Some Birds from San Luis Obispo County

We recently visited San Luis Obispo and had the opportunity to do some birding. Our hotel was directly beside the bird-rich Laguna Lake, so we didn’t have to go far for birds. Moreover, for an auspicious start to our first morning, this gorgeous Red-tailed Hawk greeted us from the hotel parking lot!

Continue reading “Some Birds from San Luis Obispo County”

Townsend's Warbler male profile showing white wingbars black face mask perched in douglas-fir branch in redwood forest in Northern California

Townsend’s Warbler, Winter Gem of the Conifers

How lucky the West Coast is to harbor the vibrant Townsend’s Warbler during the nonbreeding months! Though we see this bright little jewel almost every winter day here in the mixed conifer forest, each viewing stops us in our tracks. Continue reading “Townsend’s Warbler, Winter Gem of the Conifers”

Hairy Woodpecker male perched on tree trunk covered in moss in Guerneville California

A Walk in Our Redwoods

We’re always attuned to the bird activity at our house, but since our beloved pup died this past October, it’s been hard to take long walks in the surrounding woods without our boy. But, needing to stay near home and away from others, we’ve mustered up the nerve to face bittersweet reminders and start exploring again.
 
Just a short walk from our front door is a county fire road that winds through the mixed evergreen forest. We very rarely cross paths with anyone up there, so it fits the bill perfectly for getting a dose of nature while practicing social isolation. Continue reading “A Walk in Our Redwoods”

Red-tailed Hawk, Woodpecker Trail, Point Reyes National Seashore, Marin County

Marin County Birding: Woodpecker Trail, Point Reyes National Seashore

A while back, our friend Rich Cimino asked if we’d fill in to lead his annual Beginning Birding event for the Point Reyes Birding & Nature Festival since he’d be out of town giving the keynote address for the Owens Lake Bird Festival. Excited for the opportunity, we eagerly agreed.
 
The event is at Point Reyes National Seashore’s Woodpecker Trail next weekend, so yesterday we headed down to do a walk-through. Continue reading “Marin County Birding: Woodpecker Trail, Point Reyes National Seashore”

Chestnut-backed Chickadee perched on redwood branch in Guerneville California

20 Birds of the Redwood Forest & Russian River (Winter Edition)


Interested in which birds are around during Spring and Summer? Check out the Spring Edition of 25 Birds of Our Patch – The Redwood Forest & Russian River here!


We live in a beautiful forested area dominated by Coast Redwoods and Douglas-firs near the Russian River in Northern California. We bird our home patch daily, walking through our neighborhood to a fire road that winds through dense conifer forest. With winter soon drawing to a close, we wanted to share some of the species we’re fortunate to encounter on a normal day. Continue reading “20 Birds of the Redwood Forest & Russian River (Winter Edition)”