The last few days have been a complete whirlwind from Flagstaff AZ to Sacramento CA to Bolinas CA, and finally back to Sacramento CA to take my folks to the airport for their departure on the 10th, hence the lack of posts over the past few days. Regardless, I have a lot to report:

On day 4 from Flagstaff to Sacramento several good birds were picked up along the way including my 500th Life Bird, FERRUGINOUS HAWK. The view of this bird was quick, but the ID was easy. Just another one that I look forward to getting a better look at one of these days. Arriving into southern CA on the 7th I was able to observe my 303rd state bird for California, EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVE in Needles. Quite a striking bird, and one that I am glad to see over and over, even though it is a bird rapidly expanding its range. The rest of the drive on this day was long and birdless. It was getting dark near I-5 and rain reared its ugly head for several hours of the day, but a few other birds were picked up including GREAT EGRET and BLACK PHOEBE.

Day 5 from Sacramento to and around Bolinas CA and the Palomarin Field Station showed many more common, but welcomed birds for the Central Valley and coastal areas of Point Reyes. A single flyover SWAINSON’S HAWK was one of the first birds to reveal itself on the 2.5 hr drive. My arrival at the field station had easy to spot WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS, SPOTTED TOWHEES, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, CALIFORNIA QUAIL, and ANNA’S HUMMINGBIRDS while vocalizing BUSHTITS, CALIFORNIA TOWHEES, and SONG SPARROWS were quick to follow. After staying at the station we birded around Bolinas Lagoon and picked up many species of waterfowl including RUDDY DUCK, NORTHERN PINTAIL, MALLARD, SURF SCOTER, COMMON GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD, GREATER SCAUP, CANVASBACK, AMERICAN WIGEON, and a single male EURASIAN WIGEON which was the closest look I ever had. In fact it was within the first field of view looking at a flock of wigeons that I hoped, but doubted held a Eurasian.

Day 6 was another quick day of birding with a trip around Bolinas Lagoon, the field station, and the Point Reyes Lighthouse. Many of the same previously reported species were observed. New additions included singing WINTER WREN and a single red-shafted NORTHERN FLICKER at the field station, SNOWY EGRETS in the Lagoon along with several large flocks of WILLETS. New birds for the trip at the lighthouse included a very vocal pair of PEREGRINE FALCONS at the lighthouse itself, a single ROCK WREN, GOLDEN-CROWNED and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, AMERICAN KESTREL, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, WESTERN GULLS, COMMON MURRES, and BRANDT’S and PELAGIC CORMORANTS. Once we left the point we headed back to Sacramento and near the town of Vallejo on RTE 37 around San Pablo Bay, several large flocks of BLACK-NECKED STILTS, and a smattering of AMERICAN AVOCETS were around. Overall not a bad few days of birding N. CA without really even trying. Hopefully the banded Varied Thrush at the field station stays around to allow a look.

Ok, well time to go. Beat, tired, and probably not making any sense here anyways. Good Birding.

~Chad (3/9/06)