| Bird
# |
Name |
Location
seen and date/month |
Comments |
Pictures? |
| A |
|
|
|
|
| A1 |
Parakeet
Auklet |
(a) Kenai
Fjords National Park: Resurrection Bay and beyond (Jul 03) |
A few were sighted
near Chiswell Island. |
- |
| A2 |
American
Avocet |
(a) Palo
Alto Baylands, Palo Alto , CA (late Nov 2003, early Jun
2004)
|
Huge flocks of
adults in non-breeding plumage seen in the marsh in late Nov
2003.
A few in breeding plumage seen in Jun 04.
|
(a) 1,
2 |
| B |
|
|
|
|
| B1 |
Brewers
Blackbird |
(a) Moss
Landing, Monterey Bay, CA (Aug 03)
(b) Palo
Alto Baylands, Palo Alto, CA (early Jun 2004)
|
(a) See here. |
(b) 1
and 2 |
| B2 |
Red-winged
Blackbird
(bicolored version) |
(a) Silicon Valley, CA (Sep
03 and beyond)
(b) Napa Valley, CA (Dec 03)
(c) Ano Nuevo State Reserve
(Nov 04)
|
Males and females seen occasionally in
vineyards, parking lots, grassy open areas near wooded trails,
etc. sometimes along with regular blackbirds.
|
(c) 1
|
| B3 |
Rusty
Blackbird |
(a) Pillar
Point Marsh/Harbor, Princeton-by-the-Sea
(Half Moon Bay), CA
(Aug 03) |
See here. |
- |
| B4 |
Western
Bluebird |
(a) Rancho San Antonio Park, CA
(May-Jul 04)
|
(a) Adult female sighted
("Bright adult") atop a signpost in the middle of a
large open grassy field next to the woods. The face and upper
back were greyish but the reddish breast, thin beak and blue
tail were obvious.
In Jul 04, saw an immature bird in the same area where the adult
was previously sighted. |
(a)
Immature bird pictures: 1,
2,
3 |
| B5 |
Brant |
(a) Monterey/Big Sur, CA (late
Nov 05)
|
- |
(a)
1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7 |
| B6 |
Bufflehead |
(a) Little Seneca Lake
(near Seneca
Creek State Park), Boyds, MD (Dec 03)
(b) Lake Hennessy, Napa Valley, CA (Dec 03)
|
A few of these were
noticed due to their conspicuous black-and white
plumage. |
- |
| B7 |
Lazuli
Bunting |
(a) Trail near Stanford,
CA (Mar 04)
|
Male seen sitting on
a fence atop the hill, near an open area. Brilliant blue color
contrasting with the reddish breast and whitish underparts.
Somewhat thick beak eliminated the possibility that this could
be a bluebird. |
- |
| B8 |
Bushtit |
(a) Monterey/Big Sur, CA (late
Nov 05)
|
A
few very active birds seen. |
(a)
1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8 |
| C |
|
|
|
|
| C1 |
Canvasback |
(a) Palo
Alto Baylands, Palo Alto, CA (late Nov 2003)
(b) Little Seneca Lake (near Seneca
Creek State Park), Boyds, MD (Dec 03)
(c) Lake Hennessy, Napa Valley, CA (Dec 03)
|
Common here and
conspicuous with their dark and white contrast -- the dark brown
head with black crown, breast, beak and vent contrasting against
the white body. The somewhat unusual shape of the head and beak
was also visible sometimes. |
- |
| C2 |
Chestnut-backed
Chickadee |
(a) Yosemite
National Park (Mar 04)
(b) Stevens Creek State Park, CA (Apr 04)
(c) Big Sur, CA (late Nov 05)
|
(a) Three to four
birds near Bridal Veil Fall. Very active, calling continuously
and occasionally pecking on the wood. |
(c)
1 |
| C3 |
Mountain
Chickadee |
(a)
Lake Tahoe vicinity and Fallen Leaf Lake Trail (early Sep 04) |
A
few were observed actively moving around in somewhat dense areas
adjacent to open areas |
(a)
1,
2,
3 |
| C4 |
American
Coot |
(a) Palo
Alto Baylands, Palo Alto, CA (late Nov 2003, early Jun 2004)
(b) San Pablo
NWR, CA (Dec 03)
(c) Lake Hennessy, Napa Valley, CA (Dec 03)
(d) Vasona
Lake Park, Los Gatos (June 2004)
|
The white fronted
variant is the one I have seen so far. Occasionally a bird was seen which
had a tiny red spot above the white bill. |
(a) 1
(d) 1,
2
|
| C5 |
Brandt
Cormorant |
(a) Monterey
Bay; and Big Sur, CA (Aug 03) |
See here
- pictures included. |
(a) 1 |
| C6 |
Brown
Creeper |
(a)
Lake Tahoe - Fallen Leaf Lake Trail (early Sep 04) |
Lone
bird seen a little before dusk. Very hard to photograph/see
because it was well camouflaged against the tree. |
(a)
1 |
| C7 |
Double-crested
Cormorant |
(a) Kenai
Fjords National Park: Resurrection Bay and beyond (Jul 03)
(b) Moss
Landing, Monterey Bay; and Big Sur, CA (Aug 03)
(c) San Francisco (near Golden
Gate Bridge, late Aug 04)
(d) Monterey/Big Sur (late Nov
04)
(e) Vasona
Lake Park, Los Gatos (Nov 04)
|
(a) Seen in non-breeding
plumage, with their distinctive yellow chin.
(b) See here
- pictures included.
|
(b) 1
(c) 1,
2
(d) 1
(e) 1
|
| C8 |
Pelagic
Cormorant |
(a) Sausalito, CA (Mar
04)
(b) Monterey/Big Sur (late Nov
04)
|
First year juvenile
swimming in the water adjacent to some gulls - near the walkway
along the shore. Completely dark all over. |
(b)
1,
2,
3 |
| C9 |
Brown-Headed
Cowbird |
(a) Palo
Alto Baylands, Palo Alto, CA (early Jun 2004)
(b) San Francisco (near Golden
Gate Bridge, late Aug 04)
|
(a)
A male/female pair
picking off helpings from the ground along with other birds near
"duck pond".
(b) A few birds seen here
|
(a) 1,
2,
and 3
(b) Molting
juvenile
|
| C10 |
American
Crow |
(a) Don
Edwards SF Bay NWR, CA (Aug 03)
(b) Big Sur, CA (late Nov 05)
|
Common. |
(b)
1 |
| C11 |
Northwestern
Crow
|
(a) Juneau,
AK: Harbor and city (Jul 03) |
Common in the harbor and city areas. |
- |
| C12 |
Bristle-thighed
Curlew |
(a) Don
Edwards SF Bay NWR, CA (Late Nov 03)
|
About 20 of these
were flying around and then preening themselves at the edges of
mud banks. It was possible to make out the clear differences
from Whimbrels (which we have seen before) - namely, the lighter
rump and the rufous/gray contrasted underwing - when the birds
flew around. |
- |
| C13 |
Long-billed
Curlew |
(a) Palo
Alto Baylands, Palo Alto, CA (late Nov 2003, early Jun 2004)
|
In Nov 2003, a lone adult was
seen at dusk, ultra-conspicuous because of the extraordinarily
long bill.
In Jun 2004, numerous birds seen in the
mudflats.
|
(a) 1,
2,
3,
4,
and 5 |
| D |
|
|
|
|
| D1 |
Mourning
Dove |
(a) Silicon Valley, CA
(Year-round)
(b) Rancho San Antonio Park, CA (Jul 04)
|
Common. |
(b) 1 |
| D2 |
Rock
Dove |
(a) Silicon Valley, CA
(Sep 03)
(b) Palo
Alto Baylands, Palo Alto, CA (early Jun 2004)
|
Abundant in CA. |
(b) 1 |
| D3 |
Long-billed
Dowitcher |
(a)
Monterey/Big Sur - in Salinas (late Nov 04)
|
(a)
Tentatively identified this flock as being the long-billed
variety based on the beak length - but I could be wrong here. |
(a)
1,
2 |
| D4 |
Ring-necked
Duck |
(a) Little Seneca Lake
(near Seneca
Creek State Park), Boyds, MD (Dec 03)
|
Common in this lake.
The white "spur" was the identifier clearly
distinguishing the breeding males (which are the ones I focused
on). |
- |
| D5 |
Ruddy
Duck |
(a) Little Seneca Lake
(near Seneca
Creek State Park), Boyds, MD (Dec 03)
(b) Lake Hennessy, Napa Valley, CA (Dec 03)
(c) Shoreline Park, Mountain
View, CA (early Oct 04)
|
Many non-breeding
ducks seen in these locations. The dark crown and white cheeks
(of the male) juxtaposed
against the brownish body were conspicuous. The striped face of
the female was also conspicuous. |
(c)
1,
2 |
| E |
|
|
|
|
| E1 |
Bald
Eagle
|
(a) Tongass
National Forest: Tracy Arm Fjords (Jul 03)
(b) Juneau, AK: city (Jul 03)
(c) Kenai
Fjords National Park: Resurrection Bay and beyond (Jul 03) |
The U.S. national
bird was very common, both in
Juneau (including in the Mendelhall wetlands) as well as in Tongass,
which apparently has the highest density of bald eagles in the United
States. Along the coastal cruise, there were many sightings of lone
bald eagles perched majestically on the tops of trees bordering
the ocean or sometimes atop ledges. We were lucky to see a bald eagle
nest as well. They were not close enough to take good photographs. |
- |
| E2 |
Great
Egret |
(a) Don
Edwards SF Bay NWR, CA (Aug 03)
(b) Moss Landing, Monterey, CA
(Aug 03)
(c) Palo
Alto Baylands, Palo Alto, CA (late Nov 2003)
(d) Vasona
Lake Park, Los Gatos (Nov 04)
|
(a) A lone egret flew in
and settled near the edge of an unused, small, dilapidated
bridge. The long neck and yellow beak were obvious. Patiently
stood there while I was there (~30 min), and from time to time
darted head into the water and grabbed a fish. I saw the egret
grab about 2-3 fish in a 10 minute period. One of the pictures
I took of this bird is
here.
(b) Moss Landing pic is here.
(c) Lone egret seen in the marsh here.
Also common in other marshlands in CA.
|
(a) 1
(b) 2
(d) 1,
2
|
| E3 |
Snowy
Egret |
(a) Palo
Alto Baylands, Palo Alto, CA (early Jun 2004)
(b) Shoreline Park, Mountain
View, CA (early Oct 04)
|
(a)
Many seen in raucous
breeding colony near "duck pond" along with other
birds such as black crowned night herons.
(b) A lone bird was sighted
|
(a) 1
[UnID's egrets - are these juveniles?:
1,
2,
and 3]
(b) 1,
2
|
| F |
|
|
|
|
| F1 |
House
Finch |
(a) Silicon Valley, CA
(Oct 03)
(b) Skyline
Wilderness Park, Imola, CA (Napa Valley) (Dec 03)
(c) Monterey/Big Sur (late Nov
04)
|
(a) Often seen -
usually a pair (perhaps the same pair). Heavy underside streaks
and whitish markings on wings. Tried to build a nest next to
wall of home.
(b) Saw a flock of these here.
|
(a) 1,
2
(c) 1,
2
|
| F2 |
Northern
Flicker |
(a) Silicon Valley, CA
(Oct 03)
(b) Napa
Valley Ecological Reserve, Yountville, CA (Napa Valley) (Dec
03)
|
(a) 2-3 birds
seen commonly near backyard. two days in succession. Black breast patch and spotted
underparts were conspicuous. Reddish underwing striking.
(b) A single bird was seen here.
|
-
|
| F3 |
Ash-throated
Flycatcher |
(a) Rancho San Antonio Park, CA
(May 04)
|
Single adult sighted
on top of a "bird box" on two separate days. |
(a) 1
and 2 |
| G |
|
|
|
|
| G1 |
Gadwall |
(a)
Shoreline Park, Mountain View, CA (early Oct 04)
|
(a)
Many birds seen in the bay
|
(a)
1,
2 |
| G2 |
Blue-gray
Gnatcatcher |
(a) Clayton, CA: Mt.
Diablo State Park (Aug 03) |
Caught my attention
because of their size and white long stripes along the edges of
the tail. Greyish top (including the crown of the head), lighter
underparts, small beak, (dark?) greyish legs. |
- |
| G3 |
Marbled
Godwit |
(a) Pillar
Point Marsh/Harbor, Princeton-by-the-Sea
(Half Moon Bay), CA
(Aug 03)
(b) Monterey/Big Sur (late Nov
04)
|
(a)
See here
- pictures included. |
(a) 1
(b) 1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6
|
| G4 |
Lesser
Goldfinch |
(a) Rancho San Antonio Park, CA (Apr 04)
|
About 4-5 birds
perched in bushes on hillside near open grassland, that was
bordering a wooded area. Black cap contrasting the yellow
underparts was conspicuous on the males. The back appear
brownish grey, with dark/black wings with prominent white patch
on the wings. The beak was somewhat thick - making it easy to
eliminate the possibility that these were warblers. The
underside of the tail was white with a black tip at the
bottom. |
- |
| G5 |
Canada
Goose |
(a) Anchorage:
Potter's Marsh (Jul 03)
(b) Don
Edwards SF Bay NWR, CA (Aug 03)
(c) Clopper Lake in Seneca
Creek State Park), MD (Dec 03)
(d) Vasona
Lake Park, Los Gatos (June 2004)
(e) Vasona
Lake Park, Los Gatos (Nov 04)
|
Abundant species of
geese.
(a) Two adults with
one juvenile - relatively quiet at the edge of the water
(b) Commonly seen in and around this area
(c) Large flocks seen here
(d) Large flock in the lake
Additionally, I've seen Canada Geese in many
other places in CA. |
(d) 1,
2,
3,
4
(e) 1
|
| G6 |
Snow
Goose |
(a) Vasona
Lake Park, Los Gatos (Nov 04)
|
A
lone intermediate plumage snow goose found in the middle of
large flock of Canada Geese. |
(a)
1,
2 |
| G7 |
Pied-Billed
Grebe |
(a)
Shoreline Park, Mountain View, CA (early Oct 04)
(b) Vasona
Lake Park, Los Gatos (Nov 04)
|
(a)
A couple of birds seen in the bay
|
(a)
1
(b) 1,
2
|
| G8 |
Western
Grebe |
(a) Lake Hennessy, Napa
Valley, CA (Dec 03)
(b) San Francisco (near Golden
Gate Bridge, late Aug 04)
|
(a)
Common in the E and
SE shores of the lake. No sign of any light markings above the
eye or in front of it - so, ruled out Clark's or hybrid species.
Bill was yellowish in the bright sun.
(b) Lone bird sleeping
|
(b)
1,
2 |
| G9 |
Pigeon
Guillemot
|
(a) Tongass
National Forest: Tracy Arm Fjords (Jul 03) |
Abundant near the rocky coastline, and
often seen diving into the water. The dark beak, red legs and black
wedge in the white wing patch were unmistakable. |
- |
| G10 |
Bonaparte's
Gull
|
(a) Juneau,
AK: Harbor (Jul 03) |
As we were leaving the Juneau
harbor on a trip to Tracy Arm Fjords, we saw a flock of these. |
- |
| G11 |
California
Gull |
(a)
Lake Tahoe (early Sep 04)
(b) Vasona
Lake Park, Los Gatos (Nov 04)
|
Common.
Identifiable by the red and black on the beak, along with
the greenish-yellow legs. |
(a)
1,
2
(b) 1,
2
|
| G12 |
Glaucous-winged
Gull |
(a) Kenai
Fjords National Park: Resurrection Bay and beyond (Jul 03) |
A cornucopia of
these in this area, some being concentrated on rocky shores with
young ones in their midst. Clearly these were their breeding
grounds. |
- |
| G13 |
Heerman's
Gull |
(a) Moss
Landing, Monterey Bay; and Big Sur, CA (Aug 03)
(b) San Francisco (near Golden
Gate Bridge, late Aug 04)
(c) Ano Nuevo State Reserve
(Nov 04)
|
(a)
See here
- pictures included. |
(a) 1
(b) 1
(c) Flock
|
| G14 |
Herring
Gull
|
(a) Tongass
National Forest: Tracy Arm Fjords (Jul 03)
(b) Juneau, AK: harbor (Jul 03) |
There were occasional sightings
of these - marked by their big size, the light ash-colored backs
and upper wing with black near the tips, fairly large yellow beak with
red spot and light pink legs. |
- |
| G15 |
Mew
Gull |
(a) Anchorage:
Potter's Marsh (Jul 03)
(b) Denali
National Park: Entrance (Jul 03)
(c) Monterey/Big Sur (late Nov
04) |
(a) This marsh
appeared to be the breeding ground for numerous gulls, with
these seeming to be the most abundant. There were many
juveniles/young gulls in the marsh, some in close proximity to
the main road. It was not surprising then that walking alongside
the marsh in their vicinity provoked seeming attacks by some of
the adult gulls (weakly reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock's The
Birds).
A picture I took of the gulls is
here.
(b) Mew gulls were pretty common near the
entrance to DNP, especially near the Nenana River. |
(a) 1
(c) First winter: 1,
2;
Non-breeding: 3,
4,
5,
6
|
| G16 |
Ring-Billed
Gull |
(a) Potomac river edge,
Washington D.C. (Dec 03)
(b) Shoreline Park, Mountain
View, CA (early Oct 04)
(c) Monterey/Big Sur (late Nov
04)
(d) Vasona
Lake Park, Los Gatos (Nov 04)
|
(a)
The yellow legs and
very light grey back were distinguishing characteristics of
these gulls. Additionally, the somewhat thick yellow bill (with
dark ring) and weak facial brown markings (non-breeding)
convinced me these were not Mew Gulls. With a strong cold wind,
many of them were "floating" in mid-air just above the
river surface.
(b) Saw a few of these here
|
(b)
1,
2,
3,
4
(c) 1,
2
(d) 1
|
| G17 |
Western
Gull |
(a) Pillar
Point Marsh/Harbor, Princeton-by-the-Sea
(Half Moon Bay), CA
(Aug 03)
(b) Moss
Landing, Monterey Bay; and Big Sur, CA (Aug 03)
(c) San Francisco (near Golden
Gate Bridge, late Aug 04)
(d) Morro Bay/Morro Rock, CA
(late May 05)
(e) Monterey/Big Sur, CA (late
Nov 04)
|
(a) See here
- pictures included.
(b) See here
- pictures included.
(c) Very common
(d) Very common
|
(a) 1 (b) 2
(c) 1,
2,
3
(d) 1
(e) 1st winter: 1;
Other: 1,
2,
3
|
| H |
|
|
|
|
| H1 |
Northern
Harrier |
(a) Don
Edwards SF Bay NWR, CA (Late Nov 03)
(b) Channel Islands National
Park, CA (Late May 05)
|
(a)
A lone bird was
flying with wings nearly flattened, not too high above the
marshland. What struck me first was the ultra-conspicuous white
rump. The upper wing seemed to have two weakly contrasting bands
of color (brown/gray). The underparts seemed slightly rufous in
the evening sun. There may or may not have been some barring on
the underside. It appears the bird was a juvenile (1st year).
(b) A lone female calling
relentlessly and flying over a hilltop in Santa Cruz
Island
|
(b)
1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8 |
| H2 |
Cooper's
Hawk |
(a)
Lake Tahoe vicinity
(early Sep 04)
(b) Big Sur, CA (late Nov 04)
|
(a)
Lone
juvenile seen a little before dusk. Since many species look
similar, I had to rule out the following:
- Female Northern Harrier because the throat is not largely
brown and the upper wing looks different
- Juvenile Northern Goshawk due to size and no obvious white
supercilium
- Juvenile Sharp-Shinned Hawk because the observed bird had a throat
and underparts very similar to Cooper's
(b) Identified, in part, by the
very thick black bottom band on the underside of the tail
|
(a)
1,
2,
3,
4
(b) 1,
2
|
| H3 |
Red-Shouldered
Hawk |
(a) Rancho San Antonio Park, CA
(May 04)
|
Single juvenile
sighted.
The bird does not match the book description 100% because the
coloration is more rufous than orange or red. But the very
distinct tail and tail stripes, with the barred underparts and
rufous "shoulder" eliminates any other possibility. |
(a) Juvenile: 1,
2
and 3 |
| H4 |
Red-tailed
Hawk |
(a) Don
Edwards SF Bay NWR, CA (Aug 03)
(b) Silicon Valley, CA (Sep 03)
(c) Lake Tahoe vicinity and
Fallen Leaf Lake Trail (early Sep 04)
(d) Monterey/Big Sur (late Nov
04)
|
One
of the most common raptors I have seen in California. The light
morph is most frequently observed; one
dark morph adult was seen as well. |
(c)
1
(d) 1,
2,
3,
4
|
| H5 |
Sharp-shinned
Hawk |
(a)
Shoreline Park, Mountain View, CA (early Oct 04)
|
Single
adult - most likely a female - seen perched on a tree facing the
bay/water (at dusk). The rufous cheeks and the thick/pronounced
barring on the underparts indicate this was not a Copper's Hawk.
|
(a)
1,
2,
3,
4 |
| H6 |
Black-crowned
Night Heron |
(a) San
Pablo Bay NWR, CA (Dec 03)
(b) Palo
Alto Baylands, Palo Alto , CA (early Jun 2004)
|
(a) About 10-12 birds
were literally asleep in their characteristic posture - head
sunk into breast in the marshland just north of the Bay/Hwy
37.
(b) Small breeding colony near "duck
pond"
|
(b) Adults and
juveniles seen: 1,
2,
3,
and 4 |
| H7 |
Great Blue Heron |
(a) Pillar
Point Marsh/Harbor, Princeton-by-the-Sea
(Half Moon Bay), CA
(Aug 03)
(b) Palo
Alto Baylands, Palo Alto, CA (early Jun 2004)
(c) Vasona
Lake Park, Los Gatos (June 2004)
(d) Monterey/Big Sur (late Nov
04)
|
(a) See here
- picture included.
(b) Lone bird sighted.
(c) Saw some juveniles
|
(a) 1
(b) 1
(c) 1,
2,
3,
4
(d) 1 |
| H8 |
Green
Heron |
(a) Vasona
Lake Park, Los Gatos (June 2004)
|
See pictures. |
(a) 1,
2,
3 |
| H9 |
Anna's
Hummingbird |
(a) Trail near
Stanford, CA (Mar 04)
(b) Rancho San Antonio State Park, CA (Apr 04)
(c) Big Sur, CA (late Nov 04)
(d) Vasona
Lake Park, Los Gatos (Nov 04)
|
(a)
Single male perched
on a tall bush near trail edge
(c) A male-female pair -- very
active
|
(c)
1,
2,
3,
4,
5,
6,
7,
8
(d) 1
|
| I |
|
|
|
|
| J |
|
|
|
|
| J1 |
Steller's
Jay |
(a) Mendenhall
Glacier in Juneau, AK: East Glacier Trail (Jul 03)
(b) Monterey
Bay; and Big Sur, CA (Aug 03)
(c) Rancho San Antonio State Park, CA (Apr-Jul 04)
|
(a) On the East Glacier
Trail we took uphill, heading towards a waterfall, there were
two of these (with their prominent crests) making themselves
felt with their somewhat harsh calls.
(b) See here
- pictures included.
|
(b) 1
(c) 1,
2
|
| J2 |
Western
Scrub Jay |
(a) Clayton, CA: Mt.
Diablo State Park (Aug 03)
(b) Monterey
Bay; and Big Sur, CA (Aug 03)
(b) Rancho San Antonio State Park, CA (Apr-May 04)
|
(a) There were a few of
them, also calling periodically. One of them was feeding a young
one.
(b) See here
- picture included.
|
(b) 1
(c) 1,
2
|
| J3 |
Dark-eyed
Junco |
(a) Clayton, CA: Mt.
Diablo State Park (Aug 03)
(b) Silicon Valley, CA (Nov-Dec 03)
(c) Napa Valley, CA (Dec 03)
(d) Rancho San Antonio State Park, CA (Apr-May 04)
|
(a) Black head, pinkish
beak and legs, underparts partly rufous to lightish, brown back,
dark tail with white stripes at long ends. Saw three of them
near the thick scrub close to the observatory.
(b) Occasional visitors to my backyard.
(c) Seen occasionally near wooded areas.
|
(b) 1
(d) 1,
2
|
| K |
|
|
|
|
| K1 |
American
Kestrel |
(a) Lake Hennessy, Napa
Valley, CA (Dec 03)
|
A lone male seen
near the SE shore of the lake, near the highway. Watched him for
about 10-15 minutes as he flew around, hovered (frequently) and
sat either on tree branches or power lines. Managed to get some
not-so-good photographs of the bird. Conspicuous
identifiers included the black band under the tail at the tip
and reddish color under the tail, combined with a reddish/rufous
top and grey wings. The facial markings became apparent when the
bird was sitting down. |
(a) 1 |
| K2 |
Killdeer |
(a) Don
Edwards SF Bay NWR, CA (Late Nov 03)
(b) Palo
Alto Baylands, Palo Alto , CA (early Jun 2004)
|
(a) There were about 5-6
of these - which are members of the Plover family. The
double-breast band was very conspicuous and striking. Combined
with the white throat and white patches in front of and
behind/atop the dark eye, it set up quite a contrast even in the
late evening sun. They were very active, walking along the edges
of the small mud islands.
(b) Lone bird in the mudflats
|
(b) 1 |
| K3 |
Belted
Kingfisher |
(a) Yountville, CA (Napa
Valley) (Dec 03)
|
Saw a single bird
perched on a stump near a stream. I was unable to get close
enough or observe it for more than a few seconds. |
- |
| K4 |
Ruby-crowned
Kinglet |
(a) Martha Walker Native
Habitat Garden in the Skyline
Wilderness Park, Imola, CA (Napa Valley) (Dec 03)
(b) Big Sur (late Nov 04)
|
A couple of these
were flying around and occasionally showed themselves from
behind the thick shrubs. The white around the eyes, the small
size, and the conspicuous white-stripe on the dark upper wings
were among the identifiers. Did not see the adults with crests
raised. They were calling out frequently. |
(b)
Non-breeding: 1,
2,
3 |
| K5 |
White-tailed
Kite |
(a) San
Pablo Bay NWR, CA (Dec 03)
(b) Trail near Stanford, CA (Mar 04)
(c) Rancho San Antonio Park, CA (Apr-Jun
04, August 04)
|
(a) Two birds were
alternately sitting anf flying/hovering in the marshland north
of the Bay. They were identifiable because of the conspicuous
black upper wing patches contrasted against the greyish upper
wings and white tail/body. From a distance the birds seem to
have black wings and a white body but closer inspections shows
nuances. I believe I have seen another pair active over the Don
Edwards SF Bay NWR, CA. What I found interesting about these
birds is that at a distance they almost appear like terns.
(b), (c) Birds seen hovering and diving
|
(c)
Juvenile bird 1,
2,
3,
4
|
| K6 |
Black-legged
Kittiwake |
(a) |
