How was your holiday? I stayed close to home, had a nice turkey day with my in-laws, survived an evening with my republican brother and have done massive de-clutterization of our home. In between, I've been enjoying the winter arrivals in the back yard and managed to sneak in a tiny bit of birding at Ocean Beach.
It feels good to get out for a walk... Whimbrel at Ocean Beach, SF
This week's diary will be like the menu two days after Thanksgiving - little bit of this, a little bit of that... hopefully ending in a tasty result.
Looking for leftovers... a Willet shadows a Marbled Godwit on Ocean Beach
A quick followup to last week's Dawn Chorus about the Northern Harriers - I posted my tip jar with a hope that perhaps I'd see one while banding. Right at the end of the day, a handsome juvenile male paid us a visit. First one I've had in the blind this year (it was the 6th of the season, out of nearly 1500 birds the program has banded this year).
Juvenile male Northern Harrier, banded 11/22/08 in the Marin Headlands.
It's winter and the shorebirds are back at the water's edge throughout the bay area. Last week I was watching them on Tomales Bay, a few days ago I was enjoying them on Richardson Bay near my office. Those of us who are lucky enough to live in the Bay Area never have far to go to see them. These guys are about a mile from my home down at Ocean Beach.
Whimbrel on a mission. I love their racing-stripe head markings.
Marbled Godwit in the surf.
I didn't even have to leave home to get my birding fix. The thistle feeder has had plenty of visitors - at one point I had a dozen goldfinches battling it out with a pair of golden-crowned sparrows (the sparrows are not big on sharing). They were also duking it out with each other - the mild weather must have put some springtime thoughts into their heads and the males were getting very territorial. The juncos were feasting on spilled seed and enjoying the bath.
Dark-eyed junco, getting the spa treatment.
I was digiscoping out the back window and got this visitor to my yard. He was not too cooperative about giving me the classic "bird-book look". You can probably guess who it is, but I'll post a more familiar view with my tip jar.
Other stuff:
On a visit back to my hometown of Dearborn a few years back, I discovered the Rouge River Bird Observatory and have been following their activities online. I really enjoyed this story of a waterthrush's travels.
In about an hour, I'm heading out with friends to Solano County (looking for winter raptors) and Woodbridge Road (cranes!!). I hope to have some good photo ops and more to share in coming weeks' diaries.
Next weekend, PattyP will host Dawn Chorus with a diary about Florida Scrub Jays.