From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Mon Aug 25 10:19:49 2003 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id h7PHG8kU026336 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 25 Aug 2003 10:16:08 -0700 (PDT) Received: from rtjones.nas.nasa.gov (rtjones.nas.nasa.gov [129.99.19.30]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id h7PHE6VK026265 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 25 Aug 2003 10:14:07 -0700 (PDT) Received: (from mrogers@localhost) by rtjones.nas.nasa.gov (SGI-8.9.3p2/8.9.3/NAS 8.9.3-5n) id KAA08617 for [[email protected]]; Mon, 25 Aug 2003 10:14:03 -0700 (PDT) Date: Mon, 25 Aug 2003 10:14:03 -0700 (PDT) From: "Dr. Michael M. Rogers" <[[email protected]]> Message-Id: <[[email protected]]> To: [[email protected]] Subject: [SBB] migrants in riparian corridors X-BeenThere: [[email protected]] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.2+ 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]] All, I birded along Stevens Creek between Highway 101 and Crittenden Lane Saturday morning 8/23/03, hoping for migrants. Empidonax flycatcher migration is in full swing, with 7 WILLOW FLYCATCHERS and 7 "WESTERN" FLYCATCHERS (at least one a PACIFIC-SLOPE by call) located in the riparian corridor. Most of the Willow Flycatchers were in the scrubby vegetation between the power line crossing and the lone eucalyptus tree south of Crittenden Lane. Warblers are also starting to move through, with 6 YELLOW WARBLERS (all in the lone eucalyptus tree) and a single WILSON'S WARBLER. Other migrants included an adult male WESTERN TANAGER, 2 juvenile BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, an adult female BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, and 4 VAUX'S SWIFTS with a small swallow flock. Unusual this far up the creek was a COMMON MOORHEN (immature); more expected were an immature GREEN HERON and an immature COOPER'S HAWK. NUTTALL'S WOODPECKERS outnumbered the only DOWNY WOODPECKER 4 to 1. The dark-morph adult RED-TAILED HAWK was once again perched on a tower over the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh. Breeding confirmations included an adult male LESSER GOLDFINCH feeding a young bird and a fledgling NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD accompanied by an agitated adult. Two juvenile DARK-EYED JUNCOS at the end of L'Avenida mark the beginning of the lowland dispersants of this species. They may have been part of a larger movement, as I had another in my backyard in urban Sunnyvale the same morning. On Sunday 8/24/03, I decided to follow up with a check of the east side of the Guadalupe River between Montague Expressway and Trimble Road. Early migrants were fairly numerous, with 1 WILLOW FLYCATCHER, 6+ "WESTERN" FLYCATCHERS (2 in full song; at least 3 PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS by call), 1 faded WESTERN KINGBIRD, 1 HOUSE WREN, 1 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, 10+ YELLOW WARBLERS, 4+ WILSON'S WARBLERS, 2 WESTERN TANAGERS, 4 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, buzz calls from at least 9 Lazuli/Indigo Buntings, with the only two seen being young LAZULI BUNTINGS, and 2 SAVANNAH SPARROWS. Late breeding activity included feeding young by CALIFORNIA TOWHEE (including one pair parasitized by a BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD), SONG SPARROW (the adult banded on its left leg), HOUSE FINCH, and LESSER GOLDFINCH. Birds that likely breed in the nearby areas included 3 DARK-EYED JUNCOS and 2 HOODED ORIOLES. DOWNY WOODPECKERS outnumbered NUTTALL'S WOODPECKERS 4 to 3 along this stretch. I headed up First Street to check New Chicago Marsh at State and Spreckles in Alviso, finding the STILT SANDPIPER among the DOWITCHER flock there. I then decided to make a quick bike check of the Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Plant ponds for Common Terns. Heading out along the two central dikes proved a disappointment, as the presence of birders using the western dike prevented the usual roost of birds from forming. So I headed over to check the southern edge of adjacent Salt Pond A4, where terns often hang out on the strip island just off the dike. There were terns here, including begging young FORSTER'S TERNS, but no other species. A real surprise was a SY (one year old) female COMMON MERGANSER preening on a little mud island. This species is unusual along the bay edge. The bird was fairly worn (especially mantle and tail feathers) but had acquired entirely new wings (flight feathers, coverts) from its first summer molt. The extend of fresh gray lesser coverts and the pale loral line indicate a female bird. 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]]