March 1998 Field Journal 3.8 [SFBirds]
I was enjoying a lazy day today when I decided to listen to the Bird Box about 2:30 this afternoon. Jan Anderson refound the PROTHONOTARY WARBLER this morning at North Lake in the willows just north of the south end on the east shore of the lake. Anyway, I thought I'd use this as an excuse to get a little exercise and take some photos at North Lake as the light in some parts is quite good late in the afternoon.I arrived shortly before 3:00 at the south end and started walking the eastern shore. As I approached the willow thicket, a bright yellow bird flashed down into a small recess in the thicket. Even without getting the binoculars up, I knew it was the Prothonotary Warbler. Saying out loud "I don't believe it", I quickly focused on the bird and got great looks in great light of a beautiful adult male.
Ah, but now the difficult part began. The bird was foraging in good light and I had to decide between attempting photographs and making some phone calls on my cell phone. I took a couple of quick pictures and then starting making calls. No one was home (and Dan M.'s answering machine wasn't even on) except (of course) Alan, who said he'd come right over. In the meantime, the bird had disappeared near the rear of the thicket.
For about ten minutes, the bird disappeared and I sort of hung around wondering if it would reappear. It finally did, but I was on the other side of the thicket and it quickly flew up into a eucalyptus where I lost it in the sun. At that point, David Nelson and Jennifer Matkin showed up. They were slightly amazed to find out that I had just seen the bird and I was slightly amazed to see them at all since neither of them were people that I had called. We hung around for a little bit and then Alan showed up. We hung around for about twenty minutes when I finally decided to head to the other side. I was returning from the other side when the bird returned to the place that I originally found it. At that point it hung around (again in very good light) for several minutes and then flew up into a (different) eucalyptus and actually fed on eucalyptus blossoms for a couple of minutes before we finally lost the bird.
I also saw my first BARN SWALLOW of the year flying over North Lake.
3.12 [SFBirds]
This morning, I managed to find 11 SNOWY PLOVERS on Ocean Beach about half
way between Noriega and Ortega. Near the Harding Park Boat House, I had my
first VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW.3.15 [SFBirds]
Alan and I cruised some more esoteric spots in (and out of) the city today
without how too much success. I finally saw FORSTER'S TERN off the tip of
Alameda Naval Air Station. At McClaren Park, there were a couple of
BEWICK'S WRENs and a couple of PURPLE FINCHES. However, the highlight (apart from
the weather) was the WRENTIT heard from the lookout just east of the high point
of Lincoln Drive in the Presidio.3.22 [SFBirds]
This afternoon, Alan and I refound the SUMMER TANAGER in Sharon Meadow. The
bird was foraging in at least three different pittisporum trees near the
pedestrian underpass under Kezar Blvd. Delaveaga Dell had roughly 50 CEDAR
WAXWINGS and one, possibly two, HAIRY WOODPECKERS. The Hairy Woodpeckers
might nest in that area.3.27 [SFBirds] Cliff House
Birding was very good at the Cliff House this morning due to the strong northwestern breeze. All three loons were there in good numbers, including a few already molting into alternate plumage. Far offshore, I spotted two BRANT and also fairly far offshore I had three BONAPARTE'S GULLS. Also, I had two pelagic birds on a flyby that I didn't identify, but my best guess is a pair of RHINOCEROS AUKLETs due to size (roughly 1/2 of a loon), the dark gray back, lighter gray throat, wing linings, underparts and rump (no, I'm not listing these...)Species list follows:
Willet
Marbled Godwit
Surf Scoter
Western Gull
Rock Dove
House Finch
Common Loon
Heermann's Gull
Brown Pelican
Red-throated Loon
Brant
White-winged Scoter
Bonaparte's Gull
Brandt's Cormorant
Black Oystercatcher
Common Murre
Black Turnstone
Surfbird
Barn Swallow
California Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
American Coot
Pacific Loon
White-crowned Sparrow3.30 [SFBirds]
Here's a belated report for 3/30. BONAPARTE'S GULLS were still at the Cliff
House with an unsual sighting of two GADWALLS also offshore. The playground
at McClaren Park was hopping with birds including singing LESSER GOLDFINCHES
and a calling CALIFORNIA QUAIL. But the most interesting rumor was one of the
locals suggesting that he had seen an owl on the trail above the playground.Home
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