13 April 11
Scrub-jay in the Toyon
The grosbeaks were back today; up to 30 were seen. I only saw about 20 of them. The scrub-jays seem to be busy on the nest.
12 April 11
Evening Grosbeaks
Yesterday the Center’s director came in brandishing his iPhone which was emitting a call that wasn’t familiar to me. Evening grosbeaks, he said. I looked at him. They’re outside, he said. I grabbed my binoculars and ran out and sure enough, there they were high in a conifer that’s been butchered by overzealous groundspeople.
The grosbeaks were on the ground half an hour later to coincide with my lunch hour. It’s very hard to get that outrageous green on the bill right. Hoping they stick around so I can have another try.
28 January 11
Red-breasted Sapsucker
When you hear soft irregular tapping on a tree it’s always a good idea to check it out because it’s going to be something different than a normal woodpecker. Dense, dense fog this morning and a soft tapping in the almond tree….
27 January 11
14 January 11
Junco in Tree
It’s freakishly warm here. The birds were out and busy today.
13 January 11
11 January 11
14 December 10
11 December 10
Cormorants Preening
I went to Woodland this morning and, coming back on Road 102, made a quick stop at the pond near (but not at) the Wastewater Treatment Plant. A large mammal (mink? muskrat?) dove as I arrived at the boardwalk. Apart from Canada geese, mallards, and a flock of gulls, there were a number of double-crested cormorants preening in the gloom. No sun today.
