[SBB] Sunnvyale WPCP highlights

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

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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