Berkeley Backyard Bird Blog: June 2014

Alluring stretch of Wildcat Creek

Summer Solstice is a time of abundant avian appearances. Multifarious species are in transit, coming and going, out 'n about doing their thing in the bird-rich forests sheltering the precious artery of Wildcat Creek Gorge and Watershed.

Bewick's Wren tweeting up a storm

They're also frolicking about in force up on the sunburnt conifer / chaparral ridges near Inspiration Point where birds rule the roost. You're hoping against hope to spot and photograph a Lazuli Bunting, or maybe a Black-headed Grosbeak.

Rains create white water effect on the creek

Even a Crossbill, for cryin' out loud!

Handsome Lazuli Bunting flew in for a visit

Fat chance, but who knows. That's why you bird watch. For the promise of a simple but soul-satisfying reward. If you're into bird watching, that is.

Big Springs Hills in the greater Wildcat Creek Watershed

Wildcat Creek is running dry early in the year, owing to the prolonged drought; still, it contains sufficient discharge – miraculous! – to earn special status as a perennial riparian environment in a protected watershed.

Lark Sparrow ground feeding

A very special place in our urban midst – the Berkeley Hills and its 2000 acres of open spaces and wild places.

Nook Pool cascade along Wildcat Creek Gorge Trail

Along Wildcat Gorge Trail, euphonious rifts of water chugging away on its journey to the Bay makes good company, while mellifluous melodies of golden-throated creatures emanate from the bushes and branches and tree tops.

Chestnut-backed Chickadee taking cover

Birds galore!

Lush forest cover for Owls, Ravens, Hawks, Songbirds

Singin' their sweet hearts out!

Townsend's Warbler poppin' down for a visit

Hidden and initially unseen, once you drop the bike, stop moving, and begin to pay attention, dozens of birds along a 100 yard stretch gradually come into being, popping into your consciousness like spirit guides, almost.

Recreational Lake Anza impounds the creek in Tilden Park

You're taken by a pair of frisky Wilson's Warblers, a couple of classic looking, yellow as yellow can be, very handsome black-tammed passerines. Soon another of its kind crashes the party, a flitty little guy almost unrecognizable as a Wilson's Warbler were it not for the black crown. Perhaps, you wonder, the camouflaged breast spots or streaks or irregular patterning IDs them as juveniles. Otherwise, what gives?

Lovely Wilson's Warbler cooling off at small dipping pool

You continue working your way upstream through the small, pretty gorge, stopping at a special nook for several minutes to admire and track the flirty movements of Bushtits, Chickadees, Juncos, Jays and Robins.

Sandstone wind caves above Wildcat Creek Gorge Trail

Looking out at a dense copse backed by sandstone cave outcrops (yes), you spot way up there – can it be? YES! You zero in just in time for a two-second glimpse of the seldom-seen, orange / cinnamon-colored Black-headed Grosbeak.

Black-headed Grosbeak in Tilden Regional Park

Where have you been, my lovely little friend, perched so ephemerally, and then gone in a flash, never to be spotted again. It's been maybe two years since a last sighting, and the thrill ain't gone.

After a rainstorm, no creek is prettier than Wildcat

On your bike, if you wanted to, you could zip through the pretty little gorge in ten minutes – but think of how much you would miss! So how long does it take to cover the half-mile? One hour!

Wide Wide World of Birds on Wildcat Gorge Trail

But what better way to kill time than a lackadaisical 60 minutes of effortless locomotion up the trail, deeply intrigued with everything in your path. Stopping here to steal a glance down into the tangle of green, sinuous creek bed. Lollygagging there to investigate chirping choruses and furtive movement in the trees and bushes.

Black Phoebe resting at Jewel Lake

When suddenly your attention is diverted to some minor ruckus in the creek. How cool! But nothing to get too, too excited about, right? Take a look:

"Just" a Junco takin' a dip

During one dilatory stretch, you're stopped in your tracks, glued to the scene, entranced by the pretty little creek. Dreamy reflections of upside images of arching bay tree branches and Redwood trunks melt into a leafy tableau of blue hints of sky. In this nothing little half-stagnant pool.

Pretty reflections in remnant pools late in season

Endless minutes pass, oblivious to time, absorbed as you are in desperate, futile attempts to photograph Ruby-crowned Kinglets feeding on gnats and Wilson's Warblers flitting all over the place. When suddenly one lands nearby, you get a sense of how tiny they are, how vulnerable they must be, how precious each one is – and, contrariwise, how resilient, tough, resourceful, ingenious and durable they are.

Mature 2nd and 3rd generation Redwoods grace the parklands

One cute little cuss hops to a flimsy branch not four feet away, but you fumble and miss a picture perfect photo op and at the same time, being a lens-obsessive birder, you miss the visceral delight of just looking at the pretty wild creatures with your natural eyes.

Lush Laurel Canyon gully in the Wildcat Creek Watershed

Many families are walking the gorge trail on this beautiful first day of summer. Little kids taking delight in things (you suspect) their parents are missing. A four-year old approaches to ask what you're looking at.

Bay leaves and pine needles

"Birds.

But you really have to be patient

if you want to see them."

Resident Raven feeding on a bat in Eucalyptus trees

The boy nods and seems genuinely interested in, not so much the birds, but with your fascination with birds. Some time later, the same curious little boy passes by again, smiling smartly.

Turkey in big-time fantail mode

"Hey, you're still here!

Cool, Mister!

Are the birds still here?"

Crow action

You turn to address him,

losing sight of a lovely Spotted Towhee.

Common Goldeneye (so common I've only seen one in my life!)

"Yep, lots of birds to see.

Who have you spotted?"

Never know which bird you will spot - if your eyeballs are peeled!

Difficult as it is to leave the forested creek side scene – so vibrant with bird life! – it's inspiring to ascend several hundred feet up to sunny (and windy, per usual) Inspiration Point, one of the East Bay Regional Park District's most – uh – inspirational – panoramas of a changed but still viably prehistoric landscape.

A changing landscape, ever-evolving

New educational signs posted overlooking San Pablo and Briones Reservoirs, Briones Regional Park, and Mount Diablo State Park tell the fascinating geological story of a shifting, moving, living land shaped by earthquake activity and erosion.

View of San Pablo Reservoir and North Coast ridges beyond

As you stand there gazing out at the rain-depleted landscape . . . dry thistle-infested brown hills so early in the season.

Found: tiny skull of unknown bird type

Instead of heading out on paved Nimitz Way to take in world-class views of San Francisco, Mount Tamalpais, the Golden Gate Bridge, and the Marin Headlands, you ditch your bike in the weeds and enter the water district's (EBMUD) protected lands via Inspiration Trail to hang out a bit on a little slice of wild territory that you love and cherish.

Ignore the electric pylons and focus on the quietude, views and beauty

Despite a phalanx of electrical pylons clogging up the ridgeline view. You just block them out.

See what I'm talkin' about

Besides, you have to love them, because they provide ideal perches for Red-tailed Hawks, White-tailed Kites and American Kestrels, catching a breather or overseeing their bountiful domain to espy some tasty meal of vole, mole, rat, mouse, feral cat or – lost little doggie.

Turtles piling it on at Jewel Lake

And just why do you love this

unknown, unheralded

little "nowhere" place?

Red-breasted Sapsucker foraging in the Eucalyptus trees

Why just because!

Pie-billed Grebe finding a temporary home on Jewel Lake

Because of stellar eastward views of Mount Diablo's imposing double massif juxtaposed with the 2000+ ft. rollicking ridges of Las Trampas Regional Wilderness and, beyond, the dark silhouettes of the Ohlone Range with peaks rising out of southeastern Alameda County at over 4,000 ft.

EBMUD sign-in station off Inspiration Point / Nimitz Way

Because of this place's anonymity,

its sheer nowhereness and hiddenness

in plain sight!

View northeastward of Brionesland

But mostly because the birds love it,

and what's good enough for the birds

is good enough for you.

Size don't matter

In your lonesome element here, it's a lazy saunter up and down the trail hugging the half-forested, half-chaparral hillside. You love it because it's a real piece of undisturbed Mother Nature. And what fine bird habitat, and no doubt fox, coyote, cougar, and skunk territory, as well.

Red-shouldered Hawk with something to eat

Now operating in a purely sans souci,

meditative frame of mind,

in zero hurry, a quick hour slips by . . .

Reed patterns on the pond

. . . doing not much of anything . . .

A Finch stretching for a pinch

Except patrolling the little-trafficked trail and spotting a band of darting Juncos, scolding Steller's Jays, and ruby-necked Finches feasting on thistle seeds.

Boardwalk in Tilden Nature Area

Peering above at a low circling Vulture, admiring a glittering Anna's Hummingbird, and getting an eye-squinting glimpse of the white-spotted rear ends of skittering off Northern Flickers.