[SBB] Los Alamitos Creek trail

[Janna Pauser <[[email protected]]>]

I birded a short portion of the Alamitos Creek trail from Mazzone Dr. to
Lake Almaden this morning. Three Yellow Warblers in dense Willows
north of the bridge were heard. I managed to see one YEWA after it flew
into a neighbors Birch tree and continued to sing. One Ash throated
Flycatcher on the west side of the Mazzone bridge had a feather in
its beak. Another ATFL was calling from a tree on the east side of the
bridge. A nearby singing Wilson's Warbler in the Willows
was seen briefly. A flock of 17 Nutmeg Mannikins in the grass
close to the pedestrian bridge consisted of several adults and molting
juveniles. These young birds had lighter plumage and lacked the black
face of the adults. 

An incredible flock of 200 Cedar Waxwings filled the sky near Lake
Almaden. The pair of previously reported W. Grebes were near the
beach, 2 Caspian Terns on a spit of land near the island which
housed numerous herons and egrets.  One f. Gadwall was on the lake
and one f. Common Merganser sleeping near the shore. On my return several
black birds flew south following the creek. One had a very long tail and
may have been a Great tailed Grackle. It's long tail was straight, not
flared at the tip as shown in my field guide. This bird was too high
overhead to note other field marks. Another Ash throated Flycatcher
spotted across Winfield calling from the hillside. Half a dozen Brown
headed Cowbirds were seen or heard on my short walk this morning. Cliff
Swallows seen near the lake and N. Rough winged and Violet-Green Swallows
further south.

I returned to the same trail early this evening hoping to find a Great
tailed Grackle. A Green Heron and  pair of W.
Kingbirds were new birds today. Only one Yellow Warbler was singing
this late in the day. Walking south along the trail I found at least 6
House Wrens, several pair each of Hooded and Bullocks
Orioles. Another pair of W. Kingbirds and Ash throated Flycatchers
also here. I believe they returned to last years nesting sites. A female
or juvenile Selasphorus Hummingbird with buffy flanks was seen briefly
along the equestrian trail. One Wrentit was seen on the chaparral
hillside closer to the Camden entrance. Pacific slope Flycatcher was
conspicuously absent. 

Janna Pauser  Almaden Valley

_______________________________________________
Do not post admin requests to the list. They will be ignored.
South-Bay-Birds mailing list      ([[email protected]])
Help/Unsubscribe/Update your Subscription:
http://plaidworks.org/mailman/listinfo/south-bay-birds_plaidworks.org