Natural History Wanderings

Today the Fall Bay Area Birding class went to Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, which is part of the East Bay Regional Park System. The park is the site of Round Top, one of the area’s highest peaks,which is made up of lava and volcanic debris left over from a 10-million-year-old volcano.  It was very different from last time I went to Sibley in Spring 2012 (Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve: Birds, Butterflies and Wildflowers 5/12/12). Different birds, no flowers or butterflies.

Today was a good test of birding by ear skills as the park is heavily wooded and many birds were hidden or high up in trees. There many Pigmy Nuthatches singing and it was only at the end of the walk that most people had good looks at them. We had very good looks at an American Kestrel perched, hovering, and eating the rewards of its hunt. The group had a total of 30 birds identified by sight and sound. To see a bird list from today go to: Sibley Volcanic Preserve Bird List 11/9/13.