Mt Tam: https://ebird.org/checklist/S153920864

The Pole: https://ebird.org/checklist/S153920864

Date:  November 1, 2023

Location(s):  

1. Mt. Tamalpais | 37°55’19.7″N 122°36’13.9″W | 2,578 ft
2. The Pole | 37° 55′ 25.7664”N 122° 35′ 46.3452”W | 2,571 ft

Site Description:

1. Mount Tamalpais AKA Mount Tam, is a mountain peak located in Marin County, California. It has a wide range of habitats and diverse topography like rugged slopes, forested areas, and views of the San Francisco Bay and the Pacific Ocean. It’s part of the California Coast Ranges. The landscape includes steep cliffs, rocky outcroppings, and deep canyons. There are different habitats such as mixed conifer forest, oak woodlands, chapparal, grasslands, and coastal scrubs. Some key bird species include Acorn Woodpeckers, Peregrine Falcons, Band-tailed Pigeons, Red-tailed Hawks, and Turkey Vultures.
2. The Pole is a viewpoint located near Mount Tam. It is characterized by hilly/rocky terrain and a significant elevation with beautiful panoramic views. It is diverse and similar to the characteristics of Mount Tam. There are a variety of habitats such as mixed conifer forest, oak woodlands, and chaparral areas. Key bird species are similar to those found on Mount Tam such as Acordn Woodpeckers, Peregrine Falcons, etc.

Species account: The Merlin (Falcon columbarius) is a small to medium-sized falcon known for its sleek, compact body and agile flight. They are typically 9-13 inches in length and have a wingspan of 20-26 inches. Their appearance is distinctive because of its grayish bluish plumage on their upperparts and orangish brownish underparts. Adult males typically have a bluish gray bsck with a black crown and mustache like markings while females and juvenile Merlins have a streaked pattern on their chests. Merlins are know for their swift, dynamic flight. They’re skilled hunters and feed on small birds. They are adaptable birds and are found in a range of habitats such as the edges of forests, in grasslands, and along coastlines. A merlin flew over us while we were sitting on Mount Tam waiting for action!

Narrative:

We left campus for Mt. Tam around 8:20 AM and reached around 9:05 AM. It was a nice day, a little breezy but got warm later. We walked around Mount Tam seeing and hearing our smaller birds, our Dark-eyed Juncos and California Scrub Jays were the popular ones for that day. We went to a nice area with a beautiful view of the mountains and waited for bird action, and got to see a Merlin fly over us. We also got to see a cute yellowish Western Meadowlark sitting on the line. After 2 hours, we headed over to The Pole which was literally another part of Mount Tam. We chilled for about a good 15-20 minutes on the rocky cliff with a beautiful panoramic view. We then headed over to Mt. Tamalpais State Park – Stinson Beach with a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean. Before heading to the trail, we got beautiful views of many Acorn Woodpeckers. We could literally hear them drumming the trees. After that we went on the trail and chilled, saw a lot of Band-tailed Pigeons, Turkey Vultures, and Red-tailed Hawks. We then took class photos before heading back. We then headed back and on the ride back Paavani and Tammy fell asleep on my shoulders on the way back, literally dislocated my shoulders LOL!

Photos:

Sources:

1. Sibley, D. A. (2000). The Sibley Guide to Birds. Knopf. 
2. https://ebird.org/species/merlin