Seasonal sights on the trails of Marin
In September, many birds are on the move, with ducks and shorebirds returning from breeding in Northern Canada and Alaska, and birds that have spent the summer in the Sierra returning to the lowlands.
One of these altitudinal migrants is the ruby-crowned kinglet. (Some also breed in Alaska and Canada and move south to winter in Marin or even as far south as southern Mexico.) I often hear the first one before I see it. Their winter vocalization, a teletype chatter, is unmistakable. This is a good thing, because these common birds are often a challenge for beginning birders. First, they don’t always live up to their name, since the male only shows his spectacularly bright ruby crown when he is excited about a predator, potential mate or rival. Second, there is a resident bird called the Hutton’s vireo, which looks similar.
The ruby-crowned kinglet and Hutton’s vireo are similar sizes, 4¼-inch and 5-inch respectively, and both are pale green-gray with a white eye ring and two white wing bars. Both can mix with flocks of other small birds such as chickadees and warblers, and feed on insects.
One of the easiest clues you are watching a ruby-crowned kinglet is its jitteriness. It seems like it has had too many cups of coffee, while the Hutton’s vireo must have had decaf. If you get a good look, you can see black below the larger white wing bar on the kinglet, and perhaps notice a stouter bill on the vireo. Look for ruby-crowned kinglets in backyards and parks, as well as China Camp State Park, Deer Park in Fairfax, around Lagunitas and Bon Tempe lakes, in Tennessee Valley and many other locations.
Birds are not the only winged creatures taking to the air to migrate in the fall. Some West Coast dragonflies also migrate
One of the easiest clues you are watching a rubycrowned kinglet is its jitteriness. It seems like it has had too many cups of coffee, while the Hutton’s vireo must have had decaf.
in September and October. Variegated meadownhawks are often seen in September and October when southbound migrants pass through, and again in the spring, though they can be seen at other times of year. Like some migratory butterflies, the generation moving south in the fall is not the individuals that went north in the spring, but their offspring. Unlike birds, they are breeding at both ends of the migratory journey in a southern and northern location.
Here’s quick primer for those new to observing dragonflies, with the caveat that these are generalizations and there are always exceptions in nature. Damselflies are usually
smaller than dragonflies, and hold their wings parallel to their bodies when at rest. Dragonflies hold their wings out from their bodies when at rest. Like birds, males and females often look quite different. Among the groups of dragonflies, some spend most of their time hunting in the air, while others watch for prey from a perch.
Meadowhawks (genus Sympetrum) are a perching group, flying out to catch mosquitoes and other insects, and then often returning to the exact spot. They hold their wings slightly forward of a 90-degree angle, so they are ready to take off at any moment.
There are several red dragonflies in our area, including a common one called the flame skimmer. If you are looking at a meadowhawk, there are
three other red meadowhawks: the cardinal meadowhawk, red-veined meadowhawk and striped meadowhawk. But, only the variegated meadowhawks have a row of white spots low on the abdomen. Male variegated meadowhawks generally get redder as they age.
You can add to the richness of any walk by stopping to observe these flying jewels. Since most dragonflies lay eggs in water, good places to see them include Abbott’s Lagoon and Five Brooks Pond at Point Reyes, and the reservoirs on Marin Municipal Water District lands.
Wendy Dreskin has led the College of Marin nature/ hiking class Meandering in Marin since 1998, and teaches other nature classes for adults and children. To contact her, go to wendydreskin.com