From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Fri Dec 20 10:46:03 2002 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.2/8.12.2) with ESMTP id gBKIgaoN025764 for <[[email protected]]>; Fri, 20 Dec 2002 10:42:36 -0800 (PST) Received: from rtjones.nas.nasa.gov (rtjones.nas.nasa.gov [129.99.19.30]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.2/8.12.2) with ESMTP id gBKIfawO025703 for <[[email protected]]>; Fri, 20 Dec 2002 10:41:36 -0800 (PST) Received: (from mrogers@localhost) by rtjones.nas.nasa.gov (SGI-8.9.3/8.9.3/NAS 8.9.3-5n) id KAA50146 for [[email protected]]; Fri, 20 Dec 2002 10:26:20 -0800 (PST) Date: Fri, 20 Dec 2002 10:26:20 -0800 (PST) From: "Dr. Michael M. Rogers" <[[email protected]]> Message-Id: <[[email protected]]> To: [[email protected]] Subject: [SBB] Isabel Valley - Mt Hamilton CBC X-BeenThere: [[email protected]] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1b4+ Precedence: list List-Unsubscribe: , List-Id: South Bay Birding List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Errors-To: south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] All, Yesterday 12/19/02, Mike Mammoser and I covered the eastern half of Isabel Valley for the Mt. Hamilton Christmas Bird Count. We knew that a storm was coming and tried to get our work done quickly. This, combined with strong winds all day, kept bird numbers down (especially passerines). However, driving down Mt Hamilton in the afternoon with an inch of fresh snow everywhere (and more falling) on a closed road with no previous tire tracks was a neat experience that made up for the tough weather endured during the count (which included lots of rain after noon). We started out owling with Grant Hoyt's party (they did the west side of Isabel Valley). Wind made it hard to hear distant birds well, and we ended up with only a single WESTERN SCREECH-OWL for our efforts. Our first birding at Isabel Reservoir netted 2 adult FERRUGINOUS HAWKS and lots of waterfowl, but no Bald Eagle for the second year in a row. Later in the day we also had an adult GOLDEN EAGLE and an immature PRAIRIE FALCON here. Only a few LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS were hanging around the ranch houses, but there were lots at the eastern end of the valley and our total reached 27 (with Grant's party recording another 7 or 8). The wind made hunting for sparrows and other passerines difficult. DARK-EYED JUNCOS were everywhere (247), but we only had 20 GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS and 41 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, with most of these coming from right near the ranch houses. Persistent pishing at chaparral did eventually net 25 FOX SPARROWS (but no Sage Sparrows this year). Another highlight in the chamise was a flock of 14 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES (Grant's group had a flock of 8 as well). The large blackbird flocks contained 92+ TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS among the more usual species. Other interesting birds seen included 2 EARED GREBES on the northern reservoir, 4 WOOD DUCKS, 8 WILD TURKEYS, a single CEDAR WAXWING, and 3 PHAINOPEPLAS. Mammals included about 40 ELK, 12 PRONGHORN, and a BOBCAT. Mike Rogers _______________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored. south-bay-birds mailing list ([[email protected]]) Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription: http://www.plaidworks.com/mailman/options/south-bay-birds/south-bay-birds-archive%40plaidworks.com This email sent to [[email protected]]