From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Mon Mar 1 12:24:02 2004 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id i21KLAl6013584 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 1 Mar 2004 12:21:10 -0800 (PST) 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 i21KK8NY013532 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 1 Mar 2004 12:20:08 -0800 (PST) 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 i21KK7mu031142 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 1 Mar 2004 12:20:07 -0800 (PST) Received: (from mrogers@localhost) by rtjones.nas.nasa.gov (SGI-8.12.5/8.12.5/Submit) id i21KK7k4031068 for [[email protected]]; Mon, 1 Mar 2004 12:20:07 -0800 (PST) Date: Mon, 1 Mar 2004 12:20:07 -0800 (PST) From: "Dr. Michael M. Rogers" <[[email protected]]> Message-Id: <[[email protected]]> To: [[email protected]] Subject: [SBB] ALHU and swallows X-BeenThere: [[email protected]] X-Mailman-Version: 2.1.5a1 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, On Saturday 2/28/04, I spent some time searching the western edge of the Diablo Range for newly arrived migrants. I started out at Ed Levin Park, where I found only a single ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD, a courting adult male that had the red flowering eucalyptus along the east edge of the parking lot east of the Spring Valley Picnic Area staked out. At least 6 TREE SWALLOWS were over Sandy Wool Lake, at least 4 more were southeast of the Spring Valley Picnic Area, and a few were seen foraging elsewhere. These birds are likely local breeders, but 2 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS and a WHITE-THROATED SWIFT overhead may have been migrants. Other birds of note included a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER and an intergrade NORTHERN FLICKER (like YELLOW-SHAFTED but no red nuchal collar and some orange cast to the underwing - but not the undertail). The drive along Felter Road netted a single LARK SPARROW above the junction with Calaveras Road. I walked the Sierra Road summit area (parked east of the "No Parking" signs) and had a few surprises. First was a BURROWING OWL 0.4 miles east of the summit - always a surprise at nearly 2000 elevation but seen up in this area before. Then an adult PEREGRINE FALCON flew by carrying food. It circled up high on updrafts over the north rim of Alum Rock Canyon, plucking (and eating?) as it flew, and then headed southeast towards Cherry Flat Reservoir. This appeared to be a high hormone bird and is possibly a breeder on a Diablo Range cliff. Other birds here included two GOLDEN EAGLES (one adult, one immature), at least 12 HORNED LARKS (including territorial chases and singing), a ROCK WREN, and up to 3 NORTHERN HARRIERS. Swallow and swift count consisted of 4 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS and 5+ WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS. Walking the North Rim Trail at Alum Rock Park turned up at least two more courting male ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS (in and near eucalyptus at the east end of the trail) and an incubating female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD. I saw 6+ WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS overhead, but no swallows of any kind (I sort of expected Northern Rough-winged to be in already). Also found a RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. A southbound SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and a foraging immature COOPER'S HAWK could be wintering birds, but an adult male COOPER'S HAWK with extensively raised crissal feathers doing its bat-like courtship flight low over the south side of the canyon was certainly a local breeder. A quick stop at Grant Lake turned up 3 to 4 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS among the 50+ TREE SWALLOWS. Small numbers of waterfowl included a pair of CANVASBACK and 4 BUFFLEHEAD; a pair of RING-NECKED DUCKS was at the farm pond northwest of the lake. Also present were 2 EARED GREBES, 3 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS and a SAY'S PHOEBE flycatching from the reeds in the island. I returned via Quimby Road in order to visit Lake Cunningham on the way home. Three first-winter THAYER'S GULLS were at the boat launch and 6 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were (mostly) on the island. A single GREEN HERON and a single female COMMON GOLDENEYE were also present. The swallow flock here included 50+ TREE SWALLOWS, 5+ VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, and 4 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS. The flooded area west of the parking lot north of the lake held 5 LEAST SANDPIPERS and a GREATER YELLOWLEGS, the only shorebirds seen all day besides the KILLDEER at Grant Lake. The recent rainy weather seems to have limited new arrivals, as swallow variety was low and Allens' Hummingbird numbers, particularly at Ed Levin Park, were well below expected levels. 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]]