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Early morning at the Mono Lake shoreline. (Photo by participant Peter Heilbroner)
This tour got off to a good start with our first day spent birding at various sites around San Francisco Bay. We started near the airport with a terrific Ridgway’s Rail that Barb spotted for us, along with a bunch of other shorebirds to pick through. We then headed to Coyote Point where we enjoyed a few passerines and a few Clark’s Grebes. Radio Road had bunches of dabbling ducks and some families of Black Skimmers. We then headed down to the Don Edwards NWR where we had flocks of shorebirds, a pesky Peregrine, and two species of Empidonax.
Our second day was along the wild and scenic Mines Road and Del Puerto Canyons. Here were saw many targets including Lawrence’s Goldfinches, Lewis’s Woodpecker, Yellow-billed Magpie, Phainopepla, California Thrasher, Wrentit, Bell’s Sparrow and more… Then it was off to Sonora for the afternoon.
Our third morning began with a short stop at the Parrotts Ferry Bridge where we saw White-throated Swifts zooming around overhead. Then it was on to Calaveras Big Trees State Park where we spent the morning walking around the North Grove. The scenery was splendid though the birding was a bit slower than normal. We saw some fabulous Pacific Wrens, a few mixed flocks, a big Pileated Woodpecker and, finally, two pairs of White-headed Woodpeckers interacting with each other. From there it was on to the high country in the afternoon. We had a nice mixed flock at Big Meadow Campground, with Cassin’s Vireo and Orange-crowned, Nashville, Black-throated Gray, and Audubon’s warblers in the mix. We checked Lake Alpine, which had some Common Mergansers, and the Bear Valley Ski Area, which added a few things including a nice pair of Townsend’s Solitaires. Then it was back to Sonora with a roadside stop for sapsuckers -- at least three Red-breasted and a pair of Williamson’s!
On the fourth morning we headed east across Sonora Pass with several stops along the way. A frustratingly brief encounter with Mountain Quail was followed by a nice White-headed Woodpecker and a few mixed flocks. We then headed to Bridgeport Reservoir where we viewed a nice assortment of birds. From there we headed to Mono Lake, with a visit to the interpretive center and the western shore.
The next day began with a cold front passing through. We visited the South Tufa and watched the sun break clear of the clouds. There were a few sparrows around, and we eventually got on to a Sagebrush Sparrow and Brewer’s Sparrow. After breakfast we headed out toward the Jeffery Pine forest south of the lake. Almost immediately we came across a big flock of Pinyon Jays just south of Lee Vining. There were more in the Jeffrey Pines, along with some Clark’s Nutcrackers. We continued south to the Owens River Road burn in search of woodpeckers. Some nice Mountain Bluebirds and the interior form of White-breasted Nuthatch were highlights. After lunch and a torrential downpour, we drove to Bodie, encountering a huge flock of Greater Sage-Grouse before reaching the parking lot. We had a nice tour with Catherine Jones and saw a few more species around the town. But it was the grouse encounter on the way out that was most memorable. We watched as a number of grouse came in to eat dirt and grit from some bare earth that appeared to be well worked over, perhaps a traditional grit-eating site.
We spent the sixth morning searching again for Mountain Quail near Lee Vining. We failed in that effort, but we did manage to find a couple of Woodhouse’s Scrub-Jays, making this one of the rare tours to combine seeing California and Woodhouse’s. Then it was off again, making our way back toward the coast. Near Bridgeport, we found a nice Prairie Falcon and minutes later a juvenile Ferruginous Hawk being harassed by a Raven. There were plenty of Red-tailed Hawks along the way. Near Tracy we had an adult Swainson’s Hawk fly across the highway in front of us. Then we were off to Half Moon Bay for the night to prepare for the next morning’s pelagic trip.
The pelagic trip was a great success with a nice variety of species. We had lots of Pink-footed and Sooty shearwaters, and a couple of Black-vented and Buller’s thrown in. We had lots of albatrosses, three jaegers plus South Polar Skua, and a bunch of Sabine’s Gulls. Storm-petrels caused some excitement. In addition to Ashy, we had a huge concentration of Wilson’s Storm-Petrels and a mystery bird that may prove to be a tattered Leach's Storm-Petrel.
Our final day we spent on the coast enjoying a few more migrants, a vagrant White-winged Dove, and nice things like Tricolored Blackbird and Snowy Plover. We headed north through San Francisco in the afternoon to spend our last evening together enjoying the spectacle of seventeen thousand Vaux’s Swifts coming to roost in San Rafael. What a sight!
Thanks to all of you for making the trip a great success and a treat to guide. I hope to see all of you in the field again in the future. Until then, good birding!
--Chris
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
The group pausing during our search for woodpeckers south of Lee Vining. (Photo by participant Don Faulkner)
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis)
GADWALL (Anas strepera)
MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos)
CINNAMON TEAL (Anas cyanoptera)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Anas clypeata)
NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta)
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (AMERICAN) (Anas crecca carolinensis)
A few of the corvids seen on this Slice tour, including: the endemic Yellow-billed Magpie; a Pinyon Jay caught in flight; and two scrub-jays, California on the lower left and Woodhouse's lower right. (Photos by guide Chris Benesh)
SURF SCOTER (Melanitta perspicillata)
COMMON MERGANSER (Mergus merganser)
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
MOUNTAIN QUAIL (Oreortyx pictus)
CALIFORNIA QUAIL (Callipepla californica)
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
GREATER SAGE-GROUSE (Centrocercus urophasianus)
WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo)
A composite of Bodie scenes, including a colorful Mountain Bluebird and some Greater Sage-Grouse, several of these collecting grit from a well-used source. (Photos by guide Chris Benesh)
Gaviidae (Loons)
RED-THROATED LOON (Gavia stellata)
PACIFIC LOON (Gavia pacifica)
COMMON LOON (Gavia immer)
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis)
WESTERN GREBE (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
CLARK'S GREBE (Aechmophorus clarkii)
Our pelagic trip produced a good number of Black-footed Albatrosses including this one. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
Diomedeidae (Albatrosses)
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS (Phoebastria nigripes)
Procellariidae (Shearwaters and Petrels)
NORTHERN FULMAR (Fulmarus glacialis)
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER (Ardenna creatopus)
BULLER'S SHEARWATER (Ardenna bulleri)
SOOTY SHEARWATER (Ardenna grisea)
BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER (Puffinus opisthomelas)
Hydrobatidae (Storm-Petrels)
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL (Oceanites oceanicus)
We were fortunate to see an elegant Buller's Shearwater on the trip. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
LEACH'S STORM-PETREL (Oceanodroma leucorhoa)
ASHY STORM-PETREL (Oceanodroma homochroa)
Sulidae (Boobies and Gannets)
NORTHERN GANNET (Morus bassanus)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
BRANDT'S CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)
PELAGIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
We spent time with this weird storm-petrel, which we ultimately were uncertain about, though opinions favor an injured Leach's. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi)
We saw Ospreys at and around Mono Lake. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
WHITE-TAILED KITE (Elanus leucurus)
NORTHERN HARRIER (Circus cyaneus)
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (Accipiter striatus)
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (ELEGANS) (Buteo lineatus elegans)
One of the hunting White-tailed Kites we observed on our last evening. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
SWAINSON'S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni)
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
FERRUGINOUS HAWK (Buteo regalis)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
RIDGWAY'S RAIL (SAN FRANCISCO BAY) (Rallus obsoletus obsoletus)
COMMON GALLINULE (Gallinula galeata)
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus)
One of the first birds of the trip, the recently split Ridgway's Rail. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana)
Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus bachmani)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)
SNOWY PLOVER (Charadrius nivosus)
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (Charadrius semipalmatus)
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
WHIMBREL (HUDSONIAN) (Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus)
A flock of American Avocets flies past us at Mono Lake. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
LONG-BILLED CURLEW (Numenius americanus)
MARBLED GODWIT (Limosa fedoa)
BLACK TURNSTONE (Arenaria melanocephala)
SURFBIRD (Calidris virgata)
SANDERLING (Calidris alba)
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla)
WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri)
A couple of Black Turnstones feeding among kelp. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus griseus)
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus lobatus)
RED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus fulicarius)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
WANDERING TATTLER (Tringa incana)
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca)
A handsome White-faced Ibis seen near Bridgeport Reservoir. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
WILLET (WESTERN) (Tringa semipalmata inornata)
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes)
Stercorariidae (Skuas and Jaegers)
SOUTH POLAR SKUA (Stercorarius maccormicki)
POMARINE JAEGER (Stercorarius pomarinus)
PARASITIC JAEGER (Stercorarius parasiticus)
LONG-TAILED JAEGER (Stercorarius longicaudus)
Alcidae (Auks, Murres, and Puffins)
COMMON MURRE (Uria aalge)
A South Polar Skua fleeing an agressive Pink-footed Shearwater. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
PIGEON GUILLEMOT (Cepphus columba)
CASSIN'S AUKLET (Ptychoramphus aleuticus)
RHINOCEROS AUKLET (Cerorhinca monocerata)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
SABINE'S GULL (Xema sabini)
BONAPARTE'S GULL (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
HEERMANN'S GULL (Larus heermanni)
RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis)
An adult Pomarine Jaeger bombs past the boat. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
WESTERN GULL (Larus occidentalis)
CALIFORNIA GULL (Larus californicus)
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (Larus glaucescens)
CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia)
FORSTER'S TERN (Sterna forsteri)
ELEGANT TERN (Thalasseus elegans)
BLACK SKIMMER (Rynchops niger)
A very young Rhinoceros Auklet. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
BAND-TAILED PIGEON (Patagioenas fasciata)
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
Strigidae (Owls)
BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia)
Apodidae (Swifts)
VAUX'S SWIFT (Chaetura vauxi)
A young Pigeon Guillemot feeding in the harbor. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Aeronautes saxatalis)
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna)
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
BELTED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle alcyon)
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
LEWIS'S WOODPECKER (Melanerpes lewis)
ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus)
WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus ruber)
A few of the Band-tailed Pigeons that were hanging out at Coyote Point. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER (Picoides nuttallii)
DOWNY WOODPECKER (Picoides pubescens)
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Picoides villosus)
WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER (Picoides albolarvatus)
NORTHERN FLICKER (Colaptes auratus)
PILEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus pileatus)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
One of the more sought-after birds in the Sierra, the White-headed Woodpecker. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
PRAIRIE FALCON (Falco mexicanus)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Contopus sordidulus)
WILLOW FLYCATCHER (Empidonax traillii)
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER (Empidonax difficilis)
BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya)
This large Peregrine spent time terrorizing the local shorebirds. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus)
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
HUTTON'S VIREO (Vireo huttoni)
CASSIN'S VIREO (Vireo cassinii)
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
PINYON JAY (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus)
STELLER'S JAY (Cyanocitta stelleri)
CALIFORNIA SCRUB-JAY (Aphelocoma californica)
WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB-JAY (Aphelocoma woodhouseii)
A Prairie Falcon zooms past us near Bridgeport. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE (Pica hudsonia)
YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE (Pica nuttalli) [E]
CLARK'S NUTCRACKER (Nucifraga columbiana)
AMERICAN CROW (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
We connected with Vaux's Swift on our last evening...
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE (Poecile gambeli)
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE (Poecile rufescens)
OAK TITMOUSE (Baeolophus inornatus)
Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)
BUSHTIT (Psaltriparus minimus)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta canadensis)
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (INTERIOR WEST) (Sitta carolinensis tenuissima)
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (PACIFIC) (Sitta carolinensis aculeata)
..and, in fact, we connected with about seventeen thousand! (Photos by guide Chris Benesh)
PYGMY NUTHATCH (Sitta pygmaea)
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
BROWN CREEPER (Certhia americana)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus) [*]
PACIFIC WREN (PACIFICUS GROUP) (Troglodytes pacificus pacificus)
BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii)
Cinclidae (Dippers)
AMERICAN DIPPER (Cinclus mexicanus)
Regulidae (Kinglets)
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus satrapa)
Red-breasted Nuthatches kept us company during our time in the high Sierra, where they seemed to be a part of nearly every flock. (Photo by participant Don Faulkner)
Paradoxornithidae (Parrotbills, Wrentit, and Allies)
WRENTIT (Chamaea fasciata)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
WESTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia mexicana)
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides)
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE (Myadestes townsendi)
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
CALIFORNIA THRASHER (Toxostoma redivivum)
SAGE THRASHER (Oreoscoptes montanus)
One of the Pacific Wrens that popped up in front of us at Calaveras Big Trees. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD (Mimus polyglottos)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
AMERICAN PIPIT (Anthus rubescens)
Ptiliogonatidae (Silky-flycatchers)
PHAINOPEPLA (Phainopepla nitens)
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Oreothlypis celata)
NASHVILLE WARBLER (RIDGWAYI) (Oreothlypis ruficapilla ridgwayi)
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)
A Pacific-slope Flycatcher that Peter spotted in Alviso. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (AUDUBON'S) (Setophaga coronata auduboni)
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens)
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Setophaga townsendi)
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla)
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
CHIPPING SPARROW (Spizella passerina)
BREWER'S SPARROW (Spizella breweri)
A Bell's Sparrow peers out at us along Mines Road. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
LARK SPARROW (Chondestes grammacus)
FOX SPARROW (SOOTY) (Passerella iliaca fuliginosa)
FOX SPARROW (THICK-BILLED) (Passerella iliaca megarhyncha)
DARK-EYED JUNCO (Junco hyemalis)
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (ORIANTHA) (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha)
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (NUTTALLI) (Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli)
SAGEBRUSH SPARROW (Artemisiospiza nevadensis)
A bow-riding Pacific White-sided Dolphin was one of the many cetacean treats on our pelagic. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
BELL'S SPARROW (BELLI) (Artemisiospiza belli belli)
VESPER SPARROW (Pooecetes gramineus)
SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis)
SONG SPARROW (Melospiza melodia)
LINCOLN'S SPARROW (Melospiza lincolnii)
CALIFORNIA TOWHEE (Melozone crissalis)
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (Aimophila ruficeps)
The cetacean show also included this massive Blue Whale. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus)
SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus)
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana)
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius tricolor)
BREWER'S BLACKBIRD (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)
One of the Coyotes we spotted in the fields near Bridgeport. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
PURPLE FINCH (WESTERN) (Haemorhous purpureus californicus)
CASSIN'S FINCH (Haemorhous cassinii)
PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus)
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria)
LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH (Spinus lawrencei)
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (Spinus tristis)
Not quite a chipmunk, but rather a Golden-mantled Ground-Squirrel. (Photo by guide Chris Benesh)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
NUTTALL'S (MOUNTAIN) COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus nuttalli)
DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii)
BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBIT (Lepus californicus)
LEAST CHIPMUNK (Tamias minimus)
LONG-EARED CHIPMUNK (Tamias quadrimaculatus)
CALIFORNIA GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus beecheyi)
A Google satellite image of our route illustrating 2016's slice from sea to sierra.
GOLDEN-MANTLED GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus lateralis)
EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus carolinensis) [I]
CHICKAREE (Tamiasciurus douglasii)
BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (Tursiops truncatus)
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)
NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN (Lissodelphis borealis)
HARBOR PORPOISE (Phocoena phocoena)
DALL'S PORPOISE (Phocoenoides dalli)
BLUE WHALE (Balaenoptera musculus)
HUMPBACK WHALE (Megaptera novaeangliae)
COYOTE (Canis latrans)
CALIFORNIA SEA LION (Zalophus californianus)
HARBOR SEAL (Phoca vitulina)
MULE DEER (Odocoileus hemionus)
Totals for the tour: 204 bird taxa and 20 mammal taxa