Berkeley Backyard Bird Blog: The Main Reason You're Here Today: Some Sweet-ass Birding

Praise be to the Redwood Spirits

It’s the middle of summer:

A Bay Area triple play weekend.

Sweet little Wilson's Warbler

Ideal conditions to spot an abundance of birds

out and about,

making frisky cameo appearances

here and there.

Forest trail in Oakwood Valley, Marin County

In densely forested Oakwood Valley

in the Golden Gate National Recreation Area.

Redwood Creek in fine form

Along lovely Stream Trail

in Redwood Regional Park

in the Oakland Hills.

Cascade Creek in low summer flow

And in Cascade Canyon Open Space in Marin County,

in the creek-fed willow-the-wispy sylvan enclave

of Elliott Nature Preserve.

Lovey Doveys

Three very different, very alluring places to enjoy challenging hiking or chill strolling, limited biking, bountiful nature appreciation, and, the main reason you’re here:

Patrolling the skies over Rodentia-rich hills

Some sweet-ass birding.

Golden-crowned Sparrow mates

But more often than not there are no birds to watch. It’s a big waiting game, requiring the Zen-like patience and stillness of a stalking Heron (well, maybe). Idling away minutes on end for a chance appearance, hoping for a prolonged glimpse of some rarely spotted bird or another.

Marin County forested wonderland

Often, even a relative “commoner” (like a Golden-crowned Kinglet) can be as elusive to spot as some Holy Grail bird (like an Ash-throated Flycatcher). Honestly, you’ve probably seen any number of these guys during fledgling moments of observation, but just didn’t recognize or know it at the time.

Vulture lifting off along Marin's coast

Or even now.

Alluring water course in Marin County Open Space District

Won’t you sometimes look at an Oak Titmouse or Bushtit, or a Lesser Goldfinch, or oddly splotched Bewick’s Wren, and think – that’s not an Oak Titmouse or Bushtit or Lesser Goldfinch or Bewick’s Wren . . . or is it?

Cute little Oak Titmouse

That’s sweet-ass birding for you.

Frog and newt pond in Oakwood Valley

Always room for doubt and mystery.

Big (Raptor?) nest in Oakwood Valley

Oakwood Valley’s proximity to the enormously popular Tennessee Valley trailheads near Marin’s Pacific Coast renders it – literally! – a mere backwoods, an overlooked third or fourth choice for an area hike.

Oakwood Valley's pretty forested path

But you’ll take this slice of woodsy respite any day of the week! You’ve always noticed cars parked here, so someone knows something you don’t. Hard to believe, though, in dozens of trips to Tennessee Valley, it’s the first real stop over at Oakwood Valley, which turns out to be immediately enchanting (well, you’re a birder).

Up and out of the forest into open chaparral country of Oakwood Valley

The narrow trail winds through open brush before entering thick forest to gently ascend along an unassuming creek before steeply climbing to the aptly named Alta Trail, where big-time, world-class views await.

Gambolin' Man following the birds

A stunning arc of thousands of square miles of natural wonders: Mount Tamalpais, Richardson Bay, Angel Island, San Francisco and beyond to the East Bay where iconic Mount Diablo, at 3848 feet above sea level, is a teensy triangle on the horizon.

Stellar Marin and beyond views atop lofty hills

A slow saunter through the woods makes for an enchanting day’s outing. Warm, patchy sun, clearing skies, pillowy clouds and scruffy meadows.

Contemplating the forest primeval

And a bonanza of birds!

Bewick's Wren on the lookout for a grasshopper

Some mighty sweet-ass birding!

Anna's Hummingbird sucking nectar

First thing you know, a frisky, bold Black-headed Grosbeak hops up on an exposed branch to bare his orange-breasted escutcheon for several seconds. It’s only the third or fourth time you’ve sighted the interesting, colorful, quasi-exotic and rarely-spotted bird (in your estimation), precipitating excited albeit exaggerated outbursts of wonderment, but alas, too much fumbling in between bino views, so no photos to be had . . .

Black-headed Grosbeak espied in the Berkeley Hills

Oakwood Valley Trail is flat-out lovely; no hurry to put territory in front of or behind you. Surely, your partner – no birder fanatic – is itchin’ to keep the pace up, but today it’s business as usual in your birding world: slow, aimless ambling, with many detours and distractions.

Rotting tree bark provides a "smorgasbird" of insect delights

Dead and decaying trees

amid lush understory.

Buckeye Butterfly

Magic mushroom eye patterns

on a butterfly’s brown spotted wings.

Remnant pools attract birds, fox, deer, coyote

A small mud hole ringed with horsetail and reeds,

a frog’s haven, mosquitos love it, too.

What a berry berry cute little guy

A chipmunk clutching a berry to munch on.

Bad photo to base identification on (Rufous or Allen's?)

Constantly stopping every five seconds to ascertain the indiscernible provenance of a certain cry, whistle, peep, tweet or shriek. No dice. No luck. That’s how many birds are diggin’ this place! Often, their musical notes are the only clue to their presence.

Sylvan and arboreal shelter for countless birds

Consider yourself fortunate, if able to coax a trilling Oven Bird out from the underbrush, or espy a kaa-kaa-kaaing Ferruginous Hawk fleeing treetop cover for the open skies.

Regal Red-tailed Hawk ruling the roost

In such a varied environment – meadow, grassland, sylvan, riparian – you’re able to rack up 20 confirmed sightings, including the now-you-see-me-now-you-don’t Grosbeak; playful Wilson's Warblers; down to business Spotted Towhees; frisky Dark-eyed and Adult Pink-sided Juncos; whirring Rufous, Allen’s (?) and Anna's Hummingbirds . . .

Dark-eyed Junco collecting nest material

Circling Red-tailed Hawks; curious as hell Scrub and Steller's Jays; whistlin’ while they play House Finches; peepin’ California Quail; peckin’ away Downy Woodpeckers; fidgety Ruby-crowned Kinglets; soaring Vultures; and acrobatic Chestnut-backed Chickadees . . .

Beautiful Hawk riding the thermals

Enough bird action to keep you busy for . . .

days, weeks, months, years!

Vermilion Flycatcher (spotted in Big Bend National Park)

Next up: Redwood Regional Park, always a great place to while away the hours. Today marks a first, though, with some serious birding on the agenda.

By 1860 all Old Growth Sequoia had been chopped down

In the shaded interior of the forest, 3rd Gen Redwoods soar 150 feet tall. Stream Trail runs the length of deep-cut Redwood Creek, by now quite dried up, but still emanating a special quality of beauty and sweet respite from the heat.

Sweet burbling of Redwood Creek along Stream Trail

The cathedral-like forest and pretty stream that runs through it enchant, where Rainbow Trout were first identified, categorized and eventually introduced to other parts of the world. The impressive progeny of old-growth Redwoods, the biggest and tallest in the world at one time, lend a Jurassic Park feeling to things.

Sacred Redwoods soaring skyward

Naturally, the birds love it here!

Varied Thrush making an appearance

You leave the parade of strollers for a side-winding trail above the forest floor, cresting 50 feet above, stopping to take in – lovely birdsong? – no, just lovely wafting violin music! Three musicians are playing folksy bluegrass tunes under a grove of Redwoods! You drop pack and plop ‘er down right there on the dusty trail and enjoy twenty minutes of the impromptu concert from on high . . . a complement to the music of birds you hear all about.

A lush, magical environment prevails after rains

While investigating an oxbow bend in the creek, where tiny fish are able to survive in shaded pools, a big flap on the opposite bank turns out to be a big-winged bird landing on a branch for some good viewing long enough to identify the Band-tailed Pigeon!

Band-tailed Pigeon high in tree top cover

It’s just your second sighting of a "Code 2" bird, which elicits howls of histrionic delight. (Code 2 means a bird’s range is “restricted but regular in the American Birding Association area.”). Might not seem like any big deal . . . but the Band-tailed Pigeon makes your day!

Open view of Band-tailed Pigeon

Him and a half-dozen other feathered brethren seeking respite along Redwood Creek’s hospitable artery: Juncos, Hermit Thrush, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, American Crows, Steller’s Jays, Brown Creepers, and the always pretty Spotted Towhees.

Hello, Band-tailed Pigeon, nice knowin' ya

Obviously, a birder’s paradise.

Shy California Towhee

Excuse me:

make that a bird’s paradise!

Fox Sparrow (I think)

Day 3, you’re off to a favorite place: Marin County Open Space District, a wildlife sanctuary, a retreat for city-weary humans, a place you love no matter the time of year, when varying seasons bring dramatic changes to the landscape.

Cascade Canyon Creek's most amazing rocks

Now, dry as dry can be, still you find, along Cascade Creek lovely surviving pools harboring fingerling trout, water striders, bugs, and you even spot your first Blue Skink in four years. Stunning little guy.

San Anselmo Creek drying up quickly

Along sheltered Cascade Creek, you’re amazed to actually find flowing water in the shady setting, so peaceful and cool and beautiful contrasted against the stark, harsh, burnt golden glare of arid hillsides and gone to seed meadows. The main wide artery of San Anselmo Creek is stone dead dry.

Cascade Canyon Creek Falls in wetter season

And still,

the birds are enamored of this place!

Precious Spotted Towhee

Everyone from Black-capped Chickadees and Spotted Towhees, to Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Hummingbirds and Vultures. Throw in a few oddly splotched Juncos, pairs of high-pitched trilling House Finches, and call it a day.