Natural History Wanderings

I did two birding walks today. The first was the Eastshore State Park from the Sea Breeze Market through the Berkeley Meadow to the bay and back. I was hoping that the seasonal pools would be filled and that I would see ducks in the meadow. This was not the case. The pools are still dry. I did see plenty of waterbirds in the bay both by the Sea Breeze Market and in the Bay just north of the Meadow. Lots of American Wigeon, Greater Scaup, American Coots, Ruddy Ducks, and some Mallards. What was a surprise is this was the first time I have seen Western Bluebirds in the Berkeley Meadow. There was a group of at least ten bluebirds that were perching on the fence and the path.

Pt. Isabel was rather slow today. We were there during high tide hoping we might get to see a rail. There were a lot fewer people on the path than normal. It was also a good place to see waterbirds with lots of Northern Shovelers, Green-winged Teal, Ruddy Ducks, Greater Scaup and American Coot. There were also many American Avocet.  At one point we thought we might have seen a juvenile Ridgway’s Rail, but on closer examination it turned out to be trash in the grass.

Finally, after we got home we watched a group of at least 12 Bushtits drinking and bathing in the bird bath in our front yard. It was the time ever that we have seen Bushtits in our bird baths.

click read more to see bird lists

Eastshore SP–Berkeley access Bird List
Dec 26, 2015 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM
27 species

Canada Goose  X
American Wigeon  X
Mallard  X
Northern Shoveler  X
Greater Scaup  X
Bufflehead  X
Ruddy Duck  X
Horned Grebe  X
Brown Pelican  X
Great Egret  X
American Coot  X
Least Sandpiper  X
Anna’s Hummingbird  X
Black Phoebe  X
American Crow  X
Western Bluebird  10
European Starling  X
Yellow-rumped Warbler  X
White-crowned Sparrow  X
Golden-crowned Sparrow  X
Savannah Sparrow  X
Song Sparrow  X
Red-winged Blackbird  X
Western Meadowlark  X
Brewer’s Blackbird  X
Brown-headed Cowbird  X
House Finch  X

Pt. Isabel Regional Shoreline Bird List 
Dec 26, 2015 11:15 AM – 1:30 PM

27 species

Canada Goose  X
Mallard  X
Northern Shoveler  X
Green-winged Teal  X
Greater Scaup  X
Bufflehead  X
Common Goldeneye  X
Ruddy Duck  X
Double-crested Cormorant  X
Brown Pelican  X
Snowy Egret  X
Turkey Vulture  X
American Coot  X
American Avocet  X
Greater Yellowlegs  X
Willet  X
Whimbrel  X
Ring-billed Gull  X
Rock Pigeon (Feral Pigeon)  X
Black Phoebe  X
American Crow  X
Ruby-crowned Kinglet  X
Yellow-rumped Warbler  X
White-crowned Sparrow  X
Golden-crowned Sparrow  X
Song Sparrow  X
Red-winged Blackbird  X