Elizabeth Olin – Page 7 – My Birding World

Several months ago, I embarked on a journey to rename 10 years-worth of bird photos. For each image, which includes both the JPG and RAW files, I added the four-letter bird species code. This would allow me to easily locate species I am targeting for a blog post, ID comparison, or to share on Facebook. It’s been a daunting task, but also a good learning experience.

I was worried that I would uncover cases of misidentification, especially in my earlier birding years. I haven’t tackled the Texas birds, with which I am frightfully unfamiliar. A case of misidentification will throw off my carefully maintained written and electronic life list. So far, so good (noting that I haven’t looked at Texas yet…).

I renamed and sorted through countless bird photos for months. In the end, I was left with 140 shots of birds I couldn’t immediately identify. Now the real sleuthing begins. It’s fun to crack open a field guide or two, research media online, and try to puzzle out the features which will all contribute to my continuing knowledge of birds. What fun!

Bird Sound Recordings

April 6, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Savannah Sparrow, Bolsa Chica, 2018

I bird a lot by ear. It’s challenging and yet highly rewarding. It opens up a new world allowing me to discover the birds of the day, which is especially useful if I don’t have my binoculars with me. I’m still learning so much as there are countless songs, calls, and chip notes to memorize. Even birds that I’m quite familiar with will surprise me with “new” material.

Tree Swallow, Coyote Hills RP, 2017

Imagine my delight when eBird and the Macaulay Library released two sound challenges. The April eBird challenge is to submit 20 checklists with a recording and/or photo. Macaulay Library has an even loftier goal of asking birders to submit 90 recordings through the end of October.

Excited, I tried my first recording on my Samsung Galaxy smartphone using Voice Record Pro. I downloaded Audacity to process my recordings. I watched tutorials on how to process and submit recordings according to Macaulay Library standards. There was a bit of a learning curve but I got the hang of it.

As I recorded more, I started to realize how much background noise is picked up. The hum of distant traffic, a bike or car racing by, conversations by hikers, and the ever-present ambulance and police sirens. I began to realize how much I tune out these sound bites constantly. I was frustrated with my noisy recordings. They weren’t clean and clear – why would they want to utilize these?

Mottled Duck, Texas, 2018

It dawned on me that this is my birding world. I bird in the buzz of an urban environment. The birds are still here. They are competing with the noise. Capturing my experience for researchers will hopefully contribute to efforts to understand the urban bird experience. So, I will continue to submit my noisy pieces and be more thankful for those rare moments of complete silence surrounding me when the opportunity arises.

Hutton’s Vireo, William R Mason RP, 2019

March SoCal Trip

March 31, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Western Bluebird, Huntington Central Park, 2019

Last weekend I visited my family in Southern California. We hit up as many birding hotspots as we could squeeze in a three-day trip. Spring was definitely in the air as we watched Japanese White-Eyes gathering nesting material, House Wren chasing away squirrels, and songs erupting everywhere.

Mandarin Ducks, Irvine Regional Park, 2019

The most exciting part of the trip was finding two rarities. One was a Gray Flycatcher – a lifer for us – catching bugs at Irvine Regional Park. It was a joy to watch as it hawked insects at dusk.

The other rarity was found at a little neighborhood community trail in Murrieta. A shadowy walk under trees that would eventually lead to a nearby park yielded a Plumbeous Vireo, who made an extremely brief visit with just enough time to snap an identifiable picture before it flew off into the neighborhood never to be seen again that day.

Common Raven, Irvine Regional Park, 2019

Rare birds are fun to see, but I also enjoy visiting the SoCal birds. Western Bluebirds were a brilliant blue, Common Ravens were busy croaking, and Red-crowned Parrots were noisily announcing their presence – which also made me laugh every time they squawked. Happy Spring!

Red-Crowned Parrot, Irvine Regional Park, 2019

Listen Carefully: Lesser Goldfinch Songs

March 22, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Lesser Goldfinch, Pt. Pinole Regional Shoreline, 2015

I like to walk fast. Zip around here and there. Although when I’m birding, I’m averaging about one mile an hour. But when not birding I’m speedy.

Recently my foot has been giving me problems, and the last couple of days it’s forced me to walk around much slower than I prefer. I take it in stride and try to enjoy the new sights and sounds of an otherwise familiar area. Colors are springing up in gardens and birds are more active as they gather nesting materials and fill the air with songs.

Garden Flower, Berkeley, 2010

Yesterday I spotted a Lesser Goldfinch brightly singing in the early evening in a small tree next to a medical building. Although I was on my way home and my mind was preoccupied with throwing together dinner, I stopped and listened. Familiar dips and crunchy chips filled the air. I heard a Chestnut-backed Chickadee call, but couldn’t find the bird. I heard it again, only to realize that the goldfinch made the call! My attention completely focused on the Goldie and its singing, I heard it demonstrate two more calls: an Oak Titmouse and a Black Phoebe. I ran home and a quick Google search confirmed that Lesser Goldfinches do in fact mimic, although ornithologists are not clear why. What a delightful thing to discover, all because I had been walking slower and enjoying the experience!

Chasing the Harris’s Sparrow

March 19, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

It was the first warm, sunny day in months. I reluctantly slathered on sunscreen, loathing the oily liquid on my skin but knowing that I would be fried to a crisp without it. Binoculars in place, camera ready, energy bar in pocket, we were ready to chase after the rare Harris’s Sparrow.

After getting tips from a birder returning to his car, we set out in the Diablo Foothills to scan all the flocks of Golden-crowned Sparrows, knowing that our target bird was associating with a group of them. I was delighted to see Lark Sparrows, which is not a common sight for me. Their boldly striped face is unique and I was distracted by them for quite a while.

Lark Sparrow, 2019

Another birder joined the search, as is often the case when an unusual visitor arrives, and we split up locations to improve our chances of finding the sparrow. I kept on going back to a picnic area that was calling to me. But after multiple visits to that area, I headed towards another spot that was conveniently located near the restrooms. Our new birder friend stayed at the picnic area. Wouldn’t you know, after we left the little guy showed up! I saw the big camera lens come out and that was my cue to race back to the picnic area. I got there just in time to see it fly off to a distant tree.

Harris’s Sparrow, 2019

I easily spotted the sparrow, who relaxed between leaves. What a beautiful little bird! It had a brilliant white chest with black smudges at the top along with black on its chin and part of its head. I was entranced by its beauty, so much so that I watched it long after our birder friend left. I only stopped watching because it eventually flew away and I lost track of him.

Happy, we went back to the car and shared its location with a birder hoping to catch a glimpse of our rarity. I hope he was able to find it.

My Birding Day: Rainy Weekend Birding Highlights

March 4, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Red-Throated Loon, Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, 2019

Friday: It was cloudy out with scattered showers. We decided to check out Middle Harbor Shoreline Park at the Port of Oakland to see if the storms turned up any interesting birds stopping for rest in the Bay Area. We started the walk with only our binoculars, but soon ran back to the car to grab the camera and scope. A loon! A Red-throated Loon at that! Despite its white-throated winter appearance, this bird has a distinctive red throat during breeding season. I have yet to witness the brilliant plumage of this particular loon, but hope to see it someday.

Western Gull, Middle Harbor Shoreline Park, 2019

Saturday: Rain, rain, rainy day. We set out to Lake Temescal to see if we could sneak in a quick trip. Upon arriving, the rain settled into an annoying mist that instantly dotted up our glasses, binoculars, and camera. The moisture kept the park mostly free of human visitors; however, the bird activity was amazing. Sparrows were dancing about, herons were active, and we even spotted a Belted Kingfisher.

Double-crested Cormorants were eagerly trying to dry off their wings. Their feathers absorb water to allow for faster dives and swims. Absorbing water means fewer bubbles are produced on their wings, which would slow down their underwater speeds. As a trade-off, they need to dry them out, which is why you’ll see them spreading their wings at times.

Double-Crested Coromorant, Lake Temescal Regional Recreation Area, 2019

Sunday: We joined the Ohlone Audubon Society for another bird walk, this time at Quarry Lakes Regional Recreation Area. It was cloudy for the entire trip. It even showered on us for a time, but no umbrellas were deployed, only plastic baggies to cover cameras. The three-mile trip yielded an impressive list of nearly 70 species. Grebes, ducks, gulls, sparrows, swallows, hummingbirds, woodpeckers, thrushes, and more were spotted with this group. I enjoyed the brief pops of color from the Anna’s Hummingbirds that contrasted with the dreary grey that hung over our heads. The highlight of the trip was spotting a half dozen Canada Geese that had unusual white heads where we typically see black. This feature stumped the experts until a phone field guide app yielded pictures that shared the same traits. Everyone was excited to learn about this new field marker.

A Pop of Color from this Anna’s Hummingbird, Quarry Lakes, 2019

My Birding Day: Ohlone Audubon Society Bird Walk

February 24, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

I monitored the car’s external thermometer on this chilly morning as we drove towards Redwood Regional Park. It started off in the mid-40s, but the temperature crept lower and lower the further we ventured into the silent forest of redwood trees. Just before parking and turning off the wondrous heat, I noted the temperature at 32 degrees. Realizing that this California girl did not properly dress for such chilly weather, I bravely stepped out of the car to greet members of the Ohlone Audubon Society. This would be my first bird walk with this group.

Icy Meadow, Redwood RP, 2019

The grassy meadow was white with frost. Leaves were lined with intricate geometric ice patterns. My right big toe was numb despite my double-layered socks, and I battled for the return of blood circulation for the next two hours. No amount of forcibly wiggling my toe or dancing around would return the feeling back to my frozen appendage.

Nuttall’s Woodpecker, Redwood RP, 2019

Despite the chill, the birds were abundant. Dozens of American Robins canvased a field actively working the ground for goodies. Occasionally, the movements from our group set the robins off flying only to return moments later to continue their buffet. Pacific Wrens chirped loudly announcing their location followed by a bubbly song that mesmerized me. We strained our necks looking at Golden-crowned Kinglets dancing at the tops of the massive redwoods. A Red-breasted Sapsucker drilled away on a single limb for seemingly over an hour.

Birds are masters at adapting to cold weather. Either they migrate towards warmer climates, or they deploy a number of strategies to keep warm. Fluffing up their feathers and morphing into a puffball allows air to be trapped between the wispy barbs of down feathers, keeping a bird warm. It’s like slipping under a comforter and warming up using your body heat. Birds may sometimes cuddle together to share warmth as another strategy. They also have biological methods of enduring the cold winter nights that puts them into torpor, a sort of lite-hibernation. The birds today were happy to be dining in the chill as I happily watched under layers of clothing and only nine toes with feeling for the rest of the trip.

Rainy Day Birding

February 16, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

California Scrub-Jay, 2019

The weather in the Bay Area has been unusual the past several weeks. I’ve become so accustomed to drought conditions, and now I’m in a bit of shock with freezing temperatures leading to inches of snow on our local hills and rain, rain, rain!

Yellow-Rumped Warbler looking for food minutes before the rain started, 2019

I escaped the office during the noon hour to slip in a few minutes of birding between the downpours from the “atmospheric river” flowing through the skies. In a small patch of trees and grass, dozens of Dark-eyed Juncos were hopping, chirping, singing, and fighting. It was a grand meet-up of the juncos to get in food and territorial claims before the next round of wetness. I watched Bushtits with hyper energy rummaging through the bushes. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet appeared annoyed (if I may anthropomorphize) as it was continuously greeted with light rain drops produced by a towering Redwood tree. It popped in and out of its bush shaking off the sprinkles landing on its wings.

Bushtit against cloudy skies, 2019

I find that birding during rainy days is a treat. If you don’t want to bird in active rain, the key is to time your outings in between storms. I’ve observed plenty of birds out and about in rainy conditions, but the party really gets started during those brief dry moments. Put on your rain gear, bring an umbrella, and enjoy the sights and sounds of a rainy day.

Song Sparrow perching in a sunny moment, 2019

Hawaii Adventure, 2014

January 17, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Pacific Golden-Plover

“OMG I’m breathing water!” I thought to myself as I stepped off the plane into Honolulu in October 2014. It was my first time visiting Hawaii, and the first time experiencing heavy humidity. I suddenly donned a new hair style of humid frizz. I quickly learned that cockroaches, or rather flying cockroaches, proliferated in the water-air. But really I was here for the birds. And to relax, of course.

Java Sparrow, Hawaii, 2014

I was still quite an amateur birder at this point. I spent several weeks trying to study the birds I might see on Oahu, but my knowledge of available resources for research was limited. eBird would have been incredibly valuable had I known about it, but we still managed to see a lot of terrific birds.

Red-crested Cardinal, Hawaii, 2014

I desperately wanted to see a Red-crested Cardinal. Days went by without seeing one and I was getting bummed. It wasn’t until we ventured into town in search of delicious Portuguese donuts did we finally see one. The flash of brilliant red on its head was startling! Then we saw another! And another! And, well, let’s just say that there was no shortage of this inspiring bird. All we had to do was wander away from the main tourist area. Take a mental note for future trips to veer off the main drag.

Red-crested Cardinals, Hawaii, 2014

There were many fascinating species: Java Sparrows, Japanese White-Eyes, and a Yellow-fronted Canary. Also some familiar birds were around, such as the Pacific Golden-Plover, Cattle Egret, and House Sparrows. I was struck by the color differences in the pigeons, which were mainly white rather than our familiar grey birds. They did blend in more with the sand with those colors.

Rock Doves, Hawaii, 2014

My favorites were the Zebra Doves. A tiny bird with thinly-striped, tan feathers with a light turquoise streak in its face, the doves loved to hang out by my chair while I was dining outside. Their calls were so sweet, and every time I listen to their choppy calls online, I am transported back to the island and our trip.

Zebra Dove, Hawaii, 2014

I quite treasured my experience exploring such brilliantly-colored and new species. I can’t wait to visit again!

My Birding Day: Coyote Hills RP and Pacific Commons Linear Park

January 8, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Flamingo! Wait, what? In the Bay Area?

Today I birded Coyote Hills Regional Park and Pacific Commons Linear Park. This was my first trip down to Fremont this year.

One of the oddest birds I saw today was a flamingo. It was far away, but you couldn’t miss the bright pink glowing in a sea of black silhouetted waterfowl. The first time I spotted this flamingo was in 2016. It’s an escapee and has been living here in the Bay Area. It’s quite a sight to see – but you will need binoculars!

Pacific Commons Linear Park was hopping with birds. We’ve had several days of rain and it seemed like all the birds were rushing out to grab some grub before the next rain. I find that birding right before and after storms often yields a lot of bird activity.

California Scrub Jay, 2019

Bald Eagles, 2019

White-crowned Sparrow, 2019

My favorite moment was when a beautiful Barn Owl flew in front of us and landed in a nearby tree. I carefully, quietly, and quickly snapped a couple pictures and left it alone so as not to disturb it or draw attention to it. I haven’t seen a Barn Owl in over a year, so it was quite a treat.

Barn Owl, 2019

My Birding World

A Birding Blog by Elizabeth Olin

Browsed by
Author: Elizabeth Olin

Organizing Photographs

May 11, 2019 Elizabeth Olin