Sonoma County Birding: Bodega Bay & Doran Regional Park

With another atmospheric river on the horizon, we headed out Saturday for a Bodega Bay runaround.

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!

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.

Meanwhile, this harbor seal was livin’ the life!

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.

This lovely little Lincoln’s Sparrow worked its way down the line of brush.

At Campbell Cove, a large congregation of Butterbutts flew hectically about.

Driving along Westshore Road, we noticed a group of Snowy Egrets and stopped to watch them search for lunch.

In the distance, this dark morph Red-tailed Hawk kept a watchful eye.

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.

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.

Here’s a better look at a Western Grebe. We love how goofy the black “toupee” looks from different angles.

Over at The Tides, this Ruddy Turnstone stood atop a rock and surveyed the carpet of Marbled Godwits.

We eventually made it over to Doran Regional Park where we noticed this Herring Gull towering over the surrounding (mostly) Ring-billeds.

Near the Doran jetty, fishermen and California Sea Lions were out in full force.

Glad we made it out for a full day of birding before the storm!