[SBB] Calero MH CBC

["Michael Mammoser" <[[email protected]]>]

On Friday, 30 Dec 05, I joined in the Calero MH CBC, mainly working the
Ogier Ponds/Coyote Creek area, but also venturing further afield.

After dispensing party packets in the morning, I walked into the Ogier Ponds
to search for rails. A RED-SHOULDERED HAWK flushed from a sycamore along the
entrance road as I approached and was immediately attacked by an adult
PEREGRINE FALCON that came out of nowhere. Further along, at the pond
visible from the bike path, I again found the female REDHEAD that had been
present a couple days earlier. Also at this pond were 2 pairs of HOODED
MERGANSERS and a pair of COMMON MERGANSERS. An adult COOPER'S HAWK flushed
at my approach from a sycamore along the path. At the marshy pond just north
of the model airplane field I managed to roust out 4 VIRGINIA RAILS and a
SORA. Cicling this pond failed to produce a bittern, but did generate 2
GREEN HERONS. 

My first stop at the Coyote Creek Golf Course produced only the usual flocks
of CANADA GEESE and AMERICAN COOTS. So I moved on to Coyote Ranch Marsh,
where I taped out another VIRGINIA RAIL and SORA, but on the way I had an
OSPREY carrying a fish to perch along the edge of Monterey Hwy just north of
Bailey. Apparently a female, it had a heavily streaked necklace. 

Finding the gate to the shooting range closed on the east side of hwy 101, I
decided to do a little exploring. I drove to Richmond Ave in the Coyote
Valley and found the FERRUGINOUS HAWK that has been there this winter. I
then proceeded to Calero Reservoir, where the adult BALD EAGLE was perched
along the western shore. 

>From Calero I returned to Ogier Ponds for a gull check. I briefly had a
second OSPREY (clearly different from the first) over the pond south of the
entrance road, and 3 WOOD DUCKS on Coyote Creek where it feeds this pond. On
a pond to the north of the entrance road a large flock of gulls had settled.
There was much turnover in birds commuting to the dump up in the hills to
the southeast of here. I estimated 1800 birds (including the turnover), with
about 70% being CALIFORNIA GULLS and roughly 30% being HERRING. I also found
4 THAYER'S GULLS in with them. 

I made my second stop at the golf course for another look around. This time
I saw the AMERICAN REDSTART, in the very same location that I had first
found it a few weeks ago. I discovered later that Bob Reiling and his crew
also saw it a few hours later. 

I drove up to Edenvale Garden Park for my annual poaching run, but was
unable to find anything unusual this year. So I returned to the shooting
range east of hwy 101 (which had opened by this time) and finished my day
counting this area.

Michael Mammoser






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