[SBB] Baltimore Oriole?

[Barbara Kossy <[[email protected]]>]

I was paddling my kayak in the Lexington Reservoir yesterday. Around 1 
or 1:30 we paddled into the flooded Los Gatos Creek at the end of the 
reservoir farthest from the dam.
I heard a very lovely and robust birdsong to my left.
But no bird was in sight. We paddled farther and enjoyed paddling 
throught the willows and listening to and watching the red-winged 
blackbirds.
Heading back into the main reservoir I again heard the robust bird song 
and couldn't place it.
Sort of like a robin, but not, sort of like a Northern Cardinal, but 
not. So I decided to wait and see if the bird showed himself. After a 
few minutes he hopped to a branch with great light and visibility. 
Oriole, I thought, but, gee, it has a black head like a Baltimore 
Oriole, but that can't be, that's an Eastern bird. He was smaller than 
a robin, all black head, eyes and small straight bill, and a rusty 
red-orange chest fully lit by the filtered afternoon sun. He turned and 
flew into the woods. Black wings and back, I think, with white on the 
wings near the body, or on the back, I'm not certain of the location of 
the white patches, since I didn't have binoculars with me.
Going home to look up the bird, it seems it really was a Baltimore 
Oriole.
I'd put its location as between Aldercroft Heights Road and Los Gatos 
Creek, just to the reservoir side of the the flooded willow patch 
that's full of black birds.

I'm new to this list have have never before visited the Lexington 
Reservoir. I really enjoyed the birds there, and packing for kayaking 
forgot to take the binoculars.
So, I have a couple of questions for those of you familiar with the 
spot.  There are some old limbless pines standing in the water near the 
highway 17 shore.
I saw quite a few woodpeckers nesting the in the holes in the pines. 
What woodpecker would that be?
And I saw a very small gray brown bird foraging along the waters edge, 
and on the floating pipeline in the water. What bird would that be?
Thanks.
Feel free to call me if you want more details about the Baltimore 
Oriole.
Barbara


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Mobile: 650-430-1094
[[email protected]]
On the Web: http://home.igc.org/~bkossy
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