Marty Nicolaus

* Birds Northern Flicker

New 2Me Bird

September 30, 2021September 30, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 133 Views 1 Comment Colaptes auratus

Perched atop the tallest tree in the Native Plant Area, this bird made for an intriguing sight. I had never

* Birds Osprey Red-tailed Hawk

Hawk Overhead

September 29, 2021September 29, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 165 Views Buteo jamaicensis, Pandion haliaetus

A week ago I was walking through the Native Plant Area with my camera and tripod, and one of the

* Birds Spotted Sandpiper

Immaculate

September 28, 2021September 28, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 91 Views Actitis macularius

It was nearly 6 pm when I finally got to the park, and I expected nothing in the way of

* Issues Peace Symbol Vandalism Volunteers

Work Done and To Do

September 27, 2021September 29, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 94 Views 0 Comments

The Peace Symbol on the northwest corner hilltop of the park suffered damage a few weeks ago when someone pulled

* American White Pelican Birds

Rare Visitors

September 26, 2021September 26, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 99 Views Pelecanus erythrorhynchos

White Pelicans rarely make an appearance here in the North Basin. All the more remarkable was the visit of this

* American Coot Birds Black Phoebe Black-crowned Night Heron Brown Pelican Double-crested Cormorant Ring-billed Gull Snowy Egret Willet

My Birthday Birds

September 25, 2021September 25, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 109 Views 2 Comments Ardea herodias, Egretta thula, Fulica americana, Larus delawarensis, Nannopterum auritum, Nycticorax nycticorax, Pelecanus occidentalis, Sayornis nigricans, Tringa semipalmata

It was my birthday and my gift from the park was lots of birds. I saw the resident American Coot

* Plants Torrey Pine

Mother Torrey Expands

September 24, 2021September 9, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 85 Views Pinus torreyana

The Wikipedia entry for Torrey Pines says: The Torrey pine, Pinus torreyana, is a rare pine species in California, United States. It is a critically endangered species growing

* Birds Canada Goose

Scene of Serenity

September 23, 2021September 9, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 76 Views Branta canadensis

Geese can be a noisy bunch when hungry or angry. The Wikipedia entry for them notes: Extremely adept at living in

* Equinox Events

Equinox Gathering Off

September 22, 2021September 22, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 77 Views 0 Comments Autumn Equinox, Rabbi David Cooper

Autumn Equinox Gathering CanceledToday, Wednesday September 22, 6:15 – 7:15 pmSunset at 7:05Where: Solar Calendar at Cesar Chavez Park Regrettably

* Birds Willet

Big Crab

September 21, 2021September 8, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 91 Views 0 Comments Tringa semipalmata

Well, not a big crab by Fisherman’s Wharf standards, but big for a Willet. This crab’s body is almost the

* Birds Clark's Grebe Western Grebe

Outliers

September 20, 2021September 7, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 82 Views 0 Comments Aechmophorus clarkii, Aechmophorus occidentalis

These Western Grebes were not the main show. The main show was a flock of Clark’s Grebes out in the

* Birds Marbled Godwit

From Alaska

September 19, 2021September 19, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 88 Views 0 Comments Limosa fedoa

The godwit in the video captures first what looks like a small crab, and later some kind of worm. These

* Birds Mallard

Mixed Mallard

September 18, 2021September 9, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 78 Views Anas platyrhynchos

Photographer James Kusz spotted and photographed this extraordinary Mallard. It’s a white-breasted brown Mallard. Mallards are known for hybridizing with

* Herps Western Fence Lizard

Herp in Hole

September 17, 2021September 19, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 73 Views 0 Comments sceloporus occidentalis

This Western Fence Lizard and I surprised one another. It didn’t expect me and I didn’t expect it. We had

* Birds Great Blue Heron

Bluenotes

September 16, 2021September 4, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 85 Views 0 Comments Ardea herodias

I’ve filmed the Great Blue Heron a number of times here in the park, but I’ve never heard it vocalize.

* Events

Equinox Celebration Coming Up

September 15, 2021September 9, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 154 Views 0 Comments Autumn Equinox, Rabbi David Cooper

Autumn Equinox GatheringWednesday September 22, 6:15 – 7:15 pmSunset at 7:05Where: Solar Calendar at Cesar Chavez ParkLed by Rabbi David

* Birds Burrowing Owl Whimbrel

Not-Quite-So-Long-Bill

September 14, 2021September 14, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 65 Views 0 Comments Numenius phaeopus

The Long-Billed Curlew isn’t the only shorebird with a long curved bill. Photographer James Kusz caught these Whimbrel foraging in

* Birds Long-billed Curlew

Early Longbill

September 13, 2021September 2, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 84 Views 0 Comments Numenius americanus

Another early migrant, along with the Marbled Godwits, is this Long-billed Curlew. This one is likely to be a male.

* Birds Bushtit

Bugtits

September 12, 2021September 2, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 84 Views 0 Comments Psaltriparus minimus

I saw a handful of these little featherballs busy pecking in the crown of a fennel bush. How odd, I

* Birds Marbled Godwit

Early ‘Wits

September 11, 2021September 19, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 93 Views 1 Comment Limosa fedoa

The Golden Gate Audubon bird blog advised recently that the fall migration was starting early this year, and these Marbled

* Birds Double-crested Cormorant

Cormorant Commandos

September 10, 2021September 27, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 96 Views 1 Comment Nannopterum auritum, Phalacrocorax auritus

If I were a foot-long fish I think I’d have a better chance of survival with the water surface full

* Birds Great Blue Heron

Bird in Pipe

September 9, 2021September 1, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 102 Views 0 Comments Ardea herodias

Shortly after chasing away the Cormorant (“Bossy Blue,” September 4 2021) the Great Blue Heron stalked cautiously into the big

* Birds Black-crowned Night Heron

Young and Old

September 8, 2021September 1, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 136 Views 0 Comments Nycticorax nycticorax

Shooting video of a Black-crowned Night Heron is almost a total waste of pixels. The bird seems to surpass all

* Police and Fire

Wildfire Training

September 7, 2021August 24, 2021 Marty Nicolaus 91 Views 0 Comments

Ten new recruits to the Berkeley Fire Department worked to earn their wildfire certification during a training exercise in the

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