[SBB] Morgan Hill hawkwatching

I tried some hawkwatching from 3:30 to 5:00 p.m. from my house today (7 Oct), hoping that raptors might be migrating along the ridge on the other (east) side of Anderson Reservoir. Most of the birds were distant, and a scope was essential in identifying many birds, but during these 1.5 hours I had 36 raptors of nine species. With the exception of the Red-shoulder and a couple of Red-tails, the birds were clearly southbound. Birds seen included:

2 Northern Harriers

3 Sharp-shinned Hawks

14 Cooper's Hawks

1 Red-shouldered Hawk

10 Red-tailed Hawks

2 Golden Eagles

1 American Kestrel

2 Merlins

1 Peregrine Falcon

2 Western Tanagers

Steve Rottenborn

Morgan Hill, CA

----- Original Message -----

From: michael mammoser

To: south-bay-birds

Sent: Saturday, October 07, 2006 4:35 PM

Subject: [SBB] Montebello OSP

On 7 Oct 06 I went up to Montebello OSP, hoping that the first nice day after a few weather days would produce a raptor migration. I staked out a spot on the hill next to the parking lot.

Three NORTHERN HARRIERS were seen early and all were males. An OSPREY was soaring over the ridge to the west, along the Summit Road. Later a bird came from this general area and flew towards the east (I assume it's the same bird). An adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was soaring over Los Trancos, while another called from down in Stevens Canyon. I had 10 RED-TAILED HAWKS during the course of my watch and I think some of these had to be residents. I had a total of 3 COOPER'S HAWKS, one of which was definitely aged as an adult. An adult SHARP-SHINNED HAWK came by me within 10 feet at about 3 feet off the ground and maintained this attitude as it cruised over the crest of the hill and down into the canyon. I guess it was hunting while migrating. I had 3 large falcons, one of which was a PEREGRINE (the others presumably so). Two male AMERICAN KESTRELS were hanging around th earea the whole time.

A WESTERN KINGBIRD was foraging from the tops of the coyote brush on the hill. About an hour and a half later this bird (I assume it to be the same one) flew over to the road and landed on the telephone wires before dropping out of sight. Two VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS flew by, heading south, and a BARN SWALLOW went in the opposite direction. I had a total of 81 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS go by over the course of this time.

Michael Mammoser

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References:
	>[SBB] Montebello OSP (From: michael mammoser <[[email protected]]>)