"Tails" of a New Birder's Journey

Once a month, my local Sea & Sage Audubon Society has a guided walk at San Joaquin Marsh. It is always popular with a minimum of 15 people, which is why I tend to avoid it. But I decided to attend since the guide is great and I knew I’d get a bunch of new species. I arrived late and didn’t see the Snow Goose and Cackling Goose that have been known to hang out at one of the ponds and are considered rare. Someone pointed out these different species of Swallows and it was a great opportunity to study them while they’re being still and also in close proximity to each other. 

After the walk, I decided to try and find the Wilson’s Snipe that had recently been spotted. Snipes are notoriously difficult to spot. There are about 2 dozen different species of Snipe. The last time I saw a Snipe was in Arizona where we got a great look at one who came out from the reeds of a lake for a solid two minutes. They are characterized by a very long, slender bill, eyes placed high on the head, and camouflaging plumage. They also tend to be kinda chonky, slow, and meandering, which endears them to me even more. If a Wilson’s Snipe was going to be portrayed on screen, the actor I imagine doing so would be Dennis Franz.

A volunteer inside the Audubon House told me where the Snipe had been spotted and I made my way there. I noticed a few birders standing at the opposite end of the pond and pointing. As I approached them, one of the men asked me, “Are you looking for the Snipe?” He was kind enough to point out where he’d just seen it and it was still hanging out in the open! I chatted with him and one of the other birders for a bit and I even managed to get a decent pic. That’s how very cooperative this Snipe was. There’s just something about them that’s so curmudgeon-ly, grumpy, and adorable.

Another 14 species added to Birdathon!

96. Wilson’s Snipe
97. Brown-headed Cowbird
98. Yellow-breasted Chat
99. Scaly-breasted Munia
100. California Thrasher
101. Marsh Wren
102. Swinhoe’s White-eye
103. Cliff Swallow
104. Osprey
105. Clark’s Grebe
106. Black Skimmer
107. Least Sandpiper
108. Long-billed Dowitcher
109. Long-billed Curlew
110. Bufflehead

Some other highlights of the morning.