[SBB] San Jose Christmas Bird Count

The San Jose CBC results are in as well. The count took place in the worst weather I've yet experienced for the San Jose CBC. Our species total stands at 161 right now, with no count week species of which I’m aware. For a brief glorious moment, we thought we had 162 when the report of the HOODED WARBLER came to light. Unfortunately, the bird made its appearance a few blocks outside of the count circle. How’s that for a tease!

The following is a run down of the noteworthy species seen for the count:

We had a report of 2 SNOW GEESE. The report was for 2 immature birds in the vicinity of Drawbridge. A CACKLING GOOSE was found by Ann Verdi’s party at Penitencia Creek Park and re-confirmed by Mike Mammoser. Two HORNED GREBES showed up for the count: one discovered by Mike Rogers on A-10 and one by the Costons on A-18. Mike Rogers also picked up a EURASIAN WIGEON way out in the corner of A-9 that falls in the count. Apparently, the wind blew it into the count circle for us, so something positive came out of that gale. J Last for the Waterfowl is a Mike Rogers report of SURF SCOTERs on A-11 (13, with 5 adult males) and one female/immature along Coyote Slough.

Only 2 SNOWY PLOVERS recorded this year. The party covering the Knapp tract had one and Mike Rogers had the other. The only other shorebirds of note were 1) the SHARP-TAILED SANDPIPER which thankfully made an appearance on count day at the Alviso Marina and was seen by multitudes, and 2) a LESSER YELLOWLEGS in the channel to the left of the EEC entrance road.

We had a couple of rare warbler reportings, only one of which we could use (ref HOODED WARBLER above). One party found a WILSON’S WARBLER along Coyote Creek. Numerous reports of TREE SWALLOWS came in from all over Alviso with some found in the Lake Cunningham area as well. A few VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS also made an appearance: 1) Lake Cunningham, 2) Pond A-18, and 3) Sunnyvale Baylands Park near San Tomas Aquino Creek. Ann Verdi’s group scrounged up a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW for us at the ever-fruitful Overfelt Gardens. This year we ended up with a paltry pair of PINE SISKINS reported from the Agnews area; this following a year when we had 124 from all over the count circle.

Finally, in the raptor category, the Harlan's Hawk was a no-show for the first time in over a decade. Calaveras came through with a FERRUGINOUS HAWK along Marsh Road though.

As always, none of this would be possible without the help of many wonderful volunteers. Kudos for everyone that got up and into the rain and wind to count the birds this year. As someone from my Alviso group put it, any day out birding is better than a day spent shopping. (Although, in retrospect, Mike Rogers might decide that’s not quite the case after the day he had!) J Also, much gratitude to those that agreed to organize the volunteers for a region as well as increase their dampness quotient. My thanks to all. May your holidays be safe and free from wind and rain.

P.S. We are missing a few relatively common birds for the count. If anyone has records of any of these species from count week (Dec 15 – 21) for the count circle area (Ed Levin CP, Alum Rock Park, Alviso shoreline – Sunnyvale Baylands around along Alviso and Milpitas, chunks of urban Milpitas, San Jose, Santa Clara, Sunnyvale), please let me know.

Whimbrel
Short-billed Dowitcher
Northern Pygmy Owl
White-Throated Swift
Purple Finch

Happy Holidays,

Kirsten R. Holmquist

Compiler, San Jose Christmas Bird Count

408.747.0988

[[email protected]]