Natural History Wanderings

Updated 1/22/12

Today the birding by ear class went to Black Diamond Mine Regional Park.  We birded around the visitor center and the area  at the end of the road. Some of the highlights were seeing the Rock Wren, Barn Owl, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Golden Eagle.

The park’s website’s Description of its Natural Features

Vegetation:
The Preserve’s 65 miles of trails traverse areas of grassland, foothill woodland, mixed evergreen forest, chaparral, stream vegetation and exotic plantings. Notable among the latter are several tree species introduced by the coal miners. These include the black locust, pepper tree, almond, eucalyptus and tree of heaven.

Black Diamond is noted as the northernmost location of Coulter pine, black sage, desert olive and dudleya. In addition, several species that are restricted to the Mt. Diablo area occur here, including the Mt. Diablo globe lily, Mt. Diablo helianthella and Mt. Diablo manzanita. In the springtime, the hills are covered with some of the most remarkable wildflower displays in the Bay Area.

Wildlife:
Black Diamond supports a healthy wildlife population. Coyotes and snakes are commonly seen. Mountain lions, bobcats, foxes and deer are occasionally spotted, while birds of prey soar overhead. Over 100 species of birds have been seen, from the rare golden eagle to the ever-present meadowlark.

The side-blotched lizard has its northern limit in the Preserve, and one rare animal species has been found here–the Alameda whipsnake.

Photos from the field trip by Bob Stokstad: http://www.jstokstad.com/BBE_2012_01_21/

To see the Bird list for today’s walk go to Read More

Bird List for Black Diamond Mine Regional Park

Contra Costa, US-CA Jan 21, 2012 8:30 AM – 11:30 AM

36 species + Lark Sparrow seen only by Denise Wight

Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
American Kestrel
Mourning Dove
Barn Owl
Anna’s Hummingbird
Acorn Woodpecker
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Black Phoebe
Say’s Phoebe
Hutton’s Vireo     Heard Only
Western Scrub-Jay
Common Raven
Oak Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Rock Wren
Bewick’s Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Western Bluebird
Hermit Thrush
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Lincoln’s Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch