The day after the Dumbarton Bridge, I decided to head in the opposite direction, towards the western coast of the Bay Area. This area, known as Half Moon Bay, boasts many beaches. It’s just a 30-minute drive from the Bay Area, making it easily accessible and a perfect recreational area.
With such magnificent scenery, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed by the choices. To start off, I decided to explore the Cowell Ranch Beach Access, which is conveniently nearby.
I parked the car in the parking lot and walked along the edge of the farm towards the beach. The birdcalls here are incredible too.Throughout the area, members of the sparrow family emerge from the bushes. Their distinctive black-and-white head markings stand out prominently. ミヤマシトド / White-crowned SparrowThey’re feeding on grass seeds.When it comes to the American continent, hummingbirds are a must-see. They’re relatively common in various places, but because they’re so small, capturing them up close can be quite challenging. アンナハチドリ / Anna’s HummingbirdA female Brewer’s Blackbird. It may seem understated, but I find its elegant coloration quite refined. テリムクドリモドキ / Brewer’s BlackbirdIt’s the first time encountering a bird I already know. ホシムクドリ / European Starling (Common Starling)There are some quite cleverly designed fences as well.The White-crowned Sparrows appear about every 10 meters or so. If you stop to take pictures, you might never reach the beach.Here’s another bird that seems to hold a common position of sparrows on this continent, the Song Sparrow. ウタスズメ / Song SparrowI saw a large flock of pigeons in the field and initially thought is was one of them, but upon closer inspection, it turned out to be something else. オビオバト / Band-tailed PigeonA single bird appeared on the distant fence for just a moment. For a split second, I thought it might be a White’s Thrush. It turned out to be a Western Meadowlark. It should have had vivid yellow markings on its throat and belly, but they were barely visible. ニシマキバドリ / Western MeadowlarkVarious places are welcoming the season of flowers. It’s the height of spring, yet there’s no pollen or yellow sand in sight—absolutely wonderful.Over here, there’s a large flock of Eurasian Collared-Doves in the field. While they also inhabit Japan, this is my first sighting. They are native to Eurasia but have a history of being introduced to various countries worldwide. Despite being an introduced species in Japan since the Edo period, they are designated as a natural monument. シラコバト / Eurasian Collared-DoveThe standout owner of both appearance and voice in this farm. I’d say about half of the bustling atmosphere is attributed to this bird. ハゴロモガラス / Red-winged BlackbirdThe first appearance of a raptor. Although I only caught a glimpse, its coloration resembling a Hen Harrier was impressive. オジロトビ / White-tailed Kite
