Outer Point Reyes Vagrants and other good birds.

Birded outer Point Reyes today on my day off.  Started off the day at the Nunes Ranch where the Dickcissel has been for the past week or so.  I didn't spend a long time looking for it, though, since I had already seen it, and the sparrow flock was quite spread out and hard to follow.  The usual suspects were present including Lincoln's, White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows.  As I scanned up the road I noticed a phoebe on the fence, but it was bobbing its tail and had a lot more white in the plumage.  It was indeed an Eastern Phoebe, almost certainly the same bird as was seen yesterday by another birder.

Eastern Phoebe, Nunes Ranch, Point Reyes, CA [Photo by Lukas Musher]

There were plenty of good birds to be had around Point Reyes today, and a visit to the fish docks/elephant seal overlook provided excellent looks at Townsend's, Hermit, and the long-staying Prairie Warbler in the cypresses around the area.

Lincoln's Sparrow, Elephant Seal Overlook, Point Reyes, CA [Photo by Lukas Musher]

Black Phoebe, Elephant Seal Overlook, Point Reyes, CA.  Ubiquitous, but a nice comparison to the Eastern Phoebe (above).  [Photo by Lukas Musher]

White-crowned Sparrow, Elephant Seal Overlook, Point Reyes, CA [Photo by Lukas Musher]

Another Lifer! Hermit Warbler, Fish Docks, Point Reyes, CA [Photo by Lukas Musher]

Prairie Warbler, Fish Docks, Point Reyes, CA [Photo by Lukas Musher]

Praire Warbler fly-catching, Fish Docks, Point Reyes, CA [Photo by Lukas Musher]

Prairie Warbler with insect, Fish Docks, Point Reyes, CA [Photo by Lukas Musher]

Prairie Warbler, Fish Docks, Point Reyes, CA [Photo by Lukas Musher]

Prairie Warbler, Fish Docks, Point Reyes, CA [Photo by Lukas Musher]

Also in Drakes Bay were 1 Long-tailed Duck (pretty good for Point Reyes), several Black Scoter in with the Surf Scoters, four species of grebe including 1 Red-necked Grebe, and most of the usual suspects.  Despite my efforts, I could not turn up the Harlequin Ducks, White-winged Scoters, or any interesting shorebirds.  On my drive home I was treated to a brief glimpse of a bobcat crossing the road just west of Inverness.

By Luke Musher