[SBB] Along Skyline this week...

Hi All,

As we all know, it is getting quiet out there. I have poked about a bit this week in some of my favorite spots, finding that most of the species present a month ago are still there, just much quieter and perhaps in smaller numbers.

Early on Weds. 7/12/2006 I visited the Ridge Trail loop around the hill SE from Horseshoe Lake at Skyline Ridge OSP. No Hermit Warbler in evidence this time. But a very subtle Cassin's Vireo was still singing occasionally, and a male Black-throated Gray Warbler was observed carrying food in oaks by the lake outlet. A Lazuli Bunting was still in song by the lake too. Chipping Sparrows were singing strongly among the Xmas trees; all 3 that I observed or heard were on the SMC county side of the road. American Coots had new young on the pond, and 2 family groups of Brown Creepers were tending fledged young around the hilltop.

A bit later I visited the little pond at Monte Bello's Gate 5. I had another Lazuli Bunting there and a faintly singing Black-throated Gray Warbler.

Today 7/14/2006 I visited that pond again, and found those 2 species still around, as well as a Black-headed Grosbeak and Warbling Vireo which I had missed on my previous visit. Postbreeding accumulations of Violet-green Swallows are building up all around the area. A dozen were drinking from the pond today; at least 200 were sitting on the wires along Alpine Rd. a couple of miles to the west.

--Garth Harwood