Want to see rocky shoreline and coastal birds like turnstones, oystercatchers, horned grebes, ospreys, and brown pelicans? Even the most partisan of Nature in Novato readers will admit these are good reasons to head south to San Rafael’s Loch Lomond Marina.
Bird-A-Thon 2018
How many birds can you find in Northeast Marin on a single fall day? The Wild Birders Unlimited try to find out in our first Bird-A-Thon.
Coast Live Oak
In my tree essays so far, I’ve rather tiptoed around the outskirts of our dendrological life, picking off the minor and adjunct species. But no more: coast live oak is the heart of our woodlands.
Doves & Pigeons
We have four doves and pigeons here: two much-loved native species and two impressively successful invaders. Do you know all four?
The Winter Sparrows
The most notable seasonal event in backyard birding is the fall arrival of the winter sparrows. Read this article to learn about the backyard stalwarts, the white-crowned and golden-crowned sparrows, as well as their less ubiquitous comrades.
Swift Migration at the McNear Brickyard
Each year in September and October, thousands of Vaux’s swifts roost in the unused chimneys of McNear’s Brickyard in San Rafael. A sunset visit here is one of the highlights of fall bird migration.
Shorebirds II: The Sandpipers
In the first part of this pair of posts introducing our local shorebirds, I covered the three smaller families of shorebirds in Northeast Marin, together comprising seven species among the stilts and avocets, plovers, and oystercatchers. Today, I follow up with the extensive and varied array of birds belonging to our most diverse shorebird family, the sandpipers.
Shorebirds I: The Smaller Families
Our local selection of shorebirds includes representatives from four taxonomic families: the stilts and avocets, the plovers, one oystercatcher , and a host of widely varying birds in the sandpiper family. Today, I’ll share the general skinny on shorebirds in our area and present a brief tour of the seven birds of the first three families; a follow-up article will discuss the remaining 16 species of the diverse sandpiper family.
Minor Trees Part II: Small Trees and Shrubs
Today I’ll tell you about our two most important small trees not yet profiled – hazel and blue elderberry – and while I’m here dealing with woody plants of modest dimensions, I’ll also give a brief glance to three of our most common and notable shrubs: coyote bush, coffeeberry, and huckleberry.
Minor Trees Part I: Riparian
I’ve been covering our most notable trees at arguably excessive length. Here, I’ll quickly take care of a swathe of less common local trees, focusing on our riparian – or streamside – species.