From [[email protected]] Tue Feb 01 11:46:08 2000 Subject: [SBB] Testing, please delete this message -------- Sorry for the bother, just testing the system in the absence of real postings. Les -- Les Chibana List Bureaucrat South-Bay-Birds List [[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 Feb 01 20:41:55 2000 Subject: [SBB] Lesser Black-backed Gull, Ross's Goose -------- All: Work took me to lower Coyote Creek today, where I saw the adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL in one of the WPCP ponds along the levee road north of the CCFS banding trailer. About 100 THAYER'S and 400 HERRING GULLS were in these ponds, although there weren't nearly as many first- year birds as there were last year when the pale Kumlien's-type birds were present, and none of today's first-years were nearly as pale as some of those birds last February. Accompanying 130 large CANADA GEESE on the WPCP ponds visible from the CCFS levee were one medium-small CAGO with coloration and proportions similar to the larger ones, and two that were even smaller, darker, proportionately shorter-necked, and block-headed (these latter two possibly Aleutians). An imm. ROSS'S GOOSE was also present. Twenty-five RED-TAILED HAWKS were in the area, mostly concentrated north of the banding trailer. Five TREE SWALLOWS were present, and an adult male COMMON GOLDENEYE was in the waterbird pond. Steve Rottenborn -------- Attachment 2.0 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Tue Feb 01 21:50:13 2000 Subject: [SBB] Fwd: Palo Alto birds -------- >From: "Dirk Thiele" <[[email protected]]> >To: [[email protected]] >Date: Mon, 31 Jan 2000 20:16:26 PST > >Hi All, > >The Mute Swan is back at the Palo Alto Duck Pond. Quite an unusual arrival >time(Jan.31, 2000). >Here are some dates I recorded: >Arrival: Departure: > >June 2, 95 Sept. 1, 95 >June 3, 96 Sept. 4, 96 >June 13, 97 ? >May 26, 98 (left again and came back June 11) > Departure: > Sept. 1, 98 >absent 99 absent 99 >Jan. 31, 2000 > >There is a female Mallard at the Duck Pond that has a white neck ring and >white outer primary feathers. > >Birds seen at Byxbee Park: Western Meadoe Larks, Savannah Sparrows, one >Loggerhead Shrike, 2 Pied-billed Grebes. > >Dirk Thiele, Cupertino > > > > > > >______________________________________________________ >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]] ______________________________________________________ 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 Feb 02 07:51:11 2000 Subject: [SBB] Some birds -------- All, A couple of late notables: 1/28/00 - About 9:45 AM a Merlin in the orchard south of Shady Oaks Park. 1/30/00 - About 8:20 AM, an Osprey carrying a nice sized fish flying south (east of the Hwy 101/Blossom Hill overpass and east of Coyote Creek). Take care, Bob Reiling, 8:00 AM, 2/2/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 02 10:49:23 2000 Subject: [SBB] A Good Day! -------- Totally awesome. I gave myself an extra 15 minutes this morning to seriously bird "my farm" which I pass through on my 3 mile walk. One of the first birds I saw was a CALIFORNIA THRASHER which was a year bird for me. Saw another thrasher at the other end of the park. Came home to type this, and there's a thrasher sitting in my backyard!!! 3 in one day...must be going to be a very good day :-) Also at "my farm" (La Rinconada park) in my 15 minutes of viewing (which expanded to 20 minutes :-() Townsend's Warbler White-breasted Nuthatch Nuttall's & Acorn Woodpeckers Scrub & Stellar Jay (first view of Stellar this year at my farm) sitting in trees: Red-shouldered & Red-tailed Hawks, Northern Flicker Hermit Thrush Ruby-Crowned Kinglets Yellow-rumps a pair of Mallards (unusual at "my farm") etc...23 total 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 Feb 02 13:10:36 2000 Subject: [SBB] Ospreys -------- Hi Birders- Either I am birding more this year (a fact) or there is an increase in the winter osprey population. In January I saw birds at the Ogier Ponds, the Campbell Perculation Ponds, and Calero Reservoir, seemingly far enough apart that these could be individual birds. There have been reports from many other places. Is this unusual? Jack Cole ______________________________________________________ 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 Feb 02 13:18:43 2000 Subject: [SBB] Geese -------- This morning, Wednesday, the Canada Goose flock grazing at the corner of Marsh and Felter Roads outside of Milpitas contained 1 ROSS"S GOOSE and 1 GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE. Kathy Parker -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 02 14:46:58 2000 Subject: [SBB] Peregrine's bad table manners -------- Today (2/2) I observed a Peregrine Falcon dining on a pigeon (Rock Dove) on the top of the City of Palo Alto government building. As the hapless pigeon was being consumed, numerous feathers, entrails, feet and wing bones rained down on not-so-amused passers-by. Screech. -- Paul L. Noble "Screechowl" [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) / \ m m -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 02 15:15:23 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Peregrine's bad table manners -------- Darn! It sounds like my University Ave. winter Peregrine has moved to the Civic Center. I think he drove off all my local pigeons last year. -- 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]] Wed Feb 02 17:44:03 2000 Subject: [SBB] reported Sandhill Crane -------- All, Yesterday Joe Morlan forwarded to me an email regarding an apparent Sandhill Crane found along Santa Teresa Blvd north of Gilroy. The bird is noted as having a "bustle" and red on the crown, which would suggest that it is not just a Great Blue Heron. It has been seen almost daily for "a week" always in the morning betwen 9:15 and 9:45am and usually in foggy conditions. It has been found on the east side of Santa Teresa between Day Rd and Fitzgerald (the Marsten exit off Highway 101) and apparently favors the area up near the new houses being built just south of Fitzgerald. It has not been seen in the afternoon or evenings. Today 2/2/2000 at mid-day I headed down there, hoping to refind the bird. No luck! The fog had already burned off and driving around that area did not turn up a crane. I did have an OSPREY perched at Parkway Lakes on the drive down though. If anybody has a chance to be out in this area in the early am it could be worth a check. The stubble field habitat certainly looks decent. Maybe this is the same construction-site loving bird that spent 19 Oct to 25 Oct in Pacifica (and possibly also the same bird as the ones seen flying over the peninsula on 17 Oct and 28 Oct?). This afternoon at Stanford I had at least 7 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS noisily inspecting the eaves of the Old Chemistry building. Mike -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 02 23:32:23 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Ospreys -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, In response to Jack Cole, we noted what seemed an unusually high number of Osprey on the Calero-Morgan Hill Count, with a minimum of 3 birds in the Coyote Valley, a couple of sightings in the Hamilton Range just east of the Coyote Valley, and another seen at Chesbro Reservoir. My conservative guess is that about 5 birds were in the count area that day, which does seem like a whole lot of Osprey. John Mariani [[email protected]] ----- Original Message ----- From: Jack Cole <[[email protected]]> To: <[[email protected]]> Sent: Wednesday, February 02, 2000 1:10 PM Subject: [SBB] Ospreys > Hi Birders- > > Either I am birding more this year (a fact) or there is an increase in the > winter osprey population. In January I saw birds at the Ogier Ponds, the > Campbell Perculation Ponds, and Calero Reservoir, seemingly far enough apart > that these could be individual birds. There have been reports from many > other places. Is this unusual? > > Jack Cole > ______________________________________________________ > 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]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 03 09:23:56 2000 Subject: [SBB] Gilroy -------- I checked the area this morning from which the Sandhill Crane had been reported, but did not see any such bird. I did find a RED-TAILED HAWK building a nest about a half mile north of Fitzgerald along Santa Teresa. 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 Feb 03 09:39:33 2000 Subject: [SBB] Gilroy -------- South-bay-birders, I also checked the area of the Sandhill Crane report and came up empty. My consolation prize was a FERRUGINOUS HAWK riding the air currents about 3/4 miles west of Santa Teresa on Day Road. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 03 10:59:13 2000 Subject: [SBB] SACR -------- Steve Rottenborn just reported that the SANDHILL CRANE was north of Gilroy today. It was north of the stubble field that is south of Fitzgerald Rd on the east side of Santa Teresa. He said that it was actually in the housing subdivision there and could be easily overlooked. 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 Feb 03 11:50:29 2000 Subject: [SBB] SACR -------- I did find the SANDHILL CRANE this morning in Gilroy at Santa Theresa and Fitzgerald. At 8:15 it was in the field on the east side of Santa Theresa just past the new development. It was about 50 feet in from the road. It is not an adult. The body plumage is mostly the gray adult color, with a bit of brown still in the wings. The face area around the eyes and overthe forehead is dull red, but there is no red on the crown. At 9:15 I passed that way again and the bird was in the housing development poking around a small stream that has been built in there. Kathy Parker -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 03 12:31:31 2000 Subject: [SBB] Sandhill Crane -------- All, About 10:20 AM I received a call from Steve Rottenborn that the SACR was in a wet area adjacent to a stubbled field and to new homes on Santa Teresa Blvd south of Fitzgerald Rd in northwest Gilroy. Frank Vanslager and I found the bird (about 11:15 AM) in the southwest corner of a fenced-in area (a wet area and new homes) on the east side of the Santa Teresa Blvd about 75 yds from Fizgerald Rd (adjacent to the first stubbled field). When we left the crane was standing about 100 ft from the backdoor of someone's new home. From Hwy 101 take the Masten Ave exit which becomes Fitzgerald Rd after you cross Monterey Hwy. The bird is an overall gray with some brown feathers sprinkled on the wings and has a red forehead. I will leave it for Steve to age it. Good luck, Bob Reiling, 12:40 PM, 2/3/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 03 13:03:14 2000 Subject: [SBB] SACR found -------- At lunch time today I went down to Gilroy and found the SANDHILL CRANE, right where Steve had said it was. Take 101 towards Gilroy and exit at Masten Rd, going west. As you pass Monterey Highway this road becomes Fitzgerald. At Santa Teresa Blvd, turn left and you will see a housing subdivision immediately on your left. When you get to the end of this subdivision (couple hundred yards), pull to the side of the road and look into the backyards of the houses that border the field. The bird was in a wet gully between two houses, and adjacent to a largish wet area in one of the yards. This looks to be an adult bird, with the bare red forehead and lores, and grayish feathering. It has some pale tan feathering in the wing coverts. It also seems a little smaller than many birds I have seen in the past, and I wonder about its being one of the Lesser subspecies. 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 Feb 03 16:48:15 2000 Subject: [SBB] birds and visiting CCFS. -------- Birders: While surveying at CCFS (Coyote Creek Field Station, formerly CCRS) I had a few goodies. First of all, the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was at the waterbird pond with a huge number of assorted gulls. Also, the goose flock visible from the levee road just north (downstream) from the CCFS trailers had the immature ROSS'S GOOSE and three tiny CANADA GEESE. I am not sure if they are the same ones that Steve Rottenborn saw the other day, but I came up with 2 Cackling and 1 Aleutian. The two smallest ones are very dark breasted, with the breast slightly browner than the body, they lack a neck ring. I figured these were Cackling. The other one is marginally larger than the two Cacklers. It is paler, has a paler breast, which is still darker than that of the large Canada Geese, and a white neck ring. The size difference between this paler bird and the darker Cacklers is very small. Since Aleutian Geese tend to have a neck ring and average larger than Cakling Geese I identified it as such, but I admit to being confused by Canada Goose subspecies in general. I have yet to study specimens in a museum. What was interesting about the three small geese was that they were noticeably greyer than the browner Large Canada Geese. The super bonus highlight for me was an AMERICAN BITTERN which flew up from the SE corner of the pond and flew over to Coyote Creek, this was the first Bittern I have seen at CCFS. Also, on my way back to Half Moon Bay I stopped briefly in Redwood Shores. There was a male EURASIAN WIGEON at the sewage ponds on Radio Road, by the dog park. There was another male EURASIAN WIGEON on a small pond at the intersection of Salt Court and the continuation of Shearwater Rd. Now, with regards to access to CCFS. We are hoping to start a new system by which SFBBO (San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory) members are allowed to visit the site and go birding, as long as they obide by a certain number of guidelines. If you are interested in having this priviledge, send me a private e-mail and I can send you an attachment of the Access Agreement form which you will need to mail back to SFBBO after it has been signed. We want birders to visit and to report back to us with their exciting finds, there is a lot to be seen out there. I hope that this document will clarify the details of access to CCFS, and help to gain your assisstance in documenting the birdlife of the site. You are the first group of birders to be told of the new access agreement, but pass on the information to birders you know. But note that you must be a member to have free access to the site. good birding: Al Alvaro Jaramillo Senior Biologist San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory P.O. Box 247 Alviso, CA 95002 (408)-946-6548 http://www.sfbbo.org/ Home of the California Fall Challenge!! [[email protected]] Birds of Chile and New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 03 18:55:08 2000 Subject: [SBB] Sandhill Crane Continues in Gilroy -------- South Bay Birders: Upon hearing of others' success in refinding the Sandhill Crane in Gilroy earlier in the day, I headed out to Gilroy to take my chance on this bird. Weather was not the greatest, but that did not seem to impair the success. I had started searching around the construction site at Fitzgerald and Santa Teresa where others had their success earlier in the day. ...no such luck. Then I drove south on Santa Teresa just past the the housing development and parked along the side the road and scanned the stubble field to the east. The Sandhill Crane was foraging within 100 feet of the road. This was at about 3:30 PM. Its feet were so thickly packed in mud that it seemed to slow down the crane's movement. I agree with Mike Mammoser that this is an adult of the "Lesser Subspecies". The crane did have the familiar red facial patch and was generally gray. Over the years I have birded in Santa Clara County this is the first one I am aware of that is actually chaseable. Others have been fly-overs over Highway 237 in Milpitas on the the Hamilton Range. -- 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 Feb 03 21:21:34 2000 Subject: [SBB] Clay-colored Sparrow -------- All: Yesterday (2 Feb.), Dave Johnston and I saw a SPOTTED SANDPIPER at Lexington Reservoir. This morning (3 Feb.) I had work to do in Morgan Hill, so I stopped by the spot where the SANDHILL CRANE had been reported. I didn't see the bird in the corn stubble field, but was surprised to see it foraging in a wet grassy ditch in the new residential development to the north. Here I watched it from a distance of only 10-30 meters from about 10:00 to 10:40. I haven't looked into the timing of molt in juvenile Sandhill Cranes, but I would guess that this bird is an immature (first-year) bird, as it still had a few brownish (not appearing stained) feathers on the crown and hindneck, and its upperwing coverts were a mixture of fresh, new, blue-gray "adult-type" feathers and old, worn, tan juvenile feathers. The juv. lesser coverts were all or mostly tan, while those median and greater coverts that were retained from juvenal plumage had pale gray bases and broad tan tips. The red skin on the face and forecrown seemed fairly dull for an adult, although I don't know how much seasonal variation there is in adults. A neat bird in a strange place! While I was in the area, I decided to stop by the Morabito goose farm on East Middle Avenue to see how their minima Canada Geese compared to the three small-form birds I saw at CCFS the other day. As I pulled up in front of the house, a few sparrows flushed up to the fence. The first one I looked at was a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW! The bird flew to the pen holding the minima CAGO right in front of the house, and I had 15 minutes of good views as the bird foraged with Zonotrichia here (it was still present when I left). The CCSP was smaller and more slender than a White-crowned Sparrow but was proportionately longer-tailed. In flight, its "tsip" call was higher and more sibilant than that of the WCSP. The underparts were pale grayish-white or off-white except on the breast and sides, which had a pale wash of fairly cold clay-buff. The lores were pale creamy-tan, much paler than the dark postocular stripe, moustachial stripe, or lateral crown stripes but no paler than the pale supercilium. The contrasty head pattern consisted of a moderately pale buff, fairly bold supercilium and even paler, grayish-white malar stripe which contrasted with the dark postocular stripe, moustachial stripe, and lateral crown stripes. There was a fairly broad buff median crown stripe. A gray "collar" consisted of broad gray patches on the sides of the hindneck which met in a narrower, unstreaked gray area on the hindneck. The broad pale edging on the blackish-centered feathers of the upperparts was a warm sandy-buff. The lower back and uppertail coverts were tan. The Morabito goose farm has long had 8 flightless Snow Geese, as well as at least two captive Greater White-fronted Geese (completely caged) and Canada Geese of a number of races; these were present today. Also here today were 9 ROSS'S GEESE (not 8 as I reported to the RBA) and 1 GREATER WHITE- FRONTED GOOSE that were not pinioned and were apparently free-flying, wild birds. This spot can be reached by taking Tennant Avenue west from Highway 101, turning left on Monterey Road, then left on E. Middle Avenue (or, from the south, take San Martin west from Highway 101, turn right on Monterey Road, then right on E. Middle Avenue). Take E. Middle Avenue east across 101, and the ponds with the geese will be on your right. I don't think the owners mind if birders look into the ponds from the road, but stay on the road! Other birds present in the South County today included 2 OSPREYS at the Parkway Lakes; 1 female or imm. columbarius MERLIN in Gilroy; 1 adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK over Santa Teresa Blvd. and Tennant Ave. in Morgan Hill; 1 OSPREY, 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER, and 30 COMMON MERGANSERS at Uvas Reservoir; and 1 SPOTTED SANDPIPER at Calero Reservoir. At Hellyer Park in south San Jose, a flock of 10 DARK-EYED JUNCOS included a male SLATE-COLORED. Good birding, Steve Rottenborn -------- Attachment 7.3 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Fri Feb 04 08:36:13 2000 Subject: [SBB] Unidentified Loon at Shoreline -------- Folks: This morning, 2/4/2000, I saw a loon at Shoreline Lake that was too distant to indentify with binoculars. However, it was not one of the pale Red-throated Loons that have been here in December and early January. It was darker backed and showed more of the two-toned look of a Pacific. It was too far away to clearly determine head and bill shape, but it appeared smaller headed than a Common Loon. There were 8 BLACK SKIMMERS 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]] Fri Feb 04 09:30:49 2000 Subject: [SBB] Shoreline Lake -------- All, Since Shoreline Lake is so close to work, I decided to make a quick check there just now (2/4/00) to see whether a scope could help identify the loon Bill reported. Unfortunately, by the time I got there the only loons I could find were 2 immature RED-THROATED LOONS. A female HOODED MERGANSER was near the boat launch and there are still many SURF SCOTERS and the immature male apparent hybrid GOLDENEYE on the lake. Mike Rogers P.S. Wonder where those two loons have been hiding since 16 Jan? -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 04 13:04:06 2000 Subject: [SBB] Ferruginous Hawk -------- All, This morning Frank Vanslager, Roy Carlson and I saw a light phase FEHA perched in a tan colored power tower located on the hillside at the end of and inline with Highland Ave in Gilroy [a new construction site called Cortedella(sp?)]. The Sandhill Crane was in the same fenced-in backyard as described yesterday (although it's about 200 yds, not 75 yds) southeast of Fitzgerald Rd on Santa Teresa Blvd (if you are heading toward Gilroy this will be on the left side of the road). The crane is only about 1/2 mile southeast of where the FEHA was perched. The free flying Greater White-fronted Goose was still at the Morabito Goose Farm (with four caged GWFG) and several free flying Ross's Geese. The Clay-colored Sparrow was not seen up until we left (Kathy Parker, Roy Carlson and another birder were still there). I would caution birder's against trying to find the CCSP in front of, alongside of or behind the house. This will anger the lady of the house. The farmer, himself, doesn't seem to mind birder's and will be glad to talk about his stock (he volunteered that the GWFG just showed up one day). Take care, Bob Reiling, 1:13 PM, 1/4/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 04 13:18:45 2000 Subject: [SBB] Two CCSP!! -------- At lunch today I went down to the Morabito goose farm and was able to find two! CLAY-COLORED SPARROWS there (now officially a wintering flock). When I arrived, Nick Lethaby and Jack Cole were both present and we were able to get reasonable views of a CCSP. After the two of them left, I went and got my scope for further study. As I scanned through the vegetation, I was surprised to see the two CCSP in the same scope view. I didn't see any noticeable distinctions between the two birds that might let one know that one bird was different from the other, if they were being seen singly. These birds were foraging on the ground around the conifers between the house and the large goose pond. Also, I saw the free-flying GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (there were 4 of these geese captive in the cage), 8 ROSS' GEESE, and 8 SNOWS. 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 Feb 04 13:49:18 2000 Subject: [SBB] Sandhill Crane in Gilroy...? -------- Hi all! I was on my way back from a quick visit to Barry Breckling (the ranger) at the Coe Park hq. building, and decided to see if I could add a SACR to my local sightings... I caroused around that whole Day Rd. - Santa Teresa - Fitzgerald area (getting Penny's truck wonderfully mud coated). While I didn't see 'im, I did have a great time playing in the mud and dirt! I did however see a juvenile baldy, a golden, several Whitetailed kites, WEBL, Loggerhead Shrike, YR warblers, and lots and lots of one of my favorite birds: the Western Meadowlark. My best catch of the day was a Phainopepla along the road just above Anderson Reservoir: A gorgeous example of the male of that species! My best non-avian sighting of the day was a young female bobcat ambling across the road at the "BGR" ranch driveway about 3 miles from the park. She stayed within 50 ft. of the road for nearly 10 min. and provided an excellent view... Best regards, 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]] Fri Feb 04 14:05:04 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] CCSP -------- Jack Cole, Mike Mammoser and I saw the CCSP at the goose farm at lunch today. It was feeding E of the main pond and also further E to the yard of the next house. The crane is still around. 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 Feb 04 14:48:00 2000 Subject: [SBB] CCSP -------- Giving credit where credit is due, John Luther from Oakland first found the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW this morning shortly after Nick and I arrived at about 11:30. The bird was two houses down from the goose farm, to the left of the driveway of the red house, so it pays to broaden your search down the street for this bird(s). Jack Cole ______________________________________________________ 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]] Fri Feb 04 16:12:57 2000 Subject: [SBB] Gilroy Sandhill Crane - yes -------- South Bay Birders, At about 7:45 this morning, the SANDHILL CRANE was about 40 feet from Santa Teresa Boulevard in the northwest corner of the field immediately south of the new housing development on the east side of the road near the intersection of Fitzgerald & Santa Thersa. Interesting to watch it with music playing and seeing it step in time to the music! The FERRUGINOUS HAWK was perched in an oak about a mile east of Santa Theresa on Day. At Alviso this afternoon, a long walk provided good results with Mike Rogers' immature male TUFTED DUCK in (roughly) the southeast quadrant of A9 with a loose flock of Canvasbacks. Also, one male EURASIAN WIGEON and the RED-THROATED LOON in A9. Many NORTHERN HARRIERS constantly graced the sky with quite a few calling. Other than that, the usual cast of avian characters. I'd have stayed longer but I wanted to beat rush hour! 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]] Fri Feb 04 17:05:16 2000 Subject: [SBB] Barrow's Goldneye at Calero Reservoir -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Late this afternoon I saw a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE near the east end of Calero Reservoir. This is most likely the same bird that has been seen off and on since Jan.2nd. There were also many COMMON GOLDENEYES, BUFFLEHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCKS and scaup (among the latter at least a dozen were GREATER SCAUP) , a small flock of CANVASBACKS, and lots of BUFFLEHEAD. Didn't see any loons or eagles today. 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 Feb 05 01:41:06 2000 Subject: [SBB] Barrow's Goldeneye at Calero Reservoir -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, You may be getting this message twice--not sure if it went through the first time. Friday afternoon (Feb. 4) I saw a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE near the east end of Calero Reservoir. This is most likely the same bird that has been seen off and on since Jan.2nd. There were also many COMMON GOLDENEYES, BUFFLEHEAD, RING-NECKED DUCKS and scaup (among the latter at least a dozen were GREATER SCAUP) , a small flock of CANVASBACKS, and lots of BUFFLEHEAD. Didn't see any loons or eagles. 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 Feb 06 11:09:09 2000 Subject: [SBB] Sandhill Crane - Gilroy -------- This morning (Sunday) I went to see the SACR in Gilroy. I arrived about 9:05 and found it immediately and right where it was supposed to be. I watched it until 9:40 when I had to leave. The directions that Mike Mammoser gave were right on. Don Ganton -------- Attachment 614 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Sun Feb 06 17:34:31 2000 Subject: [SBB] CCSP -------- This morning between 9:45 and 10:30, Al Eisner and I had looks at the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW at the Goose Farm on E. Middle in San Martin. We found the bird with a flock of White-crown Sparrows in the tangle of grape vines, pussy willow bush and bare tree along the back fence of the goose farm. We had one short but nice look and then later one very good look at the bird sitting and preening in the bare tree. It pays to hunt around abit for the sparrow flock. Kathy Parker -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 06 19:28:15 2000 Subject: [SBB] Eurasian form of Green Winged Teal -------- Today at Stevens Creek Shoreline Area we saw two Eurasian Green Winged Teals. They were on the bay side of the wooden bridge, just past the narrow strip of land where the Swamp Sparrow is usually seen. Martha O'Neal -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 07 08:27:58 2000 Subject: [SBB] Birds & Stories -------- I have just gotten 2 new year birds for my backyard. Last Friday Kathy Parker spotted 23 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS sitting on the wire, while she was looking for my White-throated Sparrow. Best sparrow she saw was a LINCOLN. The Band-taileds are, once again, begun to eat me out of house and home. This morning I have a male PURPLE FINCH, a year bird. Sunday I birded "my farm" (La Rinconada Park) still seeking my first view of a Brown Creeper this year. I saw a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH. Then, saw another, then another. There were 8 of them all together. This is what Pygmy's do--but these were White-breasted. Just one Steller Jay (my apologies to all who have pointed out my previous StellAr.) A couple of weeks ago at Oka Ponds I was showing a couple the resident COMMON SNIPES that live on the island. There were 3 visible. As we were watching the Snipe, a female HOODED MERGANSER that was swimming with her mate stabbed a fish with her bill. The fish was about 10 inches long and 3 inches wide. The male merganser started chasing her. A SNOWY EGRET ran after her. I've never seen an egret move so fast without flying. But, the female was able to swim off with the fish on her bill. She swam up to the island where the Snipe were and went ashore. There she switched the fish from the stabbing position to where she could eat it. Did this in a couple of minutes. Then, she swam off again by herself. She seemed to nibble at the fish. Then, while it was still quite large, she did the rolling neck routine (like a roller coaster) and swallowed the whole fish. Seemed like a pretty big fish for a bird her size, but it all went down. Bird behavior can be so fascinating....and you never know when it's going to happen...which is why we're all on this list! 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]] Mon Feb 07 08:40:44 2000 Subject: [SBB] La Rinconada Park Bird List -------- For anyone interested, the attached is the list for "my farm" (La Rinconada Park) that will be distributed there as of today. This is the first Los Gatos park (there are 17) to post a list. I approached the LG Park Commission and got permission to do this. This is a test to see if people like having the list. If it is successful, the LG Park commission would like to have a list compiled for Oak Meadow Park. I never bird there, maybe someone reading this does and could compile a list. First, we need to see how successful the handout is at La Rinconada. La Rinconada Park is located at the corner of Wedgewood and Granada. It's perhaps halfway between Winchester and Quito Roads. South of Pollard/Knowles. Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos off Quito -------- Attachment Bird--La Rinconada Park.doc 39.5 KBytes -------- -------- "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com From [[email protected]] Mon Feb 07 08:52:38 2000 Subject: [SBB] Wood Ducks -------- Hello All - Nothing too inspiring to report, but thought I'd mention that 53 WOOD DUCKS were still present at Almaden Reservoir (seen Sunday, Feb 6). Bye for now - Ann -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 07 09:52:38 2000 Subject: [SBB] GT Towhee + other birds -------- All: On Saturday, I checked out CCFS. Lots of gulls, with plenty of Thayer's. I saw all 3 small Canada Geese. As far as I could tell, the Aleutian Goose looked smaller and thinner-necked than the two Cackling Geese. No sign of the Ross's Goose. There were 2 Greater Scaup on the waterbird pond. Sunday morning, I refound Al Jaramillo's Green-tailed Towhee, along the W. Bank of Coyote Creek, N. of Tasman. As Al stated, it is roughly opposite the 4th power line pole north of Tasman. Please note, the towhee is along the old levee that runs right along the creek, not the main driveable levee that runs by the power lines. I also had a nice tan-striped White-throated Sparrow a bit closer to Tasman. On a family visit to Alum Rock Park, I saw a Canyon Wren along the stream by the last parking lot. At Hidden Lake, I saw about 30 Thayer's Gulls, including about 8 juv/1W. There are now 5 Common Mergansers here. The regular Peregrine was on the Power Lines nearby. Along Berryessa creek, I saw 16 Wilson's Snipe. 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]] Mon Feb 07 09:57:45 2000 Subject: [SBB] SBB Sandhill Crane -------- When I spotted the Sandhill Crane on Sunday afternoon around 2:30 p.m. it had moved from the rear of the new housing development to an adjacent, recently plowed, field. I missed seeing the bird at first because it was too close to the road. When I found the bird it was no more than 20 or 30 yards from the shoulder the road. Frame filling views with my 8x32 bins. Lou Beaudet -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 07 10:22:28 2000 Subject: [SBB] birds -------- On Saturday, 5 Feb 00, I stopped at Lake Cunningham, but was unable to find the Lesser Black-backed Gull or any unusual geese. I did have a flock of about 20 swallows overhead, accompanied by an equal number of WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS. The swallows were mixed, with both TREE and VIOLET-GREEN being represented by at least 3 individuals of each. At Shoreline Lake I had one immature RED-THROATED LOON, at least until a couple of wind surfers got it up and flying around (I didn't notice if it stayed at the lake or not). Also present was one adult male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE. On Sunday, 6 Feb 00, I made a quick stop at the Morabito goose farm, but was unable to find any flock of sparrows. The free-flying WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was still at the pond, as was a BLACK-NECKED STILT. There were 9 ROSS' GEESE present this day. For a kick, people might want to drive the road across the freeway here and check out the captive RHEAS in a field along the freeway. Further south, the SANDHILL CRANE was still present, in the stubble field just south of the housing complex. Driving the backroads here, I found a SAY'S PHOEBE but no Ferruginous Hawk. At the Ogier Ponds, there was a large flock of gulls on the big pond; mostly CALIFORNIA with a few HERRING and RING-BILLED thrown in. Three COMMON MERGANSERS flew by heading south, and 3 female RING-NECKED DUCKS were on the small channel along the bike path near the model airplane park. At Anderson Dam there were RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS on the sage-covered hillside along the spillway. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was soaring over the ridge, a male COMMON MERGANSER was at the base of the dam, and a half dozen WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS were overhead. On the way home I found a female OSPREY perched in a low tree at the small pond near the entrance to the Coyote Ranch, just south of Parkway Lake. 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 Feb 07 11:40:23 2000 Subject: [SBB] Black-headed Grosbeaks -------- A customer is reporting two BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS feeding at her feeders up off Quito Road in Saratoga. One has been there for at least two weeks. The second one showed up this weekend. I told her it was very early to be seeing these birds. I am confident she can recognize. Is this particularly unusual? 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]] Tue Feb 08 09:46:03 2000 Subject: [SBB] Harris's Sparrow Not Seen Monday -------- Hi All, Sharon and I spent from 12:30 pm yesterday, Monday Feb 8, to 4:00pm across from the chain link fence at 41 Bay View Road without seeing the Harris's. When we arrived, there were two other vehicles already there. After a time, Sharon asked the first one how long they'd been there. The answer was four hours, with a break in there somewhere. Jim Danzenbaker was also there. he had been there an hour and a half, and left perhaps a half hour after we got there. This was rare proof that Jim does some land birding in addition to his pelagic trips, where we first met him. Lots of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, a female BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, a couple of OAK TITMOUSES, several CROWS and a couple of WESTERN SCRUB-JAYS were evident. I added about ten handsful of shelled sunflowers seed to the millet-type seed already on the ground, about fifteen minutes after our arrival. Well, that's what makes birding so special, when you DO get your target bird. Which we HAD done the day before, at El Dorado Nature Center in Long Beach -- the BLUE MOCKINGBIRD, of course. Good Birding, Bob and Sharon Lutman -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 08 15:12:12 2000 Subject: [SBB] Green-tail Towhee -------- Found the GREEN_TAIL TOWHEE this morning about 10:30. It was a bit farther downstream working among the small trees and a patch of brambles growing along the path with 2 California Towhees. Did not see the White-throated Sparrow. Kathy Parker -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 08 16:15:41 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Green-tail Towhee -------- At 03:12 PM 2/8/00 -0800, Joe Parker wrote: >Found the GREEN_TAIL TOWHEE this morning about 10:30. It was a bit farther >downstream working among the small trees and a patch of brambles growing >along the path with 2 California Towhees. For what it's worth, I saw this bird with 2 CAL Towhees as well. >Did not see the White-throated >Sparrow. > Kathy Parker > > >-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== >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]] Tue Feb 08 16:19:51 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Green-tail Towhee -------- Directions in this note "father downstream in the brambles" have set a new standard for useless. What stream? What county? What city? What street? -- 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 Feb 08 16:43:06 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Green-tail Towhee -------- Dick, This is the same Green-tailed Towhee that has been reported to south-bay-birds by both Al Jaramillo and Nick Lethaby. It is about 500 yards north of Tasman along the west bank of Coyote Creek - on the dike near the creek, not the one along the west edge of the flood control channel. The 500 yards corresponds to about the 4th or 5th gray high voltage tower downstream. Given that the location of this bird has been previously described by two different people I do not find it surprising that the directions were not re-iterated. Certainly calling someone's post a "new standard for useless" is unwarranted. We should encourage people to report what they find - not post rude complaints. 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 Feb 09 10:58:02 2000 Subject: [SBB] Black-headed grosbeaks -------- Hi Birders! This morning at about 9:15, Pat Curtis and I saw a male and female BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK at the home of Sally Baumwell off Quito Road in Saratoga. The birds came to black oil sunflower feeders which were positioned in a small three about four feet off the ground and four feet outside the dining room window. Sally and her husband have photos, and Pat also took several photos, which will be forthcoming. Viewing distance; about ten feet! Both birds came to the feeders at once, and remained for 3-4 minutes, the female slightly longer. The massive bills of each bird were dark, the upper mandible being the darkest. The male had a white supercilium and moustachial strip surrounding a dark brown ear patch, with some light feathering on the crown. Two white wing bars were created by the white tips of the midian and greater coverts, with some white at the tips of the secondaries as well. The primaries and other wing feathers were dark brown, but not black, and the back was a rich brown. The throat, breast and underparts were all the same shade of rich buffy orange, with little or no visible streaking. There was no evidence of red feathering. The head of the female was similar to the male, although not as dark, and the moustachial stripe was not as pronounced. The back was a softer brown, with buff edging to the scapulars, and the wing bars were similar to the male. The breast color was lighter than the male, and extended about half way down, becoming lighter, with some narrow streaking along the sides but no streaking in the center. The undertail coverts were whitish. My apologies to those who can describe birds much better and in greater detail than I. [[email protected]] will advise how to see or obtain photos, and thanks to Sally for allowing us into her home this morning. Jack Cole ______________________________________________________ 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 Feb 09 11:07:42 2000 Subject: [SBB] Posting of recurring sightings -------- SBBers, It might be of service to many, when you post a note about continuing bird presence, that you include the original post or directions to the site. There apparently is a problem currently with the Pacbell mail service that is preventing those SBB members from receiving all of the posts, or in a timely manner. So, postings loosely refering to a bird and it's location may be of little use for others. This problem can arise for any mail server and could affect any of you. So, if we can make our postings with a bit of background, in some cases, it could be very useful for others. And, we could avoid the flaming that we have been so very lucky to be free of for so long. The current problem could be related to the recent spate of Web portal hammering that's been going on. The perpetrators or others like them could be turning their attention to major ISP mail servers, or the heavy traffic on a Web server could be slowing down the mail server. Additionally, I have received notices of a few ISPs and mail servers that are beginning to filter out what is perceived to be relayed SPAM. One service indicated that the Stanford listservers are identified as a possible entry point of relayed SPAM, of which I haven't seen much evidence. But until the managers of the Stanford listservers get caught up with this issue, it's possible that an increasing number of you may be subject to future failures to receive postings. Your mail from indiduals may still come through, but SBB distributions may be prevented. -- Les Chibana List Bureaucrat South-Bay-Birds List [[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 Feb 09 12:29:32 2000 Subject: [SBB] GTTO, WTSP -------- All, Today 2/9/00 over lunch, I relocated the GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE along the west side of Coyote Creek north of Tasman. It was along the creek in brush just opposite the first WOODEN telephone pole, which is the next one past the 5 gray metal towers north of Tasman (another gray tower is south of Tasman). Best way to find the bird is to listen for its scratching as it forages. Today it was with a single Fox Sparrow, but no California Towhees. This location is the same as the southern edge of the previous GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE's range (I have seen it under this same bush before). That bird was seen about 2/16/94 thru 3/13/94 1/29/95 thru 4/15/95 It was not found in 95/96, but I doubt it was looked for since then. Also, it may have moved slightly because of all the construction on the overflow channel happening then. Al Jaramillo felt it might be a first-winter bird, and therefore a different individual, but I think it is likely an adult. It is very bright and highly colored, with a bright red crown and crisply demarcated throat and moustachial streak. There are no retained juvenile greater coverts or tertials. I will check Pyle's book tonight to see whether anything I saw is definitive as far as ageing the bird. If it is the same bird (and I think this is a possibility), then it is at least 6.5 years old (probably not a longevity record yet). On the way back out I found the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in the vines under the trees halfway between the first and second gray towers north of Tasman. The bird has a dingy whitish lateral crown stripe and I tend to agree with Al Jaramillo that it is likely a first-winter white-striped bird. Also here were a male TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, a flock of 45 CEDAR WAXWINGS, and a couple vocal TREE SWALLOWS. 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 Feb 09 12:53:47 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Black-headed grosbeaks -------- Jack Thanks for taking the trouble with Pat to check these out. This is a pretty nice record. Pity they are something really rare. 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]] Wed Feb 09 14:20:42 2000 Subject: [SBB] Cassin's Finch? -------- This morning I had what I think is a male CASSIN'S FINCH in a conifer at 28080 Loma Prieta Way in the Santa Cruz Mtns. It was a single male bird sitting on the top of a conifer about 50 yds fom me, in the sun. It was the size and shape of a House Finch with a red forehead and crown. The red ended abruptly with the back of the head and the back being streaky brown. At times, the crown was sort of fluffed up so I could see the demarcation. The face pattern was not very distinct, but I could see the cheek patch. The bird was sitting away from me, so I could not see the underparts well, but the flanks were white with distinct brown streaks. The bill was light colored. Unfortunately, the bird didn't turn around or call. Could this have been a Cassin's Finch? Kathy Parker -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 09 14:25:09 2000 Subject: [SBB] GRSP, VESP, LBBG -------- All: This morning (9 Feb.) I conducted a Burrowing Owl survey on private property in the Evergreen area of eastern San Jose (right at the edge of the valley floor). A 250-foot radius circle around last year's owl burrow was not disked when the rest of the property was disked last summer, so currently this circle provides an "island" of tall vegetation surrounded by much shorter grassland. Because of this, 100+ SAVANNAH SPARROWS were concentrated in this small area. Of greater interest were a VESPER SPARROW and at least 5 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, one of which was singing repeatedly from the top of a small coyote bush! This is several miles from the area in the Silver Creek Hills where I had up to 3 Grasshopper Sparrows in December, so obviously there are more than a few GRSP in these grasslands, at least this winter. At Lake Cunningham, the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was still present this morning. 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 Feb 09 17:07:01 2000 Subject: [SBB] Cassin's Finch? -------- I forgot to say that the tail was notched. Kathy Parker -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 09 22:01:43 2000 Subject: [SBB] geese problems. -------- Birders I am not more confused than ever after looking at the small geese at the Coyote Creek Field Station today. The two small ones were now showing pale neck collars as well as dark central lines to the throat. I am sure I did not see the pale collars the other day, and this is one of the reasons I discounted ALEUTIAN GOOSE as an identification for those two. I was looking carefully and taking notes as I watched them through the scope the other day, so I was shocked to see them appear different today. As well, today the two were hanging around together while the other day the two were not hanging around together. This makes me think that there may be more geese that come in to this flock than we think, but then maybe I just couldn't see the collars the other day and I could today? The ROSS'S GOOSE does not seem to be with this flock all the time, and to my surprise there was a WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in with them today. So, the geese do move around and if multiple birds are involved this could explain why Steve and I came to different conclusions on the ID of the small Canada Geese present there. Numbers of TREE SWALLOWS have increased dramatically lately, and I was sort of shocked to see a BARN SWALLOW in with the swallows over CCFS today. Should I assume that this was a northern winterer, or could it be a migrant already? Al Alvaro Jaramillo Senior Biologist San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory P.O. Box 247 Alviso, CA 95002 (408)-946-6548 http://www.sfbbo.org/ Home of the California Fall Challenge!! [[email protected]] Birds of Chile and New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 09 23:20:32 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] geese problems. -------- In a message dated 2/9/00 10:08:23 PM Pacific Standard Time, [[email protected]] writes: << Should I assume that this was a northern winterer, or could it be a migrant already? >> Coastward over in Santa Cruz County we had at least 5 winter birds (late Dec. and early Jan.) at Sunset State Beach, and 1 other at College Lake on January 25. There is a pattern in SCZ of occasional individuals from late January through mid-February, with normal migrant influx in late February. My suspicion is the odd late January - mid-February individuals are mostly early migrants vs. over-wintering. Maybe some winter north of the main wintering areas and travel north with Trees and Violet-greens that are moving into central California by late January. 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]] Thu Feb 10 09:55:05 2000 Subject: [SBB] Barn Swallows -------- [[email protected]] wrote: > [[email protected]] writes: > > << Should I assume that this was a northern winterer, or could it be a migrant > already? >> > > My > suspicion is the odd late January - mid-February individuals are mostly early > migrants vs. over-wintering. Last year, I had a Barn Swallow a few weeks later than this one, but still seemingly early. Vancouver is already reporting a Barn Swallow as well. So perhaps these birds do represent the vanguard of migration. 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 Feb 10 11:04:11 2000 Subject: [SBB] Barn Swallows -------- Just out of curiosity, I checked a copy of the county notebooks that Bill Bousman has kept and provided me access to (Bill, I hope this is an acceptable use). From winter 1993-94 to winter 1998-99 the average arrival date over 7 years has been 31 January, the range is 9 Dec to 28 February. December and January records were in 1995-96 and 1997-98. Just looking at February & March records for each year, their average arrival date would be 27 February, range 21 February to 8 March. My guess would be that migrants are "normally" arriving in in late February to early March, and the December/January birds are probably birds that either did not migrate, migrated from elsewhere, but are overwintering in central CA, or are individuals migrating northward earlier than "normal". All for now, 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]] Thu Feb 10 11:47:56 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] geese problems. -------- There are at least 3 small Canada Geese in the flock, so there may in fact be 4 or more birds, two with neck collars and two without. I am quite certain that 2 of the small one I saw did NOT have neck collars. The other bird obviously did. At 10:01 PM 2/9/00 -0800, Alvaro Jaramillo wrote: >Birders > > I am not more confused than ever after looking at the small geese at the >Coyote Creek Field Station today. The two small ones were now showing pale >neck collars as well as dark central lines to the throat. I am sure I did >not see the pale collars the other day, and this is one of the reasons I >discounted ALEUTIAN GOOSE as an identification for those two. I was looking >carefully and taking notes as I watched them through the scope the other >day, so I was shocked to see them appear different today. As well, today >the two were hanging around together while the other day the two were not >hanging around together. This makes me think that there may be more geese >that come in to this flock than we think, but then maybe I just couldn't >see the collars the other day and I could today? The ROSS'S GOOSE does not >seem to be with this flock all the time, and to my surprise there was a >WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE in with them today. So, the geese do move around and if >multiple birds are involved this could explain why Steve and I came to >different conclusions on the ID of the small Canada Geese present there. > >Numbers of TREE SWALLOWS have increased dramatically lately, and I was sort >of shocked to see a BARN SWALLOW in with the swallows over CCFS today. >Should I assume that this was a northern winterer, or could it be a migrant >already? > >Al > > > >Alvaro Jaramillo >Senior Biologist >San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory >P.O. Box 247 >Alviso, CA 95002 >(408)-946-6548 > >http://www.sfbbo.org/ >Home of the California Fall Challenge!! > >[[email protected]] > >Birds of Chile and >New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro > >-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== >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 Feb 10 14:04:45 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Barn Swallows -------- Tom (or Bill B. ?), are these records on-line? Would you please be so kind as to post a link if they are. I think that many of us might like a peek at them. Dusty Bleher Campbell, Ca. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Tom Ryan" <[[email protected]]> To: "SBB" <[[email protected]]> Sent: Thursday, February 10, 2000 11:04 Subject: [SBB] Barn Swallows > Just out of curiosity, I checked a copy of the county notebooks that Bill > Bousman has kept and provided me access to (Bill, I hope this is an > acceptable use). From winter 1993-94 to winter 1998-99 the average arrival > date over 7 years has been 31 January, the range is 9 Dec to 28 February. > December and January records were in 1995-96 and 1997-98. > > Just looking at February & March records for each year, their average > arrival date would be 27 February, range 21 February to 8 March. > > My guess would be that migrants are "normally" arriving in in late February > to early March, and the December/January birds are probably birds that > either did not migrate, migrated from elsewhere, but are overwintering in > central CA, or are individuals migrating northward earlier than "normal". > > All for now, > 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]] Thu Feb 10 14:28:39 2000 Subject: [SBB] County Notebooks -------- Folks: To answer Dusty's question about the partial County Notebooks that Tom Ryan mentioned, they are not on line. They are a searchable archive that are created by concatenating the quarterly County Notebooks which are the basis for my reports to _North American Birds_. I have discussed the process of the County Notebooks in considerable detail in my annual message which is posted each year shortly after 1 Jan. I will provide anyone an electronic file on an individual basis following direct communication as long as they agree to a number of stipulations--basically, no further distribution of any sort, and reference to source if the information is used in any publication. 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]] Fri Feb 11 07:40:36 2000 Subject: [SBB] Barn Swallows (more) -------- Folks: Not to push this thread too far, but Barn Swallows are interesting in that they are not secretive birds or difficult to observe, so winter reports are probably highly reliable and the bird is so rare here in the winter that I suspect a larger proportion of observations have probably been reported to me. Over the last 20 years I have 3 from Dec, 7 from Jan, and 13 from Feb. If I break this down into five year periods (1980-84 for Dec and 1981-85 for Jan and Feb, and so on), the results are much more interesting. Dec Jan Feb 1980+ 0 0 2 1985+ 0 0 3 1990+ 0 0 5 1995+ 3 7 3 This indicates that Dec and Jan records are of recent vintage, while the February records are regular. However, to raise the interest level all of the February records are from the last two weeks of the month (I've not included February 2000 results in this table). Thus, a Barn Swallow in the first two weeks of February is problematic. Is it an extension of the recent pattern of very casual and rare winter birds, or just an earlier first migrant? You pays your money and you makes your choice, as the saying goes. 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]] Fri Feb 11 11:43:41 2000 Subject: [SBB] BROWN CREEPER -------- In the midst of our liquid sunshine this morning my backyard had an incredible number of birds in it. I decided to take my normal 3-mile mid-morning walk through "my farm" (La Rinconada Park). I took my binocs and told my asst I might be gone a little bit longr than normal. As I entered "my farm" the BELTED KINGFISHER greeted me as he was patroling Smith Creek. I counted 20 CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES amidst perhaps 50 warblers. The lighting was dismal but I was able to pick out a male TOWNSEND'S among the YELLOW-RUMPS. (I always think of a Townsend as wearing a helmet...and one should always wear a helmet when in town.) There was lots of squawking between the 2 jay species. And, lots and lots of birds. 3 WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES were working the trees, and then, ole!, my first BROWN CREEPER for the year at "my farm". then, a second one! The liquid sunshine was getting to me, so I left, so I could get back to work. Oh, yes, I attended the Town of Los Gatos Bikes & Trail Commission meeting last night, having been invited by one of the members. They are planning a new trail along the RR. They would like to know how they could help birders. Could they get a bird list for trails? They would like to be more "bird aware" themselves. So solutions, just questions. The Town of Los Gatos has no one assigned to write grants and miss out on a lot of grant money. The Parks commissions and the Bike & Trail commission would like to be more proactive. There was discussion if they could share a grant-writer with other organizations. Any one have any suggestions? This is way outside my area of expertise.... 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]] Fri Feb 11 13:41:41 2000 Subject: [SBB] Some birds -------- All, This morning Frank Vanslager and I saw a Prairie Falcon flying between the Newby Island Dump and the southern end of Fremont Blvd. It was carrying prey, heading northwest but was not seen it in the "right" county. Also not in the "right" county was a Peregrine Falcon on a power tower at the northern end of Fremont Lagoons. Despite the fact that the lagoons were full of gulls we were unable to find a Glaucous Gull, our target bird. Finally we tried for the Green-tailed Towhee but spent most of our time looking for it in the wrong place (as Nick would say). Take my advice (it's free) do not look for this bird on the dike nearest Cisco (Tasman), it's terrible habitat for a GTTO. Instead, bird the dike across the flood control basin as this is the dike which is on the west side of Coyote Creek (It has bushes and trees growing on it!). We never found the GTTO. Take care, Bob Reiling, 1:44 PM, 2/11/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 12 16:45:19 2000 Subject: [SBB] Some continuing birds -------- Actually I think I'm being persecuted. Just about every day I have a chance to get out birding, it rains. Anyway: on my way back from a visit to Moss Landing, I did some (mainly) car-birding in the south county. Continuing birds include: the Sandhill Crane, which was close to the road (Santa Teresa Blvd.) in the field just south of the usual development; the Ferruginous Hawk, perched a bit east of Santa Teresa, about 1/4 mile south of Highland; an Osprey in the "Osprey tree" at the southwest of the Ogier ponds; and another Osprey perched near the southeast corner of Parkway Lakes. Also, a pair of Burrowing Owls continues along Disk Drive in Alviso, so they are hanging on there. (What are those ominous-looking little white flags along the edge of this field?) 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]] Sun Feb 13 20:02:40 2000 Subject: [SBB] Moss Landing Harris's Sparrow / Resident Request -------- All, As we were putting in our three hours waiting for the Harris's Sparrow, a light-blue station wagon pulled along beside us, and the driver rolled down the window, so I did the same. He asked me to pass along a request to future birders who visit to bring a rake to smooth out the ruts that we have made over the last few weeks. I asked if he were the owner, meaning of 41 Bay View Drive, but he thought I meant where we were parked. He said that he imagined the area was public, but he said some of the neighbors had been complaining. I apologized, and said I'd put the word out. So if you plan to be in the area soon, and can do this, please do. Depending on whether the ground is wet or dry, a shovel might work better. The next time we're going down there, I'll bring both, but that might not be for a couple of weeks. Of course, this also brings up the problem of whether to park in this rutted area any more. The bird news is that after waiting over three hours, from 10:50am till 1:55pm (approaching our 2:00pm drop dead departure time), we got great views of the Harris's Sparrow, as it flew in with a number of other sparrows. You can see six frames taken off video at http://home.earthlink.net/~blutman/harris.html Good birding, Bob Lutman -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 14 10:13:28 2000 Subject: [SBB] Gilroy area -------- All, On Saturday 2/12/00, Alma Kali and I headed down for a look at the SANDHILL CRANE north of Gilroy. It was quite obliging, right near Santa Teresa Road in the little housing development just south of Fitzgerald. On the way down we also had an OSPREY perched on the usual tree between Parkway Lakes and Highway 101. We next headed over to the Morabito goose farm, but on the way got distracted at the junction of Maple Ave and Murphy Ave by a couple of doves perched on the wire. Pulling over and checking these birds revealed them to be apparent EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES. A third bird noted was perhaps inbred with domesticated RINGED TURTLE-DOVES, as it was paler and lacked an obvious collar (it also appeared to have a bill deformity). Although the doves were a little skittish, I did manage some photos. Unfortunately (?) it does not appear that these are wild birds, as there was an aviary in the yard at 15255 Murphy Ave that likely houses these birds. Also, even the two cleaner looking birds had primaries and undertail coverts that were somewhat paler than they perhaps should have been, suggesting perhaps that they may have some Ringed Turtle-Dove genes in them as well. An hour at the goose farm turned up the free-flying adult GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE (in addition to the four caged birds), 9 ROSS'S GEESE, and 8 (all feral?) SNOW GEESE. Most of the Ross's Geese appeared to be free-flying adults, but at least one bird is apparently pinioned, with many feathers missing from its right wing. It has not had either halux (heel toe) removed though. Despite a healthy WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW/HOUSE SPARROW flock in the area, we failed to locate a Clay-colored Sparrow. On the way back from a late lunch in the Gilroy mall, we stopped again at the goose farm and this time managed two brief looks at a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. First it was in the leafless tree right of the olive behind the aviary in back of the house and twenty minutes later it flew across the main pond and sat in the top of a willow for 30 seconds or so before continuing west. Also had a LINCOLN'S SPARROW and a couple GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS here. 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 Feb 14 12:45:10 2000 Subject: [SBB] birds -------- I did some driving on the weekend, not really getting out of the car, and managed a few interesting birds. On Saturday, 12 Feb 00, I had the adult BALD EAGLE at Calero Reservoir, an OSPREY at Chesbro Reservoir, and another OSPREY at Parkway Lake. On Sunday, 13 Feb 00, I had the SANDHILL CRANE along Santa Teresa north of Gilroy, a FERRUGINOUS HAWK along San Martin west of Monterey Hwy, an OSPREY at Ogier Ponds, and again an OSPREY at Parkway Lake. It would seem that there are 3 Ospreys in the area right now (and I believe that someone recently reported seeing as many in a single day). 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 Feb 14 13:38:43 2000 Subject: [SBB] Cedar Waxwing -------- We have a single cedar waxwing down at the Wildlife Center that has been rehabilitated and is ready for release. We need to release this bird with others of its kind. Please let me know if you've seen any active flocks. Thanks for your help, Trudi Burney Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 14 13:39:29 2000 Subject: [SBB] weekend birds -------- On Saturday, I had at least 77 Thayer's Gulls (40 2W, 25 juv/1W,5 3W, & 6 Ad) at Hidden lake. Brief checks of CCRS on Saturday and Sunday revealed little of interest on the ponds, except 5 Greater Scaup on the waterbird pond. No geese of interest. On Sunday, I checked out the pond at Marsh & Felter Road. The immature Ross's Goose was still here and I expect this is the bird Al J. saw at CCRS since I regularly see Canada Geese flocks commuting over Milpitas. There were also 6 Hooded Mergansers here. 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 Feb 14 19:04:08 2000 Subject: [SBB] Arques & Lawrence -------- Today around 4PM about 50 cedar waxwings stopped over in the tall trees on the Applied Materials campus across from Fry's. There is an old farm well on the site that has the engineers stymied on how to cap it -- I've watched for two years as each attempt to staunch the flow has failed. I've dubbed it "Arques Creek" and have watched as tules, killdeer, mallards, robins, Audubon's warblers and others have used the flowing water and adjacent tall trees over that time. Last Tuesday, February 8th, around 1:30PM, as I sat on Lawrence Expressway waiting to turn west onto Arques I looked in the open field on the southwest corner for the two red-tailed hawks that hang out there. Imagine my surprise to see one of the hawks barrelling towards me at eye level. It swooped up and I caught a glimpse above me of two other hawks. I immediately drove to the top of the six story parking garage where I work and got out my binoculars. I could hear their cries above me. For about 15 minutes I watched as two of the three hawks dropped their talons midair, flew at each other, one tumbling the other a couple of times. The other hawk soared high above the two. Only two were interacting. I watched them fade into pinpoints to the South. Can someone tell me what kind of behavior I might have been seeing? I looked in my Dunne's "Hawks in Flight" book, but didn't find anything about this behavior of three hawks in early February. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 14 22:05:07 2000 Subject: [SBB] Action Needed--San Jose Burrowing Owl Plan -------- FOLKS, I understand that, in general, we are not supposed to use this list for conservation purposes, and typically I do not. That said, I thought this important enough to break that rule. We may have our last, best chance to keep a viable owl population in the South Bay. San Jose has been drafting a Burrowing Owl Habitat Conservation Plan for more than two years. They now will have two public meetings to gather opinion, and then a City Council hearing on the issue. > >>> These public meetings are very important. The message below >>>explains where and when they are, starting this week. >>> >>> If you can, it would be very helpful to attend one of these, and >>>ask others to do the same. City staff will explain parts of the plan >>>and take opinions or questions. While I can't go into detail here about >>>what the plan does, suffice it to say that it's the best thing we've >>>seen yet on the local scene, although there's no guarantees it would >>>keep a healthy population of BUOWs in San Jose. It's good, but by no >>>means perfect. Besides, helping owls, it would help other grassland >>>species and preserve open space. >>> >>> It is going to be very difficult to convince the San Jose Council >>>to pass this, both because it charges all development in the city $5000 >>>per acre--regardless of whether they have owl habitat or not--and asks >>>the city to set aside lots of public lands over time and manage them for >>>owls. >>> >>> We will need the biggest showing at a council meeting of >>>undetermined date in the future. However, these public meetings are >>>also important, because they set the tone for the staff report on the >>>issue, and the council will hear about how well they are attended. >>> >>> Whether you reside in SJ or not, please try to attend one of these >>>meetings, and be prepared to come to the council meeting if possible. >>>Also, if you have any friends who have expressed interest or concern in >>>the owl, please forward this email and give them a call, asking them to >>>attend. >>> >>> If you attend the meeting, please speak, even if briefly. This is >>>a regional issue, so people from outside of San Jose can speak as well >>>about the regional importance of this type of plan. >>> >>> If possible, let me know if you can come and who else you might >>>have contacted. I can use all the help I can get on these meetings, so >>>if you can lend a hand in calling people or doing something else, please >>>let me know. > > Thanks. >>> >>>Craig Breon >>> >>> >>> >>>>----- Original Message ----- >>>>From: Jan Hintermeister <[[email protected]]> >>>>To: <[[email protected]]> >>>>Sent: Monday, February 07, 2000 7:54 PM >>>>Subject: [open-space] San Jose Burrowing Owl Plan >>>> >>>> >>>>> At the Burrowing Owl Consortium Meeting on Saturday, we were given a >>>>summary >>>>> of the City of San Jose's proposed Burrowing Owl Habitat Conservation >>>>> Strategy. There will be two public meetings that will discuss the >>>>concepts >>>>> proposed in the plan; both meetings will cover the same material. First >>>>> meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, Feb. 16 from 3 to 5 in room 202A of >>>>the >>>>> Health Building at 151 West Mission Avenue. Second meeting is Wednesday, >>>>> February 23 from 6:30 to 8:30 in room 106 of City Hall, 801 North First >>>>> Street. >>>>> >>>>> You can get a copy of a summary memo on the plan or further >>>>>information by >>>>> calling Valerie Peterson at 408-277-4576. >>>>> >>>>> Jan >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> ------------------------------------------------------------------------ >>>>> What's better than getting a Great Deal? >>>>> Getting a Great Deal delivered right to your email in-box! >>>>> http://click.egroups.com/1/1239/3/_/114619/_/949981985/ >>>>> >>>>> -- Create a poll/survey for your group! >>>>> -- http://www.egroups.com/vote?listname=open-space&m=1 >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>> >>> >> >> > > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 15 13:43:31 2000 Subject: [SBB] Hawk antics -------- SB Birders--- Clysta Seney's account of Red-tailed Hawks staging aerial skirmishes in the skies over Santa Clara sounds like classic territorial behavior. Talon-to-talon battles are not that uncommon; my wife Karen, a raptor rehabber, has received several RTHA's over the past 10 years that were wounded in such battles. Deep puncture wounds, internal injuries, and even fatality can result from these altercations, which are literally matters of life and death for the birds as they defend breeding territory. It's certainly the right time of year, as resident raptors set up their territories early. A non-birding friend reported to me last week that she observed a pair of Red-tails building a nest at El Camino Park in Palo Alto on Feb. 3. I have not verified this report. She said it was atop a light pole. Speaking of territorial disputes, Karen observed a PEREGRINE FALCON harrassing, striking, and eventually locking talons with a RTHA over the west parking lot at Stanford Med Center on Feb. 4 (they disengaged and flew off). I know falcons tend to be aggressive, but I hadn't heard of such dramatic confrontation with a larger species. Makes you wonder about the possibility of a local PEFA nest site. A friend of mine who lives near Cowper and Lytton in Palo Alto says that a pair of Peregrines has been roosting atop the multi-story building at that corner for the last two winters, but leaves in the Spring. And if I'm not mistaken, Dick Carlson reported PEFA sightings elsewhere in downtown P.A., too. ---Grant Hoyt -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 15 16:39:54 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re: PEFA -------- Grant Hoyt wrote: > > Makes you wonder about the possibility of a local PEFA nest site. > A friend of mine who lives near Cowper and Lytton in Palo Alto says > that a pair of Peregrines has been roosting atop the multi-story > building at that corner for the last two winters, but leaves in the > Spring. And if I'm not mistaken, Dick Carlson reported PEFA > sightings elsewhere in downtown P.A., too. > > ---Grant Hoyt I have reported in the past that I have seen a PEFA on the Palo Alto Government Building eating lunch (pigeon). I have seen PEFA's on this building in the past as well, but cannot recall if only in winter or spring/summer. I'll keep an eye on the building this spring. Screech > > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > 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]] -- Paul L. Noble "Screechowl" [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) / \ m m -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 15 17:09:09 2000 Subject: [SBB] Reservoir highlights -------- Today (2/15/00) we observed 6 TREE SWALLOWS at the Ogier Ponds. What are their early arrival dates? : ) At Calero Reservoir we observed a REDHEAD, CANVASBACK, 2 BARROW'S GOLDENEYE + what I believe was the hybrid Goldeneye, 3 SURF SCOTERS (be careful the female has a really bright & small white patch behind her eye,it fooled me until she lifted her head and I saw the rest of her face), PEREGRINE FALCON, GOLDEN EAGLE, OSPREY. Another OSPREY was observed at Chesbro Reservoir. All for now, Tom Ryan -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 15 19:37:30 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Re: PEFA -------- I forwarded Grant's original SBB post from today re: Peregrines to Janet Linthicum of the Santa Cruz Predatory Bird Research Group. She responded to say: "One of the females that breeds on the Bay Bridge has killed at least three red-tails while people were watching." If anything should come of the speculation of potential nesting in Palo Alto be sure to pass along word to Janet at the SCPBRG asap, at [[email protected]]. 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]] Tue Feb 15 20:19:19 2000 Subject: [SBB] Barn Swallows and speculation. -------- Birders: As is the general case, Neotropical migrant landbirds which breed west of the Rockies tend to winter farther north and west than birds which breed east of the Rockies. This applies to western species as well as western populations of more widespread species. So most of our neotrops winter in Mexico or slightly further south in northern Central America. The actual movements and wintering areas of different populations of Barn Swallows are not known. However, they are one of the only North American breeding landbirds which reach Tierra del Fuego in Chile and Argentina. Barn Swallows winter in South America south of the Amazon basin as well as along the Andes but probably not in the Amazon Basin, they also winter in Central America north to S. Mexico. Like most real long distance migrants, the Barn Swallow delays its complete moult (change of wing and tail feathers as well as the entire body plumage) until in the winter quarters. Immature Barn Swallows moult their wings significantly later than adults. The wing moult takes around 185 days (based on African wintering Barn Swallows Ginn, H.B. and D.S. Melville 1983. Moult in Birds. BTO Guide 19.) which is a pretty long time. If you assume that to get to South America (not even the southernmost part) it takes a month since this is what Swainson's Hawks appar to take to get to Argentina from the US/Canada, then this is two months to go there and back. Of course Barn Swallows are not Swainson's Hawks, but I could not find any good data to figure out how long it takes "Barnies" to get south. So you add it all up (185+60 = 245 days = 8 months) and it is a lot of time, even assuming that American "Barnies" moult quicker than African ones and the whole shebang takes 7 months it is still a lot of time. To do all of this a February arriving Barn Swallow would have to have left California in August (or July assuming 8 months). In fact this is what occurs in northeastern North America, Barn Swallows leave early in the season with most adults gone by August and they arrive considerably later in the spring. However, here in California they appear to stick around for longer in the fall and arrive earlier in the spring. I speculate that the only way that this can happen is for the California Barn Swallows to winter considerably north of South America (cutting those 60 days in migration down), they likely winter in Mexico or a litte farther south. Also, since juvenile Barn Swallows leave later in the fall and moult later in the winter, it is predicted that the earliest arriving Barn Swallows must be adults. This doesn't explain why there are early arriving Barn Swallows, but it suggests that they probably winter further north than the rest of the population. Now I stop avoiding the work that I have to do.... Al Alvaro Jaramillo Senior Biologist San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory P.O. Box 247 Alviso, CA 95002 (408)-946-6548 http://www.sfbbo.org/ Home of the California Fall Challenge!! [[email protected]] Birds of Chile and New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 15 22:08:22 2000 Subject: Fwd: [SBB] Hawk antics -------- I thought I might offer some comments on this note to anyone who might be interested in this sort of thing. One of the major "natural" causes of mortality (as opposed to being shot, poisoned, etc by man) is fighting over territories. Most raptor populations have a nearly equal number of floating adults waiting to get a breeding territory as there are in those territories. That way the good territories are always occupied by successful, highly competing (good genetics) individuals. We have found this to be true in the large, dense, Altamont area golden eagle population and the increasing western peregrine falcon population. Even during winter, territoriality is severe. On the Farallone Islands there have been several peregrines killed in recent years in territorial squabbles. In Alaska where bald eagle populations are densest, productivity decreases due to competition and fighting between adults for resources and territories. Nesting season is based on a variety of factors, including increasing daylight which stimulates atrophied gonads to enlarge and produce necessary hormones etc. The shortest day of the year is 21 December, and as day length increases eventually the birds become territorial, begin to copulate and nest build, and then lay eggs. Most birds in California have long enough days by early March to breed if nest site, food abundance, and predatory efficiency come together at the same time. Red-tail hawks kill baby peregrines. Peregrines are very defensive against most raptors. Golden eagles usually provide the greatest danger since they can kill young and adults so eagles are the most aggressively attacked. The female peregrine nesting on the Oakland Bay Bridge has been known to kill a few red-tailed hawks in territorial defense. Peregrines are common winter residents on buildings in Palo Alto, Foster City, Oakland, San Francisco, Petaluma, Seaside, San Jose, and many other coastal or bay area communities. Most of the birds leave by mid-March. However there are many nests on the bridges and it is now very possible for the average bird watcher to discover a new nest on a building most anywhere in the SF or Monterey Bay area. The population is expanding in wilderness and urban areas (10% of population nests on structures). We do not know of a nest in Palo Alto or San Mateo where we get many reports. We think these are wintering birds, but a nest is feasible and could be undiscovered. They do not nest on top of buildings. They nest on the sides, most commonly facing the morning sun and shaded from afternoon sun, but any orientation could be possible in our mild climate. They would likely be on higher building, but not necessarily the highest or not necessarily at the top stories. Keep an eye on bay side buildings, bridges, wind tunnels, airport hangers, and the electrical transmission towers. You may be writing off peregrines as red-tailed hawks on the transmission towers, they look pretty similar at quick glance. Please do not think we know every nest or resident. We are always happy to get reports and information. Check out our website for other raptor stuff. >>X-Sender: [[email protected]] >>You wrote: >>SB Birders--- >> Clysta Seney's account of Red-tailed Hawks staging aerial >>skirmishes in the skies over Santa Clara sounds like classic >>territorial behavior. Talon-to-talon battles are not that uncommon; >>my wife Karen, a raptor rehabber, has received several RTHA's over >>the past 10 years that were wounded in such battles. Deep puncture >>wounds, internal injuries, and even fatality can result from these >>altercations, which are literally matters of life and death for the >>birds as they defend breeding territory. >> It's certainly the right time of year, as resident raptors set up >>their territories early. A non-birding friend reported to me last >>week that she observed a pair of Red-tails building a nest at El >>Camino Park in Palo Alto on Feb. 3. I have not verified this report. >>She said it was atop a light pole. >> Speaking of territorial disputes, Karen observed a PEREGRINE >>FALCON harrassing, striking, and eventually locking talons with a >>RTHA over the west parking lot at Stanford Med Center on Feb. 4 (they >>disengaged and flew off). I know falcons tend to be aggressive, but >>I hadn't heard of such dramatic confrontation with a larger species. >> Makes you wonder about the possibility of a local PEFA nest site. >>A friend of mine who lives near Cowper and Lytton in Palo Alto says >>that a pair of Peregrines has been roosting atop the multi-story >>building at that corner for the last two winters, but leaves in the >>Spring. And if I'm not mistaken, Dick Carlson reported PEFA >>sightings elsewhere in downtown P.A., too. 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]] Wed Feb 16 09:45:41 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Re: PEFA -------- I thought that Peregrines had been recorded nesting at St. Joseph's seminary in Menlo Park??? -- 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]] Thu Feb 17 08:40:43 2000 Subject: [SBB] BWTE, HOME -------- Folks: This morning, 2/17/2000, I saw a male and female BLUE-WINGED TEAL in the North Pond in the Palo Alto FCB near the bike path. A female HOODED MERGANSER was near the boathouse on Shoreline Lake. I counted nine BLACK SKIMMERS on Charleston Slough, one up from recent counts. 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 Feb 17 13:51:48 2000 Subject: [SBB] Green-tailed Towhee -------- All, This morning at about 9:30 Frank Vanslager and I saw the GTTO near the trail on the west bank of Coyote Creek 1/3 to 1/2 mile north of Tasman Dr. (Half way between the fourth gray power tower and first wooden power tower.) We first saw two CATO on the path ahead of us about 15 yds south of a five ft high, six inch diameter, natural metal standpipe located on the west side of the trail. A third bird with a raised, rufous crest was also vaguely seen under bushes on the east side of the trail. As we moved closer to view this bird it flew about five feet north into some weeds and out of sight. Shortly thereafter the two CATO flew about 20 yds south of us. Not long after that the GTTO appeared in a bush on the east side of the trail above where we first saw the CATO. It then flew down and into Raspberry brambles on the west side of the trail and out of sight for good. We then birded some local hotspots finding four Burrowing Owls (two flag marked areas) on Disk Dr. and a single BUOW and a single Common Snipe in Arzino Ranch. Directions to GTTO: Park in a location near where Tasman Dr. crosses Coyote Creek (your choice where you park). From the northwest corner of the bridge walk north a short distance and take the path down into the flood control basin (this is not Coyote Creek) and toward the concrete "dam". Walk across the "dam" and up the bank on the far side, to the right, to the top of the dike where you will find a well marked trail. Take this trail north to the location previously described above. This is a pleasant if not very birdy walk once you're across the flood control basin. People should be aware that at least one homeless person appears to be camping on this dike. Take care, Bob Reiling, 2:00 PM, 2/17/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 17 16:00:17 2000 Subject: [SBB] Black Rail -------- This morning, Thursday, I saw 1 BLACK RAIL at Rail Corner at the Baylands. The tide was not particularly high, even with all of the rain, but the bird was caught out in some of the shorter vegetation so had to come in about 15 minutes before the highest tide. I doubt if it would have appeared had it been in the taller vegetation. Kathy Parker -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 18 07:30:19 2000 Subject: [SBB] White Pelicans -------- Folks: Yesterday afternoon, 2/17/2000, I counted 13 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS on Salt Pond A1 in Mountain View. They are fairly unusual at this time of year. I did not see any with nuptial horns. 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]] Fri Feb 18 08:54:04 2000 Subject: [SBB] Pelagic Cormorant, Foster City -------- Belated report: On Sunday 2/18, I had a PELAGIC CORMORANT fly right in front of our apt. in Foster City. I actually saw it from our kitchen! Our apt. faces the waterway/canal in Foster City, between Foster City Blvd. and Shell Dr. It was flying towards Shell Dr., i.e. towards the lake in the center of the down. (I am still not sure of the drainage of these waterways in Foster City). Question: What's the status of PELAGIC CORMORANTs in the Bay? They are very rarely reported in Santa Clara County. Are they more common in the San Mateo area? Out apt. is probably a mile from the Bay. Is it very unusual for a PELAGIC CORMORANT to fly in that far? Thanks, Vivek [[email protected]] PS: We moved to Foster City in Dec due to my wife's job change. I regretted leaving Santa Clara County, since the county birding in SC County is a HUGE quality-of-life multiplier. I still work at Intel and though I commute to the South Bay everyday, I haven't had a chance to bird at all this year. Hopefully I will be able to resume SC county birding soon. In the meantime, birding from my porch has made up for the inconvenience of a long commute. Have about 40 species from my porch so far (am still missing Am. Crow, N. Mockingbird, Am. Robin etc), including such improbable yard birds as CANVASBACK, BUFFLEHEAD, C. GOLDENEYEs, 3 species of grebes, 5 species of gulls including THAYER'S, WESTERN and GLAUCOUS-WINGED, R-B. MERGANSER, Am. PELICANs, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, etc. The highlights have been a PEREGRINE FALCON (which circled around the apt for over 2 minutes, until of course I remembered my camera), and this PELAGIC CORMORNANT. And then there's the egret-roost - about 50 SNOWY EGRETS roost in pine trees behind the apt. Around dusk, they start lining up on the side of the waterway right outside the apt. and then fly in to the roost. I am playing with a digital camera and may post some pictures if time allows. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 18 09:09:41 2000 Subject: [SBB] sparrow, clear breast, center dot -------- In a walk around my neighborhood on the Stanford campus the other evening, I saw a sparrow feeding at a neighbor's feeder that had a completely clear breast with a center black dot. It did not have the strongly marked head plumage of a Lark Sparrow (which in any case I've never seen in our neighborhood, though they do appear up by the Dish). The only other detail I was able to note before the bird flew away was a bill that was relatively small and thin for a sparrow, and with considerable yellow in it. I've been back several times to try and refind the bird, without success -- I plan to keep trying, and will report any results. What is the status of American Tree Sparrow in Santa Clara Co? -- Tom Grey Stanford Law School [[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 Feb 18 09:22:40 2000 Subject: [SBB] ATSP Status -------- Tom and others: There is a banding record from the mid-1970s, I think. Date was 10/25 a and it was banded by Dick Mewaldt in Alviso. Keep looking. 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]] Fri Feb 18 09:51:56 2000 Subject: [SBB] January archive online; mystery duck. -------- South Bay Birders, The January messages have been archived at: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/southbay.htm I have updated my web site with two new mystery birds, a nighthawk and the controversial duck currently at the Baylands Duck Pond. Comparing it to the "Brewer's Duck" on the photo gallery does not seem to me to be a very good match. Any further ideas? At this point I'm not at all sure what this bird is. Help! The URL is http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/ Follow the link to "California Birding." Enjoy! -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: mailto:[[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]] Fri Feb 18 11:10:08 2000 Subject: [SBB] Almaden Lake Gulls -------- All: At about 10:00 this morning (18 Feb.), I briefly checked Almaden Lake. Among the 600 or so gulls were 80+ THAYER'S. Also present (on the gravel bar at the upper end of the lake) was one of those dreaded Kumlien's- type gulls. Like our previous Kumlien's candidates, this was fairly large, being as large as some of the Herring Gulls present and having a moderately large bill with a prominent gonydeal angle. The primaries and rectrices seemed whiter than on all but one of the previous birds (that one being the largest bird last year). I'm looking right now at Mike Rogers' excellent photos of what was perhaps the most Kumlien's-like of all the birds last year, and today's bird definitely had whiter primaries and rectrices. The greater and median coverts were also more extensively white, and the tertials, scapulars, and back were very whitish as well. Like some of the previous birds, the uppertail and undertail coverts had conspicuous dark brown bars, contrasting noticeably with the whitish tail. However, this bird was moderately worn, and the muted creamy and tan tones in the interiors of the tertials, primaries, and tail (slight though they are), suggest that this bird's whitish appearance may be the result of fading to some extent. In any case, this is an interesting bird, as it typifies the problem of distinguishing pale and/or faded Thayer's Gulls in late winter from Iceland Gulls. There will be no mistaking this bird if you see it -- the primaries and tail look virtually pure white except when seen well through a scope. For what it's worth, none of the other 50 or so first-winter Thayer's Gulls even approached this or any of the birds we've previously called Kumlien's- types. Also present were several other odd gulls. One adult Herring had an extremely bright orange bill. Another gull was ostensibly a medium-sized adult Thayer's, with a medium-dark brown eye and a very densely streaked head and neck, although the upperparts were noticeably darker than on any Herring or Thayer's present (almost as dark as a California Gull), and the darker areas on the under- sides of the primaries were black, not gray. Other interesting local birds lately include a large, dark MERLIN (apparently female or immature) over I-680 near Alum Rock Avenue on 14 Feb., a male COMMON MERGANSER flying south over the Guadalupe River at Capitol Expwy. on 17 Feb., and a MERLIN (age/sex unknown) over Lawrence Expwy. near Stevens Creek Blvd. in Santa Clara this morning. 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]] Fri Feb 18 11:36:30 2000 Subject: [SBB] Night Flights... -------- just thought I'd pass this along as an FYI. last night about 10PM, sitting in the hot tub and staring at the full moon, we were surprised to see a flock of something cross the moon. They were quite high up, and it was definitely not a V formation, but more of a flock, and I counted 30-40 birds across the moon in what seemed to be a larger flock. They were headed almost due east. -- Chuq Von Rospach - Plaidworks Consulting (mailto:[[email protected]]) Apple Mail List Gnome (mailto:[[email protected]]) And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar and say 'Man, what are you doing here?'" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 18 12:55:07 2000 Subject: [SBB] Some late reports -------- Sorry for this late report, but if you're planning to go to Panoche Valley... I did two field trips to the area from Paicines Res., Panoche Road through Visitor's Valley into Panoche Valley, to Shotgun Pass. Saturday, 2/12, was cloudy but without rain, Sunday. 2/13, had showers. Highlights Paicines Res.: One ad. BALD EAGLE; a FERRUGINOUS HAWK; many RING-NECKED DUCKS; some CANVASBACKS; one male REDHEAD; one fem. COMMON MERGANSER; a pair of PHAINOPEPLA (at south end from Cienega Rd); one CASSIN'S KINGBIRD (on Sunday, south end); couple of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS; one coyote. The water level was low with about 2/3 of the area submerged. Visitor's Valley, Cottonwood Rd. (.75 mi. off Panoche Rd.): 2 pairs of PHAINOPEPLA (male fed female); FERRUGINOUS HAWK around home on ridge Visitor's Valley, Panoche Rd.: A GREATER ROADRUNNER dashed across road then across field; PHAINOPEPLA at the Lewis' Woodpecker snag (LEWO not seen this trip). Panoche Valley, Panoche Rd.: 2 GOLDEN EAGLES (on fencepost and feeding on ground south of Panoche Rd. just east of Silver Creek Ranch), VESPER SPARROW (came to pishing on south side just before end of pavement), 2-3 LARK BUNTING across 1st house east of intersection with New Idria Rd. (house address is 33941 Panoche Rd., seen with LARK SPARROWS). Several more FERRUGINOUS HAWKS seen in Panoche Valley, all light morphs. Shotgun Pass, Little Panoche Rd.: PRAIRIE FALCON (on the south side of pass, near typical Rock Wren rocks), a MERLIN (zipped through pass). We saw only 68 sp. for both days, including 9 sp. of raptors, but there was still lots of activity. No Mtn. Bluebirds, no Mtn. Plover (checked Little Panoche Rd. fields more than north of Panoche Rd. east of New Idria Rd. junction). On Saturday we saw large numbers of Common Raven flying south through the pass, one group numbered 40 birds. At the end of our day (about 5:00p) there were 100+ ravens in the field at the Panoche-Little Panoche Rd. junction. Monte Bello owls On 1/22, I took a group of MROSD docents owling at Monte Bello. We were "skunked" for most of the trip until near the end. We had two WESTERN SCREECH OWLS calling along the Canyon Trail about halfway between the sag pond and the meadow (Stevens Creek Nature Trail junction). We were able to watch one for about 10 minutes. On 2/5, I led an owl hike to the same area. The rains had just abated and the skies cleared. We had 12 WESTERN SCREECH OWLS calling between the sag pond and the Indian Creek Trail junction, but could not see any of them. Only heard distant GREAT HORNED OWLS for other species. I couldn't get any Northern Saw-whet Owl response on either trip, and I have not heard them around my home yet this year. Last night, my wife, Mary, saw a large owl-like bird (prob. Great Horned) "investigating" two of our cats who were out on their exercise time last night. They didn't stay out much longer! I should note that the Midpeninsula Open Space District wants to know if people are going to be on the preserves after sunset and before sunrise, so it's best to arrange for a permit for access during these times. Chances are that you will only be allowed in as part of a request hike accompanied by docents. Les -- Les Chibana, Palo Alto, 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 Feb 18 14:18:38 2000 Subject: [SBB] Mountain View 2/18 -------- Hi Everyone-- A flock of 8 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS was circling around the Central Expressway overpass of highway 237 this morning. Mark Miller -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 18 16:27:00 2000 Subject: [SBB] Glaucous Gull -------- All: Scott Terrill and I just checked Almaden Lake (15:30). No pale Thayer's/Kumlien's types, and fewer gulls than this morning. There was a GLAUCOUS GULL present on the gravel bar, although I'm not at all sure of its age. The bird looked like an adult (pale eye, all adult-like gray back, upperwing coverts, underwing coverts, and tertials) except for the primaries (which were actually mostly white, lacking the gray bases typical of an adult), the tail (which had a very small amount of barely visible vermiculation), and the bill (which was pink [no yellow tones] with a fairly large amount of subterminal dark pigment). The bill was typical of a second-year bird, but the mantle, scapulars, upperwing coverts, and tertials were more adult-like (without any darker markings) than on some third-year birds. I think it was either a 2nd or 3rd year bird, although the bill color doesn't fit the plumage regardless of the age. 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]] Fri Feb 18 17:44:48 2000 Subject: [SBB] even more "Kumlien's" Gulls. -------- Birders: While eating my lunch at Hidden Lake in Milpitas I had one of these pale things that could pass for a "Kumlien's" Iceland Gull. There were also over 50 Thayer's Gulls there. The Iceland type gull was very pale, looked to be in its juvenile/first winter plumage, had largely white primaries but with dark central areas. The tertials were white with a couple of darker bars, but definitely not solid. I didn't take good notes as I spent my time trying to get photos of this bird. I gather this one is not as pale as Steve's Almaden lake bird from today, but it is comparable to the birds that we were calling "Iceland" gulls the last couple of years. Again, this bird was in size and structure no different than the Thayer's Gulls. It also wasn't very worn, just pale. Also there was a female Brewer's Blackbird with gleaming yellow eyes. There was a juvenile/first basic Glaucous Gull at the CCFS waterbird pond as well as a "Nelson's Gull". Nelson's Gull is a hybrid between a Glaucous and Herring Gull. I presume this is what this bird was as it was a fine Glaucous Gull except it had pale brownish primaries. The bill was typical of Glaucous, and the body plumage was very pale, nearly whitish. Not sure of the age of this bird, either first or second winter. One Golden Eagle flew over the Water Pollution Control Plant. Al Alvaro Jaramillo Senior Biologist San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory P.O. Box 247 Alviso, CA 95002 (408)-946-6548 http://www.sfbbo.org/ Home of the California Fall Challenge!! [[email protected]] Birds of Chile and New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 18 17:54:22 2000 Subject: [SBB] revise that Barn Swallow diatribe. -------- Birders: Today at CCFS I saw another Barn Swallow in with the Tree Swallows. In the last e-mail I sent about Barn Swallows I speculated about their place of origin and moult timing. Well, this bird today was still undergoing the wing moult! This is entirely unexpected as Barn Swallows moult in the wintering grounds. The late timing of the moult of this individual (only half way through the primaries) is strongly suggestive of this bird being one in its first spring as they moult later than adults. Also, the tail was short. The bird the other day looked like a fully moulted, fresh, and striking adult male. So this is definitely a second bird. But what is noteworthy is that it was moulting at all, this really suggests that this bird wintered somewhat nearby, at least probably within the state. Birds do not moult and migrate at the same time in most cases, specifically Barn Swallows appear to migrate north after they are finished their moult, so I think this bird most likely wintered close by. This got me thinking about how odd it is that the Barn Swallows showed up with the first real good influx of Tree Swallows, and it suggests that they all wintered together somewhere. Maybe in the Central Valley? Who knows. Definitely having moulting young Barn Swallows here in February means we are likely not talking about the long-distance migrants which are wintering in Mexico or further south. regards Al Alvaro Jaramillo Senior Biologist San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory P.O. Box 247 Alviso, CA 95002 (408)-946-6548 http://www.sfbbo.org/ Home of the California Fall Challenge!! [[email protected]] Birds of Chile and New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 19 07:52:08 2000 Subject: [SBB] Vaux's Swifts -------- Yesterday, 2/18, at about 11:00 am, I had a flock of 5 Vaux's Swifts in downtown San Jose, near my workplace on the San Jose State campus (10th and San Antonio). We have Vaux's on campus every year, usually during migration, but this was the earliest date ever for my seeing them - I had always marked them returning about the same time as the swallows, well in to March. Is this an unusually early date for their return? More subjectively, to be enjoying the beautiful sunlight after so many rainy days lately, then to hear the high-pitched conversation of a quickly-approaching flock of swifts, brought on an exhiliration of springtime, quickly confirmed by the sight of them. They rapidly circumambulated the business tower, then flew east, having brightened my day considerably. Jennifer Rycenga -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 19 12:34:45 2000 Subject: [SBB] Nutmeg Mannikins -------- Today at Almaden Lake, I saw two Nutmeg Mannikins. One was carrying nesting material. Has a nest been seen here? Don Ganton -------- Attachment 488 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Sat Feb 19 17:21:42 2000 Subject: [SBB] Calero Reservoir and Almaden Lake Park -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Thought I should let you know my email address and the location of my birding web pages have changed. New email address is [[email protected]] My birding pages can now be found at www.birdswest.com or alternatively by going to http://home.att.net/~redknot/ Today (Feb. 19) I checked Calero Reservoir from the boat ramp. On the reservoir I saw 1 RED-THROATED LOON, 1 HORNED GREBE, 2 SURF SCOTERS, and at least 26 COMMON GOLDENEYES. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was under attack by a pair of RED-TAILED HAWKS. It flew to a pole near the parking area where gulls and AMERICAN CROWS continued the assault until it was forced to leave. At about 2pm this afternoon, at Almaden Lake Park, I saw what was probably Steve Rottenborn's KUMLIEN'S type gull. It was on the gravel bar near the inflow to to the lake. The bird pretty much matched Steve's description of it--entirely white primaries, and a tail that also appeared to be all white. It's scapulars, wing coverts, and tertials were also mighty white, with just some light brown mottling. Its plumage showed some wear, especially on the greater wing coverts. It was as Steve described it, " having a moderately large bill with a prominent gonydeal angle." The bill was all dark (black toward the tip with basal half a very dark horn color). The bill shape and the overall large size (as big if not bigger than the neighboring Herring Gulls) bothered me. It was a pretty robust bird, with a thick neck and large head. I think I read somewhere that Iceland Gulls actually averaged smaller than Thayer's, and this bird would definitely be on the large side for Thayer's. Head, neck, and bill made me think more toward Glaucous-winged Gull than Thayers--its crown was more flattened than rounded, peaking at the front of its head. Overall proportions seemed heavy. Leg color was a dull pink. Breast and belly were washed with dusky brown.Undertail and uppertail coverts were barred with brown. It had some brown coloration around its dark eyes, which gave me the impression of being small relative to the size of its head and bill. Overall a very white bird, but I am baffled to I.D. it-- John Mariani [[email protected]] www.birdswest.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 Feb 20 03:37:25 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] even more "Kumlien's" Gulls. -------- At 05:44 PM 2/18/00 -0800, Alvaro Jaramillo wrote: >Birders: > > While eating my lunch at Hidden Lake in Milpitas I had one of these pale >things that could pass for a "Kumlien's" Iceland Gull. There were also over >50 Thayer's Gulls there. The Iceland type gull was very pale, looked to be >in its juvenile/first winter plumage, had largely white primaries but with >dark central areas. The tertials were white with a couple of darker bars, This bird has been there for about a week. It looks too heavy-billed for a Kumilien's since the bill seems heavier than most Thayer's to me. >but definitely not solid. I didn't take good notes as I spent my time >trying to get photos of this bird. I gather this one is not as pale as >Steve's Almaden lake bird from today, but it is comparable to the birds >that we were calling "Iceland" gulls the last couple of years. Again, this >bird was in size and structure no different than the Thayer's Gulls. It >also wasn't very worn, just pale. Also there was a female Brewer's >Blackbird with gleaming yellow eyes. > >There was a juvenile/first basic Glaucous Gull at the CCFS waterbird pond >as well as a "Nelson's Gull". Nelson's Gull is a hybrid between a Glaucous >and Herring Gull. I presume this is what this bird was as it was a fine >Glaucous Gull except it had pale brownish primaries. The bill was typical >of Glaucous, and the body plumage was very pale, nearly whitish. Not sure >of the age of this bird, either first or second winter. > >One Golden Eagle flew over the Water Pollution Control Plant. > >Al > > > >Alvaro Jaramillo >Senior Biologist >San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory >P.O. Box 247 >Alviso, CA 95002 >(408)-946-6548 > >http://www.sfbbo.org/ >Home of the California Fall Challenge!! > >[[email protected]] > >Birds of Chile and >New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro > >-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== >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]] Sun Feb 20 12:23:14 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Nutmeg Mannikins -------- Birders: I forwarded Don's notes on nesting Mannikins to Scott Smithson who is doing his thesis on introduced Nutmeg Mannikin and Orange Bishops in California. He asks us to be extra aware of these species and try and document their nesting in the county. I have had a pair of these guys in my Half Moon Bay feeder during this winter, this is what he refers to at the bottom of his note Al >Date: Sat, 19 Feb 2000 23:57:33 -0800 >From: Scott and Dawn Smithson <[[email protected]]> >X-Accept-Language: en >To: Alvaro Jaramillo <[[email protected]]> >Subject: Re: [SBB] Nutmeg Mannikins > >Al: > Wow, thanks for the nesting info! Sounds like SJ will be where NUMAs get >their start in the bay area. I had a report of a small flock including >imm.-plumaged birds near SJ in 98, so they have been breeding. > February is the month that I usually find a bunch of these birds carrying >nesting material in L.A. and Orange Co., similar the report you forwarded. If >you could do me a favor and spread the word up there regarding looking for NUMA >carrying nesting material, I would be grateful. Also, the type of tree they >are using, how high, and the nesting substrate are all useful tidbits of info. >There could be pairs or small flocks at feeders scattered all over the bay >area. > Around here, they love to use pampas flowers (the white feathery stuff) to >nest in pines 5-10 m off the ground. I've seen them building nests Feb-Nov! > About the pair in your yard...After a bout of rain, during sunny weather, >you might be able to see one of them throw back their head and sing >(inaudibly). That's the best way to sex them in the field. > Take care, >Scott > Alvaro Jaramillo Senior Biologist San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory P.O. Box 247 Alviso, CA 95002 (408)-946-6548 http://www.sfbbo.org/ Home of the California Fall Challenge!! [[email protected]] Birds of Chile and New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 20 12:28:06 2000 Subject: [SBB] Sandhill Crane in Gilroy -------- Hello All! Yesterday, Saturday (2/19/00), I decided to go to Gilroy to try to see this sandhill crane with my 7.5 month old son. By the way the exit is the Masten Road exit in Gilroy and head west off the exit and the road becomes Fitzgerald, so keep driving until you hit Santa Teresa Blvd. I got to the field off of Santa Teresa Blvd., south of the new housing development and the intersection of Santa Teresa Blvd and Fitzgerald. I looked in both fields on either side of the road and I was sure to look close to the road, since he has often been observed close to the road, but I did not see it. I decided to drive further south on the road in case it was in a neighboring field, but I did not see it. I decided to turn around thinking that I would not get the opportunity to see it today. As I drove back north toward the intersection with Fitzgerald, I saw out of the side of my eye a tall grey bird standing on the side of one of the small grey-colored roads just 10 feet from Santa Teresa Blvd. So, I turned around and parked on the side of Santa Teresa Blvd facing south. It was standing on the side of De Bruin Way just south of the intersection of Santa Teresa and Fitzgerald. So, I watched it preen itself from about 3:55 til 4:15 pm. De Bruin Way is a small road that heads west from Santa Teresa Blvd. I took my son to see it. We were able to watch from 5-10 feet away, it did not seem to mind. At first my son was more interested in the bright yellow "Not a through street" sign which the crane was just behind. But, I believe that he saw it when I changed angles so that the grey bird had a green background of grass rather than a grey background of the road. Anyway, we had a great view and the crane eventually flew off toward the field in which I originally looked. KOM -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 20 13:01:34 2000 Subject: [SBB] Pine Siskin -------- As we all know birds are unpredictable. I sat down at my window to watch the birds in my backyard for the Cornell Backyard bird survey. As I looked at my 4 foot thistle feeder I was amazed to see a PINE SISKIN--the FIRST one I've seen anywhere this season. Incredible. For all days for it to show its face. A male PURPLE FINCH which I saw twice last week for the first time has also shown up. Haven't spied any of the WHITE-THROATED SPARROWS in about 3 weeks. 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]] Sun Feb 20 13:15:33 2000 Subject: [SBB] "My farm" La Rinconada Park -------- I am very pleased with the Town of Los Gatos...and one of you may be helpful. I became the "squeaky wheel" in town and made many people aware of the condition of "my farm"....graffiti, etc. The graffiti is gone. The "slave labor" that the town has every Saturday (people whom the Court have sentenced to community service) was at work today at "my farm." As you know from previous emails, the LG Park Commission is allowing me to provide "Bird List of La Rinconada Park" as a handout. It's a test for 2 months (until April 4) The good results are amazing me. Today the Park Ranger in charge of La Rinconada Park told me his instructions were to return the park to its natural state so the birds can be happy there!!! He already knows to not disturb habitat for the colony of Acorn Woodpeckers. He had questions about other habitat in the park. Perhaps one of you could be helpful...my career is managing money and I haven't had a science class since high school. Common sense tells me leave some underbrush. But if anyone reading this would be willing to elevate the level of environmental expertise, I'll be glad to hear what you have to say or put you in touch with the right person in the Park Dept. I'm hoping that someone that lives in another town in our county will put together a bird list for a park in their town and do what I've done. The Town of Los Gatos is very appreciative of my efforts and have responded beautifully. 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 Feb 20 14:03:48 2000 Subject: [SBB] Harris's Sparrow -------- Good looks of the Harris's Sparrow were had yesterday at 3:30 pm by Kathy Parker, Frank Vanslager and myself. We stayed in the car and used it as a blind. The sparrow was to the right of the red mail box just behind a Pepsi can. Previous directions to sparrow given on SBB were perfect. 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]] Mon Feb 21 08:43:33 2000 Subject: [SBB] More on Calero/Almaden Lake -------- Hello All - Since I don't do my postings until Monday morning, I'm always a little bit behind on the weekend sightings. Anyway, here are some things to add to what has already been posted by John Mariani, Steve Rottenborn, et al. Calero Reservoir, Saturday, Feb 19: To add to the Red-throated Loon, Horned Grebe, and Surf Scoter pair already noted by John, I also saw two TREE SWALLOWS inspecting potential nesting holes in a dead tree upstream from the reservoir. A number of GREATER SCAUP were also still present at the upper end. Almaden Lake, Saturday & Sunday (Feb 19-20): I also saw a mystery white gull which I believe may be the same one as reported by the others - a large (as large or larger than nearby Herring Gulls) very pale gull with pale pink bill (dark pigmentation nearer the tip, however also showed a bit of yellow nearer toward the base of the bill), yellow eyes with dark iris, pink legs. The gull also showed some creamy speckled mottling (still very pale). Long primary wings projected beyond the tail feathers. In flight the gull appeared uniformly pale all over and I didn't note any darker markings on the outer primaries. (At one point on Sunday all the gulls on the gravel bar took off in harried flight due to a MERLIN coming in fast overhead.) I also saw the Herring Gull with the bright orange bill and bright red gonys-spot. Almaden Reservoir: Only 12 WOOD DUCKS seen on Saturday. Rather than grouped in one location, they were more scattered with some seen farther upstream. That's it for now - Ann -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 21 09:15:36 2000 Subject: [SBB] Greater Roadrunner near Lake Almaden/Info needed on RH Pheasant -------- Hi south-bay-birds, I received an interesting report from a fellow wildlife rehabilitator from the San Jose area. She received a Greater Roadrunner from a used car dealership near Lake Almaden on the corner of Coleman and Blossom Hill near Winfield. The most interesting part was that two individuals were seen standing together on the roof of the dealership prior to one bird coming down and getting trapped in a building. Hopefully the two can be reunited soon as I understand they mate for life. This same rehabber has a hen pheasant that came in from Los Altos with a broken leg and is looking for a healthy spot to release it to. Any suggestions would be helpful, please feel free to send to me privately. Thanks Karen Hoyt [[email protected]] 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 Feb 21 12:11:54 2000 Subject: [SBB] Red-breasted Sapsucker -------- Decided to count birds today at "my farm" (La Rinconada Park) for the Cornell Backyard Bird study. Thank goodness I did. I had a dozen Acorn, 6 Nuttall's, 5 Flickers and whoppee a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. I saw it on a couple of trees on the grassy hill but as I tried to get closer to it it flew into the very large euc that is near the 3rd bridge in the park. A LINCOLN SPARROW is eating now in my backyard. Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos near 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]] Mon Feb 21 17:23:55 2000 Subject: [SBB] Birds today -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Stopped by McClellan Ranch today--feeders at the office were crowded with chickadess and finches, including a few PINE SISKINS. The birds allowed us to view them from only a few feet away, and didn't seem to mind us standing near the feeders (good photo ops, if you don't mind mostly feeder shots). At Calero Reservoir this afternoon I again saw a RED-THROATED LOON, but it was not the same bird I saw there on Saturday (the one I saw on Sat. was a first winter bird, this one was an adult). John Mariani [[email protected]] www.birdswest.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]] Mon Feb 21 19:30:52 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] More on Calero/Almaden Lake -------- Ann Verdi wrote: > Almaden Lake, Saturday & Sunday (Feb 19-20): I also saw a mystery white > gull which I believe may be the same one as reported by the others - a large > (as large or larger than nearby Herring Gulls) very pale gull with pale pink > bill (dark pigmentation nearer the tip, however also showed a bit of yellow > nearer toward the base of the bill), yellow eyes with dark iris, pink legs. > The gull also showed some creamy speckled mottling (still very pale). Long > primary wings projected beyond the tail feathers. In flight the gull > appeared uniformly pale all over and I didn't note any darker markings on > the outer primaries. This sounds like the second or third-winter Glaucous Gull I saw (assuming that the "creamy speckled mottling" was on the head, neck, and breast rather than the upperparts) rather than the Kumlien's-like bird, which had very little pale color at the base of the bill and had dark eyes. 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]] Mon Feb 21 20:48:08 2000 Subject: [SBB] Downy Woodpecker cavity -------- I visited the Ulistac Natural Area in Santa Clara on Thursday and among other birds, I saw a male DOWNY WOODPECKER spending a lot of time on a dead tree. I returned Saturday morning and watched the male Downy for about half an hour. It spent the entire time appearing to excavate a cavity in the side of the dead tree. Its head and body would disappear inside the cavity leaving only its tail sticking out. Occasionally I would see wood debris fly from its head when it reappeared. I did not see a female in the area and I heard no drumming. Stoke's Bird Behavior and Ehrlich et. al. Birder's Handbook both mention winter roost holes, so I assume I'm seeing an excavation of a winter roost hole rather than possible breeding behavior since breeding isn't expected until April or May. Any comments? The Ulistac Natural Area is south of Tasman between Lick Mill Blvd and the Guadalupe River in Santa Clara. I also saw Fox, Lincoln, Song, White-Crowned and Golden-Crowned Sparrows, Dark-Eyed Junco, Hermit Thrush, Common Yellowthroat, Bewick's Wren, Marsh Wren, California Quail and many other common birds of the valley. Among raptors I had an immature Sharp-Shinned Hawk, adult Red-Shouldered Hawk, and 3 White-Tailed Kites. One kite was being harassed by four crows. 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]] Tue Feb 22 07:53:17 2000 Subject: [SBB] Pelagic Cs -------- Folks: Vivek asked about Pelagic Cormorants in San Francisco Bay. This species is very rare in Santa Clara County. Most of the birds found in the South Bay have been ill or have died within days of being first seen. Whether they wind up here because they are sick or they become sick after they find themselves here, it is clear that the low salinity of the South Bay is not to their liking. Thus, there is a strong cline in terms of acceptable habitat for this species from the Bay's mouth to Alviso. Vivek's Foster City bird may be much more likely, in this sense. 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 Feb 22 08:33:14 2000 Subject: [SBB] Yellow-rumped Warbler -------- Hi all! Yesterday my wife spotted a Yellow-rumped Warbler at our bird bath. It had a white band on its left leg. Any ideas on how we can entice it closer so that we can lay a scope on it to see it we can read the band? Best regards, 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 Feb 22 08:51:12 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Pelagic Cs -------- There is assumed to be a small breeding colony of P Corms at the north end of Golden Gate Bridge...they are rarely seen along San Francisco's bay shoreline east of Fisherman's Wharf but are regular at south end of GG Bridge and sffshore along Crissy Field...they are unusual along Ocean Beach and Seal Rocks...but obviously become more common south of Daly City ------------ Previous Message from [[email protected]] on 02/22/2000 07:53:17 AM ---------- To: [[email protected]] cc: [[email protected]] Subject: [SBB] Pelagic Cs Folks: Vivek asked about Pelagic Cormorants in San Francisco Bay. This species is very rare in Santa Clara County. Most of the birds found in the South Bay have been ill or have died within days of being first seen. Whether they wind up here because they are sick or they become sick after they find themselves here, it is clear that the low salinity of the South Bay is not to their liking. Thus, there is a strong cline in terms of acceptable habitat for this species from the Bay's mouth to Alviso. Vivek's Foster City bird may be much more likely, in this sense. 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]] Tue Feb 22 09:16:17 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Downy Woodpecker cavity -------- At 8:48 PM -0800 2/21/00, Jan Hintermeister wrote: >I visited the Ulistac Natural Area in Santa Clara on Thursday and among >other birds, I saw a male DOWNY WOODPECKER spending a lot of time on a dead >tree. I returned Saturday morning and watched the male Downy for about half >an hour. It spent the entire time appearing to excavate a cavity in the >side of the dead tree. Its head and body would disappear inside the cavity >leaving only its tail sticking out. Occasionally I would see wood debris >fly from its head when it reappeared. I did not see a female in the area >and I heard no drumming. Stoke's Bird Behavior and Ehrlich et. al. Birder's >Handbook both mention winter roost holes, so I assume I'm seeing an >excavation of a winter roost hole rather than possible breeding behavior >since breeding isn't expected until April or May. Any comments? > Downy Woodpeckers and drumming now. preparing for breeding soon (not April or May). I suspect that this is a nest hole. Alert the city so that the tree is protected. 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]] Tue Feb 22 11:29:40 2000 Subject: [SBB] Weekend birds -------- On Saturday, I saw a 1W Glaucous Gull at the Fremont lagoons. Lots of other gulls here too. On Sunday, the CCFS goose flock included the adult White-fronted and a Cackling Goose. A high count of 24 American Wigeon was here. On the Arzino ranch, I had a hybrid Eurasian x Green-winged (or Aleutian!?) Teal with both vertical and horizontal white stripes. A Monday visit to the Sunnyvale Sewage Ponds was completely hopeless with almost no ducks. 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 Feb 22 12:28:50 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Downy Woodpecker cavity -------- Jan Hintermeister wrote: > I saw a male DOWNY WOODPECKER spending a lot of time on a dead > tree. It spent the entire time appearing to excavate a cavity in the > side of the dead tree. > breeding isn't expected until April or May. Any comments? Yesterday, I saw two female DOWNIES displaying and chasing each other in an obvious territorial dispute. I don't know what data the Breeding Bird Atlas might have, but I suspect that breeding in these local residents, like most local residents, starts much earlier than April or May. 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 Feb 22 12:35:37 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Pelagic Cs -------- [[email protected]] wrote: > Vivek asked about Pelagic Cormorants in San Francisco Bay. This species > is very rare in Santa Clara County. > Vivek's Foster City bird may be much > more likely... Some years ago I worked the Coyote Point area of the Crystal Springs CBC. This area is just north of the San Mateo Bridge (and Foster City) on the west side of the Bay. I had 6 Pelagic Cormorants here that day. So, I suspect that they aren't too unexpected in this location. 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 Feb 22 12:50:58 2000 Subject: [SBB] birds -------- On Monday, 21 Feb 00, I went to Coyote Creek to look for the Green-tailed Towhee, but I had no luck with this bird. I did have a female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD sitting on a nest and a BUSHTIT carrying nesting material here. At the Guadalupe River I found the HARLAN'S HAWK perched in a tree just south of Trimble. 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 Feb 22 12:54:56 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Pelagic Cs -------- Birders, Pelagic Cormorants are certainly uncommon on the bay, but not unexpected. Last winter, at least 2 were present on several occaisions at Leo Ryan Park in Foster City. I have also seen them on most trips to Coyote Pt. I suspect the absence of anything resembling rocks in the south bay is part of the reason that they are so sparse down there. As are several of the other rocky shirebirds. I have seen all the normal species of rock shorebird (no Rock Sandpiper) at Coyote Point, including Black Oystercatcher. Dave Mike Mammoser wrote: > [[email protected]] wrote: > > > Vivek asked about Pelagic Cormorants in San Francisco Bay. This species > > is very rare in Santa Clara County. > > Vivek's Foster City bird may be much > > more likely... > > Some years ago I worked the Coyote Point area of the Crystal Springs CBC. This area is just > north of the San Mateo Bridge (and Foster City) on the west side of the Bay. I had 6 Pelagic > Cormorants here that day. So, I suspect that they aren't too unexpected in this location. > > Mike Mammoser > -- David Powell Half Moon Bay, 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 Feb 22 13:05:33 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re: Pelagic Cormorants -------- Vivek wrote: > On Sunday 2/18, I had a PELAGIC CORMORANT fly right in front of > our apt. in Foster City. I actually saw it from our kitchen! > > Our apt. faces the waterway/canal in Foster City, between > Foster City Blvd. and Shell Dr. It was flying towards Shell Dr., > i.e. towards the lake in the center of the down. > (I am still not sure of the drainage of these waterways in Foster City). > > Question: What's the status of PELAGIC CORMORANTs in the Bay? > They are very rarely reported in Santa Clara County. Are they > more common in the San Mateo area? > > Out apt. is probably a mile from the Bay. Is it very unusual for > a PELAGIC CORMORANT to fly in that far? Pelagic Cormorant is regular at Coyote Point, which isn't far north of Foster City. I believe I've heard of Foster City reports, but I'm not sure of their status there -- probably Adam Winer can respond to this when he returns from a trip. (Brandt's is the really rare cormorant on that part of the Bay.) Regards, 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]] Tue Feb 22 13:20:52 2000 Subject: [SBB] Weekend bird stuff -------- On Sat., 2/19, at CCFS, we banded our first ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD (adult female) for the year. Out of 44 birds processed, 27 were Audubon's YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and 4 wer Myrtle's. Lots of them were in the area, in the midst of their partial molt. 2 WHITE-TAILED KITES were calling and displaying to each other. 3 RED-TAILED HAWKS perched in the cottonwoods, and at one point, 5 were circling over the trailers. On Sun., 2/20, my class did a duck blitz to see how many waterfowl species we could locate mostly focusing our attention in the South Bay. We came up with 20 sp. We found all three mergansers, HOODED at Leo Ryan Park lake in Foster City and Oka Ponds in Los Gatos; RED-BREASTED at Leo Ryan; and COMMON at Almaden Lake. We saw 4 male BLUE-WINGED TEAL in the usual spot at the Palo Alto flood control basin. We had a pleasant surprise of 30-40 REDHEADS at the base of Charleston Slough near the gate on the levee separating the slough from Pond A1. At Almaden Res. we had 34 WOOD DUCKS. We missed Eurasian Wigeon, Ring-necks, Tufted, and Barrow's Goldeneye. Also, did not find any Eurasian race of Green-winged Teal. CANADA was the only goose sp. seen; we didn't try for the Gilroy area because of the impending rain. At least 9 BLACK SKIMMERS were roosting on the grassy island at the base of Charleston Slough. One bird still shows its light brown immature plumage. On Mon., 2/21, I tried for the Moss Landing Harris's Sparrow. Lots of zonas but no querula. Could not locate the Long-tailed Duck at Moss Landing Harbor, but did see a RED-NECKED GREBE and a MERLIN. At least 20 Sea Otters cavorting in groups of 2 to 4 (no nose-biting observed). Les Chibana, Palo Alto, 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 Feb 22 13:54:04 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Yellow-rumped Warbler -------- Hi Les. I just checked with Penny, and she says that it could indeed have been a silver band, and it was definitely on the left leg. So, any ideas on how to entice it closer? Make a noise like a meal-worm (:-)! Dusty Bleher Campbell, Ca. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Les Chibana" <[[email protected]]> To: "Dusty Bleher" <[[email protected]]> Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2000 13:24 Subject: Re: [SBB] Yellow-rumped Warbler Was this a white or silver band? Do you recall if it was on the right or left leg? CCFS bands a significant amount of Yellow-rumps, but only uses USFWS silver bands on the left leg. I believe PRBO bands on right. Les Chibana, Palo Alto, CA [[email protected]] On Tuesday, February 22, 2000, Dusty Bleher <[[email protected]]> wrote: >Hi all! > >Yesterday my wife spotted a Yellow-rumped Warbler at our bird bath. It had >a white band on its left leg. > >Any ideas on how we can entice it closer so that we can lay a scope on it to >see it we can read the band? > >Best regards, >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]] > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 22 14:10:09 2000 Subject: [SBB] CCFS cats -------- All: I understand some of you have been involved in trying to trap and remove cats from CCFS. I saw one near the waterbird pond on Sunday so they are still around. 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 Feb 22 16:22:55 2000 Subject: RE: [SBB] Pelagic Cormorants -------- Hello all: I have done the Foster City section of the Crystal Springs count the last five years and have seen P. Cormorants every year but 1998 (they were doing earthquake retrofit work that year). They roost on the high voltage towers along the San Mateo bridge mixed in with DCs. Steve Miller ---------- From: [[email protected]] [SMTP:[[email protected]]] Sent: Tuesday, February 22, 2000 1:06 PM To: [[email protected]] Subject: [SBB] Re: Pelagic Cormorants Vivek wrote: > On Sunday 2/18, I had a PELAGIC CORMORANT fly right in front of > our apt. in Foster City. I actually saw it from our kitchen! > > Our apt. faces the waterway/canal in Foster City, between > Foster City Blvd. and Shell Dr. It was flying towards Shell Dr., > i.e. towards the lake in the center of the down. > (I am still not sure of the drainage of these waterways in Foster City). > > Question: What's the status of PELAGIC CORMORANTs in the Bay? > They are very rarely reported in Santa Clara County. Are they > more common in the San Mateo area? > > Out apt. is probably a mile from the Bay. Is it very unusual for > a PELAGIC CORMORANT to fly in that far? Pelagic Cormorant is regular at Coyote Point, which isn't far north of Foster City. I believe I've heard of Foster City reports, but I'm not sure of their status there -- probably Adam Winer can respond to this when he returns from a trip. (Brandt's is the really rare cormorant on that part of the Bay.) Regards, 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]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 22 16:51:31 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Yellow-rumped Warbler -------- At 08:33 AM 2/22/00 -0800, Dusty Bleher wrote: >Hi all! > >Yesterday my wife spotted a Yellow-rumped Warbler at our bird bath. It had >a white band on its left leg. > >Any ideas on how we can entice it closer so that we can lay a scope on it to >see it we can read the band? > >Best regards, >Dusty Bleher >Campbell, Ca. > > Dusty, That is probably a bird banded by us at the Coyote Creek Field Site (CCFS) near Alviso!! The band is an aluminum band, which looks shiny and white in the field. We band on the left leg, while most other stations band on the right leg, that is why I bet it is one of ours. Now if it is a white (plastic) band and not metal, do let me know. This would mean that someone out there is colour banding Yellow-rumps and I may be able to track down who it is. As far as getting it to come close enough to read the band, it will be tough! It it keeps coming back regularly, let me know. There should be nine numbers on the band 4 digit "prefix" and a 5 digit "suffix". Al Alvaro Jaramillo Senior Biologist San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory P.O. Box 247 Alviso, CA 95002 (408)-946-6548 http://www.sfbbo.org/ Home of the California Fall Challenge!! [[email protected]] Birds of Chile and New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 22 22:52:28 2000 Subject: [SBB] swallow 'fallout' today. -------- Birders: Today at CCFS it was chock full of swallows, several hundred at least. Almost all of them were VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS with a few TREE SWALLOWS. In addition, there was one NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW in the group. During the last couple of weeks the small number of swallows at CCFS have been mainly TREE SWALLOWS with two BARN SWALLOWS on two different days. However, today's large numbers of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS suggests that they had just arrived. Also all of the ones I saw well were males, which presumably are the first to migrate north to breeding areas. The low pressure, cold temperature, and impending storms was likely keeping them low and close to the creek where presumably there are more insects right now. It really looked like a "fallout" of migrant swallows. The large flock of gulls on the waterbird pond included a GLAUCOUS GULL. This was a first year bird, and had slightly darker primaries than I would have expected suggesting that it may not be a pure GLAUCOUS GULL. I think this is a bird different from the full GLAUCOUS and the "NELSON'S" GULL observed a few days ago. NELSON'S GULL is the name given to hybrids between HERRING and GLAUCOUS GULLS, this hybrid compbination was orignially described as a separate species which was thought to be closely related to THAYER'S GULL! good birding Al Alvaro Jaramillo Senior Biologist San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory P.O. Box 247 Alviso, CA 95002 (408)-946-6548 http://www.sfbbo.org/ Home of the California Fall Challenge!! [[email protected]] Birds of Chile and New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 23 15:40:47 2000 Subject: [SBB] LBBGU -------- All, Having only been able to obtain distant photos of the Lake Cunningham Lesser Black-backed Gull on three previous occasions this winter, I decided to try for something better today 2/23/00, hoping that the recent rains might have flooded the fields around the lake so that gulls would be roosting there instead of on the water. The park is indeed quite flooded, with the creek water level very high and many of the grassy playing fields completely inundated. And there was a large flock of gulls in these fields, but unfortunately I didn't see the Lesser Black-backed Gull among them. Heading back to the pier on the south side of the lake and scoping, I found an adult male HOODED MERGANSER, 5 RING-NECKED DUCKS, and 3 BUFFLEHEADS, but again no LBBGU. Opting to check the back parking lot once more before leaving, I got lucky. The fourth-winter LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was sitting right at the edge of the parking lot. I got a few frame-filling photos before the bird flew straight away back to the lake (not a very promising angle for detailed flight feather study). A few minutes later, however, I heard a gull calling and looked up to see the LBBGU flying back to the parking lot with something in its bill. It landed, and once again I was able to get many close-up shots of the bird. This time when it flew, it circled the parking lot once (flying six feet over my head!) before heading back to the lake - so hopefully I clicked the shutter at the right time and everything was in focus etc. Most of the rest of the gulls were CALIFORNIA GULLS, with a few RING-BILLED GULLS sprinkled around the edges, but there were at least 3 HERRING GULLS and 2 THAYER'S GULLS (1 adult, 1 2nd-winter) at the lake as well. Also of interest was a large flock of swallows, with 80+ VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS and a few TREE SWALLOWS and WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS scattered among them. 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 Feb 23 18:56:56 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Pelagic Cs -------- Folks, Thanks for your responses. I saw another PELAGIC CORMORANT outside my apt today. It was flying in the direction away from Leo Ryan Park, towards the Bay. Based on the responses it is clear that there this species is often seen in and around Foster City and San Mateo bridge. Thanks, Vivek -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 25 08:26:57 2000 Subject: [SBB] interesting behavioral sightings -------- Attachment 2.7 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Fri Feb 25 08:46:13 2000 Subject: [SBB] Loggerhead Shrike observation -------- Attachment 963 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Fri Feb 25 12:04:16 2000 Subject: [SBB] Nesting COME -------- Folks: Eric Feuss asked about Common Mergansers in the county. They have always been a wintering bird, but with variable numbers. A range expansion of breeding birds appears to have started in the middle of the last century. By the time Grinnell and Miller published their lovely book in 1944, birds were nesting as far south as Mendocino County. They moved in to Sonoma County in the 1970s, I believe, and nesting was discovered in Marin in the early 1980s. Our first breeding record was 1985 and, in the same year, they nested in Monterey County. Since 1985, we have determined that they are fairly widely distributed in the county as breeding birds, mostly on more-or-less permanent streams, many that flow into reservoirs. However, as an expanding species we may see more nesting at the urban edge and it's possible that the Guadalupe birds will nest somewhere nearby where there are suitable hollows in trees (they are cavity nesters, like Wood Ducks) and not too much disturbance. Anyone who sees precocial young or any nest information should contact Mike Rogers or me--we're still tracking their nesting progress. 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]] Fri Feb 25 15:53:04 2000 Subject: [SBB] BAEA at Anderson -------- We observed three adult Bald Eagles at Anderson Reservoir today (2/25/00). Two were at the southern inlet, the other near the Dam. We also observed a Golden Eagle, Wood Ducks, American Wigeon, Common Merganser, a Glaucous-winged Gull (seems odd this far from the bay, it was very light, but the bill was large & all dark). 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 Feb 25 22:02:56 2000 Subject: [SBB] LBBG plumage questions... from out of SBB area, sorry but need help -------- Hello All: I realize this sighting is not from your area, but I would like some feedback from those of you who have seen more LBBG than me. I observed a probable LBBG at Shollenberger Park in Petaluma, Sonoma county 2/20. We currently have no records of this species in Sonoma county. I have seen LBBG in several plumages in Santa Clara county and twice at the Salton Sea, but the head on this bird appears too clean for an winter adult. I would appreciate some feedback on my notes. I did not see the bill at a good enough angle to see the " smudge ". The gull was with a mixed flock of about 30 other gulls on the south end of the pond. The bird was on a spit that was in line with the dark-glassed building to the east. I viewed the bird from about 1320-1327 hour on 2/20. I observed the bird from approximately 100 yards with 10x42 binoculars for 5-6 minutes. Then the bird flew directly over my head, about 50 feet up. The visibility consisted of a moderate overcast between rain showers. The bird was flying s.w. towards a large flooded field adjacent to Shollenberger Pond. The flooded field had about 200 gulls on it in the distance, but I did not see the gull land. I looked for the bird until about 1440 hour with no additional sightings. The gull appeared to be a winter adult. Head - white, mostly clean with some brown streaks. The head appeared too clean for a winter adult LBBG. Could the bird be changing plumages at this time? nape - whitish bill - corn yellow, slim. straight lower mandible; upper mandible not downturned very much except at tip. The bill had no obvious proturbences. mantle - slate gray, noticeably darker than any other gull on spit overall appearance - slender profile; long tail larger than Ring-billed Gull, about the size of CAGU , much smaller than GWGU. In flight, the bird showed very dark upperwings; primaries were darker than the secondaries. The primaries were blackish, with two mirrors. The primaries blended into the secondaries with little contrast between the two. The secondaries were slate-gray and blended smoothly into primaries. The inner secondaries were slightly lighter than the outer secondaries. The leading edge of the wings had a narrow white border. The trailing edge of the upperwings had a broad white border that sharply contrasted with the rest of the wings; the border was like a picture-frame. The white trailing edge was the widest at P-10 where the border blends into the dark wing tips. The underwings were white except for a dark gray trailing edge. The tail was white and appeared unblemished. The breast had fine brown streaks on it. The wings were long and rather narrow. The greater coverts may have had a tint of brown, but not certain due to overcast skies. The legs appeared yellowish, definitely not pink or black. The tail was straight-edged; no obvious white showing in tail while perched. The bird looked like Michael Rogers LBBG photo from Alviso on 11/25/98 which is on the WFO web site rarities photos. . Doug Shaw, Santa Rosa, 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]] Sat Feb 26 13:27:48 2000 Subject: [SBB] ROSS'S GOOSE -------- On our bird walk this morning at Vasona Lake Park in Los Gatos, I am pretty sure we spotted a white morph adult ROSS'S GOOSE. It was all white except for black primary feathers. We did not see it in flight, so we only saw the tips of the black primary feathers near its rump. The bill was rosy pink. The base of the bill was rough-looking and beige/blue. The bill was triangular and "stubby". The head was very round and the next was short. The legs were rosy pink. There was no gray wash on the back of its head, so we concluded it wasn't an immature white morph. If someone would like to confirm, we spotted the bird at the end of the trail that takes you out near the island where the egrets and herons breed near the dam. It was swimming with some large domestic geese. It came very near the shore. One participant was able to get a very close photo of the bird. Hopefully, I can my hands on a copy of that picture. 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]] Sat Feb 26 14:37:59 2000 Subject: [SBB] ROSS'S GOOSE -------- Pat, As someone who has actually published an article or two (in mid-Western ornithological journals) on the identification of Ross' Goose, I can say that your description sounds pretty good for a Ross' Goose. Two key points that are absent from your description include the size of the bird and the absence (or presence) of a "grinning patch" as part of the bill. Ross' Geese are, of course, much smaller than Snow Geese and are only slightly larger than your typical Mallard; they also lack the blackish "grinning patch" between the upper and lower mandibles that is present in Snow Geese. Aside from these two key points, though, you have described all of the other classic features of a Ross' Goose. Congratulations! Cheers, John C. Robinson Owner, LANIUS Software (Software for Birders) www.glenalpine.com/lanius 925-932-4201 Writing at 14:35 PM on Saturday, February 26, 2000 [[email protected]] On 2/26/2000 "Pat Curtis" said: > On our bird walk this morning at Vasona Lake Park in Los Gatos, I am pretty sure we spotted a white morph adult ROSS'S GOOSE. It was all white except for black primary feathers. We did not see it in flight, so we only saw the tips of the black primary feathers near its rump. The bill was rosy pink. The base of the bill was rough-looking and beige/blue. The bill was triangular and "stubby". The head was very round and the next was short. The legs were rosy pink. There was no gray wash on the back of its head, so we concluded it wasn't an immature white morph. If someone would like to confirm, we spotted the bird at the end of the trail that takes you out near the island where the egrets and herons breed near the dam. It was swimming with some large domestic geese. It came very near the shore. One participant was able to get a very close photo of the bird. Hopefully, I can my hands on a copy of that picture. 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]] < -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 26 16:40:18 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] ROSS'S GOOSE -------- John, The bird we saw this morning did not have the grinning patch you describe. As far as size, I'm not good at estimating but I would say it was about the size of a mallard, about 20 to 24 inches in total, and was certainly smaller than a Snow Goose. Thanks, Pat -----Original Message----- From: John C. Robinson <[[email protected]]> To: South Bay Birds <[[email protected]]> Cc: Pat Curtis <[[email protected]]> Date: Saturday, February 26, 2000 2:48 PM Subject: [SBB] ROSS'S GOOSE >Pat, > >As someone who has actually published an article or two (in mid-Western >ornithological journals) on the identification of Ross' Goose, I can say >that your description sounds pretty good for a Ross' Goose. Two key points >that are absent from your description include the size of the bird and the >absence (or presence) of a "grinning patch" as part of the bill. Ross' >Geese are, of course, much smaller than Snow Geese and are only slightly >larger than your typical Mallard; they also lack the blackish "grinning >patch" between the upper and lower mandibles that is present in Snow Geese. > >Aside from these two key points, though, you have described all of the >other classic features of a Ross' Goose. Congratulations! > >Cheers, > >John C. Robinson >Owner, LANIUS Software >(Software for Birders) >www.glenalpine.com/lanius >925-932-4201 >Writing at 14:35 PM on Saturday, February 26, 2000 >[[email protected]] > >On 2/26/2000 "Pat Curtis" said: >> On our bird walk this morning at Vasona Lake Park in Los Gatos, I am >pretty sure we spotted a white morph adult ROSS'S GOOSE. It was all white >except for black primary feathers. We did not see it in flight, so we >only saw the tips of the black primary feathers near its rump. The bill >was rosy pink. The base of the bill was rough-looking and beige/blue. >The bill was triangular and "stubby". The head was very round and the next >was short. The legs were rosy pink. There was no gray wash on the back of >its head, so we concluded it wasn't an immature white morph. > >If someone would like to confirm, we spotted the bird at the end of the >trail that takes you out near the island where the egrets and herons breed >near the dam. It was swimming with some large domestic geese. It came >very near the shore. One participant was able to get a very close photo of >the bird. Hopefully, I can my hands on a copy of that picture. > >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]] < >-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== >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 Feb 26 19:25:24 2000 Subject: [SBB] January SC Co. Birds -------- I have finally posted Bill Bousman's list for Santa Clara Co. up to January 31. South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU) http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/ The new birds (for a total of 190) are: Tufted Duck, Ferruginous Hawk, Black Rail, Ruff, Greater Roadrunner, Lewis' Woodpecker, Pileated Woodpecker, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Phainopepla, Hermit Warbler, Green-tailed Towhee, Sage Sparrow, Red Crossbill. The delay in posting is mine. I just got out of the hospital with one new knee and one re-operated knee, plus some bad luck (infection and blood clots) that have set my timetable back a bit. I am on track now for recovery, and each day get stronger. I hope to be back birding in the Spring. I just received a card in the mail from the Forest Service, USDA, about their Utah Northern Goshawk Project Environmental Assessment. If you are interested in Goshawks and what they are trying to do, check out their web site at: http://www.fs.fed.us/r4/goshawk Happy birding, 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]] Sat Feb 26 23:31:08 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] ROSS'S GOOSE -------- Pat Curtis wrote: > On our bird walk this morning at Vasona Lake Park in Los Gatos, I am pretty > sure we spotted a white morph adult ROSS'S GOOSE. There has been a Ross's Goose at Vasona for several years that has taken up residence with the domestics and is present year-round (it does not migrate). I've heard rumors or speculation that it may have been a rehabbed bird that was released at Vasona, although it's healthy enough to fly now. 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]] Sun Feb 27 16:24:07 2000 Subject: [SBB] Recent South County Birds -------- Hello SBB, The following were partially flooded grassland along Frazer Lake Rd south of Bloomfield Rd, SCL, on the morning of 2/22: 3 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 289 KILLDEER, 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 47 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS, 245 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 44 DUNLIN, 98 MEW GULLS, 780 CALIFORNIA GULLS, and 27 HERRING GULLS. I though thought Black-bellied Plovers were unusual there, but perhaps they were part of an early "spring" migratory movement. Another check of this area on the early evening of 2/26 revealed no shorebirds, only a handful of CAL. GULLS and 1 light morph adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK. Also on 2/22, at Casa de Fruita there were 2 CLIFF SWALLOWS (my first of the season), 2 NOR. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS, 115 TREE SWALLOWS and 80 VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS. In the late afternoon of 2/27 I estimated 320 (+/-25) TURKEY VULTURES along Hwy 152 just east of Bell Station. These were mostly seen soaring around the three rocky "peaks" which occur just south of the highway in that area. Some were beginning to land in some of the trees there, so it seemed like they were settling in for a night roost. I suppose this involved a movemement of migrants, as the numbers seemed quite high. 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]] Sun Feb 27 18:54:37 2000 Subject: [SBB] Ed Levin -------- About midday today I visited the northern section of Ed Levin Park. I had were three selasphorus hummingbirds along the fence line east of the Elms picnic area, presumably all Allen's. One male was repeatedly returning to a perch at a traditional Allen's location, but given a bad angle and dim lighting I was unable to get a clear look at its back. There was also one Red-Breasted Sapsucker in this row of trees. The only swallows I saw at Sandy Wool Lake and vicinity were Violet-Green and Tree. There was also a flock of about 10 or so White-Throated Swifts in the vicinity. Also, mid-PM, there was a Peregrine Falcon perched along the entrance road to the Environmental Education Center in Alviso (probably adult). 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]] Mon Feb 28 00:56:11 2000 Subject: [SBB] Weird gull at Almaden Lake Park -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Today (Sun.), at around 3:30pm, I again saw that wierd Kumlien-esque gull at Almaden Lake Park. It was the same bird I saw there on Feb. 19th, and from his description appears to be the same one earlier reported by Steve Rottenborn. It was a husky bird, about the size of adjacent Herring Gulls, and was clearly larger than a couple of nearby Thayer's. It stands out from the other gulls because it has white primaries and a white tail--almost causes snow blindness if you look at it when the sun hits it right. It has a fairly large entirely dark bill with noticeable gonydeal angle. In case my earlier comments were misleading, I do not think it is a Glaucous-winged Gull, but I don't know what it is. Hopefully some other birders will refind it and post their analysis. Both times I found it in the afternoon on the gravel bar at the stream inflow. Gull numbers seem to peak there between 1 and 3pm. John Mariani [[email protected]] www.birdswest.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]] Mon Feb 28 11:11:13 2000 Subject: [SBB] Test post -------- Just checking to see if the listserver is still running. -- Les Chibana List Bureaucrat South-Bay-Birds List [[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 Feb 28 12:59:19 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Recent South County Birds -------- Sorry, but the high count of TURKEY VULTURES that I reported was actually on 2/26, not 2/27 as originally posted. 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 Feb 28 15:57:48 2000 Subject: [SBB] Some out of county birding -------- SBB, Today, 2/28/00, I went to the Charleston Slough area. 10 BLACK SKIMMERS were on the vegetated islet at the base of the slough. I didn't have a scope and I could count about 12 male REDHEAD about 300 yards out on the east side of the slough. There probably were females with them. 4 CANVASBACK were on Shoreline Lake, where I don't often see them. And for those of you who want a CEDAR WAXWING photo-op or just like watching them, there's a flock at the south end of Shoreline Lake near the Mtn. View forebay. Take San Antonio Rd. north to the end (Terminal Blvd.), turn right, go to the end, and park. Continue past the green gate over the culvert that feeds into the southeast corner of the forebay. The waxwings were visiting the fruited Pyracantha along the right side of the paved walkway that goes along the south edge of Shoreline Lake. I can't guarantee that they'll alway be there, but I have gotten some good photos of them here. I led two Los Banos area fieldtrips for my class this weekend, 2/26 and 2/27. The rain was only a minor inconvenience on Sunday. It was partly sunny both days. Reasonable amounts of WHITE-FACED IBIS were in the area, mostly seen at Los Banos WA and Santa Fe Grade. There are still lots of SNOW and ROSS'S GOOSE present at Merced NWR. They were moving between the stubblefield northeast of the entrance and the the water at the first leg of the auto tour. On Sat. we saw 3 BLUE MORPH Snow and 1 Ross's Goose all in the pond along the first leg of the auto tour. On Sun., we saw 2 blue morph Ross's and 1 Snow Goose in the field north east of the entrance. One of the blue Ross's was not as extensively dark as the other. The belly of the lighter bird was white and there was only a thin streak of dark feathering up the nape; it's small bill, gray carunculed bill base, straight feather margin at the bill base, rounded head shape, and small size confirmed that it was Ross's. The darker bird had more dark nape feathering and the face appeared like a white disk. The flock on Sunday was large and I estimated about 4,000 white geese; as seems usual, most appeared to be Ross's. Very few CANADA GOOSE were present and regular numbers of GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE were seen. Several hundred SANDHILL CRANES were still present at and flying into the Merced NWR. A large contingent of BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER were at the Merced NWR on Sat. but not seen on Sun. A handful were well into breeding plumage. One FERRUGINOUS HAWK was seen along Sandy Mush Rd. (on Sat.), east of the refuge entrance between Lone Tree Rd. and the entrance. Several occupied RED-TAILED HAWK nests were seen along Sandy Mush Rd. One adult BALD EAGLE was seen circling above Los Banos WA. BURROWING OWLS (3 on Sat., 4 on Sun.) were seen at the end of Combs Rd. south of Sandy Mush Rd. 1 occupied GREAT-HORNED OWL nest was seen at Merced NWR and 2 more were seen at Los Banos WA. Several swallow species were seen. Most numerous were TREE, with some BARN and one NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. All were seen at Merced NWR. In the fields north of Sandy Mush Rd. and east of the Merced NWR entrance were huge numbers of blackbirds, mostly RED-WINGED, TRICOLORED and BREWER'S. There were also good numbers of YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS mixed in. I estimated 60-100 with at least 3 adult males seen. On both days, 2 leucistic blackbirds were observed. They seemed to be entirely white. I saw one through a scope; it had dark eyes and a faint rusty tone about where the epaulets would be on a Red-wing, which is what I assumed this one to be. About a half-dozen YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS including one adult male were also seen at Los Banos WA. And probably the most unexpected bird seen was an after-second-year male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE at the corner of Hwy 59 and Sandy Mush Rd. Les Chibana, Palo Alto, 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 Feb 29 08:56:54 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Some out of county birding -------- Thanks for making that post, Les, and reminding me how I'd neglected to report our own trip to Merced NWR last weekend. Among other things, Penny and I found 2 GREAT-HORNED OWL's nesting, one on and one off the reserve. We found 2 other raptors on their nests, but couldn't determine what they were due to poor lighting/viewing conditions. We map marked them and had planned to return at a later date with better light. But this continuing rain and overcast has done little to make that happen. Perhaps this Sunday--weather permitting... Anybody interested in teaming up? Dusty Bleher Campbell, Ca. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Les Chibana" <[[email protected]]> To: "South Bay Birders" <[[email protected]]>; "CalBird" <[[email protected]]> Sent: Monday, February 28, 2000 15:57 Subject: [SBB] Some out of county birding > SBB, > > Today, 2/28/00, I went to the Charleston Slough area. 10 BLACK > SKIMMERS were on the vegetated islet at the base of the slough. > south of Sandy Mush Rd. 1 occupied GREAT-HORNED OWL nest was seen at > Merced NWR and 2 more were seen at Los Banos WA. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Feb 29 09:01:47 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re; Weird Gull at Almaden Lake Park -------- I, too, have seen the "weird gull" at Almaden Lake Park four times in the last two weeks, while looking for the Glaucous Gull, which I have yet to see. I always find it on the gravel bar, usually standing right on the edge. It has been there anytime between 1:30 and 3:30 in the afternoon. Can't add anything to Steve and John's extensive descriptions. Even though out of county, Saturday I saw a Marbled Duck up at the pond in Strybing Arboretum in Golden Gate Park. I am sure it is an escapee, considering they accur in the Middle East, but it sure is a pretty little thing. Kathy Parker -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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]]