My Birding Day – Page 2 – My Birding World

Quick! To the Birds!

January 26, 2020 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

American Robin

Pull query “UCCS_R_ACST_BY_CPP”.

Numbers. Data. Spreadsheets flying across my dual monitor set-up. I’m working from home – the only chunk of quiet, uninterrupted time to do number crunching.

I hear distant sounds, but I’m too engrossed in my formulas.

Input “=VLOOKUP(A2,COP!A:A,1,”false”)

The sounds get louder. American Robins, lots of them. My attention is starting to splinter, but I’m still holding strong to my spreadsheets.

Input “=COUNTIFS(…”

Whistling. Whining. Squeaking, like car brakes or a dog whimpering. I know that call. My brain suddenly flips into bird mode. I rush to the window. Dozens of Cedar Waxwings are in the trees across the parking lot, flying to and from a Toyon Bush. I need my camera. I hope I can rush out there before they leave!

I grab my camera, keys, phone, jacket. Calmly but quickly rush around the block. I see dozens of birds fly across the sky. I arrive to find Cedar Waxwings staring down at me from treetops. I intentionally avoid positioning myself directly under the tree to dodge the splats of waxwing droppings raining on the bushes.

Cedar Waxwing Curiously Looking At Me

American Robins are busy munching berries. I stand there mesmerized by the chaos of sounds all around me. European Starlings, Cedar Waxwings, American Robins all calling simultaneously for a dizzying but pleasant whirlwind of sounds.

I smile and am grateful to spend a ten-minute afternoon break watching the birds. With a smile on my face, I walk back home and back to work.

My Birding Day: Crown Memorial State Beach

January 19, 2020 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

Begging Ring-Billed Gull, 2020

I opened my eyes to a familiar pounding in my head. Migraine. Damn, there goes my Sunday. I quickly popped various medications, drank some caffeine, and settled in for the unavoidable deep sleep. After a while, I groggily pulled myself together for a little outing for fresh air. Migraine or not, I needed my bird fix for the day.

I’ve been studying gull IDs, so we headed over to Alameda to watch the tame gulls at Crown Memorial State Beach. Right away we were greeted with a batch of gulls in the parking lot. Some were standing around waiting for park visitors to drop a tasty morsel. Others were sitting comfortably and seemed to be melting into the asphalt. I cheerily identified as adult California Gulls and Ring-billed Gulls. So far so good on the IDs!

Incoming Sanderlings and Western Sandpipers, 2020

I reluctantly strapped on my binoculars and heavy camera setup. I was still drowsy a bit wobbly from the meds. But within minutes of crawling onto the sand, I was mesmerized by the birds and forgot about my weariness. As long as I didn’t spin around too fast tracking bird action, I would be OK. I love how birds can lift your spirits even when you’re feeling cruddy.

The next two-and-a-half hours were spent studying tons of gulls and peeps, trying to discern the various waterfowl out in the bay partaking in a feeding frenzy, and patiently continuing my learning of camera settings. We only walked 0.8 miles away from the car, but it was a peaceful stroll along the beach and the birding was fantastic.

Double-Crested Cormorant Silhouette, 2020

Quick November Tahoe Trip

November 30, 2019 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

Fallen Leaf Lake, Tahoe, 2019

I stepped out of the front door and was greeted with a blast of chilly air. Cars and sidewalks sparkled from the overnight frost that would remain crystalized for most of the morning. I glanced at the trash pickings left by three bears and a coyote the night before. For the first time in many never-ending-heated months, I was happy to bundle up against the unfamiliar cold. Despite three layers of socks, my toes still went numb in my athletic shoes designed to allow air flow. Time to invest in a different type of shoes.

Our first stop was at Fallen Leaf Lake – a must do for all of our Tahoe trips. Today it was unusually quiet with the campgrounds long closed for the season. We hiked for over an hour without running into another person. The lake was crystal clear and blue, with the mountains towering mystically in the distance. The stillness was soothing and such a relief from the bustling city we call home.

We came to an Aspen grove, devoid of most of the bright yellow leaves. I noticed a pinecone in one of the trees – “oddly placed,” I thought. Curiously, I zoomed into the pinecone with my frozen binoculars, only it wasn’t a pinecone (as you might have suspected already). “Owl!” I shouted, maybe too loudly, to Gabe. A little Northern Pygmy Owl sat there watching us with yellow, piercing eyes, sometimes flashing its feathered false eyes on the back of its head when it was comfortable with directing its attention elsewhere for a brief moment. Double exciting was submitting an eBird report for this “unreported” species for Fallen Leaf Lake. After watching the tiny bundle of owl for a while, we quietly snuck away to give it some peace.

Lake Baron, Tahoe, 2019

After the first park visit, we grabbed sandwiches and headed over to a newly-discovered birding location called Lake Baron, which is nestled in Tahoe Paradise Park. I was awed by this community park. It had picnic benches and sported a play area like I’m accustomed to seeing at home, but manicured grass and crawling sidewalks were replaced by towering mountain trees and bustling with bird activity. A group of Hooded Mergansers and Common Mergansers swam with American Wigeons in the lake. A Townsend’s Solitaire was calling off in the distance. Mountain Chickadees and Dark-eyed Juncos were busy foraging in the trees and bushes. Perhaps the oddest sight for me was spotting a Bald Eagle sitting in a pine tree. I’m accustomed to these majestic creatures dwarfing their surroundings in the Bay Area, but this one seemed small and out of place to my inexperienced mountain eyes. It’s about the closest I’ve ever been to a wild Bald Eagle.

Hooded Merganser, Tahoe, 2019

I was sad to leave Tahoe so soon, but a storm was threatening to dump several feet of snow and close the nearby roads. We’ll be back to explore new parks and bask in the serene and peaceful mountain experience in the New Year.

Bar-Tailed Godwits Galore!

November 18, 2019 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

Bar-Tailed Godwit, Emeryville, 2019

I wrote about a missed opportunity to see a rare Bar-tailed Godwit this summer. It was one of those heart-breaking trips where your eyes, arms, and fingers are numb from endless hours of combing through a sea of bird look-a-likes, and finally deciding that the target bird may or may not be out there but it’s time to call it a day. We’ve all been there and it’ll happen again.

My unfortunate luck from that trip took a surprising positive turn.

Months later, not only did a Bar-tailed Godwit appear in the Bay Area, but it was hanging out with a Hudsonian Godwit! I opted to leave my camera in the car because the location required climbing up a small cliff that offered ropes to assist the adventurous. It was an exceptionally rare treat to see three godwits together (I’m including the expected Marbled Godwits). I wished that I had a scope, camera, or high-powered binoculars to really absorb their differences.

Fast forward several more weeks, and yet another sighting of a Bar-tailed Godwit appeared on my rare bird alert – in Emeryville, just a hop, skip, and a jump away! This visit offered a very close view of the bird, which allowed me to really study its features as compared with the hundreds of Marbled Godwits that it chose to associate with.

Bar-Tailed Godwit, Emeryville, 2019

Marbled Godwit, Emeryville, 2019

This winter plumage Bar-tailed Godwit was smaller than the Marbled Godwits, had a white breast compared with the buffy tones of the marbled, and had straight black-and-white barring on its tail (hence the name) that was covered by a layer of black primary feathers. The easiest feature to see in a tight crowd of godwits was the white chest and body, which is how this individual was located that afternoon.

Each time I see a rare bird, it makes me more aware of what I don’t know and how much I have to learn in this field. For one thing, I will be scanning godwits more carefully here on out.

My Birding Day: Fun With Thrushes

October 27, 2019 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

Hermit Thrush, Del Valle RP, 2018

It was a relatively cool, fall morning as Gabe and I drove into Redwood Regional Park. On this Friday morning, the weekend crowds were absent with only a few people around quietly enjoying the park. We were immediately met with chirps and songs upon stepping out of the car. Brushes were rattling under the scraping action of Fox Sparrows and California Towhees, and raptors flew high into the blue sky.

We did an abbreviated version of our usual walk in order to head home, close up the windows, and run air purifiers before the Kincade Fire smoke reached the East Bay. We were on the lookout for Red-breasted Sapsuckers, carefully examining each tree for the row of holes that signals a sapsucker eating station.

Peek-A-Boo Shot of Yellow-Bellied Sapsucker, Redwood RP, 2018

Last year, we spotted a young Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in a Pepper Tree in the meadow area just next to the parking lot, so we started there. Instead of a sapsucker, we discovered a small flock of Hermit Thrushes racing back and forth between two trees. They were moving around so quickly that it was hard to get an accurate count, but there were at least eight in one spot. I tried taking some photographs, but the thrushes remained high in the tree and deep in the branches making a clear shot impossible.

Hermit Thrush High Up In Tree, Redwood RP, 2019

Then there was a single Hermit Thrush that posed on a branch for quite awhile, staying quite still, watching the other thrushes dance between the trees. Click click click went my camera. Realizing that time was inching by, we proceeded on our sapsucker search, which yielded no sapsuckers.

At home, I looked through my thrush photos. None of them came out to my satisfaction except for that one individual that posed for me. But wait, its bill looks weird. It’s thicker than the other thrushes. Its chest markings are different too, and that eye ring is not right… I flipped through my field guide and my heart started pounding with excitement. Is it a Gray-cheeked or Bicknell’s Thrush – a mighty rarity for this area (and ones I’ve never even heard of until that moment)? Past experience with misidentifying a rarity for a native resident suggested that I calm my excitement, so I posted a picture of the bird on Facebook and crossed my fingers.

Probably Gray-Cheeked Thrush, Redwood RP, 2019

Turns out that my Hermit Thrush was not a hermit after all. Most likely candidate is that it’s a Gray-cheeked Thrush, a bird that breeds in Alaska/Northern Canada, migrates through the eastern US, and winters in South America. What a find, and a reminder to pay very close attention to flocks of seemingly similar birds.

My Birding Day: Point Reyes Part III

October 13, 2019 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

Tule Elk, Point Reyes, 2019

See My Birding Day: Point Reyes Part I and Part II

Drakes Beach was fairly mellow. The biggest excitement was tracking down a faraway tern, which turned out (see what I did there?) to be a Common Tern – our third and final lifer of the day. Gabe and I celebrated our success at passing 400 lifer birds during that trip.

From the beach, we headed to our next destination. Along the way, our walkie talkies lit up with an announcement of Tule Elk! These majestic creatures were chilling along the edge of a cliff. I’ve never seen Tule Elk before, and they were so close! There were more elk on the other side of the road, but I had a hard time following instructions to their location (a common theme for me – I’m often last to see a bird unless I spot it first). Gabe provided me with different instructions hoping I could see the very-obvious herd lounging in the field, but my brain couldn’t process or find the darn creatures. As I scanned the hillside for the elk, a hawk flew into my vision. I froze – it had a white tail. Hesitantly, I called out “hawk with white tail” and binoculars quickly scanned the skies. Experts weighed in: Ferruginous Hawk. Yay!

Common Tern, Point Reyes Drakes Beach, 2019

We headed to the RCA building, which I dubbed “Row of Cypress Avenue” due to the row of Cypress trees that interrupted the otherwise flat hillside. This was yet another spot we frequently drive past and wonder how to bird it. We saw pretty much the same birds, although there was brief excitement when someone thought they found a Tennessee Warbler, though it ended up being something else.

Our final destination was the Inverness Tennis Club. This tree-dense area is tucked out of view near a tennis court. We chased after warblers and flycatchers, hoping to catch a glimpse of something new for the day, but we were instead treated with the same birds seen throughout the trip. However, I was delighted to be introduced to this little hidden jewel and will make this a must-do stop in the future.

California Gull, Point Reyes Drakes Beach, 2019

The trip wrapped up back at the Bear Valley Visitor Center where we couldn’t help but to squeeze in one more checklist. The air was getting cool again, the sun was starting to fall, and more birds were popping out to sneak in a last meal for the day. High on birding, I didn’t want the trip to end. It was a fantastic and memorable experience.

My Birding Day: Point Reyes Part II

October 10, 2019 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

Black-Throated Grey Warbler, Point Reyes Mendoza Ranch, 2019

See My Birding Day: Point Reyes Part I

We’ve driven by Mendoza Ranch (B Ranch) several times in the past knowing it was a hotspot for birds, but I could never figure out how one goes about birding it. Where do you park? Do you walk onto the ranch or the nearby area? Arriving this time with an experienced guide, I was finally about to put an end to this mystery. We were also on the hunt for a very rare Yellow-green Vireo reported that morning.

Driving from the docks to the ranch was exciting. Our walkie talkies announced sightings along the way. A Merlin chasing a large flock of Red-winged Blackbirds with some Tricolored Blackbirds mixed in. I laughed at the Tricolored Blackbirds’ strangled-cat calls rising distinctively from the blur of screechy-yet-bubbly Red-winged Blackbirds.

One of Many Red-Breasted Nuthatches, Point Reyes Mendoza Ranch, 2019

Our caravan of cars parked along the side of the road and we meandered back and forth across the main road, ducking into tree cover and monitoring a little pond that oddly held a Red-necked Phalarope. An occasional holler of “Car!” warned us to dash out of the road to let a car go by.

Finally, after much searching, it popped out: the Yellow-green Vireo, a rare neotropic visitor that was a lifer for most of us. This chunky bird shyly obscured itself amidst the branches, but we all got a decent view before it flew off.

Quick Glance of the Shy Yellow-Green Vireo, Point Reyes Mendoza Ranch, 2019

Our attention then turned to a flycatcher. I pointed to it noting a thin eye ring. Then Gabe saw it and proclaimed that it was a Pacific-slope Flycatcher. He clearly saw an almond-shaped eye ring. Someone else found the flycatcher and said there was no eye ring at all. Confusion spread amongst our small group. Experts were called in. Clearly we were getting tricked by the lighting and obstructed views. The flycatcher appeared again and an expert proclaimed it was a Willow Flycatcher because there was no eye ring. But wait, I know I saw a thin eye ring. Gabe was confident he saw a Pacific-slope Flycatcher. Someone yelled “Pac Slope!” Another person found a thin eye ring like I had seen. We emerged from the Abbott and Costello act with the conclusion that there were three flycatchers: Willow Flycatcher (no eye ring), Pacific-slope Flycatcher (almond eye ring), and a Least Flycatcher (thin eye ring, among other key field marks), the latter being the second lifer of the day!

All that excitement made us hungry. We set off to Drakes Beach for a picnic with an ocean view.

My Birding Day: Point Reyes Part I

October 7, 2019 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

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 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 9.5 hours. Birds migrate at night and can’t 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.

My Birding Day: Point Reyes Visitor Center

August 31, 2019 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

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, 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 mother California Quail took up a post awkwardly 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 sadly Gabe 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 Gabe 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!

My Birding Day – The Race to See a Rare Bird

August 4, 2019 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

Summer is a dull time for birding. The birds are quiet and it’s hot with a migraine-inducing sun glare. That’s why I was excited for an upcoming Ohlone Audubon Society field trip in the cooler evening – the first field trip in a while. Shorebird migration is starting up and the trip would bring us to the bay. I was super excited to learn more about peeps and sandpipers from the experts.

My stomach had other mischievous plans.

Too weak to go birding, I resigned myself to birding a local spot with less walking. I struggled with the disappointment of missing out on the trip.

At home, I hesitantly scanned Facebook and rare bird alerts hoping I didn’t miss out on anything cool. The alerts starting pouring in by the evening. Bar-tailed Godwit. Damn. These Alaskan breeders spend the rest of their time in Russia and Scandinavia. What a bummer bird to miss!

Each day I carefully read through the rare bird alerts, noting the time, the bird’s preference for high tide, various locations she was spotted, and her behavior. I hoped that she would continue to be there until Friday – the first opportunity I would have to stop by.

Friday came and I carefully crafted the day so that we would end up at Hayward Regional Shoreline between 4-5 PM. That’s when the earliest checklists started. High tide would peak around 7:30 PM. We were set. After a morning and mid-afternoon in the Fremont area, we drove up towards Hayward.

“Did you grab the tripod?” I asked Gabe?

“Yup!”

“How about the scope?”

“Yup! Wait, scope? Where was the scope?” Crap. I forgot to put the scope with the rest of the birding supplies. How can we look for shorebirds without a scope? I reasoned with myself that there would be plenty of other birders with scopes available to peek through.

We arrived at Hayward Regional Shoreline, geared up, and rushed over to Frank’s Dump. There wasn’t much there except a few gulls. Then some peeps showed up! But oh dear, I can’t see anything with the binoculars. They were too far away. I feel the swell of disappointment again and I sat down and pouted as I grappled with next steps. I finally agreed to take Gabe’s advice to try out a different pond nearby. On the way there, I saw a birder off in the distance. A scope, oh good! Hey wait, is that Jerry?

We ran into our local birder celebrity. We were bound to find this godwit!

He pointed out a Snowy Plover family. He found us a Red Knot, a lifer. And we scanned and scanned and scanned the hundreds of willets, dowitchers, and Marbled Godwits for that one special lady. After a while, Jerry left since he had already been birding there for three hours prior to our meeting. No Bar-tailed Godwit had been found yet, but he thought that she might fly in by high tide.

The waves broke against the rocks and splashed our clothes. I was suddenly very aware that I only had my sun shirt on with no jacket to help against the cooling air. I was also starting to regret my decision to leave my regular prescriptions glasses in the car, opting instead to wear my sunglasses. That made birding harder as the sun went down.

Arms stiff from holding binoculars up to our eyes, cold and clammy from the sea spray, and hair tangled into a rat’s nest from the heavy winds, we started to grow weary. The birds were all blending together into a muddled mess of grays and browns. Small groups kept joining the crowd which forced us to rescan the entire area. After two more hours of scanning, we threw in the towel and headed towards the car.

The godwit was never spotted again. We missed her by a day. At least it gave us a good story to tell!

My Birding World

A Bird Blog by Elizabeth Olin

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