[SBB] 04-13-05 Vaux's Swift at Almaden/Quicksilver CP

[[[email protected]] (Birdermom)]

Hi!
Today's Audubon hike to Almaden Quicksilver Park split into two groups at Capehorn Pass and five of us (Jim Johnson, John Hutz, Mary Williams and Rob ? and I) came down the longer, more arduous Hacienda Trail.  About 1/2 to 2/3 of the way down, we came around a ridge at 12:30pm where Jim and John noted some swift-like birds about 20' in the air.  After the rest of us caught up, the birds circled for the next 15' while we watched them circle at about 75-100' above our heads.  We had fine views of at least 6 VAUX'S SWIFTS.  The birds at first looked like swallows to me, because of their small size (I've had some recent close-ups of White-throated Swifts, which are much larger).  But the shape was like a Swift, with a little stumpy body and tail and long pointy wings arced back from the body, much like an ancient longbow.   They alternated between gliding on the heavy winds that crested the ridge and looping down on the sheltered side of the ridge we were on with erratic wing b!
 eats.  After some failed attempts (they were too fast and close), I finally identified Vaux's because there was absolutely no white on them.  The throat area was slightly lighter than the rest of the underbody.  The tail area seemed like a body with no tail as it was stumpy like a chewed off cigar (Sibley calls it the "cigar with wings" look - hope nobody ever refers to me that way!).
At the end of our viewing time, Mary and I listened to a small ongoing accelerating buzzy sound coming from both sides of us, but I can't be sure this was the Vaux's (however it could have been - it definitely wasn't an insect).  Mary and Rob had never seen swifts before and were happy to have such an easy viewing scenario.  I've never seen them as more than a speck in the sky!  Since I missed Vaux's altogether last year, I was also very happy.  Good birding!
Jean Myers
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