California 2015 November 3rd – November 25th 2015

Route /Places Visited:

Lake Tahoe and Sierra Nevada - Pollock's Pines, Eldorado National Forest, West shore of Lake Tahoe,

Emerald Bay, Truckee, Donner Memorial State Park, Squaw Valley, East shore of Lake Tahoe, Carson City, Nevada State Railroad Museum, Tallac Historic Site

Three Rivers and Sequoia National Park - Sequoia Sightseeing Tour, sequoiatours.com, Lake Isabella La Merced Wildlife Refuge and Death Valley NP - Death Valley, Stovepipe Wells, Mesquite Flat sand

dunes, Harmony Borax Works, Furnace Creek, Golden Canyon, Badwater, Zabriskie Point,

Red Rock Valley NP and Carrizo Plains - Trona, Red Rock Canyon, Tehachapi, Taft oil fields, Bitter Creek

National Wildlife Refuge, Carrizo plain

Morro Bay and Montana de Oro State Park - Back Bay, Morro Bay, Montana de Oro Monterey and Moss Bay Landing/Elkhorn Slough - Big Sur, San Simeon, Piedras Blancas Elephant Seal

Rookery, Pacific Grove beaches, Monarch Butterfly sanctuary, Moss Landing, Point Lobos Park, Carmel Valley, Monterey Aquarium, San Francisco/ Henry Cowell Redwood state park- Golden Gate Bridge, Maritime Museum, Fisherman's

Wharf/Pier 39, Golden Gate Park, Treasure Island, Farmer's Market, Cable Car Museum, Cable Cars, Dolores Mission, Union Square, Land's End Bodega Bay- Point Reyes visitor centre, Olema marsh, Heart's Desire Beach, Doran regional park, Bodega

Head, Sonoma Coast state park, Jenner, Russian River, Armstrong Redwoods state park, Sebastopol, Bodega, Point Reyes Station, Five Brooks

Guides/Internet sites: Audubon Guide Birds of North America (APP) https://www.audubon.org/apps Cloud Birders Reports - http://www.cloudbirders.com/tripreport http://www.birdersplayground.co.uk/files/California%20November%202009.pdf http://www.robgoldbach.nl/Reports/California%20Nov%201998.pdf http://www.blm.gov/ca/st/en/prog/nlcs/Carrizo_Plain_NM/wildlife/checklist_herptefauna.html Merced Refuge - http://www.fws.gov/Refuge/Merced/

Summary A late trip to San Francisco in the year did not disappoint in terms of bird and wildlife observations. The changes in spectacular scenery and habitats made the trip very enjoyable. Highlights included the fantastic drive along Highway 1 coastal road between Monterey and Morro Bay; Spectacular scenery in Death Valley; Fantastic Redwood trees; Close observations of Bears, Coyotes and Sea Mammals; Watching the Migrating Monarch Butterflies and flocks of waders, pelicans and other birds on the way south. As a result of snow and closed passes, original trip to Yosemite and to Mono Lake was modified and replaced with a very productive trip to Three Rivers and Sequoia NP. California did have a few storms and strong winds restricted pelagic trips in Monterey resulted in limited whale and sea mammals seen by others on previous days. Death Valley had also experienced flooding a few days prior to our visit and some areas including Artist Drive were closed. Visits to the Aquarium in Monterey, the Carson Valley Train Museum in Nevada as well the Parks and Visitor Sites in San Francisco added to the experience.

Checklist of Birds seen (* Brief /distant views)

Ducks, Geese, and Swans (Anatidae) Greater White-fronted Goose Anser albifrons Snow Goose Chen caerulescens La Merced Wildlife Refuge Ross’s Goose Chen rossii * La Merced Wildlife Refuge Black Brant Branta nigricans Canada Goose Branta canadensis Gadwall Anas strepera American Wigeon Anas Americana Eurasian Wigeon Anas penelope Mallard Anas platyrhynchos. RedHead Aythya americana Northern Pintail Anas acuta Blue-winged Teal Anas discors Cinnamon Teal Anas cyanoptera Northern Shoveler Anas clypeata Green-winged Teal Anas crecca Ring-necked Duck Aythya collaris Greater Scaup Aythya marila Lesser Scaup Aythya affinis Bufflehead Bucephala albeola. Common Goldeneye Bucephala clangula Common Merganser Mergus merganser Red-breasted Merganser Mergus serrator Ruddy Duck Oxyura jamaicensis Black Scoter* Melantîtta americana Surf Scoter Melanitta perspicillata - Very Common

New World Quail, Turkeys etc California Quail Callipepla californica Wild Turkey Meleagris gallopavo Loons (Gaviidae) Pacific Loon Gavia pacifica Very Common Common Loon Gavia immer Common Red Throated Loon Gavia stellata

Grebes (Podicipedidae) Pied-billed Grebe Podilymbus podiceps Horned Grebe Podiceps auritus Eared Grebe Podiceps nigricollis Western Grebe Aechmophorus occidentalis Clark’s Grebe Aechmophorus clarkia Cormorants (Phalacrocoracidae) Brandt's Cormorant Phalacrocorax penicillatu Double-crested Cormorant Phalacrocorax auritus. Pelagic Cormorant Phalacrocorax pelagicus Shearwaters and Skuas Northern Fulmar* Fulmarus glacialis Pacific Grove beaches Black-vented Shearwater* Puffinus opisthomelas Pacific Grove beaches Pomarine Jaeger Stercorarius pomarinus * Pacific Grove beaches

Pelicans (Pelecanidae) American White Pelican Pelecanus erythrorhynchos. Mainly around San Francisco Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis – Very Common

Bitterns, Herons, and Allies (Ardeidae) American Bittern Botaurus lentiginosus Great Blue Heron Ardea herodias. Great Egret Ardea alba. Snowy Egret Egretta thula Black-crowned Night-Heron Nycticorax nycticorax Cattle Egret Bubulicus ibis Ibises and Spoonbills (Threskiornithidae) White-faced Ibis Plegadis chihi. La Merced Wildlife Refuge

New World Vultures (Cathartidae) Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura. California Condor* Gymnogyps californianus Along Highway1 past Monterey

Ospreys (Pandionidae) Osprey Pandion haliaetus

Hawks, Kites, Eagles, and Allies (Accipitridae) White-tailed Kite Elanus leucurus Bald Eagle Haliaeetus leucocephalus* Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus* Cooper’s Hawk Accipiter cooperii. Red-shouldered Hawk Buteo lineatus. Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis Ferruginous Hawk Buteo regalis

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots (Rallidae) American Coot Fulica americana.

Cranes (Gruidae) Sandhill Crane Grus canadensis

Stilts and Avocets (Recurvirostridae) Black-necked Stilt Himantopus mexicanus American Avocet Recurvirostra americana

Lapwings and Plovers (Charadriidae) Black-bellied Plover Pluvialis squatarola Snowy Plover Charadrius nivosus Semipalmated Plover Charadrius semipalmatus Killdeer Charadrius vociferus

Sandpipers, Phalaropes, and Allies (Scolopacidae) Greater Yellowlegs Tringa melanoleuca Willet Tringa semipalmata

Lesser Yellowlegs Tringa flavipes Long-billed Curlew Numenius americanus Marbled Godwit Limosa fedoa Sanderling Calidris alba Dunlin Calidris alpina Baird’s Sandpiper Calidris bairdii Least Sandpiper Calidris minutilla Western Sandpiper Calidris mauri Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus Long-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus scolopaceus Wilson’s Snipe Gallinago delicate Ruddy Turnstone Arenaria interpres Black Turnstone Arenaria melanocephala Surfbird Aphriza virgata American Whimbrel Numenius hudsonicus Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers (Laridae) Bonaparte’s Gull Chroicocephalus Philadelphia* Heermann’s Gull Larus heermanni Very Common Ring-billed Gull Larus delawarensis. California Gull Larus californicus. Very Common Herring Gull Larus argentatus. Lesser Black Back Gull Laraus canus Common (Mew)Gull Larus brachyrhynchus Glaucous-winged Gull Larus glaucescens Caspian Tern Hydroprogne caspia Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri Elegant Tern Sterna elegans Auks, Murres etc Common Murre Uria aalge Pigeons and Doves (Columbidae) Rock Pigeon Columba livia Band-tailed Pigeon Patagioenas fasciata Eurasian Collared-Dove Streptopelia decaocto. Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura

Typical Owls (Strigidae) Great Horned Owl Bubo virginianus 1 Seen near Bodega Bay

Hummingbirds (Trochilidae) Anna’s Hummingbird Calypte anna Common around San Francisco

Kingfishers (Alcedinidae) Belted Kingfisher Megaceryle alcyon Seen near Lake Tahoe

Woodpeckers and Allies (Picidae) Acorn Woodpecker Melanerpes formicivorus Williamson’s Sapsucker Sphyrapicus thyroideus. In Sequoia NP Red-naped Sapsucker Sphyrapicus nuchalis

Red-breasted Sapsucker Sphyrapicus ruber Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus White-headed Woodpecker Picoides albolarvatus Lake Tahoe Nutthall woodpecker Picoided nuttallii * Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus. Common.

Caracaras and Falcons (Falconidae) American Kestrel Falco sparverius Merlin Falco columbarius Peregrine Falcon Falco peregrinus Prairie Falcon Falco mexicanus

Tyrant Flycatchers (Tyrannidae) Western Wood-Pewee Contopus sordidulus Pacific-slope Flycatcher Empidonax difficilis Black Phoebe Sayornis nigricans Say’s Phoebe Sayornis saya Cassins Kingbird Tyrannus vociferans

Shrikes (Laniidae) Loggerhead Shrike Lanius ludovicianus

Vireos (Vireonidae) Huttons’s Vireo Vireo cassinii.

Jays and Crows (Corvidae) Pinyon Jay Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus* Steller’s Jay Cyanocitta stelleri. Lake Tahoe Western Scrub-Jay Aphelocoma californica - Common Clark’s Nutcracker Nucifraga columbiana * Lake Tahoe Black-billed Magpie Pica hudsonia American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos. Common Raven Corvus corax.

Cuckoos, etc Greater Roadrunner Geococcyx californianus Death Valley NP

Larks (Alaudidae) Horned Lark Eremophila alpestris

Swallows (Hirundinidae) Tree Swallow Tachycineta bicolor

Chickadees and Titmice (Paridae) Mountain Chickadee Poecile gambeli. Lake Tahoe Chestnut backed Chickadee Poecile rufescens

Bushtits (Aegithalidae) Bushtit Psaltriparus minimus.

Nuthatches (Sittidae) Red-breasted Nuthatch Sitta Canadensis Pygmy Nuthatch Sitta pygmaea. Lake Tahoe Creepers (Certhiidae) Brown Creeper Certhia americana

Wrens (Troglodytidae) Rock Wren Salpinctes obsoletus Canyon Wren Catherpes mexicanus House Wren Troglodytes aedon Pacific Wren Troglodytes pacificus* Marsh Wren Cistothorus palustris Bewick’s Wren Thryomanes bewickii

Gnatcatchers and Gnatwrens (Polioptilidae) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Polioptila caerulea

Kinglets (Regulidae) Golden-crowned Kinglet Regulus satrapa Ruby-crowned Kinglet Regulus calendula

Thrushes (Turdidae) Western Bluebird Sialia mexicana Mountain Bluebird Sialia currucoides Townsend’s Solitaire Myadestes townsendi. Hermit Thrush Catharus guttatus American Robin Turdus migratorius. Varied Thrush Ixoreus naevius

Mockingbirds and Thrashers (Mimidae) Northern Mockingbird Mimus polyglottos Gray Catbird Dumetella carolinensis Starlings (Sturnidae) European Starling Sturnus vulgaris.

Wagtails and Pipits (Motacillidae) American Pipit Anthus rubescens

Waxwings (Bombycillidae) Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum.

Warblers Common Yellowthroat Geothlypis trichas. Audubons Warbler Very Common Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata. Very Common Townsend’s Warbler Setophaga townsendi Common Wrentit Chamaea fasciata

Emberizids (Emberizidae) California Towhee Melozone crissalis Spotted Towhee Pipilo maculatus. Chipping Sparrow Spizella passerina White throated Sparrow Zonotrichia albicollis Rufus Crowned Sparrow Aimophilia carpalis Lark Sparrow Chondestes grammacus Black-throated Sparrow Amphispiza bilineata Savannah Sparrow Passerculus sandwichensis Fox Sparrow Passerella iliaca Song Sparrow Melospiza melodia Lincoln’s Sparrow Melospiza lincolnii White-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia leucophrys Golden-crowned Sparrow Zonotrichia atricapilla Dark-eyed Junco Junco hyemalis.

Blackbirds (Icteridae) Red-winged Blackbird Agelaius phoeniceus. Western Meadowlark Sturnella neglecta Brewer’s Blackbird Euphagus cyanocephalus Great-tailed Grackle Quiscalus mexicanus Brown-headed Cowbird Molothrus ater

Fringilline and Cardueline Finches and Allies (Fringillidae) House Finch Haemorhous mexicanus Purple Finch Haemorhous purpureus Pine Siskin Spinus pinus. American Goldfinch Spinus tristis

Old World Sparrows (Passeridae) House Sparrow Passer domesticus.

LIST OF MAMMALS OBSERVED

Harbour Seal Phoca vitulina. Rather common. Seen at Monterey, Moss Landing, and Piedras Blancas.

Elephant Seal Mirounga angustirostris 100 ex seen at Piedras Blancas.

Californian Sea Lion Zalophus californianus In Monterey harbour, at Point Lobos, at Moss Landing,.

Sea Otter Enhydra lutris nereis Monterey,Moro Bay, at Moss Landing

River Otter. Lontra Canadensis Near San Francisco

1 Whale and 2 short or long nosed Dolphins at distant from the Pacific Grove beaches*

Antelope Squirrel Ammospermophilus harrisi Death ValleyNP

California Ground Squirrel Citellus beecheyi

Douglas Squirrel Tamiasciurus douglasil Tahoe Lake

Praraire dog Cynomys

Golden Mantled Ground squirrel Callospermophilus lateralis

Blacktail Jackrabbit Lepus californicus

Desert Cottontail Sylvilagus auduboni

Mule (Black-tailed) Deer Odocoileus hemionus

White tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus

Coyote Canis latrans 1 seen in Death Valley, 1 near San Francisco.

Black Bear Ursus americanus .Up to 15 seen in Three rivers due to the good acorn supply

Pacific Fisher. Martes pennant Seen briefly in Sequoia NP

LIST OF BUTTERFLIES AND OTHER INSECTS/REPTILES OBSERVED Red Admiral, Cabbage White, Orange Sulphur, Monarch Butterfly Pacific Tree (Chorus) Frog Western Fence Lizard

Mike Neale 2015 http://www.surfbirds.com/community-blogs/bbc/