58/250 and a morning on the bay.

In my efforts to photo-document 250 species in each of California's 58 counties, there are iconic places that can't be missed. These include large, internationally known locations like the Farallon Islands, Death Valley National Park, and Redwoods National Park. There are also smaller spots that are of more localized importance or hold a special place in the hearts of the region's naturalists. The Palo Alto Baylands is just such a place. Wedged between East Palo Alto and Mountain View, it is the largest tract of undeveloped marshland in San Francisco Bay. As such it attracts amazing numbers of shorebirds , waders, and waterfowl. It is also home to numerous endangered species such as the Black Rail, Ridgway's Rail, and Saltmarsh Harvest Mouse. I was fortunate enough to spend a few hours there last week and had an amazing time. This included several looks at Ridgway's Rails, one of which was still long enough that I was able to get a few good photos. I look forward to returning in the winter for more wildlife and hopefully, with a good high tide, some of the other, more secretive animals of the marsh. Returning from this trip puts me at 72 species for the county with future trips planned that cover Henry Coe State Park, Sierra Azul Preserve and Almaden Quicksilver County Park, urban walks for parrots and the Mediterranean Spiny False Wolf Spider (Zoropsis spinimana), and more time along the waterfront.

Observations from this day include:

Posted on October 21, 2019 11:15 PM by rjadams55 rjadams55

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 09:32 AM PDT

Description

With a Ruddy Duck in the background. Several hundred Northern Shovelers were in the Palo Alto Duckpond.

Photos / Sounds

What

Double-crested Cormorant (Nannopterum auritum)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 09:34 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Grey House Spider (Badumna longinqua)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 09:34 AM PDT

Description

The cribellate webs of this extremely common, introduced spider are distinctive. They consist of radiating or parallel sheets made up of adjoining ladder or lattice-like sections.

Photos / Sounds

What

American Coot (Fulica americana)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 09:36 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-crowned Night Heron (Nycticorax nycticorax)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 09:36 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 09:36 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 09:36 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Bewick's Wren (Thryomanes bewickii)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 09:36 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Anna's Hummingbird (Calypte anna)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 09:36 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Dunlin (Calidris alpina)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 09:49 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Western Sandpiper (Calidris mauri)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 09:49 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 09:49 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 09:52 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 09:52 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Marsh Wren (Cistothorus palustris)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 10:14 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 10:17 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Black-necked Stilt (Himantopus mexicanus)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 10:20 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Snowy Egret (Egretta thula)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 10:20 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Greater Yellowlegs (Tringa melanoleuca)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 10:20 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 10:31 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Savannah Sparrow (Passerculus sandwichensis)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 10:31 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Eastern Mudsnail (Ilyanassa obsoleta)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 10:31 AM PDT

Description

Tens of thousands of these snails were found on the silty mud flats at low tide.

Photos / Sounds

What

Striped Green Sea Anemone (Diadumene lineata)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 10:31 AM PDT

Description

Dense patches of this anemone could be found in protected spots along the Baylands Sailing Station dock.

Photos / Sounds

What

Coyote Brush (Baccharis pilularis)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 10:34 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

White-crowned Sparrow (Zonotrichia leucophrys)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 10:34 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Peregrine Falcon (Falco peregrinus)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 10:34 AM PDT

Description

It flew up to the top of the powerline tower with a bird in its talons. I could not make out the species, but as it began plucking it, small puffs of white feathers floated off in the wind.

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 11:02 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 11:02 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Great Egret (Ardea alba)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 11:09 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 11:23 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

California Horn Snail (Cerithideopsis californica)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 11:23 AM PDT

Description

It was interesting that the invasive Eastern Mudsnail was found by the tens of thousands in the open slough mudflats;

https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/34515926

The native California Horn Snail was only seen in good numbers in these pond-like, interior mud flats. These areas were protected from the main body of San Francisco Bay's mudflats by thick beds of pickleweed (Salicornia sp.).

Photos / Sounds

What

Marsh Gumplant (Grindelia stricta var. angustifolia)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 11:28 AM PDT

Description

Subspecies identified by habitat and its long, tapered leaves with scattered, small serrations.

Photos / Sounds

What

Ridgway's Rail (Rallus obsoletus)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 11:52 AM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Least Sandpiper (Calidris minutilla)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 12:09 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

Fiery Skipper (Hylephila phyleus)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 12:09 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

American Avocet (Recurvirostra americana)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 12:29 PM PDT

Description

With a female Green-winged Teal.

Photos / Sounds

What

Green-winged Teal (Anas crecca)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 12:29 PM PDT

Description

Female teal with an American Avocet.

Photos / Sounds

What

American Coot (Fulica americana)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 12:35 PM PDT

Photos / Sounds

What

California Ground Squirrel (Otospermophilus beecheyi)

Observer

rjadams55

Date

October 14, 2019 11:55 AM PDT

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