Birds I'm Watching: First-of-Season Wilson's Warbler (April 14, 2012)

I'm still stuck in the house working on a big translation project, but I popped out for about an hour yesterday to stretch my legs. I took a brisk walk around Spring Lake. There were a few signs of the changing seasons. I heard the first Black-headed Grosbeaks of the season and saw my first Wilson's Warbler of the season (pictured) and heard several more. I'm looking forward to my next opportunity to get out without having to rush back to the computer and keyboard to slog through more text.

For more information about bird watching in Sonoma County, see my Website Sonoma County Bird Watching Spots.

Birds I'm Watching: Annadel State Park, Santa Rosa

I went out to Annadel State Park for a hike this morning to look for spring migrants. I saw quite a lot of birds. including Band-tailed pigeon (16), turkey vulture, cliff swallow (20 or so), Bewick's wren, Anna's hummingbird, crow, mallard, red-shouldered hawk, Pacific-slope flycatcher (3), ruby-crowned kinglet, raven, oak titmouse, pileated wooddpecker (heard), acorn woodpecker, warbling vireo, wild turkey (including males in full display), quail, many Wilson's warblers (at least 9), black-headed grosbeak (7), Orange-crowned warbler (8), yellow warbler (1), robins nesting and feeding hatchlings, spotted towhee, bushtit, chestnut-backed chickadee, dark-eyed junko, and lesser goldfinch--27 species in total.

The black-headed grosbeaks (above), and the warblers have just returned from warmer parts south. Pictured below is Wilson's warbler--not a very good shot: these guys move around a lot.