[SBB] S.C. Co. Bird List April 2006

The composite list for Santa Clara County climbed to 236 by the end of April. Once we are past January, April is our really big month with an average of 22 new species found. This month folks found 25 new species and this helped with the year's deficit, which was 5 species at the end of March. So, we knocked the deficit back a bit and we are only 2 species behind our normal pace.

Normally, by the end of April we find most of our "usual" species, the 1's through 3's, except that we normally have to wait for later in the year for Brown Pelican and our expected phalaropes, but as you will see below, all of these showed up this April and aided the composite list.

This April we finished off the 2's. The first CASPIAN TERN of the season was found at Calero Reservoir on 5 Apr. PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, as with Caspian Terns are often found in late March. The first this year was found at McClellan Ranch in Cupertino on 8 Apr. Once the weather warmed, some of our other flycatchers showed up, including OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER at Alum Rock Park and ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER at Grant Ranch CP, both on 15 Apr. The same day, RED-NECKED PHALAROPES showed up in the New Chicago Marsh. Red-neckeds and Wilson's are considered 2's based on their fall migration -- they are much less common in spring, but this has been an excellent year for Red-neckeds. The first LAZULI BUNTINGS were found in a number of places on 22 Apr. Then, on 24 Apr a WILSON'S PHALAROPE was found at the Gilory sewer ponds, which was a surprise for the spring.

We also managed to finish off all the 3's in April. The first migrant CHIPPING SPARROWS were a small group at Guadalupe Oak Grove Park that were seen there for a few days. The first SWAINSON'S THRUSH was at Grant Ranch CP on 18 Apr. A very early BROWN PELICAN was over the Alviso salt ponds on 23 Apr. The last of the 3's were returning LEWIS'S WOODPECKER found in San Antonio Valley on 25 Apr -- they had apparently all left this winter, but it was good to see them back.

There was a good capture of 4's during April. Most of these birds someone finds during the year, but not always. The first was a male PURPLE MARTIN seen at Calero Reservoir on 6 Apr. The first VAUX'S SWIFT of the season was one over Guadalupe Oak Grove Park on 13 Apr. The first NASHVILLE WARBLER of the season was one at Ed Levin CP on 17 Apr. The first HERMIT WARBLERS of spring were migrants at Hidden Villa on 19 Apr. LEAST TERNS are usually found only as post-breeding migrants, but one flying north at the Palo Alto Baylands on 22 Apr was a surprise. The first GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS of the season were found at Ed Levin CP on a Big Day on 22 Apr. BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRDS usually come back in mid-April so a male along the Guadalupe River below Curtner was expected. MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLERS are less common in the spring, so a singing male at Smith Creek on 23 Apr was a treat. A 1st-spring COMMON LOON at Almaden Lake on 29 Apr on a SCVAS trip rounded out the 4's.

Five 5's were found in April, and these are always tough. April is probably the best time for HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER, and the first was found at Ed Levin CP on 17 Apr. A single female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD was seen at the old Gilroy sewer ponds on 21 Apr. A BANK SWALLOW was seen at Arastradero Preserve on 22 Apr. The month finished well with a SOLITARY SANDPIPER in the New Chicago Marsh on 29 Apr, and a couple of BLACK TERNS at Grant Lake on 30 Apr.

Well, now things get interesting. We have about 14 4's left (and one has already been found by mid-May). The rest are 5's and 6's, always the hardest. Normally in May, we find about 10 new species. We are halfway through the month and have only two new birds. Stay tuned.