A Brit abroad

County clean-up

Today Roger Adamson, Joan Humphrey and I decided to go and take care of some of the more challenging county year birds. We returned to pay our respects to the third county record of Red-necked Grebe, year-ticking White Pelican in the process and finding a smart adult Western and a first-winter Glaucous-winged Gull amongst the flock.

The Red-winged Blackbirds had decided Spring was in the air, and were noisily displaying from the surrounding ditches.

We had a good experience with raptors on Road 96, including this dark-morph Red-tailed Hawk...

... and this wonderful Prairie Falcon.

Don't think I've ever got three raptor species in the same shot before!

A quick dart over to the Port of Sacramento provided a single Western Grebe, plus surprising high counts of 46 Common Mergansers and at least 20 Forster's Terns. Nearby, two Mew Gulls were in their usual spot along the Sacramento River. After an unproductive lull in bird activity mid-afternoon, Roger struck gold by spotting a Mountain Plover in a bare field at the intersection of roads 102 and 17. Soon another head popped up from a furrow, then another, and before you know it 41 of them appeared from nowhere!

It was a treat to watch these hard-to-find birds - we even heard them call as they flew around (having been spooked by a Northern Harrier). Roger and I finished the day in north Davis, watching two of the three Merlins that are wintering in town. This bird has a pale grey mantle and looks very different from the individual I photographed last year.

The early bird...

... catches the Black Hawk! Following on from last weekend's incredible bad luck, Marcel, Joan and I fared much better this weekend. Our prime target was the ever-elusive Common Black Hawk wintering in Stockton for its second year. I persuaded Marcel that we should leave town horribly early to get there for first light - a wise decision indeed, as we (plus one other chap) were the only people to see the bird, as it flew from its roost site to the lake at 7am!

After treating ourselves to a celebratory cooked breakfast, we returned to the Black Hawk site and waited in the cold and fog until 11:30, with no sign of the bird. However, we had fun catching up with birding friends in the assembled crowd. Joan started chatting to a guy named Jim White, who casually dropped into the conversation that while looking for Short-eared Owls near the Yolo landfill he'd come across a Red-necked Grebe. Joan's eyes went as wide as saucers - this would be only the third county record and a new county bird for all of us! Not long afterwards, we raced back to Road 29 to find the bird still sitting there in the middle of the lake!

After returning home to spread the word on this county mega, Joan and I re-grouped to search for Mountain Plovers in the now-glorious sunshine. No luck with these, but we did see a Ferruginous Hawk devouring an unfortunate Ground Squirrel, and best of all, this pretty female Mountain Bluebird.

I was frankly amazed that these flight shots came out - note the amazing electric blue colour to the wings and tail.

With sunset approaching, we raced back to take one more peek at the Red-necked Grebe, during which time I was able to grab these blurry but atmospheric shots in the low light.

With one life bird, one county bird and one Central Valley Big Year bird in the bag, a highly successful day!

Gulls, gulls, gulls

Yesterday I spent an educational morning with gull afficionado and fellow Brit Jon King at the Yolo County Landfill. Although we were unable to relocate the presumed Kumlien's Gull found by Jon last weekend, we saw a good selection of the common and scarcer gulls, plus a couple of interesting hybrids. We had great views of several Thayer's Gulls, including this adult - note the dark eye, rounded head shape, greenish tinge to the base of the bill, large white primary spots and deep pink legs.

Here's a nice comparison of an adult American Herring Gull (left) and Thayer's Gull (right) - again note differences in eye and leg colour, head shape and the extent of white in the primaries. The chocolate-coloured gull in the foreground is a first-winter Thayer's.

I'm less sure about this gull. Given the extent of white in the wingtips and the mantle colour, I'd go for Thayer's. However, the wingtip pattern is like adult Thayer's while the bill pattern would be more characteristic of a 3rd-winter. Any thoughts on this bird appreciated! Footnote: Jon comments that the structure and eye colour are wrong for Thayer's, and suspects it could be a Herring x Glaucous-winged hybrid.

There were also many Glaucous-winged Gulls on show, including this fine second-winter.

Somewhat further away was this dark first-winter Western Gull (note all-dark centres to the tertials).

This adult Mew Gull was the sole sighting of the day.

And now to the hybrids. The long, pink-based bill and frosty plumage of this bird point towards hybrid Glaucous x Herring, aka Nelson's Gull.

Jon's opinion of this bird was hybrid Glaucous-winged x Western Gull, presumably based on the extent of pale feathering in the scapulars and greater coverts.

Am hopefully slightly more clued up on these species now - would be nice to have a Yolo Slaty-backed Gull to practise on!

Aberrant finch in Davis

After a successful morning's birding in the Putah Creek canyon/Winters area (Chipping, Rufous-crowned and Vesper Sparrows, Winter Wren, Hairy Woodpecker, Barrow's Goldeneye and Bald Eagle), Joan Humphrey and I chased up a report of an unusual white bird coming to a feeder in South Davis. Over half an hour I was able to get the following photos:

The bird is surely a partial albino given the extent of white feathering and the pale pink coloration of the bare parts. Given its close association with a House Finch flock, it's tempting to assume this bird is an aberrant House Finch. However, the bird appeared to be a shade larger than its companions, the bill shape wasn't quite right, and the tail abrasion visible in photo 3 may indicate it was kept in captivity. If anyone has any thoughts on the ID of this bird please get in touch!

This Pine Siskin was one of many coming to seed feeders (along with American and Lesser Goldfinches) in the same yard.

It's a long way to dip a rarey...

Life here is never dull. Marcel and I had been thinking about a trip to the Pacific northwest for the mouthwatering array of rarities that have showed up this winter (McKay's Bunting in BC, Falcated Duck in Oregon, Baikal Teal and Redwing in Washington). After hearing of Alison's 100% success rate on the previous weekend, Marcel finally snapped and a 2000-mile weekend road trip (central California to Vancouver!) was hastily arranged. At the last minute we were joined by Joan Humphrey and Lisa Hug, and with high hopes the four of us started the long trip north.

The trip list started well with a roadside Burrowing Owl and thousands of Snow, Ross's and White-fronted Geese in the Central Valley. The weather in the mountains was gorgeous - much warmer and sunnier than Davis! A couple of rest stops here yielded a calling Evening Grosbeak, Mountain Chickadee and Steller's Jay. After a great dinner in Portland, we made it in very reasonable time to Olympia, ready to look for Redwing the following dawn. The signs weren't looking too good when we met someone who had spent all day Friday looking for the bird without success. We spent a good 90 minutes looking, in which time we saw several Pine Siskin flocks, 2 Peregrines, Black-capped and Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Winter Wren and Golden-crowned Kinglet - but no Redwing.

Undeterred we carried on to Kent Ponds to look for the Baikal Teal, only to hear that there had been no sightings the previous day (it had been seen daily for weeks prior to that). Given that the bird was a lifer for all of us, we spent the rest of the day looking. Again, a no-show, but there was plenty to keep us ticking along, including a Bald Eagle catching and eating a Muskrat, a Eurasian Wigeon, an obliging River Otter and this immature swan. We tentatively identified this bird as a young Trumpeter Swan, based on bill shape and length and plumage (Tundras are supposed to moult earlier than this).

In the rare breaks between the rain, the local race of Song Sparrow would occasionally perch out in the open to dry off.

As the light (and our hopes) faded, this Peregrine proceeded to kill and eat a Starling.

Another long drive north and we ended up spending the night in Richmond, BC. On checking the internet, Marcel made the horrible discovery that our third target bird, McKay's Bunting, had also gone AWOL in the last 48 hours. Given that the Falcated Duck was still showing in Oregon, we made the tough decision not to try for the McKay's and to spend the first hours of Sunday birding in Boundary Bay. A good decision, it turns out, as the bunting has not been reported since!

The day got off to an excellent start, with more Bald Eagles than I've ever seen in my life. The birds seemed to be literally on every telegraph pole - Joan counted 75 of them in one sweep!

However, the highlight of the year so far has to be Snowy Owls - we saw 4 of these charismatic birds, including this co-operative individual, at point blank range.

Seeing these birds framed by the sea and the snow-capped Olympic Peninsula was something I won't forget for a while - a far cry from the pathetic oiled bird I saw in a the Port of Felixstowe many moons ago. Other good birds here included an incredibly dense swarm of Dunlin along the shoreline, and a smart juvenile Tundra Peregrine. The whole experience was marred only slightly by dipping my umpteenth Gyr Falcon - I'm beginning to think these birds don't exist!

Given the constraints of daylight, we promptly headed south towards Oregon, pausing only for a mixed swan flock near Skagit (Trumpeters above, Tundras below).

At first I assumed that the displaying birds were all Trumpeters, but this photo reveals 2 Tundras on the left displying to 2 Trumpeters on the right!

We then headed at full speed for Oregon, and pulled up at the RV park Falcated Duck pond with half an hour of daylight left. In keeping with the rest of the trip, we were saddened, but not entirely surprised, to hear that the duck had disappeared overnight and had not been seen since... even a very obliging Eurasian Wigeon and Hooded Merganser couldn't lift our spirits!

So, we travelled 2000 miles over 3 days to miss all four of our target birds, which all disappeared in the 48 hours before the trip, having been present for at least a month previously. Surely this must be a candidate for the biggest dip ever! Nonetheless, as we moped in a 50's diner listening to such classics as 'It's over' and 'Just my imagination', I had to concede that any weekend spent watching Snowy Owls and Bald Eagle flocks in the company of three great birders can't be that bad....

Fog-fest at Point Reyes

On MLK day I joined lab-mates John, Diana and Hiroyuki for a trip to Point Reyes to see Elephant Seals. As you can see, the weather was superb when we arrived...

... and stayed fine while we were at the lighthouse. The sea was teeming with Common Murres and Brown Pelicans, including this individual in fine breeding plumage.

Just before we headed to the Chimney Rock Elephant Seal lookout, a blanket of dense fog rolled in - so dense, in fact, I was worried we wouldn't see the seals at all! Over the next hour the fog thinned just enough for me to get this pic of the alpha male and some cute pups behind.

Many large squid were being washed up dead here. One of the docents tells us they are a warm-water species rarely seen this far north - further evidence of a weak El Nino year perhaps?

This Glaucous-winged Gull was enjoying the pickings.

When the fog and the chill got too much, we retreated to the Drakes Beach Cafe for some fine fish and chips before heading back to Davis. I don't think I've seen the sun since - will this fog ever clear?

Photographer's paradise

On Sunday, Marcel Holyoak and I escaped the Central Valley fog to bird in the Bay area. Our first target was a wintering Sedge Wren close to South San Francisco, where we witnessed an appalling bit of birding behaviour. One impatient idiot believed he had the bird confined to one of three bushes, which he proceeded to kick and shake in the hope of flushing it! Needless to say the bird remained hidden in thick cover until said idiot disappeared. Patient waiting on the footpath resulted in good, close views for all present, though photography was all but impossible! Given the skulking nature of this bird, Marcel did very well to get the following two pictures.

My photographic prospects were, however, soon to improve. We visited Candlestick Point in the hope of relocating a Harlequin (we didn't), but instead enjoyed photographing several commoner species in wonderful light. My targets included Great Blue Heron,...

White-crowned Sparrow...

Black-bellied Plover...

Willet...

Spotted Sandpiper...

and Greater Scaup.

I couldn't resist this California Ground Squirrel enjoying a mid-morning snack.

A pit-stop at Coyote Point allowed me to state-tick Red Knot and Ruddy Turnstone, and then we headed to Palo Alto Baylands to dip my umpteenth Swamp Sparrow. The photographic conditions remained excellent, however, and I was able to get this portrait of a streaky-headed Ring-billed Gull at the boating lake.

Perhaps the highlight of my day was photographing this cooperative male Anna's Hummingbird - I was thrilled at how well these photos came out!

Back abroad

After the Marathon flight from London to San Francisco last Thursday, I finally felt recovered enough to kick off my 2005 birding this Saturday with Joan and visiting Maine birder Beezie. The day turned out to be exceptionally good, and I added two new birds to my county list!

The first good bird of the day was this adult Bald Eagle along Highway 16.

To our delight this bird joined another adult and two immatures in an aerial scrap over a fish - most impressive!

Next stop was the low water bridge to Rayhouse Road. We all heard a noise reminiscent of a squeaky dog toy. The mystery noise wasn't quite right for Downy Woodpecker, and just as we were ready to pass it off as a squirrel sp, the culprit revealed itself to be my first county Hairy Woodpecker!

Ironically, having spent over a year searching for Hairy Woodpecker in the county, we came across another two individuals that day!

Perhaps the most unexpected find of the day was this Horned Grebe, along with 7 Common and 4 Hooded Merganser on a tiny duckpond on County Road 103. Joan remarked that she'd never found anything more interesting than a Killdeer there previously!

With three great county birds in the bag, it seemed greedy to ask for more. And yet more came - a routine scan of the California Gulls at the Davis WWTP revealed my first US Glaucous Gull a large first winter standing out like a sore thumb amongst its smaller cousins.

If the rest of the year continues to be this good, the magical 250 for the county list could be within sight...

So long England!

The last ten days have seen me embark on a whirlwind tour of the UK, not for birding, but to catch up with friends in Cambridge, Leeds, Manchester, Essex, London and Bath. Was great to see everyone again, but nine consecutive full English breakfasts was hard work! The endless miles of motorway produced the occasional Common Buzzard and flyover Little Egret, while staring out of a friend's window in south London yielded good views of Redwing, Jay, Great Spotted Woodpecker and a fly-by Ring-necked Parakeet.

Just before returning to my parents, I spent an enjoyable day's birding in Cambs with county birder extraordinaire, John Oates. The day started well with a flock of 12 Tundra Bean Geese at Swaffham Prior Fen .

We also saw 6 Grey Partridge (good count for this declining species), a Little Egret and a couple of Stonechat on the nearby Cam Washes. Next stop was Woodwalton Fen, which was unfortunately about as birdless as I've ever seen it! Still, added Stock Dove, Reed Bunting, Marsh Tit and Woodcock to my 2005 list. We also saw a flock of Bullfinches - I suspect they were 'just' the British race, but have posted these blurry pictures in case anyone can turn them into Northern Bullfinches (having an irruption year into Britain this winter).

On getting back to Essex I decided to count up my Cambs list, and discovered that Tundra Bean Goose took me to a tantalising 199 - will have to go and sort out Hawfinch and Red Kite on my return!

I hadn't planned to do any more birding before flying back to SFO on Thursday, when Neil phoned to tell me about 4 (Bohemian) Waxwings in nearby Pitsea. Needless to say I couldn't resist, and here are the results of an hour's photography.

Here's the obligatory 'about to swallow a berry' shot.

One of the birds (an adult male judging by its bright plumage), had an extremely abnormal bill - the lower mandible was short, thin and strongly upturned, while the upper mandible is almost non-existent! It seemed to have no problems feeding though.

I spent the next hour in nearby Wat Tyler Country Park. On the way in I saw 2 wintering Chiffchaffs, while the hide produced 3 White-fronted Geese (SOG tick) and 2 Marsh Harriers - not a bad haul!