R: Band-tailed Pigeon.
Today I found the sun. Up north. I was thinking of middling again in GGPark to see Elk Glen Lake, but it was cold and cloudy and DRIZZLING. And that’s not ideal Naturing conditions… So. I headed up to see another place that’s been on my mind lately, China Camp. And I went to my favorite trail route, Back Ranch Meadows Loop.
The sun was indeed there in San Rafael. And it was hovering around 70 degrees. You never have to go that far to find the weather you want around here.
But before I could even get going on the trail, I had to stop at a little pond near the road to see who was there. Three Greater Yellowlegs (which I felt pretty good about knowing immediately, given how pretty crappy I still am with shorebirds) and a Snowy Egret were owning the pond. With the Yellowlegs barely staying still and just gobbling up everything they could.
A Say’s Phoebe was flycatching nearby, too, which was a fun treat to see. Wish I’d gotten a better photo of it. Or even most of the birds I encountered. Pretty much no bird I saw today wanted to keep still whatsoever.
And, I have a suspicion that my hands are a touch shaky? I’ve had elevated blood pressure for a bit now, and I’m wondering if that’s why it seems like what I see through my digital camera or binocs is on the “little shaky” side? We shall see about that…
On my walk back to the trailhead, a Red-tailed Hawk soared overhead. And a beautiful Mottled Pyrausta Moth showed off its glorious colored wings in that sunshine.
After only a couple feet onto the trail, I noticed a good amount of Tarweed on the trail edges. Newtome Heerman’s Tarweed? It lined a lot of the trail at the start, and it was a nice surprise to see native flowers in bloom right now.
I started to hear bird calls, and it sounded like a Marsh Wren and a Spotted Towhee and MAYbe a Ruby-crowned Kinglet? But I’m not so sure about that last one, Merlin.
I looked up to find TONS of what I thought were tons of Swallows overhead (but turned out to be tons of Vaux’s Swifts, if Merlin’s right). Which just seemed bizarre. Then I looked down and noticed an interesting shape on a bent over and likely dead tree. But as I moved my binocs up to my eyes, it FLEW right toward the Swifts and flew up and up and seemed to swirl around with them!
I initially thought it was a Sharp-shinned Hawk, but then that couldn’t be. It was too big! So it must’ve been a Cooper’s Hawk. And my utterly crappy photos of it are enough to convince iNat. Which is ultimately exciting, as I’ve never seen a Cooper’s Hawk there before!
I eventually continued on, but I noticed a Western Fence Lizard with an extraordinarily long tail just hanging out near the trail edge ahead of me. Alligator Lizard! And it just stayed there. Eventually glaring up at me. So cool. I think this is like only the third time I’ve ever seen one? I love how they look like their head belongs to a different body.
A good size group of Wild Turkeys made an appearance up on the hillside. I was able to actually spot a Marsh Wren calling out in the open (WHUT). And Pacific Madrone berries looked so ripe and yummy high up above me.
And then there was a RUSTLING up ahead. A Western Gray Squirrel came onto the trail. Stopped to look at me. And even started MAKING ITS WAY TO ME. Scampering, as if it was expecting me to feed it!
Then, ALLOFASUDDEN, it seemed to realize I was not what it thought, and it turned to bolt back away from me and up a tree to then stop and get a look at me. Not really sure what happened there. In practically all of my experiences, these Squirrels are SHY. And NEVER approach me. WEIRD.
Stopped to note some familiar-looking Lichen on the hillside of the trail when I heard that same Squirrel scurrying above me. Which flustered a Band-tailed Pigeon that I got nice looks at. And it seemed equally curious about me!
It was around then that I noticed there were TONS MORE of the Swifts up above. It was like when we all went to see them launch from that chimney up north with Bob and Juli forever ago. But they just seemed to soar and dive and do all the things. So many of them. Is this a common thing at China Camp??
Got to watch a Hairy Woodpecker couple hunt for food. And two Columbian Black-tailed Deer allofasudden come charging then boinging across the hillside. And a stretch of drop-dead gorgeous Manzanitas soaking up the afternoon rays. Followed by some intriguing-looking Turkey-Tail.
The trail was just lovely right then. With the perfect light and colors.
And I think I even spotted a Dusky-footed Woodrat house?
Instead of finishing the trail, like I usually do, I decided to cut in to the campground to FINALLY check out the little amphitheatre there. But before I got there, a couple more Deer came into view. Including a super fuzzy fawn WITH SPOTS and all. Aw.
For whatever reason, there was a sign leading up to the amphitheatre that said, “Area Closed.” But I couldn’t figure out why. Everything seemed just fine there. And it’s the most darling little amphitheatre that ever was. I mean to reach out to our CA State Parks’ contact for China Camp and get the skinny on if it’s ever used.
After getting my fill of the theatre, where I mostly watched a small family of Deer casually eat just next to the stage and quite close to me, I kept on through the campground. It seemed like joining up to finish the route would have been in a good amount of shade at that point. So.
After passing the camp sites, I heard then saw a family of California Quail make their way toward two small Deer. But one of the Quail stopped to take a dust bath. And it was the cutest thing.
I was making my way back into the sunshine when I stopped under a couple California Buckeye trees. Because I started to hear SO MANY BIRDS allatonce. Bushtits and a Lesser Goldfinch and House Finches and a Nuttall’s Woodpecker, then Merlin heard a Golden-crowned Sparrow, Orange-crowned Warbler, and the Vaux’s Swifts.
Was able to photograph the Acorn Woodpecker behind the smaller birds near me. Noted the Swifts still going strong everywhere I could see when looking up. The Red-tailed Hawk and a couple Turkey Vultures were also in the sky. A White-breasted Nuthatch peeked out. A Western Wood-Peewee perched out in the open far away. And Dark-eyed Juncos flew in to feed on the trail just up ahead.
And about as soon as all the action started, it quieted down. And it was time to head out.
But another Pyrausta Moth stopped to pose for me. And then a cyclist came toward me on the trail. As I moved to the side, he got pretty close to where I was when I noticed a Lizard of some kind was just below. I thought he ran over the Lizard as he cycled past, because allofasudden the TAIL was separated and writhing back and forth on the trail!!
!!!
Okokok, so I have never seen this! And I started to remember that the Western Skink can shed its tail to distract predators. So maybe this Alligator Lizard intentionally shed its tail? Looked it up when I got to my car, and, YES. They do that, too! I have to think it was the cyclist that provoked the Lizard. Because it didn’t seem to mind me one bit earlier. Hm.
I was just reaching the trailhead when a female Deer paused on the trail ahead of me to get a look at me. She kept on and made her way to the meadow. And after I resumed walking, I spotted a gorgeous male Deer up on the hillside. With such stunning antlers. He kept an eye on her. And she on him. As they seemed unsure of what to do with me so close on the trail. So I calmly and slowly made my way past them both.
He still didn’t come near the trail but decided to have a sit in the grass. Which was just ADORBS. Then ANOTHER male Deer with slightly smaller antlers sauntered into view!
It was all very special. No one else was around. The light was fading eversoslowly. And they didn’t seem to be bothered too much by me just watching them all with a big grin on my face. Eventually the males crossed the trail and joined the female. With another female in the distance about to join/rejoin the group.
And I just stood and enjoyed it all. Getting to watch them end their day in that glowing light. As an American Kestrel called in the distance. Perfect way to end my day of seeing so much at China Camp today!
