[SBB] Palo Alto CBC 12/18/2006

[Garth Harwood <[[email protected]]>]

Hello All,

Here's some 'old news' - originally written on the evening of the count 
just prior to leaving for the airport, but I didn't find out that it 
had failed to send until my return this AM. Sorry for the delay...

I counted the Skyline ridge section of the Palo Alto CBC on 12/18/2006, 
including parts of Monte Bello and Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserves, 
on the border of San Mateo/Santa Clara counties. It was a bright, 
beautiful day but COLD - the ice never melted on the puddles up there. 
And windy, just to put some icing on the cake.

Ultimately, I decided that the raw conditions were an advantage in 
terms of bird-finding. Birds concentrated in the leeward, south-facing 
sheltered spots behind hilltops etc. - the same places I wanted to hang 
out.

The first good finds of the day were at my favorite patch at Monte 
Bello's gate 5 pond. Eighteen Lawrence's Goldfinches were there early, 
as were 7 Hooded Mergansers - both high counts for this year at the 
pond. The Sora let itself be found too. (All SCL county birds.)

A Red-breasted Nuthatch was seen in the pines at the intersection of 
Skyline Blvd. and Page Mill Rd. (This bird was on both sides of the 
county line.)

At the hill just southeast from Horseshoe lake at Skyline Ridge OSP (in 
SMC County), I was delighted by a female Hermit Warbler who was taking 
advantage of a warm pocket and lingered for a quarter of an hour, often 
at and below eye level, sometimes foraging very close (within arm's 
reach at one point), providing an exceptional opportunity for study. 
Also in this flock were several Golden-crowned Kinglets.

Just north of that point, at the Christmas tree farm and just a few 
yards from Skyline Blvd, an adult male 'Slate-colored' Junco stood out 
strongly in a flock of 50+ Oregon-race D-E Juncos. This spot is 
practically on the county line too.

Owling having been a bad joke in the early AM, I spent a little time at 
Hidden Villa (SCL) before attending the countdown dinner. On the way in 
there was still enough light to pick up the White-throated Sparrow 
there. After dusk two GH Owls conversed and I had a couple of W. 
Screech Owls too.

Happy Holidays to everyone,

Garth Harwood


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