Allen's

We caught our first Allen's hummingbird of the spring today. I didn't get any pictures, but here is one from my dad:

American Bittern

This is one of the better shots my dad got this weekend while they were out visiting. If we hadn't flushed this guy there was no way we would have seen it. They orient themselves in the direction the reeds they are hiding in are bending.

Surf Scoter

I woke up from a nap today only to hear from Renee that she had just come upon a SURF SCOTER in the visitors bathroom! Someone must have found it on the beach, and it is sick or injured, so they brought it up here. Unfortunately they did not bother to knock on our door, and just left it in the bathroom for us to find...people are very weird. She left early and brought it to a wildlife rehab center.

Split mandible

This fox sparrow had a split lower mandible, with this big hole going into its mouth...

Stanford for the win

Some of my favorites from my dad from the weekend:









Many of the alums in attendance






JON HAHN!


I LOVED this play, Patrick deep on Feldman:


It reminded me a bit of this oldie, but Patrick's getting the D here:

5 days off

Its just the start of the spring banding season, and since I am staying on, they let me take 5 days off in a row! Great timing too. My parents flew in Wednesday, spent that afternoon and Thursday with me, my brother got in Thursday night, we all hanged out around Point Reyes on Friday, had a wonderful pizza party with my friends in Oakland, and then watched CUT dominate a weekend of frisbee, winning their second (of 2) tournament of the winter! Great visit by all.

And now some pictures:







Bishop pine




At Abbott's Lagoon










My BRO!


Horse tails of some kind


Open horse tails


On the coastal trail






Eggs?


Lil hermit crab


In Muir woods, checking out redwoods:








Small redwoods

Put it on a pizza

Friday night Michael and I threw a little keg party, providing a barrel of Lagunitas IPA. Staff and friends from Oakland attended. Twas fun, but I never want to do it again.


The day after the party Baylis, Emily, Boris and I headed up to Drakes Beach to see the Elephant Seals. Expecting rain that day, we ended up having beautiful weather.












At the parking lot


Beach full of seals


Male bullying a pup



That evening Amanda arrived in Oakland after a 55 hour drive from NC, and Mammel and Greta joined us at the BFBF house for LOTS of P-I-Z-Z-A.

We all went to the explOritorium in SF on Sunday