[SBB] Quick Palo Alto Baylands & O'Connor pond (EPA) trip

In between errands, I made a few stops in Palo Alto today. First stop was Bixbee Park, about 3pm. No sign of a flock of geese but many SAVANNAH SPARROWS on the hillsides, Song Sparrows and Marsh Wrens in the marsh. One female NORTHERN HARRIER. Has anyone seen the Short-eared Owl(s) lately? When is their normal departure date?

Then I checked the duck ponds for the Cattle Egret. I could not remember any information about when or where, except late afternoon. Not seen, but boy, some Snowy Egrets sure have red lores! There were several BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS around the pond.

I then made a super quick stop at the golf course pond at Geng Road to check for geese, and just as I was leaving, I saw a white back appear from behind a mound – the ROSS’s or Snow/Ross Goose. It was mainly feeding, head down behind the mound. When its head came up very quickly several times, I saw a small-ish bill and no grin patch. However, these were short looks. I pished for warblers and produced 1 YELLOW-RUMPED.

Onward to the pond at the end of O’Connor in EPA. I found 2 WILSON’S SNIPES, 30 or so Dowitchers, 8 male GREEN-WINGED TEAL, 2 BLACK-NECKED STILTS, 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS. This is San Mateo County.

Back home in Menlo Park ,finally heard and saw my first neighborhood BULLOCK’S ORIOLE. They sure hit Santa Clara County sooner – you can see the reports trickle in each year about 2 weeks before they arrive in our neck of the woods.

Good birding,

Kris Olson, Menlo Park