From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Wed Dec 29 11:44:52 2004 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id iBTJgTlE025026 for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 29 Dec 2004 11:42:29 -0800 (PST) Received: from imo-m26.mx.aol.com (imo-m26.mx.aol.com [64.12.137.7]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id iBTJeWYK024955 for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 29 Dec 2004 11:40:33 -0800 (PST) Received: from [[email protected]] by imo-m26.mx.aol.com (mail_out_v37_r3.8.) id t.83.1de2f456 (657) for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 29 Dec 2004 14:40:23 -0500 (EST) From: [[email protected]] Message-ID: <[[email protected]]> Date: Wed, 29 Dec 2004 14:40:23 EST To: [[email protected]] MIME-Version: 1.0 X-Mailer: 9.0 Security Edition for Windows sub 5000 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit X-Content-Filtered-By: Mailman/MimeDel 2.1.5b1 Subject: [SBB] Calero-Morgan Hill CBC - preliminary results 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, Even though all the reports have yet to come in, here are the preliminary results of the Calero-Morgan Hill CBC, Dec 26. The total count as of 12/29/04 stands at 141 species with four count week birds. While we had a great count day, this is slightly lower than average for this count and is 6 less than we had last year. Here are a couple of possible contributing factors: (1) We had less counters this year, including some veterans who could not make it because of holiday commitments or who have moved out of the area; hence, we had to stretch our counter-base to make sure all areas had at least some coverage - and (2) very low water levels at the major inland reservoirs may have affected waterfowl populations. We had "typical" CBC weather on our count day as a storm front from the Pacific began moving in - cool temperatures, cloudy overcast skies with drizzle and light rain. The counters in the higher elevations of Loma Prieta had to contend with much more - cold winds, rain, and very low visibility as the front pushed in over the Santa Cruz Mountains. We had good solid numbers of most of our wintering birds here in the South Valley, and here are some highlights to report: One SNOW GOOSE was found in a pond near the Silver Creek Country Club, and a Count Week CACKLING GOOSE was at Calero Reservoir on Dec 23. Seventeen species of ducks were seen with diving ducks seen in the greatest numbers. A single REDHEAD was seen at Ogier Ponds. Four grebe species were recorded, mostly Pied-Billed and Eared, but one HORNED GREBE was at Calero Reservoir and a WESTERN GREBE was at Parkway Lake. Two adult BALD EAGLES were seen again this year - one at Anderson Reservoir in Morgan Hill, and the other was seen flying east along McKean Rd toward Calero Reservoir. Three FERRUGINOUS HAWKS were noted - in Morgan Hill near Cochrane - near Metcalf Rd - and in Coyote Valley at Richmond Ave. Four AMERICAN AVOCETS were seen this year at a pond near Cochrane Rd in Morgan Hill. Although gull numbers were down this year, a first year GLAUCOUS GULL was found at Almaden Lake. Owling parties came up with four species of owls - BARN OWL, W. SCREECH-OWL, GREAT HORNED OWL, and N. PYGMY-OWL. Other highlights of the count included a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER near the base of sage-covered Santa Teresa Hills - this is a new bird for our count and was first discovered earlier in December. A female HERMIT WARBLER was found near the Riverside Golf Course near Coyote Creek. A female GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE was at the Coyote Creek Golf Course. And a WESTERN TANAGER was seen as a Count Week bird on Dec 25 at Edenvale Garden Park. As with other CBC's this season, over 300 PINE SISKINS were noted in various locales. The only other montane species noted were two GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS from Loma Prieta. Perhaps because of the weather we missed other possible higher-elevation montane birds such as Red-breasted Nuthatch and Red Crossbill. Misses included some of our high flyers - no swifts - no swallows - and no Band-tailed Pigeons!! Last year we had over 300 Band-tailed Pigeons; this year none! - however, four were found as Count Week birds over the Almaden area on Dec 27. I want to thank all of you who took the time during this busy holiday season to spend time counting birds. It is your dedication and perseverance that make the difference. The next Calero-Morgan Hill CBC will be held on Friday, Dec 30, 2005. Hope to see you at this next count. Until then - good birding in 2005! Ann Verdi, Compiler Calero-Morgan Hill CBC _______________________________________________ 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]]