Elizabeth Olin – Page 6 – My Birding World

My Birding Day: Point Reyes Part I

October 7, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Red-Breasted Nuthatch, Point Reyes Fish Docks, 2019

A little over a week ago, I participated in my first all-day birding field trip, sponsored by Ohlone Audubon Society and led by local expert Bob Toleno. We birded all over Point Reyes, chasing after rare birds, and frequently stopping for photo ops from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. I was completely exhausted by the end, but it was simultaneously exhilarating.

We started the day at Bear Valley Visitor Center where we divided into carpools, did a quick bird count while standing in the parking lot, and watched a Bobcat nearby. It was chilly – the car registering in the 40s – a much welcomed relief from the never-ending heat wave of the summer.

Bobcat, Point Reyes Bear Valley Visitor Center, 2019

I was excited to learn that our first stop would be the Fish Docks. The day before, a Prairie Warbler and Ovenbird had been spotted there. These would be lifers for us, and I was sure that the addition of more than a dozen watchful eyes would guarantee some lifer, if not those two in particular.

We were given a short instructional lecture on bird migration by Bob, one of many tidbits of birding ID and behavior that I would soak up like a sponge for the next nine-and-a-half hours. Birds that migrate at night can’t necessarily see below them. When the sun comes up, birds can find themselves over the ocean. In an “oh crap” moment, they will reverse course back northward in search of land, shelter, and food. There are two places nearby that offer just that: Farallon Islands and Point Reyes, particularly the Fish Docks with a tiny concentration of trees. No wonder this spot is a rich treasure of interesting birds.

Every chip, every possible flash of yellow, every leaf movement was scrutinized by the group. Scopes were deployed surveying the ocean, cameras with long lenses were pointing every which way into the bushes and trees. It seemed like every bird was a Red-breasted Nuthatch. Their yank calls permeated the air as they crawled all over trunks and branches.

White-Crowned Sparrow, Point Reyes Bear Valley Visitor Center, 2019

An otter was spotted devouring a cormorant. Western Gulls and Common Ravens were nearby for pickings. Aptly-named Elephant Seals – mainly females, kids, and an occasional young male – grunted on the beach. Lots of fun birds were spotted. But no Ovenbird. No Prairie Warbler.

Then came excitement: a report of a Yellow-green Vireo was spotted at another nearby location. We quickly adjusted our itinerary and set off towards the Mendoza Ranch.

Read about the rest of the trip in my next blog post!

SoCal Birding

September 15, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Red-Necked Phalarope, Orange County, 2019

I was in SoCal last weekend to visit family and hop around to familiar birding sights. It was a super hot weekend, so many of our birding trips were spent sitting under the shade and watching the birds from a single spot. For this particular trip, I enjoyed taking pictures of birds. After reviewing the images, I noticed things about the bird subjects that I wished I would have noticed in person.

This White-faced Ibis (non-breeding/immature plumage) has a stunning array of feather colors. White and brown tones were featured in its face, with the chocolate dripping down its neck into the splatter of cinnamon feathers, and replaced with metallic tan and shiny green. It also has a bold red eye, and almost seems to be smirking in this picture.

Anna’s Hummingbird, Orange County 2019

I did get pictures of this Anna’s Hummingbird’s face, but I enjoyed this picture in particular because it highlighted the individual shiny green feathers down its back. Also evident is a fluff of white downy feathers that I typically don’t notice in hummers. The spiky bill made this hummer look like it was holding a weapon!

Black-Crowned Night Heron, Orange County 2019

As the sun was setting, the birds were flying about to their roosting locations. This Black-crowned Night Heron took brief refuge in a tree. It glowed golden in the fading sun. The red eye captured my attention, as well as the way its feet wrapped awkwardly around the thin branch.

Reddish Egret, Orange County 2019

A big treat this trip was seeing not one, not two, but three Reddish Egrets. They are a joy to watch as they frantically dance about as part of their goofy foraging technique. I typically see them from afar, but this particular individual was kind enough to remain posed for a closer portrait. The reddish/purplish head and neck contrasts with the grey blue back, but it was the yellowish eye that caught my attention.

Window Bird Watching

September 5, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

The clock tower tolls its reminder that it’s time to eat. I heat up my lunch and sit down for the first time in hours. I’m too tired to go out for my usual lunchtime stroll around the campus. Through my office windows, I stare out over the glade and watch bright-eyed students walk to their classes. The view of the bay is hazy, but I can still make out the blue waters and the San Francisco skyline. A cool breeze gently escapes the outdoors into my office as I munch down my meal.

I made a new eBird personal location: Office Window Watching. From this vantage point high up in my building, it would be difficult to make out the little birds bouncing through the grass and trees, but I do gain a wider perspective of the activity. In the past, I’ve seen pigeons flap by, Canada Geese honking in formation, and crows dancing in the sky. I heard my first-of-season Brown-headed Cowbird while working in my office, and also the screams of the Peregrine Falcon families. So why not make a new location and enjoy window birding?

I found out how much mental presence you need when watching birds from an office building, especially if you don’t have a pair of binoculars handy. I had to zone in on the screechy calls of the California Scrub-Jays over the chimes of the clock tower. What I thought was a sparrow on top of a tree ended up being one of the jays. Two silhouetted birds flapped from the top of one building to another, and I had to rely on shape and flying pattern to identify them as pigeons. All my senses were put into action and despite sitting in my office, my mind was far away from work and into the world of birding. I saw eight species just from my window. What a lovely way to disconnect from the busyness of the day, relax, and tune into nature in an urban setting.

My Birding Day: Point Reyes Visitor Center

August 31, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

It’s been a warm August with a severe lack of serious birding adventures. But I was in luck – a cool day was expected at Point Reyes Bear Valley Visitor Center! Skeptical of the weather forecast (it’s often cool along the coast, but not so much at the visitor center), we grabbed lunch and headed out. I kept on eyeing the car’s thermometer. It held steady in the upper 60s. Perfect.

We gathered at a quiet picnic bench and watched a Black Phoebe occasionally dart after a flying creature. A California Quail awkwardly stationed itself on a spindly bush that threatened to dip under the weight. Acorn Woodpeckers were laughing all around.

For the first time in probably months, we walked the Bear Valley Trail and enjoyed the cool weather under the canopy of trees. Every once in a while, a flurry of bird activity could be spotted from above. Straining our necks, we found plenty of acrobatic Chestnut-backed Chickadees, a couple of Brown Creepers shuffling up thin branches, and a few splashes of bright yellow of the Wilson’s Warblers. But the highlight was the Townsend’s Warblers. Our colorful winter visitors have arrived!

For years, our nemesis bird had been the Pileated Woodpecker. We searched and searched and searched all the way from Lake Tahoe to the coast and could never confidently ID their flicker-like call. But we were finally able to add them to our life list last year after we saw two fly overhead while calling on the same trail we were now hiking. Since then, we’ve occasionally heard their loud wok-wok-wok call at Point Reyes. Today, I heard one call but but my husband didn’t catch it. After straining our ears during the nearly two mile walk back to the car, he sadly admitted defeat in hearing the woodpecker this time. But just as he lost hope, we heard two calls, and one popped out of the trees briefly allowing us our second lifetime glance at this gorgeous creature. We lucked out after all!

Oregon Trip Part II: Lower Klamath Falls National Wildlife Refuge

July 28, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Franklin’s Gull Going After Insect, Lower Klamath Falls NWR, 2017

See Oregon Trip Part I for the first part of this story.

We spent the morning at Summer Lake and were giddy with all the cool birds we found. It was a beautiful, mountainous drive southward towards civilization, and Lower Klamath Falls NWR would be our last big birding spot of our trip. We didn’t realize it was an auto tour which made for a lot of driving as this was the second auto tour of the day, and we still had to continue to Dunsmuir for our final night.

During the entire auto tour, we never saw another car. It was completely empty of visitors. We saw Yellow-headed Blackbirds, Tricolored Blackbirds, Franklin Gulls, and even accidentally startled a Bald Eagle. But the coolest event involved one of our target birds: the Sandhill Cranes. We heard the cranes in Summer Lake but didn’t get to see them. Slightly disappointed, I added them to my life list wishing we could have at least glimpsed them. Their rattling call is quite memorable.

Sandhill Cranes and Coyote, Lower Klamath Falls NWR, 2017

We were on the auto tour for quite a long time, always seeming to be on the brink of getting lost. As we rounded the final part of the auto tour, we spotted two cranes! But that wasn’t the only activity out there. Nearby was a coyote. We watched the coyote as it feigned indifference to the alert cranes. But with each seemingly disinterested step, the coyote crept closer and closer to the cranes without alarming them. It was sneaky Wile E. Coyote tactics as it avoided focusing on the birds while inching closer. The cranes were huge compared to the coyote and I was shocked to observe its boldness. I was ready to watch a big battle of life and death unfold before me. It was probably a good 20 minutes of watching the hunt when the coyote thought better of its decision and eventually skulked away. How fascinating to watch this scene and learn how the coyote could creep so close to the birds without scaring them off flying!

Oregon Trip Part I: Summer Lake

July 21, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Clark’s Nutcracker, Crater Lake NP, 2017

It was pitch black out when we rolled off the lonely highway in the high desert of Summer Lake, Oregon, and we clumsily walked around the grounds in search of our cabin. This was Day 2 of my first-ever road trip, and we were exhausted after having driven from Crescent City to Crater Lake and eventually to Summer Lake several hours east.

Arriving while it was dark, I did not notice that we were inches away from blindly stepping into a small lake while looking for our cabin. I also did not realize how many birds we would see once the sun popped out the following morning. Instead, I could only make out the porch light beaming brightly with the thousands of bugs attracted to that little beacon. We opened the door and all those bugs, and mosquitoes, invited themselves into our room. We would have to open the door two more times: to retrieve our bags and return to our room. It was in that moment of realization that I weighed the pros and cons of sleeping in the insect-free car for the night. Instead, I chose to use the fly swatter on the wall and whack the bugs out of existence for the next hour. I slept with my jacket strategically wrapped around my head forming a small hole to breathe through. A weird way to sleep, but I woke up bite-free.

Young Tree Swallows in the Morning Light, Summer Lake, 2017

The next morningI could hear the chatter of calls and melodic tunes coming from outside and I couldn’t stay put. Soundlessly, so as not to wake up my husband, I left the cabin and slipped outdoors to greet the birds. I watched California Quail running around, I was dive-bombed multiple times by an aggressive Tree Swallow, and I carefully scanned the Red-winged Blackbirds for signs of a Tricolored Blackbird. I relaxed at the pond near the cabin and was thankful that we didn’t fall into it the night before.

After nearly an hour of enjoying the calm and cool morning, I heard it – our target bird. I reentered the cabin and gently woke up my husband by announcing “Trumpeter Swans!!” Out of bed, throw on fresh clothes, out of there in a flash. It was a good thing I woke him because the swans disappeared not too long after that.

All and all, this was a worthwhile stop. The nearby auto tour produced lifers, including Yellow-headed Blackbirds and Franklin Gulls. I would recommend coming here at least once for the birds. Just be sure to arrive in the day or turn off your porch light.

Yellow-Headed Blackbird, Summer Lake Auto Tour, 2017

Hanging Out With The Crows

July 5, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Young crows are vocal, shiny black balls. They follow their parents around while belching out a dry “caw” sound. When a parent gives it food (by cramming its beak down the young crow’s throat), the young crow gives off a call that sounds like what I imagine a dying cat would sound like.

I’ve had coworkers come to me alarmed by this call. I reassure them that the crow is fine, it’s just eating.

A family of crows is intent on feeding on top of the medical building that I can view from my apartment window. Every so often throughout the day, the dying call wails from the young crow as it’s being fed.

I finally carved out some time to watch the feeding in action. I can easily identify the one young crow by its constant calls to be fed, as well as the very red, fleshy mouth it displays while holding its beak open waiting for sustenance.

I watched as a parent unsuccessfully pecked at a very stale piece of bread. I imagined it gave up on the bread when it meandered over to dripping water coming from an air conditioning pipe. I chuckled as it used the meager drops to wet its feathers. But wait, it wasn’t only getting a bath – it put the stale bread into the little puddle that the droplets were forming! That didn’t seem to be working too well, so it shoved the bread into the pipe where the water was running. Success! Moistened bread for the win! Crows are truly geniuses.

My Birding Day: South Lake Tahoe

June 12, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

I haven’t written a post in a few weeks, partly because the Bay Area is warming up and I don’t do very well in the heat. The birds don’t particularly like the heat either. Birders mourn the summer blues where birding gets a little dull between migration and breeding seasons. It’s also straight up uncomfortable if you’re outdoors in the hottest part of the day.

This weekend I escaped to Tahoe on a whim to help cope with the heat and enjoy the 30-degree temperature difference. I love Tahoe and the mountains. The trees are different, the air is fresh, and new birds pop out here and there. I’m still trying to find the birding hotspots around the Tahoe area, but my go-to place is always Fallen Leaf Lake.

Lodgepole Chipmunk, Fallen Leaf Lake, 2019

This lake is much smaller than Lake Tahoe, but it’s less crowded and more peaceful. Lodgepole Chipmunks are frantically running around and Mountain Chickadees are delightfully singing their bluesy tunes. I always find White-headed Woodpeckers, all three nuthatches (Red-breasted, Pygmy, and White-breasted), and Brown Creepers. This summer trip yielded plenty of Western Wood-Pewees and Warbling Vireos. Although not bursting with concentrated birding activity, Fallen Leaf Lake offers a beautiful hike. If you go early enough, you can walk quite a ways without running into people.

Western Tanager, Van Sickle Bi-State Park, 2019

We checked out another park for the first time that crosses state lines: Van Sickle Bi-State Park. Colorful Western Tanagers popped out against the trees, a House Wren sang its heart out despite our close presence, and Steller’s Jays were busy eating enormous ants off the ground. My favorite moment was hearing a Fox Sparrow sing. These sparrows are present in the East Bay, but only in the winter and thus they are pretty quiet. The song was so captivating that I had to capture a recording on my phone for later submission on my birding checklist. I will definitely check out this Nevada site again and venture out further than a quarter mile from the parking lot!

House Wren, Van Sickle Bi-State Park, 2019

Overall a great quick trip that gave us respite from the recording-breaking Bay Area heat.

My Birding Day: Sycamore Grove Park

May 26, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Dark-Eyed Junco, Sycamore Grove Park, 2019

It was supposed to rain today. The dark clouds were looming overhead accompanied by chilly winds. Despite the risk of getting wet, we ventured out to Livermore to a local park – Sycamore Grove Park – in search of the rare Blue-gray Tanager. This species is native to southern Mexico through the northern section of South America. It is quite possible that this particular bird is a pet-escapee, in other words, a pet that was released (intentionally or accidentally) back into nature. Nevertheless, birders have flocked to this location to get a glimpse of this bird living its life in Livermore. We tried to locate this bird on a previous birding trip, but after six hours of hunting we gave up.

We found our target bird while eating lunch. An added bonus was watching it sing briefly. Now feeling calm, I was able to really enjoy all the bird activity around me. The theme of the day was immature or recently fledged birds foraging. Lots of little ones were scurrying around, flapping their wings, constantly calling out to their parents for food. Some young birds simply perched in place, such as this Mourning Dove.

Mourning Dove, Sycamore Grove Park, 2019

Other birds were still being fed by their parents, such as this Oak Titmouse and White-breasted Nuthatch.

The Dark-eyed Juncos I watched were still young but able to forage on their own with parents nearby. They were hopping around, trying little bits of this and that to learn what’s edible or not.

Dark-Eyed Junco, Sycamore Grove Park, 2019

It was a fun afternoon with so much dense birding that we stayed by the parking lot for nearly two hours. Despite it being Memorial Weekend, this normally-busy park was empty of visitors, allowing for a peaceful birding experience.

My Birding Day: Neighborhood Walk

May 14, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Mourning Dove, 2015

It was cloudy and humid outside – nature preparing for a rare “late-season atmospheric river” set to hit the Bay Area. I watched a Mourning Dove in its fresh tan plumage displaying large black spots on its wings. I marveled at the metallic pink clump of feathers near its throat and a sky-blue eye ring. It was gently picking up a stick here and there, dropping the ones that didn’t meet its nesting standards. The dove finally selected a long, green stick and noisily flew away from sight. I wondered if the nest will survive the upcoming storm.

A recycling truck chased me around the neighborhood for a couple of blocks, effectively cutting out my ability to bird by ear. I silently thanked the workers for doing a job that is so important for the environment but tends to be a thankless task. I turned my attention to the various flowers lining the carefully landscaped homes. Bright pinks, oranges, and purples sprouted everywhere and I was lost in the sea of colors until the recycling truck and I parted ways.

Flowers, 2019

A Lesser Goldfinch conducted a perfect imitation of an Oak Titmouse and I listened to its song for several minutes. Bushtits flocked from bush to tree to bush. My attention was grabbed by a pair of young Chestnut-backed Chickadees squeaking out a baby babble’s version of the chickadee call while furiously flapping their wings. A parent nearby was hopping on branches, poking under leaves, and clinging to house walls in search of food for its babies. The short, half hour walk ended with the sun peeking out momentarily before slipping back behind the clouds.

Succulents, 2019