A Day at Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve (Los Angeles County)

Last month, we found ourselves in Los Angeles County with a day to spare for birding. Why were we in LA County, you might ask? Continue reading “A Day at Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve (Los Angeles County)”

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)”

Female Western Tanager on a branch surrounded by oak leaves

2021 Christmas Bird Count #1: Eastern Alameda County (12/17/21)

This past Friday we joined our friend Adam Cimino for his section of the 2021 Eastern Alameda County Christmas Bird Count. We lucked out with a brilliantly sunny day for our walk along the Arroyo del Valle Trail. Over a 4-mile stretch of creekside trail, we ended up with 49 species — let’s explore some of the species we spotted. Continue reading “2021 Christmas Bird Count #1: Eastern Alameda County (12/17/21)”

Lesser Goldfinch perched on skinny willow branch

February Birds

Though the area rain levels were disappointingly low in February, the flipside was an abundance of spring-like birding days. With the relaxation of shelter-in-place restrictions and beautiful weather beckoning us, we made it out several times to enjoy Sonoma County’s bird life. Continue reading “February Birds”

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”

Pink sunrise landscape reflecting in ponds with duck silhouettes

PWA Monthly Bird Survey at Shollenberger (10/29/20)

Thursday, October 29, was the bimonthly bird survey at Shollenberger Park for the Petaluma Wetlands Alliance (PWA). The group gathered early, and the soft pink sunrise did not disappoint!
 
As with all survey mornings, a bevy of Red-winged Blackbirds declared “Good morning!” from the tules. As the sun rose, hundreds emerged en masse – here’s what it’s like to be beneath one of the emerging flocks. Continue reading “PWA Monthly Bird Survey at Shollenberger (10/29/20)”