From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Tue May 13 11:54:05 2003 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id h4DInTIu006513 for <[[email protected]]>; Tue, 13 May 2003 11:49:29 -0700 (PDT) Received: from imo-r04.mx.aol.com (imo-r04.mx.aol.com [152.163.225.100]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id h4DIljvn006467 for <[[email protected]]>; Tue, 13 May 2003 11:48:05 -0700 (PDT) Received: from [[email protected]] by imo-r04.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v34.22.) id q.79.10f2bb43 (18707); Tue, 13 May 2003 14:47:32 -0400 (EDT) From: [[email protected]] Message-ID: <[[email protected]]> Date: Tue, 13 May 2003 14:47:32 EDT To: [[email protected]], [[email protected]] MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: 6.0 sub 10581 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.2+ Cc: Subject: [SBB] Summit Ridge 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]] This morning (5/13) I surveyed birds at points along Summit Ridge from the vicinity of Loma Prieta southeast to Mount Madonna Road. It was surprisingly calm and pleasant. A COMMON POORWILL was along the road side during the pre-dawn near the junction of Loma Prieta Ave and Summit Road, south of Loma Prieta Peak. The best bird was a MOUNTAIN QUAIL I heard calling on the SCZ side of the ridge crest about 2.8 mi. southeast of Loma Prieta, about 0.5 mi. from Maymen's Flat. This was the first for SCZ in this area of the county, although there were a few reports from the Loma Prieta area in recent years. I counted seven YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS at a series of stops. Five were in the expected upper elevation knobcone breeding habitat. But two were counter-singing on territory in redwood forest with lots of tan oak near the Emmaus Christian Center, about 2.5 mi. northwest from Mt Madonna Road. This was the same spot where I confirmed nesting in that habitat last year, marking the southeast edge of the species known range in these mountains. I remain surprised by their presence there, though, as that particular forest type is quite widespread in SCZ, but I have only found breeding Yellow-rumpeds in it at two localities in these mountains (this spot, and a spot on Empire Grade). Our others nest in higher elevation forests of knobcone pine or Douglas-fir. The same area had two very vocal AMERICAN CROWS (about 3 mi. northwest of Mt Madonna Road), I think the first record from the summit region of the southern Santa Cruz Mountains. A PINE SISKIN about 1 mi. northwest of Mt Madonna Road might seem mundane, but as far as I can tell they are rather rare in the breeding season in that area. At least I hardly ever find them around there. The only other real highlight was three singing HOUSE WRENS in stunted oak forest about 1.5 to 2 mi. southeast of Loma Prieta, as they seem to be pretty uncommon or rare in that area presently. I heard a few RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES in knobcones. A few expected species were quite scarce on my survey: 2 WESTERN-WOOD PEWEES, 1 CASSIN'S VIREO, and 1 WESTERN TANAGER. Not much evidence of migration today other than a handful of TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS. I thought perhaps the area that burned in the Croy Fire last fall might have something out of interest, but the burned area is mostly just bare ground with hardly any herbaceous growth. Trees and shrubs are crown sprouting, but there is none of the new vegetation that might attract species other than those residing in the surrounding forest. Driving down Mt. Madonna Road there was a two LAZULI BUNTINGS in the grassland area about 1.3 mi. up from Hazel Dell. One was call note only, but the other was a lovely male singing persistently near the road. David L. Suddjian Capitola, CA Santa Cruz Bird Club Bird Records Keeper [[email protected]] Santa Cruz Bird Club website: http://santacruzbirdclub.org/ _______________________________________________ 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]]