[SBB] Ed Levin & Sierra Rd -- Sapsucker, Lark Sparrows

[Kris Olson <[[email protected]]>]

I decided I had better go see the YELLOW-BELLIED
SAPSUCKER before he took off, so I went today around 9
am to Ed Levin Park. I was lucky to find Michael
Pollock with the bird in view. The sapsucker was in
the largest Tamarisk tree, and flew back and forth
across Calaveras Road into the oaks on the far side.
Thanks to Bob Reiling and Dave Weber for excellent
directions.

Michael does photography professionally so I was
curious to see his site, which I found at the second
URL below. The first URL is an interesting compilation
of bird photo sides to use for reference. It was
created by Denise Wright.

http://www.blkittiwake.com/avianimages.html?1158176896765

http://www.untamedimages.com/birds/gallery1-1.shtml

I then ran into Dean Manley, who told me about Mike
Mammoser's CHIPPING SPARROW in the picnic area near
the Tamarisks. We both saw it. The park also had a
COOPER'S HAWK, RED-SHOULDERED, RED-TAILED HAWKS and
AMERICAN KESTRELS. As noted by recent viewers, there
are many TREE SWALLOWS and 2 BARN SWALLOWS along with
WESTERN BLUEBIRDS checking out nest boxes. Michael
thought he had heard a Western Kingbird in this area
earlier but I could not find it. I did hear a
Selasphorous hummingbird zing by near a flowering
eucaluptus. Also present were ACORN WOODPECKERS,
NUTTAL'S WOODPECKER,  singing BEWICK'S WRENS, and
heard were WILD TURKEYS.

Then, unable to resist the call of Felter/Marsh/Sierra
Roads, I followed all 3. At the start of Felter, I
encountered 2 LARK SPARROWS, and 2 more at the start
of Marsh Road. Several YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES, more
bluebirds and kestrels, red-tails, Turkey Vultures,
crowned-sparrows, House Finches, Morning Doves, Oat
Titmice, Western Scrub Jays, Ravens, etc. In the big
'pond' at the start of Marsh Rd were Buffleheads and
American Wigeons, plus Lesser Goldfinches nearby.

 At the top of Sierra Road was a cattle roundup! So
not a very quiet place to find quiet birds in the
grasses. I did find 2 SAVANNAH SPARROWS and much
further on the downhill side, 1 HORNED LARK. Just one.

Lovely day to be out birding!

Kris Olson, Menlo Park

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