April 1999 Field Journal

4.3 SF Big Day
I confess that I find the idea of a Big Day, i.e., the arcane pursuit of as many species as one can find in a 24 hour period in a given geographical area, something which appeals only to birders with a certain level of, well, fanatacism for their passion. Since I joined the team of Hugh Cotter, Alan Hopkins, Luke Cole and myself, I guess I now qualify, at least at this level.

The idea was simple enough; the current big day record of 114 set under ABA Big Day Rules seemed easy enough to attain. The day record, not done under ABA rules, for San Francisco is 126 species, set one year on an Audubon-sanctioned event, the San Francisco Bird Blitz. Surely, the four of us could outdo a slow-moving caravan of birders of varying abilities if we carefully planned a route and timed the event to pick up the last vestiges of wintering birds with the first arrivals of spring species.

When I was jolted awake by my alarm earlier, I immediately had a bad feeling about the day, and it wasn't from lack of sleep. Rather, it was already quite windy, something which is extremely unusual for that time in the morning. The four of us meet at the ungodly hour of 3:45 AM on Saturday, 3 April, at Hugh's house. The route was carefully planned in advance and some scouting had been done in the previous days. I was still very concerned as we arrived at Inspiration Point.

This first stop was inauspicious. Owling is challenging at best in the Presidio, but in the cacophony of high winds, it is a challenge only for the brave of heart. The WESTERN SCREECH-OWL, which had been present for much of the winter, was not to be found, despite quite a bit of searching. We then headed to Kobbe and Upton, also in the Presidio, where we had better luck with the GREAT HORNED OWL which had also been heard on the San Francisco CBC.

It was still quite dark when we headed to Lake Merced to try for rails. We make great time and I try not be concerned about Luke having already racked up double digits in potential moving violations careening around the city. Fortunately, the ABA Big Day rules are silent on obeying traffic regulations. At the east end of the concrete bridge at Lake Merced South, Hugh and I managed to hear a VIRGINIA RAIL through the roar of the still predawn darkness. At the west end of the concrete bridge, all of us managed to hear the SORA after much taping. Despite getting both rails, I still have a sinking feeling about the wind. How would we find any passerines? It was only at dinner much later that day that all four admitted we all thought about suggesting to cancel the entire endeavor.

On to the west end of Lake Merced South where we had enough light to pick up the OSPREY and CASPIAN TERN. Alan works his magic with the tape machine and we also get a BEWICK'S WREN. From there, we headed to Ocean Beach and stopped at the southernmost parking lot on the Great Highway, a.k.a. the Bank Swallow Parking Lot. En route, we pick up RED-TAILED HAWK flying backwards over the Great Highway. It was at this point that I knew we had made a serious mistake.

Scoping was a joke. Even if you could hold the scope steady enough, the fierceness of the wind instantly filled your eyes with enough water to make viewing impossible. I finally manage to get identifiable looks at BLACK SCOTER by pressing down hard with one hand on the tripod and simultaneously cupping my eye and holding the scope with the other. Fortunately, large flocks of BRANT were moving by right at the breakers that looked right out of Hawai'i Five-O and were identifiable with the naked eye. Other finds included all three LOONs, three RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS migrating by and some COMMON MURREs interspersed with the loon flocks. Alan spots a HERRING GULL, another bird which I consider us fortunate to get. However, our bad luck continues when Hugh's scope is blown over during the stop, causing some non-cosmetic damage. Fortunately, it's still usable for the rest of the day.

A quick stop at Ocean Beach and Lincoln does not net us the desired SNOWY PLOVERS; perhaps they had more sense than we did and sought refuge from the howling winds. Despite large volumes of sand literally blowing across the beach, we do manage to find SANDERLING and CALIFORNIA GULL. A 30 second stop at Merrie Way nets us CANADA GOOSE, though we would see plenty more throughout the day.

With relief, we return to the Presidio to check for WRENTIT at the overlook off of Lincoln Blvd. Taping is futile at the overlook, but we do net RED-NECKED GREBE and PELAGIC CORMORANT offshore. Back to Kobbe and Upton for passerines and we do fairly well. CEDAR WAXWINGS are around in large numbers. We pick up a HOODED ORIOLE, a nice bird that eliminates the need to make another stop. Another nice bird is HERMIT THRUSH, meowing in a nearby thicket. As well, we pick up many other passerines in the relative shelter of the area, lifting our spirits a fair amount. Alan is forcing the pace while Luke usually waits for the doors to shut before putting the car into gear.

At Crissy Field, the wind isn't quite as bad and we pick up the first of our three MERLINs for the day along with a distant GREAT BLUE HERON, MEW and RING-BILLED GULLs. Alas, the SAY'S PHOEBE is not present where it had been the week before. At the Palace of Fine Arts, we can't dig up the WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS from the previous weekend (surely they were migrants?) but do net three SWALLOWs and RING-NECKED DUCK.

On to Golden Gate Park and we're not feeling too bad at this point in time. We seem to be picking up most of the birds that we were hoping for, but the wind is showing no signs of relenting. At Mt. Lick, in the northeastern corner of the park, we find the same flock of three WHITE-THROATED SPARROWs from the previous weekend. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER is briefly seen there. Alan takes us at a purposeful pace on extensive detour through Coon Hollow, an improbable depression immediately north of the Conservatory of Flowers, but we can not find the hoped-for SPOTTED TOWHEE.

On to the Lily Pond and we immediately find the female HOODED MERGANSER, possibly the same bird found the previous year. HAIRY WOODPECKER was another stake out bird there, but we had to travel to the small knoll south of the tennis courts to hear its call note. Unfortunately, we could not relocate the RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER which had been so cooperative the previous weekend.

From there, we blitz some of the smaller lakes in the park waiting for the Arboretum to open and pick up GADWALL and NORTHERN SHOVELER, which had been seen flying in earlier that morning near the Conservatory. At Spreckles Lake, we pick up EARED GREBE and an apparently pure GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, unlike the possible hybrid seen at the Palace of Fine Arts.

At 9:45, we were back at the Arboretum, where we would finally grasp the enormity of our predicament. While we managed to find FOX SPARROW, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, we dipped on many other mostly passerine species. When we left the Arboretum, it was clear that Mother Nature had dealt us a cruel blow; many of the expected passerines for the day would not be seen in the howling gales of the day.

We parked at Merrie Way above the Cliff House and were greeted by howling offshore winds and a roiling ocean. As we descended to the observation platform below the Cliff House, I looked longingly at the diners in Louis' Coffee Shop, but continued to the platform. Scoping from the platform was a joke. We managed to cut the wind slightly by standing next to the Camera Obscura, but scoping was an exercise in futility.

The rocks were largely devoid of life, and I have to search hard for a BLACK OYSTERCATCHER. Incredibly, we also manage to find a pair of SURFBIRDs, and, along the cliffs, both TURNSTONEs. We move our scopes to the southern edge of the Visitor Center, but nothing else of interest is found. The trudge back up to the car is even more difficult for me, given an excess caffeine intake and my medication, which resulted in an even more elevated pulse rate and shortness of breath that might be expected by my girth. I am relieved but thoroughly demoralized when we get back to the car and much on the second of my two sandwiches with a blank gaze towards the ocean.

Through some truely perverse logic, we decide that we might be able to find SNOWY PLOVER back on Ocean Beach. Incredibly, the wind is blowing even harder than earlier in the day; I can recall nearly being blown over on one or more occasions. We stop at Noriega at walk into the teeth of the wind on Ocean Beach. I feel grit as I grind my teeth during the walk to the beach and am glad that I have wrap-around sunglasses to protect my eyes. It surprises no one when we fail to find nothing moving other than ourselves on the beach. Hugh waits for me to return from the beach and mutters "What a $(#$*#(# joke!", something which I had been thinking for ever since we reached the Arboretum. Luke comes up with the quote of the day: "I have sand in every orifice." We guffaw at the thought of dropping a statement like this in polite company.

In a foul mood, we head back to Lake Merced. In the gale, we pick up CLIFF SWALLOW and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW as well as a definitive CLARK'S GREBE. Back at the concrete bridge, we pick up a FORSTER'S TERN in the midst of several BONAPARTE'S GULLS that are futilely trying to fly into the wind. We continue onto to McClaren Park, where we have a poorly seen bird that we finally agree is a MacGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER. We do mange to find both GOLDFINCHes and a HUTTON'S VIREO despite the gale, but strike out again on CAQU

At this point, we would normally continue down to Candlestick, but in another bit of bad news, the Giants are playing a preseason game at the 'stick. We decided to tune in and the Giants are getting clobbered early in the game. Alan requests that we turn it off in howl of unfeigned agony. Instead, we head down Third Street and stop at Double Rock. At this point, some of the darkest storm clouds that I have ever seen in San Francisco were rapidly approaching. Suddenly, the skies opened up and not only was there torrential rain, but sleet as well. We were getting quite wet and not finding much of anything, so we ran back to the safety of the SUV, giggling at the utter absurdity of the recent turn of events.

On to Yosemite street where it's still raining and the tide is wrong, we spend maybe two minutes before heading on to India Basin. The fickle weather is shining on us for a change, and it's dry there. We manage to find MERLIN #2, a single WESTERN MEADOWLARK, several AMERICAN AVOCETS and HORNED GREBE. Checking out the restoration area at Pier 98, which is coming along nicely, we find a LESSER SCAUP amongst the GRSP, both LEAST and WESTERN SANDPIPERS, a single DUNLIN, and a LONG-BILLED CURLEW. We get lucky with SAVANNAH SPARROW, despite having almost no habitat left, and a BELTED KINGFISHER just before we departed.

Another bit of good news is that the downpour has terminated the Giants game early. Combined with the desultory performance of the home team, there's not a fan in sight by the time we get to the Candlestick. Birding is quite productive; we get WHITE-WINGED SCOTER, COMMON GOLDENEYE and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER in a matter of minutes. It's still light so we race back to Lake Merced in hopes of squeezing out one or two more species. Just to add to the fun, the temperature starts dropping like a rock and we're all cold, tired and hungry. I'm starting to lose feeling in various extremities but we don't manage to add anything to the list. We retire to the boathouse for cheap eats and beverages and convince ourselves that the feeling will eventually return to our fingers.

For the day:

Despite breaking the record, we're melancholy over dinner knowing that we could have done quite a bit better with halfway decent weather. After 14+ hours in the field, sleep came early for all that evening. Borrowing a line familiar to Giants Fans:

Wait till next year.

4.11 [SFBirds] 4.11.99 SF Birds
Debi and I took a bird walk as the skies cleared today around 6:00. I was
pleasantly surprised at Middle Lake; the northeast end was fairly birdy,
most likely due to hungry migrants not having an opportunity to feed much in
the last 24 hours.

The highlight was no doubt the NASHVILLE WARBLER which was foraging near the
lake just south of the bend at the northeast corner. It is interesting to
speculate whether this is just the first wave of this particular migrant
species or, in fact, the same bird which overwrintered there. The plumage
did not seem quite as bright as the bird I saw earlier this year, but it was
late in the afternoon and I can not be sure of this.

Warblers were there in good numbers with several YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS
still present, a pair of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and a probable TOWNSEND'S
WARBLER in the conifers north of the lake shore. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS are
back in force and I was pleasantly surprised to have BELTED KINGFISHER back
at Middle Lake. I searched my "database" and couldn't find any mention of a
BEKI at Middle Lake after August of '98; anyone have a more recent record?
The AMERICAN WIGEON at South Lake appear to have completely left at this
point.

North Lake was considerably more quiet, though I finally found my first
WILSON'S WARBLER of the spring, perhaps the last person on this list to do
so. :-|

4.14 [SFBirds] 4.14.99 SF Birds
This morning I headed up to Mt. Davidson and had a nice morning in the
sumptuous warmth of the spring sun. Best bird was a singing CASSIN'S
VIREO, not far up from the bus stop at Dalewood and Teresita (?) Another
pleasant surprise was a singing SPOTTED TOWHEE, first just downhill from
the northeast end of the shoulder which runs from the concrete box towards
the TV Transmitter. It then moved down into the depression where so many
of the birds were found last year.

Winter species are still lingering with VARIED THRUSH, PINE SISKIN, HERMIT
THRUSH and FOX SPARROW all still around. Things still seemed to be waking
up when I had to leave (what a shame to go to work on a day like this), but
I only managed to identify winter warbler species. A SHARP-SHINNED HAWK
flew out from its unseen roost and headed north, no doubt a migrant just
passing through.

4.17 [SFBirds] 4.17.99 SF Birds
After waiting for the fog clear (i.e. I slept in), I headed out to look for
a few birds. Birding at Middle Lake was torpid. At South Lake Merced,
there was at least one singing AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, a singing PURPLE FINCH
and at least a half dozen CEDAR WAXWINGS.

Mount Davidson again provided the most interesting birding, with the bird of
the day definitely being a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. I saw it briefly as it
flew from the brush at the lower end of the dell/ravine into a eucalyptus
tree. I didn't get a great look but did managed to see the conspicous white
eye ring, blank face and bluish-gray tinge on the head. However, as I was
doing the circuit below the dell/ravine, I did manage to hear it buzzing
from its unseen perch above.

WILSON'S WARBLERS were present in good numbers and there was a lingering
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER as well. Far down the hill below the dell/ravine was an
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was harassing 3 RED-TAILED
HAWKS.

Lake Merced
Purple Finch
American Goldfinch
Cedar Waxwing

Mt. Davidson
3 Red-tailed Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Orange-crowned Warbler
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Wilson's Warbler
Townsend's Warbler

4.18 Little Blue Heron (?), Santa Fe Grade, Merced County


Photograph © 1999 Alan Hopkins

The picture above shows a egret/heron which was found by Alan Hopkins at the North End of Santa Fe Grade at Highway 140 in Merced County. The bird was associating with a flock of Cattle Egrets. I found another bird with more or less identical coloration and slighly different structural differences in the same field. This bird was not photographed.

Entirely pale pink/yellow bill with the slightest hint of a dark tip. Neck conspicously longer and thinner that the neighboring CAEGs; head thinner and less round. From a distance, the plumage appeared to be uniformly pale slate gray. On closer inspection, the plumage was mottled, showing color gradation within the feathers themselves. Legs uniformly dark. Primaries tending to white near the tips, but certainly not pure white. Neck may have shown some hint of a pale stripe on the throat, but I'm not sure about this.


Photograph © 1999 Mark W. Eaton

4.22 [SFBirds] Re: [SFBirds] Icterus galbula split...
Jason Yakich wrote:
>
> I was just informed by my father that the AOU has re-separated Icterus
> galbula, the northern oriole, into two species, the Bullock's (ours,
Icterus
> bullockii) and the Baltimore (eastern form, Icterus galbula).
> Many feel that the yellow-rumped warbler needs re-examination as a species
> in the standard biological definition and could be next...
> Just letting everyone know...Happy birding.

Jason,

Northern Oriole has been split by the AOU into three separate species;
Bullock's, Baltimore and Black-backed Oriole, though it's not clear that
there are any records for Black-backed Oriole in North America. See here for more information.

Bullock's Oriole is a fairly common migrant in San Francisco while BAOR is a rare
vagrant, typically seen only in fall. However, there were at least two
different Baltimore Orioles seen in San Francisco last year. See here for more details.

4.22 [SFBirds] [Fwd: [MBB] MBB: Prairie Falcon]
A Prairie Falcon swooped over 3Com Park to check the score of the
Ginats/Rockies game during the 5th inning on April 22.

Marj Bourret

4.25 [SFBirds] Re: [SFBirds] not so bad birds
Dan Murphy wrote:
> A Wrentit was singing from the willow grove east of the
> Mesa. He was loud and seemed ready for his version of action.

I seem to recall that you've had Wrentit there before, but am I the only one to
whom this seems like an odd place for a Wrentit? In particular, coastal scrub seems like it's quite a bit different from a willow grove/thicket. Or do Wrentit sometimes inhabit willow thickets in coastal areas? This seems as interesting (to me) as the nascent Presidio population...

4.25 [SFBirds] Re: [SFBirds] GGP: Where are the White-crowned Sparrows?
Alan Hopkins wrote:
>
> I birded Eastern Golden Gate Park this morning between 7 and noon. I
> checked the Lilly Pond, Lick Mt. Coon Hollow, Strawberry Hill, and
> Strybing Arboretum. There were almost no migrants. During this whole
> time I only heard one White-crowned Sparrow! Have we lost them as
> breeding birds in the park?
>

Not sure what's going on here, but zonotrichia sp. were equally hard to find in Marin this morning. However, they're easy to find at Mt. Davidson. Perhaps due to the lateness of the year, the winter population has moved out and we're in the gap between the winter population leaving and the summer population arriving. However, this would not explain why White-crowned Sparrow are easy to find at Mt. Davidson.

4.26 [SFBirds] Re: [SFBirds] male Wrentit beats the odds...
Josiah Clark wrote:
>
> Nice going Dan with the Wrentit, trickled in from the south wouldn't
> you think? Dispersing with no understory is quite a feat for a
> Wrentit. No the challenge for him will be to find a mate!

Yes, this is very interesting. However, as I mentioned previously, I
believe that Dan has had WRENTIT in this very spot before, or at least not
far from this spot.

Can I ask everyone to go through their notes/sighting databases and check
for WREN sigthings _anywhere_ in SF _other_ than the Presidio? Also,
someone with access to Laurie Binford's records might check those too.

It's easy for me; I've never seen them other than in the Presidio.

4.26 [SFBirds] Acorn Woodpeckers everywhere...
Mac McCormack (sp?) reported an ACORN WOODPECKER from Fort Mason.

Home

You can contact me via email.