Towheeblog

Today we birded Shollenberger Park, San Pablo Bay NWR, Grizzly Island and American Canyon’s Wetlands Edge Park.
Shollenberger–F. Drought dry ponds.
San Pablo–B+ for birds; D for human activities.
Grizzly Island–C, main southern portion closed except for hunting, drought dry; home of two performing White-tailed Kites.
American Canyon–A. How many dozen egrets (2 sp), herons and night-herons did we see? 100, maybe more.

Here are two of the awakening night-herons in late afternoon–clinging to a tule curtain:

In one wetlands pond we found what Albert Ryckman called an avocet sandwich along the shore. Stilt in deeper water, avocet in shallow, dowitcher behind along the shore:

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The San Pablo Bay wetlands have thousands of shorebirds–many avocet, a phalanx of godwit, stilts galore, sandpipers jetting around, dowitchers swimming to be next to avocets. Out in the deeper portion of the pools were Ruddy Ducks, a few Greater Scaup and some White Pelicans fishing.
One shorebird assembly at San Pablo:

Some San Pablo stilts:

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On the Grizz: The kite kouple were perched in a dead tree as this disappointed duo drove out after being turned back at the refuge headquarters–a sign made it clear we were not welcome. We also had a Great-tailed Grackle heckle us from inside a tree next to one parking area. I refused to reply to his barrage.

The Wetlands Edge parking lot presented us a Mockingbird, then the ponds along the nature trail were protecting dozens of herons and egrets from the stiff afternnon winds.

San Pablo Bay NWR–Cullinan Ranch (restricted access), Solano, California, US
Oct 5, 2021
30 species

Northern Shoveler  X
Gadwall  X
Greater Scaup  X
Ruddy Duck  X
Black-necked Stilt  200
American Avocet  500
Marbled Godwit  80
Least Sandpiper  X
Western Sandpiper  X
Long-billed Dowitcher  X
Willet  X
Ring-billed Gull  X
Double-crested Cormorant  X
American White Pelican  X
Great Blue Heron  X
Great Egret  X
Snowy Egret  X
Turkey Vulture  5
Red-tailed Hawk  4
Black Phoebe  X
American Crow  X
Raven
Barn Swallow  1
European Starling  X
House Finch  X
White-crowned Sparrow  X
Savannah Sparrow  X
Song Sparrow  X
Red-winged Blackbird  X
Brewer’s Blackbird  X

Grizzly Island Wildlife Area, Solano, California, US
Oct 5, 2021
18 species

Northern Shoveler  X
Mallard  X
Green-winged Teal  X
Ring-billed Gull  X
American White Pelican  X
Turkey Vulture  X
White-tailed Kite  2
Northern Harrier  1
American Kestrel  1
Black Phoebe  1
American Crow  X
Marsh Wren  1
European Starling  X
Song Sparrow  X
Western Meadowlark  X
Red-winged Blackbird  X
Brewer’s Blackbird  X
Great-tailed Grackle  X

Found in dry pond bed on Grizzly Island, drought’s detritus:

American Canyon Wetlands, Napa, California, US
Oct 5, 2021
22 species

Mute Swan  X
Northern Shoveler  X
Gadwall  X
Mallard  X
Green-winged Teal  X
Black-necked Stilt  50
American Avocet  120
Long-billed Dowitcher  60
Ring-billed Gull  X
Double-crested Cormorant  X
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron  6
Great Egret  10
Snowy Egret  15
Black-crowned Night-Heron  40
Turkey Vulture  X
Black Phoebe  X
Northern Mockingbird  1
House Finch  X
White-crowned Sparrow  X
Song Sparrow  X
California Towhee  2

Some ground action: