February 10, 2023
11:30 to 12:45, sunny and cool
I took my Vertebrate Biology students on a brief (45-minute) campus walk before lunch, to practice our spotting and identification skills. We left out of the western end of Darwin Hall, and walked north, past Carson Hall to Copeland Creek. Along the way, lots of birds were seen and heard, including Northern Raven, Anna’s Hummingbird, American Robin and California Towhee. At least one Western Gray Squirrel was hanging around the lawn and trees south of the Art Building.
We then headed east along the creek, stopping behind the Art Building to look for California Slender Salamanders (we found several), and also found a juvenile Southern Alligator Lizard nearby. A Nuttall’s Woodpecker was drumming on a tree beside the creek, and Ruby-crowned Kinglet, House Finch, and Chestnut-backed Chickadee were heard and seen in the riparian vegetation. Students found a couple of Spotted Towhee foraging on the ground, and Lesser Goldfinch were singing. Two or three Turkey Vulture soared overhead.
We walked over the Art Pond where we had a real treat – a small group (~4) of gorgeous Common Merganser swimming on the pond. On the edges of the Commencement Lake, Mallard were resting nearby a basking Western Pond Turtle. Canada Goose were also hanging out near the lake.
It was great to get out of the classroom, and we saw and heard a nice variety of species.
Species List
Northern Raven (Corvus corax), Anna’s Hummingbird (Calypte anna), American Robin (Turdus migratorius), California Towhee (Melozone crissalis), Nuttall’s Woodpecker (Dryobates nuttallii), Ruby-crowned Kinglet (Regulus calendula), House Finch (Haemorhous mexicanus frontalis), Chestnut-backed Chickadee (Poecile rufescens neglectus), Spotted Towhee (Pipilio maculatus), Lesser goldfinch (Spinus psaltria), Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura), Common Merganser (Mergus merganser), Mallard (Anas platyryhnchos) Canada Goose (Branta canadensis), Western Pond Turtle (Actinemys marmorata), Southern Alligator Lizard (Elgaria multicarinata), California Slender Salamander (Batrachoseps attenuatus), Western Grey Squirrel (Sciurius griseus)
Let me know what you think!