[SBB] S.C. Co. Birdlist November 2006

We had a really good November in the county. We average about 3 new species in November, but this year we managed 6, which was quite an accomplishment. This jumped the composite list up to 282, which is about 2 species beyond the recent-year average.

We had only one 4 during the month and this was an adult STILT SANDPIPER found at New Chicago on 3 Nov. We've become quite blase in recent years with this rare sandpiper, often seeing them in the fall. But this year there were none until November, which is unusual. A second bird, a juvenile was found on 6 Nov. The adult was last seen on 11 Nov which is the latest we've ever had this species.

The 6's were the ones that shined this month with five species, including a first record for the county. Monday, 6 Nov, was a banner day with two 6's: a TROPICAL KINGBIRD at the San Jose-Santa Clara WPCP and a juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN-PLOVER at the CCFS waterbird pond. The kingbird was a one-day wonder, but the golden-plover lingered. This plover is very late, as was the Stilt Sandpiper. The big news was a juvenile ZONE-TAILED HAWK found along Summit Road southeast of Hwy 17 on 7 Nov. This bird is a first record for both Santa Clara and Santa Cruz counties. The 6's finished off with another banner day on 12 Nov. An adult BRANT was found on the Palo Alto GC and in nearby areas and a juvenile YELLOW-BILLED SAPSUCKER was seen at Ed Levin CP. Both birds have lingered and have been seen by many folks. There is a possibility that both may linger or even winter and will enrich our CBS.

December, on average, provides only 3 new birds for the year. Normally, we would expect that all the 4's would be found each year (that is the definition). The ones left are Mountain Quail, Red-throated Loon, White-faced Ibis, and Short-eared Owl. I think the quail and the ibis are unlikely, but we have a very good chance of picking up the other two.