Field Trip Report:
Pillar Point Harbor
February 6, 2010

Despite an overnight rain, about a dozen participants, mostly beginning birders, showed up for a morning of birding at Pillar Point Harbor. We started by scoping both the Inner and Outer Harbor from the area along the road to the boat launch ramp, where the group was able to study Eared, Horned and Western Grebe, Common and Red-throated Loon, Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Surf Scoter and Western and Mew Gulls. Shorebirds along the beach included Western Sandpiper, Sanderling, Black Turnstone and Willet, and Snowy Egret was also present. Perched on the breakwaters were Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Canada Goose and Western Gull. A Belted Kingfisher put on a show hovering over the harbor looking for fish. Other birds here included Anna’s Hummingbird, Mourning Dove, European Starling and White-crowned Sparrow.

We then caravanned to the west end of the harbor. The main parking lot was full so we parked in the overflow parking lot on the east side of Pillar Point Marsh. Walking around the marsh we observed Pied-billed Grebe, Great Egret, Great Blue Heron, American Coot, Black Phoebe and Marsh Wren. Birds studied around the marsh edge included Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Northern Flicker, American Crow, Common Raven, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Say’s Phoebe, Bewick’s Wren, American Robin, Spotted Towhee, Song Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow and House Finch. Scoping the harbor on the way out to the jetty, we observed species seen earlier, in addition to Red-breasted Merganser and a small flock of nine Brant. Along the jetty we saw shorebirds such as Black-bellied Plover, Willet, Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit, Sanderling, and Black Turnstone, both California and Herring Gull, and passerines such as Yellow-rumped Warbler and Brewer’s Blackbird. We hopped over to the ocean side of the jetty and found both Pelagic and Brandt’s Cormorants, shorebirds not previously seen such as Black Oystercatcher and Surfbird, and Glaucous-winged Gull. A flock of about 25 Brant flew over us headed north. Our group watched two Peregrine Falcons near the ocean bluffs; one carrying a shorebird in its talons that looked like it could have at one time been a Sanderling. Marine mammals included California Sea Lion and Harbor Seal. On the way back to the cars we saw the flock of 25 Brant which had obviously circled back to the harbor area from their northward flight, and we watched a Northern Harrier that was now patrolling the area over the marsh.

— Gary Deghi

Field Trip Report:
Panoche Valley
Saturday, February 13, 2010

Sequoia Audubon's field trip to Panoche Valley was treated to fabulous weather and wonderful birds (as usual). Fog on Hwy 101 yielded to sun at Paicines Reservoir and for the rest of the day.

— Leslie Flint

Note: Not all birds were seen by all especially at the beginning of the day since there were dozens of other birders on the road and we are anxious to get on our way at Paicines and late arrivers may have missed a few.

71 species seen

• Gadwall
• American Wigeon
• Mallard
• Norther Shoveler
• Green-winged Teal
• Canvasback
• Common Goldeneye
• Ruddy Duck
• California Quail
• Wild Turkey
• Western Grebe
• Clark's Grebe
• Great Blue Heron
• Great Egret
• Turkey Vulture
• Bald Eagle (1 at Paicines; 2 at the end of the day)
• Northern Harrier
• Sharp-shinned Hawk
• Red-tailed Hawk
• Ferruginous Hawk (at least 4)
• Golden Eagle (also at least 4)
• American Kestrel
• Prairie Falcon (one against the sun)
• American Coot
• Killdeer
• Rock Pigeon
• Mourning Dove
• Greater Roadrunner (4!)
• Burrowing Owl (3)
• Long-eared Owl (10+)
• Anna's Hummingbird
• Lewis's Woodpecker (1)
• Acorn Woodpecker
• Nuttal’s Woodpecker
• Northern Flicker
• Black Phoebe
• Say's Phoebe
• Loggerhead Shrike
• Western Scrub-Jay
• Yellow-billed Magpie
• American Crow
• Common Raven
• Horned Lark
• Tree Swallow
• Oak Titmouse
• Bushtit
• White-breasted Nuthatch
• Bewick's Wren
• Western Bluebird
• Mountain Bluebird
• Hermit Thrush
• American Robin
• Wrentit
• Northern Mockingbird
• California Thrasher
• European Starling
• American Pipit
• Phainopepla
• Yellow-rumped Warbler
• Spotted Towhee
• California Towhee
• Rufous-crowned Sparrow
• Lark Sparrow
• Savannah Sparrow
• White-crowned Sparrow
• Dark-eyed Junco
• Red-winged Blackbird
• Tricolored Blackbird (eating seed out of the feeder at the Panoche Valley Inn!)
• Western Meadowlark
• Brewer's Blackbird
• House Finch
• American Goldfinch
• House Sparrow (including an all white one at Panoche Valley Inn!)

Field Trip Report:
Mori Point – Pacifica Birding
Sunday, February 14, 8am

Today we led a Sequoia Audubon Walk, from 8 am to 12:30 pm, with 8 participants. The weather was warm and sunny, with NO wind. The waves were huge and exciting, leftover from Mavericks Surfing Contest yesterday. There was a lot of moisture in the air; we could hardly see the Pacifica Pier from Horse Stable Pond. From up on the point, everything was clear and we could look down into the wave troughs instead of trying to watch the birds go up and down and up and down. Pumping of the golf course has stopped for the time being.

Annoying mammal: well-fed house cat with Brush Rabbit.

— Laurie Graham & Jeff Fairclough, South San Francisco, CA

Species Seen

Number of species: 46

• Mallard 4
• Surf Scoter 15
• Black Scoter (American) 2
• Common Goldeneye 1
• Ruddy Duck 1
• Red-throated Loon 21
• Pied-billed Grebe 2
• Western Grebe 5
• Clark's Grebe 2
• Brown Pelican 1
• Pelagic Cormorant 6
• Great Blue Heron 1
• Great Egret 1
• American Coot 8
• Black Oystercatcher 4
• Western Gull 4
• California Gull 16
• Glaucous-winged Gull 1
• Rock Pigeon 15
• Mourning Dove 11
• Anna's Hummingbird 2
• Northern Flicker 1
• Black Phoebe 5
• Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal) 4
• Common Raven 45
• Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4
• Bushtit 1
• Pygmy Nuthatch 8
• Brown Creeper 1
• Bewick's Wren 3
• Marsh Wren 4
• American Robin 52
• Wrentit 2
• European Starling 2
• Yellow-rumped Warbler 4
• Townsend's Warbler 1
• Spotted Towhee 3
• California Towhee 14
• Fox Sparrow 1
• Song Sparrow 8
• White-crowned Sparrow 40
• Golden-crowned Sparrow 13
• Red-winged Blackbird 1
• House Finch 6
• Lesser Goldfinch 1
• American Goldfinch 2

Field Trip Report:
Redwood Shores Library Bird Walk
January 24, 2010, 3:00-4:00PM

We participated in Sonny Mencher's Redwood Shores Library Walk. The leader was Sonny Mencher, with assistance from Ginny Marshall, Robin Smith, Laurie Graham, and Jeff Fairclough. There were about 15 participants. People were very enthusiastic. I'd forgotten how much fun it is to turn newbies on to birds. We scoped the birds in Belmont Slough, among which was the GASH (Gadwall/Shoveler), a Male Cinnamon Teal, one Greater Yellowlegs, one Willet, two Black-bellied Plovers, Mallards, American Wigeons, Canvasbacks, Greater Scaup, Snowy Egrets, etc.

— Laurie Graham & Jeff Fairclough, SSF

Species Seen

• Canada Goose     2
• American Wigeon     48
• Mallard     6
• Cinnamon Teal     1 male
• Northern Shoveler     20
• GASH 1 (Gadwall/Northern Shoveler hybrid)
• Canvasback     79
• Greater Scaup     9
• Bufflehead     5
• Ruddy Duck     5
• Snowy Egret     7
• Black-bellied Plover     2
• Black-necked Stilt     8
• American Avocet     52
• Greater Yellowlegs     1
• Willet     5
• Western Sandpiper     1     (in Library parking lot - ill?)
• Ring-billed Gull     50
• California Gull     1
• Black Phoebe     2
• American Crow     42*

Number of species: 20 + 1

*American Crows are roosting in Poplar trees around Oracle, flying in in large numbers at dusk. Our personal total was 475. 

Field Trip Report:
May 30, 2009, Pillar Point Harbor by Kayak

Leader, Barbara Kossy wrote:
Our group of kayakers enjoyed good conditions for this trip -  overcast, light breeze and a low tide.

• Western gull on a nest on the semi-abandoned sailboat w/broken mast near Romeo Pier.
• Flyover by Pigeon Guillemot.
• Approx. 10 or more Common Loons in basic to primary plumage fishing in the harbor.
• 3 Red-throated Loons in basic plumage. Enjoyed seeing one come up with a good-sized fish.
• 4 Brant near the W. outer breakwater.
• Eared Grebe, and ample opportunities to compare Clark's Grebes and Western Grebes.
• One Common Murre on the water.
• Brandt's Cormorants and Double Crested Cormorants in the water and on the breakwaters.
• 2 Caspian Terns on sand, a few overhead
• One Greater Scaup
• One Surf Scoter
• One first winter Glaucous-winged Gull
• 2 Black Oystercatchers in the air.
• One Black Turnstone in the mouth of Denniston Creek
• 100 Brown Pelicans preening and interacting with nesting Western Gulls.

Other wildlife:

• Two very young sea lions on the breakwaters, inner and outer.
• Adult sea lion in the water.
• 6 harbor seals in the harbor
• Starfish hanging on the rocks, moon and brown jellyfish here and there in the harbor.

Great trip with thanks to Sequoia Audubon and California Canoe & Kayak.

Western Bluebird couple


Brown Creeper


Photos courtesy of Sonny Mencher

Filoli Estate
Saturday, April 25, 2009, 8:00am-12:00noon
Leaders: Sue James and Donna Petersen

Several of us joined Sue James and Donna Petersen for the early morning bird walk - let me suggest you go on one of these walks. We saw 48 species and other SAS members found another 4(*) while touring the grounds. I sent the list of 52 to Leonie Batkin and Kris Olson for the Birdiest County contest. Pretty sure we had 3 or 4 species to add to their list.

• Great Blue Heron      
• Turkey Vulture     
• White tailed Kite    
• Sharp shinned Hawk
  
• Red shouldered Hawk   
• Red tailed Hawk    
• Mourning Dove    
• White throated Swift *
  
• Anna's Hummingbird   
• Acorn Woodpecker    
• Nuttal's Woodpecker
  
• Hairy Woodpecker   
• Pacific slope Flycatcher    
• Black Phoebe    
• Tree Swallow
  
• Voilet green Swallow  
• Barn Swallow   
• Steller's Jay   
• Western Scrub Jay
  
• Common Raven    
• American Crow    
• Chestnut backed Chickadee  
• Oak Titmouse
  
• Bushtit   
• White breasted Nuthatch   
• Brown Creeper   
• House Wren   
• Western Bluebird
  
• American Robin   
• Cedar Waxwing    
• European Starling   
• Hutton's Vireo   
• Warbling Vireo
  
• Orange crowned Warbler  
• Yellow rumped Warbler   
• Black throated Gray Warbler
  
• Townsend's Warbler *   
• Wilson's Warbler    
• Black headed Grosbeak   
• Western Tanager *
  
• Spotted Towhee  
• Calif Towhee   
• Chipping Sparrow   
• Song Sparrow   
• Dark eyed Junco
  
• Bullock's Oriole  
• Western Meadowlark   
• Purple Finch   
• House Finch   
• Pine Siskin
  
• Lesser Goldfinch   
• Wild Turkey *

— Sonny Mencher

Pescadero Marsh - State Park Docent Nature Walk
Sunday, April 19, 2009

Meg and I led the Marsh walk with approximately 12 adults (including docent-trainee Ellen) and 3 children.

We saw White-crowned Sparrow, Western Gull, Song Sparrow, Caspian Tern, 6+ Brant, Whimbrel, Common Raven, Common Merganser, Bufflehead, Snowy Egret, Swallow (sp?), Sanderling, Marsh Wren, Great Blue Heron, Gadwall, Mallard, Great Egret, Anna's Hummingbird, Red-tailed Hawk, Turkey Vulture and heard Wrentit and California Towhee.

Also saw a pond turtle, fence lizard and brush bunny. All to the delight of the 4 year old boy who stayed till the end of the tour. He was also delighted with the stickers I gave him--thank you Sequoia Audubon for the IMBD extras.

Meg Delano did a great job pointing out the native plants.

Nice weather brought everyone to the coast--cars were waiting for our parking places at the end of the tour (approx 2:40pm).

Happy Birding,
Rita Jennings

Pescadero Marsh Walk
April 3rd, 2009

We had a great walk Sunday. Sixteen participants and four Marsh Docents (Avis, Rita, Nancy and Rob).

We saw two garter snakes, four fence lizards andtwo pond turtle. The lizards put on a good show of "push ups" and blue scales and belly visible. Beautiful.

Birds included sanderling, brandt, western gull, great egret, snowy egret, caspian tern, song sparrow, black turnstone, surfbird, crow, raven, bufflehead, swallow (sp?), greater yellowlegs, mallard, great blue heron, marsh wren, coot, gadwall,common yellowthroat, anna's hummingbird, turkey vulture, red tailed hawk, yellow rumped warbler. Also heard robin, wrentit and cal towhee.

— Rita J

San Bruno Mountain County Park
March 22nd, 2009
Laurie Graham & Jeff Fairclough

The weather was very cold, with 20-25 mph winds, and twice, light rain. Participants receive the Croix de SBM: Laurie, Jeff, Edwin, JC, and Paul. The birding was nonexisitent until we hit a patch of sunshine on the Old Guadalupe Trail where there is Albizia and Acacia trees. We walked out the Crocker Gate to check Lee's feeders, where a blast of wind coming from the west almost blew us away.

Number of species: 31

Sharp-shinned Hawk 1
Red-tailed Hawk 1
Western Gull 4
California Gull 4
Band-tailed Pigeon 29
Mourning Dove 6
Anna's Hummingbird 3
Allen's Hummingbird 9
Hutton's Vireo 1
Steller's Jay 3
Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal) 1
Common Raven 10
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3
Bushtit 4
Winter Wren (Western) 5
Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1
American Robin 28
Wrentit 5
European Starling 16
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) 18
Townsend's Warbler 2
Spotted Towhee 1
California Towhee 1
Song Sparrow 1
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 13
Purple Finch (Western) 16
House Finch 2
Pine Siskin 9
American Goldfinch 7

SamTrans Marsh Walk
March 28, 2009
Leaders: Joe Morlan and Robbie Fischer

Joe Morlan led the field trip this morning with just six participants. There were no Clapper Rails but they saw 45 species total. 3 Hooded Mergansers, a flyover Wilson's Snipe and Peregrines nesting on the cross piece of the "A" in United Airlines were some of the highlights. Both Caspian and Forster's Terns made an appearance. Shorebirds included Long-billed Curlews, Black-bellied Plovers in alternate plumage, a Greater yellowlegs, one Short-billed Dowitcher, Dunlin and Western Sandpipers. Flocks of ducks contained Bufflehead, both scaup species, Green-winged Teal and Canvasback. A House Wren was unexpected at this site.

Photos courtesy of Sonny Mencher.

Photo by A.G.Dody Lee

Redwood Shores Library Bird Walk
Sunday March 15, 2009
Leader:Sonny Mencher

Did the monthly Sequoia Audubon Redwood Shores Library beginners bird walk yesterday afternoon. Spent about 45 minutes observing birds in the slough behind the library from 3:15 - 4:00. For second month in a row we saw the Hybrid Gadwall x Northern Shoveler as well as Eurasian Wigeons. Both times at about the same time of day and a few hours before high tide

Additional info - High Tide was about 5 so when I arrived at library about 2:40 the tide was coming in. I did see both the hybrid and Eurasian at that time. The hybrid was moving around on its own - between the Canvasbacks and N. Shovelers at the Southern end of the slough directly behind the library. The Eurasian was on the far side of the slough (Oracle side) along the edge, usually with 1 or 2 American Wigeons.

There was also one Long billed Curlew and a small flock of Ruddy Ducks with one male approaching breeding plumage.

For me best part is the number of new birders and families with young kids (under10 years of age) participating.

If you are interested in joining us, e-mail me at sequoiaaudubon@yahoo.com and I'll put the on the mailing list for future trips

Pescadero Marsh Docent Walk
Sunday March 15, 2009 afternoon walk

Leaders State Park Docents Rita Jennings, Ginney Conway and Meg Delano

Sunday was drizzle at the Marsh, but Ginny Conboy, Meg Delano and I braved the drops. Unfortunately, no visitors showed.

We saw Brewer's blackbird, red-winged blackbird, Western Gull, black turnstone, oystercatcher, gadwall, mallard, bufflehead, great blue heron, great egret, snowy egret, song sparrow, marsh wren, common merganser, Anna's hummingbird, belted kingfisher, northern harrier, turkey vulture, commorant (sp?), house finch and common goldeneye.

Hayward Shoreline Friday Walk
Friday, February 13, 2009

Leaders Marilyn Nasatir and Inge Svoboda

Perfect timing between rain storms for this half day walk at Hayward Shoreline Park. We had a wonderful almost rain free walk. The morning was sunny with great views around the bay. We could even see the tops of towers of the Golden Gate Bridge through the buildings of the city of San Francisco. Lots of ducks and shorebirds. Had good scope looks at a couple of Peregrine falcons having a nice breakfast snack on the ground. Only on our walk back to the cars did it start to rain (pour.)

1 double crested cormorant
2 snowy egret
3 great egret
4 great blue heron
5 flamingo (Ha ha!! wishful thinking!)
5 Canada goose
6 mallard
7 gadwall
8 green-winged teal
9 American widgeon
10 northern shoveler
11 ruddy duck
12 canvasback
13 greater scaup
14 common goldeneye
15 bufflehead
16 American avocet
17 whimbrel
18 long-billed curlew
19 greater yellowlegs
20 dowitcher (don't know which one)
21 dunlin
22 western sandpiper
23 least sandpiper
24 ring-billed gull
25 western gull
26 glaucous winged gull
27 forster's tern
28 turkey vulture
29 red-tailed hawk
30 American kestrel
31 peregrine falcon
32 marsh wren (heard only)
33 savannah sparrow
34 song sparrow
35 white crowned sparrow
36 golden crowned sparrow
37 house finch
38 European starling

Pillar Point - Coastside Birding
Saturday, February 7, 2009

By Gary Deghi

About a dozen participants showed up for a morning birding outing to Pillar Point Harbor. The plan was to start by scoping for waterfowl and shorebirds in the east harbor area, then search for the rare Northern Waterthrush that has been wintering in Princeton, and finish with birding in the area of the jetty at the northwest corner of the harbor. This was an enjoyable trip with lots of birds, excellent weather and friendly people.

Scoping from near the parking lot for the boat launch ramp, the best bird was a continuing Brant perched up on the breakwater for the inner harbor. Other birds noted along the breakwater included Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Willet, and Western, Glaucous-winged and Herring Gulls. Foraging in the inner harbor were Eared, Horned and Western Grebe, Common Loon, Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Surf Scoter and a couple of Harbor Seals. A Common Yellowthroat was calling from the marsh grass just beneath the road. A Great Blue Heron joined us near the parking lot.

Near the mouth of Denniston Creek in Princeton, we did not find the Northern Waterthrush. Birds seen in the area included Red-shouldered Hawk, Eurasian Collared-Dove, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Pygmy Nuthatch, Black Phoebe, California Towhee, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Song, White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrow and Purple Finch. The most interesting find was an Anna’s Hummingbird nest, viewable from the bridge over the creek, and in which two little hummingbird heads could be seen poking out from time to time.

The surf was up, and the parking lot for Maverick’s was full with people watching surfers offshore, but we found ample parking nearby. Pillar Point Marsh contained American Coots, and with a little coaxing, we heard a call from a Sora. A Red-tailed Hawk was perched on the nearby radio tower, and American Crows and Common Ravens were seen in the area. Scoping the harbor on the way out to the jetty, we observed species seen earlier, in addition to Clark’s Grebe, Red-throated Loon and Red-breasted Merganser. We arrived at the jetty at the northwest corner of the harbor at a perfect time on the receding tide to study many individuals of a variety of shorebirds, including Black-bellied Plover, Willet, Whimbrel, Marbled Godwit, Sanderling, Red Knot (unusual on the coast, this bird has been wintering at this location), Black Oystercatcher, Surfbird, Black Turnstone and, best of all, a Wandering Tattler. Mew Gulls were here as well. Scoping the rocks offshore, we noted several Snowy Egrets, Brandt’s Cormorants and at least one hauled-out Harbor Seal.

Photo courtesy of Lee Franks

Edgewood Park Walk
Sunday, January 25, 2009

Marilyn Travis

Lee and I went to Edgewood on Sunday but no one joined us!

It was nice after all the rainy/overcast days but...  We saw two Varied Thrushes and the other regulars.  And several Chickadees feeding on some blooming non natives at the bottom (pink and yellow spiky things). 

Lots of Robins and Cedar Waxwings.

Wavecrest Raptors & Short-Eared Owls
January 17, 2009

Gary Deghi

Twenty individuals participated in the annual SAS field trip to Wavecrest on this warm, clear afternoon in Half Moon Bay.  A Wavecrest trip is scheduled for January each year with the intent on seeing wintering raptors known to occur in this area, and with the hope of seeing Short-eared Owl at dusk.  The number of raptors in this area varies each year depending on the population of voles, which serves as a major source of prey for the foraging raptors.  Since last year was an extraordinary year with reports in September of 100 White-tailed Kites and 15 Barn Owls at one time, the resulting low population of voles this year is yielding unusually low numbers of raptors, with only one report of a Short-eared Owl this winter (it was even missed on the Crystal Springs CBC for the first time in years).  Nevertheless, attendance was good for this walk, and hopes were high for a great nature experience.  No one was disappointed.

Photo courtesy Bob Cossins

In approximately 2 ½ hours the group walked south from the ballfields past the arroyo, then along the north side of the arroyo to the ocean bluff, and from there to the area of the old model airplane field to search for owls at dusk.  The raptor species observed included a half dozen each of White-tailed Kite, Red-shouldered Hawk and Northern Harrier, two American Kestrels and one Red-tailed Hawk.  The area around the ballfields harbored common species such as Mourning Dove, Common Raven, Northern Flicker, European Starling, Brewer’s Blackbird and House Finch.  Other birds noted in the grasslands included Say’s Phoebe, Savannah Sparrow and Western Meadowlark.  Birds noted in and around the arroyo included Anna’s Hummingbird, Black Phoebe, Bushtit, Bewick’s Wren, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Song Sparrow and Purple Finch.  Overlooking the ocean, we identified Western and Glaucous-winged Gulls and Double-crested Cormorant.  At the model airplane field, we did not see Short-eared Owls, but there were Killdeer calling as they came screaming through the area at dusk.

The most thrilling sightings on this trip were not avian.  While walking along the arroyo, the entire group enjoyed great looks at a bobcat moving along the top of the south bank of the arroyo.  This bobcat represented a “life mammal” for many in the group.  Sunset on the ocean bluff was beautiful on this clear evening, and we enjoyed the incredible experience of seeing the Green Flash as the sun disappeared over the horizon.  One of the participants advised that views of the Green Flash can be aided by using binoculars (but only during the last bit of sunlight!), and this tip was most helpful.  Many (in fact most) in the group had never seen the Green Flash and some had never heard of it, but all were convinced after this experience.  With good attendance, friendly people, birds, a bobcat and the Green Flash, this was a most extraordinary outing!!