Cali Part 3 (12-13Apr2023)

Day 4 in California was a full day in Yosemite Valley.  The scenery is everything it is hyped to be but the amount of people kind of takes away from the full experience.  I suppose when the trails are all open you can hike out away from the hubbub in the village to get some alone time, but many of the good trails were still closed or impassable due to snow or pending maintenance issues.  

When you first drive into the valley you see the monolith of El Capitan on one side.

And this ridiculous waterfall on the other (I think this is Sentinel Falls).

Driving a little father in we stopped again to look at El Cap from the banks of the Merced River.

And yet a little further in, Yosemite Falls.

Brewer's Blackbirds - The birds were few mainly because of all the people and bustle but Brewer's Blackbirds don't mind that.

Yosemite Falls

The infamous Half Dome - there is a trail using guide wires going up this but it was closed for the season and they actually take the wires down during the winter probably so that people don't try it illegally. 

We walked all over the valley and tried the hike to Vernal Falls but it was closed due to the raging water in the Merced River washing some sections out.

After hiking 10 plus miles we were knackered but we all wanted to see the giant sequoias at the Mariposa Grove in the southern section of the park.  The drive from the valley is about an hour and I knew the road to the grove was closed due to snow, so we would be cutting it close to sunset, but we decided to chance it.

When driving out the southern portion of the valley, it is obligatory to stop and snap some photos at the "Tunnel View" vista.  El Cap on the left, Sentinel Falls on the right and Half Dome shrouded in clouds down at the back.

We got to the Mariposa Grove parking area around 5:30pm and were informed the hike in was about 45 minutes so we set off and added a couple more miles to our already long day.  The entrance road was fine and clear of snow, but the parking area at the end of it was in bad shape so that's why they closed the road to traffic, but to be honest that was nice because there were no noises from cars and far less people than usual.

Although the trail was covered in snow, enough people had walked it that it was hard pack on the trail.

The Grizzly Giant!

I tried to listen for owls, but no luck.  The drive back to the hotel was long but beautiful, as we had to go back the way we came through Yosemite Valley.

In the morning, I woke early and decided to explore the trails behind the lodge. I knew these woods had White-headed Woodpeckers which would be a lifer.   I was seeing tons of Juncos, Ravens and Flickers but it wasn't until I was about to head back that I heard a tapping.  It sounded about right for White-headed but I couldn't be sure it wasn't a Hairy WP.  So I waited.... and was eventually rewarded.

White-headed Woodpecker!  What a cool bird. Unfortunately he never came in close and despite me snapping hundreds of photos this was the best I could do.

After regrouping with the family unit, I convinced them to let me drive into Hetch Hetchy one more time so I could look for Great Gray Owls in the meadows. I knew they can hunt during the day sometimes and I knew this area was good for them although eBird does obscure sightings.  We made the 30 minute drive to the ranger station with no luck and I asked the rangers about Spotted Owls because the habitat looked good.  They said that they hear them all the time in the evening around the ranger housing.  So we decided to walk around and take a peek.  Melissa has always been great at finding Barred Owls back at home and the Spotted is very similar.

Pacific Slope Flycatcher!  I even made some recordings of the calls.  

Then finally Melissa asked me to take a look at the top of a fir and BAM!  There it was.

Spotted Owl!  Lifer #2 for the day.  These beauties are a big source of controversy out west because the logging industry is frequently prevented from logging areas they are known to live.  There also is a controversy of an eradication program for Barred Owls which are out-competing the Spotted Owls.  The rationale is that the Spotted Owls have been pushed to the brink by habitat loss, so the only way to help save them is to remove their competition in the few areas where they are holding on.  The real solution would be to save more land from deforestation and manage the forests we have better with controlled burns so they don't burn out of control.  Let the critters compete as they would in normal circumstances in my opinion.  If one out-competes the other, that is fair game.

The drive back towards the coast was gorgeous, and we stopped for lunch at an awesome cafe overlooking a canyon at the top of the decline back down into the valley.

The balcony was perfect and the Brisket sandwich was divine.  I even got a chance to walk around the property and pick up a couple birds.

California Towhee

Golden-crowned Sparrow

I decided to break up the drive one more time and we stopped for a walk in county park in Alameda called Sycamore Grove Park.  Luke went for a run while Melissa, George and I walked the river that runs through the park.  The birding was surprisingly good for a late afternoon.

Osprey

Wilson's Warbler.

Ash-throated Flycatcher 

I was looking for Lawrence's Goldfinches but all I could find were American Goldfinches.

But the best sighting was one I didn't see.  Both Luke and George saw a Bobcat at close range and George even got some video.

Our final destination for the day was Half Moon Bay.  The hotel clerk recommended a Peruvian restaurant right on the harbor.  It was really yummy but probably the most expensive bill I have paid for in a long time.

La Costanera!  

I even had a hummingbird in my cocktail, so it was worth it.

The last day was spent exploring the coast, one more post for that.

California Part 2 (11Apr2023)

Day 3 in California started with a drive over the Diablo Range into the central valley and then on some backroads as we headed towards our hotel, the Rush Creek Lodge.  I was driving down a random road in Oakville, CA and saw some magpies flying by so I made a quick stop.

Yellow-billed Magpie!  These are the only mainland endemic in all of California!  Pretty cool.  

We were only 15 minutes from our next stop which I had scoped out as a potential spot for Lawrence's Goldfinch.  Luke had to do a long run so I had a couple hours to explore.

Knight's Ferry Recreation area is an awesome park straddling the Stanislaus River.  The covered bridge is the longest one west of the Mississippi River.  

Lupines were sprouting up everywhere.

I like lichen.

Nuttal's Woodpecker

Golden-crowned Sparrow

It was a nice stop but we took the wrong trails because they were repaving the lot and had us go to wrong side of the river.  I would love to go back and explore some more.  And I still don't have a Lawrence's Goldfinch on my life list.

By the time we got into Groveland it was still too early to check in and we were so close to Yosemite we figured we would do a hike.  Our hotel, the Rush Creek Lodge is just 10 minutes outside the road that leads into the Hetch Hetchy entrance to the park.  Most folks visit the main entrance in Yosemite Valley, but Hetch Hetchy is amazing too and in fact I preferred this area of the park.

The trailheads all seem to start at this dam on the Tuolumne River.  We chose the trail to Wapama Falls.

Water levels were way up thanks to the atmospheric rivers of previous months.

Waterfalls seemed to be coming out of every rock crevice all around the reservoir.

I didn't study this red stuff too closely so I am not sure if it is a moss or flower, but it was gorgeous.

Luke posing.

George taking on the mist below the falls.

Probably the best photo I have ever taken with an iPhone.

The birds were few and far between here.  That is the irony of birding, most of the birds seem to enjoy habitat at the margins of nature and not in the thick of it. I think most birders have stories about getting the best bird in the parking lot.

After a nice long hike we pampered ourselves back at the lodge and went swimming in the heated pool.  This is the life!  I can recommend the lodge, it is everything as advertised but the price tag is a bit much.

Going Back to Cali - Part 1 (08-10Apr2023)

My family vacations are well known for their whirlwind itineraries usually with an undercurrent of bird planning sneaked in.  I don't get many vacations, so I want to see it all. This time I decided to just enjoy a family trip based purely on great locations for my family and hoped the birding would be ok.  The good news is birding in California is always good no matter where you go.  Some of the locations I selected were based on things I remembered from a long time ago when we used to live in California and I wanted to rekindle.

We flew into SFO and stayed at a Hilton near the airport on the bay incidentally right next to the Meta campus in San Mateo.  It seemed all the major companies have buildings in this area.  We arrived very late and crashed basically as soon as we dropped our bags.  In the morning Luke had to go for a run so Melissa, George and I took a nice walk along the bay bike path near Anza Lagoon that seems to wind all along the bay.

Clark's Grebe - sometimes these are tricky because of the prospect of hybrids, but I think this one was good for a Clark's based on the white completely around the eye.

Most of the Scaup seemed to be Greaters. 

California Towhees

Spotted Sandpiper

A California Gull in the lagoon with a muddy bill.

I kept walking around the lagoon while George and Melissa went up to shower and get ready for the day.  They called me and told me to look up...

But then I looked down....

An Anna's Hummingbird was collecting moss for her nest. So cute...

After an awesome breakfast we checked out and headed across San Francisco Bay to our friend's house in Danville, CA.  It had been over 10 years since we last saw them so we spent a good amount of time catching up.  My good buddy Piko celebrated the occasion by breaking out a huge slab of Tri Tip Steak and slapping it on the grill.  Even Melissa tried it and asked for seconds. She has been making an effort to eat meat based on advice from her doctor and amazingly it seems to be working, she has been in good health lately (/knock on wood).   My philosophy with meat has always been to eat it in moderation and only go for the good stuff.

California Scrub-Jay in Meg and Piko's yard.

The boys decided to go for a run with their unofficial cousins and the grownups went for a walk in the hills around Danville, but first we had to take a picture.

Kala and Luke were competing for best washboard abs.

California Ground Squirrels

The oak trees that dot the hillsides here are gorgeous.  I think they are called Interior Live Oaks.  Also note the green hills.  The atmospheric rivers of late in California greened up all the hills which normally would be pretty parched looking.

It's hard to bird when spending time with friends you haven't seen in ages.  This Chipping Sparrow was one of the only a few pics I came away within this walk!  But it's also hard not to bird when you are in California.

Meg and Melissa all smiles.

It would be nice to have walks like this in your back yard.

Western Bluebird - note the blue throat.

On the west coast, Red-Tailed Hawks take the dark petagials (leading edge of wing) to a new level.

Lesser Goldfinch male

Female

Nuttal's WP

Acorn WPs were everywhere but it is hard to not to love them.  Little clowns.

We stayed at a local hotel in the Danville area and went hiking again in the morning at a local park while Luke did his long run.

Dark-eyed Junco 

Oak Titmouse

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Bewick's Wren

Black Phoebe

Another Junco

Anna's Hummingbird

Later in the afternoon we took a hike at Mount Diablo, this pic was from the trailhead.

California Poppies were sprouting up everywhere.

My scenery pics always are underwhelming compared to reality.

Some kind of Indian Paintbrush...

I need to ID these later, so many flowers so I won't post them all.

After the hike we met up at Jamba Juice and had a smoothie before saying our goodbyes and heading to San Rafael north of the Golden Gate so we could be strategically located for a day trip to Point Reyes in the morning.  After checking into the hotel, we had barely enough time to jet down to the Golden Gate for a walk out on the bridge for sunset.

The drive out to Point Reyes in the morning was gorgeous but I forgot to take pics. Once out there we did the Chimney Rock trail out to the point.

White-crowned Sparrow

Elephant Seals!

There was some fog as we got out towards the point but luckily it lifted while we did the hike.

Belted Kingfisher 

Some kind of wild iris.

Common Loon

Turkey Vulture

Another White-crowned Sparrow.

Black-tailed Deer are a subspecies of Mule Deer found on the west coast of North America.

Pacific Loons in breeding condition were too far out to crush properly.

Pigeon Guillemot coming in for a landing.

I believe this is what is called an Olympic Gull which is a Western x Glaucous-winged Hybrid.  

Surf Scoters were plentiful but kept off-shore.

The waves on the pacific side of the point were huge.

A few random Common Murres were flying with Brandt's Cormorants or other mixed flocks.

Another impure looking gull.

Some kind of little mole or mouse kept poking his head out of a small hole.

Red-necked Grebe

A distant Glaucous-winged Gull

An interesting red colored Lichen was "blooming" on the seaside rocks.

I highly recommend Point Reyes for a day trip if you are birder or just in general, a cool place.

On the drive east from Point Reyes I stopped at some farm fields looking for Tricolored Blackbirds but only found Red-winged and some Brewer's Blackbirds.

We ate in Point Reyes Station and then spent the afternoon heading east towards our next destination of Yosemite. It was already getting late once we got back over to the east side of San Francisco Bay so we shacked up in a hotel in Pleasanton which is just on the west side of the Diablo Range.  In the morning we would only have a couple hours of driving to get into the Yosemite area.