Natural History Wanderings

Today I went birding with several friends from the Audubon Masterbirding Program. We saw 27 species at Abbott’s Lagoon. Birding highlights today included watching an Osprey fish, 2 Peregrine Falcon, playing with Turkey Vultures and a group of Snowy Plovers.

The fun highlight was watching a group (family?) of five river otters. Also seen were mule Black-tailed Deer.

Flowers in bloom included Dune Gumplant, Coyote Bush, Beach Suncups, Wild Heliotrope, Yarrow, California Poppy, Cow Parsnip, Marsh Hedge Nettle, Goldenrod, Poison Hemlock, Common Monkeyflower, Candyflower, Musk Cinquefoil, Lotus, a purple aster, Pearly Everlasting,Rocket (alien) and Thistles (alien).

Also seen were White Pelicans at Nicasio Reservoir and a Coyote on the road before getting to Abbott’s Lagoon.

Best snack was the Salted Tahini Chocolate Chip Cookies.

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Abbotts Lagoon, Pt. Reyes Birdlist Sep 29, 2018 8:29 AM – 11:53 AM
compiled by Bob Lewis
3.0 mile(s)
Comments:     5 river otters; rain at end of trip
27 species

Canada Goose  40
American Wigeon  3
California Quail  11
Pied-billed Grebe  1
Clark’s Grebe  1
Snowy Plover  22
Sanderling  25
Western Gull  2
Double-crested Cormorant  5
Brown Pelican  7
Great Blue Heron  1
Great Egret  1
Turkey Vulture  5
Osprey  1
Northern Harrier  2     Male
American Kestrel  2
Peregrine Falcon  2
Black Phoebe  2
California Scrub-Jay  1
Common Raven  6
Bewick’s Wren  2
American Goldfinch  5
White-crowned Sparrow  15
Song Sparrow  2
Red-winged Blackbird  31
Brewer’s Blackbird  4
Common Yellowthroat  3