[SBB] Loma Prieta, May 29, strange birds

["Kris Olson" <[[email protected]]>]

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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