BAB Winter 2009, Field Trip 3: Point Reyes
Haven't been diligent about journaling lately, alas. Our 3rd birding class trip was to Pt. Reyes, and luckily landed on one of the few recent dry days. Beautiful rainbows greeted us as we headed into Olema. Great day for birding, with two lifebirds for me! Rock Wren and White-winged Scoter. Very cool. Also, crazy Elephant Seals. They are large. Very large.
Observations
Photos / Sounds
What
Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris)Observer
kuedaDescription
This male Elephant Seal, his harem of two, and his kid were pretty close to the trail and quite personable. At least one of his womenfolk was taking no guff.
Photos / Sounds
What
Northern Elephant Seal (Mirounga angustirostris)Observer
kuedaDescription
This Elephant Seal was hauled out at Drake's Beach. The naturalist on hand said he'd probably lost some confrontations in the main colony further up the shore, and was here in exile. I wish I could have taken a pic of myself lying down next to this beast because it was absolutely gigantic. Like 4000 lbs gigantic. Of course, that would have been both illegal and kind of dangerous.
Photos / Sounds
What
Tule Elk (Cervus canadensis ssp. nannodes)Observer
kuedaDescription
Did you know tule elk decorate their antlers with algae and lichen? I didn not. Party on, elk. Party on.
Photos / Sounds
What
Rock Wren (Salpinctes obsoletus)Observer
kuedaDescription
Life bird! I think the most distinctive things about it were the dark eye line, overall grey coloration, and the interesting tweedy pattern on the back.
Photos / Sounds
What
White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)Observer
kueda
Photos / Sounds
What
Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)Observer
kueda
Photos / Sounds
What
White-winged Scoter (Melanitta deglandi)Observer
kuedaDescription
Another lifebird! I would never have noticed this if Bob wasn't there to point it out. There were about three individuals, mostly brown and distant (FABB: Far Away Brown Bird), but even in the binocs you could see that they had a white wing bar, and in the scope you could see the white comma by the eye.
Comments
Add a Comment