My Birding Day – Page 2 – My Birding World

My Birding Day: South Lake Tahoe

June 12, 2019 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

I haven’t written a post in a few weeks, partly because the Bay Area is warming up and I don’t do very well in the heat. The birds don’t particularly like the heat either. Birders mourn the summer blues where birding gets a little dull between migration and breeding seasons. It’s also straight up uncomfortable if you’re outdoors in the hottest part of the day.

This weekend I escaped to Tahoe on a whim to help cope with the heat and enjoy the 30-degree temperature difference. I love Tahoe and the mountains. The trees are different, the air is fresh, and new birds pop out here and there. I’m still trying to find the birding hotspots around the Tahoe area, but my go-to place is always Fallen Leaf Lake.

Lodgepole Chipmunk, Fallen Leaf Lake, 2019

This lake is much smaller than Lake Tahoe, but it’s less crowded and more peaceful. Lodgepole Chipmunks are frantically running around and Mountain Chickadees are delightfully singing their bluesy tunes. I always find White-headed Woodpeckers, all three nuthatches (Red-breasted, Pygmy, and White-breasted), and Brown Creepers. This summer trip yielded plenty of Western Wood-Pewees and Warbling Vireos. Although not bursting with concentrated birding activity, Fallen Leaf Lake offers a beautiful hike. If you go early enough, you can walk quite a ways without running into people.

Western Tanager, Van Sickle Bi-State Park, 2019

We checked out another park for the first time that crosses state lines: Van Sickle Bi-State Park. Colorful Western Tanagers popped out against the trees, a House Wren sang its heart out despite our close presence, and Steller’s Jays were busy eating enormous ants off the ground. My favorite moment was hearing a Fox Sparrow sing. These sparrows are present in the East Bay, but only in the winter and thus they are pretty quiet. The song was so captivating that I had to capture a recording on my phone for later submission on my birding checklist. I will definitely check out this Nevada site again and venture out further than a quarter mile from the parking lot!

House Wren, Van Sickle Bi-State Park, 2019

Overall a great quick trip that gave us respite from the recording-breaking Bay Area heat.

My Birding Day: Sycamore Grove Park

May 26, 2019 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

Dark-Eyed Junco, Sycamore Grove Park, 2019

It was supposed to rain today. The dark clouds were looming overhead accompanied by chilly winds. Despite the risk of getting wet, we ventured out to Livermore to a local park – Sycamore Grove Park – in search of the rare Blue-gray Tanager. This species is native to southern Mexico through the northern section of South America. It is quite possible that this particular bird is a pet-escapee, in other words, a pet that was released (intentionally or accidentally) back into nature. Nevertheless, birders have flocked to this location to get a glimpse of this bird living its life in Livermore. We tried to locate this bird on a previous birding trip, but after six hours of hunting we gave up.

Blue-Gray Tanager, Sycamore Grove Park, 2019

We found our target bird while eating lunch. An added bonus was watching it sing briefly. Now feeling calm, I was able to really enjoy all the bird activity around me. The theme of the day was immature or recently fledged birds foraging. Lots of little ones were scurrying around, flapping their wings, constantly calling out to their parents for food. Some young birds simply perched in place, such as this Mourning Dove.

Mourning Dove, Sycamore Grove Park, 2019

Other birds were still being fed by their parents, such as this Oak Titmouse and White-breasted Nuthatch.

Oak Titmouse, Sycamore Grove Park, 2019

White-Breasted Nuthatch, Sycamore Grove Park, 2019

The Dark-eyed Juncos I watched were still young but able to forage on their own with parents nearby. They were hopping around, trying little bits of this and that to learn what’s edible or not.

Dark-Eyed Junco, Sycamore Grove Park, 2019

It was a fun afternoon with so much dense birding that we stayed by the parking lot for nearly two hours. Despite it being Memorial Weekend, this normally-busy park was empty of visitors, allowing for a peaceful birding experience.

My Birding Day: Neighborhood Walk

May 14, 2019 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

Mourning Dove, 2015

It was cloudy and humid outside, nature preparing for a rare “late-season atmospheric river” set to hit the Bay Area. I watched a Mourning Dove in its fresh tan plumage displaying large black spots on its wings. I marveled at the metallic pink clump of feathers near its throat and a sky-blue eye ring. It was gently picking up a stick here and there, dropping the ones that didn’t met its nesting standards. The dove finally selected a long, green stick and noisily flew away from sight. I wondered if the nest will survive the upcoming storm.

A recycling truck chased me around the neighborhood for a couple of blocks, effectively cutting out my ability to bird by ear. I silently thanked the workers for doing a job that is so important for the environment but tends to be a thankless task. I turned my attention to the various flowers lining the carefully landscaped homes. Bright pinks, oranges, and purples sprouted everywhere and I was lost in the sea of colors until the recycling truck and I parted ways.

Flowers, 2019

A Lesser Goldfinch conducted a perfect imitation of an Oak Titmouse and I listed to its song for several minutes. Bushtits flocked from bush to tree to bush. My attention was grabbed by a pair of young Chestnut-backed Chickadees squeaking out a baby babble’s version of the chickadee call while furiously flapping their wings. A parent nearby was hopping on branches, poking under leaves, and clinging to house walls in search of food for its babies. The short, half hour walk ended with the sun peeking out momentarily before slipping back behind the clouds.

Succulents, 2019

Flowers, 2019

Chasing the Harris’s Sparrow

March 19, 2019 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

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: Ohlone Audubon Society Bird Walk

February 24, 2019 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

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 crept lower and lower the further we ventured into the silent forest of redwood trees. Just before parking and turning off the wonderous 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 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. Occasional movements from our group set them 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.

California Newt Seen Through Water, Redwood RP, 2019

Birds are masters at adapting to cold weather. Either they migrate towards warmer climates, or they deploy a number of strategies to keep war while staying put. Fluffing up their feathers and morphing into a puffball allows air to be trapped between the wispy barbs of down feathers and keeps 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 hibernation-lite. The birds today were happy to be dining in the chill as I happily watched under four layers of tops and nine toes with feeling for the rest of the trip.

My Birding Day: Del Valle Regional Park

January 27, 2019 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

Mushroom, Del Valle RP 2019

I stood facing the bright January sun, squinting into my camera viewfinder, holding my breath. I had to get a clear shot of this titmouse. It had black on its head, I’m sure of it. The Oak Titmice we get are all grey. Click, click, click of the camera. It flies away, I keep my focus, locate it in the tangle of lichen-oak branches. Click, click, click. I’m satisfied that I got enough pictures of it for a positive ID for my checklist, I take a calmer look through my binoculars. All grey. Oak Titmouse, piercing the air with its spring songs.

Oak Titmouse, Del Valle RP 2019

It took awhile for the adrenaline to diminish from my not-so-rare titmouse photoshoot, but we had a delightful walk with lots of birding activity surrounding us. We found the remains of a deer’s leg. Knowing that mountain lions are in the park, we finished our short hike with more caution. I imagine that birds wouldn’t care about big cats. They can simply fly away.

Yellow-Billed Magpie, Del Valle RP 2019

My favorite bird at this park is the Yellow-billed Magpie. Black top and white-bellied, it has a striking yellow bill and lower eye arc. Its wings are white and deep blue, and its tail is marvelously long. I watched one for a long while, listening to it alternate between a quiet chatter to a raucous call. Once I moved out of the way, it swooped down for its prize: fish guts at the cleaning station.

It was a good day.

Yellow-Billed Magpie, Del Valle RP 2019

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

January 8, 2019 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

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 silhouette waterfowl. The first time I spotted this flamingo was in 2016. It’s an escapee and has been living its long life here in the Bay Area. It’s quite a sight to see – but you will need binoculars!

Super-Cropped Flamingo, Coyote Hills RP, 2016

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 arrives. I find that birding right before and after storms often yields a lot of bird activity.

California Scrub Jay, 2019

Bald Eagles, 2019

Golden-crowned Sparrow, 2019

White-crowned Sparrow, 2019

My favorite moment was when a beautiful Barn Owl flew in front 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 Day: Coyote Hills with FBC

December 11, 2018 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

FBC Walk, Coyote Hills, 2018

I am a member of a Facebook group named the Fremont Birding Circle. Lead by local expert Jerry Ting, we participate in monthly bird walks around the Fremont area. For the month of December, we visited Coyote Hills Regional Park and explored No Name Trail down its long stretch into the bay. It is a beautiful trail that gives hikers a close-up look at various waterfowl, gulls, terns, sandpipers, and more.

Dunlin, 2018

We spent three hours walking three miles round trip. My personal trip was closer to four miles because I had to run back to the main part of the park to find a bathroom while the group trudged ahead. The morning was picture-perfect with a cool, gentle breeze and still water that gave a mirror-like quality to the resting birds.

American Avocets, 2018

We did not find our target bird (Red Phalarope) but a Glaucous Gull was spotted that day – a rarity in our area. In total the group saw 75 species that morning. Since we arrived late, I spotted 54 species which goes to show the immense diversity this trail offers. If you’re lucky, sometimes you can spot a flamingo named Floyd that likes to hang out in that area from time to time!

Great Egret, 2018

My Birding Day – No Name Trail

October 29, 2018 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

Today my husband and I drove down to Fremont, which is one of our favorite birding areas. We heard that Bonaparte’s gulls were visiting Coyote Hills Regional Park (originally reported by local expert Jerry Ting), so we made sure to stop at this rich birding hotspot for the day’s birding destination.

We parked at the Quarry Staging Area and set-up our scope and tripod in preparation for seeking out water birds. The sun was still intensely warm – when will the cool autumn days finally arrive? I slathered on sunscreen while listening to the sweet, melancholy song of the nearby golden-crowned sparrows.

Near No Name Trail, Coyote Hills RP, 2018

The short walk to our destination featured deep blue sky and wispy clouds overhead. One by one, western meadowlarks flew by giving us a quick glance of their yellow stomachs. I spotted an American kestrel on a bare branch and watched as she preened herself. Through the scope, I could make out the brown-striped feathers and intricate head markings. It was beautiful to watch.

I was still in a grumpy mood about the unusually intense sun and lack of nearby shade, but that mood quickly shifted to excitement when we reached the aptly-named No Name Trail and spotted the Bonaparte’s gull. This little gull was in its winter plumage with its identifiable black “ear” patch and black bill against an otherwise white head. It was cute to watch as it slowly scanned the surface and gently dipped into the water to grab a morsel of food.

What I saw next made my heart leap. I was so focused on the gull that I neglected to see, or hear, the egrets close by. Typically, I’ll see a few together at a time. This time I saw nearly 150 snowy egrets squabbling with each other and several dozen great egrets focused on their seafood buffet, sponsored by the roaring water spewing out of a pipe. The noise of the egrets crabbing at each other was loud and I attempted to record it on my phone, but the powerful wind muddied my recording. Then another surprise. As we looked through the scope and binoculars, we spotted another Bonaparte’s gull! Then another, and another – wow ten! Wait, there’s more sitting on the water over there… Thirty in total! I was ecstatic to simply see one let alone dozens!

A variety of birds enjoying the flowing water. 2018

We watched the birds for nearly an hour and decided to return to the car. We were delighted to watch a Say’s and black phoebe harass each other for the prized perching branch, spot house wrens in the bushes, and get a quick glance of a merlin as it flew off into the distance.

Entering bird sightings into eBird. Photo by Gabriel Olin, 2018.

My Birding Day – Briones Regional Park

October 25, 2018 Elizabeth Olin Comments 0 Comment

Yesterday, I visited Briones Regional Park, which is located in the East Bay. It was the middle of the week and there was a striking absence of park visitors at the Bear Creek Staging Area. When I stepped out of the car, I was greeted with a cool, crisp breeze. A chorus of bird calls and chip notes sprang from the ground. Dark-eyed juncos, white-crowned sparrows, and golden-crowned sparrows ignored my presence as they focused their attention on finding sustenance.

The hike up Abrigo Valley Trail was unusually quiet. I hardly spotted or heard any birds except for three red-tailed hawks that were ever-present during the two-hour hike. Up, up, up I walked along the dirt trail until I reached a picnic area. I had visited this spot over the summer and found the rare indigo bunting which made itself at home amongst the luscious purple-flowered thistles that took over the landscape. The bunting was long gone, but white- and golden-crowned sparrows (which I affectionately call “crown sparrows”), lesser goldfinches, and western bluebirds danced atop the crisp, dried thistle remains. When I closed my eyes, I could hear the thistle rattle against the breeze.

Northern Flicker feather found on a previous hike, 2018. Note the red shaft (hard piece down the center) that indicates a “red-shafted” Northern Flicker.

The walk back yielded more birds – odd as it was the noon hour and general wisdom suggests that birds are more active at dusk and dawn. Fall birding is not as musical as spring birding when birds are singing for mates and announcing their territories. Instead, I had to rely on picking out slight movements in the trees, which is a difficult task when the leaves are blowing in the wind. But the patience is worth it. I saw an oak titmouse grab something fat and green and repeatedly smack it against a branch. A female Townsend’s warbler flew into my view while I watched the titmouse. I caught a bigger movement out of the corner of my eye and out popped a Nuttall’s woodpecker with crisp white lines down her back. I accidentally scattered a dozen or so dark-eyed juncos that were expertly camouflaged on the ground, flicking their diagnostic white-lined tail feathers in retreat.

Dark-Eyed Junco, “Oregon” subspecies, 2018

It was a joy to spend time watching the day-to-day activity of our local birds and be present in nature.

My Birding World

A Bird Blog by Elizabeth Olin

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