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The presence of mammals in the header of a birding tour report shouldn't raise alarm bells about the quality of the birding on this tour -- we saw more than a few birds. It's just that these particular mammals, amazing Northern Right Whale Dolphins that we encountered on our pelagic trip out of Half Moon Bay, really fit the long horizontal format of an introduction banner photo quite well. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
Our fall tour across Northern California was once again a success, with great birding and a fun group combining for a memorable experience.
We met at our airport hotel south of San Francisco and spent a day birding around the southwestern portion of San Francisco Bay. The day started off with killer views of multiple Ridgway's Rails, and then continued with a rare Ruff at the south end of the Bay, and we were also entertained by legions of shorebirds and returning waterfowl everywhere in between. The Google self-driving car that we spotted was another big highlight for the day.
The next day was spent offshore from Half Moon Bay on a pelagic trip organized by the incomparable Alvaro Jaramillo. Seabirds came fast and furious with Northern Gannet (a continuing bird -- the only known individual in the Pacific Ocean), South Polar Skua, Black-footed Albatross, all three species of jaeger, a mysterious Leach's-type Storm-Petrel, plenty of Sabine's Gulls and phalaropes, a remarkable 30 Wilson's Storm-Petrels, and much more along the way. The marine mammals were awesome too, with BLUE WHALE and Northern Right Whale Dolphin leading the highlights board.
After the pelagic trip, we spent a day along the outer coast of San Mateo County in order to find some specialty birds. Morning walks near Half Moon Bay helped us find a Pigeon Guillemot swimming underwater just below our feet, Wrentit, the newly split California Scrub-Jay, Townsend's Warbler, Vaux's Swift, and a vagrant White-winged Dove that Chris Benesh found with his group. Snowy Plovers showed well on the beach in Half Moon Bay, and we enjoyed a jaunt into a patch of coastal redwoods (and found a few Banana Slugs, too!).
Moving east away from the coast, we spent a morning traversing the dry oak forests and scrubby hillsides of Mines Road and the Diablo Range. We had many target birds in these mountains, and we left with a real bounty: a vocal California Thrasher with a Greater Roadrunner in the background, coveys of California Quail, secretive Bell's Sparrows, Oak Titmouse, Lewis's Woodpecker, and the endemic and magnificent Yellow-billed Magpie. Continuing east across the Central Valley, we arrived in Sonora, our home for two nights.
On our first morning out of Sonora, we headed into the giant sequoias of Calaveras Big Trees State Park, a real woodpecker mecca. Shortly after arriving, we ran into a noisy flock that included White-headed Woodpeckers, Red-breasted Sapsucker, and two Williamson's Sapsuckers -- what luck! Pacific Wrens, Red-breasted Nuthatches, and warblers were everywhere, and we even had some good looks at Band-tailed Pigeon and Townsend's Solitaire, too. Moving upslope after lunch, we searched and searched for Mountain Quail around Bear Valley without luck. We did, however, have a great dinner in Sonora to cap off a fun day.
We awoke early for a drive from Sonora up and over the crest of the Sierra Nevada, stopping at several choice spots that held Lewis's Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, American Dipper, Thick-billed Fox Sparrow, and Green-tailed Towhee. We heard a tantalizingly close group of Mountain Quail calling their distinctive downward spirals from the manzanita, but couldn't see these skulkers. Sonora Pass held an actively feeding pair of Clark's Nutcrackers that posed for us at close range, but we didn't see much else there, so we headed down the east side of the Sierra Nevada to Lee Vining and Mono Lake Basin. We walked around at the Mono Lake County Park and enjoyed scores of ducks and shorebirds at the edge of the water, highlighted by Peregrine Falcon, Northern Harrier, and a thousand Red-necked Phalaropes spinning through the water.
Before dawn the next day, we headed down to the edge of Mono Lake to take in the bizarre and magnificent landscape of the lakeshore and its incredible tufa structures, and also found Pinyon Jays, close Sage Thrashers, and Brewer's Sparrows. We also ventured into the hills above Lee Vining, where Woodhouse's Scrub-Jays skulked through the juniper scrub -- my first time seeing this newly-split species in California. The other excitement we encountered was in the form of a Sharp-shinned Hawk dogfighting with several Clark's Nutcrackers over our heads -- for more than 15 minutes! In the afternoon, we drove up into the hills north of Mono Lake, spotting a close flyby Golden Eagle en route to the ghost town of Bodie. After a neat historical tour of the well-preserved town, we spread out and stalked through the sagebrush, eventually spotting several magnificent Greater Sage-Grouse flying in to land in front of us. Then, as we drove out of the park, several more grouse were spotted crouching just a few yards off the side of the road -- again, what luck!
From Lee Vining, we had plenty of ground to cover to return to the Bay area, so we retraced some of our steps before heading to San Rafael in the North Bay. Following a delicious final tour dinner at a lovely Thai restaurant, we gathered in a brisk breeze at the McNear Brick & Block on the edge of the bay, where 1,700 Vaux's Swifts were swirling overhead. Though many swifts had apparently arrived early to roost due to the wind, we still enjoyed the amazing spectacle and watched as hundreds of swifts stalled together and then toppled into the massive chimneys of the brickyard. This was the final birding of our tour, and we happily piled back into the van, drove through the city hills of San Francisco, and returned late to our airport hotel near SFO.
I really love the cross-section of the state that we visited on this tour and the impressive diversity of birds that we were able to find in just over a week, but both paled in comparison to the pleasure of traveling with this group. Thank you so much for your companionship, enthusiasm, bird-spotting skills, and flexibility along the way. I hope to bird with you again down the road. Big thanks also go to Caroline Lewis for her hard work in setting up our transportation, lodging, and access permits behind the scenes from our Austin office.
As a followup, I wanted to share a link to Scott Harvell's photos from the trip. Scott has a flickr album at this address: https://www.flickr.com/gp/133052166@N07/57132y.
See you in the field!
-- Tom
KEYS FOR THIS LIST
One of the following keys may be shown in brackets for individual species as appropriate: * = heard only, I = introduced, E = endemic, N = nesting, a = austral migrant, b = boreal migrant
Anatidae (Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl)
CANADA GOOSE (Branta canadensis)
GADWALL (Anas strepera)
AMERICAN WIGEON (Anas americana)
MALLARD (Anas platyrhynchos)
This Northern Fulmar bobbed around right next to our boat during the pelagic trip out of Half Moon Bay. Photo by participant Bill Telfair.
BLUE-WINGED TEAL (Anas discors)
CINNAMON TEAL (Anas cyanoptera)
NORTHERN SHOVELER (Anas clypeata)
NORTHERN PINTAIL (Anas acuta)
GREEN-WINGED TEAL (AMERICAN) (Anas crecca carolinensis)
REDHEAD (Aythya americana)
RING-NECKED DUCK (Aythya collaris)
SURF SCOTER (Melanitta perspicillata)
RUDDY DUCK (Oxyura jamaicensis)
Odontophoridae (New World Quail)
MOUNTAIN QUAIL (Oreortyx pictus) [*]
CALIFORNIA QUAIL (Callipepla californica)
Phasianidae (Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies)
GREATER SAGE-GROUSE (Centrocercus urophasianus)
WILD TURKEY (Meleagris gallopavo)
Gaviidae (Loons)
RED-THROATED LOON (Gavia stellata)
For a bird nearly the size of a small turkey, Greater Sage-Grouse sure do fly fast! We had a great time looking for these denizens of the high desert, and eventually found some that were moving really fast and also some that just sat still right next to us. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
PACIFIC LOON (Gavia pacifica)
COMMON LOON (Gavia immer)
Podicipedidae (Grebes)
PIED-BILLED GREBE (Podilymbus podiceps)
EARED GREBE (Podiceps nigricollis)
WESTERN GREBE (Aechmophorus occidentalis)
CLARK'S GREBE (Aechmophorus clarkii)
Diomedeidae (Albatrosses)
BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS (Phoebastria nigripes)
Procellariidae (Shearwaters and Petrels)
NORTHERN FULMAR (Fulmarus glacialis)
PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATER (Ardenna creatopus)
While we became acquainted with the strange landscape of Mono Lake, this male Northern Harrier decided to make a nice close pass. Photo by participant Bill Telfair.
BULLER'S SHEARWATER (Ardenna bulleri)
SOOTY SHEARWATER (Ardenna grisea)
BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER (Puffinus opisthomelas)
Hydrobatidae (Storm-Petrels)
WILSON'S STORM-PETREL (Oceanites oceanicus)
LEACH'S STORM-PETREL (Oceanodroma leucorhoa)
ASHY STORM-PETREL (Oceanodroma homochroa)
Sulidae (Boobies and Gannets)
NORTHERN GANNET (Morus bassanus)
Phalacrocoracidae (Cormorants and Shags)
BRANDT'S CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax penicillatus)
We had a few eye-level experiences with Townsend's Warblers along the coast near Half Moon Bay. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
PELAGIC CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax pelagicus)
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT (Phalacrocorax auritus)
Pelecanidae (Pelicans)
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos)
BROWN PELICAN (Pelecanus occidentalis)
Ardeidae (Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns)
GREAT BLUE HERON (Ardea herodias)
GREAT EGRET (Ardea alba)
SNOWY EGRET (Egretta thula)
GREEN HERON (Butorides virescens)
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON (Nycticorax nycticorax)
Threskiornithidae (Ibises and Spoonbills)
WHITE-FACED IBIS (Plegadis chihi)
Cathartidae (New World Vultures)
TURKEY VULTURE (Cathartes aura)
Pandionidae (Osprey)
OSPREY (Pandion haliaetus)
Accipitridae (Hawks, Eagles, and Kites)
WHITE-TAILED KITE (Elanus leucurus)
GOLDEN EAGLE (Aquila chrysaetos)
This scruffy storm-petrel proved to be fairly problematic on our Half Moon Bay pelagic. It clearly seems to be a member of the Leach's complex, but whether it's a nominate, northern-breeding Leach's or one of the southern breeding taxa has been impossible for us to figure out. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
NORTHERN HARRIER (Circus cyaneus)
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (Accipiter striatus)
COOPER'S HAWK (Accipiter cooperii)
BALD EAGLE (Haliaeetus leucocephalus)
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (ELEGANS) (Buteo lineatus elegans)
SWAINSON'S HAWK (Buteo swainsoni)
RED-TAILED HAWK (Buteo jamaicensis)
Rallidae (Rails, Gallinules, and Coots)
RIDGWAY'S RAIL (SAN FRANCISCO BAY) (Rallus obsoletus obsoletus)
SORA (Porzana carolina)
AMERICAN COOT (Fulica americana)
Recurvirostridae (Stilts and Avocets)
BLACK-NECKED STILT (Himantopus mexicanus)
AMERICAN AVOCET (Recurvirostra americana)
Haematopodidae (Oystercatchers)
BLACK OYSTERCATCHER (Haematopus bachmani)
Charadriidae (Plovers and Lapwings)
BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER (Pluvialis squatarola)
The view from Bear Valley in the Sierra Nevada. How many hidden Mountain Quail are there in this photo? Photo by participant Bill Telfair.
SNOWY PLOVER (Charadrius nivosus)
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (Charadrius semipalmatus)
KILLDEER (Charadrius vociferus)
Scolopacidae (Sandpipers and Allies)
WHIMBREL (HUDSONIAN) (Numenius phaeopus hudsonicus)
LONG-BILLED CURLEW (Numenius americanus)
MARBLED GODWIT (Limosa fedoa)
BLACK TURNSTONE (Arenaria melanocephala)
SURFBIRD (Calidris virgata)
RUFF (Calidris pugnax)
SANDERLING (Calidris alba)
LEAST SANDPIPER (Calidris minutilla)
WESTERN SANDPIPER (Calidris mauri)
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus griseus)
LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (Limnodromus scolopaceus)
Our first day of the tour was a bountiful one -- we even scored a vagrant RUFF (just right of center here) at the south end of San Francisco Bay. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus lobatus)
RED PHALAROPE (Phalaropus fulicarius)
SPOTTED SANDPIPER (Actitis macularius)
WANDERING TATTLER (Tringa incana)
GREATER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa melanoleuca)
WILLET (WESTERN) (Tringa semipalmata inornata)
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (Tringa flavipes)
Stercorariidae (Skuas and Jaegers)
SOUTH POLAR SKUA (Stercorarius maccormicki)
POMARINE JAEGER (Stercorarius pomarinus)
PARASITIC JAEGER (Stercorarius parasiticus)
LONG-TAILED JAEGER (Stercorarius longicaudus)
Alcidae (Auks, Murres, and Puffins)
COMMON MURRE (Uria aalge)
This Sharp-shinned Hawk antagonized a few Clark's Nutcrackers near Lee Vining. Sometimes, though, the nutcrackers would turn the tables on the hawk and chase it around. Probably because of the indecision over who should be chasing whom, the dogfight lasted at least 15 minutes! Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
PIGEON GUILLEMOT (Cepphus columba)
CASSIN'S AUKLET (Ptychoramphus aleuticus)
RHINOCEROS AUKLET (Cerorhinca monocerata)
Laridae (Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers)
SABINE'S GULL (Xema sabini)
BONAPARTE'S GULL (Chroicocephalus philadelphia)
HEERMANN'S GULL (Larus heermanni)
RING-BILLED GULL (Larus delawarensis)
WESTERN GULL (Larus occidentalis)
CALIFORNIA GULL (Larus californicus)
CASPIAN TERN (Hydroprogne caspia)
FORSTER'S TERN (Sterna forsteri)
ELEGANT TERN (Thalasseus elegans)
BLACK SKIMMER (Rynchops niger)
Columbidae (Pigeons and Doves)
ROCK PIGEON (Columba livia) [I]
BAND-TAILED PIGEON (Patagioenas fasciata)
Once we were sufficiently far offshore on our pelagic trip, Sabine's Gulls became a common sight -- a very welcome sight, too! Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE (Streptopelia decaocto) [I]
WHITE-WINGED DOVE (Zenaida asiatica)
MOURNING DOVE (Zenaida macroura)
Cuculidae (Cuckoos)
GREATER ROADRUNNER (Geococcyx californianus)
Strigidae (Owls)
GREAT HORNED OWL (Bubo virginianus)
BURROWING OWL (Athene cunicularia)
Caprimulgidae (Nightjars and Allies)
COMMON POORWILL (Phalaenoptilus nuttallii) [*]
Apodidae (Swifts)
VAUX'S SWIFT (Chaetura vauxi)
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (Aeronautes saxatalis)
Trochilidae (Hummingbirds)
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD (Calypte anna)
Alcedinidae (Kingfishers)
BELTED KINGFISHER (Megaceryle alcyon)
Picidae (Woodpeckers)
LEWIS'S WOODPECKER (Melanerpes lewis)
ACORN WOODPECKER (Melanerpes formicivorus)
WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus thyroideus)
It isn't every day that you get such a good look at a Ridgway's Rail! We kicked the tour off with four of these beauties near the runways at SFO Airport. Photo by participant Bill Telfair.
RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus nuchalis)
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER (Sphyrapicus ruber)
NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER (Picoides nuttallii)
DOWNY WOODPECKER (Picoides pubescens)
HAIRY WOODPECKER (Picoides villosus)
WHITE-HEADED WOODPECKER (Picoides albolarvatus)
NORTHERN FLICKER (Colaptes auratus)
PILEATED WOODPECKER (Dryocopus pileatus)
Falconidae (Falcons and Caracaras)
AMERICAN KESTREL (Falco sparverius)
PEREGRINE FALCON (Falco peregrinus)
Tyrannidae (Tyrant Flycatchers)
WILLOW FLYCATCHER (Empidonax traillii)
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER (Empidonax difficilis)
BLACK PHOEBE (Sayornis nigricans)
SAY'S PHOEBE (Sayornis saya)
Laniidae (Shrikes)
LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE (Lanius ludovicianus)
Vireonidae (Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis)
HUTTON'S VIREO (Vireo huttoni)
Wrentits are widespread in coastal California, but they can be tough to see well. That wasn't a problem on this trip, though! Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
CASSIN'S VIREO (Vireo cassinii) [*]
Corvidae (Crows, Jays, and Magpies)
PINYON JAY (Gymnorhinus cyanocephalus)
STELLER'S JAY (Cyanocitta stelleri)
CALIFORNIA SCRUB-JAY (Aphelocoma californica)
WOODHOUSE'S SCRUB-JAY (Aphelocoma woodhouseii)
BLACK-BILLED MAGPIE (Pica hudsonia)
YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE (Pica nuttalli) [E]
CLARK'S NUTCRACKER (Nucifraga columbiana)
AMERICAN CROW (Corvus brachyrhynchos)
COMMON RAVEN (Corvus corax)
Alaudidae (Larks)
HORNED LARK (Eremophila alpestris)
Hirundinidae (Swallows)
TREE SWALLOW (Tachycineta bicolor)
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW (Tachycineta thalassina)
BARN SWALLOW (Hirundo rustica)
Paridae (Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice)
MOUNTAIN CHICKADEE (Poecile gambeli)
The Pigeon Guillemot that we saw in Half Moon Bay couldn't have been much closer. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE (Poecile rufescens)
OAK TITMOUSE (Baeolophus inornatus)
Aegithalidae (Long-tailed Tits)
BUSHTIT (Psaltriparus minimus)
Sittidae (Nuthatches)
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta canadensis)
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (Sitta carolinensis)
PYGMY NUTHATCH (Sitta pygmaea)
Certhiidae (Treecreepers)
BROWN CREEPER (Certhia americana)
Troglodytidae (Wrens)
CANYON WREN (Catherpes mexicanus) [*]
HOUSE WREN (Troglodytes aedon)
PACIFIC WREN (PACIFICUS GROUP) (Troglodytes pacificus pacificus)
MARSH WREN (PALUDICOLA GROUP) (Cistothorus palustris paludicola)
BEWICK'S WREN (Thryomanes bewickii)
Cinclidae (Dippers)
AMERICAN DIPPER (Cinclus mexicanus)
Regulidae (Kinglets)
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus satrapa)
Pinyon Jays entertained us with their funny voices and leaderless flocking behavior near Mono Lake. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET (Regulus calendula)
Paradoxornithidae (Parrotbills, Wrentit, and Allies)
WRENTIT (Chamaea fasciata)
Turdidae (Thrushes and Allies)
WESTERN BLUEBIRD (Sialia mexicana)
MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD (Sialia currucoides)
TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE (Myadestes townsendi)
HERMIT THRUSH (Catharus guttatus)
AMERICAN ROBIN (Turdus migratorius)
Mimidae (Mockingbirds and Thrashers)
CALIFORNIA THRASHER (Toxostoma redivivum)
SAGE THRASHER (Oreoscoptes montanus)
Sturnidae (Starlings)
EUROPEAN STARLING (Sturnus vulgaris) [I]
Motacillidae (Wagtails and Pipits)
AMERICAN PIPIT (Anthus rubescens)
Bombycillidae (Waxwings)
CEDAR WAXWING (Bombycilla cedrorum)
Parulidae (New World Warblers)
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (Oreothlypis celata)
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (Geothlypis tolmiei)
The very-far-out-of-range Northern Gannet gave us a strange beginning to our pelagic trip. The bird was sitting on the steep slope of Pillar Point just north of Half Moon Bay. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (Geothlypis trichas)
YELLOW WARBLER (Setophaga petechia)
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (AUDUBON'S) (Setophaga coronata auduboni)
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (Setophaga nigrescens)
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (Setophaga townsendi)
HERMIT WARBLER (Setophaga occidentalis)
WILSON'S WARBLER (Cardellina pusilla)
Emberizidae (Buntings and New World Sparrows)
BREWER'S SPARROW (Spizella breweri)
BLACK-THROATED SPARROW (Amphispiza bilineata)
FOX SPARROW (Passerella iliaca)
FOX SPARROW (THICK-BILLED) (Passerella iliaca megarhyncha)
DARK-EYED JUNCO (Junco hyemalis)
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (ORIANTHA) (Zonotrichia leucophrys oriantha)
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (GAMBEL'S) (Zonotrichia leucophrys gambelii)
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (NUTTALLI) (Zonotrichia leucophrys nuttalli)
SAGEBRUSH SPARROW (Artemisiospiza nevadensis)
BELL'S SPARROW (BELLI) (Artemisiospiza belli belli)
VESPER SPARROW (Pooecetes gramineus)
SAVANNAH SPARROW (Passerculus sandwichensis)
Our early morning walk at the Mono Lake South Tufa was great for intimate views of Sage Thrashers. Photo by guide Tom Johnson.
SONG SPARROW (Melospiza melodia)
LINCOLN'S SPARROW (Melospiza lincolnii)
CALIFORNIA TOWHEE (Melozone crissalis)
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW (Aimophila ruficeps)
GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE (Pipilo chlorurus)
SPOTTED TOWHEE (Pipilo maculatus)
Cardinalidae (Cardinals and Allies)
WESTERN TANAGER (Piranga ludoviciana)
Icteridae (Troupials and Allies)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius phoeniceus)
TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD (Agelaius tricolor)
WESTERN MEADOWLARK (Sturnella neglecta)
BREWER'S BLACKBIRD (Euphagus cyanocephalus)
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (Molothrus ater)
Fringillidae (Finches, Euphonias, and Allies)
HOUSE FINCH (Haemorhous mexicanus)
PURPLE FINCH (WESTERN) (Haemorhous purpureus californicus)
CASSIN'S FINCH (Haemorhous cassinii)
PINE SISKIN (Spinus pinus)
LESSER GOLDFINCH (Spinus psaltria)
LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH (Spinus lawrencei)
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (Spinus tristis)
Passeridae (Old World Sparrows)
HOUSE SPARROW (Passer domesticus) [I]
BRUSH RABBIT (Sylvilagus bachmani)
NUTTALL'S (MOUNTAIN) COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus nuttalli)
DESERT COTTONTAIL (Sylvilagus audubonii)
BLACK-TAILED JACKRABBIT (Lepus californicus)
The combination of mountains, water, sage, and columns of tufa make for a beautiful and unique scene along the shores of Mono Lake. Photo by participant Bill Telfair.
LEAST CHIPMUNK (Tamias minimus)
LONG-EARED CHIPMUNK (Tamias quadrimaculatus)
CALIFORNIA GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus beecheyi)
GOLDEN-MANTLED GROUND SQUIRREL (Spermophilus lateralis)
EASTERN GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus carolinensis)
FOX SQUIRREL (Sciurus niger)
WESTERN GRAY SQUIRREL (Sciurus griseus)
CHICKAREE (Tamiasciurus douglasii)
BOTTLENOSE DOLPHIN (Tursiops truncatus)
PACIFIC WHITE-SIDED DOLPHIN (Lagenorhynchus obliquidens)
NORTHERN RIGHT WHALE DOLPHIN (Lissodelphis borealis)
HARBOR PORPOISE (Phocoena phocoena)
DALL'S PORPOISE (Phocoenoides dalli)
BLUE WHALE (Balaenoptera musculus)
HUMPBACK WHALE (Megaptera novaeangliae)
BOBCAT (Lynx rufus)
CALIFORNIA SEA LION (Zalophus californianus)
HARBOR SEAL (Phoca vitulina)
MULE DEER (Odocoileus hemionus)
Totals for the tour: 216 bird taxa and 23 mammal taxa