Date: 5/19/25 11:58 am From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: [northbaybirds] misc. observations from Novato area 5/18/25
Spent some time birding various locations on the Bayside of Novato yesterday sandwiching a Breeding Bird Class hike along the San Adreas Fire Rd. on Mount Burdell with Liz Lewis and Kenneth Hillian.
Some sightings I found of interest:
Northern Shoveler - two pairs at Rush Creek marsh from Pinheiro Fire Rd. could be lingering wintering birds but at this location should be followed up as possible (rare/occasional) breeders in the county
California Gulls - flock (~15) of immature birds flew over Rush Creek in the early morning, a group (10) loafing on the island in the Novato Creek Unit of Petaluma marsh visible from Rowland had a couple of adult/near adult birds among the nesting Forster's Terns. As far as I know California gull has not yet been documented breeding in Marin but its rapid expansion of breeding colonies around the SF Bay should put this bird on the radar for a possible nester in the county
Aechmpohorus grebe pair - a Western and Clark's Grebe were associating on the big pond of Novato Creek Unit from Rowland. Another species I'm not sure has yet to be confirmed breeding in the county so this might be of interest to Atlas participants
Lawrence's Goldfinch - the Breeding Bird hike group encountered a pair (m,f) on the way up and again on the return trip along the San Andreas Fire Rd. a few hundred meters above the parking lot at Mount Burdell. This is a bit of a way from where a pair was noted nest building earlier this month so perhaps multiple pairs are nesting in the area
Yellow Warbler - now considered extirpated as a breeder in the county, a bird singing persistently at the edge of the big meadow about .5 mile from the trailhead at Pinheiro Fire Rd. falls well within the window of spring migrants but might be worth a follow up visit
