Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, April 2014

I had to attend a luncheon engagement today, so was unable to venture very far afield. If the choice had been proffered, I would have jumped at the chance of a slice of carrot cake and a weak lemon drink al Frisco on the flowering meadows of Mt Tamalpais. Anyway, I took the easy option this morning and paid a visit to Golden Gate Park, concentrating my efforts around Stow Lake and Strawberry Hill (Google Earth ref; 37 46 7.28N 122 28 30.39W).

The way in from 10^th and Fulton was uneventful except for a House Finch that showed well in a date palm outside the Conservatory of Music and the Brewer’s Blackbirds that posed on a rail.

The wintering warblers have moved on and the migrants from the south have yet to show on this fourth week of April. But the trees and bushes around the lake were ringing with birdsong; mostly from the Song Sparrows and Red-shouldered Blackbirds.

I often see the "Bi-coloured" form here which shows little or no yellow on the median coverts.

The usual suspects were found on Stow Lake. Mallards, Pied-billed Grebe and American Coot were expected, but the Ring-necked Ducks were a surprise, putting in a first-time appearance on the lake for my notebook. Notably absent were the gulls. Western Gulls were present in numbers, but California, Herring, Glaucous-winged and Ring-billed Gulls had moved on for the summer.

The lake surrounds a large island known as Strawberry Hill. I always check here for the reputed Great Horned Owls that are said to roost in the pines, but have yet to find one. The top of the small waterfall has been a productive spot in the past and was probably the most interesting area today. A male Anna’s Hummingbird flew his ‘J’-shaped display, but a Selasphorus sp, hid amongst the leaves and refused to do or show anything characteristic. A flock of Cedar Waxwings were working their way up towards the top of the hill, but were camera-shy and flighty.

In a small garden behind the boathouse/ café, I stopped for a while on a bench, hoping that a hummingbird might come down to the showy flowers of a fuchsia bush there. Sure enough, after a short while an Allen’s Hummingbird came to feed. It didn’t come round to my side of the bush while feeding, but popped up into clear view for a rest. The green back gives a reasonable identification as Allen’s. Mind you, the otherwise similar Rufous Hummingbird may also occasionally show a green back while the Allen’s, obtusely, might wear a rufous back. I am assured that each crossover variant is fairly rare, and each of the birds that I saw toady had green backs, so I am going with Allen’s. A display flight might have been useful with a few sideswipes building up to the ‘J’-shaped plummet for confirmation.

The hummingbirds have been very visible today, chasing each other about, defending food sources and gathering nesting material. This Anna’s Hummingbird female looked to be feeding from a patch of lawn daisies. When I looked closer however, I realised that she was collecting spiders’ webs and soft seed fluff.

Bird list for Stow Lake;

Canada Goose 12, Mallard 25, Ring-necked Duck 25, Pied-billed Grebe 4, Double-crested Cormorant 6, Great Blue Heron 1, Red-tailed Hawk 2, American Coot 3, Western Gull 60, Eurasian Collared Dove 2, Mourning Dove 3, Ann’s Hummingbird 12, Allens’ Hummingbird 2, Black Phoebe 2, Steller’s Jay 5, American Crow 4, Common Raven 10, Northern Rough-winged Swaloow 3, Violet-green Swallow 25, Barn Swallow 6, Bushtit 2, Pygmy Nuthatch 1, American Robin 12, Cedar Waxwing 70, Yellow-rumped Warbler 2, California Towhee 2, Song Sparrow 6, Golden-crowned Sparrow 8, Dark-eyed Junco 8, Red-winged Blackbird 12, Brewer’s Blackbird 25, House Finch 6.

A choice of buses is available to reach the park from Market St in downtown San Francisco. Today I rode bus no 5, which cost $2 and ran along Fulton, skirting the northern edge of the park. The stop at 10^th and Fulton is very close to the de Young Museum and the Conservatory of Music.

Bus no. 71, also $2, runs along Haight and serves the south side of the park. 

For previous posts from Golden Gate Park, follow the links below;

http://redgannet.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/golden-gate-park-san-francisco.html

http://redgannet.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/golden-gate-park-san-francisco-oct-2012.html

http://redgannet.blogspot.co.uk/2013/01/golden-gate-park-san-francisco-jan-2013.html

Visit the dedicated USA and Canada page for more posts from San Francisco, including; Palo Alto Baylands, Crissy Field and the Nudist Beach

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Jan 2013

Happy New Year! Sorry I am running a bit late I will catch up soon, honest.

January 1^st found me in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park. There was only time for a quick visit, so I concentrated my efforts around Stow Lake and Strawberry Hill.

Bus number 71 runs along Market, through Haight, to the park. The walk from the 9^th St stop was quick and easy with Western Scrub-jay, House Finch, Chestnut-backed Chickadee and Anna’s Hummingbird seen on the way.

Just beyond the Japanese Garden, a path cuts up to the northeast end of Stow Lake. A Black Phoebe sat out well here and some Fox Sparrows fed from thrown seeds.

The lake is usually covered with Mallard and gulls, but today it looked very quiet with only the ripples from a Pied-billed Grebe disturbing the surface.

White-crowned Sparrows and Golden-crowned Sparrows were seen along the path by the water’s edge and a Steller’s Jay found the loose peanuts irresistible.

I took the bridge across to the south side of the Island and climbed to the small waterfall at the top of Strawberry Hill. A Hermit Thrush distracted me on the way, but I was targeting the waterfall as it is often very productive. A Townsend’s Warbler came very close today, but I was still unable to track down the Great Horned Owls that are said to roost in the pines here.

A pair of Red-tailed Hawks was interacting above my head. I like to think that I may have brought them slightly closer together through the power of Photoshop. They flew, talons extended, inverted in flight, or stooped down into the pines on the west side of the island.

This is where I found all the gulls and Mallard that I had been expecting. In the shelter of an overhanging bush, an American Wigeon was being very coy.

The Black Phoebes were being very confiding today. This was the third one that allowed me to approach close enough to see the colour of its eyes.  

 Birds seen;

American Wigeon 1, Mallard 150, Pied-billed Grebe 8, Great Blue Heron 2, Red-tailed Hawk 3, American Coot 100, Mew Gull 60, Glaucous-winged Gull 15, Anna’s Hummingbird 8, Black Phoebe 4, Steller’s Jay 7, Common Raven 3, Chestnut-backed Chickadee 4, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2, Hermit Thrush 3, Orange-crowned Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 9, Townsend’s Warbler 3, Fox Sparrow 4, White-crowned Sparrow 16, Golden-crowned Sparrow 6, Dar-eyed Junco 2, House Finch 4, American Goldfinch 2.

For previous posts from Golden Gate Park, follow the links below;

http://redgannet.blogspot.co.uk/2012/03/golden-gate-park-san-francisco.html
http://redgannet.blogspot.co.uk/2012/10/golden-gate-park-san-francisco-oct-2012.html

Visit the dedicated USA and Canada Page for more from San Francisco, including; The Palace of Fine Arts and Dipper.

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco, Oct 2012

This was to be a quick morning visit to Golden Gate Park and I decided that to make the best of my time, I would concentrate my efforts around Stow Lake and Strawberry Hill at Google Earth ref;  37°46'7.33"N 122°28'30.43"W.  

A few birds made it on to the list as I made my way there. Pygmy Nuthatches were as common here today as I have ever seen them. White-crowned Sparrows and Golden Crowned Sparrows were easy pickings too, but the Fox Sparrow was my first of the year.

Anna’s Hummingbirds were not as abundant as yesterday, but a fair few were seen just the same with this one found opposite the Arboretum.

Once I reached Stow Lake, I immediately noticed that it was much quieter than my previous visit. That was an early spring weekend and there had been many bird feeders scattering their largesse throughout the Stow Lake area. This was an autumn Wednesday and the place was almost exclusively mine. There were plenty of Western Gulls on the lake with Mallard, American Coots and a couple of Pied Billed Grebes. In the trees and tangles around the bank were plenty of sparrows, a Townsend’s Warbler and some Red-winged Blackbirds.

The blackbird was singing, but not with the accustomed refrain of “Kong-koreeee”. I was drawn to him and noticed that it was the bi-coloured form with a shorter, raspy “Ookreee-oh”.

There is an island in the lake with bridges crossing to it from the south and the north banks. More Pygmy Nuthatches were seen picking through the opening pine cones. At the top of the hill is a small reservoir which feeds a small waterfall.

Today, the falls were dry, but amongst the rocks a couple of pools and damp patches were attracting small birds to drink. It was the first time that I had seen either a Ruby-crowned Kinglet or a Pygmy Nuthatch at ground level.

They were joined by a Hermit Warbler, giving me the best view that I had ever had of one of these. In the trees surrounding the small waterfall, there was plenty of activity with Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Red-bellied Nuthatches and Orange-crowned Warblers joining in.

Back down on the rocks the stage had been taken by a Swainson’s Thrush as some Lesser Goldfinch fed nearby. The waterfall on Strawberry hill was very productive and I was delighted to find the Hermit Warbler after a stringy sighting on my last visit.

Birds seen; 23

Mallard 50, Pied-billed Grebe 2, American Coot 12, Western Gull 150, Anna’s Hummingbird 5, Chestnut-backed Chickadee 8, Bushtit 6, Red-breasted Nuthatch 4, Pygmy Nuthatch 45, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 2, Swainson’s Thrush 1, Orange-crowned Warbler 2, Yellow Warbler 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 3, Townsends Warbler 8, Hermit Warbler 1, Fox Sparrow 1, Song Sparrow 6,White-crowned Sparrow 10, Red-winged Blackbird 5, Brewer’s Blackbird 25, House Finch 8, Lesser Goldfinch 5.

Bus no 71 runs from Downtown San Francisco along Market Street before cutting up onto Haight St. There were many vagrants at Stanyon Street, so I stayed on the bus until 9th Street (Google Earth ref; 37°45'57.32"N 122°27'59.35"W). This is convenient for the arboretum which opens at 10.00.
Visit the dedicated USA and Canada Page for more from San Francisco, including Palo Alto Baylands and Golden Gate Park. Other destinations on the west coast include Los Angeles and Seattle.

Golden Gate Park, San Francisco,

The day dawned bright and warm in the city of San Francisco, but by the time I stepped from the bus at Golden Gate Park, the fog had rolled in and it was cold. My colleagues tell me that it had been fine all day in the city so I am assuming that the mist must burn off as it moves inland. It left me with very cold hands and reminded me to be prepared for fluctuations in weather and temperature here.

The Cedar Waxwings were almost lost to the fog and I had to clean my binoculars a couple of times as the condensation dropped from the trees. The Botanical Gardens are gated and were not yet open so I passed on towards Stow Lake. On the right, I found a hot spot at the entrance to Music Concourse Drive (Google Earth ref; 37 46 10N 122 28 05W).

A small traffic island here played host to Townsend’s Warblers, Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Pygmy Nuthatches. An American Robin sat at the top of a severely pruned tree.

On a cold, misty, March Monday morning, people were still keen to get their exercise and a couple of sporty girls called me over to point out a Red-shouldered Hawk in a low tree.

There was a huge assortment of bird feeders, varying in sex, race, creed and level of sanity. One rolled tiny bits of bread in his fingers and targeted individual birds, another sprinkled monkey nuts over her shoulder as she walked. The nuts fell, she knew not where, nor did she seem to care, but a California Quail was quick to take advantage when a jogger crushed one as he passed by.

Sparrows seemed to be the main beneficiaries of this largesse and were well represented with Golden-crowned and White-crowned Sparrows easily seen.

Song Sparrows were in good voice even on such a drab morning with the fog damping the sound. Bold individuals perched high and proud singing for the world to hear.

At Stow Lake the most obvious birds were the gulls with the Western Gull standing out as the most numerous. American Coots were also seen along with Pied-billed Grebes and Mallards .

My mission today was to find some Great Horned Owls that Walter had told me about opposite the Bison Paddock. I was about halfway there and had to pass under Crossover Drive and continue west along John F Kennedy Drive.

Very soon after, I came to Lloyd Lake which held a surprising amount of waterfowl. Ring-necked Ducks were the most numerous, but more spectacular were the Wood Ducks and the Hooded Mergansers.

A female merganser had to fight for a place on a log with a Mallard. Getting out of the water onto the log was difficult enough for her without the duck making it even harder.

It was almost midday and at last the fog was beginning to lift by the time I reached the Bison Paddock and began the search for the Great Horned Owls’ nest. It was said to be in the crook of a tree immediately across the road, but it wasn’t immediately apparent. I walked back and forth a couple of times and decided that the likely looking mess in an evergreen was probably what I was seeking. Nothing could be seen in the nest from any angle, but I was sure that I was looking in the right place. Eventually a chap came by on a bicycle and stopped to look up into the tree. He told me that the chicks had left the nest at the weekend, but that they should still be in the same tree as they were not yet able to fly. Well I scoured it from every viewpoint, but could not see anything in the tree. A Red-tailed Hawk flew over a couple of times and even settled in the tree at one point. I am sure that if there were any owls close by either the hawk would have reacted to their presence or the parent owls would have had something to say to the hawk.

While I waited to see if anything would happen, Dark-eyed Juncos, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Pygmy Nuthatches and Townsend’s Warblers kept me company. And so I had to start back. The Red-tailed Hawk made a low pass across the Bison Paddock and flushed a Killdeer. I suspect he was after gophers of which there was plenty of evidence.

An Anna’s Hummingbird sat tight as I passed and I stopped to see if he would stay for a picture. He proved to be a very willing subject and I almost lost track of time.

Passing Stow Lake on the return journey, I decided to take one last look for some owls. They are often seen at the top of Strawberry Hill, an island in the middle of Stow Lake. But here again, I failed to find them. The normal Townsend’s Warblers and Yellow-rumped Warblers were there, but there was also a noticeably different one. It was a very brief glimpse and I put it down as a Hermit Warbler. It occurred to me that this may be a significant sighting so I tried to get a better view. She wasn’t very cooperative, but then I wondered if they would be called Hermits if they were gregarious party goers. Eventually, I got another peek and confirmed the yellow head, but I was not entirely confident. I contacted the collator of the park sightings who suggested that a first-year over-wintering Hermit Warbler would not be shocking, but made no mention of other sightings. I am holding back on the Hermit Warbler, waiting for some confirmation. Articles on Townsend's/Hermit hybrids show a bird which fits very closely with what I saw, so I am hoping that the park's collator will nip out, have a looky see and confirm.

Western Gulls

Birds seen; 43
Pied-billed Grebe 15, Canada Goose 6, Wood Duck 2, American Wigeon 3, Mallard 40, Ring-necked Duck 30, Hooded Merganser 4, Turkey Vulture 1, Cooper’s Hawk 1, Red-shouldered Hawk 3, Red-tailed Hawk 5, California Quail 1, American Coot 150, Killdeer 1, Short-billed Gull 35, California Gull 15, Western Gull 200, Herring Gull 2, Mourning Dove 2, Anna’s Hummingbird 3, Allen’s Hummingbird 1, Downy Woodpecker 3, Black Phoebe 5, Tree Swallow 2, Cedar Waxwing 10, American Robin 35, Ruby-crowned Kinglet 4, Bushtit 3, Chestnut Chickadee 8, Pygmy Nuthatch 9, Steller’s Jay 12, Western Scrub Jay 2, American Crow 10, Common Raven 40, Lesser Goldfinch 1, Yellow-rumped Warbler 15, Townsend’s Warbler 8,  California Towhee 6, Song Sparrow 25, White-crowned Sparrow 25, Golden-crowned Sparrow 12, Dark-eyed Junco 15, Brewer’s Blackbird

Bus no 71 runs from Downtown San Francisco along Market Street before cutting up onto Haight St. It is only 15 minutes to the park at Stanyan St, but a number of vagrants made me feel slightly uneasy here and I may continue on to the Botanical Gardens/Stybing Arboretum at 9th St. for my next visit.

Visit the USA dedicated page for more sites in North America, California and around SanFrancisco, including, Palo Alto Baylands and Pillar Point at Half Moon Bay.