[SBB] Llagas Creek

[Al Eisner <[[email protected]]>]

   I spent a few hours at Llagas Creek north of Bloomfield Road today,
arriving a bit late, about 9:30.  When I reached the first green field
west of the levee (the field south of the first, dry, pond), I heard a
YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT singing close to the west side of the levee, but
not visible.  This bird ranged over most of the north-south extent of
the field, and I finally got a view (but with the head obscured) when
it briefly sang from further out in the field.  It was still occasionally
singing at 10:15.  On my way back at Noon, I heard what I presume was the
same bird along the west side of the levee by pond 1.  I picked up a couple
of hints of a possible second bird, but was not convinced.
   The pair of RING-NECKED DUCKs reported by Bill two days earlier was
still present, as was a female BUFFLEHEAD.  I saw only one teal, a male
CINNAMON TEAL.  (MALLARD, GADWALL and NORTHERN SHOVELER were present in
larger numbers.)  The only shorebirds I found were about 17 each of
adult AMERICAN AVOCETs (one tending a small chick) and BLACK-NECKED STILTs,
two GREATER YELLOWLEGS, and one DOWITCHER.  I had three or four singing
male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKs along the creek (I walked as far as pond 7),
and heard three singing WILSON'S WARBLERs -- otherwise, not much evidence
for summer visitors other than swallows.  Is HUTTON'S VIREO expected
here?  I'm pretty sure of one based on vocalizations.
   The one that got away was probably GREEN HERON -- a bird heard calling
while flying along the overflow channel, but with vegation blocking views.
(I recouped this miss later in the day, at the pond at the northeast
corner of Gold St. and 237 in Alviso; unfortunately, the water level
there is too high for shorebirds.)
   Finally, if you've ever wanted to be in the midst of a flock of birds
(and haven't watched too much Hitchcock), I recommend walking across the
Bloomfield Ave. Llagas Creek bridge.
								Al Eisner
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