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Rural Areas of San Benito County, 97 Sightings
Ducks, Geese, and Swans
Partridges, Grouse, Turkeys, and Old World Quail
New World Quail
Grebes
Pelicans
Cormorants
Bitterns and Herons
Snowy Egret
Seen by R. J., Joana, Michael, and Bill
New World Vultures
Hawks, Kites, and Eagles
Caracaras and Falcons
Rails, Gallinules and Coots
Plovers
Stilts and Avocets
Sandpipers and Phalaropes
Ruff
Seen by Mary, Bill, and R. J. only.
The winter plumage adult ruff was a seen at approximately 1:00. It was a medium grey/brown shorebird, evenly colored above with a small head. The clean white underside was cleanly divided from the solid colored upper parts in a smooth line. Only Bill and RJ saw it on the ground before the entire shorebird flock was spooked by a Prairie Falcon flying low over the pond. In flight, the ruff was larger than the dowitchers it flew away with and showed a distinct white pattern of white across the tail and up both sides of the rump, making a U shape.
Wilson's Snipe
Seen by R. J. only
Red-necked Phalarope
By our count, there were at least 275 Phalaropes in the ponds next to the Hollister sewage ponds, which RJ described as a surprisingly big number
Skuas, Gulls, and Terns
Pigeons and Doves
Barn Owls
Typical Owls
Goatsuckers
Swifts
Hummingbirds
Woodpeckers
Tyrant Flycatchers
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Seen by R. J. and Mary only
Shrikes
Vireos
Jays and Crows
Swallows
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Seen by all but Mary
Chickadees and Titmice
Bushtits
Nuthatches
Creepers
Wrens
Thrushes
American Robin
Seen by all but Mary
Babblers
Mockingbirds and Thrashers
California Thrasher
Seen by R. J. Only
Starlings
Wood-Warblers
Hermit Warbler
Seen by Mary only
Emberizids
Blackbirds
Northern Finches
Old World Sparrows
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Trip Notes
Most of us saw the infamous Upland Goose in Hollister. Also saw an Accipter sp. (RJ only) and Dowitcher sp., for a total count of 99 for the day.
The Early Bird Gets the Prize trip was designed by RJ Adams for the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory California Fall Challenge big day contest - one of the trips for those of us who don't yet feel comfortable planning a big day. RJ, Mary, Bill, Juana, and Michael met at 4 am in San Juan Bautista and packed it in around 8:45 pm with dinner at Dona Esther's. Weather: Sunny with light clouds in the morning, overcast skies from about 11 am kept the temperatures moderate all day Here's Mary's reconstruction from memory of where we were... times may not be accurate!
Trip Photos
 
Trip Map
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