Birding and Birdwatching           

CA Trip Report - January 1995

The first day was spent about the Bolinas Lagoon and we did find the town of Bolinas despite the lack of a sign. The lagoon was spectacular; filled with waterfowl and shorebirds and even some seals. The town was kind of weird, saw a lot of ancient hippies, young hippie wanna be's, and tourists. We skipped the yuppie restaurant with seven dollar hamburgers and went next door to a convenience store which was desperately in need of a visit from the Board of Health. But the sandwiches were great and cheap by CA standards. Took our sandwiches to the Point Reyes Headquarters for a picnic and saw two lifers, Anna's Hummingbird and Golden-crowned Sparrow. Leaving the headquarters, we had an incredible view of a Bobcat. Our first wild sighting of the species. Our daughter(19 months) had a great view as well and spent the rest of the trip looking for bobcats.

The next day we went early to Muir Woods and marveled at the redwoods. Not much for birds though we were thrilled with the sight of Varied Thrushes. Stayed with relatives in Mill Valley and were within walking distance of a nice wetland area where we spent the rest of the day birding. Actually, my husband birded, Amelia(my daughter) and I napped all afternoon. The time change was difficult on all of us. While getting stuff out of the car, I saw a woodpecker on a telephone pole which I was able to identify as a Nuttell's Woodpecker. I thought we would see this species all over the place but, unfortunately, this was the only one seen on the whole trip. My husband did not see it and still won't let me forget it.

We went to Palo Alto Baylands on the third day. We arrived about an hour before high tide and had no trouble determing where to look for the Black Rails. At one end of the parking lot, about 20 people stood staring intently into the marsh. We went over and established our territory at the edge of the crowd and waited with the rest. As the water crept nearer the tension in the crowd increased exponentially. It was looking pretty grim when suddenly someone shouted "Look behind us!" and as we spun around en mass, we all saw it. There in the parking lot under the park ranger's truck was a Black Rail searching desperately for a place to hide. Of course there was a mad rush over to the truck despite the fact we could all see the bird perfectly well from our original location and the poor bird scuttled over to a small boardwalk where it cowered under a very narrow platform. This hiding place provided very little protection from the determined birders and we witnessed over an hour's worth of what I would describe as extreme harassment of the rail. The bird had no place to go and people stood and kneeled directly over its hiding place aiming scopes, binocs, and cameras with flashes at the creature without respite the whole time we were there. This is the ugly side of birding and I lacked the courage to express my concern for the well being of the bird. I wished at the time that I had a copy of the ABA rules for ethical birding so I could remonstrate with some authority. We drove away with the bird still surrounded so I don't know when it was able to escape to the marsh.

On the fourth day, we went to Pt. Reyes but this was a huge family outing that involved little birding. We did make it to the lighthouse at dusk which was truly beautiful but the light was too low to see any birds.

Went up to Sacramento for a few days and on the way, we followed directions given to us by chatter, Steve Hampton, and, exactly where he said we would, we saw Western Bluebirds(life bird). In the same spot we were hoping for Mt. Quail but had no luck. It was a great spot and we did see a lot of Lesser Goldfinches and the only Golden Eagle of the trip. Thanks Steve!

From Sacramento we visited Grey Lodge and were disappointed not to see any geese. Saw huge numbers of Widgeons though and a roosting Great Horned Owl. Drove over to the Sacramento NWR and saw many geese in the fields on the way. We arrived at the refuge and drove the loop -- No Snow or Ross' Geese anywhere. We stopped the car by an observation platform to scan the marsh and as we stood there we started to hear the faint calls of geese. Suddenly the sky was filled with calling geese circling around and around directly overhead. And then they started to drop down into the marsh right next to where we had parked. There were "clouds" of honking geese both in the marsh and in the air. It was an unforgettable experience. I scanned the flocks furiously for a Ross' Goose in the fading light and just as I thought it was hopeless I spied three of them in the midst of a huge bunch of Snow Geese. Another lifer for me!

We drove from Sacramento to Monterey and spent 2 exciting days in Monterey. Decided to splurge and stayed at the Asilomar Conference Center in Pacific Grove. It is part of the CA state park system, the grounds are beautiful and well worth the money. We arrived late in the day but had time to walk to shore and see the first Black Turnstones of the trip(another lifer) and lots and lots of wonderful Sea Otters. The next morning we sauntered to the beach before breakfast and saw more life birds, Black Oystercatchers and Surfbirds. After breakfast we went to the aquarium and loved it. Thanks to everyone who recommended the aquarium, it was definitely worth the price of admission. Then we drove to Pt. Lobos which was indescribably beautiful. Here we saw Grey Whales, Sea Lions, and a Wandering Tattler(yet another life bird).

We left Monterey reluctantly the next day and headed north on Rt 1. It was raining heavily but we stopped at Ano Nuevo State Park and joined a docent led group to see the Elephant Seals. On the way out to the beach, we found a Wrentit(life bird) in the scrub and were elated! The walk among the seals was awe inspiring despite high winds, blowing sand, intermittent rain showers and a child frightened of the big seals. Next we stopped at Half Moon Bay and with the directions provided by chatter, David Powell, I went in search of a Barn Owl, my nemesis species. Leaving my husband and sleeping daughter in the car, I struck out through lots of mud and water(no boots) to a grove of trees where David had flushed owls on his CBC. As I slogged through this grove peering anxiously about for owls, I began to wonder how you "flush" Barn Owls. Perhaps just walking quietly was not going to do it but I couldn't possibly yell or crash about the brush without feeling really stupid and obnoxious. Just as I was about to give up, I spied a shape in one of the trees. Yes!! It was a lovely Barn Owl quietly staring at me from about 50 feet away. I too stared quietly at it for a few minutes and walked away without flushing it. This is the kind of experience which makes birding such a wonderful "hobby". Though my husband was ready to call the police because I was gone so long.

The rest of the trip contained very little birding because of the weather. We dipped on some species that we had hoped to see such as Pacific Loons and Pigeon Guillimots(sp?) and missed out on some of the rarities in the area but birding with a child limits what can be done. Thanks to all the Birdchatters who went out of their way to give us advice. You made our vacation much more enjoyable and we saw some wonderful species and places that we might have missed without your help.

Cheers,

Colleen T. McKenna Bowdoin College Chemistry Department Brunswick, Maine

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