[SBB] stevens creek dam

["Chuq Von Rospach" <[[email protected]]>]

I was in the area and hadn't been there for a while, so I wandered up
to see what was going on at Steven's Creek Dam.

Not much. Water is down 15-20' from the spillway. In the water I saw a
dozen coots, six double-crested cormorants, and one grebe (I believe
eared).

Looking across the street onto the hill turned up -- the rare and shy
black phoebe, a new life bird for me. (ducking). Seriously, not a
whole lot. Doing a sweep of the area showed bird activity in the oaks
and brush across the dam next to the spillway, and I was able to
recognize half a dozen american robins, but the rest were little brown
birds, although it seemed to be both sparrows and some warblers (and
I'd say the warbler's were consistent with yellow-rump, but too far
for me to definitely ID. I didn't see anything that stood out or
seemed "different" within the groups.

While I was doing that, I heard a ticking, and looked down to a
yellow-crowned sparrow about 4' away, looking hopeful. The yellow was
in full glory.  I didn't feed it, and it wandered off. I did see about
a dozen other sparrows fly across the street into the hills after
that, and they all seemed to be of the yellow or white-crowned
variety.

Heard but not seen was one very loud and distinct raptor screech, but
it never came into view, and a hummingbird, who chattered on and off,
but also stayed hidden.

piece of trivia: the hillside across the street from the park, just
downhill of the dam on the way towards the lower parking lots, now has
"for sale" signs on it. It seems like a weird lot to put up for sale,
and it's a good piece of open space, so I mention it just in case
someone wants to do some checking on what's for sale and what the
plans are, because I'd hate to see that area developed into lots...

It was quiet enough today you could actually hear the gun club up by
the quarry (which was not operating, which is why it was quiet....)

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