December 23, 2004
Christmas Bird Count
Since returning from Mexico I haven't got out birding much, partly due to work commitments, and partly due to the oppressive fog which has enveloped Davis for the last week. I did venture out to join Kevin Guse for the Putah Creek Christmas Bird Count. We left Davis at 4:45am for some pre-dawn owling, and heard some half-hearted calls from Great Horned and Western Screech Owls. More unusual for the count were flyover White-fronted Geese and Tundra Swans, followed later in the day by Snow Geese, presumably disoriented in the thick fog. A hearty breakfast at the Putah Creek Cafe was excellent fuel for the rest of the day's birding. The morning's highlights included several Red-breasted Sapsuckers, a lone female Phainopepla, a mixed flock of Lark and Chipping Sparrows, and up to ten(!) River Otters at Lake Solano.
In the afternoon, the fog lifted a little, the birds came out and so did my camera! Pine Siskins joined both American and Lesser Goldfinches to drink and bathe in the creek.
This Turkey Vulture was making use of the break in the fog to preen...
... while this Hermit Thrush was content to lurk in the grapevines.
Unexpected highlight of the day was several spawning Salmon in the creek, only the second year of spawning after an absence of many decades!
The unofficial species total for the whole Putah Creek count circle was 139, above average but well down on the last two years. In spite of the weather, we actually set a new record of 89 species for Kevin's area - if the weather's better next year, I think 100 is in our sights!
Posted by rjhall at December 23, 2004 1:32 AM