Parent
From email@hidden Tue May 01 07:25:29 2001
Subject: [SBB] -
--------
Folks:
Yesterday afternoon, 4/30/2001, there was a sleeping male BLUE-WINGED
TEAL in the North Pond of the Palo Alto FCB. The BLACK SKIMMER count was
nine. In the morning I saw two flocks of 18 AM. WHITE PELICANS, one in the
North Pond and the other in Salt Pond A2W. BURROWING OWLS are using at least
three man-made mounds at Shoreline presently--one across from Michaels (since
early March), one near A2W, and one west of the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh.
Bill
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From email@hidden Tue May 01 12:18:44 2001
Subject: [SBB] Palo Alto RUTU
--------
Palo Alto's "Unyacht" harbor had two Ruddy Turnstones, along with a dozen
Whimbrels. Whimbrels were also wandering among the Burrowing owls in the
grassy knolls west of the Steven's Creek tidal marsh.
In the middle of the marsh across from Michael's restaurant was a singing
male Bullock's Oriole. I've seen many Orioles wintering in marsh areas in
West Mexico, but never here.
Richard C. Carlson
Full Time Birder, Biker, Skier, Hiker
Part-time Economist
Palo Alto, CA
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Tue May 01 14:29:48 2001
Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek Park
--------
Good Afternoon Birders,
I ran over to Steven's Creek Park and the Red-shouldered Hawk that was
nesting their has had two babies. The male brought in a squirrel and tore it
up and fed it to the two little ones.
The Hairy Woodpecker was not flying in and out of the nest hole. Could the
babies have fledged?
Lots of flycatchers: Olive-sided, Ash-throated and Western Wood Peewee were
there, along with Wrentits, Spotted Towhees and lots of Cedar Waxwings. Also
Grosbeaks and Orioles are in good numbers. Did get to see a great pair
Western Tanagers.
Good birding to all and best regards,
Linda Sullivan
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From email@hidden Tue May 01 14:54:24 2001
Subject: [SBB] [SBB] Picid road rage
--------
Janet & All--
Similar behavior for ACWO has been described in the literature---but
usually the "victim" was injured or even dead. Since this species
has multiple mates--based on DNA evidence--it may not be unusual,
though the act of mating has seldom been seen.
Ruth Troetschler
>----- Original Message -----
>From: Janet T. Hanson
>To: South Bay Birders
>Sent: Monday, April 30, 2001 12:47 PM
>Subject: [SBB] Picid road rage
>
>This weekend I came across two Acorn Woodpeckers slugging out in the
>middle of Sandhill Road, right across from Jasper Ridge entrance. It
>looked like a ball of B&W feathers rolling around on the pavement.
>Two gang members were flying down to egg them on. Being the good cop
>that I am, I pulled over to break it up but all the perps fled the
>scene.
>I recall seeing two flickers do this once before - is beak-to-beak
>combat typical of woodpeckers?
>Ah spring! When a young woodpecker's fancy turns to ......thrashing
>the neighbor???
>
>Janet Tashjian Hanson
>Executive Director
>San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
>P.O. Box 247
>Alviso, CA 95002
>
>email@hidden
>408/946-6548
--
Ruth Troetschler
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From email@hidden Tue May 01 17:10:53 2001
Subject: [SBB] Bullocks Oriole nest at Stanford dish
--------
Bullock's Orioles are nesting in an oak just across the path from
the big Stanford Dish. From the driveway that goes into the big
dish, walk a few feet on the path in front of the dish (the spur that
goes to Alpine Road parking area). The nest is in the second
branch in hanging down on the right. In that branch, it is in the
second clump of leaves up from the bottom. When I was there
around 10:30 AM on May Day, both male and female were active.
Female entered nest a couple of times.
Marti Oetzel
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From email@hidden Tue May 01 17:48:11 2001
Subject: [SBB] Another Visit to Sunnyvale Dump
--------
Today at noon I went to the Sunnyvale Water Pollution & Control Plant to
face my shame after erroneously reporting seeing a beaver there on Sunday
night (hmmm -- hadn't I noticed there are NO TREES at the bay?!). Indeed
the MUSKRAT was present along the shore, munching away on the grasses for a
few minutes and then taking a swim. Its black tail looked almost as long
as its body. There's a cute photo of a muskrat at:
http://www.holoweb.com/cannon/muskrat.htm
Other interesting sights included the BURROWING OWL standing so still on a
wood stake that at first glance it looked like a store-bought statue, at
least until the BARN SWALLOW swooped down at it and the Burrowing Owl
quickly ducked out of the way.
The male RUDDY DUCKS, with their exquisite coloring, were bobbing their
heads up and down in a funky sort of way while calling out. The females did
not seem to be impressed.
An AMERICAN COOT had 9 colorful babies, and there were several MALLARD
families with lots of babies as well. I was surprised to see a yellow
gosling behind the white DOMESTIC GEESE and the SNOW GOOSE.
Finally, there were several TURTLES sunning themselves on the log near the
algae "pond" by the pump shed.
Karen DeMello
(email@hidden)
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From email@hidden Wed May 02 00:14:25 2001
Subject: [SBB] Re: Red-shouldered Hawks
--------
Howdy South-bay-birders,
Following up on Linda Sullivan's oberservations, about squirrel-eating
Red-shouldered Hawks...I've long wondered whether this raptor's local
increase might be related to the introduction of non-native squirrels along
valley streams. Might the introduction and recent abundance of the squirrels
be connected to the increase in Red-shouldered Hawks over the last twenty
years? As recently as the early 1980s Red-shouldereds were scarce in the
county. Any ideas on what might have produced the hawk population increase?
Is this just re-colonization of former range after early persecution, or
could a change in the prey base have played a role?
John Mariani
email@hidden
www.birdswest.com
----- Original Message -----
From:
To:
Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2001 2:29 PM
Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek Park
> Good Afternoon Birders,
>
> I ran over to Steven's Creek Park and the Red-shouldered Hawk that was
> nesting their has had two babies. The male brought in a squirrel and tore
it
> up and fed it to the two little ones.
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From email@hidden Wed May 02 09:38:39 2001
Subject: [SBB] Rock Wren Birdathon Report
--------
We read Mike Rogers' Vagrants birdathon report with interest. The Rock
Wrens (David McIntyre, Sue Hunt, David Drake and Leda Beth Gray) did our
birdathon the same day (Sunday), totaling 131 species. We also forgot to
log 3 species and ended the day thinking we had 128, 3 better than our
previous best birdathon, but 2 short of our target of 130 species. We kept
running into the Vagrants despite the fact that we had started on the west
side of the valley and they began on the east side of Mt Hamilton.
We started out at Lexington Reservoir, and then went to SCVAS and then to
Stevens Creek County Park before heading to Smith Creek on the Mt Hamilton
Road. After hitting Grant Ranch Park we did Sierra Rd, Ed Levin Park and
then hurried back to sites along the Bay to catch the incoming tide.
We found it really interesting what we did and didn't find compared to the
Vagrants, at the sites we all visited. At Smith Creek it was noon and the
warblers had gone quiet so we didn't pick up some of the ones that the
Vagrants had, but did find White-crowned Sparrows, which they didn't see,
along with Golden Crowns.
We found the Blue-winged Teal sitting in plain sight at the Palo Alto
Forebay, where they were out of sight or gone when the Vagrants were there.
We missed the moorhen and goldeneye at Shoreline but found the American
Wigeon at Alviso, missed the dipper and kingfisher at Stevens Creek County
Park, but got an Osprey and Olive-sided Flycatcher. And so on. Interesting
how the luck of your timing and the amount of time you decide to put into
particular sites affects the outcome. Also your choice of places that you
think will yield the most species the fastest. We cut out the hike to Ed
Levin, and so we missed the Grasshopper Sparrow and Rufous-crowned Sparrow
that the Vagrants saw. But we did bird Sierra Road which yielded Horned
Larks, Savannah Sparrows and one American Pipit, a couple of which were
missed by the Vagrants. Perhaps we would have found more species if we had
started on the back side of Mount Hamilton, but we would have risked not
finding certain species by the time we got to the west side of the valley.
There is a lot of strategy that goes into these birdathons, but skill and
persistence are requirements for a high species total.
Highlights of the day were W. Screech Owl, Caspian Tern and Green Heron at
Lexington, numerous W. Tanagers, especially in Stevens Creek Park but also
other places. Osprey and Olive-sided Flycatcher were found at Stevens Creek
County Park, W. Bluebirds throughout the day including at SCVAS and Grant
Ranch Park (using SCVAS boxes!), single Nashville Warbler and Swainson's
Thrush along the Mount Hamilton Road, Blue-winged Teal at the PA Forebay,
and Loggerhead Shrikes at Ed Levin and Alviso. Our day had a dramatic end
when Sue spotted a heretofore elusive White-tailed Kite doing its hovering
maneuver, seen past the top of a dumpster at the Palo Alto dump. We had
been increasingly concerned about not seeing the kite at all the expected
places, so this was a big relief. We missed the Belted Kingfisher entirely,
and three other species that were surprisingly elusive were the Northern
Harrier, Kestrel and Snowy Egret, but we got them near the end of the day.
All in all, we had a great time on a beautiful day. We are already starting
to plan next year's birdathon when we will be shooting for even more
species. We know they are out there!
Leda Beth Gray
David Drake
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From email@hidden Wed May 02 10:20:08 2001
Subject: [SBB] Mines Rd, San Antonio Valley
--------
Hi,
My son Will and I are planning on birding the areas of Mines Rd and San
Antonio Valley. I've only birded this area once. I have a copy of "Birding
Northern California", which has some very good information, but would
appreciate any personal experiences or tips on birding this area -
particularly for Phainopepla, Lewis's Woodpecker and Greater Roadrunner.
The recent birdathon reports noted places like "South Pocket", Biel Ranch,
"Ruthie's Shopping Mall", etc. Where are these? I'm aware that there is an
SCVAS trip this Saturday, but we probably won't be able to make it.
Thanks,
Don Ganton
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Wed May 02 14:50:07 2001
Subject: [SBB] Coyote Valley
--------
Hi all,
I observed a female Wood Duck with 5 ducklings (<1wk old) in Coyote Creek
Park in Coyote Valley near Riverside Drive today (5/1/01).
Tom Ryan
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From email@hidden Wed May 02 23:38:36 2001
Subject: [SBB] RNPH and DUNL
--------
All,
Before work yesterday morning I stopped by the Ravenswood Bayfront area
at the west end of the Dumbarton Bridge and found many hundreds of
RED-NECKED PHALAROPES feeding in the shallows. By staying in my car I
was able to approach closely and from the turn out and I got good photos
of these breeding plumage birds. As well, there were quite a few DUNLIN
in colorful spring plumage. CLIFF SWALLOWS were busy gathering mud from
a small puddle along the road.
On Sunday, a trip to Stevens Creek park produced three singing WESTERN
TANAGERS, four singing BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, many WARBLING VIREOS and
WILSON'S WARBLERS. There were also three OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS calling
loudly from the tops of trees and a pair of duelling PURPLE FINCHES,
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, WESTERN WOOD PEWEES and ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLERS. BULLOCK'S ORIOLES were harder to find, but there were four by
the second parking lot. We failed to find the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nest
that Frank Vanslager's group turned up, but we did find an ANNA'S
HUMMINGBIRD nest near the bridge by the Ranger Station. The structure
was unbelievably small and made of cobwebs and tiny bits of lichen or
leaves. We observed the female adding finishing details. Perhaps when we
return this coming weekend we'll be able to see eggs.
Matthew Dodder
http://www.birdguy.net
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From email@hidden Thu May 03 05:33:30 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
Today, 3 May 01, I went to the Sunnyvale sewage ponds and found the SNOW
GOOSE still present. Also, 2 BURROWING OWLS were at the burrow up the
hillside from the parking lot.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Thu May 03 10:33:23 2001
Subject: [SBB] HAWO nest--not?
--------
This (Thursday) morning I wnet to check out the Hairy Woodpecker nest at
Stevens Creek Park. At first things seemed normal enough with the adults
carrying food to the hole. I wasn't paying close enough attention to notice
whether or not they left the hole still carrying the food. Then I was
distressed to see a starling go into the hole and stay for almost a minute.
After that I watched for evidence of "successful" feeding on the part of
the woodpeckers and didn't see any. The woodpeckers and the starling had
various skirmishes, but it looked like the starling was prevailing and it
entered the hole at least once more while I was there. Is it likely that it
has killed the chicks?
--Peter
------------------------------------------------------
Peter LaTourrette
North American Bird Photo Gallery: http://www.birdphotography.com/
Jasper Ridge, Hawai'i, New Zealand: http://www.stanford.edu/~petelat1/
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From email@hidden Thu May 03 10:34:00 2001
Subject: [SBB] Fwd: [NBB] Fwd: Banded Black Skimmer - Yellow X85
--------
This exchange may be of interest to SBB skimmer watchers.
Les Chibana
--------------------------------------
Date: Wednesday, May 2, 2001 8:57 PM
From: myra ulvang
We saw a banded Black Skimmer on 4/1/01 in Corte Madera at the pond along
highway 101 north of Nordstrom and reported it to Mary Gustafson, the
coordinator of non-shorebird banded birds. Bill managed to read "X85" on a
yellow band on the left tarsus(lower leg). We could not read anything on the
metal band on the right leg.
Unfortuneately, the city of corte Madera has raised and lowered the water
level in the pond to such extremes that the Black Skimmer left and we never
saw it again.
The following 2 messages were received from the man who banded the bird in
Orange County, CA.
Myra and Bill Ulvang
>From: Charles Collins
>To: email@hidden, email@hidden
>Subject: Skimmer - Yellow X85
>Date: Wed, 02 May 2001 06:28:38 -0700
>
>TO: Mary Gustafson, Bird Banding Laboratory
> Myra and Bill Ulvang
>From: Charles T. Collins
> CSULB
>
>RE: Banded Skimmer: Yellow X85
>
>Sorry to be so slow in answering; I had to dig a bit in the files. We
>are trying to get a new program loaded which will do this instantly but
>are having problems.
>
>Anyway, the Black Skimmer with the yellow band with the characters X85
>was banded at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve near Huntington Beach,
>CA on August 7, 1998 as a chick in the breeding colony there. This may
>print out as "near Seal Beach" but the colony is at Bolsa Chica. The
>metal band number is 0764-80441.
>
>Needless to say, we are delighted to get reports of any color banded
>skimmers and hope the observers in the bay area will continue to look
>for them up there.
>
>Charlie Collins
>
>P.S. Mary- are size 3A bands in stock? I REALLY need at least on
>string!!
The following is a second message he sent:
I just checked other records and find that Yellow X85 has been wintering
in Long Beach. I have seen it nine times since 15 December 2000 and the
last time was on 9 March 2001. It was not seen on the latest trip on 28
April. So, I guess he/she got some wanderlust or spring fever in early
April and ended up in the Bay area.
CTC
>
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From email@hidden Thu May 03 10:47:25 2001
Subject: [SBB] Red Knot at Charleston Slough
--------
At 8:45 this morning there was a lovely pink Red Knot on a small island
north of the main "Skimmer Island" in Charleston Slough at Shoreline. The
Knot was clearly pink and gray (not brown), and noticeably fatter with a
shorter bill than the adjacent Dowitcher. The bill was also wider at the
base. The Skimmers were absent. The rising tide was concentrating a huge
flock of Godwits and Western Sandpipers on the island. There were a few
Black-Bellied Plovers, Willet, Long-Billed Curlew, Whimbrels and Dowitchers.
Richard C. Carlson
Full Time Birder, Biker, Skier, Hiker
Part-time Economist
Palo Alto, CA
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Fri May 04 06:35:09 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
At the Alviso Marina impoundment today, 4 May 01, I had a few hundreds of
WESTERN SANDPIPERS and DUNLIN, which included 7 WILSON'S and 3 RED-NECKED
PHALAROPES, plus a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. A number of AMERICAN AVOCETS were on
nests and a pair of BLACK-NECKED STILTS had 2 downy young.
At the EEC a pair of BLACK SKIMMERS was on the island in the salt pond.
Perhaps another nesting attempt this year?
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Fri May 04 13:23:19 2001
Subject: [SBB] Guadalupe Oak Grove
--------
Good Afternoon All....
This morning I went to Guadalupe Oak Grove to see if I could find the
reported Ash-throated Flycatchers...no such luck. Did get to add three birds
to my park list, a male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD and a
SPOTTED TOWHEE. The STARLINGS have taken over the park, fledglings all over
the place. But it is still the place to go to see ACORN WOODPECKERS in
action. A pair of OAK TITMOUSE are using a nesting box and you can hear the
peeps of the babies as they bring food. The resident RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was
out and about as a pair of RED-TAILED HAWKS soared above the park. A COOPER'S
HAWK was flying over the driving circle. Lots of NUTHATCHES and the
NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER pair is still bringing food in and out of their nest
hole. There are a few LESSER GOLDFINCH feeding off the grasses. For some
reason there are a lot of HOUSE SPARROWS there that were not there for the
Christmas Bird Count. A wonderful Bewick's Wren can be heard singing by the
second level rocks.
Okay, good birding to all, and my best regards...........
Linda Sullivan
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From email@hidden Fri May 04 14:51:45 2001
Subject: [SBB] Hairy Woodpecker, Stevens Creek Park
--------
Folks--
We're not sure if it is the same next, but this morning at Stevens
Creek Park we saw a Hairy sitting in a hole in a broken eucalyptus ?
tree during the time we were present in the picnic area. No
Starlings were present. Is this the same tree? We saw this same
tree occupied by HAWO on last Wednesdays SCVAS field trip.
Ruth Troetschler
--------------------------------
On Thu, 03 May, Peter wrote,
This (Thursday) morning I wnet to check out the Hairy Woodpecker nest at
Stevens Creek Park. At first things seemed normal enough with the adults
carrying food to the hole. I wasn't paying close enough attention to notice
whether or not they left the hole still carrying the food. Then I was
distressed to see a starling go into the hole and stay for almost a minute.
After that I watched for evidence of "successful" feeding on the part of
the woodpeckers and didn't see any. The woodpeckers and the starling had
various skirmishes, but it looked like the starling was prevailing and it
entered the hole at least once more while I was there. Is it likely that it
has killed the chicks?
--Peter
--
Ruth Troetschler
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From email@hidden Fri May 04 22:49:54 2001
Subject: [SBB] Pied-billed Grebe nest
--------
All,
While waiting for a presscheck in Campbell this afternoon I visited Los
Gatos Creek County Park and followed the bike path for a mile or so. A
few interesting birds such as CASPIAN TERN and BULLOCK'S ORIOLE made an
appearance.
But the most wonderful thing I encountered was a PIED-BILLED GREBE on a
nest. In fact, I saw two active nests. The more easily observed nest was
next to the bride near the picnic area close to Hwy 17 and Camden
Avenue. I watched for 20 minutes as both adults loaded the nest with new
green building material -- mostly aquatic grass and vines. They
frequenly added this new material to the water-logged and blackening
older material. Almost the entire time, the four pale green-gray eggs
sat unattended and in plain view atop the floating nest. I wondered how
long they could survive without being incubated. The adults had
constructed the nest in the midst of floating vegetation and preferred
accessing their raft from under water because the greenery made a
surface approach difficult. At one time an adult dragged a vine that had
to have been 4' long to the structure. Finally, I watched as one adult
clambered up onto the nest and shuffled over the eggs. It was especially
interesting because I've seen grebe feet only a few times and never at
such close range. I had never seen a grebe on a nest before today.
Anyway, his is a common bird, but it was an uncommon experience and very
interesting to watch.
Matthew Dodder
http://www.birdguy.net
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From email@hidden Sat May 05 12:11:31 2001
Subject: [SBB] CCFS 5/5/01
--------
It was a very slow day for birds in the net at Coyote Creek Field
Station today. Only 12 birds processed; one female Song Sparrow
got into the net 3 times during the morning. One of the other
banders told me that they had the 1st Swainson's Thrush and Black-
chinned Hummingbird netted for the year last Saturday, 4/28/01.
We netted 3 Swainson's Thrush today, all in the same net and
panel on 3 different net runs. We also netted and released a male
Black-chinned Hummingbird, what a little beauty! This bird was
netted in the overflow channel, net 9330G, maybe a migrant.
One of two Common Yellowthroat netted today was interesting in that
it had a lot of fat, implying that it was a migrant. I'm not sure
if it's plumage was of any significance: it was a female with a
reddish brown wash on the forehead. It resembled the eastern tricha
race in the illustrated plate of the Garrett and Dunn NA Warbler
ID guide, but not the photo in the species account of the same
guide.
Also processed a Wilson's Warbler and more Song Sparrows.
A male Downy Woodpecker drummed all morning on the utility pole
next to the trailer. Up to 6 male Brown-headed Cowbirds were
on the wires above the trailer at one point. Common Yellowthroat
were singing all morning in the overflow channel.
Les Chibana
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From email@hidden Sat May 05 19:51:18 2001
Subject: [SBB] Cooper's nesting activities this week
--------
Our Los Altos Cooper's hawks are incubating eggs. No opportunity to check
nest Sat-Mon, but on Tuesday I had a possible glimpse of a tail over the
edge of the nest. Wednesday I found a better viewing point and yes,
someone was sitting on the nest! The next day, Thursday the 3rd, I watched
the incubating hawk get up and change positions while the mate called kek
kek kek from nearby. And yesterday I guess the heat of the day seemed
sufficient to the hawks, because everytime I checked (3 times over 4 hours
or so), the "sitting" bird was actually mostly perched on the edge of the
nest, preening. Great views, gorgeous bird!
I was interested to read in the Ehrlich materials posted on the Stanford
website that Coopers may add finishing lining material to the nest AFTER
the eggs are already laid. I had assumed that incubation began sometime
between Fri, when I saw the hawks working on the nest and not sitting, and
Tuesday, when they were probably already sitting. But I suppose it's
possible they got a bit earlier start than that. I hope to be able to
check the nest frequently enough to know when hatching occurs.
Natasha
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From email@hidden Sun May 06 06:41:55 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
On Saturday, 5 May 01, I attended the field trip to Del Puerto Canyon. Much
of the birding, and the notable birds, was in Stanislaus County. Perhaps
most notable was possibly the first breeding record of CASSIN'S KINGBIRD for
the county ( I don't have any references in front of me). We had stopped at
a location along the creek, where a good 8-10 kingbirds were seen. I was
able to pick out a Cassin's and point it out to the rest of the group. A
second Cassin's was also present and I observed at least 3 trips of one
carrying nesting material into an oak tree.
Other birds of interest included a few singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, 3 BLUE
GROSBEAKS (an adult male, an immature male, and a female), 3 GOLDEN EAGLES,
a GREATER ROADRUNNER, a male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH, a male COSTA'S
HUMMINGBIRD, a LEWIS' WOODPECKER, and 3 male PHAINOPEPLAS.
On a nonbird note, we had a pair of WESTERN RATTLESNAKES copulating at the
edge of the road where we had made a stop.
We birded only briefly in Santa Clara County, having about 4 LAWRENCE'S
GOLDFINCHES at the junction fire station and 4 singing SAGE SPARROWS up
towards the cattle guard. The rest of the group had a LEWIS' WOODPECKER
south of the junction, but I wasn't with them at the time.
On the way home going up Mines Road, I had excellent looks at another
GREATER ROADRUNNER in Alameda County, at mile marker 7.
On Sunday, 6 May 01, I went to CCFS and checked the sludge ponds across the
fence. There were a number of shorebirds, which included WESTERN SANDPIPERS,
DUNLIN, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and a dozen SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. A GREEN
HERON was in the reach area, northwest of the waterbird pond. The
Double-crested Cormorants are absent from the power towers at the north edge
of pond A18. I don't know when they last bred here (there are no nest
remnants). However, a COMMON RAVEN nest is currently active on one of these
towers. A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was carrying nesting material from near
here towards the rookery. That's quite a distance to go for nest material.
At the EEC I could not find any skimmers on the island, but I did have a
WHIMBREL and 2 alternate-plumaged SPOTTED SANDPIPERS there. The pond still
has a good number of alternate-plumaged EARED GREBES and 1 WESTERN GREBE.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Sun May 06 14:38:12 2001
Subject: [SBB] LEWIS' W. at Joe D Grant Park
--------
Following-up on Jim Yurchenco's message from last week (thanks Jim!),
I hiked up to Eagle Lk. from Smith Creek Fire Stn.
LEWIS' WOODPECKERs were flying about the Valley Oaks surrounding the lake.
There were 3 in view simulatenously at one point, flying very high,
hawking insects. Quite a show. No signs of breeding though.
A 1.5 mile hike thru Oak-Pine woodland to a Valley Oak grassland,
surrounding
a lake - this nice little spot is as beautiful as it sounds.
Other birds at Smith Creek Stn - CHIPPING SPARROWs and a WILSON's WARBLER.
Vivek Tiwari
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From email@hidden Sun May 06 16:32:46 2001
Subject: [SBB] Juvenile Acorn Woodpecker at Stevens Creek
--------
I spent this Sunday morning at Steven's Creek Park. The highlight was
watching at least 3 Acorn Woodpeckers feeding insects to a juvenile bird
inside a cavity. Near the Chestnut parking area, a Hairy Woodpecker was
excavating a nest hole. Other interesting birds included Olive-Sided
Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Ash-Throated Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwing,
Western Bluebird, Swainson's Thrush, Brown Creeper, Wilson's Warbler (the
only warbler species I saw), Scarlet Tanager, Bullock's Oriole and
Black-headed Grosbeak. I only had a single vireo species, Hutton's.
In the afternoon, I visited the Triton Art Museum. While walking through
some landscaping interspersed with redwoods, I came upon a fledgling
American Crow. In short order, four crows were cawing, both in flight and
from the tops of the young redwoods, and the baby crow shuffled off into
some shrubbery. Here's hoping the adults will be able to defend the baby
from any cats in the neighborhood until it can take care of itself.
Jan Hintermeister
Santa Clara
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From email@hidden Sun May 06 16:57:20 2001
Subject: [SBB] "my farm"
--------
On Tuesday I led a Boy Scout troop through "my farm". One of the 8-year-old
boys found a DOWNY WOODPECKER, a species I rarely see there. It occurred to
me that when I'd led a SCVAS field trip that a Downey had been seen at the
same location as the boy scout found it - the middle bridge - a bridge I
never use.
So, today I headed for the middle bridge and immediately was rewarded with
the Downy. As I listened to the sounds, I heard a bird song I was not
familiar with. I spent 20 minutes or so trying to see it...got a HUTTON'S
VIREO, a STELLAR JAY (has become rare again in the park)...etc...finally I
saw a piece of the bird and knew it was a thrush. I watched it for another
10 minutes until it went up towards the country club property. It was a
SWAINSON'S THRUSH.
The flock of CEDAR WAXWING were there. I even saw one bird feeding another.
Also saw a pair mating. I didn't think they did that here.
All 10 of the fluffy ducklings seem to be no more. Today a female MALLARD
had 4 males in hot pursuit. Thank goodness I didn't have to witness a rape
session.
In my backyard the baby CHICKADEES are chirping inside the bluebird house. I
have 4 COWBIRDS I'm willing to give anybody who wants them. The HOODED
ORIOLE continues its daily feeding. BAND-TAIL's tend to be in the 20+ area
populationwise. Their preferred seed is safflower.
Gloria LeBlanc
Los Gatos off Quito
http://www.wallstreetgifts.com
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http://www.cowscowscows.com
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http://www.lgsia.com
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From email@hidden Sun May 06 17:08:21 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Juvenile Acorn Woodpecker Correction
--------
Yipes! For a moment I was transported back to Minnesota, my boyhood home.
I saw Western Tanagers, not Scarlet. Hope I didn't cause any heart attacks.
Jan
----- Original Message -----
From: Jan Hintermeister
To: south-bay-birds
Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2001 4:32 PM
Subject: [SBB] Juvenile Acorn Woodpecker at Stevens Creek
> I spent this Sunday morning at Steven's Creek Park. The highlight was
> watching at least 3 Acorn Woodpeckers feeding insects to a juvenile bird
> inside a cavity. Near the Chestnut parking area, a Hairy Woodpecker was
> excavating a nest hole. Other interesting birds included Olive-Sided
> Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Ash-Throated Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwing,
> Western Bluebird, Swainson's Thrush, Brown Creeper, Wilson's Warbler (the
> only warbler species I saw), Scarlet Tanager, Bullock's Oriole and
> Black-headed Grosbeak. I only had a single vireo species, Hutton's.
>
> In the afternoon, I visited the Triton Art Museum. While walking through
> some landscaping interspersed with redwoods, I came upon a fledgling
> American Crow. In short order, four crows were cawing, both in flight and
> from the tops of the young redwoods, and the baby crow shuffled off into
> some shrubbery. Here's hoping the adults will be able to defend the baby
> from any cats in the neighborhood until it can take care of itself.
>
> Jan Hintermeister
> Santa Clara
>
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email@hidden
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From email@hidden Mon May 07 07:32:20 2001
Subject: [SBB] Western Tanager
--------
This Morning ( 5/7) heard a WETA in the eucalyptus' at the Greek Orthodox Church in Belmont across from my home. Has been here for the past two days.
Screech
Paul L. Noble
"Screechowl"
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^ ^
@ @
( v )
( )
/ \
m m
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From email@hidden Mon May 07 07:53:00 2001
Subject: [SBB] House Finches
--------
I live in a condo in Sunnyvale and have hanging plants on my balcony. I was
out filling my hummingbird feeder when a bird flew out of one of the
planters giving me quite a scare. Upon further investigation I found two
tiny baby blue eggs inside the planter. No nest has even been built. I had
wondered why those House Finches had been hanging around my balcony. I plan
to discontinue watering the plant and see what develops.
_________________________________________________________________
Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
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From email@hidden Mon May 07 08:33:36 2001
Subject: [SBB] Santa Teresa CP breeding birds
--------
Hello All,
On Sunday, May 6, I hiked the Stile Ranch/Fortini Trail Loop in Santa Teresa
CP and saw the following:
A pair of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS bringing food to Nest Box #32 on IBM
property. The nest box is located near the old stone wall on the
south-facing grassy slope (after the switch-back portion of the trail
through the chaparral growth).
A pair of ROCK WRENS going in and out of crevice in a boulder about a mile
farther along the trail on the north-facing slope. The exact location is a
bit hard to describe, but it's in a rocky area about half a mile from the
buildings of the IBM Research Facility which could be seen from this spot.
The Rock Wrens and their boulder were inside the boundary of Santa Teresa
CP, although quite near the fence dividing Santa Teresa CP and the IBM
property. A pair of ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS were seen perched on a fence
post at this location. And RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS were seen and heard
singing throughout my hike.
Also of interest on May 6 was a singing male LAZULI BUNTING seen along the
Barlow Rd Trail on Mt. Umunhum. Others were heard but I was unable to
pinpoint the singers.
Ann
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From email@hidden Mon May 07 08:57:43 2001
Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek Park
--------
Hi,
I went to Stevens Creek Park Sunday at about 7:00PM.
Highlights for me were two QUAIL and six WESTERN
TANAGERS. I also got an opportunity to watch the nest
of the Red Shouldered Hawk. One of the babies is
getting quite big although it appeared that it was
just learning how to get out of the nest and grip the
branch. It was a little wobbly :)
The parent hawk was calling quite loudly and its mate
finally came but without food. I was hoping to see
the babies eat a nice squirrel dinner.
Maybe "nest" time.
Riccardo Magni
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From email@hidden Mon May 07 17:36:42 2001
Subject: [SBB] Wood Ducks at Stevens Creek
--------
Early on Sunday morning I took a largely uneventful
walk along the reservoir at Stevens Creek CP. On the
way back a duck flew past making a noise that I could
not recognise. I only got a brief glimpse through the
bins but I saw a white eye-ring and white trailing edge
to the wings. Was it a female Wood Duck?
Well, yep, it probably was because I rounded the next
bend to see a very obvious male in the centre of the
reservoir. I haven’t heard of Wood Ducks around there
and wonder if they may even be attempting to breed?
Somewhat out of area I have to thank someone for a
recommendation to visit the Arboretum at UCSC – a fab
spot. I’m pretty sure I got Allen’s and Black-chinned
Hummingbirds but it was heaving with all sorts of other
stuff too. It’s only half-an-hour over highway 17, if you
can dodge the accidents.
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From email@hidden Tue May 08 12:44:45 2001
Subject: [SBB] Baylands, etc.
--------
I had to work through most of Saturday-Sunday, so I took Monday morning
for a trip up to the Smith Creek's Fire Station. And I visited the Palo Also
estuary mouth on both Sunday and Monday afternoons - too late both days for
much going on at the yacht basin. Most interesting was the Raven nest at the
mouth, where three large yound were standing on the nest flapping, and re-
ceiving food from the parents. [I thought there might have been a more-con-
cealed fourth bird, but I came to doubt it.] It looked like these birds would
be fledging any day. On Sunday there were over 200 Semipalmated Plovers at
the mouth; while on Monday I saw 4 Whimbrels.
Smith Creek (and the Mt. Hamilton Rd. through Grant Ranch Park) had nothing
unexpected, Warblers apart from Orange-Crowned included just 1 or 2 singing
Yellow, and a flock of a few Townsend's up on the hillside. Western Wood
Pewees are now evident, and a few Western tanagers are migrating through, as
elsewhere.
Al
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From email@hidden Tue May 08 13:01:27 2001
Subject: [SBB] Skyline L. Bunting & W.Bluebirds
--------
Greetings from south SM County near SC County. I've been watching two
different Lazuli buntings males for several days now, as they sit in trees
very close to our house. Does their continual singing imply they do or don't
have mates? Or is that unrelated? I also see them in the nearby forest but
can't tell if they are the same or different individuals.
There are also at least two pairs of Western Bluebirds. Only one nest box is
occupied, but there's plenty of natural habitat here and the WBs were here
for several seasons before Bill put up bluebird boxes. He has three boxes;
currently #2 has 5 eggs; #1 and #3 are completely empty.
Other "regulars" include spotted towhee, red-breasted nuthatch, lesser
goldfinch and juncos.
It's very hot again today at 2400 ft. 88F at 1pm.
Regards,
Georgia Stigall
home list: http://www.nativehabitats.org/homelist.htm
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From email@hidden Tue May 08 13:12:42 2001
Subject: [SBB] PUMA Briefly at Loma Prieta
--------
All:
(No! Not the cat.) Tuesday morning, May 8, at Loma Prieta it was hot and
still, with lots of birds singing. But there was NO swallow activity.
Later, while I was up on the ridge to the northwest of the first (powerline)
saddle and trying to locate an interesting-sounding bird, a small flock of
birds surprised me by soaring low southward along that ridge towards me.
When they wheeled up and back to the north, I saw that one was obviously a
male Purple Martin and I tried to keep my binocs on him. Since they seemed
to be working the area where the habitation is (with the truncated water
tower), I focussed the Questar on the tallest dead tree east of that tower
and waited. They landed briefly 3 times. Once I saw a full dark male
sideling up to a female while what I dismissed as a large Cliff Swallow
watched closely. But then, when the male PUMA began sideling up to this bird
also, I changed my mind. (He wasn't funny. Sibley later confirmed that the
female Western PUMA can have a distinctly whitish forehead and a whitish
collar.) The birds then began a long flight to the west over Santa Cruz
County and didn't return.
There were at least 2 males and 2 females. Considering previous year's
behavior, I think that they nest somewhere else, and just use this convenient
dead tree whenever they patrol this area.
Frank Vanslager
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From email@hidden Tue May 08 13:26:31 2001
Subject: [SBB] Mines Rd. area 5/6/01
--------
All,
I took half of my class to the Mines Rd./San Antonio Valley/Del Puerto
Canyon area this past Sunday. We started our birding at the cattle guard
just north of San Antonio Junction at 8:30a, then headed south into San
Antonio Valley, and backtracked to go down Del Puerto Canyon Rd.
As noted by Bill Bousman, an early start was the key to getting good
views of singing Bell's SAGE SPARROWs at this location. We saw about
3 pairs in the chamise chaparral. LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHes were active
at the fire station. We saw a pair of WESTERN KINGBIRDs nest-building
and copulating on the communications tower at the station. There were
a surprising number of HOUSE SPARROWs in this rather remote location
and on the rest of the trip. BULLOCK'S ORIOLEs, numerous everywhere,
were nest-building at the fire station.
Two LEWIS'S WOODPECKERs were busily feeding at roadside near the first
driveway south of the Junction. It didn't seem like they were tending
a nest as they were not spooked by our presence. We saw 3-4 more of
them further down the valley. One sub-adult GOLDEN EAGLE molting its
primaries was seen over the valley.
At Frank Raines Park on Del Puerto Canyon Rd., we saw a pair of
PHAINOPEPLA feeding on currants behind the restrooms. In the creek
area, there was one or two GREEN HERONs. At about MP 10.4, at a wide
turnout under a rock face, there's a COMMON RAVEN nest with nestlings.
We also saw a female COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD and a RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW
here, but no Canyon or Rock Wrens. At the "grafitti rocks" area along
Del Puerto Cyn Rd., we were unsuccessful at finding a male Costa's
Hummer, but we did see a female BLUE GROSBEAK on a rock in the creek.
A pair of ravens cruised through the area only to be met by 3-4 pair
of irate kingbirds. All of the kingbirds that we studied appeared to
be Western. We saw two adult-plumaged GOLDEN EAGLEs here. There was
a tail-less YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE in this area that looked very odd.
At the north end of Mines Rd., we saw that there were at least three
RED-TAILED HAWK nestlings in the nest above the Murietta Wells Winery
buildings. This is the same nest that was active last year, and we
saw a rufous-morph adult fly nearby; last year, a similar adult was
perched by the nest.
We stopped to encourage a good-sized Gopher Snake and a Western Racer
off the road in different locations.
Les Chibana
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From email@hidden Tue May 08 13:48:32 2001
Subject: [SBB] Mines and San Antonio Roads, Del Puerto Canyon
--------
[Apologies for cross-posting, but the Mines Road Ciruit spans three
different mailing lists.] On Sunday, May 6th, I too did the Mines Road
circuit and had reasonably good success. Of particular note were the
estimated 35 WESTERN KINGBIRDS seen throughout the day at various different
locations, though most of them were confined to Del Puerto Canyon Road.
Unusual/migrants:
Stanislaus County:
4-5 CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS at milepost 3.7 and another at milepost 9.9 along Del
Puerto Canyon Road. Several were calling, but I did not see any direct
evidence of nesting behavior.
MacGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, singing at milepost 17.7 in the willows
Santa Clara County:
WESTERN TANAGER, calling at milepost 22.3 along Del Puerto Canyon Road
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, singing at milepost 23.3
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, at the Fire Station just south of the junction.
WILSON'S WARBLER, a silent female at milepost 24.7 along San Antonio Road
(a.k.a the summit)
Regular occuring species of interest:
Stanislaus County:
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, 2 at milepost 1.8 along Del Puerto Canyon Road, just
west of a cattle gard near a small stream. I flushed one and another
perched on the barbed wire obligingly for a rare photograph.
GOLDEN EAGLE, one at milepost 3.7 along Del Puerto Canyon Road.
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW, singing at milepost 3.7 along Del Puerto Canyon Road
COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD, a male perched high in a tree at milepost 5.4
Santa Clara County:
WOOD DUCK, in the usual pond on the south side of Del Puerto Canyon Road at
milepost 23.8
LEWIS' WOODPECKER, at least two at milepost 0.3 of San Antonio Road
LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH, at least three at the Fire Station
Alameda County:
CALIFORNIA THRASHER, singing from the top of a mature oak tree at milepost
10.68 along Mines Road
PHAINOPEPLA, at milepost 5.65 along Mines Road
Mines Road
Stanislaus County
Del Puerto Canyon Road
1.8
Grasshopper Sparrow
Say's Phoebe
Killdeer
Western Meadowlark
2.3
American Crow
Common Raven
2.7
Brewer's Blackbird
Western Kingbird
3.2
Red-winged Blackbird
3.6
Bullock's Oriole
3.7
Golden Eagle
Red-tailed Hawk
California Towhee
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Brown-headed Cowbird
Lesser Goldfinch
Cassin's Kingbird
House Finch
Mourning Dove
3.9
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
5.4
Lark Sparrow
Costa's Hummingbird
Yellow-billed Magpie
5.5
Rock Wren
5.9
Northern Flicker
Western Bluebird
6.8
Black Phoebe
9.7
Western Scrub-Jay
9.9
Cassin's Kingbird
10.5
Canyon Wren
Lesser Goldfinch
11.1
Spotted Towhee
12.5
Canyon Wren
12.8
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Lesser Goldfinch
13.4
House Wren
14.2
California Quail
14.7
Acorn Woodpecker
Frank Raines
Hutton's Vireo
American Robin
Oak Titmouse
17.1
MacGillivray's Warbler
17.7
Violet-green Swallow (nesting)
18.1
Chipping Sparrow
Wrentit
19.0
Bewick's Wren
19.7
Anna's Hummingbird
21.0
Bushtit
Santa Clara County
21.7
Northern Flicker
Hutton's Vireo
22.3
Western Tanager
23.3
Orange-crowned Warbler
23.8
Wood Duck
Junction
White-breasted Nuthatch
European Starling
St. Antonio Road
0.3
Lewis' Woodpecker
White-breasted Nuthatch
1.1
Tricolored Blackbird
Turkey Vulture
Mines Road
Fire Station
House Sparrow
Western Kingbird
Western Wood-Pewee
Lawrence's Goldfinch
20.0
American Coot
24.7
Bewick's Wren
Wilson's Warbler
Wrentit
Ash-throated Flycatcher
26.2
Western Bluebird
Alameda County
19.26
House Wren
Acorn Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
16.96
Lark Sparrow
Oak Titmouse
16.5
Belted Kingfisher
11.5
Nuttall's Woodpecker
10.68
California Thrasher
5.65
Phainopepla
--
Mark Eaton
mailto:email@hidden
SFBirds Web Page
http://home.pacbell.net/mweaton
SFBirds mailing list
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SFBirds
"The years 1990, 1991 and 1992 could not be located."
Anonymous
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From email@hidden Tue May 08 16:00:36 2001
Subject: [SBB] (fwd) Hummingbirds in Santa Clara/San Jose
--------
I'm forwarding this request in the hopes that someone may be able to
help. Please reply directly to Gordon, not to me. Thanks.
On Tue, 8 May 2001 17:55:15 -0500 , "Gordon, Michael T."
wrote:
>
>Hello! I've been looking at your California Birding Pages, but I have a
>rather specific question I hope you are able to help me with.
>
>I will be in Santa Clara/San Jose in two weeks for a conference. I would
>like to find a location where I could sit an watch hummingbirds for a few
>hours at a feeder somewhere. Can you suggest any parks or nature centers in
>that area where there would be feeders I could sit and watch for long
>periods without disturbing anyone?
>
>I will be dependent on public transportation or a cab to reach any location
>if that limits the suggestions.
>
>I band Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in Missouri, but I don't often have a
>chance to watch the western species (especially immatures and females). I'm
>assuming Anna's hummingbirds are the most likely species, with Black-chinned
>hummingbirds in more arid areas. I'd be happy with getting good looks at
>any of them to help me improve my id skills for them.
>
>Thank you very much for any suggestions!
>
>Troy Gordon
>Columbia, MO
>email@hidden
>http://web.missouri.edu/~multgord/banding.htm
--
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: mailto:email@hidden
California Birding, mystery birds: http://fog.ccsf.org/~jmorlan/
California Bird Records Committee: http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/
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From email@hidden Wed May 09 02:36:50 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
Yesterday, 9 May 01, a lunch time trip to the EEC in Alviso showed the
WHIMBREL to still be present on the island in front of the center. A pair of
LESSER SCAUP and some numbers of EARED GREBES also continued.
This morning, 10 May 01, I had a YELLOW WARBLER singing from a hedgerow
along San Tomas Expressway near Scott Blvd.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Wed May 09 06:50:24 2001
Subject: [SBB] Hidden Villa birds
--------
All,
A couple of Lazuli Buntings have begun to sing from chaparral areas near the
center of the farm. I first heard them on Friday 5/4 and they're still
singing lustily from the same spot, suggesting the establishment of a
breeding territory. Unfortunately, this location is very hard to glimpse from
public-access areas.
The Western Tanagers that had been a constant presence for the past couple of
weeks have been silent since late last week. Can't tell if they've moved on,
or just entered a stealthy phase of courtship/nesting. An Olive-sided
Flycatcher sang at the farm for a couple of days last week, but does seem to
have moved along.
On Thursday 5/3 I observed a single dark swift foraging with mixed Cliff &
Violet-green Swallows. The conservative call on this swift would be Vaux's,
but Black Swift seemed a distinct possibility, as the bird used very few
wingbeats and was completely silent, as opposed to the chattering call I've
learned to expect from my "backyard" VASW in Pescadero. Unfortunately this is
a tough distinction for me to make quickly and I was in the middle of leading
a kids' nature hike, so it will remain a mystery to me.
--Garth Harwood
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From email@hidden Wed May 09 15:36:02 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] PUMA Briefly at Loma Prieta
--------
In a message dated 5/8/01 1:17:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
email@hidden writes:
> Considering previous year's
> behavior, I think that they nest somewhere else, and just use this
> convenient
> dead tree whenever they patrol this area.
>
Back about 10 years there was a nest in a snag on the north side of Loma
Prieta peak in Barrett Canyon, but that snag has since fallen down.
David Suddjian, Capitola
Santa Cruz Bird Club
Bird Records Keeper
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Wed May 09 19:12:51 2001
Subject: [SBB] Some county birds
--------
All,
Some unusual birds were seen today during and after the SCVAS field trip to
Gilroy Hot Springs Rd/Canada Rd. The first was a Grasshopper Sparrow which
was well seen by all on a bush west of Canada Rd just north of the M&M ranch.
Across from the M&M ranch an unseen Lazuli Bunting continued singing until
we finally had to leave and as we continued down Canada Rd. toward Hwy. 152
two Horned Larks were seen along the side of the road. When we finally
reached the bottom of the hill (and the end of the trip) it was decided that
some of us would go to San Felipe Rd to check out the Cassin's Kingbirds as
we ate our lunch (they still seem to be using the middle eucalyptus tree)
while others decided to eat their lunches in an evergreen shaded area on
Susle Lane, a dead end street near the bottom of the hill (off Canada Rd).
Later Emily Curtis called to say that as they ate they were entertained by
Lawrence's Goldfinches carrying nesting material to one of the evergreens.
Big misses today included Common Merganser and Lark Sparrow.
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 7:15 PM, 5/9/01
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From email@hidden Thu May 10 06:10:43 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
At lunch today, 10 May 01, I visited the Sunnyvale sewage ponds. The SNOW
GOOSE is still present with the domestics. A flock of 82 SCAUP were on the
western sewage pond. The ones that I could identify were all LESSERS.
Salt pond A4 had 84 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, with another 5 on the eastern
sewage pond. One each of WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBE were on the salt pond as
well. A couple of BLACK-NECKED STILTS were complaining about the near
presence of a grazing CANADA GOOSE (probably too close to their nest). Their
cries brought in another 10 or so stilts to surround the offender. The goose
was pretty unfazed by it all.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Thu May 10 07:36:19 2001
Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek Park
--------
Good Morning All,
Sorry I didn't post this last night, guess I was birded out! Went to
Steven's Creek Park yesterday and birded with Debbie Stephenson and we saw
some really nice birds. A pair of ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS bringing nesting
material to a hole in a tree. A WESTERN-WOOD PEEWEE, the OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHER who stayed high up in the trees. At the restrooms, we watched the
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK nestlings move about, with one much larger than the
other. The parents were absent for quite some time and we could hear them but
did not see them. We also had a very cooperative BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, who
just flew low in the branches and gleaned. We also heard but did not see a
GREAT-HORNED OWL. Boy, what a thrill that was for me.
Last night around 5 PM I ran over to La Rinconada to get a life bird, the
Swainson's Thrush. I only heard the bird and did not see it. Saw a beautiful
pair of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES (thanks Gloria, they were by the Western Tanager
tree) A wonderful pair of singing SPOTTED TOWHEES, and the BEWICK'S WRENS
were singing as well. The CALIFORNIA THRASHER was most upset to have a cat
just sitting under the tree, it must have had a nest in the same area. Poor
bird was frantic. I decided it was time to leave when I spotted the COYOTE!
Wishing you all good birding and best regards,
Linda Sullivan
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From email@hidden Thu May 10 11:48:19 2001
Subject: [SBB] funny Nuttall's; Cooper's update
--------
Yesterday I watched a male Nuttall's pry out a large insect and then spend
the next 4+ minutes apparently trying to get the bug (held crosswise)
properly oriented for swallowing, rubbing his beak on various branches at
various angles. For some time the bug (earwig?) was resisting, but even
after it seemed to be getting rather shredded, the woodpecker just kept
rubbing. I never saw the end result, since I was already running later
than I planned. Later I wondered whether this might be a method of
preparing the insect to be fed to a young one?? The bird does seem to have
a distinct territory, and I have looked for a nest with no success thus
far, but it's certainly possible I've missed it.
In brief, our Cooper's are doing well. As someone suggested to me
privately, they do seem to have become a quieter presence in the
neighborhood now that they're brooding. Although the nest is really easy
to observe when you know where it is, it blends in well and the birds are
doing their best not to call attention to themselves. I feel very
privileged to know their secret!
Natasha
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From email@hidden Thu May 10 12:15:26 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] funny Nuttall's; Cooper's update
--------
Best thing to do is to spend the time to see if the woodpecker carries
the food to a nest. Then you'll have found the nest. If the bird just
gulps down the bug, then it may just be feeding itself and not tending
nestlings or carrying food to an incubating mate. When I photographed
a male Pileated Woodpecker that nested at Table Mtn., a few years ago,
he seemed to regurgitate swallowed bug hunks to feed a couple of hungry
nestlings. I don't know if Nuttall's would do likewise. Carrying food,
instead of swallowing, usually means that there's a nest to tend.
Les Chibana
On Thursday, May 10, 2001 11:48 AM, email@hidden wrote:
>Yesterday I watched a male Nuttall's pry out a large insect and then spend
>the next 4+ minutes apparently trying to get the bug (held crosswise)
>properly oriented for swallowing, rubbing his beak on various branches at
>various angles. For some time the bug (earwig?) was resisting, but even
>after it seemed to be getting rather shredded, the woodpecker just kept
>rubbing. I never saw the end result, since I was already running later
>than I planned. Later I wondered whether this might be a method of
>preparing the insect to be fed to a young one?? The bird does seem to have
>a distinct territory, and I have looked for a nest with no success thus
>far, but it's certainly possible I've missed it.
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From email@hidden Thu May 10 15:08:52 2001
Subject: [SBB] Archive updated
--------
SouthBay Birders,
The SouthBay Birders archive for April has been posted at:
http://fog.ccsf.org/~jmorlan/southbay.htm
Also the monthly mystery has been updated at:
http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/mysteries.htm
Enjoy!
--
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: mailto:email@hidden
California Birding, mystery birds: http://fog.ccsf.org/~jmorlan/
California Bird Records Committee: http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/
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From email@hidden Fri May 11 14:16:42 2001
Subject: [SBB] White-faced Ibis & Black-chinned Hummingbird at CCFS
--------
All,
This morning as Frank Vanslager and I started to check out a few birds in the
second pond on the left as you enter Coyote Creek Field Station Frank spotted
a breeding plumaged White-faced Ibis flying low over our heads. Impression
was that the Ibis had just flown from the southwestern edge of the pond we
were inspecting. The bird first flew North Northeast, then gradually turned
to the right until it was flying roughly South Southeast, over Milpitas and
out of sight down the valley. Later we had good views (two sightings) of at
least one adult male Black-chinned Hummingbird along the Coyote Creek mist
net trail (south of mist net #9550). At least three Swainson's Thrush were
also heard to make there liquid pwip contact call near the trail.
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 2:19 PM, 5/11/01
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From email@hidden Fri May 11 14:42:18 2001
Subject: [SBB] Ibis at Sunnyvale WPCP
--------
Hello All:
At 12:30 this afternoon, I had just finished my run at around Sunnyvale WPCP
ponds and was at the parking lot getting into my car when 5 WHITE-FACED IBIS
flew over my head and on toward Alviso.
Steve Miller
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From email@hidden Fri May 11 18:42:45 2001
Subject: [SBB] RE:Oka Ponds
--------
Good Evening All.......
Spent the day birding with Debbie Stephenson. Our first stop this morning
was La Rinconada Park, there we had the CALIFORNIA THRASHER, ASH-THROATED
FLYCATCHER, SPOTTED TOWHEE, BROWN CREEPER and lots of CEDAR WAXWINGS.
>From there we went to Guadalupe Oak Grove, spotting a pair of Red-tailed
Hawks overhead. We heard but did not see the Red-shouldered Hawk. We did
watch the Hutton's Vireo on its nest and enjoyed the nesting NUTTALL'S and
ACORN Woodpeckers.
Then we made a quick stop at Oka Ponds around 4:30 and Debbie spotted a life
bird for me, the SPOTTED SANDPIPER. I was thrilled to see it for the first
time and add it not only to my life list, but to my Oka Ponds list. It was
pretty quiet at Oka, we did manage to see some FORSTER'S TERNS and NORTHERN
ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS.
All and all a really nice birding day.
Best regards,
Linda Sullivan
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From email@hidden Sat May 12 12:55:05 2001
Subject: [SBB] Steven's Creek Park
--------
Good Afternoon All...
Ran over to Steven's Creek Park this morning around 8 am. I want to thank
Alan Walther for showing me that there are four (4) Red-shouldered babies in
the nest (I had only spotted two). I was so excited. Two very small ones,
and two large. They are still fluffy with downy feathers on their heads.
You can see the them very well now and they are very alert and just wonderful
to watch. The park was busy with bird activity and lots of birds signing and
nesting.
Enjoy your birding.
My best regards,
Linda
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From email@hidden Sat May 12 22:31:52 2001
Subject: [SBB] Mines Road
--------
All,
Our class trip to Mines Road was successful today. We saw two GREATER
ROADRUNNERS at milepost 6-6.5 as well as RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW at
milepost 11. We had fantastic looks at a pair of LEWIS' WOODPECKERS just
beyond the Junction as well as many of the expected species elsewhere
along the trail. A full report is available on my site at:
http://www.birdguy.net/trip_report.html
Nothing too surprising today, but we considered the day a total success
the moment we found male LAZULI BUNTING singing atop a small bush at
milepost 6.5. Gosh, that's blue!
Matthew Dodder
http://www.birdguy.net
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From email@hidden Sun May 13 02:32:02 2001
Subject: [SBB] Grant Ranch, Saturday
--------
Howdy South-bay-birders,
Jolene and I checked Grant Lake on Saturday. Near the parking area we saw 2
male LAZULI BUNTINGS involved in a small turf war. A pair of GRASSHOPPER
SPARROWS were seen perched on coyote bushes near the parking area, and
another was singing in fields between the lake and the main park entrance. A
male RING-NECKED DUCK was on the lake.
John Mariani
email@hidden
www.birdswest.com
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From email@hidden Sun May 13 05:41:31 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
This morning, 13 May 01, I found a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO along Coyote Creek
in south San Jose. I believe that this is a first county record. Take hwy
101 south to Bernal and turn right. Almost immediately take the Monterey Hwy
exit and turn left (south) on Monterey. At Metcalf Road turn left and look
on the right for a small (unamed?) road just past the bike path. Turn right
on this road and follow it a short distance until it intersects Coyote Ranch
Road (right at the entrance to Coyote Ranch Park). Find a place to park here
and then walk up Coyote Ranch Road towards Monterey Hwy and turn right onto
the paved bike path. In about 200 yards the path will break out into the
open from the closed canopy of walnut trees. The vireo was right here near
the path on the right hand side. The bird was singing quite persistently
while I was there at 9:30 am. Its song is a lot like a Cassin's Vireo, but
without the more distinctive "up" and "down" inflections of that species.
On the way home I stopped at the northern-most pond in the Parkway Lakes
chain and again found an OSPREY on the same perch as was occupied a few
weeks ago. Only this time it was a female. Having a pair of birds here at
this time of year is indicative of oversummering, if not breeding. However,
this pond is hard to scan, since it is quite overgrown along the shore
between the bike path and the pond edge.
Yesterday, 12 May 01, was fairly slow. I stopped at CCFS and checked the
sludge ponds and waterbird pond. There was a brood of NORTHERN PINTAILS on
the waterbird pond, consisting of 5 downy young. A GREEN HERON was along the
creek near here. At the EEC the only thing of note was 4 CASPIAN TERNS
foraging over the marsh and salt pond.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Sun May 13 10:34:49 2001
Subject: [SBB] Red-shouldered hawk chicks at Ulistac's grand opening
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From email@hidden Sun May 13 12:29:22 2001
Subject: [SBB] More on Hidden Villa birds/butterflies
--------
All,
Some helpful input from others on this list has enabled me to clarify that
the lone dark swift seen with swallows at HV last week was in fact a Vaux's.
In particular, overall size was a feature I neglected to consider properly;
as Mike Mammoser noted, a Black Swift foraging among swallows should be
noticeably larger than its companions, even when in a distracted state, as I
was.
At least 2 Western Tanagers are still in place around the farm. Although
quieter than a week or two ago, they do call from time to time and are
glimpsed among taller trees in the central farm area.
Butterflies are peaking at Hidden Villa now, with all 3 swallowtails (Western
Tiger, Pale, and Anise) making an occasional appearance, Lorquin's Admirals
and Chalcedon Checkerspots in profusion, Acmon Blue, Brown Elfin, Northern
Cloudywing, Mournful and Propertius Duskywing, Sara Orangetip, and more.
--Garth Harwood
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From email@hidden Sun May 13 18:07:19 2001
Subject: [SBB] ALHU in Stevens Creek Pk.
--------
Spent the morning 5/13 at Stevens Creek Pk. 50-odd species just between the
Chestnut picnic area,
parking lot and ranger station.
Lots of breeding activity. At the RED-TAILED HAWK nest (Chestnut picnic
area),
at least 3 chicks were visible, with 2 already starting to spread their
wings.
Also HAIRY WOODPECKER, WILSON's WARBLER, PACIFIC SLOPE FLYCATCHER, HOODED
ORIOLE,
B-G GNATCATCHER (Chestnut parking lot), etc. No Western Tanagers or Cedar
Waxwings today. Several
of these were here just 2 weekends ago.
A Selasphorous hummer above the restrooms in Chestnut picnic area. Calling
is an ALLEN's
based on green upper back and rufous lower back. Rather late in the season?
Vivek Tiwari
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Sun May 13 21:34:39 2001
Subject: [SBB] Joseph Grant
--------
A short hike this afternoon produced about 50 species of bird including
Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Kingbird and Lazuli Bunting. However, the
highlight was yet another enigmatic bird. I always seem to get one.
It was perched on a low fence to the east of the Ranch House and at first I
dismissed it as a female finch. But its underparts were not streaky enough.
In fact there was only slight streaking on the rear flanks. The upperparts
were a mid-brown with a couple of wing bars, the underparts were pale and
the bill was grey. The bill also seemed too large for House or Purple Finch.
The real clincher was the California Towhee-like chink that the bird kept
making. Also it did not behave much like finch -- foraging close to the
ground and totally on its own.
I think I have seen reports recently of Blue Grosbeaks at JDG. Could this be
one of them?
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From email@hidden Mon May 14 04:42:24 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
I went to Alviso at lunch time today, 14 May 01, where I had 11 WHITE-FACED
IBIS in the marshy pond west of Lafayette and just north of hwy 237, with
another 2 ibis in the pond east of Lafayette.
Arzino Ranch had 2 BURROWING OWLS and a LONG-BILLED CURLEW. At the end of
Nortech Pkwy I watched TURKEY VULTURES evidently predating nests of
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS. These vultures would course low over the field, while
the blackbirds rose up to attack them. I would have thought nothing of this
except I saw one vulture carrying a nestling as the adults chased it. I
assume the nestling was plucked alive from the nest.
Also, I heard from Mike Rogers that he had refound the YELLOW-THROATED VIREO
this morning.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Mon May 14 07:47:49 2001
Subject: [SBB] LEWO at JD Grant CP
--------
Hello Everyone,
This is to report the continued presence of two LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS in the
vicinity of Eagle Lake at Jos D. Grant CP on Saturday, May 12. Actually the
woodpeckers were seen about 1/4 mile west of the small lake in the hilltop
valley oaks along Hotel Trail. Their favored tree appeared to be a valley
oak with a large clump of mistletoe hanging down from the lower branches at
the crest of the hill. There is a yellow sign indicated "steep downgrade"
on the trail near this particular oak. I tried observing them for several
minutes but they kept disappearing into the thick foliage of the oaks. They
flew from tree to tree and mostly seemed to be pecking and feeding.
Occasionally one would pick up bits of twigs and other vegetation, but then
drop them. I could not discern definite nesting behavior - but they're
still here.
I also saw a male TOWNSEND'S WARBLER in fulling breeding plumage in the oaks
and grey pines above the fire station. Also, when coming back down the
trail I met up with Norma Cabot by the fire station and we both saw a pair
of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH on the wires.
And finally, early in the morning I encountered a gray fox by the ranger
station when I first arrived. We both paused to acknowledge each other and
then the fox took off down the wooded banks of Smith Creek - a most
beautiful animal.
Ann
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From email@hidden Mon May 14 09:38:06 2001
Subject: [SBB] More White Faced Ibis in South Bay
--------
I saw 10 White Faced Ibis this morning (~9:00 AM Monday) on my way to
work. They were landing in the small pond near 237 & Lafayette. The
actual pond is near the construction at Lafayette and Great America on
the N. side of 237.
I saw the birds fly in or wouldn' have known they were there. They can be
seen if you are driving west on Great America from where you turn off of
Lafayette (this is the section of Lafayette that goes to Alviso.
-Chris
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From email@hidden Mon May 14 10:25:52 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
I just returned from Alviso, where the GLOSSY IBIS was still present at 5:45
pm. It was with 8 WHITE-FACED IBIS in the pond on the east side of Lafayette
and just north of hwy 237.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Mon May 14 11:24:56 2001
Subject: [SBB] Continuing Yellow-Throated Vireo
--------
I was at the Yellow-Throated Vireo spot from about 9:10 to 10:00 this
morning, and found the bird was still present. [Mike Rogers reported it to
BirdBox from earlier this morning.] It was in the same location from which
Mike Mammoser first reported it: along the bike path on the east side of
Coyote Creek about 200 yards north of Coyote Ranch Road. The Vireo sang on
and off the whole time, but only infrequently by 10:00. It was using walnuts
and cottonwoords on both sides of the bike path (mainly on the east side).
Because it tended to stay very high up, it was difficult to spot or observe.
But I (and Bob Reiling, who arrived with Frank Vanslager about 10 minutes
after I did, and remained after I left) had several excellent looks.
A great find by Mike M.!
Al
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From email@hidden Mon May 14 12:36:15 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Continuing Yellow-Throated Vireo
--------
All,
Frank Vanslager and I left for home about 11:25 and the Yellow-throated Vireo
had called only once between then and 10:10 AM (when Al Eisner left). The
last call heard was in the vicinity of a large Cottonwood on the far (west)
side of Coyote Creek about half way along the relevant tree covered portion
of the bike trail. It should be noted that at least two top birders had
tried for the bird yesterday afternoon with no luck. It seems apparent that
if one wants to try for this bird then they need to be "in place" before 9:30
AM (the latest). Note; even when actively calling this brightly marked bird
can be hard to find!
Good luck,
Bob Reiling, 12:35 PM, 5/14/01
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From email@hidden Mon May 14 15:00:43 2001
Subject: [SBB] Mines Rd., etc.
--------
I took a 2nd group from my birding class on the Mines Rd.-Del Puerto
Canyon Rd.-San Antonio Valley Rd. route on Saturday, 5/12/01. Once
again, we started at the cattle guard just north of San Antonio
Junction. Well, we did stop briefly in Alameda Co. to look at a WILD
TURKEY hen with chicks a half mile south of the Del Valle Res. junction.
At the cattle guard by the Junction, SAGE SPARROWs were activly singing
in the chamise chaparral. We also heard, then found, a pair of BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHERs in the same area. At one point, both gnatcatchers became
agitated by the presence of a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY. Perhaps they had a nest
in the area. A scrub-jay was the center of attention a few moments later
as we heard the cries of a baby brush rabbit emanating from the chamise.
We could see a jay pecking at the rabbit. Never thought this sp. would
predate on live prey of this size. LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHes entertained us
with their natty plumage at the fire station. WESTERN KINGBIRDs were on
the nest on the transmission tower behind the station. BLACK PHOEBEs have
a nest under the eaves of the garage.
A pair of WOOD DUCKs were at Mallison Pond just east of the Junction
on Del Puerto Canyon Rd.
On DPC Rd. in Stanislaus county, we found a CANYON WREN singing from
the road cut on the south side of the road at roughly 10.5 mi. from
I-5. A COMMON RAVEN was in the area, carrying food, but it did not
come to the nest ledge while we were there. A GREEN HERON flew high
over us from one point of the creek to another point upstream. At
about mi. 5.4, we saw a male YELLOW WARBLER. At the roadside rock
outcrops at mi. 3.8, we did not find a Costa's Hummingbird nor could
we ID any kingbirds as Cassin's. We did see a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. At
the cattle guard approx. .75 mi., we saw 3 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWs.
Killer views! Orange lores, yellowish coverts. On the north side of
the road, a male and female BLUE GROSBEAK were seen on the fenceline.
The female was seen carrying nesting material and they copulated
briefly. Two LONG-BILLED CURLEW flew by overhead.
>From the Junction going into San Antonio Valley, we didn't find any
Lewis's Woodpecker activity at .3 mi. We continued past the YZ Ranch
where we saw a CHIPPING SPARROW. At about 3.5 mi. from the Junction,
we saw a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER in the vicinity of a large dead valley
oak on the west side of the road at the northern edge of a large
meadow. At the second large pond south of the Bill Gehri Bridge, we
saw 3 male and 2 female WOOD DUCKs. There was a juvenile KILLDEER at
this pond. Back at mi. .3 south of the Junction, we saw two LEWIS'S
WOODPECKERs. They weren't as actively foraging as the previous week
but we did see them copulate. Again, briefly.
On Sunday, 5/13/01, I participated in banding at Coyote Creek Field
Station. To set the stage, last Sat., 5/6/01, I reported that things
were slow with a total of 12 birds processed. Conditions were much
the same for the previous and succeeding week. On Sat., 5/12/01, 44
birds were processed, a significant jump. Among these birds, 15 were
Swainson's Thrushes, 3 Wilson's Warblers, and one each of Western
Flycatcher and Yellow Warbler. Yesterday, we processed 92 birds! This
included 45 Swainson's Thrushes, 15 Wilson's Warblers, 3 Yellow
Warblers, 2 Western Flycatchers, and one MacGillivray's Warbler. This
indicates that we had (are still having?) a significant push of migrants
through the valley. That's 60 newly banded Swainson's Thrushes and 18
Wilson's Warblers in two days of banding. Big numbers. Add Mike Mammoser's
Yellow-throated Vireo to this and an exciting scenario emerges. For
those of you on Calbird, this seems to correlate with Bill Principe's
radar sighting reports.
At noon, I stopped by Alum Rock Park. At the Rustic Lands picnic
area, there was a singing LAZULI BUNTING. There appears to be an
active RED-TAILED HAWK nest in a eucalyptus tree near the old entry
road. A male HOODED ORIOLE was seen over the picnic area. WARBLING
VIREO and WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE were heard. Up at YSI, DJ said that the
Great Horned Owl still comes to visit the captive owls. She has not
heard about any Northern Pygmy Owl sightings recently.
Good birding,
Les Chibana
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From email@hidden Mon May 14 15:10:24 2001
Subject: [SBB] RED-SHOULDERED nest at Stevens Creek Pk
--------
In my message yesterday about Stevens Creek Pk,
I should of course have said RED-SHOULDERED HAWK nest (not RED-TAILED).
Sorry for the confusion.
(Thanks for the catch, Mike).
Vivek
-----Original Message-----
From: Dr. Michael M. Rogers [mailto:email@hidden]
Sent: Monday, May 14, 2001 3:00 PM
To: Tiwari, Vivek
Cc: email@hidden
Subject: Re: [SBB] ALHU in Stevens Creek Pk.
Vivek,
"At the RED-TAILED HAWK nest (Chestnut picnic area),"
Is there a Red-tailed Hawk nest as well as the Red-shouldered Hawk's nest?
Mike
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From email@hidden Mon May 14 15:51:59 2001
Subject: [SBB] Almaden Lake
--------
Early this morning, 5/14/01, I spent some time observing the
Egret/Heron colony at Almaden Lake in San Jose. The SNOWY EGRETS and
GREAT EGRETS were busy incubating (no real evidence of any feeding of
nestlings) as well as BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS. Two almost grown
GREEN HERONS were out of the nest being fed by a parent bird. A PIED
BILLED GREBE was near the island along with 2 chicks . All this on
the reed island of the lake. No less than 3 COMMON GALINULEs were
foraging on the low gravel bar near the south end of the lake, where
there was also a pair of COMMON MERGANSERs ; three FORSTERS TERNS,
and a KILLDEER.
I also discovered an active BULLOCK's ORIOLE nest at the parking
lot near the restoooms at the east side of the lake.
Alan W.
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From email@hidden Mon May 14 16:53:34 2001
Subject: [SBB] GLOSSY IBIS IN ALVISO!!!
--------
All,
Checking out the report of a WHITE-FACED IBIS flock in Alviso today
5/14/01, I was amazed to find an alternate-plumaged adult GLOSSY
IBIS in with 6 WHITE-FACED IBIS in the pond east of Lafayette/
Gold Street just north of Highway 237 in Alviso. The bird was
easy to pick out, with extensive bright powder blue between the
eye and the bill, completely lacking the red eye, the red facial
skin, and the white border (including behind the eye on the WFIB)
of the nearby WHITE-FACED IBIS. The bird was still in the pond
when I left at 4:02pm.
Another WHITE-FACED IBIS was in the pond west of the road.
There are as yet no accepted records of the species for CA, although
records from southern CA (mainly Salton Sea) from the last two years
will likely be accepted soon. This is a first for northern CA
though and obviously a new species for Santa Clara County.
Hope it stays around!
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Mon May 14 18:36:17 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] GLOSSY IBIS IN ALVISO!!!
--------
This bird (as well as several birders!) are in the pond immediately
adjacent to my office here at TiVo. I've warned the folks here to expect
some extra traffic tomorrow :-)
I can't "officially" tell you all to come and park here, but
in practice, there is no problem. That is, we do not have parking
stickers and we don't have any special vistor parking.
Enjoy!
"Dr. Michael M. Rogers" wrote:
>
> All,
>
> Checking out the report of a WHITE-FACED IBIS flock in Alviso today
> 5/14/01, I was amazed to find an alternate-plumaged adult GLOSSY
> IBIS in with 6 WHITE-FACED IBIS in the pond east of Lafayette/
> Gold Street just north of Highway 237 in Alviso. The bird was
> easy to pick out, with extensive bright powder blue between the
> eye and the bill, completely lacking the red eye, the red facial
> skin, and the white border (including behind the eye on the WFIB)
> of the nearby WHITE-FACED IBIS. The bird was still in the pond
> when I left at 4:02pm.
--
Paul Stevens email@hidden
Tivo, Inc. http://www.tivo.com
P.O. Box 649101 408-519-9194
Alviso, CA 95164-9101 Fax: 408-519-5339
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From email@hidden Mon May 14 23:12:44 2001
Subject: [SBB] Glossy Ibis photos
--------
Hi,
My son Will and I went to the pond North of 237 on Gold Street in Alviso
around 6:15pm today (5/14). We saw the Glossy Ibis as well as 8 White-faced
Ibises. I managed to get a few digital photos through my scope. I've posted
6 of the photos on my website here:
http://www.thebirder.com/photos.html
The blue around the face and the eye color did not reproduce well in the
photos.
Don Ganton
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Tue May 15 06:11:09 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Thanks Mike & Mike.....
--------
----- Original Message -----
From:
>
> What an exciting morning. I ran over to see the Ibis, both the White-faced
> and Glossy. I cannot thank Mike M & Mike R enough for sharing this
wonderful
> find
I wish I could take credit for this, but the birds here were initially found
and reported by someone named Chris, and Mike Rogers found the Glossy later
that afternoon. I was just an innocent bystander. (I will take credit for
the vireo, though :-)
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Tue May 15 07:55:40 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
Just a note to let people know that the GLOSSY IBIS was still present at
lunch time today, with at least 16 WHITE-FACED IBIS.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Tue May 15 09:15:01 2001
Subject: [SBB] Glossy Ibis
--------
All:
The Glossy Ibis discovered by Mike Rogers was back in the pond at the
northeast corner of Lafayette and #237 in Alviso this morning. It was
with, by Maria's count, 26 White-Faced Ibis. We saw it from 7:10 until we
left about 8:15.
The Ibises come and go from the pond. Last night, all of them had left,
flying high and north, by 7:30. (The Glossy had left earlier.)
Thanks, Mike!
John Meyer
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From email@hidden Tue May 15 11:30:05 2001
Subject: [SBB] -
--------
Folks:
This morning, 5/15/2001, I arrived along the bike path east of Coyote
Creek and 100-200 m north of Coyote Ranch Road at 7:20 am and left an hour
later. The YELLOW-THROATED VIREO was singing repeatedly over this entire
period and moved from cottonwoods at the northern edge of the walnut grove to
nearly the southern edge. It was found on both sides of the bike path.
Most of the time the bird stayed high and moved slowly and was hard to see.
In an hour's time I had three to four looks, none longer than five seconds.
Thanks Mike M.
Returning north I stopped at the TiVo pond east of Gold Street in Alviso
and accepted Bob Reiling's offer of a scope view of the GLOSSY IBIS there with
the WHITE-FACED IBIS. The bird was still present when I left at 9:20 am.
Thanks Mike R.
Bill
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From email@hidden Tue May 15 11:48:22 2001
Subject: [SBB] The birding capital of CA?
--------
Ordinarily, a feeding flock of 26 White-Faced Ibis in Santa Clara Co.
(Maria Meyer's count - I got 23 but I thought I had missed a few) would be
cause for some local excitement. But being able to view a Glossy Ibis over
a prolonged period with excellent lighting was just a great treat; I had
spent several hours unsuccessfully searching through Ibis flocks near the
Salton Sea last year. I was there (the pond at the northeast "corner" of Hwy.
237 and Gold Street in Alviso) from about 7:20 to 8:10 AM. The Meyers were
already there, but only three more birders showed up before I left. The Ibis
flock had diminished to 20 by then. On one occasion, all of them headed over
to the pond across Gold St. for about 5 minutes, but then returned.
Rather than fight the traffic, I headed up to Ed Levin Park. I hadn't yet
this year been to the hillside east of Sandy Wool Lake, and I had planned a
visit this week anyway. I didn't intend to go much beyond the sycamore draw,
so I was fortunate that a female-type Blue Grosbeak briefly perched on the
lowest sycamore before heading back up the draw - it was silent, and I could
never refind it. I had a good look at the body, and a quick look at the bill,
but the head was largely obscured, so I couldn't entirely rule out a young
male. The same tree has a Western Kingbird nest (incubation stage). I also
found two singing Rufous-Crowned Sparrows (one persistently from up in a
sycamore), but, oddly, only one Lazuli Bunting was heard singing briefly.
On the way up I heard one Grasshopper Sparrow singing above the gate; there was
a Loggerhead Shrike near the base of the hill; and one Hooded Oriole was with
the Bullock's down in the Eucs at the picnic area.
Not a bad few days around here!
Cheers, Al
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From email@hidden Tue May 15 13:06:05 2001
Subject: [SBB] Thanks Mike & Mike.....
--------
Good afternoon all.
What an exciting morning. I ran over to see the Ibis, both the White-faced
and Glossy. I cannot thank Mike M & Mike R enough for sharing this wonderful
find. I have now added two life birds, what a thrill. Also, thank you Alan
W. for helping me spot the bird and your descriptions of the Glossy IBIS
helped me a lot.
Wishing you great birding...
My best regards,
Linda
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From email@hidden Tue May 15 14:42:00 2001
Subject: [SBB] Oops! Thanks Chris.
--------
Good Afternoon All,
I posted before thanking Mike R and Mike M. I was told that Chris (sorry I
do not have a last name) was the one who found the IBIS and later Mike R
found the Glossy. So, Chris....... Thanks so much for sharing. GREAT FIND.
My best regards,
Linda Sullivan
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From email@hidden Tue May 15 15:12:23 2001
Subject: [SBB] Loma Prieta, YTVireo, GLIB
--------
All,
A summary of some weekend birding, a little delayed...
On Saturday 5/12/01 I spent the morning at Loma Prieta, looking for
signs of migration. In general there weren't many, although a few
migrant warblers were detectable, mainly by furtive chip notes and
half-hearted songs. My first stop was the saddle at the former
pavement end (the yellow "pavement ends" sign is still here, although
the actual pavement end is now further up the road). This location
was barely above the heavy fog bank and I was hoping that migrants
might be hugging this first sight of land as they moved north - no
such luck. I had no swifts and the only swallows were a group of 15
CLIFF SWALLOWS, which were likely wandering local breeders (a few
singles and pairs were seen later as well). A single male WESTERN
TANAGER looked like a migrant but was moving east up the draw instead
of north. An adult male "AUDUBON'S" YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER singing
from the very top of a Douglas Fir was likely a local breeder rather
than a migrant. More likely migrants included at least 3 TOWNSEND'S
WARBLERS, a WILSON'S WARBLER, and 2 pairs of HERMIT WARBLERS heading
north low over the saddle, the first alighting briefly atop the
Douglas Firs in Santa Clara County, the other only observed in Santa
Cruz County. A single female LAZULI BUNTING heading north at the same
location may also have been a migrant and some of the 4 singing males
may have been as well.
At 9:15 the fog bank rolled in further and I had to move up closer to
the summit to see anything. Up here were another singing
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, at least 2 more TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS and a male
YELLOW WARBLER. A strange sight at this location were 7 fly-by ROCK
DOVES. At least 7 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS were tallied during the
morning.
After this, I made a quick stop along Wright's Station Road, where I
heard many PYGMY NUTHATCHES and 5 WILSON'S WARBLERS (likely breeding
birds here). Then I continued north on Summit Road (crossing Highway
17) and finding 2 singing male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS and all
three species of VIREOS. The next stop was at the call box 035-100
near "The Peaks" along Skyline Blvd. A short hike up to the ridge did
indeed turn up a vocal RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, but the bird remained on
the Santa Cruz County side of the hill the whole time - this is a
known breeding location for this species.
On Sunday morning 5/13/01 I took a short stroll at Shoreline Park with
my Dad, who was out for a visit. Two BLACK SKIMMERS at Charleston
Slough, 2 GREEN HERONS at Shoreline Lake, a lingering BLACK-BELLIED
PLOVER and a worn adult GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL at Charleston Slough, and
a migrating YELLOW WARBLER near Shoreline Lake were the highlights
here. Also of interest were a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT carrying food for
young, and precocial young of both AMERICAN AVOCETS and MALLARDS.
Sunday afternoon I received a call from Mike Mammoser informing me of
his Yellow-throated Vireo find. I headed out to that portion of
Coyote Creek, arriving just before 4pm and staying until dusk after
8pm. Birds were quiet and the wind had picked up, but intensive
searching turned up 56 species of birds and 5 ticks (all removed
before they took a bite out of me). There was no sign of the
Yellow-throated Vireo, but I did have 2 GREEN HERONS, 2 "WESTERN"
FLYCATCHERS, 2+ ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS, 1 singing HOUSE WREN,
2 CALIFORNIA THRASHERS, 28 CEDAR WAXWINGS, 5 WARBLING VIREOS (including
a territorial pair with a singing male), 5 YELLOW WARBLERS (including
2 singing males), 1 WILSON'S WARBLER, 2 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS,
2 HOODED ORIOLES, and 3 BULLOCK'S ORIOLES. There was also lots of
breeding activity along the creek here, including recently fledged
BLACK PHOEBES, SCRUB JAYS, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, OAK TITMICE,
BUSHTITS, and BEWICK'S WRENS being fed by adults. Parkway Lake had a
perched OSPREY (until at least 7:35pm) and a brood of CANADA GEESE.
Monday morning 5/14/01 I returned to this spot along Coyote Creek at
6:45am and had the singing YELLOW-THROATED VIREO as soon as I arrived
at the spot where Mike Mammoser had found it. It sang continuously
until I left a half-hour later. I did manage to get 3 (distant and
perhaps lousy) photos. The only other species not also found the day
before included a WESTERN KINGBIRD out by Coyote Ranch and a singing
SWAINSON'S THRUSH along the creek.
As I have already posted, later in the day I checked out the Alviso
ibis flock (on the way to get my son for a baseball game). Being
aware of recent Glossy Ibis records from southern CA, I decided to
check out each bird carefully. I figured my odds of success were
about 1:1000, so I was truly amazed to find the adult GLOSSY IBIS,
my second new county bird for the day! Also here were 8 adult
WHITE-FACED IBIS and a HOODED ORIOLE.
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Tue May 15 15:49:44 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] Oops! Thanks Chris.
--------
Pretty sure that was Chris Illes
Yes!! Thanks, Chris!!
Janet Tashjian Hanson
Executive Director
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
P.O. Box 247
Alviso, CA 95002
email@hidden
408/946-6548
-----Original Message-----
From: email@hidden
To: email@hidden
Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2001 2:42 PM
Subject: [SBB] Oops! Thanks Chris.
Good Afternoon All,
I posted before thanking Mike R and Mike M. I was told that Chris (sorry I
do not have a last name) was the one who found the IBIS and later Mike R
found the Glossy. So, Chris....... Thanks so much for sharing. GREAT
FIND.
My best regards,
Linda Sullivan
-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==
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From email@hidden Tue May 15 16:47:16 2001
Subject: [SBB] Fwd: Indigo AND Lazuli Buntings ON Windy Hill
--------
Just received this note about buntings at Windy Hill. They're baaack!
Les Chibana
--------------------------------------
Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2001 4:42 PM
From: email@hidden
All,
I thought you folks might be interested in this.
I just returned from a (rather warm) walk up the Spring Ridge Trail from
Portola Road to Skyline at Windy Hill, but my reward was to see (terrific
views) both an Indigo Bunting and a Lazuli Bunting at the top. I watched the
IB for about 20 minutes, split into two almost equal parts by about 10
minutes of the LB feeding on wild oats, when the IB had flown to a distant
tree (but then returned).
If you are interested in the site, the easy access is the Windy Hill main
parking area on Skyline. Take the sign to the Anniversary Trail, go about 150
yards to the left and as you bend around the hill, there is a draw to your
right. The IB was mostly there flying and singing from Coyote Brush to willow
to thistles and back. Quite active but stopped to sing on top of the Coyote
Brush and the willow. The LB was feeding, with a few songs, in the thistles
and wild oats that would be straight ahead of you on the trail, the side of
the top of Windy Hill.
They are marvelous birds !!!
Regards,
Dick Wiesner
--------
All,
I thought you folks might be interested in this.
I just returned from a (rather warm) walk up the Spring Ridge Trail from
Portola Road to Skyline at Windy Hill, but my reward was to see (terrific
views) both an Indigo Bunting and a Lazuli Bunting at the top. I watched the
IB for about 20 minutes, split into two almost equal parts by about 10
minutes of the LB feeding on wild oats, when the IB had flown to a distant
tree (but then returned).
If you are interested in the site, the easy access is the Windy Hill main
parking area on Skyline. Take the sign to the Anniversary Trail, go about 150
yards to the left and as you bend around the hill, there is a draw to your
right. The IB was mostly there flying and singing from Coyote Brush to willow
to thistles and back. Quite active but stopped to sing on top of the Coyote
Brush and the willow. The LB was feeding, with a few songs, in the thistles
and wild oats that would be straight ahead of you on the trail, the side of
the top of Windy Hill.
They are marvelous birds !!!
Regards,
Dick Wiesner
From email@hidden Tue May 15 16:55:20 2001
Subject: [SBB] Many thanks
--------
I, too, would like to add my thanks first to all the experienced
birders who shared their knowledge and scope views with me this
morning (between 9:30 and 10:30) at Alviso and secondly to all those
whose postings have given me such wonderful new birds to look out for
in my first six months in Mountain View.
Sincere thanks,
Debbie
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From email@hidden Tue May 15 18:09:27 2001
Subject: [SBB] Glossy Ibis photos posted
--------
I got a few images taken this morning in Alviso, CA up on our Web site:
http://www.auc.com/bird_droppings/glib/glib.html
Les Chibana
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From email@hidden Tue May 15 19:20:23 2001
Subject: [SBB] Glossy Ibis Still Present
--------
The Glossy Ibis is still present in the pond next to the Tivo parking lot at
6:45PM this evening.
Michael Wienholt
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From email@hidden Tue May 15 19:49:48 2001
Subject: [SBB] Frenchman's Meadow, Stanford
--------
Bored with Glossy Ibis and Yellow-throated Vireos? Come to the meadow, where a HOODED ORIOLE pair are feeding nesting young in one of the fan palms, and the female is building a second nest in the other palm. The RED-TAILED HAWK nest on Gerona again had an adult perching on the side. No nesting young seen yet.
Tom Grey
Stanford Law School
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Wed May 16 07:14:06 2001
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
I wandered around at lunch time today, 16 May 01. At the Sunnyvale sewage
ponds the SNOW GOOSE is still present. One of the domestic geese also has a
young gosling. The Arzino Ranch in Alviso produced 15 BURROWING OWLS, with
one family group of 2 adults and 6 fuzzy young. A female RING-NECKED
PHEASANT had 8 poults. A single WHITE-FACED IBIS was foraging along the
entrance road to the EEC. Salt pond A16 had 12 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 8
EARED GREBES, and an aechmophorus grebe too distant to identify to species.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Wed May 16 15:44:09 2001
Subject: [SBB] Negative results
--------
I got to the Yellow-throated Vireo spot about 9, only to meet some discouraged departing birders who had been there all morning and reported no sign of the bird. I high-tailed it to Alviso, where I located 13 Ibis in the two ponds straddling Gold Street -- all of them (up to 11:30 at least) of the White-faced ilk. GREEN HERON in the west pond.
Tom Grey
Stanford Law School
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Wed May 16 17:24:13 2001
Subject: [SBB] Cooper's Hawk Nest
--------
For any and All Post Santa Clara County Breeding Birds Atlasers.......
I observed an active Cooper's Hawk nest today (5/16) in Los Altos. An adult was carrying what appeared to be a Mourning Dove to a nest in a large Coast Redwood. The hawk dropped the bird in the nest to much squealing and flesh and feather ripping. I would guess the young are fairly well grown to be dismantling prey themselves.
Any atlasers that need more specific location info can contact me and I'll respond privately.
Paul L. Noble
"Screechowl"
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Wed May 16 21:05:42 2001
Subject: Re: [SBB] EEC
--------
The Sunnyvale-Saratoga/Mathilda parrots are possibly Sunnyvale's
well-known flock of Mitred Conures. They've been around for many years.
I've seen them fly over my Sunnyvale home several times over the past
eight years, and seen them settle in the following places: a tree in
front of the Good Samaritan Church on Homestead near Wolfe and in the
trees next to the Peppermill on De Anza Blvd., right at the main
entrance to Apple Computer. The Sunnyvale Sun website has a nice 1998
article on them, including a picture (so you can verify whether you're
seeing the same birds). Check out
http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sunnyvale.sun/08.12.98/CoverStory.html.
Since they've been here for 15 or more years, can they be considered
"established"?
I was at the pond east of Gold street this evening at 6:15pm and saw no
sign of the Glossy Ibis (I did get to see it yesterday at noon). There
were two White-faced Ibis feeding, and two more Ibis in the West pond
that other birders reported were also White-faced.
Barry Langdon-Lassagne
-----
On Wednesday, May 16, 2001, at 02:05 PM, email@hidden wrote:
> After the excitement of the Glossy Ibis yesterday it was
> back to business as usual at the EEC this lunchtime.
> Well, not quite as usual. The Ibis may have been
> species #109 for me in the Alviso area but Pied-billed
> Grebe checked in today at #110. How could I have
> missed that in all my visits?
>
> One of the White-faced Ibises had migrated to
> alongside the road leading into the Centre, so I got
> great looks at that from the car. Of note also was a
> single Pintail (unusual for this time of the year?) and a
> Burrowing Owl out in the grassland to the south of the
> boardwalk. The Bonaparte’s Gulls don’t seem to be
> rushing into breeding plumage. Might I be seeing first-
> summer birds that don’t bother to migrate?
>
> Finally on a much more artificial note does anyone know
> what species of parakeet has a little colony by
> Sunnyvale-Saratoga and Mathilda? Are they even
> parakeets? I frequently see, and hear, them from the
> car on my way home.
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From email@hidden Wed May 16 22:05:31 2001
Subject: [SBB] EEC
--------
After the excitement of the Glossy Ibis yesterday it was
back to business as usual at the EEC this lunchtime.
Well, not quite as usual. The Ibis may have been
species #109 for me in the Alviso area but Pied-billed
Grebe checked in today at #110. How could I have
missed that in all my visits?
One of the White-faced Ibises had migrated to
alongside the road leading into the Centre, so I got
great looks at that from the car. Of note also was a
single Pintail (unusual for this time of the year?) and a
Burrowing Owl out in the grassland to the south of the
boardwalk. The Bonaparte’s Gulls don’t seem to be
rushing into breeding plumage. Might I be seeing first-
summer birds that don’t bother to migrate?
Finally on a much more artificial note does anyone know
what species of parakeet has a little colony by
Sunnyvale-Saratoga and Mathilda? Are they even
parakeets? I frequently see, and hear, them from the
car on my way home.
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From email@hidden Thu May 17 07:28:04 2001
Subject: [SBB] GOEA and Chicks at Calero
--------
All:
There seemed to be 3 young chicks of staggered ages on the nest platform on
the 4th power tower west of McKean Road, just north of the Calero Reservoir.
With their light heads and dark, new wing feathers, they looked quite a bit
like Ospreys. But then an adult Golden Eagle flew in and landed on the
adjacent tower.
Frank Vanslager
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From email@hidden Thu May 17 09:23:41 2001
Subject: [SBB] EEC again
--------
An interpretive walk around the EEC yesterday revealed
2 Black Skimmers at the salt pond, along with some
Bonapartes. This morning the White Pelicans have made
a showing on the salt pond as well.
Sml
__________________________________________________
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Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices
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From email@hidden Thu May 17 16:29:37 2001
Subject: [SBB] Santa Clara Co. Bird List 4/30/01
--------
Bill Bousman Wrote:
The number of species jumped 31 this month, but part of this is
corrections and oversights from previous months. I added Rock Wren for
February and seven species for March that I had overlooked: Rufous and Allen's
Hummingbird, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Horned Lark, Rufous-crowned Sparrow,
Hooded Oriole, and Lawrence's Goldfinch.
April was, as expected a big month, with 23 new species. Many were
returning summer residents such as: Vaux's Swift, Black-chinned Hummingbird,
Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cassin's
Vireo, Swainson's Thrush, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Western
Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, and Lazuli Bunting. There were also some rare
migrants such as Lesser Yellowlegs, Ruff, Solitary Sandpiper, Calliope
Hummingbird, Hammond's Flycatcher, and Nashville Warbler. A few rare
residents were also found: Greater Roadrunner, Lewis's Woodpecker, and Cassin's
Kingbird. Finally, the status of Cattle Egret and Blue Grosbeak remains an
enigma.
Of the '2's on the checklist, only Red-necked and Wilson's Phalaropes
are left and it's no secret that they've been found in May. All the '3's have
been found this year and only eight '4's are left unfound (and some have
been). So that leaves a lot of exciting birding to do.
The complete list is posted on:
South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU)
http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/
-----------------------------------------
Kendric C. Smith, Ph.D.
927 Mears Court
Stanford, CA 94305-1041
(650) 493-7210 (voice or fax)
email@hidden
http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/
------------------------------------------
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From email@hidden Thu May 17 17:37:05 2001
Subject: [SBB] Chukar at Edgewood
--------
A MROSD docent reported seeing a pair of Chukar in the developed area
around Edgewood County Park and Natural Preserve for several months.
They range a bit and no detailed locations were provided.
Edgewood Natural Preserve is in San Mateo Co. and is located south of
Edgewood Rd., east of Hwy 280. For more information about this unique
preserve and maps, go to
http://www.friendsofedgewood.org/edgewood.htm
Les Chibana
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From email@hidden Thu May 17 20:06:04 2001
Subject: [SBB] Palo Alto Summer Bird Count!
--------
All,
June 2 is almost here and The Palo Alto Summer Bird Count is rapidly
approaching. Final Regional Coordinators have been set and have already
begun assembling teams. Good coverage is crucial to making this event a
useful survey of summer birds in our area. If you would like to help
this important effort get the attention it deserves, please consider
contacting the following Regional Coordinators and joining a team. With
all the recent excitement about Glossy Ibis and Yellow-throated Vireo
our energy is high and who knows... this year's Count might produce
produce the next big thing!
Thank you in advance for all your support. Let's make this Count really
shine!
Matthew Dodder
Count Compiler/Region 7 Coordinator
http://www.birdguy.net
________
Region 1
(Redwood City and EP Alto waterfronts)
Jack Cole
email@hidden
________
Region 2
(PA Baylands, Shoreline and Moffet Field)
Mike Rogers
email@hidden
________
Region 3
(Residential Menlo Park, Atherton RWC)
David Drake/Leda Beth Gray
email@hidden
________
Region 4
(Residential PA, MView and Sunnyvale)
Phylis Browning
email@hidden
________
Region 5
(Woodside)
Marcia Keimer
email@hidden
________
Region 6
(Los Altos Hills)
Ruth Troetschler
email@hidden
________
Reglion 7
(Skyline Open Space Areas)
Matthew Dodder (I'll be out of town May 18-26 but will respond when I
return)
email@hidden
________
Region 8
(Lower Skyline, Foothills Park and Montebello)
Garth Harwood
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Thu May 17 22:18:21 2001
Subject: [SBB] Sunnyvale Baylands
--------
A lunchtime stroll round the pond in the north-east
corner of Sunnyvale Baylands produced a female
Hooded Merganser – somewhat late, I thought. There
were also five American White Pelicans with two of them
in breeding plumage. A Common Moorhen was tending
one chick in the reeds to the south of the pond.
Many thanks for the flood of information about the
parakeets. I’m inspired to take a closer look some day –
but only if they become tickable ;-)
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From email@hidden Fri May 18 10:08:31 2001
Subject: [SBB] status of local naturalized parrots
--------
Hi all,
I have been recruited by the Parrot Project folks in LA to keep track of our
local parrots and did a general summary of the local population, which
should appear in the proceedings of a meeting held last year in LA.
Basically, it is well known that there are several flocks in the bay area.
There have been 1-4 flocks of Aratinga
(Mitred/Red-masked/Blue-headed/etc.)parakeets on the Penninsula, one large
flock of Aratinga parakeets in San Francisco. There is also a large flock
of Brotogeris (Canary-winged & White-lined) parakeets near Dolores Park in
San Francisco. These flocks appear to be stable. There have been reports
of parrots & parakeets in Berkeley and the east bay, but the reports are of
few individuals and inconsistent over the past 10 years. More observations
are needed to get a handle on these birds.
Little is known about their breeding status in SF Bay. Nests have been
documented from 2 of the San Jose/Penninsula flocks and the SF flocks.
However, it has not yet been established that the populations are
self-supporting. Although I suspect that they probably are (opinion) as
large numbers of naturalized Amazona & Aratinga parrots are breeding in
street trees in the LA area. Naturalized parrots are probably here to stay,
they have been included in recent bird bird books and some species will
likely be accepted as an introduced species once sufficient information is
available to make the determination which species and in which areas the
populations are self-supporting (also my opinion, there are others that
disagree with good reason).
For more information on the LA flocks you can visit the Parrot Project
website at http://www.parrotproject.org/
Please keep reporting sightings to the list.
Cheers,
Tom
-----Original Message-----
From: email@hidden
[mailto:email@hidden]On Behalf Of Barry
Langdon-Lassagne
Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2001 9:06 PM
To: email@hidden
Cc: email@hidden
Subject: Re: [SBB] EEC
The Sunnyvale-Saratoga/Mathilda parrots are possibly Sunnyvale's
well-known flock of Mitred Conures. They've been around for many years.
I've seen them fly over my Sunnyvale hom