From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Mon Dec 30 14:43:38 2002 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.6/8.12.2) with ESMTP id gBUMfRPU007723 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 30 Dec 2002 14:41:28 -0800 (PST) Received: from smtp.slac.stanford.edu (smtp.slac.stanford.edu [134.79.18.80]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.6/8.12.2) with ESMTP id gBUMet3Y007690 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 30 Dec 2002 14:40:56 -0800 (PST) Received: from CONVERSION-DAEMON.smtp.slac.stanford.edu by smtp.slac.stanford.edu (PMDF V6.1-1 #37665) [[email protected]]; Mon, 30 Dec 2002 14:40:55 -0800 (PST) Received: from smtpserv1.slac.stanford.edusmtp.slac.stanford.edu <[[email protected]]> for [[email protected]]; Mon, 30 Dec 2002 14:40:55 -0800 (PST) Received: from SLACVX.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU ([134.79.144.12]) by smtpserv1.slac.stanford.edu (PMDF V6.1-1 #37665) with ESMTP id <[[email protected]]> for [[email protected]]; Mon, 30 Dec 2002 14:40:55 -0800 (PST) Received: from SLACVX.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU by SLACVX.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU (PMDF V5.2-32 #37499) id <[[email protected]]> for [[email protected]]; Mon, 30 Dec 2002 14:40:48 -0700 (PDT) Date: Mon, 30 Dec 2002 14:40:48 -0700 (PDT) From: Al Eisner <[[email protected]]> To: [[email protected]] Message-id: <[[email protected]]> X-VMS-To: IN%"[[email protected]]" MIME-version: 1.0 Content-type: TEXT/PLAIN; CHARSET=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Subject: [SBB] Weekend birds X-BeenThere: [[email protected]] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1rc1+ Precedence: list List-Id: South Bay Birding List-Unsubscribe: , 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]] On Saturday I participated in the Calero-Morgan Hill CBC. My area was centered on Coyote Creek from a bit north of Shady Oaks Park, south to where the Creek crosses under 101 the west. Since this area has no ponds (just the creek itself), landbirding was the focus; but this was generally slow due to (increasing) wind in the AM and rain in the PM. There were several promising locales which I wasn't able to check very well, if at all. My most interesting bird was a MERLIN (male, columbarius) in the old orchard just south of Shady Oaks Park. I also made an out-of-area stop to record and describe the young GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE at Cottonwood Lake (in Hellyer Park) -- a good rain stop, since this was easy to do at close range from my car. On Sunday, morning rain (and the need to repair a tire which had gone flat on Saturday) discouraged a trip to the coast; I stuck to Santa Clara County, mainly following up on birds found on the Calero CBC. Starting at Parkway Lakes, I saw 5 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANs and an OSPREY, but didn't find Mike Rogers's Pacific Loon in about 10 or 15 minutes of searching from Metcalf. At Edenvale Park in south San Jose, I encountered one Sparrow flock which included 2 WHITE-THROATED SPARROWs (of the tan persuasion) and a gray-headed FOX SPARROW (I don't think it had a large bill, but the view was brief); the flock was scattered by a dog-walker before I could fully check it out. Nearby was an interesting intergrade NORTHERN FLICKER (someone may have already mentioned this one): a male with a facial pattern much like Red-Shafted (although with the brown coming down a bit low), but with the red nape mark of a Yellow-Shafted; in a brief flight look, I had the impression of intermediate orangey wing linings. I found only one or two TOWNSEND'S WARBLERs at this park, but neither of the Hermit Warblers found on the CBC (sorry, I don't recall by whom). Next: to Anderson Lake Dam, to try for Rock Wren, but I stupidly failed to bring along John Mariani's directions; there were many places to check, and I evidently didn't select the right one. But it was a nice hike from the aptly named Toyon Picnic Area -- there was a literal horde of AMERICAN ROBINs in the area, along with CEDAR WAXWINGs, and one CALIFORNIA THRASHER heard singing. (I did finally see a ROCK WREN today at the Coyote Lake dam, acting on a tip from Mike Rogers.) Mike Mammoser hasn't reported yet from the CBC, but he had several excellent species at the Coyote Creek Golf Course. The PACIFIC LOON was still resting pacifically in a pond by the clubhouse on Sunday. Although I didn't hear just where he had seen 4 GREAT-TAILED GRACKLEs, I headed for their natural habitat: the garbage enclosure. One male was evident; and when an employee came up with a "delivery", all 4 (2 males and 2 females) flushed into the parking lot. Finally, I paid a late-aftenoon visit to Byxbee Park in Palo Alto, from where at about 4:25 I saw the (one) SHORT-EARED OWL hunting over the FCB. The CANADA GOOSE flock at the Park numbered 217, and with them was one (continuing, I think) GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE - another young bird, but (unlike the Cottonwood Lake bird) showing some initial signs of moult to adult plumage. Al Eisner _______________________________________________ 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]]