Parent
From email@hidden Sun Jul 01 06:12:11 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
On Sunday, 1 Jul 01, I found a female OSPREY at the Parkway Lakes chain. She
was foraging most of the late morning and early afternoon across the entire
chain of lakes. I searched extensively around this area and could find no
evidence of nesting by these birds. Also, another OSPREY was at Ogier Ponds.
This one looked like a male (only a very few marks across the lower throat).
Other birds in the Parkway Lakes area included a CASPIAN TERN, GREEN HERON,
and female WOOD DUCK. I found a number of WILD TURKEY feathers around the
lake, and the operators of the fishing concession said that there are quite
a few of these birds around there.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 02 16:28:03 2001
Subject: [SBB] Sunday Santa Clara birding adventure
--------
Three of us (Bob Hole (email@hidden), Ginger Langdon-Lassagne and
Barry Langdon-Lassagne (email@hidden) spent Sunday 7/1 on a modified
Big Day around Santa Clara County. Ginger joined us from 11:00am to
3:30pm.
Our goal was to get 100 birds in one day in Santa Clara County; we came
close at 90. None of us had ever attempted a Big Day before, so this was
an experiment to see what we could accomplish and how much we would
enjoy it compared with less strenuous birding. We also thought it would
be interesting to attempt a "Big Day" during the quiet time of year.
All of us are admittedly bad at sparrows, so we probably could have
gotten two more species if we had been able to identify every sparrow we
saw. Neither are we great at gull identification; otherwise we probably
could have gotten a California Gull. And if I could flash-identify
hummingbirds as they flew past I might have gotten an Allen's.
Unofficial rules for our Big Day:
- Bird for approximately 12 hours
- If the birds are interesting we can stay as long as we like (not
just "check and run")
- Heard birds count
- Only one person needs to see or hear a bird, and we don't have to be
together at the time (but there are only two species that at least two
of us did not see)
- Have fun!
List Key: (the Lists include only first sightings. The narrative
includes significant sightings and some further information.)
v = vocalized - usually heard first and seen later
h = heard only
! = new for the Langdon-Lassagnes for Santa Clara county this year (!
after the bird just means we love that bird) (Bob lives in Contra Costa
and doesn't keep a SC list though he's regularly in the area, so many
more of them were new for him for the county - those are not noted here)
BIRD NAMES are capitalized, since the focus of the "event" was birds.
We started the day before dawn by listening out the open windows while
we were getting ready, then moved out "into the bush".
List for at home (5:00am):
v AMERICAN ROBIN
v NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD
v MOURNING DOVE
v HOUSE FINCH
v LESSER GOLDFINCH
Driving to Stevens Creek canyon (5:30am):
ROCK DOVE
AMERICAN CROW
WESTERN SCRUB-JAY
In the area around Stevens Creek Reservoir parking lot near the quarry,
saw a covey of about 30 CALIFORINIA QUAIL (with about five adults), a
CASPIAN TERN foraging over the lake, several BEWICK'S WRENs and WRENTITs
calling from both sides of the road, and occasionally popping into view.
Stevens Creek Reservoir (5:45am):
CALIFORNIA TOWHEE
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
MALLARD
v WRENTIT
CALIFORNIA QUAIL
BUSHTIT
(Deer on hillside by quarry)
(Brush Rabbit in the parking lot)
BEWICK'S WREN (possibly attending a nest)
BREWER'S BLACKBIRD
CASPIAN TERN
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER
Driving to Stevens Canyon Road (6:00am):
ACORN WOODPECKER (on a telephone pole)
STELLAR'S JAY
Heading up the hill, we found an AMERICAN DIPPER foraging in the upper
creek near a known nest site. "She" gave us great looks and seemed to
ignore us for several minutes.
Up Stevens Canyon Road (6:10am):
AMERICAN DIPPER!
Back down to intersection of Mt. Eden and Steven's Canyon Road (6:30am?):
WESTERN TANAGER! (found by song in treetop over road)
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE
(Tree Squirrel)
Parking at bridge at south end of Stevens Creek Reservoir (6:45am?):
KILLDEER
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW
Unidentified ACCIPITER (startled the Killdeer, and us!)
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (in serious molt, the tail was mostly missing)
(a sparrow flying down to the creek and back in to the branches by
the creekside)
We then walked the "backside trail" on the east side of the creek and
among other things found a very cooperative WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, SPOTTED
TOWHEE and CALIFORNIA TOWHEE. We also saw five BELTED KINGFISHERs
sitting on wires over the creek just above the fire station. There were
three females and two males. They were joined periodically by NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWs. We also saw and recorded a PURPLE FINCH we were
unsure of, but were later able to positively identify.
Hiking up Stevens Creek Trail, backside of reservoir (7:15am):
SPOTTED TOWHEE
CALIFORNIA THRASHER
(more quail and BEWICK'S WREN at the "garbage spot" off the trail -
there were also some sparrows we didn't identify)
h PURPLE FINCH (recorded song with digital camera; later compared to
song at home)
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (watched for a long time as it hunted)
DOWNY WOODPECKER
BELTED KINGFISHER
(Western Pond Turtle on the shore below the Kingfishers!)
DARK-EYED JUNCO
GREEN HERON
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW
NORTHERN (Red-shafted) FLICKER
HUTTON'S VIREO (by the bridge over a dry creek - there was also a
large, beautiful spider web over the bridge)
h ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD
(Chipmunk)
TURKEY VULTURE (the first "soarer" of the day)
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (in Eucalyptus by the parking area)
At and around Picchetti Ranch/Winery we found BAND-TAILED PIGEONs,
WESTERN TANAGER, BLACK PHOEBE, and huge numbers of our apparent trip
mascot WESTERN SCRUB-JAY. An apparent adult and young ASH-THROATED
FLYCATCHER by the restrooms - and we saw still more later. The Oak at
the first bridge on the Zinfandel trail was alive with CHESTNUT-BACKED
CHICKADEES.
Picchetti Ranch (9:00am?):
(Peafowl and h Chickens)
BLACK PHOEBE
EUROPEAN STARLING
NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER (Oak at the first bridge on Zinfandel trail)
SONG SPARROW
(The pond was only a puddle 3 feet in diameter; two weeks ago it was
about 1/4 full)
BAND-TAILED PIGEON (roosting in the Douglas-fir southwest from the
pond)
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (female feeding male young, also saw more in
the orchard)
We stopped briefly at McClellan Ranch (10:30am)and saw our only
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE at the feeder, and a WESTERN BLUEBIRD, among others.
Stopping for gas at the gas station at Stevens Creek Road and Foothill
Road (hey, who forgot to fill the tank?):
HOUSE SPARROW (bird #50 for the day, our hopeful "halfway mark")
Arriving at Charleston Slough, we were greeted by about 40 AMERICAN
WHITE PELICANs catching a thermal. It was a magnificent sight. We then
found all the "usual suspects" at the slough, spending some extra effort
on a juvenile egret to make sure it was "only" a SNOWY EGRET. There were
several COMMON MOORHEN, NORTHERN PINTAIL, CINNAMON TEAL, a couple
GREEN-WINGED TEAL, and at least two NORTHERN HARRIERs. We also saw a
COMMON RAVEN carrying what looked to be an egg. We did not spend
over-much time looking for the common tern, so did not pick it out of
the crowd of FORSTER'S TERNs. We saw a WESTERN GULL steal an AMERICAN
AVOCET chick from the small island adjacent to the pump house.
Charleston Slough (11:00am, here Ginger joined us):
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN (in addition to the beautiful flock of 40 or
more catching a thermal that greeted us, we saw a large flock of
immatures in the slough left of the trail just past the pump house)
CLIFF SWALLOW
SNOWY EGRET
v MARSH WREN
v SALTMARSH COMMON YELLOWTHROAT (our only warbler for the day)
BARN SWALLOW
NORTHERN SHOVELER
CINNAMON TEAL
NORTHERN PINTAIL
CANADA GOOSE
GREAT EGRET
AMERICAN AVOCET (nesting on the tern island)
GREAT BLUE HERON
FORSTER'S TERN (also nesting)
WESTERN GULL
BLACK-NECKED STILT
! GREEN-WINGED TEAL
COMMON MOORHEN (we saw almost as many moorhen today as Coots!)
AMERICAN COOT
RING-BILLED GULL
HERRING GULL
! WILLET!
! MARBLED GODWITMarbled Godwit
NORTHERN HARRIER
COMMON RAVEN
BLUE-WINGED TEAL(female)
RUDDY DUCK(in Shoreline lake)
After a lunch stop we moved to Alviso. Being SFBBO volunteers (there's a
plug for you), we stopped at the office of the San Francisco Bay Bird
Observatory for BARN OWL and then heading to their banding station and
the waterbird pond to see the several hundred WILSON'S PHALAROPES.
Driving to SFBBO headquarters:
BURROWING OWL (took off from perch at Sunnyvale Baylands)
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD (Alviso/Lafayette St.exit, at the pond before
the railroad tracks)
At SFBBO offices:
! BARN OWL!
At Coyote Creek:
WHITE-TAILED KITE!
WESTERN MEADOWLARK
! WILSON'S PHALAROPE!
"peeps" - WESTERN (probably) or LEAST SANDPIPERs
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD (single male)
SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER (in bright plumage)
We then went to the EEC to see a single BLACK SKIMMER on the first
island, and were told by a fellow birder they were absent from the third
island where they have been regularly seen of late. We also picked up
SAVANNAH SPARROW there.
Our final stop for the day was at Sunnyvale Recycling plant entrance to
the Bay Trail, where we found our first PIED-BILLED GREBE of the day,
and saw a mother COMMON MOORHEN with six young, and a great number of
AMERICAN COOT young. It was a great opportunity to see and compare the
two.
Our day ended back in Sunnyvale, where we found species #90, a small
number of CEDAR WAXWING still hanging out on our block , near the corner
of Myrtle and Tamarack. Has anyone noted whether they are breeding here?
The Santa Clara County bird checklist says they're absent in July.
We had a thought, and would be interested in knowing of any other county
in the state (or anywhere else) where you can see both American Dipper
and Black Skimmer in the same day, with neither being accidental.
In all, it was a great day for us all.
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From email@hidden Tue Jul 03 13:57:31 2001
Subject: [SBB] Indigo Bunting
--------
All:
Lisa Pavey and I saw an adult male Indigo Bunting this morning at
Arastradero Preserve in Palo Alto. It was perched in the grass above the
Corte Madera trail, about 1/2 mile from the road. It was near the high
point of the trail before it drops down to the lake. More precisely, it
was just before a Corte Madera trail sign which is at the junction of the
trail and an unnamed track coming in from the right. The bird flew off
over the hill after a minute, but before doing so was interacting with what
we thought was a female or young bunting.
Yours, John Meyer
PS On another matter, Maria and I had a male Rufous Hummingbird at our
feeder yesterday. The first one in perhaps five years of feeding (years
ago we had one bird we took to be an Allen's). And the first one we've
ever seen on the west side of the valley.
* * * * * * * *
John Meyer, Dept of Soc, Stanford U, Stanford, CA 94305, 650-7231868
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From email@hidden Wed Jul 04 06:06:21 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
On Sunday afternoon, 1 Jul 01, I checked out the Los Gatos Perc Ponds,
finding a GREEN HERON near the footbridge that crosses the creek. The heavy
willow growth here looks like fine breeding habitat for this heron.
Overhead, a single VAUX'S SWIFT was probably from a local breeding
population.
On the fourth of July I checked out the Palo Alto area. Adobe Creek had a
male BLUE-WINGED TEAL and a male GREEN-WINGED TEAL. A lot of shorebirds are
back - including many WILLETS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, MARBLED GODWITS,
LONG-BILLED CURLEWS, etc. The Palo Alto estuary had 12 WHIMBRELS. The duck
pond had a pair of LESSER SCAUP. At Matadero riparian I had a GREEN HERON
and a scraggly-looking male YELLOW WARBLER.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Wed Jul 04 15:56:27 2001
Subject: [SBB] Oversummering Shorebirds
--------
I've been watching Shoreline and Palo Alto, and suspect that we have a
small population of Whimbrels, Godwits, Willets, and Long-billed Curlews
that never left. Either that or the returnees returned before their
friends left.
--
Richard C. Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker, Skier, Hiker
Palo Alto, California Part-time Economist
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Thu Jul 05 03:51:26 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Oversummering Shorebirds
--------
----- Original Message -----
From: "Richard Carlson"
> I've been watching Shoreline and Palo Alto, and suspect that we have a
> small population of Whimbrels, Godwits, Willets, and Long-billed Curlews
> that never left. Either that or the returnees returned before their
> friends left.
Fall shorebird migration generally begins around the end of June, with the
first migrants typically being those that breed the closest to our area -
Wilson's Phalaropes, Willets, etc. The timing of this migration is fairly
consistent from year to year, without regard to the presence of oversumming
individuals, and can be seen quantitatively by a surge in numbers and/or
species.
By the way, I forgot to mention that yesterday I had about a dozen GREATER
YELLOWLEGS in the Palo Alto flood control basin.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Thu Jul 05 10:23:39 2001
Subject: [SBB] -
--------
Folks:
This morning, 7/5/2001, an adult GREEN HERON was in the weeping willows
on the north shore of Shoreline Lake, and at least three juveniles were nearby
in the willows, either nearly fledged, or just fledged. The herons nested in
this willow this year, the first breeding record for Block 8040. Three adult
LEAST SANDPIPERS at Charleston Slough are in the vanguard of fall migrants (or
wintering birds). A single VAUX'S SWIFT was with the Cliff Swallows at the
Renzel Wetlands in Palo Alto, which seems early for a dispersing bird.
Bill
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From email@hidden Thu Jul 05 21:45:21 2001
Subject: [SBB] Nesting Nutmeg Mannikins
--------
Hi All,
This morning I was birding the Almaden Lake / Los Alamitos creek trail with a
visiting friend and spotted a pair of Nutmeg Mannikins caring long pieces of
green grass into a small Oak tree along the trail. After watching the birds
activity we were able to spot the nest location, which appeared to be a round
woven complety covered dome construction. It did not seem to be finished
since the birds were still adding to the insides. It would appear that eggs
and chicks will soon follow.
For those of you who keep records on breeding birds this may be of interest,
though I understand this has occurred in prior years and of course the birds
are an introduced species.
Anyway, for all who might wish to see these birds, the location is on the Los
Alamitos creek trail, about 100 yards south after the trail goes under the
Mazzone Street bridge over crossing. The small Oak tree is by a blue plastic
PVC pipe sticking out of the ground on the left side of the trail and a large
white sign on a pole on the right. Directly across the fence and on the far
side of the street is a blue house with a gray tile roof. The street address
is 6024 Crossview CT.
Enjoy and Happy Birding,
Jerry Towner
--------
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1.3 KBytes
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From email@hidden Fri Jul 06 08:18:35 2001
Subject: [SBB] Nutmeg Mannikin Nesting
--------
Folks:
On 7/6/2001, Jerry Towner reported Nutmeg Mannikins building a nest along
Alamitos Creek Trail. He said:
>For those of you who keep records on breeding birds this may be of interest,
>though I understand this has occurred in prior years and of course the birds
>are an introduced species.
I have records of nest building from previous years (which are always of
interest), but no evidence of successful nesting, such as adults carrying food
to the nest, young birds being fed, or dependent fledglings. I'm interested
in whether this nest is successful as well.
Bill
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From email@hidden Fri Jul 06 11:39:53 2001
Subject: [SBB] Nesting Nutmeg Mannikins
--------
At 12:45 AM 7/6/01 EDT, email@hidden wrote:
>>>>
arialHi All,
This morning I was birding the Almaden Lake / Los Alamitos creek trail
with a
visiting friend and spotted a pair of Nutmeg Mannikins caring long pieces
of
green grass into a small Oak tree along the trail. After watching the
birds
activity we were able to spot the nest location, which appeared to be a
round
woven complety covered dome construction. It did not seem to be finished
since the birds were still adding to the insides. It would appear that
eggs
and chicks will soon follow.
For those of you who keep records on breeding birds this may be of
interest,
though I understand this has occurred in prior years and of course the
birds
are an introduced species.
Anyway, for all who might wish to see these birds, the location is on the
Los
Alamitos creek trail, about 100 yards south after the trail goes under
the
Mazzone Street bridge over crossing. The small Oak tree is by a blue
plastic
PVC pipe sticking out of the ground on the left side of the trail and a
large
white sign on a pole on the right. Directly across the fence and on the
far
side of the street is a blue house with a gray tile roof. The street
address
is 6024 Crossview CT.
Enjoy and Happy Birding,
Jerry Towner
arial<<<<<<<<
I went and saw the nest this morning and was shown another mannikin nest,
at approximately the same stage of completion. The second nest is about
halfway (~100 yds.) between the gate at the north (Almaden Lake Park) end
of the trail and a set of exercise bars. It is in the smaller of two
adjacent double-trunked sycamores on the west side of the trail, at the
left rear (as you face west) underside of the canopy. It is a fairly
clear view, although shaded. A bad omen for this nest is that a jay was
checking it out, much to the consternation of the mannikins. For those
who have never seen a mannikin nest, they are big!
--Peter
------------------------------------------------------
Peter LaTourrette
North American Bird Photo Gallery: http://www.birdphotography.com/
Jasper Ridge, Hawai'i, New Zealand: http://www.stanford.edu/~petelat1/
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From email@hidden Sat Jul 07 09:44:10 2001
Subject: [SBB] Orange Bishop
--------
Has anyone seen the Orange in the past few days? I have gone to see him at
various time without luck.
Carol
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From email@hidden Sun Jul 08 18:00:36 2001
Subject: [SBB] pelicans
--------
This morning in the Emily Renzel Wetlands, there were 10 American White
Pelicans feeding and a single juvenile Brown Pelican roosting on the island
closest to Matadero Creek.
Jan Hintermeister
Santa Clara, CA
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From email@hidden Sun Jul 08 20:03:13 2001
Subject: [SBB] Palo Alto & Shoreline
--------
Last night there was a young, all charcoal black, clapper rail with it's
parent, in the channel near the entrance to the Palo Alto dump. There
were also large numbers of Willet, Long-billed Curlew, and Whimbrel.
Small numbers of Western sandpipers and Dowitcher have returned. Mtn.
View Forebay had a young Moorhen
This morning there were about 200 White Pelicans, mostly first year
birds, at Shoreline. Moorhens are nesting in a pile of sticks in the
middle of the channel directly across from the Skimmer/tern island.
--
Richard C. Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker, Skier, Hiker
Palo Alto, California Part-time Economist
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Sun Jul 08 20:22:35 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Nesting Nutmeg Mannikins
--------
Hi,
I went out today (Sunday) to have a look at the nest. It was very easy to
find, given the excellent directions. When I first got there, there was no
activity. But after a few minutes, a bird (or birds) flew out of the nest
and across the creek to collect more nest material. I saw quite a few trips
from 4:25pm to 5:10pm.
If anyone has information on Nutmeg Mannikins beyond what is in the Sibley
and National Geographic guides, I'd love to see it - especially an online
source. I'd also be interested in hearing future observations of this
particular nest.
Thanks to Jerry for posting this.
Don Ganton
email@hidden
*********** REPLY SEPARATOR ***********
On 7/6/01 at 12:45 AM email@hidden wrote:
Hi All,
This morning I was birding the Almaden Lake / Los Alamitos creek trail with
a
visiting friend and spotted a pair of Nutmeg Mannikins caring long pieces
of
green grass into a small Oak tree along the trail. After watching the birds
activity we were able to spot the nest location, which appeared to be a
round
woven complety covered dome construction. It did not seem to be finished
since the birds were still adding to the insides. It would appear that eggs
and chicks will soon follow.
For those of you who keep records on breeding birds this may be of
interest,
though I understand this has occurred in prior years and of course the
birds
are an introduced species.
Anyway, for all who might wish to see these birds, the location is on the
Los
Alamitos creek trail, about 100 yards south after the trail goes under the
Mazzone Street bridge over crossing. The small Oak tree is by a blue
plastic
PVC pipe sticking out of the ground on the left side of the trail and a
large
white sign on a pole on the right. Directly across the fence and on the far
side of the street is a blue house with a gray tile roof. The street
address
is 6024 Crossview CT.
Enjoy and Happy Birding,
Jerry Towner
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From email@hidden Sun Jul 08 20:32:09 2001
--------
This morning, 7/8/01, I saw a pair of newly hatched
COmmon MOorhen at the entrance to Almaden Lake. The
parents were kept busy chasing off GReat EGrets, SNowy
EGrets, Great Blue HErons and GReen HErons. The parent
sure have a brilliant beak this time of year.
The 'nest's in a dead tree near the island at the
entrance to the lake. The island's occupants this
morning at 7:00 AM included; BLack PHoebe (2), KILLdeer
(3), FOrster's TErns (>12), CAspian TErn (1), COMO(2),
Ring-Billed GUll, (1), SNEG, and an unidentified GUll
(?).
The gull, possibly a RBGU or CAGU?, was the most
colorless gull I have ever seen. The legs were grey
with a hing of green, the bill had a black ring near the
tip and had no yellow coloring, just a dull grey bill
(both upper and lower madibles). The Head and neck was
mostly white with grey flecks scatter throughout. The
back was a light grey color and the wings were black.
Other birds of interest to me were a family of Ash-
Throated FLycathers, parents were feeding a fledged
youngsters along creek. HOoded ORioles and Black-Headed
GRosbeaks were also observed. A total of 52 species were
identified at the lake and along Alamitos Creek leading
into the lake.
All in all a most enjoyable Sunday morning.
Cheers,
Karl Fowler
--
American Kestrel - Falcon Sparverius - The tiny but
mighty falcon.
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From email@hidden Sun Jul 08 21:26:12 2001
Subject: [SBB] Hayward Shoreline
--------
Today at the Hayward Shoreline while doing a Tern and Skimmer count for
SFBBO 12 Black Skimmer's were seen. This included 2 young birds but the
rest were adults. This included only 1 confirmed nest (another was abandoned)
and several possible nests.
Good Birding
Bob
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 09 03:35:24 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
On Saturday, 7 Jul 01, I went down to Uvas Creek Preserve in Gilroy, hoping
to confirm the chat's breeding effort. I didn't see or hear these birds, but
I did have others of interest. PURPLE FINCHES were singing, just as they
were on previous visits. I saw what might have been a family group, with a
male and 3 female types. I suspect local breeding, which is interesting for
this lowlying riparian corridor. Both CALIFORNIA THRASHER and WRENTIT were
present. It's interesting how these "chaparral" species adopt to riparian
corridors and other densely-vegetated areas, seemingly far from their
typical habitat. A covey of CALIFORNIA QUAIL included a number of half-grown
young birds. VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were feeding young on the wing and
circling around a mature sycamore that may have been a nest site. I couldn't
find any Yellow Warblers, which I had seen on my previous visit, and was
hoping to confirm breeding here in this ideal habitat. Perhaps they get
quiet later in the season, and in the middle of the day. Other birds of
interest were a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, a GREEN HERON, a BAND-TAILED PIGEON,
and a family group of AMERICAN KESTRELS.
On Sunday, 8 Jul 01, I visited the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh at Shoreline,
hoping to scope through some peeps. However, the mudflats had only a
scattering of LONG-BILLED CURLEWS. I did find a VIRGINIA RAIL in the
cordgrass, though. It seems a little early for a migrant, so I wonder if
this bird oversummered or bred here. A stop at the CCFS waterbird pond
produced hundreds each of WILSON'S PHALAROPE and WESTERN SANDPIPERS, but
nothing unusual in with them.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 09 08:32:28 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] pelicans
--------
I also saw the juvenile Brown in the Emily Renzel Wetlands, around 4:30pm
Sunday. It was feeding in the water closest to Matadero Creek, then
eventually flew to roost on that same island.
Barry
-----
> This morning in the Emily Renzel Wetlands, there were 10 American White
> Pelicans feeding and a single juvenile Brown Pelican roosting on the island
> closest to Matadero Creek.
>
> Jan Hintermeister
> Santa Clara, CA
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 09 09:38:51 2001
Subject: [SBB] -
--------
Folks:
This morning, 7/9/2001, I saw only a single imm. GREEN HERON at
Shoreline Lake. In the Mountain View Forebay were two adult LESSER YELLOWLEGS
in with about six GREATERs. An alt. LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was also in the
forebay with the yellowlegs.
Bill
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 09 10:45:00 2001
Subject: [SBB] Bob Lutman Orange Bishop photos
--------
All,
For those like me who unsuccessfully tried to look at Bob
Lutman's Orange Bishop photos after reading his post, I just
got an email from Bob (who is in Turkey now) indicating that
they will be posted later this week...
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 09 13:57:49 2001
Subject: [SBB] Orange Bishops
--------
Folks:
The most recent issue of _Western Birds_, Vol. 32, has a short note on
Orange Bishops: Gatz, T. A. 2001. Orange Bishops breeding in Phoenix,
Arizona, pp. 81-82. Although this is not for our area, the breeding phenology
and habitat use may be similar. He found bishops in both a "grassy tree-lined
partially channelized desert wash" and a "small cattail marsh." He noted
males displaying to females from June to September, nest construction in early
July, and an unoccupied but completed nest on 6 Aug (photo).
Keep your eyes open.
Bill
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From email@hidden Tue Jul 10 00:52:50 2001
Subject: [SBB] Orange Bishop Photos Now Available
--------
Hi All,
To my distress, I still cannot do seven things at once.
Our Turkey trip is ancient history, so I have put up the promised orange
bishop photos (see below for access instructions).
Thanks for your patience, and Great Birding. Thanks to Mike Rogers for
forwarding my oops-I-can't-get-to-it-right-now message.
"Gule Gule" [one of the several Turkish forms of goodbye].
Bob
Here's a repeat of my earlier email ----------------
I read John Meyer's June 4 SBB report of the Orange Bishop along Adobe Creek
in Palo Alto. After confirming the location with John, Sharon and I drove up
from San Jose about June 7, 2001, and Sharon watched the bird conveniently
fly in and perch, between the building with the swallow nests and the creek.
I have been experimenting with taking digital photos through my spotting
scope, and got two shots.
The first shows the bird associating with a female blackbird (I think). The
second is more of a closeup, and shows the molting process well under way.
See the birds at http://www.24birds.net, click on Birding:Trip Reports,
scroll down to Our Bird Photos (In the Wild), then click on Orange Bishop
I don't know how long it will be before I stop thinking, "How fantastic is
the SBB?" Thanks, John.
I presume this is an escapee. Does anybody know? And is the bird molting TO
or FROM breeding colors, being a southern hemisphere bird but in North
America? Of course, I could drive up there periodically and see the trend...
-----------------------------------
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From email@hidden Tue Jul 10 01:03:05 2001
Subject: [SBB] Owling trip to Almaden Quicksilver Co. Park, 7-9-01, SCVAS trip to Rancho del Oso, 7-7-01
--------
Howdy South-bay-birders,
Monday evening (7-9-01) I led an owl walk for a group from my birding class
into the Senator Mines Area of Almaden Quicksilver Park. Frank Vanslager was
also with us looking for Common Poorwills.
It was a beautiful warm evening, with Mars shining bright and crickets
chirping. We waited near the mine ruins until after dark for COMMON
POORWILL, and finally saw one flying around after 9:15 pm. Following it with
our flashlight beams we were able to see the white tips to its outer tail
feathers and red eyeshine. While waiting for poorwills to become active we
saw a few bats and had a trio of Coyotes walk right past us, one of which
appeared to have an injured leg.
We hiked farther up the trail, stopping to look at a Western Toad, and
in hillside oak woodland we quickly called up a pair of WESTERN
SCREECH-OWLS. We had a brief look at one, and later got a longer view of one
on our walk back to the trailhead.
But I thought the most exciting find was made by my friend Troy Navarro,
who spotted some bio-luminescence in the grass and went off trail to pick up
a pink glowworm. It had a flat pinkish body with a bright green glow coming
from the rear end of its abdomen. When the flashlights were turned off its
tail glowed continously like emerald fire (not pulsing on and off like a
firefly). Is this a common insect? I've never seen one before. Also saw a
Black-tailed Deer on the walk back. What a perfectly magical evening!
Saturday (7-7-01) I led a SCVAS field trip to Rancho del Oso (coastal
entrance to Big Basin Redwoods State Park in Santa Cruz Co.). We saw a lot
of birds (50+ species) during our hike from the beach inland to Camp
Herbert, with some nice mixed species flocks and numbers clearly augmented
by many recently fledged young. Highlights included excellent views of
ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS, HAIRY WOODPECKER, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHERS (with long close looks at a juvenile bird), PACIFIC-SLOPE
FLYCATCHER, SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, BROWN CREEPER,
PYGMY NUTHATCHES, WINTER WREN, WILSON'S WARBLER, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK.
At Camp Herbert a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET was heard singing up high in the
canopy. The only shorebirds seen at the mouth of Waddell Creek were a
WHIMBREL and a lone adult WESTERN SANDPIPER.
John Mariani
email@hidden
www.birdswest.com
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From email@hidden Tue Jul 10 16:03:20 2001
Subject: [SBB] Arastradero Preserve
--------
All,
This morning Frank Vanslager and I birded Arastradero Preserve in hopes of
finding a county Indigo Bunting (One was seen last week by John Meyer and
Lisa Pavey). Unfortunately we saw no buntings. Best birding was along the
"new" Acorn Trail between Corte Madera Trail and Meadowlark Trail. We had
lots of House Finches, Mourning Doves, both towhees, Lesser Goldfinches and
Oak Titmice, several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers (seems like a good year for
them), several Ash-throated Flycatchers, Acorn & Nuttal's Woodpeckers,
Band-tailed Pigeons, some Dark-eyed Juncos, White-breasted Nuthatches,
Bushtits, White-tailed Kites, Bewick's Wrens, Turkey Vultures, a "pair" of
Warbling Vireos, two high pitched rapidly calling young Red-tailed Hawks (one
chasing the parent), one adult with a fairly large snake in it's talons, a
couple fly over Great Blue Herons, Violet-green and Cliff Swallows, Black
Phoebe, an adult male Bullock's Oriole, a House Wren, a male Wilson's Warbler
, an accipiter (probably a Sharp-shinned Hawk), and a nicely calling Cassin's
Vireo, with only two American Coots, one young Mallard and one adult male
Ruddy Duck in the pond (any self respecting bird has left the pond to avoid
construction activity involoving the downstream edge of the pond and it's
spillway).
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 3:38 PM, 7/10/01
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From email@hidden Wed Jul 11 11:02:32 2001
Subject: [SBB] Various Sightings
--------
Good morning all;
On Saturday we did our usual weekly Bluebird trail monitoring and canvass of
Ed R. Levin county park. Our species count was a disappointing 45. The
summer doldrums seem to be firmly here.
The most notable find? A Great Horned Owl and 3 fledglings east of the Elm
picnic area! The fuzzy young were quite a contrast to the well patterned
adult. We usually manage to scare up 2 or 3 Barn Owls, but they were
conspicuously absent this past weekend (may be due to the proximity of the
GHOW's). In addition, it's been more than a month since we've seen any of
the LEOW's (Long-eared Owl). Anybody know any different?
On Sunday, as we were leaving the area for some birding further away, we
happened to spot what looked like a Bald Eagle over Oka Ponds as we were
getting on 17 S. The white head against the dark body was VERY distinctive,
even at the distance we were viewing. But the tail color wasn't. It seemed
too dark. I was hoping that perhaps someone else had seen that bird and
could confirm or dispel my quick "snap-sighting" as we were leaving.
Anybody?
Best regards,
Dusty Bleher
Campbell
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From email@hidden Wed Jul 11 11:23:19 2001
Subject: [SBB] Shoreline & Baylands
--------
This morning Shoreline park had a Shrike, the first I've seen there for
months. There have been no Burrowing Owls lately. Are they all napping
early? I was there by 7:45
The Flood Basin had a nice Blue Wing Teal male in the main pond.
Migration clearly under way as Dowitcher, Western and Least Sandpiper
numbers build.
Richard C. Carlson
Full Time Birder, Biker, Skier, Hiker
Part-time Economist
Palo Alto & Lake Tahoe, CA
email@hidden
650-949-9590
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From email@hidden Thu Jul 12 11:29:14 2001
Subject: [SBB] Golden-crowned Kinglet nesting confirmed
--------
Hi SBB,
Back on May 23 I posted about singing Golden-crowned Kinglets in the southern
Santa Cruz Mountains of SCL at private forest lands along Bodfish Creek and
at Mount Madonna County Park. I was back at the Bodfish Creek property this
morning (7/12) and was able to confirm nesting there. I saw one family group
of both adults feeding 9 or 10 (!) begging juveniles. Elsewhere I heard one
singing adult and heard calls from three other birds. All were in second
growth redwood forest.
This is now the southernmost known breeding station in the Santa Cruz
Mountains, but barely. Other sites (some also newly colonized) are almost as
far south at U.C. Santa Cruz, and in the watersheds of Aptos Creek and Browns
Creek, Santa Cruz County. But taking the Santa Cruz Mountains as a whole, the
Bodfish birds are at the southeast edge of the species' present regional
distribution.
David Suddjian, Capitola
Santa Cruz Bird Club
Bird Records Keeper
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Thu Jul 12 14:22:14 2001
Subject: [SBB] another Cooper's Hawk nest
--------
All,
I spent an hour over lunch today 7/12/01 looking for the "small
number" of Cedar Waxwings reported by Barry Langdon-Lassagne in
eastern Sunnyvale on the 1st of July. I had no luck refinding any
waxwings, but did locate 2 juvenile COOPER'S HAWKS near a used nest
(lots of down and whitewash) at the junction of Lily and Tamarack.
These birds were being harassed by NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRDS, WESTERN
SCRUB-JAYS, HOODED ORIOLES, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, and AMERICAN ROBINS,
making them easy to locate. Also of interest were a NUTTALL'S
WOODPECKER and 3 to 4 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, unrecorded in block 8535
for the breeding bird atlas.
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Thu Jul 12 14:49:44 2001
Subject: [SBB] Brown Pelican at Oka Ponds
--------
Hi,
Yesterday evening, while driving South on Hwy 17 past Oka ponds, I saw a
Brown Pelican fishing in the largest pond (the one North of the gazebo
pond). Traffic was moving slowly enough that I got a good look and I'm
confident of the ID. Strange place to see one, though.
Don
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From email@hidden Fri Jul 13 08:36:58 2001
Subject: [SBB] Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher in dowtown SJ
--------
Little after 6:30 am this morning, on my way to work, I found a male
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher in with a flock of Bushtits at Giffard and West San
Fernando Streets in downtown San Jose. The "flock" was just past Hwy 87
toward the Cal-train Station along the creek (name ?) that splits off from
the Guadalupe. Up-stream from the Guadalupe Creek Environmental Education
center on Santa Clara street where at the split occurs.
This individual was making a lot of racket and was easy to find, but did
not stay around long. Not a typical bird I see on the way to work everyday.
Eric Feuss
ABTS Application Developer, Administrator
Product Process Management Technologies (PPMT Team)
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Mailstop: W06, 345 Park Ave., San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 536-3050
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From email@hidden Fri Jul 13 09:40:54 2001
Subject: [SBB] -
--------
Folks:
This morning, 7/13/2001, there was an eclipse or female GREEN-WINGED
TEAL in the Mountain View Forebay. Also there was an adult LESSER YELLOWLEGS
in with six GREATER YELLOWLEGS. SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS are back in force with
50-100 in the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh. I estimated 8-10 WHIMBREL there as
well. There BURROWING OWLS were at Shoreline Park, including two in a ground
squirrel burrow away from the mounds.
Bill
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From email@hidden Fri Jul 13 11:27:36 2001
Subject: [SBB] Peregrine Falcons in dowtown SJ
--------
We'll he or she is back, hanging out on the Heritage sign on the Heritage
building along Almaden Blvd.
Unlike last year, where I quite frequently saw one individual and, from
time-to-time, two individuals between early May to November, this year they
have been typically absent around the Park Ave. / Almaden Blvd. / San
Fernando Street / Guadalupe River area.
I suspect, with the amount of construction going in downtown San Jose this
year, that the Peregrine(s) hangs out around the construction sites where
the Rock Doves are more numerous and where they (both the Rock Doves and
Peregrines) know there are good "pickens". The pigeons have been somewhat
absent from around this area, too, probably for this very reason.
Eric
Eric Feuss
ABTS Application Developer, Administrator
Product Process Management Technologies (PPMT Team)
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Mailstop: W06, 345 Park Ave., San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 536-3050
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From email@hidden Fri Jul 13 14:21:39 2001
Subject: [SBB] RFI Peregrine Falcon nest at Oracle
--------
I have been watching the web cam of the Peregrine nest at Oracle pretty
regularly.
While I haven't seen the adults in over a week, the young had continued
to grow and get more and more dark feathers.
Yesterday afternoon he wasn't there and cannot be seen on the roof cam
either.
Does anyone know what happpened?
-Chris
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From email@hidden Fri Jul 13 15:32:14 2001
Subject: [SBB] Upper Los Gatos Creek birds
--------
Hi SBB,
I visited the upper watershed of Los Gatos Creek for a little while today
(7/13). I found more GOLDEN-CRWONED KINGLETS, including another observation
of a family group with adults feeding at least 4 begging young. The
confirmation was on the south side of Los Gatos Creek about 0.3 mi WNW of the
crossing of Wright's Station Road. One singing and one calling GCKI were
heard at two other spots along Wright's Station Road, south of Los Gatos
Creek. A PILEATED WOODPECKER gave "kuk kuk kuk" calls for a while about 0.5
mi NW of the Wrights Station crossing of Los Gatos Creek. An adult male
PEREGRINE FALCON was soaring over high over the watershed in the vicinity of
the dam at Lake Elsmen.
David Suddjian, Capitola
Santa Cruz Bird Club
Bird Records Keeper
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Sat Jul 14 01:28:24 2001
Subject: [SBB] Almaden Lake Park, SCVAS field class in Yosemite National Park
--------
Howdy South-bay-birders,
Late Friday afternoon Jolene and I visited Almaden Lake Park in south San
Jose. The vegetated island in the middle of the lake was crowded with GREAT
& SNOWY EGRETS. Also on or around the island were BLACK-CROWNED
NIGHT-HERONS, 1 GREEN HERON, and CASPIAN & FORSTER'S TERNS.
Just upstream from the lake I saw a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, a
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and several HOODED ORIOLES. An adult COMMON MERGANSER
near the Mazzone Street bridge was accompanied by several juvenile birds,
and a streaky juvenile SPOTTED TOWHEE was in brush a bit farther up the
creek. Didn't see any Nutmeg Mannikins around the reported nest sites.
Earlier in the day two pairs of adult CALIFORNIA QUAIL with about 15
chicks were seen dust bathing and foraging in dry grass behind my parent's
house at the foot of the Santa Teresa Hills.
There are still spaces available in the SCVAS field class in Yosemite
National Park (meets at McClellan Ranch on the evening of August 20th, and
in Yosemite National Park on the weekend of 24-26 August). If anyone is
interested in getting more information about the class and weekend field
trip, go to: http://home.att.net/~redknot/yosemite_classes.htm
John Mariani
email@hidden
www.birdswest.com
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From email@hidden Sat Jul 14 04:58:28 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
On Saturday, 14 Jul 01, I visited the waterbird pond at CCFS to look for
shorebirds. A few hundred WESTERN SANDPIPERS were in and out, and the number
of WILSON'S PHALAROPES had fallen to about 15. A handful of dowitchers
looked to be LONG-BILLED.
At the EEC there were still 4 adult BLACK SKIMMERS and 2 half-grown young on
the islands of salt pond A16. A CASPIAN TERN flyby was an addition to the
many FORSTER'S.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Sat Jul 14 14:02:41 2001
Subject: [SBB] LETEs Staging at Crittenden Marsh
--------
All:
On Saturday, July 14, at 10 AM I saw that the Least Terns are again staging
in the Cargil pond just north of Crittenden Marsh. Mostly it is a distant
scope view to the east, to the birds perched on the north-running wooden
walkway; the size difference to the occasional perched Forster's Tern is
readily apparent (in my scope). A quick scan of the walkway revealed 42
LETEs sitting there quietly, with only an occasional bird flying to reveal
their quicker and more fluttery wing action. Then the sun broke through,
spoiling the seeing.
Frank Vanslager
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 16 10:00:47 2001
Subject: [SBB] shorebirds
--------
All,
Yesterday morning 7/15/01, I spent a couple of hours looking for
shorebirds. I started out at the CCFS waterbird pond, which initially
had a flock of about 150 peeps. In among the WESTERN SANDPIPERS was
as single adult SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER. This flock was fairly
skittish, flying around even when something as small as a swallow came
too close, and soon headed back over the fence to the sewage ponds.
Other shorebirds here included a group of 60 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS,
1 to 2 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 11 adult GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and a
single male WILSON'S PHALAROPE. The peep numbers had rebuilt to 60
when I left, but the SESA was not among them. One WESTERN SANDPIPER
was banded with an orange band above the "knee" on the right leg (and
silver band below the "knee" on the left). At least 5 GREAT EGRET
nests still have young in them.
The pond at State and Spreckles was devoid of shorebirds, except for a
single precocial young BLACK-NECKED STILT.
The northernmost of the Calabazas Ponds had 4 LESSER YELLOWLEGS in
among 29 GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Seven more DOWITCHERS appeared to be
(mostly?) LONG-BILLED. Other birds in the area included 1 adult male
HOODED ORIOLE, 2 GREEN HERONS (1 adult, 1 immature), and a small flock
of molting post-breeding VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. Walking back along
the bike path along Highway 237 I had an agitated BURROWING OWL in the
shadow of the blue "Litter Removal" sign along the highway, halfway
along the southern edge of the south pond.
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Tue Jul 17 08:16:00 2001
Subject: [SBB] Peregrine Falcon in dowtown SJ
--------
Well, the Peregrine Falcon I have been seeing on and off for the last few
days has been and is back this morning on the Heritage sign on the Heritage
building along Almaden Boulevard in downtown San Jose.
The Heritage building is located at 150 Almaden Boulevard. The building's
sides are at 45 degree angles to the street. The sign I am referring to
faces north toward the P.G. & E. administrative building which is located
on the corner of West San Fernando and Almaden Boulevard and across Almaden
Blvd. from the Heritage building.
The bird is definitely and adult. From recently obtained information, but
an untrained eye in this regards, I will hazzard to say this bird is a male.
Given the last few days, this "male" appears to like either the top of the
"T" or "G" of the sign.
This year, I have occasionally seen the peregrine flying around the
Fairmont Hotel and new construction whenever I walk over to the Fairmont
fountains.
Form postings I sent to SBB last year, I will mention that ...
The sidewalk along San Fernando Street, under the PG & E building (not the
administrative one to which I referred earlier, but the windowless one
located catty corner) was littered with the bones, wings, legs of its
(their) prey (there were two Peregrine Falcons present last year in the
late Summer/Fall, one through most of the Summer). The Peregrine(s) also
spent quite a bite of time on the Adobe towers. Neither are true this year.
Eric
Eric Feuss
ABTS Application Developer, Administrator
Product Process Management Technologies (PPMT Team)
Adobe Systems Incorporated
Mailstop: W06, 345 Park Ave., San Jose, CA 95110
Phone: (408) 536-3050
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From email@hidden Tue Jul 17 10:30:47 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
On Saturday afternoon, 14 Jul 01, I went to Crittenden Marsh after reading
Frank Vanslager's post and counted 48 LEAST TERNS on the salt pond north of
there.
On Monday, 16 Jul 01, the grassy area around the waterbird pond at CCFS had
a female RING-NECKED PHEASANT with 2 downy chicks that couldn't have been
more than a couple days old. The KILLDEER nest that is coned-off on the
levee has been abandoned.
Today, 17 Jul 01, the Mountain View Forebay had a GREEN HERON and a calling
VIRGINIA RAIL.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Tue Jul 17 17:56:57 2001
Subject: [SBB] One Tree!
--------
Hello,
I sat under one tree in Rancho San Antonio Park (not the
OSP) from 1:00 to 2:30 this July afternoon and saw these
birds land in the tree.
ACORN WOODPECKER (2)
NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER (2)
BLACK PHOEBE
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER
STELLER'S JAY (2)
OAK TITMOUSE (2)
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE
BUSHTIT
WRENTIT
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK (4)
DARK-EYED JUNCO
HOUSE FINCH
LESSER GOLDFINCH
It seemed like a lot to me. The tree is in a small,
diamond shaped lot next to the 4 tennis courts. It has
walking paths on all four sides. The tree is so small and
open it barely casts shade. No optics needed, of course.
Gordon Barrett
email@hidden
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail
http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/
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From email@hidden Tue Jul 17 19:07:19 2001
Subject: [SBB] Alviso juvenile brown pelican
--------
This bird was seen around 2:00 at the small pond northwest of where Gold St
goes underneath 237 at the base of the old landfill. It was roosting on the
landfill side of the pond.
Jan Hintermeister
Santa Clara, CA
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From email@hidden Wed Jul 18 06:52:39 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Strange
--------
----- Original Message -----
From:
> On the way up I was surprised to see a seal or sea-lion
> (I can't tell the difference) in Stevens Creek. I didn't
> even know that they came into the bay (whichever they
> are).
Sea lions have external ear flaps, whereas seals just have an ear opening in
the side of the head (there may be other differences as well). Harbor Seals
are not uncommon in the south bay sloughs. These guys have the mottled,
blotchy grayish patches on their heads.
> And on a day of strangeness, this morning I found a
> Pied-billed Grebe in the car park at work. We must be
> several hundred yards from the nearest suitable habitat
> and this bird could not fly. It also could not walk well but
> I have never seen any grebe on land, so that may be
> natural.
Diving birds, such as grebes and loons, are very clumsy on land because they
have their feet set so far back on the body. Also, they can not take off
from land because they need a running start to get airborne (which they
usually get by paddling along the surface of the water). Sometimes these
birds will land in an asphalt parking lot at night when it is wet, and it
therefore looks like a body of water. They can not then take off again. I'm
not sure what would have grounded this grebe, though, since it's not been
wet for some time.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Wed Jul 18 09:58:02 2001
Subject: [SBB] Charleston Slough Water Level
--------
Charleston Slough had the lowest water level I've ever seen this morning,
7/18. It was mostly mud flat with a few channels of water. It was so low
I'm wondering if Mountain View did some dredging outside the slough or
changed the water pumping somehow. Anyone happen to know?
I didn't look much at the birds, but noted a large group of peeps out in
the middle of the slough.
Nancy Teater
--
Nancy R. Teater Hamilton Communications phone: +1 650 321 0252
email@hidden http://web.hamilton.com fax: +1 650 327 4660
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From email@hidden Wed Jul 18 11:35:46 2001
Subject: [SBB] Charleston Slough
--------
Folks:
Nancy Teater asked about the water level in Charleston Slough. The
simple answer is that Charleston Slough is a muted tidal impoundment since it
was first diked, probably about 1923. For the first half century there was
substantial tidal flow through a pipe in the levee. The slough in that era
has been described as being largely cord grass and pickleweed, that is a
classic S. F. Bay slough. Leslie Salt replaced the pipe sometime in the
1970s, I believe, with a smaller pipe, higher in the levee, and the regime
changed entirely. Instead of tidal flows of a few feet, it dropped to a few
inches. At this point BCDC stepped in and issued a cease and desist order.
Leslie got out of this by selling the slough to Mountain View for a buck.
Mountain View put in a new set of pipes and valves in 1980 and this had no
effect, partly because the design was poor and partly because the lack of
scouring outside the slough had allowed the build up of mud that blocked tidal
flow. The first Mountain View pipes and gates were redesigned and an improved
design was put in about two years ago. I don't know if dredging outside the
new gates was required or not, but as Nancy noticed, there is a great deal of
tidal variation in the slough now and perhaps it will revert to a classic salt
marsh in the next few years (decades?).
That all of this has happened is a consequence of new laws written in
the 1960s that created BCDC and the passion and persistence of Florence and
Phil LaRiviere who never let Mountain View or BCDC forget Leslie's error or
the requirements of the orginal cease and desist order to restore a ruined
salt marsh.
Bill
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From email@hidden Wed Jul 18 15:31:19 2001
Subject: [SBB] Harbor Seals
--------
Folks:
Andy Gibb mentioned a pinniped in Stevens Creek. It is
likely that this was a Harbor Seal. They have a number of
calving grounds in the South Bay as well as along the coast.
Another good reason for a wildlife refuge here.
Bill
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From email@hidden Wed Jul 18 15:36:29 2001
Subject: RE: [SBB] Charleston Slough Water Level
--------
Birders:
>Charleston Slough had the lowest water level I've ever seen this morning,
>7/18. It was mostly mud flat with a few channels of water. It was so low
>I'm wondering if Mountain View did some dredging outside the slough or
>changed the water pumping somehow. Anyone happen to know?
>
To augment Bill Bouseman's reply, No, there was no dredging. It took about two years for the improved flow into the slough through the new gate to scour out the channel outside the slough. It is now working as designed.
Charles Coston
------------------------------------------------------------
WWW.COM - Where the Web Begins! http://www.www.com
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From email@hidden Wed Jul 18 19:56:07 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Strange
--------
These birds will also land on a mirage that looks like water -- thus
stranding them.
Richard C. Carlson
Full Time Birder, Biker, Skier, Hiker
Part-time Economist
Palo Alto & Lake Tahoe, CA
email@hidden
650-949-9590
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From email@hidden Wed Jul 18 22:29:12 2001
Subject: [SBB] Strange
--------
I had some distant views of the Least Terns north of
Crittenden Marsh this lunchtime – no field marks
possible but their general size and behaviour made
them obvious. They were definitely fishing in a different
way to the Forster’s.
On the way up I was surprised to see a seal or sea-lion
(I can’t tell the difference) in Stevens Creek. I didn’t
even know that they came into the bay (whichever they
are).
And on a day of strangeness, this morning I found a
Pied-billed Grebe in the car park at work. We must be
several hundred yards from the nearest suitable habitat
and this bird could not fly. It also could not walk well but
I have never seen any grebe on land, so that may be
natural. I took it in to the good folks at Palo Alto
Wildlife Rescue where it is presently being rehydrated.
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From email@hidden Thu Jul 19 16:43:08 2001
Subject: [SBB] Santa Cruz County Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
--------
All,
Sorry about posting out of the county but thought that some would like to
know that a first year STFL is being seen at the Long Marine Labs located at
the end of Delaware Av (just past the rear entrance to Natural Bridges State
Park) in Santa Cruz. The bird is being seen in the ocean side field about
100 yds past the entrance to the labs.
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 4:46 PM, 7/19/01
--------
Attachment
506 bytes
--------
From email@hidden Fri Jul 20 05:02:43 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
On the way home from work last night, 19 Jul 01, I saw a BROWN PELICAN fly
overhead at hwy 101 and Hellyer. I know that White Pelicans can be found in
south San Jose, but it seemed out of place for a Brown.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Fri Jul 20 08:21:21 2001
Subject: [SBB] -
--------
Folks:
Yesterday, 7/19/2001, there was a single LESSER YELLOWLEGS in the
Mountain View Forebay, along with two GREATERS. A female CINNAMON TEAL there
had eight newly-hatched ducklings. There were at least two BURROWING OWLS
at Shoreline Park, one on the eastern mound and another using a ground
squirrel burrow in the grasslands.
Bill
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From email@hidden Fri Jul 20 11:16:09 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Santa Cruz County Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
--------
There is a clickable map of California that takes you to the
various e-mail list options for each county at:
If you like to know about rarities in other nearby counties or
areas, it's best to subscribe to those lists and to not depend
on hearing about them on SBB. It also keeps the traffic on SBB
limited to area reports and discussions.
Les
--
Les Chibana
List Bureaucrat
South-Bay-Birds List
email@hidden
On Friday, July 20, 2001 10:27 AM, email@hidden wrote:
>Don’t apologise, Bob. Personally I would like to hear
>much more about sightings on the San Mateo and
>Santa Cruz coasts. For me they are much easier to get
>to than Mines Road, say. What do other people think?
>Or is there already a newsgroup for the coast?
>
>And while I’m on the subject does anyone know if
>Cassin’s Auklet would be possible off Pescadero? I
>swear that only that would fit the description of the blob
>I saw in the ocean there on Sunday but my field guide
>suggests that they are generally more offshore. The
>only other possibility I could find was Marbled Murrelet
>but I swore I was getting intermittent flashes of white
>from the rump (if that doesn’t sound too rude!).
>>
>>----- Original Message -----
>>From: email@hidden
>>To: email@hidden
>>Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2001 4:43 PM
>>Subject: [SBB] Santa Cruz County Scissor-tailed
>Flycatcher
>>
>>
>>All,
>>
>>Sorry about posting out of the county but thought that
>some would like >to
>>know that a first year STFL is being seen at the Long
>Marine Labs >located at
>>the end of Delaware Av (just past the rear entrance to
>Natural Bridges >State
>>Park) in Santa Cruz. The bird is being seen in the
>ocean side field >about
>>100 yds past the entrance to the labs.
>>
>>Take care,
>>Bob Reiling, 4:46 PM, 7/19/01
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From email@hidden Fri Jul 20 14:45:33 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Santa Cruz County Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
--------
Andy,
The page does exist. It looks like the URL ended up with a line
break in it and that's why the link is broken. The html doc name
is "emailmap.htm". It looks like the URL broke between "emai" and
"lmap.htm". Try it again.
The Monterey list is similar to SBB, you have to send a request
to the list owner. Information is at the above site.
San Mateo (peninsula-birding) and San Francisco (SFBirds) are on
YahooGroups. Every county in Calif. is covered.
Les
On Friday, July 20, 2001 3:24 PM, email@hidden wrote:
>>There is a clickable map of California that takes you to
>the
>>various e-mail list options for each county at:
>>
>>lmap.htm>
>>
>Thanks for the link, Les. Unfortunately the page doesn’t
>exist. I have already found the transcriptions of the
>Monterey Bay list but have never found a way to
>subscribe to it. There is also a North Bay list but poor
>old San Mateo and San Francisco counties seem to be
>orphans.
>
>I guess I should have reread the charter first anyway.
>
>Back on this side of the hills a Peregrine Falcon was
>harassing the shorebirds in the Palo Alto FCB this
>lunchtime. Oddly this is the first Peregrine I have seen
>in the Bay outside Alviso. And it’s not as though they
>skulk when they are about.
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>email@hidden
>
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From email@hidden Fri Jul 20 15:31:00 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Santa Cruz County Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
--------
Linda Terrill here:
The problem is a missing underline in Steve's name. Use
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From email@hidden Fri Jul 20 16:14:01 2001
Subject: [SBB] Aggressive immature Brown Pelican
--------
There is an immature Brown Pelican outside the TiVo building right now
that is acting very aggressive towards any people in the area. I just
went to investigate and as soon it saw me in the parking lot area it
flew directly towards me and then came "at me" with bill agape!
Anyone know what would cause this type of unprovoked aggression?
After we left the area, it sat down on the asphalt. Perhaps it's
sick?
--
Paul Stevens email@hidden
Tivo, Inc. http://www.tivo.com
P.O. Box 649101 408-519-9194
Alviso, CA 95164-9101 Fax: 408-519-5339
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From email@hidden Fri Jul 20 16:43:52 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Santa Cruz County Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
--------
Les and South Bay Birders:
The map you mention does not include the following three lists:
1) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/CALBIRDS
2) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/PasadenaAudubon
3) http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kerncobirding
See also http://www.kernriverpreserve.org and
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/kerncobirding/message/64
Les Chibana wrote:
> There is a clickable map of California that takes you to the
> various e-mail list options for each county at:
>
>
>
> If you like to know about rarities in other nearby counties or
> areas, it's best to subscribe to those lists and to not depend
> on hearing about them on SBB. It also keeps the traffic on SBB
> limited to area reports and discussions.
>
> Les
>
> --
>
> Les Chibana
> List Bureaucrat
> South-Bay-Birds List
> email@hidden
>
--
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, Alameda County
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From email@hidden Fri Jul 20 17:27:40 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Santa Cruz County Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
--------
Don’t apologise, Bob. Personally I would like to hear
much more about sightings on the San Mateo and
Santa Cruz coasts. For me they are much easier to get
to than Mines Road, say. What do other people think?
Or is there already a newsgroup for the coast?
And while I’m on the subject does anyone know if
Cassin’s Auklet would be possible off Pescadero? I
swear that only that would fit the description of the blob
I saw in the ocean there on Sunday but my field guide
suggests that they are generally more offshore. The
only other possibility I could find was Marbled Murrelet
but I swore I was getting intermittent flashes of white
from the rump (if that doesn’t sound too rude!).
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: email@hidden
>To: email@hidden
>Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2001 4:43 PM
>Subject: [SBB] Santa Cruz County Scissor-tailed
Flycatcher
>
>
>All,
>
>Sorry about posting out of the county but thought that
some would like >to
>know that a first year STFL is being seen at the Long
Marine Labs >located at
>the end of Delaware Av (just past the rear entrance to
Natural Bridges >State
>Park) in Santa Cruz. The bird is being seen in the
ocean side field >about
>100 yds past the entrance to the labs.
>
>Take care,
>Bob Reiling, 4:46 PM, 7/19/01
>
>
>
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From email@hidden Fri Jul 20 22:24:47 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Santa Cruz County Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
--------
>There is a clickable map of California that takes you to
the
>various e-mail list options for each county at:
>
>
>
Thanks for the link, Les. Unfortunately the page doesn’t
exist. I have already found the transcriptions of the
Monterey Bay list but have never found a way to
subscribe to it. There is also a North Bay list but poor
old San Mateo and San Francisco counties seem to be
orphans.
I guess I should have reread the charter first anyway.
Back on this side of the hills a Peregrine Falcon was
harassing the shorebirds in the Palo Alto FCB this
lunchtime. Oddly this is the first Peregrine I have seen
in the Bay outside Alviso. And it’s not as though they
skulk when they are about.
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From email@hidden Sat Jul 21 00:10:47 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Santa Cruz County Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
--------
I promise this is my last word on the subject! If anyone
else has a dim browser like mine (IE5, so this could be
quite a few of you), you will have to remove the trailing
> (greater than) sign before the browser recognises the
URL.
Now I can see California. Thank you.
>Linda Terrill here:
>
>The problem is a missing underline in Steve's name.
Use
>
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campus mailing list
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>
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From email@hidden Sat Jul 21 13:50:08 2001
Subject: [SBB] Black-chinned Sparrow
--------
All,
On a scouting trip for my class I visited Montebello OSP along Pagemill
Road. Most of the expected species were found, including scores of
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, BARN SWALLOWS and CLIFF SWALLOWS. One lone
NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED appeared also. Many LESSER GOLDFINCHES were
present in the open areas. A juvenile ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was seen
being fed by an adult close to the parking area. COOPER'S HAWK,
RED-TAILED HAWK and RED-SHOULDERED HAWK were the only raptors
encountered. HAIRY WOODPECKER, ACORN WOODPECKER, BROWN CREEPER, WILSON'S
WARBLER, HUTTON'S VIREO were among the birds seen in the forested areas.
Most interesting however, was an adult BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW seen
foraging along the hillside trail just after the main parking lot. The
Frances Brenner memorial stone bench is a good marker. The bird appeared
first in a lone coyote bush just below the sign that says "Vista Point"
and then flew up to the trail and remained there for a few moments
allowing close observation. The bird appeared to have no black on the
face, but an entirely blank gray head, with the slightest hint of a head
pattern. I assume this suggests a female. The bill was pinkish, the
breast and belly were flat gray fading to a pale gray near the tail, and
a brown and black streaked "saddle" was clearly seen on the back.
Overall the bird appeared slender and "longish" with a fairly narrow
tail. A very peculiar looking sparrow...
Matthew Dodder
http://www.birdguy.net
P.S. The 8-week beginning birdwatching class begins in early September
and fills up fast, so please call the Palo Alto Adult School for
details: 650.329.3752 or visit their website: www.paadultschool.org/
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 23 07:57:20 2001
Subject: [SBB] Some Weekend Birds
--------
Hello All,
Here are a few bird sightings from my wanderings around local areas this
past weekend.
Crittenden Marsh, July 21: 15+ LEAST TERNS were foraging in the northwest
corner of the large pond. Although it was hard to get a good scope view on
these quickly fluttering terns, several of them flew in quite close for good
binocular views. It looked like there were more perched on the wooden
catwalk farther east in the pond.
Alviso EEC, July 21: An adult BLACK SKIMMER was roosting on the first
island. Also present on the same island was a very young gull chick -
fluffy gray down with dark speckling about the head.
Santa Teresa CP, July 21: A juvenile GRASSHOPPER SPARROW seen in the north
side of the park. The bird was perched on a fence post along Bernal Road
just west of the last pullout before entering the IBM property (about a mile
and a half from the entrance at Bernal & Heaton Moor Dr).
Almaden Reservoir, July 22: Two WOOD DUCKS were seen among the willows at
the upper end of the reservoir - an adult eclipse-plumaged male and a
juvenile. A female was seen the week before in the secluded woodland pond
3/10 mile from the dam (the White-throated Sparrow spot).
That's it for now - Ann
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 23 10:35:06 2001
Subject: [SBB] BANK SWALLOW (7/21/01)
--------
Sorry for not being able to post earlier.
Saturday, around 1PM there was a BANK SWALLOW at the pumphouse at the Mtn.
View Forebay.
It was first noticed by two visiting birders from Israel (as in "Sand Martin
!") whom I was showing around
the area. I was able to get a look to confirm the id. The bird was flying
about and had come in close
to the pumphouse a couple of times before we left.
Vivek
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 23 12:48:22 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] BANK SWALLOW (7/21/01)
--------
i believe nearest known colony is at south end of Oc ean Beach, San Francisco
------------ Previous Message from "Tiwari, Vivek" on
07/23/2001 10:35:06 AM ----------
To: "'email@hidden'"
cc:
Subject: [SBB] BANK SWALLOW (7/21/01)
Sorry for not being able to post earlier.
Saturday, around 1PM there was a BANK SWALLOW at the pumphouse at the Mtn.
View Forebay.
It was first noticed by two visiting birders from Israel (as in "Sand Martin
!") whom I was showing around
the area. I was able to get a look to confirm the id. The bird was flying
about and had come in close
to the pumphouse a couple of times before we left.
Vivek
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 23 14:22:56 2001
Subject: RE: [SBB] Aggressive immature Brown Pelican
--------
I know this is not helpful as an explanation, but I had a similar but
"opposite" experience a couple of weekends ago, when I was walking around
the shore of Lake Cunningham. I passed within 3 feet of a Brown Pelican
(adult) standing by the shore who stared at me, not moving, as I walked by.
I had a similar thought go through my mind - is it sick or dying? - although
I saw no obvious injuries.
Jonathan Hays
-----Original Message-----
From: email@hidden
[mailto:email@hidden]On Behalf Of Paul
Stevens
Sent: Friday, July 20, 2001 4:14 PM
To: email@hidden
Subject: [SBB] Aggressive immature Brown Pelican
There is an immature Brown Pelican outside the TiVo building right now
that is acting very aggressive towards any people in the area. I just
went to investigate and as soon it saw me in the parking lot area it
flew directly towards me and then came "at me" with bill agape!
Anyone know what would cause this type of unprovoked aggression?
After we left the area, it sat down on the asphalt. Perhaps it's
sick?
--
Paul Stevens email@hidden
Tivo, Inc. http://www.tivo.com
P.O. Box 649101 408-519-9194
Alviso, CA 95164-9101 Fax: 408-519-5339
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 23 16:34:42 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] BANK SWALLOW (7/21/01)
--------
Isn't there a colony at Ano (Anyo) Nuevo, too? I saw many up in
Anchorage, AK, in June. This bird could have come from any one of
the many other western colonies.
Les Chibana
On Monday, July 23, 2001 12:48 PM, email@hidden wrote:
>I believe nearest known colony is at south end of Oc ean Beach,
>San Francisco
>
>------------ Previous Message from "Tiwari, Vivek" on
>07/23/2001 10:35:06 AM ----------
>
>
>To: "'email@hidden'"
>
>cc:
>Subject: [SBB] BANK SWALLOW (7/21/01)
>
>
>
>Sorry for not being able to post earlier.
>
>Saturday, around 1PM there was a BANK SWALLOW at the pumphouse at the Mtn.
>View Forebay.
>It was first noticed by two visiting birders from Israel (as in "Sand Martin
>!") whom I was showing around
>the area. I was able to get a look to confirm the id. The bird was flying
>about and had come in close
>to the pumphouse a couple of times before we left.
>
>Vivek
>email@hidden
>
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 23 17:40:45 2001
Subject: [SBB] County Birding
--------
All,
This morning Frank Vanslager and I birded Monte Bello (only the grassy
hillsides alongside Page Mill Road and the parking lot) in hopes of finding a
Black-chinned Sparrow. No Black-chinned Sparrow but we did find lots of
Grasshopper Sparrows (about every 2 out of 3 being juveniles), three to four
juvenile Chipping Sparrows (in a mixed flock also containing a Grasshopper
Sparrow and a Bewick's Wren), several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, several Western
Bluebirds (including a heavily striped & spotted juvenile), several
Ash-throated Flycatchers, many Dark-eyed Juncos, Purple Finches, both
goldfinches, Bushtits, a male Hairy Woodpecker, White-tailed Kites,
Red-tailed Hawks, a Red-shouldered Hawk, a female Northern Harrier, an
accipiter (possible Cooper's Hawk), a single Vaux's Swift, Violet-green, Tree
, Northern Rough-winged and Barn Swallows. An anomalous sighting was of a
fairly dark-bellied swallow that repeatedly visited a hole in the bottom of a
broke branch of one of the conifers on the north side of Page Mill Road
(about eight feet off the ground). I assume that it could not have been a
Northern Rough-winged Swallow but then it would seem that it would have to be
either a juvenile Violet-green Swallow or possibly a juvenile Tree Swallow
(we never got a good look at it in flight but it generally looked very
grayish-brown overall). We would have called the bird a NRWS but as far as I
know they don't nest in holes in trees. Would an early year juvenile VGSW be
feeding later year hatchlings?
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 5:39 PM, 7/23/01
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 23 19:51:16 2001
Subject: [SBB] Re: Bank Swallows
--------
All,
I recently sent out the following e-mail on pen-bird (the San Mateo County
list).
"On Sunday (7/8, at Ano Nuevo) I had several Bank Swallows between the pond
and the entrance to the permit area. I also saw six Brandt on Bight Beach
near the Elephant Seals."
Bank Swallows will be at or near Ano Nuevo, on and off, for the next five to
six weeks. SC County Bank Swallows are rare and reportable.
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 7:44 PM, 7/23/01
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 23 23:35:17 2001
Subject: [SBB] Night hike in Almaden Quicksilver Park
--------
Howdy South-bay-birders,
This evening Ann Verdi and I did a short hike into Almaden Quicksilver Park
from the McAbee Road entrance. At dusk we saw and heard 2-4 COMMON POORWILLS
near the mine ruins. Ann spotted one on the road in front of us, and after
that we repeatedly glimpsed them flying over the hillsides, and saw a pair
together at one point.
Farther up the trail we found a family of WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS in the
same place where a pair was found on our owling trip earlier this month.
There were at least 5 chirping and trilling around us, but we could only see
2, a juvenile and an adult.
On the way back, at a trail intersection where there is a picnic table,
we saw another adult WESTERN SCREECH-OWL. All along the trail I watched for
glowworms in the grass but didn't see any--
John Mariani
email@hidden
www.birdswest.com
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From email@hidden Tue Jul 24 02:46:47 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
On Sunday, 22 Jul 01, I stopped by CCFS, where I had a HOUSE WREN just
outside the trailer. This may have been the same bird that was banded that
day (I didn't look for a band). This would be the third House Wren banded
there since the 15th, and probably reflects dispersal from local sites. Also
banded on Sunday was the first WILLOW FLYCATCHER of the season.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Tue Jul 24 09:03:42 2001
Subject: [SBB] -
--------
Folks:
This morning, 7/24/2001, there was a single LESSER YELLOWLEGS in the
Mountain View Forebay.
Bill
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From email@hidden Tue Jul 24 10:28:58 2001
Subject: [SBB] Re: County Birding
--------
On Monday, July 23, 2001 5:40 PM, email@hidden wrote:
>All,
>
>This morning Frank Vanslager and I birded Monte Bello (only the grassy
>hillsides alongside Page Mill Road and the parking lot) in hopes of finding a
>Black-chinned Sparrow. No Black-chinned Sparrow but we did find lots of
>Grasshopper Sparrows (about every 2 out of 3 being juveniles), three to four
>juvenile Chipping Sparrows (in a mixed flock also containing a Grasshopper
I led a class trip around Skyline Ridge Open Space on Sunday, 7/22, and
we also checked Monte Bello for Matthew Dodder's reported Black-chinned
Sparrow in the early afternoon heat. We also came up empty. We heard but
did not see Grasshopper Sparrows along the trail 50 yds. or so beyond the
bench where Matthew reported the Black-chinned.
>Sparrow and a Bewick's Wren), several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, several Western
>Bluebirds (including a heavily striped & spotted juvenile), several
>Ash-throated Flycatchers, many Dark-eyed Juncos, Purple Finches, both
>goldfinches, Bushtits, a male Hairy Woodpecker, White-tailed Kites,
>Red-tailed Hawks, a Red-shouldered Hawk, a female Northern Harrier, an
>accipiter (possible Cooper's Hawk), a single Vaux's Swift, Violet-green, Tree
We also had a single VAUX'S SWIFT at Skyline Ridge near the north parking
lot flying with a single WHITE-THROATED SWIFT. We also had one LAZULI
BUNTING and a pair of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK feeding at a fruit-laden
blue elderberry in the same area. A flock of PYGMY NUTHATCH vocally
worked the firs south of the Alpine Pond ranger station next to the tennis court/
nursery. A silent OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER perched at the west side of
Alpine Pond.
>, Northern Rough-winged and Barn Swallows. An anomalous sighting was of a
>fairly dark-bellied swallow that repeatedly visited a hole in the bottom of a
>broke branch of one of the conifers on the north side of Page Mill Road
>(about eight feet off the ground). I assume that it could not have been a
>Northern Rough-winged Swallow but then it would seem that it would have to be
>either a juvenile Violet-green Swallow or possibly a juvenile Tree Swallow
>(we never got a good look at it in flight but it generally looked very
>grayish-brown overall). We would have called the bird a NRWS but as far as I
>know they don't nest in holes in trees. Would an early year juvenile VGSW be
>feeding later year hatchlings?
Could the "early year juvenile VGSW" have been an adult female? They are
a bit more drab than the ad. males.
>
>Take care,
>Bob Reiling, 5:39 PM, 7/23/01
Les Chibana, Palo Alto
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From email@hidden Wed Jul 25 12:23:29 2001
Subject: [SBB] Today's Birds
--------
Good Afternoon All...
Have a great morning of birding right here at my house.
Bewick's Wren, Black-headed Grosbeaks (4), Lesser Finch, House Finch, CA
Towhee, Belted Kingfisher, Nuttall's (3), White-breasted Nuthatches (2),
Anna's Hummingbirds (4), Snowy Egret, lots of Mourning Doves, Oak Titmouse
(3), Chestnut backed Chickadees, Dark-eyed Juncos (5), Northern-rough Winged
Swallows (4), Stellar's Jays (4), Scrub Jays (4), Band-tailed Pigeons (10)
and the Red-shouldered Hawk is still visiting the creekside.
Hope you all have good birding.
My best regards,
Linda
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From email@hidden Wed Jul 25 17:13:37 2001
Subject: [SBB] Shoreline --Peregrine & Sora
--------
The Mtn. View Forebay had a wonderfully cooperative young (dingy beak and
buffy undertail) Sora this morning, walking out in the open and then
swimming near the cattails.
The Steven's Creek mitigation ponds had a young? (buffy breasted) Peregrine
sitting on the power tower and hungrily eyeing the large shorebird
locks -- L-B Curlew, Willet, Whimbrel, Dowitcher, Semipalmated Plover and
Least and Western Sandpipers.
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From email@hidden Sat Jul 28 13:09:17 2001
Subject: [SBB] Black Swift: Monte Bello
--------
All:
This morning, I was surprised to see a Black Swift from the trail near the
Monte Bello Preserve parking lot. It was foraging with a few Violet-Green
Swallows, rather low. The identification was pretty clear: it was bigger
than the swallows, black, and languid in flight.
It was very warm, and the birds were not active. Two juvenile Grasshopper
Sparrows were perched on the bushes at the very top of the hill by the
parking lot. No Chipping or Black-Chinned Sparrows.
Yours, John Meyer
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 30 02:10:46 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
On both Saturday and Sunday, 28 - 29 Jul 01, an adult COMMON TERN in basic
plumage was at the Sunnyvale sewage ponds. I first noticed it foraging over
the eastern pond, my attention being drawn by the dark carpal bars. Later,
it landed on the levee that separates the two ponds and I was able to
compare it directly with an adult FORSTER'S TERN. It was just slightly
smaller than the Forster's, with slightly shorter legs and bill. The legs
looked dark, but were in shadow (the same view of the Forster's showed
reddish or orangish legs). The bill was black. The dark area around the eyes
extended back around the nape and up onto the rear crown. The forehead and
forecrown were white. The dark carpal bar could be seen below the scapulars
on the folded wing. When the bird began to preen, I could also see the black
edge to the outer tail feather. In flight the bird looked a little
shorter-tailed than Forster's. The upperwing pattern showed a distinct dark
carpal bar, darkish outer primaries (but not showing a really distinct dark
wedge), and dusky secondaries that contrasted slightly with the greater wing
coverts (in Arctic Tern the secondaries should be the whitest part of the
wing). The underwing showed a black trailing edge to the primaries that was
thicker than that shown by Forster's or Arctic (and typical of Common).
A LESSER YELLOWLEGS was also along the channel separating the two ponds on
Saturday, as were about a thousand BLACK-NECKED STILTS.
On Sunday the CCFS waterbird pond had good numbers of shorebirds, but
nothing unusual.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Mon Jul 30 07:34:05 2001
Subject: [SBB] Calero Reservoir
--------
Hello All,
On Sunday, July 29, a CLARK'S GREBE was seen at the upper end of Calero
Reservoir. Possibly this is the same grebe seen earlier in the summer.
Also at the upper end were 12 Black-necked Stilts, 16 Forster's Terns
(including juveniles), and 2 Caspian Terns. Only ducks seen were Mallards.
On Saturday, July 28, at Uvas Reservoir an adult CASPIAN TERN was seen
feeding a juvenile. Also a GREEN HERON was seen along the marshy banks.
Ann
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From email@hidden Tue Jul 31 14:49:33 2001
Subject: [SBB] County Common Tern
--------
All,
This morning Frank Vanslager and I decided to try for the easy Common Tern
seen by Mike Mammoser on Saturday and Sunday at the Sunnyvale Water Treatment
Facility. Unfortunately the bird was not easy to find and we had essentially
given up hope when we found a first fall juvenile perched in the far
southeastern corner of salt pond A3W (near the Moffet Field Golf Course).
The bird was perched on a post, in good light about 100 yds from the nearest
dike. The upper parts of the bird (mantle, scapular, and wings) were
essentially all gray (primaries were a blackish-gray) with the lower parts
(lower face, throat, chest, belly, flanks, etc.) all white. The bird had a
white forehead with black extending back from the eye up and over the back of
the head to a point fairly low on the nape of the neck. The wing had an
obvious black carpal bar, the bill was black and the legs were blackish-red.
We also noted that the tertials were a darker gray than the secondaries,
scapulars or mantle. The primaries projected well beyond the tail. As we
slowly moved north in an attempt to get a better viewing angle (especially of
the tail, looking for a dark edge) when the bird which had earlier been
preening suddenly took off, flew a couple circuits and then headed north
until out of sight. The black carpal bar was easily seen in flight. Earlier
we had noted massive groups of peeps flying over West Pond and the pond to
the north (A5) which looked very much like large swarms of insects.
Unfortunately the viewing distances for peeps feeding in West Pond was to
great to positively ID what looked to be a basic plumaged Semipalmated
Sandpiper. There were perhaps a hundred Semipalmated Plovers with the peeps.
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 2:53 PM, 7/31/01
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