Knitting and Birding Retreat in Carmel

Black Oystercatcher
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

We started the morning bright and early at Cross Hill, hoping to see the legendary Caracara. No luck.

After breakfast, I spent the morning at Carmel River mouth sitting on the sand waiting for birds like this Oystercatcher to come a little bit closer. It was really fun. I also drove up to Asilomar and worked my way back down the peninsula, grooving on my iPod tunes. Great day!

(Photos on flickr)

Greetings from Carmel

Warbling Vireo
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

Today we had some excellent birding along Mount Madonna Road, where we had squirrley little passerines like this Warbling Vireo that didn't want his picture taken. I had great fun playing bird calls using my old iPod and a software package called birdPod.

And, I turned 40. A great day. More photos later, I have to get some sleep before going out early tomorrow in search of the wily Caracara.

McClellan Ranch and Stevens Creek

Western Bluebird
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

Ashok and I were very pleased to have Mary along with us this morning. Ashok got a life bird (Oriole), and we had some fun photographing cooperative birds at the Audubon office bird feeders and in the community garden plots.

After Ashok left we went up to Stevens Creek County Park, where once again I tried to make a Cooper's Hawk into a Sharp-shinned Hawk.

(Photos at flickr)

Fun with Dunlin

Dunlin
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

Following a hot tip from Ashok, I went to the Foster City pond near the radio tower before work in search of Dunlin, but had no interesting shots. Happily, I stopped by again after work and found excellent light and a willing, nearby subject. After all the rain, this was a really lovely evening.

I think that makes 293 ABA species photographed (Photos on flickr)

Birding with The Knitist

Song Sparrow
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

We took advantage of a break in the weather to introduce our friend The Knitist to the glories of birding at Charleston Slough.

In Stevens Creek County Park, we walked from the Villa Maria picnic area uphill into Fremont Older Open Space Preserve. There, overlooking the abandoned quarry, we saw VAUX's and WHITE-THROATED SWIFT circling with NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS. All three species were flying at eye level, affording excellent views. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was heard singing loudly from the bottom of the quarry. We found no dippers at the fourth bridge over Stevens Creek, where water levels were very high.

A breeding plumage BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER was seen from the observation platform at Charleston Slough, along with 28 BLACK SKIMMERS.

Two EARED GREBES in breeding plumage were seen from west the end of Shoreline Lake.

McClellan Ranch yielded many cooperate feeder birds plus a male WESTERN TANAGER in the sycamores above the creek, just at the entrace to the trail. A single WOOD DUCK flew rapidly overhead. Both BULLOCK's and HOODED ORIOLES were near the Audubon office building.

Grand total for the day -- 91 species. Pretty impressive!
(Trip notes at birdWalker, Photos at flickr)

Ashok and Bill visit Lake Merritt

American White Pelican
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

With a rare break in the clouds, Ashok was itching to get over to Lake Merritt in search of breeding plumage Eared Grebes. We found them, and a few other subjects as well, such as this beguiling American White Pelican.

Our second stop was Berkeley Aquatic Park in search of the elusive Tufted Duck. We did find a few Scaup, but none of them seemed to be tufted. (Photos on flickr)

Black-necked Stilts in love

Black-necked Stilts in love
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

I arrived a little early at Lucy Evans Nature Center for the monthly meeting of Bay Area Bird Photographers. Since there was still a little sunlight left, I decided to wander around the parking lot with my 300mm just as an excuse to be outside and stretch my legs.

On the eastern edge of the parking lot I sat quietly for a few minutes to see how close the feeding Avocets and Stilts would approach. I noticed one Stilt stop feeding and stand very still, neck stretched far forward, while the other bird methodically splashed the water first on one side, then the other. I suspected something interesting was about to happen, and I was right. This whole sequence took at most 30 seconds.

Goldfinches in my backyard

Lesser Goldfinch
Originally uploaded by Bill Walker.

I really don't have a good photo of Lesser Goldfinch in my files, but I do have a good collection of Lesser Goldfinches at my backyard feeder. Only problem is, they seem only to perch on (a) backlit sticks at the top of the tree or (b) the feeder itself, neither of which is conducive to a good wildlife photo. So, I decided to try to be like the pros and place a natural looking perch in an advantageous spot and wait for the birds to land on it.

I did get some decent shots of the Goldfinches, and I did see them land on the perch I had provided, but never both at once. Still, it's quite fun to sit very still in your backyard and watch the birds flit around. A very zen activity.

(More photos at flickr)