A Few Feathered Friends of Fall

Hello! Hope everyone is having a nice beginning to autumn!
 
We’re so lucky to live in an area with great birding year-round. Fall is an especially fun time for birding in the county — an exciting mix of spring-breeder stragglers on their way out, migrants passing through, and wintering birds just arriving! Here are a few birds we’ve had the pleasure of encountering recently. Continue reading “A Few Feathered Friends of Fall”

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)”

Turkey Vulture perched on a branch against blue sky in Pleasanton, California

2019 Christmas Bird Count #3: Eastern Alameda County (12/20/19)

A sparkling, sunny morning greeted us in Pleasanton for our friend Adam’s section of the 2019 Eastern Alameda County Christmas Bird Count. Our team set out along the creekside Arroyo del Valle Trail to tally which and how many birds were around. Continue reading “2019 Christmas Bird Count #3: Eastern Alameda County (12/20/19)”

Collage of male American Robin, Black-headed Grosbeak, Western Tanager

Birding By Ear Lesson #2: Song Comparison of American Robin, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Western Tanager

In this second Birding By Ear lesson, we’ll break down three easily confused songs heard during spring and summer – the songs of the American Robin, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Western Tanager. Continue reading “Birding By Ear Lesson #2: Song Comparison of American Robin, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Western Tanager”

Male blue bird Lazuli Bunting perched on a branch singing at Hunter Creek Trail near Mount Rose Wilderness, Reno Nevada

Birding Trip Report: Mt. Rose Wilderness

Earlier this week, we birded two creekside areas within the Mt. Rose Wilderness in Washoe County, Nevada, southwest of Reno. The first, Hunter Creek, winds through the Wilderness along a popular trail to a waterfall. The second, Jones Creek, runs through the Galena Creek Recreation Area, located along the Mount Rose Scenic Byway (Highway 431). Continue reading “Birding Trip Report: Mt. Rose Wilderness”