Field Trip Report

Laurelwood Park, San Mateo
January 22, 2012
Jennifer Rycenga, leader

Avid birders scanning for California Towhee, at the crossover between the Tenderfoot and the Creek Overlook trails at Laurelwood Park, January 22, 2012. Laurie Graham is in the green hat. (Jennifer Rycenga, photographer)

In what has been a winter of drought, it was hard to curse the rainclouds that gathered as we launched on this field trip. We took a chance that we could at least launch an exploration of this hidden gem of a municipal park, and enjoyed ninety minutes before the drops started falling continuously. Our group of eleven hiked a loop of the Tenderfoot Trail and Creek Overlook Trail. We detected twenty-seven species, the best being a male/female pair of VARIED THRUSH. We had many good opportunities to study birds up close, including a cooperative HAIRY WOODPECKER, OAK TITMOUSES, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, DARK-EYED JUNCOS and STELLER'S JAYS. Most participants were visiting Laurelwood for the first time, and were charmed by it. Too bad we didn't get to explore the Sugarloaf Mountain area of the park, as well, but we will have another field trip here soon!

Species list

Red-shouldered Hawk
California Gull
Anna's Hummingbird
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Black Phoebe
Hutton's Vireo
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Oak Titmouse
Bushtit
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch

– Jennifer Rycenga