The more we know of other forms of life, the more we enjoy and respect ourselves . . . Humanity is exalted not because we are so far above other living creatures but because knowing them well elevates the very concept of life. —E.O. Wilson
A visit to Abbott’s Lagoon always proves rewarding and never fails to offer a fresh experience. I’ve strolled down to the main lagoon dozens of times over the years and each visit is unique and memorable. Last August I met an American badger on the trail (link posting #2) and now I expect to see him every time I come, though apparently that was a one-time treat. Other encounters have included long-tailed weasel, coyote, bobcat, golden eagle, lark bunting, chestnut-collared longspur . . . It’s a long list. Although many of these sightings are lucky happenstance, there are also reliable encounters to be had. Today’s outing provided the usual suspects—pelicans, terns, snowy plover—but also some surprises, as expected. The following images are in order of appearance on this morning’s walk.
Acknowledgments: Thanks to Seth Bunnell for help with insect identification.
Gadwall
Mallard
Surf Scoter
California Quail
Pacific Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga
American Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Red-tailed Hawk
Black-bellied Plover
Willet
Yellowlegs sp.
Sanderling
Western Sandpiper
Baird’s Sandpiper
Long-billed Dowitcher
Red-necked Phalarope
Red Phalarope
Heermann’s Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Western Gull
Caspian Tern
Elegant Tern
Common Murre
Allen’s Hummingbird
Selasphorus Hummingbird sp.
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Bewick’s Wren
Marsh Wren
Western Bluebird
Wrentit
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson’s Warbler
Spotted Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Goldfinch
Naturalist and writer Jules Evens has lived near Point Reyes for over 30 years. He is the founder of Avocet Research Associates and the author of The Natural History of the Point Reyes Peninsula and An Introduction to California Birdlife (both UC Press).
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