[SBB] Hunting for ducks on Skyline -- and other birding

["Kris Olson" <[[email protected]]>]

I always love seeing ducks in winter in the ponds along Skyline, so I
escaped to the ridge to see some. Cold up there! 47 degrees. 

LaHonda pond: HOODED MERGANSER, male; 3 RING-NECKED DUCKS; 1 BUFFLEHEAD,
female. Also HUTTON'S VIREO AND  chup-chupping HERMIT THRUSH.

Alpine pond, Skyline Ridge Open space preserve (I think)-- @ Alpine & Page
Mill:
1 RING-NECKED DUCK, period. Finally saw 2 Acorn Woodpeckers.

Horseshoe Lake, same preserve: 6 RING-NECKED DUCKS, COOTS, 1 PIED-BILLED
GREBE (and perhaps one more calling from the reeds) 

All in all, very few Ring-necked Ducks; usually lots more, at least at
Horseshoe.

I hiked up the Ridge Trail past Horseshoe Lake -- encountered a nice flock
of TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, BROWN CREEPER, PYGMY NUTHATCHES along with some
running children, which did not seem to phase the birds at all.

Encountered a large flock of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS as I drove further
south/west (?) on Skyline.

At Sanborn Park (now in Santa Clara County), Sunnyvale picnic area -- heard
and tracked down a fast-moving HAIRY WOODPECKER and 2 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS.
In the "vale" part of the area, California Quail, Bewick's Wren, Juncos,
etc.

Back at home, I walked the dog over to Menlo-Atherton High School, and found
3 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, 2 males and 1 female, along with several YELLOW-RUMPED
WARBLERS, Starlings and scads of Crows coming into roost.  The Bluebirds
have nested at MA since 2002, first in an oak tree and now in nest boxes,
which they instantly preferred. I think they live there all year, though I
have not looked for them for awhile. 

On the way there, we walked through the Menlo Oaks area and heard PYGMY
NUTHATCHES in 2 locations (probably moving fast from one to the other),
NUTTALL'S WOODPECKERS, ACORN WOODPECKERS (Bill Bousman said they arrived in
Sept. -- shows me I need to walk more!), many ROBINs, suddenly loud OAK
TITMICE, LESSER GOLDFINCHES, etc. Our peanut feeder and thistle feeder are
being depleted rapidly.

Good birding,

Kris Olson





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