Parent
From email@hidden Tue Jun 01 07:36:18 1999
Subject: [SBB] Common Loon
On Monday, May 31, I saw a basic-plumaged COMMON LOON at Calero Reservoir.
The bird was seen near the upper end on the southeast side away from the
posts marking the boundaries for jet-ski/motorboat activity.
While interesting, this may not be that unusual for a late spring inland
sighting as in 1992 Mike Feighner and I saw single basic-plumaged Common
Loons at Almaden Reservoir (May 17) and Lake Elsman (June 14) while we were
working on the Breeding Bird Atlas in the area.
Ann
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 01 08:32:55 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] American Goldfinch vs Lesser
> I have noticed that I rarely see American Goldfinch except near the
> Bay. Is this a clear habitat preference???
American Goldfinches visit our thistle feeder regularly during the
winter, but leave soon after acquiring breeding plumage.
George Oetzel
in the very low foothills of West Menlo Park
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 01 08:45:29 1999
Subject: [SBB] Vasona
Marti & I checked the heronry at Vasona Lake again yesterday
morning.
The 5 Great Blue Heron chicks are still nest bound. Both adults
were with the chicks in the 2-chick nest. The 3-chick adults were
absent the entire time we were there.
The Black Crowned Night Heron chick was busy exploring the
water's edge and "flew" a few feet from one root to another. We
saw just the one chick, though the adult that I thought was sitting
on a nest last week was not there this time. The actual nest is
obscured, so we couldn't tell if it harbored a chick.
There was also a Green Heron chick on the roots near the water's
edge. It still had a fuzzy head and looked as if it might be on one of
its first ventures out of the nest. A Double Crested Cormorant
swam up very close and looked quite interested, but didn't actually
attack the chick. An adult GRHE flew in and perched in bright
sunshine. Best look we've ever had at one of these.
There was a lot of Snowy Egret traffic, with up to 6 birds in view at
once. I believe there are at least 3 nests, but only one of them is
actually in view. That bird sat on the nest the entire time.
George Oetzel Menlo Park, CA
(W) email@hidden (SFBBO) email@hidden
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
http://www.sfbbo.org
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 01 08:50:13 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] Quail vs Scrub Jay
We observed a male quail in a quail pair charging a Stellar's Jay twice.
We had not seen this behavior before.
Claire
At 03:02 PM 5/29/99 -0700, Glenn Harkleroad wrote:
>This noon while watching my Quail pair enjoying their lunch along with some
>doves, in swooped the Scrub Jay scattering dove hither and thither. Mr.
>Quail, however, did not take kindly to this invasion and quickly chased, on
>foot, Mr. Jay, who rapidly retreated to the pine tree. I observed this
>same behavior not more than two minutes later. The quail then finished
>lunch and leisurely stolled away.
>
>Barbara Harkleroad
>
>
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 01 09:38:05 1999
Subject: [SBB] Conventional Wisdom
Folks:
For what it is worth, conventional wisdom suggests that SHARP-SHINNED
HAWKS are largely gone form urban areas by April (MERLINS as well). Unlike
COOPER'S HAWKS which does not show a significant difference in summer and
winter numbers and breeds in our urban areas as well as more remote spots,
SHARP-SHINNEDS are less common as breeding species and then only in the more
remote areas. Hence, any SUMMER observation in urban areas is of great
interest.
Concerning Richard Carlson's question on AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES the answer
is that they appear to breed only on the valley floor, either near the bay
or along riparian areas. They are also found in areas such as these in the
Pajaro area, but they do not appear to use apparently suitable areas in the
mid-county. LESSER GOLDFINCHES are widespread in the county and may
occasionally overlap into areas AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES use.
Bill
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 01 12:16:02 1999
Subject: [SBB] birds
On Sunday, 30 May 99, I went to the Ogier Ponds for a couple hours. A
male OSPREY was there the entire time, even successfully catching a fish
and eating it on the bare-branched tree near the entrance road. A
TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD colony is inhabiting the bulrushes in the southwest
corner of the pond that is just north of the model plane park. I would
guess that there are over 100 pairs there. RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS are
also present, but don't seem to be mixed in with the Tricoloreds. Three
WOOD DUCKS flushed off the creek, and 3 GREEN HERONS were in the ponds
east of the creek. An alternate-plumaged SPOTTED SANDPIPER was present
as well. A flock of 35 CEDAR WAXWINGS was in the orchard bordering the
ponds. Breeding activity that I noted was - a pair of WESTERN KINGBIRDS
on a nest in a sycamore, and a pair of PIED-BILLED GREBES with 4 downy
young.
On Monday, 31 May 99, I visited Coyote Creek Riparian. The male REDHEAD
was still on the waterbird pond. The "reach" area, adjacent to the
methane plant, had broods of MALLARD, CINNAMON TEAL, and NORTHERN
PINTAIL. The power towers at salt pond A18 had 10 DOUBLE-CRESTED
CORMORANT nests, and a COMMON RAVEN nest on the tower at the southern
end of the pond.
Other breeding activity included a SONG SPARROW carrying food, a COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT carrying food, GREAT BLUE HERONS with young in the nests,
an agitated pair of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES, and a BELTED KINGFISHER carrying
food.
As I was leaving, a male WOOD DUCK flew by near the hwy 237 gate.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 01 13:53:28 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] Conventional Wisdom
Mike Mammoser wrote:
>
> email@hidden wrote:
>
> > Concerning Richard Carlson's question on AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES the answer
> > is that they appear to breed only on the valley floor, either near the bay
> > or along riparian areas. They are also found in areas such as these in the
> > Pajaro area, but they do not appear to use apparently suitable areas in the
> > mid-county. LESSER GOLDFINCHES are widespread in the county and may
> > occasionally overlap into areas AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES use.
>
> On Sunday, at the Ogier Ponds, I had AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES flying
> overhead fairly continuously.
As Bill wrote, breeding AMGO in the county are mostly confined to the
edge of the bay and the drainages in the extreme southern portion of
the county. In tromping around riparian habitat in the San Jose area
for the past several years, I have not found this species breeding
very far from the bay (i.e., they breed along only the very lower reaches
of Coyote Creek and the Guadalupe River).
The lone exception to all this that I've found has been the Ogier Ponds,
where Mike Mammoser had AMGO on Sunday. I've found AMGO to be fairly
common here throughout the summer, and I've confirmed breeding several
times, even though I have not found the species breeding along Coyote
Creek further downstream toward south San Jose. Why this species is
distributed as it is in the county is far from clear.
Steve Rottenborn
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 01 16:30:14 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] Conventional Wisdom
email@hidden wrote:
> Concerning Richard Carlson's question on AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES the answer
> is that they appear to breed only on the valley floor, either near the bay
> or along riparian areas. They are also found in areas such as these in the
> Pajaro area, but they do not appear to use apparently suitable areas in the
> mid-county. LESSER GOLDFINCHES are widespread in the county and may
> occasionally overlap into areas AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES use.
On Sunday, at the Ogier Ponds, I had AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES flying
overhead fairly continuously.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 01 16:52:34 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] birds
Clysta Seney wrote:
> so I'm not sure what you mean by too urban.
The gist of my statement was that wintering birds should be gone by now,
and this area seemed too urban for breeding birds of this species.
Unlike Cooper's Hawks, Sharpies tend to nest more remotely here in Santa
Clara County. (see Bill Bousman's reply on SBB)
Actually, accipiters in general have been known as birds that prefer to
nest away from human influences. However, during our breeding bird atlas
in Santa Clara County, we found a number of urban-nesting Cooper's
Hawks, providing evidence that seems to fly in the face of what was, at
that time, the conventional thinking.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 01 19:05:50 1999
Subject: [SBB] LAGO, Osprey at Arastradero
All,
This afternoon (6-1-99) an OSPREY was hunting over Felt Lake on Stanford
lands. It was seen from the eastern fenceline of the Arastradero Preserve at
3:15, and dove toward the lake at least once, unsuccessfully, over the next 5
minutes before heading west toward Portola Valley.
At 4 PM I re-found a small group of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES among a flock of
approximately 40 Lesser Goldfinches feeding in a mix of thistles and
fiddleneck at the Preserve. The location was about 1/8 to 1/4 mile west of
the Arastradero Road crossing of the Corte Madera Trail (to be precise, in a
shallow valley containing two parallel, informal trails that cuts off to the
left of the CM trail shortly after the road crossing). Three males and one
female were seen over a 1/2-hour period at close range. A few PURPLE FINCHES
were feeding among them for part of that time.
At least two large, active young were present in the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK nest
adjacent to Arastradero Lake. All of the WESTERN BLUEBIRD young (10 in all)
in my boxes east of the parking lot fledged this week.
--Garth Harwood
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 01 21:32:47 1999
Subject: [SBB] RFI: Third Edition National Geographic Pictures Dark?
I just bought a new National Geographic Field ID book (3rd edition), and the
paintings are all dark relative to the 2nd edition. Has anyone else bought
one, and what is your impression?
Thanks,
Bob Lutman
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From email@hidden Wed Jun 02 09:44:30 1999
Subject: [SBB] GOLDFINCHES
Birders:
Just quickly looked at the banding data from CCRS for American Goldfinch.
On lower Coyote Creek this species can be found in any month of the year,
but it is very rare in December and January. Numbers increase in February
and March, peaking in April and coming down in May and June. We have banded
200 individuals in June, and just over 600 in April. The numbers rise again
in July and peak in August (nearly 700), decreasing in September and then
plumetting to low levels in October and November. Note that this is a rough
count based on netted birds and NOT standardized for how many hours we had
nets open on different months. HOwever, I trust that he general pattern
would remain the same if they were standardized.
The Lesser Goldfinch shows an entirely different pattern, they are
basically absent in January and February, with a tiny number in March and
April. Then numbers begin to increase in May, June and July (with July
being slightly lower than June). There is a larger increase in August and a
peak in September, from there numbers decrease to very low amounts by
December. Also, Lesser Goldfinches are vastly outnumbered by Americans at
CCRS.
Again, these are totals not monthly means, not standardized for net hours.
But the difference in pattern between these two species is not likely to
change if those improvements are made to the analysis. Its just that
getting it any further would take time, but getting it to this point is
very quick. Also keep in mind that there is a great deal of difference
between years for these species, some years they are abundant and at other
times they are much rarer. This is a good year for American Goldfinch here
on the coast, they seem to be everywhere. More so than usual.
So even at one site, these two species are doing different things. If
anyone wants an exel chart showing the difference let me know and I can
send attach it.
These are the numbers:
MONTH AMGO LEGO
1 4 8
2 50 1
3 214 14
4 608 12
5 308 34
6 212 81
7 402 73
8 669 177
9 415 225
10 88 79
11 61 34
12 10 20
cheers,
Al
Alvaro Jaramillo
Wildlife Biologist
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
P.O. Box 247
Alviso, CA 95002
email@hidden
Birds of Chile, New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro
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From email@hidden Wed Jun 02 10:03:08 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] GOLDFINCHES
This is a bit out-of-range for this list, but is somewhat relevant. In Napa
County, "at the north (wrong) end of the bay", American Goldfinches were
(are) only known to breed in the city of Napa and points south towards bay.
However, AMGOs are common winter and post-breeding visitors throughout Napa
Valley north to Calistoga.
Interesting that AMGOs appear to nest primarily on "coastal plain" in
"coastal" counties in central and northern CA. AMGOs are common breeders in
Modoc and other inland counties though.
John Sterling
Wildlife Biologist
http://www.si.edu/smbc/start.htm
http://www.neotropicalbirdclub.org
___________________________________
________________V__________________
Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center
National Zoological Park
Washington, DC 20008
202-673-4908
FAX 202-673-4916
email@hidden
----- Original Message -----
From: Alvaro Jaramillo
To:
Sent: Wednesday, June 02, 1999 12:44 PM
Subject: [SBB] GOLDFINCHES
> Birders:
>
> Just quickly looked at the banding data from CCRS for American
Goldfinch.
> On lower Coyote Creek this species can be found in any month of the year,
> but it is very rare in December and January. Numbers increase in February
> and March, peaking in April and coming down in May and June. We have
banded
> 200 individuals in June, and just over 600 in April. The numbers rise
again
> in July and peak in August (nearly 700), decreasing in September and then
> plumetting to low levels in October and November. Note that this is a
rough
> count based on netted birds and NOT standardized for how many hours we had
> nets open on different months. HOwever, I trust that he general pattern
> would remain the same if they were standardized.
>
> The Lesser Goldfinch shows an entirely different pattern, they are
> basically absent in January and February, with a tiny number in March and
> April. Then numbers begin to increase in May, June and July (with July
> being slightly lower than June). There is a larger increase in August and
a
> peak in September, from there numbers decrease to very low amounts by
> December. Also, Lesser Goldfinches are vastly outnumbered by Americans at
> CCRS.
>
> Again, these are totals not monthly means, not standardized for net hours.
> But the difference in pattern between these two species is not likely to
> change if those improvements are made to the analysis. Its just that
> getting it any further would take time, but getting it to this point is
> very quick. Also keep in mind that there is a great deal of difference
> between years for these species, some years they are abundant and at other
> times they are much rarer. This is a good year for American Goldfinch here
> on the coast, they seem to be everywhere. More so than usual.
>
> So even at one site, these two species are doing different things. If
> anyone wants an exel chart showing the difference let me know and I can
> send attach it.
>
> These are the numbers:
>
> MONTH AMGO LEGO
> 1 4 8
> 2 50 1
> 3 214 14
> 4 608 12
> 5 308 34
> 6 212 81
> 7 402 73
> 8 669 177
> 9 415 225
> 10 88 79
> 11 61 34
> 12 10 20
>
> cheers,
>
> Al
>
>
>
> Alvaro Jaramillo
> Wildlife Biologist
> San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
> P.O. Box 247
> Alviso, CA 95002
>
> email@hidden
>
> Birds of Chile, New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro
>
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email@hidden
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From email@hidden Wed Jun 02 10:28:31 1999
Subject: [SBB] Goldfinches
Well, I guess I might as well put my oar in the water.
I live on the Stanford campus between Page Mill and Stanford Avenue, and we
have Lesser Goldfinches all year round. You should see my bills for black
thistle seeds for the year.
We have had one American Goldfinch in our yard in all the years I have kept
a list and feeders.
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 Wed Jun 02 10:57:38 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] American Goldfinches
Steve Rottenborn wrote:
> Why this species is
> distributed as it is in the county is far from clear.
Unlike most other seed-eating birds that feed their young insects and
other invertebrates, American Goldfinches raise their young on a
mostly-seed diet. Back east they are known to breed late in the season
for this reason, waiting for seed crops to mature before commencing. I
don't know if that's true out here in the mild Bay Area climate, but I
wonder if the distribution of favored "young-raising" crops might be a
deciding factor in their breeding distribution?
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Wed Jun 02 15:46:04 1999
Subject: [SBB] Suburban Miscellany & Black Skimmers
I have seen 4 Black Skimmers on the island in Salt Pond # 1 where they
once nested on May 28 and 30.
Today, Carol Belew and I saw two albinistic America Robins; the first at
Alta Mesa Cemetery, had only a few white feathers on its backs and wings.
The other, at Bols Park, was about 85-90% white, with normal soft parts and
eyes, largely white feathering with some spots of red on the upper breast
and spots of dark grey on the back and wings, and the undertail feathers
were dark.
Also of interest at Bols Park, was a Chestnut-backed Chickadee feeding a
begging Brown-headed Cowbird. Does anyone know how frequently cavity
nesters such as chickadees are parasitized by cowbirds?
And just to chime in on the goldfinch discussion, for two years I have had
both species coming for thistle seed all year round, with more AMGO than
LEGO. Begging young of both were present in late June and July of last
year. As the crow flies, I live in Palo Alto about a mile from the baylands.
Phyllis
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From email@hidden Wed Jun 02 19:36:57 1999
Subject: [SBB] Goldfinches
Howdy South-bay-birders,
I've been reading this goldfinch thread with much interest. Here at the
southern end of the Santa Clara Valley the situation is very different
from that at CCRS, although the riparian habitat on the valley floor is
similar in appearance. Here I've also noticed an increase in Lesser
Goldfinches during the summer months, and as at CCRS they are present in
lowest numbers in winter. But judging from my observations American
Goldfinches seem to be completely absent from the Almaden Valley in
summer (someone please let me know if I am wrong about that). Down here
Am. Goldfinches are mainly spring visitors, most often found in riparian
areas, although I've also sometimes had them down here in winter. They
always seem to be outnumbered by Lessers though--
John Mariani
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Thu Jun 03 08:39:09 1999
Subject: [SBB] More on American Goldfinches
Folks:
There are four subspecies of American Goldfinch: the widespread eastern
subspecies that is found from Canada to the mid-south, an interior subspecies
that is found through the Rocky Mountain states as well as the eastern plains
and the Great Basin, a northwest subspecies that is west of the Cascade-Sierra
crest in Washington and Oregon, and the California subspecies that is also
west of the Cascade-Sierra crest and south to the edge of the deserts (Willow
Goldfinch).
The eastern subspecies is famed for its late breeding. It waits until
the seed capsules of milkweed open and it uses the tassles to line its nest.
This occurs normally in July. There is little evidence of delayed breeding in
our subspecies based on atlas data. There are a number of records of nest
construction in early May and young being fed in June.
Grinnell and Miller (1944) suspected that both the northwestern and
interior subspecies might occasionally show up in California, but there was no
satisfactory specimen evidence. Although there is local movement within the
range there is no migration for this species. Interestingly, based on John
Sterling's comment, there were no records from Modoc County in Grinnell and
Miller and even Small (1994) does not indicate that they breed in the
northeastern part of the state. I wonder whether this is a recent invasion or
was just overlooked (unlikely) by early investigators. I also wonder what
subspecies is involved.
I guess we need a California atlas, heh, heh.
Bill
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From email@hidden Thu Jun 03 09:23:13 1999
Subject: [SBB] Re: Cowbirds & cavity nesters
Phyllis and all,
For what it's worth, our local cavity-nesters recovery program has never yet
encountered successful cowbird parasitism of any of the 10 species we've had
in our boxes. This observation includes roughly 500 nesting events. Of
course, it is limited by the fact that our nestbox entry sizes probably
exclude cowbirds unless enlarged by woodpeckers etc.
At my apple orchard in Pescadero, where Chestnut-backed Chickadees prefer
hollow apple limbs over nestboxes for nesting, I have occasionally seen this
species choose sites which would have been accessible to cowbirds.
--Garth Harwood
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From email@hidden Thu Jun 03 09:41:12 1999
Subject: [SBB] CCRS migrants
All:
I made a quick check of CCRS this morning hoping the rain might have forced
down swifts or some interesting warblers. Almost as soon as I got out of
the car I noticed 4 swifts moving east over the trailers. They appeared
large, but shorter tailed and broader winged than White-throated. I failed
to see any pale markings on them. Unfortunately most of the views were of
the birds moving away in poor light, so I couldn't really be sure what they
were (although I think Black Swift was a distinct possibility). By the
creek, I pished in a couple of Warbling Vireos, a Western Flycatcher, and a
Swainson's Thrush. There was a female Rufous/Allan's Hummer just N. of the
big Euc.
Nick
Nick Lethaby
Technical Marketing Manager
CoWare, Inc.
Tel: 408 845 7646
E-mail: email@hidden
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From email@hidden Thu Jun 03 22:58:04 1999
Subject: [SBB] Birds
Hi Birders,
The Mute Swan should arrive at the Palo Alto duckpond any day now, unless
something happened to him. So, keep your expecting eyes open.
Arrivals: June2 95, June 3, 96, June 13, 97, May 26, 98 for a brief visit
and then again June 13, 98 to stay until Sept. 2, 98.
Other news from the Palo Alto Baylands:
The American Ravens have added 5 joung Ravens to the world. They left the
nest ca. 2 weeks ago. Mama has built a new nest diagonally across from the
first nest and is either laying eggs or breeding, while father raven is
hunting for food to feed the family.
At the home front in my Cupertino Garden Oak Titmice that, as I reported
earlier, moved from a nesting box to a hole in the English Wallnut Tree had
one fledgeling Oak Titmouse, n o t a Cowbird as I had feared.
Dirk Thiele
_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
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From email@hidden Fri Jun 04 12:16:34 1999
Subject: [SBB] Arastradero (and North Dakota)
I've been out of the area for over a month while all the spring activity
was going on. I'd been planning to join in the Breeding Bird Count
tomorrow, but a family obligation has prevented that. So I did a quick
walk around ARastradero this morning to catch up on things, and for what
it may be worth to tomorrow's counters, I found (mostly heard only as I
was moving along fast) 5 LAZULI BUNTINGS, 2 ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS, 2
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, 1 PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, 1 HOUSE WREN, 3
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, 1 WARBLING VIREO, and 1 HUTTON'S VIREO.
Over the last weekend I took a birding trip to North Dakota with fellow
SBB-er Mike Wald and another friend. I've posted a trip report to
birdchat, and would be happy to send it along to any SBB subscribers who
won't see it there.
-- Tom Grey Stanford CA email@hidden
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From email@hidden Fri Jun 04 13:51:17 1999
Subject: [SBB] Some birds
All,
This morning Frank Vanslager and I saw a near breeding plumage female
Red-necked Phalarope at Calabazas Ponds. (Time is running out there for
several large fish as the biggest pond is drying up fast and the fish (carp?)
are already half out of the water.) The ad male Redhead is still in the CCRS
waterbird pond. A male Hairy Woodpecker and a closely associating female
woodpecker were in the CCRS riparian corridor. We got good looks at a male
Downy Woodpecker nearby. We also saw a Pacific-slope Flycatcher and had a
calling Warbling Vireo. A pair of Bullock's Orioles were in the Eucalyptus
tree near the trailers. Really slow otherwise even if you count the
"Unmentionables".
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 1:52 PM, 6/4/99
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From email@hidden Sun Jun 06 13:08:55 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] Indigo Bunting at Monte Bello OSP
Michael,
Indigo Bunting is a rarity around here, so this is a good
record. However, there have been a few summer records in
Santa Clara County (and more from other counties in the area).
A bird that was either an Indigo Bunting or an Indigo/Lazuli
hybrid bred in eastern Santa Clara County with a female
Lazuli Bunting, and similar pairings have been recorded
on a few occasions in Alameda County. I think that a pure
pair of Indigos bred in San Mateo County a few years ago.
There have also been some presumed hybrids that have
oversummered, and any "Indigo" Bunting should be observed
carefully for any signs of hybrid origin. Granted, some
characters that would be expected on a hybrid (e.g., white
on the belly) could be found on a pure Indigo as well,
but it would be interesting to know what percentage of
Northern California's "Indigo" buntings at least show
characters that could be the result of hybridization.
Did you see this bird well enough to determine whether
the upperwings were entirely blue and black, or was there
any brown in the wings or white wing bars? Also, was the
belly entirely blue, or was there any white, brown, or
orange there?
Cheers,
Steve Rottenborn
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From email@hidden Sun Jun 06 13:17:41 1999
Subject: [SBB] Grasshopper Sparrow and Lawrence's Goldfinch
All,
During todays SCVAS field trip to Russian Ridge OSP we got good looks at a
couple of GRSP, 3-4 LAGO and many Lazuli Bunting all within 1/3 of a mile of
easy walking from Skyline Blvd (Hwy 35). Take the trail that starts near the
parking lookout that is about 1 mile northwest of the Russian Ridge OSP
parking lot. Go across Skyline and down the trail into San Mateo county.
There wasn't much down in the trees but who cares.
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 1:16 PM, 6/6/99
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From email@hidden Sun Jun 06 14:02:58 1999
Subject: [SBB] Summer Bird Count
All:
On 4 June, I found a COOPER'S HAWK nest (an adult either incubating
or brooding small young) at the eastern Agnews campus.
On 5 June, I participated in the Palo Alto Summer Bird Count,
covering the bayside area in Palo Alto and Mountain View bounded
by Highway 101, San Francisquito Creek, and Permanente Creek.
Probably the highlight was a BRANT at the Palo Alto duck pond.
I did not see this bird during my first two visits to the pond,
but it was there at 15:00. The bird appeared to have some
yellow line or netting around its neck, and after swimming
around the pond for a while it drifted close to the edge. However,
when I approached it, the Brant flew strongly around the pond before
setting down again, so at least it flew well. Incidentally, I could
not find it when I revisited the area at about 17:30. Also quite
unusual was a basic-plumaged COMMON LOON that was present on
Shoreline Lake all day.
Good numbers of gulls were moving through the Baylands area throughout
the afternoon, roosting for a while on the exposed flats of the yacht
harbor or bathing in the duck pond before heading off to the NW.
Several checks of these groups produced single first-year THAYER'S
and HERRING GULLS, both of which are rare in the county in summer.
Searching through hundreds of FORSTER'S TERNS (many of which had a
dark "wedge" in the primaries like a Common Tern) at the mouth of
San Francisquito Creek eventually produced a good adult COMMON TERN,
seen only in San Mateo County.
Interesting passerines for this part of the count circle included
a singing male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH near the Palo Alto WPCP, singing
male YELLOW WARBLER and WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE along lower Matadero Creek,
single PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS at the Palo Alto WPCP and along
San Francisquito Creek at the end of Geng Road, and a SWAINSON'S
THRUSH along S.F. Creek near the Palo Alto golf course. Other birds
seen included 27 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS in the northwest corner of
pond A1 (where there were also about 50 nesting pairs of CALIFORNIA
GULLS), 14 BROWN PELICANS over the bay, the male WOOD DUCK at the
Palo Alto duck pond, 3 CANVASBACKS (an injured female at the duck
pond and two males in Charleston Slough), a female BLUE-WINGED TEAL
in the north pond of the Palo Alto Flood Control Basin, one GREATER
SCAUP and 3 SURF SCOTERS on Shoreline Lake, 34 LESSER SCAUP and 1
female COMMON GOLDENEYE in Charleston Slough, an imm. COOPER'S
HAWK at the Palo Alto golf course, and one BLACK SKIMMER was on the
island in the SE corner of pond A1. Five GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 4
LONG-BILLED and 42 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS (plus 60 unidentified
dowitchers), and 14 WESTERN SANDPIPERS were in the Palo Alto Flood
Control Basin (including Adobe Creek).
Steve Rottenborn
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From email@hidden Sun Jun 06 15:30:48 1999
Subject: [SBB] Indigo Bunting at Monte Bello OSP
All,
While on an early afternoon hike today at Monte Bello OSP, an unexpected
male Indigo Bunting along the Indian Creek Trail just below the backpacker
camp on the steep brushy slope. The bird was on an exposed perch on a bush
far below the trail. This was the same area where two weeks ago Mark
Miller's group saw the California Thrasher on the large rocks at the bend in
the trail.
As I am new to this area from SoCal, would anyone care to educate me on the
likelihood of seeing this bird and its' status in the area? I am quite sure
of the ID, but surprised to see it here. Comments?
Also seen above the open slope just southwest of the backpacker camp, a pair
of White-throated Swifts in courtship display, including vocalisations and
tumbling in tandem. Others: Lazuli Bunting, Western Bluebird, Western
Meadowlark all seen and heard within 0.5 mile of the camp.
Good Birding
Michael Wienholt
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From email@hidden Sun Jun 06 16:09:46 1999
Subject: [SBB] PABBC
Saturday morning on Russian Ridge we counted 13 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS and
21 LAZULI BUNTINGS in a loop from the vista point overlook north to Hawk
View Trail and south to the Alpine Road parking lot. Between this area
and Langley Hill Road we tallied 42 species, about average for this area
of the count. One McGILLVRAY'S WARBLER was pished up in the expected area
along the road above the Yerba Buena Nursery (by the tree with the white
marker on it).
As much fun as bird counts and bird walks are, 10 minutes of watching the
backyard feeders can sometimes be just as exciting. Last week I watched
as one lingering pine siskin fought to maintain a perch at the thistle
feeder among the lesser goldfinches. A LEGO actually lit on the back of
the siskin, but when the siskin pecked the goldfinch on the head, they
seemed to call a truce. I then saw a female black-headed grosbeak, the
first one in my yard in 19 years, on the ground under the sunflower
feeder. It flew off, and moments later I saw another yard "first", a
Swainson's thrush. After a few seconds, it too flew away. To top off the
excitement, I saw another "first" when a mourning dove landed on the
thistle feeder.
Jack Cole
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 07 08:27:12 1999
Subject: [SBB] Common Loon
Folks:
On my bike commute home on Friday evening, 6/4/1999, I was surprised to
see a basic COMMON LOON grounded on the Moffett Field perimeter road. The
bird appeared alert. I called security later and they checked the location
and the bird was gone. It seems likely that this is the same bird Steve found
on Shoreline Lake on Saturday.
Bill
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 07 09:29:34 1999
Subject: [SBB] RE: Grasshopper Sparrow and Lawrence's Goldfinch
REPLY RE: Grasshopper Sparrow and Lawrence's Goldfinch =
For those who need to be accurate about their county lists, Russian =
Ridge is almost entirely in San Mateo County. There is only a very =
small, narrow wedge along Skline Blvd. about 1/3-mile NW of the =
Page Mill-Skyline junction that's in Santa Clara County.
Les
RREILING2 wrote:
>All,
>
>During todays SCVAS field trip to Russian Ridge OSP we got good looks at =
a =
>couple of GRSP, 3-4 LAGO and many Lazuli Bunting all within 1/3 of a mile =
of =
>easy walking from Skyline Blvd (Hwy 35). Take the trail that starts near =
the =
>parking lookout that is about 1 mile northwest of the Russian Ridge OSP =
>parking lot. Go across Skyline and down the trail into San Mateo county. =
=
>There wasn't much down in the trees but who cares.
>
>Take care,
>Bob Reiling, 1:16 PM, 6/6/99
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 07 10:26:58 1999
Subject: [SBB] Oak Meadow to Vasona Lake
We checked out Oak Meadow Park through to Vasona late yesterday afternoon.
Despite the large number of people who still remained in the park, we got a
great look at a BEWICK'S WREN preening in the trees by the creek. There
were lots of NUTTALL'S WOODPECKERS in both areas. The BLACK PHOEBE's nest
behind the snack shack is still full with nestlings. We also spotted two
GREEN HERONS in the creek. BULLOCKS ORIOLES are still present in the trees
across from the boat docking area. We also two STELLERS JAYS, in addition
to the regular Scrub Jays. We didn't see any Cedar Waxwings that were
present in very large flocks there just two weeks ago.
There are two other interesting things along the creek. A very busy beehive
has been built in the cavity in a tree just past the train footbridge.
(Cross the bridge from Oak Meadow and turn left. Follow the bees.) There
is also dead tree on that same trail with the signature of the ACORN
WOODPECKER with three holes drilled in a row. I understand the lowest hole
is meant to be a decoy, the second to store food, and the top third one for
nesting.
Pat Curtis
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 07 10:40:02 1999
Subject: [SBB] Monte Bello and Skyline OSPs, etc.
On the Palo Alto Summer Bird Count on Saturday, my group
had a great time in the field. We spent the better part
of 12.5 hours covering Monte Bello and Skyline Ridge OSPs.
Our most surprising total was 50 LAZULI BUNTINGS. We were
careful to not double count birds. This was our highest
species total with 44 LESSER GOLDFINCHES coming in second.
Other highlights were: 10 BLACK SWIFTS and 3 VAUX'S SWIFTS
over Monte Bello Ridge; a pair of BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS
building a nest near the campground; WHITE-TAILED KITES at
a nest near the MBOSP parking lot; 2 ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS;
3 WESTERN TANAGERS; 5 CHIPPING SPARROWS total for both OSPs.
Interesting comparisons and sightings:
WOODPECKERS: 13 ACORN, 3 NORTHERN FLICKERS; no Hairy,
Downy or Nuttall's (nor any flyby Pileated)
FLYCATCHERS: ASH-THROATED outnumbered PACIFIC-SLOPE 12:6
(we were in chaparral more often than riparian habitat);
no Western Wood-Pewees or Olive-sided
WRENS: 3 BEWICK'S; no other wrens
VIREOS: 10 each of HUTTON'S and WARBLING, no CASSIN'S
WARBLERS: ORANGE-CROWNED - 14, BLACK-THROATED GRAY - 10,
YELLOW - 1
Carpodocus FINCHES: PURPLE - 17, HOUSE - 10
Other nesting evidence or possibilities: COMMON RAVEN CF
at MBOSP; WESTERN BLUEBIRDS a pair ON at Alpine Pond (SMCounty), CF at
Black Mtn. campground; EUROPEAN STARLINGS
CF at MBOSP; a pair of LAZULI BUNTINGS were visiting a
coyote bush near the Canyon-Bella Vista Trail junction
(but not seen carrying nest mat's or food), and several
pairs of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS were at Horseshoe Lake
and Alpine Pond (both SMCounty) with males defending
territories and mates.
We found no Grasshopper Sparrows (surprising, since
they were found nearby at Russian Ridge), Black-chinned
Sparrows, Brown-headed Cowbirds, nor Lawrence's
Goldfinches. We didn't see the Indigo bunting reported
near the Black Mtn. campground. We found no blackbirds
at the Monte Bello sag pond.
Our route covered the Canyon Trail from Page Mill Rd.
to the Bella Vista Trail, then the Bella Vista Trail
to the Black Mtn. campground, the Indian Creek Trail
down to the Canyon Trail, the Stevens Creek Nature Trail
back to the parking area. At Skyline Ridge OSP, we went
to Horseshoe Lake, then on the Ridge Trail back to
Alpine Pond, cutting across the top of the ridge past
the ranger station.
On Sunday, near the Skyline/Russian Ridge OSP parking
lot, an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER and a BLACK-THROATED GRAY
WARBLER sang from the stand of trees on the north side
of the Page Mill/Skyline intersection; this finger of
land between the two roads is part of Coal Creek OSP and
a small part of it is in SM County.
Les
==========================================
Les Chibana, Palo Alto email@hidden
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 07 10:45:56 1999
Subject: [SBB] Non-birds on PS SBC
I forgot to mention that we saw some nice non-bird sp. too:
1 Whiptail lizard sp. on Indian Creek Trail
Along the Stevens Creek Nature Trail-
2 San Francisco Garter Snakes
2 Alligator lizards mating
And, of course, many Western Fence Lizards doing push-ups,
and numerous California Newts in the creek.
Les
==========================================
Les Chibana, Palo Alto email@hidden
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 07 10:47:36 1999
Subject: [SBB] RE: Monte Bello and Skyline OSPs, etc.
REPLY RE: Monte Bello and Skyline OSPs, etc.
I should have noted that in my PA SBC group were Harriet Gerson, =
Edward and Janice Rooks, and Lisa Myers.
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 07 12:03:11 1999
Subject: [SBB] Sunday At Ed Levin Park
This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand
this format, some or all of this message may not be legible.
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Hello everyone:
My wife and I went to Ed Levin Park late Sunday (6/6) afternoon. Even
before we got to the kiosk 2 mother TURKEYS were escorting 15 chicks across
the road, maybe a week old. The gobbler walked behind us while we stopped
the car. We then hoofed it up to the sycamore grove above Sandy Wool Lake
where we had 3 broods of NORTHERN ORIOLE and 2 broods of HOUSE WREN, all
fledged, being fed by parents. Lots of fledgling LESSER GOLDFINCHES here. A
male BLUE GROSBEAK made a brief appearance (30 seconds) around 6:45 PM, sang
a couple of times and flew off. I heard a couple more phrases around 8:00
pm up the hill but it was too dark to chase it. CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, HOUSE
FINCH, SONG SPARROW, one male LAZULI BUNTING and a WESTERN KINGBIRD
incubating eggs rounded out the list.
Steve Miller
--Boundary_(ID_zpBBIeRQBJgbRHjyTljpag)
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--Boundary_(ID_zpBBIeRQBJgbRHjyTljpag)--
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 07 12:39:28 1999
Subject: [SBB] Lawrences Goldfinch, Lazuli Bunting, Grasshpper Sparrows
Hi All,
Saturday, Merry Haveman and I made a brief stop at Windy Hill OSP for the
Summer Bird Count after completing our area at La Honda Creek OSP. Between
the entrance gate (WH01) and the Cypress Grove, we had 17 singing
Grasshopper Sparrows. We had one singing House Wren at the Cypress Grove
where they have nested previously and one Lawrences Goldfinch singing from
the top of a Cypress. We found 11 male Lazuli Buntings between La Honda
Creek OSP and Windy Hill OSP. Our only warblers were 9 Orange Crowned and
12 Wilsons, all seen at La Honda Creek. La HOnda Creek was fogged in for
most of the morning and very quiet.
Good birding,
Barbara Costa
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 07 16:51:10 1999
Subject: [SBB] PA SBC (Moffett Field area)
On the Palo Alto Summer Bird Count on Saturday 5 June 1999, I covered
Moffett Field, Mountain View Shoreline Park east of Permanente Creek, the
Lockheed campus in Sunnyvale, and the adjacent salt ponds to the north. The
count was mostly uneventful, but here are a few birds of interest:
In the morning, as the tide pulled out, there were large numbers of MARBLED
GODWITS (300+) and AVOCETS at mud's edge in the bay and in the Stevens
Creek Mitigation Area, as well as 6 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS scattered about.
There was a lone WHIMBREL in Steven's Creek near the bay. In Salt Pond B1
across from Stevens Creek was a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER. There were
18 WHITE PELICANS in the northeast corner of Salt Pond B1 and 11 BROWN
PELICANS working the area around mouth of the Guadalupe River.
I counted 16 BURROWING OWLS in all, 2 at Shoreline Park, 2 at Lockheed, and
the rest on Moffett Field; except for 3 small juveniles (at a nest site
near the Moffett Golf Course), all were adults. A lone LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
was along the Moffett Field runway. The RED-TAILED HAWKS nesting on the big
wind tunnel at NASA/Ames turned out 3 fledglings this year! A
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was hunting in front of NASA/Ames around the Moffett
exit off Hwy 101.
A late pass along the levees turned up an EARED GREBE (in alternate
plumage), a WESTERN GREBE, and a CLARK'S GREBE on Salt Pond A3W. On the
islands in Salt Pond B2, north of the Moffett Field runway, there was lots
of nesting activity by FORSTER'S TERNS (60+ sitting), AVOCETS, and
CALIFORNIA GULLS (7 fuzzy PYs seen). No black skimmers were spotted here.
DOUBLE-BREASTED CORMORANTS had 4 occupied nests in the northwest corner of
Salt Pond A2W.
William Cabot, (650) 964-3834, email@hidden
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 07 20:30:02 1999
Subject: [SBB] A few recent birds
Howdy South-bay-birders,
Here are a few recent sightings: on Friday I saw an adult GOLDEN EAGLE
being chased by crows above the PW Supermarket on Almaden Expressway.
Yesterday (Sun.) I did a walk from Harry Road up into the Santa Teresa
Hills. At the beginning of the Stile Ranch Trail there was a LOGGERHEAD
SHRIKE--first one I've seen around here in a long time (over a year).
There were plenty of RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS, and I saw one carrying
food a short distance up the trail.
John Mariani
email@hidden.
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 08 09:48:28 1999
Subject: [SBB] Pileated search
On Sunday, I walked from Skyline to Table Mountain and back. I did not see
a Pileated Woodpecker, but I heard one, and probably quite close. Along the
east side of the loop on Table Mt., I heard extremely loud slow drumming (about
10 taps in three seconds), repeated 3-4 times over a minute. So far as I know
no other local Woodpecker has such a slow steady drum. Is that correct? Un-
fortunately, my view was blocked by a madrone grove. About a minute before the
drumming I had heard a rapid call which I thought was probably Pileated from
the same place. This was late morning. (I had also earlier heard one call in
flight - that time single spaced notes.)
I found nothing unexpected on the walk, but there was a nice variety of
local breeders.
Cheers, Al
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 08 10:01:01 1999
Subject: [SBB] RE: Pileated search
REPLY RE: Pileated search
Al,
I got a report from a person in my birding class who went down to Table =
Mtn. to look for the Pileated Woodpecker on Sunday, 6/6/99, as well. She =
reported having prolonged, distant views of it three times and thinks that =
her group saw a male and a female; however, she wasn't certain of the =
sexing. She didn't comment on whether they heard it on Sunday, but did =
hear it a lot on 5/29/99.
Les Chibana
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 08 10:33:17 1999
Subject: [SBB] 6/5 Summer Bird Count summary
All,
Thanks to the 60 or so of you who took part, the 1999 Palo Alto Summer Bird
Count went off very well, with a preliminary total of 150 species (a few
groups are as yet unheard-from). I don't have comparative figures for past
years here at home but I believe this to be on the high side for the summer
count.
Lingering waterfowl and shorebirds found by the few but dedicated baylands
counters did much to elevate the total. Unusual species added to the
traditional checklist at the countdown included RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, BLACK
SKIMMER, COMMON TERN, BRANT, HERRING GULL, THAYER'S GULL, COMMON LOON, HERMIT
THRUSH, LEAST SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER, PEREGRINE FALCON, and WILD
TURKEY. The Hermit Thrush and the only reported HERMIT WARBLER were both
found by Gloria Heller at Wunderlich Park. Several of these species, such as
Wild Turkey, may be added to the main list this year as they have become more
dependable since the last revision of the list.
Please note that today (6/8/99) until midnight is the final day of the "Count
Week", so birds that were missed altogether on count day, but which are
encountered within the count circle, can be added to the species total as
"CW" birds. (See list of significant misses below. Some of these should be
fairly easy to pick up.)
We've not had time to go through the forms with any thoroughness so far, but
a few patterns emerged from those present at the countdown:
--LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES are well-distributed in the count area this year.
Sightings were reported from Arastradero Preserve, and from several points
along Skyline Blvd.
--LAZULI BUNTINGS and GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were abundant, with a high count
of 50 LABU at Monte Bello and two different teams reporting 17 GRSP each at
sites along Skyline.
Significant misses:
Osprey
Golden Eagle
Virginia Rail
Sora
Western Screech-owl
Great Horned Owl (!)
Northern Pygmy-owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Cedar Waxwing
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Black-chinned Sparrow
Pine Siskin
For at least the second straight year TREE SWALLOW seems to have been missed
on the actual count unless the Arastradero Preserve team saw them. They are
already accounted for as Count Week birds however, as we have two active
nests in boxes at the Preserve.
Please report Count Week birds seen from Weds. 6/2 through Tues. 6/8 within
the area extending from Mile 11 on Hwy 84 near La Honda to the west side of
Dumbarton Bridge and from the southern edge of Edgewood Park south to Rancho
San Antonio County Park.
My personal highlight (with team members Tim Johnson, Mary Murphy, and Vivek
Tiwari) was a female WESTERN TANAGER on the nest at Hidden Villa Ranch - an
unusually low nest site for this species. We also had a total of eight
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS between Los Trancos OSP and Foothills Park,
which along with the 10 found by Les Chibana's Monte Bello team seems to be a
healthy number. It will be a few weeks before we have the grand total of this
and other species, though.
Thanks again to all who counted birds last Saturday.
--Garth Harwood
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 08 15:44:59 1999
Subject: [SBB] Some good county birds
All,
This morning Frank Vanslager and I hit the "high" spots. At Table Mountain
we had a single call from a Pileated Woodpecker located somewhere east of
last years nest tree (directly inline with the sun at 9:51 AM). On the
northern side of the loop trail we had a silent Red-breasted Nuthatch. Other
"mentionables" include two fighting adult male Western Tanagers, lots of
Cassin's Vireos and Orange-crowned Warblers, a couple of Hutton's Vireos,
many Warbling Vireos, Purple Finches, Black-headed Grosbeaks, several
Ash-throated Flycatchers, one Pacific-slope Flycatcher, at least one
Olive-sided Flycatcher and near the top we had several Lazuli Buntings and a
couple of Black-throated Gray Warblers. A big miss, especially in lieu of
our recent sighting at CCRS, was Hairy Woodpecker which has always been seen
or heard on our trips to Table Mountain. We then went to the end of the
pavement at Loma Prieta. (This was no easy task as they a working on the
narrow part of Hwy 35 and we had to back up more than once to let large
re-surfacing equipment by). One of the first birds seen when we got there
was a singing adult male Black-chinned Sparrow which was on the hill on the
Santa Clara side of the road. We then climbed the hill to look for Purple
Martins of which there were none :-( only a Red-tailed Hawk perched in their
tree. Other mentionables include Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, several Ash-throated
Flycatchers (which chased off a smaller, interesting looking flycatcher,
probably a Western Wood-Pewee, that was working the bushes on the hillside),
Orange-crowned Warblers, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Purple Finches, Olive-sided
Flycatchers and a flock of six Common Raven.
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 3:44 PM, 6/8/99
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From email@hidden Wed Jun 09 10:12:09 1999
Subject: [SBB] Cliff Swallow, Owl
A new house in my neighborhood needs no address. It is UNaffectionately
called "The Monstrosity" by the neighbors. It proves the adage that money
does not buy taste. An interesting event is occurring. Cliff Swallows are
building mud nests under the eaves of "The Monstrosity". Lots of swallows.
I am unaware of this species in my neighborhood before. (too bad its not
bats!)
The 4 Baby Western Screech Owls have not yet fledged and are continuing to
grow!
Gloria LeBlanc
Los Gatos near Quito
Your PFO (Personal Financial Officer)
http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com
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From email@hidden Wed Jun 09 10:47:11 1999
Subject: [SBB] SBC followup
All,
More developments as count checklists and emails come in:
Tree Swallows WERE found by the Arastradero team; my apologies for expressing
any doubt of it!
Pine Siskins were found by Barbara Costa and Merry Haveman on La Honda Creek
OSP.
Cedar Waxwings were reported by Dick Stovel as a count week bird, seen on 6/4.
With TRSW and PISI, the official count stands at 152 species plus the count
week waxwings.
Didn't anybody hear a Great Horned Owl last week?
--Garth Harwood
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From email@hidden Wed Jun 09 13:10:56 1999
Subject: [SBB] Re: Some good county birds
Bob Reiling wrote:
> This morning Frank Vanslager and I hit the "high" spots. At Table Mountain
> we had a single call from a Pileated Woodpecker located somewhere east of
> last years nest tree (directly inline with the sun at 9:51 AM). On the
> northern side of the loop trail we had a silent Red-breasted Nuthatch.
I forgot to mention that on Sunday (June 6) at Table Mt. I heard but did not
see a Red-Breasted Nuthatch.
Al
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From email@hidden Wed Jun 09 20:25:34 1999
Subject: FW: [SBB] Cliff Swallow, Owl
As a subscriber, I read carefully the conditions all users were asked to
observe when posting information on this forum. I respectfully ask that this
subscriber do the same and confine her contributions to ornithological
topics, rather than ungracious editorializing.
----------
From: Gloria
To: email@hidden
Subject: [SBB] Cliff Swallow, Owl
Date: Wed, Jun 9, 1999, 10:12 AM
A new house in my neighborhood needs no address. It is UNaffectionately
called "The Monstrosity" by the neighbors. It proves the adage that money
does not buy taste. An interesting event is occurring. Cliff Swallows are
building mud nests under the eaves of "The Monstrosity". Lots of swallows.
I am unaware of this species in my neighborhood before. (too bad its not
bats!)
The 4 Baby Western Screech Owls have not yet fledged and are continuing to
grow!
Gloria LeBlanc
Los Gatos near Quito
Your PFO (Personal Financial Officer)
http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com
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From email@hidden Wed Jun 09 22:37:25 1999
Subject: [SBB] White Tailed Kite
Hi,
I saw a Whitetailed Kite carrying whast looked like a Blackbird in it's
talons. Location was Palo Alto Nature Interprative Center area.
The Mute Swan has not arrived at the Duck Pond. I am getting concerned.
California Towhees are making a come-back to my Cupertino yard after having
been absent for several years.
Last weekend I went to Blackberry Farm and saw a lot of Lesser Goldfinches
on the Niger feeders and young Orioles(Hooded?) on the Oriole feeders. Then
I took a walk along the creek and heard and saw a Song Sparrow, several
California Towhees.
I also saw a California Thrasher in a residential area of Los Altos.
Dirk Thiele
_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
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From email@hidden Thu Jun 10 11:18:43 1999
Subject: [SBB] West Valley College Saratoga Campus
We walked through the West Valley Junior College campus in Saratoga this
morning to see what we might find. We got really good looks at a CALIFORNIA
THRASHER by the Art Lab. At the same location, you can view an AMERICAN
ROBIN sitting on a nest over the outdoor light by the Art Lab as well.
We also saw a HUTTON'S VIREO up close. It had landed on a footpath and let
us approach. We think it might have been a juvenile just learning to fly.
We also saw a number of SPOTTED TOWHEES, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, OAK
TITMICE, and COWBIRDS.
A number of different woodpeckers were present including the ACORN
WOODPECKER and the NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER.
We didn't have a lot of time but I'm sure there is more to be found at this
site.
Pat Curtis
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From email@hidden Thu Jun 10 16:08:33 1999
Subject: [SBB] skimmer
Today, at noon, I observed a Black Skimmer on th ' island' in the salt pond
behind the Don Edwards Wildlife Environmental Education Center. It was
sitting, preening, and otherwise looking generally listless in the hot sun.
Was this normal behavior?
There was plenty of activity among the FOTE, AMAV (with young) and BNST on
the pond.
Two burrowing owls were perched on the fence along the railroad tracks near
the entrance to the ECC, occasionally flying to the ground on either side
of the fence, then back up to the fence.
good birding,
Karl
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From email@hidden Fri Jun 11 12:24:07 1999
Subject: [SBB] Anderson Lake County Park
All,
Things were quite slow this morning at Anderson Lake Co. Park. Best birds
were an adult male Osprey over the reservoir northwest of the spillway, a
Rufous-crowned Sparrow on the dam face and at least four White-throated
Swifts southwest of the dam face. There's a short detour on Cochrane Rd.
while their re-working on the road.
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 12:26 PM, 6/11/99
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From email@hidden Fri Jun 11 12:31:29 1999
Subject: [SBB] Countersinging
Last week I watched (and heard) a California Thrasher countersinging to an
American Robin--the Robin had been singing vigorously for about 5 minutes
before. The two bird were only about 50 feet apart, each on the top of a
tall tree. The duet only lasted a short time.
Obviously the two spp have similar songs, but has anyone ever heard/seen
this before?
Ruth Troetschler
Ruth Troetschler
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From email@hidden Fri Jun 11 16:28:48 1999
Subject: [SBB] CORA/VGSW nests
All,
A few interesting breeding records from the Stanford campus today
6/11/99. A nesting pair of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS was at Tressider
Union (side facing the parking lot). These birds were flying in and
out of a crack (hard to believe the birds fit into it really) between
a big beam and the concrete piling supporting it. They aggresively
defended their foraging area against another VGSW, but were less
bothered by the BARN and CLIFF SWALLOWS that snuck a pass through
there when they were chasing the intruding VGSW. Although not a new
breeding species for block 7040, such man-made nest sites are always
of interest for this species.
Also checked out the Green Library COMMON RAVEN nest (on a light at
the left corner of the building as you look from the Quad). I could
hear young in the nest and they were being attended by the pair of
adults, but they were not visible (without binoculars anyway) and are
presumably still quite small. This is a new breeding species for
block 7040, although pairs have been observed in the area before
(along with overflying birds carrying food).
Also several WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS feeding young.
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Fri Jun 11 16:38:27 1999
Subject: [SBB] HOOR nesting in Eucalyptus
In a large eucalyptus tree across the street from my house, there has
been a pair of Hooded Orioles nesting. The nest is quite visible from
below. The young are quite vocal now when an adult arrives, as I think
they will fledge in a couple of days.
Curious though, I thought HOOR usually nested in Washitonia palms,
several of which are in the neighborhood (one right across the street).
I only know of one other record from a Eucalyptus (from Menlo Park).
Does anyone know of other records of Hooded Orioles nesting in trees
other than Fan Palms?
Screech.
--
Paul L. Noble
email@hidden
^ ^
@ @
( v )
( )
/ \
m m
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From email@hidden Fri Jun 11 17:05:20 1999
Subject: [SBB] BBS route 6/8/99
All,
Early Tuesday morning 6/8/99 I did my Breeding Bird Survey, a 50-stop,
24.5-mile route crossing the valley from Metcalf Road to Calero,
Almaden, and Guadalupe Reservoirs (3-minute counts at each stop).
Start time for the first stop is 5:14am - no Common Poorwills or owls
this time, although I did have WILD TURKEYS calling at stops 1 and 4.
This species seems to be increasing in a variety of locations in the
county. In general things were pretty quiet, with fewer singing birds
than usual (perhaps because of the slightly later date this year - or
maybe the cold wet spring). Despite this I did manage to find small
numbers of the more uncommon species along the route including:
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW - 1 heard singing at stop 7 west of the United
Technologies Plant (also a LARK SPARROW here) and 2 more heard at stop
9 near the motorcycle park at the summit (also a HORNED LARK and a
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW here) - a fourth was at stop 11 as noted below.
A singing ROCK WREN was at stop 10 just west of the motorcycle park,
while further down Metcalf Road at stop 11 I had a singing male LAZULI
BUNTING, a fourth GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, and another HORNED LARK.
Two more RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS were at stop 12.
Down at Parkway Lakes there was a singing YELLOW WARBLER. The entire
stretch along Monterey Highway was too noisy for much and thanks to
the development in the Almaden Valley, traffic noise was a problem all
the way past the IBM plant and Calero Reservoir until stop 34 near New
Almaden. In fact, this route may have to be discontinued thanks to
the sprawling urban development.
West of the IBM plant a RED-TAILED HAWK nest was on a high voltage
tower and the GOLDEN EAGLE nest below Calero Reservoir had two large
young with the pair of adults on the next tower over.
At least six CASPIAN TERNS at Calero Reservoir were of interest and
one pair was involved in courtship feeding.
New Almaden had the usual OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, a singing YELLOW
WARBLER, an adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, and a flyover WOOD DUCK.
Further up towards Almaden Reservoir was a singing WESTERN TANAGER
(probably breeding here). The reservoir itself had 3 female COMMON
MERGANSERS, all three VIREOS, and another RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, this
one carrying food.
Hick's Road had lots of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS (including adults
feeding young) and a singing PURPLE FINCH. Stop 48 produced a HAIRY
WOODPECKER but failed to provide the usual WILSON'S WARBLER, which was
heard singing in transit to stop 49 instead :(.
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Fri Jun 11 17:14:48 1999
Subject: [SBB] Nesting LAGO and LAZB at Windy Hill
This morning at Windy Hill I found a Lawrence's Goldfinch nest with the
female presumably incubating. Also saw one pair of Lazuli Buntings with the
female carrying nesting material. Several other LAZB's were singing without
females in evidence.
---------------------------------------------------------
Peter LaTourrette
Bird photos: http://www.stanford.edu/~petelat1/
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society: http://www.scvas.org/
Western Field Ornithologists: http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/
Peninsula Open Space Trust: http://www.openspacetrust.org/
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From email@hidden Fri Jun 11 17:30:21 1999
Subject: [SBB] birds
On a walk today, 11 Jun 99, along Coyote Creek south of Hellyer I had
some interesting breeding activity. An AMERICAN ROBIN was sitting on a
nest that was situated on top of some pipes just outside the back door
at work. A pair of ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS was bringing food to a
cavity that was used as a nest site last year by Nutall's Woodpeckers.
BELTED KINGFISHERS are again carrying food to a location where they had
nested last year. There are a couple of likely-looking nest burrows
here, but I don't know which one they are using.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Fri Jun 11 17:56:51 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] HOOR nesting in Eucalyptus
I've seen Hooded Orioles nesting in a sycamore tree some years ago. Interestingly,
they always seem to use the palm frond fringe to build their nest, regardless of
what tree it's in.
Mike Mammoser
"Paul L. Noble" wrote:
> In a large eucalyptus tree across the street from my house, there has
> been a pair of Hooded Orioles nesting.
> Curious though, I thought HOOR usually nested in Washitonia palms,
> several of which are in the neighborhood (one right across the street).
> I only know of one other record from a Eucalyptus (from Menlo Park).
> Does anyone know of other records of Hooded Orioles nesting in trees
> other than Fan Palms?
>
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From email@hidden Fri Jun 11 22:06:37 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] CORA/VGSW nests
At 04:28 PM 6/11/99 -0700, Dr. Michael M. Rogers wrote:
>
>All,
>
>A few interesting breeding records from the Stanford campus today
>6/11/99. A nesting pair of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS was at Tressider
>Union (side facing the parking lot). These birds were flying in and
>out of a crack (hard to believe the birds fit into it really) between
>a big beam and the concrete piling supporting it. They aggresively
>defended their foraging area against another VGSW, but were less
>bothered by the BARN and CLIFF SWALLOWS that snuck a pass through
>there when they were chasing the intruding VGSW. Although not a new
>breeding species for block 7040, such man-made nest sites are always
>of interest for this species.
>
Mike and others:
In Vancouver, Canada the Violet-green is the common breeding swallow in
town. Over there almost all nests are in cracks and holes in houses. In
fact, I don't recall ever seeing one up there nesting in a natural cavity.
On a related topic, I had Violet-greens hanging around in my
neighbourhood in HMB into late May. My guess is that they were setting up
shop and breeding nearby. They breed in the HMB area, but usually a little
higher up in the hills. I have not seen them lately, but wondered if
Violet-greens may be breeding a little lower down this year due to the cold?
cheers,
Al
Alvaro Jaramillo
Wildlife Biologist
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
P.O. Box 247
Alviso, CA 95002
email@hidden
Birds of Chile, New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro
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From email@hidden Fri Jun 11 22:10:04 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] HOOR nesting in Eucalyptus
At 04:38 PM 6/11/99 -0700, Paul L. Noble wrote:
>In a large eucalyptus tree across the street from my house, there has
>been a pair of Hooded Orioles nesting. The nest is quite visible from
>below. The young are quite vocal now when an adult arrives, as I think
>they will fledge in a couple of days.
>Curious though, I thought HOOR usually nested in Washitonia palms,
>several of which are in the neighborhood (one right across the street).
>I only know of one other record from a Eucalyptus (from Menlo Park).
>Does anyone know of other records of Hooded Orioles nesting in trees
>other than Fan Palms?
In the east of their range, they are not so closely tied to palms. However,
here in California they are. Even so there are a good number of records of
them nesting away from palms in California, enough to say that they are not
obligate palm breeders. I am not sure if the nest construction is always
made of palm fibres or not, but my guess is that it is. Does your
Eucalyptus nest appear to be made from Washingtonia palm fibres?
regards
Al
Alvaro Jaramillo "It was almost a pity, to see the sun
Half Moon Bay, shining constantly over so useless a country"
California Darwin, regarding the Atacama desert.
email@hidden
Helm guide to the New World Blackbirds, Birding in Chile and more, at:
http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro
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From email@hidden Sat Jun 12 11:50:23 1999
Subject: [SBB] PESCADERO and MERCED
All,
A trip to the Pescadero Area today turned up about approx. 30
BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKES still in Pescadero Creek. Does anybody know what
the latest date for kittiwakes has been in previous years? Present there
were also about 20 CASPIAN TERNS, roosting among the many CALIFORNIA
GULLS and WESTERN GULLS. In the narrow waterway near the large shallow
pool just north of the creek on HWY 1 there was a female RED-BREASTED
MERGANSER with 8 young.
At Phipp's Ranch there were no real surprises but many YELLOW WARBLERS,
a few ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, SWAINSON'S
THRUSHES, ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS, WARBLING VIREOS, BULLOCK'S ORIOLES,
PURPLE FINCHES, etc. The RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS put on a nice show for our
group. Good numbers of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS flew over the ranch at
regular intervals. We tried unsuccessfully to locate the Rose-breasted
Grosbeak that was reported in the herb garden area. Has it been seen
recently?
Yesterday, in Merced NWR (I know this is REALLY pushing the area
limits...) there was a pair of BLUE GROSBEAKS, 4-6 CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS
(and many more WESTERN KINGBIRDS), ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, LARK
SPARROW, and a single female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD. The blackbird
suprised me because there wasn't a drop of water to be seen in the area.
Also I saw 5 SWAINSON'S HAWKS including one beautiful dark morph.
Good birding,
Matthew Dodder
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From email@hidden Sat Jun 12 17:55:43 1999
Subject: [SBB] Willow Flycatcher
All,
Today during the SCVAS field trip to Anderson Lake County Park we had fairly
good looks at a Willow Flycatcher (possibly two) feeding on the north side of
Coyote Creek (in James Boys Ranch) just west of the ranger headquarters at
the end of Malaguerra Av.
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 5:59 PM, 6/12/99
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From email@hidden Sun Jun 13 11:28:51 1999
Subject: [SBB] weekend birds
At Arastradero Preserve, 3-4 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH are still with the large
flock of Lesser Goldfinch a few yards up the right branch of the first
trail to the left off Corte Madera Trail after you enter the preserve.
Around the big eucalyptus at the top of that hill near the entrance, on
the south edge of the preserve, I saw a juvenile GREAT HORNED OWL, fledged
(it flew) but with lots of down still on the head - also one of the
adults. There is a pair of BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS here. A little further
along the south fence in the direction of the lake I saw a HAIRY
WOODPECKER hammering on a phone pole. Two GREEN HERONS overflew the lake.
The pair of KESTRELS are still using the nest in the bare palm trunk near
the parking lot.
On the Stanford campus, lots of activity by adult and young HOODED and
BULLOCK'S ORIOLES around the meadow at the end of Frenchman's Road. A
little way from there at the junction of Gerona and Santa Maria nearly
full-grown young RED-TAILED HAWKS are standing out on the branch by their
nest, flapping their wings, doing all that "on the verge" stuff.
-- Tom Grey Stanford CA email@hidden
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From email@hidden Sun Jun 13 18:28:22 1999
Subject: [SBB] Monte Bello 6/10: No Indigo, etc.
All,
While monitoring nestboxes along Monte Bello Ridge on Thursday 6/10/99, I
checked the area where an Indigo Bunting was reported on the 6th, but none of
the 8 buntings observed in the area of the backpacker's camp or top 1/2 mile
of the Indian Creek Trail was anything other than LAZULI BUNTING. Both
members of one pair of LABU were carrying food into a sage clump in the
afternoon shade of the lone cottonwood at mile 0.3 of the IC trail (the
female's offering was a very substantial-looking spider...what a treat.)
Otherwise the only birds of note were a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW singing from a
fencepost by some of the boxes and a heard-only CHIPPING SPARROW along the
White Oak trail (quite a ways from the Ridge, but there's an isolated box
there).
The eleven established nestboxes at MB contained:
Ash-throated Flycatcher: one nest with five eggs
Violet-green Swallow: Two nests; one with 4 eggs under incubation, the other
under active construction (late?)
Western Bluebird: five nests, one emptied by a predator, (probably snake);
one each with 5 and 4 young in the 7 to 10-day age range; one with a single,
week-old young and 4 unhatched bad-looking eggs; and one with a new hatchling
and one healthy-looking unhatched egg.
I placed eight new boxes as well. These won't be used except as roosting
sites until next year, unless one of those tardy swallows likes the smell of
fresh redwood.
That's it for birds, but if you're interested in butterflies read on:
Exceptionally high butterfly diversity along the ridge included the following
13 species:
--CHALCEDON CHECKERSPOT (many, all over)
--PROPERTIUS DUSKYWING (near live oaks)
--MOURNFUL DUSKYWING (same)
--Speyeria sp. FRITILLARY (many, large and showy, on ridgetops among
dandelions; this genus notoriously difficult to ID but probably CORONIS or
CALLIPPE FRITILLARY)
--SARA ORANGETIP along MB road near campground
--PALE SWALLOWTAIL around chaparral
--CALIFORNIA SISTER along Waterwheel Creek trail
--NORTHERN CHECKERSPOT plentiful along Waterwheel trail
--ACMON BLUE on soil in trails
--SPRING AZURE, a.k.a. "ECHO BLUE", in chaparral at top of WW trail
--CALIFORNIA RINGLET everywhere
--NORTHERN CLOUDYWING along WW trail near nestboxes under oaks
--PURPLISH COPPER at Waterwheel Creek on grassy slopes.
It's only fair to mention that I'm new to the butterfly business and despite
all possible care there may be an erroneous ID in there somewhere...anyone in
a position to compare notes on the duskywings, cloudywing, or coppers?
--Garth Harwood
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 14 08:46:49 1999
Subject: [SBB] Vasona Herons
I checked the Vasona heron rookery again yesterday AM. No adult
Great Blues were present. The nest that has had 3 chicks had just
one remaining. I assume the other two have flown. In the other
nest, there were still two chicks nest-bound.
There were 2 adult Black-crowned Night Herons and a chick
practicing BCNH poses on roots near the water's edge. One of the
adults was in a location that I previously thought might be a nest,
but it may instead be just a favorite resting spot.
The only visible Snowy Egret nest now has two downy chicks.
Other adult SNEG were also visible, but the nests are hidden.
Neither adult nor juvenile Green Herons showed up while i was
there.
George Oetzel Menlo Park, CA
(W) email@hidden (SFBBO) email@hidden
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
http://www.sfbbo.org
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 14 08:56:33 1999
Subject: [SBB] ELEGANT TERN
I apologize for this double post...
Yesterday, while attempting unsuccessfully to find the Mourning Warbler
along Deniston Creek near Princeton, I saw a single ELEGANT TERN flying
northeast toward Princeton Harbor. This was my first of the year. Have
many others been seen in the area this spring? As well, there was a
CASSIN'S VIREO, WESTERN TANAGER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, and COOPER'S
HAWK.
Matthew Dodder
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 14 09:46:09 1999
Subject: [SBB] birds
On Saturday, 12 Jun 99, I went to the EEC in Alviso and found the BLACK
SKIMMER still occupying the island in salt pond A18. Also present were
15 alternate-plumaged WILSON'S PHALAROPES, a handful of
alternate-plumaged EARED GREBES, and 8 BONAPARTE'S GULLS in basic
plumage.
Over at Crittenden Marsh I had a subadult PEREGRINE FALCON. I say
subadult because the bird was streaked below and brownish above, but
already had acquired the yellow legs and cere.
On Sunday, 13 Jun 99, I attended "New Orleans by the Bay" and found an
active COMMON RAVEN nest on one of the towers holding up the
Amphitheater tent. Also, BARN SWALLOWS seem to be nesting in every
restroom.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 14 11:29:28 1999
Subject: [SBB] County Bird List Update
Bill Bousman has updated the Santa Clara Co. Bird List as of June 7.
The current total is 253.
The list is posted on SBBU, along with a summary of the new additions.
Kendric
South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU)
http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 15 10:44:06 1999
Subject: [SBB] Query
All:
I'm working in Ghana in July. I've frequently been (and birded) in
southern Africa, but not West Africa. Suggestions on a field guide, or
other sorts of information, contacts?
Thanks, John Meyer
**************************************************************
John Meyer, Dept. of Soc., Stanford U., Stanford CA 94305 (650)7231868
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 15 11:48:51 1999
Subject: [SBB] Indigo Bunting
I found a singing adult male INDIGO BUNTING at 8:00 pm in
Long Ridge OSP (San Mateo County) adjacent to Skyline Blvd.
about 200-400 yards from the Santa Clara County line. It
was singing from a douglas fir and later in a live oak. This
area is grassland with doug fir-oak woodland edge and is in
the Peters Creek drainage.
The song was similar to a Lazuli Bunting in timbre and pitch
but was easier to phoneticize. It started with a descending
(both in pitch and volume) "TEW, Tew, tew" then "te-wink,
te-wink, te-wink". I first heard the bird and thought I would
find a LAZB singing a variant song. I was surprised to see
the solid blue breast. The blackish lores were easy to see,
as was the horn-colored bill. The deep blue plumage was even
in tone, darkening at the primaries. There were no brownish
feathers visible that might indicate a SY bird.
To get to this area, go 3.2 miles north on Skyline Blvd. from
Saratoga Gap (where Hwy 9 crosses Skyline), or 3.2 mi. south
from Page Mill/Alpine Rd. The Long Ridge OSP parking area, a
wide turnout, is on a section of Skyline Blvd. that runs more
east-west than north-south. The parking area is on the south
side of the road, opposite the Grizzly Flat trailhead. Take
the Peters Creek trail from the parking area into Long Ridge
to the bottom of the valley, about .3 mi. Take the Ridge
trail to the right about 50 yds. to a rail-less, short
footbridge. Uphill from this point is a pair of doug firs.
The INBU was singing from the trailside of the nearest fir.
At one point, it flew south, across the trail to a live oak.
For the SCL county listers, it's possible that this bird
moves into SCL but it may not be likely, as the grassland
stops at Skyline and the "edge" is the road. For others,
it's an easy location to reach from Skyline Blvd. If you
miss the bird at Windy Hill, you might try here.
Les
==========================================
Les Chibana, Palo Alto email@hidden
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 15 11:56:49 1999
Subject: [SBB] RE: Indigo Bunting
REPLY RE: Indigo Bunting
Sorry, I neglected to mention when I found this bird. =
I saw it yesterday evening, Monday, 6/14/99.
Les
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From email@hidden Tue Jun 15 16:43:35 1999
Subject: [SBB] MODO
Hello All
A second pair of MOURNING DOVE nestlings fledged yesterday from their
nest in a hanging fern in our backyard in San Jose.
The same parent birds had also fledged 2 earlier nestlings from the
same nest and layed the two new eggs 2 days after their first babies
fledged!!.
Now we'll have to see if they "triple-brood".
Alan W.
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From email@hidden Wed Jun 16 08:19:11 1999
Subject: [SBB] BLSK
Folks:
On my bike commute yesterday, 6/15/1999, I saw two of the
BLACK SKIMMERS in the afternoon, roosing on a spit in the North
Pond of the Palo Alto FCB.
Bill
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From email@hidden Wed Jun 16 11:47:33 1999
Subject: [SBB] White-throated Swift in odd place
All,
I had a white-throated swift foraging low over Stevens Creek Dodge last
night at 8:30pm. near Stevens Creek Blvd and Keily. This is not far from the
280 overpass that they are occasionally seen at but it sure was an odd site.
Nick Yatsko
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From email@hidden Thu Jun 17 10:13:44 1999
Subject: [SBB] INBU still present
The singing male INDIGO BUNTING was still at Long Ridge OSP
off Skyline Blvd. last evening, 6/16/99, at 7:45 - 8:15 pm.
As I noted earlier, this is in San Mateo County, about 200
yds. outside of Santa Clara County.
It was singing from the top of one of the "twin" doug firs
where I found it on Monday evening. I haven't been able to
check this area at any other time of day, so I don't know
it's cycle. But when I've seen it, it seems to return to
the firs after a brief stay somewhere else in the valley.
Last night it flew east, toward the junction of the Peters
Creek and Ridge Trails. The firs are actually just off the
Peters Creek Trail near the bottom, about 100 yds. before
junction, where it breaks out of the woodland into a grassy
slope. The firs are on the right as you go downhill.
Last night, its song was more like the guides note, in
paired notes: "TEW, TEW, Teer, Teer, te-wink, te-wink,
te-wink, te-wink, tee, tee, wink, wink........spit!"
Les
==========================================
Les Chibana, Palo Alto email@hidden
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From email@hidden Thu Jun 17 10:23:07 1999
Subject: [SBB] PISI
Last week, 6/9/99, a single PINE SISKIN was at our thistle
feeder. This is along Skyline Blvd. between Page Mill Rd.
and Saratoga Gap.
Les
==========================================
Les Chibana, Palo Alto email@hidden
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From email@hidden Thu Jun 17 14:37:57 1999
Subject: [SBB] EEC 6/17/99
All,
I had to make a lunchtime delivery to H. T. Harvey & Associates
in Alviso today 6/17/99, so I made a quick check of the nearby
Environmental Education Center afterwards.
On the way in an immature PEREGRINE FALCON was perched on the
tower near the bend in the road. This bird was similar to the
one described recently by Mike Mammoser, being brown and streaked
but with yellow legs, cere, and eyering.
Salt Pond A16 had 56 alternate-plumaged WILSON'S PHALAROPES
(55 females, 1 male), 11 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 4 alternate-
plumaged EARED GREBES, and 3 male LESSER SCAUP, but no sign
of the Black Skimmer seen there lately. Nearby Mallard
Slough had a COMMON MOORHEN, an alternate-plumaged WILLET,
and 4 CINNAMON TEAL.
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Thu Jun 17 14:45:17 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] EEC 6/17/99
In my posting from last weekend I mistakenly called this salt pond A18. My apologies
for any confusion.
Mike Mammoser
"Dr. Michael M. Rogers" wrote:
> Salt Pond A16 had 56 alternate-plumaged WILSON'S PHALAROPES
> (55 females, 1 male), 11 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 4 alternate-
> plumaged EARED GREBES, and 3 male LESSER SCAUP, but no sign
> of the Black Skimmer seen there lately.
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From email@hidden Sat Jun 19 13:28:30 1999
Subject: [SBB] Nome, AK
Anyone interested in our trip list from three days in
Nome, let me know.
Jack Cole
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
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From email@hidden Sat Jun 19 16:51:53 1999
Subject: [SBB] Index for NGS Bird Book
An Index for the inside front cover of the new NGS Bird Book is posted on SBBU.
South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU)
http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/
I prepared an Index for the inside front cover of the new edition of the
NGS Bird Book, and started to post it on SBBU on May 27. Then I found that
I had to reorganize things so that it would work on both Netscape and
Explorer for both MAC and PC. Then other problems got in the way.
Anyway, the index is finally posted with specific directions on how to set
the Preferences for your browser and printer to make it work (hopefully)
for whatever platform you are on.
If the Internet download doesn't work for you (and I can't suggest a
solution for you), then you can send a stamped, self-addressed envelope,
and I will mail a copy to you.
-------
I might add that it is almost too noisy to work in my back yard. All of
the fledgling Lesser Goldfinches are crying "Feed Me", and I assume that
the parents are saying, "Be quiet, I brought you to this great feeder, so
eat already."
Happy birding,
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 Sat Jun 19 17:55:35 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] Index for NGS Bird Book
On Sat, 19 Jun 1999 16:51:53 -0700, "Kendric C. Smith"
wrote:
>An Index for the inside front cover of the new NGS Bird Book is posted on SBBU.
A similar index is available at
http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/NatGeo3.pdf
This version may be viewed and printed with the free Adobe Acrobat
reader.
Also I have updated the South Bay Birders archive to include the May
1999. Past messages may be browsed at
http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/southbay.htm
Enjoy!
--
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: email@hidden
Fall Birding Classes begin Sept 7: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/
California Bird Records Committee: http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/
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From email@hidden Sun Jun 20 15:40:01 1999
Subject: [SBB] Barn Owl, Black Skimmers
Between 8:30 & 8:45 AM today, I watched a Barn Owl being vigorously
harrassed and driven from three successive cypress tree clumps in the
grassy area overlooking Shoreline Lake. The beleaguered owl eventually
disappeared over the parking lot behind the boathouse with 4 crows, 6
mockingbirds and number of Brewer's Blackbirds in pursuit.
Earlier today, there were two Black Skimmers on the island in Salt Pond
no. 1 where they nested a couple of years ago. They appeared to be
courting: raising their heads in synchrony, calling, and pointing at a spot
on the ground (which might be called a scrape if you're optimistic.) The
larger of the birds was driving off all the avocets and terns from a
25-30-foot circle surrounding them. After all this promising activity,
they went to sleep.
Phyllis
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From email@hidden Sun Jun 20 18:40:30 1999
Subject: [SBB] B-L Kittiwake - Here to breed?
Hi all,
I've just spent most of the day birding along the San Mateo coastline and
I'm pretty amazed at the amount of Black-legged Kittiwakes still along the
shore. My highest count was 91 at the mouth of Pescadero Creek (just inland
from H/W 1). There were also quite a few drifting around Pigeon Point, but
more to the point, there were quite a few just sat on the cliff face on the
south side of Pigeon Point. By the amount of droppings on the rock, I'd say
they had been frequenting this perfect breeding habitat for quite some time.
It might be worth spending some time checking suitable breeding
cliffs/islands for nesting birds. I'm not sure what the breeding status of
this species is in S.California, but I would think it is quite a
rare/non-existent breeder.
Other birds I had today were 1 BLACK BRANT (very bleached and faded), and a
1s BONAPARTES GULL on Pescadero Marsh. A constant stream of SOOTY
SHEARWATERS past Pigeon Point and also a few MARBLED MURRELETS offshore there.
I had a quick look for the Yellow-throated Warbler reported yesterday by Ron
Thorn at Skylawn Memorial, but dipped!
All the best,
Graham Etherington
UC Berkeley
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From email@hidden Sun Jun 20 23:04:23 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] INBU still present
We went to the site at 6:30 pm, and waited near the twin douglas firs.
Nothing was seen or heard for 20 minutes. Then at 06:55, when I attempted
pss a buzzing Spotted Towhee into view, a bird flew from the bushes behind
us to the shrubs near the base of the twin trees. This bird first scolded,
then began to sing. There it was in the center of a coyote brush, the male
Indigo Bunting. It sang there for 5 minutes.
Ruth
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
At 10:13 AM 6/17/99, Les Chibana wrote:
>The singing male INDIGO BUNTING was still at Long Ridge OSP
>off Skyline Blvd. last evening, 6/16/99, at 7:45 - 8:15 pm.
>As I noted earlier, this is in San Mateo County, about 200
>yds. outside of Santa Clara County.
>
>It was singing from the top of one of the "twin" doug firs
>where I found it on Monday evening. I haven't been able to
>check this area at any other time of day, so I don't know
>it's cycle. But when I've seen it, it seems to return to
>the firs after a brief stay somewhere else in the valley.
>Last night it flew east, toward the junction of the Peters
>Creek and Ridge Trails. The firs are actually just off the
>Peters Creek Trail near the bottom, about 100 yds. before
>junction, where it breaks out of the woodland into a grassy
>slope. The firs are on the right as you go downhill.
>
>Last night, its song was more like the guides note, in
>paired notes: "TEW, TEW, Teer, Teer, te-wink, te-wink,
>te-wink, te-wink, tee, tee, wink, wink........spit!"
>
>Les
>
>==========================================
>Les Chibana, Palo Alto email@hidden
>
>
>==========================================================================
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Ruth Troetschler
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 21 07:23:12 1999
Subject: [SBB] Rockies bird CD
Greetings, CAbirders--
We at the Cornell Lab of Ornithology thought you might like advance notice
that the latest CD from our Library of Natural Sounds, "Bird Songs of the
Rocky Mountain States and Provinces," is now available. The compilation
features vocalizations of more than 250 species found in the Rockies,
including some really cool call types not found on any other guide,
diagnostic rattle calls of longspurs; superb Empidonax vocalizationss;
Great Gray Owl begging calls; the "bumblebee" sound of Calliope Hummingbird
and much more. It's been endorsed by Kenn Kaufman.
I posted this notice to BirdChat and to Colorado birds, but am also posting
to non-Rockies listservs where there are particularly high concentrations
of very active birders who might travel to the Rockies or, like me, just
want to have the CD on hand to listen and learn. California sure qualifies!
You can hear some of the sounds by listening to cuts on our web site at
http://birds.cornell.edu
If you're a newsletter editor, newspaper or magazine columnist, or have
other connections, we would sure appreciate any exposure you could give
this CD. We're also selling it wholesale to stores, if you fit into that
category. We're a nonprofit and would like to make our money back on this
production, which we hope will be a valuable tool for birders and
researchers alike.
Order info is at the web site, but for those of you don't have web access,
the number is toll free 877-266-4928 (our local Wild Birds Unlimited.) ABA
is also selling the CD.
We would appreciate your feedback on the CD. Birders are a key audience we
are trying to serve with our LNS CDs.
Allison Wells
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.
Ithaca, NY
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 21 08:07:17 1999
Subject: [SBB] Birding Software??
I am considering buying "Bird Brain" for the Macintosh.
Does anyone use this software, or have you heard evaluations of this software?
I would value your comments.
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 Mon Jun 21 09:07:13 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] Birding Software??
Kendric,
I used Bird Brain and liked it a lot. I switched to a PC last year, and
would have continued to use it, but it's made only for the Mac. I now use
AviSys, which is also fine, but more sophisticated.
Nancy Teater
----------------
At 08:07 AM 6/21/99 -0700, you wrote:
>I am considering buying "Bird Brain" for the Macintosh.
>
>Does anyone use this software, or have you heard evaluations of this software?
>
>I would value your comments.
>
>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/
>------------------------------------------
>==========================================================================
>This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
>server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
>message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
--
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 Mon Jun 21 09:23:41 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] B-L Kittiwake - Here to breed?
This sounds incredible. Are you sure about the ID???
--
Richard C. Carlson
Chairman, Spectrum Economics
Palo Alto, CA
email@hidden
650-324-2701
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 21 09:53:47 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] B-L Kittiwake - Here to breed?
Richard Carlson wrote:
>
> This sounds incredible. Are you sure about the ID???
>
Graham's not hallucinating. I had 45 at Pescadero Creek on Saturday and Al
Eisner had 75 on Sunday. The remarkable saga of BLKI this spring and
summer continues to be discussed on the Peninsula Birding Mailing List.
Mark
--
Mark Eaton 1524 36th Avenue
mailto:email@hidden San Francisco, CA, 94122-3123
http://www.best.com/~eaton http://goldengate.ca.audubon.org
"Please let us know you're here"
- Sign in Doctor's Office
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 21 10:12:17 1999
Subject: [SBB] INBU
Hello All
Saturday morning, 6/19/99, I visited the area at Long Ridge OSP at
8:15AM and immediately found the INDIGO BUNTING described by Les
Chibana. It never seemed to go far from the area near the small
footbridge and two douglas firs along the Ridge trail. At one point,
it aggressively chased away a male LAZULI BUNTING from it's
"territory". A beautiful bird.
There was a pair of WILSON'S WARBLER'S nearby as well.
Alan
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 21 10:28:51 1999
Subject: [SBB] PIWO
All,
Sunday afternoon 6/20/99 Alma Kali and I made the descent to Table
Mountain, hoping to find the Pileated Woodpeckers reported there of
late. The descent down the road and the loop around Table Mountain
failed to turn up any Pileated Woodpeckers, but we did have 7 singing
male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, 3 WESTERN TANAGERS, 3 singing male
LAZULI BUNTINGS, 2 singing male PURPLE FINCHES, a pair of BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHERS, and numerous VIREOS of all three expected species. An
apparent family group of ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS was atop Table Mountain
as well (ID by date, no adult male around). Heading back up through
the redwoods instead of along the road, we finally located some loud
tapping and managed to get two glimpses of a PILEATED WOODPECKER as it
flew up to a tree and then off towards Table Mountain - also a few
silent ACORN WOODPECKERS in here too, as well as a bleating baby
RACCOON.
Breeding confirmations included recently fledged ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLERS, STELLER'S JAYS, and DARK-EYED JUNCOS.
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 21 10:49:01 1999
Subject: [SBB] RE: INBU
REPLY RE: INBU
I checked this area on Friday evening, 6/18, and didn't hear or see the =
Indigo Bunting, but I realized that one does not need to walk to the =
valley bottom to see the tops of the twin doug firs. If you stand in the =
trailhead gate at the Long Ridge OSP and sight over the top of the kiosk, =
you will see the tops of the twin firs. Then, if you walk down the path =
about 75-100 yds., you will be on a part of the trail that looks almost =
at eye level at the tops of these trees. A scope will be necessary for a =
good view from this distance. Of course you may miss a chance of seeing =
the bird closely as reported by Ruth. 1-2 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES sang =
evening songs at sunset from Long Ridge.
On Friday, I did a short walk down the Grizzly Flats trail at dusk. It was
moderately quiet aside for about 4-5 BROWN CREEPERS at various spots =
along the trail.
Les
Alan Walther wrote:
>Hello All
>
>Saturday morning, 6/19/99, I visited the area at Long Ridge OSP at
>8:15AM and immediately found the INDIGO BUNTING described by Les
>Chibana. It never seemed to go far from the area near the small
>footbridge and two douglas firs along the Ridge trail. At one point,
>it aggressively chased away a male LAZULI BUNTING from it's
>"territory". A beautiful bird.
>
>There was a pair of WILSON'S WARBLER'S nearby as well.
>
>Alan
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 21 14:06:28 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] Birding Software??
Kendric and all--
I use Bird Brain for the Macintosh. I have found it satisfactory for my
purposes but have not used other programs designed for other computers so
cannot compare it to others.
You will want to buy the World Birds section also unless you are interested
in only resident US birds.
Hope this helps.
Ruth
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kendric C. Smith wrote:
>I am considering buying "Bird Brain" for the Macintosh.
>
>Does anyone use this software, or have you heard evaluations of this software?
Ruth Troetschler
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From email@hidden Mon Jun 21 15:28:42 1999
Subject: [SBB] INBU at Windy Hill
This (Monday) morning a little after 10:00, I