Natural History Wanderings

Updated with Photos

The last field trip of the birding by ear class was to Pt. Reyes National Seashore.   It was a very windy day. We birded around the Visitor’s Center area, the Earthquake trail, and Kule Loklo trail. Highlights included a Merlin, Pacific Wren, Allen’s Hummingbird, Hermit Warbler, and many Varied Thrush. After lunch about 20 of us went to Limantour Beach for about an hour and braved even stronger winds.

Wildflowers were scarce. Most noteworthy were some roadside Douglas Iris.

Click Read More for today’s bird lists.

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Pt. Reyes–Visitor Center, Marin, CA

(Visitor’s Center, Earthquake Trail and Kule Loklo Trail)
Feb 18, 2012 8:30 AM – 12:00 PM
Birding by Ear Class with Denise Wight
46 species
California Quail  X
Great Blue Heron  X
Turkey Vulture  X
Osprey  X
White-tailed Kite  X
Red-shouldered Hawk  X
Red-tailed Hawk  X
Merlin  X
Band-tailed Pigeon  X
Mourning Dove  X
Anna’s Hummingbird  X
Allen’s Hummingbird  X
Acorn Woodpecker  X
Nuttall’s Woodpecker  X
Hairy Woodpecker  X
Northern Flicker  X
Black Phoebe  X
Hutton’s Vireo  X
Steller’s Jay  X
Western Scrub-Jay  X
American Crow  X
Common Raven  X
Chestnut-backed Chickadee  X
Oak Titmouse  X
Bushtit  X
Pygmy Nuthatch  X
Pacific Wren  X
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  X
Western Bluebird  X
Hermit Thrush  X
American Robin  X
Varied Thrush  X
European Starling  X
Townsend’s Warbler  X
Hermit Warbler  X (seen during lunch)
Spotted Towhee  X
California Towhee  X
Fox Sparrow  X
Song Sparrow  X
Lincoln’s Sparrow  X
Golden-crowned Sparrow  X
Dark-eyed Junco  X
Red-winged Blackbird  X
Brewer’s Blackbird  X
House Finch  X
Pine Siskin  X

Pt. Reyes–Limantour Beach, Marin, CA

Feb 18, 2012 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
Birding by Ear Class with Denise Wight
13 species

Mallard  X
Green-winged Teal  X
Surf Scoter  X
Red-throated Loon  X
Common Loon  X
Horned Grebe  X
Great Egret  X
Northern Harrier  X     (Just before getting to parking lot)
Ring-billed Gull  X
Western Gull  X
Glaucous-winged Gull  X
Common Raven  X
White-crowned Sparrow  X

Related articles

• Birding and Botanizing Pt. Reyes (naturalhistorywanderings.com)