Natural History Wanderings

On the way to Chimmey Rock we stopped behind the store in Inverness and birded for about ten minutes by Tomales Bay

It was a very typical Chimney Rock day in April. Very windy, sunny and temperature in the 50’s. Many species of flowers are still in bloom. We were able to identify a fair number of birds as well. We hiked out to the point and back and went down to the Lifeboat Station. The Pussy Ears/Calochortus tolmei are still in bloom as are the Douglas Iris, many Blue-eyed Grass. Off shore we saw Common Loons in alternate or breeding plumage  and many Surf Scoters. Other animals included Elephant  Seals and White-tailed Deer.

We did a ten minute stop by the Bear Valley visitor center and saw Acorn Woodpecker, Nuttall’s Woodpecker, California Quail and White-crowned Sparrow.

To see flower and bird lists. Click read more

Chimney Rock flowers in bloom in order seen:

Tidy Tips
Goldfields
Douglas Iris
Mule Ears
Blue-eyed Grass
California Poppy
Hedge Nettle
Cow Parsnip
California BUttercup
Gumplant
Doug Violet
Flax
Morning Glory
Paintbrush (red and white species)
Yellow Bush Lupine
Lupine bicolor
Coastal Prairie Lupine
Jonny Tuck
California Phacelia
Rose Linanthus
Sea Thrift
Aster
Miner’s Lettuce

Inverness, Marin, US-CA Apr 29, 2015 10:00 AM – 10:10 AM
13 species

Greater Scaup  X
Common Loon  X
Great Blue Heron  X
Great Egret  X
Turkey Vulture  X
Osprey  X
Western Gull  X
Caspian Tern  X
Common Raven  X
Barn Swallow  X
European Starling  X
Song Sparrow  X
American Goldfinch  X

Pt. Reyes–Chimney Rock, Marin, US-CA Apr 29, 2015 10:30 AM – 1:30 PM
3.5 mile(s)
13 species

Surf Scoter  X
Common Loon  X
Double-crested Cormorant  X
Pelagic Cormorant  X
Turkey Vulture  X
Black Oystercatcher  X
Western Gull  X
Peregrine Falcon  X
Western Bluebird  X
Savannah Sparrow  X
Song Sparrow  X
White-crowned Sparrow  X
House Finch  X

Bear Valley Visitor’s Center 2:30 pm

Acorn Woodpecker
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
California Quail
White-crowned Sparrow