What to Look for Now—Timely Birding

Winter 2019

Matthew Dodder
SCVAS Executive Director

23.5° OF SEPARATION

What a shift there’s been since August when I began this column. We now have fewer daylight hours, darker afternoons, cooler temperatures, and perhaps even a little rain (in normal years, of course). We’re wearing sweaters, and driving home in the dark. All of these changes, and more, are due to the 23.5o angle at which our planet is tilted...and now, we are tilted away from the sun during the day. Birds experience the same phenomena we do, but with a heightened sense of urgency because their lives depend on responding appropriately to seasonal changes.

INSECTIVORES

The cooler temperatures generally mean fewer airborne insects and hence the annual departure of many flycatcher genera such Tyrannus, Myiarchus, and Empidonax species, which have essentially left our county for warmer areas farther south. Of course, insects are still present during our mild winters, but many of those that eat them become harder to find. Yellow-rumped and Townsend’s Warbler are exceptions and actually increase in numbers here during winter. Yellow-rumps (their bold colors now mostly gone) become so common they are almost un-missable on any day outside! But they dare us to distinguish between their eastern “Myrtle” and western “Audubon’s” forms. To do that, consider their throat color and facial pattern. Their calls differ slightly as well. It’s interesting to note that the winter Warblers occasionally visit feeders in our yards, supplementing their cool weather diets with fat-rich suet or seeds. Adaptability is a valuable quality, or if you prefer, desperate times, call for desperate measures...

SEED-EATERS

In place of many of these insectivorous species, we see newly arrived seed-eating species. The large numbers of White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrow, as well as the less common White-throated (the Zonotricias or “crowned sparrows”) now become daily companions on our birding walks. If one wants to see a White-throated Sparrow though, it’s best to watch and wait when you find a group of Golden-crowns... They are more cautious than the Golden-crowned, and the last to emerge from the bush. Fox and Lincoln’s Sparrow become common on our field trips, and occasionally Swamp Sparrow (if we’re near suitably wet habitat). While Lesser Goldfinch may be found easily year round in our county, Pine Siskin is found most easily in winter and occasionally crowd seed feeders in residential areas. They are smaller and streakier than the Goldfinches and usually show some inconspicuous yellow on their wings. Cedar Waxwing comes in droves this time of year also, not in search of seeds but berries, which are abundant in winter.

WATERFOWL

Perhaps nothing characterizes winter more than the arrival of thousands of Waterfowl. Only a few ducks breed commonly in our county. Mallard and Gadwall come to mind. Several others breed sparingly, such as Cinnamon Teal and Northern Shoveler. But for the majority of ducks, their breeding occurs away from here.

After breeding in the far north, many species of ducks and geese arrive in search of rich California resources, particularly in the Great Central Valley. Merced MWR provides a banquet of fallow fields and shallow wetlands. In the Bay Area we see large rafts of diving ducks like Scaup, Canvasback, Bufflehead and Common Goldeneye in open water. Dabbling ducks may gather closer to the edges where they can feed more easily on items on or just below the surface. Locally, we may see very small numbers of Greater White-fronted, Cackling, and even Snow or Ross’s Goose associating with resident Canada Goose. Much larger flocks of these are found in the Central Valley. The enormous flocks of waterfowl echoes the flocking of other winter species—there is added safety from predators in these large numbers, and the noise of conspicuous flocks can be a signal to other waterfowl of good feeding opportunities.

CARNIVORES

If you are a raptor enthusiast, this is your time! Although Swainson’s Hawk have left Central California for the most part, making their way to South America for the winter, Ferruginous Hawk has just arrived. This handsome hawk, white and rufous, or warm chocolate brown, is found in Coyote Valley and other open grassy areas. Field trips to nearby areas outside our county may produce Rough-legged Hawk as well, especially when weather further north becomes extreme. For me, this time of year is always exciting because of our Merlin. Yes, our Merlin. For several years, my wife Kelly (Cricket) and I have had one spend his afternoons perched on the top of a cedar at the end of our driveway during the colder months. Perhaps by the time this issue prints, we will see him again.

AND FINALLY, GULLS!

There’s hardly a word that elicits stronger feelings in birders. Either you love them or hate them, but it’s guaranteed you have an opinion... I LOVE GULLS though, in the same way I love any subtle taxon (fall Warblers, Spizella Sparrows, and Empidonax Flycatchers)—they give us an opportunity to test our ID skills, AND our patience.

During the winter months, we find the variety of gulls in our midst at its greatest. Instead of 1, 2, or 3 gull species to consider during warmer months, we now have a minimum
of 7 with which to contend. My best advice has always been to focus on learning the California Gull (the intermediate in most respects). It’s probably the most common Larid here and wise to study it in all its variations—from the double-dark- barred pattern on the upper wing of first-winter birds, and the dark eyes, to the medium gray mantle and medium-long bill... they can be compared to other gulls that are lighter or darker, larger or smaller, slighter or bulkier, and help us recognize what’s different.

The California Gull is your ambassador to the vast nation of gulls. Before you consider plumage of the various species, use the California’s shape and structure to measure all other Gulls. Go to Palo Alto Duck Pond or Charleston Slough and take the first step toward gull anti-anxiety. Locate an adult California Gull. Study this adult carefully. Watch it walk, and swim, fly and preen. Become familiar with its lean structure— more like a baseball player than a football player (Western Gull). Its structural differences manifest themselves in every feature of this ambassador gull, no matter what it is doing. Use its form to help spot something that isn’t a California Gull, and go from there.

Finally, this late-fall early-winter time period is truly one of change—for humans and for birds. Look at the newly arrived birds visiting your feeders, and those you find on your walks— old acquaintances from previous winters. You can thank that small tilt of the earth for the massive (but gradual) changes to the life around you... year after year.

Photos at top Left to Right:

Ferruginous Hawk, Fox Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Ring-billed Gull Tom Grey