[SBB] Grant Ranch CP - 4/9/2005

[[[email protected]]]

All,

I spent two hours birding at Smith's Creek Fire Station this morning 4/9/05, and then made some quick stops on the way back through Grant Ranch County Park.  It was only 42 degrees at Smith's Creek when I arrived and the cold breeze and remnant storm clouds seem to have dampened migration somwhat.  I had no flocks along the ridgelines, but did have a few nice birds on the hillside behind the ranger station, including a CASSIN'S VIREO, a WARBLING VIREO, a HUTTON'S VIREO, a silent male NASHVILLE WARBLER, two chipping male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, a single AUDUBON'S YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, and 2 singing WILSON'S WARBLERS.  There were also flocks of 15 PINE SISKINS and 20 CEDAR WAXWINGS here and several courting WILD TURKEYS.  Along the creek I added another CASSIN'S VIREO, another WARBLING VIREO, and a female VARIED THRUSH.

At Twin Gates I added a singing LARK SPARROW and a WESTERN KINGBIRD.

At Grant Lake the few lingering ducks included 7 BUFFLEHEAD (including a courting male) and 2 NORTHERN SHOVELERS.  A GREEN HERON and an unidentified male SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRD were also here.

The ranch house area added another WESTERN KINGBIRD, a small flock of 5 MYRTLE YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, a male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD, and the morning's only LINCOLN'S SPARROW.

As I heading back towards the white barn, a BOBCAT crossed the open hillside. A singing  RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW was at the tight hairpin bend on Mt. Hamilton Road, 1.2 miles above Alum Rock Road.

Also seen/heard this morning were 11 HOUSE WRENS, 4 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, 3 HERMIT THRUSHES, 10 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, 52+ GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS (no WHITE-CROWNEDS in the park, although 2 were along Mt. Hamilton Road), and 6 BULLOCK'S ORIOLES.

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/list_fred_archives%40plaidworks.org

This email sent to [[email protected]]