June 2, 2022
This was the full day of our Virtual Field workshop so I was in the classroom for big chunks of the day, but I did have plenty of opportunities (on breaks and during lunch) to wander around outside and take photos of the amazing wildlife and plant community.
One of my missions during this trip was to get some photos of the swallows that were swooping back and forth behind the classroom throughout the day. They fly so fast, and were so close, it was difficult to get good pictures, although I did manage to get a few that aren’t quite in focus, but good enough to see that we had both Barn Swallows and at least one Northern Rough-winged Swallow.
White-crowned Sparrows and Brewer’s Blackbirds were abundant, as were the California Brown Pelicans. Every so often, a Turkey Vulture would soar overhead, and a variety of cormorants flew past. Most of them were too far away to be identified, but I did ID at least one Brandt’s Cormorant and one Pelagic Cormorant. I was also pleased to see a pair of Black Oystercatchers. This is one of the species I’d hoped to see (and photograph) on this trip. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a very good look at them (or any good photos) . . . I was fairly far away from the cliff edge when I saw these two dark, largish (gull-sized) birds swooping at one another as they flew, but they were fun to see.
Of course, I was also thrilled to see the Columbian Black-tailed Deer, with at least one doe and her two fawns out and about on the scrubby landscape. There were also dozens of Pacific Harbor Seals hauled out on the rocks, swimming in the cove, or playing on the beach.
I also had the extreme privilege of watching a mother nursing her pup on the rocks very near where I was standing. Wonderful.
After the last workshop session, on my way back to Housing I decided to pull to the side of the road alongside the bay, where a large flock of birds was hanging out on a strip of sand. Two American Great Egrets were hunting and preening very near the road. On the sand, there were a few American White Pelicans associating with a mixed flock of Western Gulls, California Gulls, and Caspian Terns. It was helpful to see the two gull species side by side – very easy to tell them apart based on the size difference alone. A few ducks were floating far out on the bay, including at least one Greater Scaup. The terns were the most active of the bunch, flying in pairs, calling to one another, and possibly mating (one bird standing on the back of another).
Back at Housing before dinner, I hung around outside trying to get more photos of the Barn Swallows. I also spotted a Song Sparrow, another Caspian Tern, and a Red-tailed Hawk as it soared toward the bay. The Wild Turkey was back, as well. (I assume it was the same individual, although I don’t know that for certain). While I was watching, she flew up into one of the nearby trees. What a sight!
After night fell, as I was heading to bed, I caught a glimpse of a Columbian Black-tailed Deer buck at the edge of the parking lot. I think this was the first male deer I’d seen, even though I’d been seeing does and fawns throughout both days. I didn’t get any photos, but (spoiler alert!) that would change on the following day. 🙂
Species List
Plants and Wildlife: Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica), European Starling (Sturnus vulgaris), Redstem Stork’s-Bill (Erodium cicutarium), American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos), White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys), Brewer’s Blackbird (Euphagus cyanocephalus), Great Blue Heron (Ardea herodias), Pacific Harbor Seal (Phoca vitulina richardii), Varied Lupine (Lupinus variicolor), Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), Western Gull (Larus occidentalis), American Badger (Taxidea taxus), Mediterranean Stork’s Bill (Erodium botrys), Northern Rough-winged Swallow (Stelgidopteryx serripennis), Columbian Black-tailed Deer (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus), Coastal Bush Lupine (Lupinus arboreus), California Poppy (Eschscholzia californica), California Brown Pelican (Pelecanus occidentalis), Sheep’s Sorrel (Rumex acetosella), Great/Ripgut Brome (Bromus diandrus), Sea Thrift (Armeria maritima), Miniature Lupine (Lupinus bicolor), Seaside Daisy (Erigeron glaucus), Brandt’s Cormorant (Urile penicillatus), Pelagic Cormorant (Urile pelagicus), Sea Fig (Carpobrotus edulis), Yellow-faced Bumble Bee (Bombus vosnesenskii), Black Oystercatcher (Haematopus bachmani), Creamcups (Platystemon californicus), Coastal Goldfields (Lasthenia minor), American Sand Wasp (Bembix americana), American Great Egret (Ardea alba egretta), American White Pelican (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos), California Gull (Larus californicus), Caspian Tern (Hydroprogne caspia), Greater Scaup (Aythya marila), Poison Hemlock (Conium maculatum), Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia), Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis), Western Bluebird (Sialia mexicana), California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica), Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo), American Wild Carrot(Daucus pusillus)
As yet unconfirmed: Smooth hawksbeard or Cretanweed, Orange rock hair, Smooth cat’s ear, Freeloader flies, Corimelaena beetle
Let me know what you think!