Natural History Journal

Large and white, with a distinctly prehistoric appearance, flocks of American White Pelicans ( Pelecanus erythrorhynchos ) are one of the great avian sights of California's Great Central Valley, paddling in shallow inland lakes and marshes, and soaring high above on thermals. American White Pelicans at San Luis NWR Like so many species, the American White Pelican is one that is past its heyday in the Great Central Valley.  Historically, flocks of these magnificent birds bred in the southern San Joaquin Valley (Kings, Tulare, and Kern counties) until Tulare Lake and its surrounding wetlands were drained in the 1930's.  (Pelicans bred sporadically in the area until 1941, according to Evens and Tait in their Introduction to California Birdlife .)  Other former breeding sites include the remote sloughs of the lower Sacramento River, the Salton Sea, and the Colorado River Delta.  Today, their breeding...

In addition to being a birder's dream come true, California and its wide range of floristic provinces is a treat for botanists as well.  Coyote Brush ( Baccharis pilularis ), an evergreen shrub in the sunflower family (Asteraceae), is characteristic of several of California's unique plant communities, from coastal scrub to foothill chaparral.    Coyote Brush provides valuable wildlife habitat at San Luis National Wildlife Refuge, Merced County   Coyote Brush is characteristic of the Northern Coastal Scrub and Coastal Sage Scrub plant communities and closely associated with adjacent closed-cone pine forests.  It is also a characteristic component of foothill chaparral.  The coastal scrub communities are referred to as "soft chaparral," since the leaves are literally softer than those of the true "hard chaparral" and landscapes of soft chaparral have an overall softer appearance.   Northern Coastal S...

The Rock Wren ( Salpinctes obsoletus ) is a bird of the arid western United States, associated with rocky areas - as the name would suggest.  Light brown in color, this is our palest wren.  It might not look like much at first glance, but closer inspection of this little bird's plumage reveals intricate patterns of delicate spangles and flecks. Rock Wrens inhabit varied areas of exposed rock, from deserts to alpine regions.  I see them regularly along the rocky bluffs above the Stanislaus River near the town of Knight's Ferry.  Perched on top of rocks, they bob up and down exhibiting their characteristic "deep knee bend" behavior.  In the Knight's Ferry area, Rock Wrens share their habitat with  Canyon Wrens , which can be distinguished from Rock Wrens by their rusty red backs and bright white chests. Like Canyon Wrens, Rock Wrens are not known to drink water, and obtain al...

Last winter, I wrote an identification guide that was intended to help those new to birding differentiate between some of the most commonly encountered small shorebirds that spend winter in the Great Central Valley.  Now, it's time for Part II of the series: small shorebirds of California's central coast. Shorebirds are found along the coast year-round, with an uptick in numbers during the fall, winter and spring months.  The fewest number of birds occurs in June, as many of these species migrate to northerly breeding grounds, where they spend the short Arctic summer before returning to warmer climes.  Not all birds leave, however, so there is always plenty to see on the coast! Peeps (and a Marbled Godwit) at Moss Landing harbor. "Peeps" is a catchall term for small sandpipers in the genus Calidris , which includes several of our most common species: Sanderlings ( C. alba ), Dunlins ( C. alpine ), Least Sandpipers ( C. minutilla )...

Or, I should say, the Vermilion Flycatcher in Stanislaus County; there is only one!  From my point of view as a naturalist, experiencing any type of animal - bird or otherwise - in the wild is a moment to be cherished.  But like most birders, there are certain species and certain events that tend to rise above the mockingbirds and mallards and really cause a thrill.  Birds that are particularly rare, difficult to see, or especially beautiful generally make these moments shine in one's memory and stand out as treasured life experiences. First spotted at Dawson Lake (near the small foothill town of La Grange) during a Christmas Bird Count on December 30th, this brilliant male Vermilion Flycatcher ( Pyrocephalus rubinus )* has been causing quite the stir in the local birding community.  And I certainly see what all the fuss is about! Seeing this exquisitely beautiful little bird, unbelievably red against a background of winter grays...

Beautifully colored, with dark, gentle eyes, the California Quail ( Callipepla californica )  is common across the state.  Though abundant, these shy birds tend to remain quietly hidden in the underbrush until approaching danger flushes them into the open.  A flock of quail, called a covey, can often be heard uttering soft calls to one another as they make their way through the chaparral.  Their three syllable call (often described as "Chi-ca-go") is a familiar sound throughout California and always brings a smile to my face.  Female (left) and male California Quail, near Murphy's Ca. (Calaveras Co.) California Quail are abundant in the foothills and oak woodlands of California, in coastal sage scrub and chaparral habitats, as well as in suitably wild habitats in the Central Valley, such as along riparian corridors and in National Wildlife Refuges.  It is not uncommon to see them living in close association with people, in suburban are...

A couple of weeks ago I spent a day birding in two of my favorite places: Pacific Grove and Moss Landing (both along the Monterey Bay on the central coast of California).  I was on the look-out for a number of specific species (as I always am) and was hoping to find a few interesting gulls mixed in amongst the numerous Western Gulls.  An Iceland Gull (formerly Thayer's Gull), Glaucous-winged Gull and Bonaparte's Gull were all on my list but evaded me.  I did see a few Heermann's Gulls , which are striking now in their winter plumage, brilliant white heads contrasting with slate gray bodies and bright red bills.  But my attention was drawn away from them, and the intriguingly pale bird in the photo below caught my eye and held my interest. Would this gull have caught your eye?  It was noticeably paler than others around it, a clue that it was something special.  (Monterey Bay, December) This gull's pale gray back and wingtips...