The sky was pale blue, the temperatures mild, socks not needed. Late afternoon fogs rolled in off the Pacific and the breeze kicked up. A flotilla of Brant floated just offshore opposite Inverness on Tomales Bay. The recently arrived Wilson’s Warbler males were buzzing in the brush. A Blue Heron and Red-tailed Hawk were attending neighboring nests near the Bear Valley Visitors’ Center. And the Western Bluebird brought to earth a sky blue deeper than ever seen in the blue skies hereabouts. They’re often bleached by the ocean’s reflection of the sun.
Western Bluebird, male. He’s on the fence but firm in his position.
His mate sat nearby, alert to any passing insect comestible. There were many loafers about today, especially among us birders. But, these loafers were the most attractive. A half dozen Caspain Terns napping while the raw fish churned in their intestines.
BIRD OF THE DAY: GREATER SCAUP IN GREATEST NUMBER
At one time, around 11AM, there were thousands of these open-water divers. As far as I could see in both directions from the Inverness Grocery parking lot (an under-appreciated birding hotspot), there were Greater Scaup along Tomales Bay’s eastern shore . The flock was alloyed only with a few Western and Clark’s Grebe and a handful of gulls.
MORE POINT REYES BIRD PICS HERE, FROM THE RIDICULOUS TO THE SUBLIME. And still more images.
Location: Pt. Reyes National Seashore
Observation date: 4/23/10
Notes: Brant were offshore behind the Inverness Grocery.
Number of species: 70
Brant (Black) 200
Canada Goose 45
Gadwall 20
American Wigeon 45
Mallard 2
Northern Shoveler 60
Northern Pintail 30
Green-winged Teal 40
Greater Scaup 5000
California Quail 45
Pied-billed Grebe 2
Western Grebe 45
Clark’s Grebe 8
American White Pelican 1
Double-crested Cormorant 6
Great Blue Heron 2
Great Egret 30
Turkey Vulture 25, Harrier 1
Red-shouldered Hawk (California) 3
Red-tailed Hawk (Western) 4
American Coot 4
Greater Yellowlegs 5
Willet 2
Marbled Godwit 2
Ring-billed Gull 8
Herring Gull 1
Rock Pigeon 30
Band-tailed Pigeon 2
Mourning Dove 4
Anna’s Hummingbird 4
Allen’s Hummingbird 1
Acorn Woodpecker 40
Downy Woodpecker 2
Northern Flicker (Red-shafted) 1
Olive-sided Flycatcher 1
Black Phoebe 1
Steller’s Jay 2
Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal) 4
American Crow 16
Common Raven 2
Tree Swallow 60
Violet-green Swallow 14
Cliff Swallow 40
Barn Swallow (American) 20
Chestnut-backed Chickadee 6
Bushtit 2
Bewick’s Wren 2
Marsh Wren (Coastal Pacific) 1
Western Bluebird 4
American Robin 8
Wrentit 3
European Starling 80
Cedar Waxwing 25
Common Yellowthroat 1
Wilson’s Warbler 7
Spotted Towhee 6
California Towhee 8
Savannah Sparrow (Western) 1
Song Sparrow 14
White-crowned Sparrow 6
Golden-crowned Sparrow 20
Dark-eyed Junco (Oregon) 1
Red-winged Blackbird (Red-winged) 35
Western Meadowlark 1
Brewer’s Blackbird 12
Purple Finch (Western) 6
House Finch 10
American Goldfinch 14
House Sparrow 1
Love the Western Bluebird photos! Sounds like a wonderful event. Sorry not to have come, but lots of out-of-state visitors this week and next.
By: Grace Ruth on April 23, 2010
at 8:46 pm
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By: More April Images From Point Reyes « Towheeblog on April 23, 2010
at 9:28 pm