[SBB] Arastadero Sightings

[Ron Wolf <[[email protected]]>]

I went to Arastadero Sunday afternoon primarily to shoot photos of 
LESSER GOLDFINCHES in an area where the thistle has reached 
perfection and birds are pigging out.

There a stretch of about 300 yards along the Arastadero Creek Trail 
(a/k/a the utility road) between the junction of Acorn Trail and the 
Woodrat Trail.
The margin along the east side of the trail is full of very ripe 
thistle and the goldfinches are coming out of the willows along the 
creek to feed. Traffi scares them off, but as soon as the hikers / 
bikers / horses along that stretch of trail abate for a few minutes, 
the goldfinches re-emerge from the willows and go back to work on the 
thistle.

A LAZULI BUNTING settled into the thistle to feed for about five 
minutes. The bunting was silent, but very visible by the side of the 
trail. Some people on horseback came along and scared off everything.

If you go up there to shoot photos, it is best in mid- to late 
afternoon, when the sun is farther west and illuminates the east side 
of the trail/road.

Other sightings:

A pair of ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS were carrying food at the junction 
of the Arastadero Creek Trail and the Acorn Trail.

A pair of SPOTTED TOWHEES were chasing each other around on the 
Arastadero Creek Trail about 200 yard north of that trail junction.

About 200 yards along the Acorn Trail west of this junction, we got 
very good views and photos of a WESTERN WOOD PEWEE on the north side 
of the trail. Along this stretch of trail, the ground slopes steeply 
to north. You're at eyeball level with the oak canopy and couple of 
the high perches for the pewee.

A DARK-EYED JUNCO in this same area was doing a great job of 
harassing and chasing off a STELLAR'S JAY that had apparently gotten 
too close to its nest.

A pair of GREEN HERONS were foraging around the edges of Arastadero 
Lake. Previous reports have described a nesting pair by the lake. We 
saw no sign of their chicks.

The fire-control czars have mowed hundreds of acres of grass on the 
hills. That means the red-wing blackbairds have been evicted and the 
hawks and kites are coming back in bigger numbers.




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