[SBB] Alum Rock Park field trip

[Al Eisner <[[email protected]]>]

   Just eleven birders enjoyed a very pleasant walk today on the Santa
Clara Valley Audubon Society field trip to Alum Rock Park in san Jose.
We walked from Rustic Lands up to the North Rim trail, then east to its
end, then explored the YSI and Mineral Springs area and back along the
creek to the startingplace.  A few of the regulars weren't cooperative:
no Golden Eagle, no California Thrasher, and one Rufous-crowned Sparrow
only heard singing near the end of the trip.  We did see a good assortment
of other raptors:  Northern Harrier (1 or 2), White-tailed Kite (1),
Sharp-shinned Hawk (1), Cooper's Hawk (3), Red-shouldered Hawk (1, heard
only) and Red-tailed Hawk (at least 3).  Wild Turkeys seemed unusually
 numerous:  we saw at least 3 and heard at least a half dozen others.
Lingering winter birds included a singing Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 2
singing Towndsend's Warblers, and a single Varied Thrush (seen by only
a few people).  Among residents, most unusual to see was a tight group
of 4 Downy Woodpeckers (at Rustic Lands); a singing Brown Creeper was
also nice (although it eluded sight).

    The spring birds were of most interest.  Two male Allen's Hummingbirds
were in their usual area, near the east end of the North Rim trail.  An
incessantly singing Cassin's Vireo near the creek at the YSI was the first
I've seen on this regular start-of-April trip.  Two species of Swallow
were seen:  Violet-green and Northern Rough-winged; a pair of the latter
was repeatedly perching on bare trees just past the end of the road.  We
heard just one Orange-crowned Warbler (we usually don't find many on this
walk).  A male Western Tanager (head not yet in full breeding plumage) at
Rustic Lands seemed early, although we did have several on one previous
trip at this time.  Two singing male Black-headed Grosbeaks, plus one
other I had heard before the trip, were more than are usually present at
this early date.  About a half dozen Bullock's Orioles were as expected,
and a male Hooded Oriole was seen at the palms above the North Rim Trail.

    If someone were to ask me what spring birds were "guaranteed" on
this particular trip, I would have answered "Bullock's Oriole and House
Wren".  House Wrens are usually there in numbers, but today we didn't
see or hear a single one.  Most of the lampposts they often nested in
have been removed, but I don't think that can explain their absence.
On the other hand, I would not have told anyone to expect Cassin's Vireo
or Western Tanager.  But then, birding would be a lot less fun if it
were more predictable.

    Thanks to everyone who participated for their company and their
strong contributions.
								Al Eisner

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