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Field Lab 2 Entry – Redwood Creek

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Muir Beach Overlook: https://ebird.org/checklist/S149601584

Slide Ranch: https://ebird.org/checklist/S149601583

Date: September 6, 2023

Location(s):  Redwood Creek

1) Muir Beach Overlook – 37°51’42.6″N 122°35’10.2″W

2) Slide Ranch – 37°52’24.5″N 122°35’45.7″W 

Site Description:

1) Muir Beach Overlook is a very beautiful stunning coastal site located in Marin County within the Golden Gate National Recreation Area. It has an amazing view of the Pacific coastline. The topography is characterized by these big cliffs overlooking the ocean with steep hillsides covered in coastal vegetation. The general habitat around the Muir Beach Overlook consists of coastal scrubs, grasslands, and mixed chaparral. The proximity to the ocean brings a mix of marine and land-related influences to the place. This makes a diverse ecosystem that sustains a variety of bird species! Some of the key species include the Western Gull, Peregrine Falcon, Anna’s Hummingbird, Black Oystercatcher, Brandt’s Cormorant, Brown Pelican, Turkey Vulture, and many more. 

2) Slide Ranch is located on the Marin coast and overlooks the coastline of the Pacific Ocean. The topography of Slide Ranch is characterized by rolling hills that descend towards the ocean. Besides rolling hills, Slide Ranch rests on coastal bluffs and is covered with grasslands. As the land goes down towards the ocean, there are tide pools along the shoreline. There are also farming and gardening areas with many animals like sheep and goats. There were also trails and pathways throughout the hills and grasslands. Some of the key bird species include the California Quail, White-crowned sparrow, Red-tailed Hawk, Peregrine Falcon, etc. 

Species account: Great Horned Owl (Bubo Virginianus)

The Great Horned Owl is a remarkable bird of prey. It is known for being quite big and having a unique appearance. Its wingspan is about 3.3 to 4.8 feet (around 1 to 1.5 meters), and it stands around 18-25 inches tall (46 to 63 cm). This owl has feathers that are a mix of brown and grey, which helps it blend into forests. Its most noticeable feature is the tufts of feathers on its head that look like horns, even though they aren’t real horns. Its eyes are big and yellow, and its face is round and wide. 

During our bird-watching adventure, we were so lucky to see a Great Horned Owl perched high in a eucalyptus tree. Its remarkable size and distinctive appearance made it stand out. However, its mottled brown and gray feathers provided excellent camouflage, making it challenging to find at first glance. This owl appeared to be keenly aware of our presence, its large yellow eyes were fixed on our group. It watched us silently while we were observing it from a distance. It seemed as if it knew exactly what we were doing. The owl occasionally swiveled its head to survey its surroundings. After some time, the Great Horned Owl took flight, to another nearby tree which was pretty cool to see. 

     

Narrative:

Our bird-watching trip to Muir Beach Overlook and Slide Ranch was an amazing experience. We departed from USF around 8:20 AM and arrived at our destination around 9 AM. The weather was pleasant, with clear skies and a gentle breeze. As we exited the car in the parking lot, we were greeted by an unexpected sight: a bobcat on a hunting expedition. We later witnessed it devouring a gopher. This encounter set the tone for the day and heightened our excitement for future field trips. Expectations were set high for all upcoming field trips. 

We then headed towards the Muir Beach Overlook Trail, where we stood on a bridge overlooking the ocean. Here, we observed numerous Brown Pelicans and Brandt’s Cormorants. Among them, we also spotted a sea lion perched on a rock, surrounded by many birds. Around 10:55 AM, we returned to our car and set off for Slide Ranch. 

At the ranch, we were greeted by a lively scene of goats grazing on the grass and playing around. As we explored Slide Ranch, we had the incredible experience of encountering a Great Horned Owl perched in a eucalyptus tree. This sighting marked the second highlight of my day, following the earlier encounter with the bobcat. This trip truly deepened my appreciation for nature and made me realize what I had been missing out on.

Photos: 

 

Sources:

  1. Sibley, D. A. (2000). The Sibley Guide to Birds. Knopf. 
  2. eBird. (2023). Great Horned Owl. Retrieved from https://ebird.org/species/grho
  3. National Audubon Society. (n.d.). Great Horned Owl. Retrieved from https://www.audubon.org/field-guide/bird/great-horned-owl

 

eBird List – Home Time 2

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https://ebird.org/checklist/S149595173

I went birding at Glen Canyon Park, & got to see many different types of birds. While I was birding, on the Merlin app, it did misidentify some birds. For example, the Merlin app detected a green-winged teal which was actually a female Mallard, the Rufous-collared sparrow that was detected by Merline was a White-crowned sparrow, the long-tailed tit was a Dark-eyed Junco, and lastly, the White-breasted Nuthatch was a pygmy Nuthatch.

 

Field Lab 1 Entry – Golden Gate Park

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https://ebird.org/checklist/S148545427

Date: August 30, 2023

Location:  Golden Gate Park–McLaren Lodge/Horseshoe Pits/Northeast Entrance – 37°46’23.7″N 122°27’18.6″W

Species account: Nutall’s Woodpecker (Dryobates nutallii)

The Nutall’s Woodpecker is a small and striking species of woodpecker native to western parts of North America. The Nutall’s woodpecker measures about 6.5-7 inches in length and 12 inches in wingspan. The male woodpecker was observed pecking on a tree as shown in the photo below. Males of this species have a black crown, wings, and neck, and a red patch on the back of their heads. Female woodpeckers lack the red patch on the back of their heads. Both males and females usually have black patches on their fairly white cheeks. They mostly also have white spots on their backs. These species are usually found in oak woodlands and riparian habitats and are primarily located along the western coast of North America. These species feed on insects and larvae found beneath the bark of trees, especially oaks. Nuttall’s Woodpeckers are recognized for their unique drumming calls, employed to mark their territory. In the breeding season, they create nesting holes in oak trees to raise their offspring. Nuttall’s Woodpeckers tend to stay with one partner (monogamous) during the breeding season and form strong, lasting bonds. They protect their nest areas fiercely.

Narrative:

We began by adjusting our binoculars before leaving. It was a sunny morning, one of the warmest days in San Francisco, as we set out around 9:56 AM on August 30, 2023, for Golden Gate Park. We spent nearly three hours bird watching, and it was an incredible experience for me since it was my first time going out bird watching. It did take my eyes some time to get used to the binoculars and I do realize I need some more practice on using them. Golden Gate Park proved to have a diverse range of habitats and bird species. One of the most memorable moments was when we spotted the Townshend’s Warbler, a dark-cheeked bird with bright yellow. Bird watching really helped me to connect with nature and I truly found myself captivated by the diversity of these birds. I can’t wait for more bird-watching adventures! 🙂

Photos:


Sources:

Sibley, D. A. (2000). The Sibley Guide to Birds. Knopf. 

eBird. (2021). Nuttall’s Woodpecker (Picoides nuttallii). https://ebird.org/species/nutwoo1 

Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (2021). Nuttall’s Woodpecker. https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nuttalls_Woodpecker

Nuttall’s woodpecker identification, all about birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. , All About Birds, Cornell Lab of Ornithology. (n.d.). https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/Nuttalls_Woodpecker/id