Blog Archives

The Wandering Tattler - for real! Pt.Reyes Nat'l Seashore

8/30/2016

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Wandering Tattler, Pt. Reyes National Seashore - on a previous blog I had misidentified this bird.

Wandering Tattler

Fish docks, Pt. Reyes

The Tattler had been listed as commonly seen at the Pt. Reyes Fish docks,
and that is where I found it. This is an abandoned dock that is no longer used.

Likes to run in and out of the surf, looking for things to eat - Wandering Tattler, Pt. Reyes

Osprey - near the lighthouse, Pt. Reyes National Seashore - it hung motionless in a strong breeze above me for several minutes, checking out the camera possibly.

On the way to Pt. Reyes, on Highway One, Tomales Bay, a kingfisher.

Another Osprey with a fish, Highway One, Tomales Bay

I believe this is a female common yellowthroat, near Drake's beach, Pt. Reyes

Female bushtit in the lichen, near Drake's beach, Pt. Reyes.

Black-throated gray warbler, Pine Flat Road

A weekend drive up Pine Flat Road in Healdsburg

Beautiful red-tailed hawk, Pine Flat road, Healdsburg

Also, first glimpse with camera of the shy and elusive Mountain Quail - different markings from the more commonly seen quail.

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Female Bullock's Oriole, Hole in the Head, Bodega

8/26/2016

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Female Bullock's oriole eating blackberries, probably bulking up as these birds migrate out of the area soon.

Same bird, different view, Hole in the Head, Bodega

Northern Harrier, top of Coleman Valley road

Naked ladies, Coleman Valley road - late summer flower in Sonoma County

Male Wilson's warbler, the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Sebastopol

Also due to migrate soon - male Wilson's Warbler, the Laguna

Our green heron again, in a different spot, the Laguna

Great egret flying very close by overhead, the Laguna

Black phoebe, the Laguna

Cormorant comes in for a landing, the Laguna

Cormorant in long descent, still maneuvering

Juvenile red-tail hawk? Not sure of this hawk's i.d. - the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Sebastopol

On the way out of the park, a small pacific slope flycatcher, intently hunting for its supper.

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Green Heron, the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Sebastopol

8/22/2016

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Green Heron, the Laguna

Same bird, different view

Circling over the west side of the Laguna, a Swainson's hawk - it was pretty high up, but got enough of a photo for an I.D.

Jack Rabbit, Tolay Lake

Recent walk, Tolay Lake Regional Park
This park is too hot to walk in during our summer weather, but recently we have been getting some cooler, autumn-like days.

Juvenile white-tailed kite with a mouse.

When I got too close, it took off with its mouse

Flew straight towards me to check me out, Tolay Lake Regional Park

Juvenile black phoebe, Tolay Lake

Quick trip to Doran Beach, Bodega

Marbled godwit, Doran Beach - this beach gets a lot of beach goers, and the birds get pretty people savvy.

More elegant terns, a personal favorite.

Elegant tern, calling and carrying a fish, Doran Beach, Bodega

Willet in flight, Doran Beach

Small group of surf scoters worked the surf, Doran Beach

Surf scoter, Doran Beach

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A yawning Pelican, Bodega Head

8/19/2016

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Brown Pelican, yawning, I think

Went on for a while

Fascinating!

All done, back to normal. Brown Pelican, Bodega Head

Pigeon guillemot in flight, Bodega Head

A female Hairy woodpecker attacks an apple in a neighboring tree, Camp Meeker

Also, a pileated woodpecker swooped through the neighborhood as well.

Recent walk through Shollenberger Park, Petaluma

Much of the watery areas are dried up, but there was enough for the black-necked stilts, of which there were a few.

A few killdeer as well, Shollenberger Park, Petaluma

Goldfinches aplenty.

There goldfinches were feeding on these yellow flowers, Shollenberger Park

Looking up, this great blue heron overhead, Shollenberger Park, Petaluma

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Elegant Terns, Drake's Beach, Pt. Reyes National Seashore

8/13/2016

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Large flock of elegant terns on the beach, Pt. Reyes

Elegant terns, looked like a combo of adults and juveniles

Apparently these birds are the "elvis" of the tern world

Elegant tern in flight with a fish, Drakes Beach, Pt. Reyes

Western kingbird in the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Sebastopol

8/10/2016

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Western Kingbird in flight

In an out of the way area of the Laguna, several Western Kingbirds were doing some bug catching in flight

Western Kingbird, the Laguna

Kingbird at rest, the Laguna

Female or juvenile Black-headed grosbeak near some berry bushes, the Laguna

Juvenile spotted towhee also near the berries

California towhee, the Laguna

Red-shouldered hawk circled overhead, keening

Juvenile Western Bluebird. the Laguna

This little bird's behavior was unusual as it seemed curious and came closer to the camera. I believe it is a Hutton's vireo, in the Laguna.

Lots of barn swallows zooming through the park

Another black-headed grosbeak probably female

Small flock of Vaux swifts - also called "flying cigars" for their stocky bodies and short tails (compared to swallows)

At the home feeders, pygmy nuthatch with a sunflower seed

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Early sighting Cedar Waxwings

8/8/2016

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An Autumn to spring visitor in the area, August is early for these birds to arrive. This cedar waxwing seen two days ago in the Laguna de Santa Rosa, Sebastopol.