Wednesday 11th September 2013

  First of 2 days in Sequoia National Park. We had arrived in the dark yesterday, so hadn't really seen where we were. We were up in the dark too, but as it began to get light, the floor came alive. American Robins and Audubons Warblers quite a few of each, nice start. We had a few targets here, White-headed Woodpecker and Clarks Nutcracker were just two of them. So, here we go……

Dark-eyed Junco

   The first car park we pulled into, had birds flying up off the floor, as we parked the car. This looks good i thought. Turns out they were mainly Dark-eyed Juncos, but there was more stuff there, so lets see…we had some squirrel-like creatures there too, turns out they were Golden-mantled Ground Squirrels, very nice looking they are too. There were some Warblers, Yellow, Hermit and probably Townsends, Chipping Sparrow and Red-breasted Nuthatch as well.

Chipping Sparrow

Golden-mantled Ground Squirrel

Red-breasted Nuthatch

  Second stop, was as it turned out, one of the best of the holiday. We walked only about 100 yards, and saw a couple pointing to something on a stump, sadly i only got a glimpse, before someone said 'Black Bear'! Wow, there it was on the opposite side of the area, from where we were. A first for both of us!! We never did see what was on the stump, but whatever it was, it was smaller than the Bear! We continued along the track, slowly. There were quite a few Juncos, and now other stuff too. Definite Townsends Warbler, Brown Creeper (the American version of our Treecreeper), Hermit Warbler, Mountain Chickadee and Orange-crowned Warbler. Then a medium sized Woodpecker, it turned out to be a Williamsons Sapsucker. I put down my camera bag and tried to get some shots, bloody hard work! While doing this, another Woodpecker, was it the same….NO…White-headed Woodpecker, brilliant.

Black Bear

Brown Creeper

Hermit warbler

Townsends Warbler

White-headed Woodpecker

Williamsons Sapsucker

Golden-crowned Kinglet

 After watching these for a while, we then saw another, different Squirrel-like critter, Lodgepole Chipmunk, these are cool looking too. Then we found a couple of Golden-crowned Kinglets. we wondered round the rest of the circular walk, we took about 4 hours to walk about 1km, amazing, even for me with the dodgy knee!!! We did have a second Black Bear with a neck collar on too.

Lodgepole Chipmunk

   Next stop was a big car park, first bird was another Woodpecker, this time a distant Acorn Woodpecker. Juncos, Sparrows and a pair of Audubons Warblers were around the car park.

  We also found some nice looking Butterflies, one or two of which will remain unID'd (Some i have had Id'd since returning home). We had a few Orange Sulphurs, look spitting image of our Clouded Yellows, and we had some Fritillaries too. We found 2 different sorts, one medium sized one and one big one. Mormon and Zerene Fritillary. On the way back to the campsite, we had some more Red-breasted Nuthatches, they were everywhere, but not always showing. Then some Finches flew up into the top of a fairly distant tree, they turned out to be Purple Finches, another lifer for me. Last light and before we got back, a stag Mule Deer stood feeding by the side of the road, brilliant day!

Audubons Warbler

Mormon Fritillary

Mormon Fritillary

Zerene Fritillary

Zerene Fritillary

Mule Deer

Tuesday 10th September 2013

   Monterey pelagic day.

Pigeon Guillemot

   Another close to shore search for Murrelets, failed again, but at least turned up Pigeon Guillemots (3). Similar day as before, sea mist, and dull! Quite a few Sooty Shearwaters again, and a few Rhinoceros Auklets. Again Pink-footed Shearwaters were quite common, and showed well. Also a fairly good number of Black-footed Albatrosses were seen. At least 3 Pomarine Skuas showed well too.

Rhinoceros Auklet

Pink-footed Shearwater

         
   Other than the birds, the cetaceans took centre stage. We had Humpback & Blue Whales, California Sea-lion, Rissos & Pacific White-sided Dolphins too.
   But…..still no chumming….why?

Pink-footed Shearwater

Black-footed Albatross

Pomarine Skua (Summer)

Pomarine Skua (Juvenile)

Monday 9th September 2013

   A land based day today, Pinnacles National Park. Looks good, but getting hot early on.

California Thrasher

   Checked in at the visitor centre, and had a search around. We searched for Sage Sparrow, and we saw 2 Sparrows fly away from us and into the thick sage brush, could have been them, but didn't find anymore sadly!Around the car park, we had Oak Titmouse and California Thrasher. There were a few other birds around, but these were both lifers. Not the best of photos, and they soon disappeared as the day warmed up. We walked up towards the rocks, keeping an eye on the ridges for Californian Condor, as they have been re-introduced in the area, and have been doing quite well. Sadly not well enough for us to see any!!! On the walk, which was rather quite for bird life, we found a few different butterflies, including California Sister
and Mormon Metalmark.

   We found a bit of shade between the rocks and under a tree, which is where we found the California Sister. As the food came out, so did the Stellers Jays, they was a pair there. They had obviously been fed here before. There was also at least one 1st winter Western Tanager in the same tree.

California Sister

California Sister

Mormon Metalmark

Stellers Jay

Stellers Jay

Northern Flicker

  The walk back, was pretty unproductive too, sadly. But, we did find a male Townsend Warbler and a male Northern Flicker too.

Yellow-billed Magpie

  We left Pinnacles and drove to Monterey. On the road out, we found one of the birds we had hoped for, Yellow-billed Magpie. 

    Before we found our digs, and checked out the harbour ready for the morning. I noticed a small pond near the road, and suggested we check it out, if we have time. We did have some time and checked it out, which was a good shout, as it turned out! As we pulled into the car park, a Belted Kingfisher flew from a tree along the shore, but we didn't see it again.

On the pond were some American Coot, 3 California Gulls, 2 pairs of Pied-billed Grebe and 3 juvenile Red-necked Phalaropes. Also i managed to photograph a western Scrub-jay there too. So, a good stop.

   Finally, before we went for food, there was an Annas Hummingbird in the car park of the motel.

Red-necked Phalarope

Western Scrub-jay

Pied-billed Grebe

Annas Hummingbird

Sunday 8th September 2013

   Her we go then, our first Pelagic of the holiday. This is what Mark has been waiting for. Big fog bank hanging over the sea this morning in Half Moon Bay, typical!!!! As we got farther out it cleared, but never really brightened up all day. Black seabirds on a grey sea, in grey light, not what you expect from California, the sunshine state!!!!!!!!!! Oh well crack on. Shearwater Pelagics are renowned worldwide as great pelagics, lets hope they are right?

Grey & Red-necked Phalaropes

   After travelling along the shoreline, not too far out, looking for Marbled Murrelets, which we didn't find, we went farther out. There were lots of mixed flocks of Grey and Red-necked Phalaropes, more than i had ever seen before. A Diver flew over, which turned out to be a Pacific Diver. Then someone picked up a Murrelet, after a while we managed to get fairly close, and the 'experts' decided it was a Scripp's Murrelet. A lifer! We also picked up a few Cassins Auklets, another lifer. Some Storm-petrels were now being seen and a Sabines Gull.

Pacific Diver

   Ashy & Wilsons Storm-petrels were being seen, mainly the former.
Then we found a Tufted Puffin, which was almost still in full breeding plumage, about half an hour later, we found one in winter plumage too.
  Just one thing that put us off, a bit anyway, was the lack of 'chumming'. So the birds never really stayed close to the boat. Will see if it improves on the next trip in a few days?

Scripp's Murrelet

Cassins Auklet

Ashy Storm-petrel

Tufted Puffin (Summer)

Tufted Puffin (Winter)

Saturday 7th September 2013

   Right then, first full day. Pescadaro Marshes, just south of Half Moon Bay, was our stop today. The book says it is a 'jewel', lets hope it lives up to that!!!

   We parked the car, walked back along the road and under the road bridge. Where the creek goes under the road, there were Gulls bathing, and a few waders again. This time a few Least Sandpipers, a Spotted Sandpiper and a Short-billed Dowitcher, these were joined by a second of each, a bit later, and in the end 20+ Leasts.

Short-billed Dowitcher

Short-billed Dowitcher

Least Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

   After walking onto the Marsh, and a quick search of the pools, we had a few ducks and Grebes to add to the list. Then over the ridge to the South, we picked up some Raptors. Turkey Vultures, a Red-tailed Hawk and 2 or 3 juvenile Northern Harriers. Herons there included Great White & Snowy Egret and Great Blue Heron. There were also Sparrows and Warblers calling all around us, the Warbler calls i recognised, Common Yellowthroat!
   As always the Yellowthroats were a nightmare to photograph!!!

Northern Harrier

Red-tailed Hawk

   We stopped under the bridge again, in the shade, as it was dinnertime. we were joined by the same Waders, and Gulls. But, one was a bit bigger, my first Glaucous-winged Gull! Sadly, it didn't hang around for photos, oh well, should be more later in the trip? We were also joined by a couple of pairs of Brewers Blackbirds, and on the other side of the creek, a Black Phoebe.

   After dinner, it was decision time. Do we spend the afternoon here, or go back to the harbour at Half Moon Bay? We decided to stay.

Common Yellowthroat (1st Winter Male)

   The birding was a bit harder in the afternoon, as always, but  i finally managed some half decent shots of the Yellowthroats, although not the adult males. There were loads of Dragonflies and Butterflies around to keep us occupied. But, another lifer was top of the list, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, again into the sun, but a lifer none the less.

Common Yellowthroat (Female)

Chestnut-backed Chickadee

Mylitta Crescent

Green Darner

Field Crescent

Friday 6th September 2013

   First day of holiday! Fly to San Francisco and drive straight to Half Moon Bay. Got there checked into our hotel, and still have a couple of hours to look round. We walked across the road to the harbour for a look see. There were lots of Elegant Terns flying about, with brown Pelicans and Double-crested Cormorants. Then some waders on the beach too, Least Sandpipers, Hudsonian Whimbrel and Marbled Godwit, sadly this time of day you are looking straight into the sun. But, i did try to get some shots.

Elegant Tern

Hudsonian Whimbrel

Marbled Godwit

   A little wander around and my first lifer was under the belt, another wader, Black Turnstone!
Nice start, lets see what tomorrow brings…………..

Black Turnstone

   Then as i walked back, a butterfly, my first of the trip, flew across the car park. An American Painted Lady!

American Painted Lady

Sunday 1st September 2013

   Trip to Portland & Weymouth for a change today.

Common Whitethroat

   Sadly, not a lot happening. We did find a juvenile Common Whitethroat and a Lesser Whitethroat in the Bill Quarry. While at the Obs, we had a quick look through the Moths, which had been caught overnight. Yellow Belle was a lifer for me, plus there was a Convolvolous Hawkmoth on the patio, photos here!

Lesser Whitethroat

   We moved on to Radipole, not much there either. But a family of Great Crested Grebes were giving good views, even if they were into the sun!!!! I found a pair of Migrant Hawkers in cop, from the new pond dipping area.

Great Crested Grebe (Juvenile)

Migrant Hawker