From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Fri Aug 13 16:59:39 2004 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id i7DNvoGN016282 for <[[email protected]]>; Fri, 13 Aug 2004 16:57:50 -0700 (PDT) Received: from imo-m28.mx.aol.com (imo-m28.mx.aol.com [64.12.137.9]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id i7DNv1DB016230 for <[[email protected]]>; Fri, 13 Aug 2004 16:57:02 -0700 (PDT) Received: from [[email protected]] by imo-m28.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v37_r3.4.) id r.e6.564f4810 (3866); Fri, 13 Aug 2004 19:56:39 -0400 (EDT) From: [[email protected]] Message-ID: <[[email protected]]> Date: Fri, 13 Aug 2004 19:56:38 EDT To: [[email protected]], [[email protected]] MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: 9.0 for Windows sub 5000 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.5b1 Cc: Subject: [SBB] Possible Condor - need "all eyes" X-BeenThere: [[email protected]] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5b1 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]] Hello all, I post this hesitantly, but also after having a few messages with David Suddjian first and considering his idea to post here, for the sake of having more watchers. I am _extremely_ cautious (and "squeamish") about IDing a species of this status. I spent about 15-20 minutes this afternoon (between 14:00 & 14:30) watching a bird that I believe was a California Condor. This was over a ridge between Skyline Ridge and Long Ridge. As the bird left the area, s/he flew south over Long Ridge. Advantages during this sighting included that this individual was soaring/circling amidst several Turkey Vultures, and the size contrast was very significant (huge!). The bird appeared (shape & markings) to be an adult, as seen on page 82 of Dick Smith's _Condor Journal_ and other refs including Sibley. The primaries appeared as fingers spread apart. There _appeared_ to be two tags on the underwings, one on other side, of red/rusty/orange color. There was _something_ of that coloration, and that appeared not bird-like. Meaning, appearing manmade. Again though, I'm being cautious about making assertions. And... I have seen enough bald and golden eagles not to confuse them with a vulture. The birds soared for most of that time just overhead so I was able to watch (with binoculars) for many minutes. Everything I saw added up to me being fairly certain. I just cannot imagine who else it could be, and I feel I have ruled out other possibilities. I'll keep watching, and recommend that everyone else do so as well! If you think you'll be in the south Skyline area Saturday afternoon, feel free to give me a call. I miss many of my calls as I'm out on our land, but I check my voicemail very often: 650-941-1068. Sunday I am scheduled to be on a CNPS field trip, but if I see this bird again tomorrow (Saturday) I will likely forego the field trip to stay put and keep monitoring as best I can. I'm also notifying other board members of the Santa Cruz Mountains Bioregional Council (volunteer keepers of the local Sensitive Fauna List at _http://www.scmbc.net_ (http://www.scmbc.net) ), MROSD and the folks at Ventana. Other ideas, suggestions, (constructive) criticism welcome! Regards, Georgia ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Georgia Stigall 2400 feet elevation Southern San Mateo County phone: 650-941-1068 _______________________________________________ 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]]