Trip : High Tide Weekend 1 Login
4 Locations, 93 Sightings
Ducks, Geese, and Swans
Canada Goose PADP
Gadwall PADP
American Wigeon PADP
Mallard PADP
Cinnamon Teal FCRT
Northern Shoveler PADP
Northern Pintail FCRT
Green-Winged Teal PADP
Canvasback PADP
Greater Scaup PADP
Lesser Scaup PADP
Surf Scoter CPM
Bufflehead FCRT
Common Goldeneye PADP
Hooded Merganser FCRT
We saw nine individuals (two groups of four and one solo female) at the back (north) end of the pond near the two large towers.
Ruddy Duck PADP
Grebes
Pied-billed Grebe CPM
Horned Grebe PADP
Eared Grebe PADP
Western Grebe PADP
Pelicans
Brown Pelican CPM
Cormorants
Double-crested Cormorant CPM
Bitterns and Herons
Great Blue Heron PADP
Great Egret PADP
Snowy Egret PADP
Black-crowned Night-Heron PADP
New World Vultures
Turkey Vulture FCRT
Hawks, Kites, and Eagles
White-tailed Kite PADP
Northern Harrier PADP
Red-tailed Hawk PADP
Caracaras and Falcons
American Kestrel FCRT
Merlin FCRT
Rails, Gallinules and Coots
Clapper Rail PADP
Due to the phenomenally high tide, the typically reclusive Clappers were right out in the open. They were unusually vocal as well.
Virginia Rail PADP
We flushed a Virginia Rail from the path near the airport. It flew at length in good light, giving us our best look ever.
Sora PADP
One Sora made a desperate bid to swim across the Palo Alto bayland, but was dive-bombed by, and evetually carried off by, a large Gull.
American Coot PADP
Plovers
Black-bellied Plover FCRT
Killdeer (h) PADP
Oystercatchers
Black Oystercatcher CPM
Stilts and Avocets
Black-necked Stilt PADP
American Avocet PADP
Sandpipers and Phalaropes
Greater Yellowlegs PADP
Willet PADP
Whimbrel CPM
Long-billed Curlew FCRT
Marbled Godwit FCRT
Ruddy Turnstone CPM
Black Turnstone CPM
Red Knot CPM
Sanderling CPM
Western Sandpiper FCRT
Least Sandpiper PADP
Dunlin FCRT
Short-billed Dowitcher PADP
Skuas, Gulls, and Terns
Mew Gull PADP
Ring-billed Gull PADP
California Gull CPM
Western Gull FCRT
Glaucous-winged Gull PADP
Forster's Tern FCRT
Pigeons and Doves
Rock Pigeon PADP
Mourning Dove CPM
Hummingbirds
Anna's Hummingbird PADP
Kingfishers
Belted Kingfisher FCRT
Woodpeckers
Nuttall's Woodpecker (h) CPM
Tyrant Flycatchers
Black Phoebe PADP
Say's Phoebe FCRT
Shrikes
Loggerhead Shrike PADP
Vireos
Hutton's Vireo CPM
Jays and Crows
American Crow PADP
Common Raven PADP
Chickadees and Titmice
Chestnut-backed Chickadee (h) CPM
Bushtits
Bushtit PADP
Wrens
Marsh Wren PADP
Kinglets
Ruby-crowned Kinglet PADP
Thrushes
Hermit Thrush CPM
Mockingbirds and Thrashers
Northern Mockingbird CPM
Starlings
European Starling PADP
Wood-Warblers
Yellow-rumped Warbler PADP
Common Yellowthroat PADP
Emberizids
California Towhee CPM
Savannah Sparrow PADP
Fox Sparrow CPM
Song Sparrow PADP
Lincoln's Sparrow FCRT
Viewed from the levee, it sat very cooperatively on the fence surrounding the water treatment plant. Our best look so far.
White-crowned Sparrow PADP
Golden-crowned Sparrow PADP
Dark-eyed Junco CPM
Blackbirds
Red-winged Blackbird PADP
Brewer's Blackbird PADP
Northern Finches
House Finch PADP
Lesser Goldfinch OH
Old World Sparrows
House Sparrow CPM
Our House = OH
Palo Alto Duck Pond = PADP
Coyote Point Marina = CPM
Foster City Radio Tower = FCRT
Trip Notes

Our goal today was to see Rails flushed out by the very high January tide, as amplified by the prodigious rains over the preceeding days. Participants included fearless leader Steve Shunk, Bill, Mary, Larry, Kevin, Kirk, and Sandy. The morning in Palo Alto was quite rainy, but the afternoon was clear and pleasant.

In addition to the species listed, other participants on the trip observed: Red-throated Loon, Clark's Grebe, Ring-necked Pheasant, Long-billed Dowitcher, American Pipit, Pine Siskin

Trip Photos
Trip Map