My Birding World – Page 7 – A Birding Blog by Elizabeth Olin

Bar-Tailed Godwits Galore!

November 18, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Bar-Tailed Godwit, Emeryville, 2019

On a previous trip, I missed an opportunity to see a rare Bar-tailed Godwit. 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 certainly 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, which included the expected Marbled Godwit. 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

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.

Vegas, Baby!

November 1, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Red Rock Canyon NCA

A look of confusion always crosses people’s faces when I tell them I’m going to Vegas. “What’s not to love?” I try explaining. “I sit at the penny slots and my husband tries to score free drinks while watching me lose our money!” (Actually, I’m a stingy gambler and set tight limits.) But people know me as a nature-loving bird-obsessed lady and don’t necessarily picture me in the thick of flashing lights, flowing alcohol, and scantily-clad entertainers. And yet, it’s a trip I like to do every few years.

This time we tried a new adventure and peeled ourselves away from The Strip. We rented a car for a day and I had to choose between Clark County Wetlands Park or Red Rock Canyon NCA, two good birding locations. I was pulled by the possibility of adding some desert lifers to my list, so out to the very chilly rocky desert we went.

Woodhouse’s Scrub Jay

Red Rock is a scenic 13-mile drive with lots of pullouts that lead to trails. The scenery was beautiful with the desert plant life and climbing rocks and canyons, but I was having a hard time locating the birds. They seemed extra wary and skittish, disappearing or halting their calls when we turned our attention in their direction.

There were two spots in particular that finally yielded decent bird activity without having to venture too far from the car: Lost Creek and Pine Creek Canyon. At Lost Creek, we spotted Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jays and heard the unmistakable scratchy call of a Juniper Titmouse – the two lifers we would pick up from the trip. A couple of Verdin briefly showed. Spotted Towhees and White-crowned Sparrows were plentiful.

American Robin

Pine Creek Canyon had the most variety including Gambel’s Quail heard off in the distance, a shy Cactus Wren that allowed only a brief glance before disappearing into the cactus, and a Ladder-backed Woodpecker that laughed while expertly covered in one of the few trees around. We uncovered a watering hole where a Phainopepla, various finches, and at least a hundred American Robins fluttered back and forth to grab a drink before the sun set. We were glued to the water spot for most of the walk, failing to identify some new calls but excited to watch the activity.

This side trip only whet our appetite to veer off The Strip and explore what Clark County has to offer with birds. Next time we will integrate time to gamble and to see Gambel’s Quail!

October Big Day

October 15, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Acorn Woodpecker, Del Valle RP, 2019

Ever heard of the popular “Big Year” event where birders record as many birds possible within one calendar year? It can be limited to the United States, your home state, town, or even backyard.

“October Big Day” is a worldwide event encouraging birders to submit their observations within a 24-hour period. This year the event will take place on Saturday, October 19. Make an eBird account to prepare and have fun on Saturday! Where will YOU bird?

My Birding Day: Point Reyes Part III

October 13, 2019 Elizabeth Olin

Tule Elk, Point Reyes, 2019

See My Birding Day: Point Reyes Part I and Part II for the first two parts of the story

Drakes Beach was fairly mellow. The biggest excitement was tracking down a distant tern, which turned out to be a Common Tern – our third and final lifer of the day. My husband 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 the instructions to their location (a common theme for me – I’m often last to see a bird unless I spot it first). My husband 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!

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.

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

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

See My Birding Day: Point Reyes Part I for the first part of the story.

In the past, we’ve driven by Mendoza Ranch (B Ranch) several times 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.

Our attention then turned to a flycatcher. I pointed to it, noting a thin eye ring. Then myu husband 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. My husband was confident he saw a Pacific-slope Flycatcher. Someone yelled “Pac Slope!” Another person found a thin eye ring like I had seen. We finally concluded 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.

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

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!