Date: 2/14/26 1:24 pm From: Michael Long via groups.io <mghl2508...> Subject: [pen-bird] Coyote Point 14-2-26
Hi all,
This morning at Coyote Point was incredibly productive with a total of 85
species over the course of around 3 hours. I started out at Harborview Park
where I was treated to a Scrub Jay calling in the willows, always an
unusual bird east of 101. I then headed north along the Bay Trail where I
noted a high number of Horned Grebes in the bay, 11 were seen in total.
When I reached the tip of the northern breakwater, I was happy to see the
long staying Harlequin Duck about 400 feet away 37.59210° N, 122.31316° W.
It only took 5.5 years and 14 visits to find him.... After scanning the
concrete blocks, which yielded nothing unusual, I hiked the bluffs hoping
to find the Long-tailed Duck first found about a week ago. Lo and behold
about 350 feet from the top of the bluffs was the Long-tailed Duck foraging
with a flock of mostly Greater Scaup (37.59210° N, 122.31316° W). I then
continued down the bluffs towards the beach and the main lawn, where I was
happy to see 10 Greater White-fronted Geese lounging around in the sun.
While watching the geese, I heard an Oak Titmouse singing from near the
Magic Mountain Playground area. This is not a very common bird at Coyote
Point, and in fact was my first time observing that species at Coyote
Point. Afterwards, I headed back towards the Yacht Harbor to check on the
shorebirds, and boy did they deliver. At this point the tide had begun to
fall and thousands of shorebirds were flying in from the east to feed at
the newly exposed mudflats. The highlights however, were a Ruddy Turnstone
briefly spotted among the Dunlin before I lost it, and a couple Red Knots
flying in with the Black-bellied Plovers. I was only able to confirm 2, but
I might've had 3 more that I wasn't able to confirm. Both of these species
are rather unusual at Coyote Point and turned out to be personal hotspot
firsts as well. Afterwards, I headed back to my car at Harborview and was
just getting ready to leave when I spotted a Yellow Warbler in the willows
east of the park. This is the exact location where one wintered last
winter, and I suspect it's the same bird. All in all a very rewarding
morning with a total of 6 new birds for my hotspot lifelist. Photos and
descriptions can be seen in my trip report linked below.
https://ebird.org/tripreport/476391 Happy birding!
Michael Long
Redwood Shores.
