From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Thu Oct 24 10:02:52 2002 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.2/8.12.2) with ESMTP id g9OGxM1I015774 for <[[email protected]]>; Thu, 24 Oct 2002 09:59:23 -0700 (PDT) Received: from conure.mail.pas.earthlink.net (conure.mail.pas.earthlink.net [207.217.120.54]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.2/8.12.2) with ESMTP id g9OGwbhh015737 for <[[email protected]]>; Thu, 24 Oct 2002 09:58:37 -0700 (PDT) Received: from user-2ivfkbo.dialup.mindspring.com ([165.247.209.120] helo=kirstennt) by conure.mail.pas.earthlink.net with smtp (Exim 3.33 #1) id 184lJX-0004K9-00 for [[email protected]]; Thu, 24 Oct 2002 09:58:32 -0700 From: "Kirsten R. Holmquist" <[[email protected]]> Date: Thu, 24 Oct 2002 10:00:03 -0700 Message-ID: <[[email protected]]> MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: multipart/mixed; boundary="----=_NextPart_000_000C_01C27B44.1F8ECCC0" X-Priority: 3 (Normal) X-MSMail-Priority: Normal X-Mailer: Microsoft Outlook IMO, Build 9.0.2416 (9.0.2911.0) X-MimeOLE: Produced By Microsoft MimeOLE V6.00.2600.0000 Importance: Normal X-MS-TNEF-Correlator: <[[email protected]]> X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1b3+ Subject: [SBB] missing postings for Windy Hill and Ogier ponds scouting and field trips X-BeenThere: [[email protected]] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1b3+ Precedence: list Cc: South Bay Birding <[[email protected]]> List-Unsubscribe: , List-Id: South Bay Birding List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , To: [[email protected]] Sender: south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Errors-To: south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C27B44.1F8ECCC0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit > A number of people indicated they did not receive the last several > postings I made so I am resending. Sorry if these are a duplicate for > some. > > > From: Kirsten R. Holmquist [[[email protected]]] > Sent: Thursday, October 03, 2002 1:06 AM > To: South Bay Birds > Subject: Red-Breasted Sapsucker > > I went on a scouting expedition today for my upcoming SCVAS field trip to > Windy Hill. I took the Betsy Crowder trail and circled around the Sausal > pond area with an excursion along what I believe is the Eagle trail. It > was a good day for Woodpeckers. Of course, ACORN WOODPECKERS (6) were > visible without even half trying. I also had several NUTTALL's, a couple > each of DOWNY and HAIRY, and one RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. The SAPSUCKER > was in oak trees along the Eagle trail just before the intersection with a > dirt driveway to private inholdings. Just as I was about to leave this > area, an ACCIPITER blew by an opening in the canopy overhead. I only got > a quick look but I got the impression of a Sharp-Shinned. The wings were > held kinda hunched. The head didn't protrude very far past the upper > curve of the wing and had a sharp pointy look to it. > > Warblers consisted exclusively of TOWNSEND'S (6). These were mixed in > with hordes of CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES along the Crowder trail. A > gossipy megaflock of 30 or more BUSHTITS were also in the area. A > WHITE-TAILED KITE surveyed the area from on high. Low in some shrubbery > was a THRUSH. Unfortunately, all I saw was the back. The back looked all > brown until the bird hopped into the light a bit and spread its wings > (preparing to leave the area of course). The lower half of its back > (excluding the tail) seemed to have a cinnamon cast to it. Some LESSER > GOLDFINCHES (3) and OAK TITMICE (3) were also hanging out around the > Sausal Pond loop. Sparrows included CALIFORNIA TOWHEE (6), SPOTTED TOWHEE > (3), DARK-EYED JUNCOS (8), WHITE-CROWNED (4), GOLD-CROWNED (1), SONG (2). > And, what would be a walk in the hills without being scolded by BEWICK'S > WRENs (2) and ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS (3). > > The pond itself only held a couple each of AMERICAN COOTS and PIED-BILLED > GREBES (plus the Song Sparrows). I am still hopeful however that the pair > of Hooded Mergansers that over-wintered last year will return. > > -------------------------------------------------- > > From: Kirsten R. Holmquist [[[email protected]]] > Sent: Sunday, October 06, 2002 3:32 AM > To: South Bay Birds > Subject: SCVAS Windy Hill outing > > The SCVAS field trip to Windy Hill was an enjoyable one this morning. It > all started with a bang at the parking lot where we had LESSER GOLDFINCH, > dozens of HOUSE FINCHES, at least half a dozen WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, a > SAVANNAH SPARROW, an OAK TITMOUSE, an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, an ACORN > WOODPECKER, and a couple WESTERN BLUEBIRDS. A regal looking RED-TAILED > HAWK was sitting in the top of a tree as we started walking toward the > trail head. We also saw a couple of STELLAR'S JAYS early on. We took the > Betsy Crowder trail first to maximize warbler potential. The first mixed > flock of small birds was a doozy. In with a number of CHESTNUT-BACKED > CHICKADEES were a couple of TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, a HUTTON'S VIREO, a > RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, and a BROWN CREEPER. Down below in the pond, a > couple of MALLARDS were foraging, mostly tail-up. A little farther along, > we found a HERMIT THRUSH in amongst heavy vines. A flock of BUSHTITS were > also making their way through the trees. > > In an open meadow along the trail, we got our first raptors of the day. A > WHITE-TAILED KITE sat in a tree eating a mid-morning rodent snack. A > COOPER'S HAWK circled over the Kite's head and then headed off. In the > trees below the meadow, a VARIED THRUSH was heard but not seen. Our first > NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER of the day was in a huge old Oak by the trail and > also heard only. To compensate, our first BEWICK'S WREN of the day > treated many to good looks perched on the top of a bush near the old Oak. > A few singlet BAND-TAILED PIGEONS went by overhead. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK > was another heard but not seen until we were walking back on the other > side of the pond. As we reached the Crowder connection with the Spring > trail, a large, white raptor was seen circling high over the ridge. Frank > Vanslager got the most complete look at the bird and he identified it as a > FERRUGINOUS HAWK. A couple of WRENTITS flitted across the trail and into > some scrub. > > We went down the Spring trail and headed farther out into the Oak habitat > looking for woodpeckers. Several EUROPEAN STARLINGS marked the change in > direction. ACORN WOODPECKERS abounded. We easily saw half a dozen more > throughout the rest of the day. Many of us got a quick look at a HAIRY > WOODPECKER and then all got a good look at a nearby WHITE-BREASTED > NUTHATCH. A number of us got unsatisfying looks at a small woodpecker. > Between auditory and visual clues, the consensus was DOWNY WOODPECKER. A > NORTHERN FLICKER then did a nice fly by for us. A couple CALIFORNIA > TOWHEES were seen scrambling along in some brush by the side of the trail. > An adult GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW perched up for everyone's admiration. As > you can imagine, a few WESTERN SCRUB JAYS and DARK-EYED JUNCOS were around > as well. > > Working our way back to the parking lot on the other side of the pond, we > heard our first CALIFORNIA QUAIL of the day but never got a visual. A > half a dozen WESTERN BLUEBIRDS disported themselves along with a couple > LESSER GOLDFINCH near the Spring trail junction. We also picked up a > SPOTTED TOWHEE in close conjunction with what looked to be another HERMIT > THRUSH. A couple of ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS gave chase in some high speed > aerial maneuvers. Blue Angels eat your hearts out! We finally got to see > (rather than just hear) a nice-looking and talkative male NUTTALL'S > WOODPECKER. A FOX SPARROW was heard but not seen. > > On the pond, several of us got a quick look at a GREEN HERON as it flew > into the reeds. Judging by the emphatic calling, the heron was mightily > annoyed about something. A BLACK PHOEBE was seen on the opposite side of > the pond. Several PIED-BILLED GREBES puttered about in the middle of the > pond, including a juvenile. Several AMERICAN COOTS were also out and > about. A COMMON RAVEN circled over the pond. Small frogs jumped into the > pond with alarm as we approached and turtles were seen sunning on some > half-submerged logs. > > ----------------------------------------------------------- > > From: Kirsten R. Holmquist [[[email protected]]] > Sent: Thursday, October 10, 2002 5:43 AM > To: South Bay Birds > Subject: SCVAS Wednesday trip to Ogier Ponds > > We had a lovely day at Ogier Ponds on Wednesday. At the parking spot, we > quickly saw a couple of RED-TAILED HAWKS surveying the ponds from the snag > across the pond. In the pond North of the parking area, AMERICAN COOTS > and PIED-BILLED GREBES paddled along with a COMMON MOORHEN. Later, three > MOORHEN showed up in the same location. Our first YELLOW WARBLER of the > day passed just in front of us in the willows lining the pond. We first > walked along the willows and then amongst the fennel looking for the small > birds. A number of YELLOW WARBLERS were in the fennel along with a couple > of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and a couple of AMERICAN GOLDFINCH. One of the > Orange-Crowns was the grey headed variety. A passel of WHITE-CROWNED > SPARROWS flitted along the ground in the fennel. A flock of BUSHTITS made > their way along the willows on the other side of the road. A couple of > WESTERN MEADOWLARKS perched momentarily on the wires above us. A pair of > LESSER GOLDFINCH also were bouncing around. A male ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD > along the crest of the bank. Of course, half a dozen WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS > did their best to be distracting. > > We next walked along the south ponds. Along the side of the first pond, > we found a BEWICK'S WREN, more YELLOW WARBLERS, more WHITE-CROWNED > SPARROWS, and heard a couple GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS. On the spit that > sticks out into the pond, we saw a BLACK PHOEBE doing its flycatching > thing. In coming up to see, we scared up a female RING-NECKED PHEASANT. > As we approached the southern-most pond, we got some excellent scope views > of a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE perched in some dead shrubbery. It was here as > well where we got two outstanding flybys of AMERICAN BITTERN. A GREAT > EGRET flew in behind the second BITTERN. I don't think many saw it given > the attention grabbing Bittern. On the back end of the south pond, a > GREAT BLUE HERON was doing its best to take a nap. A couple of > DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS perched on partially submerged branches. A > WESTERN GREBE and a number of GADWALL paddled nearby. A male BELTED > KINGFISHER settled in a tree to the right of the heron. Coming back past > the parking area, a DOWNY WOODPECKER did a touch and go on a tree right in > front of us and then managed to stay one step ahead of us until it went > over a crest and away. > > We then visited the North ponds. A RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET sounded off in a > tree but we never found it in the foliage. On the opposite side of the > stream, a YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER appeared to be catching flys and a couple > MALLARDS startled up and away. Several AMERICAN CROWS perched in tree. > In the pond where we normally look for Bittern (no need this time), we > found several RING-NECKED DUCKS, several RUDDY DUCKS (including an > infant), and a couple good views of SORA RAILS. Across the pond, a > WHITE-TAILED KITE perched on a snag looking immaculate. In the reeds, we > found SONG SPARROWS, MARSH WRENS, and a small flock of RED-WINGED > BLACKBIRDS came in for a landing. Coming back, a GREEN HERON flushed and > flew away to the back ponds. A pair of AMERICAN KESTRELS retired to > opposite corners of a tree. The male caught and ate a cricket as we > watched. A kettle of TURKEY VULTURE soared in the sky and a NORTHERN > HARRIER went up to join them. > > Best Regards, > > Kirsten R. Holmquist > > [[email protected]] > 408.747.0988 > > > ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C27B44.1F8ECCC0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit _______________________________________________ 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]] ------=_NextPart_000_000C_01C27B44.1F8ECCC0--