[SBB] Horseshoe Lake area, Skyline OSP 5/23/2006

Hello All,

A quick scouting walk for the Palo Alto Summer Bird Count this morning 5/23/2006 turned up 3 singing Chipping Sparrows in the Christmas tree farm beside the equestrian parking area at Skyline OSP. One of these flew over from the SCL side of Skyline Blvd/Hwy 35 directly over the entrance area where I parked outside the locked gate at 7AM (the preserve is open at sunrise, even if the gate isn't.) The other two were in the Xmas trees a few yards into San Mateo County, but their territories surely include some SCL turf. This spot has been reliable for breeding CHSP for the past several seasons. Those looking for them would be wise to visit early; they tend to hush down by midmorning (not to mention that noisy weed-whackers fired up on the farm at 7:30).

A bit farther into SMC, a Hermit Warbler and a Western Tanager sang from conifers on the hill just SE from Horseshoe Lake. Cassin's, Hutton's and Warbling Vireos were represented by one individual each; two Pacific-slope Flycatchers were detected, and just one each of Lazuli Bunting and Orange-crowned and Black-throated Gray Warbler.

Also on that hill, I observed something I've not come across before, a Band-tailed Pigeon clambering into a weak-looking nest in the canopy of a tall, but spindly Live Oak. A Brown Creeper was carrying a bark flake too.

At Hidden Villa yesterday evening (6:15), a lonely-looking Vaux's Swift fluttered around over the upper farm without so much as a swallow for company.

--Garth Harwood