Today we went to Pt. Reyes primarily to see the artists’ open studios. We especially wanted to see Tom Killion whose blockprints of California are among my favorites. The open studios continue throughout the weekend.
Marin County like the rest of California is suffering from a lack of rain. Nicasio Reservoir was the lowest I have seen it. Significant parts of it were completely dry.
Before we went to any of the open studios we did about an hour bird walk behind the town of Pt. Reyes Station near the Giacomini Wetlands, although many parts were dry lands. It started out slow, but we eventually saw 20 species including raptors and water birds, many of which were in the distant waters of the bay and required the scope to be seen. There were about six Cinnamon Teal in the nearby pond along with the Canadian Geese, Mallards and Coots. There were many White-crowned Sparrows. Raptors included Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks, Kites and some smaller unidentified raptors. Also seen was a Painted Lady Butterfly.
After going to a number of the open studios we spent about a half hour birding behind the grocery store in Inverness near the wreck of the old Pt. Reyes boat and saw eleven species. There were at least hundreds of scaup and many Bufflehead in Tomales Bay.
Today’s bird lists:
Natural History Wanderings 
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