Natural History Wanderings

Today I went to Abbotts Lagoon with the Golden Gate  Audubon. The highlight of the day happened right at the start when a Barn Owl was flying across the road from the parking lot providing good views. Two birds that were new for me as well as a number of other group members were Baird’s Sandpiper and Grasshopper Sparrow. There were many swallows as well as usual abundance of  White-crowned Sparrows. Snowy Plovers were seen by only a few group member. A Red-throated Loon was seen by several group members and possibly by me.  I was mainly birding and looking at flowers and took only a few pictures today. Here are my best efforts:

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

click read more to see today’s bird and plant lists

Sandy’s Bird List Abbotts Lagoon 8/25/12

3.0 miles (Parking lot to Ocean and back

Golden Gate Audubon walk led by Martha Wessitsh

26 species (+3 other taxa)

Cackling Goose

Mallard

California Quail

Pied-billed Grebe

Double-crested Cormorant

American White Pelican

Brown Pelican

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Turkey Vulture

Virginia Rail

Baird’s Sandpiper

Red-necked Phalarope

Heermann’s Gull

Western Gull

Barn Owl

Rufous/Allen’s Hummingbird

Peregrine Falcon

American Crow

Barn Swallow

swallow sp.

Marsh Wren

Bewick’s Wren

Common Yellowthroat

Savannah Sparrow

Grasshopper Sparrow

Song Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

and maybe a Red-throated Loon (definitely seen by other group members)

Additional birds seen or heard by group members:

Ring-billed Gull

Snowy Plover

Wrentit

Meadowlark

Plant List for Abbott’s Lagoon 8/25/12

California Poppy
Yarrow
Bush Lupine
Cow Parsnip
Poison Hemlock
Angelica
Lotus
alien thistles
Cowweb Thistle
Coyote bush
Hedge Nettle
Goldenrod
Aster, Purple
Pearly Everlasting
Marsh Hedge Nettle
Common Monkeyflower
Rocket
Beach Sun Cup
Dune Gum Plant
Heliotrope
Cinquefoil Musk
Pink Clover