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

April 20, 2007 on 9:16 pm | In Uncategorized, Bird Alert |

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!