next and briefly saw a Sora flying in the reeds, another Eared Grebe, and one Lesser Goldfinch. Next we drove over to Lobos Dunes. We walked the restoration area but found nothing much so we walked from there down to the Lark Bunting Memorial Trail. An immature GOLDEN EAGLE flew overhead and we saw a Downy Woodpecker, more Townsend's Warblers, Mourning Doves, and 5 RED CROSSBILLS fly by.
Our next destination was Kobbe & Upton and the Ft. Scott Parade Grounds. Immediately we saw 4 Northern Harriers (a tough bird in SF) one Cooper's Hawk, a Turkey Vulture (another uncommon bird here) a the resident Red-shouldered Hawk. In the trees were Hermit Thrush, the Western Flycatcher that refused to sing, and more Northern Flickers. On the parade grounds were many Meadowlarks and one Say's Phoebe
For our last stop we went by one of the few public access areas to the Bay, Heron's Head. I walked out the path into the marsh area and saw one BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, more Black-bellied Plovers, Willets, Spotted Sandpipers, Brown Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants, one Killdeer, Marbled Godwit, Least Sandpiper, two Elegant Terns fishing, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, and a few American Avocets.
Total species: 104
Green-winged Teal
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Black Scoter
Ruddy Duck
Red-throated Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Eared Grebe
Horned Grebe
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Clark's Grebe
Brown Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Brandt's Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
American Kestrel
Virginia Rail
Sora
American Coot
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
American Avocet
Willet
Spotted Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Long-billed Curlew
Marbled Godwit
Black Turnstone
Least Sandpiper
California Gull
Herring Gull
Western Gull
Black-legged Kittiwake
Elegant Tern
Forster's Tern
Common Murre
Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Black Phoebe
Say's Phoebe
Hutton's Vireo
Stellar's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Pygmy Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Winter Wren
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
Hermit Warbler
Palm Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
California Towhee
Clay-colored Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Red Crossbill
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
I had to work and so I could only bird part of the day. I started out before work at dawn at South Lake Merced, a large lake just inland from the Pacific Ocean, and a magnet for migrants and vagrants alike. I started out walking to the end of a metal fishing pier where I was delighted to see 3 Soras and 2 Virginia Rails. Next I walked down the famous Concrete Bridge, a bridge that spans the lake and an impoundment pond to the east of the lake. This bridge has been the site of many rare birds over the years and is known throughout California as a rare bird hot spot. On this day I could not relocate the rarities I had seen the day before, Tropical Kingbird, American Redstart, or Palm Warbler and only saw a fly over American Wigeon and a Green Heron. So I left the bridge and headed across the street to the equally famous, Vista Grande Canal. This is basically a paved drainage ditch which directs our runoff to the ocean instead of the lake which is our emergency water source. The canal is lined with cypress trees, oaks, and eucalyptus trees making a sort of urban riparian corridor that attracts migrants in the spring and fall. All I could squeeze out of it today were some Townsend's Warblers and a Lincoln Sparrow.
Next I continued around the lake to the Boathouse. I mostly just wanted to use the always clean restroom there. But upon exiting the bathroom was struck by a low-perched Red-shouldered Hawk that let me get within 10 feet. So I decided that before leaving for work I would check the shrubs around the pier access road and was surprised to find an early SWAMP SPARROW in the myoporum bush. After work I drove to the VA Hospital and parked my car. From there I walked into the NPS area known locally as East Fort Miley. A short trail leads to a picnic area lined with cypress trees and a small open area with lupine and sage. There were many western migrants in the trees and the open area including Townsend's Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Hermit Thrush, Say's Phoebe, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Western Meadowlark, and one Purple Finch. After satisfying myself I had identified all the birds there I continued to Lobos Creek Trail and my secret spot. Lobos Creek runs through the Presidio National Park which is part of Golden Gate National Rrecreation Area. The area was abused by the military while it was a military base but since becoming a national park has undergone extensive rehabilitation including planting of extensive native plants. Unfortunately the creek itself is fenced off and inaccessible to the public. On September 24, 2005 I was walking this trail and saw a second county record, Lark Bunting. So forever after I call it the Lark Bunting Memorial Trail. This day I only saw Zonotrichia Sparrows. I crossed the street to my secret spot which is a series of informal trails used to access Baker Beach. It also overlooks the only accessible part of Lobos Creek and contains a flowering eucalyptus tree which attracts migrating birds. In there I saw three EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVES, Townsend's Warblers, one Hutton's Vireo, and a Western Tanager. Next I stopped at the intersection of Kobbe and Upton also in the Presidio. This area contains some non-native Fan Palms that have made Hooded Orioles a common breeder in the spring. The area has also become a magnet for vagrants in recent years due to the open abandoned Fort Scott parade grounds, proximity to flyway for migrating raptors, and flowering eucaplyptus trees and watered lawns of park residences there. Due to the lateness of the hour I could only scrounge up a lone Band-tailed Pigeon and a resident Red-shouldered Hawk. From there I drove the short distance to El Polin Spring. On October 20, 2005 I found a Wood Thrush here, only a second county record of this rare western vagrant. The spring flows year round and therefore attracts many birds. On this day I saw Hermit Thrush, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
Saturday, October 7, 2006
I dragged myself out of bed at dawn and headed back down to South Lake Merced. I arrived in time to see the moon setting over the cypress trees that form the northern boundary of the rascist and reprehensible Olympic Club Golf Course. This also marks the San Francisco County line and the other side of the Canal. I started out on the metal fishing pier where I was treated to four Soras and two Virginia Rails. In the lake itself there were many Western Gulls and California Gulls as well as two Ring-necked Ducks, one Horned Grebe, and the Western Grebe and Clark's Grebe pairs that nested there this year. The only birds in the canal of interest were Townsend's Warblers and Yellow Warblers.
From there I drove around the lake and parked at Ft. Funston, site of an old WW II battery. This area is also part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area but has been overtaken by zealous dog walkers who are extremely hostile to birders. In past years it has hosted many rare birds but has been abandoned by most birders as too hostile to bother with. I occasionally will check it until too many off-leash dogs begin to bother me and I have to leave or worse I step in dog droppings. I was surprised to see two late migrating Western Wood-Pewees and the resident BEWICK'S WREN, which is scarce in SF. The only warbler was a Yellow-rumped.
I decided to skip my normal stops and proceed to the north end of SF due to an unpleasant encounter with my hated nemesis, David Armstrong, who has designated himself the San Francisco Bird Records Committee. He organized a San Francisco Big Year last year during which he became exremely competitive and overzealous to the point of accusing me of dreaming up birds. Things came to a boiling point on the day I found the Lark Bunting when he flat out accused me of making up the bird. When the San Francisco Bird Journal was published in April my Lark Bunting was absent and since then I have refused to contribute my many San Francisco sightings to their email list or any other forum besides the Rare Bird Alert. I kept scrupulous records and made numerous contributions last year including a first county record Blue-winged Warbler, which was accepted by the California Bird Records Committee, and the previously mentioned second county record, Wood Thrush, which was documented by video and numerous other observers. My relationship with the SF Bird Records Committee of one has subsequently been forever severed and I avoid any further contact with this odious individual. Unfortunately San Francisco is only 16 square miles and so contact with other birders is inevitable. So after seeing this idiot in his ugly mint green car at Lake Merced I decided to alter my path and move to the other side of town. So I ended up next at Ft. Mason, an old military installation on the bay that has a great community garden that has also become an attractant to migrating birds. I walked the garden and saw Townsend's Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, a Western Tanager that has been there two weeks now, and about 14 Anna's Hummingbirds. Next I returned to El Polin Spring and set up my video camera. The sun was up and many warblers were flycatching from the sycamore and pepper tree there catching the many insects that had by then become active. I got some great video footage of Townsend's Warblers bathing in the spring and then was surprised to find a Hermit Warbler actively catching insects. It was difficult but I was finally able to zero in on it and capture a short video and picture which you can see at www.mdbrodie.com under bird photos.
I left the spring to check out Kobbe & Upton. The resident Red-shouldered Hawk was patrolling the parade grounds. In the trees I found a cooperative dull Western Flycatcher plus Northern Mockingbird, Orange-crowned Warbler, Townsend's Warbler, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Hermit Thrush, and Fox Sparrow.
From there I returned to Lobos Creek where a Red-tailed Hawk was patrolling and there were more Townsend's Warblers, Yellow Warblers, 3 Eurasian-collared Doves, and one calling Pacific-slope Flycatcher. I went from Lobos Creek to Golden Gate Park where I stopped at the famous Chain-of-Lakes. Middle Lake has been the most productive over the years and I usually just confine my stops to it. On this visit there was little activity other than more Townsend's Warblers and Fox Sparrows so I left and stopped by North Lake Merced. This is usually a great spot for migrants but has been disappointing this year due to the City's ignorant decision to tear up the parking lot and install the stupid statue of Juan Bautista de Anza. They also removed about 12 eucalyptus trees which was a good decision but which for now has left the birds dazed and confused. Maybe next year it will be good again. On this visit I found 10 Green-winged Teal, a rare bird in SF, Ruddy Ducks, Clark's Grebe, Eared Grebe, Common Yellowthroat, and American Goldfinch. The wind was picking up and there were few birds so I decided to end the day at Candelstick Point State Recreation Area which is near my house. This nice park provides one of the few public access points to the San Francisco Bay in San Francisco and is home to the last stand of SF Oak Trees and Fremontadendron, Coyote Brush and other native plants. Around the bay there were Black-bellied Plovers, Willets, fly-by Least Sandpipers, Spotted Sandpipers, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, Black Turnstone (atypical in this location) Forster's Tern, an American Kestrel, and one Sharp-shinned Hawk.
Sunday, October 8, 2006
I was able to convince Susan to get up at dawn and accompany me on my last day of my San Francisco Birding Extravaganza. We arrived at Lake Merced a little late and there were only two Soras at the fishing pier and little at the concrete bridge. We checked the canal and there were few warblers but a large sparrow flock. There we saw one Lincoln's Sparrow and a big surprise, a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW on the fence between the canal and the pretentious Olympic Club Golf Course. The bird flew between the fence and golf course where I last saw it. There was another Western Wood-Pewee, one Hutton's Vireo, Townsend's Warblers, Yellow Warblers, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets as well as Brown Creepers and the ever present Pygmy Nuthatches.
We drove from Lake Merced to the Ft. Funston viewing platform for a sea watch. We spent too much time in the canal and I wasn't expecting much at this late hour. And indeed we saw no Jaegers or Shearwaters. However, as I was scanning the ocean I locked my scope on an interesting gull with a striking black leading edge, black stripe across the neck, and black tail band-- my first ever BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE! I called out the field marks to Susan as I studied it through the scope. It was fairly close to shore and I was able to clearly make out the diagnostic field marks. A few minutes later a BLACK SCOTER flew by. The only other birds of note were Red-throated Loon and Common Murre. At the Ft. Funston groves we found another Western Wood-Pewee, a Red-tailed Hawk, and a few Townsend's Warblers.
We stopped at North Lake Merced next and briefly saw a Sora flying in the reeds, another Eared Grebe, and one Lesser Goldfinch. Next we drove over to Lobos Dunes. We walked the restoration area but found nothing much so we walked from there down to the Lark Bunting Memorial Trail. An immature GOLDEN EAGLE flew overhead and we saw a Downy Woodpecker, more Townsend's Warblers, Mourning Doves, and 5 RED CROSSBILLS fly by.
Our next destination was Kobbe & Upton and the Ft. Scott Parade Grounds. Immediately we saw 4 Northern Harriers (a tough bird in SF) one Cooper's Hawk, a Turkey Vulture (another uncommon bird here) a the resident Red-shouldered Hawk. In the trees were Hermit Thrush, the Western Flycatcher that refused to sing, and more Northern Flickers. On the parade grounds were many Meadowlarks and one Say's Phoebe
For our last stop we went by one of the few public access areas to the Bay, Heron's Head. I walked out the path into the marsh area and saw one BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, more Black-bellied Plovers, Willets, Spotted Sandpipers, Brown Pelicans, Double-crested Cormorants, one Killdeer, Marbled Godwit, Least Sandpiper, two Elegant Terns fishing, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Whimbrel, Long-billed Curlew, and a few American Avocets.
Total species: 104
Green-winged Teal
Mallard
Ring-necked Duck
Black Scoter
Ruddy Duck
Red-throated Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Eared Grebe
Horned Grebe
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Clark's Grebe
Brown Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Brandt's Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
American Kestrel
Virginia Rail
Sora
American Coot
Black-bellied Plover
Killdeer
Black Oystercatcher
American Avocet
Willet
Spotted Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Long-billed Curlew
Marbled Godwit
Black Turnstone
Least Sandpiper
California Gull
Herring Gull
Western Gull
Black-legged Kittiwake
Elegant Tern
Forster's Tern
Common Murre
Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Black Phoebe
Say's Phoebe
Hutton's Vireo
Stellar's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Pygmy Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Bewick's Wren
Winter Wren
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Orange-crowned Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
Hermit Warbler
Palm Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
California Towhee
Clay-colored Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Red Crossbill
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
Tuesday, October 03, 2006
SAN MATEO COUNTY BIG DAY
San Mateo County Big Day
September 30-October 1, 2006
Total species: 127
Trip Report by: Jennifer Rycenga
We started at Gazos Creek, and detected some of the specialty birds of
The area east of the "Dip" signs, most crucially GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. We knew we would come back to collect more woodlands birds the next morning after owling, so this was a brief stop.
Pigeon Point - the lovely lighthouse and hostel featured in the
Southwest Airlines "Ding" commercial - was our next stop. The huge blackbird flock yielded TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS and BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS. The seawatch part of our day was frustrating, because the sea was calm but there were no deep-water pelagic species visible from the coast. We did, however, see some of the best alcids (the Northern hemisphere's closest relatives to penguins): RHINOCEROS AUKLET and the mysterious MARBLED MURRELET (this bird is a sea bird that nests in coast redwoods: the last North American bird to have its nest discovered, because of the counter-intuitive nature of
Looking for a seabird's nest on the tallest trees in the area).
Pescadero Marsh and Beach was meant to be the major stop for garnering
species, and it was for sure. We saw all the rocky shorebirds,
including the just-returning SURFBIRD and the PRBO icon, the BLACK OYSTERCATCHER.
A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL passed by the cliff just as I was relating to some other birders how I had seen one there the day before - a happy
instance of the universe responding to one's wishes. We had not found the Tattler yet, but promised ourselves to come back to their likely spot. We then went to the Marsh, and the species started to come to us: lots of MALLARDS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS. We were unhappy with the fact that all the Sandpipers we were seeing were LEAST SANDPIPERS. Then we spotted a flock of DUNLIN - a new arrival not present the day before. Just as we were getting ready to give up (Saturday traffic along SR1 makes the experience of scoping the marsh less enjoyable than usual), a WESTERN SANDPIPER flew in close to us. Returning to the middle parking lot, we looked again and this time found the WANDERING TATTLER. Much rejoicing, and then our thoughts turned to lunch. After a quick stop along Pescadero Creek
brought a NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER to our surprised attention, we headed
back to our Half Moon Bay headquarters.
Half Moon Bay - Back at the Rycenga/Macres abode, Peggy had prepared a
double treat for us: a fine repast of healthy lunch, and the assurance
thatboth the EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVE and the PINE SISKIN had been at the
feeder. With these target birds seen and our energy restored, we headed to Half
Moon Bay State Beach. Quickly we added the sweet SNOWY PLOVERS, CALIFORNIA GULL, and SANDERLING, and escaped before swallowed by the crowds of beach-goers. Quite amazing how close to humans the Snowy Plovers and Sanderlings will roost.
Skylawn Cemetery - At the peak of SR92 is Skylawn Cemetery. The
Propriety of birding in cemeteries is an odd philosophic dilemma. On the one hand, it feels as if one is endorsing the beauty of life by looking at the dynamic birds. On the other hand, it is possible that the dignity of the place is compromised by our jollity and obsessive behavior. But this was a great stop. I spotted, and Michelle had the patience to refind and identify, Our best migrant of the day, a HERMIT WARBLER. Lots of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES sounded their toy horn call (certainly that behavior could be considered disruptive in a cemetery), and AMERICAN ROBINS scattered widely above our heads. A quick stop at Crystal Springs Reservoir surprised us with a
PIED-BILLED GREBE (our only one of the day) and a GREATER SCAUP.
Windy Hill Open Space Preserve - What a lovely spot this is, along
Portola Road. At Sausal Pond we enjoyed the ravishing WOOD DUCK family, and, just when we thought we would miss the GREEN HERON, we spotted it hunting only a few feet from us. It was in perfect plumage, and got some ooohs and aaahs out of all of us. We also heard OAK TITMOUSE and ACORN WOODPECKER
here, as expected.
Radio Road - Taking the back routes down to Redwood Shores, we drove up
to the shorebird riot that is Radio Road. Shantanu was impressed with
this spot, which he had not visited before. We settled down to add to the species list, and saw the BLACK SKIMMERS, RING-BILLED GULLS, BARN
SWALLOW, and the best of all, RED KNOT (Francis Toldi had called to alert us to their presence, for which we are very grateful). It took a while, but we finally
rediscovered the only remaining RED-NECKED PHALAROPE spinning in the
eastern pond. Great stop for all concerned.
We had two largely wasted stops, at Nob Hill Ponds and Bayview Park.
Both locations had suppressed bird life because of wind. But then came the most enchanting stop of the day, at
Ravenswood County Park - located in East Palo Alto, this park has a
Less than stellar reputation for safety, so I've not birded it alone. But with our team, and with the proximity to Palo Alto Baylands, I hoped we would do well on rails in the gathering evening light. We went to the O'Connor street entrance, where there is a nice pond. All three of us brought our scopes, and started searching. Shantanu skillfully found a sweet SORA working the edge of the pond; we all got great looks. With tapes playing,we got one response from a VIRGINIA RAIL and a chorus of CLAPPER RAILS
(I guessed five). BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS flew in, too. We were then joined by three local elementary-school-aged kids, who were fascinated by our scopes and our activity. One of the kids, Brian, spotted a fast-moving bird overhead: it was a MERLIN! Great way to end the day, as the kids also got us to enjoy looking at the moon as well as the birds through our scopes.
Be forewarned - these three kids (Samantha, Brian and Tony) could
easily be talked into being bird-watchers. They thoroughly enjoyed all the birds we pointed out to them, and kept asking when we were planning on returning.
Our team then went to Taco Bell to have a bite to eat and strategize
the morrow. Funny we didn't think to go into a parking lot during the day at some point - our most inexcusable miss is House Sparrow!!
Sunday morning owling included a series of misses for Saw-whet along
Gazos Creek road in the dark, then a drive along Cloverdale exposed a
perched, then hunting BARN OWL. Into Butano State Park, where we played a Screech-Owl tape and soon had two WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS dueting. As we were pulling away Michelle noted that someone had been sleeping on one of the picnic tables. Oh well, those who camp for free had best expect weird night visitors...A few minutes before seven, the NORTHERN PYGMY OWLS performed.
As we returned to the pullout by the "Dip" sign along Gazos Creek, a
NORTHERN SAW-WHET started tooting (albeit from another time zone, it
was so faint). Never saw or heard a GREAT HORNED OWL, despite trying. I always have an ethical twinge about calling out Great Horned Owls when I am fully aware that there are other smaller owls in the area; I don't need to be helping predators in that hierarchy. Still, I hear Great Horned Owls more times than not along Gazos Creek, so it was just one of those odd misses that occur on any Big Day.
At the Dip we worked hard to distinguish the calls of GOLDEN-CROWNED
KINGLET and BROWN CREEPER, until we felt sure we had at least one of each. We heard two remaining SWAINSON'S THRUSHES give their morning "whit" greetings, and the HOUSE WRENS scolded anyone who would listen. We coaxed a FOX SPARROW into a similar tizzy, but it was furtive about showing itself. After the first of many dead zones for passerines, we were about to leave Gazos Creek when the resident BELTED KINGFISHER let out its rattling call. We drove up Cloverdale hoping to find a reported Shrike, but instead we saw a dead Pig hung over a fence (Peggy surmises that it might have been something caught by pig hunters and left momentarily, but it was an unsettling and frankly sickening sight). Every migrant spot we tried in Pescadero was dead dead dead. So we decided to end our day at the Water Road entrance to Pescadero State Park. We finally all saw a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (yes, that's how bad the migrants were to us!), Michelle heard a YELLOW WARBLER, and we all got some great looks at a WESTERN FLYCATCHER which, despite calling, was
likely a female, and so we couldn't peg it to either Pacific-Slope or
Cordilleran. That was our last new species, and one of only two likely passerine Migrants we had had over the entire 24 hours.
Let it be noted that we did sleep (ah! middle age), and we did eat, and
despite all that relaxation, we saw 127 species as a group. We were
pleased, and ready to do it again sometime. We also discovered quite a
lot about the county, its contours, and how to avoid the worst weekend
traffic (don't entertain any dreams about getting into Half Moon Bay from the Bayside of the county during the October weekend days).
Michelle was the best spotter and the most expert identifier amongst
us: she was really focused on details while remaining persistent in the face of discouragement; it was really thanks to her that we got both alcid species and the few warblers we did. She also obtained some good video of the Wandering Tattler and Snowy Plover. Shantanu contributed with keen attention to details of habitat and size: he picked out both the Sora and the Lesser Yellowlegs. I was the county ringer - I had more knowledge than skills (perhaps the story of my life as an intellectual), but that knowledge eventually yielded such fun birds as the Wandering Tattler, Red-necked Phalaropes, and the owls. Plus I knew where I was driving, a distinct advantage with such a tight schedule.
September 30-October 1, 2006
Total species: 127
Trip Report by: Jennifer Rycenga
We started at Gazos Creek, and detected some of the specialty birds of
The area east of the "Dip" signs, most crucially GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET. We knew we would come back to collect more woodlands birds the next morning after owling, so this was a brief stop.
Pigeon Point - the lovely lighthouse and hostel featured in the
Southwest Airlines "Ding" commercial - was our next stop. The huge blackbird flock yielded TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS and BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS. The seawatch part of our day was frustrating, because the sea was calm but there were no deep-water pelagic species visible from the coast. We did, however, see some of the best alcids (the Northern hemisphere's closest relatives to penguins): RHINOCEROS AUKLET and the mysterious MARBLED MURRELET (this bird is a sea bird that nests in coast redwoods: the last North American bird to have its nest discovered, because of the counter-intuitive nature of
Looking for a seabird's nest on the tallest trees in the area).
Pescadero Marsh and Beach was meant to be the major stop for garnering
species, and it was for sure. We saw all the rocky shorebirds,
including the just-returning SURFBIRD and the PRBO icon, the BLACK OYSTERCATCHER.
A GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL passed by the cliff just as I was relating to some other birders how I had seen one there the day before - a happy
instance of the universe responding to one's wishes. We had not found the Tattler yet, but promised ourselves to come back to their likely spot. We then went to the Marsh, and the species started to come to us: lots of MALLARDS, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS. We were unhappy with the fact that all the Sandpipers we were seeing were LEAST SANDPIPERS. Then we spotted a flock of DUNLIN - a new arrival not present the day before. Just as we were getting ready to give up (Saturday traffic along SR1 makes the experience of scoping the marsh less enjoyable than usual), a WESTERN SANDPIPER flew in close to us. Returning to the middle parking lot, we looked again and this time found the WANDERING TATTLER. Much rejoicing, and then our thoughts turned to lunch. After a quick stop along Pescadero Creek
brought a NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER to our surprised attention, we headed
back to our Half Moon Bay headquarters.
Half Moon Bay - Back at the Rycenga/Macres abode, Peggy had prepared a
double treat for us: a fine repast of healthy lunch, and the assurance
thatboth the EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVE and the PINE SISKIN had been at the
feeder. With these target birds seen and our energy restored, we headed to Half
Moon Bay State Beach. Quickly we added the sweet SNOWY PLOVERS, CALIFORNIA GULL, and SANDERLING, and escaped before swallowed by the crowds of beach-goers. Quite amazing how close to humans the Snowy Plovers and Sanderlings will roost.
Skylawn Cemetery - At the peak of SR92 is Skylawn Cemetery. The
Propriety of birding in cemeteries is an odd philosophic dilemma. On the one hand, it feels as if one is endorsing the beauty of life by looking at the dynamic birds. On the other hand, it is possible that the dignity of the place is compromised by our jollity and obsessive behavior. But this was a great stop. I spotted, and Michelle had the patience to refind and identify, Our best migrant of the day, a HERMIT WARBLER. Lots of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES sounded their toy horn call (certainly that behavior could be considered disruptive in a cemetery), and AMERICAN ROBINS scattered widely above our heads. A quick stop at Crystal Springs Reservoir surprised us with a
PIED-BILLED GREBE (our only one of the day) and a GREATER SCAUP.
Windy Hill Open Space Preserve - What a lovely spot this is, along
Portola Road. At Sausal Pond we enjoyed the ravishing WOOD DUCK family, and, just when we thought we would miss the GREEN HERON, we spotted it hunting only a few feet from us. It was in perfect plumage, and got some ooohs and aaahs out of all of us. We also heard OAK TITMOUSE and ACORN WOODPECKER
here, as expected.
Radio Road - Taking the back routes down to Redwood Shores, we drove up
to the shorebird riot that is Radio Road. Shantanu was impressed with
this spot, which he had not visited before. We settled down to add to the species list, and saw the BLACK SKIMMERS, RING-BILLED GULLS, BARN
SWALLOW, and the best of all, RED KNOT (Francis Toldi had called to alert us to their presence, for which we are very grateful). It took a while, but we finally
rediscovered the only remaining RED-NECKED PHALAROPE spinning in the
eastern pond. Great stop for all concerned.
We had two largely wasted stops, at Nob Hill Ponds and Bayview Park.
Both locations had suppressed bird life because of wind. But then came the most enchanting stop of the day, at
Ravenswood County Park - located in East Palo Alto, this park has a
Less than stellar reputation for safety, so I've not birded it alone. But with our team, and with the proximity to Palo Alto Baylands, I hoped we would do well on rails in the gathering evening light. We went to the O'Connor street entrance, where there is a nice pond. All three of us brought our scopes, and started searching. Shantanu skillfully found a sweet SORA working the edge of the pond; we all got great looks. With tapes playing,we got one response from a VIRGINIA RAIL and a chorus of CLAPPER RAILS
(I guessed five). BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS flew in, too. We were then joined by three local elementary-school-aged kids, who were fascinated by our scopes and our activity. One of the kids, Brian, spotted a fast-moving bird overhead: it was a MERLIN! Great way to end the day, as the kids also got us to enjoy looking at the moon as well as the birds through our scopes.
Be forewarned - these three kids (Samantha, Brian and Tony) could
easily be talked into being bird-watchers. They thoroughly enjoyed all the birds we pointed out to them, and kept asking when we were planning on returning.
Our team then went to Taco Bell to have a bite to eat and strategize
the morrow. Funny we didn't think to go into a parking lot during the day at some point - our most inexcusable miss is House Sparrow!!
Sunday morning owling included a series of misses for Saw-whet along
Gazos Creek road in the dark, then a drive along Cloverdale exposed a
perched, then hunting BARN OWL. Into Butano State Park, where we played a Screech-Owl tape and soon had two WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS dueting. As we were pulling away Michelle noted that someone had been sleeping on one of the picnic tables. Oh well, those who camp for free had best expect weird night visitors...A few minutes before seven, the NORTHERN PYGMY OWLS performed.
As we returned to the pullout by the "Dip" sign along Gazos Creek, a
NORTHERN SAW-WHET started tooting (albeit from another time zone, it
was so faint). Never saw or heard a GREAT HORNED OWL, despite trying. I always have an ethical twinge about calling out Great Horned Owls when I am fully aware that there are other smaller owls in the area; I don't need to be helping predators in that hierarchy. Still, I hear Great Horned Owls more times than not along Gazos Creek, so it was just one of those odd misses that occur on any Big Day.
At the Dip we worked hard to distinguish the calls of GOLDEN-CROWNED
KINGLET and BROWN CREEPER, until we felt sure we had at least one of each. We heard two remaining SWAINSON'S THRUSHES give their morning "whit" greetings, and the HOUSE WRENS scolded anyone who would listen. We coaxed a FOX SPARROW into a similar tizzy, but it was furtive about showing itself. After the first of many dead zones for passerines, we were about to leave Gazos Creek when the resident BELTED KINGFISHER let out its rattling call. We drove up Cloverdale hoping to find a reported Shrike, but instead we saw a dead Pig hung over a fence (Peggy surmises that it might have been something caught by pig hunters and left momentarily, but it was an unsettling and frankly sickening sight). Every migrant spot we tried in Pescadero was dead dead dead. So we decided to end our day at the Water Road entrance to Pescadero State Park. We finally all saw a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (yes, that's how bad the migrants were to us!), Michelle heard a YELLOW WARBLER, and we all got some great looks at a WESTERN FLYCATCHER which, despite calling, was
likely a female, and so we couldn't peg it to either Pacific-Slope or
Cordilleran. That was our last new species, and one of only two likely passerine Migrants we had had over the entire 24 hours.
Let it be noted that we did sleep (ah! middle age), and we did eat, and
despite all that relaxation, we saw 127 species as a group. We were
pleased, and ready to do it again sometime. We also discovered quite a
lot about the county, its contours, and how to avoid the worst weekend
traffic (don't entertain any dreams about getting into Half Moon Bay from the Bayside of the county during the October weekend days).
Michelle was the best spotter and the most expert identifier amongst
us: she was really focused on details while remaining persistent in the face of discouragement; it was really thanks to her that we got both alcid species and the few warblers we did. She also obtained some good video of the Wandering Tattler and Snowy Plover. Shantanu contributed with keen attention to details of habitat and size: he picked out both the Sora and the Lesser Yellowlegs. I was the county ringer - I had more knowledge than skills (perhaps the story of my life as an intellectual), but that knowledge eventually yielded such fun birds as the Wandering Tattler, Red-necked Phalaropes, and the owls. Plus I knew where I was driving, a distinct advantage with such a tight schedule.
Sunday, October 01, 2006
Yosemite & Mono September 2006
Yosemite & Mono Basin
September 25-27, 2006
We arrived in Yosemite Valley on Monday around 1:00 PM so the lighting was not the best nor the birding. We looked at the valley from the Wawona Tunnel View and my sister was not duly impressed. We walked up to Bridalviel Falls which just had a trickle of water flowing. Yosemite Falls was completely dry. We took a short walk to Mirror Lake which was also dry, while Daddy slept in the car. There were some Red-breasted Nuthatches, White-breasted Nuthatches, and Pygmy Nuthatches, Brown Creeper, and Mountain Chickadees. Then it was time to check into our cabin at the Sunset Cabins just outside the Big Oak Flat entrance. After dinner we enjoyed seeing the full Milky Way in all its glory away from the nuisance of city lights.
Tuesday morning we started early down Tioga Road. Our first stop was Olmstead Point. As we were enjoying the view a Townsend’s Solitaire gave its whistle and then flew into a tree just a few feet away. I had not even had time to take my best camera out of the car and only got some shaky footage on my little camera that I think I will toss out. About six more flew in just below the view point but I never could get a good shot of one. As I was trying to lock my camera on a Solitaire a Williamson’s Sapsucker flew into a tree right in front of us but flew before I could videotape it either. We walked the short distance out to the look-out and Daddy nearly couldn’t make it back to the car. Next we drove on to Tuolumne Meadows. While Sharon and I walked to Soda Springs and two miles on the Glen Aulin Trail, Daddy slept in the car. After our short walk we continued down the long grade into Mono Basin and to South Tufa Reserve where we had our lunch at the picnic tables there. Then we took the little walk around the amazing tufa formations. The only birds in there were Blackbirds and a few California Gulls and White-crowned Sparrows. After our nice walk around the Tufa Reserve we then drove to the Mono Basin Visitor Center. I’m not sure what Daddy and Sharon were doing but I walked around the little self guided nature walk. I saw only one Brewer’s Sparrow.
Our next stop was the Mono County Park. Daddy said it looked real inviting but he was too tired to walk out to the boardwalk. It was unfortunate he couldn't muster the energy to take the boardwalk because Sharon and I saw hundreds of Eared Grebes and many other birds in the lake. Mono Lake holds the largest number of migrating Eared Grebes in the world. We also had close up looks at several Yellow-headed Blackbirds some of which had orange heads and four Blue-winged Teal which was a big surprise for me. There was also one Cinnamon Teal in the lake. Back down the boardwalk we saw two Yellow Warblers and a Black-billed Magpie was on the lawn as well as a Northern Flicker.
Even though it was getting late we decided to continue down Highway 395 to Bodie State Historic Park. It is a long drive down a partially dirt road but well worth it. Everyone really enjoyed this part of the trip including me! Bodie is an old historic mining town that was once home to about 5000 residents. The state has kept it intact in a state of “restored decay.” You can walk around the old buildings and envison what life must have been like in this wind swept desert gold mining town where the summers are blistering and the winters are harsh. There were about a dozen Mountain Bluebirds flying around that I enjoyed while walking around the old Bodie Hotel, saloons, old mining equipment, etc. As I was looking in the old town store my sister called my name franticly. I went over and she had located a Greater Sage Grouse! My god I thought we had no chance at this late hour as the bird book says you have to arrive at dawn. I’ve seen Sage Grouse displaying before. This one was just walking around eating sage but still it was exciting to see another one of these elusive birds. Soon it was time to go and make the long, long drive back to our cabin all the way at the opposite entrance to Yosemite. We arrived back at the cabin very late and too late for me to stop at Crane Flat to look for the Great Gray Owl.
Wednesday we got up early and drove into the valley again. Daddy dropped Sharon and me off at the Happy Isles Nature Center and we arranged to meet him again at 1:00 PM at Glacier Point. Meanwhile Sharon and I hiked up the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls and then the top of Nevada Falls. At Vernal Falls we saw about three Canyon Wrens. Then at Nevada Falls we saw an American Dipper in the fast moving water. After enjoying the falls we crossed over the Merced River on a bridge and got on the Panoramic Trail. All told these two trails combined climb 3200 feet in eight miles and end at Glacier Point. Before the final push we passed our last waterfall, Illiloutte Falls. About a mile from the trailhead we saw some Mountain Quail scurrying into the scrub and near the top we saw two lingering Yellow Warblers. Most people go the other way and end the one way hike at Happy Isles, which is all downhill, but I enjoyed the challenge of going up and it’s less stressful on your knees than going downhill. On the way up you begin to round Half Dome and get unusual perspectives of this looming granite dome until finally you crest the hill and can see both waterfalls and Half Dome before you get to the trailhead at Glacier Point where many people who drove to the point are milling about eating ice cream. After enjoying the fabulous view one last time then it was time to head back to the nasty filthy Bay Area. I drove us out of the mountains and then at San Pedro Reservoir I made Sharon take over. Her driving was horrible and I couldn’t read my book. I even wrote the directions down on a piece of paper and they both still acted like they couldn’t figure it out even though huge signs say, “SAN FRANCISCO THIS WAY.” At the Bay Bridge I hid my Fasttrak and told Sharon to drive fast through the commuter lane so I wouldn’t get charged the $3.00 toll. She stopped! Stopped in the commuter lane! and the sensor found my fasttrak and charged me anyway. I was mad and yelling at Sharon to drive. Daddy started saying I held my fasttrak up and that’s why I was charged. Ludicrous. Back home Susan had dinner waiting for us.
September 25-27, 2006
We arrived in Yosemite Valley on Monday around 1:00 PM so the lighting was not the best nor the birding. We looked at the valley from the Wawona Tunnel View and my sister was not duly impressed. We walked up to Bridalviel Falls which just had a trickle of water flowing. Yosemite Falls was completely dry. We took a short walk to Mirror Lake which was also dry, while Daddy slept in the car. There were some Red-breasted Nuthatches, White-breasted Nuthatches, and Pygmy Nuthatches, Brown Creeper, and Mountain Chickadees. Then it was time to check into our cabin at the Sunset Cabins just outside the Big Oak Flat entrance. After dinner we enjoyed seeing the full Milky Way in all its glory away from the nuisance of city lights.
Tuesday morning we started early down Tioga Road. Our first stop was Olmstead Point. As we were enjoying the view a Townsend’s Solitaire gave its whistle and then flew into a tree just a few feet away. I had not even had time to take my best camera out of the car and only got some shaky footage on my little camera that I think I will toss out. About six more flew in just below the view point but I never could get a good shot of one. As I was trying to lock my camera on a Solitaire a Williamson’s Sapsucker flew into a tree right in front of us but flew before I could videotape it either. We walked the short distance out to the look-out and Daddy nearly couldn’t make it back to the car. Next we drove on to Tuolumne Meadows. While Sharon and I walked to Soda Springs and two miles on the Glen Aulin Trail, Daddy slept in the car. After our short walk we continued down the long grade into Mono Basin and to South Tufa Reserve where we had our lunch at the picnic tables there. Then we took the little walk around the amazing tufa formations. The only birds in there were Blackbirds and a few California Gulls and White-crowned Sparrows. After our nice walk around the Tufa Reserve we then drove to the Mono Basin Visitor Center. I’m not sure what Daddy and Sharon were doing but I walked around the little self guided nature walk. I saw only one Brewer’s Sparrow.
Our next stop was the Mono County Park. Daddy said it looked real inviting but he was too tired to walk out to the boardwalk. It was unfortunate he couldn't muster the energy to take the boardwalk because Sharon and I saw hundreds of Eared Grebes and many other birds in the lake. Mono Lake holds the largest number of migrating Eared Grebes in the world. We also had close up looks at several Yellow-headed Blackbirds some of which had orange heads and four Blue-winged Teal which was a big surprise for me. There was also one Cinnamon Teal in the lake. Back down the boardwalk we saw two Yellow Warblers and a Black-billed Magpie was on the lawn as well as a Northern Flicker.
Even though it was getting late we decided to continue down Highway 395 to Bodie State Historic Park. It is a long drive down a partially dirt road but well worth it. Everyone really enjoyed this part of the trip including me! Bodie is an old historic mining town that was once home to about 5000 residents. The state has kept it intact in a state of “restored decay.” You can walk around the old buildings and envison what life must have been like in this wind swept desert gold mining town where the summers are blistering and the winters are harsh. There were about a dozen Mountain Bluebirds flying around that I enjoyed while walking around the old Bodie Hotel, saloons, old mining equipment, etc. As I was looking in the old town store my sister called my name franticly. I went over and she had located a Greater Sage Grouse! My god I thought we had no chance at this late hour as the bird book says you have to arrive at dawn. I’ve seen Sage Grouse displaying before. This one was just walking around eating sage but still it was exciting to see another one of these elusive birds. Soon it was time to go and make the long, long drive back to our cabin all the way at the opposite entrance to Yosemite. We arrived back at the cabin very late and too late for me to stop at Crane Flat to look for the Great Gray Owl.
Wednesday we got up early and drove into the valley again. Daddy dropped Sharon and me off at the Happy Isles Nature Center and we arranged to meet him again at 1:00 PM at Glacier Point. Meanwhile Sharon and I hiked up the Mist Trail to Vernal Falls and then the top of Nevada Falls. At Vernal Falls we saw about three Canyon Wrens. Then at Nevada Falls we saw an American Dipper in the fast moving water. After enjoying the falls we crossed over the Merced River on a bridge and got on the Panoramic Trail. All told these two trails combined climb 3200 feet in eight miles and end at Glacier Point. Before the final push we passed our last waterfall, Illiloutte Falls. About a mile from the trailhead we saw some Mountain Quail scurrying into the scrub and near the top we saw two lingering Yellow Warblers. Most people go the other way and end the one way hike at Happy Isles, which is all downhill, but I enjoyed the challenge of going up and it’s less stressful on your knees than going downhill. On the way up you begin to round Half Dome and get unusual perspectives of this looming granite dome until finally you crest the hill and can see both waterfalls and Half Dome before you get to the trailhead at Glacier Point where many people who drove to the point are milling about eating ice cream. After enjoying the fabulous view one last time then it was time to head back to the nasty filthy Bay Area. I drove us out of the mountains and then at San Pedro Reservoir I made Sharon take over. Her driving was horrible and I couldn’t read my book. I even wrote the directions down on a piece of paper and they both still acted like they couldn’t figure it out even though huge signs say, “SAN FRANCISCO THIS WAY.” At the Bay Bridge I hid my Fasttrak and told Sharon to drive fast through the commuter lane so I wouldn’t get charged the $3.00 toll. She stopped! Stopped in the commuter lane! and the sensor found my fasttrak and charged me anyway. I was mad and yelling at Sharon to drive. Daddy started saying I held my fasttrak up and that’s why I was charged. Ludicrous. Back home Susan had dinner waiting for us.
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