Meadowlark

 

Western Meadowlark, Crissy Field

Needing a change from my usual routine this morning I once again passed over my walk and went straight for a bike ride, this time across town to Crissy Field. I'd hoped to find an unusual bird that was reported two or three days ago but I had no luck with that. Which was fine since I had low expectations, and also because I've loved meadowlarks since I first photographed one at Carrizo Plain many years ago, and have wanted to photograph one here in San Francisco.

On another note, I ran into a pair of beautiful coyotes during my walk through Golden Gate Park on Wednesday and was glad I'd brought my compact camera along. It's not often I've seen two coyotes traveling together.

This was the lead coyote.

Soon followed by a second coyote.

Love those teeth!

I'm pretty sure that's 30th Avenue at Lincoln Way. The coyotes continued west, skirting the edge of the park. They were soon observed by a trio of NPS Rangers standing outside their vehicles which were parked on the sandy path. The coyotes were also soon observed by a couple of crows, or maybe ravens, who flew toward the coyotes to harass them. It looked like the coyotes might have crossed Lincoln right about there, with the crows in hot pursuit.

We didn't get much rain yesterday, but it was enough to hatch a few winged termites.

A meadowlark fanning its wing at Crissy Field this morning.

Meadowlark Rearview

Munching Meadowlark

Maybe a dozen or so Killdeer were also out on Crissy Field this morning. I wondered if they were in the grass because the tide had drowned most of the sand flats at nearby Crissy Marsh and Quartermaster Reach.

Flying Killdeer
(Composite photo.)

This fella had been standing on the very peak of the gopher mound, the better to keep look-out, but began to move away when I got too close. 

Brewer's Blackbird (Female)

Brewer's Blackbird (Male)

European Starling

I didn't know what bird this was when I photographed it.

Apparently it's a Red-winged Blackbird! I'd never have guessed it.

Since I was in the neighborhood I rode up to the Fort Mason Community Garden, where a few Lesser Goldfinches were feeding on some Cosmos seeds.

Lesser Goldfinch (Male)

There wasn't much sandbar showing at Crissy Marsh, and a lone Willet was among several gulls and other birds taking advantage of the small rest stop.

As were a trio of Elegant Terns.

I passed by the Lily Pond on the way home and stopped to photograph the Great Blue Heron in a verdant setting on the edge of the pond.

Nearby, a couple of Red-eared Sliders shared a stump with a Mallard drake.

* * *