From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Sun Mar 30 17:34:10 2003 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.8/8.12.2) with ESMTP id h2V1WBit024160 for <[[email protected]]>; Sun, 30 Mar 2003 17:32:11 -0800 (PST) Received: from smtp.slac.stanford.edu (smtp.slac.stanford.edu [134.79.18.80]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.8/8.12.2) with ESMTP id h2V1VaZQ024126 for <[[email protected]]>; Sun, 30 Mar 2003 17:31:36 -0800 (PST) Received: from CONVERSION-DAEMON.smtp.slac.stanford.edu by smtp.slac.stanford.edu (PMDF V6.1-1 #37665) [[email protected]]; Sun, 30 Mar 2003 17:31:35 -0800 (PST) Received: from smtpserv1.slac.stanford.edusmtp.slac.stanford.edu <[[email protected]]> for [[email protected]]; Sun, 30 Mar 2003 17:31:35 -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]]; Sun, 30 Mar 2003 17:31:35 -0800 (PST) Received: from SLACVX.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU by SLACVX.SLAC.STANFORD.EDU (PMDF V5.2-32 #37499) id <[[email protected]]> for [[email protected]]; Sun, 30 Mar 2003 17:31:24 -0700 (PDT) Date: Sun, 30 Mar 2003 17:31:22 -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] Alum Rock field trip X-BeenThere: [[email protected]] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.1+ 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]] The SCVAS field trip to Alum Rock Park on Sunday March 30 was generally a successful one, despite warmer than usual weather. Sixteen birders spent over 5 hours, traversing the North Rim Trail (starting from Rustic Lands) and the riparian zone. Raptors put on a particularly good show. We saw three Cooper's Hawks, one Sharp-shinned Hawk, at least one White-tailed Kite, three Red-Shouldered Hawks (including a circling pair), about five Red-tailed Hawks, two American Kestrels, and - best of all - a young Golden Eagle, spotted by Roland Kenner from our most upstream location, past the Live Oak picnic area. At least one Wild Turkey was well heard from the Todd L. Quick Trail. One or two male Allen's Hummingbirds provided a special treat along the North Rim Trail above the Visitors Center area, showing off on several perches. Individual Hairy and Downy Woodpeckers near the YSI completed a five-Woodpecker day, while a Belted Kingfisher farther upstream was expected here. The most evident Swallows were Northern Rough-winged, including an apparent colony along the creek near Sycamore Grove; five Band-tailed Pigeons (one of two groups sighted) settled in to feed along the same steep bank. Among our usual target resident birds, Rufous-crowned Sparrow proved uncooperative, with just one distant singer (unseen) noted; but a silent feeding California Thrasher along the Todd L. Quick Trail provided everyone with excellent looks. Two Townsend's Warblers, including one singer, were seen; a singing Yellow-rumped Warbler took a bit longer to figure out. Spring arrivals included at least five singing House Wrens (two seen) and two (heard-only) singing Orange-crowned Warblers. One or two possible Black-headed Grosbeaks may have been heard singing in the distance, but we failed to see any. As usual, Bullock's Orioles were in good evidence at Rustic Lands and at the top of the Todd L. Quick Trail. An early surprise was a bright male Hooded Oriole, also at Rustic Lands; a female was probably in the area as well. Our two best birds were left for last. As we walked downstream along Penitencia Creek, a few of us heard the call of a Western Screech-Owl, at about 12:45 PM! The group managed to locate the Owl in an opening in a creekside snag, a rare daytime treat. And finally, Pat Kenny miraculously spotted a Barn Owl roosting in a crevice in Alum Rock. Thanks to a wonderful group of birders for a fine trip; with everyone doing the spotting, there was little "leading" to be done beyond saying "let's stop here" or "let's move on now". Apologies to others whose names I should have mentioned above. 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]]