I birded the Sutro Heights / Presidio area of SF for a couple of hours on Thursday, May 24th in horribly windy conditions.
Seal Rocks had Brandt's and Pelagic Cormorants. Sutro Baths had only Western Gulls, White-crowned Sparrows and Brewer's Blackbirds. A walk along the cliffs towards Golden Gate turned up little: Western Scrub-jay, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brown Pelican, Red-tailed Hawk, a single Black Oystercatcher, plus quite a few Surf Scoters riding out the waves.
Sutro Park had lots of Common Ravens and Western Gulls, as well as House Finches and Eurasian Collared Dove. There were a few Anna's and Allen's Hummingbirds and an American Rovbin. The best birds were a California Towhee was scuttling around, as was a Rufous-crowned Sparrow.
Saturday May 26 I had two hours at Mitchell Canyon, on the north side of Mt Diablo. Perfect conditions for birding, although I was too late for songbird migration. The parking area had Black Phoebe, Am Kestrel, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Acorn Woodpeckers, Band-tailed Pigeons and Oak Titmice.
The main trail had several California and Spotted Towhees, many Dark-eyed Juncoes, House and Bewick's Wrens, and some spectacular singing Lazuli Buntings. Also California Quail, Cassin's Vireo, American and Lesser Goldfinches, Anna's Hummingbird, Ash-throated Flycatchers and House Finches.
After that I spent 90 minutes at Black Diamond Mine Regional Park. The picnic area has a water fountain which drains into a small 12" x 12" basin that is popular with hot and thirsty birds. It's always a great show! I watched as a succession of birds came to drink and/or bath: Dark-eyed Juncoes, House Finches, White-breasted Nuthatches, Lesser Goldfinches. Spotted and California Towhees were around the picnic area, as were Anna's Hummingbirds, European Starlings and Western Bluebirds. The only raptor I saw was a Red-tailed Hawk high overhead. Just outside the entrance gate is a good spot for Phainopepla but I didn't see any this trip. Instead there were Violet-green Swallows, W Kingbird and a Bullock's Oriole.
Back in SF, a quick visit to Lake Merced in howling winds turned up Am Coots, Mallards, Western Gulls, White-crowned Sparrows, two Rufous-crowned Sparrows and another Anna's Hummer.
A visit to Fort Merced for Bank Swallows was largely foiled when I couldn't access their nesting area. I had to make do with a score or more Common Ravens. As consolation, driving back to my hotel I passed a Steller's Jay hopping along a neighborhood sidewalk.
Overall, not a great trip, with a total of only 50 species. I wish I'd visited 2-3 weeks earlier!
Jeff
Seal Rocks had Brandt's and Pelagic Cormorants. Sutro Baths had only Western Gulls, White-crowned Sparrows and Brewer's Blackbirds. A walk along the cliffs towards Golden Gate turned up little: Western Scrub-jay, Black-headed Grosbeak, Brown Pelican, Red-tailed Hawk, a single Black Oystercatcher, plus quite a few Surf Scoters riding out the waves.
Sutro Park had lots of Common Ravens and Western Gulls, as well as House Finches and Eurasian Collared Dove. There were a few Anna's and Allen's Hummingbirds and an American Rovbin. The best birds were a California Towhee was scuttling around, as was a Rufous-crowned Sparrow.
Saturday May 26 I had two hours at Mitchell Canyon, on the north side of Mt Diablo. Perfect conditions for birding, although I was too late for songbird migration. The parking area had Black Phoebe, Am Kestrel, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, Acorn Woodpeckers, Band-tailed Pigeons and Oak Titmice.
The main trail had several California and Spotted Towhees, many Dark-eyed Juncoes, House and Bewick's Wrens, and some spectacular singing Lazuli Buntings. Also California Quail, Cassin's Vireo, American and Lesser Goldfinches, Anna's Hummingbird, Ash-throated Flycatchers and House Finches.
After that I spent 90 minutes at Black Diamond Mine Regional Park. The picnic area has a water fountain which drains into a small 12" x 12" basin that is popular with hot and thirsty birds. It's always a great show! I watched as a succession of birds came to drink and/or bath: Dark-eyed Juncoes, House Finches, White-breasted Nuthatches, Lesser Goldfinches. Spotted and California Towhees were around the picnic area, as were Anna's Hummingbirds, European Starlings and Western Bluebirds. The only raptor I saw was a Red-tailed Hawk high overhead. Just outside the entrance gate is a good spot for Phainopepla but I didn't see any this trip. Instead there were Violet-green Swallows, W Kingbird and a Bullock's Oriole.
Back in SF, a quick visit to Lake Merced in howling winds turned up Am Coots, Mallards, Western Gulls, White-crowned Sparrows, two Rufous-crowned Sparrows and another Anna's Hummer.
A visit to Fort Merced for Bank Swallows was largely foiled when I couldn't access their nesting area. I had to make do with a score or more Common Ravens. As consolation, driving back to my hotel I passed a Steller's Jay hopping along a neighborhood sidewalk.
Overall, not a great trip, with a total of only 50 species. I wish I'd visited 2-3 weeks earlier!
Jeff