Mountain Roads, San Francisco, March 2012

Walter and I had spent the morning at Palo Alto Baylands, now we were headed inland to Steven’s Creek to look for Water Ousels. Steven’s Canyon Road bears off to the southwest at the junction with Mount Eden Road (Google Earth ref; 37 16 51N 122 04 22W ) and the stream gurgles over the rocky bed, crossing onto both sides under small road bridges.

We sat in wait, knowing that the bird preferred the section approximately one mile up from the junction and before long we spotted the American Dipper bobbing on a rock just upstream from us. It took off upstream and we followed, clumsily flushing it again a couple of times. It returned downstream and passed beneath the bridge onto the sunny side of the road. We decided on just one more try. Walter managed one sunlit shot and I got the one above as we returned to the car. It was obviously a sensitive bird and we didn’t want to disturb it any more so we decided to leave it in peace and went back through San Jose and on over Mount Hamilton to Mines Road.

The scenery along the precipitous mountain roads was spectacular. Walter negotiated the unmarked switch-backed road with more attention apparently spent looking for birds than other road users which made me realise how my wife (and surely birders’ spouses everywhere) must feel sometimes. Signs showed that stopping was prohibited along much of the road and the winding roads would have made it difficult and dangerous, so we did not manage any photos along that stretch. Red-tailed Hawks rode the air currents rising up the hillsides with a number of pairs indulging in bonding behaviour. There were Western Bluebirds aplenty and Western Scrub-jays crossed the road ahead of us.

The highlight came when we slowed for a small flock of Yellow-billed Magpies and a Golden Eagle took off from the verge just ahead. It looked huge, with its wingspan seemingly as wide as the road. It settled again very quickly on a stump and we were able to get some pictures at close range before it flew off to a more customary distance of half a mile.

The photos here were taken using the same settings as the shaded dipper and were over-exposed so Corel X11 photo editing had to come to the rescue; quite well I think.

With what seemed to be supernatural prescience Walter announced that we were in a good spot for……. “there’s one”. He had primed me to be on the lookout for what may appear to be a green crow. Lewis’s Woodpecker has a very different flight pattern and behaviour to most woodpeckers and flopped gently across the meadow instead of bounding as others in its family might. It spent more time hawking insects than probing for grubs beneath the bark of the sparsely set trees.

Lunch had been a dreadful chicken burrito and Walter had taken the culinary failures of Steven’s Creek Liquor, Video and Food Market personally, so we stopped in at The Junction (Google Earth ref; 37 23 32N 121 29 23W ), a favourite of the Mine’s Road biker community. A feeder in the yard here made it a great spot for burgers and birds.

Red-shouldered Blackbirds and Golden-crowned Sparrows fed on the ground looking for seed spilled from the feeder.

A Nuttall's woodpecker arrived looking very aggressive. Its crown was raised and it chased off a pair of House Sparrows before settling on the feeder. In the photos, I noticed that the red of its crest seemed quite sparse. It couldn’t use its stiff tail feathers for support as it hung from the bottom half of the feeder so it held itself diagonally (I watched it for a while and am embarrassed to confess that I originally presumed it to be a Downy. Thanks Jason).

As other diners left, White-crowned Sparrows tippy-toed across the tables looking for scraps. Our day was nearly done now and the light was beginning to fade. Mines Road still had a few birds left for us though. As we passed through the top end approaching Livermore, we stopped to check a Red-tailed Hawks’ nest and came away with a Phainopepla, a couple of Lark Sparrows and a small flock of Wild Turkeys crossing the road.

I am indebted to Walter for his good company and his dodgy driving. It was a great day Walter, thank you and I didn’t really mean it about the driving.

Birds seen; 41

Pied-billed Grebe 4, Great Blue Heron 1, American Wigeon 2, Mallard 2, Ring-necked Duck 3, Bufflehead 2, Turkey Vulture 10, Cooper’s Hawk 1, Red-tailed Hawk 15, Golden Eagle 1, American Kestrel 9, Turkey Vulture 8, American Coot 8, Mourning Dove 5, Anna’s Hummingbird 4, Lewis’s Woodpecker 4, Acorn Woodpecker 3, Downy Woodpecker 2, Northern Flicker 4, American Dipper 1, Black Phoebe 1, Say’s Phoebe 1, Phainopepla 1, Western Bluebird 30, American Robin 4, Hermit Thrush 1, Oak Titmouse 4, White-breasted Nuthatch 4, Western Scrub-jay 30, Yellow-billed Magpie 25, Common Raven 4, Common Starling 30, House Sparrow 2, House Finch 4, Lesser Goldfinch 1, California Towhee 15, Lark Sparrow 2, White-crowned Sparrow 12, Golden-crowned Sparrow 3, Dark-eyed Junco 12, Red-winged Blackbird 15, Brewer’s Blackbird 20

Visit the dedicated USA page for other posts from North America and descriptions of other sites around San Francisco such as; Palo Alto Baylands and Pillar Point at Half Moon Bay

Charleston Slough at Terminal Boulevard, Palo Alto, San Francisco, March 2012

An early San Francisco morning found me waiting on a street corner as a black Honda pulled up. Inside was my chaperone for the day, red-letter beat writer, the acclaimed Walter Kitundu. Walter had been spotted and added to my Beat Writer Year List at a bar on the previous evening where we agreed to meet up and visit the Palo Alto Baylands the next morning.

Being a Sunday, traffic was very light and we quickly made it to Shoreline Drive at Terminal Boulevard (Google Earth ref; 37 26 01N 122 05 59W ).

American Avocets and Long-billed Dowitchers

Anna’s Hummingbird, White-crowned Sparrows and California Towhees greeted us as we made our way to the wader roost, north, just beyond the parking lot. American Avocets and (what we eventually decided to be) Long-billed Dowitchers made up the vast majority of the birds here. Marbled Godwits, Northern Shovelers and Black-necked Stilts added significantly to the biomass.

American Coot and Long-billed Dowitchers

American Coots muscled their way through the flocks of dowitchers like ice-breakers, pushing the roosting birds aside and leaving an empty wake which was gradually re-filled as long-billed, grey waders seeped back into the void left by the passing coot.

Northern Shovelers

A path runs along the bund between Charleston Slough and Mayfield Slough. The morning light favours viewing on the left side and the birds here can be seen well. Cinnamon Teal and Green-winged Teal were outnumbered again by the predominant shovelers.

Least Sandpipers

Small peeps found relief from the high tide by dotting themselves along any piece of raised matter that would enable them to keep their feet dry. A Western Sandpiper very obligingly hoisted himself onto a perch (doing a great job for a non-percher) between the Least Sandpipers to make the difference between his dark legs and the Leasts’ yellowish ones more apparent.

Western Sandpiper (facing left)

To our right as we walked (Corey, note ‘walked’ not marched), Charleston Slough played host to Canvasbacks with their long-necked profile easily distinguished against the back lighting. One was good enough to cross over onto the left for a photo opportunity.

Canvasback

Mayfield Slough does not have a very big outlet to the open water. A small, bridged gap in the dyke at the northern end does not allow much impact of tide here and most of it has been taken over by marsh and grass.

White-tailed Kite

Northern Harriers and White-tailed Kites enjoy this area and both were seen hunting. A White-tailed Kite hovered and dropped onto a small prey animal.

White-tailed Kite

As it flew off, its mate (we assumed) rose from the rough grasses and reeds. The pair tumbled acrobatically around each other as they flew across the slough passing the gift between them. Walter may have a video of this and I will post a link if he publishes it.

Marsh Wren

We returned along the bund where Marsh Wrens sang from the reeds and responded quickly to a playback. A Savannah Sparrow showed well.

Savannah Sparrow

Back at the wader roost, the birds had spooked earlier and the furrows cut by the coots were visible. I suspect that Shoreline Lake is salty, but don’t quote me on that. Three Willets roosted on the jetty railing.

Common Goldeneye

Surf Scoters were seen here as well as, Common Golden-eye, Eared Grebes and Pied-billed Grebes. 

Pied-billed Grebe

A California Gull was out-catching a Little Egret as they fished in a strong current.

California Gull

This area is very popular and busy, especially on a beautiful Sunday morning. Joggers and families were out enjoying the fresh air and birds. There was no security presence here, but plenty of solid citizens to make it feel comfortable and non-threatening. We arrived early enough on a Sunday morning to park easily, but it may become an issue later in the day. Find Charleston Slough 35kms south of the International Airport by turning off from the 101 at San Antonio Road (note; use the slipway that passes beneath the San Antonio Road bridge before leaving the 101. This will bring you back over the freeway and head straight to Terminal Blvd. See Google Earth 37 25 41N 122 06 05W to make it clear).

Western Grebe

Birds seen; 47

Pied-billed Grebe 3, Eared Grebe 3, Western Grebe 6, Double-crested Cormorant 4, Great Blue Heron 1, Snowy Egret 2, Black-crowned Night Heron 12, Canada Goose 40, American Wigeon 4, Gadwall 8, Green-winged Teal 60, Mallard 12, Cinnamon Teal 5, Northern Shoveler 600, Canvasback 25, Surf Scoter 6, Common Goldeneye 6, Ruddy Duck 800, Turkey Vulture 5, White-tailed Kite 2, Northern Harrier 3, Red-tailed Hawk 3, Common Moorhen 6, American Coot 300, Black-necked Stilt 12, American Avocet 600, Kildeer 5, Long-billed Dowitcher 1000, Marbled Godwit 150, Willet 3, Western Sandpiper 25, Least Sandpiper 40, Mew Gull 8, California Gull 25, Western Gull 2, Herring Gull 1, Mourning Dove 2, Anna’s Hummingbird 8, Black Phoebe 2, Tree Swallow 6, Marsh Wren 2, Northern Mockingbird 1, American Crow 6, House Finch 4, California Towhee 12, White-crowned Sparrow 6, Western Meadowlark 1.



See the links below for other posts from nearby in Palo Alto;
http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/02/palo-alto-baylands-san-fancisco.html
http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/11/palo-alto-baylands-san-francisco.html
http://redgannet.blogspot.com/2010/11/shoreline-at-mountain-view-palo-alto.html

Visit the USA dedicated page for other sites in San Francisco and beyond.
Charleston Slough at Terminal Boulevard, Palo Alto, San Francisco, March 2012

Riyadh City, Saudi Arabia, RUH, Feb 2012.

With my romantic inner eye, I had pictured myself striding purposefully across the sand, cresting a dune and being silhouetted, tall and slim, against the setting sun as a cooling desert breeze ruffled my hair and loose-fitting shirt. In the mirror, my more realistic spectacled eyes noted that my brown desert silks had become a little snug and were as unlikely to be ruffled by a cooling wind as my hair which has gone the same way as my purposeful stride.

A few obstacles made me opt for the easy trip to Salam Park in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (Google Earth ref; 24 37 07N 46 42 33E). It is a pleasant enough gated park with railings all around its perimeter, but I was slightly confused when the gatekeeper told me that it was a “ladies park”. This did not stop him taking 5 Riyals (@5.38 = £1) entry fee and warning me not to use a camera. A mobile phone camera was OK though, he told me. White-eared Bulbuls were very common, but most obvious of all were the doves. Both Eurasian Collared Doves and Laughing Doves are abundant throughout the city.

Eurasian Hoopoes and White Wagtails fed on the lawns while Rose-ringed Parakeets screeched from the palms. In the Southwest corner is a conservation area. It is only very small and distant across the man-made lake. Little Egrets and Squacco Herons found sanctuary here with the inevitable doves. Saudi Arabian culture demands that ladies be discrete and that men should not approach or communicate with them if they are not married or closely related. Nobody seemed disturbed by my binoculars, but I did feel a little intrusive, so I moved on.

Birds seen; 

Little Egret 14, Squacco Heron 6, Common Kesrel 1, Eurasian Collared Dove 40, Laughing Dove 50, Rose-ringed Parakeet 8, Eurasian Hoopoe 2, White Wagtail 4, White-eyed Bulbul 1, Common Chiffchaff 2, Common Myna 12, House Sparrow 40.

It was easy to find a taxi to take me to the Intercontinental Hotel. There are gardens and a 9-hole golf course here (Google Earth ref; 24 40 07N 46 21 46E) with acacia-lined fairways and a few scrubby spots. The profile of the Black Scrub-robin is easy to distinguish. I asked the security manager at the hotel if he minded me taking pictures and he gave his permission. In the golf club house, they were similarly patient with my request and gave me access to the practice area, but would not allow me to venture out onto the course.

I had seen a couple of Grey Hypocolius already, but was hoping for bigger numbers than that. As the sun dropped towards the horizon they began to arrive to roost. A flock of 50+ circled a couple of times before roosting out of view. A couple of other flocks of around 20-30 may have been the original flock split into two, but I have a feeling that they were separate entities. One flock settled close by and I was able to watch them as they prepared themselves for the evening.

A notable feature of the park, the hotel and the golf course, was the number of feral cats and in the scrub of the practice area, carcasses of birds and rabbits littered the ground. The hypocolii (?) were understandably twitchy as cats lurked beneath the bushes looking hungrily up into the branches. The chosen roosting trees were thorny acacias with very thin branches which would certainly make it difficult for a cat to catch them unawares.

The sun set through the murk with dust close to the horizon acting as a filter and allowing me a good look at the disc. Don’t do this at home! A small dark mark against the otherwise unblemished photosphere caught my attention and I was interested to note that it was very round for a sunspot. Hoping that I might inadvertently be witnessing a transit of Mercury or Venus, I took a picture for the record, but checks when I got home revealed that this rare event will not happen until June 6^th 2012.

With the last of the light I took a quick look at the sunken seep beyond the practice area. It held a tiny bit of shallow water, but was mostly moist mud. A Bluethroat and a Grey Wagtail were seen on the ground here as well as many of the common birds finding roosts out of the reach of the cats.

Birds seen; 

Eurasian Collared Dove 15, Laughing Dove 20, Rose-ringed Parakeet 6, Eurasian Hoopoe 4, Pale Crag Martin 4, Grey Wagtail 1, White-eared Bulbul 8, Bluethroat 1, Black Scrub-robin 2, Common Chiffchaff 2, House Sparrow 40.

Harmondsworth Moor, Heathrow, London.

I was greeted by a Robin singing to declare his sovereignty over a planting of small trees. It was early in the morning and I was attending a course at Heathrow Airport. The vagaries of the M25 compelled me to allow plenty of time, leaving me half an hour for a quick root around on Harmondswoth Moor.

The moor is within easy reach of the airport and any transiting passenger could fit in a speedy visit to pick up some common British garden birds. It is sited on 240 acres, almost 100 hectares, of reclaimed land just inside the M25 by the M4 junction, less than 10 minutes from the airport terminals.

Blue Tits are very common here and can be seen at this time of year feeding in the Alders and Willow that line the small rivers. By the first car park at Google Earth ref; 51 29 13N 00 29 24E, the banks of the Ruver Colne are lined by thorn bushes and brambles. These are very popular with Great Tits and European Goldfinch while Dunnocks scrape around on the ground close to the cover.

A pair of small reedy ponds can be found close by, seperated by a short board walk. 2 Gadwall pairs and a Little Grebe were on one of the tiny waters each morning and Reed Buntings could be made out amongst the phragmites.

Paths meander across the moor, following the rivers and leading up towards the large Saxon Lake close to the M4 motorway. Great Crested Grebes, Tufted Ducks and Grey Heron can be seen here on the deeper water.

Three Rivers run through Harmondsworth Moor with bridges to allow wider access to the meadows and shaded paths. Rabbits are likely to be seen on any of the grassy verges and young kits have been up from their holes during the glorious weather of this last week of February.

Green Woodpeckers were flushed from the grass up into the cover of the ivy climbing the willows. Long-tailed Tits might be seen anywhere in the plantings or along the river banks.

As well as a couple of morning visits, I was able to fit in a walk in the afternoon. The light was especially good and reflected golden from the reeds in the small ponds near the car park.

A picture that I had seen earlier in the week almost worked on the last afternoon when a Blue Tit was seen feeding from a Reed Mace head. A bit closer and steadier would have made a great picture.

If you are in transit at London Heathrow and would like to visit Harmondsworth Moor, it should not take more than 10 minutes cab ride from the terminals 1,2,3 and 5. Leave 20 minutes from Terminal 4. Use a radio cab rather than the London Taxis that you find at the taxi ranks. Ask the driver for Tarmac Way, at the junction of A3044 and the A4 Colnbrook By-pass, near the British Airways head office at Waterside. It was BA that reclaimed and developed the land as part of their head office complex.

Heathrow Minicabs quoted £20 each way. Their office is very close by so you may be able to negotiate a better rate for the return journey. Tel; (+44) 02085740868

There are other minicab firms available, but this was the only one who appeared to understand the enquiry.

There is a full time Ranger staff who can be contacted on (+44) 07720543213

Please beware that there have been reports of articles being stolen from cars, especially from those parked near the entrance to the north of the M4.

Birds seen; 34

Little Grebe 2, Greta Cormorant 1, Grey Heron 1, Little Egret 1, Mute Swan 4, Mandarin Duck 1, Gadwall 4, Mallard 15, Tufted Duck 15, Common Buzzard 2, Common Kestrel 1, Common Moorhen 1, Common Coot 6, Black-headed Gull 25, Common Woodpigeon 45, Eurasian Collared Dove 4, Rose-ringed Parakeet 500, Great Spotted Woodpecker 2, Green Woodpecker 1, Northern Wren 2, Dunnock 8, Song Thrush 2, Redwing 6, Common Blackbird 10, Euopean Robin 6, Long-tailed 2, Great Tit 4, Blue Tit 8, Eurasian Magpie 2, Carrion Crow 25, Common Starling 25, Chaffinch 4, European Greenfinch 8, European Goldfinch 8,

Mote Park, Kent, Feb 27th 2012

This is a cynical attempt to add a few species to my year list on 10,000 Birds. I have joined some of the beat writers and undertaken to maintain a year list and will include all the birds seen when using public transport or my own energies to find them. Thus this morning found me sailing down the hill on my bike with the wind behind me and hang the consequences of the uphill slog on the way home.

A Water Rail can regularly be found at the Old Pond, but it usually keeps to the back edge. Out on the lake, most of the diving ducks have moved on with only a few Tufted Ducks and Common Pochard remaining. A Black-headed Gull was keeping watch on the surface as a Pochard dived, hoping that it might stir up some goodies. It followed the swirls and whorls made by the diving duck as it foraged on the lake bed.

On the lawns that lead down to the lake from Mote House two Grey Wagtails were chasing down some tiny insects.

The Little Owl was sitting up outside his hole, but would retreat back inside if any of the walkers or joggers passed too close. On such a lovely day, he was quickly back out once the threat had passed.

Another bird to make it onto the list today was a European Nuthatch that was seen down by the little bridge that crosses the River Len on the path leading east towards Willington St.

Species seen; 25

Mute Swan 7, Canada Goose 25, Mallard 25, Common Pochard 9, Tufted Duck 8, Eurasian Sparrowhawk 1, Water Rail 1, Common Moorhen 15, Common Coot 30, Black-headed Gull 80, Common Woodpigeon 60, Eurasian Collared Dove 6, Little Owl 1, Great Spotted Woodpecker 2, Green Woodpecker 2, Grey Wagtail 2, Northern Wren 1, Long-tailed Tit 4, Great Tiut 10, Blue Tit 25, Nuthatch 1, Eurasian Magpie 5, Carrion Crow 50, Chaffinch 6, European Greenfinch 2.

For the record, birds will also be included on the list if they are seen as part of a necessary journey or a family day out and some teensy weensy diversions may be deemed acceptable.  Birds seen on family holidays will also be included.
Flights will not be considered as public transport, but taxis and hire cars will.