September 6, 2023
Muir Beach Overlook
Site Descripton:
Muir Beach Overlook (37°51’42.6″N 122°35’10.2″W, 489 ft)
https://ebird.org/checklist/S149601584
Muir Beach Overlook is a coastline spot in Marin County that is part of the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. The landscape is defined by massive cliffs that overlook the ocean, as well as steep hillsides covered in coastal vegetation. The ocean appears to go on and on for miles! The Muir Beach Overlook’s general environment consists of coastal scrubs, grasslands, and mixed chaparral. This results in a diversified ecosystem that supports a wide range of bird species.
Slide Ranch (37°52’24.5″N 122°35’45.7″W, 128 feet)
https://ebird.org/checklist/S149601583
Slide Ranch is located on the Marin coast, overlooking the Pacific Ocean. Slide Ranch has many hills that appear to go downward towards the ocean. Slide Ranch is surrounded by grasslands and stands on coastal bluffs, in addition to rolling hills. There are tide pools along the shoreline closer to the ocean, which we unfortunately didn’t get a chance to see. They also have a farm and garden area, as well as a variety of animals such as sheep and goats. Trails and walkways run throughout the hills and grasslands, allowing folks to explore.
Species Account:
The Great Horned Owl (Bubo Virginianus)
One of the coolest birds we saw during this fieldtrip was the Great Horned Owl, also known as Bubo Virginianus. I personally never knew that owls can be awake during the day as well, so I was surprised to see it awake and active. When Khalin first pointed out the owl I couldn’t see it, but after a few tries I was able to, which I think speaks to how good their camouflage abilities are. It was sitting high up in a eucalyptus tree. In terms of features, the first thing that really sticks out are their large yellow eyes, followed by large ear tufts. Their plumage coloration tends to vary depending on their location, but our owl had brown, white, black, beige and cinnamon disced plumage. The owl we saw appeared to be an adult. It was pretty high up on the tree so it was harder to tell, but they typically tend to be on the bigger side, with their size falling between a crow and goose. Their wingspan can be 39.8-57.1 in (101-145 cm)! The owl appeared to be watching us just like we’re watching it. Something cool was that we were able to find their pellets on the ground, which is actually a good way to identify that there are owls around.
Narrative:
We arrived at Muir Beach Overlook at around 9, and things were already starting to pick up. We spotted a Bobcat in the parking lot, and got to witness it catch and eat a gopher, which was crazy. It literally felt like we were in a National Geographic documentary. We spent a couple of minutes in the parking lot just watching and observing it, before we head off downwards towards the overlook. The skies were pretty clear and the weather was cold and breezy. We stood at a bridge overlooking the ocean and observed for birds. The view was beautiful, and we were able to see the ocean and how it goes on for miles and miles. Here we witnessed a few Brown Pelicans and Turkey Vultures, and their way of flight. Another cool animal we saw was a sea lion, which made its way onto a rock filled with birds by displacing a few. I honestly thought it was going to eat some of the birds in a sneak attack, but they appeared to co-exist pretty well. We spent a bit more time observing before heading off to Slide Ranch. The Ranch was really cute, with a bunch of sheep and goats. We also saw some quails roaming around, running away from us. We walked up a little towards a huge eucalyptus tree where we spotted the Great Horned Owl. This day was amazing, as I’ve never been this immersed in nature. And, being able to see both a bobcat and sea lion in addition to the amazing birds was definitely a highlight of the trip.
Works Cited:
https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Great_Horned_Owl/id