[SBB] encounter with a Golden Eagle

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

I arrived at the Bald Mt. trail head at 6:30 am this morning Aug. 9th. My
first bird was a juvenile Coopers Hawk repeating a wheezy, whistled call.
I walked only a short distance along the trail because the rising sun
made it nearly impossible to see. Birds were flying across the trail
right and left, but I knew I had to get past them and find them on the
way back. I heard at least three Swainson's Thrush calling from
the canyon below and another near the road. They answered my whit call
but were not seen. A dozen Wrentits were calling and three Cal. Thrashers
were found. At least a dozen Blue gray Gnatcatchers, most of which
appeared to be juveniles, were flitting near the tops of Chamise and
Mountain Mahogany. I've never seen so many here. Bewicks Wrens seemed to
be everywhere, and again most were juveniles. The adults are molting now
and barely recognizable. One No. Flicker was heard and one Am Goldfinch
among several Lesser Goldfinch were seen. As I neared the road, a pair of
Black throated Gray Warblers popped out when I pished. I saw the
males gold lore before they flew over the road and behind the oak trees.
I was surprised when a male Hairy Woodpecker landed on a nearby tree. It
was getting warm, so I left to bird along the Woods trail at the bottom
of Mt. Umunhum Road. 

The Woods Rd. trail in Sierra Azul was quiet at first, and other than
Dark eyed Juncos and ever present C.B. Chickadees, not many birds were
seen except for several pockets of birds. I heard two or three Ash
throated Flycatchers calling to each other near the start of the trail.
Several Huttons Vireos were heard only. I walked one hour in, until I was
past the grove of Eucalyptus trees. Here I saw a warbler that was slim
and yellow. Near the trickle of water, I heard a Brown Creepers high
pitched call. Several families of Cal. Quail were seen along the trail
and three Band tailed Pigeons flew overhead. 

On the return trip I was rounding a corner and congratulating myself on
finding another Huttons Vireo, when something big and dark loomed a few
yards ahead. I was terrified and couldn't help but scream. When I saw the
white tail band I knew it was a juvenile Golden Eagle. It had been
sitting on the trail and flew right past me!! It landed in a nearby
Douglas Fir and stared me down. I apologized profusely, but it was quite
a scare!! No white feathers were visible other than the tail band as I
studied him for a few seconds before he lifted off the tree. This was
close to the nesting GOEA I discovered on an earlier walk in May of this
year. A few minutes later I came across another pocket of birds, seeing
Bewicks Wrens, four Wrentits, more Chickadees, Juncos, a Downy
Woodpecker, Steller's Jays and four more Huttons Vireos. It was only
10:10 but already hot on Hicks Rd. 

A dozen Wild Turkeys were feeding in a field along Almaden Rd in New
Almaden.

Janna Pauser  Almaden Valley

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