[SBB] Ogier Ponds Field Trip

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All,
 
This morning's SCVAS field trip to Ogier Ponds was a case of "A silk purse  
from a Sow's ear."  A great group of birders managed to change a field trip  in 
which no birds of note were seen (Friday's checkout trip) into one in which  
several notable birds were seen.  Shortly after the trip started Rich Page  
got things going by locating two WILSON'S SNIPE on the southern edge of the  
first pond located south of the entrance road.  An eclipse  plumaged male WOOD 
DUCK was soon spotted in the same pond.   As we walked the eastern edge of the 
first pond north of the entrance road a  well marked CACKLING GOOSE was well 
seen as an OSPREY carried a good sized  fish to a power pole east of the pond.  
A LOGGERHEAD  SHRIKE was also on a snag in the open field east of the pond.  
The Osprey  later flew to the second pond north of the entrance road to eat 
it's fish  in peace (away from a WHITE-TAILED KITE) on a snag near a flock of 20 
plus  RING-NECKED DUCKS.  At this point a GOLDEN EAGLE was found on the 
hillside  east of the Hwy 101 and somewhat north of the dump.  Starting to feel  
pretty good about the trip we then headed south along the  eastern edge of the 
first north pond when a juvenile GREATER WHITE  FRONTED GOOSE was spotted 
landing in the water with a large flock of CANADA  GEESE.  As we continued to watch 
the Greater White-fronted Goose and  other ducks in the area an AMERICAN 
BITTERN was found standing on the top  of some reeds on the edge of an island in 
the pond.  After providing  excellent views for all in attendance the American 
Bittern eventually flew  to the western edge of the pond (a great in-flight 
look).  In the  southeastern most pond, near the model airplane field, we added a 
SAY'S  PHOEBE, SORA (calling only), GREEN-WINGED TEAL and AMERICAN WIGEON.   
Other notables included 20 plus TURKEY VULTURES roosting on the northern edge 
of  the first north pond and nine to ten White-tailed Kites, including a 
couple  buffy breasted juveniles, roosting in a tree on the western edge of the 
first  southern pond.  Approximately 62 species were seen in total, big miss for  
the day was Common Merganser (also no Gulls of any kind were seen in the  
ponds or over the dump to the east). 
 
Take care,
TBD Bob  Reiling         
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