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.

Fort Point and Nudist Beach, San Francisco, Oct 2012.

Migration time in San Francisco and I was at the Golden Gate Bridge looking across towards the Marin Headlands.  I could see Hawk Hill across the span, but could not reach it today. Bus 76 runs across the bridge and up the hill, almost to the observation point, but only on a Sunday. I had the bike with me and yes, I could have cycled, but in the warmth of midday, I couldn’t summon up the energy for the hill climb.

A theory formed that if birds are overflying Hawk Hill, then they must surely cross Fort Point (Google Earth ref; 37°48'14.59"N 122°28'39.49"W) on the southern side of the inlet, so this formed the basis of my plan for the afternoon.

I must confess to feeling a little awkward with my tripod, long lens and a spotting scope on top of the cliff, when I realised that I was looking down onto a nudist beach below. In trying to avoid looking down, I concentrated on some House Finches that were sitting up nicely, keeping an eye pointed skywards in case of predators.

A few hawks were seen, but nothing that wouldn’t have been out of place at any other time of year in San Francisco.

The Red-shouldered Hawk, above, gave a nice fly past at low level, but my prized photo would have been the Red-tailed hawk. Mrs Gannet is after a nice picture of the bridge and in my mind’s eye, I saw a photo of a Redtail banking in front of the uprights, tail flared to match the paintwork. A bird had taken station at the top of the tree under which I was shading. Occasional sorties out across the water never quite produced the scene I was hoping for, but let’s not forget that we are on hallowed ground with Red-tail photos in San Francisco.

In search of that elusive bridge picture, I ventured down onto the nudist beach. My big telephoto lens would have compensated for any inadequacies, but I was closer to the bridge now and had to use my wide angle lens. In deference to the dress code, I had taken off my shoes and socks and rolled up my trousers. I felt that spirit of the occasion had been acknowledged, and the full genital display could wait for a more fitting occasion.

Willets were seen in the surf as I tried to concentrate on the job in hand, but I couldn’t help feeling conspicuous. The climb up and down the cliff is via steps that pass through coastal scrub. Western Scrub Jays were seen here as well as an overflying Red-tailed Hawk. Half way up, or down, is a bench where I stopped for a moment.

A couple looking across the water suddenly cried out for the Porpoises that can often be seen from here. Apparently as many as 300 had been seen on the previous day, but on this occasion a mother and calf had come very close to the beach.

Birds seen; 16

Brandt’s Cormorant 30, Brown Pelican 15, Turkey Vulture 1, Red-shouldered Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 3, American Kestrel 1, Willet 8, Western Gull 5, Western Scrub-jay 4, Common Raven 10, Pygmy Nuthatch 12, White-crowned Sparrow 15, Golden-crowned Sparrow 2, Dark-eyed Junco 4, House Finch 5, American Goldfinch 6.

This morning I wanted to take a tour of the area and passed through Presidio, then on to The Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field and Fort Point (including the nudist beach below). My new mistress, eBird, demands her favours little and often, so posts have become briefer and more geographically specific. I will make links to each post as they are published and the day can be seen in the order that Kronos intended (though I wonder if nudist beaches and The Great Castrator should share the same paragraph).

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.

Crissy Field, San Francisco, Oct 2012

Crissy Field at Google Earth ref; 37°48'17.82"N 122°27'13.70"W, was my third port of call this morning. A boardwalk across a lagoon in the bayside park had caught my attention while exploring the area with Google Earth. Brewer's Blackbirds greeted me as I cycled through the car park and quickly came to the gate that guards the boardwalk.

Just to the left, a Brown Pelican was taking it easy in the sunshine when suddenly it tried to push it’s gullet up through its throat. Was it trying to disgorge something unpleasant? I have never seen one do this before.

A flock of gulls had found a good spot to stop and admire the bridge. I had been tasked by my wife to bring home a picture of the bridge and wondered if she would like a roosting flock in the foreground. I know she likes a man in uniform.

Most common were the Western Gulls with just a few California Gulls mixed in. The only Great Egret of the trip was seen here with Snowy Egrets and American Coots. Any hoped for waders were not in evidence.

At the bridge end of the lagoon were a few bushes which held Orange-crowned Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers and most notably, a Tropical Kingbird. It took a couple of looks, but the large bill sealed it for me. I thought that this was possibly quite a significant sighting, so I did my best to get a couple of pictures. A quick documentation post was put up as soon as I got home.

My worry was that there was a White-tailed Kite watching it from the top of the nearby evergreens.

Bird seen; 21

Canada Goose 25, Surf Scoter 1, Western Grebe 8, Double-crested Cormorant 3, Brown Pelican 6, Great Blue Heron 1, Great Egret 1, Snowy Egret 3, White-tailed Kite 1, American Coot 8, Heerman’s Gull 1, Western Gull 40, California Gull 6, Black Phoebe 1, Tropical Kingbird 1, Common Raven 2, Orange-crowned Warbler 2, Yellow-rumped Warbler 3, White-crowned Sparrow 4, Brewer’s Blackbird 30, American Goldfinch 6.

Take Bus 45 from 3^rd St and Market. The bus follows Union St to its final stop at Lyon St 37°47'49.70"N 122°26'49.88"W. From here walk back down the hill and take the first left into Presidio and take the first left again, back up the hill on Ruger St. This will lead to Simonds Loop.  It’s a five minute walk at the most.

This morning I wanted to take a tour of the area and passed through Presidio, then on to The Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field and Fort Point (including the nudist beach below). My new mistress, eBird, demands her favours little and often, so posts have become briefer and more geographically specific.  I will make links to each post as they are published and the day can be seen in the order that Kronos intended (though I wonder if nudist beaches and The Great Castrator should share the same paragraph).

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.

Palace of Fine Arts, San Francisco, Oct 2012

The Palace of Fine Arts (at Google Earth ref; 37°48'10.56"N 122°26'53.58"W) is a very short walk from Presidio and can also be quickly reached from the bus stop at Lyon St. My prime purpose for visiting was to see the Barn Owls that are said to haunt the imposing structure overlooking the lake.

The ornately topped, corinthian columns must appeal to the owls’ well known love of neoclassical architecture and they have been living and rearing young here for some time. Their roosting spots are easy enough to locate, but the elaborate capitals offer many hiding places for the owls to avoid disturbance. They give their presence away by defecating and yacking up pellets which are to be found scattered around the bases of the columns.

I had visited at dusk of the previous evening and identified a few likely spots to watch as darkness fell. Walter sent me a map which corresponded well with my assumptions and I was confident of some good owl watching. Sadly I must have missed them somehow. I had taken a spot on the grass on the far side of the water to wait for the action to begin, but it grew darker and darker with no sign of the owls putting in an appearance.

The building is lavishly lit as darkness falls, so I wasn’t worried about not seeing them on that score, but at some point in the evening, the 8 hour time change kicked in and I found myself dosing off. Not wishing to find myself the next morning covered with dew, I packed it in and went back to sleep in the hotel.

The next morning I didn’t bother looking for the owls, but concentrated on the lake where a Pied-billed Grebe was bathing. Black-crowned Night Herons roosted in the trees of the island at the northern end of the lake, or argued with American Coots about possession of a water-level perch. 

A Belted Kingfisher flew sorties out from the island over the heads of the flock of Western Gulls that were probably waiting to be fed by passers-by. A turtle had hauled up onto a branch to take advantage of the record warmth recorded this week. We can only assume from the withering look, that the Double-crested Cormorant is looking forward to cooler weather.

Birds seen; 9

Mallard 25, Pied-billed Grebe 1, Double-crested Cormorant 1, Great Blue Heron 1, Snowy Egret 1, Black-crowned Night Heron 12, American Coot 6, Western Gull 60, Belted Kingfisher 1, European Starling 20.

This morning I wanted to take a tour of the area and passed through Presidio, then on to The Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field and Fort Point (including the nudist beach below). My new mistress, eBird, demands her favours little and often, so posts have become briefer and more geographically specific.  I will make links to each post as they are published and the day can be seen in the order that Kronos intended (though I wonder if nudist beaches and The Great Castrator should share the same paragraph).

Take Bus 45 from 3^rd St and Market. The bus follows Union St to its final stop at Lyon St (Google Earth ref; 37°47'49.70"N 122°26'49.88"W). From here, walk back down the hill to the junction where a sign points to the Palace of Fine Arts and the Exploratorium. If you can’t see the sign, look for the imposing dome-topped building straight ahead.

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.

Presidio, San Francisco, Oct 2012

Once a post for the US Army, Presidio is now administered by the National Park Service  as a National Recreation Area. It is an area of prime real estate looking north towards the Golden Gate Bridge. In the bay to the north-east, Alcatraz Island can easily be seen. Much of Presidio is prized residential suburb and golf course, with wooded  pockets that have been left as wildlife boltholes. One such pocket is described on Google Earth (ref; 37°47'45.81"N 122°26'57.74"W) as the Simonds Loop Bird Watching Area and is easily reached from downtown by using Bus no 45.

 

The north-facing slope below Sherman Road has plenty of berry bushes (as well as some very familiar brambles that looked like Blackberry bushes) and many birds were feeding there. House Finches were the first birds seen this morning, quickly followed by a small flock of Yellow-rumped Warblers. American Robins were very shy and flew off at my approach. White-crowned Sparrows were common with a few Golden-crowned Sparrows seen too. The nearby eucalyptus trees attracted high perching Common Ravens.

Hawks and warblers were, as ever, my prime targets but I was not able to find many of either. Only a Yellow Warbler and a few more Yellow-rumps were seen, which was a little disappointing.

Birds seen; 15.

Mourning Dove 1, Anna’s Hummingbird 15, Downy Woodpecker 1, Western Scrub-jay 5, American Crow 4, Common Raven 6, Chestnut-backed Chickadee 3, Bushtit 8, American Robin 3, Yellow Warbler 1, California Towhee 1, Song Sparrow 4, White-crowned Sparrow 15, Golden-crowned Sparrow 3, House Finch 15.

This morning I wanted to take a tour of the area and passed through Presidio, then on to The Palace of Fine Arts, Crissy Field and Fort Point (including the nudist beach below). My new mistress, eBird, demands her favours little and often, so posts have become briefer and more geographically specific. I will make links to each post as they are published and the day can be seen in the order that Kronos intended (I wonder if nudist beaches and The Great Castrator should share the same paragraph).

Take Bus 45 from 3^rd St and Market. The bus follows Union St to its final stop at Lyon St (Google Earth ref; 37°47'49.70"N 122°26'49.88"W). From here walk back down the hill and take the first left into Presidio and take the first left again, back up the hill on Ruger St. This will lead to Simonds Loop.  It’s a five minute walk at the most.

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.