Trip report: Oak Motte & Packery Channel PArk
Species List
April 27, 2021 — 8:30 AM to 10:15 AM
Total Duration: 1 hour 45 minutes
| Barn Swallow | 3 |
| Blue Grosbeak | 2 |
| Chestnut-sided Warbler | 1 |
| Chipping Sparrow | 1 |
| Couch's Kingbird | 1 |
| Dickcissel | 6 |
| Gray Catbird | 3 |
| Great Blue Heron | 1 |
| Great-tailed Grackle | 15 |
| Mourning Dove | 4 |
| Orchard Oriole | 2 |
| Red-winged Blackbird | 2 |
| Summer Tanager | 2 |
| Tricolored Heron | 1 |
| Wood Thrush | 1 |
| hummingbird sp. | 2 |
| swallow sp. | 5 |
I spent the morning bouncing between the Packery Channel Oak Motte Sanctuary and Packery Channel Park — two small but productive patches sitting right next to each other. I started around 8:30 AM at Oak Motte and made a slow loop through the trails before settling into the pavilion near the water drip, hoping something colorful would drop in. Spring migration was still in full swing, so warblers and thrushes were at the top of my wish list.
Conditions were nice: warm, a little humid, and that bright, hazy coastal light that always makes the greens glow. Oak Motte had some movement early on, and after a bit of patience at the drip, a few migrants came in close enough for decent photos. The species mix wasn’t huge, but the quality made up for it.
After about an hour and fifteen minutes at Oak Motte, I walked across to Packery Channel Park and did a short pass along the shoreline and brush line. Not as busy over there, but still enough activity to round out the morning.
Here are a few highlights and photos from the trip.
Trip Highlights
Gray Catbird – Sat deep in the brush but eventually gave me a perfect side profile.
Wood Thrush – Great views of multiple birds; one perched beautifully in good light.
Blue Grosbeak (male) – Always a treat to see, especially in full blue.
Summer Tanager (male) – Bright red and impossible to miss near the drip.
Swainson’s Thrush – Stayed low and partially hidden, but enough to confirm.
Dickcissel – Always fun and colorful to see
Couch’s Kingbird – Seen from the park side perched up high.
Other regulars included Great Blue Heron, Barn Swallows, and a handful of shorebirds and park birds typical of the area.
