Air Scaup
Something got the Scaup stirred up on the North Basin this morning. Much of the flock stayed in the water
Read moreThe big flocks of Scaup shown here in the far distance on the North Basin give a small taste of
Read moreCoots, Mallards, and a few Scaup all share the North Basin cove amicably. There is some aggressive pecking among the
Read moreLast week, Bufflehead ruled the North Basin Cove; they were everywhere, in loose rafts, in small groups, and solo. This
Read moreA train of Scaup pulled south across the water at the far end of my camera’s zoom range. The images
Read moreThe Greater Scaup came to the North Basin by the hundreds in late fall and early winter, and then most
Read moreI do wish I were Dr. Doolittle and could talk to the animals. Then I would have an explanation for
Read moreOf the more than 200 Greater Scaup who entered the North Basin on December 16, barely three dozen have taken
Read moreGreater Scaup visited the North Basin in rafts of several hundred in mid-December. But they didn’t stay very long. After
Read moreThe raft of Greater Scaup that has been approaching the water basin between the park and the city finally penetrated
Read moreHundreds of Greater Scaup arrived within view of Cesar Chavez Park this past week. They clustered in two loose rafts,
Read moreI made my usual check for Burrowing Owls along the north side this morning. Before I could peer through the
Read moreA flock of possibly a hundred dark-colored birds flew low over the water last week but didn’t settle. They circled
Read moreThe Greater Scaup who rejected migrating north with thousands of their ilk this spring are still here. I saw them
Read moreIn my most recent visit I saw two birds that were far from the crowd of their species. While 99.9
Read moreThe North Basin is the body of water between Cesar Chavez Park and the Berkeley mainland. When I first started
Read moreI was in luck this morning. As I began my walk around eight o’clock, the sun slanted almost flat to
Read moreBufflehead came by the hundreds, but only a few dozen stayed. Coots come and go unpredictably. Of the scores of
Read moreToday’s balmy weather brought hundreds of migrant birds to the North Basin. The sizeable flock appeared to be almost entirely
Read moreThey came by night. Sunday evening at sunset I counted maybe a dozen. This morning, as the sun cleared the
Read moreAs a new graduate of the Burrowing Owl Docent Training Program, I knew that these unique birds are crepuscular (most
Read moreThe male Scaup who did not join the migration north in April is still here, seen cruising busily in the
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