With another atmospheric river on the horizon, we headed out Saturday for a Bodega Bay runaround.
![Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Morning-landscape-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
![Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Morning-landscape-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay-2-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
We began the morning with a peek at Bodega Head. On the largest offshore rock just beyond the perched Western Gulls, Pelagic Cormorants, and Brandt’s Cormorants, a tiny movement caught our eye. Surprisingly, three Savannah Sparrows hopped near a small rocky pool. This discovery spurred us to do a little research and we learned that along coastal areas, Savannah Sparrows occasionally feed on tiny crustaceans – how interesting!
![Western Gull and Pelagic Cormorant at Bodega Head in Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Western-Gull-and-Pelagic-Cormorant-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
A visitor from Placerville asked if we’d seen any whales, and we got to chattin’ after we explained we were looking at birds. We offered her a look through our scope and she exclaimed in glee at the close-up view of a Black Oystercatcher. It’s such a joy to see others delighting in bird encounters!
This Glaucous-winged Gull preened a while. In the photo on the right, you can see the gull accessing its uropygial gland. This oil gland – common to most birds – secretes an oil that helps keep their feathers in tip-top shape.
![Glaucous-winged Gull accessing its uropygial gland at Bodega Head in Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/GWGU-collage-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
Meanwhile, this harbor seal was livin’ the life!
![Harbor Seal at Bodega Head at Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Harbor-Seal-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
We moved on, but not before stopping along the road from Bodega Head, where there’s often nice passerine activity. Last winter, we saw Blue-gray Gnatcatchers several times along the road, so we wondered if they were around. Lo and behold, three were flitting about!
At the edge of the road, this male Spotted Towhee sang his heart out while Yellow-rumped Warblers provided backing vocals.
![Spotted Towhee near Bodega Head in Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Spotted-Towhee-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
This lovely little Lincoln’s Sparrow worked its way down the line of brush.
![Lincoln's Sparrow near Bodega Head in Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Lincolns-Sparrow-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
At Campbell Cove, a large congregation of Butterbutts flew hectically about.
![Yellow-rumped Warbler at Campbell Cove in Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Yellow-rumped-Warbler-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
Driving along Westshore Road, we noticed a group of Snowy Egrets and stopped to watch them search for lunch.
![Snowy Egret at Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Snowy-Egret-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
In the distance, this dark morph Red-tailed Hawk kept a watchful eye.
![Red-tailed Hawk dark morph at Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Red-tailed-Hawk-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
To a non-birder, a quick glimpse of this scene might suggest two parents with a brood of young. However, close inspection reveals a small raft of Eared Grebes with two Western Grebes leading the way.
![Raft of Eared Grebes at Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Eared-Grebes-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
In line with I’m Birding Right Now‘s Birding Bylaw of “No birds are trash birds,” we appreciated this House Sparrow’s beautiful black bib while recording his calls. Interestingly, a male House Sparrow’s breeding-plumage bib is produced by feather-wear, rather than by molt. In non-breeding (basic) plumage, his breast feathers are a more uniform gray, which wear down by breeding season to reveal the underlying black seen here.
![House Sparrow at Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/House-Sparrow-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay.jpg?resize=1024%2C682&ssl=1)
Here’s a better look at a Western Grebe. We love how goofy the black “toupee” looks from different angles.
![Western Grebe at Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Western-Grebe-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
Over at The Tides, this Ruddy Turnstone stood atop a rock and surveyed the carpet of Marbled Godwits.
![Ruddy Turnstone and Marbled Godwits at Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Ruddy-Turnstone-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
We eventually made it over to Doran Regional Park where we noticed this Herring Gull towering over the surrounding (mostly) Ring-billeds.
![Herring Gull at Doran Regional Park in Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Herring-Gull-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
Near the Doran jetty, fishermen and California Sea Lions were out in full force.
![California Sea Lion in the harbor at Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Sea-Lion-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay-1.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
![California Sea Lion in harbor at Bodega Bay](https://i0.wp.com/imbirdingrightnow.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Sea-Lion-2.23.19-Bodega-Bay-2.jpg?resize=1024%2C683&ssl=1)
Glad we made it out for a full day of birding before the storm!
it’s so nice receiving your posts when i am at the office indoors … i feel like i was there w/ you two and learning lots … love your sound bites w/ photo of the birds … i have been trying to figure out how one can learn the sounds and your contributions are wonderfully informing
retaining it is another thing … i assume one can look up your previous posts to listen again!
thanks so much for sharing!
vicki chung
Aww, that’s so nice to hear, Vicki. A great way to learn sounds is to start with the ones you hear everyday around your house. We started with the jays and chickadees we see all the time. Once you learn a couple of the common sounds, the new ones start to stick out as “something else” as well. We’re excited for hawkwatch next fall – hopefully we see you sometime before then, though!
Those Grebes are my favorite from this latest outing of yours. I wonder if the little
horned guys were fooled too?
The blog is so well done in general.
Love the narration too, which has a 1960’s Mutual of Omaha Wild Kingdom
feel about it.
Keep ’em coming, you two!
Eared, not horned! Haha.
Hahah, I like the thought of the grebes being fooled as well! Thanks for the supportive words, Steve, we really appreciate knowing that people are reading =) We had fun watching some Wild Kingdom clips on youtube today after your comment. We’ll definitely keep the posts coming!!