[SBB] feasting on frogs

[Janna Pauser <[[email protected]]>]

It appeared quiet at the Santa Clara Water District Headquarters when I arrived tonight. A few Forsters Terns were among Cliff Swallows flying over the pond and river channel. Stacy Clamage and I found all the action near the dam, where five Green Herons were hunkered down and poised to strike from their cement block perches that stretched across the water. A female Belted Kingfisher was perched on a ladder staring into the water. Snowy and Great Egrets flew in and two Black crowned Night Herons never moved while we watched them. A Spotted Sandpiper worked the slope of the dam finding plenty to eat. 

At 8 pm the frogs appeared. Dozens came to the waters surface, hopping out of the water momentarily. This is what everybody was waiting for. I assume this is a nightly occurrence. The surface of the river channel was alive with tiny frogs.

On the north side of the property we watched a Song Sparrow feeding two juv. B.H. Cowbirds. Earlier I'd spotted another juv. cowbird with a small flock of Red-winged Blackbirds in the cattails. Female and male juv. Red-winged Blackbirds were seen in this flock. Several more Belted Kingfishers arrived shortly before we left. Stacy had seen a family of three BEKI here the previous evening, which was the reason for our visit tonight.

Janna Pauser  Almaden Valley



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