Re: [SBB] Loma Prieta, May 29, strange birds

["Alvaro Jaramillo" <[[email protected]]>]

Kris

  There was an "invasion" of Evening Grosbeaks in some of the coastal ranges
farther south (Ventura etc.). Evening Grosbeaks can show up practically
anywhere when they are doing their incursions. The description actually
sounds really good to me for Evening Grosbeak, particularly the white "by
the wings" which shows up quite well in flight. 

Good birding

Al

Alvaro Jaramillo
[[email protected]]
Half Moon Bay, CA

Field Guides - Birding Tours Worldwide
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> -----Original Message-----
> From: [[email protected]] [mailto:south-bay-birds-
> [[email protected]]] On Behalf Of Kris Olson
> Sent: Monday, May 29, 2006 5:42 PM
> To: 'South Bay Birders'
> Subject: [SBB] Loma Prieta, May 29, strange birds
> 
> I had not seen the following post until just now, but thought this might
> be
> of interest.
> 
> I arrived at the upper saddle of Loma Prieta today about 7:45am. I never
> saw
> any birds circling high or flying over. Nor did I see/hear any Black-
> chinned
> Sparrows.
> 
> Anther birder joined me for most of the time at Loma Prieta upper saddle,
> Cliff B from Santa Cruz area.
> 
> We heard/saw many BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, 2 BLUE--GRAY GNATCATCHERS (in
> the
> pines along the road)and heard the NORTHERN PYGMY OWL calling from quite a
> distance about 8:30am. Very cool, especially since I did not know it had
> been heard the day before. It started spontaneously.  Also calling at
> various times were CALIFORNIA QUAIL, CALIFORNIA THRASHERS, BEWICKS WRENS
> and
> SPOTTED TOWHEES. Also a pair of very interactive ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS
> in
> the pine tree behind the burned truck. Many fewer ANNA's HUMMINGBIRDS than
> 3
> or 4 weeks ago. And the ones I saw were all females. OLIVE-SIDED
> FLYCATCHERS
> were lower down on Loma Prieta Road.
> 
> After Cliff left, a large yellow bird with black on it flew down from the
> upper pine slope to lower pines. I looked for it and only got a quick look
> as it flew. Hmmm.  Later, closer to the lower saddle, I saw the same bird!
> This time I got a "better" look -- it was a relatively solid large yelow
> bird, about grosbeak size, with a little black on its head and black and
> white by the wings/central body. It did not fly like a finch (up and
> down),
> but flew purposefully down the hill each time I saw it (or them, as the
> case
> may be). Both looks were extremely quick. The only thing I could think of
> was Evening Grosbeak, but the location seems so wrong, and I certainly did
> not get definitive looks. Could it be an escaped something?
> 
> The other "strange" bird was a possible Pileated Woodpecker on Wright's
> Station Rd (if I remember the name correctly) near the bridge. I saw a
> large
> black bird fly over the creek from dark evergreens. I assumed it was a
> Raven
> but there was something funny about its head-- red and white flashed by as
> it flew. Later I heard what seemed like a Pileated call from the place it
> originated. But again, who knows. Are they possible there?
> 
> The good bird as the bridge was a calling SWAINSON'S THRUSH. At least I
> think it's good, I thought they had quite breeding in SCL. There was a
> fierce fight between the male and 2 STELLAR'S JAYS. I finally aided by
> clapping my hands very loudly and the Jays flew off. A Black-headed
> Grosbeak
> had also flown in to join the fray.
> 
> Lots of WILSON'S WARBLERS and PACIFIC SLOPE FLYCATCHERS on Morrill and
> Wright's Station Roads. Also 2 HAIRY WOODPECKERS.
> 
> I drove home across 17, up Summit (wow, what a road~ gorgeous but lots of
> speeding sports cars = near collisions. The car behind me and I honked at
> each turn..).
> 
> I heard what must be a CHIPPING SPARROW at the Christmas Tree lot by
> HOrshoe
> Lake (I am not even sure what county this is). Two more interacting
> Ash-throated Flycatchers.
> 
> I tried Garth's Monte Bello Gate 5 pond at 3:30pm. Very quite, as one
> might
> imagine. Two Song Sparrows, Lesser Goldfinches in addition to 3 male
> Redwing
> Blackbirds and one female with nesting materials.  I did manage to obtain
> 25
> ticks, which I picked off before getting back into the car.
> 
> Kris Olson, Menlo Park
> Happy memorial day!
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [[email protected]] [mailto:[[email protected]]] On
> Behalf Of [[email protected]]
> Sent: Monday, May 29, 2006 12:03 AM
> To: [[email protected]]
> Subject: [MBB] Loma Prieta, Black Swifts
> 
> This morning (5/28) I did a survey around Loma Prieta area from Spanish
> Ranch Rd., Highland Way, Mt. Bache Rd., and up Loma Prieta Rd.  The
> highlight of the morning was seeing (9) BLACK SWIFTS on the top of Loma
> Prieta.  I watched them foraging above me for about 10 minutes as they
> headed north.  Also moving north were (13) CEDAR WAXWINGS.   Other
> sightings
> included (3) WILD TURKEYS gobbling along Spanish Ranch Rd., and (1)
> N.PYGMY
> OWL, (2) LAZULI BUNTINGS (m,f), (1) YELLOW RUMPED WARBLER, (4) BLUE GRAY
> GNATCATCHERS, (1) NUTTAL'S WOODPECKER, (2) BLACK THROATED GRAY WARBLERS
> all
> along Loma Prieta Rd.
> 
> Other totals included (9) CASSIN'S VIREOS (quite good for this route), (6)
> OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS, (5) WESTERN WOOD PEEWEES, (4) ASH THROATED
> FLYCATCHERS, (6) WESTERN TANAGERS, (9) WARBLING VIREOS.
> 
> Also in our yard in Santa Cruz, an Allen's Hummer is on her third nesting
> attempt this season (with three different nests) and this one finally
> seems
> to be going well.
> 
> Kumaran Arul
> 
> 
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