Date: 11/12/25 10:27 am From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: [northbaybirds] Outer Point Reyes 11/10/25 - ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS et al.
Taking advantage of the great weather I spent Monday, 11/10, hiking the pastures around the ranches on Outer Point Reyes.
Some bird species of note observed:
Snow Goose - lone bird flew in calling from Drakes Bay over the visitor centerin the morning, perhaps the continuing individual that has been seen with some regularity around the various ranches starting in early October this year
Lesser Scaup - a flock of 17 on the shallow Mendoza Ranch pond
Ring-necked Ducks - 7 on Spaletta and 3 on Mendoza ranch ponds
Long-billed Dowitcher - a juvenile was on the cattle pond near Drake's Corner. This bird flushed and flew off in the direction of the outer ranches and may have been the same individual noted on the Mendoza pond a few hours later
Bonaparte's Gull - Mendoza pond
Bald Eagle - adult flew in off Drake's Bay over the visitor center in the morning
ROUGH-LEGGED HAWKS - while walking the pastures of the Spaletta Ranch in the direction of Drake's Corner two juvenile Rough-legs flew over in quick succession heading toward the Lighthouse. About an hour later a juvenile Rough-legged hawk flew over the Hall Ranch/Drake's Corner heading north. Later a juvenile Rough-leg was observed over the pastures of the Nunes Ranch. I suspect the later two observations were of the first two birds moving around. It has been a good fall so far for this species in the Bay Area with multiple sightings in San Francisco and San Mateo counties.
Burrowing Owls - noted in traditional spots in pastures of the Spalleta and Nunes Ranch.
BARN SWALLOW - a late migrant flew over the Drake's Beach visitor center in the morning
Golden-crowned Kinglets - two were in the cypresses above the Mendoza Ranch pond in the afternoon
TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS - only ~380 noted on the day, with the largest flock of ~300 observed in the pastures above Nunes. While numbers of Tricolored blackbirds typically begin to decline by November one has to wonder what the effect of cessation of ranching activities on the Outer Point will have in the long term on this STATE LISTED species. Tricolored Blackbirds have been studied heavily in recent decades and found to be almost completely dependent on cattle ranches for foraging areas.
Unusual for the date was a near complete absence of American Goldfinches (1!) and low numbers of American Pipits (~40, with the largest flock of 25 flying over Nunes in the afternoon, the rest small groups and singles flying over throughout the day.)
Complete trip report and checklists can be viewed here:
