Parent
From email@hidden Thu Feb 01 16:35:09 2001
Subject: [SBB] Some county birds
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All,
This morning Frank Vanslager and I once again birded Morrill Rd. We still
did not find Golden-crowned Kinglets or Winter Wren but we did add Pygmy
Nuthatch (a couple flocks), Pine Siskin (one flock of about nine), Hutton's
Vireo (one well seen several heard), at least two Townsend's Warblers, Downy
Woodpecker, Band-tailed Pigeons (one doing a display flight), Belted
Kingfisher (in Los Gatos Creek), a Spotted Towhee and a well placed Bewick's
Wren. We also saw several Varied Thrush and Hermit Thrush as well as most of
the birds that we saw on Tuesday.
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 4:19 PM, 2/1/01
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From email@hidden Fri Feb 02 08:03:52 2001
Subject: [SBB] White gull at Alviso
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On the island just north of the EEC at Alviso today was another white gull
the size of a Herring Gull. Here's what I could see at the time: white head,
nape and throat; pale yellow bill with black tip occupying about a quarter
of its length; off-white back tending to pale brown rather than pale grey;
white primaries with faint rusty centres; white tail; and no legs cos the
bird was sitting. At the distance I couldn't get any more detail than this.
In my book this is closer to a first-winter Glaucous Gull than anything
else, without being perfect.
There was also a Red-breasted Merganser beyond the island and the Fox
Sparrows were busy calling and sounding a lot like Yellowthroats. In fact a
lot of birds seem to be preparing for spring now.
As a curious aside I always keep month lists and site lists and so attempted
to enter Green-winged Teal on my Alviso list. It wasn't there. I have been
regular at the EEC for a year now, so this seems amazing. Have I just failed
to record them? Or are they unusual down there?
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From email@hidden Fri Feb 02 11:26:07 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
At lunch today, 2 Feb 01, I went to the EEC to check on gulls. Lots of
HERRINGS around, with a handful of THAYER'S. No Glaucous, however. A CLAPPER
RAIL was calling in Mallard Slough, and a MERLIN was cooperatively perched
along First St.
Yesterday a COMMON MOORHEN was in San Tomas Aquino Creek, just north of Hwy
101.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Fri Feb 02 11:38:05 2001
Subject: [SBB] RFI?: Southern California Red/Orange Bishop Location
--------
Hi All,
Sharon and I are leaving early Saturday morning to drive to Orange County to
visit family and see the Nutting's Flycatcher and the Antelope Valley
LeConte's Thrasher.
We would also like to try and see the Red or Orange Bishop in Southern
California. I used to have the location and in fact we even went there once
trying to see it, but I recently cleaned out my old email and deleted it.
Does anyone know that location, or can you point me to someplace that does?
I tried the CALBIRD archives, but it
(http://birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/CALB.html) only goes back a month, and
doesn't mention it.
Thanks and Good Birding,
Bob
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From email@hidden Fri Feb 02 15:07:40 2001
Subject: [SBB] Possible Greater sand plover/Mongolian plover at Point Reyes
--------
Sorry this is out of the area but apparently it did not make it into Calbird.
http://www.prbo.org/WildTend/January2001.html#January2001
Cagan H. Sekercioglu
Stanford University Center for Conservation Biology
Department of Biological Sciences 371 Serra Mall
Stanford, CA 94305-5020
http://jasper1.stanford.edu/~cagan/main.htm
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From email@hidden Fri Feb 02 17:13:55 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Short eared owl
--------
Thanks, Richard, for the good directions to view the Short-eared Owl at
Byxbee Park. It was a real treat to see it both in flight and sitting on
the ground in the sloped fenced area.
Also great sunset views of Northern Harriers, White-Tailed Kites, and there
was one Greater White-fronted Goose among 80+ Canada Geese.
Karen DeMello
(email@hidden)
> Having just returned from Guatemala I have been trying to see the
> Short-eared owls at Palo Alto's Byxbee Park. I finally learned the
> trick. The owls spend most of their time on the fenced tall grass knoll
> southwest of the dump. The closer you get the less likely you are to
> see the owls because they sit on the flat top of the knoll, invisible
> from below. They are visible only from the highest hill -- right up
> from the parking lot, or when they make forays off their perches. They
> are probably sitting there from 4 p.m. on. If you are really
> adventurous, the fence has a gap on the far SW side, and you can climb
> up the hill and get great views.
>
> --
> Richard C. Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker, Skier, Hiker
> Palo Alto, California Part-time Economist
> email@hidden
>
>
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From email@hidden Sat Feb 03 09:34:15 2001
Subject: [SBB] Audubon's Paintings
--------
Scott Spencer as sent to me the URL for Audubon's Paintings of American Birds.
http://employeeweb.myxa.com/rrb/Audubon/
I have posted this URL on SBBU under Birding Web Sites, Audubon's
Paintings of North American Birds
South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU)
http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/
Kendric
-----------------------------------------
Kendric C. Smith, Ph.D.
927 Mears Court
Stanford, CA 94305-1041
(650) 493-7210 (voice or fax)
email@hidden
http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/
------------------------------------------
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From email@hidden Sun Feb 04 03:22:03 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
On Saturday, 3 Feb 01, I visited CCFS, where I found 7 GREAT BLUE HERONS
occupying nests in the colony near the waterbird pond.
Later in the day, I went to Byxbee Park, where I met Dick Stovel. We watched
the geese grazing on the lawn, including the immature GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
and 6 small-form CANADAS. I studied the small Canadas extensively and have
concluded that they are leucopareia (Aleutian). All had black chins
separating the white cheek patches and rather flat heads. They were slightly
larger than a Mallard. One had a distinct white neck ring, while another had
a thin, almost indiscernable one. The other 4 looked to be immature and
lacked the neck ring. One of these 4 was distinctly darker than the others
and seemed just a tad smaller, so I can't positively rule out that this one
was a minima.
Dick left just a few minutes too soon, as I was able to pick out a
SHORT-EARED OWL cruising the flood control basin just after he left.
On Sunday, 4 Feb 01, I stopped at the Sunnyvale sewage ponds, where the
immature SNOW GOOSE remains. I had 2 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS here, one in
the fennel patch corner near the line of eucs and another further up the
west side of the old landfill. A BURROWING OWL was along the side of this
landfill right near the parking lot.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Sun Feb 04 23:59:15 2001
Subject: [SBB] Sunday at Palo Alto Baylands
--------
Howdy South-bay-birders,
Highlights from a class field trip to Palo Alto Baylands included an
immature BROWN PELICAN seen from the levee near the airport, nice
side-by-side comparison of GREATER and LESSER SCAUP at the duck pond, and
the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and 6 small form CANADA GEESE at Byxbee
Park. My assumption was that the small Canadas were all of the race
minima--do immature Aleutians normally lack the white collar? I didn't see a
white collar on any of these birds, although one was noticeably smaller than
the others.
John Mariani
email@hidden
www.birdswest.com
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 05 08:33:47 2001
Subject: [SBB] Skyline Blvd (W. Bluebirds)
--------
Hi all - we're here at 2400 feet in southern San Mateo County very near the
Santa Clara County line, so I hope this qualifies as "south bay" for the
purposes of this list. This weekend brought WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, who nest on
our land. We can expect to see them regularly now for the next several
months. A single BLACK PHOEBE has been here since November. We saw one
PILEATED WOODPEACKER in December. We don't have feeders, but we do have a
few small water sources. Our list for here at home as 59 species - let me
know offlist if you would like to see it. I'm new to the list (but not the
region) and not sure what the etiquette is for posting lists.
Regards,
Georgia Stigall (& Bill Prince)
South Skyline/San Mateo County
(member of Sequoia & Santa Clara Valley Audubon chapters)
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 05 08:35:11 2001
Subject: [SBB] Glaucous versus Glaucous-winged
--------
Folks:
I will add some comments to the discussion of Glaucous-winged and
Glaucous gulls of the last few weeks. I hope that Mike Rogers and Alvaro
Jaramillo will jump in if I confuse the issue too much.
In general, the large pink-legged gulls achieve their mantle color in
their second winter. However, Glaucous Gull is an exception and still has a
marbled mantle into it's second winter, and it doesn't get the light gray
mantle until its third winter. Glaucous-winged achieve their gray mantle
color in their second winter and it is not long after this that the bill
starts to turn color as well from the base towards the tip. In my experience,
a small proportion of 2nd-winter Glaucous-winged Gulls have the bill basally
flesh or pink (I've never noted yellow, but . . .) and the tip black, sort of
like the bill of a Glaucous Gull. However, I don't think any of the birds
I've seen has a pink as bright as on a Glaucous Gull, and there is always
some bleeding of the black along the cutting edge of the bill, towards the
base. And, since these birds all have gray mantles, it is easy to eliminate
Glaucous Gull.
Although there is some color variation on 1st- and 2nd-winter Glaucous
Gulls, I've never seen a gray wash on the tail, as Mike Mammoser noted on the
Duck Pond bird. As he commented, there may be some hybrid genes involved. I
would be interested if anyone has an idea of the proportion of 2nd-winter
Glaucous Gulls that still have dark eyes--is it that common?
The Glaucous Gull is still pretty rare here. I appreciate those
observers who have provided extensive details of their observations.
Bill
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 05 08:36:11 2001
Subject: [SBB] Some Almaden Birds
--------
Hello All,
Here are a few birds from Almaden Reservoir and vicinity seen on Sunday, Feb
4. Good numbers of WOOD DUCKS are still present with 55 seen on Sunday.
The tan-striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was seen again at its usual spot, the
pull-out 3/10 mile from the dam. This bird seems to favor the underbrush in
the gully next to the large oak. Other birds of interest in the area were
Band-tailed Pigeon, Hutton's Vireo, Lincoln's Sparrow, Purple Finch, and
Wild Turkeys calling from the hills near the intersection of Alamitos and
Hicks Roads.
That's it for now - Ann
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 05 09:30:35 2001
Subject: [SBB] more on Glaucous Gulls
--------
South-bay-birders,
Just following up on Bill's Glaucous Gull comments. Not only should
a second-winter Glaucous Gull have an eye that is pale or becoming pale
at this time of year, but the tip to the bill is often paling as well.
This may be subtle and hardly noticeable unless looked for, or striking,
imparting a "Ring-billed Gull"-type look. Second-winter birds at this
time of year may already have acquired a few pale gray mantle feathers,
but as Bill noted, they should not have a mostly gray back.
Especially now (late in the winter), when other gulls are prone to
fading and wear, it is important to make sure that all field marks
of a "Glaucous Gull" are indeed correct.
Bill noted that he doesn't remember seeing any Glaucous-winged Gulls
that have a bill as pink as on a real Glaucous Gull. In general this
is true, but the bird Al Eisner reported from the duck pond last week
was unusual in this respect. The pink was very bright. Al correctly
noted that this bird was partly/mostly Glaucous-winged, but perhaps
the bill color does indeed indicate some Glaucous genes, as Glaucous
and Glaucous-winged Gull do hybridize...
Mike Rogers
P.S. I got photos of Al's bird at the Baylands last week - if you are
interested in receiving scans when they are developed let me know.
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 05 10:26:54 2001
Subject: [SBB] Ed R. Levin & Grant Ranch
--------
Did my usual Saturday walk and count out at Ed R. Levin. I managed to set a
personal high of 72 species for a single 4 hour visit. It seems the secret is
to take a sharp-eyed grand son. He finds them and points out "another
sparrow" to me, and I try to ID them...
Although I got so many species, they were pretty well the usual list of
suspects. A first for me, I got all 7 of the listed Eagles/Hawks for the park
in one visit: WHITE-TAILED KITE, COOPER'S HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER,
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, RED-TAILED HAWK, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, and GOLDEN EAGLE.
Also found were the resident AMERICAN KESTRELs. In addition, I was unable to
ID another raptor. I'd guess it was either a Rough-legged or Ferruginous Hawk.
I'm hoping that someone else can confirm that for me...
The standouts to me were: a single TREE SWALLOW, 22 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS,
SAY'S PHOEBE, and a dozen WEBL's inspecting Oak tree boles instead of my
carefully placed nest boxes! Distance and a poor sun angle kept me from a
certain ID of what looked and acted like an Ash-throated Flycatcher. If it
is, it would seem to be a bit early... I was looking in the field to the east
of the golf course for early arriving kingbirds and Selosophorus hummers. It
wasn't a WEKI, of that I'm certain. But ATFL? Anybody?
Notably absent, again, was the Burrowing Owl above the landing field, and the
Chestnut-backed Chickadees (heard, not seen). I think the BUOW is probably
gone for this year. If anybody does see him again, please drop me a note for
my records. The CBCH were probably just too busy to come out to where I could
lay some glass on 'em. Also not found this week, were the White-throated
Swifts from last week.
Spring must be busting out all over. The ever active RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS
were busy displaying their ruby crowns. They looked more like some of the
spiky haired "weirdo's" available for pictures at Pier-39 than birds. They
were most entertaining to watch...
I saved Grant Ranch for Sunday. Only got about 40 species, but had a
wonderful, leisurely, sun-drenched 10+ mile walk from the lake to Antler point
and back. The best sighting was 20 minutes of aerial ballet and gymnastics by
a pair of GOLDEN EAGLEs.
If this warm weather keeps up, then in a few weeks, I'll take another stab at
Coe Park. The wildflowers should be getting ready to do their thing by then.
Anybody interested?
Dusty Bleher
Campbell
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 05 10:54:25 2001
Subject: [SBB] Common Teal Still Present 2/3
--------
Hello All:
On Saturday, Feb 3, I walked the dike along Charleston Slough, hoping for
Redheads. No luck there, but once I got all the way out to the bay front
and towards the Baylands, there were a large grouping for GREEN-WINGED TEAL
(about 50), and the male EURASION GREEN-WINGED TEAL was in with them. The
time was 10 am (tide was falling). Two HOODED MERGANSERS were in the flood
control basin and 3 BLUE-WINGED TEAL were still in the frontage road ponds.
Steve Miller
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 05 15:17:56 2001
Subject: [SBB] SBSP BirdBase and BirdArea Programs
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To All,
Just a brief comment on the value of Santa Barbara Software Products
bird documentation programs, BirdBase and BirdArea. I have used the
programs for 3+ years to keep track of our life lists - US and foreign.
Great software and documentation. Runable on either a PC, or on a Mac
with Virtual PC software. BB and BA software is based on Clement's 5th
Edition. Check out the ads in Birding magazine. For Mac users with
Virtual PC the programs run very quickly. Bob, the author, has always
been very helpful on the phone with my questions. Jim
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 05 19:35:14 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] more on Glaucous Gulls
--------
>Bill noted that he doesn't remember seeing any Glaucous-winged Gulls
>that have a bill as pink as on a real Glaucous Gull. In general this
>is true, but the bird Al Eisner reported from the duck pond last week
>was unusual in this respect. The pink was very bright. Al correctly
>noted that this bird was partly/mostly Glaucous-winged, but perhaps
>the bill color does indeed indicate some Glaucous genes, as Glaucous
>and Glaucous-winged Gull do hybridize...
Folks,
I apologize for not keeping up with the issue of the Palo Alto Glaucous
Gull, I am a bit lost exactly on what has been seen and what the
Identifications have been. However, I was out there today and saw a bird
that was mostly (or all?) Glaucous Gull. This bird is a first winter bird,
has dark eyes and a crisply cut black tip on a pinkish bill. The bill does
not show a thicker bill tip as is typical on Glaucous-wing, its a pretty
parallel sided bill. The general colour of the bird was similar to that of
Glaucous-winged Gulls, but the patterning on the coverts was crisper and
less "muddy" than on the Glaucous-wings. Overall, there was more white in
the plumage on the whole. I think this bird is mostly Glaucous, but that it
probably has some genes from something else. What makes me think this is
that the primaries, while being almost entirely white are noticeably darker
in the centers. I gather that this happens on full Glaucous, but I am not
sure how common this is. Maybe I am complicating this more than I should
and should just say, you know it looks like a Glaucous and probably is, but
its not a "classic" Glaucous so I have reservations.
>Mike Rogers
>
>P.S. I got photos of Al's bird at the Baylands last week - if you are
>interested in receiving scans when they are developed let me know.
send them over, I would like to see if we saw different birds.
regards,
Al but not Eisner
Alvaro Jaramillo
Biologist
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
P.O. Box 247
Alviso, CA 95002
(408)-946-6548
http://www.sfbbo.org/
Home of the California Fall Challenge!!
email@hidden
Birds of Chile and
New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro
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From email@hidden Tue Feb 06 03:14:54 2001
Subject: [SBB] small-form Canada Geese
--------
----- Original Message -----
From: "John Mariani"
>
> My assumption was that the small Canadas were all of the race
> minima--do immature Aleutians normally lack the white collar?
The separation of Canada Goose races is complex and confusing. Many
references give contradictory information. The information I have is from
Paul Springer, a researcher who is considered an expert on Aleutian Geese.
Mike Mammoser
**************
MINIMA:
1. Smallest Canada Goose, 1 and 1/2 times the size of Mallard
2. Breast dark brown or bronze color, often with purplish cast.
3. Short, stubby bill, usually less than 1 and 1/4 inch long.
4. White neck ring sometimes present, but generally very thin and
incomplete.
5. Forehead slopes back from bill; roundish head shape.
6. Cheek patches often continuous under head, but many separated by black
feathering.
LEUCOPAREIA:
1. Slightly larger than cackler.
2. Breast color variable, but usually gray-brown. Never has purplish cast.
3. Bill length usually 1 and 1/4 to 1 and 1/2 inches.
4. White neck ring present in all adults, usually wide and pronounced (hatch
year birds generally do not exhibit good neck ring until first spring).
5. Thin dark border of feathering usually present just below white neck
ring.
6. More abrupt forehead and flatter top to head than other Canadas in its
size class.
7. Cheek patches nearly always separated by black feathering under chin.
Springer reiterates the above by stating:
"The Aleutian Canada Goose ... is only slightly larger than the cackling
Canada Goose. It generally has a grayish brown breast, but this can vary
from being nearly as dark as some cacklers (but without the purplish cast)
to nearly as light as some Taverners and lesser Canada Geese. Adult
Aleutians have a conspicuous white ring at the base of the neck which varies
from 1/2 to 1 inch or more in height. This ring is absent or consists of
only a few scattered white feathers in young birds during the first fall and
winter. Cacklers and other subspecies may have a white neck ring at times,
but it is generally narrower (sometimes only a sliver) and usually does not
nearly or completely encircle the neck. A narrow border of dark feathers
separates the lower part of the neck ring from the breast of Aleutians, a
feature that is not usually present in the other subspecies.
The Aleutian has an abrupt forehead and a flatter top to the head in
contrast with the more rounded head of the other Canada Geese in its size
range. It usually has the cheek patch separated by black feathering on the
under side of the head, but this character is shared by many cacklers and
some Taverners.
The bill (culmen) length generally ranges from 1 and 1/4 to 1 and 1/2
inches. Extremes are 30.5 - 39.5 mm. This range eliminates most cacklers
whose bill engths rarely exceed 1 and 1/4 inches. However, there is broad
overlap in the bill lengths of Aleutians and Taverners.
The call of an Aleutian is a high-pitched yelp, difficult to distinguish
from the slightly higher pitched call of the cackler."
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From email@hidden Tue Feb 06 05:51:08 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] more on Glaucous Gulls
--------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Alvaro Jaramillo"
>
> However, I was out there today and saw a bird
> that was mostly (or all?) Glaucous Gull. This bird is a first winter bird,
> has dark eyes and a crisply cut black tip on a pinkish bill. The bill does
> not show a thicker bill tip as is typical on Glaucous-wing, its a pretty
> parallel sided bill. The general colour of the bird was similar to that of
> Glaucous-winged Gulls, but the patterning on the coverts was crisper and
> less "muddy" than on the Glaucous-wings. Overall, there was more white in
> the plumage on the whole. I think this bird is mostly Glaucous, but that
it
> probably has some genes from something else. What makes me think this is
> that the primaries, while being almost entirely white are noticeably
darker
> in the centers. I gather that this happens on full Glaucous, but I am not
> sure how common this is. Maybe I am complicating this more than I should
> and should just say, you know it looks like a Glaucous and probably is,
but
> its not a "classic" Glaucous so I have reservations.
Al,
Your description sounds like the bird I saw. I have appended my original
description to the end of this message. This is a different bird than the
one that Al Eisner saw. Both Mike Rogers and I have seen that bird (the one
that Mike has photos of) and that bird is more easily ascribable to a second
year Glaucous-winged Gull.
Mike Mammoser
*************
I visited the duck pond at midday today, 30 Jan 01, and saw what might be a
candidate for the GLAUCOUS GULL. This bird was not as large as some Glaucous
Gulls - it ever so slightly smaller than nearby Glaucous-winged Gulls (it
was even being bullied by one of them). The bill was not as massive as the
Glaucous-wingeds, but had a distinct gonydeal angle, with the requisite pink
base and black tip. The bird was generally whitish, with a fair amount of
marbling in the scapulars and wing coverts. That is, the feathers were white
with some pale brownish speckling on the interior. This speckling would line
up on adjacent feathers to form a sort of broken barring. The tertials were
also white with some interior speckling. The primaries had a pale dusky wash
along the shaft, but broad white edges and tips. From the underside the
primaries looked all white. The bird had a grayish wash on the lower breast
and belly, similar in color to what might normally be seen on a
Glaucous-winged. Both the uppertail coverts and undertail coverts were
distinctly barred. The eye was dark. None of the characters I've just
mentioned are out of line for a Glaucous Gull (remember that they are a
particularly variable bird in 1st winter).
The one mark that I wasn't sure about was the tail. Glaucous Gulls typically
have a white tail or, at best, a white tail with some interior speckling.
This bird had a solid pale grayish tail with a fairly broad whitish tip. I
don't know if this is indicative of some hybrid genes in this bird (Herring
Gull?). This bird was extremely cooperative. I was able to approach it to
about 15 feet. It seems to look for handouts.
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From email@hidden Tue Feb 06 09:00:34 2001
Subject: [SBB] Dark phase hawk
--------
Folks:
This morning, 2/6/2001, I saw a dark Buteo over the Palo Alto Flood
Control Basin. It was spending sometime hovering in the gusty 10-20 mph
winds. My observation was probably just before sunrise, and eastern clouds
obscured the sun so the lighting was not the best. I had better looks at the
underneath than I did the top. Overall, a dark hawk, black or dark brown,
both above and below on the head and body. Although my looks were poor, the
entire upper mantle seemed black. From beneath the underwing pattern was
comprised of black underwing coverts with some white mottling (<5%), while the
primaries and secondaries were white or dingy white with black tips. There
seemed to a greater extent of white mottling in the primary coverts. The tail
top and bottom was a dingy white (not bright like a harrier) with a narrow
black terminal band. It is possible a may have missed a very narrow lighter
outer terminal band, but it looked to me like the black was on the tip of the
feathers. The width of the terminal band appeared half that expected on a
Rough-legged Hawk. I could not clearly see gradation in the dingy white of
the tail, either top or bottom. I saw no other partial or full bands in the
tail. I had no other birds for immediate size comparisons but my impression
was that this was a small hawk (I'm embarrased to admit that my first
impression was that it was a crow pretending to be a kite).
I only have one guide at work so I'll have to check when I get home
whether these details fit Harlan's or any of the various dark phase variants
of the Rough-legged or Ferruginous hawks or other hawks. But if your out
there today, keep an eye out for this dark phase bird.
Bill
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From email@hidden Tue Feb 06 09:03:43 2001
Subject: [SBB] Byxbee Park Canada Geese et al
--------
On our failed trip to see the Short-eared Owls on Sunday, we checked
out the geese as well.
Along with the Greater White-fronted Goose (a life bird for me), and
the minima Canada Geese, there was another small CAGO with a white
ring around its neck. Could this be the leucopareia (or "Aleutian"
in Sibley)??
Ruth Troetschler
--
Ruth Troetschler
--------
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From email@hidden Tue Feb 06 11:23:03 2001
Subject: [SBB] Hooded Mergansers & Eurasian Widgeon
--------
On Monday morning, Feb. 5, the pair of Hooded Mergansers was in the
Flood Basin, right across from the fence at the end of Charleston
Slough. The male Eurasian Widgeon was in the outfall channel just
across the levee. Both birds were hanging close to the bank nearest the
levee -- keeping them hidden at times.
--
Richard C. Carlson
Chairman, Spectrum Economics
Palo Alto, CA
email@hidden
650-324-2701
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From email@hidden Tue Feb 06 14:37:33 2001
Subject: [SBB] Fwd: [MBB] msg from Brian about observer help needed
--------
>Date: Mon, 05 Feb 2001 22:53:08 -0800
>To: email@hidden
>From: Brian Walton
>Subject: help in San Mateo County
>Mime-Version: 1.0
>Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"
>
>Hello: We do a lot of things in the San Mateo County area along the SF Bay
>and need some help with observation. If there is anyone who is interested
>in raptor observation there as a volunteer one day a week or so please let
>me know. Thanks
>
>
>Brian James Walton, Coordinator
>Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group
>Long Marine Lab, University of California
>Santa Cruz, CA 95060
>(831) 459-2466 or 458-3413 messages
>(831) 458-3413 or 459-3115 (FAX)
>
>http://www2.ucsc.edu/~scpbrg
>
>
>
Todd Newberry
Santa Cruz CA
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Wed Feb 07 08:25:03 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
I took a lunch time drive over to Ed Levin Park today, 7 Feb 01, to look for
owls based on directions I received from Les Chibana. Les and his wife
showed up shortly after I got there and we searched together. A BARN OWL was
roosting in one tree, right where it had been seen earlier (over a pile of
pellets it had presumably deposited). I found a second BARN OWL later. After
fruitless searching for a Long-eared, we headed to Sandy Wool Lake to look
for the sapsucker seen earlier, where we found Mitch Ninotaka and friends
already scoping it. It looked very much like a hybrid RED-BREASTED x
RED-NAPED that I had seen a few years ago in this general area, and which
Mike Rogers had photographed a year or two before I saw it. Upon hearing
from Mitch that they had seen the LONG-EARED OWL earlier, we headed back to
the Elm Picnic Area and had excellent looks at this owl right where they had
it (it had been right under our noses all along, or should I say over our
noses).
At least 50 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS overhead was impressive as well.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Wed Feb 07 09:19:05 2001
Subject: [SBB] Plover Seen Tuesday, More OOA
--------
Hi All,
[Skip below if you want to read only about the Sand Plover].
Just wanted to say that Sharon and I had a great weekend Feb 3rd-6th. Have a
seat.
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - ORANGE COUNTY AND LOS ANGELES
Drove to Orange County Saturday morning, just missed the Nutting's Flycatcher
on Sunday (tried morning and afternoon), though a few saw it in the afternoon
of the 30 or so watchers (including flotilla of six black and white, habited
nuns, all with binoculars), then got the NUTTING'S, just the two of us
(nobody else was around), Monday morning at 7:30am or so. Just before the
sidewalk makes a strong right bend and crosses a stream. Got great Video.
The Nutting's Flycatcher is in Irvine, near the campus. So close, but didn't
quite have time to call old friend and Stanford roommate Gordo McLaren.
Missed Orange Bishop near I-710 and I-405, stagnant ditch adjacent to the
100% concrete L.A. River. Tried twice, once late afternoon - once between
tries for the Nutting's, then again Monday morning, after seeing the
flycatcher. Later received an email that said to the sender's knowledge, the
bishops breed in this patch and others, then all seem to disappear the rest
of the year. Does anybody reading this know where any of them winter?
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA - HIGH DESERT
Up to Lancaster. Missed LeConte's Thrasher Monday afternoon, playing song
with new Sony MiniDisc and $12 Radio Shack speaker. This for an hour before
and half-hour after sunset, back and forth on the dirt/sand tracks through
the Joshua-spotted desert north of Ave. O and Division tee intersection. But
got nice video of a sparkling white F-something chase plane with red wingtips
and a black stealth fighter joining up low overhead, then roaring away.
Overnighted in Palmdale, then got the LeCONTE'S THRASHER, trying twenty
minutes before sunrise (S.R. at 6:45am approx), and twenty after. Playing
the song finally drew in a pair. They responded with a few single upsweep
calls, which we recognized as part of the song we played. They finally
appeared high in a sagebrush-type bush for about thirty seconds, clearly
checking us out. Got them in scope quickly, then had about thirty seconds of
45X zoom time. Then they went to the ground, not to be seen or heard again
by us.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - SAN JOSE
Driving back to San Jose, about an hour from home with an ETA of 1:00 pm,
Sharon finally says to me, she says, "You KNOW... " And that was all it
took. We stopped at home, checked the latest email info on the extremely
rare Marin County bird, checked the tides, got lunch and printed out
directions, headed up to Stinson Beach.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - STINSON BEACH, MARIN COUNTY
Two hours and ten minutes later we tell the security guard we are after the
rare bird. He issues us a pass and we enter drive in. A few minutes later,
we are pulled off the road in the private residence area, parked along with
perhaps twenty cars and thirty people with scopes and binocs. It was about
3:40pm. I asked a birder in a scope, "Are you looking at the magic bird?"
"No magic today," he replied. "First day it hasn't been seen."
Uh-oh.
Some people had been there since 7:30pm. Now THAT'S the birder I want to be.
The wind was blowing like crazy, it was cold, and most people had on parkas.
The lucky ones with hoods had them up and strung tight.
I turned to Sharon, still in the car, and pointed both thumbs down. I walk
back to the car, but before I got there, I heard a commotion behind me,
turned, and six to eight birders were hustling away, others pointing to
friends and mates behind me, motioning "come on."
Sharon sees this and gets out, parka'd and ready. We go back (house numbers
decreasing), then set up about address 553. There on the sandbar perhaps
closest to our shore is a big gull and a small plover. GREATER SAND PLOVER
(my opinion. I think the issue is not officially settled yet). This is the
strong flyer that came somehow from Eurasia.
It would eat a little, then rotate the head straight up, look all around,
then go back to eating. Sharon thought it was probably thinking, "Where on
EARTH am I?" Steve Miller, who was set up right next to us said," He's
checking for harriers and peregrines."
Then the plover demonstrated some of that strong flying ability as it flew in
the increasing house number direction (to the left) a distance of perhaps 50
yards, then lit on another sandbar, resumed eating. Steve said excitedly,
"Did you see those legs trailing behind?" I asked if that's a sign of the
type of bird, and he said, "That distinguishes it from the Mongolian (aka
Lesser Sand) Plover." Ahh, learn something new every day.
I got some video, though not very good, especially with the tough wind - the
same wind we battled all the way up Highway 5.
What's really cool is that last fall, we visited Turkey for about three
weeks, racking up just short of 100 life birds, but never saw either sand
plover there.
We looked at each other smiled and I said "Lifers 994, 995 and 996!" Ho-hum,
just another day at the office.
SOUTH AFRICA
Juvenile Sand Plover to mother plover: "Where's Dad?"
Great birding you guys,
Bob and Sharon Lutman
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From email@hidden Wed Feb 07 15:31:37 2001
Subject: [SBB] Long-eared and Barn Owls, poss. hybrid sapsucker
--------
On Sunday, 2/4/01, at Ed Levin Park, Kay Partelow and Lisa Pavey were
birding with a group (enterprising "students" of mine who were not
able to get into my class this term). At the Elm area, they found
some owl pellets and droppings beneath a pine tree and followed their
intuition up to a roosting Long-eared Owl! Then, near Sandy Wool Lake,
they found what they ID'd as a Red-naped Sapsucker.
They asked me to check out these birds to see if they were on the
right track. So, yesterday, 2/6/01, Lisa and I went to these spots.
It seems to me that they were pretty accurate with their ID's. We
found that there are two Long-eared Owls with a Barn Owl in the next
tree, about 30-40 ft. away! The sapsucker, indeed looked like a Red-
naped, except for the red in the throat extending down the breast
below a black chevron on the chest. This is probably a hybrid, Red-
naped x Red-breasted. I checked with Mike Rogers; he had photographed
a very similar bird in Nov. 1995 in the same area. If this is the
same bird, it's at least 6 years old which is pretty good for a migrant.
I went back to recheck them today. Mike Mammoser was there and found
a 2nd Barn Owl. There are good numbers of low-flying White-throated
Swifts overhead, too.
Directions:
Take Hwy 237 into the foothills, the road is "Calaveras Rd." when
going through Milpitas. Take Downing Rd. on the left and go up to
the entry kiosk. Self-pay the $4 entry fee if there is no one on
duty. (Rangers DO patrol looking for paid entry receipts.)
The owls are in the Elm Area, first right turn after the kiosk.
They were roosting in the trees on the far (eastern) edge of the
parking lot as you enter down the center of the lot. Look for the
pellets and droppings but they could be elsewhere. Judging from
other pellet piles throughout this part of the park, they could
be anywhere.
The sapsucker seems to hang out at the north end of Sandy Wool Lake
near the westernmost parking lot. It was seen in a pepper tree along
the paved path and it uses other trees in the area, too.
Please exercise your best birding etiquette when looking for these
birds and go easy on the owls. It would be nice if they stayed as long
as possible.
Good birding
Les Chibana
-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==
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From email@hidden Thu Feb 08 05:51:08 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
I went to the Baylands at lunch to catch the high tide. It wasn't a super
tide, but I did see one BLACK RAIL, along with Mike Rogers. Later Mike and I
went to the duck pond, where we found both of the gulls that have been
discussed recently. I think (and I believe that Mike agrees) that the
Glaucous type is probably some kind of hybrid. Besides the tail pattern I
mentioned previously, the bill pattern is not quite right. It is a little
fuzzier than one would expect and there is some amount of black bleeding
back along the cutting edge. We're not sure what the other parentage is. One
possibility is Herring Gull, which might account for the smaller size, as
well as the tail and bill pattern. Mike wondered whether the bird was a
little too pale for a "Nelson's" Gull, and suggested a Glaucous-winged
parent. The small size could be explained by the Glaucous parent being the
smaller form, barrovianus. In any event, it's an interesting bird. Check it
out.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Thu Feb 08 07:23:08 2001
Subject: [SBB] BAEA at Dixon Landing and 880
--------
On Tuesday 2/6 (sorry for the delay) I saw what appeared to be an immature
(probably 3rd year) Bald Eagle flying low over the agricultural fields just
east of Coyote Creek near Dixon Landing Road. It continued east over the
freeway and then disappeared before I could safely stop the truck and get
the binoculars on it. In the brief view I caught of the bird I noted a lot
of white patchiness on the wings and neck.
Robin Dakin
Biologist
Santa Clara Valley Water District
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From email@hidden Thu Feb 08 08:50:16 2001
Subject: [SBB] red shouldered hawk in los altos
--------
Several sightings in the past week or so of a Red-Shouldered hawk or hawks
in Los Altos over the Jesuit retreat and University Ave. Yesterday at
midday I clearly saw an adult. The bird we saw on the weekend may have
been a juvenile or may have just been washed out by the lighting. We've
also seen "our" Coopers in the area recently, and a Red-Tail on
Saturday. Between the retreat, the Adobe creek line, the Redwood Grove,
and many privately established mature trees, it's a pretty good
territory. With pressure growing elsewhere, I'm guessing we're going to
continue to see more hawks there this year than last...
Natasha
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From email@hidden Thu Feb 08 14:26:10 2001
Subject: [SBB] Two Long-eared Owls and some other county birds
--------
All,
This morning in Ed Levin Park, while checking out the trees with owl pellets
below them, we spotted a LONG-EARED OWL in one of the trees at the east end
of the Elm Picnic Area parking lot. Just as the four of us (Frank Vanslager,
John Arnold, Donna (?) and I) got into position to view the owl two birds
suddenly flew from the tree in different directions. Frank and John then
went to check on one owl while Donna and I went to check on the other. To
our surprise we found that both were LONG-EARED OWLS (I had expected that one
of them would be a Barn Owl). We then went to the parking lot at the
northwest corner of Sandy Wool Lake. As we walked toward the south I noted
several long-billed shorebirds fly into the open grassy area to the east.
Subsequent inspection showed them to COMMON SNIPE, at least twelve of them
and at least 150 feet from the lake! We then refound the hybrid RED-NAPED X
RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER in a small Pepper Tree alongside the paved path after
chasing a poorly seen RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER in the same area. Frank and I
then checked out the CCFS ponds. Found an interesting gull in the tidal
marsh north of Salt Pond A18. The tide was in and the bird was in the water.
The large, "square-headed" gull was an overall beige with translucent white
primaries and a two-thirds pink based black tipped bill (a cleanly bicolored
bill). The tertials were fairly light with slightly darker centers (rather
than being "barred"?). The undertail looked fairly dark but was probably
within acceptable limits for a darker first winter Glaucous Gull (I
unfortunately have no experience with them). I then lost the bird before I
was able to see the tail. I also did not see the legs but I'm sure that they
would have been pink. My basic concern with calling this bird a GLGU is with
the tertials and almost overly white primaries.
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 2:28 PM, 2/8/01
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From email@hidden Thu Feb 08 16:37:54 2001
Subject: [SBB] S.C. Co. Bird List as of January 31
--------
Bill Bousman writes:
The county list is up to 188 although some of the regulars are missing.
I've placed '?' by Black-bellied Plover, Great Horned Owl, and Wrentit, as I
know they've been seen. Some less common regulars that may have been seen are
Semipalmated Plover, Lewis's Woodpecker, Horned Lark, Rufous-crowned Sparrow,
and Lawrence's Goldfinch. Of the 18 new species since 21 Jan, 14 are new,
while the other 4 are 'fillers', that is, species that were seen earlier, but
I didn't have records for. So, by the end of January we almost made 200
species. With spring we'll quickly get another 30 or 40. After that it will
be hard scrabble birding until to find another 60 species to bring us to our
usual 290 or 295.
The full list can be seen on:
South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU)
http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/
Kendric
-----------------------------------------
Kendric C. Smith, Ph.D.
927 Mears Court
Stanford, CA 94305-1041
(650) 493-7210 (voice or fax)
email@hidden
http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/
------------------------------------------
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From email@hidden Thu Feb 08 17:17:09 2001
Subject: [SBB] BLRA, GL?GU
--------
All,
As Mike Mammoser noted, after getting a peek at the stealth BLACK RAIL
that mysteriously appeared under the bushes without flying in, we were
able to study the duck pond "GLAUCOUS GULL" at length today 2/8/01.
The bird is not large as far as Glaucous Gulls go, being a tad smaller
and slimmer than most of the nearby Glaucous-winged Gulls, with a bit
longer primary extension past the tail tip than shown by many Glaucous
Gulls. This small size is probably fine for the smaller "barrovianus"
race of Glaucous Gull, however. Compared to the first-winter Glaucous
Gulls I saw recently in Alviso, which were largely pure white, this
bird is still fairly dark. The underparts are mostly solid muddy
brown, the tail is uniformly pale brown, and the undertail coverts are
barred with a dark brown. This bird is thus on the dark end of what a
Glaucous Gull can look like at this time of year. The bill pattern
could certainly fit Glaucous, although at close range one can see that
the demarcation is actually not super abrupt - there is some
blurriness. Of course this may actually not be all that atypical, but
I am seldom only 8 feet from a Glaucous Gull to see it! In flight the
secondaries showed some tan on parts of each feather. Although the
primaries were broadly edged with white the centers were still
obviously tan. However, the overall impression of the bird in flight
was that of white primaries and secondaries - these areas were not
darker than the rest of the wing.
As Mike noted on 30 Jan, the most disturbing thing about this bird is
the tail, which shows virtually no marbling in the interior and is
thus not typical of most Glaucous Gulls. Despite this, however, I
tend to think the bird may well be a pure Glaucous Gull. The bill
indicates at least some Glaucous genes. Hybrid Glaucous x Herring
Gulls that I have seen have had much darker pigment in the primaries,
secondaries, and tail, even this late in the year (see
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/6181/nels4.htm and
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/6181/nels2.htm). Sometimes
such hybrids can be very dark in these areas, e.g.
http://www.martinreid.com/heghyp01.html. A Glaucous-wingedxGlaucous
hybrid could explain the plain Glaucous-winged-like tail and the extra
dark pigment in the wing. A gull that might represent this hybrid
combination is at
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/6181/glgw1.htm. Note that
the Baylands bird is paler than this on the tertials, and primaries,
and has a much more Glaucous-like bill. It also lacks the
Glaucous-winged head shape and bill that enlarges near the gonys.
Another bird though to possibly be this hybrid can be seen at
http://www.martinreid.com/glgup07.html. However, the duck pond bird
has paler tertials and primaries than this and a cleaner bill - and
this bird may not even be a hybrid. The presumed hybrid at
http://www.martinreid.com/gwglp01.html also has a much different bill
pattern.
Given all this, I tend to agree with Al Jaramillo, that this bird is
likely just a dark Glaucous Gull, but this darkness and the tail
pattern make one wonder about whether there are a few other genes in
this birds genetic make-up.
I took a whole roll of film of this bird, including several flight
shots and close-ups of the bill and tail. Better analysis of the
upperwing and tail patterns from the photos will probably permit a
more definitive ID.
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Thu Feb 08 18:15:20 2001
Subject: [SBB] Barn Owl at Ed Levin
--------
Having dreamed of owls last night, I made a trip to Ed Levin this morning
and saw one of the 2 Long-eared Owls reported previously. While searching
the trees back along the fence bordering the golf course, a Barn Owl flushed
from a small tree in the corner and flew off to the east. Also seen here
were Oak Titmouse and Ruby-crowned Kinglet, which tipped me off to the owl.
I then proceeded on to Sandy Wool Lake and joined the group w/Frank
Vanslager, who provided me with excellent views of the hybrid sapsucker in
his Questar.
Michael Wienholt
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From email@hidden Fri Feb 09 03:06:06 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Re: Nelson's?
--------
----- Original Message -----
From: "tdj"
> A Nelson's is kind of what I was thinking too, but Al E. thinks the
> primaries are too dark to be a Nelson's.
I'm not aware that Al Eisner has seen this bird. I know that he was looking
for it on a couple occasions, though. In actuality, the primaries are paler
than would be seen on a "typical" Nelson's (just so people aren't confused,
this is a hybrid between Glaucous and Herring). Some good photos of proposed
Nelson's Gulls can be seen on Steve Hampton's gull page at:
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/6181/gulls.htm
However, the paleness of this bird may be within range for such a hybrid.
Check out the bird that Mike Rogers photographed at Newby Island last year
at the following URL. It closely resembles the duck pond bird.
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/6181/nels4.htm
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Fri Feb 09 07:46:16 2001
Subject: [SBB] Re: Nelson's?
--------
A Nelson's is kind of what I was thinking too, but Al E. thinks the
primaries are too dark to be a Nelson's.
Tim
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Mammoser"
To: "SBB"
Sent: Thursday, February 08, 2001 5:51 AM
Subject: [SBB] :
> I went to the Baylands at lunch to catch the high tide. It wasn't a super
> tide, but I did see one BLACK RAIL, along with Mike Rogers. Later Mike and
I
> went to the duck pond, where we found both of the gulls that have been
> discussed recently. I think (and I believe that Mike agrees) that the
> Glaucous type is probably some kind of hybrid. Besides the tail pattern I
> mentioned previously, the bill pattern is not quite right. It is a little
> fuzzier than one would expect and there is some amount of black bleeding
> back along the cutting edge. We're not sure what the other parentage is.
One
> possibility is Herring Gull, which might account for the smaller size, as
> well as the tail and bill pattern. Mike wondered whether the bird was a
> little too pale for a "Nelson's" Gull, and suggested a Glaucous-winged
> parent. The small size could be explained by the Glaucous parent being the
> smaller form, barrovianus. In any event, it's an interesting bird. Check
it
> out.
>
> Mike Mammoser
>
>
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From email@hidden Fri Feb 09 15:11:09 2001
Subject: [SBB] BLRA, possible GLGU
--------
RESENDING THIS TODAY, AS IT SEEMS NOT TO HAVE MADE IT YESTERDAY
All,
As Mike Mammoser noted, after getting a peek at the stealth BLACK RAIL
that mysteriously appeared under the bushes without flying in, we were
able to study the duck pond "GLAUCOUS GULL" at length today 2/8/01.
The bird is not large as far as Glaucous Gulls go, being a tad smaller
and slimmer than most of the nearby Glaucous-winged Gulls, with a bit
longer primary extension past the tail tip than shown by many Glaucous
Gulls. This small size is probably fine for the smaller "barrovianus"
race of Glaucous Gull, however. Compared to the first-winter Glaucous
Gulls I saw recently in Alviso, which were largely pure white, this
bird is still fairly dark. The underparts are mostly solid muddy
brown, the tail is uniformly pale brown, and the undertail coverts are
barred with a dark brown. This bird is thus on the dark end of what a
Glaucous Gull can look like at this time of year. The bill pattern
could certainly fit Glaucous, although at close range one can see that
the demarcation is actually not super abrupt - there is some
blurriness. Of course this may actually not be all that atypical, but
I am seldom only 8 feet from a Glaucous Gull to see it! In flight the
secondaries showed some tan on parts of each feather. Although the
primaries were broadly edged with white the centers were still
obviously tan. However, the overall impression of the bird in flight
was that of white primaries and secondaries - these areas were not
darker than the rest of the wing.
As Mike noted on 30 Jan, the most disturbing thing about this bird is
the tail, which shows virtually no marbling in the interior and is
thus not typical of most Glaucous Gulls. Despite this, however, I
tend to think the bird may well be a pure Glaucous Gull. The bill
indicates at least some Glaucous genes. Hybrid Glaucous x Herring
Gulls that I have seen have had much darker pigment in the primaries,
secondaries, and tail, even this late in the year (see
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/6181/nels4.htm and
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/6181/nels2.htm). Sometimes
such hybrids can be very dark in these areas, e.g.
http://www.martinreid.com/heghyp01.html. A Glaucous-wingedxGlaucous
hybrid could explain the plain Glaucous-winged-like tail and the extra
dark pigment in the wing. A gull that might represent this hybrid
combination is at
http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/6181/glgw1.htm. Note that
the Baylands bird is paler than this on the tertials, and primaries,
and has a much more Glaucous-like bill. It also lacks the
Glaucous-winged head shape and bill that enlarges near the gonys.
Another bird though to possibly be this hybrid can be seen at
http://www.martinreid.com/glgup07.html. However, the duck pond bird
has paler tertials and primaries than this and a cleaner bill - and
this bird may not even be a hybrid. The presumed hybrid at
http://www.martinreid.com/gwglp01.html also has a much different bill
pattern.
Given all this, I tend to agree with Al Jaramillo, that this bird is
likely just a dark Glaucous Gull, but this darkness and the tail
pattern make one wonder about whether there are a few other genes in
this birds genetic make-up.
I took a whole roll of film of this bird, including several flight
shots and close-ups of the bill and tail. Better analysis of the
upperwing and tail patterns from the photos will probably permit a
more definitive ID.
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Fri Feb 09 17:19:16 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Re: Nelson's?
--------
Al posted something about the bird on SBB on January 30. More information
and pictures of this bird is available at
http://www.ctbirding.org/nelson's_gull_images.htm.
Tim
----- Original Message -----
From: "Michael Mammoser"
To: "SBB"
Sent: Friday, February 09, 2001 3:06 AM
Subject: Re: [SBB] Re: Nelson's?
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "tdj"
>
>
> > A Nelson's is kind of what I was thinking too, but Al E. thinks the
> > primaries are too dark to be a Nelson's.
>
> I'm not aware that Al Eisner has seen this bird. I know that he was
looking
> for it on a couple occasions, though. In actuality, the primaries are
paler
> than would be seen on a "typical" Nelson's (just so people aren't
confused,
> this is a hybrid between Glaucous and Herring). Some good photos of
proposed
> Nelson's Gulls can be seen on Steve Hampton's gull page at:
> http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/6181/gulls.htm
>
> However, the paleness of this bird may be within range for such a hybrid.
> Check out the bird that Mike Rogers photographed at Newby Island last year
> at the following URL. It closely resembles the duck pond bird.
> http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/6181/nels4.htm
>
> Mike Mammoser
>
>
>
> -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==
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From email@hidden Fri Feb 09 18:08:22 2001
Subject: [SBB] Re: Nelson's?
--------
Tim Ryan wrote:
> A Nelson's is kind of what I was thinking too, but Al E. thinks the
> primaries are too dark to be a Nelson's.
>
> Tim
>
> > I went to the Baylands at lunch to catch the high tide. It wasn't a super
> > tide, but I did see one BLACK RAIL, along with Mike Rogers. Later Mike and
> I
> > went to the duck pond, where we found both of the gulls that have been
> > discussed recently. I think (and I believe that Mike agrees) that the
> > Glaucous type is probably some kind of hybrid. Besides the tail pattern I
> > mentioned previously, the bill pattern is not quite right. It is a little
> > fuzzier than one would expect and there is some amount of black bleeding
> > back along the cutting edge. We're not sure what the other parentage is.
> One
> > possibility is Herring Gull, which might account for the smaller size, as
> > well as the tail and bill pattern. Mike wondered whether the bird was a
> > little too pale for a "Nelson's" Gull, and suggested a Glaucous-winged
> > parent. The small size could be explained by the Glaucous parent being the
> > smaller form, barrovianus. In any event, it's an interesting bird. Check
> it
> > out.
> >
> > Mike Mammoser
I think Tim is confusing the two birds recently reported. His private comment
to me was about the Gull I had seen (at the time, Mike Mammoser hadn't yet
reported his Glaucous or GlaucousX?, and I haven't seen that bird).. I
responded that the bill didn't match either Herring or Glaucous, but was like
Glaucous-Winged's in shape. I don't recall what I said about the primaries
(I had looked at some references, but have forgotten by now).
Al
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From email@hidden Fri Feb 09 18:10:44 2001
Subject: [SBB] Re: Nelson's?
--------
Mike Mammoser wrote:
> I'm not aware that Al Eisner has seen this bird. I know that he was looking
> for it on a couple occasions, though. In actuality, the primaries are paler
> than would be seen on a "typical" Nelson's (just so people aren't confused,
> this is a hybrid between Glaucous and Herring). Some good photos of proposed
> Nelson's Gulls can be seen on Steve Hampton's gull page at:
> http://www.geocities.com/RainForest/Canopy/6181/gulls.htm
Yes, that's what I'm sure now I said about the primaries, but that time
referring to the Glaucous-Winged type bird.
Al
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From email@hidden Sat Feb 10 14:46:03 2001
Subject: [SBB] Long-eared Owl
--------
All,
Greetings!
A quick note to let you know that, after my unsuccessful attempt for the
LONG-EARED OWL at Ed Levin Park on Thursday, I was able to find it this
morning (Saturday) at about 9:45. It was originally about 25 feet up in
one of the denser spots in a pine tree near the northeastern corner of the
Elm parking area. The tree has three very large rocks next to it. It may
have been in this same tree on Thursday because there were agitated
passerines in the tree all Thursday afternoon but I couldn't find anything.
Today, about ten other birders were there to see it before it flushed
(possibly by a Scrub Jay but also possibly by our movement which was kept
to a minimum) and flew several trees down. It again flew and eventually
settled on the outside of a pine tree between the paved trail and the fence
along the golf course southeast of the parking area (across from the first
picnic table that has alot of whitewash and pellets). It stayed on the
exposed limb for the next hour and a half or so allowing for beautiful
scope views and photos. We left it at about 11:45, still on the same
branch. Also in the area were two roosting BARN OWLs and two GREAT-HORNED
OWLs.
Our attempt for the Red-naped x Red-breasted Sapsucker was unsuccessful
although I did see it on Thursday afternoon feeding in the pine, oak, and
pepper trees near the north end of Sandy Wool Lake. Today, we found
several RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERs in the general area. The hybrid sapsucker
was probably laying low since there was a cold rain coming down. Other
birds in the area included a GOLDEN EAGLE overhead, WESTERN BLUEBIRDs,
HERMIT THRUSHes, and the usual cast of avian characters.
Good birding to you!
Jim Danzenbaker
San Jose, CA
408-264-7582 (408-ANI-SKUA)
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Sat Feb 10 15:12:41 2001
Subject: [SBB] Hybrid(s)
--------
I started today at the Elms area of Ed Levin Co. Park, where I was one of
the throng viewing the Long-Eared and other Owls already mentioned by Jim
Danzenbaker. Three nocturnal owl species in one place without actually going
owling! Selasphorus Hummmingbirds were readily heard, but the rain limited
my attempts to actually see and identify one; however, I gather several Allen's
males were seen by others both today and two days ago.
A noon visit to Mountainview Shoreline Lake turned up what I believe to
be a male Greater Scaup X Tufted Duck with the Scaup flock. The bird was
comparable in size to other Greater Scaup here, but the back color was a
considerably darker gray - about intermediate between a normal Scaup and the
black of a male Tufted Duck. The head was largely rounded, Greater-like,
with a green gloss, but there was a hint of a bump at the upper rear, where
a real Tufted Duck would show some tuft. (It's possible I was imagining this.)
The bill was just as expected for a Tufted Duck: the black extended across
the entire tip, not just the nail; and there was a prominent white band just
behing this tip. Any alternatives to that hybrid hypothesis?
Finally, I went over to the Palo Alto Duck Pond, where I found the
"Glaucous Gull" which has been the subject of much discussion lately. I
actually saw the bird on Wednesday, after an unsuccessful attempt at Black
Rail. [No-one saw Black Rail that day, although the tide, while not im-
pressive, was probably high enough; I suspected it or they had snuck in withou
flying or moving visibly across the gap, which is just what Mike(s) described
for Thursday.] I didn't have time to really study it then, and I omitted
mentioning it in my post in the Nelson's Gull thread because it wasn't rele-
vant to my post. (That is, I oversimplified, although "lied" is another
possible term.) The barring on the rear belly, undertail coverts, and rump
are darker than I've ever seen on a first-year Glaucous (and darker than the
"dark" bird shown by Sibley), so if this is a Glaucous it is a most interes-
ting one to me. On both visits I was a bit concerned by a slight fuzziness to
the demarcation on the bill. The rest of what I saw pretty well matches the
most recent report by Mike Rogers (I didn't note much about the secondaries,
however). I would add that the primaries looked quite white from below, but
from above showed more tan than white; I had several fleeting impressions that
the tail was also rather white from below, although quite evidently tan above.
I haven't yet had a chance to look over the reference pictures for which Mike
provided links, so I'm reserving judgment. All I can say is that this indi-
vidual was outside my past experience.
Cheers, Al
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From email@hidden Sat Feb 10 16:51:22 2001
Subject: [SBB] SCL ducks and allies
--------
A group from my class ducked out today in search of South Bay Ducks.
We started at Almaden Reservoir with the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at the
turnout .3 mi. beyond the dam. From this location we saw 2 SPOTTED
SANDPIPERS along the shore of the reservoir. Then we started looking
for ducks. We counted 83 WOOD DUCKs along the far side. We drove further
up the road and counted another 35 WOOD DUCKs in a different location.
So, we had a total of 118.
At Almaden Lake we found 2 COMMON MERGANSERS.
At Oka Ponds, we found 2 HOODED MERGANSERS, in the creek and a GREATER
WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE flew over with a small flock of CANADA GOOSE.
There was a bunch of CEDAR WAXWING activity in the back parking area
to one of the Sun(?) buildings by the Mtn. View Forebay and Shoreline
Lake. Nothing exceptional was on the lake. 8 BLACK SKIMMERS were on
the island in Charleston Slough.
At the Palo Alto Flood Control Basin, we found 5 male and 2 female
BLUE-WINGED TEAL in the large central pond seen from the beginning of
the Charleston Slough trail. We found another pair in the rushes to
the left of the turnout along the frontage road.
At Byxbee Park, we couldn't locate Short-eared or Burrowing Owls, nor
could we find any small forms among the Canada Geese.
At the duck pond, we observed a gull that seemes to match the description
of the pale gull that's been the subject of many SBB posts. I can't add
anything to the discussion except to say that I got some photos of it,
in and out of the water. I will post them when I can have them digitized.
We saw a total of 20 species of anseriforms, missing or not getting to
the known locations for Snow Goose, Eurasian Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck,
Redhead, Barrow's Goldeneye and Red-breasted Merganser.
If one were enterprising enough, you could also make a circuit up to
Pt. Reyes, Lake Merritt, Monterey and a few other spots and see 35
species of waterfowl.
Les Chibana
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From email@hidden Sat Feb 10 17:54:28 2001
Subject: [SBB] 2.10.01 Birds
--------
Hugh Cotter and I forayed into the South Bay despite less-than-enticing
weather. We started at Lake Cunningham and, after a bit of a search, did
find the now-adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL. More on this later. Also of
interest were a ROSS'S GOOSE, a SNOW GOOSE, a GREEN-WINGED TEAL and both
TREE and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. Might I assume the swallows winter here;
they don't in SF?
We joined the throng for fine look at the LONG-EARED OWL at Ed Levin and
then checked the Alviso Marina and scoped futilely in the general direction
of Cargill from the levee in Alviso for you-know-what.
Mark
--
Mark Eaton
mailto:email@hidden
SFBirds Web Page
http://home.pacbell.net/mweaton
Golden Gate Audubon Web Page (note new URL)
http://www.goldengateaudubon.org
Subscribe to the GGAS Conservation Mailing List at
http://list.audubon.org/archives/ca-ggas-conservation.html
"Under no circumstances was I to contact the penguin scientist."
Jane Bledsoe
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From email@hidden Sat Feb 10 18:30:58 2001
Subject: [SBB] White-winged Scoter
--------
While doing a scoter survey along the Bay this morning we found two
white-winged scoters just south of the west end of the San Mateo
bridge. We saw both the white wing patch and the small white eye patch
on the male.
--
Richard C. Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker, Skier, Hiker
Palo Alto, California Part-time Economist
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Sat Feb 10 19:23:02 2001
Subject: [SBB] Coyote Hills Regional Park, Sat.
--------
Howdy South-bay-birders,
Today (Sat.) we had a class field trip to Coyote Hills Regional Park. Of
course it rained most of the time, but we still saw a few interesting birds.
Best one was a gorgeous ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK that was perched across a flooded
field near the entrance kiosk. It was still there when we left.
The flooded fields to either side of the entrance kiosk also had flocks
of dabbling ducks and a good variety of shorebirds, including 1 LESSER
YELLOWLEGS, 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 1 WILLET, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER, DUNLIN,
and LEAST SANDPIPERS. A few AMERICAN PIPITS were foraging among the
sandpipers. Near our starting point (Quarry parking area) we also saw
several TREE SWALLOWS pass by. We ended the trip early because of the
downpour, but it was really birdy and on a nicer day we would have covered
more ground. Even with the rain we saw numerous raptors. Earlier in the
morning I watched a WHITE-TAILED KITE perch and eat a vole. He nibbled off
the head in bite-sized pieces, then swallowed the rest of the body in one
big gulp.
John Mariani
email@hidden
www.birdswest.com
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From email@hidden Sun Feb 11 08:33:22 2001
Subject: [SBB] BAND-TAILS and how 1 person made a difference
--------
When I left last week, I was at 2-3 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS at a time. This AM...I count 45!
One Person CAN make a difference
I'm just back from a week on New Providence Island (Nassau, Bahamas). I would like to share with you what ONE birder has accomplished there.
I was with my 2 daughters who resist birding. So, I called the Bahamas Tourist line and asked if they knew of someone who would take me birding for a morning. They gave me the number of Paul Dean. I was told he was the best birder in the Bahamas. (A title he doesn't refute.)
Paul had graduated from high school when he first looked closer at a "chippy" (the local name given to any small bird.) He was curious about the bird and went back to his old high school, to his science teacher, to see if this teacher could tell him what bird it was. Instead, the science teacher loaned him a bird book and told him to figure it out himself. He did, it was a YELLOW THROATED WARBLER (of which I saw many.) Paul said he was then "hooked". He'd see a bird, go back to his old science teacher, look it up etc.
Two years ago Paul retired from his job at an airline. He is now an exceptional birder. He knew construction was destroying a lot of the native habitat. He wanted to help birds. New Providence Island has NO wildlife refuge area. Over the years Paul had discovered what he felt was the best migration stopping off spot on the island. He told me during migration there are thousands of birds there. It was a pig farm. The owner had been a jockey and made some money that way. He allowed Paul to enter his property to bird.
Picture this (as I saw it).several acres of land.totally fenced.on one side is a small lake with reeds. The property has 3 very large chicken houses; the owner is also a "chicken farmer." The area has minimal vegetation having been eaten by lots of goats. There were pigs everywhere and lots of piglets. The barren ground was littered and looked like a garbage dump. There were hundreds of empty cartridge shells from people shooting on the property. The owner, his sons, and friends had shot at birds for years.
Two years ago when Paul decided to make the pig farm a better place for birds he decided to do it in a positive way. He never asked the owner to change anything. What he did was to take bird books with him. After Paul had birded the area to see what was there, he would seek out the owner - bird book in hand. He'd show the owner a bird he'd just seen and talk to him about the bird. He would tell him that this bird had nested in the Arctic and was on its was to Venezuela (or whatever) - that it was stopping in the Bahamas, on the pig farm, to refuel. Paul repeated this time and time again, week after week. Eventually the man would say to him: "Hey I noticed a different looking bird, what was it? Where'd it come from?"
A year passed. One day the man said: "I'm thinking about getting rid of the goats. Maybe some grass would be good for the birds. I'm thinking of planting mango trees. Would the birds like them?" So, the goats are now gone. The slow process of picking up the garbage so the mango trees can be planted has begun.
One day the owner said to Paul. "I told my friends not to come here anymore and shoot the birds.they've traveled too far to get here.doesn't seem right to kill them." The shooting has stopped.
Paul also has had talks with the Prime Minister pointing out that there is no Wildlife Refuge area on New Providence Island. Just this year, the Prime Minister in his address mentioned, for the first time, needing to protect wildlife. Paul hopes to accomplish a lot working with the Prime Minister. But, that door has just become "ajar." (Better than closed.)
During migration the Bahamas are a major refueling stop for birds. One person CAN make a difference.thanks to Paul Dean, The Bahamas will be a better place. I hope to return in 2 years to see the revised Pig Farm.
Maybe this tale will inspire someone in the South Bay..SCVAS and other organizations are good.but just one person CAN make a difference.
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From email@hidden Sun Feb 11 09:47:33 2001
Subject: [SBB] Stinson Beach Plover
--------
Do any South Bay Birders plan to try for this plover in the next few days
and wish to carpool?
Michael Wienholt
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From email@hidden Sun Feb 11 11:35:06 2001
Subject: [SBB] Red Shouldered takes pigeon??
--------
Yesterday at midday I had a brief glimpse of a medium sized hawk which had
obviously just caught a pigeon (I missed the grab, but a few other pigeons
were still fleeing in a generally chaotic scene). We were in the truck,
driving NW on Alma, in downtown Palo Alto. The hawk was laboring to carry
the bird, so what I saw of its flight was not what I'm used to seeing for
any bird. The one clear mark was the distinctly warm reddish-brown of its
upper shoulders/wings--a color I associate with Red Shouldered Hawks. Do
they take pigeons? On the wing? (or maybe it snuck up on some perching
birds?) One of our books says Red Shouldereds sometimes take small
songbirds, but a pigeon isn't really small! The more usual candidate would
be a Coopers, and my husband has seen a pair in that area: could a juvenile
show such a _warm_ color? Thoughts?
Thanks,
Natasha
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From email@hidden Sun Feb 11 13:03:27 2001
Subject: [SBB] Owls
--------
Hi Birders-
I spent nearly three hours at the Elm Grove Picnic
Area in Ed Levin Park this morning. When I arrived
only Vicki Silvas-Young and Tom Goodman were there. By
the time I left nearly 20 other birders had come and
gone. Around 10:30, Dave and Merry Haveman and I heard
what was probably a Great-horned Owl call once from
out over the golf course. At 11, I drove up to the
lake, and returned at 11:30 and parked by the
restroom. I opened the car door to the screeching of a
Barn Owl close by. When I was zeroing in on the sound,
a Barn Owl flew out one side of a pine, and a
Long-eared Owl flew out the other. I was unable to
locate where the Long-eared went, so I could not alert
the five other birders, who were in the Northeast
corner of the park and oblivious to what had just
occured.
So, I flew on home.
Other birds of interest in the area were
White-throated Swifts, Western Bluebirds, and
Selasphorus hummingbirds.
Jack Cole
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From email@hidden Sun Feb 11 13:36:54 2001
Subject: [SBB] Glaucous-type gull at EEC
--------
A trip to the EEC at 1100 today turned up a large pale gull on the first
island out from the dike.
It was at least as large as a Herring Gull, with a bi-colored bill (black
1/3 tip and 2/3 pinkish). The head , neck, throat and chest were mainly
white and the eye appeared mostly dark. However, the mantle and secondaries
showed a fair amount of gray. I have no experience with Glaucous Gull,
except for that maddening bird at the Palo Alto Duck Pond, so if anyone
checks out this EEC bird please share your thoughts on 1st-winter or
2nd-winter plumage.
There were 13 Mew Gulls at the Alviso Marina.
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 12 06:46:03 2001
Subject: [SBB] WTSP and AMKE
--------
On Sunday morning I checked out the snowline on Mt Umunhum Rd and the many
Wood Ducks on the Almaden Reservoir. I also stopped to get a better look at
the Tan-striped White-throated Sparrow in the White-crowned flock at their
favorite spot 0.3-mile from the Dam. I had decent looks while I remained in
the car during some light sprinkles. Unfortunately, one of the larger local
vehicles came by and scared the flock into the bushes. In another second or
two, a male American Kestrel flew out of those bushes with a bird in its
talons!
When the Kestrel stopped for a moment on a nearby telephone pole, I could see
that it did, indeed, seem to have taken a small Zonatrichia Sparrow. But it
flew before I could determine which one.
The flock never returned.
Frank Vanslager
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 12 08:53:59 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Red Shouldered takes pigeon??
--------
According to the Marin Breeding Bird Atlas, RSHA will take birds, although a
minor part of their diet. It specifically mentions small to medium sized
birds, and then goes on to say that RSHA's will "transport, sometimes drag
or eat in place, surprisingly heavy prey, such as small herons, full grown
squirrels, ducks, opossums and muskrats." Somewhat inconclusive but sounds
like a possibility.
Leda Beth Gray
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
> From: amphibian
> Date: Sun, 11 Feb 2001 11:35:06 -0800
> To: email@hidden
> Subject: [SBB] Red Shouldered takes pigeon??
>
> Yesterday at midday I had a brief glimpse of a medium sized hawk which had
> obviously just caught a pigeon (I missed the grab, but a few other pigeons
> were still fleeing in a generally chaotic scene). We were in the truck,
> driving NW on Alma, in downtown Palo Alto. The hawk was laboring to carry
> the bird, so what I saw of its flight was not what I'm used to seeing for
> any bird. The one clear mark was the distinctly warm reddish-brown of its
> upper shoulders/wings--a color I associate with Red Shouldered Hawks. Do
> they take pigeons? On the wing? (or maybe it snuck up on some perching
> birds?) One of our books says Red Shouldereds sometimes take small
> songbirds, but a pigeon isn't really small! The more usual candidate would
> be a Coopers, and my husband has seen a pair in that area: could a juvenile
> show such a _warm_ color? Thoughts?
>
> Thanks,
> Natasha
>
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 12 09:25:29 2001
Subject: [SBB] RE: Coyote Hills (Belated) Suppliment to John Mariani's Report of 2/10/01
--------
Greetings South-bay-birders,
In reading John's account I realized several folks may want to come to
Alameda Co. to Coyote Hills RP at least to find the Rough-legged Hawk. This
bird was in a small controversy, when it was I.D.'d as imm. Bald Eagle a few
weeks ago. Although we know it was correctly I.D'd back on 23 Oct. 2000.
The Field Trip I was on was Friday, 9 Feb. with my wife's 6th graders. Rain
also was intermittent and limited where we could go. We found the same
species mentioned in the Mariani report beginning with the kids watching a
Great Blue Heron stalk and impale (with lots of grass) a pocket gopher and
kill and eat it. In addition a few things to be looked for include a
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and Rock Wren (rare in ALA Co.) to be found around the
south gravel parking lot. At the Coyote Hills Regional Park (not to be
confused with the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National; Wildlife Refuge -
south of Hwy 84) Interpretive Center visitors can ask to see the new
Hummingbird and Butterfly Garden fenced in behind the building. Here are
several maintained bird feeders and birdbaths with lots of small land birds.
We found California Quail, California Thrasher, Hermit Thrush, and. Fox
Sparrow. Although Anna's Hummingbird was here this day, this is another
good spot for early Salasphorus hummers. We couldn't check on the Great
Horned Owl nest above the Center at Hoot Hollow picnic area. The ponds are
full of lots of waterfowl, but some of the boardwalks go onto muddy or
flooded trails. Ask a Ranger at the Center first. The earlier report (about
2 1/2 weeks ago) of Christy Nelson's (?) Northern Waterthrush along the trail
that heads north from the entrance Kiosk was successfully checked by John
Luther (fide) and could very well still be there.
More about bird reports at Coyote Hills may be linked from the OAS Web site:
< http://members.aol.com/wnscoggins/oas.html >
Happy Birding,
Phil Gordon
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 12 11:28:29 2001
Subject: [SBB] Sunday afternoon birding
--------
Hi:
This is my first post to the list, so forgive me if I breach protocol.
I've been a subscriber for about a month. I really appreciate the
expertise available here- it's allowed me to see birds I never would
have found on my own. Thanks!
That aside, I ventured out Sunday to see the wood ducks at Almaden
reservoir and the owls at Ed Levin. I found the wood ducks, but
unfortunately it was raining pretty hard at the time so I didn't get
great views. I was able to find a pair of Great Horned owls at the Elm
area of Ed Levin around 3 pm. They were located in the upper branches
of a eucalyptus tree bordering the golf course and straight back from
the parking lot. I was not able to find the short-eared owls, despite
help from some other list readers (Kathy, Amy, John and Agnes).
After Ed Levin, I went to the Mission College campus to photograph
burrowing owls I noticed recently. The owls are located in vacant
fields adjacent to and across from the tennis courts. To my horror,
last week Mission started plowing these fields in preparation for some
construction project. While I was there, I spoke to a gentleman from
the Sierra Club that told me Mission wants to build a new gymnasium, and
that the college is also actively excluding owls from the area as a part
of the construction. According to the Sierra Club rep, a burrowing owl
census conducted by professors at San Jose State shows a decline from 40
to 17. The future of the remainder is questionable. I personally know
of eight birds there, but I have not explored the entire area. [there
are also at least 50 jackrabbits in the same field....].
John Trone
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 12 16:43:19 2001
Subject: [SBB] Ed Levin
--------
Hello all;
Along with most of the rest of you, I too was at Ed Levin Saturday AM
doing my weekly survey. I had hoped to sneak a peek for the Owls. I
wasn't prepared for the crew that was already camped in place. Dave
Cook and others graciously pointed out our elusive Long-eared Owl. Nice
bird! We were very glad to have gotten a chance to see it. Found the X
sap-sucker at the back of the parking lot south-east of Sandy Wool Lake
later Saturday afternoon.
The poor weather and rain apparently kept down most of the usual list of
suspects--only got 52 this trip. Since it and the other birds of
special interest have already been discussed, I'll pass on those.
Most notable find: after not finding it for the previous 4 weeks, I
called the BURROWING OWL gone for the season. Wrong! Found it again,
in the usual place amongst the ground squirrel burrows about mid-way
along the west side of the road the hang-glider folks use to get from
the parking lot to the Minnis Ranch House road.
Later all,
Dusty
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 12 17:24:31 2001
Subject: [SBB] Quail in snow (Skyline)
--------
Greetings,
Once again writing from southern San Mateo County very near the border of
Santa Clara County, 2/3 mile west of Skyline Blvd. I thought people might be
interested in hearing about today's "snow birds". Here at 2400 feet we had
6-7 inches of snow by noon. The only birds we saw while it was snowing were
DARK-EYED JUNCO (approx 30), CALIFORNIA QUAIL (14) and RAVENS (6). We also
saw TURKEY prints in the snow. We're continually delighted by the tenacity
of the juncos, and the fact they're out in force on the ground feeding no
matter the weather - even during one of our Winter heavy rain & wind storms.
After the snow stopped we watched two REDTAIL HAWKS (they're here year around
as well).
Yesterday (Sunday) an OSPREY flew over, from the direction of Long Ridge
Open Space Preserve towards Alpine Pond. The last few winters I've had
several sightings of osprey around and near Alpine Pond.
Georgia Stigall
(home list at: http://www.nativehabitats.org/homelist.htm)
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 12 18:06:24 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Quail in snow (Skyline)
--------
We're just over the ridge a bit south of Georgia's location on Skyline.
It seems that the snow does little to stop the small birds from getting
out to feed. We also had many junco, along with a VARIED THRUSH, sooty
Fox Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Oak Titmouse, Chestnut-backed
Chickadee, Steller's Jays and even an Anna's Hummingbird.
We had about 3.5-4 inches of snow before it started to melt.
Les Chibana
On Monday, February 12, 2001 5:24 PM, email@hidden wrote:
>Greetings,
>
>Once again writing from southern San Mateo County very near the border of
>Santa Clara County, 2/3 mile west of Skyline Blvd. I thought people might be
>interested in hearing about today's "snow birds". Here at 2400 feet we had
>6-7 inches of snow by noon. The only birds we saw while it was snowing were
>DARK-EYED JUNCO (approx 30), CALIFORNIA QUAIL (14) and RAVENS (6). We also
>saw TURKEY prints in the snow. We're continually delighted by the tenacity
>of the juncos, and the fact they're out in force on the ground feeding no
>matter the weather - even during one of our Winter heavy rain & wind storms.
>After the snow stopped we watched two REDTAIL HAWKS (they're here year around
>as well).
>
>Yesterday (Sunday) an OSPREY flew over, from the direction of Long Ridge
>Open Space Preserve towards Alpine Pond. The last few winters I've had
>several sightings of osprey around and near Alpine Pond.
>
>Georgia Stigall
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From email@hidden Tue Feb 13 06:17:29 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
Yesterday, 12 Feb 01, I checked a wet area along the west side of Santa
Teresa, north of Bailey Ave. I had about 700 MALLARDS, 50 AMERICAN WIGEON,
and small numbers of GADWALL (12), GREEN-WINGED TEAL (4), and CINNAMON TEAL
(3).
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Tue Feb 13 13:38:51 2001
Subject: [SBB] County birding
--------
All,
This morning Frank Vanslager and I had an adult male Merlin on a power tower
located alongside Stevens Creek just east of the Shoreline overflow parking
area. Later we had an adult Golden Eagle a couple power towers north.
Didn't see either bird leave. A couple Semipalmated Plovers and a single
Greater Yellowlegs were in the mitigation pond mud flats. Frank subsequently
located good numbers of Northern Pintail on the eastern edge of Crittenden
Marsh (these being hard to find lately).
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 1:45 PM, 2/13/01
--------
Attachment
737 bytes
--------
From email@hidden Tue Feb 13 16:19:15 2001
Subject: [SBB] Stinson Beach Plover Still Being Seen
--------
Please forgive this out of the area posting, but for those with an interest
the possible Greater Sand Plover was seen today at 9AM in the previously
described location in Stinson Beach. An adult male Cape May Warbler is also
in the area and was seen feeding in bottlebrush trees about 1/4 mile from
the plover.
Also, the first winter male King Eider continues at Chimney Rock in Point
Reyes along with several Harlequin Ducks and at least two Red-necked Grebes.
I missed the Long-tailed Ducks.
Michael Wienholt
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From email@hidden Wed Feb 14 07:30:15 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
While taking a walk outside work today I noticed some whitewash and Rock
Dove feathers scattered about underneath a pine tree. I stopped and peered
up into the branches, trying to find the source of this litter. After a few
seconds, an immature COOPER'S HAWK burst from the foliage, carrying its
prize, and sped off across the parking lot.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Wed Feb 14 15:03:26 2001
Subject: [SBB] IMBD
--------
Hello Birders. If any of you perchance give talks
about migratory birds, or know anyone local that could
give a one hour talk about migratory birds and
diminishing habitat, etc etc, please e-mail me at
email@hidden
I'm attempting to set up a lecture at the EEC for
International Migratory Bird Day on May 12. A small
stipend would be available. Thanks for your help!
Sharon Lee
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From email@hidden Wed Feb 14 15:12:30 2001
Subject: [SBB] BUOW at EEC
--------
Hi birders,
I spent a couple of hours enjoying a relaxing lunch break in the beautiful
outdoors away from work. I went to the Environmental Education Center in
Alviso. While there, I heard Virginia Rail and SORA in the Artesian Slough
(not unusual). I saw at least three Ruby-crowned Kinglets, only one Fox
Sparrow, large numbers of White Crowned and Golden Crowned Sparrows in the
fields surrounding the center. In the pond were Eared Grebes and
Aechmophorus (probably Western)Grebes. On the road into the Education
Center a Loggerhead Shrike and a Burrowing Owl were spotted. The owl was
near the three closely spaced power poles just before the railroad tracks.
Happy birding!
Karl
We change best when we learn from the past and plan for the future,
while enjoying the present. _SJ
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From email@hidden Wed Feb 14 19:36:28 2001
Subject: [SBB] Vasona Lake.
--------
I needed to finish a design proposal today, so I grabbed the powerbook and
headed off to Vasona for some time away from interruptions (working from
home does not mean you have to be in the house). I took the glasses and
scope with me, of course.
Highlight of the morning were two yellow-billed loons, which cooperated
fully, including a couple of flights so I could see them in the air as well
as water. One hawk (red tailed, I think), canada geese and the usual
suspects were around as well (and I added a new life lister, the coot...)
Two species I'm not absolutely positive of
There were a couple of diving ducks I never Ided, but were definitely ducks.
I also had a couple of other divers that looked to be grebes (pied-bill?),
but I could be wrong. They had the beak band, though, and the feathering
matched my guide.
The other was a duck of some sort, a pair, that seemed to be a musocvy
variant, possibly a hybrid. They had a heavy red mask over the facial area,
but had a black feathering, and the male actually had feathers in the wings
sticking up (think frill canary), which is why I'm wondering if it's a
hybrid. The birds looked -- funny. It was definitely a pair, because they
were, oh, proving it...
Pretty quiet on the lake, but I went for the loons and the quiet, and since
I was working, I wasn't moving around, but looking at what came by during
breaks. (yes, my boss knows. I do my best system design out on a picnic
table)
Highlight of the day was a pair of domestic geese that were convinced I had
food and didn't want to believe me when I said I didn't. They took off when
a ranger wandered by before anything happened, but they were clearly moving
in...
--
Chuq Von Rospach, Internet Gnome
[ = = ]
Yes, yes, I've finally finished my home page. Lucky you.
Yes, I am an agent of Satan, but my duties
are largely ceremonial.
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From email@hidden Wed Feb 14 23:52:26 2001
Subject: [SBB] More on vasona
--------
Folks --
Doug wrote me privately about my loons, noting that they're very rare in
this area. I've gone back over my notes, and checked against a second guide,
and to be honest -- the loons I saw today still seem to be yellow-bills, not
commons (they were clearly too large to be pacific loons, these birds were
big).
Now, this wouldn't be the first time mr. "knows just enough to be dangerous"
botched an ID, so I'm bringing the question up to the list, in hopes someone
who knows vasona better than I do can clarify. The two guides I checked show
the common's winter beak as pale, and the birds I saw today had clearly
yellow to dark-yellow beaks. I still think after further research they look
lik yellow-bills to me, but I'll happily defer to my betters here. Am I
misidentifying a common loon here?
--
Chuq Von Rospach, Internet Gnome
[ = = ]
Yes, yes, I've finally finished my home page. Lucky you.
I tried to get a life once, but they were out of stock.
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From email@hidden Thu Feb 15 00:13:43 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] More on vasona
--------
On 2/14/01 11:52 PM, "Chuq Von Rospach" wrote:
> Now, this wouldn't be the first time mr. "knows just enough to be dangerous"
> botched an ID, so I'm bringing the question up to the list
I went and got a third guide, and answered my own question. Thanks to the
Audobon orange book, it's clear now these are common's. The birds I saw were
similar to P77 plate 2, not P76 plate one, blackish, not brown, and without
the color dots on the side of the head. With yellowish beaks. I missed the
dots earlier.
I need a job where I work less and bird more, obviously...
(thanks to Doug Aguillard for walking me through this....)
--
Chuq Von Rospach, Internet Gnome
[ = = ]
Yes, yes, I've finally finished my home page. Lucky you.
Q: Did God really create the world in seven days?
A: He did it in six days and nights while living on cola and candy
bars. On the seventh day he went home and found out his girlfriend
had left him.
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From email@hidden Thu Feb 15 13:50:01 2001
Subject: [SBB] Los Gatos Creek Park - 2/15/01
--------
My usual lunch spot at Los Gatos Creek Park was more interesting today than most days. A Peregrine Falcon stopped in and picked up a small duck. I didn't see the falcon hit the duck, but saw the commotion it caused with the gulls on the island in the main lagoon. A number of gulls pursued the Peregrine. I suspect the unfortunate prey was a coot. The falcon carried it off and landed in one of the pine trees across highway 17 to eat.
Secondly, one of the coots in the usual flock had gotten caught it fishing line and appeared to have some sort of hook in its mouth. It was flailing about quite a bit. I talked to the ranger working at the park and alerted him to the situation, but he said there was little he could do unless the bird came on shore, in which case he'd try to catch it and free it from the
fishing line.
Does anyone know what resources are available to the rangers at these county parks for rescuing a bird in this type of situation? Is there any other organization that should be contacted that would be able to help out? If anyone has any information, I'd appreciate a private e-mail. Thanks in advance.
Andy Pedler - I-Cube Inc.
Design Engineer
Phone: (408) 341-1888 x192 Fax: (408) 341-1899
http://www.icube.com
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From email@hidden Thu Feb 15 14:55:59 2001
Subject: [SBB] COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD
--------
All,
Just a quick note to let you know that I heard a displaying COSTA'S
HUMMINGBIRD at abot 12:30 this afternoon (Thursday) on Los Alamitos Creek
Trail near Camden Avenue. Take Almaden Expressway south from Rte 85 for
about 2 miles and go left (east) on Camden Avenue for about 3/4 miles.
Parking for the trail is on the left. Cross the wooden bridge, and look
for the hummingbird between the trail and the newly constructed play area
after the bend north on the trail. I did not see the bird (I was walking
without binoculars) but heard it quite well. I returned at 2 pm to try to
find it with binoculars but could not locate it nor did I hear it.
However, it could still be around or it may have moved northward. There
are at least four ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDs in the area but I did not hear any
Allen's Hummingbirds. Other birds seen along the trail included a MERLIN
where Winfield crosses the trail and an OSPREY and GLAUCOUS GULL at Almaden
Lake. The Glaucous Gull was on the rock/gravel bar at the southern end of
the lake. Other birds along the trail included the regulars:
WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, OAK TITMOUSE, RED-SHOULDERED and RED-TAILED HAWK,
LINCOLN'S SPARROW in the reeds south of the lake, COMMON MERGANSER, etc.
Good birding to you......
Jim Danzenbaker
San Jose, CA
408-264-7582 (408-ANI-SKUA)
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Fri Feb 16 07:29:49 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
I took a lunch time walk along San Tomas Aquino Creek in Santa Clara,
finding 2 female COMMON MERGANSERS at Scott Blvd and a rufous morph
RED-TAILED HAWK soaring over Mission College Blvd.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Fri Feb 16 07:53:30 2001
Subject: [SBB] Ferruginous Hawk
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Hi all,
Joanna Cezniak and I observed a light-phase adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK circling
above fields east of the intersection of Cochrane Rd. and Highway 101 (near
San Martin) yesterday (2/14/01) at around 10:30 am.
good birding,
Tom Ryan
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From email@hidden Fri Feb 16 10:25:53 2001
Subject: [SBB] Fwd: The Great Backyard Bird Count
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forwarding this from Allison Wells of the Cornell Laboratory of Ornith.
Les
--
Les Chibana
List Bureaucrat
South-Bay-Birds List
email@hidden
--------------------------------------
Greetings CA birders-
A reminder that the Great Backyard Bird Count is going on right now,
through February 19. We need your observations! Given the number of
species, the size of your state, and the number of very active birders
living there, CA is very important to this count. Please let us know what
birds you saw in your yard this morning, from your car ride on your way to
work, at the office or other location by entering your sightings at
Check the site often for the latest results!
Allison Wells
Communications and Outreach Director
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 254-2475
http://birds.cornell.edu
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Fri Feb 16 17:11:24 2001
Subject: [SBB] partial albino American Coot
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All,
Yesterday (Thursday 2/15) there was a very unusual AMERICAN COOT on Salt
Evaporator Pond A-4. This bird's wings, back, head, and back of the neck
are plain white, while the rest of the body (flanks, breast, tail)
apparently is the usual black. The bill is the usual white. What struck me
was that only the upperparts seemed to be exhibiting the white, as if
someone had dumped flour over the top of the bird! Robin Dakin and I got
some good looks at the bird through the scope, except we didn't see it fly,
and it never swam closer than about 75 meters away.
If the bird is still on A-4, it can be seen from the Bay Trail that runs
along the south edge with a good scope. Unfortunately, the levees that
surround the rest of the pond are property of Santa Clara Valley Water
District and closed to the public. (Sorry!) We also had 2 RED-BREASTED
MERGANSERS near the southwest edge of the pond.
Happy birding,
Scott Werner
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From email@hidden Fri Feb 16 19:11:09 2001
Subject: [SBB] Who needs bird seed?
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Hi Birders-
For the past month or two I have had a small swarm of
very tiny bugs swirling around over my back lawn. They
occasionally attract a Black Phoebe, but last month
there were as many as 12 Yellow-rumped Warblers on the
grass, eating what I assume were some of the dead
bugs. For the past few days, I have seen a female
Anna's Hummingbird hovering 4-6 inches off the grass
and occasionally picking at what must be other dead
bugs. I don't know what kind of bugs these are, or
what I did to attract them, but they have made for
some interesting observations.
Jack Cole
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From email@hidden Sat Feb 17 13:43:53 2001
Subject: [SBB] Greater Sandplover at Bolinas Lagoon
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This is just an update to those still interested in seeing the Greater Sandplover. It was present at the previously reported location on the west shoreline of Bolinas Lagoon. Also, the Cape May Warbler and Palm Warbler were still present at there previously reported locations in the Seadrift community. On the east side of Bolinas Lagoon was the male Tufted Duck and at least one Eurasian Wigeon. The weather was overcast with very light drizzle on and off and very windy.
Good Luck,
Randy Little
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From email@hidden Sat Feb 17 14:44:03 2001
Subject: [SBB] Violet-green Swallow
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All,
Today I took my Beginning Birdwatching class on a walk at Joseph D.
Grant County Park. Many of the expected species were seen, but nice
surprises were a PRAIRIE FALCON onlong the ridge above the Ranch House,
and a VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW over the pond, as well as approximately 20
COMMON MERGANSERS on the far side of the island. Everyone got great
views of a cooperative RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER as well.
That's all,
Matthew Dodder
http://www.birdguy.net/
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From email@hidden Sat Feb 17 22:49:06 2001
Subject: [SBB] EEC Birds
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Hi, All,
Sharon and I broke out the Swarovsky spotting scope and checked out the
salt pond at the end of the new board walk at the Environmental Education
Center. We saw a few Eared Grebes, a Western Grebe, one Black-crowned
Night Heron, and a sharply defined Bufflehead.
I was at the Fashion Plaza, Almaden Expressway and Blossom Hill this week
and saw something I haven't seen in thirty-three years of birding, two
Red-winged Blackbirds scavenging bread crumbs in the parking lot. I
always thought Brewer's Blackbirds had the sole scavenging rights in
parking lots.
Cheers, Lee Lovelady.
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From email@hidden Sun Feb 18 08:17:35 2001
Subject: [SBB] PINE SISKINS
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It is amazing...I'm counting over 120 !!! Pine Siskins in my backyard at this moment...Gloria LeBlanc
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From email@hidden Sun Feb 18 11:26:08 2001
Subject: [SBB] Feathers
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Hi Birders-
Right up there with identifying a bird flying away
from you, or directly overhead high in a thick tree,
is identifying a bird from its remains. I'm sure many
of you pondered over the puzzling pile of feathers
under the pine at the north end of the Elm Grove
picnic area in Ed Levin Park during the Great Owl Hunt
a week ago.
I know I did, and I have come to a conclusion, more or
less.
The small vermiculated feather with the gold overtones
suggests a Gadwall. The rather plain, brown flight
feather could be any duck, and the strange tuft of
black and white feathers could also be Gadwall, so
that is my best guess. What is a Gadwall doing so far
from the lake? Of the three owls in the area, the
Great-horned includes duck in its diet, so I suspect
that one nabbed the Gadwall near the lake and carried
it to the first group of trees in the picnic area, its
favorite roosting/dining spot. The lack of a head in
the remains would indicate that it could be found in a
pellet somewhere in the area. I would be interested in
any other interpretations.
Speaking of feathers, if it is true that the Common
Raven has nine pinion feathers, and the American Crow
has eight, then seperating the two birds is really
only a matter of a pinion.
Jack Cole
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 19 10:54:08 2001
Subject: [SBB] SCVAS Field Trip to Princeton (San Mateo Co.)
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[I'm cross-posting this because it is a report of a Santa Clara Valley Audubon
field trip to San mateo County sites.]
On Sunday, Feb. 18, with heavy clouds still over much of the Peninsula and
South Bay, only six birders turned out for a field trip to coastal San Mateo
County. But the forecast was correct: it was dry for our entire 4 hours of
birding, and the sun even came out for some of it. We spent much of the time
at and near the north end of Pillar Point Harbor; three of the group had to
leave before a brief stop at the south end of the harbor and a visit to
Frenchman's Creek near Half Moon Bay.
Our best bird was in fact at the south end of the harbor (just north of
the boat luanch). An Oldsquaw (sorry, a female Long-Tailed Duck) had been
found there (by Al Jaramillo) close to the road about two weeks earlier; it
continued for several days, but had not been seen since. While scoping the
most distant channel with his Questar, Frank Vanslager came upon what was
presumably the same bird. Our views weren't very satisfying, but they were
enough to tell what it was. Much more cooperative was a Brant in fresh-looking
plumage, right by the shore here. We saw nothing else unusual in the harbor,
but had good looks at at least a half dozen Common Loons (one well en-route to
breeding plumage), one Red-Throated Loon, five Cinnamon Teal (at the marsh),
a Red-Shouldered Hawk (interacting with a Red-Tailed), a Black Oystercatcher,
and a nice assortment of other waterbirds and shorebirds.
At Frenchman's Creek (east of Highway 1), we didn't find any unusual
warblers, but did find an adult Sharp-Shinned Hawk, a flock of Band-Talied
Pigeons (not typical of this location), several Pygmy Nuthatches, at least
four Townsend's Warblers, and sixty or more Pine Siskins (which seemed
ubiquitous). All in all, we had a most enjoyable morning, and I thank all
who came out and helped to make the trip a success.
Al Eisner
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 19 11:35:06 2001
Subject: [SBB] Western Grebe or Clark's?
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Dear Birders,
Sunday afternoon, about 1:30, my husband and I noticed a large grebe
on the lake at Shoreline. Because of its size and black stripe down
the neck, I immediately concluded it must have been a Western Grebe.
What was most curious about it, however, was that it was completely
white on one side of its body and gray on the other. Checking my
Sibley when I got home, I thought perhaps the "whiteness" might have
made it a Clark's. This is the first time I have ever seen this type
of Grebe, so I would appreciate any clarification from anyone more
familiar with the area and its Grebes.
Thank you!
Debbie
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 19 12:25:52 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Western Grebe or Clark's?
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Debbie,
Separating Clark's (CLGU) from Western Grebe WEGR) usually involves
assessing bill color (orange in CLGR, yellowish-green in WEGR) and
the feathering around the eyes (white in CLGR, black in WEGR). Some
feel that the flank color is useful (whiter in CLGR); I have yet to
find this to be very reliable. In winter plumage, the feather color
around the eyes is less distinct, making this fieldmark less clear.
I have seen grebes of both species frequently roll to one side to
preen, exposing their very white undersides. Could this have been why
you saw white on one side? The gray is the typical appearance of the
flanks; I think this may be a result of black feather tips and white
bases of loose flank feathers, producing a gray visual mix of tones.
Les Chibana
On Monday, February 19, 2001 11:35 AM, email@hidden wrote:
>Dear Birders,
>Sunday afternoon, about 1:30, my husband and I noticed a large grebe
>on the lake at Shoreline. Because of its size and black stripe down
>the neck, I immediately concluded it must have been a Western Grebe.
>What was most curious about it, however, was that it was completely
>white on one side of its body and gray on the other. Checking my
>Sibley when I got home, I thought perhaps the "whiteness" might have
>made it a Clark's. This is the first time I have ever seen this type
>of Grebe, so I would appreciate any clarification from anyone more
>familiar with the area and its Grebes.
>
>Thank you!
>Debbie
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From email@hidden Mon Feb 19 15:53:26 2001
Subject: [SBB] Really Glaucous
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This afternoon I visited Almaden Lake and, for the first time in three
or four tries this year, found the Glaucous Gull. (I had last been there on
Saturday morning, when I also unsuccessfully looked for the Costa's Humming-
bird.) This bird looks much more unambiguous than the individual at the Palo
Duck Pond. The primaries are pure white from above and below, and the tail
at least mostly so; and the barring on the belly and undertail coverts is not
nearly as dark. The bill pattern is quite neat. The size was comparable to
many of the Herring Gulls, and the bill didn't look any more massive. (But
I guess that many of local Glaucous Gulls are of the smaller race.) The
pale eye indicates a second-winter bird (I believe one of John Mariani's
messages also stated that as the age); and, in fact, although the bird was
preening and rarely kept its bill still, I could sometimes make out a tiny
pale area at the very tip. The wing coverts and tertials were very qhite,
with only sparse and/or fine markings -- I don't have my references with me,
but I vaguely recall that too being more typical of second-year than first-year
birds. However, I didn't note any extensively solid gray on the back.
Also here was a good candidate for a first-year "Nelson