[SBB] N.Waterthrush, V. Swift, E. Wigeon

[Matthew Dodder <[[email protected]]>]

All,

My office closed a couple hours early today, so I went birding! At  
the Palo Alto Baylands the tide was very low, making for lots of  
Shorebirds near the yacht club. The DUNLIN and BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS  
are in full alternate, and very beautiful. As well, both LONG-BILLED  
and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS were present, wearing rich reds and  
golds. The small flock of BONAPARTE'S GULLS were also showing  
completely black heads, and one had a subtle pinkish wash on the  
breast. On the far shore I saw one drake EURASIAN WIGEON, but oddly,  
no Americans. At the Duck Pond both LESSER and GREATER SCAUP were in  
atttendance, as well as one NORTHERN PINTAIL. Several BROWN-HEADED  
COWBIRDS were among the BREWER'S and RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS and as  
many have noted, the heronry is a noisy, active place right now.

A little later, I checked in on Charleston Slough, to find the BLACK  
SKIMMERS on their island. There were a few birds with white collars  
but most were  fully black on the nape. Occasionally they squabbled  
with the FORSTER'S TERNS but generally everyone seemed to be getting  
along. As I was leaving the area I glanced up at the swirling group  
of Swallows, BARN and CLIFF mostly, but then I noticed a tiny bird, a  
VAUX'S SWIFT flying relatively straight through the other birds. I  
watched it for a moment, but it disappeared toward the north east.

Finally, I visited Charleston Marsh. I parked in the MIPS parking lot  
at 1225 Charleston Slough (probably not legal) and walked across the  
street along the paved trail. I was determined to see the Northern  
Waterthrush again, and spent about half an hour pishing with no  
response. AMERICAN and LESSER GOLDFINCHES were in full song however,  
as was COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, and MARSH WREN. An AMERICA CROW was on  
the ground eating a MOURNING DOVE, something I'd never witnessed  
before, and overhead a pair of RED-TAILED HAWKS were investigating  
the trees across the water. I strolled for a 100 yards or so until I  
saw a female HOODED MERGANSER and decided I'd pull back so I wouldn't  
flush her. As I got closer to the No1 "Achilles Stretch" sign, very  
near the road, I paused and pished some more. Finally the NORTHERN  
WATERTHRUSH answered and in another few moments I had it in my  
binoculars. It was calling very loudly, bobbing it's tail slowly from  
the dense willow grove very close to the road. I hope it sticks  
around long enough for our Bird-a-thon team to catch tomorrow.

Matthew Dodder
http://www.birdguy.net

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