[SBB] migrants at Grant Ranch County Park

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All,

This morning 4/16/05, I started out by spending 3 hours around the Smiths Creek Fire Station. In general bird numbers were low, although a few of the less common migrants were about.  The exception was a large Dendroica warbler flock down below the trail about halfway back to Twin Gates on the Bonhoff Trail. The newly leafed out oaks here were full of song - unfortunately I could only identify about half the birds before things quieted down.  Totals below are listed as 3 numbers: this big flock; elsewhere at Smiths Creek; and other spots at Grant Ranch. There clearly was a wave of PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS and LAZULI BUNTINGS today, with 6 of the latter being a good count for so early in the month.

VAUX'S SWIFT - 0;0;1
RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD - 0;0;5 (+ many ALHU/RUHU sp)
HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER - 0;1;0
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER - 1;7;3
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER - 0;0;1
WESTERN KINGBIRD - 0;0;1
SWALLOWS - many of all 5 species, some obvious migrants
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET - 1;2;0
HERMIT THRUSH - 0;1;1
CEDAR WAXWING - 14;18+;0
CASSIN'S VIREO - 1;0;0
WARBLING VIREO - 1;2;2
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER - 3;many;many
NASHVILLE WARBLER - 1+;2+;0
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER - 6;8;2 (only 1 Myrtle identified)
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER - 6;3;0
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER - 2;0;0
HERMIT WARBLER - 2;2;0 (all males)
WILSON'S WARBLER - 1;6;4
WESTERN TANAGER - 0;1;0
LAZULI BUNTING - 2;4;0
LINCOLN'S SPARROW - 0;0;1
GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW - 6;many;many
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW - 0;2;0
PINE SISKIN - 1;5+;1

Other birds of note at Smith's Creek included 2 COMMON MERGANSERS flying to the west and another (female) below the bridge, a GOLDEN EAGLE, and a BELTED KINGFISHER.

After Smiths Creek I made a quick stop at the Twin Gates parking lot, adding 4 LARK SPARROWS but no more warblers.  I heard the call of a NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW and looked up in time to see it and a vocal CLIFF SWALLOW following behind it. Looking with binoculars, I saw there was a VAUX'S SWIFT heading north with them, the only one I saw today.

I next stopped at the road cut 1.7 miles above Grant Lake (would be about milepost 13.4) that is loaded with blooming Sticky Monkey flower.  I spent about 50 minutes here being frustrated by fly-by hummingbirds.  I saw 5 male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS (one quite cooperative) and 3 female SELASPHORUS and heard/briefly saw twice as many more SELASPHORUS winging their way north (likely all RUFOUS).  Several ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS were also around and were easier to see as they stayed in the area.  This would be a good place to look for migrating Calliope Hummingbirds.  Also here were 3 to 4 RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS (another was further down the road), more migrating SWALLOWS, an immature GOLDEN EAGLE being bothered by an adult SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, and a COMMON RAVEN driving off another ACCIPITER (immature).

Next stop was the Grant Lake parking area, where I made the loop along the east side of the lake to the Canal Trail, past McCreery Lake, and then along the road.  Highlights here included an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, 2 male WOOD DUCKS, an immature GOLDEN EAGLE, an adult COOPER'S HAWK, and the day's only LINCOLN'S SPARROW. While looking at the eagle, I saw glinting distant white birds flying high above the ridge.  These turned out to be a group of foraging gulls, mostly BONAPARTE'S GULLS, heading north - weird!  A male BUFFLEHEAD was still on the lake.

Ended up with 91 species at Grant Ranch by 1pm.  On the way home, I stopped by the Arzino Ranch and increased the day's total to 110 species, adding 3 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 1 WILSON'S SNIPE, 6+ AMERICAN PIPITS, 6 BURROWING OWLS, and other typical species for this location.

Birds observed carrying nest material or building nests today included AMERICAN ROBIN, HOUSE FINCH, DARK-EYED JUNCO, and WESTERN MEADOWLARK (Arzino) - also saw a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH carrying food for young.

Mike Rogers
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