[SBB] Recent birding trips (photos)

["Chuq Von Rospach" <[[email protected]]>]

Some delayed notes on some recent birding...

On March 7, I went with a group from SCVAS to the Merced NWR and the
O'Neill forebay, led by Bob Power. I missed my ride, so I caught up
with the group at the NWR just as they were all going goo-goo eyed
over a Virginia Rail wandering around a pond, oblivious to everything
and giving off awesome views. It suddenly realized people were
watching and scuttered off into a small (I mean maybe 6" wide) group
of rushes and disappeared, much to our amusement given the clump was
no larger than the bird.

That started an awesome day of birding. Highlights include multiple
Great Horned Owls (and one nest), Sandhill crane, snow goose,
white-faced ibis, bittern, Tree Swallow, White-tailed kite, Peregrine
falcon, Prarie falcon, Northern Harrier, Common goldeneye, Marsh Wren
and Greater Roadrunner -- total was well over 70 species.

At one point, a peregrine flushed the shorebirds, which flushed the
snow geese, giving us an awesome sight of this huge cloud of white
flying in the distance. Another highlight was an owl nest, with an owl
visiting the nest while attempting to not have us notice.

I've got some photos up from the trip here

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chuqui/sets/72157600017275967/

On the 10th, I joined  up with Bill Walker and Ashok and we drove up
early and birded the Point Reyes earthquake trail. To the sound of a
red-shouldered hawk in the distance (but only vaguely seen), we found
a VERY friendly turkey vulture, california quail, at least 15 varied
thrush, Dark-Eyed Junco, Red-tailed hawk, Scrub Jay and Allen's
Hummingbird. We also ran into deer three times, females twice, and one
male that looked to be at least a three pointer.

After that, we joined up with Bob Strong and SCVAS for the group trip,
which included 5 brooks trail looking for wood ducks (we had one
flying overhead, one disguised as a D-C cormorant, and the rest
hiding) but we did see Acorn Woodpecker and Winter Wren as well as
various ducks and snapping turtles, then the bluffs above Agate Beach
for a pelagic (highlight being a red-throated loon and black
oystercatchers via scope, plus pelagic cormorants), and Bolinas Lagoon
(Tree Swallows, snowy egret, long-billed curlew, as well as a
Peregrine and a Northern Harrier sharing a snag in the lagoon. Later
on, the Peregrine flew down a shorebird and then had lunch (as did
we). After lunch, we went to Audubon Canyon for a guided tour of fhe
area and the egret rookeries, but we were a few days early adn the
nests were empty (ohwell). After that, we birded some more along
Bolinas Lagoon for ducks and shorebirds, including Belted Kingfisher,
Red-Breasted Merganser, Eurasion Wigeon, and Horned Grebe. Total count
for the SCVAS trip was over 80 species

A great time was had by all.

Photos for this trip are here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chuqui/sets/72157600017280861/

The hardest shot of the day by far was this one, since they were very
skittish and camera aware, but a little patience and care got me this
one:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chuqui/424724876/in/set-72157600017280861/

The turkey vulture is here. It was not just comfortable around humans,
it was actively coming up to people looking for a treat.
Unfortunately, I left my dead mice at home.... (at one point it got so
close to Dave he had to put an extension ring on his lens to get it
into focus...)

http://www.flickr.com/photos/chuqui/424723993/in/set-72157600017280861/

And a great thanks to everyone who went on that trip (and to Bob for
leading it) -- I had a ball, and learned a lot. The Merced trip gave
me at least 20 new lifers, which was wonderful, but the company kept
was even better....

-- 
Chuq Von Rospach
([[email protected]]; http://chuqui.typepad.com)

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