Ornithology 3B Summary
If you miss a class, please check this page and study the listed topics in your field guide. For last year's
calendar, click here.
December 16
We reviewed the gulls through page 204.
Please preregister if you plan to enroll in the Spring. Click here for details.
December 9
We completed the gulls on pages 202 and 204. Click here
for my photos of apparent Thayer's including some showing Iceland Gull-like characters and the Glaucous-like Gull
in San Francisco, that may be a hybrid. Two earlier photos of the same bird are here.
Another Glaucous-like gull is here along with discussion.
Click here for another Glaucous Gull photo with discussion
of the Iceland Gull problem and additional links. A first year Herring Gull photographed in Japan with a tail pattern
similar to American Herring Gull is here.
December 4
Click here for a photo by Peter Seubert of
the albino California Towhee on our Sutro Heights Park Field Trip.
December 2
We completed and reviewed the gulls on page 200. Click here
for a photo and description of the Belcher's Gull in San Diego
November 11
We completed and reviewed the gulls on page 198. Click here
for a photo and discussion of a juvenile Ring-billed Gull seen offshore.
Note: There is no class next week because I will be at the Central
Valley Birding Symposium. Also there is no class the following week because of Thanksgiving.
Classes will resume December 2nd.
November 4
We completed and reviewed the gulls on page 196. Click here
for a description and photos of a 1st summer Little Gull at Pescadero. Click here
for a description and photo of an adult Little Gull at Mystic Lake, Riverside County. Click here
for a photo of an adult Little Gull at Prado Regional Park.
October 28
We completed and reviewed the gulls on page 194. Click here
for a photo of a Franklin's Gull out of Monterey Bay. The "Morlan Method" gull identification key with
full text is here. Adobe acrobat reader required. An abridged
html version is here.
Note: This was the last class for Part A. Please register as soon as possible for Part
B (EA125) which starts November 4th. You can register
online, or mail or fax this registration
form. Fee is $90 for this 5-week class.
October 21
We completed and reviewed the jaegers on page 192. Click here
for a photo of a juvenile Long-tailed Jaeger in Santa Cruz. Click here
for photos of a controversial jaeger whose identity remains uncertain. However, I am currently leaning towards
2nd-year Long-tailed.
October 14
We completed and reviewed the skuas on page 190.
October 7
We completed and reviewed the phalaropes on page 184 Click here
for a photo I took of a Red Phalarope at Abbotts Lagoon last September.
September 30
We completed and reviewed the shorebirds on page 182. Click here
for details and photos of the American Woodcock at Iron Mountain, Caliofornia.
September 16
We completed and reviewed the dowitchers on page 180. First summer dowitchers are not well illustrated in any
field guide. Click here for a photo and discussion of a first
summer plumage Short-billed Dowitcher. Further discussion and a photo of breeding Long-billed Dowitchers are here. Note: There is no class next week
because of Back to School night. Class resumes September 30th.