[SBB] Calero-Morgan Hill CBC - Almaden Reservoir, Hicks Rd to Guadalupe Reservoir

All,

At 8:30 AM on 30 Dec 2005 Karen Hesse, Kep Stone and I began our coverage for the Calero-Morgan Hill CBC at the Almaden Reservoir under threatening clouds. From the intersection of Hicks and Alamitos Roads we walked back along Alamitos Road to the dam. There was little activity on the ground but in the air we had AMERICAN CROW, COMMON RAVEN, BAND-TAILED PIGEON (46), TURKEY VULTURE, WHITE-TAILED KITE (2), AMERICAN KESTREL (2), OSPREY and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. Looking down on the mudflats and reservoir we observed BLACK PHOEBE, BELTED KINGFISHER, KILLDEER, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, WILSON'S SNIPE, WOOD DUCK (77), RUDDY DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYE, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT and, of course, MALLARD and AMERICAN COOT. Along the road we eventually saw ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, ACORN WOODPECKER, AMERICAN ROBIN, BREWER'S BLACKBIRD, EUROPEAN STARLING, LESSER GOLDFINCH, NORTHERN FLICKER, NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER, OAK TITMOUSE, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH and WESTERN SCRUB-JAY.

Light rain fell as we neared the dam and continued as we walked from the intersection toward the Twin Creeks area. Again, there was little activity but we picked up CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, HERMIT THRUSH and SPOTTED TOWHEE. The creeks were flowing perhaps too rapidly for an American Dipper to be present but not for a COMMON MERGANSER. On the walk back to the car we had RED-SHOULDERED (2) and RED-TAILED HAWK.

We drove up Hicks Road to Sierra Azul OSP for lunch. The timing was good as the rain increased and the wind gusted. We went up to Mt. Um despite the inclement weather. After a couple of minutes out of the car we realized the futility of our efforts and went back down and across Hicks Road to Almaden Quicksilver CP. We did pick up CALIFORNIA QUAIL and TOWHEE along the way. Some sparrows flushed across the road but too quickly and not well seen in the rain to ID. They probably were Golden-crowned Sparrows.

We were somewhat protected from the wind in Almaden Quicksilver CP but the birds sought protection also. It sounded like a freight train roaring by overhead as the wind blew over the tower cables. So much for birding by ear. We did pick up DARK-EYED JUNCO and Karen had a life wish fulfilled. A Ruby-crowned Kinglet flashed its ruby crown at her.

We continued down Hicks Road past the confluence of the Rincon and Guadalupe Rivers. We walked along the road In intermittent light rain and picked up BEWICK'S WREN, STELLER'S JAY, HAIRY WOODPECKER and 4 beautiful TOWNSEND'S WARBLERs.

At our last stop the Guadalupe Reservoir we saw 13 more Wood Ducks, a male Common Merganser and our lone gull of the day. A ranger stopped by to ask us what brought us out in the rain. On our way back to the Almaden Community Center we stopped to look for the dipper again to no avail.

After we turned in our paperwork we had another encounter with the ranger in the Almaden Quicksilver CP parking lot. It was now dark and his vehicle's headlights were illuminating our license plates. We arrived just in time because he was going to ticket Kep and me for having our cars parked after hours. Phew, that would not have been a happy ending!

Happy New Year everyone!

Peggy Don