A Brit abroad

Back to Point Reyes

After completing a 16 hour Bird-a-thon the day before, any sensible person would have spent Sunday morning in bed recovering. However, when Marcel said he was heading back out to Point Reyes, I didn't need much persuading, so off we headed at 5am! We saw a few more migrants than on last week's trip, but numbers were still well below par for this classic migration site. The outer Point held a single Red-breasted Nuthatch! The New Willows again played host to photogenic Great Horned and Barn Owls.

A female American Redstart was the best of the migrants here, though we had inconclusive views of a MacGillivray's-type Warbler which may have been a Mourning. Raptors were much in evidence, and a couple of Peregrines put on a fine aerial display for us.

Drake's Beach provided some fine opportunities for photographing Elegant Terns.

Some of the adults had an obvious rosy flush to the underparts.

Look at the bill on this guy!

Juvenile Elegants look pretty different from the adults: note the difference in the bill shape (shorter and bulkier in juvs) and leg colour.

Plenty of Heerman's Gulls were also loafing on the beach.

After a much-needed ice cream in Point Reyes Station, we birded the woods adjacent to Bolinas Lagoon. Here we found a large warbler flock, including many Townsend's and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. I had brief views of a bird which Marcel was convinced was a Tennessee, and there was at least one other 'funny' warbler which eluded identification in the canopy.

The highlight of the day occurred on the way home, when Marcel spotted my first ever Bobcat. It stood for several minutes looking at us disdainfully before slinking off into the trees.

This Say's Phoebe also sat around for long enough to be photographed.

Posted by rjhall at September 28, 2004 2:09 AM