Trip report: California, USA, october 1999

Trip report: California, USA, october 1999

10 november 1999

Sjaak Schilperoort, Voorschoten, The Netherlands; sjaak@xs4all.nl


Sunset at Palo Alto Baylands

Trip description

From 14 to 23 october 1999 I was on a business trip to Santa Clara, California, USA. During that period I had three days off, enabling me to do visit some nice places. Furthermore, the Palo Alto Baylands were close enough to enable me to do an hour birdwatching before working hours. Some days I walked around Santa Clara before breakfast. The jetlag helped me to rise early for at least a week.

On saturday 16 october I took a trip on saturday to Point Reyes, where I joined an all day birdwatching excursion organised by the Audobon Society and lead by Cathy Purchis. The main goal was to see fall migration birds, especially migrant warblers often present at the far west point of Point Reyes. It indeed produced some nice species, such as the palm warbler. Together with raptors, woodland birds and shorebirds I managed to see close to 90 species altogether.

Sunday 17 october I spent together with a non-birding collegue driving through Diablo Mountains, looking for the yellow-billed magpie, a Californian endemic. Due to usefull guidelines in rec.birds we found them rather easily, along the road from San Jose (highway 130) to Livermore (Mines Road). See below for a picture of the bird. The afternoon we spent walking, birdwatching and enjoying the summer-weather in the East Bay area around Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center, close to the San Mateo bridge. This area was very rich on ducks (over 5000 present, mostly pintails and shovelers).

Wednesday 20 october was our last day off. We went through the San Mateo mountains (via Alpine Road) to the Pacific Coast. In the afternoon we took Highway 1 to San Francisco, and spent the rest of the day there. At friday 22 october we could spent the last part of the afternoon in Santa Cruz and Big Basin Redwoods State Park.

We rented a car for the full period.

Sites visited

The trip to Point Reyes consisted of visits to Five Brooks trailhead, Limantour Beach, Oyster Farm, Drakes Beach, Chimney Rock and then back to Bear Vally Visitor Center.

Literature

Bird species list

The bird names are taken from the AOU checklist of North American birds. I have seen 123 bird species, 15 of which were first-timers. I've made photographs of some of the birds I encountered, using a Minolta X-700 and a Swarowski AT80HD telescope with 800 mm adapter.

Dates are in ISO format (yymmdd).

1. Common Loon - Gavia immer
Very common at the Pacific coast. 991016: a group of more than hundred at Point Reyes/Drakes Bay.
2. Pied-billed Grebe - Podilymbus podiceps
Common around Bay area.
3. Eared Grebe - Podiceps nigricollis
991021: 1 in winter plumage at Palo Alto Baylands.
4. Western Grebe - Aechmophorus occidentalis
Common on freshwater and coastal area at Point Reyes.
5. Clark's Grebe - Aechmophorus clarkii
991017: 1 at East Bay Area.
6. American White Pelican - Pelecanus erythrorhynchos
Common around Bay Area.


991022: American White Pelican

7. Brown Pelican - Pelecanus occidentalis
Very common along Pacific Coast.


991023: Brown Pelican at Santa Cruz

8. Double-crested Cormorant - Phalacrocorax auritus
Common around Bay Area and Point Reyes.
9. Pelagic Cormorant - Phalacrocorax pelagicus
Common at Pacific Coast.
10. Great Blue Heron - Ardea herodias
Several seen around Bay Area and Point Reyes.
11. Great Egret - Ardea alba
Common at both fresh water and salt water areas.


991017: Great Egret

12. Snowy Egret - Egretta thula
Common at both fresh water and salt water areas.


991017: Snowy Egret

13. Black-crowned Night-Heron - Nycticorax nycticorax
Common at Palo Alto Bay Area. 991021: in the evening over 30 birds seen flying off from inland sites near Palo Alto to go feeding in the Bay area.
14. Turkey Vulture - Cathartes aura
Seen everywhere, mostly in small groups of up to 10 birds.
15. Gadwall - Anas strepera
Bay Area: several 100's present. 991016: 100 at Point Reyes.
16. American Wigeon - Anas americana
Common in Bay area, 991017: several 1000's at East Bay
17. Mallard - Anas platyrhynchos
Seen everywhere.
18. Blue-winged Teal - Anas discors
991019: 6 at Palo Alto Baylands.


991019: Blue-winged Teals, Cinnamon Teals and Northern Shovelers

19. Cinnamon Teal - Anas cyanoptera
991016: 2 at Point Reyes, common at Palo Alto Baylands


991020: Cinnamon Teals, together with Northern Shovelers and American Coots

20. Northern Shoveler - Anas clypeata
Common in Bay area, 991017: several 1000's at East Bay.
21. Northern Pintail - Anas acuta
Common in Bay area and Point Reyes, 991017: several 1000's at East Bay.
22. Green-winged Teal - Anas crecca
Common in Bay area and Point Reyes, 991017: several 100's at East Bay.
23. Canvasback - Aythya valisineria
991021: over 50 at Palo Alto Bay Area.
24. Ring-necked Duck - Aythya collaris
991016: some 50 at Point Reyes.
25. Lesser Scaup - Aythya affinis
991021: 30 at Palo Alto Bay Area.
26. Surf Scoter - Melanitta perspicillata
Common at Pacific coast. 991016: over 100 at Point Reyes/Drakes Bay, 991022: 1 female at Santa Cruz/Lorenzo River.
27. Ruddy Duck - Oxyura jamaicensis
Over 1000 at Bay Area, forming large groups.
28. Osprey - Pandion haliaetus
991016: 2 birds at Point Reyes, one catching fish in the first dive, the second bird tried once on the same spot but missed.
29. White-tailed Kite - Elanus leucurus
991015: 1 at Palo Alto Bay Area, 991016: 1 at Point Reyes, 991017: 1 at East Bay, 991022: 3 at Palo Alto Baylands.
30. Northern Harrier - Circus cyaneus
Several at Palo Alto Baylands and East Bay area, 991016: 1 male and several females at Point Reyes.
31. Sharp-shinned Hawk - Accipiter striatus
991016: 3 at Point Reyes.
32. Cooper's Hawk - Accipiter cooperii
991015: 1 at Palo Alto Baylands, 991016: 2 at Point Reyes.
33. Red-shouldered Hawk - Buteo lineatus
991016: 1 at Point Reyes, 991019: 1 at Palo Alto Baylands.
34. Red-tailed Hawk - Buteo jamaicensis
Most common raptor, seen everyhere including town centres.
35. American Kestrel - Falco sparverius
Occurring everywhere, but only small numbers seen.
36. Merlin - Falco columbarius
991015: 1 at Palo Alto Baylands, 991016: 1 at Point Reyes.
37. Peregrine Falcon - Falco peregrinus
991016: 1 female at Point Reyes, 991017: 1 male at East Bay, 991022: 1 male at Santa Cruz (shortly present on the beach).
38. Ring-necked Pheasant - Phasianus colchicus
Several at Palo Alto Baylands.
39. California Quail - Callipepla californica
Common at Point Reyes and Diablo Mountains.
40. Common Moorhen - Gallinula chloropus
991019: 1 at Palo Alto Baylands.
41. American Coot - Fulica americana
Common in all fresh water areas.
42. Black-bellied Plover - Pluvialis squatarola
991016: 1 at Point Reyes, 991017: 40 at East Bay, 991021: 30 at Palo Alto Bay, 991022: 40 at Santa Cruz.
43. Killdeer - Charadrius vociferus
Present at most freshwater water, even at very small pools


991019: Killdeer

44. Black-necked Stilt - Himantopus mexicanus
Several present in the Palo Alto Baylands, 991017: 20 at East Bay area
45. American Avocet - Recurvirostra americana
Common in Palo Alto Baylands and East Bay area, 991016: 4 at Point Reyes.


991019: American Avocets and a Cinnamon Teal at East bay area

46. Greater Yellowlegs - Tringa melanoleuca
991016: 5 at Point Reyes/Limantour Beach, 991017: 2 at East Bay area and 991019: 1 at Palo Alto Baylands.
47. Willet - Catoptrophorus semipalmatus
Very common in Bay area, several seen along Pacific Coast.
48. Whimbrel - Numenius phaeopus
991019: 2 along Pacific Coast.
49. Long-billed Curlew - Numenius americanus
991016: 10 at Point Reyes/Limantour, 991017: several at East Bay area.
50. Marbled Godwit - Limosa fedoa
991016: 10 at Point Reyes/Limantour, 991017: common at East Bay area.
51. Black Turnstone - Arenaria melanocephala
991019: 15 along Pacific Coast.
52. Surfbird - Aphriza virgata
991019: 6 along Pacific Coast.
53. Sanderling - Calidris alba
991019: 50 along Pacific Coast.
54. Western Sandpiper - Calidris mauri
991016: 50 at Point Reyes/Oyster Farm, 991017: 100's at East Bay area.
55. Least Sandpiper - Calidris minutilla
991016: 20 at Point Reyes/Oyster Farm, 991017: 100's at East Bay area, 80 at Palo Alto Baylands.


991017: Least Sandpiper

56. Short-billed Dowitcher - Limnodromus griseus
991017: 50 at East Bay area, 991021: 50 at Palo Alto Baylands.
57. Heermann's Gull - Larus heermanni
Common along Pacific Coast.


991023: Heermann's Gull at Santa Cruz

58. Mew Gull - Larus canus
Common around Bay area.
59. Ring-billed Gull - Larus delawarensis
Common around Bay area.


991019: Ring-billed Gull

60. California Gull - Larus californicus
Common around Bay area and Pacific Coast.
61. Herring Gull - Larus argentatus
991017: present along Pacific Coast.
62. Thayer's Gull - Larus thayeri
991017: 2 at East Bay area


991017: Thayer's Gull

63. Western Gull - Larus occidentalis
Common along Pacific Coast.
64. Forster's Tern - Sterna forsteri
991021: 3 in the evening at Palo Alto Baylands, 991022: 10 above see at Santa Cruz.
65. Black Skimmer - Rynchops niger
991021: 7 birds resting and hunting at Palo Alto Baylands, still present on 991022.


991021: Black Skimmer at Palo Alto Baylands

66. Craveri's Murrelet - Synthliboramphus craveri
991016: 1 at Point Reyes/Drakes Bay, close to the shore and with oil patches.
67. Rock Dove - Columba livia
Common.
68. Band-tailed Pigeon - Columba fasciata
991016: 6 at Point Reyes, 991019: 40 along Alpine Road.
69. Mourning Dove - Zenaida macroura
Very common, sometimes gathering in large groups such as 991015: over 200 at Palo Alto Baylands.
70. Barn Owl - Tyto alba
991021: 1 male, 2 female hunting at dawn over Palo Alto Baylands.
71. Short-eared Owl - Asio flammeus
991017: 1 over East Baylands, 991021: 1 over Palo Alto Baylands.
72. Anna's Hummingbird - Calypte anna
Common in Santa Clara and other urban places.


991021: Anna's Hummingbird at Santa Clara Central Park

73. Belted Kingfisher - Ceryle alcyon
991016: 1 at Point Reyes/Five Brooks, 991019: 1 at Pacific Coast.
74. Acorn Woodpecker - Melanerpes formicivorus
Common at Point Reyes and mountainous areas, including redwood forrests.
75. Nuttall's Woodpecker - Picoides nuttallii
76. Downy Woodpecker - Picoides pubescens
991018: 2 in Santa Clara/Central Park
77. Northern Flicker - Colaptes auratus
Common, single birds seen in Santa Clara, the Mountains and Point Reyes.
78. Black Phoebe - Sayornis nigricans
Common, also occurring in Bay area.
79. Say's Phoebe - Sayornis saya
991016: 1 at Point Reyes/Five Brooks, 991017: 1 at Diablo Mountains, 991018: 1 in Santa Clara/Central Park
80. Loggerhead Shrike - Lanius ludovicianus
991019: Palo Alto Baylands: 1
81. Cassin's Vireo - Vireo cassinii
991018: 1 in Santa Clara/Central Park
82. Steller's Jay - Cyanocitta stelleri
Common in mountains.
83. Western Scrub-Jay - Aphelocoma californica
Common and seen everywhere.
84. Yellow-billed Magpie - Pica nuttalli
991017: 20 seen along the road between San Jose and Livermore (130, Mines Road)


991017: Yellow-billed Magpie

85. American Crow - Corvus brachyrhynchos
Common
86. Common Raven - Corvus corax
991016: several at Point Reyes, common in mountains.
87. Violet-green Swallow - Tachycineta thalassina
991019: 40 seen along Alpine Road
88. Chestnut-backed Chickadee - Poecile rufescens
991016: 1 at Point Reyes/Five Brooks, 991018: 1 in Santa Clara/Central Park, 991019: 1 along Alpine Road.
89. Oak Titmouse - Baeolophus inornatus
991017: 1 at ?? observatory
90. Bushtit - Psaltriparus minimus
Common, seen in Santa Clara and Palo Alto Bay Area.
91. White-breasted Nuthatch - Sitta carolinensis
991017: 2 in Diablo Mountains.
92. Brown Creeper - Certhia americana
991016: 1 at Point Reyes/Five Brooks
93. Bewick's Wren - Thryomanes bewickii
991016: several at Point Reyes
94. Winter Wren - Troglodytes troglodytes
991022: 1 at Big Basin Redwoods State Park
95. Marsh Wren - Cistothorus palustris
991016: 1 singing at Point Reyes/Limantour, 991019: 6 singing at Palo Alto Baylands.
96. Ruby-crowned Kinglet - Regulus calendula
991016: 1 at Point Reyes/Five Brooks
97. Western Bluebird - Sialia mexicana
991017: several single birds and one group of 40 at Diablo Mountains
98. Hermit Thrush - Catharus guttatus
991022: 1 at Big Basin Redwoods State Park
99. American Robin - Turdus migratorius
Common in Santa Clara, 991016: several at Point Reyes.
100. Northern Mockingbird - Mimus polyglottos
Common in Santa Clara, also seen in Palo Alto Baylands and Diablo Mountains.
101. European Starling - Sturnus vulgaris
Common.
102. Orange-crowned Warbler - Vermivora celata
991023: 1 in Santa Clara
103. Yellow Warbler - Dendroica petechia
991016: 1 in Point Reyes/Drakes Bay. The excursion party wasn't unanimous about the identification of this bird. At first sight it was a very yellow bird, with an olive back. One person saw the head pattern of a Wilsons' Warbler, and identified it as such. However, this identification doesn't match the details that I saw. The bird was all yellow from below, including the undertail feathers, which excludes Wilsons (should have black undertail). Also, I saw an all yellow head with an eye that stood out clearly. All this is in agreement with Yellow Warbler.
104. Yellow-rumped Warbler - Dendroica coronata
Common in Santa Clara, Point Reyes and along Pacific Coast.
105. Townsend's Warbler - Dendroica townsendi
991016: 1 at Point Reyes/Five Brooks
106. Palm Warbler - Dendroica palmarum
991016: 2 at Point Reyes/Drakes Bay
107. Spotted Towhee - Pipilo maculatus
991016: 2 at Point Reyes/Five Brooks
108. California Towhee - Pipilo crissalis
991016: 1 at Point Reyes/Five Brooks
109. Savannah Sparrow - Passerculus sandwichensis
Very common in Point Reyes/Limantour, Palo Alto Baylands and East Bay.


991022: Savannah Sparrow

110. Fox Sparrow - Passerella iliaca
991018: 1 at Santa Clara/Central Park
111. Song Sparrow - Melospiza melodia
991016: 1 at Point Reyes, 991019: 6 at Palo Alto Baylands
112. White-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia leucophrys
Very common.


991022: White-crowned Sparrow in Palo Alto Baylands

113. Golden-crowned Sparrow - Zonotrichia atricapilla
991014: 2 at Santa Clara, 991016: several at Point Reyes/Five Brook.
114. Dark-eyed Junco - Junco hyemalis
991016: 20 at Point Reyes/Bear Valley
115. Red-winged Blackbird - Agelaius phoeniceus
991016: groups of 200-1000 on Point Reyes, Drakes Bay.
116. Tricolored Blackbird - Agelaius tricolor
991016: 20 at Point Reyes/Drakes Bay, in large groups of Red-winged Blackbirds.
117. Western Meadowlark - Sturnella neglecta
991016: 30 at Point Reyes/Drakes Bay, 991022: 2 at Santa Cruz
118. Brewer's Blackbird - Euphagus cyanocephalus
Common around settlements


991018: Brewer's Blackbird at Togo's sandwiches, Santa Clara

119. Purple Finch - Carpodacus purpureus
991017: 2 at Mines Road, 991019: 10 at Palo Alto Baylands
120. House Finch - Carpodacus mexicanus
991016: 1 at Point Reyes/Five Brooks
121. Pine Siskin - Carduelis pinus
991014: 2 at Santa Clara, 991016: 20 at Point Reyes/Five Brooks.
122. American Goldfinch - Carduelis tristis
991016: 2 at Point Reyes/Limantour, 991017: 2 at Diablo Mountains.
123. House Sparrow - Passer domesticus
Common