[SBB] Brant Redux?

[[[email protected]] (Peggy Don)]

SBBers,

 

Around 1 PM today, 02/14/07, I found a BRANT snoozing on the bank of the pond at the end of the Guadalupe River Trail under the Hwy 85 overpass.  Perhaps the one in Palo Alto couldn't afford the rent or tired of the life on the golf course and moved to more meager digs.  :-)  It was lounging among yet apart from the Canada Geese.

 

While I was observing it, a man walked up to the geese with a bag of bread.  The Canada Geese stood up and walked toward the man.  The Brant followed.  Some of the Canada Geese jumped into the water and the Brant followed again.  The geese dipped their bills and so did the Brant but the Brant did not partake.  When the gulls flew in, the Brant did its best to stay out of the ensuing frenzy.  It moved back on the bank and then into the water several times.  When the man left and calm was restored, the Brant preened a bit and then resumed his snooze.  

 

Also seen were at least 4 CACKLING GEESE, COMMON GOLDENEYEs, RING-NECKED DUCKs and LESSER SCAUP.

 

Earlier I saw a white speck in a tree across from the boat dock at the Calero Reservoir.  Looking through my scope, I saw the speck had a yellow bill and was on top of a dark body so I'm identifying it as a BALD EAGLE.  There were also about 50 COMMON MERGANSERs foraging with a like number of DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTs.  It was interesting watching them diving in unison.  Now you see them and then you don't.

 

Monday, 02/12/07, there were some good birds at the Bubb Rd percolation pond in Cupertino.  In a half hour I saw HOODED MERGANSER (m,f), COMMON GOLDENEYE (2f), RING-NECKED DUCK (m), BUFFLEHEAD (4m, 2f), tan-spriped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (perhaps the one I found last year), and VARIED THRUSH (f).  I thought that I was hallucinating when I saw the VATH. 

 

Then returning down Presideo Dr. I noticed the gulls overhead seemed to be stirred up.  An OSPREY was flying with them.  I watched them soar higher and higher until they were out of sight.  During that time a gull would occasionally dive at it and then a crow joined in. 

 

Good birding,

Peggy Don

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