From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Mon May 12 17:32:23 2003 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id h4D0SNIs019891 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 12 May 2003 17:28:25 -0700 (PDT) Received: from grebe.mail.pas.earthlink.net (grebe.mail.pas.earthlink.net [207.217.120.46]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id h4D0QSvn019838 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 12 May 2003 17:26:48 -0700 (PDT) Received: from pool0185.cvx40-bradley.dialup.earthlink.net ([216.244.42.185] helo=birdnutz.com) by grebe.mail.pas.earthlink.net with esmtp (Exim 3.33 #1) id 19FNcd-0000eO-00 for [[email protected]]; Mon, 12 May 2003 17:26:23 -0700 Date: Mon, 12 May 2003 17:26:44 -0700 Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v551) Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed From: Les Chibana <[[email protected]]> To: South Bay Birders <[[email protected]]> Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Message-Id: <[[email protected]]> X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.551) Subject: [SBB] Mines-San Antonio Valley-Del Puerto Cyn Rds. 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]] It seems like I've been birding more than sleeping or computing lately, and I haven't been able to post some sightings. These reports cover May 8th, 10th and 11th for the area noted in the subject line. This is a spectacular year and time to make the trek to this location. The weather has set the stage for one of the most spectacular wildflower displays in a while. The birds are also quite abundant and the area specialties have been putting on their own show. I'd advise you to go soon, though, as the sunny weather will undoubtedly change the wildflower show. All three trips (a BirdNUTZ trip and two PA Baylands birding class trips) followed the same route and timing. We got to the San Antone Junction by 10:30a, making only a few stops in Alameda Co. along Mines Rd. We went into San Antonio Valley about 1 mile south of the YL Ranch and finish with Del Puerto Canyon. Thursday was cool with some light showers, Saturday had some midday clouds that kept temperatures moderate, and Sunday had the typical Diablo Range blazing sun but the air temps were mild with cool breezes. Here are the Santa Clara Co. highlights that applied to nearly all trips. San Antone Junction: SAGE SPARROWs in the chamise btwn the cattle guard and the fire station. At 10:30a the air was still cool enough to not have significant heat shimmers and the sparrows were actively singing near the road. Especially nice were the individuals that came near the west side of the road where the sun was at our backs. LEWIS'S WOODPECKER(s) foraged in an oak on the western roadside while we looked for Sage Sparrows. We could stand almost at the foot of the tree with the sun at our backs to admire these birds. PHAINOPEPLA and CHIPPING SPARROW were also easily spotted and heard. LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHes were active at the firestation, which has a good patch of fiddleneck behind the house. LAZULI BUNTING were particularly active in the chamise where we looked for the sparrows; we would often see up to 6 individuals in one binocular view. The large groups seemed to have moved through the area by Sunday, as they were not as plentiful. More Lewis's W. were seen in the usual spot about a quarter mile south of the Junction. Nesting activity: Black Phoebe, House Finch, House Sparrows on nests at the firestation. Bullock's Orioles (nest in construction seen) and Lawrence's Goldfinch carrying nesting material. The pond that's approx. 1.25 mi. east of the cattle guard just past Mallison pond did not have any signs of the Tricolored Blackbirds that we saw on Sat, 5/3. California Dogface (the State butterfly) seen among the chamise between the cattle guard and the fire station near the Junction. San Antonio Valley: WOOD DUCKs (2 males on Thu; 3 m. and 1 fem. on Sat; 4 m. and 1 fem. on Sun) were in the pond on the east side of the road just before the dogleg. At the Bill Gherli Bridge, we had a singing YELLOW and WILSON'S WARBLERs on Sat. Another Lewis's W. was seen just south of the YL Ranch. The best wildflower display was about 1 mi. south of the YL Ranch. Incredible! Out of the county highlights: Livermore: At the Nob Hill Foods on E. Stanley Blvd. there were a lot of WESTERN TANAGERs and CEDAR WAXWINGs seen on all trips. Mines Rd., Alameda Co.: WILD TURKEYs heard at the intersection of Mines and Del Valle Reservoir Rds. We saw 6 of them on Sun, with one male doing a great display. Bobcat seen near road around the 7 milepost mark. Del Puerto Canyon: ROCK WRENs at about 17.8 mi. mark (adults feeding fledglings) and at the road cut at about 10.25 mi. mark. CANYON WREN at the latter stop. Also, at least 4 very young nestlings in the ravens nest. Another Calif. Dogface seen here. "Owl/Grafitti Rocks" had one Barn Owl roosting, only one adult GREAT HORNED OWL was seen on Thu, and a male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD was seen around the corner (approx. 3.8 mi. from I-5). Male and female BLUE GROSBEAKs were seen from 1.5 to 2 mi. from I-5 right at roadside. GRASSHOPPER SPARROWs were heard near the cattle guard about 1.5 mi. from I-5. Only one PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER was heard, no other empids were detected. Warbler sightings were very minimal, too. Interestingly, in light of Bob Reiling's comments about the crowded roads, we encountered very little heavy traffic this weekend. We even missed all other, multi-car birding groups on the route. The weekdays, however, are a very nice time to do this route, if you can swing it. Les --- Les Chibana BirdNUTZ(tm) - Ornigasmic Birding em <[[email protected]]> web ph 650-949-4335 fx 650-949-4137 snailmail: SR2 Box 335, La Honda CA 94020 _______________________________________________ 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]]