Midweek Walkabout Results

Wednesday, November 13, 1996
Pt. Reyes, Five Brooks, and Bolinas Lagoon--Our group of 16Madrone members began our morning with a 15 minute observation of a large adultbobcat. This animal was spotted along the road a few miles north of FiveBrooks. All had superb views of this fellow--stripes on back of ears and thebold dark rings on its lower legs. Was the bobcat making a companion of heSay's and Black Phoebes working the adjacent fence line? We donot know but it certainly allowed us a fine view and for many their finest viewof a bobcat.

At Five Brooks we had marvelous views of a flock of 23 Ring-necked Duckswhich was the avian highlight of this foggy morning. By day's end, the grouphad observed 60 bird species and were afforded another view of the bobcat ontheir return home.

Thursday, November 21, 1996
Undaunted by a forecast of rain and wind, 15 birders met at the BodegaHarbor Rail Ponds and were rewarded with 88 species and dry weather until 1:00PM when the skies opened up. Highlights included a Peregrine Falcon onthe edge of the flats at the southeast end of the harbor and the vagrantNorthern Waterthrush 100 yards south of the beached ferryboat near theRail Ponds. As usual at this time of the year, the harbor and ocean off theHead were teeming with waterfowl and shorebirds.

Wednesday, December 4, 1996
Nineteen birders, including two visitors from River Forest, Illinois,took advantage of a banner year in the breeding grounds for waterfowl byvisiting Sacramento and Colusa National Wildlife Refuges. Ducks, Snowand White-fronted Geese were present by the thousands. Highlightsincluded a Short-eared Owl, White-fronted Ibis, several AmericanBittern and a Peregrine Falcon. Seventy-four species were talliedfor the day. The second trip scheduled for Thursday to Grey Lodge WaterfowlManagement Area was concelled due to heavy rain.

Thursday, December 12, 1996
Twelve people braved the elements to search for birds at Point ReyesHeadquarters, Bolinas Lagoon, and Five Brooks Pond. Between showers 81 birdswere tallied. Notable were many friendly Townsend's Warblers, and aEurasian Widgeon in the lagoon.

Wednesday, December 18, 1996
Duncans Mills, Bridgehaven and Willow Creek--Twenty birdersenjoyed a beautiful clear day of birding along the lower reaches of the RussianRiver. About 50 species of birds were observed with the two FerruginousHawks flying and displaying in the Bridgehaven area voted the highlights ofthe day.

Thursday, January 9, 1997
Duncans Mills, Jenner, Goat Rock and Coast to Bodega Bay--A coolbut sunny day 20 birders took a chance after all the flooding on the RussianRiver to bird the area. Ninety-two species were counted. A number of PygmyNuthatches, Brown creepers, Varied Thrush, and Hermit Thrush atDuncans Mills. But the bird of the day was a Northern Goshawk at GoatRock.

Wednesday, January 15, 1997
On a cold, wet day 12 hardy birders spotted a total of 38 species atLake Hennesey-Conn Dam area. Bad weather ended the walk at noon. One birder gota lifer, the White-breasted nuthatch. Both the Varied Thrush anda Hermit Thrush were sighted and a California Thrasher was heard.The highlight of the trip, thanks to Lew, was the spotting of a BaldEagle early in the day.