August 22, 2008
A day in San Francisco
After the Bodega pelagic I packed my bags for wonderful San Francisco, where I had the luxury of a whole day to myself. In the morning I wandered over to Crissy Field, where the mudflat held a small selection of gulls and shorebirds. I guess the birds become somewhat accustomed to people, and I was able to get very close to this Long-billed Curlew.
Several Brown Pelicans soared over heading out towards the Golden Gate.
An urban Peregrine also drifted overhead.
I then took a bus through the Presidio out to Golden Gate Park, seeing most of the typical resident species such as Chestnut-backed Chickadee...
American Robin...
Brown Creeper...
... and some particularly confiding Pygmy Nuthatches. The second bird was part of a group of bathing in the leaves of a freshly-watered tree.
August is not a great time for waterfowl diversity, and the lakes mostly held manky Mallards with a couple of Pied-billed Grebes on the reeded ponds.
Ocean Beach is always worth a look, and my visit happily coincided with a resting flock of about 200 Elegant Terns.
There was also ample opportunity for close-up study of Heerman's Gulls.
Behind the gull flock, Seal Rock was teeming with Brandt's Cormorants and Brown Pelicans.
The walk up to Cliff House offers fantastic views down Ocean Beach...
... and the rocks below held a Wandering Tattler, still in breeding plumage.
The Sutro Baths held a flock of Black Turnstones...
... and a tame flock of Red-winged Blackbirds.
A bus and vertiginous tram ride later, and I headed over to the tourist central of Fisherman's Wharf. Star attraction here is the California Sealion haulout - it's always fun to watch them sparring for space.
Among the avian attractions were several Western Gulls and a Double-crested Cormorant.
I finished up a delightful day with a visit to the Frida Kahlo exhibition at the MOMA, washed down with Pomegranate margaritas and a delicious Mexican meal in the Marina.
My excuse for this part of the visit was to be best man at birding buddy Marcel's wedding. The 'stag night' was rather unconventional - a Donna Summer concert at an open air theatre in a winery in the hills overlooking San Jose!
Here's wishing Marcel and his beautiful bride, Elham, a long and bird-filled life together!
