[SBB] Pileated yard birds

[Les Chibana <[[email protected]]>]

SBB,

Yard birds are not necessarily worthy of posting to the list, but 
Pileated Woodpeckers have been active, though unseen, around the house 
lately. I've been hearing calls and drumming both near and far from our 
rear deck. This morning, I stepped out to listen and heard at least two 
birds calling and responding. One was very close and eventually flew-by 
low, overhead, spooking the resting Band-tailed Pigeon flock. It flew 
over a second time. I never got to see one on a tree calling or 
drumming, there is too much foliage to easily get that sighting.

Aside from the large Band-tailed Pigeon flock, the scads of Steller's 
Jay families, the numerous pairs of California Quail (no kids seen, 
yet), I've been hearing some less frequent visitors, Ash-throated 
Flycatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Black-headed Grosbeak and Purple 
Finch. The warmer weather has made it easier to keep the 
sound-deadening, double-glazed windows open to hear the bird sounds.

"Our" bats have returned for a few weeks now. In their daily routine, 
they usually depart from their roost on the side of our house at about 
evening twilight. I've assumed that they are out for the night, 
foraging. But last night, at around 11:00p, I saw three of them back in 
their roost; maybe they return earlier than I thought. Because of the 
difficult nature of bat ID, I can only guess that these are about the 
size of Myotis. There are often one or two that don't cluster with the 
others and I wonder if these might be different species. I have seen 
different sized bats flying around the house, some of the larger ones 
cruise higher and perhaps are Hoary Bats.

If you don't already know where my back yard is, and haven't guessed, 
I'm on the east side of Skyline Blvd. near Long Ridge Open Space 
Preserve, on the western slope of the upper Stevens Creek drainage.

Les
---
Les Chibana
BirdNUTZ(tm) - Ornigasmic Birding
Palo Alto Baylands Birding Classes
em <[[email protected]]>
web <http://www.birdnutz.com>
ph 650-949-4335
fx 650-949-4137
snailmail: SR2 Box 335, La Honda CA 94020

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