The White-crowned Sparrow has returned!

Greetings Birders!
Sibley’s birding guide says that the White-crowned Sparrow is a year-round bird in Sonoma County, CA., but locals know that’s not true. This trusty little bird disappeared when the weather heated up, early in the year, heading north to cooler Canada. Just this afternoon, my husband called me to the window excitedly. There, at the foot of the photinia hedge, a lone White-crowned Sparrow was hopping humbly through the green grass. His friends and family will arrive any day now, and we hurried out to sprinkle organic sunflower seeds under the apple tree to welcome them in our usual way.

For new birders (and even experienced ones!) Sparrows can be one of the harder species of birds to identify. So many of them are brown and stripey in a way that seems indistinct. Luckily, the adult male White-crowned Sparrow’s head markings are unique among his Bay Area neighbors, so this is one sparrow new birders will quickly come to recognize.

Read our Sparrow Identification Guide to improve your understanding of our most common Bay Area sparrows, and start looking wherever there is low, brushy growth in your garden and neighborhood. Soon, the White-crowned Sparrow will be joined by the Golden-Crowned Sparrow, the White-throated Sparrow, the Sooty Pacific Fox Sparrow and other charming relations. Last year, birders were flocking to a parking lot in a Petaluma park because Harris’ Sparrow had put in a surprise appearance there. You never know who you’ll see when you start keeping your eyes on the birds!

Cedar Waxwings have arrived in the SF Bay Area

Greetings, Birders!
This is just a quick bird alert post to announce that one of our favorite birds, the Cedar Waxwing, has just arrived in the SF Bay Area. I saw a birding report this week that mentioned them being spotted in West Sonoma County, in Sebastopol, and yesterday, we saw them in the more eastern part of the region near Kenwood, CA. Our glimpse was merely of a flock passing high over head, but the soft zeee, zeee, zeee calls left us in no doubt.

What other wild bird can rival the Cedar Waxwing, Bombycilla cedrorum, for sheer elegance? His smooth-as-wax plumes and softest fawn hue makes the birder long to reach out and touch this beautiful bird.

It does seem to me that mid-September is a mite early for the Cedar Waxwings to have arrived. I normally associate these birds with the ripening of the persimmon trees where they flock in tremendous numbers, gobbling up the vermilion fruits as soon as they are ripe. The persimmons are still pretty green around here, but perhaps the waxwings are dining on the last of the blackberries.

Are you seeing Cedar Waxwings in your neck of the woods? Know a never-fail spot you could share with new birders who would like to check these fine fowls off their lifelist? Please feel free to comment here. And, please, read our in-depth article on the Cedar Waxwing to learn more about this wonderful bird.

Fall is certainly setting in. Woodpeckers everywhere. And now, the sleepy, hazy cry of the Cedar Waxwing graces the air. It’s a great moment in the Bay Area birding year.

Birding Willowside Creek, Santa Rosa. See Black-headed Grosbeak!

Greetings!
A few days ago, we posted our bird alert that the Bullock’s Orioles have arrived in the Bay Area and that we’d spotted our first at the creek on Willowside Rd. Willowside Rd. deserves a post of its own for anyone who doesn’t know about one of Sonoma County’s best birding spots. Read on to learn about this special riparian habitat, and meet the newest bird on our lifelist:

The Black-headed Grosbeak

Up until last week, we could only dream of seeing this unusual summer migrant with his distinctive fat beak. He might remind you a little of an oriole, a little of a Spotted Towhee, or even a parrot, but his shape, song and color are truly one-of-a-kind in our local birding world. Notice that large head, and the pattern of white-speckled black wings, black hood, ruddy neck and underparts and the glowing yellow spot on the belly. His eye is large and intelligent.

His song is reminscent of the complex whistle of the American Robin, but a little faster and higher pitched. He is usually solitary, keeping to the upper levels of trees, where he feeds on insects, fruit and seeds. This is exactly where we spotted our very first Black-headed Grosbeak, Pheucticus melanocephalus at Willowside Creek, perched at the top of an oak tree, filling the creek bed with his song.

Now is the time to visit Willowside Creek to look for this delightful, bright wild bird who winters in Central and South America and is only with us in the Western United States during the warm months. He measures 6 1/2″ - 8 1/2″ from his fat beak to his pretty tail. Black-headed Grosbeaks build scrubby, shallow nests in trees and high shrubs and lay 3-5 pale blue, spotted eggs. Look for these birds in any riparian habitat during the next few months.

Birding Willowside Creek
My husband has made a helpful map to give you directions to Willowside Creek, which is located in the westside of Santa Rosa, CA. In recent times, considerable efforts have been made to begin restoring the habitat in this precious area. There are 4 paths flanking the creek. Our particular favorite is the path on the left, heading west, if you are driving north on Willowside Rd.
On this path, during the past year or so, we have seen:

Bullock’s Oriole
Black-headed Grosbeak
Swainson’s Thrush
Song Sparrow
Bushtit
Oak Titmouse
American Goldfinch
Lesser Goldfinch
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Red-winged Blackbird
Red-tailed Hawk
Dark-eyed Junco
Wilson’s Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Downy Woodpecker
Nuttall’s Woodpecker
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Black Phoebe
And more….

The first time we visited this creek, herons and egrets were passing over the corridor in astonishing numbers. About 1 bird every 3 minutes. We also went crazy trying to locate Swainson’s Thrush whose electronic, metallic song is, perhaps, the most astonishing in Sonoma County. It is likely that other migratory warblers can be seen here, and there are reports of both Yellow-breasted Chats, Western Tanagers and various flycatchers here.

Willowside Rd. is truly a remarkable spot, rich with birdlife, and well worth a visit.

*Do be advised that there is a pretty big mosquito issue here, and sadly, vector reports indicate that several birds have been collected from this spot that were infected with West Nile Virus. Chances are, you will be safest birding very early in the morning, wearing full-coverage clothing and insect repellant. We also suggest that you bird this area with a friend, rather than alone, as there is some evidence of people residing in the creek.

Bay Area Bird Alert - Bullock’s Oriole!

I’ve been waiting to say this ever since we launched the Birding Sonoma County blog:

THE ORIOLES ARE HERE! THE ORIOLES ARE HERE! THE ORIOLES ARE HERE!

Above you will see my sketch in praise of what is, without a doubt, one of the most opulent, splendiferous birds we ever see in Sonoma County and the greater San Francisco Bay Area: Bullock’s Oriole. I wait for the coming of this wild bird as I imagine my ancestors awaited the coming of spring sunshine. The merest glimpse of Bullock’s Oriole is, to me, like taking a bite out of the perfect mandarin orange.

Measuring some 8″-9″ from beak to tail, Bullock’s Oriole, Icterus bullockii, presents a unique pattern of black beard, cap and eyestripe against the glowing orange of his eyebrow and cheek. The orange then continues over the front of the bird, generally turning more yellowish toward the belly. Fully adult male birds are the most vibrant, with juvenile males being more of a deep yellow, and females being paler yellow and grey. Note the brilliant white wing bars and strong, pointed beak. I love the excellent justice in the fact that just shortly after we have lost our halloween-colored winter Varied Thrushes, Bullock’s Orioles arrive from Central and South America to light up the spring with their gem-like hues.

Where to See Bullock’s Orioles
Any place in the SF Bay Area that features a combination of deciduous trees, brushy growth and open space may potentially be hosting these birds for the warm season as they glean fruit, nectar and caterpillars. Fortunately, I can be even more specific than this. If you want to see Bullock’s Orioles, go to the creek on Willowside Road in Santa Rosa, CA. between the end of April - June. They are there right now (May 4th, 2007). We saw a fabulous male perched in the willow and oak growth along the path beyond the west entrance to the creek.

Last year, we had our greatest ever oriole experience in this same spot. A flock of 20 or more birds made the creekside come to life with dazzling color, right above our heads. Amazing! Listen for their long rich series of whistles that sound like jazz or classical music, depending upon the bird you tune into. They also give off short, blackbird-like calls.

And, speaking of blackbirds, did you know that orioles and blackbirds are relations in the Icterids family? Your first thought might rightly be, “but orioles are so vivid and blackbirds are so plain.” Let me start to make the relationship clearer by pointing you to this photo of a Yellow-headed blackbird, which winters in the Central Valley of California. Compare that with our Bullock’s Oriole, above. Are you starting to see some similarities of that glossy black + brilliant color combination? Orioles come in black combined with orange, yellow and red. Blackbirds come in black combined with orange, yellow and red. The overall shapes of the two kinds of birds, right down to their beaks are quite similar. If we Bay Area residents think of orioles as astonishing and blackbirds as plain, this is because the blackbirds we see here (Brewer’s, Red-winged and Tri-Colored) are rather subdued compared to other species in their family. Believe me, the Scarlet-headed blackbird of South America would knock your socks off! All in all, the Icterids group represents some of the world’s most colorful wild birds.

Further Notes on the Bullock’s Oriole
This bird is also sometimes referred to as the Northern Oriole but this name encompasses both Bullock’s and the eastern Baltimore Oriole, which looks similar but has an entirely black head. The two birds frequently hybridize. 3-6 streaked, white eggs are laid in a finely-woven basket, often near water. Look for them both in low brush and up in trees.

Our other visiting oriole is the Hooded Oriole, Icterus cucullatus which looks comparable to Bullock’s with it’s black beard, but lacks the eye stripe and cap. On rare occasions, Scott’s Oriole and the Orchard Oriole have been spotted in the North Bay.

Now is the time to get out there and look for Bullock’s Oriole - a bird of surpassing splendour!

SF Bay Area Birds - 44 Summer and Migratory Bird Species Listed

Greetings Birders!

This is a post I’ve been looking forward to writing, both for my own benefit, and hopefully for yours, too. It’s mid-April right now, and that means that the Spring/Summer migrants are arriving now in Sonoma County, Marin County, Mendocino County and the San Francisco Bay Area in general. Using our well-worn Sibley Field Guide to Birds of Western North America, my husband and I have assembled the following list of 44 birds that you can be on the lookout for between now and the end of summer. Apart from our year-round residents, the birding world is about to reach its annual apex of activity here in Northern California, and many of the birds on the list below are the most colorful tropical migrants that you will ever see! Those birds marked with an ‘m’ are listed by Sibley as migrating through this area. All of the others will be here with us for the whole warm season.

44 California North Bay Birds to Look for Now!

Yellow Warbler
Townsend’s Warbler
Black-throated Grey Warbler
Wilson’s Warbler
Nashville Warbler m.
Yellow-breasted Chat
Western Tanager
Lazuli Bunting
Black-headed Grosbeak
Chipping Sparrow
Black-chinned Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Hooded Oriole
Bullock’s Oriole
Lawrence’s Goldfinch
Red-breasted Merganser m.
Broad-winged Hawk m.
Osprey m.* see below
Baird’s Sandpiper m.
Pectoral Sandpiper m.
Red-necked Phalarope m.
Black Tern m.
Elegant Tern m.
Common Tern m.
Black Swift m.
Vaux’s Swift m.
Black-chinned Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird m.
Allen’s Hummingbird
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Wood Pewee
Willow Flycatcher m.
Hammond’s Flycatcher m.
Pacific Slope Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Western Kingbird m.
Cassin’s Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Purple Martin
Blue-grey Gnatcatcher
Swainson’s Thrush

*I am putting a special note here about the Osprey, as we are not convinced Sibley has this quite right in his book. We could be wrong about this, but it seems to us that we may have seen Ospreys in West Marin in Winter.

We are just now learning about bird migration. If any of the above data is incorrect, we apologize and will eagerly accept corrections from readers. The whole point of our making this list is so that we can have it firmly in mind which birds to be looking for over the next few months. Would you believe that less than 10 of the birds on this list have yet to be included on our personal birding lifelist? We find that really exciting. There are so many more wonderful wild birds for us to see!

And remember, the birds on this list are only the expected, documented ones. Rarities often wing into our territory, out of their normal range, so you may very well encounter some fine surprises when you’re birding about the region in the coming weeks.

Please, let us know if you encounter any of these summer birds. Leave a comment to report what bird you’ve seen and where you’ve seen it. We really want to know!

Wilson’s Warbler, California Bay Area, right now!

Greetings to all my fellow birders,
I have a golden tidbit to share today! The charming little, 4 1/2″ Wilson’s Warbler has arrived from his winter quarters in South America and is currently hopping around the North Bay for you to admire. Mid-April is what birders all over California have been waiting for throughout the long winter months, as the beautiful neotropical migrants begin arriving at this time to build their nests and raise their babies. This is a happy time of year for them and for us.

It’s funny when a bird guide so accurately describes where to look for a bird that you get the feeling that David Allen Sibley may be lurking in the bushes nearby, writing as you walk. We experienced a classic example of this phenomenon this week when my husband and I took a walk around Five Brooks Pond in Olema, West Marin County. The pond is nice and full, and is lushly encircled by willow and alder trees. From the depths of the new leafy growth, we heard a series of rapid chchchchchchchchch calls. Squinting, ducking, standing on our toes, we were suddenly rewarded with a glimpse of a Wilson’s Warbler flitting amongst the branches.

The look of this bird made us about 98% sure we knew what it was at first sight, but we rapidly fanned open our Sibley guide and read the following, very funny description:

Common in extensive brushy woods with dense understory near water; often in willows or alders…

There was the pond. There were the willows and alders. There was Wilson’s Warbler. There you have it!

Further field notes on Wilson’s Warbler, Wilsonia pusilla
Though our first eyefull of this bird only lasted about 1 second, patience rewarded us with much better, longer views after a few minutes as the bird came out into bright sunlight at the tips of the branches. His wife was with him, too, and we offered our congratulations on their excellent choice of a nesting site.

In the bright light, I could see that the sunshine yellow of his belly took on a rich orange tint toward the beak, and his eye struck me as especially large, black and shiny. His backside is a dull, soft olive with sooty tail and wingtips, and his distintive black cap is the clincher for identification of this bird. The female is quite similar in appearance, but she never wears a black hat. Just remember that.

Wilson’s Warblers build their nests of roots on or near the ground in the cover of dense vegetation. They lay 3-6 white, spotted eggs. Though these golden little birds ought to be around Sonoma County in correct habitat, Marin County is the first place we’ve ever seen one. In Sonoma County, I’d suggest Willowside Creek, which I intend to write about soon. If this is a warbler you’d like to add to your list, let us tell you where we saw this nesting pair of birds.

Five Brooks Trail features a horseback riding stable where you can rent horses to explore the 120 miles of trails the Pt. Reyes area offers. The stable is located on Hwy. One, midway between the town of Olema and the fabulous Bolinas Lagoon.

So, if you’re coming from the Petaluma area, take D St. and it will turn into the Point Reyes-Petaluma Rd. You’ll be driving for about 20 miles through beautiful countryside until you come to the first stop sign at Platform Bridge Road. Go straight here. When you come to the end of the road at Sir Francis Drake turn right, then left at Highway One. After a couple more miles, you’ll see the sign on the right hand side of the road for Five Brooks Trail. This is the way we go.

However, if you’re coming from San Francisco, let me give quote these directions from fivebrooks.com. Cross the Golden Gate Bridge and take the San Anselmo exit from Highway 101. This will lead you onto Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, headed in a westerly direction. While headed west on Sir Francis Drake Boulevard, you will travel through several lovely small towns, then through a redwood forest. This scenic drive will take approximately 1 hour and 10 minutes. You will literally come to the end of the road. Turn left on Highway One at Olema. Five Brooks Stable is approximately 3 miles down the road on the right hand side. Look for the Five Brooks Trail Head sign.

Our accompanying map will show you the basic layout of the pond which is an easy 2 minute walk from the parking lot. There are picnic tables and lovely views of the hills, and several trails to walk, but if you simply go straight from the parking lot, you’ll see the pond. Our map shows you exaclty where we saw the pair of Wilson’s Warblers. Keep your ears alert for their chchchchchchch and I hope you’ll see them.

Click to View Large Map

This was our very first trip to Five Brooks Trail and we will certainly go back. The habitat looks superb for a variety of migratory and resident birds and we can’t wait to return.

Now is the time to get out there and get looking for migratory birds. My husband and I intend to compile a list of spring/summer visitors and hope to be posting this soon for your use. Happy birding!

Spring Swallows, Sonoma County, California

Greetings Birders!
I am thrilled to put out this Bird Alert to announce that the Barn Swallows have arrived in the San Francisco Bay Area, as of my observation this week. This rainbow-colored fowl is only with us in the warm months of the year, and I thought this would be an ideal moment to feature him in a post on Birding Sonoma County.

The purpose of this article is to help you learn to identify both Barn Swallows, Hirundo rustica, and Tree Swallows, Tachycineta Bicolor, by learning the field marks that set these two splendid species apart. Let’s begin by looking at a detailed illustration:

With their diamond shape and fabulous colors, swallows are easy for even beginning birders to identify. But then, you need to be able to look closely to determine which swallow you’ve sighted. I am using the Barn and Tree Swallows because my observation has led me to conclude that these are our two commonest swallows here in Sonoma County.

As you can see from the above illustration, color and shape are going to be our two most important fieldmarks for distinguishing between these birds. The striking, bi-color blue and white of the Tree Swallow and the blue, red and orange of the Barn Swallow rival the hummingbird for sheer iridescence. They seem to flash and twinkle as they swoop through the sky like miniature kites. Note that I am also showing you the undersides of the birds, as this is how you will most commonly see them, flying overhead. So, there is a decided difference in coloration to help you here.

But what about when you’re staring up into a bright sky at a swallow-like bird and cannot see its color well because of the sun in your eyes? Studying shape is the answer! It is the tails of swallows that tell me who they are, even when they are very high. Both Barn and Tree Swallows have forked tails, but just take a gander at the scissor-like feathers on the tail of that Barn Swallow. No other North American swallow has a tail with such a pronounced fork to it, and such pointed end tips. By contrast, the tail of the Tree Swallow is more rounded and stubby. The wings of the Barn Swallow also appear more slender and pointed when compared to the broad wings of the Tree Swallow.

The average Tree Swallow measures about 5 3/4″, and the Barn Swallow is about one inch longer. Both birds twitter in flight, and the juveniles of both species are duller in color.

Unlike the spring/summer visitor, the Barn Swallow, Tree Swallows are apparently year-round residents in the Bay Area, but I want to share that I rarely see them until the spring begins to warm up. Once it does, go to just about any pond, marsh or other body of water in Sonoma County and you are almost sure to see these birds. Our first ever sighting of the amazing Barn Swallow was by the sea in Pt. Reyes. We were able to walk within a foot or two of one who was perched on a sign and his colors just astonished us.

Both species line their nests with feathers, but the Barn Swallow makes his nest of mud in the eaves of buildings, and the Tree Swallow builds his in a woodpecker hole or nesting box. Providing nesting boxes for Tree Swallows can truly assist this species in the difficulties it faces trying to find a vacant cavity for its family to live in. Competition for such sites can be fierce and if you would like to promote the local Tree Swallow population, why not offer a box for them? You’re sure to enjoy the observation opportunities this will afford you! Both species lay some 4-6 white eggs.

If you’d like to see some super swallows this week, I highly recommend a drive to the Napa-Sonoma Marsh which I’ve been blogging about with such excitement these past months. My husband and I sat beside the water yesterday and watched the swallows fill the sky with their unique opulence. They are one of those birds that gives me a sense of peace, calm and freedom from cares.

Whether you prefer the sapphire and diamond splendour of the Tree Swallow or the parrot-like plumes of the Barn Swallow, look for mixed flocks of these graceful little gems for the rest of the sunny season.

Townsend’s Warbler - A gem of a bird!

Greetings!
This was a happy bird-day for us. My husband and I had the afternoon free and decided to head over to Jack London State Park to see how the birds were doing now that winter has progressed to February.

Readers will know that one of our favorite spots in this valuable parkland is the eucalyptus forest just above the upper parking lot. It was a nippy day, with quite a wind rattling the long, fragrant leaves and we noted many fallen trees and broken off limbs in this bright, interesting grove. This small area is the haunt of woodpeckers, Varied Thrushes, and secretive wrens. Our habit is to go about 20 steps, stop, and stand for a few minutes just looking and listening.

About half way between the parking lot and the crossroads path at the other end of the forest, oaks begin to mingle with the eucalyptus trees, and it was here, to the right of the path, that I glimpsed quite a small bird moving about in the oak canopy.

It’s darker where the oaks are, and my first vague impression was of a compact bird with what looked like a prominent cheek patch and black under the chin. This immediately put me in mind of our daily friend, the Chestnut-backed Chickadee. One of the chickadee’s most distinct field marks is his bright, chubby cheek patch.

For a few moments the bird hopped out of view again, but on my second sighting, I caught just the tiniest glimpse of a deeply forked tail and a flash of yellow.

“Aha! American Goldfinch“, I thought to myself.

And yet, something kept me standing still. The American Goldfinch and the Chestnut-backed Chickadee are daily birds for me at my birdfeeder. I’ve had hours of observation opportunities. And, perhaps this is why I waited a moment longer, scanning the dense foliage for another view of the bird. Something must not have looked quite right to me, though I really wasn’t aware of thinking this at the time.

And then I got a better look. In fact, two birds became visible at once, and it was this third sighting that showed me the unmistakable markings of a brand new bird for us - the Townsend’s Warbler!!!

Field Notes on the Townsend’s Warbler Dendroica townsendi

As my illustration shows, this bird is extremely unique in appearance. Note that black chin and facial stripe, with the little golden patch on the ‘cheek’, just below the eye. And talk about color! In the gloaming of the forest, this bird first struck me as almost orange in hue, the yellow was so vivid. However, he popped into the sunlight at one point and I could see that golden is truly the word to describe his facial markings and breast. Note the checked lines along his sides and the grey-to-white of the rump. The upper back is a sort of olive-green and there are two white streaks on the wings.

For the past few months, we have enjoyed having the Audubon’s Yellow-rumped Warbler as a daily visitor to our backyard, and like him, the Townsend’s Warbler is a winter bird in Sonoma County. There is really no possible way to confuse the two birds, as the markings are so very different. Townsend’s Warbler is a little smaller than the Yellow-rumped Warbler, as well.

We only got to observe the Townsend’s Warblers for a couple of minutes, but it was enough to note their wonderful, Bushtit-like ability to tackle branches rightside-up, upside-down and sideways. Their movements are quick and agile, and keeping track of where they are does give your eyes a workout.

I was interested to read in Cornell’s article about the Townsend’s Warbler that comparatively little is know about these birds, although my Sibley Guide lists them as being common in coniferous and mixed forests. A wide variation in egg count has been found in this species - from 5-11 eggs. It would also appear that males and females have very different abilities. Only females build nests, and only male Townsend’s Warblers sing.

My husband and I did hear a peculiar song neither of us recognized. A sort of buzzy sound. According to our field guide, that may just have been this warbler.

Bird songs continue to be an area of intensive study and interest for us. We know most of the common birds by ear, but today, we were completely fooled by an invisible Stellar’s Jay who first convinced me he was a Pileated Woodpecker, and then convinced me he was a hawk before he started making that harsh, mechanical raaah raaah that I associate with his species. He really had us going for a few minutes there!

But to return to the subject of this post, getting to add the Townsend’s Warbler to our lifelist was really a happy event for us. I have looked at the photo of this bird in one of my birding guides for years and longed to see him. In person, he was every bit as charming as I could have wished. Warblers, in general, are some of the most colorful and interesting birds you will ever see in California, and this little fellow is surely one of the most beautiful.

If you’d like to try to see the Townsend’s Warbler yourself, please make use of our accompanying map to reach the exact spot where we saw him today. You may need to be patient and stand still for awhile, scanning the trees for darting movements. Bring your birding binoculars! You won’t want to miss the chance to really hone in on the intricate markings of this special winter bird - a real little gem of a warbler!

The Barn Owl - the flash of lightning in the night sky.

Greetings!

Two nights ago, my husband and I were coming home from the market and were just a few yards from home when I shouted,
“Stop!”
Fortunately, my husband is used to outbursts of this kind, and has yet to drive off the road as a result of them. He also drives backwards with ease (don’t worry, only on deserted roads). A bird sighting never feels complete to me unless my mate sees it, too, and I held my breath as we rolled slowly backward, hoping that the magnificent Barn Owl would not take off from the power line above our car before we’d both had a chance to admire him.

He was truly a splendid representative of his species, and so good as to let us watch him for a few moments before he flew away…right into our yard. All of a twitter, we parked our car and crept toward the walnut tree where he had come to land, but that sent him off again and we hustled down the street, quietly following him from tree to tree until he was out of sight.

My sincere hope is that our neighbors have figured out by now that the nutty people who go down the road in the middle of the night with flashlights a few times a month are birders - not burglars. Both Barn Owls and Great Horned Owls rule over our nighttime neighborhood and we cannot stay indoors when we hear their calls, despite the fact that the only lights in our area are moon and stars. Few aspects of birding thrill me like owling. And, no owl contrasts in so startling a manner with the darkness than the common Barn Owl, Tyto alba.

Making friends with a Barn Owl
I’d venture to say that most people are likely to catch sight of Barn Owls when driving in agricultural lands. Abruptly, the headlights illuminate that heart-shaped face, with the keen eyes regarding you before the bird takes wing, leaving his post on fencetop or road sign. The mysterious appearance of the Barn Owl has both alarmed and inspired people for countless ages, and other common names for him include Monkey-faced Owl, Ghost Owl, Church Owl, Golden Owl, Silver Owl, White Owl and Hobgoblin Owl. Those fleeting, shocking glimpses of white appear to be the stuff of folklore and wild imagination.

But what if seeing a Barn Owl becomes part of your daily life? This happened for us last summer when my husband and I discovered a Barn Owl route that passed directly over our house. Regular as clockwork, the owl would appear on the far horizon at 8:15, softly stealing westward through the twilight. It became our ritual to await his coming, and we were fascinated by his unfailing passage. We came to depend upon his visits and named him Portent - a good, owl-y name. On most occasions, he flew well over the tree tops, but several times, he flew within feet of our heads where we sat, and he would turn his heart-shaped face downward to look at us. I don’t really know how to describe the feeling of being observed by an owl.

Strangest of all, on this owl’s closest pass by us, he gave out his courting call - a most unexpected burst of twittering, so unlike the hallmark shriek known to most people. Frankly, we were stunned and I couldn’t help wondering if he was inviting me to soar away with him. Being a married lady, of course, I remained grounded. Or, perhaps this twittering call has been misunderstood by ornithologists and can signify more than longing for a mate. Perhaps it can be used to express affection and friendship. We certainly came to feel these things for Portent as the summer wore on, and perhaps he felt the same for us. Whatever the case, we were very sad when the long days shortened and the owl suddenly stopped coming. Those were sad nights when we waited and he never appeared.

My hope is that this week’s Barn Owl was our Portent, and that he’d come to let us know to expect him again at 8:15 sharp next June.

Further field notes on the Barn Owl
Because of the bird-in-the-headlights phenomenon, people mistakenly believe that Barn Owls are all white. The face, breast and underwings are snowy, but the fabulous, flecked gold of the head and wing feathers make this owl one of the most beautiful of all birds. Just think of it - a gilded owl! In this case, nature has not been miserly in sharing one of its finest creations; Barn Owls inhabit nearly all of the United States in abundance. It is, in fact, one of the most common land birds in the whole world, and though the only Tyto in the U.S. is this particular bird, there are dozens of subspecies of these owls on other continents. A visit to the Internet’s very best owl information resource, The Owl Pages offers a wealth of information about these other Tyto subspecies.

Barn owls range in size from 14″-20″, making them one of our larger local owls. They can adapt to nearly any habitat, but we most commonly see them in the agricultural areas of Sonoma County where they hunt for rodents.

They get their common name from their liking for old barns as nesting sites, but they will also take shelter in caves, amongst rocks and various man-made structures. They lay 5-11 round white eggs. Sadly, they are a short-lived bird in the wild, with a life expectancy of 1-2 years.

Go Owling!
Let’s face it - there are much better ways to spend an evening that in front of the T.V. To us, a night of owling offers serious adventure. Pick an empty country road, bring a flashlight and a flask of hot tea (maybe some cookies?) and drive slowly along with the passenger scanning the powerlines and fences. The driver must keep his eyes on the road, as this is the time when all nocturnal animals come out. Be safe! Full moon nights are best for owling in the country, as this provides the bright light that rural areas lack. We’ve been electrified by visions of owls perched in thrawn trees against a full moon- like a page from a Victorian Hallowe’en story. You just never know what you’re going to see when you embark on one of these forays.

The nighttime world is a whole part of life that many folks are never even aware of. If existence ever feels a bit humdrum to you, revive your being with a night of owling, and keep a sharp lookout for that flash of gold and silver lightning - the common Barn Owl.

Bolinas Lagoon - Winter Birds are here!

Greetings and Happy New Year from Birding Sonoma County!

My husband and I ended the old year with a fabulous afternoon at the Bolinas Lagoon, and I can’t think of a better way for you to start 2007 off than with a trip to this winter birding heaven. Above, you will see my sketch of some of the amazing long-legged waders and waterfowl we saw in just a couple of hours at the lagoon. Here’s the key to the birds shown here:

1) Long-billed Curlew
2) American Avocet
3) Northern Pintail
4) American Widgeon
5) Lesser Yellowlegs
6) Marbled Godwit
7) Willet
8) Red-breasted Merganser
9) Killdeer

Other ducks were present, including Buffleheads, and we also saw numerous hawks along the lagoon, Snowy and Great Egrets, Great Blue Herons, and a beautiful Belted Kingfisher. My sketch is by no means an all-inclusive portrait of the dozens of spectacular birds that pass through this very special environment on their winter migration. According to a birding acquaintance of ours, he has also seen Whimbrels, Scaups, various phalaropes and sandpipers, as well as several varieties of gulls. The winter afternoon proved all too short for us to identify as many birds as we would have liked to, but even our short visit added 7 new species to our lifelist! Incredible.

It was an especial thrill to see the American Avocet in his snowy winter plumage. We had seen him with his rufous feathers earlier in the year, but during the cold months, the change in his appearance is quite striking. Also, the Willet was wearing his soft grey mantle which made identification easier.

More expert birders than ourselves may find identifying wading birds a snap, but we most definitely needed our birding field guide on this day out. Binoculars were helpful, too. Pay careful attention to sizes. This can mean the whole difference between a Greater or Lesser Yellowlegs. And, I’ll take a moment here to sing the praises of the Sibley Guide again. Without his illustrations of seasonal changes, we’d have been sunk!

My husband and I took a picnic lunch with us, and though the day was quite fine enough to enjoy a leisurely meal outdoors, I’ll confess, I could hardly swallow a mouthful, so wild was I to see as many of the lovely birds as I could in my race against the sunset clock. Sandwiches and birdwatching combined may present a choking hazard!

If you’ve never been birding at the Bolinas Lagoon…
…now is the time to go! Though the lagoon is the year-round home of many wonderful wild birds, November - March are the peak months in which to observe migrants. If this will be your first trip to the lagoon, nothing I can say will really prepare you for the abundance of birds present. Whole flocks of Marbled Godwits with their chestnut plumes and 1/2 salmon orange, 1/2 black beaks. Flurries of ducks. Hosts of gulls. And, I cannot write about the lagoon without at least one mention of the Long-billed Curlew (shown above). Words cannot describe the amusing appearance of this tall, unique bird with the unbelievably long beak. When standing, he looks rather smug, serene, an institution unto himself. But when the fancy takes him to bestir himself, he runs along the shore in a sneaking, hysterical way as though he is going to creep up upon one of the other fowls and surprise him with a ‘boo’! I hope to have the time to devote an individual post to each of the species that are special visitors to the lagoon, but for now, suffice it to say that new birders are guaranteed to see new birds there, and old hands will simply be delighted.

The landscape is inspiring with its mix of muddy bank and mirror-like water. We watched the surface gradate slowly from sky blue, to gold and green, to apricot and finally to lavender and deep blue.

Checklist for what to bring when Birding the Bolinas Lagoon

Bird guide
Binoculars
Lifelist or birding journal (take notes so you won’t forget all that you see)
Waterproof shoes (it’s very muddy on the shore)
Warm clothing (even if the weather is clear, it gets cold in the evening)
Food and water (you’ll want to stay all day once you get there)

So where is the Bolinas Lagoon, anyhow?

Whether you are coming North or South on Hwy 101, take the Hwy 1 exit West in Mill Valley. Simply follow Hwy 1 past Stinson Beach to the Bolinas Lagoon. I will add here, however, that I am not a fan of this hair-raising stretch of Hwy 1 myself, and my husband and I invariably take the more scenic, less scary route that goes from Petaluma, out D St. D St. then becomes Petlama-Point Reyes Rd. Follow this past the Nicasio Reservoir and continue until you see a sign indicating to go right toward Olema or left toward Fairfax. Take the right toward Olema to the town of Olema. In the middle of town, at the ‘T’ intersection, turn left. You are now on the nice, pretty end of Hwy 1. Continue on until you reach the lagoon. If you are not partial to twisty cliff roads, this alternative route through Olema will ensure a happier birding day for you and your loved ones.

If you are a regular reader of our blog, you know that I am not a great traveler. Unlike those adventurous birders who seem to think nothing of shooting off to South America in pursuit of birds, I’m a real homebody, and that’s why our blog focuses so heavily on local birding. Now, it’s quite true the Bolinas Lagoon is located in Marin, not Sonoma County, but from time to time, we hope you’ll enjoy our peregrinations a bit farther afield. I figure if a birder like me can accomplish a day trip like this, so can most folks. And, when you consider that the world’s top bird men and women consider the Bolinas Lagoon a must-see place, you may suddenly realize that you’ve got a universal treasure located practically in your own backyard.

The lagoon encompasses 1,100 acres of tidal estuary, and is an incredibly important environment for healthy, rare and endangered populations of birds and animals. For more information, please visit the Bolinas Lagoon Foundation.