Midweek Walkabout Results

October 10, 1996, PRBO and Bolinas Lagoon
Eighteen birders including Wini Nelson's grandsons, Ben and Tow, enjoyeda morning at Palomarin Field Station. Staff members demonstrated bandingprocedures and described the various land bird projects being conducted byPRBO. A female Golden-crowned Kinglet was voted the best "Bird in theHand"--she weighed in at 5.4 grams. We also had in-hand views of hatching yearFox Sparrows and Hermit Thrushes.

At Bolinas Lagoon the group was treated to large flocks of feedingPintails and American Wigeons with a few NorthernShovelers and Green-winged Teal getting their time in the scopes.Lew Edmondson had a quick view of a Merlin at the Park Visitor Centerparking area.

October 16, 1996, Howarth Park and Spring Lake
With a fall chill in the air 20 birders joined leader Diane Hichwa atHowarth Park and Spring Lake to find 46 species. A female Wood Duck andfemale American Wigeon were amid the Mallards and a flock ofViolet-green Swallows skimmed the lake. Following the hike several groupmembers phoned Santa Rosa Parks and Rec Department to discuss tree trimming andAcorn Woodpecker natural history. Thanks to them and to Lisa Ward-Grantat the Department removal of a dead Monterey Pine will be postponed until afterwinter since it is the site of a woodpecker colony's main acorn granarystorage!

October 24, 1996, Point Reyes
With a very accurate forecast of rain, the weatherman separated thefair-weather birders from the diehards, five of whom joined Lew Edmondson atthe Point Reyes Visitor Center in a steady mist. A Townsend's Warblercame within 10 feet to study these strange creatures. After birding theearthquake trail, the group voted unanimously to move north to Bodega Bayseeking dryer birding and also to find the Northern Waterthrush foundthe day before in the Rail Ponds. It made our day by putting in an appearanceand serenading the group. A total of 53 species was tallied.

October 30, 1996, Bodega Bay
Eleven birders gathered at the Bodega Bay Rail Ponds following a heavystorm the previous night. In spite of the unsettled weather, 101 bird specieswere seen. The most notable was a Northern Waterthrush that was seen bymost of the birders. Thousands of shorebirds lined the Doran Beach at hightide.

November 11, 1996, Lake Stafford and Los Gallinas
On a bright, sunny day thirteen birders met at Lake Stafford. Notablebirds found were a Common Snipe, a Common Moorhen and aRed-breasted Sapsucker. Moving to the Los Gallinas oxidation ponds thebird of the day, a Burrowing Owl, was found. The total count for the daywas 84 species.