Field Trip Report

Redwood Shores Library Bird Walk
January 24, 2010, 3:00-4:00PM

We participated in Sonny Mencher's Redwood Shores Library Walk. The leader was Sonny Mencher, with assistance from Ginny Marshall, Robin Smith, Laurie Graham, and Jeff Fairclough. There were about 15 participants. People were very enthusiastic. I'd forgotten how much fun it is to turn newbies on to birds. We scoped the birds in Belmont Slough, among which was the GASH (Gadwall/Shoveler), a Male Cinnamon Teal, one Greater Yellowlegs, one Willet, two Black-bellied Plovers, Mallards, American Wigeons, Canvasbacks, Greater Scaup, Snowy Egrets, etc.

— Laurie Graham & Jeff Fairclough, SSF

Species Seen

• Canada Goose     2
• American Wigeon     48
• Mallard     6
• Cinnamon Teal     1 male
• Northern Shoveler     20
• GASH 1 (Gadwall/Northern Shoveler hybrid)
• Canvasback     79
• Greater Scaup     9
• Bufflehead     5
• Ruddy Duck     5
• Snowy Egret     7
• Black-bellied Plover     2
• Black-necked Stilt     8
• American Avocet     52
• Greater Yellowlegs     1
• Willet     5
• Western Sandpiper     1     (in Library parking lot - ill?)
• Ring-billed Gull     50
• California Gull     1
• Black Phoebe     2
• American Crow     42*

Number of species: 20 + 1

*American Crows are roosting in Poplar trees around Oracle, flying in in large numbers at dusk. Our personal total was 475.