A dozen birders joined me today for a fine autumn walk at Dyke Marsh! It was
sunny, but the wind probably kept the passerine numbers low. I had to scour the
picnic area after the walk just to pick up 2 measly chickadees and a titmouse!
The highlight bird of the day was an adult basic-plumaged California Gull
sitting on the pilings with other near by gull species for comparison. The bird
was intermediate in size between the Ring-billed and Herring Gulls and the
mantle was dark, although a lighter shade than that of a great Black-backed
Gull. Unlike a Lesser Black-backed Gull, with heavy smudging around the eye
contrasting with a yellow iris, this bird had a dark iris and streaking
confined mostly to the nape. The legs appeared yellowish-green. The red gonyl
spot was discernable, but barely.
Interestingly, Fish Crows still seem to outnumber American Crows. As stated
previously, the wind seemed to do a number on songbirds. Also, waterfowl
numbers were pitiful. Close-up views of juvenile Red-shouldered and Red-tailed
Hawks was a consolation prize for lack of songbirds and waterfowl.
Now for the numbers:
Canada Goose: 120
Mallard: 14
Green-winged Teal: 14
Double-crested Cormorant: 8
Great Blue Heron: 3
Turkey Vulture: 1
Bald Eagle: 2
Red-shouldered Hawk: 1
Red-tailed Hawk: 1
Ring-billed Gull: 750
California Gull: 1
Herring Gull: 6
Great Black-backed Gull: 12
Mourning Dove: 17
Belted Kingfisher: 1
Red-bellied Woodpecker: 2
Downy Woodpecker: 2
Blue Jay: 3
American Crow: 6
Fish Crow: 20
crow, sp. 6
Carolina Chickadee: 2
Tufted Titmouse: 1
White-breasted Nuthatch: 1
Carolina Wren: 5
Winter Wren: 1
Golden-crowned Kinglet: 1
American Robin: 2
Northern Mockingbird: 1
European Starling: 300
Cedar Waxwing: 28
Song Sparrow: 2
White-throated Sparrow: 15
Northern Cardinal: 5
Red-winged Blackbird: 150
Common Grackle: 170
House Finch: 2
American Goldfinch: 35
House Sparrow: 30
Larry Cartwright
prowarbler@xxxxxxxxx
