Coyote Hills
Yesterday, Feb 14, I went to Coyote Hills with my class to do some vertebrate observations. The weather was actually much nicer than I expected (especially b/c it hailed the day prior). The temperature was in the mid to low 40's with somewhat cloudy skies. The tiny droplets felt like someone was spitting while speaking. It was somewhat windy which may explain why we didn't see as many animals as the the Friday field section.
Coyote Hills has a habitat that is characterized mainly by marsh vegetation and some scrubby oak woodlands.
Some of the things that I was excited to see include:
1) Loggerhead Shrike which is a predatory passerine bird which will impale it's prey on thorns and barbed wire fences
2) Northern Harriers! the males and females look so different
3) Blue-Winged Teal < I was told this was exciting... pretty duck w/ a half moon on its head
4) GREAT HORNED OWL!! I saw this guy chillin' in its nest. All I could make out were its little ear tufts. This is a monster bird! We dissected an owl pellet we found nearby and there were some rather large vertebra in there.
Observations
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What
Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)Observer
ap2ilDescription
I saw at least 5 catching the rising currents of warm air
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California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus)Observer
ap2il
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Blue-winged Teal (Spatula discors)Observer
ap2ilDescription
Such a beautiful color on the wing! Saw one solitary individual with the distinctive crescent moon on the face.
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Western Meadowlark (Sturnella neglecta)Observer
ap2ilDescription
Lots of these birds with brilliantly yellow breasts. Beautiful metallic call
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Golden-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia atricapilla)Observer
ap2il
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Northern Harrier (Circus hudsonius)Observer
ap2ilDescription
Plenty of these guys soaring. They scout for prey on the fly, unlike red-tailed hawks and accipiters which scout for prey from a perch.
Beautiful grey males glided over the marsh
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Say's Phoebe (Sayornis saya)Observer
ap2ilDescription
saw one sallying on the edge of the marsh
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White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)Observer
ap2ilDescription
frenzied flocks frolicking in the marsh reeds near shore
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California Scrub-Jay (Aphelocoma californica)Observer
ap2il
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Desert Cottontail (Sylvilagus audubonii)Observer
ap2ilDescription
Really well camouflaged bunny. I was staring right at it and didn't see it.
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House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus)Observer
ap2ilDescription
I'd recognize those bloody heads anywhere. I always think the males look like they just came out of a battle.
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Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)Observer
ap2il
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Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)Observer
ap2ilDescription
Chipper little birds chirping from behind the tules and cattails
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Loggerhead Shrike (Lanius ludovicianus)Observer
ap2ilDescription
Beautiful grey little birds. I love their rich black masks. Too bad we didn't see them impale any goodies.
Photos / Sounds
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Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)Observer
ap2ilDescription
There were so many of these guys ~ 100 just swimming around the pond. They are filter feeders with crazy lamellae on their tongues which is why they have such an odd way of plowing through the water.
Comments
april! i saw a male northern harrier when i was down in southern, coastal delaware. they're so beautiful!
april! i saw a male northern harrier when i was down in southern, coastal delaware just last weekend. they're so beautiful!
aww pretty! :D
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