2019 Christmas Bird Count #4: Western Sonoma County (12/29/19)

Last Sunday, we participated in our fourth and final Christmas Bird Count of 2019, Madrone Audubon Society’s Western Sonoma County CBC.
 
A rainy forecast awaited us, so when Team 14 met at the Salmon Creek Ranger Station at 7:30 AM, we quickly split into two groups to get started before the downpour. Our half headed to the Jenner Overlook to tally up the gulls.

Bill and Don took the helm to scope the massive flock and sort out the species from afar. We estimated approximately 1,700 gulls, broken down as follows: 45% California, 25% Glaucous-winged, 10% Herring, 10% Western, and 10% Mew. We also tallied 3 Iceland (Thayer’s) Gulls, and Don picked out a gorgeous all-white, rare Glaucous Gull amidst the ranks.

The rain held off longer, and we had a great stop at a riverside RV Park. In addition to many expected passerines, this spot also yielded some great birds for the count: White-throated Sparrow, Orange-crowned Warbler, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Pacific Wren, Townsend’s Warbler, and Red-breasted Sapsucker.
 
It was here we managed to snap our only bird photos of the day – both of Fox Sparrows!

The rain began as we checked out a coastal campground, a small ocean-side neighborhood, and a rocky bluff. By the time we regrouped with the other team around Noon, the rain was dumping. Lucky us, though, we all enjoyed a cozy lunch in a warm van.

At the end of the day, our whole team tallied 84 species for Area 14. The entire Western Sonoma County CBC had a preliminary count of 166, which was on the low side.
 
Despite the uncooperative weather, we still had a fantastic day and enjoyed the company of our fellow birders greatly. We’re sad that CBC season has come to an end, and we’re already looking forward to the 2020 Christmas Bird Count season!
 
To learn more about the CBC, visit the National Audubon Society’s History of the Christmas Bird Count page.