Parent
From email@hidden Sat May 01 11:14:32 1999
Subject: [SBB] SCVWD Pond this morning--Dunlin?
I stopped by the SCVWD headquarters this morning hoping to see the
Vaux's Swifts that John Mariani reported Thursday. I didn't see any
swifts, but I did see what for me was an unusual sandpiper. At the
pond's edge near the parking lot, there were two sandpipers, a Spotted
and what I first thought to be a Western. I decided to just observe
rather than immediately getting out my field guide. The second
sandpiper was larger than the Spotted Sandpiper. It had a medium-length
bill with a noticeable droop at the end. There was a lot of rufous in
the back and wings and on the top of the head. There was also black on
the belly. After looking in my Peterson's I thought that this must be a
Dunlin in alternate plumage. The black on the belly didn't look as
distinct as I might have expected, but all of the rest of the clues seem
to fit--body size, bill size and droop, coloring.
Is this a possibility? The only other Dunlins I have seen have been in
basic plumage on the coast during winter.
Hugh McDevitt
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 01 11:24:20 1999
Subject: [SBB] Fwd: failure notice
This is a multi-part message in MIME format.
------=_NextPart_000_3d4dd953_4574f43b$50160a87
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed;
>From: email@hidden
>To: email@hidden
>Subject: failure notice
>Date: 1 May 1999 18:10:56 -0000
>
>Hi. This is the qmail-send program at hotmail.com.
>I'm afraid I wasn't able to deliver your message to the following
>addresses.
>This is a permanent error; I've given up. Sorry it didn't work out.
>
>:
>171.64.14.232 does not like recipient.
>Remote host said: 550 ... User unknown
>Giving up on 171.64.14.232.
>
>--- Below this line is a copy of the message.
>
_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
------=_NextPart_000_3d4dd953_4574f43b$50160a87
Return-Path:
Received: (qmail 37722 invoked by uid 0); 1 May 1999 18:10:56 -0000
Message-ID:
Received: from 209.109.235.191 by www.hotmail.com with HTTP;
Sat, 01 May 1999 11:10:55 PDT
X-Originating-IP: [209.109.235.191]
From: "Dirk Thiele"
To: email@hidden
Subject: nest disaster
Date: Sat, 01 May 1999 11:10:55 PDT
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-type: text/plain; format=flowed;
Hi Marilyn,
I feel for you. I have been hanging nesting boxes in my (our) various back
yards for 40 years or so. And I have had quite a few experiences, not all
good ones. From nesting boxes falling apart (one I built when I was a child)
to rats moving in, to sparrows taking over a Chestnut Backed Chickadee's
nesting box and building their nest right on top of it to various kinds of
Woodpeckers enlarging the entry hole and it's consequences.
My advice to you would be to consider all the things that could possibly
happen before you hang or mount a nesting box.
If mounted on a post not to high above the ground, consider some sort of a
baffle that would not allow an animal to climb up the post. You could make
it out of chicken wire and shape it like a funnel pointing down. My
Chickadee boxes are at least 15 feet off the ground mounted on a sturdy 2x2
or 2x4, bolted against a sturdy fence. They are also surrounded by a tall
Eugenia hedge, thus keeping the boxes reasonably cool during hot summer
days. This is a subject one can write a book on and in fact many books have
been written about how to build, mount and protect nesting boxes and
feeders.
Better luck next time. Dirk Thiele
_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
------=_NextPart_000_3d4dd953_4574f43b$50160a87--
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 01 12:47:27 1999
Subject: [SBB] Redhead
Sat. morning I saw a male Redhead on the shorebird pond at CCRS. Only
passerine migrants were a W. Tanager and a single Warbling Vireo.
The Redhead maybe a new bird for the CCRS list although Al J. can confirm.
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 01 16:03:29 1999
Subject: [SBB] Red-shouldered Hawk nest
The Eden Park (Silicon Valley Blvd/Bernal and 101) RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
nest reported here about 2 months ago has hatched at least two eggs.
The female continues to sit on the nest, with the male bringing food
to the nest. My wife and I have been monitoring this nest weekly and
today was the first time (with the help of a spotting scope) we were
able to see two little white heads appear above the rim of the nest.
This same nest successfully fledged three chicks last year.
Further north along Coyote Creek (near the old abandoned perc pond) we
saw two juvenile WHITE-TAILED KITEs. They appear to be at a branch
hopping stage. Six trees to right of the juveniles we saw copulating
WHITE-TAILED KITEs apparently planning a second clutch.
Grant Webb
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sun May 02 11:09:00 1999
Subject: [SBB] Hooded Orioles
Yesterday there were many Hooded Orioles in the Poplar trees in Central Park
in Santa Clara (909 Kiely Blvd.) between the lake and the creek.
They were obviously having a territorial dispute and they were singing
loudly and passionately at the same time.
Dirk
_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sun May 02 13:05:11 1999
Subject: [SBB] Alum Rock Park
None of the 40 of us on the Alum Rock SCVAS field trip this morning heard
or saw a Northern Pygmy Owl. Did see the Great Horned Owl. The liquid
sunshine that we enjoyed kept the total number of species seen to under 40.
Highlights were: a pair of Western Bluebirds, a pair of Western Tanagers, 2
Vaux's Swift, a Lazuli Bunting, a Rufuous Hummingbird, an Ash-throated
Flycatcher. A flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows are still there. Dave Cook
led the trip. His son, David, was our eagle eye.
Gloria LeBlanc
Your PFO (Personal Financial Officer)
http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 03 00:20:57 1999
Subject: [SBB] Alamitos Creek and Arroyo Calero
Howdy South-bay-birders,
Saturday morning (May 1) I had to leave my truck at a garage on Almaden
Expr., then walked home via Almaden Lake Park, Alamitos Creek, and the
Arroyo Calero. Birds seen/heard included 1 lingering adult HERRING GULL
(at the lake), 6 COMMON MERGANSERS (along Alamitos Creek), 1 female
Selasphorous-type hummingbird, numerous PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, 1
HUTTON'S VIREO, 7-8 WARBLING VIREOS, HOUSE WREN, 1 YELLOW WARBLER, at
least 4 singing WILSON'S WARBLERS, 1 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, 3 HOODED
ORIOLES, and plenty of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES.
John Mariani
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 03 08:42:41 1999
Subject: [SBB] Some birds
All,
On the SCVAS field trip to Mines Rd and Del Puerto Canyon we had Western
Kingbird and calling Grasshopper Sparrows at approx 0.3 miles from I-5, a
male Costa's Hummingbird, a female Black-chinned Hummingbird, a pair of
Phainopepla, a Rock Wren, lots of Loggerhead Shrike and Bullock's Orioles at
approx. 3.5 miles (near a huge rock on south side of the road with large
holes in it and with signs of recent owl occupation), a Green Heron further
up the creek, a pair of Lawrence's Goldfinches in the creek in the off-road
portion of Frank Raines County Park and a Canyon Wren further up the canyon
where the creek crosses the road. All of the foregoing were in Stanislaus
County. The only "good" birds we had in Santa Clara County were a pair of
Wood Ducks in the pond just east of "the junction ' and a single Lewis'
Woodpecker just south of "the junction". Lots of Golden Eagles and bird
watchers were seen in both counties. Because of previous commitments we had
to leave early and did no birding in Alameda County. (However, two day birds
and another Green Heron were seen from the moving car.)
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 8:32 AM, 5/3/99
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 03 08:57:07 1999
Subject: [SBB] Heron nests
I checked again or heron and egret nests at Vasona Lake and the
Oka Ponds Sat (5/1).
The small island by the Vasona Lake dam has 2 Great Blue Heron
nests, one with 2 active youngsters, the other with a sitting female.
When I first looked, there were 4 adults present. By the time I
brought the spotting scope back, one had departed.
There were also several Snowy Egrets at the island and foraging
elsewhere on the lake. I would guess that I saw at least 6 different
birds, implying that there may be 3 nests hidden on the island.
The GBHE nests are not visible from the trail in the park. There's a
good vantage point on University Drive, from which you can look
down. However, the nearest parking is a half mile or so away. I
bicycled to the spot using bungies for the tripod and a pannier for
the scope.
It was "Kids Fishing Day" at the Oka Ponds. The bicycle was
useful again, as parking was even more difficult there. The island
that held four SNEG nests last year has much less brush this
year. There were people on the bare ground of the island fishing.
The only birds were blackbirds. In short, another SNEG nest site
has been wiped out.
There's a larger island in Oka Pond #4, which is also much less
visited. It lacks brush suitable for Heron & Egret nests, but might
otherwise have promise. The only SNEG I saw at the ponds was
foraging near it. I wonder if there's a possibility that some suitable
bushes and trees could be planted to provide future nesting
habitat? Volunteers?
----------------
George Oetzel
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 03 09:24:13 1999
Subject: [SBB] Birds at Jasper Ridge on Saturday (May 1)
Hi all,
We have just switched over to a new protocol for conducting bird
surveys on Stanford University's Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve and did
our first one on Saturday. The area I covered this time (with new birding
partners Chip Haven and Charles Preuss) is basically the same as the "Area
D" section I've done for the last ~6 years. The new protocol is a series of
point counts in different habitat types. We did 7 point counts in our area,
each attempting to cover a 40 meter circle for a 7 minute period.
As expected, our species numbers overall for the day were lower than
the older style transect surveys (which are also going to be continued by
other birders interested in that approach). Our best birds of the day
included 1 Western Tanager (migrant only on the Ridge) inside one point (and
another while walking between points), 1 Lazuli Bunting found singing while
walking back to the Docent Center after leaving the survey area, and 1 House
Wren found singing inside Area D but not within earshot of the nearby point.
The latter was the first House Wren I've seen on Jasper Ridge ever. Just a
few miles further upslope in Portola Valley they are regular, but they have
always been scarce on the Ridge.
There were also about 4 Wilson's Warblers, only a couple of
Pacific-slope Flycatchers, 1 Western Wood-Pewee, 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher,
and a couple of Sharp-shinned Hawks. At the end of the day I also had one
Golden-crowned Sparrow still lingering near Searsville Lake.
The most interesting result from the day's surveying was that our
"best" point was unexpectedly in one of the Redwood groves (actually a tiny
cluster of these trees, as there aren't any "groves" left on the Ridge).
This area is one we habitually think of as being rather dead. In winter
this can certainly be the case, with the absence of much bird vocalization
and with the presence of rushing water nearby from San Francisquito Creek.
On Saturday, however, we had 11 species (most at any one point) here and it
included the Western Tanager mentioned above. Our "worst" point was in a
fairly pure Chaparral patch, where we missed California Thrasher (started
singing moments after our time expired) and Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher which can
usually be found here reliably this time of the year. We ended that point
with only 4 species. Obviously some irregularities will even out over time,
as we expect these surveys to continue indefinitely. It does suggest,
however, that our preconceived notions of bird distribution and abundance
might not correlate well with results from more rigorous and structured
surveying.
The previous weekend on Sunday, April 25, Pete LaTourrette and I did
our last transect-style survey in the same area. The best bird of that day,
as we were driving out, was an Osprey Pete spotted perched on a snag near
the lake. Otherwise that day was a bit slow with nothing special noted. We
did have 1 Wilson's Warbler and 4 swallow species but no interesting
migrants, few lingering winter birds, and missed Western Wood-Pewee, which
may have been late returning. Cheers,
Richard
email@hidden
Warning: Compaq Computers has a policy of monitoring email sent and received
by its employees
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 03 10:09:44 1999
Subject: [SBB] birds
On Saturday, 1 May 99, I hiked in to Table Mountain, where the pair of
PILEATED WOODPECKERS is still present in the vicinity of last year's
nest site.
I also had at least 2 MOUNTAIN QUAIL calling either from the drainage or
the hillside across from the back of Table Mountain.
On the walk in there were plenty of singing BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS
and a few PURPLE FINCHES. A BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER was heard near
Skyline. A pair of COOPER'S HAWKS flew by, the male dressed up with his
puffy white undertail coverts. A WESTERN TANAGER and an ASH-THROATED
FLYCATCHER were at Table Mountain. As for breeding, I saw DARK-EYED
JUNCO, AMERICAN ROBIN, and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE carrying nesting
material and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER begging from an adult.
On Sunday, 2 May 99, I birded a little around Alviso, but only had a
couple of CATTLE EGRETS at Arzino as notables.
Mike Mammoser
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 03 11:02:01 1999
Subject: [SBB] Skyline Ridge OSP 5/1/99
I'm crossposting this report because this Preserve is partly
in Santa Clara County and mostly in San Mateo County, for you
"county-hounds".
I was on a wildflower walk on Saturday, and heard/saw the
following:
Santa Clara County: 2 singing BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERs;
one above the northern parking lot; the one singing near the
ranger residence near Alpine Lake was doing a song variation
that was unfamiliar to me, but I saw it.
San Mateo County: a pair of RING-NECKED DUCKs on Horseshoe
Lake. Several CHIPPING SPARROWs singing and active at the
edge of the Christmas tree farm near disabled parking lot.
Lots of PURPLE FINCHes singing by Alpine Lake.
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERs were singing all through the
Preserve.
Oh yes, the wildflowers were nice!
Les
==========================================
Les Chibana, Palo Alto email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 03 11:12:31 1999
Subject: [SBB] Big Year Competition
Three years ago Stanislaus County had its first ever big year. We logged a
total of 237 out of 284 species from our county list for a total of 84%. In
the year 2000, we are going to try again. This time we would like to extend
a friendly challenge to other counties. Let's see who can get the highest
percentage of their county list in one year. County lists will have to be
set and accepted prior to the beginning of the year. Any new county species
will not count against the established county total, but will count in your
year's total. For example, Stanislaus County has a set total of 286 county
species as of 12/31/99. Harold Reeve finds a Hooded Warbler in May (which
would be a county record). This would add to our year total, but our preset
county list would remain at 286 for the competition. I will be posting the
ongoing tally on our webpage. Documentation of rarities will have to be
dealt with by each county's record keepers or appropriate records committee.
I will also be keeping track of the highest person 's total for our county.
The high count for the last big year was 233. I am taking myself out of the
competition this time around, but will add my species seen to the county
list.
Any takers?
We had a lot of fun last time.
Jim
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 03 12:07:02 1999
Subject: [SBB] Mines Road, 5/2/99
Sunday was breezy, cold and drizzly along Mines Rd. from
south Livermore to San Antonio Valley Rd. just past the
Junction. Del Puerto Rd. was comparatively warmer and dry.
I took part of my class on a trip down this route, including
a stop at Del Valle Reservoir. Some highlights:
Alameda County:
Both adult GREAT HORNED OWLs were with their nestlings in the
sycamores at the Murrietta Wells Winery. One male WOOD DUCK
rested on a rock in the creek. A single WILD TURKEY was seen
within a mile south of this stop.
At Del Valle, 2 CASPIAN TERNs hung out with the FORSTER'S
TERNs. A WILSON'S WARBLER foraged along the East Shore Trail
between the boat launch ramp and Hetch Hetchy Campground. 5
COMMON MERGANSERs (2 M, 3 F) were on the lake as well as 1-2
CLARK'S and 1 WESTERN GREBE. Only 1 silent RUFOUS-CROWNED
SPARROW was seen about 200 yards north of the boat launch
ramp.
A pair of PHAINOPEPLA were in the vicinity of mile 4.22.
At MP 6.26, we found 2 singing LAZULI BUNTINGs, 1 appeared
to be a 1st spring male. A GOLDEN EAGLE soared by, as did a
PRAIRIE FALCON. On the far side of the canyon below us were
2 GRAY FOXES, digging and foraging near the dirt road.
Santa Clara County:
A male PHAINOPEPLA, a couple of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHes,
several heard-but-not-seen SAGE SPARROWs were near the
cattle guard north of San Antonio Junction. One female
Selasphorus hummingbird joined the throng of ANNA'S HUM.
at the feeders at the Junction.
1 WOOD DUCK, 1-2 BUFFLEHEAD, and a pair of MALLARD were in
the long pond just south of the Bill Gherli Bridge.
1 WOOD DUCK was in the pond (Mallison?) just east of the
Junction.
Stanislaus County:
1 male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD hung around the last bits of tree
tobacco and other shrubs along Del Puerto Rd. before I-5 at about 3.8 mi.
from the freeway. 1 BURROWING OWL about 1.5 mi. west of I-5, also on Del
Puerto Rd.
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE and WESTERN KINGBIRD activity was high
in many spots. At one point, near mile 4.0 on Del Puerto Rd.,
6-8 kingbirds flew overhead, does that make it a flock? :-)
Because it was late in the day, we didn't try too long for
Lewis' Woodpecker, checking between the YL Ranch and the
Junction and east to the pond. We didn't see the Bald Eagles,
but a couple of Boy Scout leaders said that they saw 2 of
them on Saturday, in the same area, across from the Hetch
Hetchy Campground.
Les
==========================================
Les Chibana, Palo Alto email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 03 13:37:17 1999
Subject: [SBB] Over Mt. Hamilton
On Saturday (May 1) I started by heading up to Smith's Creek. Fog on the
way there kept bird activity low. And while the Smith's Creek area was in the
clear, it was pretty dead there, much as it had been two weeks earlier. (Okay,
Les, how did you manage to find all those birds there in between?) Not
finding much higher up on Mt. Hamilton either, I went on to the San Antonio
Valley, where the birding was somewhat more productive.
Highlights of the trip:
Wood Duck - a total of at least 9: a pair at mile 10.58 of San Antonio Valley
Road; two pair plus an extra male seen on the way back at mile
9.93 (could well have included the first pair, which had flushed
in that direction, but I could have easily missed additional birds
here, due to limited vantage points); a pair at the Gehri Bridge
in the Valley; and a pair 0.5 miles east of the Junction.
Lewis's Woodpecker - I saw only one (I didn't search intensively after that),
about 1/4 mile south of the Junction, where it was flycatching and
apparently carrying food. All I found at a traditional location
at mile 2.29 was nesting starlings.
Sage Sparrow - 2 heard singing (one seen) at the cattle guard north of the
he
Junction, and 2 more heard on del Puerto Road -- a good showing,
considering that I was in appropriate habitat only past noon.
Golden-Crowned Sparrow - small groups seen at Smith's Creek and at one stop
on the way up to there.
Lawrence's Goldfinch - I only managed to dig out one uncooperative pair at
the Fire Station. A better spot was near mile 6.59, where I had
nice views of at least one pair (and probably more were present,
but much of the P.M. viewing was into the sun).
Cheers, Al
Sorry, I forgot one:
Black-Throated Gray Warbler - 1 heard singing about 1/2 mile east of the Mt.
Hamilton summit; this has been a good spot for at least the past
few years.
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 03 15:28:00 1999
Subject: [SBB] ARASTRADERO PARK
All,
I led my Beginning Birding class on an evening walk through Arastradero
Park, off of Pagemill Road. The group was treated to fantastic views of
bullock's orioles, western bluebirds, california thrasher, great-horned
owl and white-tailed kite. We had a fleeting look at a pair of vaux's
swifts as they flew over the trail. The entire list for the group's 2
hour walk is as follows:
Mallard
Great Blue Heron
California Quail
White-tailed Kite
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Great-horned Owl
Anna's Hummingbird
Acorn Woodpecker
Nutthall's Woodpecker
Black Phoebe
Vaux's Swift
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Common Raven
Western Scrub Jay
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
White-breasted Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
Wrentit
California Thrasher
American Robin
Western Bluebird
European Starling
Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bullock's Oriole
Song Sparrow
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
Matthew Dodder
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 03 18:23:00 1999
Subject: [SBB] Monterey Deep-water Pelagic - 5/16/99
Hi Birders -
Those wishing to have a chance at Short-tailed Albatross, Pteradromas,
Horned Puffin and other deep-water species should join us Sunday, May
16th. Steve Bailey and Jim Booker will be leading an 18-hour pelagic
trip from Monterey. Cost is $165 with an $80 refund if the boat returns
at 1:00 PM. Otherwise, the trip departs at 3:00 AM from Sam's Fishing
and returns at around 8:30 PM. Call Jim Booker at (831) 899-4452 to
reserve a space. WE NEED FOUR MORE PEOPLE TO MAKE THIS TRIP FLY, SO YOUR
RESERVATION IS CRITICAL. The April 25th trip was cancelled due to a lack
of participation. That day was beautiful and windless. Jim's next trip
is Saturday, July 31st, a trip to the outer Monterey Sea Valley. Cost
for that trip is $65.
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 03 21:30:22 1999
Subject: [SBB] San Mateo Update
Hello all,
In some respects our Bluebird activity is about a month behind last year.
Maybe that's good. The smaller cavity nesters are doing great.
In my own yard a Titmouse nest completely fledged 6 on 5-1 and a
Bewuick'sWren has a nest full that is aggressively being fed. Interestingly,
the adults are coming to a suet feeder stick. The Pine Siskins seem to have
left, so now the Goldfinches have the Niger sock feeder to themselves.
At Filoli we have 2 Bluebird nests of 4 eggs being incubated, a full nest of
Chickadees, but no Swallow activity, but they're flying around.
The 10 boxes at Edgewood Park have no activity yet. We suspect the grass is
too tall. Maybe the Swallows will provide some action.
At Canada College 6 boxes have 1 nest hatched and 1 ready to hatch. Lee
Franks was able to band the hen in the latter box, our first in our San Mateo
program. We're looking forward to banding fledglings, if not more incubating
hens.
Runnymede has a hatched nest of 7 Titmice and 2 partial Bluebird/Swallow
nests.
3 hanging Bluebird boxes and 1 junior box (4x4-1 1/4" hole) at Sunset Gardens
yielded a Chickadee nest with 6 eggs in one box.
At Menlo Country Club we have 2 Bluebird nests with 6 hatched and 1 hen
incubating with additional boxes for Swallow nesting.
One of 3 hanging boxes around the Woodside Town Center has 1 Chickadee nest
of 7 eggs. A junior hanging box at the Woodside Library garden also has 7
Chickadee eggs.
I'm anxiously waiting to see what warmer weather will bring. I'm
experimenting with a nest box liner to expediate inspection and banding
activity. Anyone using such a device?
Howard Rathlesberger
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Tue May 04 11:59:52 1999
Subject: [SBB] SBBU Update
Hi:
1. The Santa Clara County Bird List has been updated. The total is 236.
2. I have replaced the old endangerd bird list with a link to the new
Audubon Watch List by State. Even the California Quail is on the
California Watch List.
3. I have revised the code for the pop-up menus at the bottom of most
pages, since one person reported error messages when using the old pop-up
menus. Well, let me know if you have any problems.
4. Do you have suggestions for other features or links for SBBU? Let me know.
On a personal note, we just returned from a week in SW Arizona on a Sierra
Club birding trip. Great leaders and a great trip, except that Arizona is
in real trouble (the birds and the people) from the late feeeze (the
sycamores may be dead, since the leaves were killed), there are no wild
flowers, and very little water. I found that the cattlemen "OWN" the use
of ALL the land. The Mexican Wolves are being killed as fast as they are
reintroduced. A very sad situation. There is a drought, but the golf
courses are running water down the streets. The "water wars" are not far
off.
Kendric
South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU)
http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Tue May 04 13:25:39 1999
Subject: [SBB] Blue Grosbeaks, Lazuli Buntings & Rufous-crowned Sparrows
All,
This morning in Ed Levin Park Frank Vanslager and I saw a first spring male
Blue Grosbeak singing on the hillside north of the Cottonwoods above Sandy
Wool Lake (and subsequently in the top of one of the Cottonwoods). Later, on
the hillside above the Cottonwoods and just over the ridge behind the trees
we saw an adult male Blue Grosbeak. (We had walked to the highest
hang-glider launch site in hopes of finding a Grasshopper Sparrow and we're
coming down the hill toward the Cottonwoods when Frank spotted the adult male
BLGR flying toward the ridge-line. He pursued and refound the bird on the
other side of the hill several minutes later). When last seen the adult male
was flying back over the ridge toward the Cottonwoods along with a possible
female Blue Grosbeak (the same GIS but with no apparent blue on it). Several
Lazuli Buntings, Rufous-crowned Sparrows, a pair of House Wrens, two fighting
male Bullock's Orioles (young and old), Western Kingbirds, an Ash-throated
Flycatcher, a Black-headed Grosbeak, Vaux's Swifts, a White-throated Swift
and lots of Lesser Goldfinches made for a most enjoyable morning of bird
watching. A good sized flock of Cedar Waxwings was near the parking lot. Of
course we also had the usual "unmentionables".
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 1:23 PM, 5/4/99
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Wed May 05 09:35:05 1999
Subject: [SBB] Waxwing
This morning I had a waxwing following behind a larger group (15) of
waxwings and was giving a different call. I rushed inside and wrote down
brzzzssssh with the b being a soft b almost a p sound. None of my bird
recordings have Bohemian. The undertail coverts appeared dark, but the sky
was bright and the undertail in shadow. I'm not sure if the bird was just a
Cedar Waxwing crying "wait for me" or if it was a Bohemian. I have never
heard this call before.
Any ideas?
Jim Gain
Modesto
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Wed May 05 09:43:13 1999
Subject: [SBB] Calif. Thrasher
My friend who lives in Monte Sereno knows how the Thrasher got its name--it
knocked over repeatedly and thrashed her orchid containers on the ledge
outside her kitchen window. At first, they thought it was squirrel doings
until they saw the Thrasher on the ledge pecking at their window. What of
interest would it find in the redwood chips in which the orchids are
potted?
Barbara Harkleroad
Almaden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Wed May 05 14:10:16 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] Calif. Thrasher
I assume the thrasher was searching for insects under the chips.
Much of our back yard is covered with wood chips, and we now
have a pair of thrashers visiting regularly. They thrash vigorously at
the chips, scattering them all over. In particular, they excavate
regularly around some stepping stones, piling the chips atop the
stones. I'd always wondered about the special application of that
big bill, and now I understand both that and the name.
One took a bath in our bird bath today & half emptied it. I'm hoping
we will soon have a few baby Thrashers in the yard as well.
George Oetzel
> My friend who lives in Monte Sereno knows how the Thrasher got its
> name--it knocked over repeatedly and thrashed her orchid containers
> on the ledge outside her kitchen window. At first, they thought it
> was squirrel doings until they saw the Thrasher on the ledge
> pecking at their window. What of interest would it find in the
> redwood chips in which the orchids are potted?
> Barbara Harkleroad
> Almaden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Wed May 05 15:56:25 1999
Subject: [SBB] Ed Levin County Park
I stood where the trail crosses the sycamore gulch above Sandy Wool Lake
from 11:00 to 1:30 today, photographing birds. The photography was slow,
because the birds aren't often close enough for good shots, but the birding
was interesting. Lots of breeding activity going on. The sycamores are only
just starting to leaf out, so the visibility is much better than it will be
later on. I recommend that any of you who have not been there go try it
out. Middle of the day turns out to be OK, because almost all the birds
come to that spot to bathe.
Anna's Hummingbird, Mourning Dove, Western Kingbird, Black Phoebe, House
Wren, Northern Mockingbird, Black-headed Grosbeak, Blue Grosbeak, Lazuli
Bunting, California Towhee, Song Sparrow, Rufous-crowned Sparrow,
White-crowned Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird,
Brown-headed Cowbird, Bullock's Oriole, Western Tanager, Lesser Goldfinch,
Lawrence's Goldfinch, and House Finch all were at various times in or under
the sycamore trees. I elected not to go farther up the hill looking for
Grasshopper Sparrow.
---------------------------------------------------------
Peter LaTourrette
Bird photos: http://www.stanford.edu/~petelat1/
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society: http://www.scvas.org/
Western Field Ornithologists: http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/
Peninsula Open Space Trust: http://www.openspacetrust.org/
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Thu May 06 09:37:18 1999
Subject: [SBB] Wilsons Warbler
I had a beautiful male WILSON'S WARBLER in my Los Altos backyard this
morning. Only the second I have seen there in 6 springs. Also, a few
days ago a BEWICK'S WREN family fledged with at least 3 fledglings. A
joyous spring.
Mike Clark
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Thu May 06 11:52:11 1999
Subject: [SBB] Arastra -- Palo Alto
My morning bike trip to the Arastra Park found predators aplenty. A
Great Horned Owl continues to roost in the first oak at the trail
intersection just across the first bridge. Kites, Kestrels and Red
Shouldered Hawks were all over the place. They were joined on the
ground by a Bobcat. The 4 Sharp Shinned Hawks seen recently were gone.
There were at least 4 House wrens, 4 of the once missing Acorn
Woodpeckers and 4 Lazuli Bunting.
--
Richard C. Carlson
Chairman, Spectrum Economics
Palo Alto, CA
email@hidden
650-324-2701
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Thu May 06 14:53:29 1999
Subject: [SBB] Warbler Watch
Greetings, California birders--
After several good migration fall-outs in key parts of the country, Warbler
Watch reports have picked up. Thanks to those of you who are sending in
your reports! If you haven't been, we encourage you to to -- it's fun and
it will make a big difference for birds.
http://birdsource.cornell.edu
You can enter reports retroactively, too. While you're there, check out the
cool maps in the Warbler Watch Maproom!
Best birding, and thanks for your reports,
Allison Wells
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Ithaca, NY
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Thu May 06 17:25:45 1999
Subject: [SBB] No subject given
Did you get it
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Thu May 06 20:00:58 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] Do you have nestboxes in use?
Hi Garth,
I just checked one of my nesting boxes that I hung a year ago at one of my
client's home in Palo Alto and it had 2 feathered fledgelings of Oak Titmice
in it. The box was slightly damaged by an unprofessional tree pruner,
dropping a branch on it. I took the box down for repair and that was when I
noticed the fledgelings. I rehung the nesting box and the parents are
continuing to feed.
Dirk
>From: email@hidden
>To: email@hidden
>Subject: [SBB] Do you have nestboxes in use?
>Date: Thu, 29 Apr 1999 14:30:12 EDT
>
>All,
>
>The Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society and California Bluebird Recovery
>Program for Santa Clara County would very much like to know of any birds
>using nestboxes in your yards, workplaces, etc. Certain species such as
>Bewick's Wrens (BEWR), Chestnut-backed Chickadees (CBCH), and Oak Titmice
>seem to use "backyard" boxes as readily as ones placed in parklands. Most
>native cavity nesters, including all of the above, are in decline
>statewide.
>Not only do we simply want to count the number of birds raised in
>artificial
>nesting structures locally, we also want to figure out how to meet the
>needs
>of each of these species in our area. A single yard can produce a highly
>significant number of birds: last year, only 66 CBCH and 55 BEWR were
>reported across the entire state!
>
>Minimum information required is simply location of the box(es), species,
>and
>number of young fledged. Standard procedure is to look into the box about
>once a week to do a head count. (Fear not; I have never known of a case
>where
>this caused nest abandonment.) The number of fledges is the last known
>number
>of healthy young seen on one of these checks, providing there is no
>evidence
>of predation etc. once they're gone.
>
>Some species are beginning to fledge young now, so time is of the essence
>to
>start checking in on them. Thanks for your assistance!
>
>--Garth Harwood, Santa Clara County Coordinator
>California Bluebird Recovery Program
>==========================================================================
>This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
>server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
>message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to
>email@hidden
_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Thu May 06 20:44:13 1999
Subject: [SBB] Lark Buntingssss
A student in my birding class just let me know that she had 17 Lark Buntings
last Saturday in eastern Stanislaus County. She described them well in their
varying plumages. She had 12 males and 5 females. 15 of them were together
in one spot. I'm rushing out tomorrow to find and photograph them. I feel
confident in her descriptions. It's the same general area as others were
found earlier this year and 2 years ago.
At the intersection of Warnerville Rd. and Crabtree Rds go west on
Warnerville. The buntings were along the first quarter mile close to a
turkey farm. They were flying back and forth across the road and out into
the grasslands. The other 2 buntings were on Cooperstown Rd. 1 mile east of
Willms Rd. between the bridge and the rock outcroppings next to the road.
Its probably easiest to get to Warnerville Rd. from Knights Ferry and Hwy
108/120. Head south on Willms Rd to the intersection of Warnerville and
Crabtree.
She called me once and didn't try again. She didn't even leave a message on
the answering machine. I'll have to retrain my students......
Jim Gain
Modesto
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Thu May 06 22:55:38 1999
Subject: [SBB] April archive now online
South Bay Birders,
The archive of South Bay Birds messages for April 1999 is now on line.
Also, this month's mystery birds have generated some fascinating
commentary. The photos were contributed by Albert Ghiorso and Peter
LaTourrette. As always, we welcome further discussion.
The site is at http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/
The photo gallery at the California Bird Records Committee site has
been updated with new images of Whooper Swan, Long-billed Murrelet,
Wedge-tailed Shearwater, Great-winged Petrel, Short-tailed Albatross,
Scarlet Tanager and Field Sparrow.
This site is at:
http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/photos/
Enjoy!
--
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: email@hidden
California Birding; Mystery Birds: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/
California Bird Records Committee: http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Fri May 07 12:02:24 1999
Subject: [SBB] Great North American Bluebird Count
Put your birdhouse on the map! The first-ever Great North American Bluebird
Count, May 14-17, invites you all to log on to http://birds.cornell.edu and
report your sightings of cavity-nesting birds. The event, cosponsored by
the Cornell Lab of Ornithology's Nest Box Network (NBN) and the North
American Bluebird Society (NABS), hopes to draw attention to cavity-nesting
birds, including swallows, chickadees, and of course, bluebirds during this
Internet-based count. It's part of Birdhouse Online, a new NBN/NABS
interactive web site that has been collecting reports of cavity-nesting
birds since March 1.
Participation is free, and you don't have to have a nest box (though
there's lots of information about nest boxes and other related topics at
the web site). Just log on whenever you see bluebirds and other
cavity-nesters. View maps, regularly updated to reflect breeding
indications, such as nesting material, eggs, and young. There's also a
coloring contest for kids!
We named this count for bluebirds because they are a conservation success
story, rebounding after population crashes in the early part of the
century. Their comeback was due in part to the efforts of concerned
citizens who put up nest boxes around their yards and farms. Now we need
the data that are waiting in and around these nest boxes, and sightings of
cavity-nesters, to help ensure the future of all cavity-nesting species.
Please log on to http://birds.cornell.edu. You can send current sightings
(and previous reports) to Birdhouse Online at the same address. While
you're there, visit our popular Nest-box Cam (listed in the New York
Times!), which is giving a "birds-eye view" of the inside of a nest box in
South Carolina, home to a Carolina Chickadee family. The North Carolina
nest box archive shows some interesting photos of different species
investigating a box, including a bluebird at one point bringing in nesting
material.
If you are a reporter or have such contacts, or would just like to see our
press release, please let me know and I'll email it to you. Anything you
can do to help spread the word would be greatly appreciated!
Good birding,
Allison Wells
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Ithaca, NY
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Fri May 07 14:48:20 1999
Subject: [SBB] Yellow-headed Blackbirds
At noon today, 5/7/99, I observed four Yellow-headed Blackbirds flying
around the reeds and field with Red-winged Blackbirds at the Arzino Ranch.
I watched them from the Jubilee Christian Center parking lot. At the EEC
were Bonaparte Gulls & Forester Terns on the island in Pond #16 and a pair
of Lesser Scaup floating nearby.
Karl
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 08 10:41:22 1999
Subject: [SBB] Birds at Vasona Lake
We saw a number of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES and HOODED ORIOLES on our bird walk
this morning, May 8, 1999, over at Vasona Lake. There were a few flocks of
CEDAR WAXWINGS still present. CLIFF SWALLOWS have built their mud nests on
the sides of the small foot bridge. They are filled with birds. The BELTED
KINGFISHERS were having an aerial battle over by the creek. We also saw a
juvenile BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON feeding in the creek. There is a BLACK
PHOEBE NEST built on the drainage pipe behind the snack shack. FORSTER'S
TERNS were also present.
Pat Curtis
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 08 11:43:08 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] Frenchman's Triangle
Frenchman's Road on the Stanford Campus had two male Western Tanagers
(neither called), a silent Olive-Sided Flycatcher, four calling Pacific
Slope Flycatchers, and two singing Wilson's Warblers. There was also a
silent empidonax that I only got a brief look at - it suggested to me a
Hammond's - gray breast and head with a short tail, although I gather this
wouldn't be very likely at this location (are these typically seen only
further inland during migration?). The Hooded Orioles allowed close study
(both male and female) - the male was giving a single finch-like upslurred
call note in addition to the usual low pitched chatter. A Black-Shouldered
Kite was attacking a Red-Tailed Hawk overhead.
- Dave
David B. Lewis
Division of Immunology/Transplantation Biology, Room H-307
Stanford University School of Medicine
300 Pasteur Drive
Stanford, CA 94305-5208
Tel: (650) 498-4189 FAX: (650) 498-6077
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 08 19:01:51 1999
Subject: [SBB] Smith's Creek/Grant Ranch
All,
I spent the morning (5/8/99) at Smith's Creek Ranger Station and then
birded a little in Grant Ranch Park over the hill. Not a lot of
singing activity or migrant flocks, but a few goodies were out there
for those who persevered. Lots of late lingering birds as well.
Smith's Creek was a little slow, but I finally found a little hot spot
along Mt Hamilton Road about a quarter of a mile back towards Grant
Ranch from the Smith's Creek Ranger Station. Below the road here is a
clump of willows with water running down to the creek. My attention
was drawn to this spot by a singing male MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, but
scanning with binoculars from the road revealed many warblers in the
willows. Closer investigation turned up at least 3 SWAINSON'S
THRUSHES, 5+ ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, 3 WILSON'S WARBLERS, 1 to 2
TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, 1 YELLOW WARBLER, and a female BLACK-THROATED
GRAY WARBLER. The MACGIILLIVRAY'S WARBLER was singing off and on for
over a half hour, mostly from the middle of a thicket, but I did
manage some brief looks at it. Across the road from here I had a
single singing NASHVILLE WARBLER. Besides this, migrants were few,
with 10 other WILSON'S WARBLERS, 1 singing male YELLOW WARBLER at the
ranger station, and 5 singing BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS.
Lingering winter birds were more interesting. The best was a very
late drab female VARIED THRUSH, but a single HERMIT THRUSH (very gray
bird) was also somewhat late. Also had at least 3 GOLDEN-CROWNED
SPARROWS, 2 flyover PINE SISKIN, and 2 heard-only YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLERS. Only 2 WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, 1 CASSIN'S VIREO, and no
Western Tanagers seemed like low totals for here. Other good birds
included a soaring adult SHARP-SHINNED HAWK in breeding condition and
a pair of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES.
On the descent to Grant Lake I had an immature GOLDEN EAGLE and a
VAUX'S SWIFT. Grant Lake itself had 5 species of swallows, a single
WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, and 4-5 more VAUX'S SWIFTS. East of the lake
the Canal Trail had a few more migrants, including several LAZULI
BUNTINGS (including females as well as singing males), 3 WILSON'S
WARBLERS, and a SWAINSON'S THRUSH. Also a HUTTON'S VIREO and 6+
lingering AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. Three adult WILD BOAR and 10 piglets
were rooting up the hillside here. Another immature GOLDEN EAGLE may
have been the same bird seen earlier.
A quick stop along Quimby Road added another WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, a
singing PURPLE FINCH (new for block 1030), and a pair of HUTTON'S
VIREOS carrying nest material (new CO for block 1030!).
I next checked the trail that passes the barn with the rusty roof and
heads down to Aguague Creek. Most of the action was between the road
and the barn here, with 3 singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, a low-flying
adult GOLDEN EAGLE just a few feet off the ground, a late LINCOLN'S
SPARROW, and two active nest boxes housing TREES SWALLOWS and WESTERN
BLUEBIRDS. No migrants were noted along this trail, perhaps because
it was getting late in the day and the wind was picking up. Most
interesting wildlife included another WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, a pair of
WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS, and a stealthy BOBCAT.
Winter's having a hard time letting go!
Mike Rogers
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sun May 09 00:27:17 1999
Subject: [SBB] Saturday birding
Howdy South-bay-birders,
Saturday I went birding with Robert and Kay Grimmond, a couple here on
vacation from the U.K. We started in Morgan Hill, and wound up at Alum
Rock Park, about 110 species later.
After a relatively unproductive visit to Calero Reservoir, we
stopped to scope the Golden Eagle nest on the tower along McKean Road.
It now holds at least two young.
Walking from Almaden Reservoir to Twin Creeks we found Olive-sided,
Ash-throated, and Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Western Wood-Pewee,
Cassin's and Warbling Vireos, House Wren, Yellow, Orange-crowned, and
Wilson's Warblers, Black-headed Grosbeak, and Bullock's Oriole. Between
the bridges upstream from the cabin area we enjoyed an American Dipper.
Black-throated Gray Warblers were singing along Mt. Umunhum and
Hicks Roads, but eluded our attempts to see them. Investigating a
different warbler song along Hicks Road produced a Nashville Warbler.
Just upstream from Guadalupe Reservoir we had nice scope views of a male
Western Tanager atop a tall sycamore.
From there we drove north to the bay. We added Glaucous-winged Gull
and a male Wood Duck at the Palo Alto Duck Pond. From the marsh
boardwalk at Palo Alto Baylands we saw a male Northern Harrier and a
Clapper Rail (thanks to Kay's sharp eyes!). Shorebirds at Mountain View
Forebay included many Semipalmated Plovers and alternate plumaged
Long-billed Dowitchers, Western Sandpipers, and Dunlin. On an island in
nearby Charleston Slough we counted at least 5 Black Skimmers.
Following Peter LaTourrette's directions we hiked to the "sycamore
gulch" above Sandy Wool Lake in Ed Levin Park. There were plenty of
Lazuli Buntings singing there, and patience paid off with 2 Blue
Grosbeaks--a male upslope in an elderberry bush, and a female in a
sycamore beside the path. Down by Sandy Wool Lake we had our only
Loggerehead Shrike of the day.
At Alum Rock Park we failed to find Northern Pygmy-Owl or Canyon
Wren, but did find a Spotted Sandpiper in alternate plumage upstream
from YSI. Walking back to the car we saw a Cooper's Hawk (our 4th or 5th
for the day) and a flock of Vaux's Swifts.
John Mariani
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sun May 09 09:48:46 1999
Subject: [SBB] 72 YHBL at Arzino
All:
On 22 Apr., I had 40 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES in one of the salt
ponds on the north side of Coyote Creek in Newark, just outside
Santa Clara County.
On 23 Apr., the PECTORAL SANDPIPER was still at Arzino Ranch.
On 28 Apr., I saw 10+ VAUX'S SWIFTS over Page Mill Road near
Foothill Expwy. in Palo Alto. The same day, while looking for
the ad. Little Gull at the San Jose WPCP in Alviso, Scott
Terrill saw a 1st-winter LITTLE GULL fly out of one of the tanks
near the main WPCP offices and head toward the sludge ponds [since
then, Scott and I have spent a lot of time looking for LIGU in pond
A-16 and at the WPCP, with no success].
On 3 May, there were still 22 AMERICAN PIPITS near the Agnews site
in northeast San Jose.
On 8 May, Rebecca and I birded around Alviso a little. When we
pulled up to the edge of Arzino Ranch at the Jubilee Christian
Center, the first blackbird I saw was a female YELLOW-HEADED,
foraging in the small pool that remains here. While scoping
the horse pasture, I spotted a nearly pure flock of Yellow-headed
Blackbirds, about 35 in all, with only a few cowbirds and Red-
wings mixed in. These birds settled down in the field to forage,
and more and more YHBL flew from the cattails in the field to this
flock. Eventually, the entire blackbird flock flew up, made a
broad circle around the field, then flew to the stables. I counted
a total of 72 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS in the flock, about 50
appearing to be females and the remainder appearing to be first-
year males by virtue of their larger size and darker plumage.
I then drove to the stables, where I was able to relocate about
45 of the birds scattered around; again, I did not see a single
adult male. So, if Mike Mammoser's count of 24 here on Saturday
included any adult males, they can be added to my count of 72
to increase this already-record count!
We then birded around the EEC, where there were about 100 BONAPARTE'S
GULLS in A-16, and the CCRS waterbird pond, which had a RED-NECKED
PHALAROPE. Finally, we walked north from the Alviso marina to check
the impoundment along the railroad tracks; there were 3 WILSON'S
and 5 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES here.
Good birding,
Steve Rottenborn
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sun May 09 19:42:02 1999
On 5/9/99 two MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS were seen just before the entrance to
the Yerba Buena Nursery on Langley Road off Skyline (this is the well-known
location for breeding). There was an incredible concentration of
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS in this area (at least 15 were heard singing
along about 1/4 of mile of the road), as well as the usual ORANGE-CROWNED
and WILSONS WARBLERS. There were also two WINTER WRENS singing about a
quarter mile up from the nursery towards towards Skyline. Checked Russian
Ridge for any grasshopper sparrows, and while I didn't hear any, there was
a nice view of a long-tailed weasel.
David B. Lewis
Division of Immunology/Transplantation Biology, Room H-307
Stanford University School of Medicine
300 Pasteur Drive
Stanford, CA 94305-5208
Tel: (650) 498-4189 FAX: (650) 498-6077
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sun May 09 20:24:16 1999
Subject: [SBB] [Fwd: Returned mail: Host unknown (Name server: list.stanford.com: host not found)]
Received: from mail-gw3.pacbell.net (mail-gw3.pacbell.net [206.13.28.55]) by mail-sf2.pacbell.net (8.8.8/8.7.1) with ESMTP id UAA14700 for ; Sun, 9 May 1999 20:22:25 -0700 (PDT)
Received: from localhost (localhost) by mail-gw3.pacbell.net (8.8.8/8.7.1+antispam) with internal id UAA11377; Sun, 9 May 1999 20:22:25 -0700 (PDT)
Date: Sun, 9 May 1999 20:22:25 -0700 (PDT)
From: Mail Delivery Subsystem
Subject: Returned mail: Host unknown (Name server: list.stanford.com: host not found)
Message-Id:
To:
Auto-Submitted: auto-generated (failure)
The original message was received at Sun, 9 May 1999 20:22:23 -0700 (PDT)
from ppp-206-170-4-124.wnck11.pacbell.net [206.170.4.124]
***Help Understanding Common Mail Problems***
A problem has been encountered in attempting to deliver your
email message. The system generated error message appears below
this informational section. A few common problems are described
here to help you resolve your mail problems.
Problem Cause
============= =========================================================
User Unknown: The user ID you sent email to does not exist at the host
or mail domain you specified. You may have mispelled the
user ID or that user's account may have been closed.
Host Unknown: The host or domain name does not exist. You may have
mistyped it or been given incorrect information.
Note: [The user ID is the part of the email address to the left
===== of the '@'. The host (computer system) or mail domain is
the part of the address to the right of the '@'.]
***
----- The following addresses had permanent fatal errors -----
----- Transcript of session follows -----
550 ... Host unknown (Name server: list.best.com: host not found)
550 ... Host unknown (Name server: list.stanford.com: host not found)
----- Original message follows -----
Return-Path: email@hidden
Received: from rich (ppp-206-170-4-124.wnck11.pacbell.net [206.170.4.124]) by mail-gw3.pacbell.net (8.8.8/8.7.1+antispam) with SMTP id UAA11354; Sun, 9 May 1999 20:22:23 -0700 (PDT)
Message-ID:
Date: Sun, 09 May 1999 20:21:46 -0700
From: Rich
Reply-To: email@hidden
X-Mailer: Mozilla 3.01C-PBWG (Win95; U)
MIME-Version: 1.0
To: email@hidden
CC: email@hidden
Subject: Blue Grosbeaks (BG)
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit
The Blue Grosbeaks have arrived in numbers this weekend. But where do
they all go?
On April 22 @ 7:30PM I spotted the first BG on the west side of
Patterson Pass. It flew north towards the Delta.
Last week end I spent several hours both Saturday and Sunday searching
for BG's, I found none.
This week end I was @ road marker 6.21 for 8 AM and @ 8:08 AM the first
BG appeared it fed for 4/5 minutes in the willows and flew off west.
A second Male BG appeared by 9AM it to flew west after feeding.
Two Western Tanagers also flew by (actually this were paired) heading
west also.
I made another pass @ Patterson pass around 4 PM nothing no BG's.
Today I was back on the pass by 8AM @ road marker 6.21 a female appeared
@ 8:30.
Down @ the large cotton woods @ the botton of the pass going west a
first yr. male, a walk up the road to road marker 6.86 another BG male
on the fence line with good lighting from the backside simply a
wonderful shade of blue the BG is blessed with.
Back up to road marker 6.21 and a singing male is now present, on to
road marker 6.04 another adult male was present.
There are two areas I need help with from other birders. If your heading
up to Patterson to see the BG's please stop to check road marker 4.72
you'll need a scope. This area is a "wet hill side" which as slide it
has many wwoody plants the best is a great willow, many wild flowers are
presently blossoming this area has had BG's in the past and road marker
4.35. Once again this is the southern hill side, looking across the road
and up you'll see a large congregation of woody plant the BG's have
nested here on and off for several years depending the plant growth and
foliage density.
My records show that this is very late for these birds to be arriving,
is it the windy weather? Never the less a good showing did develop.
My question is how many more BG's use this raparian corridor during the
week WHILE NO ONE IS AVAILABLE TO COUNT?
Burrowing Owls are present by the wind power gate address 14680
park there and walk west 7 fence post look up hill (south) and a family
of 5 can be seen.
Walk back to the 14680 gate and walk east 5 fence post and look south up
hill and you can find 2 more single owls.
Happy birding
Rich Cimino
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 10 09:14:11 1999
Yersterday (5/10) I went up to the sycamore grove above Sandy Wool Lake.
No sign of the Blue Grosbeak from 4:45 to 5:30 PM. I even went up the draw
a bit. Several singing LAZULI BUNTINGs.
Then I decided to contiune up the main trail. Its a short but steep hike with
some of the better views in the South Bay from the summit.
While scanning around, I spotted a male BLUE GROSBEAK in a distant bush.
This was on some rocky outcroppings across the draw, looking south and down
from the summit. I think these are the same outcroppings that can be seen
high-up
on the south side of the draw, from near the sycamore grove.
Vivek Tiwari
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 10 09:54:09 1999
Subject: [SBB] Stevens Ck CP, Alviso
All,
Sunday morning 5/9/99 I spent an hour at the Villa Maria Picnic Area,
hoping to find some flocks of migrants in the oaks. Once again,
migrants were in very short supply (need a change in the weather?).
I had a singing male "AUDUBON'S" YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and another
singing warbler that may well have been a Hermit Warbler, but I
could not see it to eliminate a variant Black-throated Gray Warbler
song. Otherwise lingering birds continue, with a flock of about 20
CEDAR WAXWINGS in the area and an overflying flock of PINE SISKIN.
Many singing OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, YELLOW
WARBLERS, and WILSON'S WARBLERS were also around.
Afterwards a few quick checks elsewhere in Stevens Creek County Park
proved productive, although not for migrants. Numerous (at least 5, 4
being singing males) LAZULI BUNTINGS were between the upper end of the
reservoir and the Mt Eden Road junction, an AMERICAN DIPPER was above
the fourth bridge along Stevens Canyon Road, and the entrance to Camp
Costanoan had a female selasphorus hummingbird, numerous vireos, and a
pair of silent (likely breeding pair at this location) WESTERN
TANAGERS, with the female showing a fair amount of orange wash in the
throat (indicating an "after second-year" bird). A courting male
ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD was in the eucalyptus tree at the Picchetti Ranch
parking lot.
Later on Sunday (about 3pm) Alma Kali and I checked out the Arzino
Ranch for Yellow-headed Blackbirds. We enjoyed 5 BURROWING OWLS,
4 CATTLE EGRETS, and a VAUX'S SWIFT before seeing two circling
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS (1 imm male, 1 fem circling over the last wet
puddle along the Jubilee Christian Center fence) fly to the stables at
the ranch. A check of this area turned up a whopping flock of 86
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS, apparently all first-year birds, with just
under 40 first-year males and the rest females. There were no adult
males and the females seemed to all have tan mottling admixed
throughout their yellow throats, suggesting that they too were
1st-spring birds. One flyover calling WHIMBREL was also here.
The nearby EEC had numerous BONAPARTE'S GULLS (over a hundred), many
alternate-plumaged EARED GREBES, and 4 alternate-plumaged DUNLIN.
Mike Rogers
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 10 10:54:27 1999
Subject: [SBB] birds
On Saturday, 8 May 99, I went up to Ed Levin Park, hiking up to the
sycamores above Sandy Wool Lake. Quite a few singing LAZULI BUNTINGS
were here, as well as HOUSE WREN, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, RUFOUS-CROWNED
SPARROW, and many LESSER GOLDFINCH. A WESTERN KINGBIRD was building a
nest in one of the sycamores. An immature COOPER'S HAWK got all of the
nesting RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS into an uproar. After hiking up to the
upper hang glider launch, I returned to the sycamore grove and was able
to finally find a male BLUE GROSBEAK upslope.
I then went down to the Arzino Ranch, overlooking the field from the
Jubilee Christian Center. Ann Verdi also showed up and, between the two
of us, we saw 3 or 4 YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS. After Ann left I waited
around for a few minutes and was rewarded with a flock of 24
YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS flying in to the fence line at the Center.
There were also 3 CATTLE EGRETS and a BURROWING OWL in the field.
On Sunday, 9 May 99, I went to Crittenden Marsh. A handful of
alternate-plumaged EARED GREBES were present, but no signs of breeding.
A pair of CANADA GEESE had a brood of 6 goslings, and an ASH-THROATED
FLYCATCHER seemed out of place in the mustard along the levee.
I then went to Calabazas Marsh, where I had a flock of 19 SEMIPALMATED
PLOVERS, but was unable to find any Snowys in the south end of A8. A
CASPIAN TERN flew by, probably heading for the nearby breeding colony. I
went to check the large tern flock working the pond on the west side of
the creek, and was pleased to find a single BLACK TERN among the
FORSTER'S.
At the Alviso Marina I walked out to the impoundment to the north. Here
AMERICAN AVOCETS are sitting on nests. The shorebirds here included 7
alternate-plumaged RED-NECKED PHALAROPES and 3 WILSON'S PHALAROPES.
Interestingly, one of the Wilson's was still virtually in basic plumage.
Mike Mammoser
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 10 12:06:26 1999
Subject: [SBB] Weekend birds
All:
On Saturday, I took my family to Sunol Regional Wilderness. I saw a couple
of Vaux's Swifts here and a female Common Merganser. Also heard 2-3 each of
Rufous-crowned Sparrow and Lazuli Bunting.
On Sunday, I spent some time looking through Bonapate's Gulls at various
locations in the Alviso area. No sign of Little Gulls though. I saw 7
Red-necked Phalaropes at CCRS and 9 at the impoundment N of ALviso Marina.
There were also 3 Wilson's Phalaropes, 2 SP Plovers, and 20+ Dunlin here.
My attempts to look for the YH Blackbirds at Arzino Ranch were thwarted by
some 'Youth gathering' at the Jubilee center that made it look like Valley
Fair Mall on the weekend before Xmas.
There is a pair of Burrowing Owls in the field on the corner of Lafayette
and Hope (N of the old Agnews center). They nest by the big pipe that is in
the field about 30-40 yards from Lafayette.
Nick
Nick Lethaby
Technical Marketing Manager
CoWare, Inc.
Tel: 408 845 7646
E-mail: email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 10 13:33:55 1999
Subject: [SBB] RTHA
The local RED-TAILED HAWKS are nesting again on the power tower across
Hellyer Ave from work. They have at least 2 half-grown downy young.
Mike Mammoser
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 10 15:43:59 1999
Subject: [SBB] Arastradero Birds 5/8/99
All,
On a Sequoia Audubon trip to Arastradero Preserve Saturday May 8, our group
enjoyed prolonged viewing of the several LAZULI BUNTINGS singing along the
roadside at the start of the main trail from the parking lot (these arrived
here at about May 6 and had hardly moved since. Perhaps the Preserve will get
a nesting record this year??). The GREAT HORNED OWL nestling has begun to
explore and was six feet above the nest in the big eucalyptus to the right of
the Corte Madera Trail just before reaching Arastradero Lake; a HUTTON'S
VIREO was seen here as well. Only a few hundred feet away to the south, we
observed a pair of RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS attending an oak-top nest, one of
whom appeared to be sitting on eggs or young.
At the lake, a GREEN HERON was very cooperative, standing at the water's edge
on a broad platform of dried cattails. Several BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS allowed
themselves to be seen along the CM trail at and a short ways past the lake.
All of the nearly 40 other species seen were typical of a late spring walk at
the Preserve, although it was a treat to watch BARN and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS
collecting nest material right beside the parking lot, where a pair of
WESTERN BLUEBIRDS was delivering food to new hatchlings in a nestbox.
--Garth Harwood
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 10 16:42:26 1999
Subject: [SBB] Mines, San Ant Val & Del Puerto Rds.
On Saturday, 5/8/99, I took another group from my birding
class on the Mines Rd. route, travelling through Alameda,
Santa Clara and Stanislaus Counties. We did not stop at
Del Valle Regional Park. The sunny and mild weather was in
pleasing contrast to the previous weekend's cold, drizzly
weather. While we had fewer species seen this weekend (70
compared to 80), we had some great views of some birds and
saw some that were not found the previous weekend.
The highlights:
Mines Rd., Alameda County:
Murrietta Wells Winery - GREAT HORNED OWLS, 3 nestlings
were visible, both adults were present. 2 pairs of WOOD
DUCKS, one pair was perched in a tree near a nest box,
but we didn't see them associating with it. 1 female
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH (LESSER G. were more prevalent).
MP 4.22 (approx.) just south of Del Valle Rd. - 1-2 WESTERN
WOOD-PEWEE were heard, not seen. 1 male PHANOPEPLA was seen
here, as were a pair of WESTERN TANAGER.
MP 4.7 (approx.) just past the bridge - NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED
SWALLOW carrying nesting material uphill. The first of 4-5
GOLDEN-EAGLE for the day was seen here (2 seen in Alameda
Co.).
MP 6.26 - One singing male LAZULI BUNTING.
San Antonio Valley Rd., Santa Clara County:
Fire station and the Junction - approx. 8 LAWRENCE'S
GOLDFINCHES were seen and heard; 4 foraged on the fiddleneck
at the edge of the parking area at the Junction, a couple
more were on the foothill pines in front of the cyclone fence
around the school next to the fire station. An OSPREY circled
over the cattle guard area at lunchtime (where's the water?)
2 LEWIS' WOODPECKERS were at the 19 mile road mark south of
the Junction. Ted Chandik's group saw another one about 1/2
mile further south, but we can't be sure if it was a
different bird than we had seen.
Del Puerto Rd., Stanislaus County:
One female WOOD DUCK in a very open part of the stream near
the roadside and next to grassland, mileage not noted.
MP 10.4 - One displaying male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD. It
performed a pendulum display flight about 15-20 ft. in
diameter that appeared like a semi-circle rather than a
deep-V. Following the bird in flight, I saw that the gorget
was abbreviated as in a Black-chinned and I got a purple flash.
The upper breast just below the gorget was bright white, as on
Black-chinned. I didn't hear it give the "tchew" vocalization,
but I did hear a flight call that sounded like "chuppety-chup",
kind of like the call described for Allen's; this was
definitely not a Selasphorus, however. I've reviewed Art
Edward's documents and saw that Black-chins are seen as
"occasional" migrants in the Canyon.
We also found a singing male LAZULI BUNTING, and a singing
CANYON WREN in this location.
MP 4.0 (approx.), at the large pockmarked rock outcrop -
a ROCK WREN, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, AMERICAN KESTRELS (actually
a very scarce bird for the day). A hundred feet east of here,
I saw a hummer briefly that was in a location of a Costa's
in years past. Then, at the same location as last week (about
3.8 mi. west of I-5), we found a male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD that
perched about 12 feet away from us. Great view!
At about 1.5 mi. west of I-5, we saw one BURROWING OWL (BUOW)
in the same location as last weekend. And about .25 - .5 mi.
further east, we saw 3 more BUOW, all at the same burrow
about 75 yards north of the road. We also saw several HORNED
LARKS in this general vicinity.
WESTERN KINGBIRDS were abundant, especially in the last 5 mi.
of Del Puerto Rd. A rough guess of the numbers that we saw
on Saturday would be 30+. At one point there were about 8
lined up along a fenceline. Bright male BULLOCK'S ORIOLES
were also plentiful and continued to amazed us with their
color.
Les
==========================================
Les Chibana, Palo Alto email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 10 21:45:24 1999
Subject: [SBB] A few birds, an upcoming birding class, and a request
Howdy South-bay-birders,
Spurred by Mike Roger's successful search for migrants in the Hamilton
Range, I went out Sunday hoping to have similar luck in the Sierra Azul
O.S.P. I walked Woods Road (which begins at the intersection of Hicks
and Mount Umunhum Rd.) all the way to the grassy hilltop past Guadalupe
Creek, but aside from an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, a few BLACK-HEADED
GROSBEAKS, and a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, it was very quiet. Birdlife was
sparse along Hicks Road too. Guess I should have gone to Mt. Hamilton.
Made some stops on my way home this afternoon. In the channel behind
the SCVWD Pond I saw 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER and 3-4 broods of CANADA GEESE.
At Almaden Lake birds included 2 COMMON MERGANSERS, COMMON MOORHEN,
CASPIAN and FORSTER'S TERNS, CALIFORNIA and RING-BILLED GULLS, and 2
WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS.
Along Alamitos Creek between Leland High School and the Camden
Avenue bridge I had 3-4 more COMMON MERGANSERS, 1 RED-SHOULDERED HAWK,
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, 1 WARBLING VIREO, 1 SWAINSON'S THRUSH (calling
bird that kept hidden), 1 YELLOW WARBLER, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK.
Driving along the Arroyo Calero I again heard WARBLING VIREO and YELLOW
WARBLER.
In June I'll be teaching a beginning birding class through MetroEd's
Community Interest Program. The class begins on June 10th, and meets six
times--3 Thursday evenings, and 3 Saturday field trips. Big Sur will be
one of the field trip destinations. If anyone is interested, they can
find out more at:
http://www.metroed.net/schedule/cip/cipenrich.htm
And now a request for information: you may have read in the Mercury
News that IBM, in spite of its earlier public statement, is proceeding
with its plans to develop it's valley floor open space on Harry Road.
This area of orchard/meadow is between 2 riparian corridors, and has
some interesting birdlife--Golden Eagle, Wood Duck, Western Screech-Owl,
Barn Owl, and White-throated Sparrow are a few of the species that have
been seen here. If there are any birders out there who have recorded
sightings of any threatened or endangered bird species (or other
protected animals or plants) in this area, either in the riparian or the
orchard, I would like to get details, since a draft environmental impact
report is now in the works. If anyone wants to check this area out--and
it is a nice birding spot--there is a trail that starts on Harry Rd.
near its intersection with Camden. If you follow this trail the proposed
development will be on your left. The trail eventually turns towards the
Santa Teresa Hills, and connects with trails leading through the hills
to Santa Teresa County Park. You can make a long or short walk of it.
Birdwise it's worth checking out, and if you find anything interesting,
please let me know!
John Mariani
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Tue May 11 09:27:06 1999
Subject: [SBB] COHA in DeAnza Park
There was a pair of Cooper's Hawks in DeAnza park in Sunnyvale on 5/10. No sign
of a nest but...?
Charles Coston
______________________________________________________________________
Join YnnMail at http://www.ynnmail.com and get your free secure e-mail
and 40,000+ newsgroup...
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Tue May 11 12:04:41 1999
Subject: [SBB] WETA, YRWA
All,
I made another quick check of the Villa Maria Picnic Area
at Stevens Creek County Park this morning 5/11/99 before
work. Once again not much migrant activity, although there
were a singing male WESTERN TANAGER and a female "AUDUBON'S"
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER in the oaks here. Still a flock of
15 or so CEDAR WAXWINGS hanging around.
Mike
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Tue May 11 14:25:27 1999
Subject: [SBB] Arzino Ranch
I stopped by the Arzino Ranch this morning to check for Yellow-Headed
Blackbirds. I saw a couple of individuals, but didn't see the flock (perhaps
it was far out in the direction of the sun). There were 6 breeding-plumaged
Cattle Egrets here (as there had also been on Saturday).
Al
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Tue May 11 19:58:30 1999
Subject: [SBB] Egrets, egrets, egrets
Tonight (Tues 5/11) was quite a night for Great Egrets just down the
street from home.
The large fields at the southeast corner of Hwy 237 and N. First St. had
at least 85 Great Egrets spread all over the field. This is the most I
have ever seen there at one time even though there are often a dozen or
more. There is actually 2 parts to the field with a small paved road
between them.
Quite a site.
-Chris
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Tue May 11 20:33:06 1999
Subject: [SBB] RUHU
Just in case this is an unusual or late record, on May 5 Ed Frost and I
saw a male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD along with the hoards of Anna's and one
female selasphorus hummer at the San Antonio Junction feeders.
Jack Cole
___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Wed May 12 13:32:48 1999
Subject: [SBB] Wednesday SCVAS Field Trip
All,
Today during the SCVAS Field Trip to Ed Levin County Park we saw an adult
male Blue Grosbeak, Lazuli Buntings, Rufous-crowned Sparrows, Western
Tanagers, Bullock's Orioles, Western Kingbirds (two different nests under
construction), House Wrens, White-throated Swifts, a Logerhead Shrike, a
couple of large flocks of Cedar Waxwings and the usual unmentionables. Big
misses were Golden Eagle, both accipiters and Red-breasted Sapsucker. After
the trip Frank Vanslager and saw two Yellow-headed Blackbirds in Arzino Ranch
(we had missed them in the morning and they were not easliy found in the
afternoon).
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 1:32 PM, 5/12/99
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Wed May 12 17:54:48 1999
Subject: [SBB] R-n Phalarope
All,
On the way back from Stanford this afternoon 5/12/99, I checked
the North Pond of the Palo Alto Flood Control Basin. Still 410+
DOWITCHERS present, probably all LONG-BILLED. Also 6 WESTERN
SANDPIPERS and an alternate-plumaged RED-NECKED PHALAROPE.
Mike Rogers
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Wed May 12 19:17:57 1999
Subject: [SBB] FWD: Help with Y-H Blackbirds
Vivek's message, below, bounced for some reason. Hope it goes through.
A comment in response to his query about allergies: it could be that the
high
winds are blowing tree pollens over the area as well, perhaps even if the
winds seem to be coming off the Bay. I've seen on newscasts that oak and
mulberry family pollens have been very high this spring.
Les Chibana
List Bureaucrat
South-Bay-Birds List
email@hidden
--------------------------------------
Date: 5/12/99 6:45 PM
From: owner-south-bay-birds
To: email@hidden
Subject: Help with Y-H Blackbirds
Date: Wed, 12 May 1999 18:48:52 -0700
From: Vivek Tiwari
I would like to request folks who have seen the Y-H BBs to be more
specific
about where and when they saw them. In two attempts (one at noon, another
around 6:00PM) I haven't found one yet. In fact, not many BBs in general.
Is a scope required?
An allergy query: I had never had allergies until I moved to CA 2 1/2
years
ago. They act up at this time of the year. And they are worst in the
Arzino Ranch
area. Yesterday my eye were red and blurry in 10 minutes flat (that's why
I can't
spend much time there). So the weeds in there are probably the main
culprit.
Does anyone know what the main weeds there are?
Thanks,
Vivek Tiwari
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Wed May 12 20:30:49 1999
Subject: [SBB] WEKI at CCRS.
Birders:
There was a nice Western Kingbird foraging along the fence row downstream
from CCRS. There are lots of shorebirds at the pond, at least 600 WEsterns
and both species of dowitchers. Two Red-necked Phalaropes was a decrease
from the 11 last week. Very little migrant activity along the riparian
corridor.
regards,
Al
Alvaro Jaramillo
Wildlife Biologist
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
P.O. Box 247
Alviso, CA 95002
email@hidden
Birds of Chile, New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Wed May 12 20:59:38 1999
Subject: [SBB] Pollen
Hi everybody,
In a recent posting someone asked about pollen information. Here is a very
useful URL that allows you to link among others to the San Jose area.
http://www.aaaai.org/nab/west.htm or go directly to:
http://www.aaaai.org/scripts/nab/cityDetail.asp?City=San+Jose+(Station
+No1)&State=Ca&Region+west.htm
Dirk Thiele
Environmental Improvement Service-
Landscape Design and Development
Cupertino
_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Thu May 13 12:59:15 1999
Subject: [SBB] Backyard Birds
Thought I had a hawk landing when I saw the large shadow, but nope, just a
Mama and Papa Mallard. They're eating my Dr. Geis seed...will have to tell
Freddie at the Wild Bird store to add Mallard to her list of birds that eat
it! This is a first for me, having Mallards at my feeder - I don't have a
swimming pool.
The White-throated and White-crowned Sparrows have not been seen this
month...last sight of them was April 23rd before I left for Arizona. Still
have a couple of Golden-Crowned that seem to have stayed.
American and Lesser Goldfinch and Pine Siskin still eat at my thistle
feeder - though the feeding frenzy has decreased dramatically.
The guy fixing my computer yesterday saw the male Hooded Oriole and said
he'd never seen such a beautiful bird. He's a non-birder and said he was
surprised at how interesting it was to watch my feeders. He was adding a
10 gig hard drive so had lots of time to "bird watch" as it was formating
or something like that.
I wish that Band-Tailed Pigeons had the silent flight of an owl. It seems
like EVERY morning I am awakened by 30 or 40 of them taking off. They come
in to eat one by one - but they depart en masse. Lots of noise from the
flutter of wings.
Happy birding! Gloria LeBlanc, Los Gatos off of Quito
Your PFO (Personal Financial Officer)
http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Thu May 13 13:08:43 1999
Subject: [SBB] birds
On Monday afternoon, 10 May 99, I watched the pair of RED-TAILED HAWKS
feeding 3 young at the nest across Hellyer from work.
Today, 13 May 99, I found a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK nest in a sycamore along
Coyote Creek about 350 yards south of the bridge at Shady Oaks Park.
This nest also contained downy young. A male and female WESTERN TANAGER
were along the creek as well.
Mike Mammoser
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Fri May 14 09:10:06 1999
Subject: [SBB] GRHE, BLSK
Folks:
Yesterday, 5/13/1999, on my bike commute home I saw a GREEN HERON flying
northwest over the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh. Four BLACK SKIMMERS were on the
island in the southeast corner of Salt Pond A1 and probably are the same four
birds I saw at Charleston Slough in the morning. Whether this shift is related
to nesting (a pair fledged two young here in 1995) or whether they were just
trying to get some sleep and avoid the clatter of stilts and avocets in
Charleston Slough is unknown. The slough site, as I passed by, was in an
absolute uproar as there was a Great Egret stalking along the island's edge.
Bill
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Fri May 14 10:40:07 1999
Subject: [SBB] Alum Rock Park
The "Three sopranos" were singing at the end of the paved road in Alum
Rock Park this morning...Bewick's wren, house wren and canyon wren.
Lazuli buntings and rufous-crowned sparrows on the north rim trail joined
in the chorus.
Jack Cole
___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Fri May 14 11:15:49 1999
Subject: [SBB] Great North American Bluebird Count
Just a reminder:
The Great North American Bluebird Count started today! The Cornell Lab of
Ornithology's Nest Box Network, with the North American Bluebird Society,
is asking everyone to count bluebirds and other cavity-nesters and report
them to the Birdhouse Online web site at http://birds.cornell.edu. The
count runs today through Monday.
Have fun and count for the birds!
Allison Wells
Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology
159 Sapsucker Woods Rd.
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 254-2475
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Fri May 14 11:51:52 1999
Subject: [SBB] Sat 6/5 PA Summer Bird Count
Hello all,
On Saturday June 5, the 19th annual Palo Alto Summer Bird Count will be
taking place on the traditional count circle extending from the baylands
westward nearly to La Honda, and from the southern edge of Edgewood Park in
Redwood City, southward to Rancho San Antonio near the Cupertino border. It
takes a lot of people to inventory the birds throughout this area, so all of
you are energetically invited to take part in this year's count. There's no
fee for the summer count, and you do not have to be a hotshot birder or
Audubon member. Heck, you can even bring your birder-tolerant friends and
relations, especially if they're willing to tote a clipboard!
If you have a few hours to devote to "birding with a purpose" on that day,
please contact me by return email stating your general bird-ID skill level
and area preference (baylands, suburbs, foothills, or mountains), and I will
try to match you up with an appropriate team. Please provide a phone number,
too, as not all area leaders are wired (yet). If you're an experienced
counter, you can contact your usual leader directly, or contact me regarding
for contact information for this year's leader of your preferred count area.
There will be a no-cost countdown dinner (pizza, salad, beverages) at the
SCVAS office in Cupertino at 6PM the evening of the Count. See you there!
--Garth Harwood
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Fri May 14 11:55:44 1999
Subject: [SBB] Some Birds at Arzino Ranch
On Friday morning, May 14, there were four burrowing owls visible from the
church property by Arzino ranch; two of them were perched on prominent stakes
out in the fields. There were also four Cattle Egrets, nicely coming into
breeding plumage, and numerous Western Kingbirds, four of them in one small
flock. Unfortunately, the Yellow-headed Blackbird flock was staying in, and
by, the horse corral on the southeast corner of the ranch. It is difficult
to find a spot from which they can be seen unless, as happened, some exercise
riders momentarily scares up the flock. The dirt access road to Arzino ranch
is at the end of Nortech Pkwy. They could be seen (illegally?) from the top
of the dark mound short of the ranch complex along that access road. I
counted 23 YHBLs, all immatures or females.
Frank Vanslager
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Fri May 14 17:05:05 1999
Subject: [SBB] Santa Teresa Co. Park 5/13/99
All,
At the west end of Santa Teresa County Park yesterday (5/13), there were
numerous RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS singing in the chapparal; 5 were seen and
one, at about 0.5 miles up the Stiles Ranch trail, was carrying food as it
foraged along the low rock wall there. There was also a couple of
YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES, and a WESTERN KINGBIRD on telephone wires, along San
Vicente Rd. near the park boundary. A single CHUKAR observed along Fortini
Rd. was determined to be an escaped cage bird from an adjacent residence
where at least one more was in a pen with other domestic fowl.
--Garth Harwood
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 15 12:01:37 1999
Subject: [SBB] Early CA GNABC results
Greetings CA birders--
Thanks to those of you who are sending in your observations of bluebirds
and other cavity-nesters for the Great North American Bluebird Count
http://birds.cornell.edu. Keep 'em coming! Here's your early GNABC report
(Saturday afternoon, 5/15):
Species # of observations
T Swallow 12
W Bluebird 9
W-b Nuthatch 3
P Titmouse 1
H Sparrow 1
If you're getting this report on Monday morning: remember, you can report
your sightings retroactively, and the GNABC continues through the 17th. You
can view regularly updated maps and charts of results from all over the
continent right at the web site. Please put your observations to work on
behalf of cavity-nesting birds. Log on for the GNABC!
Allison Wells
Cornell Lab of Ornithology
Ithaca, NY
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 15 12:55:31 1999
Subject: [SBB] Alum Rock Park
This morning at Alum Rock Park we spotted a number of great birds including
an ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD, a RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW, two LAZULI BUNTINGS, and
plenty WESTERN WOOD PEWEES. We also got good looks at WILSON'S WARBLERS and
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS. We heard the HOUSE WREN but didn't get a look at
it. With the help of our walk leader, Jack Cole, we spotted over 35
species.
Pat Curtis
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 15 23:38:29 1999
Subject: [SBB] Swifts, Barn Owl
Howdy South-bay-birders,
This evening Jolene Lange and I saw a Barn Owl fly into the suburbs
along Harry Road, near the end of Camden Avenue. Yesterday afternoon
(Fri.), on my homeward commute, I saw a large number of swifts flying
with swallows over the perc ponds on San Thomas Expressway (between
Campbell Ave. and Highway 17). They appeared to be Vaux's, although I
was driving in traffic and couldn't stop for a better look. This is the
second time this spring I've noticed a concentration of swifts at that
spot.
John Mariani
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sun May 16 10:32:48 1999
This morning (May 16th) Frenchman's triangle on the Stanford Campus was
fairly active with male and female pairs of WESTERN TANAGERS, HOODED
ORIOLES, BULLOCK'S ORIOLES, two WARBLING VIREOS, two HUTTON'S VIREO (parent
feeding a full-grown immature), single ORANGE-CROWNED and WILSON'S
WARBLERS, and an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER.
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sun May 16 14:55:42 1999
Subject: [SBB] Yellow-breasted Chat
All:
On 11 May, I had a late RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET near the old
harbormaster's house at the Palo Alto Baylands. Seven
female/imm. YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS and a WESTERN KINGBIRD
were at Arzino Ranch.
On 12 May, 10 broods of CANADA GEESE and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER
were at Lake Cunningham. Fifteen female/imm. YELLOW-HEADED
BLACKBIRDS and 2 WESTERN KINGBIRDS were at Arzino Ranch.
On 13 May, a check of Almaden Lake produced 4 SNOWY EGRET
nests (birds sitting on 2 nests as though incubating,
standing on the other 2), a GREAT EGRET nest with an
apparently incubating bird, and a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-
HERON nest (adult arranging sticks on nest) on the
Phragmites-covered island. More nests may have been present,
but it was difficult to see everything in the Phragmites.
Seven broods of CANADA GEESE were also present.
On 15 May, I saw 2 VAUX'S SWIFTS and 5 WILSON'S WARBLERS at
the EEC in Alviso. At CCRS, a YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT was
singing on the north side of net lane 9655. Other birds
seen in the riparian habitat south of the trailers included
2 singing male YELLOW WARBLERS, 2 WILSON'S WARBLERS,
1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, 6 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, 2 WARBLING
VIREOS, 1 WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, and 2 male BLACK-CHINNED
HUMMINGBIRDS. Two WESTERN KINGBIRDS were on the WPCP fence
near the waterbird pond, which had one SPOTTED SANDPIPER.
Steve Rottenborn
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sun May 16 17:29:43 1999
Subject: [SBB] Alviso, etc.
This afternoon (Sunday) I did a little birding around Alviso. Highlights
included an adult GOLDEN EAGLE along the EEC entrance road, 12 WILSON'S
PHALAROPEs in the impoundment north from the Alviso Marina, and 3 RED-NECKED
PHALAROPEs in the channel south from that impoundment. (The Wilson's inc-
cluded 3 females in striking alternate plumage, or close to it. The remainder
were all males, except one or two which were not far enough along in moult for
me to be sure.) The only other transient shorebirds at the impoundment were
3 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERs, 6 DUNLIN, and about 10 WESTERN SANDPIPERs. (This was
around 3 PM, not far from high tide.) The CCRS waterbird pond is now full of
water, and there were no shorebirds at all except for the local breeders; the
only birds worth noting there were 2 CASPIAN TERNs. Finally, there were still
5 CATTLE EGRETs at the Arzino Ranch; I didn't make the effort to locate the
Yellow-Headed Blackbirds.
In the morning, a visit to the hillside east of Sandy Wool Lake at Ed Levin
Park turned up 4 singing LAZULI BUNTINGs (at least 2 seen), but I didn't run
into the Grosbeaks. Several other birders arrived while I was there and stayed
later, so perhaps they had better luck. A WESTERN KINGBIRD here was carrying
nesting material. There was a flock of about 12 CEDAR WAXWINGs near the
parking area, and a similar flock (probably different) at the Elms area.
BULLOCK'S ORIOLEs at the former location are already carrying food for nest-
lings.
Cheers, Al
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sun May 16 17:30:12 1999
Subject: [SBB] Sunday birds
Howdy South-bay-birders,
Today I checked the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK nest at my parent's house,
and found it contained at least one downy chick, who was very actively
moving around in the nest. Also saw a single VAUX'S SWIFT flying over
the hills there.
I walked the trail from Harry Road upstream along the Arroyo
Calero. PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS and WARBLING VIREO were singing in
the riparian. When I reached the hills I heard what sounded like a
grasshopper sparrow above the path, and subsequently saw a small sparrow
fly away over the ridgeline. Couldn't I.D. what I heard or saw with
certainty.. There I also had an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER and YELLOW
WARBLER singing in the riparian oaks.
Drove up to the locked gate on Mt. Umunhum Rd., and walked part of
the road beyond the gate. Near the beginning of the trail to Bald
Mountain, which also starts near the locked gate, I found a singing
RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW and LAZULI BUNTING. There were plenty of
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS up there too.
John Mariani
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 17 09:08:23 1999
Subject: [SBB] osprey
An osprey was working the Guadalupe River channel near the airport Sunday
evening around 6 PM.
Jack Cole
___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 17 09:22:13 1999
Subject: [SBB] Almaden Field Trips, May 16
On Sunday, May 16, there were two Almaden area SCVAS Field Trips, advertised
as "2-4-1" - the first trip to Almaden/Quicksilver CP followed the short
Mine Hill-Guadalupe-Senator Mines trail loop - the second trip at Guadalupe
Oak Grove Park in the heart of Almaden Valley. Both trips were successful;
however, two trips in one morning caused a bit of a hustle for the leader
(me) and I had to leave the first trip before it was over in order to get to
my second destination.
Almaden/Quicksilver CP (Mine Hill-Guadalupe-Senator Mines loop): This short
loop goes through oak/laurel woodlands, grassy meadows, chaparral, and
serpentine habitats. At least ten TURKEY VULTURES were seen roosting on
fences and bare snags along the grassy meadow in the early morning hours,
later to take flight circling overhead. We had excellent views of a family
of WRENTITS in the chaparral and Frank Vanslager spotted a VAUX'S SWIFT
overhead. Among other birds of interest on this hike were BLACK-HEADED
GROSBEAK, VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, WESTERN TANAGER,
WARBLING VIREO, and BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER. Lou Beaudet reported sightings
of AMERICAN KESTREL, CALIFORNIA THRASHER, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, HUTTON'S
VIREO, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, and a beautiful TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, all seen
after I left.
Guadalupe Oak Grove Park: Besides the ubiquitous ACORN WOODPECKERS which
are abundant in this park, other birds of interest seen included a family of
excitable WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, excellent views of a HUTTON'S VIREO,
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, and a surprising OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (first one that
I've ever seen in this park).
Ann
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 17 10:07:28 1999
Subject: [SBB] Table Mt. PILEATED W. 5/16
Yesterday I hiked down to Table Mtn. with Gargi and a non-birding friend.
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERs atop tall dead trees in two places.
A couple of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS.
Came upon a PILEATED WOODPECKER on the main trail past (north of) the Table
Mtn. summit.
It was probing a dead tree close to the ground. Then it flew about and called.
Flew back
and forth over the summit towards the east. Another PILEATED called a bit
further down
the trail and I was able to watch it from pretty close. It was working on a
dead tree
right next to the trail.
An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was at the summit, as well as a flock of CEDAR
WAXWINGs.
Vivek Tiwari
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 17 10:31:12 1999
Subject: [SBB] Extreme birding by bicycle
For almost 20 years, I have more-or-less annually participated in
the May Madness known as the Davis Double Century. It's a
bicycle ride that covers a 200-mile circuit from Davis via Winters
and Pope Valley to Clear Lake, with return via Cache Creek (CA
Hwy 16). This year's ride was Sat., May 15, as beautiful a day for
such a ride as one could imagine. I left my usual small binoculars
behind, but nonetheless enjoyed seeing what birds I could spot
during the 14-hour tour. Wildflowers were also abundant.
Best bird of the day was an American Dipper spotted flying low
over, then landing in, Cache Creek in mid-afternoon.
Other observations:
Turkey Vultures were flying by 8 AM in a good breeze. I couldn't
turn any of the numerous crows into Ravens. Other Corvids: both
Steller's and Scrub Jays, & Magpies. (I won't claim I could
distinguish yellow bills in flight.) No raptors, surprisingly.
Canada Goose, Mallard, Pied-billed Grebe, and some dark ducks,
probably Gadwalls. Violet Green and Barn Swallows. Junco.
American Robin, CA Towhee, Redwing & Brewer's Blackbirds.
Killdeer, Black Phoebe, Starling, Mourning & Rock Doves. Spotted
Towhee and Western Meadowlark heard but not seen.
23 species isn't exactly a Big Day, but they certainly provided
an interesting diversion on a Long Day!
----------------
George Oetzel
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 17 10:36:06 1999
Subject: [SBB] birds
On Sunday, 16 May 99, I got out to Stevens Creek Park for a few hours.
Many of the normal birds were present, including a flock of CEDAR
WAXWINGS. In the abandoned quarry behind the Villa Maria Picnic Area, I
had a RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW singing. This is the first time I checked
this area since 10 years ago, when I found this species here on the
Breeding Bird Atlas.
Mike Mammoser
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 17 12:01:57 1999
Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek Park 5/15/99
My class and I enjoyed a beautiful day of birding at Stevens
Creek Park on Saturday. We started late compared to the
fishing crowd at the reservoir, so there was little on the
water there. But, on a tip from Susan Peterson, we went up to
the Picchetti Ranch parking lot to look for an owl. It turned
out to be a fuzzy juvenile GREAT HORNED OWL. (Anybody know if
there's a term for an owl, or any bird, that's left the nest,
but not yet fledged?) This parking area was very birdy, if
you don't mind the periodic screams from the male peacocks at
the Ranch. We had BAND-TAILED PIGEONS overhead, a single
VAUX'S SWIFT, and a possible VARIED THRUSH singing from dense
understory, among the highlights at this spot.
Picchetti Ranch is reached by turning right on Monte Bello
Rd. from Stevens Canyon Rd. just past the quarry near the
Stevens Creek Reservoir dam. The entrance to the Ranch, which
is part of the Open Space District, is on the left about .75 mi. up Monte
Bello Rd.
Highlights:
OSPREY - over the reservoir.
WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS - the trail above Villa Maria picinic area
Selasphorus Hummingbird - wing buzz heard at Villa Maria
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER - persistent calling above Chestnut area
WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE - Chestnut area
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS - Chestnut and Villa Maria areas.
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS - the trail above Villa Maria; heard
on trail behind restroom at Canyon area
AMERICAN DIPPER - 1 above the 4th bridge upstream of the Mt.
Eden Rd. intersection, and before the private drive over the
creek.
YELLOW WARBLER - heard only at the Cooley picnic area.
HOODED ORIOLE - at Villa Maria (where are the palms?)
WESTERN TANAGERS - in the Canyon picnic area.
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW - heard at Picchetti Ranch
CASSIN'S and WARBLING VIREOS were heard in reasonable
numbers. PURPLE FINCHES were very vocal in the Villa Maria
area. PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS were detected in low numbers.
Nesting activity: Great Horned Owl juvenile, Nuttall's
Woodpecker pair entering cavity with food, American Robin on
nest with 3 nestlings at Canyon picnic area, European
Starling feeding nestlings at cavity, Black-headed Grosbeak
on nest at Canyon area, and a Bullock's Oriole building a
nest at Villa Maria.
Les
==========================================
Les Chibana, Palo Alto email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 17 19:02:44 1999
Subject: [SBB] Arastradero Preserve 5/17/99
All,
This morning, 5/17/99, while checking my nestboxes at Arastradero Preserve,
Lazuli Buntings were apparent at a number of locations to the east and south
of the parking lot. One pair just across the eastern fenceline onto Stanford
land was displaying courtship & territorial behavior. Seems like a banner
year for the species in our area. Cedar Waxwings were present in very large
numbers, probably one or two hundreds in the treetops.
Nestbox activity had reached a peak, with 10 of 14 boxes actively attended by
at least one pair of birds (two boxes with broods of 5 young Western
Bluebirds each were also being visited by eager Violet-green Swallows,
although none of the interspecific feeding that has been documented between
swallows and bluebirds under these circumstances was observed.)
Two Tree Swallow nests were active, one of which held 4 eggs. Four
Violet-green Swallow nests were under construction but no eggs were in
evidence yet. It has been 10 weeks since I first saw these two swallows
inspecitng these boxes on March 2!
One box was the object of intense scrutiny by an Ash-throated Flycatcher.
We've had a number of ATFL box-nestings at Arastradero before, though not on
this section. They are always the last of our local cavity-nesters to settle
in.
There are two other nestbox trails on the preserve; they presently contain
active House Wren, Western Bluebird, Oak Titmouse, and Chestnut-backed
Chickadee nests.
--Garth Harwood
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Tue May 18 08:36:24 1999
Subject: [SBB] Western Screech Owl
Want to see a Western Screech Owl? you can....
Let me preface this by saying that my neighbor's Screch Owls are the only
Western Screech Owls I have ever seen.
Yesterday evening I went over to my neighbor's house to see their owls -
yes, plural, owls. There was a baby hatched on Friday evening (May 14) and
a second baby hatched Sunday. The camcorder is great! - but not perfect.
Plus there are now 3 cobwebs.
Viewing the video he filmed last Friday, it appears as if the Mother helped
the owl get out of its egg. The camcorder is from the top of the box so you
just get glimpses of some white and a couple of times you see most of the
baby.
He hasn't had time to edit down the video from Saturday, Sunday and Monday.
Watching the camcorder live yesterday it was obvious that there were 2
babies. There were never more than two eggs laid that could be seen. So, it
appears that the hatching is over. Last night there was a mouse in the box
that the mother tore apart and we watched as she fed her two chicks.
They have never seen 2 adult owls this year - just one. But, the top of the
owlbox has severe talon marks. I came home and read up on Western Screech
Owls. I found out that they lay 2 to 5 eggs. That the eggs hatch in
sequence. It said the female broods the babies for 6-13 days and the male
brings food to the nest during this time. They didn't know this and will
look more for the father. We're guessing the scars on top of the owlbox may
be from the male when he arrives with his prey. Since Friday there have
been 1 or 2 animals of some sort in the box--mostly mice. What I read said
the young leave the birdbox in 21-28 days. So, from what I read it appears
as if it would be best to schedule a viewing after 13 days from hatching
and before 21 days when they could leave the nest.
Now my question to those of you who know far more than I do...they are
agreeable to allowing people come see the baby owls....but, just
once....they are a busy family with two little kids. The thought was that
they'd open their home for one hour some night...perhaps from 7:15 -
8:15...you could see the live action from the camcorder on their TV...they
would also show an edited version of what they've taped....then at 8:15 pm
you could go outside and see if you could spot an owl...and leave whenever
you want, but not go back into the house after 8:15 pm....their kids will
be asleep then. Their backyard continues on into an open space area so you
could see the habitat.
When would be the best time to schedule this event? It seemed like it
should be after the mother stops brooding (6-13 days) and before they leave
the nest (21-28 days)....anyone with more knowledge than me have a
suggestion? and we're not sure how many people would be interested...does
this interest you?
so please let me know
interested in seeing?
your best guess as to when the best viewing time will be
Gloria LeBlanc - Los Gatos off Quito
Your PFO (Personal Financial Officer)
http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Wed May 19 06:18:25 1999
Subject: [SBB] Virginia's Warbler at Big Sur
Hi Birders -
I don't know why this didn't get out sooner. The Monterey Bay Area RBA
(phone 831 375-2577) reported on Tuesday afternoon the presence of a
singing male VIRGINIA'S WARBLER at Andrew Molera State Park. I don't
know who found it, but I presume someone from BSOL found it. To get to
the location, take the footbridge across the river from BSOL and take the
main trail until you get to the first major intersection. Turn left and
go approximately 100 meters. The bird was singing from the steep
hillside with chapparal/willow on it. It was first detected on Monday.
Steve Rovell
PLEASE NOTE THE TWO ADDRESSES, the second one is new.
email@hidden
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Wed May 19 22:19:34 1999
Subject: [SBB] Oak Titmice
Hi Garth,
My bach yard Oak Titmice moved out of their nesting box in the plum tree and
into a tree cavity in my English Walnut tree. This happened about 3 weeks
ago. They are now raising offspring. I see them taking turns in bringing
insects and caterpillars to the nest. To "catproof" the nesting site I had
to put barricades of chicken wire and 3 Tomato cages into the tree. It seems
to have done the job, so fat. But I have a greater concern, and that is that
I saw and heard a female cow bird
stalking the Titmice and possibly laying it's own egg into their nest.
I could not believe how bold that cowbird was. When I chased it away
(several times until I gave up)it came back immediately and with great
determination. I will soon find out. All I know for now is that both
Chickadees seem unusually busy feeding their young.
Dirk Thiele
_______________________________________________________________
Get Free Email and Do More On The Web. Visit http://www.msn.com
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Thu May 20 06:38:39 1999
Subject: [SBB] Western Screech Owl viewing
On Thursday, May 27 from 7:15-8:15 pm we will be able to see what's
happening with the Western Screech Owl at my neighbor's house.
We will be shown about 15 or so minutes of video - edited down from more
than 20 hours of tape. We will be able to see the live action from the
camcorder on the big screen TV of what is happening inside the box at that
point in time.
We have chosen May 27 since it should be AFTER brooding time and BEFORE the
2 babies leave the nest box. At 8:15 pm it will be too dark to see with the
camcorder inside the box and we will go outside to try to see the Mother or
Father. You can stay outside for as long as you would like. But, we won't
go back inside since their little kids will have gone to bed.
This is a one time offer - no other time available. The location is Los
Gatos off of Quito. If you are interested in being in attendance, please
e-mail for further instructions.
Gloria LeBlanc
Your PFO (Personal Financial Officer)
http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Thu May 20 11:23:19 1999
Subject: [SBB] Oak Meadow Park/Vasona Lake
We saw two FORSTER'S TERNS over at Vasona Lake this morning. Also, very
large flocks of CEDAR WAXWINGS were present. CLIFF SWALLOWS,
NORTHERN-ROUGHED WINGED SWALLOWS, and VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were also
filling the sky. GREEN HERONS, GREAT BLUE HERONS, and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT
HERONS are in good numbers over on the little island near the dam. We got
good looks at both the ACORN WOODPECKER and the NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER.
CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES and OAK TITMICE were clearly tending to many new
fledglings along the creek between Oak Meadow and Vasona. A YELLOW WARBLER
was also in the same bushes as the titmice.
Pat Curtis
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Thu May 20 12:40:59 1999
Subject: [SBB] DUFL,HAFL,MGWA,HEWA at Smith's Ck
All,
Noting the change in weather with heavy overcast and slight drizzle in
the Bay area this morning 5/20/99, I headed up to Smith's Creek early
this morning to see if any migrants were about. Just before getting
there I stopped at the spot between mp 15.48 and 15.50 where I had the
singing MacGillivray's Warbler last time. Incredibly the
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (or another, but I kind of suspect the same
one) was still singing incessantly from the same thicket! Garrett and
Dunn's warbler book notes that this species rarely sings on migration,
lending some support to the possibility that some of our singing
Diablo Range birds may be attempting to breed on occasion (they are
often in apparently good habitat). The oaks along the road here were
full of warblers, with numerous WILSON'S, YELLOW, TOWNSEND'S and
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS being accompanied by a single adult male
HERMIT WARBLER and a ratty late YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER. Also at least
one SWAINSON'S THRUSH here.
At Smith's Creek proper I first followed along the creek. There were
at least 4 YELLOW WARBLERS not far upstream of the bridge. About 100
yards before the river crossing I heard a calling MACGILLIVRAY'S
WARBLER and managed to pish up this male bird. Also an active HAIRY
WOODPECKER nest along the creek here. Back at the fire station I had
a pair of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES. Several WILSON'S WARBLERS were all
around the area - I tallied over a dozen before leaving. Also a few
singing LAZULI BUNTINGS around. Heading up the hill behind the old
broken down barn resulted in a singing TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (with
several WILSON'S), another SWAINSON'S THRUSH and a BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHER. Coming back down this trail I heard a calling HAMMOND'S
FLYCATCHER north of the path and went to investigate. I easily
located this very agitated bird, but was surprised to hear another
agitated empidonax giving a "whit" call in the next tree. The call
did not sound as loud as a Gray Flycatcher and it seemed a little
early for Willow Flycatcher (especially when everything is so late
this year!), so I hoped for Dusky Flycatcher. I quickly located the
bird and confirmed it was indeed a DUSKY FLYCATCHER. It was very
similar to the Hammond's in coloration, with a gray breast and face,
but was longer-tailed and longer-billed. The clean white eye-ring
showed no teardrop to the rear. The bill was narrow and
straight-sided and largely dark below. After I got good looks from
below, this bird flew to the base of a bush below eye level and
preened for over 5 minutes, nicely revealing the short primary
extension past the tertials (partly responsible for the long-tailed
look). Although I have picked out a couple of May Dusky Flycatchers
in nearby Alameda County, I have so far failed at locating one in
Santa Clara County; this was county bird number 327 for me! Back at
the trail I heard yet another MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER; calling and
pishing produced good looks at the bird, this time a female (wish she
would head over to that singing male!).
I checked milepost 15.50 again on the way back out and the
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER was still singing (almost three hours later!)
several times a minute.
A quick check of Grant Lake produced 2 (possibly 3) very late
alternate-plumaged GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS and 4 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES
in the Coyote bushes near the lake edge - also a singing male COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT here. A couple YELLOW and WILSON'S WARBLERS were in the
nearby riparian and several LAZULI BUNTINGS were around. A male WOOD
DUCK on a small pond off the canal trail appeared quite agitated but I
didn't see any young. A female COMMON YELLOWTHROAT at McCreery Lake
was likely a migrant. Also had a single GREEN HERON flying over the
GREAT BLUE HERON rookery.
Perhaps the weather helped or perhaps all those late migrants are
finally making their way north - either way a very productive morning!
Mike Rogers
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Thu May 20 13:29:32 1999
Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek Park
The highlight of a visit to Lower Stevens Creek Park this morning: as
I arrived (from the rear) at the hilltop on the trail north from the Villa
Maria area, I saw an adult Cooper's Hawk perched on a snag in the open there.
It remained there for several minutes, apparently unconcerned about my pre-
sence. But it finally left when attacked by a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher. There
were two Gnatcatchers here; it was probably the male which divebombed the
Hawk.
Despite the cloud cover, essentially all of the typical species here
were present and vocal. (I only checked the Villa Maria area and the area
near the end of the road past the Ranger's Station). Perhaps making up for
their late showing this year? There was also one Caspian Tern at the reser-
voir; but a paucity of swallows, and no swifts. A brief stop at McClellan
Ranch Park showed where all the swallows were hanging out; several Vaux's
Swifts were among them (at least 3, hard to count).
Cheers, Al
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Thu May 20 19:41:54 1999
Subject: [SBB] Thrush species?
Howdy South-bay-birders,
Today I was eating french fries in my truck outside my work in
Sunnyvale, when I noticed a movement in the tall narrow hedge in front
of my vehicle. It was a thrush, although all I could see through the
branches was its spotted breast and eye ring. Before I could get my
binoculars it had disappeared. I've had Hermit Thrush here in winter,
but it seems kind of late in the season. Suppose it might have been a
Swainson's, although the urban habitat makes that seem less probable--
John Mariani
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 22 01:28:59 1999
Subject: [SBB] Bank Swallow, Black Tern
All:
On 18 May, 18 GREATER SCAUP in Crittenden Marsh with 24 LESSERS
seemed unusually late. COMMON RAVEN nests with young were on
towers in the northwest corners of ponds B2 and A2, and 2 active
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT nests were on Long Point. A WESTERN
KINGBIRD and 3 CANVASBACKS were at the mouth of Stevens Creek.
Nineteen broods of CANADA GEESE (with many more probably present)
were at several locations between the Sunnyvale WPCP and Emily
Renzel wetlands.
On 19 May, Dave Johnston and I had 18 singing male GRASSHOPPER
SPARROWS in the Silver Creek Hills of southeast San Jose. Three
males were associated with agitated birds [presumably females];
one pair was feeding a newly-fledged juvenile, and another pair
was carrying food. We also had 19 RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS and
2 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES here.
On 20 May, among huge numbers of swallows foraging at the north
end of Moffett Field (I estimated 1-2000, Mike Rogers later
estimated many more), I had 3-5 BANK SWALLOWS. With the exception
of a small number of Barns, all the rest of the swallows were
Cliffs. Three WESTERN KINGBIRDS were also here, and an AMERICAN
WHITE PELICAN was at the north end of pond B2. Along San
Francisquito Creek near Stanford (upstream from the mall) I
had single migrant OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER and WESTERN KINGBIRD.
On 21 May, 2 WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES and a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER were
along San Francisquito Creek in Palo Alto. At Lake Cunningham
in San Jose, 6 alternate-plumaged BLACK TERNS were foraging over
the lake. Even more unusual in terms of location were a pair of
adult LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES feeding two recently fledged juveniles
in a field at the intersection of Tully and Capitol nearby. I
once confirmed this species breeding near the Ogier Ponds, but
it would be especially rare as a breeder on the northern valley
floor.
Good birding,
Steve Rottenborn
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 22 14:58:54 1999
Subject: [SBB] Black-chinned Sparrow
Howdy South-bay-birders,
At about noon today I had a singing BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW at the
beginning of the trail to Bald Mountain. To get there, take Hicks Road
to Mt. Umunhum Rd., drive 1.7 mile to where a gate blocks the road, and
walk the fire road through the gate to the left. The bird was just
downslope from the trail right near the beginning. It was singing
constantly, was easy to spot, and was still there when I left. Also in
this area were a singing LAZULI BUNTING, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, and
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER.
At the intersection of Alamitos Road and Hicks Road near Almaden
Reservoir I had OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, and 2
singing LAZULI BUNTINGS. Just upstream from Guadalupe Reservoir I heard
a WILSON'S WARBELR, and had quite a few BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS and other
songbirds.
John Mariani
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 22 16:02:06 1999
Subject: [SBB] Hidden Villa
At Hidden Villa this morning, we saw a number of PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS
and a very vocal LAZULI BUNTING. In the nesting boxes attached to the
telephone poles just beyond the visitor's center, we saw WESTERN BLUEBIRDS.
We also saw a PURPLE FINCH, a WESTERN TANAGER, some CALIFORNIA QUAIL, and a
BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. A WARBLING VIREO and an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER were
also present.
Pat Curtis
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 22 17:37:16 1999
Hi,
This morning I saw 2 Stella Jays at the creek along Old Page Mill Road on
the Stanford Hill side. This is the first time I did see Stella's there.
Are they moving down further and further from the Hills?
Marianne Dieckmann
2040 Amherst Str.
Palo Alto, CA 94301
(650) 857 0793
email:
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sun May 23 16:20:16 1999
Subject: [SBB] Ed Levin Park yesterday
Hiked up to the sycamore grove and beyond to the lower hang glider
launch pad at Ed Levin Park yesterday. We were looking for Blue
Grosbeaks (which didn't make an appearance), but we did have nice views
of Lazuli Buntings and lots of activity from Bullock's Orioles--singing
and nest making. Also saw a flycatcher that we suspect was a Western
Wood Peewee.
Hugh McDevitt
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sun May 23 17:23:52 1999
Subject: [SBB] Coe birds
An all day walk at Henry Coe State Park on Sunday yielded several Black-=
chinned Sparrows. One bird was seen and at least three others were heard =
singing in the chamise just south of Eagle Pines on Willow Ridge. This is =
an area where the birds have been found in previous years. Of interest =
were at least two singing birds heard several miles south on Willow Ridge =
in an area where they have not been observed on previous occasions. Black-=
chinned Sparrows were confirmed to be breeding at a site a couple of miles =
north of the Coe location during the Breeding Bird Atlas, but there are no =
Coe breeding confirmations to date.
Other interesting observations include a Common Merganser in Coyote Creek =
and a Prairie Falcon carrying food to a known nesting site. Lazuli =
Buntings were abundant.
James Yurchenco
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 24 08:03:45 1999
Subject: [SBB] Smith Creek, etc., 5/22
Just a follow-up to John Meyer's RBA report of McGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS in the
vicinity of Smith Creek on Saturday, May 22. I also visited the area on
Saturday and met up with John and Mitch. I missed the one near MP 15.50,
but did find the one near the cattle gate along Smith's Creek. Besides
McGillivray's Warbler, here are a few other birds to report from Smith
Creek. WILSON'S WARBLERS were the most numerous warblers present. Also
seen were three TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS and one YELLOW WARBLER. Other birds
noted were HAIRY WOODPECKER, LAZULI BUNTING, a pair of WARBLING VIREOS,
several PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, and one HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER (seen in a
creekside alder just beyond the cattle gate near the Hairy Woodpecker
nesting site). Up the hill into the oak woodlands I found BLUE-GRAY
GNATCATCHER, several WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, a pair of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES, and
one male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH feeding in fiddleneck.
In the valley at Grant Ranch were several excitable WESTERN KINGBIRDS, more
LAZULI BUNTINGS, WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, a late YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and
several TREE SWALLOWS around fence post nestboxes. The Tree Swallows were
especially stunning as the sun caught them just right and their backs
gleamed in cobalt blue contrasting with their snow-white fronts - a
beautiful sight.
That's it for now - Ann
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 24 09:23:03 1999
Subject: [SBB] Vasona Island
I scoped the small Vasona Lake island from University Dr. Sat AM
to check on nests for SFBBO.
There are 5 Great Blue Heron chicks on 2 nests. All 4 adults were
also present part of the time.
One Snowy Egret nest with brooding adult is visible. It stood up
once; I saw no chicks, so it must still be sitting on eggs. SNEG
flew into and settled down on two other sites that presumably are
nests. However, the nests are hidden.
One brooding Black-crowned Night Heron is also visible. A second
adult BCNH remained in one location the whole time I watched, but
appeared to be standing, half hidden. A BCNH chick moved about,
perched on a variety of branches.
Pat Curtis reported Green Herons last week. I didn't see any of
those. There were Canada Geese on the ground and in the water
adjacent to the island. Red-winged Blackbirds also came and went
frequently.
George Oetzel Menlo Park, CA
(W) email@hidden (SFBBO) email@hidden
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory
http://www.sfbbo.org
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 24 09:40:55 1999
Subject: [SBB] SCVAS Monte Bello OSP
Hi Everyone--
At Monte Bello OSP yesterday (5/23), good weather, a profusion of
wildflowers, fancy butterflies, and some nice birds made for a good day's
outing. LAZULI BUNTING was loud and conspicuous all day, even when
everything else fell silent. Our walk went from the Page Mill Road parking
lot to the Canyon Trail by way of the old orchard, down the Canyon Trail to
the Indian Creek Trail, up the Indian Creek Trail to the walk-in campground,
then back to the parking lot via the Bella Vista Trail. Grasshopper and
Chipping Sparrows were absent from the orchard this time. Numerous
BAND-TAILED PIGEONS were in the canyon, including several that perched on
top of Douglas Firs with their irridescent necks glinting in the morning
sun. Just upcanyon from the Indian Creek Trail, we watched a pair of
agitated BLACK-TROATED GRAY WARBLERS for a good while; then we noticed a
different song nearby, even buzzier than the Black-throated Gray. With some
patience, we located the source: a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER. We later found
another, and wondered if migration was running late this year. The climb up
the Indian Creek Trail gave us good looks at singing CALIFORNIA THRASHER and
WRENTIT, but there was no sign of Black-chinned Sparrow. Clarkia and poppies
were blooming in abundance, and Chalcedon Checkerspots were fluttering all
around us. Near the campground, several WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were on the wires,
perhaps attracted by the nestboxes the district is putting up. By afternoon,
most bird activity was in the air: several RED-TAILED HAWKS were hunting
with some success (more than one small, furry animal died in their clutches
as we walked), and 3 BLACK SWIFTS flew over us as we arrived back at the
parking lot. The bird total was 51 species, 10 of which were heard only.
Mark Miller
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 24 10:02:46 1999
Subject: [SBB] Smith Creek
All: Mitch Ninokata and I went to Smith Creek on Saturday. Mike Rogers'
male MacGillivray's Warbler was at mile 15.48-.50, alternately singing at
about 15 feet up and foraging near the ground. We also found (aided by Ann
Verdi, who'd seen it already) the male MacGillivray's Warbler reported by
Mike right along the creek (near the broken-down metal cattle gate) -- also
alternating between singing and foraging along the creek bank. We heard a
probable third one in the foliage across the trail in the same area.
Despite a good deal of searching, we didn't find any unusual flycatchers.
Yours, John Meyer
**************************************************************
John Meyer, Dept. of Soc., Stanford U., Stanford CA 94305 (650)7231868
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 24 11:06:17 1999
Subject: [SBB] Owl update & other bird behavior
There are now 4 baby Western Screech Owls visable in the bird box. It
appears as if Thursday will be a good time for us since the mother is
already beginning to move away from them. 7 pm at my house for those that
have responded to come see.
I went on Freddie's Wild Bird Store Field trip Saturday to Audubon Ranch.
There were 11 Great Blue Nests, 60 Great Egret and 5 Snowy Egret. We saw
eggs being turned and fuzzy babies. I counted 39 nests on one tree.
Someone recommended Five Brooks to see the Wood Ducks. So, we went there
after leaving the Ranch. We saw fascinating behavior between a Great Blue
Heron who flew in to the edge of the pond and a Red-winged Blackbird.
Initially the blackbird perched on the Great Blue's back. The Great Blue
ignored it. The blackbird appeared to be preening the Great Blue. But, we
wondered if it were getting bugs (like an Oxpecker does). It stayed on the
Great Blue's back, then flew a few feet away, then flew back and forth.
but, never in its face. The Great Blue pretty much ignored it.
At "my farm" (La Rinconada Park) on Sunday I watched a real tiff going on
between some Stellar Jays, Scrub Jays and Robins. They were really going at
it. The Stellars seemed to be after the Scrubs - I've only seen Stellar in
this park for just over a year - and they are few in number. Finally they
all left the area and a few minutes later the Robins returned. My guess is
that the Robins had a nest there. Since it was all happening right over my
head and lasted for a fair amount of time, I found it all interesting and
thinking - if birds could only talk! But, it appeared as if the losers were
the Scrub Jays.
Gloria LeBlanc
Your PFO (Personal Financial Officer)
http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 24 12:52:53 1999
Subject: [SBB] birds
On Friday, 21 May 99, I went up to Smith Creek, having the
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER singing at milepost 15.48. At the bridge I ran
into Bob Reiling and Frank Vanslager. They had seen a female LAWRENCE'S
GOLDFINCH there, but I had to settle for just hearing them singing from
the pines behind the fire station. Some typical birds were along the
creek, but nothing unusual.
I left Bob and Frank and went to the trail that runs behind the barn
just north of Grant Lake. Here I had a very cooperative GRASSHOPPER
SPARROW that was sitting up on a stalk and singing.
On Saturday, 22 May 99, I walked along Coyote Creek Riparian. There were
numbers of singing WILSON'S WARBLERS (they must be peaking in migration
about now). I also had a singing SWAINSON'S THRUSH here, which seemed
unusual. They are around in numbers on migration, but I don't recall
ever hearing one sing here. Other birds of note were an OLIVE-SIDED
FLYCATCHER, a female WESTERN TANAGER, a male LAZULI BUNTING, and a male
BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD. NUTALL'S WOODPECKERS were feeding young at a
nest hole near net lane 9330.
On Sunday, 23 May 99, a check of L'Avenida Riparian produced 6-7
WILSON'S WARBLERS and a few SWAINSON'S THRUSHES. A female BELTED
KINGFISHER was carrying food up towards hwy 101.
Mike Mammoser
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 24 17:50:58 1999
Subject: [SBB] Ed Levin Park
I feel a bit like the 81 year-old who climbed El Capitan, after hiking to
the second hang-glider pad above Sandy Wool Lake on Monday morning. (And
he's 19 years older than I). I did not find any blue grosbeaks, but there
was still plenty of activity in and around the sycamore grove. Various
forms of nesting activity were indicated by BULLOCK's ORIOLE, LESSER
GOLDFINCH, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, WESTERN KINGBIRD, LAZULI BUNTING and
the ubiquitous red-winged blackbird. Also singing were RUFOUS-CROWNED
SPARROW and ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD. You know you've had a good hike when you
can look down on turkey vultures.
Jack Cole
___________________________________________________________________
You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail.
Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com/getjuno.html
or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866]
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 24 20:15:13 1999
Subject: [SBB] CCRS yesterday.
Birders:
Yesterday, Sunday May 22,99 at the CCRS waterbird pond there were plenty
of newly hatched American Avocets. In addition, there was a female
Red-necked Phalarope and 8 Wilson's Phalaropes (4 of each sex). Nothing
else of note other than a singing Western Wood-Pewee from the trailers.
cheers,
Al
Alvaro Jaramillo "It was almost a pity, to see the sun
Half Moon Bay, shining constantly over so useless a country"
California Darwin, regarding the Atacama desert.
email@hidden
Helm guide to the New World Blackbirds, Birding in Chile and more, at:
http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 24 21:03:00 1999
Subject: [SBB] Lawrence's Goldfinch etc. at Arastradero
All,
During my routine weekly nestbox check at Arastradero Preserve at mid-day
today (5/24/99), I encountered a group of four LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES, 2
male/2 female, feeding together in a thistle patch near the SE corner of the
preserve (well east of the parking lot...you can see I-280 clearly from this
spot.) The LAGOs were feeding on fiddleneck seedheads. LESSER GOLDFINCHES
were also present, but not keeping company with the LAGOs.
There was also an agitated pair of LAZULI BUNTINGS near the SE fence corner,
and a single VAUX'S SWIFT was seen repeatedly among the swallows overhead
throughout my visit.
(Special plea: this Preserve currently has NO coverage for the Summer Bird
Count on Saturday June 5. It would be great if a few more of the experienced
birders on this list would step in! End of plea.)
Nestbox activity was very high, with 3 new VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW nests this
week. Almost all of these boxes are now occupied, although 2 had been
disrupted by an unknown predator. One TREE SWALLOW nest held 6 eggs (on the
high side for TRSW) and another had 4. No VGSW eggs were present yet but some
were probably lost on one of the disrupted nests.
The two broods of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS (5 each) are maturing nicely and are
still being attended by both parents. The first batch should fledge this week.
--Garth Harwood
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Tue May 25 11:01:46 1999
Subject: [SBB] Loma Prieta
All,
Early this morning 5/25/99 I spent a couple of hours at Loma Prieta,
hoping to catch a piece of the Black Swift movement reported from
southern CA this past weekend. When I arrived at the pavement end
there was absolutely no wind and the insects were a real annoyance.
The entire area was well above the fog, which topped out at the base
of Mt Bache Road. No sign of any Purple Martins, Black-chinned
Sparrows, or flying migrants, so I headed up towards the summit.
No Black-chinned Sparrows or swallows/swifts near the summit either.
A few migrant warblers in the chaparral included a single singing male
MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER (came in to pishing), a single singing male
YELLOW WARBLER, and several WILSON'S WARBLERS. Also lots of
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS and 4 LAZULI BUNTINGS, some of which may have
been migrants. Interesting was a calling MOUNTAIN QUAIL just below
the road junction pullout. I have not had these birds here before,
although the habitat certainly seems decent.
Back at the pavement end, a scan of the ridges to the south revealed a
flock of 23 foraging BLACK SWIFTS. Unfortunately, despite waiting a
while, the birds seemed perfectly content to forage over Santa Cruz
County without ever even coming close to Santa Clara County airspace.
Guess they eat breakfast at the edge of the fog and don't head north
until later, consistent with Mark Miller's report of 3 afternoon birds
over the Monte Bello OSP parking lot.
Mike Rogers
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Wed May 26 06:26:31 1999
Subject: [SBB] A couple of backyard firsts
All,
While watching a bathing Wilson's Warbler (a first) I noted that the
hummingbird feeder was empty. While rehanging the refilled feeder a
Chestnut-backed Chickadee briefly landed on my hand (a first). Earlier in
the year I noted that CBCHs were the first to relocate a moved bee guarded
"drip type" hummingbird feeder and a suet feeder (I was trying to find a spot
that the squirrels could not get to).
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 6:23 AM, 5/26/99
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Wed May 26 10:13:28 1999
Subject: [SBB] Rinconada Park
This morning at Rinconada Park, we saw a WESTERN TANAGER. We ran into
Gloria Le Blanc who helped us confirm our siting of an ASH-THROATED
FLYCATCHER. We also saw both a male and female RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD. There
is a BUSHTIT nesting in the oak tree by the bridge at the first entrance.
We also saw NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER and a DOWNY WOODPECKER. We got a glimpse
of a BROWN CREEPER and a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. SPOTTED TOWHEES were very vocal.
We also saw a RED-TAILED HAWK flying over head.
Pat Curtis
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Thu May 27 10:00:29 1999
Subject: [SBB] Rinconada Water Treatment Plant
We got permission to bird up at the Rinconada Water Treatment Plant this
morning off More Avenue in Los Gatos. We saw CALIFORNIA QUAIL, KILLDEER,
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, CALIFORNIA THRASHERS, SPOTTED TOWHEES, and a flock of
CEDAR-WAXWINGS. We also got a spectacular look at a RED-TAILED HAWK being
chased off by the Red-Winged Blackbirds. We also got a really good look at
the ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER.
Pat Curtis
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Fri May 28 08:49:38 1999
Subject: [SBB] Mama & Babies - Owl
The Western Screech Owl viewing went well last night. We saw the video of
the babies when they were pure white and about 3 inches. Via video we saw
them grow up. The oldest of the 4 babies is 2 weeks old today (Friday).
The "live" shot was pretty boring. Mama seemed to still be brooding her
little ones. Then, the screen went black and it occurred to us that Mama
must have stuck her head out of the hole of the nest box and was blocking
the light. We all raced outside to see the owl box in person. Yes, she was
looking out the hole! She did that for awhile - then whoosh, she flew
past us and landed perhaps 50 feet away.
This was so exciting for 2 reasons. First, we believe it was the first time
she had left her babies. Second, it was still daylight!!! We had great
views. When she left the nest box the 4 babies huddled together in the
center of the box. The babies now have streaking and are not so white. They
are perhaps 5-6 inches tall. Their neck which had been wobbly and skinney
has gotten stronger and has filled in with feathers.
For those that attended, thanks for your consideration of the owners. As
you know they were thrilled to show off their babies. I would expect that
next year there may be some sort of live action on a web site. Garth
Harwood, who attended, said this would be the first reported Western
Screech Owl nesting in the State of California. There have been other
nestings, but no REPORTED ones!
Gloria LeBlanc
Los Gatos off Quito
Your PFO (Personal Financial Officer)
http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Fri May 28 15:57:40 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] Mama & Babies - Owl
Gloria, (and all),
At last night's owl viewing, I did indeed say, as Gloria mentioned, that this
group of four young owls would probably be the first reported Western
Screech-owls fledged FROM A NESTBOX WITHIN THE CALIF. BLUEBIRD RECOVERY
PROGRAM. I know of a few other active screech-owl nestboxes around the state,
but their owners aren't active with the CBRP (yet). Naturally, there are
innumerable nestings in the wild as well.
Thanks to Gloria LeBlanc and the Parkers for permitting a dozen or so of us
to see a rare and beautiful thing. This nestbox-cam technology is a wonder!
The Parkers, especially Mike, have taken to their self-appointed task of
taping the development of these owls with a passion. They record 6 hours
daily (all during daylight hours as it's a natural-light-only operation), and
have edited a 56-minute - and growing - highlights tape. It may end up on the
internet soon.
The Feb/Mar '99 issue of Birds & Blooms magazine ran a simple design for a
screech-owl nestbox. SCVAS has the issue, and will most likely provide a copy
of the plans if you call & request one (408-252-3747).
--Garth Harwood
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 29 13:07:08 1999
Subject: [SBB] South County birds
All:
On 24 May, I had 2 SNOWY PLOVERS in a salt pond in Alviso. David
Ainley, who has been conducting surveys here, had 2 on 22 April
(one on a nest), 10 on 30 April, and 3 on 7 May.
On 26 May, a male AMERICAN WIGEON was on South Coyote Slough in
Alviso. On adjacent salt pond A-18, I saw 55 BONAPARTE'S GULLS,
1 basic-plumaged WILSON'S PHALAROPE, 1 ad. PEREGRINE FALCON,
and 2 mostly albinistic EARED GREBES (bodies almost entirely
white, neck and head in mostly typical alternate plumage with
a few scattered white feathers). Nine DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS
were active on the towers here.
On 27 May, two migrant female LAZULI BUNTINGS were in the Evergreen
area of San Jose.
On the evening of 28 May, I saw four large stick nests in a sycamore
at the south end of Calaveras Reservoir. GREAT BLUE HERONS were in
three of the nests. Two DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS were in the same
tree, although it was not clear what (if anything) was occupying the
fourth nests. I heard only one WESTERN GREBE on the reservoir and
saw no other Aechmophorus grebes. A WILD TURKEY and a singing male
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW were along Marsh Road. A SWAINSON'S THRUSH
was in downtown Milpitas, and at CCRS, I had 5 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES,
1 WILSON'S WARBER, and 2 female BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS. The
male REDHEAD, 4 alternate WESTERN SANDPIPERS, and 2 WILSON'S
PHALAROPES (1 alternate female, 1 basic) were at the waterbird
pond.
On 29 May, I did some south county birding, finding the usual
"goodies" but nothing too unusual. At San Felipe Lake, I saw no
signs of any grackles. Strangely, all the large stick nests on
the east side of the lake (where the herons and cormorants nested
last year) and 3 new stick nests in a willow on the west side of
the lake were full-sized (i.e., material had been added this year),
but there were no birds attending them at all, and all four GREAT
BLUE HERONS at the lake were adults. No sign of nesting herons
or egrets at all. At Dunne Lane, the pair of CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS
were in the southernmost of the three eucalyptus trees, one bird
apparently incubating on a conspicuous nest. A pair of WESTERN
KINGBIRDS had a nest in the eucalyptus 80 meters away, where the
CAKI nested two years ago. Two pairs of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES
at the bridge over Pacheco Creek included a female on a nest on
the Santa Clara County side. A migrant WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE was
singing along the creek here
Along Llagas Creek upstream from Bloomfield Road, I had 2 singing
male YELLOW-BREASTED CHATS, 1 "pumping" AMERICAN BITTERN, a
VIRGINIA RAIL, a pair of NORTHERN HARRIERS building a nest,
15 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, a singing male Passerina bunting
heard only (I've had plenty of fall migrant Lazulis here, but
never a singing male), and a pair of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES.
Absolutely tons of COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, SONG SPARROWS, and
AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES. At the nearby South County Regional
Wastewater Authority plant, an AMERICAN BITTERN was foraging in
the open at the edge of a small marshy pond with 11 adult GREEN
HERONS. The only migrant shorebird here was a LONG-BILLED
DOWITCHER.
Good birding,
Steve Rottenborn
P.S. Scott Terrill had a BANK SWALLOW at the ponds west of
Coyote Creek just south of Hwy. 237 on 10 May, and he had a SORA
at the same location on 26 May.
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 29 13:10:00 1999
Subject: [SBB] Re: South County birds
Steve Rottenborn wrote:
>
> On 26 May, a male AMERICAN WIGEON was on South Coyote Slough in
> Alviso. On adjacent salt pond A-18, I saw 55 BONAPARTE'S GULLS,
> 1 basic-plumaged WILSON'S PHALAROPE, 1 ad. PEREGRINE FALCON,
> and 2 mostly albinistic EARED GREBES (bodies almost entirely
> white, neck and head in mostly typical alternate plumage with
> a few scattered white feathers). Nine DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS
> were active on the towers here.
Of course, I meant 9 DCCO _nests_ were active on the towers.
Steve Rottenborn
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 29 13:34:47 1999
Subject: [SBB] birds
On Saturday, 29 May 99, I returned to Smith Creek, but was unable to
find any sign of the MacGillivray's Warbler at milepost 15.48. At the
fire station there were at least 8 (and probably more) LAWRENCE'S
GOLDFINCHES. Many had paired up, and males were mate-guarding the
females. A GOLDEN EAGLE overhead was being harrassed by a pair of
RED-TAILED HAWKS. A GREEN HERON seemed out of place at this elevation
along the creek.
Back down by my workplace on Hellyer, I had found HORNED LARKS on a flat
30ft high plateau next to our parking lot yesterday. Today I returned
with binoculars and I saw them again, this time with at least one
juvenile. I don't know if they bred here or in the nearby Silver Creek
Hills.
Last Thursday, 27 May 99, I saw an AMERICAN CROW chasing an accipiter
near Williams and Saratoga in urban San Jose. The hawk was smaller than
the crow and looked to have a squared-off tail, making me think it was a
Sharp-shinned. But it seemed a little late and a little too urban for
this species. I suppose a small male Cooper's could be a possibility.
Mike Mammoser
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 29 15:02:07 1999
Subject: [SBB] Quail vs Scrub Jay
This noon while watching my Quail pair enjoying their lunch along with some
doves, in swooped the Scrub Jay scattering dove hither and thither. Mr.
Quail, however, did not take kindly to this invasion and quickly chased, on
foot, Mr. Jay, who rapidly retreated to the pine tree. I observed this
same behavior not more than two minutes later. The quail then finished
lunch and leisurely stolled away.
Barbara Harkleroad
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 29 15:59:50 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] birds
Hi Mike,
I live off of Pruneridge between Saratoga and Winchester. Not far at all
from your sighting. I actually have a picture of a recurring SharpShinned
Hawk perched on my backyard fence, so I'm not sure what you mean by too
urban. Nick Yatsko lives a couple of blocks away and he has a recurring
Merlin that pops in over there. Within a half-mile of our home is the
State-owned UC Extension Ag Lands just across from the West side of Valley
Fair which provides a large foraging area. Perhaps that open space
provides the "draw" that brings accipters and falcons right near the 280
and 880 crossover in the heart of urban Santa Clara County? Who knows?
Regards, Clysta Seney
At 1:34 PM 5/29/99, Mike Mammoser wrote:
>Last Thursday, 27 May 99, I saw an AMERICAN CROW chasing an accipiter
>near Williams and Saratoga in urban San Jose. The hawk was smaller than
>the crow and looked to have a squared-off tail, making me think it was a
>Sharp-shinned. But it seemed a little late and a little too urban for
>this species. I suppose a small male Cooper's could be a possibility.
>
>Mike Mammoser
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 29 16:55:44 1999
Subject: [SBB] SCVAS Field Trip
All,
This morning when we met for the SCVAS Skyline Ridge OSP field trip it was 43
degrees F, wet and windy with visibility limited to less than 30 yds. It was
just plain nasty! It was therefore unanimously agreed to move the trip to a
lower, more hospitable, if not more birdy, site. Monte Bello subsequently
proved to be equally inhospitable, as expected, so Arastradero it was to be.
(Luckily most had not been there on either of the recent field trips). The
first bird seen, as we were getting out of our cars, was a male Lazuli
Bunting flying across the parking lot. This was quickly followed by, in
addition to the "usual suspects", 14 Brown Pelicans flying over the hills to
the south, a pair of Western Bluebirds, more male Lazuli Buntings, a Song
Sparrow, Lesser Goldfinches and a Chipping Sparrow (All within 100 yds of the
parking lot and before we crossed the road into the preserve). The first of
many Ash-throated Flycatchers was then seen (followed by more looks at the
Chipping Sparrow). A pair of (2 out of 3?) young Great-horned Owls standing
together on a large oak on the hill and one of the parents in a tree came
under careful scrutiny. A Green Heron with a bad "wheel" then flew overhead
toward the pond (eventually to be seen a couple more times). Near the far
end of the trip we had a family of at least three Allen's Hummingbirds near a
row of California Buckeye shrubs. One young ALHU perched on a branch for
long enough periods to allow prolonged 50x and 100x viewing using "the
Questar". A calling Pacific-slope Flycatcher, calling Hutton's Vireos,
calling Black-headed Grosbeaks, an Orange-crowned Warbler and a Warbling
Vireo filled in the gaps and kept us looking. One of our last true
observations was of a pair of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers valiantly trying to
drive off a marauding Scrub Jay. All in all the only birds sorely missed
because of our forced relocation were probable Black-throated Gray Warblers
and a possible male Lawrence's Goldfinch seen Friday on the southern edge of
Alpine Pond during our survey trip.
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 3:25 PM, 5/29/99
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 29 17:57:47 1999
Subject: [SBB] Urban accipiters and Almaden birds
Howdy South-bay-birders,
Yesterday (Fri.) on my homeward commute I saw an accipiter flash across
Lawrence Expressway north of Hwy 280. It was on the small side with a
square cut tail, and it gave the impression of being a Sharp-shinned,
although it could have been a small/male Cooper's. As Mike Mammoser
noted it seems a bit on the late side for Sharp-shinned. In winter I've
often seen accipiters along Lawrence between Hwys 280 and 101,
especially in one stretch where there are quite a few conifers along the
road.
Today (Sat.) I heard a WESTERN TANAGER along Alamitos Road just past
its junction with Hicks. From there I went up to Mount Umunhum, hoping
to see something interesting along the edge of the coastal fog belt,
like maybe a Black Swift--no luck. I didn't hear/see the Black-chinned
Sparrow that was there last week either. Did see OLIVE-SIDED and
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS, LAZULI BUNTINGS, and PURPLE FINCHES. A
RED-TAILED HAWK flying over Bald Mountain showed unusual white bars on
its upperwings, like those on upperwing of an adult California Condor. I
don't think I've seen this on a Red-tailed before.
At my parent's house the two nestling RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS have lost
most of their baby down, and have just a little on their heads.
Otherwise they are in brown imm. plumage, and are as big as their
parents. The nest is looking a little cramped, and I expect they will be
anxious to fledge--
.John Mariani
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sat May 29 22:26:11 1999
Subject: [SBB] Morning birding at Twin Creeks
We had a nice time birding along Alamitos Rd in the Twin Creeks area
around noon today. Lot's of activity! We were greeted just past
Almaden Reservoir by a quartet of Turkey Vultures perched on adjacent
fence posts. I think they were working on a Barbershop Quartet
number. We had nice looks at Black-headed Grosbeak (finally not hiding
in the canopy!), Warbling Vireo, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Olive-Sided
Flycatcher, Yellow Warbler, House Wren, Hermit Thrush, and lots of
Bullock's Orioles. We also got a good look at a pair of Pacific Slope
Flycatchers feeding nestlings in a nest right by the side of the road.
There were Violet Green Swallows overhead and I did have my binoculars
on a pair of fast circling swifts, but the light wasn't good enough to
see if they were Vaux's (which is a bird missing from my life list.)
We also didn't see any Cassin's Vireo, which I was hoping to pick up.
There were enough different songs in this very "birdy" area to have
missed it, however.
Hugh McDevitt
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sun May 30 09:24:21 1999
Subject: [SBB] American Goldfinch vs Lesser
I have noticed that I rarely see American Goldfinch except near the
Bay. Is this a clear habitat preference???
--
Richard C. Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker, Skier, Hiker
Palo Alto, California Part-time Economist
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Sun May 30 11:12:34 1999
Subject: Re: [SBB] American Goldfinch vs Lesser
I had large flocks of American Goldfinches feeding in my backyard in
Campbell up until about a month ago. They have left but many Lesser
Goldfinches have replaced them. Both the American and Lesser Goldfinches
are attracted to the Niger Thistle I put in a feeder. I think the American
Goldfinches have left town to breed somewhere else. I expect them back in
the yard in the fall.
Pat Curtis
-----Original Message-----
From: Richard Carlson
To: South Bay Bird List
Date: Sunday, May 30, 1999 9:03 AM
Subject: [SBB] American Goldfinch vs Lesser
>I have noticed that I rarely see American Goldfinch except near the
>Bay. Is this a clear habitat preference???
>
>--
>Richard C. Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker, Skier, Hiker
>Palo Alto, California Part-time Economist
>email@hidden
>
>
>==========================================================================
>This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
>server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
>message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to
email@hidden
>
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 31 20:25:45 1999
Subject: [SBB] Some more weekend birds
Howdy South-bay-birders,
yesterday (Sun.) Jolene and I visited Twin Creeks. Best sightings there
were a pair of GOLDEN EAGLES circling over the hills and a WESTERN
WOOD-PEWEE on its nest in a sycamore.
Today we stopped by the SCVWD Pond. There we saw CASPIAN and
FORSTER'S TERNS, and a seemingly out of place ACORN WOODPECKER was in
one of the sycamores--I've never seen this species here before, and the
habitat lacks oaks. In the adjacent channel we heard a singing COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT, and saw a GREEN HERON and broods of young CANADA GEESE.
Later we took a walk along Alamitos Creek upstream from Leland High
School, during which I heard WESTERN TANAGER, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER,
WARBLING VIREO, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK. We also watched a pair of
WESTERN KINGBIRDS chasing a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. Back at my parent's
house I was watching the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK nest when both parent's
arrived simultaneously, one carrying a large rodent, probably a
squirrel. I wonder if possibly the increase in Red-shouldered Hawks
along valley streams may be in some small way connected to the
introduction of eastern gray (?) squirrels, which have become abundant
in the riparian woods around here. Not so many years ago seeing a
Red-shouldered Hawk would have been unusual around here--
John Mariani
email@hidden
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden
From email@hidden Mon May 31 21:08:51 1999
Subject: [SBB] Dipper
Lucky! After leaving Stevens Creek Park, I went to see the dipper. I drove
up to the red house and turned around and came back. Parked at the first
possible pull-off on the creek side of the road. Got out of the car and
looked down - a dipper flew by and appeared to land just beyond my sight of
vision. I walked about 20 feet upstream and there it was in the water doing
its thing. Five minutes after I arrived I was heading home. Made birding
seem so easy!
Gloria LeBlanc
Your PFO (Personal Financial Officer)
http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com
==========================================================================
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to email@hidden