Today at the hang-glider parking lot near
Sandy Wool
Lake (last turnout before the dog park)
I heard the distinctive “tinkle” calls of the LAWRENCE’S GOLDFINCH in surround sound.
I got great scoped views of a male and female pair in the surrounding
trees, but couldn’t find any others. Numerous Bullock’s
Orioles and Western Kingbirds were noisily singing, squabbling and vying for
position in the same area, Lesser Goldfinches and Starlings darted in and out
of the trees, while Western Bluebirds, American Robins, and Meadowlarks moved
about quietly below. Two noisy Black-billed magpies flew into a little
tree by the lake. Up at Sycamore Gulch, there were singing House Wrens, Lesser
Goldfinches, etc., and I scoped an apparent Rufous-crowned Sparrow in the far
distance. Though I hoped to find a Golden Eagle soaring above the
mountain ridges, all I saw were omnipresent Turkey Vultures and a Red-tailed Hawk.
Numerous Tree Swallows zipped across the lake and surrounding fields.
Driving slowly by the golf course on the way out, I saw at least a half dozen
wild turkeys, including some displaying males, and in the row of trees directly
across the street I heard a Warbling Vireo singing loudly.
I swung by the Alviso EEC on the way home
to look at the barn owl in the nesting box behind the center. Walking
further to the shore
of Salt Pond A-16 I ran into
David Weber who pointed out the immature Glaucous Gull and Caspian Tern he had
just found on the first island. Thanks, Dave! There were so many
gulls close-by, so many species and ages, it would have been a great place to study
gulls!
Good birding!
Donna Heim
