Browsed by
Author: Elizabeth Olin

A Case for Patience

A Case for Patience

There is no “right” way to go birding.  You can take a short stroll, relax on your porch, hike, drive (but don’t get too distracted by the birds!), bike, boat, kayak, you name it. Personally, I enjoy slower-paced walks or hikes that allow me to not only look for birds, but also listen for their vocalizations and observe their behaviors in more depth. An added bonus is that I get to enjoy general nature more – flowers, butterflies, fallen leaves, insects, spiders, and tree bark patterns all command my attention while birding.

Leaves of Fall

Take a moment to observe nature. I enjoyed these fall-colored leaves during a stroll, 2011.

It’s worth taking a moment to pause and take in your surroundings. For those of us living in a bustling city, it helps to counteract urban frenzy by lingering in one location and letting your senses take over. I’ve had several birding trips where this led to finding rare birds or observing interesting behaviors with the usual suspects. One story in particular comes to mind to illustrate this point.

This week, my husband and I were slowly walking through one of my favorite parks down a paved trail. I’ve walked this trail countless times and have a good idea of where certain birds hang out. On this particular day, we noticed a flurry of activity in the redwoods. Instead of conducting our usual quick scan before moving on, we stopped and examined each and every bird that popped into our vision. The majority of the birds were the energetic Townsend’s warblers and chestnut-backed chickadees. Brown creepers emerged and I watched them spiral up trunks digging for insects on the bark. After about 15 minutes of observing, I noticed a bird that upon first glance I thought was yet another brown creeper, except it seemed more boldly patterned. Focusing my binoculars onto the bird, I realized it was covered in heavy black-and-white stripes all over its head and body – an aptly-named black-and-white warbler! Quick, take pictures, this is a rarity for this area! We stayed in this spot for nearly an hour excited to watch a bird that does not live around here. Patience and careful scanning sure paid off.

Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District

Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District

When one hears “wastewater treatment plant,” birding may not be one of the first activities that comes to mind. In fact, these offer a rich birding experience as a variety of birds take advantage of the ponds and plant life. You can find sandpipers, ducks, sparrows, warblers, even birds of prey. While I’m sure some sanitation plants may test the limits of stench, I’ve quite enjoyed a couple with no odors detected thus far.

Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District

Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District

This brings me to Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District located in Marin County. Admittedly I’ve only been here twice, but each time I left with a solid list of birds. Containing four ponds with fields all around, it offers a sanctuary for birds of all types. My favorite are the mute swans, which I didn’t know existed in California let alone in the North Bay. Since then I’ve learned that they are occasionally around the East Bay.

Mute Swans

Mute Swans, 2018

The paths around the ponds are pleasant with locals walking their dogs or jogging, while birders scan the area with binoculars glued to their faces. Ponds attract water fowl, blackberry bramble and fennel attract warblers and sparrows, and the trees collect woodpeckers and owls. The fields will produce white-tailed kites, hawks, turkey vultures, and more.

If you go, be sure to wear sun protection as there’s not a lot of shade and it can get warm during the summer.

Check out the Las Gallinas Valley Sanitary District eBird hotspot list.

Fall Has Arrived

Fall Has Arrived

Fall is without a doubt my favorite season. The sun is no longer beating its hot rays directly overhead and instead casts a gentle blue hue at dusk and dawn. The air is getting crisp and the brown, smoky skies are replaced by a familiar deep blue. Here in the Bay Area most of our trees stay green throughout the season, but there are occasional pops of red, yellow, and orange colors in sporadic trees.

Immature White-crowned Sparrow

Immature White-crowned Sparrow, 2011

Of course, birding is exciting for me in the fall. While we say goodbye to many of our bird friends who fly south, we welcome our winter visitors such as the white-crowned sparrows. Sometimes, birds that missed a turn on their normal migration route spend a day or two in our area and birders get a rare glimpse of an eastern species without having to leave the state. The birding world becomes a flurry of activity and excitement as amateurs and professionals alike rush out on a hot tip to see a new bird spotted just hours earlier. It’s a great way to meet new people and swap stories of other birding adventures.

Recently, I heard a call that I haven’t heard since early spring – the squeaky call of an American wigeon. I jumped into the air with joy upon hearing the call as it always brings a smile to my face. When I approached the pond, I realized that I was struggling to remember names of other winter ducks. “What’s that plain-gray duck called? It starts with a ‘G.’ I think… … … gadwall!” Time to dust off the field guide and brush up on my winter birds!

Welcome to My Birding World!

Welcome to My Birding World!

Welcome to My Birding World! I was inspired to create this blog so that I could share my passion for birding. I hope to inspire others to take a moment from their busy schedules to enjoy birds and appreciate nature.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Chestnut-backed Chickadee, 2010