[SBB] CCSP and BRSP at CCFS - 10/15/05

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All,

This morning 10/15/05, Steve Rottenborn (SCR), Scott Terrill (SBT), Steve Rovell (SRv), and I (MMR) spent 5.5 hours birding both banks of Coyote Creek from highway 237 to the CCFS waterbird pond. We covered much of the area separately, but communicating by radio. There was a big push of sparrows today, with our totals for FOX and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS approaching triple-digit numbers. The best birds among these were a BREWER'S SPARROW seen by Scott and a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW found by Steve Rovell, who was birding with Steve Rottenborn, and seen shortly thereafter by Scott, but disappearing before I could make my way to the spot. Both of these birds were near the levee that heads north from the banding trailer: the CCSP was near the first left bend in the road opposite the "crossover" where the creekside vegetation has been removed, and the BRSP was a few hundred yards further north, where the road bends left a second time around the northeasternmost drying pond. The BRSP flew a!
 cross to the east side of the creek, but could not be relocated when we later birded that side.

We also got glimpses of a probable Blackpoll Warbler that flew from the east side of the creek to the cottonwoods along the creek just north of the Brewer's Sparrow location. This northern area has had Blackpoll Warblers in past years.

Other birds of note included:
WOOD DUCK - 5 in Coyote Creek at the BRSP location at 7:19am, at least one there at 11:23am.
OSPREY - 1 seen by SBT heading south from the waterbird pond.
MERLIN - 1 carrying prey east of the waterbird pond (SBT, MMR).
PEREGRINE FALCON - 2 in a dispute at the CCSP location (MMR).
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER - 2
WARBLING VIREO - 1 (SCR)
HOUSE WREN - 11+
WINTER WREN - 4
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET - 1 (SCR,SRv)
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER - 21+
YELLOW WARBLER - 6+
BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER - 3
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER - 2 (SCR,SRv)
WILSON'S WARBLER - 2 (SCR,SRv)
DARK-EYED JUNCO - 1 (MMR)

After this, we tried briefly to refind the Dickcissel along Stevens Creek in Mountain View, but the creek was pretty quiet at 1pm. SCR found an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER and a HOUSE WREN on the Moffett Field side of the east levee, but otherwise we did not find much of note. Scott had to leave at 1:30pm, but the rest of us checked Charleston Road marsh, finding a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, but no waterthrush.

We next headed to the Diablo Range in an effort to add a few species to SRv's Santa Clara County list. The Elm Picnic Area at Ed Levin Park had a GREAT HORNED and 4 BARN OWLS, but no Long-eared. A VIRGINIA RAIL in the reedy area was a surprise. A single COMMON SNIPE was with 56 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS and 10 LEAST SANDPIPERS along the edges of a drawn-down Sandy Wool Lake.

A ROCK WREN was once again at the small rock outcrop along Calaveras Road just past the turnoff from Felter Road. The ducks at the southern end of Calaveras Reservoir have changed quite a bit since Oct 6. We had only a single male RING-NECKED DUCK this time, but 6+ CANVASBACKS, a pair of SCAUP, and 2 male BUFFLEHEADS were new arrivals.

Back on Felter Road, we saw an adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK chasing off an immature bird just west of the Marsh Road turnoff (where the pond between Felter and Calaveras Roads is visible from Felter Road). A single GOLDEN EAGLE was also here. No Parking signs prevented stopping at the Sierra Road summit and little of interest was noted during our drive-by. We did find 16+ LARK SPARROWS along Calaveras, Felter, and Sierra Roads though.

And lastly, heading back through Milpitas on Calaveras Blvd, we saw a PEREGRINE FALCON just west of Hillview Drive.

Mike Rogers
Sunnyvale
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