I went to Gualala on Monday the 24th to chase the Gray Jays seen on Sunday – no luck. I went to Jenner on Saturday and saw the 2 Bald Eagles. I could not get any photographs.
Since I couldn’t get any photographs from my coastal adventures, I’ll just post a photo of one of the Evening Grosbeaks that was hanging out in Santa Rosa in December, 2010. They are not a common bird around here.
I tried to do some bird survey work this morning but I ended up giving up early because it was just too foggy. As the fog began to clear I walked around the neighborhood. This Sharp-shinned Hawk was circling above the area, making local songibrds nervous wrecks. I got a few shots of the shape of the bird in flight.
It seems that this winter has been a good year for Cooper’s hawks. Everwhere I go, there seems to be one. Here is one that I photographed at Bodega bay on January 14th.
I also photographed this American Kestrel a few moments later – both photos were taken from my car.
I was having a wonderful day at Bodega Bay on the 14th, and was planning on staying a couple more hours when I stopped at Diekman’s Store to get some lunch. I discovered that I forgot my wallet and I was hungry, so I had to go home.
Yesterday, I was doing a bird survey in the Laguna de Santa Rosa on Kelly Farm. It was a foggy morning and I cought this immature Red-shouldered Hawk trying to dry out on this water sprinkler.
I visited my family in Ohio after New Years. I put in a few days of working (not too hard) on my Sonoma County year list. I went to Bodega Bay and picked up the Glaucous Gull and Eurasian Wigeon one day before going to Ohio. Iwent back to Bodega Bay on the 14th (after my Ohio trip) and saw the Ancient Murrelets off Bodega Head and finally saw the Long-tailed Duck in the middle of the harbor. That bird must use the entire harbor, as I know people have seen it by The Tides restaurant and in the middle of the channel. I gave up on the bird and it just popped into my scope view as I was just casually scanning and most likely daydreaming as I often do while birding.
Below is an image of the Glaucous Gull seen at Doran Park on January 5 .
I did 4 CBCs this season: Point Reyes, Santa Rosa, Sonoma Valley, and Moss Landing. Below are my personal highlights:
Point Reyes – Greater White-fronted Goose, huge numbers of Green-winged Teal
Santa Rosa – Evening Grosbeaks, Burrowing Owl
Sonoma Valley – Rufous-crowned Sparrows and Lark Sparrows
Moss Landing - Barn Swallows, Nashville Warbler and Hooded Oriole
I was disappointed that I had to miss the West Sonoma Count. But I did get into town around 4 that evening and I tried for a few owls, unsuccessfully. I then brought my own leftovers from the Moss Landing Count dinner to the WS Count dinner and listened in on what as seen on the day.
Below is a picture of the Hooded Oriole seen at David and Jane Styer’s house during the Moss Landing Count.