Very Small Feather Collection from SF Bay

Monday, October 19, 2020 was a day for seeing lots of tiny feathers floating on waves in the San Francisco Bay and landing in among the reeds and other detritus on the beach. Since it was a windy day and impossible to photograph these feathers in situ, I brought them home to photograph and measure them, then took them back where I found them.

There were hundreds of birds swimming on the water, including: coots, pied-billed grebes, mallards, cormorants, and others.

All of a sudden, dozens of birds took flight. There was a disturbance in the water. Then we saw a harbor seal! I've never seen one this far south in the bay. What a treat! But the birds didn't think so.

Posted on October 23, 2020 04:01 PM by truthseqr truthseqr

Observations

Photos / Sounds

What

Sandpipers and Allies (Family Scolopacidae)

Observer

truthseqr

Date

October 19, 2020 11:47 AM PDT

Description

Feather: Sandpipers & Allies

Length: 2 in (5 cm)

Pattern: Two-toned

Placement:

References:

*https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/43213-very-small-feather-collection-from-sf-bay

Note: there were a lot of Least Sandpipers along the shore a few days earlier:
https://www.inaturalist.org/observations/61522125

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Observer

truthseqr

Date

October 19, 2020 11:48 AM PDT

Description

Feather
Species:

Length: 1.5 in (3.8 cm)

Pattern: Mottled

Placement:

References:

*https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/43213-very-small-feather-collection-from-sf-bay

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Common Gallinule (Gallinula galeata)

Observer

truthseqr

Date

October 19, 2020 11:48 AM PDT

Description

Feather: Common Gallinule

Length: 2.2 in (5.5 cm)

Pattern: Black with green irridescence

Placement: Body feather

References:

*https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/43213-very-small-feather-collection-from-sf-bay

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Observer

truthseqr

Date

October 19, 2020 11:48 AM PDT

Description

Feather: Mallard

Length: 3.3 in (8.5 cm)

Pattern: Mottled

Placement:

References:

*https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/43213-very-small-feather-collection-from-sf-bay

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps)

Observer

truthseqr

Date

October 19, 2020 11:49 AM PDT

Description

Feather: PIed-billed Grebe

Length: 1.3 in (3.2 cm)

Pattern: Unpatterned

Placement:

References:

  • Bird Feathers: A Guide to North American Species (S. David Scott and Casey McFarland, 2010, p 103)

*https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/43213-very-small-feather-collection-from-sf-bay

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Observer

truthseqr

Date

October 19, 2020 11:49 AM PDT

Description

Feather: Mallard

Length: 1.8 in (4.5 cm)

Pattern: Bi-colored

Placement:

References:

*https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/43213-very-small-feather-collection-from-sf-bay

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Observer

truthseqr

Date

October 19, 2020 11:49 AM PDT

Description

Feather
Species: Mallard

Length: 3.7 in (9.5 cm)

Pattern: Mottled

Placement:

References:

*https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/43213-very-small-feather-collection-from-sf-bay

Tags

Birds

Photos / Sounds

What

Birds (Class Aves)

Observer

truthseqr

Date

October 19, 2020 11:49 AM PDT

Description

Feather
Species:

Length: 2.8 in (7 cm)

Pattern: Unpatterned

Placement:

References:

*https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/43213-very-small-feather-collection-from-sf-bay

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Observer

truthseqr

Date

October 19, 2020 11:49 AM PDT

Description

Feather: Mallard

Length: 3.3 in (8.5 cm)

Pattern: Unpatterned

Placement:

References:

*https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/43213-very-small-feather-collection-from-sf-bay

Tags

Birds

Photos / Sounds

What

Birds (Class Aves)

Observer

truthseqr

Date

October 19, 2020 11:49 AM PDT

Description

Feather
Species:

Length: 2.2 in (5.5 cm)

Pattern: White with tiny brown spots

Placement:

References:

*https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/43213-very-small-feather-collection-from-sf-bay

Tags

Photos / Sounds

What

Mallard (Anas platyrhynchos)

Observer

truthseqr

Date

October 19, 2020 11:50 AM PDT

Description

Feather: Mallard

Length: 3 in (7.5 cm)

Pattern: Mottled

Placement:

References:

*https://www.inaturalist.org/journal/truthseqr/43213-very-small-feather-collection-from-sf-bay

Tags

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