www.thefilemyrs.com > Birding > California 2005 > Trip Report

Trip Report by Connie Goldman

Tuesday, 10/4/05 – Philadelphia to San Francisco Airport; Marin Headlands, including Vista Point, Hawk Hill, and Rodeo Lagoon; Las Gallinas Sewage Treatment Ponds

Four happy and expectant birders, Ann Scott, Bert Filemyr, Art McMorris, and Connie Goldman, convened as planned at the Philadelphia airport around 5:30am. Our 7am flight went off without a glitch, resulting in our arrival in San Francisco at 10am Pacific Daylight Time. Unfortunately, a “questionable piece of baggage” at SFO had planes backed up at gates, causing a delay on the ground for us there. But, before too long, we were off the plane, connected with our luggage and off to the car rental area. There we were offered an upgrade deal we couldn’t refuse, and happily accepted the keys to a roomy Durango SUV. After first unpacking and assembling scopes to place on top of the heap, we loaded up our luggage and were off to begin our California birding adventure.

Though it was now only late morning in San Francisco, our internal east-coast clocks were ticking “lunchtime!” We decided on an early fast-food lunch. Yes, we were hungry, but we wanted to get into birding right away. The overall tone of our trip was set during that first drive from the airport; Bert began nonchalantly inserting phrases into the conversation that were actually references to California-related songs; Art picked right up on this silliness, and soon the two were asking if we knew the “way to San Jose,” advising us to wear some “flowers in our hair,” and announcing they had “left our hearts in San Francisco” the last time they were here. Ann and Connie did some contrived groaning and eye-rolling but could not keep straight faces. We began to suspect that the next nine days would be filled with good doses of corny humor as well as with good birds. Right on both counts.

Soon enough, the appearance of birds over the highway turned our focus in an avian direction. American Crow, Rock Pigeon and Brewer’s Blackbirds became our first ticks as we birded the parking lots and neighborhoods we passed on the way to the Golden Gate Bridge. We crossed the bridge and pulled into the Vista Point viewing area for our first “official” birding stop. From there we were able to get distant looks at Brown Pelican, Double-crested and Pelagic Cormorants, Western and California Gulls. This spot also presented photo ops for scenic shots of this landmark bridge.

A short drive away took us to the parking area for the Golden Gate Raptor Observatory area. This is another great spot for photographing the bridge. A short but steep hike up Hawk Hill provides high, virtually unobstructed 360-degree viewing of migrating raptors. On the approach to the top, a surprisingly tame local Common Raven sat on the boundary fence, squawking quietly to beg tidbits from passers-by. We were met at Hawk Hill by Jill Harley, the daughter of a former teaching colleague of Bert’s. Jill, who works as a biologist for the observatory, gave us a personalized introduction to the hawk watch. She explained that, in the official observation area, hawk watchers are posted in each of four quadrants from which sightings are reported to a centrally situated documenter. Soon after our arrival, a Red-Shouldered Hawk passed slightly below eye level, shocking in its closeness and angle of approach. We were actually able to look down on its beautiful field marks. We stayed and watched awhile, getting equally close looks at Osprey, Cooper’s and Sharp-shinned Hawks. Vaux’s Swifts and Violet-green Swallows flew in wide sweeps overhead, reminding us we were definitely not on the east coast! Jill and her colleague Steve birded down the hillside with us, escorting us through evergreens and brush where we saw our first trip Red-breasted Nuthatch, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Black Phoebe, Spotted Towhee. Art noted a chattering as Wrentits calling from the shrubbery. Anna’s Swallowtail butterfly was an interesting non-bird sighting in this area. We walked out from the base of Hawk Hill past now defunct gun mounts and approach tunnels built as part of WWII defense systems, giving us a chance to view this bit of history.

Further birding tips and information provided by Jill would help us locally and in the Point Reyes area. We said our goodbyes and headed to the Rodeo Lagoon area of the Marin Headlands. Here Lesser Goldfinch flew overhead; Western Bluebirds and Yellow-rumped Warblers perched on wires and fed on lawns adjacent to the lagoon. Numbers of these were of the Myrtle subspecies, with their characteristic white throats. Townsend’s Warbler flitted in the large evergreens along the road to the lagoon, and our first Western Scrub Jay perched appealingly in a bush next to a picnic table. A flock of twenty to thirty California Quail seemed to appear out of no-where. These birds dust-bathed and congregated with typical quail cuteness alongside our vehicle. The lagoon itself was reported to hold grebes earlier in the day, but we found none among the Brown Pelicans and cormorants there at this time.

Las Gallinas sewage treatment ponds would be our last stop of the first day. Here we were able to see hundreds of ducks in great light, and got our first looks at Cinnamon Teal. Also present were Mallard, Green-winged Teal, Pintail, Shoveler, Gadwall, American Wigeon, American White Pelican, Horned Grebe, immature Black-crowned Night-heron, Forster’s Tern and Harrier. Shallows and mud flats along the edged attracted Least Sandpipers, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt, Killdeer, Marbled Godwit and Great Blue Heron, Great and Snowy Egrets and Greater Yellowlegs.

Our first day of birding had given us a sampling of passerines, ducks, hawks and shorebirds for a good beginning with a total near 70 species. We drove on to our Williams, CA hotel to stage for our next birding day. We arrived by 6 pm, with ample time for a celebratory happy hour from our hotel rooms and dinner at a local restaurant.

Wednesday, 10/5/05 – Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge, Yolo Farmlands, Yolo County Grasslands Regional Park, Tremont Church and Cemetery, Cosumnes River Preserve

With sunrise being right around 7 am at this time of year, we slated that time as our departure time for day #2 and were up, done breakfast and on the road to Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge at that hour. En route, the farmlands in California’s Central Valley treated us to looks at this typical landscape. As we approached closer to the refuge, flocks of White-faced Ibis were seen leaving night roost areas to feed in the expansive surrounding fields. Most viewing at the refuge is done from your car, with a few designated out-of-vehicle spots with boardwalks that afford good looks into wet areas. As we entered Sacramento, it became clear that Ring-necked Pheasant was going to be one of the most numerous birds seen here! Pheasant were everywhere, and I mean EVERYWHERE! The beautiful fields held Savannah Sparrows and American Bittern, two of which were seen well, in flight! The numerous impoundments held generous numbers of ducks, and we added Ring-necked and Ruddy to our list of duck species already seen. Small muddy edges yielded a few common shorebird species, and Bert spotted a Pectoral Sandpiper among them. Other highlights included Greater White-fronted Goose, and Nuttall’s Woodpecker. Bert had a spot where Barn Owl had been seen from the walking trail on a previous trip, and we proceeded to that area after our drive around the refuge. A Red-shouldered Hawk could be heard calling ahead of us down the path. Ann spotted an owl in a tree and we ID’d it as Great Horned. With this species in the area, it was now unlikely that we’d find Barn Owl, but any owl is great to see. As a couple came down the path walking their dog, the owl flushed along with the Red-shouldered, and the two flew off through a row of trees that obstructed our further view of them. On our return trip toward the car, the Great Horned returned, flying low, right toward us, practically right over our heads! Apparently returning to its original roost area, the owl gave us this dramatic close look. A fleeting look at Swainson’s Hawk flying over adjacent farms was our final Sacramento sighting. We had a quick lunch at Subway in Woodland and were off for our next birding spot.

We drove to the Yolo farm lands area in pursuit of raptors and magpies. We were successful with both, in small numbers, with Swainson’s Hawk seen over a field and a group of Yellow-billed Magpies cavorting around some farm equipment. An unexpected highlight in this area was our discovery of Long-billed Curlew in wet fields in the area. One group numbered over 140 and another 20-30 were found in a field further down the road. For easterners not accustomed to this phenomenon, seeing so many of these birds together was a treat.

Yolo County Grasslands Regional Park was our next stop, with Burrowing Owl as our target bird. Say’s Phoebe flew on and off of a building there as we looked out from the picnic area to the ground squirrel burrows that the owls also use. Soon Bert spotted one of the birds, and we all got good looks through scopes as they occasionally popped up from behind a mounded area.

Next we went across the road to the Tremont Church and Cemetery, a known location for Barn Owl. We walked the grounds, focusing our search up into the cedar trees scattered in small groups among the gravestones. Occasionally we were distracted by cemetery markers, many from the 1800’s, and we imagined the difficult lives of those who ventured to the area so many years ago. Quite a few markers were for children who had not lived past infancy. Feathers and pellets littered the ground in many spots, refocusing us on the hunt for the birds. Connie spotted a Barn Owl up in one of the cedars, and everyone got satisfying looks at it. We wondered how many more Barn Owls were there, hidden in the densely branched tops of the remaining cedars.

The Cosumnes River Preserve was our last stop for birding day #2. A few shorebirds, White-crowned Sparrow, White-tailed Kite and Marsh Wren were seen in the marshy areas here. A highlight here came when Bert recognized the strange call he was hearing as Sandhill Crane! He located a group of these birds in the marsh, and we all got good looks through scopes. Later we saw some of the cranes in flight over the preserve. Along a wooded creekside trail were Spotted Towhee, Red-shouldered Hawk and Wood Duck. As we began to drive out of the preserve, Ann spotted a raptor perched on a snag, its back to us. Identifying this bird presented a bit of a puzzle at first, as we sorted through field marks. Finally the I.D. was clear - Merlin! We drove off toward Livermore to stage for the next day, satisfied with the diverse sightings from this full day of birding. And, with Great-Horned, Burrowing and Barn, it had been a three-owl day!

We arrived at our hotel again by 6 pm, thanks to Bert’s pinpoint timing. We compiled our bird list over happy hour from our rooms, and had dinner at a local restaurant.

Thursday, 10/6/05 – Mines Road and Del Puerto Canyon, San Luis Reservoir Recreation Area, Moss Landing

A departure around 7 am on this morning had us heading toward Mines Road and Del Puerto Canyon, popular birding routes with roadside viewing of dry interior coastal habitat. Wild Turkeys were an early sighting that day, seen in numbers in roadside fields on our way to the canyon. Among available area birding resources is a listing of birds commonly seen at various milepost markers along Mines Road. We would use this guide as we birded our way through. Our first stop, the Murrietta’s Well area, was quite birdy, with White- and Golden-crowned Sparrows in abundance, and a number of Anna’s Hummingbirds seen flitting among the trees. A bridge and creekside thicket yielded California Towhee, a Swainson’s Thrush and Yellow-rumped Warblers. A more open area nearby held American Kestrel. We continued to add species to our list as we birded the various vehicle pull-offs. At a milepost area with open grassy fields and ranch houses, Art spotted Phainopepla! Our first Acorn Woodpeckers worked the trees in this area. Winding our way through the canyon, we enjoyed the varied habitats, In riparian areas with cottonwood trees and digger pines with their huge cones we found Northern (red-shafted) Flicker, Oak titmouse and flocks of Bushtit. In the California chapparal, with dense shrubbery including manzanita, we spotted Bewick’s Wren and Western Scrub Jay in numbers. Open ranch areas gave us sightings of Western Bluebird, Western Meadowlark, blackbirds and Yellow-billed Magpie. Streamside ravines held non-bird species including Western Fence Lizard and California Sister and Common Buckeye butterfly. A Black-tailed Jack-rabbit was sighted, and California Ground Squirrels were a common sight along the canyon roads. From high rocky outcroppings we looked across and down into the canyon to see Common Raven, Red-tailed Hawks and Turkey Vultures. We scanned the rocks themselves hoping for Rock and Canyon Wren, but did not find them. By about noon, we had reached the Frank Raines Regional Park and stopped for a lunch break. Two friendly motorcyclists offered to take our picture and then pointed out a tarantula on the park entry road, an entertaining arachnid sighting. As we ate, Acorn Woodpeckers worked the park’s trees and Lark Sparrows were seen in trees across the road. Ann and Connie took a needed restroom trip and found that the park had an “open plan” that included doorways, but no doors either into the building or on any of the cubicles. While we managed our brief visit well, we weren’t sure what the outcome might be for a tiny frog (sp.) that had also made its way in there. He rested on a pipe; either waiting to take advantage of insects that might also wander in, or trying to think how to correct his terribly misguided route.

Now it was time to look for water birds again, and we headed toward the coast. As Connie drove down the winding canyon road, occasional “suicidal” ground squirrels ran out dangerously close to our vehicle. At one point there may have been a slight bump, and some may even have heard a tiny squeal, but the demise of a squirrel at Connie’s hands remains completely unsubstantiated!

Stopping at the San Luis Reservoir Recreation Area, we set up scopes to look into the huge reservoir. Thousands of American Coots and Ruddy Ducks congregating here were a spectacle to see. Also among them were Lesser Scaup, a new trip species. Horned, Eared and Western Grebe were also sighted.

Moss Landing was our next stop and immediately began proving a productive one. Marbled Godwits, Willets and other shorebirds waded in the entrance ponds in numbers. Pelagic and Brandt’s Cormorants congregated on the harbor rocks along with Heerman’s gulls. Common Murre and Pigeon Guillemot swam and fed in the calm inlet and Elegant Tern flew over. Out at the beach, Western and Clark’s grebes floated in pairs just off shore, allowing very close comparison looks. Non-bird entertainment was presented by the sea otters feeding on their backs in the inlet and seals basking on rocks.

For Tri-colored Blackbird, our last target species of the day, we drove to Moonglow Dairy. On an outbuilding on the entrance road, a few Tri-coloreds perched with their distinctive epaulets showing, among other more common blackbirds. Happy with our quick success, we proceeded to the dairy’s pond to check for ducks and shorebirds there. As the cows watched us from their feeding pens, we were rewarded with sightings of American White Pelican, Avocet, Black-necked Stilt and some of the smaller shorebirds. Ducks were numerous, but we added no new species here.

We drove the back side of Elkhorn Slough, checking marsh areas on the way to our Watsonville lodging. In one pond we found Wilson’s Phalarope swimming in characteristic circular pattern. We arrived at our hotel by 6 pm, where happy hour from our rooms and dinner at a local Mexican restaurant capped off another great birding day.

Friday, 10/6/05 – Andrew Molera State Park, Big Sur area, Point Lobos, Point Pinos, Moss Landing, Pajaro Dunes

Another early start had us going south along the coast road.

Andrew Molera State Park would be our first official birding spot for the day. Our first trip Stellar’s Jay was seen in a tree as we drove into the park. We found sparrows in the hedgerow near the parking lot and walked a wooded trail to the campground. Chestnut-backed Chickadee, California Towhee, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet were found along the way. In the campground area it was interesting to see mule deer with racks grazing very close to occupied campsites. The blue sky was cloudless, but we were able to find a few hawks, including American Kestrel and Sharp-shinned Hawk. We proceeded through along a wooded trail toward the coast and found Fox Sparrow to add to our list. Ann spotted a small kinglet-sized bird in the thick shrubbery and was pretty sure it was not Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Because it was deep in, getting on the bird was difficult at first, but eventually this one revealed itself as a definite Hutton’s Vireo and we all got good looks; another target bird ticked off! We noted the occasional Redwood trees as we walked through the woods, and at one point with numerous eucalyptus trees, dozens of Monarch butterflies wafted all around overhead. We came out to the water, finding an area of small sandbars with shallows in between, and waves crashing against a high rocky coastal outcropping. We were readily able to find Tattler and Black Turnstone on the rocks, and Red-breasted Merganser in the shallows.

We had decided to drive south fairly directly from here to the town of Big Sur area and bird our way north again. Not surprisingly, the dramatic scenery captured our attention, and initial stops were made primarily for scenic appreciation and photo ops. We were amazed by the high rocky coast sloping steeply down to the bay, where kelp beds can be seen moving with the tide. The sun shining on the water and on huge rocks that jut out of the bay was magnificent. We birded our stops and saw Black Phoebe, sparrows, and House Wren. Our major roadside target was California Condor, a bird released in the area and being occasionally sighted, even if not “countable.” Unfortunately, our efforts in this pursuit were not successful. A Pacific Loon fly-over at one of the scenic pull-offs was a Big Sur highlight.

As Bert drove us toward our next stop, another “suicidal” ground squirrel ran out under our vehicle. As for our earlier “unfortunate” ground squirrel incident, the details of this creature’s demise are unproven. Inspite of the fact that Bert was behind the wheel this time, he categorically denies having any hand in it.

We reached Point Lobos State Preserve and with hopes of finding a couple more target species and also ready for lunch. As we set out our sandwiches and chips on the picnic table, Bert spotted one of those targets, Pygmy Nuthatch, in the pines around us. We alternately ate and enjoyed views of them. An especially friendly Dark-eyed Junco of the Oregon subspecies came in for close looks at our lunch, perching on the table!! After lunch we visited coastal overlook areas and set up scopes to see Common Murre, Sooty Shearwaters, cormorants, and gulls offshore. Black Oystercatchers sleeping on the rocks gave us another target bird.

Feeling we had exhausted the possibilities for sightings here, we headed toward Monterey and Point Pinos. We appreciated views of the leaning cypress trees and the dramatic crashing of waves against the rocks. Seals, sea lions, sea otters, and birds, including Back Turnstone and Black-bellied Plover congregated on and around the rocks. A highlight was a lone Whimbrel that Ann spotted camouflaged against the rocks. Bert took us on a short “scenic car tour” through Monterey town center on our way back to Moss Landing for a second look there.

Again, Moss Landing held masses of Marbled Godwits. A gull study for “something different” had us analyzing a smaller gull for possible Mew. We sorted through field marks, watched as it changed position various times and in the end had to agree it was not Mew, but Ring-billed. A check of other areas at Moss Landing did not yield new species, so we were off to the El Pajaro River mouth.

Pajaro Dunes is a private enclave of rental and permanent housing. We requested permission to drive into the area and it was granted. We walked the boardwalk along their inlet and set up scopes. Groups of shorebirds alternately flew and landed, eventually giving us good looks in good light. Least Sandpiper, Dunlin and Stilt Sandpiper were seen. A Belted Kingfisher flew and perched in the area. Clark’s grebe and American Kestrel made repeat appearances. Out on the beach were Sanderlings running characteristically in the surf, and Snowy Plover, which nests here, were seen in numbers up on the beach.

Back to our Watsonville hotel a short distance away, Ann spotted Anna’s Hummingbird in the hotel plantings for our final sighting of the day. We ended our birding day around 6pm again, in time for an early evening happy hour, and a local restaurant’s Italian dinner. There was much talk and teasing about potential seasickness, as the next three days of birding would be the very first pelagic trips for Ann and Connie.

Saturday, 10/7/05 - Shearwater Journeys pelagic from Monterey Bay

Saturday morning, Jane Henderson, fellow DVOC-er staying at her daughter’s home in Santa Cruz, met us at the hotel and rode to the Monterey dock with us. We dropped Jane off for her separate pelagic with another boat, found our way to our Monterey dock and began donning waterproof layers of clothing along with other trip participants. A Belted Kingfisher flew over the dock in dim light and dozens of pairs of binoculars went up to get on it. On board, we were joined by Nicholas Haas and Eric Pilotte, fellow DVOC-ers. Nick had come out from Philadelphia to lead for Debbie Shearwater and Eric had come down from his home near Napa to take the trip with the rest of us. As the boat pulled out of the harbor, we checked the rocks along breakwater for birds, finding Black and Ruddy Turnstones. A Peregrine Falcon perched on a harbor side communication tower. A small group of Surf Scoter flew by. A sea otter floated on its back outside the harbor with a huge spider crab held upside down on the otter’s abdomen. The crab’s legs moved out in every direction as the otter could be seen hammering the crab with its small rock or shell “tool.” This made a memorable natural history moment for the day. We had a grey day and choppy seas described in Shearwater’s report as “slop on top,” with swells to 12 feet. Dosed with Dramamine, Ann and Connie (and maybe the guys, too?) wondered how their stomachs would hold up. Soon birds began appearing, taking thoughts away from stomachs. Common Murre were common and cormorants and Brown Pelican were encountered, and both Pacific and Common Loon were seen. Chum was thrown out, and California and Western Gulls created a draw behind the boat. Single Glaucous-winged and Herring Gulls each spent time in the flock. Before long, pelagic sightings began. Sooty and Pink-footed Shearwaters arrived with their graceful sea-grazing flight pattern. Later, Buller’s Shearwaters flew close to the boat, allowing us to see its distinctive field marks. Ashy Storm-Petrels, Red-necked Phalarope, and Rhinoceros Auklet were seen. Black-footed Albatross glided silently around the boat and was also seen resting on the water’s surface among the gulls. Ann and Connie were ticking of life birds right and left and we were all studying pelagic bird field marks and behaviors. None of us had time or inclination to be seasick! Humpback whale sightings distracted us for a short time as we marveled at these huge sea mammals. Northern Fulmar, South Polar Skua and both Pomarine and Parasitic Jaeger all came into close view. We came ashore elated with the success of our first trip pelagic and looking forward to the next.

From the boat we met Jane Henderson, back from her separate pelagic, headed to the hotel for an abbreviated clean-up. The Anna’s hummer again greeted from the hotel garden. We drove with Jane to the Santa Cruz Monarch Preserve. A short trail walk led us to the boardwalk that leads into the preserve area. Monarch butterflies literally dripped from the tendrils on eucalyptus trees there. Another amazing natural history moment on a stimulus-filled day! We of course birded the preserve also, and got good looks at Stellar’s Jay and other songbirds, though no new species.

Then we headed to Jane’s daughter’s house where we joined Jane’s husband, Bob Cohen, and Eric and Nicholas, for a Mexican food dinner. Thanks, Jane and Bob! With another early pelagic the next day, we headed to a supermarket for the next day’s provisions and back to our hotel by about 9pm.

Sunday, 10/8/05 - Shearwater Journeys pelagic from Monterey Bay

Sunday morning we gathered again at the dock for a Shearwater Journeys pelagic. This time a Black-crowned Night-heron balanced on a rope between docked boats as we waited for the trip to begin. Common Loon was in the harbor and also Western Grebe. On calmer seas, maneuvering around the boat was a little easier and good looks were had of many of the species we had seen the previous day. We were more inclined to head to the bow of the boat, and from there got looks at Rhinoceros Auklet and the Mola-mola fish with gulls eating parasites from it. Highlights of this pelagic were the Sabine’s Gull and Flesh-footed Shearwater. The appearance of these was cause for excitement among even the more experienced pelagic birders on board. Each flew close to the boat, giving opportunities for good looks. The shearwater allowed looks both in flight and resting on the water. Later, a few participants got fleeting looks at Manx Shearwater, more commonly seen on east coast pelagics. The storm-petrels were seen again, as were numerous pelagic species seen on Saturday.

After coming ashore, we had a long drive to Bodega Bay ahead of us, in order to stage for the next day’s pelagic out of that harbor. We stopped at an organic supermarket for a dinner-to-go, and got breakfast and lunch for the next day also. From there we said good-bye to Nicholas who would head back to Philadelphia, and to Eric, who we would see again on Thursday before our trip ended. We drove to Bodega Harbor, happy with our pelagic experiences so far. This would be our latest day, and we arrived around 10 pm at our lodging place for the night. Fortunately, we were within minutes of the dock from which we would leave the next morning.

Monday, 10/9/05 - Shearwaters Journeys pelagic from Bodega Bay - Bodega Canyon to Cordell Bank; Hole-in-the-Head Marsh

It’s hard to think that our first two pelagic trips could be topped, but that is exactly what happened on this third trip. We found this boat a bit more roomy with fewer participants, giving more chance for advantageous viewing spots along the railings. A day that threatened rough seas ended up having a calm final weather report, and the birds came. Surf Scoters were in the harbor, and we got our trip Surfbird on the rocks. The rising sun shining on Bodega Head provided dramatic scenery for our ride out. The gulls diving for chum were soon joined by pelagic species. Sooty, Pink-footed, Buller’s and Short-tailed Shearwaters were seen. Amazingly, Flesh-footed Shearwater was seen again, making it two days in a row. Debbie Shearwater refers to this species as a “ten-trip bird,” meaning it appears on average on one of ten pelagic trips taken. This might be the only time that Ann and Connie, who were on their third pelagic ever, could now say they had seen the bird on two out of every three trips! Black-footed Albatross made repeat appearances through the day and Northern Fulmar flew in close. South Polar Skua, and Pomarine and Parasitic Jaeger were all seen again. A new species for the trip was the Tufted Puffin close to the boat. Pacific White-sided Dolphins provided entertainment when they approached the boat and swam and leaped alongside the bow as we plowed through the water. At one point the captain turned off the motor as we waited for whales to surface in the distance. The dolphins were nearby and sea lions were seen interacting with them. Blue whales were seen blowing and fluting farther out. Another Mola-mola swam by, waving its floppy fin to attract gulls. Shearwaters and albatrosses flew over the boat. All this at one time in gently rolling seas created a magical pelagic moment. Cassin’s Auklet was problematic at first, with some participants getting fleeting looks as the birds flew off the sea surface or floated behind swells. But eventually, we came across an area literally inundated with these small birds and got great looks at them. The trip leaders attributed the numbers of this bird to the likely presence of krill in the area, the likely draw for Blue Whales also. As we returned to Bodega Harbor we scanned the water and land edges, and found Pied-billed Grebe, egrets and herons, a Whimbrel on a dock, Black Oystercatcher, and various other shorebirds. Our California trip had been put together with the idea of pelagic birding at the core. Having now completed that central portion of our trip, we felt more than satisfied with the results.

There was good light as we disembarked from the boat and we decided our plan to bird the local Hole-in-the-Head marsh area before dinner was a go. Sam de Beer, a birder from South Africa, now working as a geologist in Canada, would join us for birding and dinner. We found sparrows, Marsh Wren, and blackbirds in the grassy area near the marsh. Art again recognized Wrentit chatter and located this species again. Black Phoebe hawked from a small service building. Black-crowned Night-heron roosted in the trees alongside the pond. Distant Yellow-rumped Warblers were numerous, and had us puzzled at first due to tricky light playing on their plumage; but their ID was nailed down and we went on to seek other species. Ann spotted a Sora down low along the pond edge, adding a species for our trip. High up on a ridge, Bert spotted a perched Red-shouldered Hawk, a lifer for Sam. We looked at the bird through Sam’s scope. Next we were off for a quick change, and dinner at a local restaurant.

Tuesday, 10/10/05 – Hole-in-the-Head Marsh, Bodega Bay; Tamalas State Park; Point Reyes National Seashore, including Point Reyes Lighthouse, Drakes Beach, Limantour; Schellenberg Park in Petaluma

Sam joined us again on Tuesday morning. We headed toward Point Reyes, stopping first at Hole-in-the-Head on the chance that rails might be seen or heard. Virginia was heard!

Next we were off to Tamalas State Park with Spotted Owl as our target. Unfortunately, we lost Sam, who followed in his car, as we arrived at the park. The park trails we walked were wooded, with many trees having moss-covered limbs. While we did not find that Spotted Owl, other species of interest here included Hermit Thrush, Spotted Towhee, Hutton’s Vireo, Townsend’s Warbler, and Chestnut-backed Chickadee. Band-tailed Pigeons flew overhead, giving us a new trip species. As we returned to our vehicle from the trail, there was Sam near the parking area! It was good to hook up with him again. A group of Pygmy Nuthatches was sighted in the trees nearby. Sam was interested in seeing this species, and we were able to get good looks. Sam birded with us to Point Reyes, our next destination.

Along the roads to Point Reyes we saw birds including Western Bluebird, Western Meadowlark, and an amazing encounter in one field that held 4 Northern Harriers, 3 of which were male “grey ghosts!” Cattle farms had Brewers, Red-winged and Tri-colored Blackbirds and Brown-headed Cowbirds. Stopping at a roadside pond, we scoped for ducks, seeing Mallard. Another Red-shouldered was spotted perched on a post and in good light,. We set up scopes and got good looks at its field marks. We drove to the Point Reyes lighthouse area and walked the trail there. Interesting habitat presented in the leaning Monterey Cypress trees, constantly moist from the fog, with epiphytes growing on its limbs. This was the spot we knew was popular with western birders for finding vagrant eastern warblers. The steps down to the lighthouse were closed, so we looked down from above, scanning for murres and other seabirds on the surface far below. Cormorants rested on rocks and Surf Scoter swam the waters. Our highlight here was the Rock Wren sighted on the outcropping adjacent to the lighthouse steps. Our next Point Reyes stop was the Drakes Beach area. Here we scanned the ocean, not adding any new species; but enjoying the views, we ate lunch here. A brushy, wooded area across from the parking area here looked possibly birdy, so we made our way over and were rewarded with Barn Owl in an apparent roosting area. We scanned another tree-covered area near the nature center; Ann and Art found another Hutton’s vireo here, but we came up with no new species.

Limantour was our next Point Reyes stop. This area was open and grassy, with marshy ponds and a trail to the ocean. Here we searched for Great Horned Owl, reported to us by a birder, but did not find the bird in the tall trees where it had been seen earlier. A pond produced Pied-billed and Eared Grebe, Cinnamon Teal, Blue-winged Teal and other ducks. The oceanfront at the end of the path did not yield any new species. We said our good-byes to Sam, who was heading back for another pelagic trip, and headed toward more mountainous habitat for the next days birding.

On the way, Schellenberg Park in Petaluma would be our last birding spot for the day. The park consisted of tidal impoundments adjacent to an industrial park with multi-use jogging track around the perimeter. It was interesting to see birds so close to a relatively busy industrial area, and joggers and birders using the same trails. Numbers of shorebirds roosted or fed in the impoundments and we looked for our target species, American Golden-plover among them. Mute Swan swam the side channel, and a variety of ducks roosted on mounds that rose out of the water. Our initial scans did not reveal the birds, but eventually, distant scope looks of a large number of birds suggested we’d find plovers in the farthest impoundment. We decided to hike over, in spite of the fact that we’d not make our usual early evening arrival at our hotel fort he night. Hey, we were here to bird and we had found birds! None of us wanted to leave without seeing them. Plover were there, as promised, most Black-bellied. But, as we sorted through them, a few stood out as different and we noted the field marks that indicated American Golden-plover.

Happy with our decision to bird a little later and get our plovers, we headed through wine country to our lodging in Placerville. A surprise sighting occurred as we crossed a bridge over a waterway and got White-throated Swift to add to our trip list. We also were rewarded with a group of Cattle Egrets in a ranch field off the highway. We arrived around 8pm in Placerville, happy to find a Mexican Restaurant right across from our hotel. Cilantro flowed freely again, and four happy birders ended another successful day.

Wednesday, 10/11/05 – Sly Park including Minwok Trail; Crystal Basin area, including Ice House Reservoir, Union Valley Reservoir, Loon Lake

For our last full day of birding we had decided to try for higher elevation species, and hoped for White-headed Woodpecker in the Sierra Nevada mountains.

We started our day in Sly Park, walking the Minwok Trail through evergreen forest and shrubbery. Red-breasted Nuthatches where found at every turn. Red-shafted Northern Flickers were frequent finds and Art heard Varied Thrush calling, though we were not able to sight the bird.

Next we drove gradually upward in the Crystal Basin area, stopping at campgrounds and lakes en route. Ice House Reservoir, though a beautiful lake, was quiet, bird-wise. Finding Red-breasted Merganser in the lake, we decided to stay and enjoy the scenery here as we ate lunch. We treated ourselves to a dessert of chocolates, and continued our drive to higher elevation sites.

We found Union Valley Reservoir with very low water level, banks barren. The lake apparently held little in the way of food sources for birds, and few were found. As we continued upward, we stopped at a vehicle pull off that gave views down a ravine and up distant ridge areas. A “mystery bird” held our attention for awhile at this location. The bird perched below us and with it’s back to us. It did not initially fit as any familiar species for ID purposes. We looked down on it, noting visible field marks and hopeful for more comprehensive looks. The bird unfortunately flew away without giving us any additional views. The situation presented an opportunity for an interesting study of field documentation. Before referring to any field guide, we each began verbalizing what we had seen of the bird, noting its shape, proportions, plumage, bill, etc. Art acted as documenter, writing down our notations in one place. The bird did not reappear and we drove along, discussing possible ID. Several possibilities emerged and we weighed the probability of each against our notes. In the end, this bird remains unidentified, but the experience with it will remain a memorable part of our trip

Loon Lake, at almost 6000 feet was the highest elevation of our trip. We stopped at another beautiful spot also that also was relatively free of birds. It was understandable that migrant species would have departed the area by this time. We had found the resident species quiet for the most part on this day.

As we made the return trip down mountain roads, we sang along to old western tunes on Bert’s iPod, including themes from TV shows like Johnny Yuma, Maverick and Wyatt Earp. Oldies rang out from our vehicle, and, as we made our way through the mountain habitat, these songs seemed to fit the setting.

We drove on to Vallejo for our last night in California and to stage for dawn marsh birding and our trip to the airport.

Thursday, 10/12/05 – Benecia State Preserve

We were out of our hotel and on the way to Benicia State Preserve nearby by 5am with hopes of hearing Black Rail, a species known to inhabit this area. We were met by Eric Pilotte who escorted us to a spot he has heard the rail before. We stood on rocks listening carefully and watching the sun slowly make its way into the day. The Black Rail did not call that morning, but we heard Clapper Rail. Other birds heard while it was still too dark to visualize birds were Black-bellied Plover, Killdeer, Great Horned Owl, Black-crowned Night-heron and Marsh Wren. When it became light and we decided it was time to return to our hotel for final preparation for our departure, we birded the marsh on the way back and enjoyed last looks at American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk, ducks, egrets and herons, Golden-crowned Sparrow and Western Meadowlark.

We said our goodbyes to Eric and headed back to our hotel for breakfast and flight packing. Then it was off to the airport for our 12:30 pm flight, crossing the marvelous San Francisco Bay Bridge on the way. Rain in Philadelphia held up our departure from San Franscisco until 2 pm, so we waited in the airport reviewing our trip list and looking over sightings, making final species counts, and going over trip memories together. An uneventful flight got us to Philadelphia by 10 pm EDT.

Hugs, kisses and goodbyes were exchanged as we claimed luggage and connected with loved ones who had come to pick us up at the airport. We ended our trip with all in agreement that it had been great, and that we would travel and bird together again, it was only a matter of where to go next, and when!