Parent
From email@hidden Sun Oct 01 13:50:34 2000
Subject: [SBB] Raven in cupertino
--------
I was leaving breakfast across the street from the Cupertino Home
Depot this morning when I heard a raven. The bird was sitting on a
light pole in the Home Depot parking lot. I got a pretty good look at
it (bloody huge bird, too), and after about 30 seconds, it took off
and flew north.
Not where I'd expect to see one, that's for sure...
--
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From email@hidden Sun Oct 01 19:37:13 2000
Subject: [SBB] Peregrine and warblers
--------
This afternoon in the Crittenden Marsh area: adult Peregrine (good views
flying close and then perched on one of the power towers), 2 kestrels (good
views of one hunting over the Cargill salt flats), male and female Harrier,
several juvenile Audubon warblers (good close views), and a likely flock of
adult plumaged Audubons at some distance. Also a couple of green teals and
young shovelers amid the mallards. Not much in the way of shorebirds, but
big flocks of terns at a distance. We went out there to check a report of
swans (??), but no luck there!
Just now out my window in the half dark--something that looked a little
large for a warbler, but yellow below and dark above, wing bars, dark eye
and faint eyestripe. That's twice in the last couple of days that someone
has shown up here just as the sun's setting makes it impossible to catch
the details...
Natasha
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 02 02:27:18 2000
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
On Saturday, 30 Sep 00, after I read Gloria's post, I went back to the Palo
Alto Baylands fennel patch and saw the BREWER'S SPARROW and WILLOW
FLYCATCHER that I had missed earlier in the day. A couple other birders
(Brian ?and a friend) and Deborah Bartens were also there looking at the
sparrow.
A spizella sparrow, with a small dainty bill, a slender build, and a long
thin distinctly notched tail, this bird was quite smaller than zonotrichia
sparrows; closer to American Goldfinch in size (which were present for
comparison). Compared to similar-looking species, such as Clay-colored or
Chipping, this bird is much plainer and more gray-brown in color; lacking
the warmer reddish-brown coloration of the others and the more distinct
facial patterns. It had no dark line through the eye as would a Chipping,
having pale lores and a thin pale eyering. The light brownish auricular
patch hardly contrasted at all with the rest of the face and had no
noticeable dark outline. The pale supercilium was very subdued and showed
very little contrast with the rest of the face. A Clay-colored Sparrow would
show a bold facial pattern, with a warm brown auricular patch distinctly
outlined with a dark border and contrasting appreciably with a bold whitish
supercilium. Finally, this bird had a brownish crown with short dark
streaks, and displayed no pale median crown stripe, which both of the other
species would have. Some indistinct streaking on the sides of the breast
indicate that this is a first-year bird.
On Sunday, 1 Oct 00, I made a brief stop at Almaden Lake Park. I found no
sign of any grackles, but did have a single COMMON MERGANER and a CLARK'S
GREBE.
Another stop at the Palo Alto Baylands yielded the WILLOW FLYCATCHER but no
Brewer's Sparrow (perhaps the Wolf sisters or Mike Feighner had better luck
after I left).
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 02 05:19:24 2000
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
I went to CCFS at lunch time. There I met Frank Vanslager and we searched
the area without finding a bunting or thrasher. We did have a YELLOW
WARBLER, a WILSON'S WARBLER, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, a HOUSE WREN, and a
few COMMON YELLOWTHROATS. A small flock of AMERICAN PIPITS flew off the
levee on the way out.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 02 08:20:41 2000
Subject: [SBB] more on Brewer's Sparrow
--------
I saw Jack Cole yesterday who told me more needed to be said about the Brewer's Sparrow I'd seen on Saturday. The agreement that Dan Keller (and Robin who was with him) and I was that I would just post it on SBB so people would have a chance of seeing it and he would write it up. So, I will leave the official write-up to Dan. He found it.
Dan was the leader of the Sequoia Audubon field trip.
Dan pointed out 2 sparrows sitting near the top of fennel near us. He said look carefully at the one on the left , it's different. See, the tail is so long and thin...it's either a Clay-Colored, Brewer's or Chipping. It took us awhile to get really good looks at it since it was moving around. Finally it sat in the open for perhaps 5 minutes. That's when I pulled out my new Kenn Kaufman book.
The facial features that we zeroed in on was a slight eyebrow that extended well past the eye. It was not a bold eyebrow. Dan seemed to think the line from the beak down to the neck line was important which was actually a little more obvious than the eyebrow.. It had a dainty beak, drab color. It was pretty blah in color. The 3 features that seemed the most important were the long skinny tail, the feint lines in the face plus the overall blah color.
I admitted before that this is only the 2nd Brewer's I've ever seen. Dan said he's seen lots Mono Lake, etc.He seemed to be quite knowledgeable. He was basically giving me a class on it. He said he would post in San Mateo since he's not on SBB. For me the biggest lesson was to look at every bird. I still remember the Purple Martin Mike Mammoser saw at Sunnyvale amongst a wire-full of swallows. He looked at each one, I didn't and I didn't see the Purple Martin. If it weren't for Dan, I would have brushed off this sparrow as just another one...but once you realized the tail was different...you realize what can be right in front of you that you don't see. Dan & Robin had been in and around the fennel patch since 8 AM and this was 11:30 AM so it also showed that patience paid off for them...I was lucky.
Gloria LeBlanc
www.wallstreetgifts.com
"largest selection of Wall Street inspired gifts"
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When managing your money. we can't control the wind, but we do control the sails"
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 02 08:44:28 2000
Subject: [SBB] Sunday Birds
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Hello All,
Here are a few birds of interest seen on Sunday, Oct 1:
Almaden Reservoir: The number of WOOD DUCKS has increased to 35. One
SPOTTED SANDPIPER was seen among 15-20 Killdeer. A male OSPREY swooping in
to scatter the Killdeer was pursued first by an Amer Kestrel and then by a
Red-shouldered Hawk. Such excitement, but the Wood Ducks seemed unperturbed
by it all. Along Alamitos Road by the O'Day property wintering
Golden-crowned Sparrows, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Townsend Warblers have
arrived. Also seen were some lingering passerines - YELLOW WARBLER,
WARBLING VIREO and W. WOOD-PEWEE (one of each). Also about 10 Western
Bluebirds (some juveniles) were seen flying around the mudflat vegetation
(always a nice sight).
Around mid-day I went over to the Alviso EEC. Two BLACK SKIMMERS were on
the raised mudflat island in the pond, along with two Western Gulls, six
Herring Gulls, and other usual stuff. Lots of Eared Grebes on the far side
of the pond. A PECTORAL SANDPIPER was seen with some Least Sandpipers along
the pond edge. A PEREGRINE FALCON was on a transmission tower east of the
entrance road. And Howard Friedman's family and I saw another male OSPREY
flying over the EEC. (A two-Osprey day!) For butterfly-watchers, lots of
Cabbage Whites and W. Pygmy Blues were seen in the butterfly garden - also
Gray Hairstreak, West Coast Lady, Mylitta Crescent, and skippers.
In the early evening my family and I took the grandkids over to Almaden Lake
where a CLARK'S GREBE was present. Also eight Common Mergansers and two
Common Moorhens were by the outflow, and a single female NUTMEG MANIKIN was
seen in the reeds by the outflow.
Not much to add to what's been seen lately at Calero Reservoir this week,
except that four BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS were on the mudflats at the eastern
end on Saturday, Sept 30.
And that's it for now - It's good to see some of my birding friends again as
I'm finally getting out and about again.
Ann
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 02 09:52:11 2000
Subject: [SBB] Fwd: Painted Bunting and Brown Thrasher
--------
This message bounced for some, as yet, unknown reason. The sighting
occurred on Saturday, 9/30. I got a call from the banding lab on Sunday
morning about these birds and phoned them in to the Northern Cal Birdbox.
I was not able to get online to post to SBB or to see Rita's bounced
message.
Les Chibana
SBB list bureaucrat
--------------------------------------
Date: Saturday, September 30, 2000
From: Rita and Rob Colwell
Les,
I sent this message to south-bay birders this afternoon and it bounced
back by evening. The address I have is the same as what is currently
used by sbb. Could you post this please.
This morning at CCFS at the northmost “training” nets (eight separate
nets from the regular ones) at hatching year Painted Bunting (PABU) was
banded, along with an adult Brown Thrasher (BRTH). A hatching year
Hammond’s Flycatcher (HAFL) was also banded. The PABU and BRTH were
both netted in nets 7965 (A and B are immediately adjacent to each other
and the very last ones north).
The PABU was in first basic plumage, brownish with back feathers
greenish with some brighter green feathers molted in. Flight feathers
were brown. Tail feathers were distinctly greenish. The cheek patch on
this bird showed some greenish feathers also. The “greenish” I refer to
is an almost undescribable blend of lime/chartreuse color. Photos were
taken. The adult BRTH was straightforward in appearance. The HAFL was
identified by in-hand measurements.
Access into CCFS is limited. If you have not signed a waiver form for
permission to bird the area, contact the SFBBO office.
Rita Colwell
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 02 10:46:03 2000
Subject: [SBB] baylands Brewer's Sparrow
--------
All:
On Saturday afternoon, Maria and I saw the Brewer's Sparrow in the baylands
fennel patch, exactly where Gloria LeBlanc reported it (at the reddish post
in the north-west part of the parking lot). We also checked out, as a very
long shot, Mike Mammoser's report of a Common Poorwill along the east side
of Matadero Creek, downstream from highway 101, but saw few birds of any sort.
Yours, John Meyer
* * * * * * * *
John Meyer, Dept of Soc, Stanford U, Stanford, CA 94305, 650-7231868
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 02 13:04:06 2000
Subject: [SBB] New Road Topping
--------
Hi,
I was told Saturday that the paving company decided to put off until next
year putting the new topping on the EEC road and parking lot. We are
closed this weekend, but you can still park outside and walk in.
Lee Lovelady, Volunteer Naturalist.
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 02 16:35:37 2000
Subject: [SBB] PAGP Still at 237 and First
--------
At 10:30 on Monday, October 2, the winter-plumage Pacific Golden-Plover was
still at the flooded area at the southeast corner of Hwy 237 and North First.
From the light at the Freeway On-ramp, the bird is almost impossible to see,
since it tends to stay 100 feet, or more, east of the flooded area. But if
you walk along the north side of the fence as far as you can, and then go
part way up the bank, it is possible to locate the bird.
I wanted better views, so I continued eastward carefully but very quickly,
being careful to time it so as not to irritate or scare any freeway on-ramp
traffic, and got beyond the eastern end of the fence and then out into the
field. (I was considering telling any authorities that might stop me, that I
thought those orange traffic-cones along the on-ramp were put there so that I
could safely go see the bird!) I think the great Questar views were worth
that indiscretion, although I'm sure many would not agree with me. There
were also many close Killdeer, and Dowitchers, and Yellowlegs, and
Sandpipers, and at least 4 Pectoral Sandpipers -- all of which were still
there in the pond when I left. (I didn't think it advisable to stay long.)
Frank Vanslager
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From email@hidden Tue Oct 03 02:54:28 2000
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
This morning, 3 Oct 00, Mike Rogers and I birded CCFS, hoping to find any of
last weekends rarities. Our species and numbers seen might differ slightly.
For raptors I had a PRAIRIE FALCON, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, and RED-SHOULDERED
HAWK. I don't think Mike had any of these.
Migrant passerines were still fairly plentiful with dozens and dozens of
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, 9 YELLOW WARBLERS, 5 WILSON'S WARBLERS, 3
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, a MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, 6 COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, 4
HOUSE WRENS, 2 HERMIT THRUSHES, 2 PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, and a probable
HOODED ORIOLE.
We had 75-80 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS and 17 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS.
I had a CASPIAN TERN fly over before Mike arrived.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Tue Oct 03 09:07:14 2000
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
After lunch today, 3 Oct 00, I took a walk along San Tomas Aquino Creek and
found a VIRGINIA'S WARBLER. This bird was working the lerp-infested eucs
with a flock around the edge of the parking lot that borders the creek on
the southeast corner of the creek crossing by Mission College Blvd. Take hwy
101 to San Tomas/Montague Xway. Go north on Montague and take the first
left, which is Mission College Blvd. Go to Freedom Cir and make a U-turn.
Pull into the first driveway on your right, which enters the parking lot.
Check the eucs along the levee by the creek.
Initially, I thought this might be an immature Nashville Warbler, but the
bird had a white throat and extensive white belly and flanks. I also caught
a couple glimpses of a yellow-green rump. This made me think of Virginia's,
but I wanted to be more sure. So, I called Mike Rogers and we refound the
bird. After more observations, both of us believe it to be a Virginia's.
It has a bright yellow breast that contrasts with the white throat and
belly. The undertail coverts are bright yellow as well. The head and back
are a darkish gray, with the gray fading down the face onto the paler
throat. It has a bold whitish eyering. Mike got good looks at the
yellow-green rump, confirming my earlier glimpses. This plumage would tend
to indicate an adult bird.
This area also had a YELLOW WARBLER and at least 3 WESTERN TANAGERS.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Tue Oct 03 11:26:54 2000
Subject: [SBB] CCFS tidbits
--------
All,
Just a few notes to add to Mike Mammoser's posted summary of this
morning's CCFS sightings.
I had at least 12 COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, with about half of them being
banded birds, 4 PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, at least 5 HOUSE WRENS, and
a tenth YELLOW WARBLER south of the banding trailer. Also heard a
single RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET and saw 2 FOX SPARROWS.
All of the YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS I saw well were "AUDUBON'S" and none
were banded. In contrast, many of the resident SONG SPARROWS and
COMMON YELLOWTHROATS were banded (one SONG SPARROW being banded on the
right leg - not from CCFS??).
Regarding the HOODED ORIOLE, it was definitely a female-plumaged
oriole that was either a HOODED or an Orchard. The bird flew to the
bushy eucalyptus trees along the dike north of the banding trailer;
after getting up there I was able to see it again as it flew out and
headed north high over the creek. The bird's shape was consistent
with HOODED (long-tailed) so I think it's safe to call the bird a
HOODED despite the late date.
Mike Rogers
10/3/00
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From email@hidden Tue Oct 03 13:55:27 2000
Subject: [SBB] Downtown SJ Peregrine Falcons
--------
I have been seeing a (one ?) Peregrine Falcon around downtown San Jose
(around the Adobe, Heritage, and two PG&E buildings - Park Ave., San
Fernando St., and Almaden Blvd.) on a semi regular basis since at least
June 15th. Based upon the size and coloration, I had assumed that this
individual was a female. Now today, at around noon, I have seen two
Peregrine Falcons on the east tower of the Adobe building in friendly
proximity to each other, almost side-by-side, both on the building itself
and in the air. Both birds are pretty much the same coloration, but with
one slightly bigger than the other. With such a minimal size difference, I
am now slightly confused as to which one I have been seeing and if this
individual was indeed a female. Perhaps, I have been seeing both these
past months, but at different times. If these birds are a pair, could they
have possibly nested this summer?...I've seen no evidence, but view only a
small portion of downtown. Or, is it more likely that one is a new
individual migrating through or back into the area?
Not being able to pick out from the two birds, the individual I assumed I
had been seeing these past months and thought I knew so well, has been a
big blow to my ego and powers of observation.
Eric
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From email@hidden Tue Oct 03 16:27:01 2000
Subject: [SBB] BWTE at P. A. Flood Control Basin
--------
This morning, Tuesday, I saw my first 2 male Blue-winged Teal of the season
at the Palo Alto Flood Control Basin. I headed straight out from the
Frontage Road parking area along the trail until I couldn't go any farther
without getting my feet wet. The two males were further along in a large,
resting group of male Pintail, Cinnamon Teal, and Green-winged Teal.
Frank Vanslager
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From email@hidden Tue Oct 03 16:40:29 2000
Subject: Re: [SBB] BWTE at P. A. Flood Control Basin
--------
Male Blue-winged Teal have been pretty regular for the past month but
farther out in the Flood Basin near the Bay.
--
Richard C. Carlson
Chairman, Spectrum Economics
Palo Alto, CA
email@hidden
650-324-2701
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From email@hidden Tue Oct 03 22:39:41 2000
Subject: [SBB] (SBB) Osprey
--------
All,
This evening while listening to the debate, I was treated to the sight of
an adult male OSPREY landing in one of my oak trees overlooking Vasona
Reservoir. I watched it until it got so dark that the white breast was no
longer visible. For all I know it's still there.
Although most of you "beat the bushes" looking for birds, there is much
joy in watching them through the living room window while relaxing in a
comfortable easy chair.
Jean
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From email@hidden Wed Oct 04 05:55:32 2000
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
Today, 4 Oct 00, the VIRGINIA'S WARBLER was still along San Tomas Aquino
Creek just south of Mission College Blvd. It was again in the eucalyptus
trees bordering the parking lot next to the levee. After some minutes,
however, it flew across the street to the north side of Mission College.
Also in this area were a couple WESTERN TANAGERS and some CEDAR WAXWINGS.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Wed Oct 04 08:52:27 2000
Subject: [SBB] -
--------
Folks:
This morning, 10/4/2000, I saw two adult BROWN PELICANS on Salt Pond
A2W. At least three BLACK SKIMMERS were on the south island in Charleston
Slough.
Bill
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From email@hidden Wed Oct 04 14:30:12 2000
Subject: [SBB] GWFG
--------
Hi all,
Just a quick note that on Saturday, 9/30, there were 24 Greater White-fronted Geese that flew over me while I was doing a monthly point count on Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve. They circled, calling repeatedly, for about 5-10 minutes before descending to Searsville Lake. This was about 8:15 am and they were still there on the lake at 11:30 after I finished my survey. At least one bird was still there according to another birder on Monday morning. I think this could be the first record for Jasper Ridge. Anyone else know for sure?
The rest of the morning's birding was fairly normal. Some returning wintering birds included Fox Sparrow, Cedar Waxwing, Hermit Thrush. Cheers,
Richard
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From email@hidden Wed Oct 04 14:32:33 2000
Subject: [SBB] Ruffs?
--------
Hello,
Has anyone seen the Ruffs or Stilt Sandpiper at State and Spreckles in the
last day or so?
Thank you,
Andrew R.
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From email@hidden Wed Oct 04 21:21:10 2000
Subject: Re: [SBB] VIRGINIA'S WARBLER
--------
South-Bay-Birders:
This afternoon at 4 PM I made it over to the lerp-infested eucalyptus trees along
the east side of San Thomas Aquino Creek (south of Mission College Blvd and east
of east end of Freedom Circle) in Santa Clara. After about 20 minutes, Maria and
John Meyer arrived. We searched the entire row of eucalyptus trees and checked
each and every warbler (all were yellow-rumpeds except for one single Yellow
Warbler) until Maria and I sighted the VIRGINIA'S WABLER at 5:18 PM in the third
eucalyptus tree south of the red trailer. Noticeable were the bold white
eye-ring, white throat, yellow breast, white belly, yellowish undertail, and
yellow-green rump. The birds seemed to come and go. Many would fly down to
reeds in the creek and then back into the trees. There was only one Western
Tanager. Later Jan Hintermeister arrived. I held on hoping to refind the
warbler for both Jan and John. When I left at 6 PM, Maria, John, and Jan were
still searching. Hopefully, the bird returned and would be still be present in
the morning.
--
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, email@hidden
Michael Mammoser wrote:
> Today, 4 Oct 00, the VIRGINIA'S WARBLER was still along San Tomas Aquino
> Creek just south of Mission College Blvd. It was again in the eucalyptus
> trees bordering the parking lot next to the levee. After some minutes,
> however, it flew across the street to the north side of Mission College.
>
> Also in this area were a couple WESTERN TANAGERS and some CEDAR WAXWINGS.
>
> Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Thu Oct 05 06:35:10 2000
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
I made a quick stop at San Tomas Aquino Creek at about 2:00pm and was able
to show the VIRGINIA'S WARBLER to John and Maria Meyer, who were there for
the third time.
This bird is interesting. I think that it can safely be judged as a male,
because I don't think that females ever get as bright as this, with such
extensive yellow. Aging it could be a little more difficult. I believe that
Dunn and Garrett say that first year males can sometimes be as bright as
adults. This is certainly a far cry from the dull bird that Steve Rottenborn
found at the Palo Alto fennel patch last year.
Other birds in the area were an immature TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, an
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, and 2 WESTERN TANAGERS.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Thu Oct 05 11:12:31 2000
Subject: [SBB] -
--------
Folks:
I visted San Tomas Aquino Creek below Hwy 101 this morning, arriving at
0955 hr, and finding Jack Cole. Shortly thereafter I found the VIRGINIA'S
WARBLER on the northwest bank of the creek about 30 m above Mission College
Blvd. Jack and I had very good looks in clearing weather as the bird foraged
upstream as far as 70 m above the Mission College Blvd crossing. It fed in
some flowering plants, but mostly in dry fennel plants. We watched it from
1005 to 1010 hrs. Jack then left and I wrote up my notes. I refound the
birds at 1035 and watched it again until 1045 hr, feeding as before in this
area. At one point I had the VIRGINIA'S, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, and a
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER on the same fennel plant. The VIRGINIA'S on one
occasion aggressively displaced the foraging ORANGE-CROWNED. The bird tended
to hold its wings quite tightly against its body, obscuring the rump patch
which I saw only in flight. Thanks, Mike!
There was a f/imm TOWNSEND'S WARBLER in the eucs with the large number
of YELLOW-RUMPS.
Bill
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From email@hidden Thu Oct 05 11:36:17 2000
Subject: [SBB] Guadalupe River
--------
All,
Yesterday 10/5/00 at sunset I checked the fennel patch between
Lockheed and the Sunnyvale WPCP and turned up 2 ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLERS and a YELLOW WARBLER. A single AMERICAN PIPIT was atop the
nearby dump.
This morning 10/6/00 I birded the east side of the Guadalupe River
from Montague Expressway to Trimble Road. Highlights included
7 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS heading towards the airport, 5 NORTHERN FLICKERS,
1 "WESTERN" FLYCATCHER, 1 HOUSE WREN, 3 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, 1 HERMIT
THRUSH, about 8 CEDAR WAXWINGS in ones and twos, 3 ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLERS, 8 YELLOW WARBLERS, 31 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS,
1 fem/imm TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, 2 COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, 2 WILSON'S
WARBLERS, and 4 WESTERN TANAGERS (including one very bright adult
male). Most of the warbler and tanager activity was not in the
riparian corridor, but in the eucalyptus trees along the dike along
the southern half of this stretch.
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Thu Oct 05 11:44:36 2000
Subject: [SBB] oops
--------
Oops, I see my dates should be 10/4 and 10/5 rather than
10/5 and 10/6 - sorry.
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Fri Oct 06 06:28:12 2000
Subject: [SBB] Re: Virginia's vs Nashville
--------
I spent a couple hours today with Mike Rogers looking for the
"Virginiaville" Warbler. We couldn't find it and I hope that it hasn't left,
because it would be nice to further study it.
It is interesting that Bill mentioned green in the wings on this bird. When
I first saw this bird, I thought that I could see some green in the flight
feathers. However, when I concentrated on looking at this area, I didn't see
it. I don't know if this was due to the viewing/lighting angle. So, I
chalked it up to a glimpsing of the rump patch.
When I was having doubts about this bird being a Nashville, the thing I
concentrated on looking for was the contrasty yellow-green rump patch. In my
mind, without having seen any references, this was an important
characteristic. When it was confirmed, I thought it was definitive. I got a
pretty good look at the rump myself yesterday, and I still don't know why a
Nashville (particularly an immature) would show such a distinct rump against
such a plain colored back.
Another interesting aspect is that some authorities consider these two birds
to be conspecific. That brings up the question of whether intermediate
characters of this bird might be the result of hybridization. ??
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Fri Oct 06 07:51:32 2000
--------
All,
Yesterday, on my lunch hour walk along San Francisquito Creek in Palo
Alto, I saw my first RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET of the season. It was with a
large group of Bushtits and Chestnut-backed Chickadees. Elsewhere along
the Creek there were 4 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS.
I also saw two GOLDEN EAGLES perched close to 280 this morning in the
same area where the family was seen recently, across from the Stanford
Dish.
That's all for now,
Matthew Dodder
http://www.birdguy.net/
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From email@hidden Fri Oct 06 08:06:08 2000
Subject: [SBB] more reservoirs
--------
I visited Coyote Reservoir on Wednesday (Oct 4, 2000). The water level is
still somewhat high, but some of the mudflat at the south end was exposed.
Already there are a fair number of shorebirds. We observed COMMON SNIPE,
DOWITCHER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, BLACK-NECKED STILT, MARBLED GODWIT, WHIMBREL,
LEAST SANDPIPER, WESTERN SANDPIPER and KILLDEER. The ducks are starting to
return as well we observed WOOD DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON, GADWALL, MALLARD,
GREEN WINGED TEAL, CINNAMON TEAL, and NORTHERN PINTAIL.
Also of note were 2 VAUX'S SWIFT mixed in a flock of VIOLET-GREEN & TREE
SWALLOWS.
Good birding,
Tom
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From email@hidden Fri Oct 06 08:06:38 2000
Subject: [SBB] -
--------
Folks:
I have compared my field notes with the guides by Dunn and Garrett, and
Curson, Quinn, and Beadle and I retract my observation of a VIRGINIA'S WARBLER
from yesterday, 10/6/00. It seems to me that this bird has a number of
characters that are intermediate between a first-fall female Nashville Warbler
and an adult male Virginia's Warbler. Primarily based on the color of the
primaries and secondaries, which were olive-green or olive-yellow and strongly
contrasted with the gray back, I believe the bird I saw was a first-fall female
Nashville Warbler. A description is below.
I have a detailed description from Mike Mammoser of the bird that he saw
and he noted gray primaries and secondaries, which is appropriate for
Virginia's Warbler. There are either two birds here or one bird with two
differing descriptions. We can benefit from close studies of these birds by
other observers.
Bill
NASHVILLE WARBLER
10/6/2000
San Tomas Aquino Creek between Hwy 101 and Mission Boulevard
I walked the levee along the southeast side of San Tomas Aquino Creek
between Hwy 101 and Mission Boulevard from 0955 to 1045 hrs, looking for a
Virginia's Warbler found here by Mike Mammoser. I observed what I thought was
this bird from 1005 to 1010 hrs (with Jack Cole) and again from 1035 to 1045
hrs. My distance to the bird was about 15 m and I used 10x42 binoculars. The
morning overcast was clearing at 1000 hours and the sun was starting to cast
shadows. The sun was behind me for both periods and the bird was below my eye
level as it foraged along the opposite levee.
My initial impression was of a warbler with gray upperparts, a white
eye-ring, yellow-olive remiges, and a yellow breast. In direct comparison to
Yellow-rumped and Orange-crowned warblers, feeding in the same fennel, I could
discern no difference in size or shape. The upperparts were a pearl gray and
included the crown, face, nape, back, and some of the wing coverts. In some
postures and lighting conditions I could see fine brown streaking on the crown
that gave a light brown wash to the crown. The gray appeared to be lighter on
the face and then became lighter still in the malar region and onto the
throat, which was a light gray. The gray on the nape, back, lesser and median
wing coverts appeared to be uniform in color. The greater wing coverts, in
some angles showed a faint olive-green wash. Although the bird would
sometimes flutter its wings when foraging I was never able to obtain a good
view of the open wing. Otherwise the bird held the wings tightly closed. The
folded primaries and secondaries were a bright olive-green. Because the wings
were tightly folded I could never see the rump color or much of the tail as
the bird was at rest. Once in flight I caught a glimpse of an olive-green
rump.
The yellow of the breast started at the base of the gray throat and
extended about halfway down the breast and changed to white. The yellow in
a frontal view seemed brighter than from the side, but extended from wing
to wing. As the bird foraged I could see that the yellow extended past the
bend of the wing so that in some postures it looked like the yellow cut in
above the wing towards the back. The flanks were white towards the belly, but
were buff-yellow at the wing and had some faint darker streaks. The undertail
coverts were the same yellow as the breast. Once I glimpsed "tail spots"
beneath the tail that were white or pale yellow and extended halfway out the
tail.
During the two observation periods the bird foraged mostly in fennel,
but sometimes in other flowering plants and occasionally flew into the edge of
the cattails. While foraging, it would persistently pick or glean at the
fennel seed heads or stems, remaining stationary for 15-30 seconds at a time.
I did not see it call during this time. Although it seemed to accept
Yellow-rumped or Orange-crowned warblers in the same plant on occasions,
one time it repeatedly displaced a foraging Orange-crowned Warbler until the
bird left the fennel. I saw no tail bobbing.
Because of the gray throat and extensive yellow breast, the
identification problem in this case appears to be between a first-fall female
Nashville Warbler of the western race _ridgwayi_ and an adult male Virginia's
Warbler. K&G include a photograph of a first-fall Nasville (p. 173), but do
not include a painting. GQ&B show an illustration of a first-fall female.
Both sources provide detailed plumage descriptions. Based on my reading of
these descriptions, most features are shared by the two species. The major
exceptions are:
- eye-ring: described as buffy in K&G for first-fall female Nashville, but
white for Virginia's. This bird was white.
- back color: clear gray, but duller (K&G), brownish-olive (GQ&B) for
first-fall female Nashville. Gray with mouse-brown wash (K&G), pearl gray
(GC&B) for Virginia's. This bird was a clear or pearl gray with little in
the way of brownish except on the crown.
- wing coverts, primaries, and secondaries: adult Nashville is described as
being a dusky color edged with olive, while immature is browner (K&G), dark
olive-green with paler olive feather edges (GQ&B). Virginia's is described
as having grey wing coverts with dark primaries edged with gray (K&G),
blackish with gray feather edges (GQ&B). This bird had gray lesser and
median coverts, but the greater coverts had an olive wash. The primaries
and secondaries showed an olive-yellow color, probably from the edges and
this was very striking from the top of the bird. When I initially saw the
bird I described it to Jack as being "gray above with olive-yellow wings".
Some of these features suggest Virginia's, particularly the back color,
while others suggest Nashville, particularly the primaries and secondaries.
The photo of the first-fall female in K&G is very similar to the bird I saw,
but has more yellow on the flanks than I noted. The illustration in GQ&B also
shows more extensive yellow on the flanks and brownish on the wing coverts
that is different from the San Tomas Aquino bird. Although I lack extensive
experience with fall birds of either species, the primary and secondary color
makes me believe that this is a first-fall female Nashville Warbler.
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From email@hidden Fri Oct 06 09:22:54 2000
Subject: [SBB] Virginia's vs Nashville
--------
All,
Well, Bill Bousman has started an interesting discussion on the ID of
the "Virginia's" Warbler.
First of all, there is only ONE bird here - Bill's description matches
well the bird Mike and I saw. Secondly, yes, the ID versus a dull
Nashville Warbler is non-trivial and that is why Mike Mammoser called
me to get another opinion when he first found the bird. When Mike
reported to me the extent of the yellow in the breast I was worried
because that much yellow would suggest an adult male Virginia's, an
age class that constitutes a smaller fraction of our vagrants than
hatching-year birds (although Garrett and Dunn's Warbler guide seems
to contradict Pyle's banding guide by illustrating first-fall male
Virginia's with extensive yellow) - and also, as Bill notes, leads to
potential confusion with dull hatching-year Nashville Warblers.
Last year I had dull hatching-year female Nashville Warblers along
Stevens Creek north of L'Avenida on 10/7/99 and at Pt. Reyes at about
the same time. These birds can indeed be confused with Virginia's
Warblers, being quite gray. However, they still retain a yellow tinge
to the underparts in places that should be white/gray on a Virginia's
Warbler, the upperparts are not the "pearl gray" of a Virginia's, but
rather a duller, browner gray, and the rump, while olive-colored, does
not contrast with the area around it as strongly as on a Virginia's
Warbler. In these respects the San Tomas Aquino Creek bird is typical
of a Virginia's Warbler.
Most of my time observing this bird was spent trying to obtain
photographs (I managed to get four of the bird in the fennel) and I
therefore did not have a chance to study the bird as thoroughly as
Bill did. Bill describes the color of the wing coverts in some detail
- were there molt limits? If there were none this would age the bird
as an adult and rule out Nashville Warbler.
I was also interested in the brown streaking in the crown, something I
did not note through the camera viewfinder, which is likely the "red"
crown patch expected to be present on an adult male.
I did note the olive in the wings that Bill describes. This does
indeed look "greener" than the gray wing depicted in the NGS guide for
a Virginia's Warbler, but that is likely a Spring bird, rather than a
freshly molted fall bird - I am not convinced that this is enough to
overturn the ID as a Virginia's Warbler given the many other marks
that don't match Nashville (even a dull one).
Maybe my photos will show more (I believe at least one should show the
contrasting rump patch on the foraging bird, something that Bill said
he was unable to see because of the bird's wing position). Obviously
aging this bird would be a big help, so more detailed observations are
encouraged! And it seems that the bird is staying around so there
should be opportunity for further study. (In fact, if it is an adult
bird, then it may be that it first showed up at this location in its
first fall in some prior year and noone ever knew - has anyone ever
birded this spot before??).
A great learning opportunity here :)
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Sat Oct 07 14:44:44 2000
Subject: [SBB] RUFF, STSA
--------
All,
A friend and I went to State and Spreckles today in Alviso and got good
looks at both the RUFF and STILT SANDPIPER. As well, there were perhaps
10 LESSER YELLOWLEGS and a GOLDEN EAGLE. At the EEC, the two BLACK
SKIMMERS continue on the island.
That's all,
Matthew Dodder
http://www.birdguy.net/
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From email@hidden Sun Oct 08 20:25:23 2000
Subject: [SBB] Big Day
--------
All,
Yesterday 10/7/00 Mike Mammoser and I (team M&M) did our "Fall
Challenge" Big Day in Santa Clara County. We had learned a lot from
our dry run on 9/23/00 and things went smoother this time, with a
couple of really nice birds to spice things up. Our final tally of
146 species was 8 better than two weeks ago, although still 14 short
of the Big Day I did with Steve Rottenborn and Scott Terrill on
10/12/97. A comparison of the species seen on these three Big Days is
given at the end of this summary.
In order to do better this time, Mike and I started earlier, leaving
my house at 2:49am and heading for the bay to search for rails and
Barn Owls. We did well with rails, getting VIRGINIA RAIL and SORA at
the Mountain View Forebay and CLAPPER RAIL at Palo Alto, but had no
luck with Barn Owls, either along the bay or on the Stanford campus.
Arriving at Monte Bello OSP we were dismayed to realize that the area
up there was covered in dense fog, with water dripping off the trees.
Despite this, the hoped for four species of owls cooperated very
nicely, with at least two NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS calling from close
in, a species that was not calling two weeks prior. At 6:40am
day-birding began. We ended up getting most of the sought after
targets, including CALIFORNIA THRASHER, WRENTIT, BROWN CREEPER,
HUTTON'S VIREO, PYGMY NUTHATCH, TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, HAIRY WOODPECKER,
BAND-TAILED PIGEON, and two specied we missed last time, WINTER WREN
(1) and VARIED TRHUSH (4+). However, we only thought we heard
flyover-in-the-fog Purple Finches, a species we had several of last
time. Both RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET and HERMIT THRUSH, absent two weeks
before, were numerous this time. We left at 9:10am feeling good about
the day's start.
Our drive back down Page Mill Road failed to produce CALIFORNIA QUAIL
and sure enough we missed this species for the entire day! However,
we did get the day's only RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. A quick detour north
on interstate 280 added an adult GOLDEN EAGLE, perched on a snag near
the dish at Stanford.
The flooded field at First Street and Highway 237 added 10 PECTORAL
SANDPIPERS, the day's only COMMON SNIPE (5), and 3 LESSER YELLOWLEGS.
The small eucalyptus trees north of the water pollution control plant
along Los Esteros Road held 2 YELLOW WARBLERS and the blackbird flock
had a few TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS. A male RING-NECKED PHEASANT at the
railroad crossing was our only one of the day, a bird we missed last
time. The pond at State and Spreckles held the STILT SANDPIPER,
2 lingering WILSON'S PHALAROPES (one injured and the other keeping it
company), as well as more of both YELLOWLEGS. An immature PEREGRINE
FALCON hunted overhead and 20 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS foraged over New
Chicago Marsh.
We arrived at CCFS at 10:42am, a little late but optimistic since the
overcast was keeping things cool. Three mobbing AMERICAN CROWS
revealed a perched adult COOPER'S HAWK and the pond opposite had the
day's only MEW GULL (first of Fall). The pond opposite the trailer
held only 3 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, far fewer than of late.
The riparian area added 4 HOUSE WRENS, 3 DOWNY WOODPECKERS, 5 YELLOW
WARBLERS, 3 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS (1 gray-headed), a MACGILLIVRAY'S
WARBLER and 2 "WESTERN" FLYCATCHERS. Overhead were 35 more
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS and an AMERICAN PIPIT. We missed Wilson's
Warblers, but this was more than made up for by stumbling onto a
day-roosting COMMON POORWILL on the dirt path behind the "Mewaldt
Oak". The waterbird pond had nothing new for us.
We arrived at Ed Levin Park at 12:39pm and added the day's first SNOWY
EGRET and FORSTER'S TERN at Sandy Wool Lake. The ranger station added
YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE and 2 CEDAR WAXWINGS, but we had no luck finding
any sapsuckers. A stop at Calaveras Reservoir added WHITE-BREASTED
NUTHATCH (missed last time), WESTERN GREBE, a male CANVASBACK,
2 RING-NECKED DUCKS, and 10 more CEDAR WAXWINGS. A stop at the end of
Marsh Road proved extremely productive adding SAY'S PHOEBE, an adult
PRAIRIE FALCON (landed on a telephone pole), and a winter adult
CHIPPING SPARROW in a flock of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS.
The Sierra Road summit appeared dead at first, but after a while I
heard distant HORNED LARKS and then the rattle of a LAPLAND LONGSPUR.
I got Mike on the bird in flight and then we watched as the bird
circled nervously with 20 HORNED LARKS for 5 minutes before landing
just west of the corral. We were afforded great scope views for a few
minutes before an immature COOPER'S HAWK flushed the flock. This is
only the ninth county record and the earliest record by 8 days! An
adult GOLDEN EAGLE made our earlier detour north on I280 a waste of
time. Also had a second SAY'S PHOEBE, but no Rock Wrens could be
found. On the way down the hill, Mike picked out 2 LARK SPARROWS in a
big flock of HOUSE FINCHES. We were feeling quite good about our
finds, but were 1.5 hours behind our planned schedule :(
We arrived at the Palo Alto Baylands at 3:27pm; no Semipalmated
Plovers were anywhere to be found on the now very exposed mudflats,
but WHIMBRELS were still present, along with the adult GLAUCOUS-WINGED
GULL that has been here since our previous Big Day. An immature
PEREGRINE FALCON was repeatedly harassing birds here, including
LONG-BILLED CURLEWS and the GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, which tried to
ignore it at first. The day's second and last AMERICAN PIPIT flew by
towards the airport.
An accident on highway 101 had things backed up, be we snuck down the
Frontage Road to the Palo Alto Flood Control Basin and added
BLUE-WINGED TEAL and MARSH WREN to the list. Shoreline Lake added a
male SURF SCOTER. Nine BLACK SKIMMERS were on the island in
Charleston Slough and single immature BROWN PELICANS were on the same
island (along with another adult GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL) and in Salt
Pond A1.
At the Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Plant we added BURROWING OWL
right after getting out of the car and a bike loop around the big pond
added 1 adult GREEN HERON, 2 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 2 LESSER SCAUP,
6 CANVASBACK (4 males), and an adult HERRING GULL.
We decided to finish the day biking the Alviso salt ponds, but first
we added a BARN OWL at SFBBO, contributing it's share to this SFBBO
fundraiser. Just before 6pm we began our bike trek into the wind and
sun out to pond A10. None of the 4000+ Red-necked Phalaropes that had
been here two weeks prior were anywhere to be found. At 6:15pm we
reached pond A10, which brought us our first CLARK'S GREBE of the day
(along with more WESTERN GREBES). A mixed group of 60 SCAUP in
northwest pond A10 was about evenly split between LESSER and GREATER,
our 146th and last species of the day. Other birds of interest out
here included 4+ BROWN PELICANS, 160 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, 2 adult
HERRING GULLS, 3 GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS and another immature PEREGRINE
FALCON. The bike ride back was highlighted by a close encounter with
a STRIPED SKUNK.
Having missed White-throated Swift at Stanford in the pre-dawn hours,
we opted to try for them at a Milpitas overpass that has them in
Spring. No luck here either, however. The day finished up at 8:08pm
after driving 151.5 miles, biking about 9 miles, and hiking perhaps 8
miles.
Besides California Quail, biggest misses of the day were Semipalmated
Plover, Belted Kingfisher, Barn Swallow, Wilson's Warbler, and Purple
Finch.
For those interested in planning their own Fall Big Day a comparison
of the three Fall Big Days referred to above follows:
119 species seen on all three Big Days and
9/23/00 (19) 10/ 7/00 (27) 10/12/97 (41)
Clark's Grebe Clark's Grebe
Cattle Egret
Greater White-fronted Goose
Eurasian Wigeon
Canvasback Canvasback
Greater Scaup
Sharp-shinned Hawk Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk Red-shouldered Hawk
Golden Eagle Golden Eagle
Merlin
Prairie Falcon
Ring-necked Pheasant Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail California Quail
Semipalmated Plover
Spotted Sandpiper
Red Knot
Dunlin
Stilt Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper
Ruff
Common Snipe Common Snipe
Wilson's Phalarope Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope Red-necked Phalarope
Mew Gull Mew Gull
Thayer's Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Sabine's Gull
Caspian Tern
Barn Owl
Nor. Saw-whet Owl Nor. Saw-whet Owl
Common Poorwill
Vaux's Swift
White-throated Swift
Belted Kingfisher Belted Kingfisher
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Willow Flycatcher
Warbling Vireo Warbling Vireo
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow Barn Swallow
White-br. Nuthatch White-br. Nuthatch
Brown Creeper Brown Creeper
Rock Wren
House Wren House Wren
Winter Wren Winter Wren
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush Hermit Thrush
Varied Thrush Varied Thrush
American Pipit American Pipit
Cedar Waxwing Cedar Waxwing
MacGillivray's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager Western Tanager
Chipping Sparrow
Lark Sparrow Lark Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Lapland Longspur
Black-headed Grosbeak
Purple Finch Purple Finch
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Sun Oct 08 22:02:10 2000
Subject: [SBB] Lesser Black-backed Gull, some shorebirds, duscks at Calero Reservoir, etc.
--------
Howdy South-bay-birders,
Late this afternoon Jolene and I stopped by State & Spreckles in Alviso
to check out the shorebirds. Had no luck with Ruff or Stilt Sandpiper this
time, but I was surprised to spot an adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL in a
small gull flock on the pond. It had bright yellow legs and mantle color a
couple of shades darker than a nearby adult CALIFORNIA GULL, also it was
clearly larger than the California Gull but quite a bit smaller than a
nearby HERRING GULL (also in this flock of about 40 birds were numerous
RING-BILLED GULLS and a single MEW GULL). The Lesser Black-backed had pale
eyes on a heavily streaked face. Had a very large red gonydeal spot on its
lower mandible.
Other birds at State & Spreckles included 1 WILSON'S PHALAROPE and about
10 LESSER YELLOWLEGS. More LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and about a half dozen
PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were around the pond just southeast of the intersection
of First Street and Highway 237.
In the south county, LOTS of waterfowl were concentrated at the east end
of Calero Reservoir this morning--MALLARDS, GADWALLS, NORTHERN SHOVELERS,
CINNAMON and GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEONS, NORTHERN PINTAILS, RUDDY
DUCKS, 1 male BUFFLEHEAD (first I've seen there this fall), and at least 18
RING-NECKED DUCKS. With so many American Wigeon this would seem to be a good
place in which to look for a Eurasian, but so far I've had no luck.
Shorebirds there included 55 BLACK-NECKED STILTS, about 30 LEAST SANDPIPERS,
7 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and about 5 GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Also had a couple
of fly-by AMERICAN PIPITS.
John Mariani
email@hidden
www.birdswest.com
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 09 12:06:30 2000
Subject: [SBB] Fall Challenge account
--------
On Sunday, 8 Oct 00, I joined Janet Hanson, Grant Hoyt, and Dick Stovel for
a California Fall Challenge birdathon in Santa Clara County. We tallied 129
total species in about 13.5 hours of birding.
At 4:30am we met in Los Altos and headed up into the hills above Stevens
Creek County Park to look for owls. Our efforts to try and entice a Northern
Saw-whet Owl to respond were fruitless. So, we headed back down into the
park, where we enjoyed the mellow stylings of the local WESTERN SCREECH
OWLS.
At Pichetti Ranch we were treated to some calls from a GREAT HORNED OWL and,
surprisingly, BARN OWL. However, the Northern Pygmy Owls refused to even
give us the time of day. Our search for this diminutive owl was still
rewarding, though, as we had a couple of COMMON POORWILLS calling
spontaneously over the remnant orchard there.
Day birding started as usual, with the irritated grumpy call of the SPOTTED
TOWHEE. Soon, we were being treated to a serenade of CALIFORNIA THRASHERS,
with accompaniment provided by BEWICK'S WREN, HERMIT THRUSH, CALIFORNIA
TOWHEE, WRENTIT, and both of the crowned sparrows.
We rounded out our birding at Pichetti Ranch with 4 species of woodpecker,
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, both jays, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, and LESSER
GOLDFINCH.
A quick stop at Stevens Creek Reservoir netted us a SPOTTED SANDPIPER
bobbing along the boat launch ramp.
Down in the lower area of the park we picked up more species that we needed
before leaving the Santa Cruz hills. These included BROWN CREEPER, a
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, BAND-TAILED PIGEON, and a couple of RED-BREASTED
SAPSUCKERS at the Villa Maria picnic area.
After our start in the hills, we went off to Alviso and made a brief stop at
the pond near First Street and hwy 237. Here we found 3 COMMON SNIPE, 6-8
PECTORAL SANDPIPERS, and both GREATER and LESSER YELLOWLEGS, among others.
We then went to CCFS, in order to cash in on as many migrants as possible
before the bird activity slowed. Large numbers of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS
were augmented by a handful of YELLOW WARBLERS, a couple ORANGE-CROWNED
WARBLERS, a few COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, a HOUSE WREN, and a "WESTERN"
FLYCATCHER. Although a WARBLING VIREO was banded that day, we were not able
to find any in the "wild". CEDAR WAXWINGS put in an appearance and a small
number of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS were still present. An EARED GREBE and a few
PECTORAL SANDPIPERS were on the pond next to the trailers.
Next, we decided to wrap up the land birds with a trip into the Diablo
Mountains. Ed Levin Park was a bust, adding nothing new to our total, but a
drive down a side road produced RING-NECKED DUCK on the golf course water
hazard pond.
At the Sierra Road summit we did well, getting about 4 ROCK WRENS trilling
and rock climbing. Dick did a great job as a cowpoke, herding a flock of
SAVANNAH SPARROWS down the road in front of his car as he slowly drove
along. As I watched a SAY'S PHOEBE flying overhead, I spied a group of
WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS high in the sky above it. We later saw the swifts
again in the background sky of a Rock Wren view. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE
entertained us with its "roller coaster" courtship display. Dick's flyby
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK provided an interlude. Coming down the hill, we added
WESTERN BLUEBIRD and LARK SPARROW.
A brief stop at the State and Spreckles pond provided a couple gems. Both
the RUFF and the STILT SANDPIPER were present for our viewing satisfaction.
Two lingering WILSON'S PHALAROPES were the only ones for the trip, and I
managed to convince the others that the speck on the power tower in the
distance was really a PEREGRINE FALCON (it really was, I swear).
We shot to the Palo Alto Baylands, where we hit the shorebird bonanza,
adding LONG-BILLED CURLEW, WHIMBREL, MARBLED GODWIT, WILLET, AMERICAN
AVOCET, and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER. Three gull species, a few duck species,
and FORSTER'S TERN rounded out a big jump in the day's total.
The duck pond produced the only LESSER SCAUP and BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS of
the day.
A stroll out the boardwalk at the interpretive center gave us a CLAPPER
RAIL, conveniently foraging in the tidal channel.
At the Palo Alto flood control basin, a male BLUE-WINGED TEAL was right
where it was supposed to be, while a WHITE-TAILED KITE perched openly across
the pond.
At Charleston Slough, the 9 BLACK SKIMMERS that were here the previous day
were being quite cooperative. Shoreline Lake produced the always-present
SURF SCOTER and, as luck would have it, a nice BROWN PELICAN.
Walking around the forebay, it became clear how stupid it was of me to
forget the rail tape in my car back in Los Altos. So, I tried the next best
thing. That was to whistle up a Sora call (I don't have the nerve to try and
imitate any sound a Virginia Rail can make). As is usually the case, about 3
VIRGINIA RAILS responded to this (they're dumber than sand), but the keen
Soras were having none of my deception.
Our last slated stop of the day was the Sunnyvale Sewage Ponds. The
BURROWING OWL was sitting at the entrance to its burrow, just as it has over
the course of weeks past. Unfortunately, we failed to find a number of
hopeful species here, but were treated to a display by an immature PEREGRINE
FALCON, which decided to test its skills on an innocent NORTHERN HARRIER
that was quietly minding its own business, hunting over the grassy side of
the landfill. We were quite entertained, but I doubt that the harrier was
amused.
With some daylight left, we tried to fill out our card by heading back to
Alviso. Arzino Ranch again failed to produce a Ring-necked Pheasant, so we
left to go back to CCFS. This was fortuitous, because it produced the
elusive BELTED KINGFISHER, which was perched quietly along the creek near
the waterbird pond. In addition, as we drove back out the levee, Janet spied
an immature RED-SHOULDERED HAWK perched not too conspicuously in the
riparian corridor. On top of that, while we watched the Red-shouldered, an
adult COOPER'S HAWK flew in and landed nearby. Our tally ended with this
nice little 3-species flurry.
We tried vainly to crank up our total to a nice round number of 130, but the
Alviso pheasants had evidently gone to bed. All in all, it was a nice birdy
day, and all for a good cause.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 09 12:08:22 2000
Subject: [SBB] SCVAS field trip to Princeton/Pillar Point
--------
I apologize for the double posting to two county mail lists - this is a
brief report of yesterday's Santa Clara Valley Audubon field trip to Princeton
in San Mateo Co. Eleven birders spent the morning in the town of Princeton
(especially around the Mezza Luna restaurant and the south end of the airport),
and at the Pillar Point marsh and harbor.
No vagrants were found, but that wasn't the interest of the group in any
case. (A small flock near the Mezza Luna included just the commonest western
species.) Among the observations were the first Horned Grebe and Say's Phoebe
I've seen this season (the latter at the airport), two Snowy Plovers on the
beach, a continuing Pigeon Guillemot near the old pier (at the northeast
corner of the harbor), and a Red-Breasted Nuthatch (seen by only a few) in
cypresses by the harbor. Also providing particular enjoyment were a sooty
Fox Sparrow, an adult Red-Shouldered Hawk flushed and observed at close range
near the harbor, and two American Kestrels sparring in flight. Finally, a
freshly killed Common Murre (with fish hook protruding) was found by a couple
of other birders at the beach. [I'm attempting to report its band informa-
tion.]
All in all a very pleasant morning.
Cheers, Al Eisner
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 09 12:10:42 2000
Subject: [SBB] Re: SCVAS field trip to Princeton/Pillar Point
--------
I forgot to mention the flock of about 20 Elegant Terns still at the
harbor. (I apologize again for what has now become a quadruple posting!)
Cheers, Al
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 09 13:49:58 2000
Subject: Fwd: [SBB] Grant Park
--------
The List Bureaucrat is having some bureaucratic problems...
This messaged bounced when it shouldn't have. Here it is.
Les
--------------------------------------
Date: Monday, October 9, 2000
From: email@hidden
Date: 09 Oct 00 13:01:06 -0700
From: Jim Yurchenco
Subject: Grant Park
Sunday, Amy and I spent the day at Grant County Park. Joining us was an Argentinean birder and guide named Santiago Imberti, who we met through a colleague at work. It was a lot of fun to show around a person new to the area. He ended the day with nine life birds.
Highlights were at least four and as many as six Lewis' Woodpeckers seen at the north end of the Canada de Pala trail. We had never recorded this species before at Grant, nor seen so many of these birds at once on the west side of the Diablos.
Also interesting were the five to eight golden eagles in the area. Two were engaged in what appeared to be extensive courtship activities, with much swooping and diving and brief talon locks.
James Yurchenco
Palo Alto
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 09 14:17:26 2000
Subject: [SBB] Peregrine on Commute
--------
My normally dull and monotonous commute was enlivened this morning by a Peregrine Falcon. The bird was quartering the field at the junction of Montague Distressway and Lick Mill.
Gina Sheridan
Santa Clara
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 09 15:58:23 2000
Subject: [SBB] hawk on balcony
--------
Just scared off a hawk from hunting a caged cockatiel on the balcony
directly across from our apt., only a few feet away. Probably a juvenile
sharp shinned, but we were too stunned to keep precise track of its field
marks... According to my husband, the hawk swooped in between the two
buildings and landed on the railing next to the bird cage, sending the
cockatiel into a noisy panic. I walked into the room to see the hawk only
a foot or two away from the cockatiel, obviously calculating how to get
into the cage, and the cockatiel frantically trying to figure out how to
get OUT of the cage. I can't imagine that bird had ever seen a hawk
before, but he knew it was trouble! I'm not sure what I was thinking, but
I opened our balcony door and startled the hawk, which flew off and
disappeared behind nearby buildings and trees almost immediately. It's not
the first time we've seen a small hawk in the neighborhood and with this
evidence of boldness we're looking forward to more interesting encounters
in the future.
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 09 18:34:44 2000
Subject: [SBB] Hawks and Herons and other backyard birds in Almaden
--------
It is definitely Fall in my backyard!
Aug. 29 I had a pair of Stellar's Jays at my ground
feeder. (This unusual for my yard.)
My first White Crown arrived Sept. 16, several days
earlier than in past years.
The first Gold Crown was seen Sept. 28.
A pair of Wrentits were in the birdbath on Sept. 25.
This was the first time I'd seen two together.
Also on Sept. 28 we had the remaining feathers of a
Hawk kill on our lawn.
House Sparrows have been feeding with my 30 or so
California Quail who are wrecking my Iris beds with
their "hollows" for dust bathing.
Yesterday, a large Hawk (presumably a Cooper's) was
chasing a yard bird around the bushes.
This morning I had a "new" bird fly through my yard as
I was headed to the feeder--A GREAT BLUE HERON!! At
the same time I heard and saw my yearly Black Phoebe
from atop a small radio antennae.
Barbara Harkleroad
Near the foothills, Almaden Area
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 09 19:12:32 2000
Subject: [SBB] WEBL
--------
All,
Of local interest, I saw a group of 6 WESTERB BLUEBIRDS on High Street,
just one block from University Avenue in Palo Alto. It seemed a little
irregular finding them so close to downtown, but ofcourse on the other
side of El Camino on Stanford Campus, WEBLs can be found regularly.
Matthew Dodder
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 09 19:31:21 2000
Subject: [SBB] Pishing a Cooper's Hawk
--------
A few days ago I heard a very loud chip note in our tangerine tree
that is next to our thistle feeder for our year-round Lesser
Goldfinches. I couldn't see anything from our kitchen door, so I
decided to pish (although not being a big believer that pishing
works).
When I did pish, out flew a Cooper's Hawk. So I guess pishing does
work, but maybe only for Cooper's Hawks.
Today I went out to the feeder, and again a Cooper's Hawk flew out.
I went out to fix the feeder since the 1 x 1 inch board screwed to
the top of the fence that the feeder was hanging from was broken.
Maybe the Hawk sat on it and broke it.
So, if you pish, don't be surprised if you get a Cooper's Hawk (that
ate the bird you were pishing for).
Kendric
-----------------------------------------
Kendric C. Smith, Ph.D.
927 Mears Court
Stanford, CA 94305-1041
(650) 493-7210 (voice or fax)
email@hidden
http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/
------------------------------------------
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 09 19:49:52 2000
Subject: [SBB] more Alviso birding
--------
All,
Yesterday 10/8/00 I made a few stops in Alviso to see what birds Mike
and I might have missed thanks to the blistering pace of our Big Day.
My first stop was the row of eucalyptus trees north of the water
pollution control plant on Los Esteros Road. These trees had seemed
birdy on 10/7, but we had no time for a thorough check. I ended up
with 9+ YELLOW WARBLERS, 2 HERMIT THRUSHES, and the usual SPARROWS and
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. Also had 5 BARN SWALLOWS and 2 BELTED
KINGFISHERS, which we could have used the day before. Two DARK-EYED
JUNCOS, 3 RING-NECKED PHEASANTS, 2 LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES, 1 AMERICAN
PIPIT, and an adult COOPER'S HAWK were also of note.
At State and Spreckles the STILT SANDPIPER flew in while I was
searching through the very few shorebirds present. The 2 WILSON'S
PHALAROPES were still present, along with 4 LESSER YELLOWLEGS.
A check of the nearby EEC turned up a YELLOW WARBLER, a RUBY-CROWNED
KINGLET, and the first PINE SISKIN I've had this Fall. Nineteen
HERRING GULLS and the 2 adult BLACK SKIMMERS were on the island in
pond A18. Many TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS and 2 SORAS were in the reeds
along the entrance road. No sign of any Red-necked Phalaropes.
Today 10/9/00 I took advantage of the Columbus Day holiday and decided
to see what today's storm may have brought in. I started out at CCFS,
where quite a few migrants were about. Highlights included an adult
dark morph RED-TAILED HAWK, 2 COOPER'S HAWKS, a BELTED KINGFISHER,
5 PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, 1 BARN SWALLOW, 7+ HOUSE WRENS, at least
2 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS (in cottonwoods north of the banding trailer),
2 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, 5 HERMIT THRUSHES, a flock of 17 CEDAR
WAXWINGS that I bumped into repeatedly, 5 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS
(1 gray-headed), 6 YELLOW WARBLERS, 2 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBELRS
(1 adult male and 1 imm male/adult fem), 1 TOWNSEND'S WARBLER (ad fem/
imm male), 1 WILSON'S WARBLER, and 2 DARK-EYED JUNCOS. Mike and I
missed 5 of these species on our Big Day just two days before! :(
The pond at State and Spreckles was virtually empty, but an AMERICAN
PIPIT flew over while I was there.
Next I opted to bike around the Alviso Salt Ponds, again trying to see
what Mike and I had missed during our hurried late evening bike ride
on our Big Day. The answer was "quite a bit", including 1 HORNED
GREBE in A9, 1 adult male EURASIAN WIGEON coming out of eclipse
plumage in A9, 1 female REDHEAD with 12 CANVASBACK in A10, 1 female
BUFFLEHEAD in A11, 1 adult THAYER'S GULL with 20 HERRING GULLS in A11,
4+ CASPIAN TERNS (including 1 juvenile), and 3 BARN SWALLOWS - or 7
species needed on our Big Day! Other birds of interest included
54 BROWN PELICANS in A9 with over ten times as many AMERICAN WHITE
PELICANS, 1550 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS in A9 and on the dike
between A9 and A10, 34+ GREATER SCAUP, 2 to 3 immature PEREGRINE
FALCONS, 3 VIRGINIA RAILS and 1 SORA, 170 FORSTER'S TERNS, and 30
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. Just as I reached outer pond A9 it began to
rain pretty hard. The dikes were converted to super slippery bay mud
that instantly welded my bike tires to the bike frame. Ended up having
to carry the bike and the scope for over a mile before things dried up
enough to push the bike - ugh!
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 09 23:34:42 2000
Subject: [SBB] (SBB) Osprey, Band-tailed Pigeons
--------
All,
Saturday morning the OSPREY was back on his perch overlooking Vasona.
Late that afternoon he circled the lake and, I believe, would have landed on
his perch, but I had a number of guests and he veered off. This morning he
was at the perch with a large fish (not a 30 lb. salmon, but not a 2 oz.
minnow either) It appeared to be more than half the bird's length. This
evening at about 1745 the bird was back for the night.
The BAND-TAILED PIGEONS seem to have some sort of pecking order. I never
see juvenile birds on the trays of the hanging feeders but they do come to
the ground feeders. The adult birds use both.
Jean
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From email@hidden Tue Oct 10 11:19:38 2000
Subject: [SBB] Snowy Egrets
--------
On Sunday in the small reservoir behind Gunn High School in Palo Alto there
were 10 Snowy Egrets and lots of Mallards. To see that many Snowy Egrets
all together at that spot was really quite a beautiful sight. I also saw a
Yellow-Rumped Warbler as I walked the trail behind the high school.
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From email@hidden Wed Oct 11 09:04:23 2000
Subject: [SBB] New Almaden Reservoir visit
--------
"cc:Mail Note Part"
--------
Saturday morning (Oct. 7), I counted 30 WOOD DUCKS from where the stream enters
Almaden Reservoir to the first cove on the right. Also sighted was an OSPREY in
a dead tree about 100 yards up the slope from the stream.
Other birds seen between the reservoir and the O'Day property include:
ACORN WOODPECKER, AMERICAN ROBIN, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, BAND-TAILED PIGEON, BELTED
KINGFISHER, BUSHTIT, CALIFORNIA QUAIL, CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, CHESTNUT-BACKED
CHICKADEE, GREAT BLUE HERON, KILLDEER, LESSER GOLDFINCH, MALLARD, NORTHERN
FLICKER, NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER, STELLER'S JAY, WESTERN SCRUB-JAY and several very
large flocks of DARK-EYED JUNCO, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW.
Grant Webb
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From email@hidden Thu Oct 12 08:47:30 2000
Subject: [SBB] -
--------
Folks:
This morning, 10/12/2000, I saw a single immature BROWN PELICAN in with
the AM. WHITE PELICAN flock on Salt Pond A2W. There were two adult PEREGRINE
FALCONS on separate transmission towers on A2W and Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh.
There were at least 10 BLACK SKIMMERS on the south end of Charleston Slough,
so it looks like the winter flock is being established. Eight VIOLET-GREEN
SWALLOWS were over the Mountain View Forebay.
Bill
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From email@hidden Thu Oct 12 09:13:32 2000
Subject: [SBB] punchline: immature sora
--------
Lou Young, Larry and Judie Manning, and I did a Santa Clara county Big Day
this past Tuesday for SFBBO's annual California Fall Challenge, North
America's most innovative and exciting birding event. Please excuse the
shameless plug, but remember to sign up and participate next year.
We picked the one day in October when it was possible to get very very wet,
but we still had a good birding day. Lots of birds, including WOOD DUCKS in
Almaden Reservoir with another at Steven's Creek Park. OSPREY at Almaden
Reservoir with another at Steven's Creek Park, WESTERN TANAGER in the Hicks
Road/Almaden Reservoir Area, 11 BROWN PELICANS at Palo Alto Baylands, 9
BLACK SKIMMERS in flight at Charleston Slough.
However the most interesting bird occurred at dusk at the Sunnyvale
Treatment Plant. While walking out towards the radar dish, Larry spotted a
rail in the mud between the levee and the reeds in a long stand of trees
about 200 feet from the dish. The immediate impression was SORA, but on
closer inspection there were un-sora-like features. The face and breast
were a warm brown with a distinct white eyeline that extended around the
back of the eye down to a buffy white throat. The bird was completely
fearless. We watched it for around 20 minutes from very close range, our
presence and talking had no apparent affect. Our hopes were high that this
was an unusual rail rarely seen in California. Back at the car we each
wrote up our notes and then looked at our bird books. We all agreed that
what we had seen was an immature SORA.
Are sightings of immature SORA common in the fall? This is the first
immature that any of us had seen.
At two different times while we were watching the SORA, a VIRGINIA RAIL
walked right into our binocular view, giving a nice size comparison. It's
been a long time since I had been at the treatment plant at dusk. It's
really a great place. There are thousands of ducks on the ponds. We also
saw an adult SORA and a GREEN HERON, and heard several VIRGINIA RAILs. Also
at dusk the EGRETS are flying in to roost in the reeds while the
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS are flying out from their roosts. It was really
a very exciting place.
Jan Hintermeister
Santa Clara, CA
email@hidden
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Thu Oct 12 10:07:33 2000
Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek again
--------
All,
Stevens Creek north of L'Avenida was quite birdy this morning, with a
surprising 58 species found. This relatively high number was due in
large part to the nice weather, which seemed to induce all kinds of
stuff to fly overhead, including a "V" of 12 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS
with 2 (small?) CANADA GEESE at one end, TURKEY VULTURES, 2 each of
WHITE-TAILED KITE, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, and RED-TAILED HAWK, at least
one AMERICAN KESTREL, 3 CALIFORNIA GULLS, one or two BELTED
KINGFISHERS, a VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW, an AMERICAN PIPIT, 5 CEDAR
WAXWINGS, both TRICOLORED and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS, and at least
11 BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS.
There is still a trickle of migrants moving through, with 2 "WESTERN"
FLYCATCHERS, 2 HOUSE WRENS (1 singing), 5 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, a
HERMIT TRHUSH, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, 4 YELLOW WARBLERS, an adult
male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and
2 DARK-EYED JUNCOS. The HOUSE WRENS are always in the same few
locations and seem to be long-staying birds rather than new migrants
(I think the same holds true for the CCFS birds).
While crossing the Crittenden Road Bridge I noted 6 BROWN PELICANS
over Salt Pond A2E and a NORTHERN HARRIER over Crittenden Marsh.
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Thu Oct 12 17:20:51 2000
Subject: [SBB] Upper Grant Ranch Park
--------
All,
This morning Frank Vanslager and I birded the first 2.2 miles of the 4.5
miles required to reach the north end of the Canada de Pala trail from the
Twin Gates parking lot in Grant Ranch Park. (I wish I had known it would
have been be a nine mile round trip before I started). Of course we did not
find any Lewis's Woodpeckers. Best birds were Golden Eagles, Lark Sparrows
and an American Pipit. We were unable to ID many of the birds flying from
the grassy hilltops (we did not clearly see expected Horned Larks) but there
were many Western Meadowlarks, Goldfinches (both) and Western Bluebirds. We
also had Savannah Sparrows, House Finches, Dark-eyed Junco's, Acorn
Woodpeckers, Northern Flickers, both Jays, Yellow-billed Magpies, Mourning
Doves, White-breasted Nuthatches, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, American Crow,
American Kestrels and Red-tailed Hawks. Mammals included a large Bobcat
working the hilltop near us ("he" did not appear to be shy).
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 4:57 PM, 10/12/00
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From email@hidden Thu Oct 12 19:16:07 2000
Subject: [SBB] Santa Clara Co. List
--------
Bill Bousman has revised the list as of 9/30/00:
September, as expected, was the vagrant month and added 15 species. In
going over the list I found I had never added Black-chinned Hummingbird. This
was probably found in May--I'll add it next month. Thus, we've added 16 birds
to August's 266, and this brings us to 282 and striking distance of 300 birds.
The big news, of course, were two new birds for the county list:
Arctic Warbler and Painted Bunting.
There are only two "4's" not found this year: Tundra Swan and
White-winged Scoter. We have an excellent chance for Tundra Swan in December,
but White-winged Scoters have been down in recent years. There are only 12
"5's" left and we are unlikely to get them all. To reach 300 we will have to
really do well on the "6's."
American Golden-Plover, Pacific Golden-Plover, Wandering Tattler ,
Black Turnstone,Baird's Sandpiper. Parasitic Jaeger, Black-chinned Hummingbird,
Red-naped Sapsucker, Arctic Warbler, Brown Thrasher ,Blackpoll Warbler,
Northern Waterthrush, Brewer's Sparrow, Painted Bunting, Bobolink,
Yellow-headed Blackbird
The complete list can be viewed on:
South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU)
http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/
Kendric
-----------------------------------------
Kendric C. Smith, Ph.D.
927 Mears Court
Stanford, CA 94305-1041
(650) 493-7210 (voice or fax)
email@hidden
http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/
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From email@hidden Thu Oct 12 19:25:57 2000
Subject: [SBB] MERLIE IS BACK!
--------
At 5:00 pm tonight (10/12/00) I saw Merlie (a black Merlin) on his
tree. At 5:25 pm he was eating. This is the 9th year for Merlie (at
least since I have been watching).
This is about one week earlier than usual.
Does this foretell a hard winter, or just better sightings?
I looked for Merlie while I was in Alaska, but only saw one Merlin
(at Nome), and it wasn't Merlie. Of course, I don't really know
where Merlie goes when he leaves here, maybe only to Canada.
You can find more information on Merlie's Home Page at:
South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU)
http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/
Kendric
-----------------------------------------
Kendric C. Smith, Ph.D.
927 Mears Court
Stanford, CA 94305-1041
(650) 493-7210 (voice or fax)
email@hidden
http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/
------------------------------------------
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From email@hidden Fri Oct 13 12:07:39 2000
Subject: [SBB] Sierra Road
--------
Spent an hour or so birding the summit of Sierra Road, southeast of Milpitas,
this morning. There were a few Horned Larks about, but no Longspurs were
heard or seen. There was a flock of Western Bluebirds, four Yellow-rumped
Warblers (can't escape them anywhere, now), Rock Wren, Say's Phoebe, Golden
Eagle, Yellow-billed Magpies, etc. A large Tarantula crossed the road. I
hadn't been up there since last winter, so was surprised to see that the
property on both sides of the road now belongs to the Santa Clara County Open
Space Authority. Once resource inventories have been completed and the area
made "safe", the public will apparently be allowed to wander the fields. The
signs say that more information can be obtained by emailing
"email@hidden".
Roy Carlson
San Carlos, California
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From email@hidden Fri Oct 13 13:02:45 2000
Subject: RE: [SBB] Sierra Road
--------
This piece of Open Space is called Kirk Property
and can be found in http://www.openspaceauthority.org/kirk.htm
Al
-----Original Message-----
From: email@hidden [mailto:email@hidden]
Sent: Friday, October 13, 2000 12:08 PM
To: email@hidden
Subject: [SBB] Sierra Road
Spent an hour or so birding the summit of Sierra Road, southeast of
Milpitas,
this morning. There were a few Horned Larks about, but no Longspurs were
heard or seen. There was a flock of Western Bluebirds, four Yellow-rumped
Warblers (can't escape them anywhere, now), Rock Wren, Say's Phoebe, Golden
Eagle, Yellow-billed Magpies, etc. A large Tarantula crossed the road. I
hadn't been up there since last winter, so was surprised to see that the
property on both sides of the road now belongs to the Santa Clara County
Open
Space Authority. Once resource inventories have been completed and the area
made "safe", the public will apparently be allowed to wander the fields. The
signs say that more information can be obtained by emailing
"email@hidden".
Roy Carlson
San Carlos, California
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From email@hidden Fri Oct 13 13:47:43 2000
Subject: [SBB] Osprey at Almaden Lake
--------
The most interesting bird to be seen near the Almaden
Lake this morning about 10:30 was a beautiful Osprey
who was patroling the Los Alamitos Creek. The normal
trail out of the lake is closed due to construction.
There is a detour trail that can be walked on the west
side of the creek which is supposed to be completed in
a couple of weeks according to the park ranger. It
can be walked for a fairly short distance now and is
very pleasant. It was there that we spotted the
Osprey who made more than one pass over our heads and
filled our binoculars.
Barbara Harkleroad
Almaden area.
P.S. My latest backyard birds have been American
Goldfinch and at least four Juncos.
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get Yahoo! Mail - Free email you can access from anywhere!
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From email@hidden Fri Oct 13 14:56:50 2000
Subject: [SBB] White Headed Ruddy Duck
--------
Palo ALto Flood Basin's Ruddy Duck Flock has one with an all white head.
It's also somewhat larger than its brethren. Otherwise, it looks like a
ruddy -- little up-turned tail, etc. Doesn't match any species I can
find.
--
Richard C. Carlson
Chairman, Spectrum Economics
Palo Alto, CA
email@hidden
650-324-2701
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From email@hidden Fri Oct 13 15:49:48 2000
Subject: Re: [SBB] White Headed Ruddy Duck
--------
> Palo ALto Flood Basin's Ruddy Duck Flock has one with an all white head.
> It's also somewhat larger than its brethren. Otherwise, it looks like a
> ruddy -- little up-turned tail, etc. Doesn't match any species I can
> find.
How about White-Headed Duck, Oxyura leucocephala. A picture can
be found at:
http://www.stlzoo.org/content.asp?page_name=WhiteDuck
See also:
http://www.ramsar.org/w.n.uk_ruddy_ducks.htm
Daniel Bump
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From email@hidden Fri Oct 13 16:01:46 2000
Subject: Re: [SBB] White Headed Ruddy Duck
--------
>> Palo ALto Flood Basin's Ruddy Duck Flock has one with an all white head.
>> It's also somewhat larger than its brethren. Otherwise, it looks like a
>> ruddy -- little up-turned tail, etc. Doesn't match any species I can
>> find.
>
>How about White-Headed Duck, Oxyura leucocephala. A picture can
>be found at:
>
>http://www.stlzoo.org/content.asp?page_name=WhiteDuck
>
>See also:
>
>http://www.ramsar.org/w.n.uk_ruddy_ducks.htm
A better picture of the White-Tailed Duck can be found at:
http://www.ug.bcc.bilkent.edu.tr/~mcaliska/ordek.html
It is native to Turkey and Russia, and declining in numbers
due to hybridization with Ruddy Ducks. The top of the
otherwise white head is black. Does this resemble your bird?
Daniel Bump
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From email@hidden Fri Oct 13 16:38:20 2000
Subject: [SBB] Los Gatos Creek Park / Almaden Lake
--------
Yesterday evening (Thursday), My son Will and I birded Los Gatos Creek
Park. More ducks have arrived since the last time I was there. We saw Ruddy
Duck, Gadwall, Ring-necked Duck, American Widgeon and Hooded Merganser (1
male, 2 females). There was a Common Yellowthroat in the reeds along the
third pond and a couple of Green Herons about.
This morning at Almaden Lake, I saw an Osprey flying along Los Alamitos
Creek and perched by the bridge at Mazone Dr. Around 2pm I drove down
Winfield to where it ends at Cross Springs (?) and saw it perched in a
Sycamore North of Winfield.
Don Ganton
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Fri Oct 13 20:24:15 2000
Subject: [SBB] Los Altos Townsend's, Downy, Steller's
--------
A nice little bit of birding on a walk along Fremont in Los Altos
today... At about noon in Marymeade park, in addition to the usual
Chickadees and Titmice, I found two Downy woodpeckers and what must have
been an adult male Townsend's Warbler in full summer crisp colors. I
frequently see Nuttall's woodpeckers in this neighborhood; these were the
first Downys I've spotted. As for the warbler, I know Townsend's aren't
particularly rare here, but it's a lovely bird and *my* first
sighting. Unfortunately I had to look straight upward to see it through
the oak canopy--great view of the belly, chest, neck, and profile of the
head, but virtually no possibility of seeing its back.
Walking a little further toward Loyola Corners, I heard a jay scolding. I
thought, "jay," but then it didn't sound quite right and maybe it was a
crow or a squirrel (I swear they all imitate each other)--but no, it
sounded like a jay more than those. The puzzle was solved when I came
round the tree and realized the jay sounded different because it was a
Steller's, not the usual Scrub Jay of that area. In fact, I got a good
chance to compare because the Scrub Jay who usually hangs out near that
tree had a lot to say about his cousin's visit...:) I am not particularly
good with sounds, so I'm fairly impressed that I knew the call wasn't
"right" for a Scrub jay. Do the Steller's typically come further into the
cities during the spring and fall? I believe the last time I saw a
Steller's in this area it was late spring--but if I go just a little
further into the foothills, the balance shifts and I see mostly Steller's
and only a few Scrub Jays most of the time.
I'm still waiting for the waxwings to show up in Loyola Corners. This
spring we had flocks almost every day for a while and they are such
handsome birds with such a funny tiny voice...
Natasha Dehn
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From email@hidden Sat Oct 14 07:36:06 2000
Subject: Re: [SBB] White Headed Ruddy Duck
--------
This bird has an all-white head. No black that I could see. Your
white-headed duck picture shows a black crest. Is it Asian or South
American??
--
Richard C. Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker, Skier, Hiker
Palo Alto, California Part-time Economist
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Sat Oct 14 08:01:03 2000
Subject: Re: [SBB] White Headed Ruddy Duck
--------
> This bird has an all-white head. No black that I could see. Your
> white-headed duck picture shows a black crest. Is it Asian or South
> American??
It is native to Turkey and Russia. A range map can be found at:
http://www.bird-stamps.org/species/27139.htm
I went looking for this bird last night around 6 PM. The large flock
of Ruddy Ducks and other species we found is adjacent to Byxbee Park.
Is that the right place?
We found one Redhead among other things, no aberrant Ruddy.
Dan
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From email@hidden Sat Oct 14 09:28:27 2000
Subject: Re: [SBB] Los Altos Townsend's, Downy, Steller's
--------
Natasha and all--
Stellar's Jays are increasingly invaded the "flatlands" of Los Altos
in fall. I ascribe this to the fact that the area is becoming a
coniferous forest. This year a large flock of STJA spent several days
near our home battling the local Scrub Jays before they finally
retreated.
Ruth Troetschler
184 Lockhart Lane
Los Altos, CA 94022
----------------------------------
At 8:24 PM -0700 10/13/00, amphibian wrote:
A nice little bit of birding on a walk along Fremont in Los Altos
today....... Walking a little further toward Loyola Corners, I heard
a jay scolding.... when I came round the tree [I] realized the jay
sounded different because it was a Steller's......
>. Do the Steller's typically come further into the cities during
>the spring and fall? I believe the last time I saw a Steller's in
>this area it was late spring--but if I go just a little further into
>the foothills, the balance shifts and I see mostly Steller's and
>only a few Scrub Jays most of the time.
>
>Natasha Dehn
>
>
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--
Ruth Troetschler
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From email@hidden Sat Oct 14 09:48:26 2000
Subject: Re: [SBB] White Headed Ruddy Duck
--------
This bird was farther out in the largest Ruddy/Canvasback flock where
the Bay dike hits Charleston Slough. It's a long walk but an easy
bike. I couldn't find it this morning. There must be 500 Ruddies out
there.
--
Richard C. Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker, Skier, Hiker
Palo Alto, California Part-time Economist
email@hidden
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From email@hidden Sat Oct 14 15:54:10 2000
Subject: [SBB] Alviso birds
--------
CCFS banding this morning netted a Winter Wren and a Marsh Wren. The bander
training group netted a Marsh Wren, uncommon in the CCFS nets. Yellow-rumped
Warblers were the most numerous species this morning. We banded 15 "Audubon's"
and 6 "Myrtle" Warblers. Last Sunday, 10/8/00, a banded hatch-year Lincoln's
Sparrow was recaptured at CCFS. It was banded on 10/4/00 at Southeast
Farallon Island and believed to have left the island on 10/5/00. So, some
birds that find their way out there, do make it back to the mainland.
I checked the pond at State and Spreckes St. in Alviso, looking for the
Ruff and Stilt Sandpiper, but could not find either. There was one Pectoral
Sandpiper and 5 Lesser Yellowlegs among the small gathering of shorebirds.
Les Chibana
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From email@hidden Sat Oct 14 16:58:43 2000
Subject: Re: [SBB] Alviso birds
--------
Sorry, brain mis-fire....
The regular banding effort netted a Winter Wren and a BEWICK'S Wren, and
the training group got the Marsh Wren. We don't normally see 3 species of
wren in one day of banding at CCFS (the Coyote Creek Field Station of the
San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory... aren't acronyms nicer?)
Les Chibana
On Saturday, October 14, 2000, Les Chibana wrote:
>CCFS banding this morning netted a Winter Wren and a Marsh Wren. The bander
>training group netted a Marsh Wren, uncommon in the CCFS nets. Yellow-rumped
>Warblers were the most numerous species this morning. We banded 15 "Audubon's"
>and 6 "Myrtle" Warblers. Last Sunday, 10/8/00, a banded hatch-year Lincoln's
>Sparrow was recaptured at CCFS. It was banded on 10/4/00 at Southeast
>Farallon Island and believed to have left the island on 10/5/00. So, some
>birds that find their way out there, do make it back to the
>mainland.
>
>I checked the pond at State and Spreckes St. in Alviso, looking for the
>Ruff and Stilt Sandpiper, but could not find either. There was one Pectoral
>Sandpiper and 5 Lesser Yellowlegs among the small gathering of
>shorebirds.
>
>Les Chibana
>
>
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 16 09:37:35 2000
Subject: [SBB] Almaden/some Sunday birds
--------
Just a few birds to report from the Almaden area on Sunday, Oct 15.
Almaden Reservoir: approx 30 WOOD DUCKS were present at the upper end.
100+ BAND-TAILED PIGEONS circled overhead above the reservoir; in the Twin
Creeks area another 15-20 were seen.
Calero Reservoir (eastern end): The wintering coot population is increasing
by the hundreds. The wintering Eared Grebe population is also picking up as
12 were seen this weekend at the eastern end. Ducks: many Mallards, Amer
Wigeons and Gadwalls. Also 25+ Ring-necked Ducks, Ruddy Ducks, and
Green-winged Teal. Eight Common Mergansers. One or two of the following:
Bufflehead, N. Shoveler, N. Pintail. Shorebirds: Black-necked Stilt,
Killdeer, Greater Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher, Least Sandpiper, and
one Spotted Sandpiper. Eight Forster's Terns still present.
Nothing too exciting - but there it is.
- Ann
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 16 11:16:15 2000
Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek North of L'Avenida
--------
All,
Things were pretty quiet this morning 10/16/00 along Stevens
Creek north of L'Avenida. The only lingering migrant was a
"WESTERN" FLYCATCHER. However, a MERLIN chasing a passerine
and then landing in the Moffett housing area was the first
I've seen this Fall and a high-flying BAND-TAILED PIGEON
(heading northwest to Shoreline Park) was very unusual for
this spot.
Mike Rogers
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 16 14:28:08 2000
Subject: [SBB] -
--------
Folks:
Jan Hintermeister asked about immature Soras in the South Bay, and how
common they are. The secretive nature of this species makes any quantitative
assessment difficult and most observations are of vocalizations rather than
birds. In my experience, fall immatures seem relatively common compared to
adults, although not to the extent observed in the immature/adult proportions
of our wintering sparrows for example.
The problem with immature Soras is, of course, their tendency to be
transmuted into Yellow Rails. Occasionally, however, the reverse occurs, as
with the Yellow Rail at the Baylands that nearly succumbed to a winter storm
and was revived, banded, and initially recorded as a Sora. Avoid alchemy.
Bill
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 16 15:05:32 2000
Subject: [SBB] County birding
--------
All,
This morning Frank Vanslager and I birded Stevens Creek from Hwy 101 to the
bridge at Crittenden Lane (nothing new in the mitigation "mudflats" or in
Crittenden Marsh). Best bird was a probable Palm Warbler. I got a short,
unaided, look at a bird that was continuously pumping it's tail. A quick,
split second look (through the binoculars) revealed a very plain looking
warbler with an obvious whitish supercillium and light streaking on the
flanks and chest. Unfortunately during this split second sighting I don't
recall seeing yellowish undertail coverts. We were unable to refind the bird.
Other birds included a single Western Flycatcher (type, no call), several
Yellow-rumped Warblers, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Lincoln's Sparrows, at
least three Hermit Thrushes, both Goldfinches, Northern Flickers and a female
Nuttall's Woodpecker. An unusual sight was a large flock of European
Starlings flying in all directions, at once, at about the same height
apparently flycatching (doing their swift imitation?).
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 3:04 PM, 10/16/00
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From email@hidden Mon Oct 16 16:13:44 2000
Subject: [SBB] Fwd: Hello from Oregon
--------
Hi Les--
SBBers were interested in knowing where I am, so if you could post this for me, I'd be grateful.
Mark
-------------------
After many years in the Bay Area, I have moved to the Portland area. Birders here are generous with their time and knowledge, and I'm learning about many new places to go. Last weekend, I went to central Oregon (around Bend) with an organized Oregon Field Ornithologists trip to look for Boreal Owl, woodpeckers, and waterfowl. On Friday night, the group went into the Cascades to about 6000', the last 4 miles on a rocky track, to a place where Boreals had been found in previous years. The weather was cold and misty, but I heard distant calls in response to the tape. On Saturday, the group spent most of the day at reservoirs looking at ducks and grebes (Red-necked Grebe was a highlight), then went to a recently burned patch of woods. It only took a few minutes to find a Black-backed Woodpacker, and after an hour or so, I had seen 6 Black-backs and a female Three-toed. This was my first Three-toed ever south of Alaska. After dinner, the group went back to try for the Boreal Owl ag!
!
ain, this time with clear weather. In response to the tape, a Boreal Owl flew directly over the leader, calling angrily. I found myself ducking, but saw nothing. The owl called off and on for another 30 minutes or so, but from deep inside the forest. The roads will be snowed in soon, but next year I want to try some places in northeastern Washington where they're more common. Already there's been a report of Northern Hawk Owl and multiple Boreals from up there. Best wishes to all of you; feel free to look me up if you're birding up this way.
Mark Miller
Hillsboro, OR
email@hidden
10% cash back on all your calls through 2000 at Lycos Communications at http://comm.lycos.com
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From email@hidden Tue Oct 17 17:06:00 2000
Subject: [SBB] Townsend's Solitaire, Slate-colored Junco
--------
A couple of reports. Harriet Gerson had a TOWNSEND'S SOLITAIRE at her bird
bath yesterday afternoon, 10/16/00, in Saratoga at the base of the Santa
Cruz Mtns. She said that she was enjoying her first Hermit Thrush for her
yard for this season when a plain gray bird joined it at the bath. The
white eye-ring was prominent as was the thrushlike bill. She could not see
any rusty wing markings as the bird was facing her the whole time of the
sighting. It bathed but maintained a very erect, alert posture. It flew out
of her yard after the sighting and she could not refind it. It originally
came to her seed feeder but quickly moved to the bath when it didn't appear
to find anything of interest.
This morning at my house on Skyline Blvd., a SLATE-COLORED DARK-EYED JUNCO
was among the Oregon Dark-eyed Juncos. It had a very faint tint of umber
on its back. Otherwise it was gray on the upperparts and on the flanks.
There was no contrast in color from the back to the head, so there was no
hooded effect. The margin between the gray of the breast and the white of
the belly was a gray concaved shape. I didn't notice any wingbars.
Les Chibana
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From email@hidden Tue Oct 17 21:47:38 2000
Subject: [SBB] Good bye
--------
All:
As some of you probably already know (or have guessed from my lack of
recent postings), I have just relocated to Santa Barbara in the last month.
I wanted to take the opportunity to thank all the birders who made my stay
in the Bay Area so enjoyable and wish you all the best of luck in the future.
Although I hope to see plenty of good birds in Santa Barbara, my family
commitments and the relocation process have limited my birding so far,
although I did find a Franklin's Gull on a visit to the beach!
Regards,
Nick
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From email@hidden Tue Oct 17 23:41:49 2000
Subject: [SBB] Osprey
--------
All,
This is day 15 for the OSPREY who occupies a roost overlooking Vasona
Reservoir. His activities have gotten pretty routine. He is there in the
morning until about 10:00, although he might leave earlier for a few minutes
to catch a large fish for his breakfast. He has done this five times that I
have observed. Upon leaving for the day, he returns in the late afternoon,
between 5:00 and 6:00 when he apparently settles down for the night.
Jean
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From email@hidden Wed Oct 18 06:34:55 2000
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
Along San Tomas Aquino Creek at Scott Blvd in Santa Clara today, I had an
adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, a COMMON MERGANSER, and a small flock of AMERICAN
GOLDFINCHES.
Last Sunday, 15 Oct 00, I had 5 PECTORAL SANDPIPERS at the pond near State
and Spreckles in Alviso.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Wed Oct 18 07:39:02 2000
Subject: [SBB] Anderson Reservoir
--------
Monday (10/16/00) we surveyed Anderson Reservoir. Highlights
include 3 GOLDEN EAGLE (1 1st year, 2 AD), EARED GREBE have returned, the
usual WESTERN & CLARK'S GREBE, BELTED KINGFISHER, and COMMON MERGANSER.
Tuesday (10/16/00) we observed an OSPREY hunting on Coyote Creek
near Ford Road.
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From email@hidden Wed Oct 18 13:41:26 2000
Subject: [SBB] White-headed Duck
--------
Hi,
Nature Magazine, 28 September 2000, reports that our Ruddy duck, Oxyura
jamaicensis, was a welcome addition in European collections, until it
excaped and started breeding with their Oxyura leucocephalus. British
decided to control the interlopers by shooting them. Spread of ruddy
ducks to Spain and Turkey is threatening their white-headed ducks and are
being shot. This was reported by Chris Mead, at The Nunnery, in Norfolk,
UK: email@hidden
So now I am wondering if the O. leucocephalus felt rejected and decided
to migrate to the U. S.
Lee Lovelady.
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From email@hidden Wed Oct 18 13:51:19 2000
Subject: [SBB] County birding
--------
All,
This morning Frank Vanslager and I once again birded Stevens Creek north of
La'Avenida with basically the same results except that we had no mystery
warbler and no Western Flycatcher. We did add a Fox Sparrow and a Green
Heron crawling along some low branches under heavy cover got me going for a
while. We then went to Harvey Marsh aka Calabazas Ponds (the north pond was
loaded with American Avocets, dowitchers and gulls, a few peeps and a couple
Greater Yellowlegs). We flushed two Ring-necked Pheasants and heard a third
calling on our way to the northern most pond. We then went to the pond at
State & Spreckles St in Alviso where the best bird was a Lesser Yellowlegs.
A Cooper's Hawk stirred things up there for a while. We then went for a
short drive to the Environmental Education Center [EEC] where we added
another Fox Sparrow, Hermit Thrush, Lincoln's Sparrow and a Say's Phoebe.
Several Sora called in the channel to the east of the center. This channel
also had a number of Least Sandpipers with a few Western Sandpipers thrown in
for contrast. There were no "mentionables" on Salt Pond A16. New Chicago
Marsh had a number of ducks in it but we were unable to locate anything
different [the light was pretty bad at this point].
Take care,
Bob Reiling, 1:36 PM, 10/18/00
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From email@hidden Wed Oct 18 15:33:34 2000
Subject: [SBB] South County
--------
Birders,
I happened across an immature blue phase Snow Goose and an adult Ross's
Goose near the corner of Church Ave and Llaga Ave in San Martin. The blue
phase had an all dark head with a black smile on the bill. Both birds were
hanging out on water with a flock of Canadas. The Ross's in particular
appeared a bit lost... It sure is Yellow Rumped city out there.
Enjoy,
RWH
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From email@hidden Wed Oct 18 23:36:01 2000
Subject: [SBB] Bald Eagle in Cupertino
--------
This morning (10/18) in Cupertino at around 11:30 a.m., I saw a mature BALD
EAGLE in a clump of evergreens at the Peppermill restaurant in Cupertino
near the corner of DeAnza Blvd and Mariani Ave. I did a double take at first
since it seemed so out of place in a large urban area away from water.
regards,
Kenneth Petersen
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From email@hidden Thu Oct 19 08:31:08 2000
Subject: [SBB] Herons in Mtn View Forebay
--------
This morning 10/19, around 7:30 am, I saw 10 Black-Crowned Night Herons
sitting in the small pond at the Mountain View Forebay. Never have seen so
many in one spot; they usually fly to the cattails to roost. I thought
maybe they were soaking their feet and trading stories about last night.
But Dick Carlson came along and said they were more likely hunting for
rails. I prefer my version.
Cheers, Nancy Teater
--
Nancy R. Teater Hamilton Communications phone: +1 650 321 0252
email@hidden http://web.hamilton.com fax: +1 650 327 4660
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From email@hidden Thu Oct 19 08:49:41 2000
Subject: [SBB] -
--------
Folks:
This morning, 10/19/2000, I counted eight BLACK SKIMMERS on the south
island in Charleston Slough, but may have missed a few. A fall HOUSE WREN was
along Stevens Creek below Crittenden Lane in a large sparrow flock working the
weeds there.
Bill
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From email@hidden Fri Oct 20 14:20:27 2000
Subject: [SBB] Charleston Slough area
--------
I saw 10 roosting Black Skimmers on the island at the base of Charleston
Slough during a short walk at lunchtime today. Two appeared to be more
brownish imm. Last night 11 of them were coursing over the slough, doing
figure 8's and climbing uncharacteristically high in a dogfight maneuver.
They were flying well up to the end of twilight. Are they nocturnal
foragers? You know, I think I've asked this question before and recall
that Steve Rottenborn may have answered that they had a colloquial name
along coastal Virginia that referred to their night "fishing".
Also, an imm. Red-tailed Hawk was on the ground in front of a company
at the corner of Casey Ave. and Marine Way (near the Mtn. View Forebay).
It was busily dismantling a black Eastern Gray Squirrel. By averting my
eyes as I walked past, I was able to come within 12 ft. of it.
Off topic: my wife mentioned that back in Michigan, there was a zoo that
had a display of what they called "California Black Squirrels". Funny,
here they call them black Eastern Gray Squirrels.
Les Chibana
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From email@hidden Sat Oct 21 05:32:34 2000
Subject: [SBB] :
--------
Today, 21 Oct 00, I went to the south county. At the Morabito goose farm
there was a single ROSS' GOOSE and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in the pond.
The Ross' had no bands or cut halluces and didn't look to be pinioned. The
White-fronted didn't show its legs, but the wings looked to be in good
condition. Tony Morabito told me that these birds are free flying and that
they come-and-go, but they have been hanging around for a few years.
Evidently, they have given up migration, so I don't know what their status
should be. His normal captive crew of 7 SNOWS, a few GREATER WHITE-FRONTEDS,
and myriad races of CANADA GEESE were present, as usual.
A SAY'S PHOEBE was at South County Airport.
At Ogier Ponds an OSPREY was eating a fish at the top of a power pole. An
adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was perched at the entrance road. The pond to the
north of the road had a handful of CANVASBACKS in with the horde of
GADWALLS, while the south pond had 5 RING-NECKED DUCKS and 3 BONAPARTE'S
GULLS.
Mike Mammoser
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From email@hidden Sun Oct 22 15:19:03 2000
Subject: [SBB] RE: Los Gatos Creek Park & Oka Ponds
--------
Good Afternoon All:
Had a super morning of birding (even with all the wind) over at Oka Ponds and
Los Gatos Creek Park. On the Oka Ponds side there was a male HOODED MERGANSER
with two female MERGANSERS. Overhead there was an adult OSPREY and a IMM.
OSPREY. BELTED KINGFISHERS, a pair of NORTHERN-RED SHAFTED FLICKERS, Male
and Female in some sort of wing flashing, courting type behavior, really neat
to watch! Also a first for the season for me at Oka Ponds was a BUFFLEHEAD,
only one, but great to see. Lots of AMERICAN WIGEONS, and GADWALLS. A flock
(12) of CEDAR WAXWINGS too!
On the Los Gatos Creek side in the first large pond were seven RING-NECKED
DUCKS, RUDDY DUCKS. 15 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS all swimming and diving
together, fun to watch.
There were also the usual birds, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, GOLD-CROWNED
SPARROWS, BLACK PHOEBE, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS,
COOPER'S HAWK, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, GREEN HERON, GREAT EGRET, GREAT BLUE HERON
just to name a few.
Hope you all a fun day of b