From [[email protected]] Wed Jul 01 07:17:44 1998 South Bay Birders, I have added the June 1998 South-Bay-Birds messages to the archives on my web site. Go to http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan and follow the "California Birding" links. Note that the url pointing to the archives has changed slightly, but the old one still works. While there, you may also want to check out the new Santa Clara County Birding page off the "California County Birding Pages" link. Please let me know of any errors or omissions. Other changes this month include the addition of photos and descriptions of Brown Booby and Eastern Wood-Pewee at Point Reyes and details on the Masked Booby at Ano Nuevo. I've also added a new photo quiz for July (please help me out with the oriole if you can), answers and discussion of the June photo quiz; and I've updated the links page. Suggestions and corrections are always welcome. Enjoy! -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94144 [[email protected]] SF Birding Classes begin Sept 9th 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]] Wed Jul 01 09:46:35 1998 Hi Everyone-- Late is also good for Masked Booby. I was out there from 6:30 to 7:45 PM on 6/30, and once Doug Shaw, Ron Thorn, and Jim Danzenbaker showed me where to look, I got good views (thanks again). With a 60x Swarovski, I was able to pick it out from the visitor center and from vantage points along the pond trail (it was sitting in a patch of bare ground just north of the northernmost blind on the main island). No Black Swifts, but Bank Swallows are plentiful. 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]] Wed Jul 01 13:38:41 1998 Regarding Nuttall's becomming a local "trash" bird- For the past 10 years we have had Nuttall's Woodpeckers nesting in the San Jose-Cupertino area. There are currently 2 pairs in the vicinity of Lynbrook High School and Carol Murdock park. Eight years ago I watched a nest in a cottonwood limb overhanging Saratoga Creek next to Lawrence Expressway. Unfortunately, some kids used the limb to tie a rope so they could swing out over the creek, and the birds moved. A year later the hole was taken over by Plain Titmouse and the Nuttall's were trying to nest in a decrepit oak nearby. They were apparently driven out by Starlings. At about the same time (I have to check my video records for the date) I videoed a Downy nest and a Nuttall's nest on opposite sides of Johnson Avenue just north of Lynbrook High School. The Lynbrook Nuttall's spend a lot of time hammering on the telephone pole at the rear of our neighbor's house, especially in the early spring to announce their territory, I guess. I also got some video 3 or 4 springs ago of two males jockeying around a tree on the corner of our street - apparently a territorial dispute. They kept it up for 30 minutes - they would move to another tree and resume spiralling around the tree. Once in a while they would squawk at each other. The Starlings drove the California (Acorn) Woodpeckers from the Saratoga Creek area years ago. Lou Young ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Jul 01 17:07:01 1998 Hello South Bay Birders, This past Saturday, 6/27/98, Mary and I went to the Yerba Buena Nursery to peruse the Calif. native plant selection. This is in San Mateo County 2 miles west of Skyline Blvd. The access road is opposite the Thomas Fogarty Winery on Skyline Blvd. about 2.5 miles north of Page Mill Rd. At about 12:30p the fog had not yet lifted from the area. SWAINSON'S THRUSHES were singing their haunting phrases along the road as well as at the Nursery. One male WESTERN TANAGER was seen at the parking area, and one CHIPPING SPARROW was in the demo garden. Of breeding bird interest, "our" nesting Black Phoebes were actively feeding their softly vocal nestlings from dawn to dusk on both Saturday and Sunday. Those were hard working parents! On Sunday, 6/26/98, I saw a male Hairy Woodpecker feeding a fledgling who was foraging on its own. Les ========================================== Les Chibana, Mountain View [[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 Jul 01 21:03:09 1998 I briefly checked the lagoons by the CCRS trailers today (but not the shorebird pond). There were still lots of Wlison's Phalaropes around and didn't have time to check them throughly for things like Stilt Sandpiper. I also saw a Semi-palmated Plover, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 16 Western and 3 Least Sandpipers, so variety is picking up a little. Nick Lethaby Director of Business Development Elanix, Inc. Tel: 408 941 0223 Fax: 408 941 0984 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 02 17:44:15 1998 On 1 July, Les Chibana (& Mary H.) reported on the birds they'd seen and heard at this locally well-known native plant nursery up on Skyline Blvd. "SWAINSON'S THRUSHES were singing their haunting phrases along the road as well as at the Nursery. One male WESTERN TANAGER was seen at the parking area, and one CHIPPING SPARROW was in the demo garden." I'd like to pass on the fact that YBN has an interesting website at www.yerbabuenanursery.com that includes, among other things, a bird list of some of the birds that have been seen there. It's found under "buttons" called aprx. Features/Bird Watching. Best I can tell, none of the birds Les ID'd are presently contained on the YBN list!! Note that the YBN website provides full particulars of who they are, where they are, what their hours are, etc. Maps are included. Note also that on weekends, they operate a "tea shop" on the premises. I do not, however, recall seeing an espresso machine. Bummer! Our only connection to YBN is that of "satisfied customers" for their plants. We visited them recently and found them quite receptive to "well-behaved birders." Scott & Gayle Spencer Menlo Park, CA aka [[email protected]] Scott Spencer, Menlo Park, CA email: [[email protected]] (spouse: [[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 Jul 02 17:45:01 1998 There was a marked increase in Western Sandpipers today with about 185 present. Other shorebirds were similar to yesterday. Nick Lethaby Director of Business Development Elanix, Inc. Tel: 408 941 0223 Fax: 408 941 0984 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 03 21:15:20 1998 Today there was a Lesser Yellowlegs at CCRS. There now 5 Greater Yellowlegs, 4-500 Western & 10 Least Sandpipers. The Semi-palmated Plover is still there. Up to 15 Bonaparte's Gulls are hanging around. Nick Lethaby Director of Business Development Elanix, Inc. Tel: 408 941 0223 Fax: 408 941 0984 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 03 21:17:11 1998 The booby was still present at Ano Nuevo Island Friday evening. Nick Lethaby Director of Business Development Elanix, Inc. Tel: 408 941 0223 Fax: 408 941 0984 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 04 08:42:08 1998 I read the letters and queries on the Acorn Woodpecker. There has for many years been a fairly large colony in the Golden Oak Park in San Jose. It is in an area near Coleman Road and Meridian, located near transmission towers. There are many dead oak trees in the park. One large storage tree was cut down last year, but the last time I was there this spring, there were still many woodpeckers to be seen. I have been enjoying my backyard birds--QUAIL pair with the male exhibiting various calls, HOODED ORIOLE FAMILY,BLACKHEADED GROSBEAK PAIR, BEWICKS WREN, CHESTNUT BACKED CHICKADEE, OAK TITMOUSE, SPOTTED TOWHEE (when did they change the name from Rufous etc),LESSER GOLDFINCH and yesterday a young ROBIN. For some reason, I don't see many Robins except in the winter when they feed on the Pyrancantha and Juniper berries. The Orioles were very late arriving at my feeder this year, May 16. I thought they had forgotten when I live. They usually arrive the first week in April. The last Cedar Waxwing flock I saw was May 7. Old news, but, my flock of WHITE CROWNS AND GOLDS CROWN started arriving right on schedule during the fourth week of Sept. last fall. They were here for six months. Sure hope the GREEN TAILED TOWHEE finds its way here again this coming fall. Barbara Harkleroad ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Jul 04 11:45:46 1998 Today, Steve Rottenborn and I birded CCRS. Shorebird numbers continue to increase. There were 700 Westerns and Steve found 2 Semi-palmated Sandpipers, one of which I saw. There were also 15 Greater and 3 Lesser Yellowlegs, the Semi-palmated Plover, and 2 (probable) Short-billed Dowitchers. Nick Lethaby Director of Business Development Elanix, Inc. Tel: 408 941 0223 Fax: 408 941 0984 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 05 14:35:25 1998 All: Could the current "list bureaucrat" please subscribe Kent Van Vuren to this list or send him information on how to subscribe? His email address is [[email protected]] Thank you, 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 Jul 05 17:43:17 1998 I tried to seek out the ACORN WOODPECKER "house" and "storage" area today at La Rinconada Park for Bill Bousman. I saw one flying over and beyond a house immediately across the street from the park. I walked up the cul de sac (off Granada Way). A man was in the garage of the house I'd seen it fly beyond. I asked him if he knew where the ACORN WOODPECKERS lived. He said he'd lived in his house for 17 years. About 10 years ago, the ACORN WOODPECKER's decided to call his home, their home. He said he tried everything he could think of to discourage them. He said he had a multitude of holes in his roof the size of his fist that held lots and lots of acorns. His neighbor was having the same problem. These are $950K homes. Both he and his neighbor decided to re-roof earlier then wear and tear dictated. Both homes were reroofed with metal shingles last year and the woodpeckers have moved elsewhere. He said he hears them every morning at 7:30 am and he sees them with their white wing patches, but he's not sure where their home is now, probably his neighbor up the hill behind him. He said they're pretty birds, but VERY EXPENSIVE ones for him! Gloria LeBlanc 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 Jul 06 09:11:26 1998 On 3 Jul 98 I made a stop at Charleston Slough, where I found 1 LEAST TERN still foraging over the outer slough with FORSTER’S TERNS. Three eclipse male AMERICAN WIGEONS were on Adobe Creek and one eclipse male GREATER SCAUP was on Shoreline Lake. On 5 Jul 98 I went to the Sunnyvale Sewage Ponds and walked around the smaller of the two ponds. I had 11 adult LESSER SCAUP, with 2 of the females having broods (one with 8 young, the other with 5). Also present was an unsexed AMERICAN WIGEON and a female NORTHERN PINTAIL (plus lots of GADWALLS and MALLARDS, of course). A stop at Crittenden Marsh produced 4 broods of RUDDY DUCKS (three with 7 young and one with 2 young). There were 4 EARED GREBES here as well, but none was giving any indications of breeding. Mike Mammoser ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 06 14:16:13 1998 Hello all I don't know if I have the abreviation correct (RSHA?), but I discovered an active RED-SHOULDERED HAWK nest in Los Gatos on 7/4. I found it interesting that the nest is NOT in a riparian area. It is in a row of Eucalypitas trees, on Hilow Rd. between Marchmont Drive and Shannon Rd. (not too far from Los Gatos Blvd). Although this area is very close to the hills, it is in a suburban area. There is at least one, (white) downy nestling being fed by the parent birds. The nest is about 60 or 70 feet up in the 7th main tree from Marchmont Dr., as you face South. Alan ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 06 15:55:27 1998 In response to Alan Walthers Red-shouldered Hawk nest, I had a pair of Red- shouldered Hawks nest in a group of Eucalyptus trees in Belmont this year. The pair of fledglings left the nest on June 3. These trees are not near a riparian area either, although Belmont Creek is a half mile away. This is the second year in three that the hawks have nested in these trees. Paul L. Noble----Scchowl ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 06 22:52:31 1998 Hi Folks, The following really made my day today. Dave and I saw what appeared to be a family of Western Screech Owls this evening at dusk in a city park here in Palo Alto (Bol Park near Gunn H.S.). First we saw three small owls together, viewing them in silhouette, either fighting over or begging for food. We saw that one was eating something but it was too small to be a rodent. They were making a noise that I am unfamiliar with, perhaps a begging noise, but we figured they had to be WSOW. About 30 feet further along the path we heard the regular Screech Owl call, coming from up in the trees, I thought. Continuing along the path, a bird flew up off the path right in front of me, surprising the heck out of me. It flew to a low branch in a small tree nearby and we could see that it was a small owl. We figured it must have been eating a bug or some prey item before we interrupted it. I was surprised to see these birds in the local park, but I see in National Geographic that suburban areas and parks are listed as habitats for them. I did hear a WSOW along Barron Creek near the park last summer but I figured it was moving through. I wonder if these owls really nested nearby. Cheers, Leda Beth Gray ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jul 06 23:31:03 1998 This morning (7/6) on my daily walk along Saratoga Creek I noted that the elderberries are ripening. Sure enough, the first Band-tailed Pigeon I've seen this year flew down the creek and subsequently popped out of an elderberry bush into a low branch as I came close. Seemed to be by itself, which is unusual. I normally expect to begin sighting a flock of 12-15 starting in August each year. Lou Young ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Jul 07 08:34:55 1998 Ever since we first put out feeders in our back yard, they have been dominated by House Finches, until recently. These days, we get 3 or 4 at a time, a few times each day. In particular, we've seen no chicks at all this year. I'm curious whether this reflects a very local change, or perhaps something on a larger scale has affected them this year. Any other observations? It's not that we've lacked birds in the yard, including many juveniles. The Lesser Goldfinches brought jillions of chicks, consuming up to 12 oz of thistle a day. We've watched families of Oak Titmouse, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, White-breasted Nuthatch, and CA Towhee. Lately, we've had two adult and two juvenile Hooded Orioles sharing a feeder with the hummers and chickadees. Our Scrub Jays abandoned one nest for some reason, but have produced four youmgsters on the second try. And, for Lou Young: You're welcome to our Band Tailed Pigeons anytime. Their arrival in quantity coincided roughly with the departure of the House Finches, tho I'm reluctant to attribute a cause and effect relationship. ---------------- George Oetzel <[[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 Jul 07 09:45:47 1998 Yesterday (July 6) I spotted one SPOTTED SANDPIPER at the pond in the Coyote Creek Overflow Channel N. of Montague Expwy in N. San Jose. It may be the same one that was here eariler. I call it Spot. It works its way along the edge of the pond bobbing its tail up and down. (See Spot run.) - Chris Salander ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 07 09:45:52 1998 Dear Birders, Alan Walther's wrote: I don't know if I have the abreviation correct (RSHA?), but I discovered an active RED-SHOULDERED HAWK nest in Los Gatos on 7/4. I found it interesting that the nest is NOT in a riparian area. It is in a row of Eucalypitas trees, on Hilow Rd. between Marchmont Drive and Shannon Rd. (not too far from Los Gatos Blvd). Although this area is very close to the hills, it is in a suburban area. There is at least one, (white) downy nestling being fed by the parent birds. The nest is about 60 or 70 feet up in the 7th main tree from Marchmont Dr., as you face South. Alan About ten years ago a Red-shouldered Hawk nested in a Eucalypitas tree by the Forum building at Foothill College. The tree was at the corner of a major student parking lot and two walkways into campus. There was a chick but I was informed by the biology instructor that the chick had been harassed by a Scrub Jay and fell from the nest and died. The hawks never nested there again, but there is still a Red-shouldered Hawk on campus. It hangs out on the NW side of campus. Side note: on Friday June 26 during the graduation ceremony a Golden Eagle flew over the Foothill College football field. It was dusk and the bird was heading SE. Two biology instructors confirmed the siting. Also, one of the instructors had seen a Golden Eagle on campus a few weeks earlier. Ginny Becchine ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 07 14:42:50 1998 All, Today 7/7/98, while returning from Stanford to work, I stopped by the Charleston Slough area just after noon. The 3 eclipse male AMERICAN WIGEONS were still in Adobe Creek along with 1 female. Three adult LEAST TERNS were on a wooden platform in outer Charleston Slough. About 120 peeps in the Flood Control Basin were too distant in the heat haze to do much with, but the two in Adobe Creek were adult LEAST SANDPIPERS. Three GREATER YELLOWLEGS were also about. A quick check of Shoreline Lake turned up the male BLACK SCOTER doing its best dabbling duck impression by foraging with its head underwater as it swam right next to shore. Eight SURF SCOTERS (5 males and 3 females) were also on the lake. If the Black Scoter remains with our resident Surf Scoters it would sure make a great dependable Big Day bird! :) Mike Rogers ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Jul 07 15:50:45 1998 Went to a weekend company picnic at Saratoga Springs on hwy 9, hoards of people, RVs etc. but what a beautiful creek running through it, Saratoga Creek I guess? With a single American Dipper flying both above and below the bridge to the parking lot. A nice treat among all those party-goers and Steller's Jays. Janet Hanson ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 07 16:03:36 1998 JULY 7, 1998 SANTA CLARA COUNTY YEAR LIST UPDATE Well, it looks like we may have missed Black Swifts this year - although Ann Verdi and Clysta Seney did have an unseasonable bird on 7/5/96 along the Guadalupe River at Taylor two years ago. Also no Indigo Bunting yet. A good spot to try for this bird would be among the many Lazuli Buntings along the trails from Ed Levin Park up to Monument Peak - several have been found on the Alameda county side up there in the past. Otherwise July brings the return of the shorebirds! Semipalmated Sandpipers have already been reported and Baird's and Pectoral Sandpipers may not be far behind - not to mention the fun rarities that Santa Clara County is becoming famous for! Mike P.S. Some advice from Kendric: [To make the columns line up, please copy this list to a word processor, and change the font to a monospaced font (Monoco, Courier, etc.), and set the right hand margin to 7.5 inches.] ________________________________________________________________________ Recent progress of the composite list: 262: 6/ 7/98 OVENBIRD 263: 6/ 8/98 COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD 264: 6/16/98 WILSON'S PHALAROPE 265: 6/22/98 LAUGHING GULL 266: 7/ 2/98 LEAST TERN 267: 7/ 4/98 SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPER Please send any additions, corrections, or comments to Mike Rogers, [[email protected]]. SANTA CLARA COUNTY YEAR LIST - 1998 SCR MMR MJM COMP SOURCE 377 236 217 219 267+ICGU % OF COMPOSITE FOR 1998 % OF 377 (Iceland Gull not counted) Red-throated Loon 2/16 2/ 8 2/ 8 SBT Pacific Loon 2/21 SBT Common Loon 2/ 8 2/11 2/14 1/ 2 AVe Pied-billed Grebe 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Horned Grebe 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Red-necked Grebe 1/ 2 1/16 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Eared Grebe 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Western Grebe 1/ 2 2/11 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Clark's Grebe 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Northern Fulmar Sooty Shearwater Ashy Storm-Petrel Brown Booby American White Pelican 1/ 2 1/16 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Brown Pelican 7/ 3 1/ 6 2/ 8 1/ 4 JMa Double-crested Cormorant 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Brandt's Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Magnificent Frigatebird American Bittern 1/16 2/28 1/15 CWh Least Bittern Great Blue Heron 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Great Egret 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Snowy Egret 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Little Blue Heron 5/ 7 4/29 PJM Cattle Egret 1/ 2 4/24 4/26 1/ 2 SCR Green Heron 1/ 6 2/11 2/13 1/ 1 DJC Black-crowned Night-Heron 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC White-faced Ibis Fulvous Whistling-Duck Tundra Swan 1/ 2 1/ 7 1/ 3 1/ 1 CKS,JML,DJC Greater White-fronted Goose 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Snow Goose 1/ 2 1/ 3 1/ 2 SCR Ross' Goose 2/ 8 1/19 1/16 1/16 MJM Brant Canada Goose 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Wood Duck 4/21 4/11 1/18 1/ 1 AVe,CH Green-winged Teal 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Mallard 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Northern Pintail 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Garganey Blue-winged Teal 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Cinnamon Teal 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Northern Shoveler 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Gadwall 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Eurasian Wigeon 1/26 2/24 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM American Wigeon 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Canvasback 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Redhead 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Ring-necked Duck 1/ 2 1/ 7 1/31 1/ 1 m.ob. Tufted Duck 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Greater Scaup 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Lesser Scaup 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Oldsquaw Black Scoter 3/ 8 3/ 2 3/ 8 3/ 1 JMe Surf Scoter 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC White-winged Scoter 2/11 1/ 6 2/13 1/ 6 MMR Common Goldeneye 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Barrow's Goldeneye 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Bufflehead 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Hooded Merganser 1/ 4 2/28 2/28 1/ 1 AVe,CH,NLe Common Merganser 1/ 2 1/ 7 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Red-breasted Merganser 1/16 2/11 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Ruddy Duck 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Turkey Vulture 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. California Condor Osprey 3/ 2 1/19 1/18 1/17 JMa,JLa White-tailed Kite 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 2 SCR,MJM Bald Eagle 2/ 8 2/16 1/16 SGu Northern Harrier 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Sharp-shinned Hawk 1/ 2 1/19 4/26 1/ 2 SCR Cooper's Hawk 1/ 2 1/ 6 2/22 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Northern Goshawk Red-shouldered Hawk 1/ 2 1/16 1/ 3 1/ 1 DJC Broad-winged Hawk Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Ferruginous Hawk 1/ 2 1/19 1/ 2 SCR Rough-legged Hawk 1/ 3 1/ 3 SCR Golden Eagle 1/ 6 1/ 7 1/17 1/ 1 DJC American Kestrel 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Merlin 1/ 9 2/ 9 1/ 3 1/ 2 fide CKS Peregrine Falcon 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Prairie Falcon 3/ 4 1/25 NLe Ring-necked Pheasant 1/ 6 1/13 2/22 1/ 6 SCR Wild Turkey 3/16 4/11 4/ 5 1/ 1 JMa California Quail 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/18 1/ 1 SCR,DJC Mountain Quail 6/11 5/13 MLF Yellow Rail Black Rail 1/12 1/12 2/ 8 1/ 9 VTi,RWR,FVs Clapper Rail 1/12 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Virginia Rail 1/ 2 1/12 1/31 1/ 2 SCR Sora 1/ 2 1/16 2/ 8 1/ 2 SCR Common Moorhen 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC American Coot 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Sandhill Crane Black-bellied Plover 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Pacific Golden-Plover American Golden-Plover Snowy Plover 5/13 6/14 4/19 TRy,SSa Semipalmated Plover 1/ 6 4/24 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Killdeer 1/ 1 1/ 7 1/18 1/ 1 m.ob. Mountain Plover Black Oystercatcher Black-necked Stilt 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC American Avocet 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Greater Yellowlegs 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Lesser Yellowlegs 1/ 6 4/24 1/ 6 SCR Solitary Sandpiper 4/19 PJM Willet 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Wandering Tattler Spotted Sandpiper 4/27 2/ 8 2/16 1/ 1 AVe,CH Whimbrel 1/ 6 1/ 6 2/ 8 1/ 4 CKS,JML Long-billed Curlew 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Hudsonian Godwit Bar-tailed Godwit Marbled Godwit 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Ruddy Turnstone 4/28 RWR Black Turnstone Red Knot 1/ 6 1/ 6 SCR Sanderling 5/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 6 MMR Semipalmated Sandpiper 7/ 4 7/ 4 SCR,NLe Western Sandpiper 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Least Sandpiper 1/ 2 1/ 6 2/14 1/ 1 AVe,CH White-rumped Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper Pectoral Sandpiper Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Dunlin 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Curlew Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper Buff-breasted Sandpiper Ruff Short-billed Dowitcher 1/ 6 1/ 6 4/26 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Long-billed Dowitcher 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 2 SCR,MJM,AVe Common Snipe 1/ 5 3/ 8 1/ 1 DJC Wilson's Phalarope 6/16 6/13 6/12 BMc Red-necked Phalarope 4/17 4/17 MJM,AVE,FVs Red Phalarope 2/11 2/ 8 2/ 8 SBT Pomarine Jaeger Parasitic Jaeger Long-tailed Jaeger Laughing Gull 6/22 DSt Franklin's Gull 6/ 9 6/10 6/13 5/13 RWR,FVs Little Gull 4/28 4/29 4/28 4/28 SCR Black-headed Gull Bonaparte's Gull 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Heermann's Gull Mew Gull 1/ 2 1/19 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,TGr Ring-billed Gull 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. California Gull 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Herring Gull 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Thayer's Gull 1/ 2 1/16 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH ??Iceland Gull 1/16 1/16 SBT,SCR,AJa,MH Lesser Black-backed Gull 1/18 3/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Western Gull 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Glaucous-winged Gull 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,TGr Glaucous Gull 1/ 6 2/24 1/ 6 SCR Black-legged Kittiwake Sabine's Gull Caspian Tern 4/17 4/11 4/11 4/ 2 RWR Elegant Tern Common Tern 5/15 SBT Arctic Tern Forster's Tern 1/ 6 2/ 8 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Least Tern 7/ 2 7/ 7 7/ 3 7/ 2 SCR Black Tern 5/ 7 4/29 4/28 TGr,JSt,RWR Black Skimmer 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Common Murre Ancient Murrelet Cassin's Auklet Rock Dove 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Band-tailed Pigeon 1/ 1 3/27 3/15 1/ 1 SCR White-winged Dove Mourning Dove 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Yellow-billed Cuckoo Greater Roadrunner 4/19 SMi Barn Owl 4/19 1/ 9 4/26 1/ 9 MMR,RJe Flammulated Owl Western Screech-Owl 6/ 2 4/26 1/ 1 JMa Great Horned Owl 1/14 4/25 3/22 1/ 1 DJC Northern Pygmy-Owl 1/ 1 4/12 1/ 1 SCR,JMa Burrowing Owl 1/ 5 1/20 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Long-eared Owl Short-eared Owl 3/ 7 RiC Northern Saw-whet Owl 4/26 1/ 1 JMa Lesser Nighthawk Common Nighthawk Common Poorwill 4/26 4/26 MJM,GKH,DSt Black Swift Chimney Swift Vaux's Swift 4/13 4/25 4/25 4/12 DPo,SMi White-throated Swift 1/18 1/21 2/22 1/ 8 RWR,FVs Black-chinned Hummingbird 5/ 6 5/ 8 4/18 4/16 CCRS Anna's Hummingbird 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Costa's Hummingbird 6/ 8 6/ 8 SCR Calliope Hummingbird 4/19 4/19 SCR,HLR,RPR Broad-tailed Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird 3/16 4/ 8 4/ 5 3/16 SCR Allen's Hummingbird 3/ 4 4/11 3/15 1/25 AME Belted Kingfisher 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/17 1/ 1 DJC Lewis' Woodpecker 1/ 6 NLe,RWR,FVs Acorn Woodpecker 1/ 1 1/ 6 2/28 1/ 1 SCR,JMa,DJC Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1/ 2 1/ 1 CKS,JML Red-naped Sapsucker 1/ 6 1/ 6 MMR Red-breasted Sapsucker 1/ 2 1/ 7 1/17 1/ 1 m.ob. Williamson's Sapsucker Nuttall's Woodpecker 1/ 2 1/ 7 1/ 3 1/ 2 m.ob. Downy Woodpecker 1/ 1 3/ 4 1/ 3 1/ 1 SCR,CKS,JML Hairy Woodpecker 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 SCR,JMa,DJC Northern Flicker 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Pileated Woodpecker 6/11 4/12 4/12 MJM Olive-sided Flycatcher 4/26 5/ 6 4/25 4/16 JCo Western Wood-Pewee 4/26 4/25 4/25 4/19 JDa Willow Flycatcher 5/28 6/12 5/28 SCR Least Flycatcher Hammond's Flycatcher 4/30 4/11 4/11 4/11 MMR,MJM Dusky Flycatcher Gray Flycatcher Pacific-slope Flycatcher 3/28 3/27 3/18 1/ 4 CCRS Black Phoebe 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Eastern Phoebe 1/ 2 3/ 4 3/ 1 1/ 2 SCR Say's Phoebe 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/18 1/ 2 SCR Ash-throated Flycatcher 4/14 4/25 4/26 4/ 8 RWR Tropical Kingbird Cassin's Kingbird 5/ 4 4/11 4/11 3/ 1 DRo,RCa kingbird sp. 2/ 8 AGu Western Kingbird 3/16 4/ 8 4/11 3/16 SCR Eastern Kingbird Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Horned Lark 3/16 4/26 3/15 1/25 AME Purple Martin 5/14 RCi Tree Swallow 1/18 1/19 3/ 1 1/17 LCh Violet-green Swallow 2/ 5 1/19 2/22 1/18 JDa Nor. Rough-winged Swallow 2/ 8 2/25 2/28 2/ 8 SCR Bank Swallow 7/ 2 5/26 NLe Cliff Swallow 3/ 2 3/ 1 3/ 8 2/26 TRy Barn Swallow 1/ 2 1/19 3/ 1 1/ 2 SCR Steller's Jay 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/17 1/ 1 m.ob. Western Scrub-Jay 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. Clark's Nutcracker Black-billed Magpie Yellow-billed Magpie 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. American Crow 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Common Raven 1/ 1 1/ 5 2/13 1/ 1 m.ob. Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1/ 1 1/16 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. Oak Titmouse 1/ 3 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 CKS,JML,DJC Bushtit 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. Red-breasted Nuthatch 4/12 1/ 1 JMa White-breasted Nuthatch 1/ 3 1/ 6 1/13 1/ 1 DJC Pygmy Nuthatch 1/ 1 4/12 1/ 1 SCR,JMa Brown Creeper 1/ 1 4/25 1/17 1/ 1 m.ob. Rock Wren 3/ 16 1/19 1/13 1/13 MJM Canyon Wren 1/ 1 JSa,HGe Bewick's Wren 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. House Wren 3/29 4/ 8 4/ 5 3/21 LAY Winter Wren 1/ 1 4/ 4 1/ 1 SCR Marsh Wren 1/12 1/12 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM American Dipper 4/11 3/29 TGr Golden-crowned Kinglet 1/ 2 1/ 2 SCR Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4/26 3/27 3/29 1/ 5 CJC Western Bluebird 1/ 2 1/ 6 2/16 1/ 1 DJC Mountain Bluebird 1/17 JLu Townsend's Solitaire 5/ 6 5/ 3 MHa,DHa Swainson's Thrush 4/30 5/ 6 5/ 9 4/ 2 PMB Hermit Thrush 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/13 1/ 1 SCR,JMa American Robin 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/13 1/ 1 m.ob. Varied Thrush 1/ 1 1/ 1 SCR Wrentit 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/17 1/ 1 SCR,JMa,DJC Northern Mockingbird 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Sage Thrasher 4/ 7 BWe Brown Thrasher California Thrasher 1/ 1 1/ 6 2/28 1/ 1 SCR Red-throated Pipit American Pipit 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Bohemian Waxwing Cedar Waxwing 1/ 2 1/14 3/28 1/ 1 JMa Phainopepla 4/18 1/ 6 NLe,RWR,FVs Northern Shrike Loggerhead Shrike 1/ 1 1/19 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. European Starling 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Bell's Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Cassin's Vireo 4/26 4/11 4/12 4/ 5 LAY Plumbeous Vireo Hutton's Vireo 1/ 1 1/19 1/ 3 1/ 1 SCR,JMa Warbling Vireo 3/28 3/27 3/29 3/18 AME Red-eyed Vireo Tennessee Warbler Orange-crowned Warbler 1/ 4 1/24 3/ 1 1/ 4 SCR,CCRS Nashville Warbler 4/14 4/25 4/12 JMM Virginia's Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler 1/ 4 4/11 4/25 1/ 4 SCR Chestnut-sided Warbler Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Black-throated Gray Warbler 4/30 4/25 4/ 5 1/ 9 SBT Townsend's Warbler 1/ 1 3/27 3/15 1/ 1 SCR,JMa,DJC Hermit Warbler 4/26 4/ 4 2/ 1 AVe,CH Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Prairie Warbler 1/ 4 1/17 1/ 4 SCR Palm Warbler 1/ 4 1/13 1/ 4 SCR,HLR Blackpoll Warbler Black-and-White Warbler American Redstart Prothonotary Warbler Worm-eating Warbler Ovenbird 6/ 7 SRo,KVV Northern Waterthrush Kentucky Warbler Connecticut Warbler MacGillivray's Warbler 4/26 4/25 4/19 NLe Common Yellowthroat 1/ 4 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Hooded Warbler Wilson's Warbler 3/28 3/27 3/22 3/22 MJM Yellow-breasted Chat 5/ 6 5/ 3 CCRS Summer Tanager Scarlet Tanager Western Tanager 4/24 4/26 4/25 1/23 RWR Rose-breasted Grosbeak 5/25 KCo,MWr Black-headed Grosbeak 4/ 8 4/11 4/11 4/ 5 VTi Blue Grosbeak 5/ 6 5/11 4/19 4/19 MJM Lazuli Bunting 4/19 4/26 5/ 3 4/19 SCR Indigo Bunting Passerina sp. 4/10 4/10 SCR Dickcissel Green-tailed Towhee Spotted Towhee 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 SCR,JMa,DJC California Towhee 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/13 1/ 1 m.ob. Rufous-crowned Sparrow 1/ 2 4/ 8 4/11 1/ 2 SCR American Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow 4/27 4/26 3/31 GFi,MPl Clay-colored Sparrow Brewer's Sparrow Black-chinned Sparrow 5/23 JGa Vesper Sparrow Lark Sparrow 4/ 8 1/19 1/ 4 1/ 4 MJM Black-throated Sparrow Sage Sparrow 4/12 AME,DPo Lark Bunting Savannah Sparrow 1/ 2 1/12 1/ 4 1/ 1 DJC Grasshopper Sparrow 4/10 6/ 2 4/10 SCR Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow 1/ 9 fide AME Fox Sparrow 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Song Sparrow 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Lincoln's Sparrow 1/ 2 1/13 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Swamp Sparrow 1/ 2 1/ 2 SCR White-throated Sparrow 3/29 1/15 AJb Golden-crowned Sparrow 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. White-crowned Sparrow 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Harris' Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. Lapland Longspur Chestnut-collared Longspur Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Tricolored Blackbird 1/ 2 1/14 4/11 1/ 2 SCR Western Meadowlark 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Yellow-headed Blackbird 5/ 4 4/ 4 NLe Brewer's Blackbird 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Great-tailed Grackle 5/25 5/28 5/30 5/25 SCR Brown-headed Cowbird 1/ 2 1/16 1/18 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Hooded Oriole 3/29 4/24 4/26 3/21 AWa Baltimore Oriole Bullock's Oriole 3/28 4/ 8 3/22 3/19 GHa Scott's Oriole Purple Finch 1/ 1 3/27 2/28 1/ 1 SCR Cassin's Finch House Finch 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Red Crossbill Pine Siskin 1/18 1/ 9 TGr Lesser Goldfinch 1/ 1 1/13 1/ 4 1/ 1 m.ob. Lawrence's Goldfinch 5/ 5 4/26 4/26 1/ 6 NLe,RWR,FVs American Goldfinch 1/ 1 1/ 7 1/20 1/ 1 m.ob. Evening Grosbeak House Sparrow 1/ 2 1/ 6 2/22 1/ 1 CKS,JML,DJC Observer codes: m.ob.-many observers, AGu-Arnel Guanlao, AJa-Al Jaramillo, AJb-Alberta Jasberg, AME-Al Eisner, AVe-Ann Verdi, AWa-Alan Walther, BMc-Bert McKee, BWe-Bruce Webb, CCRS-Coyote Creek Riparian Station, CH-Caralisa Hughes, CJC-Chuck Coston, CKS-Chris Salander, CWh-Clark White, DHa-David Haveman, DJC-Don & Jill Crawford, DPo-David Powell, DRo-Don Roberson, DSt-Dick Stovel, FVs-Frank Vanslager, GFi-George Finger, GHa-Garth Harwood, GKH-Grant Hoyt, GLB-Gloria LeBlanc, HGe-Harriet Gerson, HLR-Heather Rottenborn, JCo-Jack Cole, JDa-Jim Danzenbaker, JGa-Jim Gain, JLa-Jolene Lange, JLu-John Luther, JMa-John Mariani, JMe-John Meyer, JML-Jeanne Leavitt, JMM-John & Maria Meyer, JSa-June Santoro, JSt-John Sterling, KCo-Kitty Collins, KLP-Kathy Parker, KVV-Kent Van Vuren, LAY-Amy Lauterbach & James Yurchenco, MH-Matt Heindel, MHa-Merry Haveman, MJM-Mike Mammoser, MLF-Mike Feighner, MMR-Mike Rogers, MPL-Marjorie Plant, MWr-Marti Wright, NLe-Nick Lethaby, PMB-Phyllis M. Browning, RCa-Rita Caratello, RCi-Rich Cimino, RCo-Rita Colwell, RiC-Richard Carlson, RJe-Richard Jeffers, RLe-Rosalie Lefkowitz, RPR-Rebecca Paige Rottenborn, RWR-Bob Reiling, SBT-Scott Terrill, SCR-Steve Rottenborn, SGu-Stephan Gunn, SMi-Steve Miller,SRo-Steve Rovell,SSA-Susan Sandstrom, TGr-Tom Grey, TRy-Tom Ryan, VTi-Vivek Tiwari, WGB-Bill Bousman SANTA CLARA COUNTY YEAR LIST HISTORY 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 HIGH COMP 278 295 303 293 296 305 305 SCR 279 291 262 251 268 291 MJM 234 250 265 242 253 276 276 MMR 214 234 254 271 257 258 275 275 MLF 136 183 199 209 215 235 194 165 218 265 265 WGB 216 228 245 170 245 AME 240 220 219 231 240 KLP 232 232 RWR 204 201 203 228 228 TGr 189 211 211 CKS 185 195 186 195 GLB 190 190 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 08 13:03:22 1998 All, Today Frank Vanslager and I saw 4 Least Terns over Charleston Slough. We first saw two LETE on a wooden structure (with a dead cormorant on it) 100 yds. past and east of the bench where the Black Skimmers were seen earlier this year (about 1/2 mile from the parking area). When the birds flew however, we suddenly had 4 LETE all of which ultimately flew east and out of sight shortly after 11 AM. The imm Black Scoter was on the island in Shoreline Lake. Good Luck, Bob Reiling, 12:50 PM, 7/8/98 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 08 14:06:09 1998 George Oetzel wrote about few House Finches at his feeders. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- George, they must all be at my place in South San Jose. My thistle feeder goes begging, my suet feeder only gets an occasional peck from the Chestnut-backed Chickadees (although they seem to prefer the seed feeder or the humming bird feeder), a few Hooded Orioles have stopped by to take a bath completely ignoring my Oriole feeder, but we get House Finches in flocks. They line up on our back fence to wait their turn at the feeder and the birdbath. I believe that they nested in my neighbors Yucca plants but I haven't actually seen any nest. Our resident CA Towhees have produced one young which is now about the same size as the adults. Our collection of juveniles include a few Morning Doves, many English Sparrows and a bumper crop of House Finches. For the past couple of weeks we have had two Scrub Jays take up semi-permanent residence. Grant Webb ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 08 16:02:49 1998 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0013_01BDAA89.DADB79A0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable A warm thank you to Steve Rottenborn & Mike Feighner for helping me get = onto=20 south-bay-birds. =20 Today I made the big 8 mile trip out & back to see the Little Blue = Herons at Alviso Slough. I saw one adult. Also on the way I had 11 = Least Terns, 8 of them in one flock. =20 At the CCRS I had a very distinct adult basic plumage Semipalmated = Sandpiper. =20 I also had a Lesser Yellowlegs.=20 I spent and hour with Jack Cole looking for the Saratoga Springs Dipper = with no luck.=20 ------=_NextPart_000_0013_01BDAA89.DADB79A0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
A warm thank you to Steve Rottenborn = & Mike=20 Feighner for helping me get onto
south-bay-birds. 
 
Today I made the big 8 mile trip out = & back=20 to see the Little Blue Herons at Alviso Slough.  I saw one = adult. =20 Also on the way I had 11 Least Terns, 8 of them in one flock. =20
 
At the CCRS I had a very distinct = adult basic=20 plumage Semipalmated Sandpiper. 
I also had a Lesser Yellowlegs. =
 
I spent and hour with Jack Cole = looking for the=20 Saratoga Springs Dipper with no luck.
------=_NextPart_000_0013_01BDAA89.DADB79A0-- ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 08 18:00:20 1998 NEW BIRDING WEB SITES and SANTA CLARA COUNTY YEAR LIST UPDATE NEW BIRDING WEB SITES Phonetic and Mnemonic Representations of Bird Songs: www.geocities.com/Yosemite/2965/mnemonic.htm Print this out and carry it on your next birding trip! Guide to Birding birding.miningco.com Losts of Good Stuff Cornell Lab of Ornithology birds.cornell.edu Warbler Watch (Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society) birdsource.cornell.edu Thanks to Kathleen Lee for sending this in. Do you know of a great birding web page that should be added to SBBU? Please send it in. Thanks 1998 SANTA CLARA COUNTY YEAR LIST. Mike Rogers has updated the list as of July 7. Kendric South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU) http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/ ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 08 21:54:45 1998 Wednesday morning I quickly checked the sewage lagoons at CCRS. There are now 3 ponds with large numbers of birds. I was able to check one well and another fairly well. There are now over 100 dowitchers (only calls were Short-billed, which is typically common during early July). Probably 2-3000 Western Sandpipers and both yellowlegs. However I could have easily missed several good birds due to lack of time. Nick Nick Lethaby Director of Business Development Elanix, Inc. Tel: 408 941 0223 Fax: 408 941 0984 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 09 01:44:50 1998 All: A few local records from the past few weeks. First, the ad. FRANKLIN'S GULL that Scott Terrill and I saw fly by our office was on 25 June, not 15 June as I mistakenly reported. Scott saw this bird or another adult fly over the office on 29 June. On 26 June, I saw the first-year GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE still at the Palo Alto Baylands duck pond with the ad. MUTE SWAN and worn male WOOD DUCK (no primaries; molting or injured?). On 29 June, while driving into the office, I spotted a male GREAT- TAILED GRACKLE in the narrow pond on the north side of Hwy. 237 between Great America Parkway and Lafayette Road. I watched it for a while as it foraged along the edge of the pond, gleaning large numbers of dragonflies from vegetation. This bird had fairly glossy black plumage overall, although it was not quite as glossy as I'd expect on a full adult male. Its greater upper-secondary coverts and tail were fairly worn, and its primaries were somewhat brownish- tinged (although not conspicuously brown as I'd expect if the bird was retaining juvenal remiges). Surprisingly, its eye was quite brown. In my first, early-morning observation of the bird, I thought that the eye contained no yellow at all, but later in the afternoon I could see that the eye was yellowish but heavily flecked with brown, particularly around the pupil. This bird is unusual for having brown in the eye when in definitive plumage. If it were a first-year bird (i.e., hatched this year), then I would not expect it to already have acquired definitive body feathering. On the other hand, if it were a second-year bird or older, it should not have brown in the eye. This bird was quite small for a GTGR, noticeably smaller than those at San Felipe Lake but perhaps similar in size to a male GTGR that was in Mendocino County a few years ago. Combined with its brownish eyes, this bird's size made it very similar to a Boat-tailed Grackle (very unlikely to occur in CA), although the bird's flat crown and purplish tinge to the plumage indicate Great-tailed. Scott Terrill and Penelope Delevoryas saw the bird later in the morning, and I saw it again at 14:00 or so, but it could not be relocated subsequently. Later on 29 June, I had 3 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS at Cerro Plata, 21 GREATER YELLOWLEGS in the PAFCB, and 4 AMERICAN WIGEON (2 eclipse males, 2 females) and a LEAST SANDPIPER in Adobe Creek. On 30 June at CCRS, I saw 3 WESTERN and 4 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 365 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, and 5 first-summer BONAPARTE'S GULLS. At the Ogier Ponds, I had a LEAST SANDPIPER. On 1 July, there was a female LESSER SCAUP with six small young in New Chicago Marsh at the intersection of Gold and Elizabeth Streets in Alviso. The evening of 2 July, after seeing the MASKED BOOBY at Ano Nuevo, I birded Shoreline Park. Three eclipse male and one female AMERICAN WIGEON were in Adobe Creek and three female/eclipse male CANVASBACKS (all injured) were in the outer part of the PAFCB. At least 15 FORSTER'S TERNS were on nests in outer PAFCB as well (I've not seen them nesting here before). Around outer Charleston Slough, I saw at least 7 adult and 1 first-summer LEAST TERNS. A total of 11 LESSER SCAUP were scattered around the area. On the way back to the car, I heard the call of a BANK SWALLOW overhead and then watched the bird for several minutes as it foraged low over the Forebay with Barn and Cliff Swallows. On 3 July, I spent four hours walking around the Alviso salt ponds north and northwest of the marina. There were large numbers of the common species in many of the ponds, but no real rarities. Four ad. LITTLE BLUE HERONS in pond A-9 provided the highlight. Ten DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT nests (with adults apparently incubating) were on the levee between ponds A9 and A10, where several hundred pairs of CALIFORNIA GULLS also had nests or small young. It would seem unusual for the cormorants to nest on the ground on levees attached to the "mainland" (and therefore vulnerable to predation), but as Mike Rogers suggested, it is possible that some combination of red fox control and the protection offered by the aggressive gulls make nesting there possible. I was hoping to be able to study some peeps on these ponds or on the mudflats at the confluence of Coyote and Alviso Sloughs, but most of the peeps I saw were across Alviso Slough in the ponds near the Knapp Tract. Total numbers of individuals of some species here were 4 WESTERN GREBES, 1050 FORSTER'S TERNS, 49 BROWN PELICANS, 120 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, 135 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, 8 LESSER SCAUP, 9 EARED GREBES (including one partial albino). On 4 July, I birded CCRS early in the morning. Nick Lethaby has already reported the birds we saw there. One of the adult SEMIPALMATED SANDPIPERS was a classic small, short-billed individual in full alternate plumage. The other, which Nick and I both saw very well, was quite a bit larger and had a somewhat longer bill, and was already mostly in basic plumage. Most of the breast and head had the basic pattern, and most of the scapulars in three rows were fresh basic feathers. However, one full row of scapulars on each side and a few anterior scapulars on the other rows were still alternate, having extensive black interiors and narrow pale fringes. The black on these scapulars was much more extensive than on any of the Western Sandpipers present, extending all the way to the bases of the feathers (whereas the bases of the larger scapulars are rufous, brownish, or gray on WESA). It seems very early for the bird to have so much basic feathering, yet the fresh appearance of the basic scapulars makes me doubt that the bird is simply a first-summer individual that did not acquire full alternate plumage this year. Of all the Western Sandpipers that I studied, only three had fresh basic scapulars, and these had no more than 2-3 basic scapulars. One species that Nick did not report was MUTE SWAN. We saw seven first-summer MUTE SWANS (seen well enough that I could see that none were banded) flying slowly over the WPCP heading southwest. On 5 July, Scott and I birded the coast from Half Moon Bay south to Pacific Grove, hoping for boobies, frigatebirds, or some other rarity. Highlights included two first-summer ARCTIC TERNS, a POMARINE JAEGER, and courting ELEGANT TERNS at the Salinas River mouth, a pair of BLACK SCOTERS at Moss Landing, a pod of 20-25 BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS near Pigeon Point (5 PINK-FOOTED SHEARWATERS here also), HARBOR PORPOISE at several locations, and unusually high numbers of BRANT and SURF and WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS. On 6 July, Scott and I briefly checked CCRS after work. The light was too bad to study any of the 1500 peeps present, but there were 2 male BLUE-WINGED TEAL in the waterbird pond. Steve Rottenborn ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Jul 09 13:56:57 1998 STeve Wrote: > >On 29 June, while driving into the office, I spotted a male GREAT- >TAILED GRACKLE in the narrow pond on the north side of Hwy. 237 >between Great America Parkway and Lafayette Road. I watched it >for a while as it foraged along the edge of the pond, gleaning large >numbers of dragonflies from vegetation. This bird had fairly glossy >black plumage overall, although it was not quite as glossy as I'd >expect on a full adult male. Its greater upper-secondary coverts >and tail were fairly worn, and its primaries were somewhat brownish- >tinged (although not conspicuously brown as I'd expect if the bird >was retaining juvenal remiges). Surprisingly, its eye was quite >brown. In my first, early-morning observation of the bird, I thought >that the eye contained no yellow at all, but later in the afternoon >I could see that the eye was yellowish but heavily flecked with brown, >particularly around the pupil. This bird is unusual for having brown >in the eye when in definitive plumage. If it were a first-year bird >(i.e., hatched this year), then I would not expect it to already have >acquired definitive body feathering. On the other hand, if it were a >second-year bird or older, it should not have brown in the eye. This >bird was quite small for a GTGR, noticeably smaller than those at >San Felipe Lake but perhaps similar in size to a male GTGR that was >in Mendocino County a few years ago. Combined with its brownish eyes, >this bird's size made it very similar to a Boat-tailed Grackle (very >unlikely to occur in CA), although the bird's flat crown and purplish >tinge to the plumage indicate Great-tailed. Scott Terrill and Penelope >Delevoryas saw the bird later in the morning, and I saw it again at >14:00 or so, but it could not be relocated subsequently. The description is right on for a First Alternate (Immature = Second year) male Great-tailed Grackle. The small size, reduced iridescence, brown eye, brownish primaries etc clinch it. From what I have been able to gather the retention of brown eyes in Great-tailed Grackles is much longer than has generally been believed, at least on some individuals. Females with brown eyes are also not unusual in southern California. >One species that Nick did not report was MUTE SWAN. We saw seven first-summer >MUTE SWANS (seen well enough that I could see that none were banded) flying >slowly over the WPCP heading southwest. > Ok, got any explanations for that? Seven birds of the same age are very intriguing, are there established breeding populations of Mute Swans in California?? Could they be from established populations well to the north of us? The fact that they were all immatures is odd, one brood of Swans that happened to clear out before they were clipped?? Now what do I do regarding the CCRS checklist, do I include them? Help. Al Alvaro Jaramillo "It was almost a pity, to see the sun Half Moon Bay, shining constantly over so useless a country" California Darwin, regarding the Atacama desert. [[email protected]] Helm guide to the New World Blackbirds, Birding in Chile and more, 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 Jul 09 15:39:34 1998 South Bay Birders, Greetings from the underbirded county 2 to the north. The Mute Swan question is interesting for us up here in Contra Costa County. On this years CBC John Robinson and I were birding the marshes on the Concord Naval Weapons Station when we spotted a group of white swans landing in a distant marsh. Naturally we assumed them to be Tundras. Fortunately we birded the same area later in the afternoon and the swans were in closer. I looked through my scope and the first one I saw was a young Mute Swan. I can't remember how many birds there were, 7 or 8 I think, and it turned out all were Mutes. Not surprisingly, the group whose territory is adjacent to ours reproted them as Tundras. I've birded that area a lot including the past 10 or so CBCs and never seen Mute Swans. Steve Rottenborn was censusing the area recently and had 9 adults and four young so they are breeding there now as well. If memory serves they have appeared at Abbott's Lagoon, Marin Co., in recent years. Definitely something to follow and document if they continue to spread. Steve Glover [[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 Jul 09 16:01:35 1998 This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0022_01BDAB52.D96FE960 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Correction: The Semipalmated Sandpiper I saw at the CCRS on 7-8-98 was = not in basic plumage but instead in alternate plumage.=20 ------=_NextPart_000_0022_01BDAB52.D96FE960 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Correction:  The Semipalmated = Sandpiper I=20 saw at the CCRS on 7-8-98 was not in basic plumage but instead in = alternate=20 plumage.
------=_NextPart_000_0022_01BDAB52.D96FE960-- ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 09 18:35:00 1998 To everyone, A very avid, enthusiastic birder, visiting from Britain, stopped by the Palo Alto Baylands Nature Center today. This is his first visit to California and he doesn't know any birders in the area, he's very interested in linking up with some local birders. He'll be here for three weeks, he's staying in San Jose and he has his own transportation. If any of you are interested in showing him some of the best birding sites in Northern California, please contact me by e-mail and I'll put you in touch with him. Thanks, Deborah Bartens ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 09 23:46:21 1998 Hello all--- Tonight I was playing softball at Kelly Park near Hwy 101 in East Menlo Park (San Mateo Co.) when I heard an unmistakable squawk that took me immediately back to the neotropics. I looked up and sure enough, single Amazona-type parrot was flying over in loose association with a few doves or pigeons and a smallish passerine, perhaps a blackbird. No other parrots were visible. The medium-green bird was largish, with a blunt head and short tail, and flew with shallow rapid wingbeats. It flew west towards, and then probably over, the freeway. I've seen a number of small flocks of parakeets, conures, etc. over the years in suburban portions of the Bay Area and other populated regions of the southwest, but don't recall seeing just one bird. Maybe his flock was nearby, but I suppose it's more likely the bird was a recent escapee. Last Monday, July 6 I was walking past Nordstrom's at Stanford Shopping Center when two WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS swooped very low and near to me. I briefly lost sight of them but then looked up to the building's roof where I had suspected this species of nesting and saw one bird fluttering next to a curved tile on the roof and then disappearing inside. The second bird then landed and perched, woodpecker style, facing the edge of the half-circle tile and leaning forward as if to feed nestlings. There was much swifty twittering and what sounded like baby birds within, though I didn't see any heads pop out. I guess I'd call this a confirmed breeding observation, either ON (Occupied Nest) or FY(Feeding Young) if I were bird atlassing. I have observed WTSW flying into this tile roost before and am glad to have noted the nesting activity. This site is easier to reach than the Green Library on Stanford campus---you can drive right up. It's on the back (southwest) side of Nordstorm's, facing the old Stanford Barn. Look to the far right of the first row of roof tiles, as you face the store's rear entrance. A couple of white streaks at the end of the row mark the WTSW nest site. ---Grant Hoyt 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]] Fri Jul 10 11:54:18 1998 South and East-Bay-Birders: Yesterday morning, 9 July 1998, before leaving home I heard at least one MASKED LOVEBIRD, and this morning I saw one MASKED LOVEBIRD calling from the top of the roof across the street where I live in Livermore in Alameda County. This is odd. I haven't seen or heard any around since December 1997. I first discovered these critters in my neighborhood on 9 July 1997....and what was yesterday?!? At one time last year I had counted as many as 10. I wonder if someone is releasing these or what? And just a reminder last Christmas there was a report on the bird box of a Northern Cardinal in Livermore. Another release? Mike Feighner, Sunnyvale, CA, [[email protected]] (work) Livermore, CA, [[email protected]] (home) Please reply to both addresses above for a quicker response. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 12 21:55:26 1998 Saturday morning, I checked out the sewage ponds at CCRS. Fortunately the birds dispersed from a barely visible pond and came closer to the road. However, we still couldn't really check many of the peeps. There were 4 Lesser Yellowlegs, 10 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Semi-palmated Plovers, and 700 dowitchers. These seemed to be mostly Short-billed making it easily the highest number ever seen at CCRS. An adult Peregrine hunted the area for a while. In the afternoon I checked out Princeton Harbor and Coyote Point briefly on walks with my family. I saw 2 Least Terns at Coyote Point, but no Sabine's Gull. On Sunday, I birded the Alviso Slough trail. I saw 2 Little Blue Herons, 3 Caspian Terns, and lots of roosting shorebirds. However, I couldn't find anything of interest in them. Nick Lethaby Director of Business Development Elanix, Inc. Tel: 408 941 0223 Fax: 408 941 0984 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 13 07:34:30 1998 Hello Everyone, On Saturday, July 11, I made my once-a-year trek out to the far reaches of the Alviso Slough Trail. Three adult LITTLE BLUE HERONS were seen on Salt Pond A-9. The partially-albino EARED GREBE was seen on Salt Pond A-10, which has previously been reported. Also flying into the levee at Salt Pond A-12 to roost was a juvenile BROWN PELICAN. With the recent speculations of possible breeding failures of Brown Pelicans in Mexico, I thought I'd pass that sighting on as well. That's it for now - Ann Verdi ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 14 12:17:44 1998 Dear South Bay Birders, SFBBO has just started a program to begin reading color bands from California Gulls. SFBBO banded nearly 14,000 CAGUs between 1982 and 1989, most of those were color banded. Recent surveys at the breeding colonies indicate that as many as 20% have USFWS bands and 5-10% still retain their color bands. We are looking for additional areas to send volunteers. Any suggestions of sites where California Gulls congregate during the fall and winter would be greatly appreciated. Additionally, if you would like to participate, please contact me. Thank you, Tom ******************************************** Tom Ryan San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory P.O. Box 247 1290 Hope St. Alviso, CA 95002 (408) 946-6548 (408) 946-9279 fax [[email protected]] "While in my own estimation my chief profession is ignorance, yet I sign my passport applications and my jury evasions as Ornithologist." - William Beebe ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 14 23:39:12 1998 Hi Santa Clara birders, On Sunday morning (12 July), I had 8 RED CROSSBILLS following the ridge south at Skyline Ridge Open Space, near the Horseshoe Pond. A few scattered crossbills have been showing up down here on the coast since mid-June; in the past, birds beginning to appear this early have sometimes presaged big crossbill winters. Also, Debi Shearwater told me that she did not see the San Felipe GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES yesterday, and I haven't seen any reports for a while, so I thought I should mention a possible "last date" for these birds. Debi, Jason Starfire, and I saw the male and female feeding fledglings (2?) in the tule clump on 1 July 1998. The male was also seen in Santa Clara County. Bert McKee ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 15 09:31:51 1998 There are still a very few. I was startled to hear the unmistakable chatter of an Acorn Woodpecker as I was getting ready to leave work at SRI yesterday. I was between buildings and not close to an oak, so I didn't know where to look for the bird, but I've no doubt about the call ID. In the past, they've been plentiful around SRI, but scarce for the past year. This prompted me to survey Sharon Hills Park (Valparaiso Ave, between Altschul and Hallmark in MP) after I got home. I found at least a pair in one of their favorite oaks. It's a huge tree; I couldn't be sure if there were more than 2. I did see at least one of each sex. ---------------- George Oetzel <[[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 Jul 15 10:01:03 1998 All, Yesterday and this morning, 7/14 and 7/15, I saw a single dark-bodied swift fly over my house at Skyline Blvd. It had a noticeable notched tail. My views were short, unaided yesterday and with binoculars today. I'll keep watching for it to make sure if it's a BLSW. Also, both mornings, in morning twilight, we had a bat hunting around our front door. Yesterday a bobcat strolled under our deck while we had breakfast above it; the Steller's Jays started mobbing, alerting us to its presence. And the local Band-tailed Pigeon flock has grown to near 40 birds. Les ========================================== Les Chibana, Mountain View [[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 Jul 15 16:00:18 1998 Last Saturday morning, July 11, we went with several friends to Sunnyvale Baylands Park to bird. After entering the Park from Caribbean Drive just north of Hiway 237, we turned right to drive along the south edge of the park immediately to the north of 237. A gate stops you after about .6 mile (+ or -) from the entrance. The pavement ends and there is a building with restrooms therein. Due east is a short fence between you and the neighboring field which contains two mounds which are not particularly noticeable. Les Chabana tells me that he thinks Lynne Trulio built these as potential homes for burrowing owls. Each mound has an obvious entrance hole; on the second one the ceramic pipe that surrounds the entrance is visible. A pink piece of plastic like a flag is also present on this mound. Both mounds are equidistant north of the now unpaved road. We saw no signs of occupancy at the first mound. But at the second an adult burrowing owl was standing guard at the entrance. Over the next 15 minutes another adult and three youngsters appeared. Paul Armer ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 16 14:25:06 1998 On Wednesday, I checked out the sewage lagoons at CCRS. Only 'new' bird was an adult Spotted Sandpiper. Also 2 Lesser and 17 Greater Yellowlegs. Dowitcher numbers looked to be down, probably the peak for Short-billed is past and the Long-billeds are not yet present in large numbers. I estimated about 700 Wilson's Phalaropes and at least 2000 Westerns. I was able to check about half of these for Red-necked Stint and about a quarter for Semi-palmated Sandpipers without success. One pond that is barely visible is still attracting a lot of birds. Nick Lethaby Director of Business Development Elanix, Inc. Tel: 408 941 0223 Fax: 408 941 0984 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 16 19:57:49 1998 Nick Lethaby writes: << On Wednesday, I checked out the sewage lagoons at CCRS. Only 'new' bird was an adult Spotted Sandpiper. Also 2 Lesser and 17 Greater Yellowlegs. Dowitcher numbers looked to be down, probably the peak for Short-billed is past and the Long-billeds are not yet present in large numbers. I estimated about 700 Wilson's Phalaropes and at least 2000 Westerns. I was able to check about half of these for Red-necked Stint and about a quarter for Semi-palmated Sandpipers without success. >> Are we expecting a Red-necked Stint soon? Paul L. Noble----Scchowl ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 17 10:48:12 1998 Since there has been almost no traffic lately, thought I would go ahead and post this. On Wed 7/14, I saw a strange duck in the channel to the west of Charleston Slough. (If you stand near the pumphouse with Charleston Slough in front and Mt. View Forebay at your back, the channel's on the left.) I don't know what that channel's called. This was some ways past Mtn. View Forebay, near the bench that's on the left side (west) of the path that runs along the west side of Charleston Slough. It has a white throat that started from under the bill to about the top of its breast (like in the illustration of a Whitecheeked Pintail in Nat Geo). Couldn't determine if the white extended to the breast. The cheeks were also whitish. The crown, rest of the head and the back of the neck was brownish like in an eclipse Mallard. The back, rest of the body was also like in an eclipse Mallard. Reddish legs. Feathers near the tail curved up as shown in Nat Geo's breeding male Mallard. Besides the white throat the other points of difference from an eclipse Mallard were the grey bill, black on the upperside of the tail, and most importantly - a distinct white line above the eye. Before anyone thinks Garganey, this line started from near the bill, past the eye to near the end of the crown. It might have had another white mark at the base of the bill in front of the eye but I couldn't be sure. But the line was as distinct and as broad as in a Garganey. It was the biggest bird is a group of 6 ducks. The rest were like female/ eclipsed plumaged Mallards, except for one that looked like a female Blue-winged Teal (sorry - female ducks are a problem for me). Any thoughts? There was a white duck in the Mtn. View Forebay, that could have been an albino Mallard. Had brownish edges to the back feathers and wasn't pure white like domestic ducks. Vivek Tiwari [[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 Jul 17 11:20:53 1998 Sounds like a classical domestic duck / mallard hybrid -- 2nd generation -- Richard C. Carlson Palo Alto, California [[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 Jul 17 15:15:35 1998 Your Oddball duck sounds like a hybrid MallardXPet Duck, commonly refered to as a "Domestic Quacker". Paul L. Noble ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 17 18:00:12 1998 All, I received a call from the Los Altos Hills/Prospect Drive area today regarding birds nesting inside a chimney. The caller was concerned primarily for the birds' safety and had not identified the birds, but from the few details she was able to provide it sounds like swift spp. Sounds like the young, described as noisy "especially at mid-day", are about ready to fledge. Questions: which species is likeliest in chimneys locally, and are there viable non-swift candidates (they are well inside the shaft of the chimney)? Is this nesting record of enough importance that I should follow up with further questions, and if so, what questions? Thanks in advance for any advice. At McClellan Park the songbird activity has fallen off damatically in the past 2 weeks. During a brief walk today, the only breeding activity in evidence was a PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER carrying food to a sycamore limb over the trail a little past Post #4, and a pair of HOODED ORIOLES tending young in a previously undetected nest in a fan palm across the creek from the sign along the trail that reads "High School Volunteers". It also appears that there is an active nest of RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS just across the road into the golf course, visible near the top of the bushier of two redwood trees in the green nearest the park entrance. BAND-TAILED PIGEONS have arrived at the park to feed in the elderberries, and for the second time in recent weeks, a CASPIAN TERN was observed soaring over the park, lazily circling and moving upstream towards Stevens Reservoir. --Garth Harwood ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Jul 17 20:48:51 1998 In a message dated 98-07-17 21:05:17 EDT, you write: << I received a call from the Los Altos Hills/Prospect Drive area today regarding birds nesting inside a chimney. The caller was concerned primarily for the birds' safety and had not identified the birds, but from the few details she was able to provide it sounds like swift spp. Sounds like the young, described as noisy "especially at mid-day", are about ready to fledge. Questions: which species is likeliest in chimneys locally, and are there viable non-swift candidates (they are well inside the shaft of the chimney)? Is this nesting record of enough importance that I should follow up with further questions, and if so, what questions? Thanks in advance for any advice. >> I believe Vaux's Swifts may nest in man-made structures ( Los Gatos records have had them roosting in such strructures). Only other species I can think of might be House Finches or House Sparrows. Paul L. Noble----Scchowl ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 18 20:17:00 1998 Birders, This morning I saw an immature male Indigo Bunting at CCRS. Along the overflow channel south of the trailers, keeping to the weeds in the channel or the cottonwoods immediately adjoining the channel. The bird was singing. It is largely brown but has a blue head and breast as well as a blue rump. The belly is paler, off white. It lacks obvious wingbars, at the most they are paler brown than the rest of the wing, but not noticeable from a distance. The flanks are brown. I don't think this is a hybrid bird, but due to its age this may be more difficult to assess. It gave several 'chuup' calls while vigorously flicking the tail. Now this is where it gets interesting, the song that this bird was giving was exceedingly close to that of the odd Common Yellowthroat that has been around at CCRS. In fact, I initially thought I was hearing the warbler until I saw this bird. The song of the bunting can be described as: "whi-twi-twi..tchew-tchew", emphasis on the last two notes. The song sounded quite typical of Indigo Bunting with the paired notes and slow delivery, but perhaps its a little shorter than usual. Al Alvaro Jaramillo "It was almost a pity, to see the sun Half Moon Bay, shining constantly over so useless a country" California Darwin, regarding the Atacama desert. [[email protected]] Helm guide to the New World Blackbirds, Birding in Chile and more, 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 Jul 19 14:19:31 1998 I checked CCRS Saturday and Sunday. Numbers of some species seem to be increasing so we may be about to get another wave of shorebirds. Sunday was better numbers-wise with 20 Greater and 12 Lesser (including a juvenile) Yellowlegs, 8 Semi-palmated Plovers, 800+ Wilson's Phalaropes, both dowitchers (Long-billeds are clearly now arriving in numbers), and several thousand Western Sandpipers. As far as I know, no-one saw the Indigo Bunting on Sunday morning, although several of us looked. Nick Nick Lethaby Director of Business Development Elanix, Inc. Tel: 408 941 0223 Fax: 408 941 0984 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 19 17:05:01 1998 Today I heard a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW at the Russian Ridge OSP. This was just north of the intersection of the Ridge Trail and Hawk Trail. This is outside the county, but thought I should mention this since this was a target bird for the Palo Alto Summer Bird Count. I covered Russian Ridge but did not see or hear any that day. This sighting occured right after a healthy looking Coyote with rusty flanks, bounded powerfully across the trail and down the hillside just 20 feet from me. Quite a sight. Its one thing to see these animals moving furtively at a distance or shying away from you, but a closeby animal in full stride is another proposition altogether! Vivek Tiwari [[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 Jul 20 11:00:20 1998 Late Saturday morning at CCRS there was a Dunlin feeding with Western Sandpipers on the waterbird pond. It was in a dull alternate plumage, per- haps moulting on the upperparts, and was lame: one foot was either crushed or missing, forcing it to hop as it fed. I suspect some correlation between its disability and this early appearance. Also on the pond (slightly unusual) was a single Long-Billed Curlew. [I hadn't heard about the Indigo Bunting at this time, so I didn't look for it.] 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 Jul 20 16:09:06 1998 Howdy South-bay-birders, Earlier today I watched a trio of adult Wild Turkey, trailed by 4 young, walk through my parent's yard in south San Jose (Almaden Valley). Good birding-- 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]] Tue Jul 21 08:35:29 1998 Birders, Today, Tuesday 7/21 you may be able to hear a short bird watching piece I did for NPR on their "Beyond Computers" radio show at 1pm on KALW 91.7FM. My segment will probably be about 25 minutes into the hour. I haven't heard it yet, so I don't know how good it will be. -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044 [[email protected]] SF Birding Classes begin Sept 9th http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan California Bird Records Committee http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Jul 21 15:19:40 1998 I am opening a new birding store on the border of Campbell and Los Gatos. I am looking for an experienced local birder who might be interested in leading a bird walk one Saturday each month. Of course, I would be willing to pay a reasonable fee. If you are interested, please contact me. My name is Pat Curtis. I can be reached via email at [[email protected]]. You can also call me at (408) 379-9967 or (408) 378-0886. Thank you, 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 Jul 21 18:49:14 1998 Hi all, Well, that wasn't the last date. Debi Shearwater had the male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE being pursued by three fledglings in both counties today at San Felipe Lake. I got a USGS map, and it turns out that those crossbills last week were not quite in Santa Clara County. I'm sure there are plenty more up there, in all three counties, so if anyone wants to get it for the composite list, it shouldn't be too much trouble. Or, you could just be patient and wait for the winter. Bert McKee ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 24 08:04:39 1998 Hi All, Stuck in Highway 17 traffic last night at 6:05pm I had an OSPREY soaring over the Campbell percolation ponds. Cheers Nick Yatsko ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 24 14:36:46 1998 Friday at 1:20 pm Nick Yatsko's osprey or one just like it flew over the north end of Lexington Reservoir. Jack Cole _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 24 14:38:53 1998 This worked for Steve Rottenborn so I'll try it. Will the List Guru please enroll the following new member: Earl Lebow [[email protected]] Thanks! Jack Cole _____________________________________________________________________ You don't need to buy Internet access to use free Internet e-mail. Get completely free e-mail from Juno at http://www.juno.com Or call Juno at (800) 654-JUNO [654-5866] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 24 15:53:00 1998 Some of the folks on this list may have met Greg Miller, a birding friend from Maryland, who I know has birded around here with Todd Newberry and Bert McKee. Greg is in the middle of an ABA area Big Year, which has gotten very big indeed, having reached 658 species for '98. He is shooting for 700 and has an outside chance. Anyone curious about this epic adventure can check out Greg's progress and plans for the rest of the year at http://www.erols.com/gregorym. On a much less impressive note, my wife and I went to the island of Hawaii to celebrate her birthday on July 1-7. I managed to see 40 species of birds in some part-time birding while there, and would be happy to send a report (posted earlier to Birdchat) to anyone who is collecting Big Island birding info or is otherwise curious. Tom -- Tom Grey Stanford CA [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Jul 24 16:21:17 1998 Hi all, Wish me luck in Canada. Goin' to the Rockies (Banff and Jasper) and hoping for at least one new bird. One lousy Ptarmigan is all I'm asking. Is that too much!? Got my ancient Pentax a new battery and I'm hoping to add to my list of well-photographed sparrows. If nothing else a new race of Song Sparrow. I'll be back on the 14th of August. Yes, the two kids, the 4-runner, Carol, and the tent trailer. I'm ready! By the way, who is the boss of this list so I can put a hold on my mail until the above date? Don ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 25 10:24:31 1998 On Saturday I checked CCRS. 6 Whimbrel flew over - very unusual here - and the one-legged Dunlin found by Al Eisner is still around - a very good bird for this time of year, but I'd prefer a Red-necked Stint. No Lesser Yellowlegs and only 4 Semi-palmated Plovers. Most dowitchers are now Long-billed. Still about 800+ Wilson's Phalaropes. Nick Lethaby Director of Business Development Elanix, Inc. Tel: 408 941 0223 Fax: 408 941 0984 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 25 16:47:09 1998 I checked out Loma Prieta this morning, including 26500 Loma Prieta Rd (the swallow pond where Martins have been seen in past years). No Martins or other rarities, but report-worthy birds (most of them at the seep on the dirt road near the top of LP) included: BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, OLIVE-SIDED, ASH-THROATED & PAC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS & WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, HOUSE WREN, ORANGE-CROWNED & WILSON'S WARBLERS, BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, PURPLE FINCH. Driving back, I heard the twitter of PYGMY NUTHATCHES in some Doug Fir/Redwoods along the road, but unfortunately it turned out to be on a stretch of Summit Rd that is in Santa Cruz county. This bird continues to elude me in the county. I drove home via Summit Rd and Skyline (wildflowers still going strong up there!) to check out Castle Rock park, where I heard RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, and had good closeup views of two adult male WESTERN TANAGERs. To see them, walk north 100 yards or so to the Paul Pollack Grove along the trail behind the restrooms, and look down into the Xmas tree farm just north of the park - they were working the edge, a quite birdy spot. Presumably they are early fall migrants. -- Tom Grey Stanford CA [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Jul 26 15:43:59 1998 South Bay folks: Late Saturday afternoon, I found two Pacific Golden Plovers at the Palo Alto Flood Control Basin. Access was from the dirt parking area along East Bayshore Rd. If one walks straight out, one eventually comes to a channel which does not look very crossable (although it might be with high enough boots). The birds were up ahead to the right in the next small pond. However, after a period of distant observation there, they flew to the northwest pond (the large roadside pond northeast of the parking area); views there were still generally distant, but considerably better. They were still there when I left about 6:30 PM. Shorebirds in good numbers here included Dowitchers (both) and Western Sandpipers (still all adults). Both birds were adults. One was approximately in the right plumage for an alternate-plumaged male, including the narrow white stripe continuing on the flank just under the wing. I mainly relied on this plumage for its ID as a Pacific, although I don't know enough to be certain that an American could not start moulting in such a way as to produce just this pattern. In addition, this bird seemed the same shape and size and had the same projection of wing- tips beyond the tail as the second bird. The second bird was a moulting adult - in the distance it was overall paler and quite brown looking (so much so that when I first glimpsed the two in binoculars, I thought I had a Golden with a Black-Bellied, although a scope look quickly cleared that up). For its ID I relied primarily on the yellowish tint to the supercilium (and other pale facial areas), and the quite long tertials/short primary projection. (It proved impossible to actually count primary tips.) Supporting and other details will be sent to the appropriate quarter. By the way, when they flew past me (en route to the northwest pond), one of them said "chu-lee". Cheers (or chu-lee), 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]] Sun Jul 26 20:25:51 1998 I just got back from the Palo Alto Baylands FCB where I saw an adult PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS in mid-moult, apparently one of the two that Al Eisner reported yesterday. The bird was along the edge of the north pond that borders the frontage road bike path, between the parking area and the animal center. I got a pretty good look for about a minute before the bird disappeared behind the large patch of reeds in that area. There were still a good number of black feathers in the throat, breast, and belly, though the dominant color was brown. The neck stripe wasstill completely visible and clearly demarcated, continuous with the superciiium, and solid yellowish throughout. It was relatively narrow and still visibly extended "around the corner" of the front of the wing, rather than ending at the wing and broadening, as in American. Unfortunately, I'm reading Paulson now rather than having read it before I went to look for the bird; I would have had a better sense of what features to focus on in my relatively brief view if I'd done my homework. -- Tom Grey Stanford CA [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jul 27 08:55:32 1998 Hello Everyone, On the SCVAS Field Trip to Charleston Slough on Sunday, July 26, we saw eight LEAST TERNS in the far reaches of the slough where the trail bends to the west. Also seen in the same area were two male CANVASBACKS (presumably over-summering). Other birds of interest on this field trip included one BLACK SKIMMER on the tern-roosting island on Salt Pond A-1 north of Shoreline Lake, and a N. RED BISHOP in the tules along Adobe Creek Slough. That's it for now - Ann Verdi Ann Verdi AMD/CA Central Svc Scheduling 408-749-2199 or x42199 [[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 Jul 27 09:57:39 1998 All, This morning the two molting adult PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS were still present in the north pond of the PAFCB, visible from the bike path near the northwest corner of the pond (and not from the trail heading out into the FCB). Lots of good shorebird habitat out there! 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]] Mon Jul 27 10:26:31 1998 Folks: I cycled around the Alviso Salt Ponds on Saturday, 7/24/98, in the morning. I saw two adult LITTLE BLUE HERONS along the A9/A10 dike. Lots of picivivorus birds on the outer ponds, but no particularly large numbers of any species. It appears that there are still incubating DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS and CALIFORNIA GULLS on the A9/A10 dike. The tide was well out so most shorebirds were out on the flats or further. A9 did not appear to be as attractive for roosting shorebirds as in some years as the water is slightly higer. Although bird song has decreased in my urban woodland, out on the marsh it seemed things were still going strong with 42 singing MARSH WRENS, 15 singing COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, and 49 singing SALT MARSH SONG SPARROWS. About two-thirds of the yellowthroats were in Triangle Marsh. Brazilian peppergrass (_Lepidium_) has really invaded Triangle Marsh, but not so much along Alviso Slough. A brief stop at Crittenden Marsh, with bad light, showed lots of water and little shorebird habitat on the west end. I counted five alt. EARED GREBES, and although there is a lot of emergent vegetation, I saw no sign of nesting. The AM. COOTS, however, are nesting in great numbers. Bill ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jul 27 12:08:13 1998 All, On Thursday, 7/23/98, I heard a WESTERN TANAGER calling in our live oaks on Skyline Blvd. From one glimpse, the bird appeared to be a female/imm. On Saturday, 7/25/98, I saw 3 WETA (1 male and 2 female/imm.) on a snag above our house. They flew south across Devil's Canyon to Long Ridge. I haven't noticed this species around here since one went through in late spring. I understand that there are breeding records further south in these mountains. Are there breeding records further north in the Santa Cruz Mountains, San Mateo County? Les ========================================== Les Chibana, Mountain View [[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 Jul 27 12:17:59 1998 On Saturday, 25 Jul 98, I stopped by CCRS to get some references from the library and had a chance to check out the birds. Hundreds of WILSON’S PHALAROPES were still on the sludge ponds across the fence. Most were well into basic plumage, and some number of juveniles were present. Also at the sludge ponds was an alternate-plumaged SPOTTED SANDPIPER and a GREEN HERON. In the marsh adjoining the methane plant at the dump, I found a WHIMBREL and an eclipse-plumaged male GREEN-WINGED TEAL. On Sunday, 26 Jul 98, I again went to CCRS. This time one of the sludge ponds had an adult PECTORAL SANDPIPER in with the phalaropes and dowitchers. The male GREEN-WINGED TEAL was still in the marsh adjacent to the methane plant, as was a female GADWALL with a brood of 4 young. A WHIMBREL again flushed from the slough entering this marsh. At Calabazas Marsh I had 20 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, 1 immature BROWN PELICAN, and 7 CASPIAN TERNS. The Palo Alto Duck Pond still had the GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and the MUTE SWAN. The Palo Alto flood control basin still had the 2 PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS. I was able to get scope-filling views of these birds from as little as 20 yards. One bird was still in mostly alternate plumage, with uniformly black belly, vent, neck, and face. Some molt had evidently started because the face right at the base of the bill was whitening. The white line starting at the supercilium and curving down the side of the neck also extended down the flanks and was visible along the edge of the folded wings. Also, the black extending back behind the legs stopped short of the undertail coverts, which remained white. The second bird was well advanced into molt, having only scattered black spots mottled in with white or gray on the belly and foreneck. This bird had upperpart feathering that was heavily edged in golden-buff; much more so than the first bird. Both birds had only 3 primaries extending beyond the long tertials, and a short wing tip extension beyond the tail. Mike Mammoser ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 28 10:01:29 1998 All, The adult PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER with more black below was still present on the mud in the northwest corner of the Palo Alto Flood Control Basin this morning. Mike Rogers 7/28/98 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 28 12:44:15 1998 All, Frank Vanslager and I saw the breeding plumaged PGPL this morning (11:00 AM) on the southern edge of the "north pond" of the Palo Alto Flood Control Basin. The bird essentially looked like Peterson's illustration in the 3rd edition of his Western Birds (page 123). The molting PGPL was not found. Take care, Bob Reiling, 12:28 PM, 7/28/98 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 28 14:27:16 1998 Please also forward to CALBIRD (I am temporarily off the list) if it hasn't appeared there yet. Thanks, Vivek Tiwari [[email protected]] Santa Clara, CA --------------------- Volunteers Needed for the Mono Lake FALL SHOREBIRD COUNT, Saturday, August 22, 1998. This is a chance to explore remote parts of Mono Lake and count shorebirds, ducks, and other birds. Since 1994, Mono Lake has risen over 9 feet!! Help us monitor birds as changes to lakeshore habitat occur. THE LOWDOWN: Plan on a half to full day hiking beginning early in the morning. Weather can be toasty in August, so be prepared with layered clothing and sun protection. Bring plenty of water and food for up to a full day in the field. There's a high probability of hiking through some mud or soggy areas, so expect to get your feet wet. Participants need to have a working knowledge of the common shorebirds. Working knowledge of waterfowl is also a plus. A spotting scope and 4WD vehicle would be useful, but not necessary. A pot luck at Dave Marquart's place will follow that evening. CONTACT: Bartshe (Bar-shay) at 760.647.6595 or e-mail [[email protected]] at the Mono Lake Committee for more information/to volunteer. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 28 16:45:35 1998 Hi gang, I've had another curious bird reported by phone - doesn't ring any bells for me, so I'm guessing we're dealing with an escaped exotic here: A large, raptor-like bird of dove-gray plumage everywhere except for a narrow white neck ring (1/2-1"), with large, bright-yellow beak, yellow legs & feet has been seen regularly for the past several mornings and evenings on the telephone wires overlooking Rodeo Creek near the intersection of Prospect and Plumas in Saratoga (just East of Hwy 85). Its vocalization is described as a loud, but not unpleasant trilling. If anyone recognizes this bird by description or goes out there to check it out, the caller is willing to help with more details and/or an alert when the bird next shows up. You can contact her by e-mail at <[[email protected]]>. If an ID is made I'd appreciate a note. Thanks, --Garth Harwood, SCVAS ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Jul 28 16:56:48 1998 REPLY RE: Strange bird report from office Garth, this is a Band-tailed Pigeon down from the more mountainous regions. I have them in my yard up on Skyline daily. They have a low cooing, almost hooting sound; also some aggressive grunts. Strange that there isn't a flock of them. The immature (juvenile?) birds lack the white collar band. Les Sa Clara Valley Audubon Society wrote: >Hi gang, > >I've had another curious bird reported by phone - doesn't ring any bells >for me, so I'm guessing we're dealing with an escaped exotic here: > >A large, raptor-like bird of dove-gray plumage everywhere except for a >narrow white neck ring (1/2-1"), with large, bright-yellow beak, yellow >legs & feet has been seen regularly for the past several mornings and >evenings on the telephone wires overlooking Rodeo Creek near the >intersection of Prospect and Plumas in Saratoga (just East of Hwy 85). Its >vocalization is described as a loud, but not unpleasant trilling. > >If anyone recognizes this bird by description or goes out there to check it >out, the caller is willing to help with more details and/or an alert when >the bird next shows up. You can contact her by e-mail at ><[[email protected]]>. If an ID is made I'd appreciate a note. Thanks, > >--Garth Harwood, SCVAS ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 28 17:18:43 1998 Dear South Bay Birders, Yesterday (7/27/98), I and Danielle Lefer observed an adult Little Blue Heron flying between Guadelupe Slough and HWY 237, east of the softball fields. We first observed it flying eastbound, then roughly 30 minutes later observed it returning, flying westbound. 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]] Tue Jul 28 17:35:40 1998 Garth, I agree with Les that it's a good description of a Band Tailed Pigeon. However, they seem to be adapting more to cities. Until this spring, we'd never seen one at our feeder, but now we often get flocks of 10-12. The Armer's, down the street, get even bigger flocks, maybe 25-30. They have more and bigger feeders than we do. I've also seen one or two other posts to SBB mentioning them at feeders. If this continues, we will surely see an explosion of "bandies" in the towns on the Peninsula. We've seen several youngsters this year, for awhile 4 or 5 at a time. I wonder if there's any evidence in the CBC or SBC of growing populations? Mostly, they're quite shy and easily spooked. However, I've had one or two sit placidly on the feeder while I was trimming or weeding just a few yards away. They could become a big nuisance if they lose their fear of people! ---------------- George Oetzel <[[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 Jul 28 21:15:44 1998 I had Band-tails in my yard and at my feeder in College Terrace in Palo Alto in the 80s (about 81 to 86 ). They nested there also. I lived there '63 to '86. They just arrived one day. I have a feeling they have years or times when they are just invasive. As I recall, they were not always present. I didn't keep good records then. But they appear as yard birds during that time. Jan Steck in Vina, California [[email protected]] I'm grouchy 'cuz I'm good at it ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 28 21:43:23 1998 All, I have noticed quite a few Band-tailed Pigeon flocks flying about in the Los Altos Hills area in the past two weeks. In years past I recall that about this time of year flocks of these birds start appearing in the more developed areas of the South Bay. I have only seen a few here in the Belmont-San Carlos area this year. Paul L. Noble Scchowl. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 28 22:32:16 1998 South-Bay-Birders: I thought I'd add the following note on my experience with Band-taileds in Santa Clara County: My high count of Band-tails in my yard when I used to live in Los Gatos was over 80! (Pine Siskin high count was 200!) I had to put wire around my Droll Yankee feeders, because they would empty them out as soon I put out more seed. Then they woould hang themselves upside-down under the tray tring to get to the feed. When I put out a 2 x 2 foot plattform feeder, all 80 would stack themselves three-high like the "Bremer-Town Musicians" while trying to get to the feed. I've read somewhere that they devour acorns whole. I don't have the Band-taileds here in Livermore. I do miss them even if they can eat a birder out of house and home! -- Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, [[email protected]] (home) Sunnyvale, CA, [[email protected]] (work) Please reply to both addresses above for a quicker response. Thanks. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 29 08:07:24 1998 What Mike Feighner said is soooo true. I started feeding birds in my backyard 4 years ago. Maybe 3 years ago I went to my first (and maybe only) Audubon meeting and I met a couple (names unknown) from Saratoga who fed birds too. We discussed what birds we were feeding and I was surprised to learn they had a flock of BAND-TAILED'S. I had never seen one (new birder that I was). The VERY NEXT day, it was like fate, here came one BAND-TAILED. Didn't see another one for perhaps a year (my records are not as good as Mike Feighner's!). But for over a year I have had between 20 and 35 BAND-TAILED's most days. In fact if you've seen the cormorant's on the wire at Oka Ponds, you know what the utility lines at the top of the hill in my backyard look like. Very frequently the wires are holding 20 or so BAND-TAILED. Mike is right about the ground feeder. I have 3 different seeds in ground feeders. BO Sunflower, Safflower, and Dr. Geiss (from Wild Birds) have tried the Dove & Quail too but quit that one. The BAND-TAILED's seem to prefer the safflower, if there's just a few here - and they do stack 3 high as Mike describes. When the whole flock arrives they go to all 3 feeders, and stack 3 high. Interesting they don't eat directly from the ground as the doves, quail, junco's etc do. I mean these later birds eat in the feeders too, but are not opposed to the ground. The BAND-TAILED's seem to ignor the ground and do just the ground feeders. And, if the feeders run out of food, they do the gymnastics act on the hanging feeders as Mike describes. I have one small feeder that is suction cupped to my dining room window, and I will find a BAND-TAILED in it pretending it is a CHICKADEE! or some other small feathered friend. How it manages to squeeze itself into that small space is interesting. It will also "miss" and hit the window a few times before it figures out how to get inside it. Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos (off Quito) >South-Bay-Birders: > >I thought I'd add the following note on my experience with Band-taileds >in Santa Clara County: > >My high count of Band-tails in my yard when I used to live in Los Gatos >was over 80! (Pine Siskin high count was 200!) I had to put wire around >my Droll Yankee feeders, because they would empty them out as soon I put >out more seed. Then they woould hang themselves upside-down under the >tray tring to get to the feed. When I put out a 2 x 2 foot plattform >feeder, all 80 would stack themselves three-high like the "Bremer-Town >Musicians" while trying to get to the feed. I've read somewhere that >they devour acorns whole. > >I don't have the Band-taileds here in Livermore. I do miss them even if >they can eat a birder out of house and home! >-- >Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, [[email protected]] (home) > Sunnyvale, CA, [[email protected]] (work) >Please reply to both addresses above for a quicker response. Thanks. >========================================================================== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > > 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 Jul 29 09:59:03 1998 I think Barbara meant to distribute this to the list instead of just to the list owner. Les -------------------------------------- Date: 7/29/98 9:52 AM From: Sunbyrd5 When I lived in Los Altos Hills, I once counted 117 BTPI between my feeders and the clothesline. We had a hopper style feeder which the grosbeaks loved, but the band tails took it over. I sawed off the flat sides used for perches to make it more difficult and they still got all the seed. The also ate ivy berries somewhere near enough to the house that they left purple droppings all over the laundry I hung out. Here in La Honda I have seen 1 bird near my chicken coop, but my neighbor down the road has a group at her ground feeder and I am sure they are on their way. From a distance in a treetop, I can understand why someone would be fooled into thinking they are seeing a raptor. I would certainly agree that these birds would dominate any feeder they chose. Even the Jays back off from them. I would imagine that they would behave as the Rock Doves do. A few years ago, a birder from the east asked me where to find some of her target birds. I couldn't help laughing when I saw Band Tailed Pigeons near the top of the list. Barbara Costa La Honda RFC822 header ----------------------------------- RECEIVED: from SF_Database by POP_Mailbox_-1310416451 ; 29 JUL 98 09:54:05 UT Received: from LISTS.STANFORD.EDU by auc.com with SMTP (QuickMail Pro Server for MacOS 1.0.3); 29 JUL 98 09:54:00 UT Received: from imo12.mx.aol.com (imo12.mx.aol.com [198.81.17.2]) by lists.Stanford.EDU (8.8.5/8.7.1) with ESMTP id JAA28261 for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 29 Jul 1998 09:53:18 -0700 (PDT) From: [[email protected]] Received: from [[email protected]] by imo12.mx.aol.com (IMOv14_b1.1) id WWWa011468 for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 29 Jul 1998 12:52:51 -0400 (EDT) Message-ID: <[[email protected]]> Date: Wed, 29 Jul 1998 12:52:51 EDT To: [[email protected]] Mime-Version: 1.0 Subject: band tailed pigeons Content-type: text/plain; charset=US-ASCII Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit X-Mailer: AOL 3.0 16-bit for Windows sub 61 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 29 15:34:29 1998 I checked CCRS today but failed to see anything of any interest (no Pectoral Sandpiper, Dunlin, etc). Nick Lethaby Director of Business Development Elanix, Inc. Tel: 408 941 0223 Fax: 408 941 0984 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 29 15:47:48 1998 I have been feeding BAND-TAILED PIGEONS in Los Gatos since 1980. They appear to prefer black oil sunflower seed in a cylindrical hanging feeder. They will also use the platform feeders that I have on the ground. On the hanging feeder, they will stand on each other up to three deep. At which point they spend more time trying to run each other off than eating. They actually growl at each other. Margaret Millar, in her book "The Birds and the Beasts Were There", put it best, "...people with a six-pigeon feeder have twenty pigeons, people with a twenty-pigeon feeder have fifty and for people who have two feeders, a ledge and a charge account at the feed store, the sky's the limit..." BTPI also like water for drinking and bathing. Some will stare at our windows for a while, then seem to deliberately fly into them. I haven't noted any injuries though. Numbers vary throughout the year. January starts out with a few and the population builds up to a high in late Spring and early Summer. They drop off in Fall and early Winter. There have been years when I haven't had a single one in December., All in all, I like having them around. Jean Dubois ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 29 18:08:28 1998 Hello all, and thanks to all of you who provided (unanimous) identifications of the bird I described Monday as a Band-tailed Pigeon. If I knew how to keep on sparking such interesting round-table discussions about specific local species, I'd do it. However, something still doesn't fit. In the original message I noted that the white on this bird's neck is a ring, not a band across the nape only as in Band-tailed Pigeon (hence my avoidance of that ID from the outset). Still, the chorus of confident identifications led me to double-check, since over-the-phone descriptions are risky at best. I contacted Maureen, who first reported this bird, requesting more information on two field marks (beak and neck-ring) which collectively should rule out BTPI. Maureen's response: > >The bill is yellow and hooked like a raptor. Also the band does go all the >way around, though definitely more predominant in the front. Does look >somewhat like an overgrown pigeon but the trilling it makes when it swoops is >closer the the shriek of a hawk than any sound I've ever heard a pigeon make. >Strange bird indeed. Haven't had any Audubon e-mail but yours. So my money's still on an escaped exotic. Or, maybe just possibly, I've gone a little soft during the late-summer lull. Either way, after this I'm done with this one! --Garth Harwood ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Jul 29 18:43:15 1998 REPLY RE: Return of the strange bird How about an adult, male, Ring-necked, Short-tailed, Sharp-shinned Hawk. ;-) Thinking Sharpie, problems are the tail length, obvious reddish breast banding and a yellow cere, not the whole bill. I don't know what to make of a white neck ring, except as an anomaly. And I'm not sure that trilling would apply. Back on Band-tailed Pigeon, it does make an un-pigeonlike growl, as others have pointed out, but I've only heard them do this while perched, not in flight. And I'm not sure if this would equate to trilling. A complete neck ring would probably have to be an anomaly or an optical illusion. I don't know... Les Chibana Sa Clara Valley Audubon Society wrote: >>The bill is yellow and hooked like a raptor. Also the band does go all the >>way around, though definitely more predominant in the front. Does look >>somewhat like an overgrown pigeon but the trilling it makes when it swoops is >>closer the the shriek of a hawk than any sound I've ever heard a pigeon make. >>Strange bird indeed. Haven't had any Audubon e-mail but yours. ÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿÿ This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 30 09:15:30 1998 We have a "gang" of about six Band-tailed Pigeons that we feed off and on in San Jose's Almaden Valley. This is the first year that we've seen them. Bruce Barrett [[email protected]] (not the address from which this message was sent) ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 30 10:03:19 1998 All, Curious about the report of the strange raptor-like bird, I checked out the wires along Rodeo Creek near Prospect and Plumas yesterday evening 7/29/98 at 7:15pm. Behind the house at 1650 Blaney (The Livingston's) was a pair of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS among many MOURNING DOVES - didn't see anything with a complete neck ring. 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]] Thu Jul 30 10:45:05 1998 All: I biked around the whole PA flood basin this a.m. No Golden Plover, lots of Breeding Plumage Black Bellied Plover. One Whimbrel was early and Least Tern count was up to 14. Dick -- Richard C. Carlson Palo Alto, California [[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 Jul 31 08:38:28 1998 At 06:47 PM 7/29/98 EDT, you wrote: >I have been feeding BAND-TAILED PIGEONS in Los Gatos since 1980. >All in all, I like having them around. > >Jean Dubois Jean-- I just counted 55 BAND-TAILED PIGEON'S, and probably missed some, an all time high for my yard. You live overlooking Vasona near Winchester, I live near Quito, maybe a mile apart "as the pigeon flies"...wonder if we share the same BAND-TAILED'S. And why did my all time high change from 31 to 55? You run out of food?!!!! Gloria 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 Jul 31 09:04:51 1998 While driving on Alameda de las Pulgas in San Carlos this morning, saw a home with a tube-type feeder with a bunch of Band-tailed's on it with perhaps a couple dozen more waiting on the utility wires nearby. I hope they don't find my feeder in Belmont! The HOFI's are eating a Droll Yankees tube feeder empty every day. Paul L. Noble----Scchowl ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 31 10:06:44 1998 This morning, the two adult Pacific Golden Plovers were still at the northwest pond of the Palo Alto FCB. They were viewable at fairly close range from the bikepath (much close than I had them last weekend), and appeared a little further along in moult. Other birds here were one Green Heron and one Lesser Yellowlegs. (There were not many shorebirds total.) 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]] Fri Jul 31 13:00:07 1998 Can't resist adding to this BTPI discussion. We live up along Skyline at around 2200' in SM Co. and have 20-60 frequenting our bird bath. I couldn't figure out why they would line up to drink there (suck it dry actually) with so much other standing water around, until I read that they normally drink at brackish springs along the coast. Seems that sodium is needed for production of crop milk and we have a very high sodium load in our well water. Our birdbath is the next best thing to a brackish spring. Mystery solved. Didn't I also read there is concern about the species as a whole? Janet Hanson SFBBO ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 31 14:20:24 1998 In a message dated 98-07-31 16:04:32 EDT, Janet writes; << Didn't I also read there is concern about the species as a whole? >> I know that as a game species it is hardly worth hunting. There is a two bird limit per season with a rather limited season at that. I remember CAl F+G telling me they are concerned about BTPI's as their breeding periods are erratic. Other than that I don't know. Anyone with more info? Paul L. Noble---Scchowl ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jul 31 14:24:35 1998 All, For one reason or another I (still) have not seen a LBHE in the county this year. Today seemed lake a good day to try as it was fairly cool but for the most part the salt ponds contained very few birds (A12 had a high of three birds, a Pied-Billed Grebe and two immature California Gulls). The eastern edge of Salt Pond A14 however, had thousands of Least Sandpipers walking on and feeding on some sort of floating primal ooze. Boy did it smell! They would stand in a spot feeding while they slowly sank into the ooze, they would then flutter for a second or so to get back on top of the ooze and start feeding again. The dikes between ponds A9 - A10, A9 - A14 and A11 - A12 had several hundred California Gulls each. The dike between A9 and A10 also had 50-60 Double-Crested Cormorants and the dike between A10 and A11 also had a flock of 20-30 Marbled Godwits. Coyote Creek was loaded, mostly Gulls but including several breeding plumage Black-Bellied Plovers. A9 as usual contained the greatest variety of birds including many American White Pelicans, egrets, and Great blue Herons. The best bird of the day was in pond A11, a gorgeous breeding plumaged Eared Grebe. Take care, Bob Reiling, 2:10 PM, 7/31/98 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]]