Field Trip Report

Pescadero State Beach and Marsh
May 20, 2012
Jennifer Rycenga, leader

Barn Swallow, Pescadero, May 20, 2012 (Donna Pomeroy)

What a fine crew of fourteen talented, enthusiastic birders on this Pescadero field trip. We first concentrated our efforts on the ocean and beach rocks off of the ridge in the middle parking lot, from which we saw a Peregrine Falcon, some close-up Caspian Terns, and quite a few species of waterfowl and shorebirds. We then took an extended walk along the full Water Lane trail for land birds and raptors. The highlight there was a Western Kingbird, an uncommon migrant in the coastal areas. Overall we saw 76 species, as listed below. Thanks to Donna Pomeroy for permission to share her sharp pictures of the event.

Peregrine Falcon, Pescadero, May 20, 2012 (Donna Pomeroy)

Canada Goose
Gadwall
Mallard
Surf Scoter
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Western Grebe
California Quail
Brandt's Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Pelagic Cormorant
Brown Pelican
Great Egret
Great Blue Heron
Turkey Vulture
White-tailed Kite
Northern Harrier
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Peregrine Falcon
Black Oystercatcher
Wandering Tattler
Surfbird
Sanderling
Western Gull
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)
California Gull
Herring Gull (This was a bird coming into third year plumage; I cannot entirely rule out a hybrid of some sort. Incipient mantle was much lighter than a young Western gull, bill was smaller, too)
Glaucous-winged Gull
Caspian Tern
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird – found by Dan Keller and Susan Kritzik
Allen's Hummingbird
Downy Woodpecker
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Black Phoebe
Western Kingbird
Hutton's Vireo
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Bushtit
Bewick's Wren
Pacific Wren
Marsh Wren
Wrentit
Swainson's Thrush
American Robin
European Starling
Cedar Waxwing
Orange-crowned Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Song Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Purple Finch
House Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

Caspian Tern, Pescadero, May 20, 2012 (Donna Pomeroy)