On 7 February 2009, I led a group of about a dozen birders from Walnut Creek's East Bay Nature store on a tour of the beautiful Grizzly Island Wildlife Area in California. Part of Suisun Marsh, the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area comprises more than 10,000 acres of coastal wetland habitat. The California Department of Fish and Game manages the wildlife area to provide habitat for wintering and breeding populations of waterfowl, and to support other recreation such as fishing and hunting.
On our trip there on 7 February 2009, we were treated to sightings of river otters, raccoons, Tule elk (a few of which approached to within 75 yards of our group!), and many species of birds. We had glimpses of Common Yellowthroats and Tree Swallows, and got to study in detail several species of raptors such as White-tailed Kites and Red-shouldered Hawks.
One highlight for everyone was the pair of Great Horned Owls in a eucalyptus tree. This same tree has hosted one or two Great Horned Owls on every trip I have led to Grizzly Island for the last 10 years, making this arguably the most reliable spot I know of to find this species in the United States.
We scanned the hundreds of American Wigeon but were not able to locate a Eurasian Wigeon. We did, however, find Bonaparte's Gulls and American White Pelicans flying overhead, and many Northern Harriers flying over the marshland habitats. I told everyone to consider coming back right at dusk, as this is one of the best places in the San Francisco Bay Area to find Short-eared Owls -- however, you have to be there just before dusk to have a good chance of seeing them.
If you have never visited the Grizzly Island Wildlife Area, I encourage you to check it out soon before all the waterfowl depart for their breeding areas further north. If you can't get here this spring, then a visit next October, November, or December will be well worth it.
/s/ John C. Robinson
President, On My Mountain, Inc.
"Your World of Birding and Nature"
Author of "Birding for Everyone, Encouraging People of Color to Become Birdwatchers" http://www.onmymountain.com
Sunday, February 8, 2009
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