From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Mon Sep 29 00:21:13 2003 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id h8T7ImIC004020 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 29 Sep 2003 00:18:48 -0700 (PDT) Received: from rwcrmhc11.comcast.net (rwcrmhc11.comcast.net [204.127.198.35]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id h8T7HvZP003981 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 29 Sep 2003 00:17:57 -0700 (PDT) Message-Id: <[[email protected]]> Received: from 204.127.197.115 ([204.127.197.115]) by comcast.net (rwcrmhc11) with SMTP id <2003092907175701300aae82e>; Mon, 29 Sep 2003 07:17:57 +0000 Received: from [12.234.165.24] by 204.127.197.115; Mon, 29 Sep 2003 07:17:53 +0000 From: [[email protected]] To: [[email protected]] (SBB Chat Group) Date: Mon, 29 Sep 2003 07:17:53 +0000 X-Mailer: AT&T Message Center Version 1 (Sep 12 2003) X-Authenticated-Sender: YmlyZGVybW9tQGNvbWNhc3QubmV0 Subject: [SBB] Golden Plovers and more at New Chicago Marsh 09-28-03 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]] Hi! Today, I headed for New Chicago Marsh in Alviso. At the corner pond, I first found a SPOTTED SANDPIPER pumping up and down near some Yellowlegs. It still had many of it's breeding season spots! Next, on the railroad tracks just north of the Don Edwards Environmental Education Center, I found an adult nonbreeding STILT SANDPIPER in the closest pond on the right (looked like the pic in "The Sibley Guide to Birds, p.190). I enjoyed watching its' more aggresive style of stabbing at its' prey and more jerky walking style. It was feeding with some Dowitchers. It was closely followed by an adult nonbreeding male RUFF, which also looked much like the Sibley pic on page 189, except that its' legs were more of a bright golden color than bright orange. It too was feeding near Dowitchers. It's body size was clearly larger than the Dowitchers and it had the shrunken head look and short straight beak. Then came 2 Black-bellied Plovers in adult nonbreeding plumage. Finally, at the last pond on the left, I spotted a nonbreeding adult AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVER (see pics on Website below). It looked almost identical to the pic in Dennis Paulson's "Shorebirds of the Pacific Northwest", p. 102, complete with white supercillium, dark(er) spot behind eye, dark upper feathers spotted with buff and turning almost orangy/buff near crest of back, white chest and belly with splotchy black spots on belly and a shortish black beak that looks sturdy with a dullish point. Apparently, this wasn't enough for one day, because soon another Golden Plover joined the first where they slept next to one another on the little island. From a more Southeasterly angle, I could see both at once, but my camera wouldn't cooperate. The second appeared to be a juvenile(or close) PACIFIC GOLDEN PLOVER, with a more yellow golden tinge to the buff coloring in it's feathers. It also had a yellow golden buff tinge around its' face and down the chest with a creamy underside. The back was once again very spotted and the wings were a little longer than the tail. Luckily, this bird wasn't the only Pacific I saw. On heading back, one had flown into the first pond on the right (as you enter). This one I got pictures of (albeight fuzzy). The supercilium on this bird was more pronounced and it had a more greyish/smudgy to the belly than the first. What a great day for me! I also saw the SAY'S PHOEBE, a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, about 150 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS circling overhead, 2 WHITE-TAILED KITES and various other expected species. Also got to see 2 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS at the Alviso Marina and about 50 AMERICAN WIDGEONS mostly in basic plumage at the Baylands Nature Preserve. Good birding! Jean Myers http://community.webshots.com/user/birdermom _______________________________________________ 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]]