Golden-crowned Sparrow perched on a branch with green lichen with gray background

2021 Christmas Bird Count #2: Santa Rosa (12/19/21)

Last Sunday was Redwood Region Ornithological Society’s annual Santa Rosa Christmas Bird Count. The day was cold and overcast, but thankfully without rain.
 
We began at sunrise at one edge of our territory, deep along a forested stretch of St. Helena Road. At first, we could only hear the water rushing through Mark West Creek — but our ears pricked up at the sound of our first bird of the day — two Pacific Wrens calling loudly. Continue reading “2021 Christmas Bird Count #2: Santa Rosa (12/19/21)”

Cedar Waxwing perched on green tree eating a red berry

Some Autumn Birding

Hello, readers – hope you all are warm and healthy! We’ve done some autumn birding locally, and wanted to share a few of the birds we’ve observed.
 
But before we begin with the birds, we’re excited to report our first-ever observation of a Long-tailed Weasel! We enjoyed a distant view of its periscopic head swiveling back and forth, ever alert. Continue reading “Some Autumn Birding”

Cliff Swallow nesting colony at Shollenberger Park, Petaluma, Sonoma County, California

Petaluma Wetlands Alliance Monthly Bird Survey at Shollenberger Park (4/22/19)

Ahhh, spring at Shollenberger Park – what a wonderful time to be a bird survey team member for the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance (PWA). The team gathered early Monday morning for the bimonthly bird survey, and what a beautiful morning it was! Continue reading “Petaluma Wetlands Alliance Monthly Bird Survey at Shollenberger Park (4/22/19)”

Sonoma County Birding: Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail

The Laguna de Santa Rosa is a freshwater wetlands complex and wildlife corridor in Sonoma County consisting of 30,000+ acres. A public trail runs through a small portion of the laguna near Sebastopol that provides great birding opportunities year-round, making it one of our favorite spots in the county. Continue reading “Sonoma County Birding: Laguna de Santa Rosa Trail”