Midweek Walkabout Results

November 11, 1998
Dennis Beall and 19 Audubon Society members enjoyed a beautiful sunny day birding at Duncan's Mills and Willow Creek Road. Highlight of the day was a perched Merlin in perfect light on Willow Creek Road. Sixty species were observed.

November 18, 1998
This walkabout was at Lake Stafford and Las Gallinas Sewer ponds. Twenty-two people found 70 species of birds. Canada Geese were in huge numbers at both sites. Lake Stafford produced its usual Spotted Sandpiper and Las Gallinas had a Peregrine Falcon.

November 25, 1998
On a warm, sunny day, 14 birders joined Lew Edmondson at Howarth Park and Spring Lake for a pre-Thanksgiving walkabout. Fifty-two species were seen. The Mandarin Duck, showing no fear of human encroachment, had moved up to the boat launching ramp where it could be observed up close and personal. A male Wood Duck in eclipse (also at the ramp) was a first for many in the group.

December 2 and 3, 1998
Threatened by intermittently cloudy skys and forecasts of heavy rains and strong winds, 16 birders joined Lew Edmondson at the Sacramento Wildlife Refuge on Wednesday morning, the second. The sunset and fly-in the evening before were a bit disappointing, but several flocks of White-faced Ibis performing their low-level, single-file fly-overs made it worthwhile. As usual, waterfowl numbers were impressive, particularly Snow and White-fronted Geese.

A light rain early on Thursday morning gave way to clear skys the rest of the day. Those who chose to stay overnight for the Gray Lodge Refuge tour, were rewarded by several fly-overs by flocks of Tundra Swans which were heard long before they were seen. A flock of about 80 Sandhill Cranes was seen in a rice-stubble field near the entrance to Gray Lodge and another flock of 50 was seen closer to the road along West Butte Road on our drive home. A total of 78 species was seen.

December 9, 1998
Dennis Beall and 25 happy folks enjoyed an absolutely beautiful day birding at Bodega Bay. Highlights of the day included great comparison looks of Horned, Eared, and Red-necked Grebes within yards of each other, Marbled Murrelets at the Head (no wind), and Common Yellowthroat at the Rail Ponds. All in all a beautiful, sunny, calm day at Bodega Bay. Eight-four species were observed.

December 16, 1998
There were 26 birders out on the dikes of Shollenberger Park in southeast Petaluma with Betty Burridge on the morning of December 16th, all bundled up aginst a cool wind. But the skies were clear and the birds cooperative, as the group saw 53 species. Included were American Bittern, Sora, Merlin, Peregrine Falcon, Redhead (duck), Horned Lark, and many assorted shorebirds and waterfowl.

January 6, 1999
It was cold and clear, when 18 good folks joined Dennis Beall to bird Duncan's Mills, Jenner and Willow Creek Road. Highlights of the 56 species seen were Peregrine Falcon (two birds seen in different locations), thirty-plus Common Goldeneyes, but without doubt, the show-stopper was a family of eight river otters swimming downstream just below the river bridge at Duncan's Mills. Outstanding!

January 13, 1999
Twenty-one birders met at the spillway to Conn Dam in Napa County. A total of 65 species were seen. Among this total was a Bald and two Golden Eagles. The weather was foggy and cold.