From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Mon May 10 11:42:56 2004 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id i4AIdrUx020873 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 10 May 2004 11:39:53 -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 i4AIdDD6020832 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 10 May 2004 11:39:13 -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 i4AIdCmu128305 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 10 May 2004 11:39:12 -0700 (PDT) Received: (from mrogers@localhost) by rtjones.nas.nasa.gov (SGI-8.12.5/8.12.5/Submit) id i4AIdCGW127820 for [[email protected]]; Mon, 10 May 2004 11:39:12 -0700 (PDT) Date: Mon, 10 May 2004 11:39:12 -0700 (PDT) From: "Dr. Michael M. Rogers" <[[email protected]]> Message-Id: <[[email protected]]> To: [[email protected]] Subject: [SBB] Diablo Range birds Sat and MOQU Sun 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]] All, On Saturday 5/8/04, I started out at Twin Gates and Smiths Creek in Grant Ranch County Park and made my way east over Mt Hamilton into San Antonio Valley, birding my way north to the Alameda County line. Migrants were composed primarily of LAZULI BUNTINGS (27; some may be breeders), WESTERN TANAGERS (16; few if any breeders; 10 in a 1.5-mile stretch east of Mt Hamilton summit), and YELLOW WARBLERS (14; all migrants, 6 at Twin Gates but others well east of Mt Hamilton as well. Three WILSON'S WARBLERS and 2 SWAINSON'S THRUSHES at Smiths Creek and one more WILSON'S WARBLER two miles east of the summit were also likely all migrants. Thorough searching (mostly at Smiths Creek) turned up only a few other migrant warblers, including 5 to 7 BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS (most at known breeding locations and probably not migrants), 5 to 6 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, a single male HERMIT WARBLER (Smiths Creek) and a migrant YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (in oaks 1.5 miles east of summit). Two broods of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS had already fledged at Smiths Creek; the only Empidonax Flycatchers found all day were 3 PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS at that same location. Other surprises at Smiths Creek included a WHITE-TAILED KITE (no previous atlas records for block 1530) and a pair of BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS (no breeding yet confirmed in block 1530). A singing OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER in the Coulter Pines 2 miles east of the summit is a possible breeder. Ten singing SAGE SPARROWS were found at 5 locations between Seeboy Ridge (mile 6) and Colorado Creek (mile 24.5); half of these were in the vicinity of the first cattle guard north of San Antone Junction (mile 19.7). No sign of any Black-chinned Sparrows, but plenty of LARK SPARROWS and a singing CHIPPING SPARROW in atlas block 3030, where none has been recorded previously. A BELTED KINGFISHER carrying food to the west here (mile 15.6) is also a new confirmation for this atlas block. Two LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS were seen in San Antonio Valley and at least 10 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES were along the route, starting with a pair at Twin Gates. Waterbirds east of the summit included 6 MALLARDS, 3 male WOOD DUCKS, and a single GREEN HERON (most of these at the pond at mile 10.9). At least 3 pairs of BARN SWALLOWS are nesting under the Wiesendanger Bridge near the Mallinson Ranch (mile 18); they did not breed in the valley during our breeding bird atlas field work. At least one more was half a mile south of here. Also somewhat surprising were good numbers of CLIFF SWALLOWS in this portion of the valley. A flock of 110 male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS in the fields just north of the Mallinson Ranch (with a few RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and female BLACKBIRDS interspersed) was impressive but I did not locate the breeding colony. A quick drive to Livermore through Alameda County turned up an adult GOLDEN EAGLE at milepost 0938. Early Sunday morning 5/9/04, I climbed Black Mountain via the Bella Vista Trail at Monte Bello OSP, then headed back down the other side for a little over half a mile until I finally heard at least two calling MOUNTAIN QUAIL downslope to the north. These birds began calling at 7:52am and kept on giving their "te-wook" calls at 5-6 second intervals for as long as I stayed there. They were likely not audible from the trails at Monte Bello and it may be easier to get to them by coming up from Hidden Villa. LAZULI BUNTINGS were all over throughout my hike and at least 2 singing male TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS (migrants) were mixed in with several BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS. A Bobcat near the Boy Scout Camp was nice. 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]]