The Magpies I saw today at Ed Levin were
of course Yellow-Billed. I guess some proofreading is in order for these
late night posts!
Good birding!
Donna Heim
From: [[email protected]] [mailto:[[email protected]]]
Sent: Monday, April 02, 2007 9:45
PM
To: SBB
([[email protected]])
Subject: Lawrence's goldfinches, etc. at Ed Levin
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
