Re: [SBB] Sunnvyale WPCP highlights

[Barry Langdon-Lassagne <[[email protected]]>]

Also, I couldn't resist playing with Aperture after having taking a  
bunch of hurried photos while we were out. No really "great" photos,  
but these give a sense of what the birding was like tonight:

	http://homepage.mac.com/wilmot/Sunnyvale_WPCP/

- Barry -

On Apr 21, 2006, at 8:49 PM, Barry Langdon-Lassagne wrote:

> Ginger and I just did our last scouting trip in advance of our two-
> person birdathon (we're "The Jack Sparrows") planned for Saturday. A
> sunset trip to the Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Plant was just
> the thing to whet our appetite; here are some highlights.
>
> On the drive to Sunnyvale WPCP we passed Sunnyvale Baylands, where a
> WESTERN KINGBIRD was perched in one of the trees lining the main
> road, just before the Twin Creeks sporting facility entrance. When we
> first arrived at the WPCP, we saw a VAUX'S SWIFT flying over the
> sewage treatment facility and, later saw many more (at least 10)
> flying among the BARN, CLIFF and ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWs. The swifts
> were the highlight of the evening, and it was suprising that every
> one we could identify was a Vaux's; no White-throated Swifts that we
> could see.
>
> COMMON YELLOWTHROATs were calling in several places, although we
> never managed to see one. MARSH WRENs called and occasionally came
> out. We saw GREAT and SNOWY EGRETs as well as one GREAT BLUE HERON.
> An AMERICAN GOLDFINCH flew across the path and into the mustard.
>
> We watched a pair of RED-TAILED HAWKs transfer what looked like a
> pocket gopher from one bird to the other mid flight! Out by East Pond
> a NORTHERN HARRIER flew past us. In the channel along the power lines
> we saw a COMMON MOORHEN in a fight with an AMERICAN COOT.
>
> On the way toward the East Pond we saw several BONAPARTE'S GULLs in
> alternate plumage, and flying out among the gulls we saw many
> FORSTER'S TERNs. The ponds were surprisingly devoid of ducks, only
> giving us RUDDY DUCK, GADWALL, MALLARD and CANADA GOOSE, although a
> pair of ducks at the limit of scope view might have been Scaup. A
> flock of approximately 20 LEAST SANDPIPERs landed twice out by the
> East Pond, giving us good scope views.
>
> A flock of 17+ COMMON RAVENs flew over the salt ponds. BLACK-CROWNED
> NIGHT-HERONs occasionally flew overhead (I think we saw four total).
> Three DOWITCHERs, their bellies looking pretty red, stood out by a
> Canada Goose on the east edge of the East Pond.
>
> - Barry & Ginger -
>
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