[SBB] Calero-MH CBC - final numbers

Hello All,

Now that all the counting packets have been received, the final count for the Calero-Morgan Hill CBC on 12/30/05 stands at 147 species with the addition of Red-breasted Nuthatch from Loma Prieta and Purple Finch from Quicksilver CP. This ties with the high species count of 147 in the 2003 count.

While Mike Rogers has already posted the highlights to SBB, I thought I'd give a brief run-down of the count. So here goes.

A high number of 550+ Canada Geese was recorded, but no smaller geese were seen except for a count week Snow Goose at Anderson Reservoir. 17 species of ducks were tallied, including a female Redhead at Ogier Ponds. A count week Red-throated Loon seen at Calero Reservoir was of interest, but could not be re-found on count day. Raptors were well represented including four Bald Eagles (three near Anderson Reservoir and one at Calero Reservoir), and at least three Prairie Falcons (a species that has been missed on the last four CBCs).

Because of high water levels at inland reservoirs and wetlands, we had a low count of shorebirds this time; however, a single Red Phalarope seen at Chesbro Reservoir was new for the count - a little waif representing the recent incursion of this species into the Bay Area. Six gull species were recorded, including a Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid seen at the Kirby Canyon Landfill. Six owl species were tallied, including a Burrowing Owl at Coyote Ridge - a rare species for this count.

Three swallow species were seen - Tree, Barn, and N. Rough-winged (another new species for the count). Other new species for this count included Black-throated Gray Warbler and Bullock's Oriole. An American Redstart was the second one seen on this count; the first one was tallied on the Dec 2000 CBC. Other birds of interest include American Bittern, American Avocet, American Dipper, Orange-crowned Warbler, Grasshopper Sparrow, and White-throated Sparrow, and count week Blue-gray Gnatcatcher.

Good overall numbers of our regularly occurring resident and wintering species were consistent with previous CBC's with no unusual spikes or glaring misses this time.

I want to thank all of you who participated in making this a very successful count. The next Calero-MH CBC will be on Saturday, Dec 30, 2006.

Until then - good birding in 2006!

Ann Verdi, Compiler

Calero-Morgan Hill CBC