From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Fri Dec 26 08:08:20 2003 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id hBQG6NPG015820 for <[[email protected]]>; Fri, 26 Dec 2003 08:06:24 -0800 (PST) Received: from imo-d04.mx.aol.com (imo-d04.mx.aol.com [205.188.157.36]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id hBQG50UP015751 for <[[email protected]]>; Fri, 26 Dec 2003 08:05:01 -0800 (PST) Received: from [[email protected]] by imo-d04.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v36_r4.8.) id c.14f.28524d8c (4459); Fri, 26 Dec 2003 11:04:50 -0500 (EST) From: [[email protected]] Message-ID: <[[email protected]]> Date: Fri, 26 Dec 2003 11:04:49 EST To: [[email protected]], [[email protected]], [[email protected]] MIME-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: AOL 4.0 for Windows 95 sub 114 Cc: Subject: [SBB] Hayward-Fremont Christmas Bird Count 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]] Greetings Birders! The following represents a brief, preliminary, and quick review of the Hayward-Fremont Christmas Count held Sunday, December 21st. The weather was good as was the participation, and we thank both! We had a high species count of 173! Highlights of the count includes a BLACK RAIL found by Phil Gordon in the South Baumberg area along the old Alameda Creek channel and a BALD EAGLE in the hill area near Don Castro Park spotted by Kevin Hintsa. Steve Glover added SURFBIRDS along the Hayward Shoreline and BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS now are regulars also along the shoreline, found by the team led by Sheila Junge. Shorebirds were in good numbers including nearly 10,000 DUNLIN in Baumberg along with at least 100 SNOWY PLOVERS and other sightings of these plovers in the shoreline area. The Aleutian subspecies of the CANADA GOOSE were reported by several groups. PEREGRINE FALCONS continue in good numbers, which we have too many sightings that will have to be sorted through! There were also several sightings of OSPREY along the shoreline and also in the inland areas. A GOLDEN EAGLE along the shoreline was also the first in several years. BURROWING OWLS were also here and there, squeezed into ever decreasing habitats, surrounded by horrendous development along the shoreline. The North Dumbarton Bridge-Coyote Hills area, most ably birded by the Ed Pandolfino group, hit an all time high of incredible 120 species for the area, including ROCK WREN. Many TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were added, along with sightings of these two species in the inland areas also. A WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was also found in the hill area, and the early bird owling group found WESTERN SCREECH, BARN, and GREAT HORNED OWLS! ACORN WOODPECKERS have moved into our area in Fremont with several sightings and finally a YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE appeared. Also found near the count circle center at Whipple and Hwy 880 were two SELAPHORUS sp. which have been found regularly in past years in the same Eucalyptus trees at the Radisson Hotel. Also, along the shoreline were high counts of BROWN PELICANS! (Preliminary count of 43 in one group!). Also exciting was the presence of three species of swallows including BARN SWALLOWS in good number, TREE and VIOLET GREENS. The Don Edwards Refuge personnel shared their numbers from the rail count they conducted on count day, including many Virginia and Clapper Rails and they gave us another SHORT-EARED OWL! Thanks, guys! The hill area included several sightings of WILD TURKEYS which have become regulars! Several groups did comment that the overall land bird count is down, particularly sparrows. While the final count of duck numbers is not in, they also seem to be in lesser numbers. Notable misses included the "hoodies" and "woodies." Where were they on count day? One interesting incident included being kicked out of the San Mateo Toll Plaza area because of the Orange Alert initiated on Sunday about noon. The North Baumberg group was told to get back to their cars and away from the toll plaza. Fortunately for us, another team member had driven the bridge in the morning and was able to make a couple of stops along the bridge with Cal Trans' cooperation and was able to count waterfowl on the bay. PELAGIC CORMORANTS were also seen from the bridge. We would like to extend our thanks to all our counters, recorders, and everyone else who helped make this a very successful count and wish you our best and many birds in the new year. Sincerely, Phil and Pat Gordon Compilers of the Hayward-Fremont Count. _______________________________________________ Do not post admin requests to the list. 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