April 25, 2022
10:00 to 11:15
While my Restoration Ecology students were doing vegetation monitoring along the creek, I was able to make some wildlife observations. Many of the birds were initially identified by their songs, with the help of the Merlin app.
Of course, the ubiquitous Canada Goose were present, foraging near the Commencement Lake, and a few flew overhead. One of the foragers might have been a Cackling Goose. Turkey Vulture soared overhead, also commonly seen. I heard American Crow and a Black Phoebe, and I first head some Oak Titmouse, and later spotted one behind the Art Building. A tree full of adorable American Bushtit made me happy, and I was pleased to hear a number of Bewick’s Wren, very vocal, all along the creek. Both Lesser and American Goldfinch were heard. Over by the Green Music Center parking lot, I heard Red-winged Blackbird, and was able to spot them from a distance. I also heard a bird that sounded like a Hermit Thrush, although I wasn’t entirely sure of the ID (as I hear the bird at a distance). But Merlin also picked up the call, which gives me more confidence.
We found (as usual) some California Slender Salamander under the logs behind the Art Building (this has been a very reliable spot to see them over the past couple of years. I spotted a Western Grey Squirrel in a tree near the creek. Notable invertebrates included an Omnivorous Looper captured by one of my students for their Entomology collection, and an interesting bee mimic Syrphid fly: a White-bowed Smoothwing. I also photographed several of the plants growing along the creek.
Species List
Wildlife Seen: Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), Bushtit (Psaltriparus minimus), Oak Titmouse (Baeolophus inornatus), Pacific-slope flycatcher, American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), Black Phoebe (Sayornis nigricans), Lesser Goldfinch (Spinus psaltria), Bewick’s Wren (Thryomanes bewickii), California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus), Western Gray Squirrel (Sciurus griseus), Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus), Hermit Thrush (Catharus guttatus), White-bowed Smoothwing (Scaeva affinis), American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis), Omnivorous Looper (Sabulodes aegrotata), UID turtles, UID hawk (possibly Cooper’s)
Plants and Fungi seen: Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum), Cretan Mallow (Malva multiflora), Mulch Field Cap (Agrocybe putaminum), Italian Thistle (Carduus pycnocephalus), Boxelder (Acer negundo), Northern California Black walnut (Juglans hindsii), Coast Live Oak (Quercus agrifolia), Coast Live Oak (hybrid), Valley Oak (Querus lobata), California Buckeye (Aesculus californica), Harding Grass (Phalaris aquatica), Wild Radish (Raphanus sativus), Miner’s Lettuce (Claytonia perfoliata), California Rose (Rosa californica), Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)
Let me know what you think!