[SBB] Mines/San Antonio Valley Roads 05-19-07

[Matthew Dodder <[[email protected]]>]

All,

I led my Palo Alto Adult School birding class through Del Puerto  
Canyon/San Antonio Valley/Mines Roads yesterday. We found the water  
levels very low as many others have observed. We located WESTERN WOOD  
PEWEE and PURPLE FINCH at the pond just before the Junction along Del  
Puerto Canyon Road. No Wood Ducks were present when we stopped. A  
mile or so south of the Junction on San Antonio Valley Road, the  
nesting LEWIS' WOODPECKERS were very active and easily seen. We  
estimated at least 4 adults were seen in the vicinity. The acorn- 
riddled post and small utility building mark the general area. We  
watched the birds for several minutes as they sallied out from the  
upper branches of trees and caught insects in mid air. Their flight  
is completely unlike that of other Woodpeckers. Their wing beats are  
deep and rowing, and they show little or now undulating as they fly  
from tree to tree. They also tended to perch horizontally and  
exposed, much like a huge Starling. We saw them visit the nest hole  
several times, and even heard the hissing calls of the nestlings.  
Further south on San Antonio Valley Road, we stopped at small pond,  
now a mere puddle, to find a few TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS and another  
LEWIS' WOODPECKER on the muddy shore.

At the summit we paused to search for Black-chinned Sparrows as we've  
encountered them here before, but to no avail. Instead we located  
nesting BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and a flyover LEWIS' WOODPECKER.

We began the day near Patterson on Del Puerto Canyon Road where we  
had many good birds. After San Antonio Road we then continue to  
Livermore, stopping at the bridge and Murietta Wells.  Those reports  
are posted on CVBirds and EBB.

Matthew Dodder
http://www.birdguy.net



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