Mid-November to mid-December 2002

Mid-November to mid-December 2003

The recent rains, while welcome, have forced most observers to stick to the South Marsh Loop trail and not venture as much into the other less used (and muddier) areas.

South Marsh Loop: Pied-billed, Horned, Eared, and Western Grebes; American White and Brown Pelicans; Double-crested Cormorant; Great Blue Heron; Great and Snowy Egrets; Black-crowned Night-Heron; Turkey Vulture; Gadwall; American Wigeon; Mallard; Teal species; Bufflehead; Common Goldeneye; Red-breasted Merganser; Ruddy Duck; Osprey; White-tailed Kite; Northern Harrier; Cooper’s, Red-shouldered, and Red-tailed Hawks; American Kestrel; California Quail; American Coot; Black-bellied Plover; Killdeer; Greater and Lesser Yellowlegs; Solitary Sandpiper; Willet; Spotted Sandpiper; Whimbrel; Long-billed Curlew; Marbled Godwit; Sanderling; Western and Least Sandpipers; Long-billed Dowitcher; Dowitcher species; Ring-billed, California, and Western Gulls; Forster’s Tern; Mourning Dove; Anna’s Hummingbird; Belted Kingfisher; Acorn, Downy and Nuttall’s Woodpeckers; Northern (red-shafted) Flicker; Black and Say’s Phoebes; Hutton’s Vireo; Western Scrub-Jay; American Crow; Chestnut-backed Chickadee; Oak Titmouse; Bushtit; Brown Creeper; Bewick’s and Marsh Wrens; Golden-crowned and Red-crowned Kinglets; Hermit Thrush; American Robin; Wrentit; Northern Mockingbird; European Starling; Yellow-rumped and Townsend’s Warblers; Common Yellowthroat; Spotted and California Towhees; Song, White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows; Western Meadowlark; Brewer’s Blackbird; House Finch; and Lesser Goldfinch.

Long Valley Loop: Black and Say’s Phoebes; Western Scrub-Jay; Oak Titmouse; Bushtit; Western Bluebird; and Yellow-rumped Warbler.

Other Critters Sighted: Bush Rabbits; deer; Long-tailed Weasel; California Sea Otter; Tree Squirrel; and Tree Frog.

Mid-October to mid-November 2003

Fall migration is off to a slow start this year. Some believe that the unusually warm weather in early fall may be the reason. However, the ponds are ready and the ducks will come. Some will stay and some will go, once they have fueled up here at one of their favorite stops along the Pacific Flyway and continue their journey south.

Kirby Park: western and least sandpipers; marbled godwits; semipalmated and black-bellied plovers; greater yellowlegs; dunlin; snowy and great egret; willets; white-tailed kite; California gull; Forster’s tern; double-crested cormorants; white crowned and song sparrows; great blue heron.

North Marsh: white pelicans; black-necked stilts; dowitcher; great egret; least sandpiper.

South Marsh Loop: white-tailed kites; northern harrier; osprey; cooper’s hawk; willets; whimbrels; northern pintails; northern shovelers; mallards; green-winged teal; marbled godwits; dowitchers; sanderlings; brown pelicans; Canadian goose; long-billed curlews; snowy and great egrets; Forster’s terns; western and pied-billed grebes; spotted sandpiper; chestnut-backed chickadees; northern flickers; belted kingfisher; Townsend’s and yellow-rumped warblers; orange-crowned warblers; acorn and downy woodpeckers; great blue heron; black-crowned night herons; morning doves; red-tailed hawks; red-shoulder hawks; killdeer; ruby-crowned kinglet; double-crested cormorants; California and spotted towhee; house finch; Bewick’s wren; marsh wren; American robins; American kestrels; Anna’s hummingbirds; white and golden-crowned sparrows; savannah and song sparrow; fox sparrow; western scrub jay; stellar jay; oak titmouse; crows; Brewer’s blackbird; turkey vulture; peregrine falcon; says and black phoebe; black-bellied plover; greater yellow-legs; western gulls; ring-billed gull; crows; great horned owl; California quail; junco; bushtits; wrentit; western and least sandpipers; western meadowlarks.

Cattail Swale: Northern pintail duck; 14 black-crowned night herons; 100 + mallards.

Long Valley Loop and Five Fingers: white-tailed kites; red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks; great egrets; great blue heron; mallards; savannah and song sparrows; white and golden-crowned sparrows; California and spotted towhee; western scrub jay; juncos; black and says phoebe; bushtits; chestnut-backed chickadee; oak titmouse.

Mid-September to mid-October 2003

There was a bit of excitement recently at the slough when two visiting birders from England reported that they'd seen a Rufous-backed Robin in a Eucalyptus tree in the FiveFingers area. Subsequent searches by local birders failed to substantiate the sighting. This is a west Mexican species, casual to Southern California and never sighted this far north. But stranger things have happened, and although we will never know if indeed the slough was visited by such a rare and colorful bird, it does remind us all to check those groups of sparrows and shorebirds we see everyday just in case. Who knows what may show up?

South Marsh Loop: Pied-billed Grebe; American White Pelican; Brown Pelican; Brandt’s Cormorant; Double-crested Cormorant; Great Egret; Snowy Egret; Black-crowned Night-Heron; Turkey Vulture; Canada Goose; American Widgeon; Mallard; Northern Pintail; Common Goldeneye; White-tailed Kite; Sharp-shinned Hawk; Cooper’s Hawk; Red-shouldered Hawk; Red-tailed Hawk; American Kestrel; California Quail; Black-bellied Plover; Killdeer; Black-necked Stilt; Greater Yellowlegs; Lesser Yellowlegs; Solitary Sandpiper; Willet; Spotted Sandpiper; Whimbrel; Long-billed Curlew; Marbled Godwit; Western Sandpiper; Least Sandpiper; Ring-billed Gull; California Gull; Western Gull; Forster‚s Tern; Rock Dove; Mourning Dove; Barn Owl; Anna’s Hummingbird; Belted Kingfisher; Acorn Woodpecker; Downy Woodpecker; Northern "red-shafted" Flicker; Black Phoebe; Say’s Phoebe; Hutton’s Vireo; Western Scrub-jay; American Crow; Cliff Swallow; Chestnut-backed Chickadee; Oak Titmouse; Bushtit; Bewick’s Wren; Marsh Wren; Ruby-crowned Kinglet; American Robin; Wrentit; European Starling; Common Yellowthroat; Wilson’s Warbler; Spotted Towhee; California Towhee; Song Sparrow; White-crowned Sparrow; Golden-crowned Sparrow; Dark-eyed Junco; House Finch, and American Goldfinch.

Parson’s Slough and Five Fingers: American White Pelican; White-tailed Kite; Golden Eagle; Northern Harrier; Peregrine Falcon; Greater Yellowlegs; Willet; Spotted Sandpiper; Long-billed Curlew; Western Sandpiper; Least Sandpiper; Forster’s Tern; Belted Kingfisher; Bushtit; Ruby-crowned Kinglet; Wrentit; Spotted Towhee; California Towhee; White-crowned Sparrow; Golden-crowned Sparrow, and Black-headed Grosbeak.

North Marsh: American White Pelican; Brown Pelican; Great Blue Heron; Great Egret; Snowy Egret; Black-crowned Night Heron; Semipalmated Plover; Black-necked Stilt; American Avocet; Willet; Long-billed Curlew; Marbled Godwit; Western Sandpiper; Least Sandpiper; Dowitcher species; Red-necked Phalarope; Ring-billed Gull, and Western Gull.

Cattail Swale; Black-crowned Night-Heron; Mallard; Northern Pintail, and Marbled Godwit.
Kirby Park: Brown Pelican; Double-crested Cormorant; Pelagic Cormorant; Great Blue Heron; Great Egret; Snowy Egret; Killdeer; Western Sandpiper; Least Sandpiper; Willet; Marbled Godwit; Western Gull and Black Phoebe.

Mid-July to mid-August 2003

Recently, at a low tide in late afternoon I walked out to Parson’s slough overlook. I was surprised at the quantity of bird life to be seen – hundreds of Marbled Godwits and Willets, dozens of egrets and herons and thousands of peeps, all working the newly exposed mud for food. Suddenly, the peeps exploded upward, several groups sweeping in tight clusters, switching from white to black as they turned and swirled, making figure eights just off the surface. It was then I saw the cause; a young Peregrine Falcon swooping through the clouds of peeps, trying to keep up but just not quick or agile enough. After a few minutes, the Peregrine gave up and settled on a transmission pole, ruffling its feathers in frustration; the peeps returned to their mud foraging as if nothing had happened; and the sun sank gradually into the sea. – Linda Jordan

South Marsh Loop: Pied-billed Grebe, American White Pelican, Brown Pelican, Brandt’s Cormorant, Double-crested Cormorant, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret, Green Heron, Black-crowned Night-Heron, Turkey Vulture, Canada Goose, Gadwall, Mallard, Northern Pintail, White-tailed Kite, Cooper’s Hawk, Red-shouldered Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, American Kestrel, Peregrine Falcon, California Quail, Black-bellied Plover, Greater Yellowlegs, Willet, Spotted Sandpiper, Long-billed Curlew, Marbled Godwit, Sanderling, Western and Least Sandpiper, Red-necked Phalarope, Ring-billed Gull, Western Gull, Caspian Tern, Elegant Tern, Forster’s Tern, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Great Horned Owl, Belted Kingfisher, Acorn Woodpecker, Downy Woodpecker, Hairy Woodpecker, Northern "red-shafted" Flicker, Black Phoebe, Western Scrub-jay, American Crow, Tree Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Barn Swallow, Chestnut-backer Chickadee, Bushtit, Bewick’s Wren, Marsh Wren, European Starling, Spotted Towhee, California Towhee, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Lesser Goldfinch and House Sparrow.

Five Fingers: American White Pelican, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Great and Snowy Egret, Turkey Vulture, Canada Goose, Mallard, Osprey, White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks, Peregrine Falcon, Black-bellied Plover, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Western Gull, Caspian Tern, Forster’s Tern, Mourning Dove, Belted Kingfisher, Acorn Woodpecker, Black Phoebe, Loggerhead Shrike, Western Scrub-jay, American Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, California Towhee, House Finch and Lesser Goldfinch.

Long Valley Loop: Mallard, Northern Pintail, White-tailed Kite, Willet, Marbled Godwit, Great Horned Owl, Western Scrub-jay, American Crow, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Bushtit, California Towhee, and Song Sparrow.

North Marsh: American White Pelican, Great and Snowy Egrets, Great Blue Heron, Mallard, Willet, Marbled Godwit, and Red-necked Phalarope.

Cattail Swale: 30+ Black-crowned Night Heron.

Other sightings: Lizards, Brush Rabbits, Sharks, Bat Ray, Guitarfish, Black-tailed Deer, Western Pond Turtle, wasp nests, and Harbor Seals.

Mid-June to mid-May July 2003

We’ve settled into our slowest birding sightings season. This is the time to sharpen your "little brown bird" skills and try to identify those small local birds that are always here but usually overshadowed by the numbers and size of the migratory shore birds we are famous for. Birding by ear is one way to increase your ID skills. You can start with learning just one song or call and practice picking it out from other sounds until you know it cold.

South Marsh Loop: Brown and American White Pelicans; Double-crested Cormorant; Great Blue Heron; Great and Snowy Egrets; Black-crowned Night-Heron; Canada Goose; Gadwall; Mallard; Turkey Vulture; White-tailed Kite; Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks; American Kestrel; California Quail; Willet; Long-billed Curlew; Marbled Godwit; Dowitcher species; California and Western Gulls; Caspian Tern; Mourning Dove; Barn Owl; Anna’s and Allen’s Hummingbirds; Belted Kingfisher; Acorn Woodpecker; Pacific-slope Flycatcher; Black Phoebe; Western Scrub-Jay; American Crow; Tree, Cliff and Barn Swallows; Chestnut-backed Chickadee; Bushtit; Bewick’s and Marsh Wrens; Western Bluebird; Hermit Thrush; American Robin; European Starling; Wilson‚s Warbler; Western Tanager; Spotted and California Towhees; Song Sparrow; Red-winged and Brewer’s Blackbirds; Lesser and American Goldfinches; House Sparrow.
Cattail Swale: Snowy Egret; Black-crowned Night Heron; Mallard; Cinnamon Teal; Belted Kingfisher; Black Phoebe; Tree and Northern Rough-winged Swallows; Black-head Grosbeak.
North Marsh: American White Pelican; Great and Snowy Egrets; Great Blue Heron; Western Gull; Song Sparrow; Red-winged Blackbird.

Parsons Slough: American White Pelican; Caspian Tern.

Other interesting sightings: A Red-legged Frog at the South Marsh Loop guzzler; Southern Sea Otter in Whistlestop Lagoon; Garter Snakes, Brush Rabbits, deer, and Western Fence Lizards at various locations.

Mid-May to mid-May June 2003

You have all probably noticed the very sudden decline in shorebirds at the slough. They all (except the local breeders) took off for their northern breeding grounds seemingly overnight. One day visitors were seeing all the varieties and numbers of shorebirds in the south marsh and the next day they were all gone! But not to despair; we have plenty left over to show off. Dozens of sharks have been seen (mostly Leopard) as well as lots of red-sided garter snakes, Bat rays, brush rabbits, deer, lizards, gopher snakes, ring-necked snakes, and even the occasional sea otter and harbor seal.

South Marsh Loop: Brown and American White Pelicans; Double-crested Cormorant; Great Blue Heron; Great and Snowy Egrets; Green Heron; Canada Goose; Gadwall; Mallard; Turkey Vulture; White-tailed Kite; Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks; American Kestrel; California Quail; Black-bellied Plover; Willet; Spotted Sandpiper; Marbled Godwit; Long-billed Dowitcher; California and Western Gulls; Caspian and Forster’s Terns; Rock Dove; Mourning Dove; Rufous and Anna’s Hummingbirds; Belted Kingfisher; Acorn, Nuttall’s and Downy Woodpeckers; Pacific-slope Flycatcher; Black Phoebe; Western Scrub-Jay; American Crow; Tree, Cliff, Barn, and Northern Rough-winged Swallows; Chestnut-backed Chickadee; Oak Titmouse; Bushtit; Bewick’s Wren; Western Bluebird; Swainson’s Thrush; American Robin; European Starling; Townsend’s Warbler; Common Yellowthroat; Wilson’s Warbler; Spotted and California Towhees; Savannah, Song, and White-crowned Sparrows; Dark-eyed Junco; Black-headed Grosbeak; Red-winged, Brewer’s and Tri-colored Blackbirds; House finch; American Goldfinch; and House Sparrow.

Cattail Swale: Green Heron; Black-crowned Night-Heron; Gadwall pair with 6 ducklings; Mallard; Belted Kingfisher with fledglings; and Black Phoebe.

Long Valley/Five Fingers: American Pelican; Double-crested Cormorant; Great Blue Heron; Great and Snowy Egrets; Mallard; Turkey Vulture; White-tailed Kite; Red-shouldered and Red-tailed Hawks; American Kestrel; Black-bellied Plover; Willet; Marbled Godwit; Caspian Tern; Acorn Woodpecker and Downy Woodpecker with young; Pacific-slope Flycatcher; Chestnut-backed Chickadee; Oak Titmouse; Common Yellowthroat; Spotted and California Towhees; Song Sparrow; and Red-winged Blackbird.

Kirby Park: Brown and American White Pelicans; Double-crested Cormorant; Great and Snowy Egrets; Black-necked Stilt; Marbled Godwit; Killdeer; Lesser Yellowlegs; Willet; American Crow; Common Yellowthoat; and Song Sparrow. Hummingbird Island: Black skimmer.

Mid-April to mid-May 2003

Lots of new “faces” at the slough this month, including the first baby heron in the rookery.

Baby Oak Titmice and Chestnut-backed Chickadees fill the nest boxes. Baby Brush bunnies hop out on the trails. Tiny Garter and Gopher snakes slither thru the grass. Baby Barn Owlets peer from nest boxes and scruffy looking Red-tailed Hawk young hunker down in their nests; all being fed by frantic parents. Shirley Murphy even saw a baby wild piglet running down Elkhorn road! Welcome, all.

South Marsh Loop: Pied-billed, Western and Clark’s Grebes; American White and Brown Pelicans; Double-crested Cormorant; Great Blue Heron; Great and Snowy Egrets; Canada Goose; Mallard; Scaup species; Turkey Vulture; Osprey; White-tailed Kite; Golden Eagle; Northern Harrier; Cooper’s, Red-tailed and Red-shouldered Hawks; American Kestrel; Peregrine Falcon; California Quail; Black-bellied Plover; Killdeer; Yellowleg species; Willet; Spotted, Least and Western Sandpipers; Whimbrel; Long-billed Curlew; Marbled Godwit; Dunlin; Dowitcher species; California and Western Gulls; Caspian and Forster’s Terns; Band-tailed Pigeon; Mourning Dove; Barn and Great Horned Owls; Anna’s Hummingbird; Belted Kingfisher; Acorn and Nuttall’s Woodpeckers; Northern Flicker (red-shafted); Pacific-slope and Ash-throated Flycatchers; Black Phoebe; Western Scrub-jay; American Crow; Tree, Cliff and Barn Swallows; Chestnut-backed Chickadee; Oak Titmouse; Bushtit; Bewick’s Wren; Western Bluebird; American Robin; Wrentit; European Starling; Cedar Waxwing; Common Yellowthroat; Wilson’s and Yellow-rumped Warblers; Spotted and California Towhees; Song, White-throated, and Golden-crowned Sparrows; Dark-eyed Junco; Black-headed Grosbeak; Red-winged Blackbird; Brown-headed Cowbird; Lesser and American Goldfinches; and House Finch. And a tagged Southern Sea-otter in the pans.

Cattail Swale; Green Heron; Black-crowned Night-Heron; Canada Goose; Gadwall; American Wigeon; Mallard; Cinnamon Teal.

Rookery Area: Great Blue Heron; Great Egret; Double-crested Cormorant; Olive-sided Flycatcher; Band-tailed Pigeon; Chestnut-backed Chickadee; Oak Titmouse; White-throated Sparrow.

Long Valley Loop: Great Blue Heron; Great Egret; Double-crested Cormorants;Great Horned Owl; Hairy Woodpecker; Pacific-slope Flycatcher; Western Scrub-jay; Chestnut-backed Chickadee; Oak Titmouse.

Five Fingers Trail: Double-crested Cormorant; White-tailed Kite; Red-tailed Hawk; Northern Harrier; Spotted Sandpiper; Marbled Godwit; Willet; Western Gull; Caspian Tern; Western Scrub-jay; Chestnut-backed Chickadee; Oak Titmouse; Brewer’s Blackbird; White-crowned Sparrow.

Kirby Park: Western Grebe; American White and Brown Pelicans; Double-crested Cormorant; Great Blue Heron; Great and Snowy Egrets; Canada Goose; Mallard; Black-bellied Plover; Black-necked Stilt; Whimbrel; Dunlin; Western and Least Sandpipers; Willet; Marbled Godwit; Long and Short-billed Dowitchers; Forster’s Tern; Common Yellowthroat; Song Sparrow; Red-winged Blackbird, and a Harbor Seal.

Carneros Creek: Canada Goose; 75+ Scaup species; Red-tailed Hawk; White-tailed Kite.

Mid-March to mid-April 2003

The rookery continues to expand; adding to the great blue herons from last month, the great egrets and double-crested cormorants are competing for the remaining nest sites. It is wonderful to just sit and watch the spectacle; nest material being brought in and accepted/rejected, the elegant breeding plumages and courtship displays interspersed between the occasional fly-over by the red-tailed hawk throwing everything into panic and flight.

South Marsh Loop: western and pied-billed grebes; American white pelican; double-crested cormorant; great blue and green herons; great and snowy egrets; black-crowned night-heron; Canada goose; gadwall; American wigeon; mallard; northern pintail; greater scaup; bufflehead; common goldeneye; red-breasted merganser; turkey vulture; osprey; white-tailed kite; northern harrier; red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks; American kestrel; California quail; black-bellied plover; killdeer; greater yellowlegs; solitary and spotted sandpipers; willet; whimbrel; long-billed curlew; marbled godwit; dowitcher species; California and western gulls; Forster’s tern; band-tailed pigeon; mourning dove; barn owl; Anna’s and possible rufous hummingbirds; belted kingfisher; acorn, Nuttall’s and downy woodpeckers; northern flicker; black and Say‚s phoebes; western scrub-jay; American crow; tree, violet-green, cliff and barn swallows; chestnut-backed chickadee; oak titmouse; bushtit; Bewick’s wren; ruby-crowned kinglet; American robin; European starling; common yellowthroat; spotted and California towhees; song, savannah, white-crowned, golden-crowned, and house sparrows; red-winged blackbird; and American goldfinch. Also seen was a red-legged frog in the guzzler, lizards, and a muskrat rambling.

Cattail Swale: great egret; green heron; gadwall; American wigeon; mallard; scaup; mandarin duck; and western pond turtles.

Long Valley/Five Fingers: western grebe; double-crested cormorant; great blue heron; great and snowy egrets; Canada goose; gadwall; mallard; bufflehead; turkey vulture; white-tailed kite; northern harrier; red-shouldered hawk; California quail; willet; long-billed curlew; marbled godwit; long-billed dowitcher; California gull; belted kingfisher; acorn woodpecker; northern flicker; western scrub-jay; American crow; tree swallow; chestnut-backed chickadee; bushtit; marsh wren; common yellowthroat; spotted and California towhee; song and white-crowned sparrows; red-winged blackbird; house finch and American goldfinch.

Strawberry: cinnamon teal and more than 200 dowitchers foraging on slough side.

Kirby Park: great blue heron; double-crested cormorant; great and snowy egrets; scoter species; red-breasted merganser; black-bellied plover; pacific golded-plover; willet; whimbrel; long-billed curlew; marbled godwit; Forster's tern; common yellowthroat; song sparrow; and red-winged blackbird.

Azevedo Pond: several pairs of cinnamon teal and about 30 American wigeon.

Many thanks to the faithful recorders and spotters without whom we would have no Recent Sightings.

Mid-February to mid-March 2003

Great blue herons have been sighted circling the rookery area in preparation for their annual nesting. A flock of more than 22 were seen settling for the night in healthy pines to the east of last year’s nests. We may see a different area used for the rookery this year - keep your eyes peeled and be sure to report any sightings of interest to staff or note them in the "Recent Sightings" log book in the docent den.

South Marsh Loop: pied-billed, horned and western grebes; snowy and great egrets; great blue heron; Canada goose; American wigeon; greater scaup; bufflehead; common goldeneye; mallard; gadwall; pintail; green-winged teal; red-breasted, common and hooded mergansers; white-tailed kite; red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks; northern harrier; osprey; peregrine falcon; American kestrel; California quail; spotted and solitary sandpipers; sanderling: black-necked stilt; Pacific golden, and black-bellied plovers; killdeer; long-billed curlew; marbled godwit; dowitcher; greater and lesser yellowlegs; dunlin; willet; western gull; Forster’s tern; mourning dove; rufous, Allen’s, and Anna’s hummingbirds; acorn woodpecker; red-breasted sapsucker; northern flicker; black and Say’s phoebes; western scrub-jay; tree swallow; chestnut-backed chickadee; bushtit; wrentit; ruby-crowned kinglet; American robin; yellow-rumped and Townsend’s warblers; California and spotted towhees; savannah, white-crowned, gold-crowned and song sparrows; house finch; lesser goldfinch; American crow; belted kingfisher; pacific-slope flycatcher; red-winged and Brewers blackbirds; oak titmouse; double-crested cormorant; American coot; Hutton’s vireo; common yellowthroat; western bluebird; European starling and band-tailed pigeons. Also seen were garter snakes, pond turtles, deer, rabbits, and crabs.

Long Valley Loop: common yellowthroat; northern harrier "playing" with red-tailed hawk in oak tree; chestnut backed chickadee; bushtit; spotted and California towhees; marbled godwit; willet; white-tailed kites displaying mating behavior; song and gold-crowned sparrows; snowy and great egrets; greater yellowlegs; oak titmouse; red-shouldered hawk; acorn woodpecker; black phoebe; western grebe; mallard; western scrub-jay; cedar waxwing.

Kirby Park: whimbrel; long-billed curlew; marbled godwit; willet; mallard; bufflehead; American wigeon; western grebe; song, white-crowned, and savannah sparrows; marsh wren; white-tailed kite; black-necked stilt; avocet; Forster’s tern; double-crested cormorant; great and snowy egret; great blue heron; western scrub-jay; common yellowthroat; red-winged blackbird; green-winged teal; 50 American wigeon at the Azevedo pond.

Upper Reaches Of Elkhorn Slough: western gull; Forster’s tern; Anna’s hummingbird; black-necked stilt; avocet; American wigeon; scaup species; great and snowy egrets; dowitcher; cinnamon teal.

Hummingbird Island: great horned owl.

Cattail Swale: lesser scaup; American wigeon.

Mid-January to mid-February 2003

Spring is definitely in the air, and courtship is just around the corner for our feathered friends. Hopefully the osprey will nest here at the slough. Just come on out and you may see:

Kirby Park: western grebes; pied-billed grebes; American avocets; mallards; marbled godwits; long-billed curlews; golden eyes; snowy egret; brewers blackbirds; western scrub jay.

South Marsh Loop: pair of Ospreys doing aerial acrobatics, and one of them eating a fish; kites; northern harriers; willets; mallards; golden-crowned and white-crowned sparrows; marbled godwits; dowitchers; Say’s and black phoebes; song sparrows; long-billed curlews; Canadian geese; snowy and great egrets; yellowlegs; caspian terns; Forester’s terns; buffleheads; golden eyes; common and red-breasted mergansers; northern pintails; American widgeons; scaups; a white-winged scoter (injured); pied-billed, western, and Clark’s grebes; black-bellied plovers; spotted sandpipers; chestnut-backed chickadees; northern flickers; belted kingfisher; acorn, downey, and Nutall’s woodpeckers; red-breasted sapsucker; brown pelicans; great white pelicans; great blue herons; American avocets; western and least sandpipers; red-tailed hawks; red-shoulder hawks; hermit thrush; green-winged teals; ruby-crowned kinglets; barn owl; double-crested cormorants; western bluebirds; wrentit; yellow-rumped and Townsend warblers; California and spotted towhees; house finches; Bewick’s wren; bush tits; American kestrels; California quail; gulls; Anna’s and Allen’s hummingbirds; western scrub jays; oak titmouse; crows; turkey vultures.

Long Valley Loop: western sandpipers; American avocets; great and snowy egrets; buffleheads; greater scaup; red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks; dowitchers; willets; mallards; marbled godwits; Forester’s terns; greater yellow legs; western bluebirds; yellow-rumped warblers; hermit thrush; chestnut-backed chickadees; oak titmouse; California and spotted towhees; house finches; western scrub jays; black and Say’s phoebes; song and golden-crowned sparrows.

Hummingbird Island: Osprey.

Five Fingers and Parsons Overlook: golden eagle; red-breasted mergansers; northern Pintails; marbled godwits; double-crested cormorants; willets; great blue herons; snowy egrets; Say’s and black phoebse; acorn woodpeckers; chestnut-backed chickadees; oak titmouse; house finches; western scrub jays; mallards; gulls; Forester’s terns; turkey vultures; buffleheads.

Strawberry Road: American avocets; black-necked stilts; cinnamon teal; buffleheads; black phoebes; great egrets.

Mid-Dceember 2002 to mid-January 2003

Anyone who doubts that the migration is in full swing should visit the slough, especially at low tide. Literally thousands of ducks and shorebirds work the mudflats and deeper reaches, busily gobbling up the foods that the slough provides in abundance. And we have had our share of unusual sightings, as follows:

Kirby Park: brown and white pelicans; western and Bonaparte’s gulls; pied-billed, eared, common and western grebes; great blue heron; common loon; Forster’s tern; western scrub-jay; Ross’s goose; great and snowy egrets; bufflehead; red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks; white-tailed kite; northern harrier; song, white-crowned, and golden-crowned sparrows; willet; long-billed curlew; whimbrel; common merganser; meadowlark; killdeer; black-necked stilt; avocet; goldfinches; and ruby-crowned kinglet.

Cattail Swale: mallard; northern pintail; gadwall; American wigeon; black and Say‚s phoebes; belted kingfisher; and 1 female hooded merganser.

Carneros/Porter Marsh Area: white-tailed kite (at least four); Canada goose; and more than 1000 ducks, including bufflehead, scaups, American wigeon, and green-winged teal.

South Marsh Loop: Hutton’s vireo; Say’s and black phoebes; chestnut-backed chickadee; ruby-crowned kinglet; Clark’s, western, horned, and pied-billed grebes; solitary, least, and spotted sandpipers; red-shouldered, red-tailed, sharp-shinned, and Cooper’s hawks; northern harrier; snowy and great egrets; Forster’s tern; double-crested cormorant; brown and white pelicans; belted kingfisher; American robin; spotted and California towhees; song, golden-crowned, white-crowned, and savanah sparrows; oak titmouse; common yellowthroat; Canada goose; great blue heron; avocet; long-billed curlew; willet; marbled godwit; black-bellied plover; merlin; kestrel; crow; housefinch; Nuttall’s, downy, and acorn woodpeckers; California quail; greater and lesser yellowlegs; western scrub-jay; red-breasted sapsucker; northern flicker; mallard; gadwall; common goldeneye; Townsend’s warbler; dowitchers; western meadowlark; common and red-breasted mergansers; Bewick’s wren; killdeer; northern pintail; green-winged teal; wigeon; ring-necked duck; ruddy duck; wrentit; bushtit; common goldeneye; peregrine falcon; common and Pacific loons; California, western, and ring-billed gulls; barn owl; mourning dove; red-winged blackbird; Anna’s hummingbird; osprey; American goldfinch; Pacific-sloped flycatcher; and two golden eagles soaring over the rookery pond.

North Marsh Overlook: black-necked stilt; avocet; northern shoveler; pied-billed and western grebes; wigeon; bufflehead; willet; cinnamon and green-winged teals; loggerhead shrike; American pintail; northern flicker; white-tailed kite; yellowlegs; short-billed dowitcher; song sparrow; brown and white pelicans; belted kingfisher; great and snow egrets; great blue heron; northern harrier; marbled godwit; and a dead buck deer in the marsh by the overlook.

Long Valley Loop: bufflehead; willet; avocet; yellowlegs; chestnut-backed chickadee; oak titmouse; Forster‚s tern; mallard; marbled godwit; great and snowy egrets; red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks; and western sandpipers.

Jetty Road: White-tailed kite; California and western gulls; avocet; long-billed dowitcher; eared and western grebes; common loon; willet; long-billed curlew; marbled godwit; western sandpiper; double-crested cormorants; common goldeneye; and bufflehead.

Moonglow Dairy: Emperor goose.

And last but not least, at the Moss Landing cemetary, a striking mountain bluebird.

Mid-November to mid-December 2002

Kirby Park: Bonaparte's and western gulls; brown and white pelicans; western grebe; common loon; Forster's tern; scrub-jay; marbled godwit; avocet; black-necked stilt; long-billed curlew; double-crested cormorant; Ross's goose; great and snowy egrets; bufflehead; red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks; white-tailed kite; song, white-crowned and golden-crowned sparrows; willets; long-billed curlew; ruby-crowned kinglet; whimbrel; northern harrier; great-blue heron; American goldfinch; and Pacific golden plover.

North Marsh Overlook: mallards; black-necked stilt; avocet; northern shoveler; pied-billed and western grebes; American wigeon; bufflehead; willet; cinnamon and green-winged teals; loggerhead shrike; white-tailed kite; northern pintail; yellowlegs species; short-billed dowitcher; song sparrow; brown and white pelicans; belted kingfisher; great and snowy egrets; great blue heron; northern harrier; marbled godwit; northern flicker, redshafted and an intergrade yellow/redshafted flicker. A dead buck deer continues to decompose.

Cattail Swale: mallard; northern pintail; gadwall; American wigeon; black and Say‚s phoebes; belted kingfisher and 1 female hooded merganser.

South Marsh Loop: Hutton's vireo; white-tailed kite; Say's and black phoebes; bufflehead; Clark's, western, pied-billed, and horned grebes; brown and white pelicans ( over 50 whites seen feeding at Whistle-stop lagoon); belted kingfisher; chestnut-backed chickadee; ruby-crowned kinglet; California and spotted towhees; song, white-crowned, and golden-crowned sparrows; oak titmouses; great blue heron; avocet; long-billed curlew; willet; marbled godwit; black-bellied plover; merlin; kestrel; red-shouldered, red-tailed, Cooper's, and sharp-shinned hawks; northern harrier; snowy and great egrets; Forster's tern; double-crested cormorant; solitary, least, and spotted sandpipers; crow; house finch; Nuttall's and acorn woodpeckers; robin; greater and lesser yellowlegs; scrub-jay; red-breasted sapsucker; mallard; northern flicker; Townsend's warbler; dowitcher species; western meadowlark; California quail; killdeer; wrentit; bushtit; common goldeneye; common and red-breasted mergansers; Bewick's wren; red-winged blackbird; osprey; American goldfinch; turkey vulture; common and Pacific loons; ruddy duck; peregrine falcon; California and western gulls; Anna's hummingbird; Pacific-slope flycatcher; mourning dove; barn owl; and two golden eagles over the rookery area.

Reports from Monterey Bay Bird (MBB) listserver included a brant and a Eurasian wigeon seen in the slough off Campagna way (Barry McLaughlin).

Mid-October to mid-November 2002

South Marsh Loop: Eared and pied-billed grebes; brown and white pelicans; double-crested cormorant; great blue heron; great and snowy egrets; northern harrier; Cooper's, red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks; American kestrel; killdeer; spotted sandpiper; whimbrel; least and western sandpipers; long-billed curlew; California and western gulls; mourning dove; belted kingfisher; Nuttall's, downy, hairy, and acorn woodpeckers; black and Say's phoebes; western scrub-jay; American crow; chestnut-backed chickadee; bushtit; spotted and California towhees; house, song, white-crowned, golden-crowned, Lincoln's, savanah, and fox sparrows; northern flicker; Hutton's vireo; oak titmouse; Bewick's wren; ruby-crowned kinglet; wrentit; starling; orange-crowned, yellow-rumped, and Townsend's warblers; California quail; Anna's hummingbird; peregrine falcon; avocet; white-tailed kite; black-bellied plover; Canada goose; great-horned owl; and one snow/Ross's goose trying to camoflage itself in a gyre of white pelicans.

Cattail Swale: Blue-winged teal; gadwall; mallard; black-crowned night heron; northern pintail; lesser scaup; wigeon; northern flicker; belted kingfisher and pond turtles. The group of black-crowned night herons that were hanging out have gradually disappeared. None have been reported at the Swale since the first week in November.

Five Fingers: White pelican; white-tailed kite; Say's phoebe; red-shouldered hawk; western scrub-jay; American crow; starling; double-crested cormorant; and snowy egret.

Long Valley Loop: Northern flicker; spotted and California towhees; ruby-crowned kinglet; gadwall; mallard; white-crowned sparrow, hairy woodpecker.

Packard Property: A docent walk October 19th led by the legendary Todd Newberry saw: Northern pintail; green-winged teal; savanah, Lincoln's white-crowned and song sparrows; red-tailed hawk; American kestrel; lesser and greater yellowlegs; loggerhead shrike; red-winged blackbirds; starlings; black-crowned night heron; great-blue heron; great egret; black-necked stilt; great-tailed grackle; coot; ruddy duck; Say's and black phoebes; house finch; western scrub-jay; golden eagle; northern harrier; western meadowlark; orange-crowned warbler; California towhee; marsh wren; turkey vulture; white pelican and mallard.

Mid-September to mid-October 2002

The ducks are coming, the ducks are coming! Each day brings more and more waterfowl species to the slough. The best places to see them are in the North Marsh area and in Cattail Swale.

South Marsh Loop: Western, Clarks, and pied-billed grebes, long-billed curlews, American kestrel, California and western gulls, great and snowy egrets, western meadowlarks, white and brown pelicans, double-crested cormorants, great blue herons, great and snowy egrets, northern harrier, red-tailed, red-shouldered, and Coopers hawks, killdeer, greater yellowlegs, willets, marbled godwits, western and least sandpipers, dowitchers, Caspian and Forster's terns, acorn and downy woodpeckers, black phoebe, Hutton's vireo, wrentit, western scrub jay, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmouses, bushtits, California and spotted towhees, gold-crowned, white-crowned, song and Savanah sparrows, house finches, American and lesser goldfinches, Peregrine falcon, great-horned owl (still lurking in the eucalyptus at the rookery pond), spotted sandpipers, Anna's hummingbirds, American avocets, turkey vultures, white-tailed kites, Forster's terns, crows, northern mockingbirds, Pacific-slope flycatchers, Bewick's wrens, starlings, northern flicker, barn owl, belted kingfisher, golden eagle, whimbrel, osprey, and mourning doves. Other sightings on south marsh loop were: a grey fox (!) at the barn pond, bush bunnies, long-tailed weasels near the visitor's center, and about 20 mullet in Whistle-stop lagoon schooling around and waiting for the tide change to exit out via the culvert.

Cattail Swale: Pintails, mallards, widgeons, gadwalls, blue-winged and green-winged teals, ring-necked duck, lesser scaup, and 30+ black-crowned night herons.

Long Valley Trail: Juncos, spotted towhees, yellowlegs, white and brown pelicans, red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks, white-tailed kites, acorn woodpeckers, double-crested cormorants, scrub jays, turkey vultures, great and snowy egrets, barn owl, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmouses, crows, and bushtits.

Five Fingers Loop: Western and pied-billed grebes, white and brown pelicans, greater yellowlegs, double-crested cormorants, great blue herons, snowy and great egrets, red-tailed hawk, black-bellied plovers, willets, western gulls, Forster's terns, scrub jays, crows, California towhees, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmouses, northern harriers, and white-tailed kites. Also seen: gopher snakes, lots of baby lizards scurrying on the trails and 50+ harbor seals basking on the mud at low tide just west of the parson slough overlook.

Mid-August to mid-September 2002

It was a busy month at the slough. The red-necked phalaropes are still here in increasing numbers, charming us with their windup-toy feeding behavior. A great horned owl wowed docents and visitors by continuing to appear almost daily in the rookery pond eucalyptus.

South Marsh Loop: House finch, red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks, willet, western scrub jays, long-billed curlew, marbled gotwit, Caspian and Forster's terns, black-bellied plover, least and western sandpipers, song sparrows, white-crowned sparrow, spotted and California towhees, acorn woodpeckers, double-crested cormorants, great blue heron, great and snowy egrets, mallards, kingfishers, chestnut-backed chickadees, marsh and Bewick's wrens, starlings, osprey, white and brown pelicans, spotted sandpiper, black phoebe, red-necked phalaropes, greater yellowlegs, white-tailed kite, downy woodpecker, barn owl, common yellowthroat, American goldfinch, western gulls, bushtits and possible bushtit nest in oak between the rookery and Cattail Swale, turkey vultures, mourning doves, American crows tree swallows, whimbrel, California quail, and lots of lizards and garter snakes.

Cattail Swale: Up to 29 black-crowned night herons in the oaks and willows, downy woodpecker, black phoebe, mallards, snowy egret, killdeer, and kingfishers.

Rookery Pond: Three mandarin ducks, mallards, a few remaining double-crested cormorants, great blue herons, great egrets and the great-horned owl.

North Marsh: American avocets and hundreds of red-necked phalaropes.

Long Valley and Five Fingers: Bewick's wren, red-shouldered hawk, least and western sandpipers, marbled godwits, snowy and great egrets, double-crested cormorants, white and brown pelicans, willets, yellowlegs, northern harrier, ruddy turnstones, Caspian terns, long-billed curlew, American kestrel, oak titmouse, and a lesser goldfinch feeding its fledgling.

Thanks this month to stalwart observers; Pat Rauqust, Caroline Rodgers, Deirdre Baxter, Elenita Mathew, Colette King, Sam Laage, Pat Spencer, Anne Mcneill, Kathryn Hannay, Ken McKenzie Jeana de la Torre, Shirley Murphy, and Linda Jordan.

Mid-July to mid-August 2002

In the North Slough at Strawberry Road were 200+ red-necked phalaropes two days in a row. Also seen here were black-necked stilts, a couple of avocets and a pied-billed grebe. At the Reserve itself, some of the migrating birds are arriving now.

Five Fingers: American white pelicans, brown pelicans, golden eagle, Caspian terns, western scrub jays, western gulls, double-crested cormorants, song sparrows, oak titmice, chestnut-backed chickadees, white-tailed and American crows.

Long Valley: American crows, white-tailed kites, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, red-shouldered hawk, song sparrows, mallards, snowy egrets and a few sharks.

Cattail Swale: The muskrat was seen again this month along with mallards, 25 black-crowned night herons, black phoebes, belted kingfishers, and great blue herons fishing in the shallows.

South Marsh: A few double-crested cormorants are still in the trees at the rookery but the herons are gone and only about six great egrets were still hanging around. The rest of the trail was quite interesting with a great horned owl, osprey, peregrine falcon, American crows, white-tailed kites, turkey vultures, red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks, brown and white pelicans, willets, double-crested cormorants, great and snowy egrets, pied-billed grebes, mallards, whimbrel, black-bellied plovers, yellowlegs, marbled godwits, long-billed curlews, Caspian and Forster's terns, great blue herons, ring-billed gulls and western gulls, killdeer, spotted sandpiper and barn/tree/cliff/northern rough winged swallows flying overhead. American and lesser goldfinch, western scrub jays, black phoebes, song sparrows, wrentits, chestnut-backed chickadees, European starlings, acorn downy and Nuttall's woodpeckers, belted kingfishers, house finch, California and spotted towhees, bushtits, song and house sparrows, Wilson's and yellow warblers, common yellowthroat, juncos, western bluebird, California quail, mourning doves, Anna's and rufous/Allen's hummingbirds, oak titmice, black-headed grosbeak, red-winged blackbirds, Bewick's wrens and Pacific slope flycatchers.

Also seen in the area: western pond turtles, gopher and garter snakes, and, on a very early walk, a female gray fox with her kit crossed the boardwalk at the rookery.

Mid-June to mid-July 2002

On the way to Elkhorn Slough you pass Hudson's landing and an area known as the Carneros Creek marsh area. A family of white-tailed kites has made this their home, along with other creatures, and the other day there were five immatures and two adults present; one was clutching a vole. As you continue along Elkhorn Road you pass what we call the North Marsh, and from the road these observations were made: American goldfinches and song sparrows in the eucalyptus trees, great and snowy egrets in the shallow water along with great blue herons, mallards, black-necked stilts, gadwall, brown and white pelicans and a red-tailed hawk watching over the entire scene.

Five Fingers: Canada geese, double-crested cormorants, brown and white pelicans, oak titmice, chestnut-backed chickadees, black phoebes, western scrub jays with their young and out on the islands over 100 Caspian terns, some with chicks.

Long Valley: Leopard and smoothhound sharks plus three young oak titmice playing tag with one another, black phoebes, mallards, great and snowy egrets, mallards and a barn owl.

Cattail Swale: A female mallard with 12 ducklings, black phoebes, two adult and four juvenile black-crowned night herons, oak titmice, western tanager and bushtits with their young, teaching them how to forage.

Rookery Pond: Great blue heron babies flapping their wings to strengthen them for flying, great egret chicks begging parents for food, double-crested cormorant chicks looking anxiously for mom or dad to bring food and a muskrat in what is left of the water.

South Marsh: American crows, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, turkey vulture, northern harrier cruising over the grass area, two juvenile golden eagles, western grebes, great blue herons, great and snowy egrets, green herons, Canada geese, mallards, brown and white pelicans, gadwalls, western gulls, Caspian and Forster's terns, black-bellied plovers, long-billed dowitchers, marbled godwits, killdeer, long-billed curlews, willets and several black-crowned night herons, western scrub jays, belted kingfishers, song and white-crowned sparrows, California quail, spotted and California towhees, house finch, red-winged blackbirds, common yellowthroat, mourning doves, tree/cliff/violet green/rough wing swallows, acorn/downy and Nuttall's woodpeckers, Pacific slope flycatchers, black phoebes, bushtits, western bluebirds, yellow and Wilson's warblers, black-headed grosbeak, American and lesser goldfinch, American robins, wrentit, Anna's hummingbirds, European starlings, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, Bewick's wren, bronze-headed cowbird, western tanager and somewhere along the three trails there were gopher snakes, rabbits, deer, lizards and sharks.

Mid-May to mid-June 2002

Although the rookery is bursting with activity and the Caspian tern colony is growing every day, it has been rather quiet this past month at the slough. It appears no one recorded sightings from the Long Valley or Five Fingers Loop ( except for the tern colony) so this month we have the South Marsh Trail, Cattail Swale and the Rookery pond.

Rookery Pond: Western pond turtles, great blue herons with chicks almost as big as the parents now, Great Egrets with chicks about half the size of the adults and double-crested cormorant babies about half the size of the parents. We also had black-crowned night herons, song sparrows, chestnut-backed chickadees, California towhees and some mallards hanging in until the water gives up.

Cattail Swale: A great blue heron was feeding in the shallows while mallards, gadwalls, black-crowned night herons, black phoebes, yellow-rumped warblers, chestnut-backed chickadees, California towhees, tree and violet-green swallows and belted kingfishers fed all around it, and a western pond turtle watched it all from one of the limbs down in the water.

South Marsh: American crows, turkey vultures, white-tailed kites, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, northern harrier a golden eagle plus a peregrine falcon and the adorable born owls were all seen at some time this last month. Also seen: killdeer, American avocet, green-winged teal, whimbrel, northern pintail, great blue herons, western grebes, long-billed dowitcher, marbled godwits, willets, Brandt's cormorants as well as double-crested cormorants, spotted sandpiper starting to acquire mating plumage, Canada gees, gadwalls, black-crowned night herons, lesser yellowlegs, Caspian and Forster's terns, mallards, great and snowy egrets, brown pelicans and probably the most white pelicans for any extended period of time I can remember. The smaller birds also wanted to be counted: European starlings, rock doves, western scrub jays, red-winged and Brewer's blackbirds, house finch, California and spotted towhees, acorn, downy and Nuttall's woodpeckers, California quail, house and song sparrows and a Lincoln's sparrow, common yellowthroat, Pacific slope flycatcher, American and lesser goldfinch, mourning doves, belted kingfishers, black and Say's phoebes, western tanager, black-headed grosbeak, yellow warbler, chestnut backed chickadees, oak titmice, American robin, ash throated flycatcher, western bluebirds, Anna's and Allen hummingbirds, killdeer with two chicks, yellow-rumped and orange-crowned and Wilson's warblers, northern mockingbird, Hutton's vireo, bushtits, hermit thrush, cedar waxwings passing through and tree/cliff/barn/violet-green/ northern rough wing swallows all over the place.

Mid April to mid-May 2002

Spring has sprung and our wintering ducks have deserted us; well almost. Here are some of the ducks and birds still spending time at the slough.

Kirby Park: Whimbrell, willets, marbled godwits, cinnamon teal, western grebes, Caspian and Forster's terns, black phoebe, red-winged blackbirds, song sparrows, and don't forget the harbor seals and the otter.

Five Fingers: Double-crested cormorants, Caspian terns have settled in on several islands and seem content, gulls, common yellowthroat, golden-crowned sparrows, white-tailed kites, red-tailed hawks, California towhees, willets, marbled godwits, Canada geese, song sparrows, and white pelicans taking a break from their travels, western bluebirds, great and snowy egrets and great blue herons are feeding in the shallows and returning to their nests with food for the babies, the oak titmice and chestnut-backed chickadees have finished raising their young while western scrub jays, black phoebes, and gopher and Santa Cruz garter snakes lounge in the sun.

Long Valley: American crows, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, black phoebes, Bewick's wrens, California and spotted towhees, Pacific-slope flycatchers, willets, great and snowy egrets, mallards, marbled godwits, great blue herons, double-crested cormorants, dowitchers, common yellowthroat and song sparrows are busy making nests and raising young.

Rookery Pond: Very busy right now with great blue herons and great egrets with babies large enough to see from down below plus double-crested cormorants raising their young, mallards, gadwalls, black-crowned night herons, black phoebe, chestnut-backed chickadees, red-winged blackbirds, Wilson and yellow rumpbed warblers and a feral cat hunting in the brush for birds.

Cattail Swale: Mandarin duck seen several times, gadwall, mallards, tree and violet green swallows, belted kingfisher, black phoebe seen capturing a dragonfly, Wilson and yellow-rumped warblers, black-crowned night herons, great blue herons, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, song sparrows and a pair of green herons seen now and then for the last two months; maybe nesting?

South Marsh: Canada geese, common loon, western grebe, double-crested cormorants, great blue herons, great egrets, green-winged and cinnamon teal, snowy egrets, mallards, gadwalls, American wigeon, black-bellied plovers with their bellies turning black, greater yellowlegs, willets, western and spotted sandpipers, ruddy turnstones, dowitchers, scaup, black-crowned night herons, Caspian and Forster terns, white pelicans and gulls. White-tailed kites, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, American crows, turkey vultures, barn owls in both barns, mourning doves, acorn woodpeckers, black phoebes, western scrub jays, violet-green/tree/barn/cliff swallows and a northern rough wing swallow that made a nest in the pipe in the bank near the old bottle dump, bushtits, oak titmice and chestnut-backed chickadees finishing up their parental duties, American robins, European starlings, Wilson and yellow-rumped warblers, common yellowthroat, California and spotted towhees busy raising their families, song and white-crowned and golden-crowned sparrows, red-winged blackbirds, house finch, American goldfinch, cedar waxwings, belted kingfishers and pacific-slope flycatchers raising their young. At various places along the trails gopher snakes were sunning themselves, a gopher said hello, two moles, western fence lizards, and Santa Cruz garter snakes were sighted.

Mid-March to mid-April 2002

Long Valley: American crows, bushtits, ruby-crowned kinglets, western scrub jays, Califoria and spotted towhees, mallards, belted kingfisher, bufflehead, lesse scaup, greater yellowlegs, oak titmice, chestnut-backed chickadees ( both nesting), common yellowthroat, great and snowy egrets, cliff swallows, golden-crowned/white-crowned/song sparrows, white-tailed kites, red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks and a few double-crested cormorants.

Five Fingers: Bewick's wrens, western scrub jays, California towhees, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, bushtits, common yellowthroats, rufous hummingbird, yellow-rumped warblers, Canada geese, white pelicans, double-crested cormorants, marbled godwits, long-billed curlews, great blue herons, great and snowy egrets, Caspian terns checking out the islands, white-crowned and song sparrows, and white-tailed kites.

Rookery: Can you hear the noise? California quail, black phoebes, black-crowned night herons, western pond turtles, Nuttall's woodpeckers and of course the great blue herons, great egrest and the double-crested cormorants. Also, a pair of red-tailed hawks "in flagrante delecto."

Cattail Swale: A pair of cinnamon teal, two pair of gadwalls, two pair of mallards (?), black phoebes, belted kingfishers and, for three days in a row, three Mandarin ducks!

South Marsh: American kestrel, turkey vultures, sharp-shinned hawk grabbing a bite of small songbird, red-tailed hawk and white-tailed kites. Canada geese, pied-billed and western grebes, double-crested cormorants, great blue herons, great and snowy egrets, mallards, American wigeon, common goldeneye, bufflehead, greater yellowlegs, spotted sandpiper, 200+ willets at low tide, dowitchers, greeen-winged and cinnamon teal, northern pintail, reb-breasted mergansers, gadwalls, black-bellied plovers coming into breeding plumage, semi-palmated plover, marbled godwits, whimbrel, long-billed curlews, Forster's terns, Allen, Anna and rufous hummingbirds, belted kingfisher, downy and acorn woodpeckers, red-breasted sapsucker, black phoebe, tree swallow, western scrub jays, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, bushtit, ruby-cronwed kinglets, California and spotted towhees, western meadowlarks, house finch, white-crowned/golden-crowned/song sparrows, barn and northen rough winged swallows, American robins, mourning dove, hermit thrush, American goldfinch, red-winged blackbirds, California quail and rabbits and deer and squirrels.

Mid-February to mid-March 2002

Although the call of the wild is beckoning we still have a pretty good showing of ducks and birds hanging around the slough. This month:

Five Fingers: Brewer's blackbirds, chestnut-backed chickadees starting to nest, oak titmice, western scrub jays, red-shouldered hawk, 6 white pelicans on the levee by the railroad track, house finch, mallards, great blue heron, great egrets, northern shovelers and a couple of greater yellowlegs.

Long Valley: American crows, a pair of white-tailed kites paying a lot of attention to one another, western scrub jays, bushtits, house finch, oak titmice, chestnut-backed chickadees starting to nest, barn owl, marbled godwits, snowy egrets, mallards, American kestrel and a pair of green-winged teal.

South Marsh: American kestrel, white-tailed kites, northern harrier swooping low over the hillside, turkey vulture, red-shouldered hawk, golden eagle, western and hooded grebes, double-crested cormorants, Canada geese out on the islands, black-crowned night herons, cinnamon and green-winged teal, American wigeon, mallards, gadwalls, common goldeneye, bufflehead, black-bellied plovers, killdeer, willets, least and spotted sandpipers, long-billed curlews, marbled godwits, northern pintails, greater yellowlegs, brown pelicans, whimbrel, Forster's tern, long-billed dowitcher, belted kingfishers at Cattail Swale ( making a nest?), Allen's and Anna's hummingbirds, acorn woodpeckers, red-breasted sapsucker, black and Say's phoebes, tree swallows, western scrub jays, American crows, chestnut-backed chickadees setting up house, bushtits, wrentit, ruby-crowned kinglets, American robins, oak titmice, yellow-rumped warblers, California and spotted towhees, song/white-crowned/golden crowned sparrows, red-winged blackbirds, house finch singing their heads off, western meadowlarks, California quail, house sparrows, common yellowthroat plus four deer, many rabbits, a garter snake and a lot of lizards out sunning themselves.

Rookery Pond: Great blue herons bringing nesting material to the pine trees (one evening there were 25 herons hanging around), one great egret who has established a spot further back in the trees, mallards in the pond, black-crowned night herons watching what is going on and a sulphur crested cockatiel flew into the eucalyptus and bellowed out his/her presence!!

We have seen some of our migrating ducks arriving at the slough as well as our regular patrons.

Long Valley: American crows, oak titmice, chestnut-backed chickadees, western scrub jays, great and snowy egrets, marbled godwits, willets, bushtits, white-tailed kites, Bewick's wrens, spotted and California towhees, bufflehead, common goldeneyes, white-crowned sparrows busy feeding and a barn owl delighted the viewers.

Five Fingers: Bewick's wrens, western scrub jays, black and Say's phoebes, mallards, common yellowthroats, northern harriers, great blue herons, western grebes, red-breasted mergansers, white and brown pelicans, long-billed curlews, willets, Forster's terns, great and snowy egrets, house finches, golden-crowned and white-crowned sparrows, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, barn owl, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, bushtits and a ring-necked snake on the way to Parson's overlook.

South Marsh: American crows, white pelicans, seen several times this month, belted kingfisher, least/western/spotted sandpipers, Townsend's warbler, marsh and Bewick's wrens, peregrine falcon, northern flicker, ruby-crowned kinglet, greater yellowlegs, least sandpipers, white-tailed kites, western meadowlarks, American robins, killdeer, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, 3 osprey (with one in a tree calling "feed me" to the other two ?), great blue herons, great and snowy egrets, ruby-crowned kinglets, acorn and downy woodpeckers, double-crested cormorants, western and pied-billed grebes, northern harriers, elegant and Forster's terns, black and Say's phoebes, Stellar's and western scrub jays, bushtits, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, common loon, northern pintail, common goldeneyes, bufflehead, American kestrel, black-bellied plovers, marbled godwits, willets, dowitchers, long-billed curlews, Bonaparte's gull, California and spotted towhees, western meadowlarks, house finch, whimbrel, song/white-crowned/golden-crowned sparrows, avocets, dunlin, western and California gulls, mourning doves, European starlings, Anna's hummingbird, lesser and American goldfinch, American wigeon, wrentits, yellow-rumped warblers,barn owl and rabbits, tree frogs, black-tailed deer and a harbor seal round out the viewing delights.

Cattail Swale: Townsend's and yellow-rumped warblers, two hermit thrush, black-crowned night herons, pied-billed grebes, American coots, mallards, snowy egret, American wigeon and a muskrat and some deer finish this spot off.

Mid-September to mid-October 2001

Long Valley: Chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, western scrub jays, bushtits, American crows, red-tailed hawk, brown pelicans, double-crested cormorants, Townsend's warbler, California towhees and a western blue bird.

Five Fingers: Double-crested cormorants, brown pelicans and about 18 white pelicans on the islands adjacent to the Caspian tern island; chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, red-shouldered hawk, American crows, bushtits, willets, California towhees, great and snowy egrets, black phoebes, western scrub jays and goldfinch spp.

South Marsh: Bewick's wrens, bushtits, Hutton's vireo, California and spotted towhees, California quail, purple and house finches, lesser and American goldfinch, song/lincoln/fox/savannah/white-crowned sparrows, acorn/downy and Nuttall's woodpeckers, northern flicker, Pacific slope flycatcher, black and Say's phoebes, barn swallow, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, western scrub jays gathering acorns, wrentit, yellow/Wilson's/Townsend's warblers, juncos, belted kingfishers, European starlings, western meadowlarks, Anna's hummingbird, marsh wren, mourning doves, hermit thrush, ruby-crowned kinglets, pied-billed grebes, brown and white pelicans, great and snowy egrets, great blue heron, double-crested cormorants, black-bellied plovers, lesser yellowlegs, willets, marlbed godwits, long-billed curlews, spotted/least/western sandpipers, Forster's and Caspian terns, killdeer, gull spp., American avocets, black-necked stilts, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, northern harrier, great horned owl, barn owl, osprey, turkey vultures, Cooper's hawk plus shovelnose guitarfish, leopard and smoothhound sharks, large red crabs, jellyfish, rabbits, lizards, fourblack-tailed deer and a young grey fox!

Cattail swale: The birds are having to share space more than ever to capitalize on the fresh water; Great blue herons, great and snowy egrets, American wigeon, more mallards than you can count, belted kingfishers, spotted sandpiper, 30+ black-crowned night herons, Townsend's warbler, chestnut-backed chickadees and black phoebes.

June 2001

Kirby Park: Western and Clark’s grebes, double-crested cormorants, great blue herons, great and snowy egrets, mallards, willets, whimbrels, red-winged blackbirds, song and savannah sparrows, California towhees, harbor seal and cottontail rabbits. Long Valley Loop: Chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, barn owl, black-shouldered kites, turkey vulture, red-shouldered hawk, western scrub jay, bushtits, California and spotted towhees, mallards, great and snowy egrets and smoothhound sharks. Five Fingers Trail: Chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, western scrub jays, Brewer’s and red-winged blackbirds, bushtits, American crows, immature golden eagle, Canada geese, black-headed grosbeaks, northern harrier eating a mouse, house finches and American goldfinches.

Barn/Cattail/Rookery ponds: Great blue herons with young, great egrets with chicks and double-crested cormorants with young, black-crowned night herons, mallards with both small and medium sized chicks, American coots, belted kingfishers, western pond turtles, muskrat, gadwall and a Eurasian wigeon hanging out with the mallards while molting and black-tailed deer browsing along the edges.

South Marsh: American coots, mallards, great and snowy egrets, great blue herons, double-crested cormorants, common yellowthroats, black phoebes, black-crowned night herons, acorn and Nuttall’s woodpeckers, California quail, American goldfinch, western bluebirds, pacific slope flycatcher, song sparrows, bushtits, California and spotted towhees, cinnamon teal, Wilson’s warblers, oak titmice, chestnut-backed chickadees, white-tailed kites, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, northern harrier, osprey, immature golden eagle, brown and white pelicans, Canada geese, gadwalls, turkey vulture, killdeer, western gulls, Forster’s and Caspian terns, band-tailed pigeons, house finches, cliff/barn/tree/violet-green/northern rough-wing swallows, European starlings, American crows, mourning doves, greater yellowlegs, western fence lizards, garter snakes, California red-sided garter snake, cottontail rabbits and Allen and Anna’s hummingbirds and sharks.

March 2001

Although some of our migrating ducks have started moving north, we still had a pretty good showing for March, especially in the north marsh area where there is some control of water heigths.

North Marsh: Avocets, black-bellied plovers, black-necked stilts, cinnamon and green-winged teal, great and snowy egrets along with great blue herons, dowitchers, common loon, western and Clark's grebes, killdeer, spotted sandpipers and tree swallows, song sparrows, brown pelicans, three white pelicans, double-crested cormorants, red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures and harbor seals.

Visitors Center area: western bluebirds and tree and cliff swallows all over the area.

Rookery pond: Black-crowned night herons, great blue herons, great egrets, mallards, coots, spotted sandpipers, killdeer and on Feb 18th (only) a male Mandarin duck in breeding plumage.

Cattail Swale: pair of belted kingfishers looking for a nest site, mallards, coots, black-crowned night herons, snowy egrets, spotted sandpiper, tree swallows, yellow-rumped warbler, western scrub jay, California towhees and a red-tailed hawk.

Barn pond: mallards, gadwalls, American wigeon, dowitchers, willets, spotted sandpiper, killdeer and black-crown night herons.

Long Valley Loop: chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, white-tailed kites doing courting displays, red-chouldered and red-tailed hawks doing the same, a barn owl in the oaks, California towhees, western scrub jays and American crows.

Five Fingers trail: chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, bushtits, American crows, western scrub jays, California and spotted towhees and out on the islands there were double-crested cormorants, brown pelicans and lots of gulls.

South Marsh: green-winged teal, American wigeon, lesser yellowlegs, mallards, great and snowy egrets, marbled godwits, long-billed curlews, willets, Forster's terns, common mergansers, red-breasted mergansers, common loon, long-billed dowitchers, American avocets, common goldeneyes, bufflehead, pied-billed and western grebes, double-crested cormorants, cinnamon teal, northern pintails, brown pelicans, great blue herons, Canada geese, gadwalls, osprey, western/spotted/solitary sandpipers, white-crowned sparrows, ruby-crowned kinglets, Bewick's wren, song sparrows, acorn woodpeckers, black and Say's phoebes, California quail, yellow-rumped warbler, Anna's hummingbird, house finch, barn swallows, western scrub jays, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, orange-crowned warbler, California and spotted towhees, white-tailed kite, American kestrel, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, western gulls, western meadowlarks, turkey vulture and American crows.

February 2001

We had some pretty exciting sightings these last few weeks. The Tufted Duck at Moro Cojo slough caught everyone's attention along with five long-tailed ducks (aka Oldsquaw), Brant and double crested cormorants along with Pacific loons at the Moss Landing harbor. On the 26th a male Mandarin Duck was seen at the Rookery Pond.

Five fingers trail had white-crowned sparrows, western scrub jays, California towhees, yellow-rumped warblers, American crows, white-tailed kites, red-tailed hawks, and a black skimmer was seen from the bird blind.

Long Valley loop had chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, western scrub jays, California towhees, American crows, white-tailed kites, red-shouldered hawk, bushtits, great blue herons, great egrets, willits and marbled godwits.

Barn pond: the Ross's goose is still there and one Canada goose with a broken wing, there are Canada geese flying all around the slough so we may have nests again this year. Northern shovelers, mallards, American coots, green-winged teals, American wigeon, northern pintail and a few American avocets completed this scan.

The rookery pond on south marsh trail had huge numbers of black crown night herons, common goldeneyes, bufflehead, a western tanager, hermit thrush, American coots, acorn woodpeckers and an Allen's hummingbird.

Cattail swale on the south marsh trail has a pair of belted kingfishers along with mallards, bufflehead, common goldeneyes, American coots, pied-billed grebes, black crowned night herons, bushtits and yellow-rumped warblers.

South Marsh Trail had: horned/eared/pied-billed/western and Clark's grebes, double-crested cormorants, great blue herons, great and snowy egrets, 12-18 black crowned night herons, green-winged teal, mallards, bufflehead, common goldeneyes, northern shovelers, American avocets, willets, whimbrels, long-billed curlews, marbled godwits, northern pintails, brown pelicans, white pelicans, snow and Canada geese, cinnamon teal, gadwalls, American wigeon, red-breasted mergansers, solitary sandpiper, long-billed and short-billed dowitchers, turkey vultures, white-tailed kites, red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks, American kestrel, northern harrier, Cooper's hawk, peregrine falcon, golden eagle, Merlin, killdeer, Allen's and Anna's hummingbirds, acorn/hairy/Nuttal's woodpeckers, Say's and black phoebes, western scrub jays, American crows, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, house and purple finches, California and spotted towhees, house wren, ruby-crowned kinglet, loggerhead shrike, American robins, Hutton's vireo, common yellowthroat, yellow-rumped warblers, western meadowlarks, bushtits, song/white-crowned/golden-crowned sparrows, Forster's terns, northern flicker, rock doves, Bonaparte's gull along with a western/ring-billed and Herring gull, brown creeper, European starlings, American goldfinch, black-bellied plovers, least sandpipers, sanderlings, greater yellowlegs, common loon, black-necked stilts, western pond turtles, black tailed deer, rabbits and a barn owl in the small barn.

Mid-November to mid-January 2001

Kirby Park: Common loon, pied-billed and western grebes, double-crested cormorants, brown pelicans, spotted sandpipers, "peeps." gull spp., song sparrows, western scrub jays, black phoebes and American crows.

North Marsh: Black-necked stilts, killdeer, dowitchers, marbled godwits, American avocets, northern shovelers, northern pintails, long-billed curlews, great and snowy egrets, great blue herons, cinnamon and green-winged teal, American wigeons, gadwalls, eared/pied-billed.western?Clark's grebes,American coots, Pacific loon,belted kingfisher, black phoebes, white-tailed kites, Forster's terns and brown pelicans.

Long Valley: Great and snowy egrets, double-crested cormorants, willets, marbled godwits, dowitchers, mallards, coots, crows, song and white-crowned sparrows, Califoria towhees and a 2 point buck (black-tailed deer).

Five Fingers: Brown and white pelicans, double-crested cormorants, bufflehead, American wigeon, common goldeneye, great and snowy egrets, red-tailed hawk, white-tailed kite, western scrub jays, black phoebes, song and savannah sparrows, California towhees, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice and 2 tundra swans at Parson's overlook.

South Marsh: Pied-billed and western and Clark's grebes, brown and white pelicans, great blue herons, great and snowy egrets, greater white-fronted geese, Canada geese, green and cinnamon and blue-winged teal, mallards, gadwalls, turkey vultures, white-tailed kite, red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks, American kestrels, greater yellowlegs, northern harrier, black-bellied plovers, willets, long-billed curlews, semi-palmated plovers, northern pintails, marbled godwits, American coots, bufflehead, common goldeneye, northern shoveler, killdeer, spotted sandpipers, yellowlegs, belted kingfisher, acorn woodpeckers, black and Say's phoebes, American crow, western scrub jays, chestnut-backed chickadees, loggerhead shrike, California and spotted towhees, American goldfinch, white-crowned sparrows, western meadowlarks, dark-eyed juncos, house finch, ruby-crowned kinglets, Townsend's warbler, Pacific slope flycatcher, brown creeper, marsh wren, a sea slug and 3 black-tailed deer.

Cattail Swale: belted kingfishers, black phoebes, mallards, coots, pied-billed grebes, great and snowy egrets, American wigeon, gadwalls, Townsend's warblers and ruby-crowned kinglets.

Whistlestop Lagoon: Great and snowy egrets, golden eagle passing over, pied-billed grebes, Forster's and Caspian terns and lots of small fish.

Rookery Pond: American coots, mallards, pied-billed grebes, spotted sandpipers, killdeer and at least 32 black-crowned night herons along with ruby-crowned kinglets, Townsend's warblers, acorn woodpeckers, bushtits, bufflehead, common goldeneyes, gadwalls and red-tailed hawks circling overhead.

Barn Pond: Canada geese, song and savannah sparrows, black phoebes, northern pintails, American wigeon, mallards, American coots, killdeer, green-winged teal, spotted sandpipers and 12 snow geese plus 2 Ross's geese.

Mid-November to mid-December 2000

Kirby Park: Common loon, pied-billed grebes and western grebes, double-crested cormorants, brown pelicans, spotted sandpipers, "peeps." gull spp., song sparrows, western scrub jays, black phoebes and American crows.

North Marsh: As seen from Elkhorn road: American wigeons, northern pintails, American avocets, black-necked stilts, northern shovelers, eared/pied-billed/western/Clark's grebes, American coots, Pacific loon, mallards, green-winged teal, willets, dowitchers, gadwalls, gull spp., Forster's terns, white-tailed kites, American crows, belted kingfishers and black phoebes.

Five Fingers trail: Brown and white pelicans, double-crested cormorants, bufflehead, American wigeon, common goldeneye, great and snowy egrets, red-tailed hawk, white-tailed kite, western scrub jays, black phoebes, song and savannah sparrows, California towhees, chestnut-backed chickadees and oak titmice.

Long Valley Loop: Great and snowy egrets, double-crested cormorants, willets, marbled godwits, dowitchers, mallards, coots, American crows, song and white-crowned sparrows, California towhees and a two-point buck (black-tailed deer.)

South Marsh Loop: Pied-billed/western/Clark's grebes, brown and white pelicans, great blue herons, great and snowy egrets, greater white-fronted goose, Canada geese all over the place, green and blue-winged and cinnamon teal, mallards, gadwalls, turkey vultures, white-tailed kite, red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks, American kestrel, greater yellowlegs, northern harrier, black-bellied plovers, willets, long-billed curlews, semi-palmated plover, northern pintail, marbled godwits, American coots, bufflehead, common goldeneye, northern shoveler, killdeer, spotted sandpipers, yellowlegs, belted kingfisher, western sandpipers, western gulls, Forster's terns, belted kingfisher, acorn woodpeckers, black and Say's phoebes, American crows, western scrub jays, chestnut-backed chickadees, loggerhead shrike, California and spotted towhees, American goldfinch, white-crowned sparrows, western meadowlark, dark-eyed juncos, house finch, ruby-crowned kinglets, Townsend's warblers, Pacific slope flycatcher, brown creeper (at the granary), marsh wren, a sea slug and 3 black-tailed deer.

Cattail swale had belted kingfishers, black phoebes, mallards, coots, pied-billed grebes, great and snowy egrets, American wigeon, gadwalls, Townsend's warblers and ruby-crowned kinglets. Whistlestop lagoon had great and snowy egrets, golden eagle flying overhead, pied-billed grebes, Forster's and Caspian terns and lots of small fish. Rookery pond was full of mallards, coots, pied-billed grebes, spotted sandpipers, killdeer, and at least 30 black-crowned night herons along with ruby-crowned kinglets, Townsend's warblers, acorn woodpeckers, bushtits, bufflehead, common goldeneyes, gadwalls and red-tailed hawks soaring overhead. Barn pond was loaded with 200+ Canada geese, song and savannah sparrows, black phoebe, northern pintails, American wigeon, mallards, American coots, killdeer, green-winged teal, spotted sandpipers and two (snow or Ross) geese.

Mid-October to mid-November 2000

Kirby Park: Common loons, ring-billed gulls, western gulls, Forster's terns, double-crested cormorants, brown pelicans, Brewer's blackbirds, song/savannah/white-crowned sparrows, least sandpipers and American wigeons plus a harbor seal./p>

North Marsh: American avocets by the hundreds, black-necked stilts, great and snowy egrets, great blue herons, northern shovelers, bufflehead, mallards, dowitchers, cinnamon and green-winged teals, Forster's and Caspian terns, northern pintails, least sandpipers, killdeer, American wigeon and gulls.

Five Fingers trail: White pelicans, western scrub jays, chestnut-backed chickadees, double-crested cormorants, oak titmouse, brown pelicans, snowy egrets, marbled godwits and gulls.

Long Valley loop: Great and snowy egrets, great blue herons, oak titmice, western scrub jays, chestnut-backed chickadees, Brewer's blackbirds, white-tailed kites, greater yellowlegs, white-tailed kites and red-shouldered hawk.

South Marsh Loop: Spotted sandpipers, least sandpipers, loggerhead shrike, American kestrel, Bewick's wren, red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks, white and golden-crowned sparrows, California and spotted towhees, California quail, Townsend and orange crowned warblers, ruby-crowned kinglets, greater yellowlegs, long-billed curlew, gadwall, northern pintail, northern shoveler, cinnamon and green-winged teal, turkey vulture, dowitchers, golden eagle, sharp-shinned hawk, common yellowthroat, black-bellied plover, acorn and Nuttall's woodpeckers, eared/pied-billed/western grebes, willets, yellow-rumped warblers, American robins, marbled godwits, whimbrel, bushtits, house finch, American wigeon, meadowlarks, harry woodpecker, California and western gulls, sanderlings, greater scaup, American coots, greater white-fronted goose (juvenile), Canada geese, juncos, goldfinch sp., American crows, Anna and Allen hummingbirds and a harbor seal plus rabbits.

The rookery pond had 10 black-crowned night herons, a peregrine falcon in the eucalyptus tree, northern flicker, snowy egrets, spotted sandpipers, killdeer, double-crested cormorants, mallards, American coots, two red-tailed hawks and a white-tailed kite.

Cattail swale had American bittern, mallars, American coots, pied-billed grebes, green-winged teal, snowy egrets, black phoebe, western scrub jay, Townsend's warblers, bushtits and American wigeon. The pond below the barn was occupied by: green-winged teal, gadwalls, mallards, American coots, northern shovelers, black-crowned night herons, pied-billed grebes, cinnamon teal, spotted sandpiper, least sandpiper, Say's and black phoebes, killdeer and an immature white-fronted goose. Near the visiotors center the western bluebird was seen again as well as black phoebes.

Mid-August to mid-September 2000

Kirby Park: Long-billed curlews, black-bellied plovers, western sandpipers galore, common yellowthroats, black phoebes and 2 adult and 3 young black-necked stilts in pond at far end of trail across the railroad tracks.

North Marsh: At least two dozen red-necked phalaropes, mallards, black-necked stilts, a few avocets and some pied-billed grebes.

Long Valley Loop: California towhees, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, barn swallows, 180+ brown pelicans in a feeding frenzy, willets, bushtits, greater yellowlegs, snowy egrets, long-billed curlews, western scrub jay, red-tailed hawk, song and savannah sparrows, house finch, American crows, turkey vulture and 200+ western sandpipers.

Five Fingers trail: American crows, turkey vultures, white-tailed kites, mallards, black-crown night herons, great and snowy egrets, 86 mallards, great blue heron, brown pelicans, double-crested cormorants, red-tailed hawk, house finch, song and savannah sparrows, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, western scrub jays, brown pelicans on nesting island and 8 Caspian terns flew off as observer was watching and 30 white pelicans at the end of Parsons' slough.

South Marsh: American coots, 5 black-tailed deer, 3 rabbits, mallards, pied-billed grebes, great and snowy egrets, great blue herons, marbled godwits, long-billed curlews, willets, black-crowned night herons, American goldfinch, black Phoebes, turkey vultures, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, belted kingfisher, spotted and California towhees, black-necked stilts, Forsters' and Caspian and a reported gull-billed tern (?), 15+ red-necked phalaropes, brown pelicans, double-crested cormorants, white-tailed kites, killdeer, California gulls, acorn woodpeckers, tree swallows, western scrub jays, bushtits, black-headed grosbeak, house sparrows, American crows, house finch and 15-20 white pelicans.

Rookery: Bewick's wren, western pond turtles, tree frogs, Wilson's warbler, great blue heron, adult and immature black-crowned night herons, California towhees, acorn woodpeckers, California quail,peregrine falcon diving at a red-tailed hawk and a double-crested cormorant; however no feathers were lost.

Whistlestop lagoon: Forster's terns, sharks and a small sea lion on Fadley's dock which took off when observer approached.

Cattail Swale: Wilson's warbler, adult and immature black-crowned night herons, 4 belted kingfishers flying from the slough to the swale, black Phoebe, song sparrow, mallard, snowy egret, spotted sandpiper, Pacific slope flycatcher, downy woodpecker, white-tailed kite, red-tailed hawk, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, Bewick's wren, western scrub jay, California towhees, pied-billed grebe, common yellowthroat and an American bittern.

Barn ponds: Ruby-crowned kinglet, goldfinch spp., mallards, bushtits, black-necked stilts, loggerhead shrike, spotted sandpiper, black-crowned night heron, black Phoebe, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, black tailed deer feeding in bottom area and 16+ red-necked phalaropes.

Mid-June to mid-July 2000

Long Valley: sharks, willets, Caspian terns, brown pelicans, greater yellowlegs, marbled godwits, great and snowy egrets feeding their young, double-crested cormorants, gadwalls, mallards and an over abundance of western fence lizards.

Five Fingers: chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, American crows, white-tailed kites, house finches, bushtits, Pacific slope flycatchers in abundance since the babies were born and black phoebe families.

South Marsh: starting with the ponds below the barn we had black-crowned night herons, a California thrasher, Virginia rail, mallards and coots with babies in tow, and Caspian and Forster's terns. Moving on to Whistlestop lagoon we had smoothhound sharks, rays, anchovies and smelt with Caspian and Forster's terns feeding on the fish, a pied-billed grebe watching the action and several black phoebes taking advantage of the insects flying around. The rookery and general area surrounding it had black phoebes everywhere, Nuttall's woodpeckers, willets--notice the young are not gray like the adults? An osprey, pair of white-tailed kites, a golden eagle soaring high overhead, black-crowned night herons, mallard with babies in tow, red-tailed hawk circling lazily over the eucalyptus trees, acorn woodpeckers, western scrub jays, and bullfrogs!! Moving on to Cattail swale there were more black-crowned night herons, northern rough-wing swallows, belted kingfishers, a California quail family, chestnut-backed chickadees and elsewhere along this trail at various places: a paper wasp nest, long-billed curlews, marbled godwits, willets, whimbrel, white and brown pelicans withe the Caspian terns out at tern island, a white-tailed kite dive bombing a red-tailed hawk sitting on a power pole, red-shouldered hawks looking for a meal, pied-billed grebes, double-crested cormorants, great and snowy egrets, grea blue herons, American wigeons, turkey vultures, western gulls and ring-billed gulls, acorn woodpeckers, western scrub jays, American crows, California and spotted towhees, northern flicker, American goldfinch, Anna's hummingbird, downy and Nuttall's woodpecker families, common yellowthroats, house finch, song sparrows and house sparrows, ruddy duck, tree and cliff swallows, western fence lizards, cottontail rabbits, ground squirrels, gopher and California king snakes, rough-winged swallows, a peacock, red-winged and Brewer's blackbirds and another soaring golden eagle (or maybe the same one ? )

Mid-April to mid-May, 2000

We had bullfrogs mating (or fighting?) at the rookery, a weasel, an oppussum and several gopher snakes at various places plus:

Long Valley: Chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, barn owl, red-winged and Brewer's blackbirds, European starlings, common yellowthroat, white-tailed kites, red-shouldered hawk, American crows, song sparrows, great egrets and great blue herons, mallards, ruby-crowned kinglet fending off a scrub jay in an oak tree (aided or thwarted by a pair of Calif. towhees), dowitchers, godwits and some California and spotted towhees.

Five Fingers: Common yellowthroats, red-winged blackbirds, American kestrel, house finches, chestnut-backed chickadees, American crows, tree swallows and western scrub jays.

South Marsh: White-tailed kites, turkey vultures, red-tailed hawks, willets, marbled godwits, dowitchers, spotted sandpipers, acorn woodpeckers, great and snowy egrets, great blue herons, double-crested cormorants, gadwalls, mallards, ruddy ducks, western and Clark's grebes, ruddy ducks, bushtits, spotted sandpipers eating minnows, black phoebes, northern pintails, Canada geese, song sparrows, turkey vulture, barn owl in large barn, green-winged teal, greater scaup, red-winged blackbirds, Forster's terns, caspian terns, whimbrel, acorn woodpecker in cavity nest, barn/ cliff/ tree/ violet green swallows, long-billed curlew, western sandpiper, Pacific-slope flycatcher, California gull, green heron, California quail, Anna's hummingbird, two leopard sharks, Peregrine falcon, rabbits, gopher snakes and two wood ducks.

At the rookery the great blue herons and great egrets are quite busy with their chicks and the double-crested cormorants plus western pond turtles, red-legged frogs, bull frogs, cinnamon teal, a black-crowned night heron. pied-billed grebes, a juvenile golden eagle was mobbed by a dark morph red-tailed hawk as it tried to steal eggs/chicks in the rookery trees, At whistlestop lagoon the Forster's terns have been busy feeding along with the great blue herons and great egrets. Cattail swale has mother mallards and pied-billed grebes along with American coots, green heron, belted kingfishers, a female goldeneye, along with several warblers passing through the willows.

At or near the visitor center we have cliff and tree swallows, western blue birds with babies in the box on the cyclone fence near the foundation mobile, red-shouldered hawks and white-tailed kites. At the barn pond below the overlook we had American wigeon, gadwalls, mallards, coots, Canada geese, dowitchers, marbled godwits, western grebes, willets, cinnamon teal and a large group of dowitchers. A pair of breeding ruddy ducks was seen at Hudson's Landing along with some coots and gadwalls. Kirby Park had a harbor seal, an otter, northern pintails, gulls, western grebes, marbled godwits, red-winged blackbirds, least sandpipers and sanderlings flashing their white - then - brown sides as they moved from spot to spot.

Mid-March to mid-April, 2000

The vast majority of migrating ducks have passed through on their way north, except for a pair of Canada geese which have decided to nest here at the reserve. A pair of Canada geese also nested here last year, but since they were not banded we do know if this is the same pair. The Parson's slough overlook walk will be closed for a couple of months until the goslings are old enough to fly.

Five Fingers Trail: Brewer's blackbirds, common yellowthroat, song and savannah sparrows, European starlings, American crows, white-tailed kites courting, oak titmice and chestnut-backed chickadees nesting in trees and boxes, Pacific slope flycatchers, black phoebes, red-shouldered and red-tailed hawks, turkey vultures and in the rain pond mallards, coots, killdeer and two black-tailed deer. At the end of Five Fingers trail the Canada geese have taken over the Parson's overlook for the next couple of months and that part of the trail is closed for now.

Long Valley: Marbled godwits, long-billed curlews, white-tailed kites, barn owl, American crows, chestnut-backed chickadees and oak titmice in natural cavities and nest boxes busy incubating eggs, tree swallows, great and snowy egrets, common yellowthroats, song sparrows and western grebes.

South Marsh: Common loons, western and pied-billed grebes, mallards, northern pintails, cinnamon teal, northern shovelers, gadwalls, greater scaup, surf scoters, turkey vultures, white-tailed kites, red-tailed hawks, American coot, willets, long-billed curlews, killdeer, western gulls, barn owl in box (cannot see babies yet), rufous/ Allen/ Anna's hummingbirds, belted kingfisher, acorn woodpecker, black phoebe, northern rough-winged swallows plus cliff and tree swallows, western scrub jays, American crows, loggerhead shrike, common yellowthroat, California and spotted towhees, song/savannah/white-crowned sparrows, house finch, American goldfinch, bufflehead, American wigeon and a leopard shark at the bridge, green-winged teal, Forster's terns, black-bellied plover going into breeding plumage, common goldeneye, California gulls, spotted sandpipers, Say's phoebe, western meadowlark, golden-crowned sparrows, Cooper's hawk, bushtits, marbled godwit, yellowlegs spp., red-breasted merganser, least sandpipers, northern flicker, ruddy duck, Bewick's wren and a solitary sandpiper. The rookery is very active with great blue herons, great egrets and double-crested cormorants in residence along with western pond turtles, mallards, coots, pied-billed grebes and the black-crowned night heron is back in the willow. At whistlestop lagoon two deer and a fawn were seen plus a visitor (who knows the difference between Canada and white-fronted) reported a white-fronted goose and another visitor reported Swainson's hawk and an osprey in this same area. Cattail swale has the usual mallards, pied-billed grebes and American coots plus the resident black phoebe, tree swallow, oak titmice and chestnut-backed chickadees. A great egret was also feeding in the shallows and a belted kingfisher was heard in the area. A red-legged frog was seen in the guzzler near this area and a large alligator lizard was sunning between the visitors center and the administration building.

The strawberry/hidden valley marsh still has black-necked stilts, American avocets, cinnamon teal, blue-winged teal and great and snowy egrets feeding in the shallows.

Mid-February to mid-March 2000

Redhead, which has not been seen for a couple of years at the slough.

Five Fingers: Chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice, white-tailed kites in courting behaviors, bushtits, Brewer's and red-shouldered blackbirds. ruby-crowned kinglets, American crows, song sparrows and common yellowthroats.

Parsons overlook: The Canada geese have returned and claimed the area for nesting again this year!

Long Valley: Red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, bushtits, barn owls, ruby-crowned kinglets, American crows, white-tailed kites, chestnut-backed chickadees and oak titmice making nests in the boxes, Brewer's blackbirds, song sparrows and common yellowthroats are singing their songs with gusto!

Visitors center and surrounding area: The tree swallows are busy claiming nest boxes, a pair of western bluebirds are trying to claim one box, however it is quite a struggle with the swallows, a barn owl has taken up residence in the structure for swallows in the meadow to the left of the trail, song sparrows and common yellowthroat are vying for territory in the grasses, cliff swallows are looking at the maintenance building with thoughts of nesting again and the red-shouldered hawks sit on the wires and watch all the activity.

South Marsh trail: The great blue herons are in full splendor atop the Monterey pines at the Rookery. Also, Cinnamon teal, American coots, pied-billed grebes, double-crested cormorants, western pond turtles, muskrats, black-crowned night herons, red-winged blackbirds, red-tailed hawks and turkey vultures. Cattail swale rings in with American coots, mallards, belted kingfishers, snowy egrets, ruby-crowned kinglets, chestnut-backed chickadees, oak titmice and yellow-rumped warblers. The footbridge produced a harbor seal and also an otter eating cracked crab! Other sightings along the trail include: red-breasted / hooded/ horned grebes, Canada geese, American kestrels, Peregring falcon, spotted sandpipers, green-wing and cinnamom teal, buffleheads, western /Clark's .pied-billed grebes, acorn woodpeckers, rufous-sided and California towhees, ruby-crowned kinglets, red=shouldered and red-tailed hawks, song /white-crowned /golden-crowned sparrows, house and purple finches, white-tailed kites, great blue herons, mallards, common goldeneyes, great and snowy egrets, American coot, belted kingfisher, American crows, black and Say's phoebes, lesser scaup, willets, marbled godwits, long-billed dowitcher, greater yellowlegs, red-throated and common loon, gadwalls, turkey vultures, nortern pintails, California and western gulls, Forster's terns, ruddy ducks, long-billed curlews, western meadowlarks, black-bellied plovers, chestnut-backed chickadees, oat titmice, bushtits, European starlings, Allen and Anna's hummingbirds, whimbrel, northern harrier, common yellowthroat, brown creeper, western scrub jays, loggerhead shrike, surf scoters, tree swallows, Cooper's hawk and red-winged blackbirds.

Kirby Park: Loggerhead shrike, American kestrel, bufflehead, American avocet, northern shovelers, cinnamon and green-winged teal, American wigeon and long-billed curlews.

Hudson's landing: Scaup, common loon, black-bellied plover, western grebes, red-tailed and red-shouldered hawks, American kestrel, white-tailed kites and Brewer's and red-shouldered blackbirds as well as European starlings.

Recent Bird Sightings