Overcast with occasional light rain. Temperatures in the low 40s.
Snow dropped a bit further on the mountains. Picnic Rock had fresh snow on it.
Hoping to pick up at least a couple of new birds for the year, I decided to walk down to the park.
Robins had eluded me so far, and at least a couple have been in the neighborhood recently. I started down Biorka Street. This would take a little out of my way for the park, but I would see more of the neighborhood.
Only a few steps down, I saw a bird fly across in front of me into mountain ash trees. It seemed about the right size for a robin. When I picked it out among the branches, I was surprised to see a Townsend’s Solitaire.
I flew down to a fence, and then disappeared.
Down at the harbor the Pied-billed Grebe was back near where it had been Monday. I took a couple pictures of it from the boardwalk. Perhaps not appreciating the attention, it started to take off. It then apparently changed its mind and went straight from near flight to underwater.
On return from the end of the boardwalk I noticed the grebe was near shore closer below the sidewalk part of the seawalk.
I first saw the raven with a whole muffin started whole. A few minutes later, and some had disappeared. The rest was in two chunks. One partially down its throat, and the other in its bill
On my way out, I had noticed a raven with a full muffin. I had not given much attention, since I was more focused on the grebe. The same raven was still there, with part of a muffin in its beak.
I first saw the raven with a whole muffin started whole. A few minutes later, and some had disappeared. The rest was in two chunks. One partially down its throat, and the other in its bill
Perched on the fence separating the sidewalk and playground, it seemed unconcerned with me. I was a little surprised that it sidled over my way. It came quite close as I took pictures. Finally I continued on to see about better pictures of the grebe, and it just let me walk by.
One of my hoped for birds was a California Gull that was reported Sunday and Monday at the Park.
The tide was still too high for much beach to be exposed, so I didn’t hurry getting out to the end of the park.
By the time I reached the south point bench some gulls had started to show up on the shoreline. I sat and watched. As the tide continued to fall, more gulls arrived. They occasionally flushed and circled back to land on the newly exposed beach. I didn’t find a California Gull among them.
I took the trail up along the river hoping to catch sight or sound of a dipper. If one was along the stretch of river, I missed it.
A flock of juncos was in the cedar in front of Yaw Building on the SJ campus. I heard a couple in there and decided to pish. I was surprised to see a dozen or more pop out to look at me. It was getting late enough I considered the possibility they might have been in there to roost. It still seemed a little early for that, but they may have been gathering up in preparation to fly to roost.
On my way home, I crossed paths with DK, and we chatted while continuing on. He had seen the grebe in the harbor and was hoping to find the solitaire, so was curious where I saw it.
I ended talking to him for a bit outside my yard. In addition to visiting, I was holding out hope of seeing an American Tree Sparrow. I thought I saw one yesterday, but never had a very good look. A couple minutes later I saw a White-crowned Sparrow, and doubted original thought.
As it turned out, the extra time got me the robins I had been looking for. A pair of them flew up into the top of the tall spruce tree on the corner of Park St. and Biorka St.
My iNaturalist Observations for Today
