From south-bay-birds-bounces+south-bay-birds-archive=[[email protected]] Mon May 17 21:05:01 2004 Received: from www.plaidworks.com (localhost [127.0.0.1]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id i4I428Uw018660 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 17 May 2004 21:02:08 -0700 (PDT) Received: from cardinal.mail.pas.earthlink.net (cardinal.mail.pas.earthlink.net [207.217.121.226]) by plaidworks.com (8.12.9/8.12.9) with ESMTP id i4I40VD6018595 for <[[email protected]]>; Mon, 17 May 2004 21:00:31 -0700 (PDT) Received: from user-2ivfnf3.dialup.mindspring.com ([165.247.221.227]) by cardinal.mail.pas.earthlink.net with esmtp (Exim 3.33 #1) id 1BPvmF-0003nk-00 for [[email protected]]; Mon, 17 May 2004 21:00:28 -0700 Mime-Version: 1.0 (Apple Message framework v613) Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Message-Id: <[[email protected]]> Content-Type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; format=flowed To: South Bay Birders <[[email protected]]> From: Les Chibana <[[email protected]]> Date: Mon, 17 May 2004 21:01:43 -0700 X-Mailer: Apple Mail (2.613) Subject: [SBB] Eastern SCL plus ALA & STA co. and PIWO [long] 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]] Hi, I'm reporting on two trips this weekend in northeastern Santa Clara Co., into parts of southeastern Alameda and western Stanislaus Cos. Also, a Pileated Woodpecker sighting at home in western Santa Clara County. Saturday, 5/15/04, I took a group from my Palo Alto Baylands birding class on a route over Mt. Hamilton and into San Antonio Valley to the northeastern reaches of Santa Clara County. It was cool with a high overcast until we got past Mt. Hamilton where it became clear and warm. Our first stop at Grant Lake was lively with the regular spring & summer birds. WILD TURKEY was heard and feral pigs foraged in the fields around the lake. BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and LAZULI BUNTING were among the regulars seen here. We stopped to listen for Grasshopper Sparrows just up the road from the lake but could find none. A YELLOW WARBLER was the only warbler recorded for the day. Kincaid Road had a lot of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD activity in a soggy area opposite a cattle pen. We saw the first group of many BAND-TAILED PIGEON in this area, too. A WESTERN TANAGER was one of the few species seen at Lick Observatory. Just past the Mt. Hamilton summit, where there is now no pig or cattle road signs, there was also no Black-chinned Sparrow detected. There were three BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS working the trees along the roadside. Many more Band-tailed Pigeons were roosting and flying about the summit. A mile or two beyond the summit, we dropped into a small valley with OLIVE- SIDED FLYCATCHER, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, ASH-THROATED FLY- CATCHER, and a pair of ACORN WOODPECKERS at a nest cavity. Isabel Creek to Arroyo Bayo was uneventful. About a mile from San Antonio Valley we heard, then saw, a SAGE SPARROW. After this stop, we hit the lunch bell and went to the Junction Cafe for a break. LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES were flying around the picnic tables at the Cafe. A PRAIRIE FALCON cruised by overhead. A probable CHIPPING SPARROW was seen across the road from the Cafe. After lunch, we went back, south, on San Antonio Valley Rd. looking for Lewis's Woodpeckers. We searched the area just south of the Junction with no success and continued beyond the YL Ranch to the last stretch of valley before the road turns west. Here, Lisa Myers' sharp eyes picked out a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER flying from the creek channel to the far side of the valley. We then went to the CDF firestation back at San Antonio Junction. Lisa pointed out a HOUSE FINCH nest in a cholla cactus that had nestlings. We also found BULLOCK'S ORIOLES tending a nest in mistletoe above the office, as well as HOUSE SPARROWS nesting in the same tree. A WESTERN KINGBIRD perched on the tower and may have an active nest there as in past years. On the way out along San Antonio Valley Rd./Mines Rd., still in Santa Clara Co., Lisa bagged the bird of the day, a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL that flew ahead of the cars and landed in a tree at roadside. Everyone enjoyed long views of this petite ball of talons. In Alameda County, Lisa once again provided a nice birding experience showing us a GOLDEN EAGLE nest that she had located on a recent trip. At least two well-developed nestlings with only fuzzy heads were in the nest being tended by their parents. This was right at mile marker 10 where there's a large turnout. The nest is across the valley below eye-level in a gray pine. Sunday, 5/16/04, I took another group from my birding class down Mines Rd. in Alameda County, into San Antonio Valley in Santa Clara County, and finishing on Del Puerto Canyon Rd. in Stanislaus County. In Alameda County, we had RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW and PHAINO- PEPLA at the "Sticky Monkeyflower Corner" between miles 5 and 6. At MP 6.74, as previously reported, a GREATER ROADRUNNER sunned on a rock uphill from the road. We checked in on the eagle nest at mile 10. Upon arriving at the cattle guard near San Antonio Junction in Santa Clara County, we heard SAGE SPARROWS singing as we got out of the cars. They were singing on both sides of the road and sat up on top of chamise giving great views. Randy Little called out a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER as it flew by. It landed on a dead gray pine next to the road just north of the cattle guard and was soon joined by a second bird. We stopped at the firestation, seeing the same species as seen the previous day, noting that there was also a BREWER'S BLACKBIRD nest in the tree over the office. Randy reported another LEWIS'S WOODPECKER flyby. We stopped for lunch amidst a large, testosterone-laden gathering of bikers at the Junction. This day, we leap-frogged with a Fieldguides' Northern California tour led by Chris Benesh and Jay VanderGaast. They were dismayed by the mass of Harleykawasaki vibe and passed on having lunch at the Junction. We did a quick run into San Antonio Valley mainly looking for Wood Duck as we had already found Lewis's Woodpeckers. None were seen in the ponds in the valley, so we headed down Del Puerto Canyon Road. At Mallison Pond, just east of the Junction, we saw 3 male WOOD DUCKS. At about mile 17.8, in Stanislaus Co., we saw both ROCK and CANYON WRENS. The fire from last year(?) around Frank Raines Park torched most of the riparian corridor. At mile 10.25, the COMMON RAVEN nest in the road cut was occupied by at least three nestlings. An adult stood, open-billed in the hot sun across the road. A family of at least five CANYON WREN were feeding on the downstream side of the culvert. At the "Owl/Graffiti Rocks", three juvenile BARN OWLS roosted in a low cavity and an adult was in another. A new barbed wire fence around the base of the rock might provide some buffer for the birds that use this rock, as it will keep some people out of this area. But I'm sure it won't deter the graffitites. Male Costa's Hummingbird(s) was/were working the tree tobacco at mile 3.8. We had sightings of male COHU for over 100 yards; it could have been the same bird, there could have been more than one. A SAY'S PHOEBE was in this area also, as was a male BLUE GROSBEAK, spotted by Randy Little. At the first cattle guard from I-5, about mile 1, we had 1-2 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS. The area appeared very dry and didn't seem to have the habitat to encourage the Blue Grosbeaks to use it as they seemed to have in the past. And while I was out leading my Sunday trip, my wife reported a male PILEATED WOODPECKER that was hacking away at an old madrone a few yards away from our back deck. This was her THIRD sighting of this species at our house. I've only had one sighting! I listened for the bird today, but heard none. This area is just east of Skyline Blvd. into Santa Clara County, across from Long Ridge OSP. Les Chibana, Palo Alto _______________________________________________ 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]]