From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Sat Oct 11 11:33:46 2003 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id h9BIUPIE017125 for <[[email protected]]>; Sat, 11 Oct 2003 11:30:26 -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 h9BITHZP017079 for <[[email protected]]>; Sat, 11 Oct 2003 11:29:17 -0700 (PDT) Received: from rtjones.nas.nasa.gov (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by rtjones.nas.nasa.gov (SGI-8.12.5/8.12.5/NAS-6n) with ESMTP id h9BITGc8195285 for <[[email protected]]>; Sat, 11 Oct 2003 11:29:16 -0700 (PDT) Received: (from mrogers@localhost) by rtjones.nas.nasa.gov (SGI-8.12.5/8.12.5/Submit) id h9BITGAH195415 for [[email protected]]; Sat, 11 Oct 2003 11:29:16 -0700 (PDT) Date: Sat, 11 Oct 2003 11:29:16 -0700 (PDT) From: "Dr. Michael M. Rogers" <[[email protected]]> Message-Id: <[[email protected]]> To: [[email protected]] Subject: [SBB] Loma Prieta - Red Crossbills 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, I spent 2 hours at the "lower saddle" (a.k.a. former pavement end at milepost 5.52) near Loma Prieta this morning 10/11/03. This is a great spot to watch migration, with almost 360 degree viewing of birds catching thermals while coming up the canyons. It was a little windy early, but this subsided later in the morning. The highlight of the morning was a flock of 5 female/immature RED CROSSBILLS, which I initially heard and then saw over in Santa Cruz County (south of the saddle), but which flew low over my head calling and then on into Santa Clara County, dropping below eye level as they headed down the canyon. There have been previous reports in nearby Santa Cruz County this fall, but these are the first for Santa Clara County this year. Other obvious migrants included NORTHERN FLICKERS, of which at least 20 winged their way south or east up the canyon. Most interesting was one with completely yellow wing and tail linings; unfortunately I could not see the face well enough to determine whether this bird was a pure Yellow-shafted Flicker or not. At least 7 HERMIT THRUSHES included at least 5 that were obviously heading southeast over the saddle. I ended up with 13 PURPLE FINCHES, but these birds did not appear to be moving in any preferred direction. Similarly, many BAND-TAILED PIGEONS (including one flock of 28) were roaming the hills with no preferred destination. There was a small stream of hawks moving southeast, with 5 SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS including one immature that hung around to pick on the local birds for a while. A single MERLIN also flew low to the southeast, but a NORTHERN HARRIER heading north didn't want to get with the program. Also heading north were a male TOWNSEND'S WARBLER and 2 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. Unexpected migrants included an AMERICAN GOLDFINCH heading southeast and a WESTERN MEADOWLARK heading northwest. And no....no Pinyon Jays were seen, although there were many STELLER'S and WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS around. A fair number of the Scrub Jays were heading east/northeast and it may be that these were not all local birds. 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]]