August 1, 2011
On my birthday, I spent the day birding with Eclipse and Andrea. We started at Shollenberger, then had lunch at Lily Kai, and then visited Willow Creek in the Laguna de Santa Rosa.
During our hike around Shollenberger retention ponds – always a great place for birds – my most notable sighting was Wilson’s Phalarope (in non-breeding plumage) – a life bird for me! (What a great birthday present). 🙂 Some of the other bird seen included Black-necked Stilt, Long-billed Dowitcher, and American Avocet.
After lunch, we walked the Santa Rosa Creek Trail from Fulton Road to Willowside Road. At this location, I’d hoped to see a Yellow-breasted Chat, since they’re listed as being regular in this area (it’s why we chose to go there in the first place). But they were absent, probably due to construction work along the bike trail. I think they might have been dredging the creek? It seemed a bit weird to me at the time, since it’s protected habitat, but I suppose if they need to do flood mitigation, that would make sense. Even so, I was a bit disappointed not to see more birds on this walk.
Note: I only have a few photos from this trip, which seems unusual. Since I clearly had a camera with me, why didn’t I take more photos? If they turn up, I’ll post them here. I do have a pretty respectable bird list for the day, though.
Species List
Shollenberger Park: Canada Goose (Branta canadensis moffitti), Mute Swan (Cygnus olor), Gadwall (Mareca strepera strepera), Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos platyrhynchos), Ruddy Duck (Oxyura jamaicensis), Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura marginella), American Coot (Fulica americana americana), Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps podiceps), Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus mexicanus), Long-billed Dowitcher (Limnodromus scolopaceus), American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana), Killdeer (Charadrius vociferus vociferus), Marbled Godwit (Limosa fedoa), Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres), Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla), Wilson’s Phalarope (Phalaropus tricolor), Willet (Tringa semipalmata), Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca), Great Egret (Ardea alba egretta), Snowy Egret (Egretta thula), American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura aura), Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus anatum), Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans semiater), California Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma californica caurina), Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), American Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota), House Sparrow (Passer domesticus), California Towhee (Melozone crissalis), Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)
Willow Creek: Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna), Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura aura), Western Osprey (Pandion haliaetus), Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus elegans), California Scrub Jay (Aphelocoma californica caurina), American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), American Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus), American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis jewetti), Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), California Towhee (Melozone crissalis), Spotted Towhee (Pipilo maculatus), Black-throated Grey Warbler (Setophaga nigrescens)
Let me know what you think!