From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 01 12:55:30 1999 Subject: [SBB] Need help locating White Pelicans I am trying to video a particular White Pelican behavior but am having trouble locating a cooperative individual or flock. Monday there were 9 at Lake Cunningham but I missed the shot, Tuesday none were at Cunningham and a small flock was out of reach at Calero, today I covered a lot of lakes and bay but didn't see a single one. I would greatly appreciate it if you could include sightings & location of any White Pelicans in your regular reports, or if you would send information directly to my e-mail. Thanks. Lou Young ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 01 14:28:50 1999 Subject: [SBB] Dead Owl On a walk around campus today I found a dead Barn Owl: it appeared to be an adult and had been dead a day or so. Should I report it to anyone? Dave Muir Dr David G Muir, Scientific Desk Editor, Immunological Reviews. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 01 15:10:33 1999 Subject: [SBB] Books Dave: Do you want to sort out the books this week? Nick At 02:28 PM 12/1/99 -0800, David G Muir wrote: >On a walk around campus today I found a dead Barn Owl: it appeared to be >an adult and had been dead a day or so. Should I report it to anyone? > >Dave Muir > >Dr David G Muir, >Scientific Desk Editor, >Immunological Reviews. > > >========================================================================== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > Nick Lethaby Technical Marketing Manager CoWare, Inc. Tel: 408 845 7646 E-mail: [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 02 11:37:52 1999 Subject: [SBB] White-throated Sparrow Since I knew I would only have an hour or two to bird in NYC last Sunday, I did some research and decided on the Ramble area of Central Park. To my surprise when trekking back to 5th Avenue I came across an area the locals call "the Feeder area". About 20 feeders, benches to view. Great spot. Lots of birds. Lots of local birders. Made me wonder how well we let out-of-towners know about McClellan Ranch and the feeders there. Saw lots of White-throated Sparrows in Central Park--all white, no tan. Came home yesterday and had a tan WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in my backyard. I've posted that I'd seen it in mid-November. It's interesting that last year I only saw a tan version ONCE. All the other days it was the white version. This year I've yet to see a white one. So my "regular" bird from last year is not my "regular" one this year. In preparation for the field trip at "my farm" (La Rinconada Park) this coming Sunday, I took my binocs with me today on my morning walk. Had a gorgeous RED-SHOULDERED HAWK which looked huge atop one tree. A major symphony was in progress with lots of sound coming from the tops of alot of the trees. Lots of little birds flitting. Be curious with more time (assuming the symphony is still playing) what we'll see Sunday. Today I just had Yellow-rumped and Ruby-crowned Kinglets, but there were others I didn't have the time to get in my binocs view. Saw 3 FLICKERS. They have become "common" versus "occasional" at "my farm". I was surprised at all the hummers. A flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS passed overhead. Had a MALLARD in Smith Creek which I've only seen there in the Spring before. Sure glad I left Boston before the Nor-easter hit. I'll take today's weather here! A beautiful day for birding.... Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos off Quito "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 02 14:25:57 1999 Subject: [SBB] Ferruginous Hawk and MacGillivray's Warbler All, At about 12:30 PM today while driving north on Monterey Hwy., about a mile south of Metcalf Rd. (south of the IBM Research Lab.), Frank Vanslager and I saw a light phase Ferruginous Hawk flying fairly low over the fields on the West side of the highway. By the time we had pulled over and stopped the bird had moved far enough away that we were unable to age it. Just prior to that as we were finishing a survey trip of Ogier Ponds in preparation for Saturday's SCVAS field trip I got a brief but good look at a female or immature male MacGillivray's Warbler that landed in a willow on the south side of the road just inside the gate and then flew to willows across a a narrow area of the pond where I lost it and where, unfortunately, we were unable to pursue it. This "now you see it, now you don't" type of sighting typified our birding today. A Spotted Sandpiper was well seen flying across "West Pond" to the creek inlet but was not refound, Common Snipe flushed at our feet only to quickly disappear nearby (three times!), a Common Goldeneye was briefly seen but then disappear underwater for an inordinate period of time, a Cooper's Hawk flushed from a nearby tree and quickly disappeared, for good, over a small rise between ponds and gulls which normally bath in "North Pond" were using the next pond further North. Big misses today included Wood Duck, White-tailed Kite, Osprey and Bewick's Wren. We also failed to find either an American Bittern, Green Heron or a Sora. Some "mentionables" include a female Common Merganser, Common Goldeneye, Northern Shoveler, Canvasback, Western Grebe, Loggerhead Shrike and a female Merlin. As you can see it was fairly slow for this time of the year but we still managed to see about 48 species. I was happy to note that "No Fishing" signs have been posted that are effective until 4/24/00. Going to really miss those blue and silver droppings. Take care, Bob Reiling, 2:26 PM, 12/2/99 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 03 11:43:07 1999 Subject: [SBB] White-throated Sparrow Saw a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (tan-striped) at Frenchman's Meadow on the Stanford Campus this morning. I've been checking the sparrow flock here for some years and this is the first one I've seen. -- Tom Grey Stanford CA [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 03 14:26:45 1999 Subject: [SBB] Just a bunch of Loons Hello all, There were four RED-THROATED LOONS and one COMMON LOON at Calero Reservoir today (12/3/99). Additionally, we observed HORNED GREBE, WESTERN GREBE, CLARKE'S GREBE, EARED GREBE, GADWALL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN WIGEON, NORTHERN PINTAIL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, CINNAMON TEAL, CANVASBACK, RING-NECKED DUCK, COMMON GOLDENEYE, BUFFLEHEAD, HOODED MERGANSER, COMMON MERGANSER, RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, WHITE-TAILED KITE, MERLIN, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, SPOTTED SANDPIPER, COMMON SNIPE, MEW GULL, THAYERS GULL, HERRING GULL, BONAPARTE'S GULL, BELTED KINGFISHER, and WESTERN BLUEBIRD. I highly recommend birding with a spotting scope from the levee adjacent to the Calero Ranch at the south end of the lake. The lighting was great and thats where most of the ducks are. It was extremely cold there this AM, 45 degrees w/ a 20mph wind (Hey, I'm from California) bring a good jacket, a warm hat & gloves for maximum enjoyment. Good birding, Tom ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 03 14:34:08 1999 Subject: [SBB] RFI: Parrots Some of the biologists studying urban parrots in the LA basin will be in the Bay area in late January. I would greatly appreciate it if everyone could either post any sightings of feral parrots or send them to me directly. If you know of any evening roosts or if you regularly see birds at a particular time of the day that would very helpful as well. Historical observations not sent to this listserv in the past would also be helpful. Thanks, Tom ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 03 20:22:18 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] RFI: Parrots At 2:34 PM -0800 12/3/99, Tom Ryan wrote: > Some of the biologists studying urban parrots in the LA basin will be in the > Bay area in late January. I would greatly appreciate it if everyone could > either post any sightings of feral parrots or send them to me directly. there's a group of conures that is commonly seen in the Cupertino area. roam the area near the Apple campus. You can't miss them, unless you're deaf. They aren't there all the time, but it's fairly reliable over a period of a few days. -- Chuq Von Rospach - Plaidworks Consulting (mailto:[[email protected]]) Apple Mail List Gnome (mailto:[[email protected]]) Pokemon is a game where children go into the woods and capture furry little creatures and then bring them home and teach them to pit fight. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 03 21:49:37 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] Parrots << At 2:34 PM -0800 12/3/99, Tom Ryan wrote: > Some of the biologists studying urban parrots in the LA basin will be in the > Bay area in late January. I would greatly appreciate it if everyone could > either post any sightings of feral parrots or send them to me directly. >> There is a website about the wild parrot flock on Telegraph Hill in SF, with up to the minute sighting info provided by interested parties. Address is: http://www.wildparrots.com/ (follow the link to "Accounts and Sightings") Kathy Hayward, CA ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Dec 04 03:44:12 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] RFI: Parrots Hi, you might be able to see these parrots at the corner of Matthilda and Sunnyvale Rds. next to the condominiums opposite the parking lot of Orchard Supply. I have seen them there at different times for years. I think the people living there feed them. Dirk Thiele >From: Chuq Von Rospach <[[email protected]]> >To: Tom Ryan <[[email protected]]>, South Bay Birders list ><[[email protected]]> >Subject: Re: [SBB] RFI: Parrots >Date: Fri, 3 Dec 1999 20:22:18 -0800 > >At 2:34 PM -0800 12/3/99, Tom Ryan wrote: >>Some of the biologists studying urban parrots in the LA basin will be in >>the >>Bay area in late January. I would greatly appreciate it if everyone could >>either post any sightings of feral parrots or send them to me directly. > >there's a group of conures that is commonly seen in the Cupertino >area. roam the area near the Apple campus. You can't miss them, >unless you're deaf. They aren't there all the time, but it's fairly >reliable over a period of a few days. > >-- >Chuq Von Rospach - Plaidworks Consulting (mailto:[[email protected]]) >Apple Mail List Gnome (mailto:[[email protected]]) > >Pokemon is a game where children go into the woods and capture furry >little creatures and then bring them home and teach them to pit fight. >========================================================================== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to >[[email protected]] ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Dec 05 10:51:20 1999 Subject: [SBB] Ogier Ponds 12/4/99 All, I've been waiting to see a post from Bob Reiling for yesterday's SCVAS trip to Ogier Ponds. I couldn't make the 8:30 start but birded the ponds at 1:30PM and found the following: PIED-BILLED, WESTERN, and EARED GREBE; CALIFORNIA GULL; GADWALL; CANVASBACK; COMMON GOLDENEYE; AMERICAN WIGEON; CANADA GOOSE; RING-NECKED DUCK (outnumbered only by COOT); LESSER SCAUP; DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT; BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON; NORTHERN SHOVELER; GREAT EGRET. Land birds included mixed flocks of LESSER GOLDFINCH and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW; AMERICAN ROBIN; a single WESTERN MEADOWLARK; a pair of WHITE-TAILED KITE; RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET; BUSHTIT; YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER; NORTHERN FLICKER; AMERICAN KESTERL; RED-TAILED HAWK; TURKEY VULTURE; RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD; CALIFORNIA TOWHEE; NORTHERN HARRIER. 40 species total. Good birding... Michael Wienholt ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Dec 05 18:39:10 1999 Subject: [SBB] SCVAS 12/5 Field Trip Brrrr, it was cold at 8 am today when the SCVAS field trip began at La Rinconada Park in Los Gatos ("my farm"). We logged 36 birds with the highlights being a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, a flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS and an amazing number of AMERICAN ROBINS. The only warbler seen were YELLOW-RUMPED. Also HERMIT THRUSH, FLICKER, DOWNY, ACORN and NUTTALL'S WOODPECKERS. Continuing to Oka Ponds for the second part of the trip, we were joined by those who could not make the 8 am start. We saw 53 birds. OSPREY was visible for most of the time. 2 SHARPIES, a MERLIN. With RED-TAILED HAWKS seen at both locations it gave us a 5-hawk day. A CROW was harassing the MERLIN until the Merlin had had enough and took off after it. Ducks included: CANVASBACK, AMERICAN WIDGEON, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON GOLDENEYE, RUDDY, LESSER SCAUP, RING-NECKED, HOODED MERGANSER, RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, GADWALL, NORTHERN SHOVELER and of course MALLARD. Also, WESTERN GREBE, PIED-BILLED GREBE and HORNED GREBE. The DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS continue to amaze me that they can "dry-out" with wings spread while balancing on a wire. Gulls were: RING-BILLED, CALIFORNIA and HERRING. And, 8 CANADA GEESE. A couple who went under a tree next to a perc pond flushed out 5 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS from the "Egret tree" and joined a GREAT-BLUE HERON sitting in the midst of a very large California Live Oak tree. GREEN HERONS, SNOWY & GREAT EGRETS were seen. 2 COMMON SNIPE were seen on "their island" when found by Frank Vanslager. There were many more WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS than GOLDEN-CROWNED. I am rarely seeing WHITE-CROWNED in my backyard a short distance away, but do have a preponderance of GOLDEN-CROWNED. Interesting the difference in species. Back at my house for lunch the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (tan) and LINCOLN SPARROW who have been regular guests this week decided to wait until everyone had left before making their appearance. Both LESSER and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH were abundant. We began the trip in 41 degree weather but by late morning we could shed our jackets thanks to the beautiful blue sky. Ann Verdi was in attendance in her diligence to get counters for the Christmas Bird Count on Dec 17th. If you haven't yet committed, she needs you! Gloria LeBlanc "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Dec 05 20:27:21 1999 Subject: [SBB] Baylands/Byxbee 12/5/99, 2:30 PM All, Plovers and sandpiers were well-represented at Baylands, with BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER, LEAST & WESTERN SANDPIPER, WILLET, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, MARBELED GODWIT, and LONG-BILLED CURLEW. A possible female MERLIN was atop the largest transmission tower nearest the Nature Center. This bird was LARGE, and was gone by the time I reached the boardwalk to get a closer look. I questioned several birders on the boardwalk who had better looks, but they could not make a definitive ID. It was great to see a combined Cub Scout/Boy Scout troop & parents out en masse on the boardwalk looking at birds, but no luck with rails here on the low tide (some did see this bird moments earlier). COMMON YELLOWTHROAT was seen from the boardwalk. Back on the road to the the Ranger Station, a single BONAPARTE'S GULL passed overhead. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS were near the Ranger Station. At Byxbee, SAY'S PHOEBE and a RING-NECKED PHEASANT preceded BURROWING OWL here. GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL was in the channel below the owl hill, with many AMERICAN WIGEON, but no EURASIAN variety here. A group of six AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN was here also. Dusk gave a fine sunset and a hunting BARN OWL, BURROWING OWL taking to the wing, and CLAPPER RAIL calling at dark on the walk out to the gate. Total species was 47. Good birding... ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 06 06:47:08 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] Ogier Ponds 12/4/99 Hello all; Penny and I were at Bob's 0830 walk. It was a neat experience! This was our first walk with the SCVAS group. We learned a lot, and are extremely thankful for all of the great tips and advice we got from the more learned members. This kind of experience makes us want to recommend walks of this kind to everybody. Thank you, Bob Reiling! I do have a request... Do any of you that were on that walk remember a wonderful elderly lady that tagged along--usually near the end of the group? She was wearing a puffy green cap, and a gray sweater or sweatshirt. We ran into her again yesterday near the top of Mt. Madonna. She was with a group of day hikers. Penny and I realized late last night that we think we know her from a previous encounter. We'd like to get in touch with her. Any help would be most appreciated... Best regards, Dusty & Penny Bleher Campbell, Ca. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Wienholt" <[[email protected]]> To: <[[email protected]]> Sent: Sunday, December 05, 1999 10:51 AM Subject: [SBB] Ogier Ponds 12/4/99 > All, > > I've been waiting to see a post from Bob Reiling for yesterday's SCVAS trip > to Ogier Ponds. I couldn't make the 8:30 start but birded the ponds at > 40 species total. > > Good birding... > > Michael Wienholt > ========================================================================== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > > ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 06 10:21:23 1999 Subject: [SBB] weekend birds All: Didn't have much time to bird this weekend. On Saturday evening I visited Byxbee Park and checked out the owls over the FCB. I had great views of 2 Short-eared Owls, 1-2 Barn Owls, and then saw a Burrowing Owl up on the grass 'hills' on the way back to the parking lot. I also saw the SEOW well last weekend in the same spot. Both times the birds spent a lot of time hunting over the long grass over the fenced off part of the landfill. I believe for this reason that Byxbee Park is a much better bet for seeing the SEOW than Charleston, where I am 0 for 2. Also had 20 Cinnamon Teal together but no other ducks of interest. There were 2 Peregrines on the power lines. A quick check of CCFS on Sunday turned up nothing of interest other than a small form Canada Goose. Although not as pale-breasted as some of the larger birds it was with, it was clearly not a 'dark-breasted' form. I suspect this was the same bird as seen by Steve R. earlier. I also checked out Hidden Lake both days. Thayer's Gulls numbers have increased a fair bit here. There are at least 8 2W, 2 adults, and a 4W (like an adult but with a dark subterminal ring and with a single dark primary covert on the right wing). There are also 1-2 juvs, although one of these could conceivably some kind of hybrid. There are now several 1W/juv Herring Gulls here, a few GW Gulls, and a possible IW Glaucous x Herring Gull hybrid (rather dark one). Also, there is still a completely juv California Gull here, still showing some dark on the cutting edges of the mandibles. Nick Nick Lethaby Technical Marketing Manager CoWare, Inc. Tel: 408 845 7646 E-mail: [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 06 11:59:36 1999 Subject: [SBB] Ogier Ponds Field Trip All, On Saturday's (12/4/99) SCVAS field trip to Ogier Ponds an energetic group of sharp-eyed birders significantly raised the bar over the previous Thursdays survey trip with 60+ species seen by some. All of the target specialties were seen (some in almost embarrassing quantities). The first stop at "North Pond" (the large pond to the left of the entrance) provided us with at least one of most of the duck species that would seen during the day (including Mallard, Gadwall, American Wigeon, Northern Shoveler, Canvasback, Ring-necked Duck, Common Goldeneye, Bufflehead and Ruddy Duck). A female Common Merganser (seen Thursday) was joined by a superb pair of males and Pied, Eared and Western Grebes were joined by a Horned Grebe. A Red-shouldered Hawk made a couple, close-in flyby's for great in flight looks by all. Later as we walked the road on the eastern side of "West Pond" (the pond to the right side of the entrance) a female Merlin perched in the top a nearby tree allowing for prolonged close-up views (some thought that Frank Vanslager must have been checking the bird for parasites). The only Wood Duck of the day was briefly seen flying north in the vicinity of the East Ponds. A Canvasback and a nearby Redhead provided an excellent opportunity to compare these two similar looking ducks. Before long a Sora was spied feeding at the base of reeds on the far side of the pond and while most were viewing it an American Bittern was suddenly found hiding nearby. (Where to look first and in whose scope?) Some time later a second American Bittern was seen to fly into the reeds in the southwest corner of the pond some distance south of the first bittern. The weather was cooperating and It began to look as though it was going to be a great day of birding. Our cautious approach to the creek inlet in the southeast corner of West Pond was rewarded with good looks at an unSpotted Sandpiper and three Greater Yellowlegs. Later as we slowly moved along the southern edge of the "South Ponds", with model airplanes buzzing over our heads, an Osprey "buzzed" low over the ponds (a really good look but forgot to sex it :-(). A nice adult Common Moorhen was on the far edge of the larger pond. We worked our way around the eastern edge of this pond, with it's recent evidence of feral pigs (not previously seen at Ogier Ponds), where a Common Snipe called nearby but did not fly (one had been seen flying earlier). An American bittern then flushed from the reeds near us only to be followed in the next several minutes by two more bitterns as we moved around the pond (a minimum of 4 to 5 birds with 7 to 8 sightings for the day!). A pair of Common Raven and an Adult Golden Eagle were well seen flying over the foothills to the east as we headed north along the bluff above the western edge of the "East Ponds". A Sharp-shinned hawk perched on the "Osprey Tree" on the far edge of "West Pond" and was temporarily evicted by a Red-tailed Hawk. Coopers Hawk, White-tailed Kite, American Kestrel and Northern Harrier were also seen during the trip for a ten Raptor species day. A single adult male Brewer's Blackbird was on the edge of the northern most of the "East Ponds". At the end of the trip some of us went back to recheck North Pond where we suddenly had flocks of passerines (few had been seen earlier). Lesser Goldfinches, Bushtits, White-crowned Sparrows, Bewick's Wren, Common Yellowthroat, Yellow-rumped Warblers and a Lincoln's Sparrow added to our total while two adult Golden Eagles soaring together over the foothills seemed to top-off our day. Take care, Bob Reiling, 11:45 AM, 12/6/99 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 06 13:38:54 1999 Subject: [SBB] Hidden Lake location At 01:22 PM 12/6/99 -0800, Dick Williams wrote:

For those of us not familiar with "Hidden Lake", would you mind sharing its location?

Thanks.



Hidden Lake is located in Milpitas on Milpitas Blvd between Calaveras and Jaklin/Abel. Turn N on to Milpitas Blvd from Calaveras. Hidden Lake will be on the L after about a mile or less. It is not visible from the road, but the parking area (for about 5 cars) is. You  may have to U turn at Jacklin/Abel and head S on Milpitas Blvd because there is a divider in the middle of the road.

There are usually 5-6 species of gull here with up to 30-40 Thayer's, mostly 2W and 1W (not before late Jan in numbers).

Nick Lethaby
Technical Marketing Manager
CoWare, Inc.
Tel: 408 845 7646
E-mail: [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 06 16:23:00 1999 Subject: [SBB] Cheaper pelagic trips? I hope this is not too unrelated. I am looking for pelagic trips that cost less than the Shearwater trips. Last year, someone told me about someone else that has cheaper trips off Half Moon Bay and Monterey but I cannot remember who it was. Does anyone know? Many thanks Cagan Cagan Sekercioglu Stanford University Center for Conservation Biology ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 06 16:34:55 1999 Subject: [SBB] Re: Cheaper pelagic trips? At 04:23 PM 12/6/99 -0800, you wrote: >I hope this is not too unrelated. I am looking for pelagic trips that cost >less than the Shearwater trips. Last year, someone told me about someone >else that has cheaper trips off Half Moon Bay and Monterey but I cannot >remember who it was. Does anyone know? Many thanks Jim Booker runs some trips out of the Monterey that cost a bit less (I don't know if they are dramatically less). Don't have his number handy, but if you post to Monterey Birds (don't know this address either) I'm sure you could get information. Details of his trips are also posted to the Monterey Bird Alert transcriptions. I have had successful trips with both Jim and Debbie, so both services should get you the birds. Nick Lethaby Technical Marketing Manager CoWare, Inc. Tel: 408 845 7646 E-mail: [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 06 17:58:48 1999 Subject: RE: [SBB] Cheaper pelagic trips? REPLY RE: [SBB] Cheaper pelagic trips? Cagan, There is also the Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris pelagic trips, which looks for marine mammals as well as birds. There's one scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 15, on Monterey Bay. This trip is $50 and runs from 8:00 am to 3:00 pm. Call them at 408-741-5330 to reserve. Web site You can also take a short 2 hour whale watching boat out of Monterey, but I think that timeframe is insufficient for pelagic birding. Les Chibana Cagan Sekercioglu wrote: >I hope this is not too unrelated. I am looking for pelagic trips that cost >less than the Shearwater trips. Last year, someone told me about someone >else that has cheaper trips off Half Moon Bay and Monterey but I cannot >remember who it was. Does anyone know? Many thanks >Cagan >Cagan Sekercioglu >Stanford University >Center for Conservation Biology > >========================================================================== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > > ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 06 20:00:30 1999 Subject: [SBB] Cheaper pelagics Howdy South-bay-birders, Les wrote: You can also take a short 2 hour whale watching boat out of Monterey, but I think that timeframe is insufficient for pelagic birding. Those short trips do not give you a lot of time on the water, but they can be worthwhile. I've had good luck with pelagics on these short winter whalewatching trips, in the past seeing Short-tailed Shearwater, Black-legged Kittiwake, and Ancient Murrelet to name a few. Fortunately for birders the presence of deep water and canyon edges near shore at Monterey means you can often see pelagic birds from land or from a short distance out at sea. Also, I've had good luck with pelagic birds on the longer Monterey Bay Whale Watch trips--these run a few times per week from May through November, and go out for as long as 6 hours. They are a lot cheaper than the regular birding pelagic trips. I saw Manx Shearwater and other pelagic goodies on one of their trips this fall. You can check out their schedule at: http://www.montereybaywhalewatch.com/index.htm I believe Big Sur Ornithology Lab has also been scheduling some cheaper trips lately-- John Mariani [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 06 21:20:42 1999 Subject: [SBB] Mtn View Shoreline/Stevens Creek On our Open Space bird walk on Sunday, we took the usual route of going east from the Kite Flying Area lot, over the bridge to the Stevens Creek Nature Study Area, back over the bridge and then north-west-south around the "pond" which is east of the mitigation channel (I'm not sure what this is called). Around 8:45-9 a.m., we (finally!) found a Burrowing Owl on the hillside northeast of the Kite Flying parking lot, looking northwest from the corner of the fence. High tide was around 10:30, and the "pond" was very full around noon. At that time, we observed a Golden Eagle perched on one of the power towers at the southwest corner of the "pond". After a while, it took off, landed on a flat patch west of the mitigation channel, ran a few steps (looking very undignified), then flew to a spot on top of the hill. We went back to the flat wooden bridge, and the group was treated to a long view of a Sora. There is a patch on the northwestern half of the bridge, in the reeds, that looks like a 2-3 foot cup. We saw the Sora in the same spot on Saturday. It appears to like sitting in that spot once the sun hits it, and preens for about 10-15 minutes. The fact that there were 12-or so people staring at it didn't seem to bother it. Two of us also saw a flock of birds in the grassy field east of the Kite parking lot. They didn't stick around long enough for a good ID; they didn't have facial markings like Horned Larks, didn't sound like blackbirds, but resembled American Pipits. I forgot to look for tail-bobbing, but saw white outer tail feathers, walking behavior, and they didn't have bright yellow breasts like the Meadowlarks we saw. Can anyone verify if they are Pipits? ___________________________________________________________________ Why pay more to get Web access? Try Juno for FREE -- then it's just $9.95/month if you act NOW! Get your free software today: http://dl.www.juno.com/dynoget/tagj. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 07 03:43:15 1999 Subject: [SBB] PALO ALTO-REGION 7 CBC Dear South Bay Birders, To date, Region 7 of the Palo Alto Christmas Bird Count still has a need for counters. Seasoned birders who would be willing to accompany some of the less experienced participants would be especially helpful. The area, which includes Windy Hill, Russian Ridge, Thornwood and Coal Creek Open Space Preserves as well as Wunderlich Regional Park and a long stretch of Skyline Blvd, is a large one and requires a lot of hiking to cover it thouroughly. If you are interested in helping out in Region 7, please contact me for details. Matthew Dodder [[email protected]] 650-858-0847 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 07 08:02:03 1999 Subject: [SBB] Sacramento weekend Marti and I spent the weekend in the Gray Lodge-Sacramento NWR area, the first time we’ve made this trip. We couldn’t have asked for nicer weather in Dec. Seeing the sky filled with many thousands of honking geese is quite an experience. TV coverage doesn’t begin to prepare one for the reality. I didn’t know that any place in the world had such a density of raptors. RT Hawks on every 3rd power pole, kestrels on the wires in between, and Northern Harriers cruising the fields kept us alert driving between sites. A few highlights: A mating flight of Green-winged Teal exposed brilliant green speculum flashes in the sunlight as they raced repeatedly around a circuit. A couple from Chico guided us to a roadside field of Sandhill Cranes N. of the Sac’to NWR. The view was excellent with binoculars, stunning with a scope. We had good looks at Eurasian Wigeon and blue-morph Snow Goose, the latter both on the water and in flight. A RT Hawk perched in a tree at Colusa NWR flew off carrying a dead Coot as we drove under. After about 100 yards, it dropped its heavy burden. A Swainson’s Hawk carted a small rodent from the roadside to a nearby dike. A Great Horned Owl stared back intently as we examined it with our scope. We found 6 Belted Kingfishers on power lines in a rather short time Sunday afternoon. We saw and photographed a RT Hawk on hay bales near Williams. We went by those bales 3 times, and it was there each time. With the quantity and variety we saw, I could continue quite awhile. These are just the ones that come to mind quickly. It was a great weekend. George Oetzel Menlo Park, CA (W) [[email protected]] (SFBBO) [[email protected]] San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory http://www.sfbbo.org ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 07 08:55:17 1999 Subject: [SBB] Loony Folks: This morning, 12/7/1999, there were three RED-THROATED LOONS and a COMMON LOON on Shoreline Lake near the boathouse. In Mountain View Forebay I saw a male EURASIAN WIGEON that appeared to have nearly reached its full plumage, although the cream crown feathering appeared incomplete towards the rear of the crown. I have not seen Mike Roger's EUWIxAMWI here, and the lighting was not the best, but in side-by-side comparisons I couldn't see mixed flank or scapular feathering. The AMWI flanks were a rufous pink while the EUWI was gray with possibly a pinkish suffusion. The head appeared much like a conventional EUWI, although there was some darkening around the eye as is often seen in EUWI. There was no indication of a green facial patch and the entire head was rufous. I never saw the breast on this male. I counted 11 BLACK SKIMMERS on Charleston Slough. Someone asked about American Pipits at Shoreline. Yes, they are typical in the Shoreline grassland in winter. Shoreline appears to have put down seed and mulch in a number of areas recently and this food resource has attracted Canada Geese, Mallards, American Pipits, and Savannah Sparrows. Horned Larks are less likely at Shoreline than pipits, although this is one of the best local spots for them. Bill ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 07 10:17:01 1999 Subject: [SBB] RE: Mtn View Shoreline/Stevens Creek REPLY RE: Mtn View Shoreline/Stevens Creek Debbi Brusco wrote: >On our Open Space bird walk on Sunday, we took the usual route of going >east from the Kite Flying Area lot, over the bridge to the Stevens Creek >Nature Study Area, back over the bridge and then north-west-south around >the "pond" which is east of the mitigation channel (I'm not sure what >this is called). This impoundment is usually referred to as the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh, at least on this list. >Two of us also saw a flock of birds in the grassy field east of the Kite >parking lot. They didn't stick around long enough for a good ID; they >didn't have facial markings like Horned Larks, didn't sound like >blackbirds, but resembled American Pipits. I forgot to look for >tail-bobbing, but saw white outer tail feathers, walking behavior, and >they didn't have bright yellow breasts like the Meadowlarks we saw. Can >anyone verify if they are Pipits? As Bill B. noted, Am. Pipits are often found here in the winter. The eastern end of this field (parking area E) is where single Lark Bunting have been found among the pipits, Horned Larks and sparrows. So, keep your eyes peeled! This morning, as I drove in, a PEREGRINE FALCON quickly flew in to perch on the tower that has been the Raven nest site near the Mtn. View (aka Coast Casey) Forebay. An AMERICAN KESTREL immediately started diving on it. Les Chibana ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 07 11:09:05 1999 Subject: [SBB] Baylands etc. South Bay Birders, I took my ornithology class to Palo Alto Baylands on Saturday. The tide was too low for rails and we got out to the boardwalk too late to see much there. We lucked out with a Sora and brief views of a Virginia Rail. The full list is at: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/PALO.html After class I went to Lake Cunningham where I enjoyed close views of the Lesser Black-backed Gull. My description and photos taken earlier by Mike Rogers are at: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/descriptions.htm I have updated the South Bay Birders archive to include the November 1999 messages. They are at: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/southbay.htm "Answers" to last month's mystery birds have been posted and two new birds are offered for your puzzlement at: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/mysteries.htm Enjoy! -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: [[email protected]] California Birding; Mystery Birds: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/ California Bird Records Committee: http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/ ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 07 11:23:08 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] PALO ALTO-REGION 6 CBC Region 6 in the lower foothills could also use a few counters. If you don't want to walk so far or fast, you might choose us. The count is Monday, December 20. Contact me if you are interested. Ruth Troetschler ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 07 19:49:28 1999 Subject: [SBB] Oka ponds & monster at Los Gatos Creek Park --=====_94462496818467=_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I birded Los Gatos Creek Park and Oka ponds on my lunch hour this afternoon. Bird-wise nothing was really out of the ordinary. Lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-crowned Sparrows. Two Golden-crowned Sparrows and a really nice variety of ducks, including Hooded Mergansers, Bufflehead, one Northern Shoveler and one Common Goldeneye. I saw one Common Snipe and watched a Green Heron hunting at a very short distance. But the biggest surprise of the day was not a bird, but a monitor lizard that I estimated at 24-30". For any herpetologists reading, it was drab brownish-green is color with faint yellow markings (bars & circles). The legs had a speckled appearance. I saw it two times (on the way in and on the way out) at the dried up ponds off of Dell Ave. The second time, I was able to stand behind some cover and watch it for around 10 minutes. He looked well-fed - maybe the local Coot population has been depleted a bit :p. Sorry for the off-topic portion of this post, but it was so unusual, that I thought that some might be interested. Don Ganton [[email protected]] http://sj.znet.com/~tern --=====_94462496818467=_ Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii"
I birded Los Gatos Creek Park and Oka ponds on my lunch hour this afternoon. Bird-wise nothing was really out of the ordinary. Lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-crowned Sparrows. Two Golden-crowned Sparrows and a really nice variety of ducks, including Hooded Mergansers, Bufflehead, one Northern Shoveler and one Common Goldeneye. I saw one Common Snipe and watched a Green Heron hunting at a very short distance. But the biggest surprise of the day was not a bird, but a monitor lizard that I estimated at 24-30". For any herpetologists reading, it was drab brownish-green is color with faint yellow markings (bars & circles). The legs had a speckled appearance. I saw it two times (on the way in and on the way out) at the dried up ponds off of Dell Ave. The second time, I was able to stand behind some cover and watch it for around 10 minutes.  He looked well-fed - maybe the local Coot population has been depleted a bit :p.
 
Sorry for the off-topic portion of this post, but it was so unusual, that I thought that some might be interested.
 
Don Ganton
[[email protected]]
http://sj.znet.com/~tern
 
 
--=====_94462496818467=_-- ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 07 21:03:00 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] Baylands/Byxbee 12/5/99, 2:30 PM I had a Merlin buzz by me in hot pursuit of a sparrow (LBJ) Sunday evening, then head to the towers without the sparrow. The sparrow dropped into a bush when the Merlin had closed to within a meter. Possibly the same bird. Lou Young ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 07 22:09:36 1999 Subject: [SBB] Thanks for the Pelican info To all who provided locations for White Pelicans, Thank you! I finally got usable video at Lake Cunningham and Byxbee Lake. On Friday I counted about 400 Canvasbacks and on Saturday had a flock of American Pipits on the grassy hill near the post "sculpture." A great place to see lots of duck species up close including American Wigeons. Glaucous-winged Gulls and at least one hybrid GW-? came in at dusk with at least one Thayer's while I was cursing the preening Pelicans (do you know that they preen for about 8 hours every day?). Long-billed Curlews up close. In addition to Pied-billed and Eared Grebes I had several Western and one Clarks Grebes on Byxbee Lake. Lou Young ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 08 08:23:55 1999 Subject: [SBB] Merlin I had a Merlin sitting in my backyard yesterday eating a small animal of some sort. The tan White-Throated Skpakrrow was present too. Hopefully the two remain separate of each other! Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos off Quito "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 08 09:51:09 1999 Subject: [SBB] Shoreline At Mountainview Shoreline Lake this morning, I saw 4 RED-THROATED LOONs (all appparently immatures); 1 very elusive COMMON LOON (not aged); 1 female HOODED MERGANSER; and four species of Grebes. The latter included 2 WESTERN (no Clark's) and at least 11 HORNED. The latter is an undercount, since parts of the lake were too much into the sun for identification. I didn't manage to find any Barrow's Goldeneye. At the nearby Mountainview Forebay, there was an AMERICAN BITTERN near the southeast end (seen only in a brief flight before sinking back into the reeds) and a GREEN HERON hanging out in the entrance channel. Al Eisner ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 08 10:36:27 1999 Subject: [SBB] TOWNSEND'S I had an up close and personal view of a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER and a BEWICK'S WREN as I jogged through "my farm" this morning. Sounded like lots of warblers in the trees. Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos off Quito "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 08 14:31:09 1999 Subject: [SBB] Possible Peregrine Hi Folks, We got a phone call of a possible Peregrine Falcon in Mountain View. The person is gone during the day and so hasn't had good lighting or a spotting scope to confirm it. It has been perching in a PG&E tower near her condo in the 1200 block of Cuernavaca Circulo. She says there is quite a collection of bird parts underneath the tower, including a duck head, a small rib cage and a headless possible Mockingbird. Anyone who wants to check it out, take Dale west off El Camino and turn south on Cuernavaca. Leda Beth Gray SCVAS ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 08 14:44:23 1999 Subject: [SBB] Need an Anna's Hummingbird Specimen? Not knowing what it was, I knocked an Anna's Hummingbird (already dead) out of a tree in our next door neighbor's yard on Sunday afternoon, December 5th. It was still attached to its branch, hanging upside down, about twelve feet above the ground. My first thought (looking up into the tree) is that it was a dead bat or an insect nest of some sort. It's almost perfectly preserved. I don't know what the cause of death was, but if anybody would like to see it or could use it, send me an email and I'll give you directions or deliver it. We have had hummingbird feeders for six years, and there were 4-5 hummers around this summer and fall. Sharon makes a clear solution, 3-4 parts water to 1 part sugar. The face and head still project that spectacular Anna's magenta color, and the body feather color is still that shimmering green. The feet, bill, tongue and wings are still perfect. The body inside the feathers is shrunk down to nothing, and it doesn't weigh a breath of air. The eyes are not visible. It seems like a nice specimen (as far as specimens go). We live in south San Jose, near Bernal and Santa Teresa. Bob ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 08 19:05:00 1999 Subject: [SBB] Byxbee Park birds Hi All, I took a lunch stroll at Byxbee Park today and saw the following birds: a pair of Burrowing Owls, only two White Pelicans, a male and a female Black Shouldered Hawks, a Black Phoebe, a Meadow Lark and the usual ducks and marsh birds. Dirk Thiele ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 08 20:53:06 1999 Subject: [SBB] Monterey Pelagic for $20 Hi Birders - The Monterey Peninsula CBC needs pelagic counters. So far we have only the captain plus one counter. The date of the count is Tuesday, December 28th. If anyone is interested, please reply to this message. The cost is only $20. The boat leaves at 8 AM and returns around noon. You then have the option of birding it up around the Monterey area or whatever else intrigues you. A free, home-cooked dinner is provided at the countdown. Several excellent birds are being seen regularly around the area including Blackburnian Warbler and Orchard Oriole. Hope you can attend! Steve Rovell [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 08 21:41:15 1999 Subject: [SBB] senior moment? Hi, I don't know what I was thinking of when, in my earlier posting tonight, I called Black-Shouldered Kite Black-Shouldered Hawk. Dirk T. ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 09 07:24:37 1999 Subject: [SBB] SEOW Folks: I took Nick Lethaby's advice and stopped by Byxbee Park near sunset yesterday, 11/8/1999. I was able to find one SHORT-EARED OWL working among the mounds along the height of land. Bill ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 09 07:47:37 1999 Subject: [SBB] Possible Peregrine Hello: For many years we have been monitoring from a far the peregrines wintering in locations such as PG&E towers at both ends of Dumbarton Bridge, the west end of the San Mateo Bridge, the Palo Alto Baylands, and also the SF International airport hangers, and the hangers and wind tunnel at Moffitt Field. We get reports of birds on buildings in San Mateo or Foster City, at the various dumps, and especially in the old days at the charcoal plant of Dixon Landing Road. All of the PG&E towers are important roosts or perches we feel. Many birds use the smaller poles and even the salt pond dikes for perching. We have had birds killed by wire strikes in Alviso, hit by jet at SJ International and SF International airports, and even found a pair that had died in the Coyote Hills a couple of years ago from botulism. My message is that the south bay estuaries, associated marshes, urban pigeon flocks, salt ponds, and open spaces are rich environment for peregrines. We have done some limited radio telemetry tracking of these birds in the past, especially the ones on the west end of the two bridges. We can use help in monitoring the presence of peregrines, and occasionally on tracking telemetered birds. One interesting example we can share is that we once translocated a juvenile peregrine from San Diego to Santa Cruz that had been eating least terns. It went immediately to Umumun Island in the Elkhorn Slough area and spent a while, then moved over the hill and began roosting near the headquarters of the SF Bay National Wildlife Refuge in Newark. It stayed there over a month until the radio life ended and then we lost track of it. I imagine you can appreciate the difficulty of following and observing a bird that moves about so much. So feel free to let us know about observations of peregrines and you might like to check out our web site for related activities or programs that you may fine interesting. Sincerely Brian James Walton, Coordinator Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group Long Marine Lab, University of California Santa Cruz, CA 95060 (831) 459-2466 or 458-3413 messages (831) 458-3413 or 459-3115 (FAX) http://www2.ucsc.edu/~scpbrg ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 09 10:39:10 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] SEOW Que c'est, Byxbee Park? I thought I "knew" this area, too... Dusty Bleher Campbell, CA. > I took Nick Lethaby's advice and stopped by Byxbee Park near sunset ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 09 10:56:53 1999 Subject: [SBB] RFI for visiting birder from Sweden Greetings birders of the 5 Bay-Area birsing listserves: I have a request for a visiting birder from Sweden from 12-20-1999 thru 1-7-2000. Hans will be looking for the following targets: 1) Barrow's Golden-eye 2) wintering Varied Thrush 3) wintering Sage Sparrow 4) wintering Lawrence's Goldfinch Please reply directly to Hans Johansson at [[email protected]] Below I have included what information I could get for Hans in the mean-time. Thanks -- Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, [[email protected]] ************************************************************** Hans, see below.... Hans Johansson wrote: > > Dear Mike, > > My name is Hans Johansson and I am a birder from Sweden. I have been > subscribing at Calbird and MBB for a while now. I have noticed your name in > some interesting mails that you have written. I will wisit California > between Dec 20:th and Jan 7:th together with my family. We plan to amongst > other places wisit Lake Merrit ( Barrow's Goldeneye is a target bird ) and > Mines Rd ( hopefully Lawrence's Goldfinch and Sage Sparrow ). I have > noticed that you live in Livermore which is quite close to Mines Rd. ( and > not that far from Lake Merrit ). Livermore is about 30 miles from Lake Merrit, and I believe I have heard them reported. The last ones I saw recently were at Lake Solono Park on the Yolo/Solano County line. I have seen Lawrence's Goldfinch only once in Winter, and these were two among a large Lesser Goldfinch flock in Panoche Valley in San Benito County about 8 winters ago. And I haven't heard of any reports this winter. So I would like to ask you a few > questions: > > Do you know if there are any Lawrence's Goldfinches at Mines Rd. this > winter? > If not, do you know of any other good spots to look for them? > Do you know if any Barrow's Goldeneyes has settled down for the winter at > Lake Merrit? > If not, maybe there are some birds somewhere else that you know of? > How is it with Varied Thrush, a bird that I would be very happy if I could > see. > > Mike, if you have some information and some spare minutes I would be very > grateful to you if you could write me some lines. Last Sunday I saw two Varied Thrushes at Samual P. Taylor State Park in Marin County while looking for the two Amerian Dippers between MP 17.0 and 18.0 along Sir Francis Drake Blvd. I missed the dippers. Another good spot for Varied Thrushes is in Santa Clara County at Smith Creek Firestation half-way up Mount Hamilton Road. Park at the bridge and telephone, cross through the opening in the fence and hike east along the creek. If you like, I can post a request for you to a couple other Bay-Area birding listserves like South-Bay Birds. East-Bay-Birds, San Franciso Birds, and pen-bird (San Mateo County). > > Best Birding-regards, > > Hans Johansson, > Storfors, Sweden e-mail: [[email protected]] -- Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 09 11:13:54 1999 Subject: [SBB] Lotsa Golden Eagles & Common Mergansers All, On yesterdays SCVAS field trip to Grant Ranch Park, led by Alan Thomas, we saw lots of Golden Eagles with four found perched at one time (two each on opposing ends of the valley). The "pair" of Golden Eagles to the North later began doing territorial display flights while a young immature (with fairly large white wing spots and a mostly white tail with a black subterminal band) flew high overhead. Another young Golden Eagle with just a bit of white on the base of the tail (5th year bird?) was also seen. On Hall's Lake we had the greatest concentration of Common Mergansers that I have ever seen with 60 - 80 females and immature and one adult male. A single Common Snipe was found sleeping on the far shore of the lake (way to go John Arnold). Later two snipe flushed from the field south of the ranch house and subsequently made at least two attempts at returning to the area from which they had flushed thereby providing extended in-flight views of this elusive bird. A single Cedar Waxwing, looking really lost, was perched on a bare limb at the top of a tree near the ranch house. The temperature stayed in the low 40's during the morning but the full sun and lack of wind made for pleasant birding. Take care, Bob Reiling, 11:15 AM, 12/9/99 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 09 11:15:43 1999 Subject: [SBB] Cuernavaca 12/9 Hi Everyone-- I took a quick cruise around Cuernavaca Circulo in Mountain View this morning to see if there were any raptors sitting on the power poles. I saw no Peregrines, but there was one adult COOPER'S HAWK, a female judging by the size of it, drying out on the more northerly of the two towers between 1296 and 1304. There was also one ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER calling from the shrubbery below. Mark Miller PS: There's a pair that lives in the general area of Continental Circle, Dale Avenue, and the western part of Heatherstone Way; I sometimes see them grabbing Mourning Doves and California Towhees in my apartment complex on Continental Circle. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 09 22:27:37 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] Possible Peregrine In a message dated 12/09/1999 8:03:14 AM Pacific Standard Time, [[email protected]] writes: << So feel free to let us know about observations of peregrines >> On Sat, 11/27 and Sun, 11/28, I observed Peregrines at Hayward Shoreline. On 11/27 at the Sulfur Creek trail, I saw a single bird take prey (a shorebird) from one of the ponds. The following day, at the Winton Ave. trail, I saw a pair of Peregrines perched together on a radio tower on top of a landfill area. The female was quite vocal. I lost track of them after they flew off over the nearby ponds and sent hundreds of shorebirds into a panic. Kathy Hayward, CA ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 10 12:48:51 1999 Subject: [SBB] WHITE THROATED SPARROWS Wednesday I had a Tan-striped variety White Throated Sparrow. I took several pictures. This was the first time I'd had one in my backyard. Today, Friday, I had the Black and White striped White Throated Sparrow. I've had one each winter for the past three years. I had a Lincoln's Sparrow for three days last week. My quail count is up to about thirty now. They stumble all over each other on the feeding block we've prepared. I had an immature Cooper's Hawk last week sitting on the fence facing the kitchen so I had an excellent look at it's breast pattern. Beautiful! Another first for my backyard was a White Breasted Nuthatch a couple of weeks ago. My White Crown count is only about 15 so far. Gold Crowns about 6. Barbara Harkleroad ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Dec 11 14:37:17 1999 Subject: [SBB] birds On Saturday, 11 Dec 99, I birded Shoreline Lake and vicinity. The COMMON LOON and 4 RED-THROATED LOONS were still on the lake. Also, there were 2 adult male BARROW'S GOLDENEYES, a first-year male BARROW'S, and 2 adult male hybrid BARROW'S x COMMON GOLDENEYES. These hybrids had a roundish white spot at the base of the bill, much like a Common, except that the top had a short extension into a point. The white of the scapulars was still completely isolated from the white sides by black, but each feather had more extensive white than would a Barrow's. The white of these scapulars was also still separated by black between each feather, except for the front two, which had merged into a single white patch. At Charleston Slough there were 11 BLACK SKIMMERS on the island near the forebay, as well as a male REDHEAD. In the Palo Alto Flood Control Basin I found a pair of EURASIAN WIGEONS, an adult male and a female. A SHORT-EARED OWL was day-hunting over the grassland of the old dump along Mayfield Slough next to Byxbee Park. Mike Mammoser ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Dec 11 16:32:09 1999 Subject: [SBB] Saturday at Mountain View Shoreline Park & Palo Alto Baylands Howdy South-bay-birders, Today my birding class and I made a field trip to Mountain View Shoreline Park and Palo Alto Baylands. Highlights included at least 3 RED-THROATED LOONS on Shoreline Lake; 5 species of grebes; 2 female HOODED MERGANSERS (in the little channel opposite Mountain View Forebay, same place where a couple hung out a few weeks ago); a male EURASIAN x AMERICAN WIGEON (along Adobe Creek a short distance past the forebay; looked like the same bird seen in the forebay a while ago, with cinnamon head, broad green cheek stripe, gray flanks); a male REDHEAD on an island in Charleston Slough; a flock of BLACK SKIMMERS on the same island; COMMON SNIPE in Adobe Creek (one fanning its rusty tail to give us a a great view of this usually hidden feature); and a BURROWING OWL on a mound at Byxbee Park. This was mainly a waterfowl trip, and we saw seventeen species in all (seventeen and a half if you count the hybrid wigeon). We also had good views of several raptor species, with NORTHERN HARRIERS and RED-TAILED HAWKS being the most numerous.A MERLIN was seen briefly in flight at Byxbee Park. John Mariani [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Dec 11 18:06:05 1999 Subject: [SBB] Grant Lake 1:00 PM All, A fine afternoon of birding at Grant Lake turned up the following: WESTERN BLUEBIRD, NORTHERN HARRIER, GREAT BLUE HERON, GREATER YELLOWLEGS (2), LEAST SANDPIPER (6), GREEN-WINGED TEAL, AMERICAN PIPIT, goods looks at a single CMMON SNIPE, BELTED KINGFISHER, 5 male/75 female COMMON MERGANSER, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, BUFFLEHEAD, GADWALL, one CANVASBACK, many EARED GREBE, PIED-BILLED GREBE, WHITE- and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, BEWICK'S WREN, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, OAK TITMOUSE, SCRUB and STELLER'S JAY, AMERICAN ROBIN, two YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE, NORTHERN FLICKER, NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER, ACORN WOODPECKER, SHARP-SHINED HAWK, RED-TAILED HAWK, WESTERN MEADOWLARK, total 43 species. Good birding, Michael Wienholt ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Dec 11 23:19:12 1999 Subject: [SBB] Brown Pelicans inland? --=====_94498315241=_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" I birded Almaden Lake and the ponds behind The Santa Clara County Water District offices on Almaden Expressway this morning. While walking around the large pond behind the offices, I had a Brown Pelican fly over. It struck me as odd that one should be found so far inland. Does anyone know about the range of Browns Pelicans? Thanks, Don Ganton [[email protected]] --=====_94498315241=_ Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii"
I birded Almaden Lake and the ponds behind The Santa Clara County Water District offices on Almaden Expressway this morning. While walking around the large pond behind the offices, I had a Brown Pelican fly over. It struck me as odd that one should be found so far inland. Does anyone know about the range of Browns Pelicans?
 
Thanks,
 
Don Ganton
[[email protected]]
 
--=====_94498315241=_-- ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Dec 12 00:59:20 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] Brown Pelicans inland? This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0010_01BF443C.1F372F20 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Brown Pelicans are fairly common visitors to San Francisco Bay and its = margins, but they are normally salt water birds, and are far less likley = to be found on inland bodies of water than American White Pelicans. = Individual Brown Pelicans do occasionally stray inland, and have been = recorded at the SCVWD Pond and at Almaden Lake at least 3 times prior to = this. Neat sighting!--our last local occurrence (that I am aware of) was = 12 years ago. John Mariani [[email protected]]=20 ----- Original Message -----=20 From: Don Ganton=20 To: South Bay Birds Mailing List=20 Sent: Saturday, December 11, 1999 11:19 PM Subject: [SBB] Brown Pelicans inland? I birded Almaden Lake and the ponds behind The Santa Clara County = Water District offices on Almaden Expressway this morning. While walking = around the large pond behind the offices, I had a Brown Pelican fly = over. It struck me as odd that one should be found so far inland. Does = anyone know about the range of Browns Pelicans? =20 Thanks, Don Ganton [[email protected]] =20 ------=_NextPart_000_0010_01BF443C.1F372F20 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Brown Pelicans are fairly common visitors to = San=20 Francisco Bay and its margins, but they are normally salt = water birds,=20 and are far less likley to be found on inland bodies of water than = American=20 White Pelicans. Individual Brown Pelicans do occasionally stray = inland, and=20 have been recorded at the SCVWD Pond and at Almaden = Lake at=20 least 3 times prior to this. Neat sighting!--our last = local=20 occurrence (that I am aware of) was 12 years ago.
 
John Mariani
[[email protected]] <= /DIV>
----- Original Message -----
From:=20 Don = Ganton
To: South Bay Birds Mailing = List=20
Sent: Saturday, December 11, = 1999 11:19=20 PM
Subject: [SBB] Brown Pelicans=20 inland?

I birded Almaden Lake and the ponds = behind The=20 Santa Clara County Water District offices on Almaden Expressway this = morning.=20 While walking around the large pond behind the offices, I had a Brown = Pelican=20 fly over. It struck me as odd that one should be found so far inland. = Does=20 anyone know about the range of Browns Pelicans?
 
Thanks,
 
Don Ganton
[[email protected]]
 
------=_NextPart_000_0010_01BF443C.1F372F20-- ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Dec 12 18:05:48 1999 Subject: [SBB] Almaden Lake Park today Howdy South-bay-birders, Today I visited Almaden Lake Park and the SCVWD Pond hoping to see the Brown Pelican reported there yesterday by Don Ganton. No luck. At Almaden Lake Park I did see WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBES, CANVASBACKS, COMMON MERGANSERS, 6 COMMON SNIPES, and MEW (1 ), RING-BILLED, CALIFORNIA, HERRING, THAYER'S, and GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS. Birds at the SCVWD Pond included RING-NECKED DUCKS and MARSH WREN. We could still use more counters on the Calero-Morgan Hill Christmas Bird Count. We still have no one covering Loma Prieta--an interesting birding spot on the edge of the count circle (only the actual summit is within the count area, so it probably wouldn't take to long to for a birder to cover it). If anyone is interested in doing this area, please let me know. It would involve a couple of hours up there at most, so someone could do it and join another party for the rest of the day. John Mariani [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Dec 12 19:52:41 1999 Subject: [SBB] Hidden Villa birds All, Friday, 12/10/1999, at about 2PM there were several WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS foraging over ridgetops along the Hostel Trail at Hidden Villa. Just across the summit along this trail, three NORTHERN FLICKERS emerged from chapparal. Two were ordinary-looking red-shafted birds, but the third was a "nearly-pure" YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER. It's underwings were very yellow, it had a yellow-shafted's black moustaches and red chevron at the nape, but its face and crown were more brownish than one would expect if it were not a hybrid. There were also several (up to 6) VARIED THRUSHES groundfeeding along the Creek Trail where it intersects the Grapevine Trail. On the tardy side: on the afternoon of Nov. 29 I saw at least 40 swifts foraging high over Hidden Villa. They were present for at least an hour in cloudy, windless conditions. Although I studied these birds for about 20 mintues I was unable to detect any trace of white on them. They were completely silent in flight, and the slower pace and infrequency of their wingbeats was unlike that of Vaux's. I'd love to conclude that this was a great flight of Black Swifts, but alas, it seems equally likely that distance and poor lighting may have prevented clear observation of WTSW markings. --Garth Harwood ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 08:23:11 1999 Subject: RE: [SBB] Hidden Villa birds Garth and others, During my studies of White-throated Swifts in So. Cal., I found that they tend to congrate in large flocks and forage and chase each other along ridgelines adjacent to their evening roosts, especially during the winter. When they are chasing their flight tends to be more direct with more soaring on the afternoon breezes. Smaller foraging flocks started gathering near the roost as much as 2 hours prior to entry into the roost. I have heard that there is a winter roost in that vicinity. I will have to get up there and check that out soon. If you find a roost, stick around until sunset, during the winter they will all enter the roost as a group. I have watched 250 swifts enter a 6" x 3' crack in under 3 minutes. Its an amazing sight. The local rangers at the park called it "the swift show." Cheers, Tom > ---------- > From: [[email protected]][SMTP:[[email protected]]] > Sent: Sunday, December 12, 1999 7:52 PM > To: [[email protected]] > Subject: [SBB] Hidden Villa birds > > All, > > On the tardy side: on the afternoon of Nov. 29 I saw at least 40 swifts > foraging high over Hidden Villa. They were present for at least an hour in > > cloudy, windless conditions. Although I studied these birds for about 20 > mintues I was unable to detect any trace of white on them. They were > completely silent in flight, and the slower pace and infrequency of their > wingbeats was unlike that of Vaux's. I'd love to conclude that this was a > great flight of Black Swifts, but alas, it seems equally likely that > distance > and poor lighting may have prevented clear observation of WTSW markings. > > --Garth Harwood > ========================================================================== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to > [[email protected]] > ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 08:24:38 1999 Subject: RE: [SBB] Brown Pelicans inland? Don and others, Within the county Brown Pelicans do occasionally stray inland and on to water district facilities. According to our own observations and Bill Bousman's county notebooks, in recent years, they have been observed away from San Francisco Bay at Lake Cunningham (1994 & 1995), Almaden Lake (1996), Camden (1997) and Los Capitancillos Percolation Ponds (1999), Vasona Reservoir (1994), and Lexington Reservoir (1998). Most sightings away from the bay involve single immature birds. Just out of curiosity, was it an adult or immature? Tom Ryan Biologist Santa Clara Valley Water District > ---------- > From: Don Ganton[SMTP:[[email protected]]] > Sent: Saturday, December 11, 1999 11:19 PM > To: South Bay Birds Mailing List > Subject: [SBB] Brown Pelicans inland? > > I birded Almaden Lake and the ponds behind The Santa Clara County Water > District offices on Almaden Expressway this morning. While walking around > the large pond behind the offices, I had a Brown Pelican fly over. It > struck me as odd that one should be found so far inland. Does anyone know > about the range of Browns Pelicans? > > Thanks, > > Don Ganton > [[email protected]] > > ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 10:47:13 1999 Subject: [SBB] South County birds All: Sunday afternoon, I spend a few hours birding the Bettencourt Dairy/Bloomfield Rd/Frazier Lake Road area SE of Gilroy. Nothing much of interest. Lots of common raptors (22+ White-tailed Kites) included a Prairie Falcon and a Cooper's Hawk. Also a lone Cattle Egret. I was unable to get close to any of the bird blackbird flocks. Most unusual sighting was of 2 Wrentits in the cattails on the Pajaro River! First time I have seen this species away from the mountains in the county. Nick Nick Lethaby Technical Marketing Manager CoWare, Inc. Tel: 408 845 7646 E-mail: [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 10:50:18 1999 Subject: [SBB] Wrentit Habitat Preferences Folks: Concerning Nick Lethaby's WRENTIT encounter along the Pajaro River, it is worthwhile to note their somewhat curious habitat preferences in this area. South of the Coyote Narrows, in the drainages leading to the Parjaro River, Wrentis are a fairly common to common breeding species in riparian areas, particularly in blackberry brambles found along many of these streams. Habitat that appears similar to my eyes along Coyote Creek, the Guadalupe River, and other drainages leading to S.F. Bay rarely have resident Wrentits. The habitat preferences in this case are quite interesting. Bill ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 10:54:34 1999 Subject: [SBB] Bird book All: I have one new 'bird book' for sale - Audubon's Birds of America. This is the complete set of Audobon's paintings of N. American birds, including one or two that don't seem to exist! This is perhaps more of a table top book. It's hardback and in pristine condition. If you are interested, please relpy to me IN PERSON (i.e. not to the list). Thanks, Nick Nick Lethaby Technical Marketing Manager CoWare, Inc. Tel: 408 845 7646 E-mail: [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 11:04:52 1999 Subject: RE: [SBB] Wrentit Habitat Preferences Sorry for another addition of my 2 cents, but they've chained me to my computer for the week. During our surveys, we often see Wrentits in riparian habitats outside of the breeding season. Particularly along Coyote Creek where it crosses 101 near Morgan Hill and the more riparian-dominated areas along Llagas Creek. In other areas, such as Almaden Quicksilver, Almaden Reservoir and Guadalupe Reservoir, they are found in shrubby hillsides as I am more accustomed to seeing them. Tom > ---------- > From: > [[email protected]][SMTP:[[email protected]]] > Sent: Monday, December 13, 1999 10:50 AM > To: [[email protected]] > Cc: [[email protected]] > Subject: [SBB] Wrentit Habitat Preferences > > Folks: > > Concerning Nick Lethaby's WRENTIT encounter along the Pajaro River, > it > is worthwhile to note their somewhat curious habitat preferences in this > area. > South of the Coyote Narrows, in the drainages leading to the Parjaro > River, > Wrentis are a fairly common to common breeding species in riparian areas, > particularly in blackberry brambles found along many of these streams. > Habitat that appears similar to my eyes along Coyote Creek, the Guadalupe > River, and other drainages leading to S.F. Bay rarely have resident > Wrentits. > The habitat preferences in this case are quite interesting. > > Bill > ========================================================================== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to > [[email protected]] > ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 11:09:31 1999 Subject: [SBB] Pre-CBC Scouting This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --Boundary_(ID_GV9HRomiFEn8Mu6d8Gg4Dg) Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Hello everyone: I scouted some of the urban Santa Clara parks in preparation for the CBC. Highlights were an adult male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER and a MERLIN at Bowers Park. Bowers Park is on Cabrillo Dr. about three blocks west of San Tomas Expressway. The birds were in the pines at the parking lot. The warbler's bib showed grayish edgings typical of fresh molt. The non-denominational cemetery on Winchester was quite active as there is abundant fruit. I saw over 200 AMERICAN ROBINS here although very few CEDAR WAXWINGS (2). Steve Miller --Boundary_(ID_GV9HRomiFEn8Mu6d8Gg4Dg) Content-type: application/ms-tnef Content-transfer-encoding: BASE64 Comments: Conversion error: (No formatted text for errno = 0) eJ8+IicTAQaQCAAEAAAAAAABAAEAAQeQBgAIAAAA5AQAAAAAAADoAAEIgAcAGAAA AElQTS5NaWNyb3NvZnQgTWFpbC5Ob3RlADEIAQWAAwAOAAAAzwcMAA0ACwAJAB8A AQAjAQEggAMADgAAAM8HDAANAAsACgAjAAEAKAEBCYABACEAAAAyQzM4RjNEOThE QjFEMzExODA2NTAwQzA0RjU3NTlFNAARBwEEgAEAEQAAAFByZS1DQkMgU2NvdXRp bmcAiAUBDYAEAAIAAAACAAIAAQOQBgBICQAAHAAAAEAAOQBgz7SVnUW/AR4AcAAB AAAAEQAAAFByZS1DQkMgU2NvdXRpbmcAAAAAAgFxAAEAAAAWAAAAAb9FnY/U2fM4 NrGNEdOAZQDAT1dZ5AAAHgAxQAEAAAAJAAAAU0VNSUxMRVIAAAAAAwAaQAAAAAAe ADBAAQAAAAkAAABTRU1JTExFUgAAAAADABlAAAAAAAIBCRABAAAAhgYAAIIGAABD DgAATFpGdQ8o2IMDAAoAcmNwZzEyNXIyDGBjMQMwAQcLYG6RDhAwMzMPFmZlD5JP AfcCpANjAgBjaArAc4RldALRcHJxMgAAkioKoW5vElAgMAHQhQHQNg+gMDUwNBQh 8wHQFBA0fQdtAoMAUAPU+xH/EwtiE+EUUBOyGPQU0IsHExXkNhGOMjM4F1SiIAdt IENFFeQ3Gn+nFEAbrxy1eXIV5DkRjq8aUBYxHv8DgkcJ0WsCg98MASD/DlAiLwNz VAhwI9S7FjEhDTgaYSWfA4JCB0D+dA3gI9QlYRZsG3gHEx0G/xtwKv8etyyVIFUO MBZOIej/LJQjiRphME4lZiyUJucdkb8wTSiXLJQqJgKRCOY7CW/qMDi/ZQ4wNTnq OwE6v/87yTnUO/I6Xz4vPe09bzuf8znvEGAyOEO6RNFEj0WZ/znURcJEL0f/R71H P0VvSTR+OQ5QTIRN4UYDTeACgnOodHlsB5BoCeB0AABhA/BkY3RsCrEAYGTManVP UAUQZ2gFQhYyHQwBYwnAUCADMHNuZb54FzAHsAWwAMACc3MAUFhzYjIUUE9AYRPw XPprCeBwC5BQGAhgUFALgPplT4B2VcABQFC7DDBRhG8bkFRgBKALgGdF0VIGYvph FxBkAiBSwFJmT7BQsPlX8SAxTxMOUFO/VM9V0/8AUVZcAKBRjljfWeZPBA/A/1rv W/9V0w5QVk9er1+/WhP2MwKCExBjU4BmgVCwWhCTKlBV8CBEARBhdSpAFCBQCsBh CcBhcGicIEYCIVNEMBFpLQ+QXjgBQFWQaxNQGGILIHLPCVBschagbHJ3NEMhFwD+ cAHQaFJQ32V/ZoZqsGlwWwUQAjAtahADYTopEG+hcdBTdWJqBZB0cdDgRGF0ZTpT RBphav//bA9tH24sT6BaAw4hZoFXFjcOUG+PcJ5SVeEXASBI/1nxBJBTRB2Rc690 v3XPVV8vdw8PgYIQCNBiCrB0OP9k2g9UYbB5H3omgqB7MAtQvHkvaiB2EAsRe6Vz U0T/G5F8r32/fs9uL28/hM+F2X9x8nGUcskg0FAfizSCUzmHi3+Mj5HARG9jdQeA nwIwBdBp4Dfhj/Jvd5Aw+4kxAYBuclAAYAnwaICUIHcCAVMAd7JlAPCUIE9gcEk8 YFx2CJB3awuAZP8ewJfCBPAHQBBhAUAOAIkC91nimSUCEG8FQhchEvJy4I5tC1Fy 4B0AOlxccSB6b2nBbWoQAxAHkJvQTZMN4ANgc28BgCBPASBrDeCXEFydhkUAwAMQ Ln1mUHSU8BcQkDBSQYASeHsBQJYhbk+wONCfJGkUY88DIBLzAIAFkGx2XUFicP8O cFMAobIBkAAgokKYEZRh/wHBobEW4A9wAABicAzQAZD8IC438qGoDlCiYipAUJD/ ot+j76T/D8BicAWBpp+nr+2ov2wewGJwbKZfqx+sJT4ppSwwEKn/rt+sFGIg/igC ka//ofMaYK2vsm+zf/+0j6IgHZC10qKvtz+4T6Us/xuQtd+7X7xvvX+iICDQul// v+/A/8IECvkDMJAPiz9SMap7e7BsCQAge0J5AiDncvAKhQqFSSAE8H/hCYBPy+AD cBOAnUAgdE+wIN8IcGYQA6AGEaxhQwtgaaD6IAqxawQgx2EXcGJgaZEbKlACICCW kczjQ0JDfC4ge6DIsYAQyMEEIHd9oGEgA5HIQGlCUxETgEIATEFDSy1USFIgT0FU RUQjcFJBIFkgV0FS0mBFUhfRcVJArHBN0/BMSU670XAFQEKVQHthaXJr0FHv1SnO oAQgz3FDAaAFEMoifERy0FABoH/hzOEJ0SD/AmCUIM6B0TBPUMyyBhFx4XMAwAQg RXjO4QQQhjB55dBRVM0BYmkLINEVx2H9zPJwgCEEINTx3DPOYVoifQkAdNrlhjEC YASQABBx/nWaYBOABCDbUMFgT6DVMbtSQGnBeQQAagAJgGdX8f8EIJdhDeAswczB A1BPkdIA5wbw3eYTUG4txIEDcAuAf89DLMGdwAeAcuDKkNbiV/8LgBbQ2TEEkN5R BCDe8Gigf9Fhx9BowtoRzPHb0tyxYn51ljDNoeHB5dHQUcvRYX0H4G97UWEAghAs gNSBSexDQdTQ0uBC1MAF8ObT6yox38B1yMAgynLPkAfRTR0QRNOw05FYV9TAR+EF 8CgyKS7K/MbEx4/5yJV7U3LgaNGc4MogBJAJ7WZ9APEgAAADAPE/CQQAAAMA/T/k BAAAAwAmAAAAAAADADYAAAAAAAIBRwABAAAANQAAAGM9VVM7YT1BVFRNQUlMO3A9 TE1DTztsPUVNU1MwMU0xNi05OTEyMTMxOTA5MzFaLTM4MzAAAAAAHgA4QAEAAAAJ AAAAU0VNSUxMRVIAAAAAHgA5QAEAAAAJAAAAU0VNSUxMRVIAAAAAQAAHMGDPtJWd Rb8BQAAIMMBS8budRb8BHgA9AAEAAAABAAAAAAAAAB4AHQ4BAAAAEQAAAFByZS1D QkMgU2NvdXRpbmcAAAAAHgA1EAEAAABCAAAAPDgwMDJGQzk3NTUyOUQyMTFBM0FF MDAwMEY4QkRDNDYzMDM0RDZBM0RAZW1zczAxbTE2LmVtcy5sbWNvLmNvbT4AAAAL ACkAAAAAAAsAIwAAAAAAAwAGEGymidIDAAcQvgEAAAMAEBAAAAAAAwAREAAAAAAe AAgQAQAAAGUAAABIRUxMT0VWRVJZT05FOklTQ09VVEVEU09NRU9GVEhFVVJCQU5T QU5UQUNMQVJBUEFSS1NJTlBSRVBBUkFUSU9ORk9SVEhFQ0JDSElHSExJR0hUU1dF UkVBTkFEVUxUTUFMRUJMAAAAAAIBfwABAAAAQgAAADw4MDAyRkM5NzU1MjlEMjEx QTNBRTAwMDBGOEJEQzQ2MzAzNEQ2QTNEQGVtc3MwMW0xNi5lbXMubG1jby5jb20+ AAAA5yQ= --Boundary_(ID_GV9HRomiFEn8Mu6d8Gg4Dg)-- ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 11:14:18 1999 Subject: RE: [SBB] Wrentit Habitat Preferences Reply to: RE: [SBB] Wrentit Habitat Preferences Amy and I have property in West Marin. There is a seasonal creek on the property that only runs in the wet season, but has pools year round. The vegitation is mixed riparian: coyote bush, poison oak, quite a bit of willow, blackberry, a few bay trees. Wrentits are resident and breed there. James Yurchenco ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 11:33:19 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] Bird book Audubon had several intersting (?) species: a MacGillivray that he first indentified as a Mourning Warbler, only to be corrected later by Townsend who collected the Mac on the Pac Coast...then there is the Townsend Bunting (collected on East Coast by young Townsend), a bird never again seen or collected by a natural scientist...was it a hybrid? the last of a dying species? ------------ Previous Message from Nick Lethaby <[[email protected]]> on 12/13/99 10:54:34 AM ---------- To: [[email protected]], [[email protected]] cc: Subject: [SBB] Bird book All: I have one new 'bird book' for sale - Audubon's Birds of America. This is the complete set of Audobon's paintings of N. American birds, including one or two that don't seem to exist! This is perhaps more of a table top book. It's hardback and in pristine condition. If you are interested, please relpy to me IN PERSON (i.e. not to the list). Thanks, Nick Nick Lethaby Technical Marketing Manager CoWare, Inc. Tel: 408 845 7646 E-mail: [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 11:37:11 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] Wrentit Habitat Preferences For what it is worth... Over here on the coastal slope in Santa Cruz County WRENTIT regularly ranges from its typical scrub, chaparral and woodland habitats. It is an uncommon resident in deciduous riparian habitat throughout the county, although they are not present on every stream. Along the Pajaro River they breed (and are resident) in riparian and adjacent scrub from close to the ocean all the way upstream to well beyond Hwy 101 in SCL/SBT. Of course, in SCZ we also have them in the forest where there is shrubby understory, including old growth redwoods forest...a far cry from chaparral. David Suddjian, Capitola [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 11:41:02 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] Wrentit Habitat Preferences I regularly seen Wrentits in the riprarian areas at Big Sur but there they are close to suitable habitat. It's' possible that the south county has affinities to the Monterey 'faunal zone' - whatever that is! At 10:50 AM 12/13/99 -0800, [[email protected]] wrote: >Folks: > > Concerning Nick Lethaby's WRENTIT encounter along the Pajaro River, it >is worthwhile to note their somewhat curious habitat preferences in this area. >South of the Coyote Narrows, in the drainages leading to the Parjaro River, >Wrentis are a fairly common to common breeding species in riparian areas, >particularly in blackberry brambles found along many of these streams. >Habitat that appears similar to my eyes along Coyote Creek, the Guadalupe >River, and other drainages leading to S.F. Bay rarely have resident Wrentits. >The habitat preferences in this case are quite interesting. > > Bill >========================================================================== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > Nick Lethaby Technical Marketing Manager CoWare, Inc. Tel: 408 845 7646 E-mail: [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 12:25:00 1999 Subject: [SBB] Toucan: Sunnyvale Spotted a (keel-billed?) toucan in the Cherry Chase area of Sunnyvale yesterday (12/12/99). Quite yellow breast, forehead & bill. High in a neighbor's elm trees, stayed, calling, about 10 minutes, flew a few blocks away & landed high in trees. See http://www.cocori.com/photo/imfaun/aa1122.htm for a reference. Tina Peterson -- Christina A. Peterson Science Librarian San Jose State University California [[email protected]] 408-924-2727 (voicemail) 408-924-2701 (fax) Visit the Library without Walls! http://library.sjsu.edu/staff/peterson/peterson.htm ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 12:26:47 1999 Subject: RE: [SBB] RFI: Parrots I have received several responses to this e-mail last week. I would like to thank everyone who responded. From what was reported, there are at least 3 established flocks of Mitred & Red Masked Parakeets (Conures) on the Penninsula. These are found in San Francisco (possibly several groups), Palo Alto, and Cupertino-Sunnyvale. The SF flocks have quite a following (literally) and more about them can be found at http://www.wildparrots.com/ The Palo Alto flock has recently been observed at Hoover Park, on a church steeple at Cowper & Colorado and flying overhead at San Antonio & El Camino Real. The Saratoga-Cupertino flock is likely different from the Palo Alto flock, but could be the same birds moving around seasonally or even daily. This flock has been seen around Orchard Supply in Sunnyvale on Sunnyvale-Saratoga Rd., at the Apple Computer HQ buildings, and at the YMCA in Cupertino. They appear to roost at the St. Martin's church in Sunnyvale. Canary-winged Parakeets have also formed permanent populations centered around Dolores St. in San Francisco. Locally I have observed small groups (<5) Amazona parrots in San Jose and Cupertino, as well as scattered sightings of individual Lovebirds, Cockateils and Budgerigars. The latter are likely escaped individuals that won't survive long. Please continue to send any observations to me and SBB. Remember location, date and time if you have them. If you cannot ID them to species, even the distinction of long-tailed and short-tailed would help. Thanks, Tom > ---------- > From: Tom Ryan[SMTP:[[email protected]]] > Sent: Friday, December 03, 1999 2:34 PM > To: South Bay Birders list > Subject: [SBB] RFI: Parrots > > Some of the biologists studying urban parrots in the LA basin will be in > the > Bay area in late January. I would greatly appreciate it if everyone could > either post any sightings of feral parrots or send them to me directly. > If > you know of any evening roosts or if you regularly see birds at a > particular > time of the day that would very helpful as well. Historical observations > not sent to this listserv in the past would also be helpful. > > Thanks, > Tom > ========================================================================== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to > [[email protected]] > ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 13:22:29 1999 Subject: [SBB] Ridgetop swifts, etc. Regarding Garth's report of swifts above the ridgetops at Hidden Villa, I can provide sightings of WHITE-THROATED SWIFT along Old Ranch Trail at Monte Bello OSP on Dec. 5 and Dec. 12. This is right at the ridgetop near Black Mtn. and above Hidden Villa. On 12/5 I estimated a flock of about 2 doz. at 10:00a. Yesterday, 12/12, there was a flock of about 40+ just west of Black Mtn. seen from Indian Creek Trail. They were close enough to see white throat and belly marks. One observer noted seeing the white marks in the side-rump area. I led a birdwalk at Monte Bello OSP for the Open Space District yesterday. Although it was relatively clear and sunny, the bird activity was low, lower than a week ago. We enjoyed sightings of RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, the swifts, very close-up views of BEWICK'S WRENS and WRENTIT, and at least 3 VARIED THRUSHES. There's a lot of madrone and toyon berries available right now and there seemed to be a reasonable amount of insect activity, too. A complete list is at the end. On Sat., 12/11, I found a Slate-colored DARK-EYED JUNCO (DEJU) among the Oregon DEJU feeding next to our house by Skyline Blvd. It was lighter gray than the example in Rising and more like the adult male example in Byers, et al. The lores were not darker than the head and face color; the gray of the upper breast was concave with the white of the belly intruding upward, like an inverted U; no pinkish or warm color in the flanks; and the mantle had very faint brownish streaking. Birds seen at Monte Bello OSP, 12/12/99, 31 sp., Turkey Vulture White-tailed Kite Northern Harrier Accipiter sp. Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel White-throated Swift Anna's Hummingbird (heard) Acorn Woodpecker (heard) Northern Flicker (heard) Red-breasted Sapsucker Hutton's Vireo Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay Common Raven Wrentit Oak Titmouse Chestnut-backed Chickadee Bewick's Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Varied Thrush American Robin California Thrasher European Starling Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's) California Towhee Spotted Towhee (heard) Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Lesser Goldfinch Additionally, on a scouting trip on 12/5/99, I found, Red-shouldered Hawk Band-tailed Pigeon Hairy Woodpecker (heard) Cedar Waxwing Western Meadowlark Purple Finch Les ========================================== Les Chibana, Palo Alto [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 13:35:56 1999 Subject: [SBB] SCJA I just observed a pair of WESTERN SCRUB JAYS today, 13 Dec 99, carrying nest material in our parking lot that is adjacent to the Coyote Creek riparian corridor. I watched 7 or 8 quick-succession trips by a pair of birds, who would gather leaf litter and pine needles and carry them to a particular spot in a small dense live oak tree between the parking lot and the creek trail. I don't know what the earliest confirmation is for this species, but this seems to me to be particularly early. Mike Mammoser ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 13:47:33 1999 Subject: [SBB] hybrid goldeneyes I just read the Northern Cal RBA, in which Steve Rottenborn had reported a hybrid Barrow's x Common Goldeneye on Shoreline Lake. I wanted to follow up on my report of 2 hybrids there the same day. I saw some courtship activity as well, where a half dozen adult males were pursuing 2 female Common Goldeneyes. Included with the males were the 2 adult male Barrow's, both of which were giving courtship displays to these female Commons. I also reported a first-year Barrow's, which may very well have been a hybid as well. This bird had a small scapular patch, which was quite isolated from the white sides, but all the white on the scapular feathers looked to be merged in a single patch. It also had a facial spot that looked similar to the adult hybrids I saw, but the upper part was rather dusky and I didn't want to push my luck by calling it a hybrid. Mike Mammoser ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 13:50:52 1999 Subject: [SBB] birds On Saturday, 11 Dec 99, I had also visited the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh area, where I had 4 SORAS calling and a VIRGINIA RAIL bathing in the marsh. Over Moffett Field I saw a flock of swifts foraging, which I presume were White-throated, although they were too far away for positive ID. Mike Mammoser ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 14:12:43 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] SCJA At 1:35 PM -0800 12/13/99, Mike Mammoser wrote: > I just observed a pair of WESTERN SCRUB JAYS today, 13 Dec 99, carrying > nest material in our parking lot Intersting. Yesterday, I noticed something going on in a tree in my backyard, and it turned out to be a pair of house sparrows who were clearly courting. It's not that unusual a thing to see near the feeders, but never in December.... -- Chuq Von Rospach - Plaidworks Consulting (mailto:[[email protected]]) Apple Mail List Gnome (mailto:[[email protected]]) Pokemon is a game where children go into the woods and capture furry little creatures and then bring them home and teach them to pit fight. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 14:15:23 1999 Subject: [SBB] Pre-CBC Scouting This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --Boundary_(ID_pjaO8U/wKkPT/I5K3IR3ZA) Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Hello everyone: On Sunday (12/12), I scouted some of the urban Santa Clara parks in preparation for the CBC. Highlights were an adult male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER and a MERLIN at Bowers Park. Bowers Park is on Cabrillo Dr. about three blocks west of San Tomas Expressway. The birds were in the pines at the parking lot. The warbler's bib showed grayish edgings typical of fresh molt. The non-denominational cemetery on Winchester was quite active as there is abundant fruit. I saw over 200 AMERICAN ROBINS here although very few CEDAR WAXWINGS (2). Steve Miller P.S. You might get this message twice. Our server is really slow and I forgot to say the date. --Boundary_(ID_pjaO8U/wKkPT/I5K3IR3ZA) Content-type: application/ms-tnef Content-transfer-encoding: BASE64 Comments: Conversion error: (No formatted text for errno = 0) eJ8+IhcWAQaQCAAEAAAAAAABAAEAAQeQBgAIAAAA5AQAAAAAAADoAAEIgAcAGAAA AElQTS5NaWNyb3NvZnQgTWFpbC5Ob3RlADEIAQWAAwAOAAAAzwcMAA0ADgAPABcA AQAkAQEggAMADgAAAM8HDAANAA4AEAAWAAEAJAEBCYABACEAAAA0MTM4RjNEOThE QjFEMzExODA2NTAwQzA0RjU3NTlFNAABBwEEgAEAEQAAAFByZS1DQkMgU2NvdXRp bmcAiAUBDYAEAAIAAAACAAIAAQOQBgC8CQAAHAAAAEAAOQAAvBuNt0W/AR4AcAAB AAAAEQAAAFByZS1DQkMgU2NvdXRpbmcAAAAAAgFxAAEAAAAWAAAAAb9Ft4bG2fM4 Q7GNEdOAZQDAT1dZ5AAAHgAxQAEAAAAJAAAAU0VNSUxMRVIAAAAAAwAaQAAAAAAe ADBAAQAAAAkAAABTRU1JTExFUgAAAAADABlAAAAAAAIBCRABAAAA+QYAAPUGAADS DgAATFpGdXTsybMDAAoAcmNwZzEyNXIyDGBjMQMwAQcLYG6RDhAwMzMPFmZlD5JP AfcCpANjAgBjaArAc4RldALRcHJxMgAAkioKoW5vElAgMAHQhQHQNg+gMDUwNBQh 8wHQFBA0fQdtAoMAUAPU+xH/EwtiE+EUUBOyGPQU0BMHEwKDNDQRjjIzOEUXVCAH bSBDRRoENU8afxRAG68ctXlyGgQ3uRGOMTYWMR7/A4JHCdF+axoEG5EhDg5QIi8D c1TLCHAaBDkkTzg2JX8ctPpCB0B0DeACgxQwFk4beHsHEx0GNRY/HqgslSBVNd8P wBZdIegslCOINRphME73JWYslCbmNR2RME0olyyUVyomApEI5jsJbzA4v2X9DjA1 Oeo7ATq/O8k51DvyfzpfPi897T1vO5857xBgMv44Q7pE0USPRZk51EXCRC/fR/9H vUc/RW9JNDkOUEyED03hRgNN4AKCc3R5bDUHkGgJ4HQAAAPwZGOMdGwKsQBgZGp1 T1C5BRBnaAVCLXIMAWMJwMNQIAMwc25leBcwB7AXBbAAwAJzcwBQc2IySxRQT0Bh E/BcawngcF8LkFAYCGBQUAuAZU+Adv9VwAFAULsMMFGEG5BUYASgTQuAZ0XRUgZi YRcQZD8CIFLAUmZPsFCwV/EgMf9PEw5QU79Uz1XTAFFWXACg/1GOWN9Z5k8ED8Ba 71v/VdPfDlBWT16vX79aEzMCghMQfmNTgGaBULBaECpQVfAgkkQBEGF1KkAgUArA gmEJwGFwaCBGAiHTU0QdkWktD5A4AUBVkOtrE1AYYgsgcglQbHIWoM1scncdgWxw c3AB0GhSf1DfZX9mhmqwaXAFEAIwLStqEANhOikQb3HQU3UUYmoFkHRx0ERhdPxl OlNEKKFq/2wPbR9uLP9PoFoDDiFmgVcWDlBvj3Ce5lJV4RcBIEhZ8QSQU0T/INFz r3S/dc9VX3cPD4GCEOUI0GIKsHQ4ZNoPVGGwn3kfeiaCoHswC1B5L2og93YQCxF7 pXNTRBuRfK99v/9+z24vbz+Ez4XZcfJxlHLJ7ydwUB+LNIJTOYt/jI+RwPBEb2N1 B4ACMAXQaeBzN+GP8m93kDCJMQGAbv9yUABgCfBogJQgAgFTAHeyLmUA8JQgT2Bw PGBcdukIkHdrC4BkGmCXwgTw/wdAEGEBQA4AiQJZ4pklAhDebwVCFyES8nLgbQtR cuBRHQA6XFxxIG9pwW1vahADEAeQm9BNDeADYHNybwGAIE8BIA3glxBcrZ2GRQDA AxAuZlB0lPBvFxCQMFJBgBJ4AUCWIW7vT7A40J8kaRRjAyAS8wCA+QWQbHZdQWJw DnBTAKGy/wGQACCiQpgRlGEBwaGxFuCfD3AAAGJwDNABkCAuN/L/oagOUKJiKkBQ kKLfo++k/78PwGJwBYGmn6evqL9sGmDdYnBspl+rH6wlKaUsHZDHqf+u36wUYiAo ApGv//+h8yigra+yb7N/tI+iICDQ/7XSoq+3P7hPpSwbkLXfu1//vG+9f6IgJ3C6 X7/vwP/CBF8K+QMwkA+LP1Ixe3uwbPUJACB7QnkCIHLwCoUKhZ0CkE8DoHIwljBh ecFwJQ4gLw4gKSzLwUkgfwTwf+EJgM1QA3ATgJ1AIPp0T7AgCHBmEMwBAHCsYdZD C2BpoCAKsWsEIMdh3xdwYmBpkSpQAiAglpHOU+BDQkMuIHugyLGAEOvIwQQgd6Bh IAORyEBpQgNTEROAQkxBQ0stAFRIUk9BVEVEASNwUkFZIFdBUrnT0EVS0uFSQKxw TdVg2ExJTtLgBUBClUB7YX1pcmvRwdaZ0BAEINDhQ+cBoAUQyiJEctHAAaB/4fvO UQnRIAJglCDP8dKgT1CfziIGEXHhAMAEIEV40FErBBCGMHnRwVTOcWJp7wsg0oXH Yc5icIAhBCDWYe/do8/RWiIJAHTcVYYxAmDzBJAAEHF1mmATgAQg3MDfwWBPoNah UkBpwXkEAGoA/QmAZ1fxBCCXYQ3gLMHOMT8DUE+R03AG8N9WE1BuLf/EgQNwC4DQ syzBncAHgHLg+8qQ2FJXC4AW0NqhBJDfwf8EIOBgaKDS0cfQaMLbgc5h+91C3iFi zDKUcQNQ50HRwfXNQWEH4G97UWEAghAsgLHV8UlDQdZA1FBC1jCvBfDoQyox4TB1 yMAgynI30QAH0R0QRNUg1QFYV1XWMEcF8CjM4C7K/FN/cuBo0ZzgyiAEkAKQyvxQ dC5T0cBZCGDTcMizZ/8XIM5R2DEHgWHw8fDOUAPw+53A0cFPCHDNUASQ6kLYMf84 0AdAhdDNUAkAB+DVks1A9ZaRZ5phdMpAYfDMcM5i/8xQcuClEPAWxsTHj8iV9wcE fQD6EAAAAAMA8T8JBAAAAwD9P+QEAAADACYAAAAAAAMANgAAAAAAAgFHAAEAAAA1 AAAAYz1VUzthPUFUVE1BSUw7cD1MTUNPO2w9RU1TUzAxTTE2LTk5MTIxMzIyMTUy M1otNTQxMwAAAAAeADhAAQAAAAkAAABTRU1JTExFUgAAAAAeADlAAQAAAAkAAABT RU1JTExFUgAAAABAAAcwALwbjbdFvwFAAAgwoJn4r7dFvwEeAD0AAQAAAAEAAAAA AAAAHgAdDgEAAAARAAAAUHJlLUNCQyBTY291dGluZwAAAAAeADUQAQAAAEIAAAA8 ODAwMkZDOTc1NTI5RDIxMUEzQUUwMDAwRjhCREM0NjMwMzRENkIzNUBlbXNzMDFt MTYuZW1zLmxtY28uY29tPgAAAAsAKQAAAAAACwAjAAAAAAADAAYQsktnYgMABxAW AgAAAwAQEAAAAAADABEQAQAAAB4ACBABAAAAZQAAAEhFTExPRVZFUllPTkU6T05T VU5EQVkoMTIvMTIpLElTQ09VVEVEU09NRU9GVEhFVVJCQU5TQU5UQUNMQVJBUEFS S1NJTlBSRVBBUkFUSU9ORk9SVEhFQ0JDSElHSExJR0hUU1cAAAAAAgF/AAEAAABC AAAAPDgwMDJGQzk3NTUyOUQyMTFBM0FFMDAwMEY4QkRDNDYzMDM0RDZCMzVAZW1z czAxbTE2LmVtcy5sbWNvLmNvbT4AAAD4Ug== --Boundary_(ID_pjaO8U/wKkPT/I5K3IR3ZA)-- ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 14:33:58 1999 Subject: [SBB] GOEA at Shoreline Park During a lunchtime run today (12 noon - 1 pm, Mon 13 Dec 1999) at Mountain View Shoreline Park, I saw two GOLDEN EAGLES (ages indeterminant) feeding on a kill in the hills northeast of the the kite flying area/Amphitheatre overflow parking field. At times they were sharing their kill quite amicably with a pair of ravens! In the overflow parking field below, there was a flock of about 50-60 AMERICAN PIPITS, no other unusual birds seen amongst them. (But this was naked-eye birding, so I could only easily identify really big things and things I was tripping over.) --WC William Cabot Center for Turbulence Research NASA/Ames Research Center: (650) 604-4728, [[email protected]] Stanford University: (650) 723-8520, [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 14:36:17 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] SCJA Normal nest-building activity in our area probably doesn't occur until late March, so this is exceptional. There is one report of a successful Western Scub-Jay nesting attempt in September 1987 from Carmel Valley (Monterey County). This coincided with a particularly good acorn crop which was thought to be partially responsible for this unusual nesting date. This seemed to be a good year for Coast Live Oak acorns, so perhaps this is a factor in this case too. However, nestlings are fed primarily insects, which are in short supply in winter. So, it will be interesting to know if the nest is successful. On the subject of scrub jays, I watched one yesterday at Rancho Del Oso (n. Santa Cruz County) with its bill full of flesh and fur from a deer mouse. I assume it was not carrying it off to feed nestlings, but to cache it for later enjoyment! Jeff Davis Santa Cruz [[email protected]] >I just observed a pair of WESTERN SCRUB JAYS today, 13 Dec 99, carrying >nest material in our parking lot that is adjacent to the Coyote Creek >riparian corridor. I watched 7 or 8 quick-succession trips by a pair of >birds, who would gather leaf litter and pine needles and carry them to a >particular spot in a small dense live oak tree between the parking lot >and the creek trail. I don't know what the earliest confirmation is for >this species, but this seems to me to be particularly early. > >Mike Mammoser > > ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 14:51:00 1999 Subject: RE: [SBB] Wrentit Habitat Preferences We often see WRTI in our Los Altos yard in fall (in near Adobe Creek). I also hear them call during the breeding season from an easterly direction, which would be in a strictly suburban area, but with large lots and many shrubs. Ruth Troetschler Ruth Troetschler ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 13 15:58:09 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] SEOW Byxbee park is the disguise for Palo Alto's dump reached from Embarcadero Rd. -- Richard C. Carlson Chairman, Spectrum Economics Palo Alto, CA [[email protected]] 650-324-2701 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 14 07:33:46 1999 Subject: [SBB] Sunday Birds All, A short pass through the EEC, State/Spreckles and Zanker area Sunday afternoon turned up the following: Two GOLDEN EAGLE, one on the third transmission tower after the entrance to the EEC, a second on a tower near the intersection at Spreckles; PEREGRINE FALCON, flying back and forth between the transmission towers just inside the entrance to EEC; NORTHERN FLICKER and SHARP-SHINNED HAWK in the cottonwoods near the Center; five species of gull in the first pond, including WESTERN, GLAUCOUS-WINGED, RING-BILLED, CALIFORNIA, and a winter adult MEW GULL; AMERICAN PIPIT; many EARED GREBE; a BLACK PHOEBE with a mottled black and white head; YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER; COMMON YELLOWTHROAT; LOGGERHED SHRIKE; SAY'S PHOEBE. Total 41 species. Good birding, Michael Wienholt ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 14 08:01:21 1999 Subject: [SBB] Wrentit Habitat I have had a semi-resident Wrentit for the past year. Of course, it was the song first noticed. We have several large shrubs in the yard. A large Hollywood Juniper seems to be it's favorite hiding place. This shrub is located near the birdbath and the bird has been seen bathing on numerous occasions (as noted on my calendar). I've also seen it in a citrus tree next to the house. Barbara Harkleroad Camden Ave/Paso Los Cerritos Almaden Area ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 14 09:46:23 1999 Subject: [SBB] Sunday & Monday Hello all; On Sunday Penny & I worked the Ogier Ponds area in preparation for our CBC with, Dave Cook, next weekend. We managed to list 42 birds (in the interest of brevity and to combat boredom, I won't list them here). Not bad considering we didn't manage to log many of the "usual suspects" for that area... The only real standout treat was a juvenile "baldy". The bird passed directly over us, heading north. The longish head and lack of white on the flight feathers in the carpal area was pretty conclusive. Although on this one, the white in the underwing area was pretty subdued. Yesterday, as I was leaving Oakridge Mall, what appeared to be an adult Golden was working his way north-west. I saw him again after I got on 85N. He was being closely attended by about a dozen black-birds. Kinda neat watching this ferocious bird being "hen-pecked" by completely unintimidated black birds. Dusty Bleher Campbell, Ca. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 14 12:10:49 1999 Subject: [SBB] Palo Alto CBC Hi Birders! If anyone has a couple hours to spare next Monday and wants to count birds by the Bay, I have a nice spot/walk for you. There is a small area on the east side of the Dumbarton Bridge which can be very productive. One year on a high tide I had a Sharp-tailed sparrow there. You don't have to get up early, but timing it with the tide might be nice. Please let me know if you are available. Jack Cole __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place. Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 14 13:14:22 1999 Subject: [SBB] SCJA Well, I need to retract my breeding confirmation of Western Scrub Jay from yesterday. I investigated further today and, when I went out there, I found a human in a pickup truck who was eating his lunch and throwing bread and peanut shells out the window. The Scrub Jays were carrying away this "food". When I searched the spot from which I saw them carrying items yesterday, I also found peanut shells. I did see these birds carrying leaf litter yesterday, but I now surmise that they were using it to camouflage cache sites, and not to line a nest. I guess that this is a lesson that notworthy observations need extra investigation. Also, out in the parking lot was an intergrade NORTHERN FLICKER. This bird had a red nuchal chevron with a red mustache stripe. The face pattern was like Red-shafted, but the feather shafts were sort of orangy. Also had an adult RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, which was being dive-bombed by a pair of WHITE-TAILED KITES. Mike Mammoser ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 14 13:56:12 1999 Subject: [SBB] Some County Birds All, This morning Frank Vanslager and I saw the four Red-throated Loons on Shoreline Lake (I needed RTLO for a county year bird). At one point three of the RTLO were close together and it's was fairly easy to see that two were winter plumaged adults and the third was a first winter juvenile. No sign of the Common Loon or of a Barrow's Goldeneye. About 100 American Pipits were in the Shoreline overflow parking area and the Lesser Black-backed Gull was in Lake Cunningham at about 11:30 AM. Take care, Bob Reiling, 1:38 PM, 12/14/99 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 15 07:13:12 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] Wrentit Habitat Preferences Wrentits use that same habitat along the northcoast and in parts of the Central Valley as well also. John Sterling Smithsonian Migratory Bird Center National Zoological Park Washington, DC 20008 202-673-4908 FAX 202-673-4916 http://www.si.edu/smbc ----- Original Message ----- From: <[[email protected]]> To: <[[email protected]]> Cc: <[[email protected]]> Sent: Monday, December 13, 1999 1:50 PM Subject: [SBB] Wrentit Habitat Preferences > Folks: > > Concerning Nick Lethaby's WRENTIT encounter along the Pajaro River, it > is worthwhile to note their somewhat curious habitat preferences in this area. > South of the Coyote Narrows, in the drainages leading to the Parjaro River, > Wrentis are a fairly common to common breeding species in riparian areas, > particularly in blackberry brambles found along many of these streams. > Habitat that appears similar to my eyes along Coyote Creek, the Guadalupe > River, and other drainages leading to S.F. Bay rarely have resident Wrentits. > The habitat preferences in this case are quite interesting. > > Bill > ========================================================================== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 15 07:45:23 1999 Subject: [SBB] SWSP, LOONS & STUFF Folks: Yesterday, 12/14/1999, I saw two RED-THROATED LOONS and a COMMON LOON at Shoreline Lake just before sunset. There was an apparent male EURASIANxAMERICAN WIGEON in Adobe Creek. In the fading light it appeared to be mostly EURASIAN except for a fairly complete green mask. In this respect it seems that this may be the hybrid seen in this vicinity throughout the fall. My best count of BLACK SKIMMERS was nine both morning and evening. At the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh, just N of the footbridge, I saw an apparent adult SWAMP SPARROW. This bird, although quite heavily streaked on the sides of the breast, had a very clear gray median stripe and the supercilium and face where also cleanly gray. I have little experience with 1st-winter birds, but would expect to see streaking on the crown and some buff or brown tones to the supercilium and face. This bird continually chipped, but to my poor decrepit ears the chip note was identical to typical Zonotrichia chips. Conditions were an ebbing tide (water in channels only) and 20 minutes before sunset. A nearby SORA was bathing in one of the channels, which was nice. Bill ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 15 14:50:22 1999 Subject: [SBB] PA CBC: Montebello needs an experienced birder Hi Folks, The person who counted Montebello OSP last year can't do it now, and someone else that I thought I had signed up isn't getting back to me, so it looks like it will go uncounted in the PA CBC unless an experienced birder steps forward. Let me know if any of you can do the count at Montebello on Monday Dec. 20, even for part of the day. I have a couple less experienced birders signed up that could help. Leda Beth Gray ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 15 15:32:34 1999 Subject: [SBB] Sierra Road All, I checked the Sierra Road summit at noon today 12/15/99, scouting for the upcoming San Jose CBC on Sunday. No surprises up there today. A flock of 42 HORNED LARKS was concentrated in the only spot with short vegetation, directly across the road from the corral. Otherwise fair numbers of WESTERN MEADOWLARKS, LESSER GOLDFINCH, and SAVANNAH SPARROWS were complemented by 4 SAY'S PHOEBES, 3 ROCK WRENS, a pair of adult GOLDEN EAGLES (in primary molt regrowing p6/p7), and at least two WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS. A GREATER YELLOWLEGS was at the stock pond below the summit to the west. Driving back along Felter Road, I had a female WOOD DUCK at the Covo Ranch (sorry, I forget the address, but it is north of 5950 Felter Road just past an overlook of Calaveras Reservoir and before the road heads uphill towards Sierra Road). >From Marsh Road I was able to pick out an immature GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE among the hundreds of CANADA GEESE at the southern end of Calaveras Reservoir. Mike Rogers ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 15 15:35:53 1999 Subject: [SBB] oops Oops, the Covo Ranch is south of 5950 Felter Road - Sorry Mike Rogers ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 15 17:48:36 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] PA CBC: Montebello needs an experienced birder Dear Leda Beth-- I got this e-mail a while back and have not replied yet. Maybe he can help you. Let me know how it works out. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ From: "David C. Weber" <[[email protected]]> To: Ruth Troetschler <[[email protected]]> Subject: Re: [SBB] PALO ALTO-REGION 6 CBC Date: Thu, 09 Dec 1999 11:15:14 -0700 Priority: NORMAL X-Authentication: IMSP Status: Ruth, I'm counting at Jasper Ridge in the morning. Would you be able to use help in the afternoon, say after one or one thirty? Phone me at 650-857-9219 if you want to see if this would help some place. I live at Stanford. David On Tue, 7 Dec 1999 11:23:08 -0800 Ruth Troetschler <[[email protected]]> wrote: > Region 6 in the lower foothills could also use a few counters. If > you don't want to walk so far or fast, you might choose us. The > count is Monday, December 20. Contact me if you are interested. > Ruth Troetschler ---------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------At 2:50 PM -0800 12/15/99, Leda Beth Gray/David Drake wrote: >Hi Folks, > >The person who counted Montebello OSP last year can't do it now, and someone >else that I thought I had signed up isn't getting back to me, so it looks >like it will go uncounted in the PA CBC unless an experienced birder steps >forward. Let me know if any of you can do the count at Montebello on Monday >Dec. 20, even for part of the day. I have a couple less experienced birders >signed up that could help. > >Leda Beth Gray >========================================================================== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] Ruth Troetschler ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 15 18:19:05 1999 Subject: [SBB] Palo Alto birds Hi all, I saw the following birds at the Palo Alto Nature Preserve, more specifically in the Eucalyptus trees near the Ranger Station: Audubon's Warblers, Yellow Rumped Warblers, one female MacGillivray's Warbler, one Common Yellow Throat, one Hermit Thrush, ca. 25 Bush Tits, White Crowned Sparrows and Golden Crowned Sparrows. The Psyllids on the Eucalyptus leaves are a great attractant to Warblers and various other species of birds. Dirk Thiele ______________________________________________________ Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 15 23:00:36 1999 Subject: [SBB] White-throated Sparrow The SCVAS Eve Case bird study group met on Tuesday at DuBois's. The bird this month was the White-throated Sparrow. It cooperated quite nicely by giving long views to all in attendance. I find this bird study group fascinating. The DuBois bird is a hybrid of some sort. It's now in its 6th year at their house. Even though I'm certain we share feeding some birds, I know their White-throated has never been seen in my yard. I still see only Tan Morph. I did not know that the #2 Chromosone in White Morphs had one INVERTED #2 with one regular #2. That the Tan Morphs have 2 regular #2 chromosone. I also did not know that most of the time Tan Morphs breed with White Morphs and rarely do Tan breed with Tan or White with White. Next month the Widgeon's....Gloria LeBlanc "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 16 07:33:23 1999 Subject: [SBB] Bewick's Wren and Suet Our Bewick's Wren has suddenly taken to chowing down on our peanut-suet block. Has anyone observed this behavior before? Kendric ----------------------------------------- Kendric C. Smith, Ph.D. 927 Mears Court Stanford, CA 94305-1041 (650) 493-7210 (voice or fax) [[email protected]] http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/ ------------------------------------------ ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 16 08:57:33 1999 Subject: [SBB] EUWI Folks: This morning, 12/16/1999, there was a male EURASIAN WIGEON in Adobe Creek in the Palo Alto FCB. I counted nine BLACK SKIMMERS on Charleston Slough. Bill ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 16 10:29:50 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] Bewick's Wren and Suet Kendric and SSB: Although I have limited experience with peanut suet, for several years now I have been putting out a product made in Tucson called "BugNuts" (ground pecans, suet, and dried flies...yummy). It is a great favorite with my resident Nuttall's Woodpeckers, but I have occasionally seen the Bewick's Wren enjoying it as well--especially during the winter. Since I am not home during the day all week, I suspect the wrens probably visit more often than I can document. (It also attracts Scrub Jays, rarely the Downy Woodpecker, and even Chestnut-backed Chickadees when feeding young one year.) Unfortunately the manufacturer of BugNuts has gone out of business, and while waiting for the Tucson Wild Bird Store to come up with a replacement, I am trying a peanut suet which contains dried insects. The Nuttall's have finally decided it is edible, but I have not determined whether the Bewick's have accepted it or not. Since I had put out the BugNuts by mashing it into 2" diameter holes drilled in a foot-long 4x4 suspended by one end, I have done the same with the peanut suet. I've never had any luck getting any birds to consistantly visit suet blocks suspended in baskets. (I live in unincorporated Menlo Park near Marsh Rd and Hwy 101.) Sue Hunt > ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 16 12:27:29 1999 Subject: [SBB] Bewick's Wren and Suet -Reply Coincidentally, I just recently noticed this behavior earlier this week! for the first time in my yard in San Jose, I noticed a Bewick's Wren at both Peanut Dough feeders last Sunday (12/12). Alan W. >>> "Kendric C. Smith" <[[email protected]]> - 12/16/99 7:33 AM >>> Our Bewick's Wren has suddenly taken to chowing down on our peanut-suet block. Has anyone observed this behavior before? Kendric ----------------------------------------- Kendric C. Smith, Ph.D. 927 Mears Court Stanford, CA 94305-1041 (650) 493-7210 (voice or fax) [[email protected]] http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/ ------------------------------------------ ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 16 13:12:30 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] hybrid goldeneyes At 01:47 PM 12/13/99 -0800, Mike Mammoser wrote: >I just read the Northern Cal RBA, in which Steve Rottenborn had reported >a hybrid >Barrow's x Common Goldeneye on Shoreline Lake. I wanted to follow up on >my report of 2 hybrids there the same day. > >I saw some courtship activity as well, where a half dozen adult males >were >pursuing 2 female Common Goldeneyes. Included with the males were the 2 >adult male Barrow's, both of which were giving courtship displays to >these female Commons. It's good to know that humans aren't the only ones who can't always tell female Barrow's and Common Goldeneyes apart. Nick Lethaby Technical Marketing Manager CoWare, Inc. Tel: 408 845 7646 E-mail: [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 16 19:56:58 1999 Subject: [SBB] 1999 S.C. Co. Bird List Bill Bousman has updated the 1999 Santa Clara County Bird List as of November 30. "The October total of 284 has increased by only 2 in November to 286 with the addition of Rough-legged Hawk and Tropical Kingbird. These were seen by Matthew Dodder and Chuck Coston. We are well into December now without any new species. I general, even with all the activity associated with the Christmas Bird Counts (CBC), we rarely add more than two or three birds during the CBC season. However, the present 286 is well down from the last two years where we were at 304 in 1997 coming into the CBC season (that was our record year), and at 298 in 1998 at the start of the CBCs. So there is a possibility of more of a jump. We will see." The complete list may be seen on: South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU) http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/ Kendric ----------------------------------------- Kendric C. Smith, Ph.D. 927 Mears Court Stanford, CA 94305-1041 (650) 493-7210 (voice or fax) [[email protected]] http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/ ------------------------------------------ ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 17 07:27:26 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] Bewick's Wren and Suet --============_-1266677466==_ma============ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" Dear Sue and all Here is an updated copy of my previous posting on this subject. I live in an old section of Los Altos. ========================================================= After years of failure with suet feeders I have finally had success with a home-made mixture which I read and was told about. It consists of equal parts of suet, chuncky peanut butter, rolled oats, cornmeal, and flour. I also added a few oil seeds. Other goodies are also OK. Melt the fats (being careful not to burn the mixture) & stir in the dry ingredients. Cool in a loaf pan. Cut into blocks of the correct size to fit a wire feeder. White-breasted Nuthatches and Scrub Jays are coming so far. ========================================================= My feeder is hung on against the side of a dead tree trunk. Many of the birds hang on the tree and reach out to get the food. At this time (in December) not only the above species are coming, but Downy and Nuttall's WP, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Bewick's Wren, and bellieve-it-or-not an occasional Golden-crowned Sparrow. Below on the ground eating the crumbs are California and Spotted Towhees and Golden-crowned Sparrows. This feeder is emptied every 2 weeks. Ruth Troetschler 184 Lockhart Lane Los Altos, CA 94022 Ruth Troetschler --============_-1266677466==_ma============ Content-Type: text/enriched; charset="us-ascii" Dear Sue and all Here is an updated copy of my previous posting on this subject. I live in an old section of Los Altos. ========================================================= After years of failure with suet feeders I have finally had success with a home-made mixture which I read and was told about. It consists of equal parts of suet, chuncky peanut butter, rolled oats, cornmeal, and flour. I also added a few oil seeds. Other goodies are also OK. Melt the fats (being careful not to burn the mixture) & stir in the dry ingredients. Cool in a loaf pan. Cut into blocks of the correct size to fit a wire feeder. White-breasted Nuthatches and Scrub Jays are coming so far. ========================================================= My feeder is hung on against the side of a dead tree trunk. Many of the birds hang on the tree and reach out to get the food. At this time (in December) not only the above species are coming, but Downy and Nuttall's WP, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Bewick's Wren, and bellieve-it-or-not an occasional Golden-crowned Sparrow. Below on the ground eating the crumbs are California and Spotted Towhees and Golden-crowned Sparrows. This feeder is emptied every 2 weeks. Ruth Troetschler 184 Lockhart Lane Los Altos, CA 94022 Ruth Troetschler --============_-1266677466==_ma============-- ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 17 11:54:04 1999 Subject: [SBB] Tundra Swan Hi all, I just (12/17/99) observed a Juvenile TUNDRA SWAN at around 10:30am at the Coyote Percolation (aka Metcalf Ponds). I identified the bird based on color, head shape and bill shape. It was a lone bird and was at the north end of the pond near the dam. The ponds are located northeast of the corner of Metcalf Rd. and Monterey Hwy. off Hwy. 101. There is a parking area on the northbound side of Monterey Hwy about 1/4 mi north of Metcalf Rd. There was also WHITE-TAILED KITE and COMMON GOLDENEYE present. Good luck, Tom ps John this is definitely a good spot for the Calero-Morgan Hill CBC. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 17 14:26:09 1999 Subject: [SBB] TUSW I checked the Metcalf ponds between 1:30 and 2:00pm and failed to find the Tundra Swan. However, there were 4 WILD TURKEYS along the edge of the pond, a CLARK'S GREBE, a CANVASBACK, a couple COMMON GOLDENEYES, and a couple RING-NECKED DUCKS. Mike Mammoser ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 17 14:33:48 1999 Subject: [SBB] Local Mexican 'rarities' All: For those of you who are desperate (and we haven't had too many good birds lately), there are a couple of Muscovy Ducks at Hall Lake (at the N. end of Abbott Avenue) in Milpitas. One has been around for a couple of years but the other arrived just a couple of weeks ago. I guess we can make a case that this one is part of an influx of Mexican species (Rufous-backed Robin, Blue Mockingbird) into the state! Regards, Nick Nick Lethaby Technical Marketing Manager CoWare, Inc. Tel: 408 845 7646 E-mail: [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 17 14:52:02 1999 Subject: [SBB] White-Throated Sparrow The White-Throated Sparrow that had been in my backyard, which I reported as being of the Tan-Striped Variety is an immature, showing the streaking on the breast. It does show a slight bit of white in the stripe behind the yellow lore. I'm wondering now whether it is the Tan-Striped variety? I got one very good picture and many excellent looks at the bird. Barbara Harkleroad Almaden Area ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 17 15:56:14 1999 Subject: [SBB] Eurasian-type Green-winged Teal Bill Ayers has asked me to report the subject bird in the sewage outfall at the P. A. Baylands near where you turn to walk next to the airport runway. The bird was with a group of regular Green-winged Teal this morning. Phyllis ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 17 16:04:36 1999 Subject: [SBB] Green-winged Teal question To everyone, There is a Green-winged Teal here at the Palo Alto Baylands, in the Water Quality effluent by the turn at the airport. It has a horizontal white bar above the wing and dramatic markings on its head. Would this be the Eurasian or Aleutian race? What's the current name? I saw it a 3:45pm today. Thanks, Deborah Bartens City Naturalist ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 17 16:17:31 1999 Subject: [SBB] Green-winged Teal correction To everyone, I meant to say stripe and not bar above its wing. Deborah B. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Dec 18 07:18:46 1999 Subject: [SBB] Osprey at Arastradero All, An Osprey flew over northwards at noon yesterday, 12/17/99, as I was doing some bird habitat work at Arastradero preserve. There were a couple hundred Western Meadowlarks around as well, more than I'd seen here before in winter flocks. Should anyone notice and wonder about it, the upper pond at the preserve has been drained temporarily in order to combat bullfrogs and promote the endangered Red-legged Frog. (I took advantage of this situation and placed a Wood Duck nestbox built by Norman Watenpaugh.) --Garth Harwood ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Dec 18 09:38:01 1999 Subject: [SBB] Palo Alto CBC All, If you're done with all your shopping and are looking for something fun to do on December 20, I have the following suggestion: Region 7... We could still use one or two more people to assist in covering Russian Ridge and Windy Hill. If you are available to join the existing teams covering those areas, please contact me directly and I will get you in touch with the respective team leaders. Thank you, and happy holidays. Matthew Dodder Region 7 Coordinator ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Dec 19 17:07:48 1999 Subject: [SBB] GWTE crecca All, The "Eurasian" GREEN-WINGED TEALS reported recently by Debora Bartens is still at the Palo Alto Baylands. Take the trail that leads north-west from the interpretive center and follow it around the lagoon. Eventually the trail will take a sudden right and parallel the Palo Alto Airport runway. The Teal is located at this turn, in the waterway on the right. I had ample opportunities to compare it to the many standard greenwings. Elsewhere in there were 6 BLUE-WINGED TEALS at the Palo Alto Flood Control Basin along Frontage Road. They were located in the last accessible pond on the left side of the trail leading out to the Bay. The EURASIAN-AMERICAN WIGEON hybrid also remains at the Mountain View Forebay. Matthew Dodder Palo Alto Adult School "Beginning Birdwatching" begins January 10 info: www.shank.com/birdguy ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 21 11:16:11 1999 Subject: [SBB] SNPL,SAND, etc All, On Saturday 12/18/99 I spent a few hours checking that Cargill locks were indeed in place for the San Jose and Palo Alto Christmas bird counts - everything was indeed in great shape and I even saw a few birds to boot! First, I drove out to the Knapp property, finding 14 SANDERLINGS in Salt Ponds A5 and A7 on the way out (mainly in the outer portions of these ponds). The dike has been cut before pond A6, but there was a wooden plank going across, so I headed out there, noting an adult PEREGRINE FALCON and a female-plumaged MERLIN perched on poles. The mud pan was pretty deserted, but I did have one color-banded SNOWY PLOVER not far out. On the left leg there was a yellow band above a pink band, while on the right leg there was a white band above a reddish-orange band. Another SANDERLING flew over calling. Next I headed to the Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Plant and drove the dikes between there and Stevens Creek. Highlights included an immature BROWN PELICAN in Salt Pond A3W (missed on the Palo Alto count, but a "count week" bird) and an immature PEREGRINE FALCON perched on a tower above Salt Pond B1. Mike Rogers ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 21 11:47:06 1999 Subject: [SBB] San Jose CBC All, On Sunday 12/19/99 I covered the Alviso Salt Ponds for the San Jose CBC. Isabelle Lacey and I covered the ponds north of the Alviso Marina (A9 through A15) until 1:30pm, after which Alma Kali and I tried to find some species that were still missing for the count (Snowy and Semipalmated Plovers and Short-billed Dowitcher). Starting out at 6:45am, we had 2 SORA and 5 VIRGINIA RAILS at the Marina. Four Fox Sparrows were foraging on the wooden boardwalk into Alviso Slough. We next headed out to Triangle Marsh, hoping for Short-eared Owl - had to be content 9 NORTHERN HARRIERS instead. The water level in pond A14 was high and there was nowhere for shorebirds to roost during the high tide - this greatly reduced our shorebird totals and was largely responsible for the missed species noted above. An adult PEREGRINE FALCON (a fairly dark and heavily marked "anatum") was here though. Also at least 114 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were on the various ponds (in the count circle, which does not include most of ponds A9 and A10!). Also had 30 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS inside the circle as well. Best birds were an AMERICAN BITTERN that flushed from Alviso Slough not far from the Marina and the RED-THROATED LOON, still along the eastern edge of Salt Pond A10. This latter bird was very cooperative this day, coming to within about 50 yards after being first found at the far side of the pond. At this distance it was easy to age the bird as an immature. Steve Rottenborn was studying gulls that morning (remarkably we both came up with an estimate of 8,000 gulls, 90% of which were HERRING GULLS - this is way down from past years). He had found an adult GLAUCOUS GULL and had flushed 3 EURASIAN WIGEON from Salt Pond A12 before we covered that pond after Triangle Marsh. Also, he had another EURASIAN WIGEON and 2 female TUFTED DUCKS in Salt Pond A9 outside the count circle (and kindly showed me one of the TUFTED DUCKS). In the afternoon Alma Kali and I headed out to find some of the missing shorebirds. We had 3 SANDERLINGS in Salt Pond A7 and 3 SNOWY PLOVERS just outside the count circle in pond A5 :( However, on the way back in we located 2 more SNOWY PLOVERS in pond A8 inside the count circle. Also here were 5 more SANDERLINGS, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and two silent DOWITCHER SP sleeping in the middle of an AVOCET flock. A return visit to Coyote Slough at low tide added 40 more DOWITCHER SP at the edge of the count circle too distant to identify. No Semipalmated Plover either. On the way out there we did get great scope views of the same PEREGRINE FALCON sitting on the dike though. Mike Rogers ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 21 13:01:13 1999 Subject: [SBB] birds and CBCs On Saturday, 18 Dec 99, I had 2 OSPREYS at Parkway Lakes off Metcalf and Monterey Highway. Still no swan. Sunday, 19 Dec 99, I did the San Jose CBC, doing freelance work. I started at Lake Cunningham, where I initially could not find the LBBG. While scoping for it, however, I spied a flock of 10 white geese flying overhead and then landing in a picnic area on the other side of the lake. I drove over and found 4 SNOW GEESE and 10 ROSS' GEESE feeding on the lawn with the CANADA GEESE. One of the Snows had some duskiness on its forehead, so I called it an immature, but other immature characters were not present on this bird. The other 3 were adults. All 10 Ross' were immatures with a variety of markings indicating their age. As I walked back to the car along the lakeside path, I saw 2 TREE SWALLOWS foraging over the water, and as I came to the island across from the pier, the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was swimming in the water. I also had 6 VIRGINIA RAILS and 4 SORAS in the marshy vegetation along the park's border. At the Guadalupe River, I was unable to find the Harlan's Hawk, but I did have an immature PEREGRINE FALCON there. At CCFS, Nick Lethaby told me of finding the wintering Ruff in the sewage ponds, but I was unable to refind it. I did have 515 MEW GULLS in the first drying pond along the entrance levee. At Sierra Road summit I had a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK and another immature PEREGRINE FALCON. A SAY'S PHOEBE was there as well. At the airport I had a MERLIN, but couldn't find any Ferruginous Hawks. On Monday, 20 Dec 99, I did the Palo Alto CBC, working the Sunnyvale sewage ponds and the salt ponds behind Moffett Field. The large sewage pond had an adult male EURASIAN WIGEON and a bird that looked like a hybrid NORTHERN SHOVELER x BLUE-WINGED TEAL. I still have to do some research on this hybrid, before I make a definitive call. My duck counts showed about 4430 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 770 RUDDY DUCKS, 365 GADWALL, 434 AMERICAN WIGEON, and only a smattering of SCAUP, NORTHERN PINTAIL, and MALLARDS. The salt ponds (A3W, A3N, and B2) have been put in full salt production and are, therefore, full of water. Dominant ducks were again NORTHERN SHOVELERS (895) and RUDDY DUCKS (3711). Nine CLARK'S GREBES joined the 21 WESTERNS. One of the little islands in B2 had 4 SANDERLINGS and 6 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. The mudflats edging the bay and slough had thousands of WESTERN SANDPIPERS and lesser numbers of other common shorebirds. On the way out around the ponds I had a subadult GOLDEN EAGLE fly into the area of Moffett Field at the end of the runway. On the way back out I had an adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK in the same area. At the line of eucalyptus and the fennel patch along Carribean I had 3 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. Mike Mammoser ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 21 14:39:01 1999 Subject: [SBB] Palo Alto CBC All, On Monday 12/20/99 I covered some bayside areas for the Palo Alto Christmas Bird Count, after owling with Grant Hoyt along Skyline. After meeting at 4:30am at the Page Mill and Interstate 280 Park & Ride, Grant and I headed up to Skyline in an effort to get some owls for the count. A stop at a dependable spot north of Highway 84 in San Mateo County finally produced a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL after much coaxing - no other owls there though. Next we headed back to Monte Bello, where we had to hustle down to the meadow at the foot of the trail to Black Mountain. Here we had a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL and then, at about 6:30am, the dependable NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL started tooting. A distant sound may have been another Saw-whet Owl, but it may have been that we were just hearing things. On the way back we had two more WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS. I made it to the Mountain View Forebay by 7:35am and quickly got a response from both SORA and VIRGINIA RAILS, but didn't find a bittern in the reeds. Shoreline Lake was covered with birds, including 360 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS that must be rapidly depleting the fish supply. Tailing the flock were two immature RED-THROATED LOONS (first noted at 7:55am). At 8:12am a RED-THROATED LOON flew in from high up and landed on the lake. I couldn't be sure that this was a new bird, as one of the original two may have flown out while I was scoping the ducks. In any event, there were no loons visible by 9:00am and I never saw the Common Loon all day - guess you need to come early. Other birds on the lake included 147 GREATER SCAUP (only 8 LESSER SCAUP!), 105 CANVASBACKS, 48 COMMON GOLDENEYES (no Barrow's or hybrids), and at least 8 SURF SCOTERS (not our resident birds, which I haven't seen in November). A single female-plumaged HOODED MERGANSER flushed from under the boat launch ramp as I passed by there. Best birds on the golf course were a small flock of 5 CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, 2 RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, and a male TOWNSEND'S WARBLER. Salt Pond A1 had 11 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, nine BLACK SKIMMERS were on Charleston Slough (scaup numbers here were 30 LESSER and 8 GREATER), and the hybrid wigeon was in the Forebay. As others have noted, this hybrid has fairly clean gray flanks. I suspect that it is indeed the same bird that has molted away some eclipse feathers. The face below the green eyestripe appears quite buff now. I snuck a peak into the nearby Flood Control Basin and saw a pure male EURASIAN WIGEON, probably one seen by the Meyers when they counted this area. A quick check for the Swamp Sparrow at high tide failed to produce, although a briefly glimpsed bird that flew to the outer point of the marsh looked red enough for this species. The AMERICAN PIPIT flock in the overflow parking lot numbered about 60 birds and at least four BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS were with the blackbirds. The Moffett Field golf course produced no unusual geese, but did have 50 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS. I joined John Meyer to work the San Francisquito Creek Delta on the receding tide and we were treated to a RUDDY TURNSTONE (found by John), and 5 RED KNOTS, and a SANDERLING. We also 210 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and 40 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS, birds that were missed on the San Jose count the day before. On the way back out I located the male EURASIAN GREEN-WINGED TEAL, which had up to that point proved elusive. The Palo Alto duck pond had no THAYER'S GULLS, but did contain 290 BONAPARTE'S GULLS, a first-winter MEW GULL, and apparently the returning MEWxRING-BILLED/KAMCHATKA GULL. Also 10 more BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS with the blackbird flock. The fennel patch at the Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Plant had a single ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, undoubtedly one of Mike Mammoser's three birds. At 4pm I returned to Shoreline Lake, hoping for either the Common Loon or a Barrow's Goldeneye. Most of the scaup and scoters had left, and I saw no loons at all. Then I headed out along Charleston Slough, picking out a SHORT-EARED OWL on one of the white poles at Byxbee Park at 4:25pm. There were still 9 BLACK SKIMMERS in the slough. On the wooden posts in the outermost part of Charleston Slough were a nice mix of gulls, including a first-year THAYER'S GULL, which I believe was the only one found on the count! Also 10 HERRING GULLS here, which had been scarce up to this point (they must all be in Alviso). Another check of Shoreline Lake at 5pm found no new arrivals, although one of the many AMERICAN COOTS was interesting, having a mostly white face. Mike Rogers ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 21 14:50:41 1999 Subject: [SBB] San Jose CBC All: On Sunday, Mary Murphy and myself covered the sludge lagoons next to CCFS for the San Jose CBC. The ponds held 4750 Shovelers and 480 Ruddy Ducks, along with smaller numbers of other ducks. 6 Common Goldeneye was a good record for the area (I've only seen this species once in the CCFS/Sewage ponds area). There were also large numbers of shorebirds, with 1180 Long-billed Dowitchers, 1400 Western Sandpipers, 850 Dunlins, and 800 Least Sandpipers. Among these were 2 Lesser Yellowlegs and a Ruff. In addition to the shorebirds there was a decent collection of gulls including the adult Lesser Black-backed Gull, 150 Bonaparte's Gulls, 480 Mew Gulls, and 8-10 Thayer's Gulls. We had good views of an adult Golden Eagle, an adult Peregrine, and a Prairie Falcon. The strong winds rendered our later searches of CCFS for landbirds pretty fruitless. Nick Nick Lethaby Technical Marketing Manager CoWare, Inc. Tel: 408 845 7646 E-mail: [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 21 17:00:40 1999 Subject: [SBB] Internship on ravens FIELD TECHNICIANS TO WORK ON COMMON RAVENS AND GREAT EGRETS: Two Field Technicians are needed to assist on a study of Common Ravens in the San Francisco Bay area. One position, from 1 February through 30 June 2000, will focus on radio telemetry and behavioral observations of ravens at waterbird nesting colonies. A second position, from 15 March to 15 July 2000, will focus on a conditioned taste aversion experiment, documenting nest predation rates in a Great Egret colony and the responses of ravens to illness producing food. Both positions will work as part of a raven project team and participate in other aspects of work on ravens. The radio telemetry work is in collaboration with the Point Reyes Bird Observatory. Field work for both positions will involve extensive behavioral monitoring. Qualified applicants must be in excellent physical condition, have experience in field ornithology, be willing to occasionally work long, early or late hours, have the patience to spend long periods of time watching for rare behaviors or waiting for ravens to approach traps or bait stations. Applicants must also be willing to use their own vehicle to help with tracking radio-tagged birds; compensation for mileage costs will be provided. The ability to work independently and on a team is essential. Experience in radio telemetry or behavioral studies of birds is highly desirable. Stipend is $1,000/month, and shared housing at Audubon Canyon Ranch will be provided. In your letter of application, please describe the position you are applying for, the type and extent of your experience relevant to the position, your educational background, and the names, telephone numbers and e-mail addresses of 2 references. Send applications as soon as possible to: Cypress Grove Research Center, Audubon Canyon Ranch, P.O.Box 808, Marshall, CA 94940, or to [[email protected]]. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 21 17:04:29 1999 Subject: [SBB] Palo Alto CBC Hi Birders! In my party of Region 1 on the count Saturday, which covered the area north of the Dumbarton Bridge to and including portions of Redwood Harbor, Ed Frost and I found 9 SNOWY PLOVERS, 9 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, and one COMMON LOON, all write-up birds. The loon was in Redwood Creek, and the others were seen from the Cargill Salt levee (private) which begins near Sun Microsystems. The plovers and 8 of the yellowlegs were in the salt/mud flats south of Bayfront Park. Lisa and Rob Pavey found the reliable SANDERLING at Dumbarton Point, and a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL were near the entrance to Bayfront Park. The grass was very short at Bayfront Park, due presumably to the lack of rainfall, and thus we saw no pheasants or short-eared owls. Jack Cole __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Thousands of Stores. Millions of Products. All in one place. Yahoo! Shopping: http://shopping.yahoo.com ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 21 17:44:01 1999 Subject: [SBB] MOBL,MERL All, On Tuesday 14 Dec 1999, Al DeMartini found a female bluebird at the baseball field at the end of Geng Road. It was fairly red on the chest and he assumed it was a Western Bluebird. After discussing this bird with others, he began to wonder whether it might in fact be a Mountain Bluebird. He confirmed that it was indeed a female MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD yesterday on the Palo Alto count. After receiving email from John Meyer that the bird was still there today 12/21/99, I made a quick trip up there and got some pictures. The bird is indeed in fresh fall plumage and quite rusty below, but the whitish throat, the turquoise rump and base of the tail feathers (usually largely covered by the long wings), and the extensive pale edgings to the wing coverts and tertials, as well as the birds overall proportions, confirm the ID. A pale adult male MERLIN, possibly of the race "richardsonii", was perched atop the tower near the parking lot here as well. Mike Rogers ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 22 05:57:42 1999 Subject: [SBB] Palo Alto CBC - Foothills Park Greetings all, Arline Kapphahn and myself covered Foothills Park from about 8 AM to 1:30 PM on Monday. What a beautiful day to be out! The sunny skies and warm-ish winds turned up the following 38 species: 196 American Robins (our banner bird for the day) 8 Mourning Doves 38 Dark-eyed (Oregon) Juncos 3 Black Phoebes 4 Common Ravens 4 hummers (probably Anna's) 8 Steller Jays 8 Scrub Jays 1 Red-breasted Sapsucker 3 Varied Thrush 4 Oak Titmouse 3 Chestnut-backed Chickadees 25 American Coots 2 White-tailed Kites 3 Northern Harriers 1 American Kestrel 1 Pied-billed Grebe 25 Ruddy Ducks 1 Common Goldeneye 1 Gadwall 15 White-crowned Sparrow 1 Nuttall's Woodpecker 10 Bushtits 3 Northern (Red-shafted) Flickers 4 Turkey Vultures 1 Red-tailed Hawk 5 Yellow-rumped Warblers 7 Brown Towhees 3 Golden-crowned Sparrows 1 Accipiter (had features of both a Coop and Sharpie - so typical! If I had to call it though, I would say Sharp-shinned) 2 House Finch 6 Goldfinch species 1 Bewick's Wren 1 Brown Creeper (lucky break - caught its silhouette as we were admiring an Old Bay tree) 1 Downy Woodpecker 1 Ruby-crowned Kinglet Two species that were conspicuously missing compared to last year's count at Foothills were Rufous-sided Towhees and Western Meadowlarks. Mary Kenney ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 22 11:26:55 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] Palo Alto CBC a migrant myself (from SF) I did Skyline Ridge for the Palo Alto count: best birds....Merlin, pair of Hooded Mergansers on Alpine Pond (gone by 10am), Snipe and several VATH...verrrry windy up on those hills ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 22 13:23:07 1999 Subject: [SBB] PA Bluebird The Mountain Bluebird was still at the Baseball Diamond at the end of Geng Rd (off Embarcadero E, just N of 101) in Palo Alto at 11.00. Not being an expert on imm Bluebirds, I'll take Mike Rogers and others words that this is a Mountain Bluebird. I recall seeing a very similar bird at Sierra Rd a couple of years ago, which after a while I dismissed as a Western - despite the sky blue tail/UTC and generally gray-brown appearance. Well you live and learn. Nick Lethaby Technical Marketing Manager CoWare, Inc. Tel: 408 845 7646 E-mail: [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 22 14:07:01 1999 Subject: [SBB] RE: PA Bluebird REPLY RE: PA Bluebird And, for what it's worth, I've seen both Western and Mountain Bluebirds at the Sierra Rd. summit; adult (apparently) males, single birds, not in the same year. Les Chibana, Palo Alto, CA [[email protected]] Nick Lethaby wrote: >The Mountain Bluebird was still at the Baseball Diamond at the end of Geng >Rd (off Embarcadero E, just N of 101) in Palo Alto at 11.00. Not being an >expert on imm Bluebirds, I'll take Mike Rogers and others words that this >is a Mountain Bluebird. I recall seeing a very similar bird at Sierra Rd a >couple of years ago, which after a while I dismissed as a Western - despite >the sky blue tail/UTC and generally gray-brown appearance. Well you live >and learn. > >Nick Lethaby >[[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 22 15:42:45 1999 Subject: [SBB] Felt Lake and vicinity on Palo Alto CBC I covered my usual area on the Palo Alto CBC, working with Mary Murphy. While it was a very pleasant day, there were a few disappointments and no surprises. Early-morning owling along Los Trancos Road turned up only a distant pair of Western Screech Owls. I've often had spontaneously calling Great-Horned here, but not this year, and we also missed it near the Arastradero Preserve entrance at the end of the day (where I've had it the past few years). At the Palo Alto Hills golf course, ground feeders were conspicuous by their absence: far fewer Juncos than I'm accustomed to, and not a single sparrow or towhee. Instead, there were above-average numbers of Lesser Gold- finches and Yellow-Rumped Warblers, plus large numbers of American Robins (the most abundant bird of the day). Our best birds there were a Red-Breasted Sapsucker and at least 5 Pine Siskins. In the Santa Clara portion of Los Trancos Road, we had two separate Brown Creepers, and a (returning) White-Throated Sparrow (white-striped adult) coming to a feeding station. Again, there was a shortage of sparrows apart from that location; even Song Sparrows seemed absent from their usual haunts. Felt Lake hosted 6 Hooded Mergansers, a typical number; and 70 Ring-Necked Ducks (of 75 we saw for the day) -- up from recent years, but (like other species of diving ducks other than Ruddy's) still down from a decade ago. I was hoping for a Loon, but we had to make do with an assortment of the commoner Grebes (7 Western -- high here -- plus Eared, Horned and especially Pied-Billed). Another notable negative was the lack of raptor variety for the day: we entirely missed Red-Shouldered (unless one counts poor imitations by Steller's Jays), very surprising in this area; and we got our only two White-Tailed Kites late-afternoon at the Arastradero Preserve. Other than that, just Red-Tails (a lot), Harriers, and Kestrels. Some Summary Information: By the way, for those who weren't at the countdown: we had 158 or 159 species (pending one or two confirmations); plus Common Loon added (Jack Cole's EMail -- did he also get Brown Pelican?). "Best" birds were Al de Martini's already well-discussed Mountain Bluebird (which I saw this afternoon: neat!); a flyover Pileated Woodpecker (seen by Matthew Dodder, and unchaseable); and a heard-only Solitary-type Vireo at Montebello. If the latter can be confirmed and assigned to a species, it would be the one new species for this Count, which is in its 41st year. [We've had Mt. Bluebird just once before, in 1980 -- on either Los Trancos or Alpine Road, I believe. We've had Pileated Woodpecker just twice before, but now three times in the last six counts -- perhaps an encouraging trenc?] Cheers, Al ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 22 18:59:39 1999 Subject: [SBB] Amended summary note on Palo Alto CBC I wrote earlier: > By the way, for those who weren't at the countdown: we had 158 or 159 > species (pending one or two confirmations); plus Common Loon added (Jack Cole's > EMail -- did he also get Brown Pelican?). "Best" birds were Al de Martini's > already well-discussed Mountain Bluebird (which I saw this afternoon: neat!); > a flyover Pileated Woodpecker (seen by Matthew Dodder, and unchaseable); and > a heard-only Solitary-type Vireo at Montebello. If the latter can be confirmed > and assigned to a species, it would be the one new species for this Count, > which is in its 41st year. [We've had Mt. Bluebird just once before, in > 1980 -- on either Los Trancos or Alpine Road, I believe. We've had Pileated > Woodpecker just twice before, but now three times in the last six counts -- > perhaps an encouraging trenc?] I hadn't noticed it earlier, but Jack's message also mentioned Snowy Plover, which I think was otherwise missed. Cheers, Al ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 23 07:48:37 1999 Subject: [SBB] PA CBC (Hidden Villa) All, A quick note on the Hidden Villa portion of the PA CBC. They're doing a lot of construction and cleaning up on the ranch and this may have affected the quality and quantity of birds seen. We had 37 species as follows: Turkey Vulture Sharp-shinned Hawk Cooper's Hawk (a pair harassing a Red-shouldered Hawk) Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk American Kestrel Calif. Quail Anna's Hummingbird Nuttall's Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Black Phoebe Steller's Jay Western Scrub-Jay Common Raven Chestnut-backed Chickadee Oak Titmouse Bushtit Brown Creeper Bewick's Wren Ruby-crowned Kinglet Western Bluebird (off Moody Rd., none in Hidden Villa) Hermit Thrush American Robin (most numerous species) Varied Thrush Wrentit Claif. Thrasher Yellow-rumped warbler Spotted Towhee Calif. towhee Fox Sparrow Song Sparrow Golden-crowned Sparrow White-crowned Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco House Finch Lesser Goldfinch We also had two Townsend's Warblers on Friday (12/18) for a count week bird at Hidden Villa.- ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 23 10:12:37 1999 Subject: [SBB] Mt. Hamilton CBC (San Antonio Valley) Folks: Yesterday, 12/22/1999, I participated in the Mt. Hamilton CBC and covered San Antonio Valley. The very dry fall has reduced the level of the water in many stock ponds and hence the opportunities for waterbirds. My best waterbird of the day was a GREAT EGRET flying over the stock ponds adjacent to San Antonio Creek--this is the second I've seen here in 20 years. There was a fairly typical mix of raptors with a distant female/immature NORTHERN HARRIER being the first I've had in this section. I saw one RED-SHOULDERED HAWK at the Stoddard Ranch repeatedly, where San Antonio Creek crosses San Antonio Valley Road (Bill Gerli Bridge), and a second along the creek below the road. I had 16 LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS in the valley, including three easily visible from the road in the half mile south of road marker 16. Later, driving to the summit I also saw one along Arroyo Bayo, about road marker 12, where they are much less likely. It was a six-woodpecker day with Downy being the one I missed (as usual here). Eleven SAGE SPARROWS was a good tally in the chamise-covered ridges. I counted 15 FOX SPARROWS. Of the ones I could get reasonable looks at, eight were relatively uniform brown on crown, back, wings, and tail and brown-spotted below. These are undoubtedly _SOOTY_ FOX SPARROWS. I saw some variation in bill size and, unlike last year, I didn't find any of the pale forms. Four birds were probably _SLATE-COLORED_ FOX SPARROWS, although their coloration was not a good match for the Beadle paintings in Rising's book. They were very pale gray above without any discernable brown and the wings and tail were a rich rufous--very striking birds. The light spotting beneath also appeared more gray than tan. I also saw an intermediate bird between _Sooty_ and _Slate-colored_. I've not checked the recent Birding article, but I've concluded that Rising's book is quite confusing as regards the birds I'm seeing. Some high counts this year compared to the previous 19 years in the valley: WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS (78 vs 74), YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES (62 vs 42), and WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH (26 vs 22). Bill ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 23 11:19:47 1999 Subject: [SBB] Last month's birds All: A few sightings from the past few weeks (all in Santa Clara County unless stated otherwise): 21 Nov -- 15 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, 2 WINTER WRENS, and 2 HOUSE WRENS along Coyote Creek south of the CCFS trailer. 23 Nov -- 1 MERLIN along the Guadalupe River near Alma Road and Almaden Expwy. (probably one of those I saw nearby on 17 Nov.). 5 Dec -- 1 female/imm. MERLIN near San Tomas Expwy. and El Camino Real in Santa Clara. 7 Dec -- 2 female/imm. MERLINS and 2-3 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS on private property at the north end of the Silver Creek Hills in south San Jose. The GRSP were with a large flock of Savannah and White-crowned Sparrows in tall grasses in one of the many drainages in these grassy hills. I wonder if these are local breeders (common in these particular hills) or immigrants from elsewhere. 8 Dec -- 1 GRASSHOPPER SPARROW in the aforementioned spot in the Silver Creek Hills. 9 Dec -- 1 female/imm. MERLIN, 2 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS in the same location. 11 Dec -- David Wilcove and I birded the San Mateo Co. coast, seeing 6 PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS in a plowed, former Brussels sprout field on the west side of Hwy. 1 about 0.4 miles north of the northern turnoff to Pigeon Pt. Locally uncommon was a first-winter RING-BILLED GULL at Bean Hollow State Beach. We then checked the Palo Alto Baylands/Shoreline Park area, seeing 1 COMMON LOON, 3 RED-THROATED LOONS, 2 female HOODED MERGANSERS, 2 ad. male BARROW'S GOLDENEYES, and 1 ad. male BARROW'S x COMMON GOLDENEYE hybrid. The hybrid was identical to the one present in previous winters (right down to the odd bronzy tones to the head shared by neither parent species and not intermediate between the two species). However, given that Mike Mammoser saw two hybrids here the same day, who knows whether either of the hybrids is a repeating bird. Eleven BLACK SKIMMERS and 1 male REDHEAD were in Charleston Slough, and an AMERICAN BITTERN flew out of the Forebay and headed toward the Palo Alto Flood Control Basin at dusk. A pure male EURASIAN WIGEON was in the FCB, and "the" apparent hybrid male EURASIAN x AMERICAN WIGEON was in Adobe Creek. This bird looked typical of a Eurasian (e.g., no pink on the sides and flanks) except that the border between the pink breast and gray sides was more ragged than on the pure male in the FCB; there was a very broad green "stripe" on the sides of the head; and there were odd pale buff markings on the lower face (not typical of either species). 13 Dec -- 3 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS at the aforementioned location in the Silver Creek Hills. A hybrid Northern Flicker here may have been the same one I saw here on 19 Nov. 19 Dec -- I only had the morning to participate in the San Jose CBC, so I spent it studying gulls on the Alviso salt ponds. Highlights here, already mostly reported by Mike Rogers, included a male EURASIAN WIGEON and 2 female TUFTED DUCKS outside the count circle in pond A9 (one TUDU with a moderately long but very shaggy crest and moderate white on the face, the other with a shorter crest and no white on the face at all); an adult GLAUCOUS GULL and a first-winter apparent HERRING x GLAUCOUS hybrid on the levee between ponds A10 and A11; the RED-THROATED LOON on pond A10; 2 male and 1 female EURASIAN WIGEON with 80 Americans in the northwest corner of pond A12; 37 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS (only 3 that I saw in the CBC circle); and 211 RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS (97 on pond A9 alone). 21 Dec -- 1 WHITE-THROATED SPARROW near I-280 at Foothill College. 22 Dec -- The HARLAN'S RED-TAILED HAWK was very cooperative on both sides of Trimble Road along the Guadalupe River, and an OSPREY was flying over the river further upstream, near the San Jose airport. 23 Dec -- At Lake Cunningham, the fourth-winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was hanging around its favored island (even standing on one of the tall poles on the island) from 12:10 to 13:30; 1 TREE SWALLOW was foraging over the lake; 2 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were still hanging around; and Mike Mammoser's 4 SNOW GEESE (all of which were adults, I think, despite a few dusky streaks on the forehead of one) and 10 imm. ROSS'S GEESE (_extremely_ variable in plumage) were with 140 CANADAS. Good birding, Steve Rottenborn ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 23 15:41:02 1999 Subject: [SBB] Calero Reservoir and Almaden Lake Park today Howdy South-bay-birders, Today I scanned Calero (the incredible shrinking reservoir) from the boat ramp. The water continues to recede, and the number of water birds there appears to be declining. Birds I saw there included 1 HORNED GREBE, a few COMMON GOLDENEYES, 1 RING-NECKED DUCK, COMMON MERGANSERS, 6 BLACK-NECKED STILTS, 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, a few LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 COMMON SNIPE, several BONAPARTE'S GULLS, and a large flock of AMERICAN PIPITS. At Almaden Lake Park this afternoon there were MEW (1), RING-BILLED, CALIFORNIA, GLAUCOUS-WINGED, HERRING (hundreds), and THAYER'S (8+) GULLS. The dominant species was Herring Gull--odd that Herring Gulls should be so numerous here, when I didn't see a single one at Lake Cunningham on the San Jose CBC (althought there were over 1000 California Gulls there on count day, other species besides Ring-billed and 1 Lesser Black-backed were strangely absent). Oh, well have a happy holiday everbody! John Mariani [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 23 16:17:39 1999 Subject: [SBB] Palo Alto Mountain Bluebird All, At 12:30 PM today I saw the female Mountain Bluebird at the baseball field located at the end of Geng Road. Take care, Bob Reiling, 4:09 PM, 12/23/99 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 23 16:34:58 1999 Subject: [SBB] Mt. Hamilton CBC On Wednesday, 22 Dec 99, I participated in the Mt. Hamilton CBC, working in Isabel Valley. Mike Rogers and I drove over the mountain, meeting Grant Hoyt and Al DeMartini at the gate at 6:30am. We owled for a short time, getting spontaneously calling GREAT HORNED OWLS and taping out a NORTHERN PYGMY OWL. Arriving at the ranch houses, and the large reservoir there, we immediately saw a perched adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK, admiring it from close range. Eventually, an adult BALD EAGLE was found perching in its favorite tree along the reservoir. We surmised that it flew in while we watched the FEHA, because a couple of us had scanned that tree when we first stopped (knowing it was a favored perch) and hadn't seen it. We split into 2 teams, Mike and I covering the large reservoir and the main valley, while Grant and Al did the western reservoirs and the entrance road. Mike and I tallied 25 LEWIS' WOODPECKERS in our area. Combined with Grant and Al's 11, and Bill Bousman's 16, this may represent an all time high count for this species (I don't have the historical count data available to me). Working the feeder creek to the reservoir, we flushed out a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK from the willows and, shortly thereafter, 5 WOOD DUCKS. A group of mobbing SCRUB JAYS led us to a day-roosting GREAT HORNED OWL. Most of the ducks on this count are obtained on the reservoirs in Isabel, and we found that the variety was not as good as in other years. However, we did get numbers of MALLARD, GADWALL, RUDDY DUCK, RING-NECKED DUCK, AMERICAN WIGEON, BUFFLEHEAD, and a pair of HOODED MERGANSERS. While counting up 15 GREATER YELLOWLEGS on a small reservoir in the eastern part of the valley, we had a LONG-BILLED CURLEW fly by. This bird is quite unexpected out there, and was a first for the Mt. Hamilton count. Three COMMON SNIPE were the only ones found on the count. Also in the back valley was a subadult GOLDEN EAGLE, followed shortly by an adult BALD EAGLE. We could never be sure that the BAEA wasn't the same one we had earlier at the reservoir, so we didn't count it as a second individual. We also had an adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK back there, and could tell that it was a second bird by slight differences in the leg coloration. Also, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was far enough away from the first sighting to be considered a second bird. A couple adult SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS, an immature COOPER'S, and 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS helped round out the raptor count. Passerine numbers seemed to be down a little, perhaps owing to the dry conditions. Mike managed to hear a single WRENTIT and pish up a couple of SAGE SPARROWS in spite of it. Back at the ranch (as they say), we found an immature BALD EAGLE soaring overhead (a first-year bird by the look of it). The adult was still at the reservoir, but since it was a couple hours since we saw the one in the back valley, there was no way to total these eagles as 3. We had to stick with 2. I joined Grant and Al for the last couple hours of counting, because Mike had to leave early. However, he finished out our raptor count by finding and showing us an adult male MERLIN as he was leaving. The tentative species total for the count was 98. This is a fairly average number for Mt. Hamilton. Mike Mammoser ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 23 22:46:07 1999 Subject: [SBB] Mt Hamilton CBC All, On Wednesday 12/22/99 I birded the Isabel Valley east of Mt. Hamilton with Mike Mammoser, Grant Hoyt, and Al DeMartini. We started out at the ranch gate off Mt. Hamilton Road just after 6:30am and soon had a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL tooting from a location where it had been last year. A pair of GREAT HORNED OWLS were also hooting here. We next headed to the big reservoir by the ranch house, where an adult BALD EAGLE was perched in its usual oak tree, surveying the 835 AMERICAN COOTS and smattering of other waterfowl. The first of two adult FERRUGINOUS HAWKS for the day was perched near here as well. After this, Grant and Al headed west to work the entrance road while Mike and I looped through the valley, checking the various ponds and chaparral-covered hillsides. Highlights at the back of the big reservoir included 5 WOOD DUCKS, 6 PURPLE FINCH, and a day-roosting GREAT HORNED OWL being mobbed by several species of birds. A pair of HOODED MERGANSERS graced the same pond as last year, and the few wet areas we found harbored 3 COMMON SNIPE. The highlight of our day was a fly-over LONG-BILLED CURLEW (new for the count), heading south over a pond with 14 GREATER YELLOWLEGS at 12:22pm. Pishing brought out 2 SAGE SPARROWS, along with 34 FOX SPARROWS, and numerous CROWNED SPARROWS. LARK SPARROWS were also present in decent numbers, with 58 (including many singing birds) being tallied. It was a good year for LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS, with a total of 25 in our part of the count circle. The most numerous passerine was the DARK-EYED JUNCO, with 453 being found. Other raptor highlights included an immature GOLDEN EAGLE, 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS, 2 RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, an adult male columbarius MERLIN, and an immature BALD EAGLE back at the main reservoir just before 2:30pm. I was eager to study WESTERN BLUEBIRDS in order to compare them to the bird at Geng Road. Unfortunately, the 65 we found were fairly skittish and the time constraints of a Christmas count prevented a really good study. Nonetheless, some of the females that I did manage to get my scope on gave me some cause for concern. Although many birds were fairly typical, a few had very light turquoise blue areas in the tail and wings and also quite pale (whitish) throats. In addition, the primary extension was long enough to cover quite a bit of the tail in some postures. I did not see any birds with pale covert edgings like those on the Geng Road bird, but I also did not get good looks at many of the birds to assess this. In any event, I headed back to Geng Road today 12/23/99, this time leaving the camera in the car and using my scope to carefully study this bird for another 45 minutes. More on this in another post later... Mike Rogers ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 24 03:51:58 1999 Subject: [SBB] Geng Road bluebird All, As I noted in my previous email, after studying Western Bluebirds on the Mt. Hamilton CBC, I began to wonder about the identity of the Geng Road bluebird and was thus motivated to take another look at the bird and to reread the identification literature on female bluebirds. The caution expressed by Nick Lethaby regarding young bluebirds is perhaps warranted. Below I refer to Dunn (Feb 1981 Birding, The Identification of Female Bluebirds), Zimmer (1985, The Western Bird Watcher, pp.222-225), Pyle (1997, Identification Guide to North American Birds), and the Third Edition NGS guide (1999). Dunn states "first-winter plumage is virtually identical to the adult's of the respective sex. (Although first-winter birds average slightly duller than adults, at this stage they cannot be safely identified in the field.)". Thanks to Pyle (1997), however, the Geng Road bird can be aged as a hatching-year bird because of "molt limits". The greater coverts have only been partly replaced, with the outer greater coverts being a worn black in comparison to the soft blue-gray of the recently molted inner greater coverts. Bluebirds only molt once a year and are in freshest plumage in the fall. Dunn notes that field guides usually illustrate breeding birds in worn plumage. According to Dunn, "female Western can easily be separated from female Mountain by the 1) contrast between the dull-gray head and brownish back (upperparts uniformly grayish-brown in MOBL) 2) much darker and more extensive blue in the wings and in the tail (sky- or pale-turquoise-blue in MOBL) 3) lack of whitish wing-covert edgings (distinct whitish fringes in MOBL) 4) extensive grayish throat that contrasts with the pale-cinnamon breast (whitish in MOBL), and 5) pale-cinnamon sides and flanks that do not sharply contrast with the grayish under-tail coverts (sharp line of contrast between the grayish-brown flanks and the white undertail coverts in MOBL)". In addition, female Mountain Bluebirds 6) are a tad larger 7) have proportionately longer wings, which often project to or slightly beyond the end of the tail 8) have a proportionately longer tarsus (the above two traits give the perched bird a more elongated posture) 9) have a longer and proportionately thinner bill 10) have a call similar to WEBL but weaker and not so musical 11) forage by hovering kestrel-like over an open area before dropping to the ground to secure prey. Examining these criteria individually: 1) The Geng Road bird is quite uniformly gray above, with minimal head-back contrast. In good light the gray of the head can be seen to have a slight blue cast, whereas the back does seem to be a slightly browner gray. This is quite subtle, however, and not the "strong brownish overtones to the central back" described by Zimmer. 2) The color of blue in the wings and tail seems good for MOBL, but as Nick noted and I saw on Tuesday, some WEBLs can have virtually the same shade of blue. 3) The Geng Road bird has extensive pale whitish fringes to all the coverts (lesser, median, and greater) and to the tertials. Zimmer adds "An excellent mark of female Mountains is that most of the wing coverts and secondaries have grayish centers with distinct white edges. Females of the other species generally lack the light fringes, but when present they are buff rather than white and not nearly as noticeable." The Geng Road bird seems outside the range of variation of WEBL in this characteristic. 4) The throat of the Geng Road bird is quite white, not "grayish" (Dunn) or "dingy gray or blue-gray" (Zimmer) as in most Westerns. However, I saw some very pale-throated birds on Tuesday. 5) Although the underparts of a female MOBL are described as "washed tawny buff" (Dunn) or "somewhat buffier" (Zimmer) in fresh fall plumage, descriptions in the literature do not suggest as red a color as on the Geng Road bird, which matches Dunn's description for WEBL ("dull, pale cinnamon-buff"). I have heard from some experienced observers, however, that some MOBL can show this. The undertail coverts are fairly clean white (although at least the lateral feathers have black shafts and a gray wash to the central quarter of the feather) and this leads to some contrast between the flanks and undertail coverts, although I'm not sure I would call this contrast "sharp". 6) With no other bluebirds for comparison, absolute size is hard to gauge. The bird was slightly larger than an adjacent Black Phoebe and proportionately smaller-headed. 7) The Geng Road bird's wings seem long, but they only cover slightly more than half the tail and do not reach the tail tip. Zimmer also states "wings of Mountain extend to or beyond the tip of the tail" and his specimen photos seem to bear this out. However, the NGS guide illustration does not depict such long wings and my own photos of MOBL taken in Panoche Valley seem to agree with this. Perhaps this mark is effected by the specimen preparation? On the other hand, this primary extension is not much more than what can be found on some WEBLs. 8) Again, without other bluebirds to compare to it is hard to determine whether the tarsus is "proportionately longer" or not. The bird does seem to have the fairly long-legged upright stance of a MOBL, but this is subjective. 9) The bill does seem long and thin, but does not seem as long as that of the MOBL specimen in figure 5.37 of Zimmer, and it lacks the fairly strong hook at the tip of that bird's bill. Indeed the bill length:bill-eye distance of the Geng Road bird seems more like that of the WEBL specimen in Zimmer. 10) The bird is usually silent, but called once on 12/21/99. Indeed the call did seem "weaker" than a WEBLs, but this may have simply been because it was from a lone bird that was not calling consistently. 11) Zimmer describes the Mountain Bluebird's hunting style as "repeated short forays from a low perch (fence post or vine)", which matches the Geng Road bird very well. However, the Geng Road bird seems to fly to the ground rather directly, without the extensive hovering sometimes employed by MOBLs. In summary, many of these marks seem somewhat ambivalent as far as identifying this bird to species. Given the uniform gray head and back and the extensive pale fringing on the wing coverts I still feel that this bird is likely a Mountain Bluebird. However, some marks such as the pale blue color and whitish throat can be shown by Western Bluebirds and others, such as the very warm reddish breast, are not noted for Mountain Bluebird in the literature. Additionally, the primary extension and bill shape are not as extreme as those of some Mountain Bluebirds (age/sex related?). Guess it's time to study some more female WEBLs at this time of year! Mike Rogers ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 24 11:54:35 1999 Subject: [SBB] Green Heron At about 10:30 this a.m. my husband and I found an imm. Red-Tailed Hawk beside the path around Shoreline Lake with a fresh kill, a coot. The hawk tried several times to fly off with the coot, which was too heavy for the hawk to get airborne with. After considerable looking around, and clearly being uncomfortable about eating on the ground, he/she put a second foot on the coot and warily began eating. About a half-hour later, some other birders pointed out a Green Heron in the Mtn View Forebay on the Shoreline side. Happy Holidays! Nancy Teater -- Nancy R. Teater Hamilton Communications phone: +1 650 321 0252 [[email protected]] http://web.hamilton.com fax: +1 650 327 4660 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Dec 25 02:44:11 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] Geng Road bluebird Great post by Mike. Another possible id mark could be that female Mountains seem to regularly show a dark fringe to the alula (at least I think it''s the alula - near the bend of the wing). I'm not sure Westerns show this, but the Geng road bird certainly does. For what it's worth I remember seeing some female bluebirds with in Mountain Bluebird flocks in the Panoche Valley that showed quite reddish breasts. I agree we all need to look at bluebirds more. We are probably missing quite a few female MOBL based on this. Let''s hope that David Sibley's upcoming guide finally gives us a useful N. American field guide. At 03:51 AM 12/24/99 -0800, Mike Rogers wrote:. >All, > >As I noted in my previous email, after studying Western Bluebirds on the Mt. >Hamilton CBC, I began to wonder about the identity of the Geng Road bluebird >and was thus motivated to take another look at the bird and to reread the >identification literature on female bluebirds. The caution expressed by >Nick Lethaby regarding young bluebirds is perhaps warranted. > >Below I refer to Dunn (Feb 1981 Birding, The Identification of Female >Bluebirds), Zimmer (1985, The Western Bird Watcher, pp.222-225), Pyle (1997, >Identification Guide to North American Birds), and the Third Edition NGS >guide (1999). > >Dunn states "first-winter plumage is virtually identical to the adult's of >the respective sex. (Although first-winter birds average slightly duller >than adults, at this stage they cannot be safely identified in the field.)". >Thanks to Pyle (1997), however, the Geng Road bird can be aged as a >hatching-year bird because of "molt limits". The greater coverts have only >been partly replaced, with the outer greater coverts being a worn black in >comparison to the soft blue-gray of the recently molted inner greater >coverts. > >Bluebirds only molt once a year and are in freshest plumage in the fall. >Dunn notes that field guides usually illustrate breeding birds in worn >plumage. > >According to Dunn, "female Western can easily be separated from female >Mountain by the >1) contrast between the dull-gray head and brownish back (upperparts >uniformly grayish-brown in MOBL) >2) much darker and more extensive blue in the wings and in the tail (sky- or >pale-turquoise-blue in MOBL) >3) lack of whitish wing-covert edgings (distinct whitish fringes in MOBL) >4) extensive grayish throat that contrasts with the pale-cinnamon breast >(whitish in MOBL), and >5) pale-cinnamon sides and flanks that do not sharply contrast with the >grayish under-tail coverts (sharp line of contrast between the grayish-brown >flanks and the white undertail coverts in MOBL)". >In addition, female Mountain Bluebirds >6) are a tad larger >7) have proportionately longer wings, which often project to or slightly >beyond the end of the tail >8) have a proportionately longer tarsus >(the above two traits give the perched bird a more elongated posture) >9) have a longer and proportionately thinner bill >10) have a call similar to WEBL but weaker and not so musical >11) forage by hovering kestrel-like over an open area before dropping to the >ground to secure prey. > >Examining these criteria individually: > >1) The Geng Road bird is quite uniformly gray above, with minimal head-back >contrast. In good light the gray of the head can be seen to have a slight >blue cast, whereas the back does seem to be a slightly browner gray. This >is quite subtle, however, and not the "strong brownish overtones to the >central back" described by Zimmer. > >2) The color of blue in the wings and tail seems good for MOBL, but as Nick >noted and I saw on Tuesday, some WEBLs can have virtually the same shade of >blue. > >3) The Geng Road bird has extensive pale whitish fringes to all the coverts >(lesser, median, and greater) and to the tertials. Zimmer adds "An >excellent mark of female Mountains is that most of the wing coverts and >secondaries have grayish centers with distinct white edges. Females of the >other species generally lack the light fringes, but when present they are >buff rather than white and not nearly as noticeable." The Geng Road bird >seems outside the range of variation of WEBL in this characteristic. > >4) The throat of the Geng Road bird is quite white, not "grayish" (Dunn) or >"dingy gray or blue-gray" (Zimmer) as in most Westerns. However, I saw some >very pale-throated birds on Tuesday. > >5) Although the underparts of a female MOBL are described as "washed tawny >buff" (Dunn) or "somewhat buffier" (Zimmer) in fresh fall plumage, >descriptions in the literature do not suggest as red a color as on the Geng >Road bird, which matches Dunn's description for WEBL ("dull, pale >cinnamon-buff"). I have heard from some experienced observers, however, >that some MOBL can show this. The undertail coverts are fairly clean white >(although at least the lateral feathers have black shafts and a gray wash to >the central quarter of the feather) and this leads to some contrast between >the flanks and undertail coverts, although I'm not sure I would call this >contrast "sharp". > >6) With no other bluebirds for comparison, absolute size is hard to gauge. >The bird was slightly larger than an adjacent Black Phoebe and >proportionately smaller-headed. > >7) The Geng Road bird's wings seem long, but they only cover slightly more >than half the tail and do not reach the tail tip. Zimmer also states "wings >of Mountain extend to or beyond the tip of the tail" and his specimen photos >seem to bear this out. However, the NGS guide illustration does not depict >such long wings and my own photos of MOBL taken in Panoche Valley seem to >agree with this. Perhaps this mark is effected by the specimen preparation? >On the other hand, this primary extension is not much more than what can be >found on some WEBLs. > >8) Again, without other bluebirds to compare to it is hard to determine >whether the tarsus is "proportionately longer" or not. The bird does seem >to have the fairly long-legged upright stance of a MOBL, but this is >subjective. > >9) The bill does seem long and thin, but does not seem as long as that of >the MOBL specimen in figure 5.37 of Zimmer, and it lacks the fairly strong >hook at the tip of that bird's bill. Indeed the bill length:bill-eye >distance of the Geng Road bird seems more like that of the WEBL specimen in >Zimmer. > >10) The bird is usually silent, but called once on 12/21/99. Indeed the >call did seem "weaker" than a WEBLs, but this may have simply been because >it was from a lone bird that was not calling consistently. > >11) Zimmer describes the Mountain Bluebird's hunting style as "repeated >short forays from a low perch (fence post or vine)", which matches the Geng >Road bird very well. However, the Geng Road bird seems to fly to the ground >rather directly, without the extensive hovering sometimes employed by MOBLs. > >In summary, many of these marks seem somewhat ambivalent as far as >identifying this bird to species. Given the uniform gray head and back and >the extensive pale fringing on the wing coverts I still feel that this bird >is likely a Mountain Bluebird. However, some marks such as the pale blue >color and whitish throat can be shown by Western Bluebirds and others, such >as the very warm reddish breast, are not noted for Mountain Bluebird in the >literature. Additionally, the primary extension and bill shape are not as >extreme as those of some Mountain Bluebirds (age/sex related?). Guess it's >time to study some more female WEBLs at this time of year! > >Mike Rogers > > >========================================================================== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Dec 25 16:04:24 1999 Subject: [SBB] Shoreline I paid a brief visit to Mountainview Shoreline Lake. Now that the Palo Alto count period is safely over, the Barrow's Goldeneyes have come out of hiding -- two adult males were present (mid-afternoon). Also there were three Red-Throated Loons. I'm still inclined to call themm immatures. Cheers, Al ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Dec 25 20:47:25 1999 Subject: [SBB] Lake Cunningham All, My first visit to this spot resulted in excellent close views of the proposed LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL at the second small "island" directly across from Raging Waters. The bird was observed mostly on the water, where it showed a high-held tail in profile, but at one time was perched on the pole from which the duck box hangs, and also for a period of approximately 20 minutes on the east side of the island as it gutted and devoured the soft tissues of a fish, which it defended from the intrusions of a Herring Gull and a Coot before dragging it into shallow water and flying off. (This I found curious, to drag the fish into water when it was finished, rather than leaving it onshore where it was consumed.) At no time was I able to obtain good views of this bird in flight, as it lit off always to the west into a full sun. I made a long study of the bill of this bird, which was mostly pale yellow except for bright yellow on the tip of the upper mandible to about one-third its length, and an orange spot on the lower mandible. Three dark chevrons occupied the remaining length of the lower mandible, which was pale yellow. The upper mandible was mostly smudged with dark on the remaining two-thirds of its length. The head and nape were heavily streaked with brown; the neck less so. The breast and underparts were pure white, as was the tail. The mantle was dark gray, showing no brown at all; the primaries black and showing white spots, with white at the tips. There was a small white crescent on the scapulars; the tertial white crescent contrasted cleanly with the dark gray. The legs were pale yellow when wet, not as bright as the bright yellow on the tip of the bill. The bird was solitary and did not keep the company of the many Ring-billed Gulls in the vicinity. Other birds of note: ROSS'S and SNOW GEESE on the shore nearest to Raging Waters; GREEN HERON, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE; HERRING GULL; GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL; two AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN; EARED, PIED-BILLED and WESTERN GREBES; SHARP-SHINNED HAWK. Good birding, Michael Wienholt ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Dec 25 21:22:17 1999 Subject: [SBB] Coyote Hills Regional Park All, I hope everyone had a nice Holiday! Today I took a nice walk with my non-birding parents to Coyote Hills Regional Park where despite my efforts to "just enjoy the scenery" I ended up counting a few birds. On the main pond opposite the interpretive center, there were five REDHEADS mixed in with the multitudes of Canvasbacks. Over this same pond there were 16 TREE SWALLOWS foraging in the air. We also had great looks at a SHORT-EARED OWL as it sparred with a Northern Harrier on the bay-side of the grassy hills. My mother was very proud of herself for being the first to notice this "wonderful bird". I might make a birder out of her yet... I hope you all have a happy and safe New Years Eve! Matthew Dodder www.shank.com/birdguy ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Dec 26 16:59:27 1999 Subject: [SBB] Glaucous Gulls at Almaden Lake Park Howdy South-bay-birders, Today there were 2 second-winter GLAUCOUS GULLS at Alamden Lake Park. They were seen between 2 and 3pm, a good time to visit the lake to see gulls. Gull numbers peak at Almaden Lake between 1 and 3pm--these birds are clearly commuters, stopping there en route between other points. The first GLAUCOUS GULL was on a vegetated island in the middle of the lake. On my way back to get my scope I ran into Don Ganton, who was carrying his scope. While still studying this first bird I found a second one on the gravel bar at the stream inflow. Other birds there included a CLARK'S GREBE, 1 COMMON MOORHEN, COMMON SNIPE, and CALIFORNIA, RING-BILLED, GLAUCOUS-WINGED, HERRING, and THAYER'S GULLS. John Mariani [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Dec 26 18:25:12 1999 Subject: [SBB] CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR All, The female CHESTNUT-COLLARDED LONGSPUR continues at the end of Wavecrest Avenue just south of Halfmoon Bay. To find the bird, take the trail out from the baseball diamond to the model airplain run. Walk to the far end of the runway, and follow the trail toward the ocean. When you reach the trail that leads up and down the coast, turn left and walk about 50 yards. After flushing the bird the first time, I was able to find it again a short distance from where it had been foraging. Without knowing it, got quite close to the bird, perhaps 10-12 feet before it flushed again. Twice I got extended looks at the bird before it took flight and revealed its white tail feather pattern. Sometimes it slithered through the grass, and reminded me more of a mouse than a bird! The entire time, it ventured only short distances from where I first found it. Also, at Phipp's Ranch there was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in the "Natural Garden" area, feeding among a large group of White-crowns. Matthew Dodder www.shank.com/birdguy ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Dec 26 19:03:03 1999 Subject: [SBB] Mime-Version: 1.0 This morning I checked the Stanford Dish area, paying careful attention to the many bluebirds (alas all Western) and woodpeckers (alas, no Lewis's). Best bird was an immature Peregrine Falcon. Although I only saw it in flight moving very fast it clearly lacked the black axillaries of a Prairie. - Dave David B. Lewis Division of Immunology/Transplantation Biology, Room H-307 Stanford University School of Medicine 300 Pasteur Drive Stanford, CA 94305-5208 Tel: (650) 498-4189 FAX: (650) 498-6077 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 27 11:18:54 1999 Subject: [SBB] banded Snowy Plovers All, Frances Bidstrup is interested in any banded Snowy Plovers we may find. Please email info to [[email protected]] so she can track these birds. The bird I saw was evidently banded at the Moss Landing Salt Ponds in August. Also, I forgot to add that on 12/23/99 when I went to study the Geng Road Mountain Bluebird a second time, the adult male MERLIN flew into the power tower again (scoping the bird suggested that it was perhaps "columbarius" after all) and a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was working the trees along the creek. I suspect that Al DeMartini's Red-breasted Sapsucker seen count day 12/20/99 was the same bird from here...so it may be hanging around. Mike Rogers ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 27 11:59:15 1999 Subject: [SBB] report from Ann Verdi All, Ann Verdi cannot get on SBB right now, but she reports: I made a brief stop at Calero, Almaden & Guadalupe Reservoirs this morning. An adult Bald Eagle was at Calero in its "traditional" spot - in a tree at the far western end of the reservoir. It was very diffiult to see because of the haze and because it was in the shade. Almaden Res had 50 Wood Ducks, and Guadalupe had an Osprey. The reservoirs are shrinking significantly so I hope there's still some watery habitat at the time of the Calero-MH CBC on Jan 2. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 27 16:20:13 1999 Subject: [SBB] Glaucous Gull, Red Crossbill Howdy South-bay-birders, I again saw a second winter GLAUCOUS GULL at Almaden Lake Park today (time: 2:30pm). It was on the gravel bar at the inflow to the lake. Other birds there included MEW (1 scruffy looking bird with dark discoloration on its face), RING-BILLED, CALIFORNIA, GLAUCOUS-WINGED, HERRING, and THAYER'S GULLS. I just heard from Bonnie Bedzin. While scouting Loma Prieta for the Calero-Morgan Hill Count last Monday (20 Dec.) she had 2 RED CROSSBILLS. I Assume that they were within the count circle, which is entirely within Santa Clara County, so I think we have a new species for the county cumulative year list. She also reports that she had a COOPER'S HAWK and a partially albinistic FOX SPARROW up there-- John Mariani [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Dec 27 18:09:21 1999 Subject: [SBB] Lake Cunningham Today from 2 to 3 PM I (finally) saw the Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lake Cunningham, first by itself in the water near the western island, then atop the pole on the island which has a duck box on it. Michael Wienholt's description of the bird posted Dec 25 is excellent . Here is Wienholt's bill description: The bill is really unusual; I presume what we are seeing is the black bill of an immature changing to the yellow of the fully adult. Joe Morlan's December 4 description (see his website) sounds like the black may have been more extensive than it is now. The 4 Snow Geese and 10 Ross's Geese are still there, along with 5 White Pelicans. Don Lewis Lafayette, CA [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 28 15:01:45 1999 Subject: [SBB] White-throated Sparrow I finally have a Black morph WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in my backyard in addition to the Tan morph one. They do not appear to come together. Now that I know that either bird could be male or female, wish I knew what sex they each were. Both seem smaller than the Black morph that was a daily visitor last year. The LINCOLN sparrow also continues to appear most days. No bluebirds, though!!! Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos off Quito "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 28 16:59:31 1999 Subject: [SBB] TUFTED DUCKS All, Today, on a long bike ride beginning at the Alviso Marina, I found a male and two female TUFTED DUCKS on the southwest corner of salt pond A10. The male showed a prominent tuft but was not a full adult. The females were very dark brown with only the slightest hint of a tuft. They had little or no white on their faces and very bright yellow eyes. All three stayed together but moved as a group with a large flock of canvasbacks and two REDHEADS. Elsewhere in Alviso, there was a male EURASIAN WIGEON on the northwest corner of saltpond A14. The lighting from that corner prevented me seeing well, but it looked as if there might be another EURASIAN in the large group of Americans. Matthew Dodder http://www.shank.com/birdguy/ ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 28 20:25:56 1999 Subject: [SBB] info request This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_001B_01BF5171.BEE50E60 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hello All: I have been sorting through old slides and ran accross photos of a = Little Blue Heron in August 1982. The bird was somewhere near Palo Alto = Baylands. Do any of you have a more precise location for that bird? Doug Shaw Santa Rosa, CA [[email protected]] ------=_NextPart_000_001B_01BF5171.BEE50E60 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hello All:
  I have been sorting through old = slides and=20 ran accross photos of a Little Blue Heron in August 1982. The bird was = somewhere=20 near Palo Alto Baylands. Do any of you have a more precise location for = that=20 bird?
 
Doug Shaw  Santa Rosa,  = CA  [[email protected]] ------=_NextPart_000_001B_01BF5171.BEE50E60-- ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Dec 28 20:33:37 1999 Subject: [SBB] Arastradero birds 12/27 All, Continuing with bird habitat projects on the Preserve yesterday (Monday 12/27), I was surprised to see a flock of 40-50 Savannah Sparrows working the seedheads of the tall, nonnative Harding Grass just upslope of the parking lot. I had not seen this species at the Preserve before. A couple of Western Bluebirds winged over, and a single Say's Phoebe was operating from the fenceposts around the parking lot for most of the day. An immature Cooper's Hawk went after the sparrows at one point. --Garth Harwood ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 29 08:59:50 1999 Subject: RE: [SBB] TUFTED DUCKS Matthew, Good find! For the sake of records-keeping, it would be helpful to know whether your female TUDU could possibly have been the same ones I saw in adjacent pond A9. I don't think there's any way to prove that the short-tufted, dark- faced female I saw was not one of your birds, but the other female I saw had a moderate amount of white on the face (probably at the low-medium end for a Lesser Scaup, but still noticeable). Did either of your birds show this much white, or can we assume that there are at least three different females out there? Also, I was curious about your statement that the male "was not a full adult". What did you see on the bird to indicate that it was not an adult? We have struggled with trying to distinguish immatures from adults still retaining some dingy eclipse feathering on the flanks. This time of year, I'd expect males with dingy flanks to be immatures, as I suspect that adults would be out of eclipse plumage by now, but I can't be sure of this. Knowing what characters you saw suggesting immaturity would also help to address the "same bird" issue if someone finds another male that does not match your description. Thanks, Steve Rottenborn ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 29 09:13:08 1999 Subject: [SBB] Bayshore Birds Folks: This morning, 12/29/1999, I saw a male EURASIAN WIGEON in Adobe Creek before sunrise. I had a GOLDEN EAGLE on one of the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh's transmission towers and two male _columbarius_ MERLINS on separate towers along the Stevens Creek between the tidal marsh and Hwy 101. There are 11 BLACK SKIMMERS once again at Charleston Slough. Bill ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 29 10:00:44 1999 Subject: [SBB] White-throated Sparrow A White-throated Sparrow appeared in my backyard on Christopher Avenue in Campbell this morning. It was in the tan-striped phase. This is the first time I have seen one in the yard. Regards, Pat Curtis ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 29 10:48:03 1999 Subject: [SBB] TUDU clarification All, In answer to Steve's questions, the two females had differing amounts of white at the base of their bills. One had a small amount of white, but still far less than either of our female scaups. The other appeared to have none. I tried to indicate this when I said, "little or no white" in my original post. So it seems likely that one of the two females I saw yesterday is the one originally seen on A9, but of course, I can't say for sure since I never saw that one. As to whether the male is a subadult male or an eclipse male I think I should say after looking at my various books, it was probably an eclipse male. Tufted Duck is a relatively unfamiliar species to me, and I should have consulted Steve Madge and Hillary Burn's book before making the post. National Geographic doesn't show any eclipse plumages for TUDU. Sorry if that was misleading. Cheers, Matthew Dodder http://www.shank.com/birdguy/ ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 29 16:22:47 1999 Subject: [SBB] Alum Rock Park All, Today 12/29/99 at noon, Steve Rottenborn and I birded Alum Rock Park, hoping to refind a Red-naped Sapsucker reported there on the San Jose Christmas Count. We had to be content with a single RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER and a CANYON WREN (the wren was in the creek just downstream of the bridge to the YSI). A big flock of BUSHTITS, CHICKADEES, and JUNCOS harbored a few BROWN CREEPERS, a few HUTTON'S VIREOS, and at least 5 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS. A pair of adult GOLDEN EAGLES soared over the ridge up towards Sierra Road and two RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS were on the hillside above the last parking lot. Mike Rogers ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 29 17:28:18 1999 Subject: [SBB] Almaden Valley birds Today I spent a couple of hours walking Alamitos Creek between Graystone Lane and McKean. Didn't find anything really rare. Most unusual was a pair of STELLER'S JAYS. They aren't usually out on the valley floor here, and they were in a shady patch of live oaks that mimics their usual foothill haunts. Across from Leland High School I saw a NORTHERN FLICKER with yellow primary shafts. It was seen briefly in flight, and although it was still calling when I left it was out of visual range, so whether it was a hybrid or not I can't say. Other goodies along the creek included COMMON MERGANSER, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, and TOWNSEND'S WARBLER. At the SCVWD Pond there were lots of ducks, including 1 COMMON GOLDENEYE, 2 CANVASBACKS, 5 COMMON MERGANSERS, and a large flock of LESSER SCAUP. A male Columbarius type MERLIN flew in and perched atop a sycamore by the SCVWD building at about 4:30pm. John Mariani [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Dec 29 19:31:49 1999 Subject: [SBB] Los Gatos Creek Park --=====_94652470941=_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" On my lunch hour today (12/29) I birded Los Gatos Creek Park. Highlights were two Common Goldeneye, a Hooded Merganser four common snipe and an Osprey. The Osprey was perched atop one of the trees on the big island in the pond by the Dell Ave. entrance. It was still visible from Dell around 5pm when I left work. Don Ganton [[email protected]] --=====_94652470941=_ Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii"
On my lunch hour today (12/29) I birded Los Gatos Creek Park. Highlights were two Common Goldeneye, a Hooded Merganser four common snipe and an Osprey. The Osprey was perched atop one of the trees on the big island in the pond by the Dell Ave. entrance. It was still visible from Dell around 5pm when I left work.
 
Don Ganton
 
--=====_94652470941=_-- ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 30 09:11:37 1999 Subject: Re: [SBB] Los Gatos Creek Park Small article on page 3B of the Thursday "Mercury-News"...it's under the "Talk of the Bay" headline and is about our CBC results from Crissy Field in the SF Presidio. If you're up at our end of the Bay, take a look...it's an intetresting process as this newly restored piece of habitat being discovered and used by birds that were driven out when the marsh was filled decades ago...already: Bl Heron, Sn Egret, Gr Scaup, Co Goldeneye (been watching for our first Barrow's), large numbers of Sanderlings and Willet, last fall we had Baird's, Western & Least Sandpipers, a Kingfisher...and there have been at least six species of gull indentified (still no Bonaparte's) ... as the newly planted native marsh plants begin to cover the raw mud/sand banks we should see even more diversity...the march contains a permanent island for roosting and possible nesting The "new" lagoon was constructed over the summer and filled with fresh water...the outlet to the Bay was made on November 9, allowing the current brackish water to develop and begin attracting the diving ducks, etc. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 30 15:14:43 1999 Subject: [SBB] Paicines Res and Panoche Valley I visited Paicines Reservoir and Panoche Valley on Tuesday, 28 December. At the reservoir an adult BALD EAGLE was roosting in an oak on the west side. A REDHEAD was in among the CANVASBACKS and at least 70 COMMON MERGANSERS. A stock pond off Panoche Road west of the valley had a GREATER YELLOWLEGS and a single COMMON SNIPE. In and around the Panoche Valley, I saw one FERRUGINOUS HAWK and two PRAIRIE FALCONS perched on telephone poles. Six MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS appeared as I entered the valley floor on Panoche Road from the west. I saw no soaring raptors, although a kettle of 50 COMMON RAVENS were riding the thermals. A GREATER ROADRUNNER crossed New Idria Road near a horse corral a couple miles south of Panoche Road. In the vicinity of Shotgun Pass, I saw 24 CHUKAR. I also had a ROUGH-LEGGED HAWK between Mercey Hot Springs and the Little Panoche Reservoir. Jan Hintermeister Santa Clara, CA [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Dec 30 16:03:59 1999 Subject: [SBB] Calero Reservoir Bald Eagle The adult Bald Eagle was visible from the Calero Reservoir boat ramp at about 12:30 this afternoon, perched in the same tree I saw one in last winter. This is on the northwestern end of the reservoir. Nice that it is back in time for the CBC on Sunday! Hugh McDevitt ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 31 12:09:54 1999 Subject: [SBB] Western Bluebirds I had a pair of Western Bluebirds in Guadalupe Oak Grove Park about 11:00 a.m. I hope they hang around until Monday morning for the CBC. The Kestrel pair can usually be found. How does one count a multitude of gulls overhead??? I had one beautiful Redtailed Hawk and another large unidentified hawk which appeared to have a dark underside. It was NOT a turkey vulture. Also, there was a very nervous acting buck deer running back and forth in the interior of the park. Barbara Almaden Area ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 31 17:27:56 1999 Subject: [SBB] "Rafts" All, At Byxby Park in Palo Alto there were still two SHORT-EARED OWLS yesterday evening. One bird foraged over the marsh near the dam and the other posed on a ventilation pipe in the dump. It would have made a great photo! Today I searched unsuccessfully for Horned Larks in various Shoreline Park locations, but instead got great looks at an adult PEREGRINE FALCON. It surveyed the shorebird flocks from a power line near Crittendon Marsh this afternoon. Elsewhere, in the small water way between the Mountain View Forebay and Adobe Creek there was a female HOODED MERGANSER. The most intersting thing I saw today was a Northern Shoveler behavior I had previously only read about. About half way out on the slough trail I came across four large "rafts" of Shovelers, about 35 birds each, mostly males. These tight, nearly perfectly circular clusters rotated slowly while the birds fed in a cooperative fashion (three of the groups rotated clockwise, if you're curious). The birds in these groups were literally touching eachother so that no water was visible between them as they revolved around the center of each raft. The four rafts were equally spaced about 20 feet apart. Perhaps this is a common behavior but I had never seen it myself, and this synchronized swimming/feeding struck me as quite beautiful... Matthew Dodder http://www.shank.com/birdguy/ ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Dec 31 19:17:01 1999 Subject: [SBB] CAKI, SNGO All, Yesterday 12/30/99 at 4:45pm, I saw two CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS in the northernmost of the three eucalyptus trees along San Felipe Road, just south of Highway 152. Also hundreds of AMERICAN ROBINS were heading to a roost somewhere west of here. A little further east along highway 152, I had 3 adult SNOW GEESE with 29 CANADA GEESE in the mitigation ponds east of Casa de Fruta, about a mile west of Bell Station Restaurant. There were also 2 domestic white geese here, so you might have to pull over to make sure you have the right birds. Plenty of other waterbirds here too, including BELTED KINGFISHER, COMMON SNIPE, GREAT EGRET etc. Happy New Year! Mike Rogers ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]]