San Mateo County Recap for 2012

by George Chrisman

When you think of San Mateo County as a birder, does your mind focus on the extensive ocean beaches and shear coastal cliffs along the Pacific Ocean shoreline? Or are your thoughts of extensive mudflats, salt marshes, open bay waters, and residential lagoons along San Francisco Bay? We have towering Redwood forests, chaparral choked hillsides, extensive agricultural fields, and mature oak and hardwood forests in the residential corridors of the County. San Bruno Mountain is an island oasis surrounded by cemeteries and residential neighborhoods. Crystal Springs Watershed separates the densely populated eastern third of the County from the more rural western third along the Coast. The center spine of the Santa Cruz Mountains includes massive expanses of wilderness including Portola State Park, Butano State Park, Pescadero Creek County Park, and Purisima Creek Redwoods Open Space Preserve, among others. Riparian groves of willows and alders line the season creeks on both sides of the peninsula.

This diversity of habitats has resulted in at least 456 species of wild birds being recorded in San Mateo County. Of these, we have seen an average of over 327 species of birds per year in San Mateo County over the past few years. Our annual Christmas Bird Counts report approximately 191 species for the Crystal Springs CBC and 166 for the Ano Nuevo CBC on a single day. Both are routinely among the highest species counts in the nation.

Last year (2012), there were 318 species of birds reported in San Mateo County throughout the year, about 9 fewer than the average. Of the 39 species of ducks and geese recorded in the County, 33 species were observed and reported last year. Thirty four (34) of the 43 species of shorebirds that have been seen here were also detected during the year. There were 23 of the 38 species of warblers reported, including a Yellow-throated Warbler at Coyote Point, a Worm-eating Warbler in Pescadero, an Ovenbird in Half Moon Bay, an American Redstart at Water Lane in Pescadero, and Northern Waterthrushes along Pilarcitos Creek and at Water Lane in Pescadero. We had 19 of 26 species of sparrows including Sage Sparrow at Skyline Ridge Open Space and Harris's Sparrow at Cascade Ranch. Other notable land birds found during the year included a Dickcissel at Coyote Point on 9/18/12, a Bobolink at on 9/22/12 in South San Francisco, a Blue-headed Vireo at Gazos Creek Road on 10/7/12, a single Willow Flycatcher at Williams Sister's Ranch on 8/24/12, and a couple of Summer Tanagers along the coast- one in Pescadero on 1/9/12 and another on 12/21/12 at Cascade Ranch. The Eastern Phoebe that overwintered along Stage Road in Pescadero last winter returned to the same location for its second winter.

Things have really become interesting since the commencement of regular pelagic boat trips off the coast of Ano Nuevo and Half Moon Bay. Without these pelagic charters, most birders would be resigned to perform seawatches from the shore. This year, pelagic charter trips by Alvaro's Adventures and Shearwater Journeys resulted in outstanding sightings of the first County record of Hawaiian Petrel on 8/25/12. Since these charters became more regular fixtures of San Mateo County birding, species like Laysan Albatross, Black-footed Albatross, Flesh-footed Shearwater, Buller's Shearwater, Black-vented Shearwater, Wilson's Storm Petrel, Fork-tailed Storm-Petrel, Ashy Storm-Petrel, and Black Storm-Petrel have all been made accessible and were sighted this year. A very rare Yellow-billed Loon was also discovered right outside Princeton Harbor on 8/11/12 during a pelagic trip, as was the recently split Scripps's Murrelet on 9/2/12. Other notable seabirds recorded from shore included a Brown Booby on 11/11/12 from Pigeon Point Lighthouse, a Red-tailed Tropicbird on 4/30/12 from Ano Nuevo Island, Tufted Puffins from Pigeon Point, along with the expected Jaegers, Common Murres, Pigeon Guillemots, Ancient Murrelets, & Rhinoceros Aukets.

Of special interest last year was the first nesting attempt of Bald Eagles since 1915 along Crystal Springs Reservoir. The newly formed pair of eagles was discovered on March 10, 2012 and maintained an active nest until approximately 4/17/12 before abandoning the nest. Once they dispersed, they were seen sporadically in the watershed. Then in late November, both eagles returned to Lower Crystal Springs Reservoir. On December 2, 2102 the pair began increasing the size of the nest and appears to be preparing to try again. Hopefully they will be successful in hatching their young this time.

While some of the most productive birding spots in the County are well known- Coyote Point, Radio Road, Tunitas Creek Road, Pescadero Marsh, Pigeon Point Lighthouse, etc., do not overlook your neighborhood parks and backyard birds. Some of the best birds of the year were discovered in somebody's backyard including Nashville Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Worm-eating Warbler, Ovenbird, and Black-throated Blue Warbler.

San Mateo County hosts great birds throughout the year, including your own neighborhood or backyard. You can find the precise locations and dates for most of the birds listed above at www.ebird.org and the description of the birding discoveries at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peninsula-birding/ San Mateo County remains one of the top birding destinations in the State and Country. The only difficulty is deciding what you want to see and where you should go to see it. Good birding in 2013!