San Francisco Bay Area- Day 1
I had a big car in Florida as I was only driving along the wilderness. I have rented a smaller car here in San Francisco as I expect to be driving in heavy traffic and in the populated areas in San Francisco area. I will take the first day to get used to driving here and I will explore the San Francisco Bay south of the hotel and it looks to be much less populated.
The south and east side of the San Francisco Bay
Santa Clara County Bayfront, south end of the San Francisco Bay and I will visit the below spots. And there is a lot of eBird hotspot in the areas and parks.
- Sunnyvale Baylands Park And here you will find a MAP in pdf format over the area.
- Alviso Marina County Park And here you will find a MAP in pdf format over the area.
- Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge Alviso
The East Bay Regional Park District, east side of the San Francisco Bay and I will try to visit the below areas/ parks. And there is a lot of eBird hotspot in the areas and parks.
- Hayward Shoreline Park And here you will find a MAP/ information in pdf format over the area.
- Coyote Hills Regional Park And here you will find a MAP/ information in pdf format over the area.
- Visitor Centers: Ardenwood And here you will find a MAP/ information in pdf format over the area.
It will be a full day around San Francisco Bay and I hope to cover a lot of area, of course, depending on weather and how much time I spend in each area.
Wednesday 12 th of April 2023 and I left my room around 7 thirty after having had tea and cheese for breakfast. I took off towards Sunnyvale Baylands Park that was my first planned stop. I had to turn around as I had forgot to bring extra snus.
Snus is always good to keep in the car so I don't run out. Maybe in the middle of some exciting birding so better to have than to have to go back to the hotel to replenish.
I keep refreshments in the car
A SIP before leaving the hotel
I am soon on my way south again and I manage to find the Sunnyvale Baylands Park and I can start my eBird app at 07:52. The first bird picture I take in California is a poor picture of a bird sitting in the top of a tree, it is far away but I managed to ID the bird as a Brown-headed Cowbird thanks to the picture.
There is a lot of birds that I think, well, they look like the Yellow-throated Warbler I had seen in Florida. The bird seems to like the flowers in the trees. But they stayed hidden among the flowers so there were no good pictures. Thanks to birdforum I got the ID Yellow-rumped Warbler
I park the car and I start to walk down towards the board walk. I spotted several White-crowned Sparrows on the way. They were sitting in a pine tree together with on beautiful house finch.
Brown-headed Cowbird - My first Californian bird
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Thanks to Butty and rkj at birdforum for the correct ID
House Finch
White-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
I walk down to the board walk and there are many swallows, Barn Swallows fling around and there are many Cliff Swallows with nest under the board walk. I get a picture of the Wilson's Snipe and there is six Black-necked Stilts and that is the first time I see this bird.
There are many American Coots and I discover that there are Cliff Swallow nests when I come out on the board walk. They are flying in and out from under the board walk and I have a look. And they are having nests and this is the first time I see this bird.
American Coot
American Coot
Cliff Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Green-winged Teal
Long-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Black-necked Stilt
Black-necked Stilt
Bufflehead
Barn Swallow
Barn Swallow
Northern Shoveler
American Coot
American Coot
I left the board walk and I turned left to walk south of the pond. There was a Gadwall pair swimming around and I tried to take some pictures. I turn around and I walk back to the car and I was happy as I had seen any birds.
And many birds that I had not seen before so there will be a lot of “Lifers” on my eBird Trip Report.
Gadwall
Gadwall
Canada Goose
eBird Report
Sunnyvale Baylands Park, Santa Clara, California, US
Apr 12, 2023 07:52 - 09:05
Protocol: Traveling
2.17 kilometer(s)
17 species (+1 other taxa)
Canada Goose 3
Northern Shoveler 7
Gadwall 2 One Pair
Mallard 2 One pair
Green-winged Teal 7
Bufflehead 1
American Coot 20
Black-necked Stilt 6
Killdeer 1
Long-billed Dowitcher 1
gull sp. 5 Too far away for ID
Barn Swallow 25
Cliff Swallow 100 With nests under the board walk
House Finch 1
White-crowned Sparrow 11
Song Sparrow 1
Brown-headed Cowbird 1
Yellow-rumped Warbler 15
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S133512919
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Today's track at Sunnyvale Baylands Park
Trail closed
I leave the Sunnyvale Baylands Park and next stop is at Alviso Marina County Park. They are working in the area so some trails were closed. Alviso Marina County Park and I did two eBird hotspots and I started at Salt Pond A12.
It was gorgeous weather with blue sky and sunshine, but it was a strong wind and it was very cold in the wind. So, no birds at the pond and the beaches were covered with a thick layer of foam. And I walked back to the parking.
Alviso Marina County Park - Board walk to the Salt Pond A12
California Gull
Alviso Marina County Park - Board walk to the Salt Pond A12
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
The second eBird hotspot was the Alviso Marina County Park and I spotted two sparrows, The White and the Golden Crowned Sparrow. And I spotted one Northern Mockingbird before I left Alviso Marina County Park. And I managed to get a recording of the Mockingbird.
Listen to the Northern Mockingbird
Sound from www.xeno-canto.org
Remarks from the Recordist
Recorded with my ZOOM H5 Handy Recorder and High Pass Filter applied with Audacity.
Sitting next to me in a bush, but it is always strong wind around San Fransisco so the recording not as good as I had been hoping for.
Northern Mockingbird
eBird Report
Salt Pond A12, Santa Clara, California, US
Apr 12, 2023 09:22 - 09:36
Protocol: Traveling
0.41 kilometer(s)
Checklist Comments: Strong wind and beach full of foam. No birds
2 species (+1 other taxa)
Mallard 1 Lone male
California Gull 2
gull sp. 6 Cannot ID
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S133516057
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Today's track at Salt Pond A12, Alviso Marina County Park
eBird Report
Alviso Marina County Park, Santa Clara, California, US
Apr 12, 2023 09:37 - 09:57
Protocol: Traveling
0.49 kilometer(s)
3 species
Northern Mockingbird 1
White-crowned Sparrow 1
Golden-crowned Sparrow 1
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S133518311
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Today's track at Alviso Marina County Park
Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge Alviso is the next stop and I see the first ever hummingbird. I driver around the parking area as I do everywhere. I look for birds and where the trails starts etc. before I park the car.
I was taking pictures of a House Finch when suddenly the first humming bird landed next to the House Finch. So, I was very happy when I parked the car and I went out on the New Chicago Marsh Trail and it was blowing cold and I decided to wear my winter gear tomorrow.
House Finch
Anna's Hummingbird
The board walk was closed after about 100 meters and I had to walk back. I stop on the board walk to enjoy the view when suddenly, behind and under me I heard a loud and angry hiss.
I turned around and there was one angry Canada Goose. I looked over the rail and there was a nest with four big eggs.
So, I left immediately to avoid disturbing the goose. I walked back to the visitor center and I spotted two ravens on the roof to the visitor center.
American Avocet
Ruddy Duck
Cinnamon Teal
Common Raven
New Chicago Marsh Trail
Construction work and they have closed the trail
Coming back to the visitor center
eBird Report
Don Edwards NWR--Env. Ed. Ctr. (EEC) and nearby upland areas, Santa Clara, California, US
Apr 12, 2023 10:19 - 10:43
Protocol: Traveling
1.35 kilometer(s)
9 species
Canada Goose 3
Cinnamon Teal 2 One pair
Mallard 3 One pair
Ruddy Duck 1
Anna's Hummingbird 3
Black-necked Stilt 6
American Avocet 8 Poor pictures for ID purpose only. Thanks to Butty and rkj at birdforum for ID
Common Raven 2
House Finch 2
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S133522774
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Today's track at Don Edwards NWR--Env. Ed. Ctr.
Mourning Dove
Canada Goose
eBird Report
Don Edwards NWR--New Chicago Marsh, Santa Clara, California, US
Apr 12, 2023 10:43 - 11:01
Protocol: Traveling
0.63 kilometer(s)
5 species
Canada Goose 9 On nest with egg
Mourning Dove 1
Black-necked Stilt 6
Turkey Vulture 2
Barn Swallow 3
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S133524515
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Today's track at Don Edwards NWR--New Chicago Marsh
I drive south to drive around the San Francisco Bay to get to the Visitor Centers: Ardenwood on the east side of San Francisco Bay. This turns out to nothing and I leave the area to go explore the Hayward Regional Shoreline and the eBird hotspot: Hayward Regional Shoreline--Winton Ave. access and parking area
I park the car and it is a beautiful area to walk around in but it was darn cold in the wind. I walk back to the car and I was happy to have got the
in beautiful surroundings but not so many bird pictures.
American Crow
American Crow
California Towhee
Squirrel
eBird Report
Hayward Regional Shoreline--Winton Ave. access and parking area, Alameda, California, US
Apr 12, 2023 12:16 - 13:03
Protocol: Traveling
1.23 kilometer(s)
9 species
Canada Goose 2
Black-necked Stilt 1
California Gull 1 Red dot and yellow legs
Double-crested Cormorant 2 Flying over
Great White Egret 1
American Crow 4
White-crowned Sparrow 13
California Towhee 1
Red-winged Blackbird 9
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S133534933
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Today's track at Hayward Regional Shoreline
I will make one more stop before I go back across the San Francisco Bay to the San Francisco side and my hotel Be.t Western Coyote Point Inn. I drive to the Coyote Hills Regional Park and the first thing I see is a deer next to the road.
After a little bit I pass one Greater Yellowlegs and a Snowy Egret in the wetland next to the road. No cars on the road so I stop to have a few pictures but the birds are between me and the sun so, well, they are OK.
Deer next to the road
Greater Yellow
Greater Yellow
Greater Yellow
Snowy Egret
Coyote Hills Regional Park
I continue on the road until I have the wetland and the board walk on my tight-hand side and I find a parking. I get out of the car and the cold wind hit me and it was not very pleasant to get out in the wetlands.
But as I had going through the trouble to fly half way around the world to get here I could not skip the walk. But it was a nice area and I like the board walks as you get out in the middle of the reeds and if the birds are not flushed you get close to them.
But today there was not many birds, maybe because of the cold wind.
Coyote Hills Regional Park
Coyote Hills Regional Park
Coyote Hills Regional Park
I reach the platform
I reach the platform
California Gull
I reach the platform in the lake/ pond and I sit down to have a look at a couple of California Gulls and with my luck they are too far away for any good pictures. I did not spend too much time on the platform and I was soon back in the car.
I drove back towards the entrance and I spotted a Wild Turkey at the first parking lot and I drove around trying to get pictures. Which proved not to be very easy, the bird was not scared but it walked very quickly.
I was about to leave when I spotted a blue bird that I had never seen before and I was lucky to get a picture and I could ID the bird as a California Scrub-Jay when I was back in my room with my bird book.
Wild Turkey
Wild Turkey
California Scrub-Jay
California Scrub-Jay
Leaving the Coyote Hills Regional Park and the deer is still next to the road and I stop to get a second picture. And of course, the car behind me honked. I think it might have been a mistake as it was PARK OFFICIALS in the car so most likely a mistake.
Because who in their right mind don't understand that people won’t stop to have a look at the wild life when driving through a nature park?
The deer is still on the road side
Leaving Coyote Hills Regional Park
eBird Report
Coyote Hills Regional Park, Alameda, California, US
Apr 12, 2023 13:46 - 14:37
Protocol: Traveling
4.48 kilometer(s)
10 species
Canada Goose 2
Mallard 10
Wild Turkey 1
American Coot 5
Greater Yellowlegs 1
California Gull 6
Snowy Egret 2
California Scrub-Jay 1
American Crow 3
Cliff Swallow 75
View this checklist online at https://ebird.org/checklist/S133543765
This report was generated automatically by eBird v3 (https://ebird.org/home)
Today's track at Coyote Hills Regional Park
I decided to go back to Best Western Coyote Point Inn, my hotel and I wanted to stop at Best Buy to look for a USB stick and I will look for a small camera as I forgot my Canon X7 in my rented car in Miami.
I wanted a one TB USB stick but this had to be ordered and I will not be here when it arrives. And they did not have any small cameras, at least not Canon so I drove to the supermarket to buy honey mustard before going back to my hotel.
And tomorrow promise to be exciting, I will start by looking for hummingbirds at the Botanical Garden before going for whale watching in the afternoon. Click HERE to find out if I see any hummingbirds and whales.
eBird Trip Report
Since April 2023 eBird offer a new feature, to create Trip Reports. At least this is when I first heard of this feature and I have decided to make the eBird Trip Reports instead of my list of OBSERVED birds.
And of course, this also means that I will HAVE TO go back and do the same for my old birding adventures, WHEN I HAVE THE TIME!
Today's Trip Report: Birding in the San Francisco Bay Area - Day 1 | Click HERE
Download | PDF
Lifers
Icons for lifers used in the eBird trip reports
Species lifer:First time that someone observes a species in their life
Photo lifer:First time that someone photographs a species in their life
Audio lifer:First time that someone audio records a species in their lifeExotic species
Exotic species flags differentiate locally introduced species from native species.
Naturalized:Exotic population is self-sustaining, breeding in the wild, persisting for many years, and not maintained through ongoing releases (including vagrants from Naturalized populations). These count in official eBird totals and, where applicable, have been accepted by regional bird records committee(s).
Provisional:Either: 1)member of exotic population that is breeding in the wild, self-propagating, and has persisted for multiple years, but not yet Naturalized; 2)rarity of uncertain provenance, with natural vagrancy or captive provenance both considered plausible.When applicable, eBird generally defers to bird records committees for records formally considered to be of "uncertain provenance". Provisional species count in official eBird totals.
Escapee:Exotic species known or suspected to be escaped or released, including those that havebred but don't yet fulfill the criteria for Provisional. Escapee exotics do not count in official eBird totals.
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