[SBB] Rancho Del Oso (Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society)

["Kirsten Holmquist" <[[email protected]]>]

Rich Page led a trip to the Rancho Del Oso area for the Santa Clara Valley
Audubon Society.  It was a lovely day with a number of bird highlights.  We
started off nicely looking out over the ocean to find a couple MARBLED
MURRELETS and a number of PIGEON GUILLEMOTS.  On the shore were numerous
WESTERN GULLS with a few HEERMANN'S GULLS mixed in.  Over the marsh, we
found a perched VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW showing off the violet as well as the
green.  Our first couple of WILSON'S WARBLERS showed up as we walked toward
the nature center.  A short wait by red-hot pokers produced an ALLEN'S
HUMMINGBIRD and a few CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES.  Behind the nature center,
we managed to lure in a beautiful male MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER with a tape.
He perched in the open singing for many minutes so everyone got a good scope
view.  At one point while we were watching him, we heard another singing
behind us.  A ranger indicated it has been a bountiful year for them there.

 

The (mosquito-infested) wooded walk produced a DOWNY WOODPECKER, HAIRY
WOODPECKER, more Wilson's Warblers, a family of BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, a
family of BEWICK'S WRENS, singing WRENTIT, and many singing SWAINSON'S
THRUSHES but only one showed itself to the group.  A more meadow-y area
yielded a family of SONG SPARROWS, a pair of PURPLE FINCHES, serveral PINE
SISKINS, and an AMERICAN GOLDFINCH.  At the ranger station, we were
entertained by a family of CALIFORNIA QUAIL with parents riding herd on 8
young ones.  Starting to head east into the park, we soon came upon a group
of at least half a dozen PYGMY NUTHATCHES.  Soon added to our day were
VAUX'S SWIFTS, BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, a calling RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, a couple
BROWN CREEPERS, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, and NORTHERN (RED-SHAFTED)
FLICKERS.  Several miles in, many of the group got a good look at a singing
WINTER WREN, a difficult find in the brush on the forest floor despite the
huge song.

 

We picked up a few more on the way back, including a BELTED KINGFISHER, an
ACORN WOODPECKER, a female COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and finally a raft of BROWN
PELICANS greeted us back at the car with a flyby.

 

Best Regards,

 

Kirsten R. Holmquist

[[email protected]]

 

 

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