Female Red-winged Blackbird feeding fledgling in a bush at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California

Petaluma Wetlands Alliance Monthly Bird Survey at Shollenberger Park (6/20/19)

Thursday, June 20, was the bimonthly bird survey at Shollenberger Park for the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance (PWA). Cloud coverage and distant fog greeted us, making for a beautifully moody setting.

June morning at the ponds of Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Serene morning at Shollenberger Park
Bird survey birding at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Setting off at 7 AM

Right away, we encountered this male Ruddy Duck in breeding plumage performing a courtship display for a nearby female. With his tail cocked straight up, the male Ruddy Duck bobs his head and rapidly hits his bright, blue bill against his breast.

Male Ruddy Duck in breeding plumage at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California

Male Ruddy Duck in breeding plumage at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Ruddy Duck male

Just beyond the Ruddies sat a Black-necked Stilt on its nest.

Black-necked Stilt sitting on nest at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Black-necked Stilt

Count leader Andy LaCasse pointed out this beautiful, blooming Cardoon.

Cardoon artichoke thistle plant at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Cardoon aka Artichoke Thistle

We heard the familiar song of a Common Yellowthroat and looked around for the singing male.

Though we never located the songster, we tracked a tiny bird moving around in the willows until we finally got a look – a juvenile Common Yellowthroat! Since Common Yellowthroats are known to learn their songs from nearby singing males, perhaps this young bird was listening closely and taking notes.

Baby Common Yellowthroat juvenile fledgling at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Common Yellowthroat juvenile

We came across another Black-necked Stilt calling repeatedly – this time sitting directly on the ground instead of a nest.

Much to the group’s surprise, the stilt stood up and out popped three chicks!

Black-necked Stilt chicks with adult in the background at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Black-necked Stilt and chick

The intrepid chicks explored the muck until their parent eventually called them back. Look how well-camouflaged the chicks are!

Black-necked Stilt chicks in the mud at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Black-necked Stilt chicks

Group of birders for bird survey at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
[L-R] Craig, Len, Andy, Sharon, JJ, Miles, Mary, John, Peter, Malcolm (not pictured – Teresa)
Further down the trail, we encountered a common cohabitant of the Black-necked Stilt – an American Avocet and its adorable, long-legged chick.

American Avocet and chick at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
American Avocet and chick

More and more young birds are popping up as we head into summer – like these Ruddy Duck mini-me ducklings with their mother.

Female Ruddy Duck family with ducklings at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Ruddy Duck female and ducklings

Several in the group strained their eyes toward the distant mudflats to ensure no bird went uncounted. They tallied a couple Willets, some Marbled Godwits, and a surprising off-season Greater Yellowlegs.

Bird survey birding with spotting scopes at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
If birds conducted human surveys, perhaps this is how they’d observe us!

A couple Killdeer blended into their marshy habitat.

Killdeer in the marsh at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Killdeer

Listen to the noisy Killdeer here.

During April’s Shollenberger survey, we observed a couple tiny, neon-colored American Coot chicks. Two months later, the chicks are now juveniles with light gray plumage, but otherwise very similar in shape to an adult.

American Coot juvenile swimming at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
American Coot juvenile

Because of their tendency to perch conspicuously while singing, Song Sparrows are one of the most readily visible songbirds in the park.

Song Sparrow perched on branch at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Song Sparrow

A flock of busy Bushtits blew through the bramble in front of us. A male Bushtit – like this one – has a dark eye, versus the light eye of a female.

Male Bushtit perched on branch at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Bushtit male

Listen here to the flock – which at one point included at least 15 birds!

Bird survey birding at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Andy, Malcolm, and Peter scanning

A Red-winged Blackbird female landed on the trail to grab some plant fluff.

Female Red-winged Blackbird gathering food for fledgling at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Red-winged Blackbird female

We tracked her as she flew off, and delighted in watching her feed a hungry fledgling in the shrubs.

Female Red-winged Blackbird feeding fledgling in a bush at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California

Female Red-winged Blackbird feeding fledgling in a bush at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Female Red-winged Blackbird feeding fledgling

Listen in to the feeding interaction between the mother and its young below. Just after 5 seconds, you can hear the excited fledgling start squealing as mom approaches with food.

As the group rounded the last corner, we ran into PWA Board Director John Shribbs who was fixing up the entrance kiosk.

John Shribbs president of Petaluma Wetlands Alliance painting a kiosk at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, California
Thanks, John!

What an amazing last-day-of-spring we enjoyed for this June survey! By the end of the morning, the team had tallied 63 species for PWA’s June 2019 survey.
 
If you have any questions about this particular count or if you’re interested in participating in future counts, please contact the coordinator/compiler for these surveys, Len Nelson, at lennelsn@comcast.net.
 
If you’re interested in seeing the male Ruddy Duck’s courtship display in action, you can check out TerraNaturalist’s YouTube video here: Mysterious behaviors of Ruddy Ducks.

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