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My Birding Day: Point Reyes Part III

My Birding Day: Point Reyes Part III

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Tule Elk

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

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

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 I

My Birding Day: Point Reyes Part I

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Red-Breasted Nuthatch

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

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

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.