From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Mon May 12 10:10:16 2003 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id h4CH69It012631 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 12 May 2003 10:06:09 -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 h4CH4Kvn012570 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 12 May 2003 10:04:40 -0700 (PDT) Received: (from mrogers@localhost) by rtjones.nas.nasa.gov (SGI-8.9.3p2/8.9.3/NAS 8.9.3-5n) id KAA02635 for [[email protected]]; Mon, 12 May 2003 10:04:12 -0700 (PDT) Date: Mon, 12 May 2003 10:04:12 -0700 (PDT) From: "Dr. Michael M. Rogers" <[[email protected]]> Message-Id: <[[email protected]]> To: [[email protected]] Subject: [SBB] GRFL & Coyote Creek in Coe 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, Sunday morning 5/11/03, I spent an hour birding Llagas Creek north of Bloomfield Road from the west dike, making it north to the second flooded field before turning around. The area was very birdy, with counts of 3 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES, 2 WARBLING VIREOS, 7 YELLOW WARBLERS, 14 WILSON'S WARBLERS, and many COMMON YELLOWTHROATS obtained just on the way north. The YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT provided nice views as it sang from the edge of the dike at the northern edge of the marshy area (a pair of NORTHERN HARRIERS acted as if they had a nest here). Just a couple hundred yards further on, where the next dirt road meets the dike at the southeast corner of the first flooded field, I was amazed to see a GRAY FLYCATCHER. This bird popped up into a leafless small tree at eye level and provided incredible views in perfect light from only about 20 feet away. It continually dipped its tail in typical Gray Flycatcher fashion and I confirmed that the long bill was mostly pale below with a small dark tip. Unfortunately I did not see the bird again on the way out. Waterfowl in the flooded fields included 7 CANADA GEESE, many MALLARDS, at least 7 male CINNAMON TEAL, 2 male NORTHERN SHOVELERS, and 5+ male GADWALL, as well as BLACK-NECKED STILTS and AMERICAN AVOCETS. The only other shorebirds were 22 alternate-plumaged LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and a single KILLDEER. Other birds of note included 3 GREEN HERONS, a male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD heading north, a pair of CALIFORNIA THRASHERS, 1 or 2 LAZULI BUNTINGS, a SPOTTED TOWHEE carrying food for young, and 8 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS flying over. I next headed up Canada Road to Gilroy Hot Springs Road, finding WILD TURKEYS in two places. A female COMMON MERGANSER was circling the sycamores at the Gilroy Hots Springs Road junction after aborting an apparent landing attempt. After parking at the bridge at the end of Gilroy Hot Springs Road I hiked into Henry Coe Park about 2.5 miles along Coyote Creek (until the trail leaves the creek for good and heads up to Coit Camp). Although there was lots of bird song along this road there were very few apparent migrants. A single YELLOW WARBLER, a single WESTERN TANAGER, and a single male MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER may have been it (the MGWA was exactly where Mike Mammoser and I saw one to the day 6 years ago, 5/11/97, east of the road just before the road begins the ascent to Coit Camp). Other singers that were quite likely breeding birds included 5 PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, 12 CASSIN'S VIREOS, 19 WARBLING VIREOS, 5 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS (including one with a song variation I have not heard before!), 11 LAZULI BUNTINGS, and 8+ PURPLE FINCHES. Breeding activity was rampant, and included two families of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS being fed and a LESSER GOLDFINCH on a nest. One the way home I stopped a short way east of the turnoff to Coyote Reservoir where a lingering Wilson's Warbler had been singing 16-29 June last summer. Sure enough, a singing WILSON'S WARBLER was there again this year. One of the trees that provided lots of shade has unfortunately fallen, so the area is less shady than last year. Also here was a singing YELLOW WARBLER and a pair of WRENTITS carrying food for young. Forgot to note that while driving south on highway 101 at 7:15am, I saw a male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE atop the usual reed bed at Parkway Lakes. 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]]