[SBB] Sanborn-Skyline Friday

[Bob Power <[[email protected]]>]

Hi all:

Work has its rewards.... really.  On an exploratory
excursion down Lyndon Canyon in eastern
Sanborn-Skyline Co. Park, the birding by ear was
challenging but manageable.  Warbling, Cassin's, and
Hutton's Vireo were all present.  Winter Wren competed
w/Lyndon Creek.  American Robin, Black-headed
Grosbeak, and Western Tanager had me turning my head
back and forth. To bolster my confidence that what I
was hearing was in fact Western Tanager, I reviewed
Western Tanager's range notes in Cornell's North
American Birds Online tonight.  A familiar name was
attached to the note: "local nester in the Santa Cruz
Mts" (W. Bousman.) I felt supported, if in absentia.

At one point, I performed western North America's
poorest rendition of a Northern Pigmy Owl (at approx.
12 noon P.S.T.).  Not long after that, a Pileated
Woodpecker called from approximately 100 feet away in
a Douglas Fir. The Pileated called again maybe 3
minutes later.  I didn't make any connection between
the Owl call and the first two Pileated calls. The
next time the Pileated called, it came from a
significantly further distance up canyon.  And then I
reconsidered that maybe it had flown in to take a look
at the owl?  Worried about predation? Protecting
hatchlings? or completely unrelated?

Any thoughts would be welcome.

Lyndon Canyon and Lake Ranch Reservoir can be accessed
from the main park entrance and Hwy. 9.  A beautiful
walk on a level fire road can also be accessed from
Black Rd. via Hwy 17 and the Bear Creak exit.  A few
miles up Black Rd., there's a small parking area /
trailhead on the right, that give you access to the
John Nicholas Trail.  It's a remote trailhead, that
I've had no problems with, but both its pros and its
cons is that it's not a high volume trail head. fyi. 

Lake Ranch Reservoir, at the end of the trail, is full
and beautiful this year.  Yielding Mallards,
Double-crested Cormorants, Brewer's Blackbird, and
Olive-sided Flycatcher. A grand excuse for a picnic.

Good birding,

Bob Power
Oakland, CA


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