Central California

After plotting on the map last night all the places we had unique species, I soon realized there was no way I was gonna have time to hit all of them, so I narrowed the route to the upper Berryessa-Knoxville Road, East Side Road, lower Lake Hennessey, Mont LaSalle, JFK Park, and the Napa-Sonoma Marshes. I had originally included Skyline Park and the sewer ponds, but as the morning progressed I saw that I wasn't even going to have time for THEM! But as it was, wound up with 100 species on the nose, even with some really big misses!

Got to the start a bit before sunrise, actually, so stopping the minute I heard something, was pleased to bag the California Thrasher right away! It was nice doing this road first thing in the morning, as I heard more Wrentits here than anywhere else. Picked up the usual oak woodland suspects in short order, as well as several buzzing Lincoln's Sparrows and a kingfisher rattling down the creek. A Fox Sparrow popped up that I suspect might have been a Fat-billed, but I didn't get a good enough look to tell for sure. Down near the bottom I was very pleased to pick up a hovering White-tailed Kite!

East Side Road was both productive and disappointing, as there were several big misses here but also some good birds: at the cove picked up Ring-necked Ducks for the county as well as the expected Canada Geese (no Cacklers this time), wigeon, coots, and Gadwall. A single Clark's Grebe swam by, as were all the "Western"-type grebes I had today; I couldn't believe I couldn't pick out a bona fide Western! The magpies weren't around, either, and the pelicans had also vamoosed the joint along with many of the ducks; I managed to add Green-winged Teal at the end of the road, but it was pretty slim pickin's today in that department. One bird that DID show this time was the Lewis' Woodpecker, and quite close at that! On the way out a flock of Lark Sparrows landed on the fence, so that was nice.

"Bicolored" Blackbird

I realized I wouldn't have much time to check out Hennessey, so I pretty much drove straight to the launch site, pausing very briefly at the trailer park to check out the sparrow flock (couldn't find the White-throated). At the junction with Pope Valley Road a herd of Turkeys ran up the hill across the way, so I was glad to get them! Couldn't find the Bald Eagles at the lake, but at least picked up the Greater Scaup and Ruddies.

Headed straight down to Redwood Road and Mont LaSalle, where a Steller's Jay obligingly called as I stepped out of the car! Nothing was in the farm pond except a cormorant, so I walked the road that Denise and I had done when we were there, and it was pretty misty and quiet. Down at the main feeders a couple of Townsend's Warblers were already there, chowing down on the peanut butter, and after awhile some Chestnut-backed Chickadees showed up. Chatted a little with the Brother who maintains the feeders, then headed back to the main garden where I ran into Brother John himself, the fellow with whom I talked to arrange the visit! He was quite knowledgeable regarding their birds and pointed me to the thistle feeder (that I couldn't seem to find) where in addition to all the Lesser Goldfinches, a Pine Siskin was coming in as well! An Anna's Hummer practically ran into us as we talked, and he was disappointed that I hadn't run into their Pileated Woodpecker who "likes to sit on that telephone pole!" Delightful man!

I had a few minutes to poke up Redwood Road, and got the Winter Wren where I had him the last time, only this time he was singing! I had all but given up on the Varied Thrush when on the way down one flew up from the road, and also picked up the high "see see see" of the Golden-crowned Kinglets!

Headed over to JFK after that where someone was already feeding the gulls; she left when I arrived, but I was saving a moldy piece of pita bread for just this occasion, and didn't notice the Mew Gull in with the throng until he squealed! An adult and first-year Glaucous-winged was also in among them, along with what was probably that funny "Olympic Gull" with the dusky wingtips I saw flying at a distance the first time. In the marsh the pond where the Brant had been was pretty shallow, and had several Marbled Godwits, Greater Yellowlegs, and a couple of Willets. Several Canada Geese were in the distant grass, and as I was scanning suddenly they all took off along with a big flock of ducks; scoping that flock I was able to add Shoveler to the list. Then I saw what was causing the commotion: a big adult Bald Eagle was soaring low overhead! Just before I left I noticed something different sailing in that turned out to be the Greater White-fronted Geese!

Headed over to Buchli Station after that, dipping on the Sage Thrasher but adding a bunch of shorebirds (mostly avocets), including a new trip bird: Wilson's Snipe! Both Horned Lark and American Pipit called (the former turned out to be a new county bird), and out at the cross dikes there was a distant flock of female Bufflehead (not in the greatest light) with what looked to be a male Hooded Merganser! I struggled with that one because he was distant enough that he didn't look QUITE right, but the big white head patch was neatly outlined in black, his tail was cocked, and he had a white chest, eliminating Ruddy Duck (the only other thing I could think of that would show that much white outlined in black). A pair of Savannah Sparrows taking a bath in a puddle was cute, and on the way back a Virginia Rail called along with hordes of Marsh Wrens. Crawling along the road on the way out I still didn't see the thrasher, but DID spot a Merlin on top of one of the houses!

                                                                                 Napa-Sonoma Marshes on a rare sunny day                                                                                Merlin

Had just enough time to swing by Milton Road; there was a large raft of scaup way out there, but couldn't tell if they were Lesser or Greater. (If the loon was still there he was WAAAAY out there...) At the trailhead an American Goldfinch bounced over, and I couldn't believe I was actually gonna dip on House Sparrow when I finally heard one in the ecclectic neighborhood at the end of the road! I thought I was done and headed toward the freeway when a huge Golden Eagle flew right in front of me! Not a bad ending to the day!