We visited Sonoma Valley Regional Park for the first time last week with our friend Malcolm. The lovely 202-acre park in Glen Ellen features oak woodlands, meadows, open grasslands, and riparian areas along Black Canyon and Sonoma Creeks.
Two male Dark-eyed Juncos hopping on the paved trail greeted us. As they neared each other, they became agitated and ultimately began grappling in the grass. Fascinated, we watched the flurry of feathers battle it out mid-air with leg kicks and wing strikes. After the quick duel, the juncos retreated to perches about 20 feet away from each other to belt out their respective songs. Perhaps they were working out the boundary of their neighboring territories?
One junco’s song was a very classic “ringing-bell” trill. The other male’s song was faster and drier, more akin to an insect sound. They traded off song performances until the end of this recording, when the insect-like song repeats twice.
Sonoma Valley Regional Park abuts Suttonfield Lake. We enjoyed a loop around the lake, encountering a variety of birds along the way.
Violet-green Swallows abounded all day, not only zipping about but often perching and showing off their vibrant colors.
We encountered these 11 goslings with three adult Canada Geese, and wondered why there were three adults. According to the Birds of North America reference site, a normal clutch size averages around four to six young. Perhaps a fourth adult was somewhere nearby and we were watching two separate geese families?
At one point, four Ash-throated Flycatchers interacted in a small, lakeside patch of oaks, vocalizing occasionally.
As we traversed through some grasslands, we heard a sharp “wheep!” whistle-like sound. After peering into an oak for quite some time, Malcolm finally spotted the bird – a female Hooded Oriole! She flew down to a nearby fallen tree and popped up with nesting material, and we then spotted her mate nearby. Excitedly, we watched her from a distance as she flew directly up into her nest!
On the north side of the park, we heard a familiar nasal-y sound – Blue-gray Gnatcatchers! As we visually tracked a pair bopping around, one bopped directly into its nest! We recorded the male singing as well.
House Wrens easily won the “All-the-While” Award for the day – the award we give to the bird who seems to be everywhere, vocalizing incessantly at every turn.
Here are songs from three different House Wrens. Though the songs are variable, they are all constructed using emphatic phrases of rapid and repetitive buzzes, squeaks and trills lasting about 2 seconds.
As we wrapped up our day, this brilliantly colored Western Fence Lizard bid us adieu.
We enjoyed our birdy day with Malcolm exploring another one of Sonoma County’s wonderful regional parks!
Click here to download a PDF map of the park: Sonoma Valley Regional Park Map
Man…I never knew Juncos could be so aggressive. I’m glad I did not witness that. If so I would think nothing in life was good again.
Is it me or does that Violet Green swallow’s head look like a cake pop? I wonder what it would taste like?
Man that sign is specific. No swims with man’s best friend but you can get an up close look at Anarchy!
That Western Fence Lizard is so chill. Love the blue on his belly.
Thanks for another great post. Love the scenic photos. You guys are great at bird photos and audio. Wouldn’t it be crazy if you stepped it up one more notch and memorized the vocal patterns of the birds and could ID by sound wave form alone? That’s be insane and a total waste of time.
Bird on!!
Bird on, indeed! The VG swallow’s head definitely looks like a delicious cake pop, let us know if you figure out the flavor.
Great spot, was set to lead a hike there just after the fires of October 2017, of course all were hikes cancelled! For sure seen the Junco’s battle it out before like that, and yes! territorial moshing in the pit! Regarding the park was lucky enough to do trail work, non native plant removal and facilities up keep there in the Conservation Crops in the late 80s …. So glad it was saved from development. Greenbelts and wildlife corridors work!
Hi Larry! Hahaha, a mosh pit full of juncos is quite the visual! Whose concert would they be at?
That is so awesome you had a part in the development of the park – it’s because of people like you that Sonoma County has such bountiful amounts of protected natural areas as well as an amazing community of nature lovers. Thanks for all you do. We feel so lucky to live here and be a part of it all.