[SBB] Canyon Wren, Great-tailed Grackles continuing

[Bill Bousman <[[email protected]]>]

Folks:

This morning, 5/9/07, I hiked up the Grizzly Gulch Trail from the end 
of Gilroy Hot Springs Road and reached the outcrops in Upper Grizzly 
Gulch about 1015 hr.  I heard the the CANYON WREN singing from the 
outcrop on the southeast side of the gulch over the next 10 minutes, 
but never saw it.  Along Gilroy Hot Springs Road I saw a pair of WOOD 
DUCKS and a female COMMON MERGANSER.  Near the beginning of the 
Grizzly Gulch Trail, I heard a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL giving a double 
"too-too" call, but I never saw it.  It appeared to be responding to 
3 or 4 Steller's Jays that were following it through the forest.

For those of you who are directionally challenged, as I am, it may be 
useful to note that there are at least 4 outcrops along the upper 
Grizzly Gulch Trail, once it turns right at the Rock Tower 
Trail.  Shortly after that trail junction, there is a shallow outcrop 
on the left and within 100 or 200 m, a larger outcrop, also on the 
left.  You then need to walk between a quarter and half a mile to 
reach the upper part of Grizzly Gulch, which has two major outcrops, 
one on the northwest slope and one on the southeast slope.  This 
morning, the bird was singing on the southeast slope, but previous 
descriptions suggest that the bird is more often found on the outcrop 
on the northwest slope.  The Dexter Trail junction is just beyond the 
two outcrops.

After my hike, I stopped by Coyote Reservoir on my way home.  There 
were impressive numbers of CASPIAN TERNS here, I counted 25.  It is 
not clear if these are nonbreeding birds or birds that forage at the 
reservoir and nest at one of the South Bay colonies (or the more 
recent Monterey Bay colonies).  Near the dam were two pairs of WOOD 
DUCKS, a male COMMON MERGANSER, and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER.  On the dam 
face was a cooperatve ROCK WREN.

Back in the valley, I stopped by the Coyote Creek GC.  I spotted two 
male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES and a female in the pond southwest of the 
clubhouse.  I didn't see any nesting activity.

Bill Bousman
Santa Clara County records compiler 



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