Sunday, January 17, 2010

Warbler Guy, Where may I most likely see warblers in northern California near you (or where might I see warblers in Marin County)?



Thanks for asking, Jeremy (in Mill Valley, CA).

Here's a great web site to note seven fine Marin County birdwatching spots (i.e., the best birding places in Marin County, and, arguably, some of the finest birding locales in northern California):
http://www.marintrails.com/birds.html

(By the way, my Web site, www.warblerwatch.com, features a button -- "2010 Nature Watch Calendar" -- where you can read several brief accounts that discuss wood-warblers in northern California and, in particular, wood-warblers in Marin County.)

Currently, among the seven on the list, I suggest going to Rock Springs (on Mt. Tamalpais) and
Muddy Hollow (within Point Reyes National Seashore, a paramount, iconic place on the W. Coast to see diverse species of birds in multiple families/orders).

In these two spots where forests occur, the most likely wood-warblers to see currently include TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (non-breeding season resident only; see closest above photo) and YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (typically the AUDUBON's subspecies).

At Rock Springs and Muddy Hollow, watch for the much less common (in this order) ORANGE-CROWNED and HERMIT WARBLER, too -- though they are both rare to absent throughout most of Marin Co. during January (Populations of these two neotropical migrants return in late winter and spring, thereby nesting in suitable habitats throughout the County.) Even more rare at this time of year is to see the NASHVILLE WARBLER (above photo, below the headline), though it periodically makes a cameo appearance and, indeed, the local annual Christmas Bird Count surveyors such as Rich Stallcup sometimes extract one from the landscape.

11 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes, Townsend's.....and it seems plentiful this year in N. Cal. where I live.

Heather J.

Anonymous said...

Nashville? Good luck now.....but I think that I've seen them in spring or fall in the Bay Area.
I did hear of a couple reported this past winter in C. CA and one in the Bay Area about a month ago.

Tanner Deeson

Anonymous said...

Thanks for the new quizzes recently and your articles. I like your blog.

Jennifer Zaster, New Rochelle, N. York

Anonymous said...

I got em all correcto. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

What's more common in your area: Myrtle or Audubon's? In winter?

PJ

Anonymous said...

Yellow-Rumped. Sure, a dime a dozen all winter long. I agree. But if I saw a Nashville or a Hermit in winter, then I'd think I was dreaming. How rare are they in n. Cal. during the winter?

Edward S.

Anonymous said...

Just want to let you know that I found this site after clicking on a couple of other songbird sites, but both of them referred me here with their "favorite" links to warbler blogs. I guess you are getting a reputation. In a good way.

Like your quizzes. Thanks.

Anonymous said...

Your quiz is fun. Thanks.

Rocky Q.
Quentinville, TN

Anonymous said...
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
jasonbob said...

kate spade handbags
jordan 11
jordan retro
adidas nmd r1
ultra boost 3.0
christian louboutin outlet
retro jordans
moncler
louboutin
retro jordans

best silk sheets 2020 said...

I did hear of a couple reported this past winter in C. CA and one in the Bay Area about a month ago.
limelight stitched suits 2020
limelight 2 piece stitched