[SBB] 05-14-05 Del Puerto Canyon, San Antonio Valley (briefly), and Mines Roads

[Matthew Dodder <[[email protected]]>]

All,

Every once in a while one of our field trips goes perfectly... The 
rings of brilliant weather, colorful birds, stunning scenery and our 
combined group enthusiasm align to create a circle so round and 
flawless that you just have to believe it was designed that way. Those 
who participated today will understand what I am trying to say. Today 
was just such a day!

We began differently than in years past, approaching from the east to 
hit Del Puerto Canyon in the morning. This allowed us the opportunity 
to observe this dry grassy habitat without the familiar heat shimmier 
of late afternoon. As a result the yellow lores and honey-colored 
breast of GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (MP 0.5) and the deep navy blue tones of 
BLUE GROSBEAK (first cattle guard) were clear to everyone in our group. 
The latter species was enjoyed as a pair, with female carrying nesting 
material from the nearby ditch into a hidden area up ridge beyond the 
barbed wire.

Continuing in from the Patterson-side entrance we encountered numerous 
WESTERN KINGBIRDS and a PRAIRIE FALCON near where the huge powerlines 
appear on the left. A brief pullout where the creek runs beside a small 
barn on the right (MP 02.3 or so) we encountered our first LARK 
SPARROW, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE and YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES, as well as 
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD and more WESTERN KINGBIRDS. We would see each of 
these several times more during the day. Just before Grafitti Rock (MP 
03.7) we logged YELLOW WARBLER which was exciting enough, but when we 
rounded the corner and surveyed the Tree Tabacco we found one of our 
target birds, a glorious COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD with a blazing 
boysenberry-colored gorget. He vocalized for us several times before 
dashing off, but reappeared after several moments allowing our group to 
admire him at length. His thin ascending-descending call was heard 
repeatedly.

About this time, Art Edwards and another birder whose name I have 
forgotten (Bing?) met up with us. Art's self-guided itineries for both 
Del Puerto Canyon and Mines Road (available in the Stanislaus section 
of Joe Morlan's County Birding page: 
http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/county.htm) were crucial for the 
planning of our tour and it was so fortunate we we met them both. As 
well, the Audubon Society Stanislaus Chapter 
http://www.stanislausbirds.org/del_puerto_canyon.htm offers useful 
information and a great map of the area.

Anyway... at Owl Rock (MP 03.9) we managed to get our two Owl species 
for the day, GREAT HORNED OWL and BARN OWL, each nestled deep in their 
respective nest caves. LAZULI BUNTING was heard and seen here as well 
as a pair of GOLDEN EAGLES perched on the ridge. SAY'S PHOEBE was 
observed one along the fence line. ROCK WREN was heard, but not seen 
here. We continued west, stopping only occasionally to look and listen. 
GREEN HERON was spotted in the Lewis' Woodpecker Flats area (MP 09.5) A 
brief stop where the creek runs beneath the road (MP 10.4?) produced 
good, but rushed looks at RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW and CANYON WREN, both 
of which sang for us.

Despite a lengthy search for the recently reported Yellow-breasted Chat 
in the riparian area .25 miles east of Frank Raines Park (MP 16.1) we 
could not locate the bird. We did however, have a delicious picnic 
lunch and got good looks at WESTERN TANAGER and two fly-over 
PHAINOPEPLAS. We stopped at a small pond about 1 mile west of the 
Stanislaus/Santa Clara County line and viewed a large number of 
TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS in the reeds. From there we passed through more 
beautiful canyon habitat but decided not to stop until we reached the 
small pond before the Junction. Parking was difficult there but 
worthwhile. WESTERN WOOD PEWEE, VIOLET GREEN and TREE SWALLOWS, PURPLE 
FINCH and LEWIS' WOODPECKER were all detected, but unfortunately, there 
were no hoped-for Wood Ducks.

At the Junction, we rested for a moment and drank cold water, it was 
88F at this point and we were all quite tired... Lisa Meyers' group was 
here, having driven from Mount Hamilton so we exchanged bird reports 
briefly before continuing on. A short drive south (about 1 mile) on San 
Antonio Valley Road where we viewed the dead trees did not produce any 
additonal Lewis' Woopecker, but a single singing CHIPPING SPARROW was 
heard on the west side of the fence. We doubled back and pulled into 
the fire station (a 100 yards north of the Junction) and searched for 
Lawrence's Goldfinch. After identifying WESTERN WOOD PEWEE, BULLOCK'S 
ORIOLE, HOUSE FINCH and HOUSE SPARROW we began to hear the busy buzzy 
song of our LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH. With difficulty, we finally got great 
looks at them as they flitted around the long-needle pine trees 
overhead. Their song contained so many rapid-fire immitations of other 
species it was hard to follow, but their characteristic "clinking 
glass" ringing call provided some kind of handle for us to hold onto.

Some members left a this point and the tour was essentially complete, 
however a few joined me at the sage covered hillside near the cattle 
guard north of the firestation to search for Sage Sparrow. None were 
heard or seen (likely it was just too late in the day...) but BLUE-GRAY 
GNATCATCHER was located. Our three-car caravan also spotted a female 
WOOD DUCK in a shallow creek that runs on the west side of the road 
near a corral (I'm afraid I have no idea exact which MP this was...). 
She had a few chicks with her, which she quietly deposited in a hiding 
place before she flew off. Finally, as we neared the intersection with 
Del Valle Road (MP 05.5?) we saw a GREATER ROADRUNNER crossing the road 
and disappearing upslope. It was a wonderful day, but exhausting and my 
apologies for the sloppy mile post references.

What a great day!
Matthew Dodder
http://www.birdguy.net

Pied-billed Grebe
Green Heron
Turkey Vulture
Wood Duck
Mallard
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Golden Eagle
American Kestrel
Prairie Falcon
California Quail
American Coot
Killdeer
Greater Yellowlegs
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Greater Roadrunner
Barn Owl
Great Horned Owl
Anna's Hummingbird
Costa's Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Lewis' Woodpecker
Acorn Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood Pewee
Black Phoebe
Say's Phoebe
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Loggerhead Shrike
Western Scrub Jay
Yellow-billed Magpie
American Crow
Common Raven
Horned Lark
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Barn Swallow
Oak Titmouse
White-breasted Nuthatch
Rock Wren
Canyon Wren
Bewick's Wren
House Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Western Bluebird
American Robin
Wrentit
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
Phainopepla
Yellow Warbler
Western Tanager
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Black-headed Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Red-winged Blackbird
Tricolored Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bullock's Oriole
Purple Finch
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
Lawrence's Goldfinch
House Sparrow

--end
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