From [[email protected]] Thu Jun 01 07:00:01 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Update on lard/peanut butter feeder behavior -------- Yesterday a fledling Spotted Towhee (traveling alone) was trying over and over to conquer "the feeder". He may become more adept than the parents who occasionally fly up to grab a bite. Ruth ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- At 8:27 PM -0700 5/30/00, Ruth Troetschler wrote: >Folks-- > >Our feeder is still going strong. > >Chestnut-backed Chickadees are bringing 2-3 fledglings to be fed, >White-breasted Nuthatches are there with 2 fledglings. > >The most interesting development, are the new skills shown by a >California Thrasher who has now figured the whole thing out. It's >comical to see him or her sitting on the suet feeder selecting >divots with the long bill. > >So far, only the California Towhees are still gathering crumbs on >the ground, though that's the major method of the Spotted Towhees as >well. > >Mourning Doves and House Finches stick to grain and show no interest >in this mixture. >Ruth Troetschler >-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] Ruth Troetschler -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Jun 01 08:30:35 2000 Subject: [SBB] CCFS access -------- All: This morning the access road to the southern entrance of CCFS was sign posted no access and blocked off with barricades (completely at the E end and partially at the W end. Are we still allowed to go in at this entrance? The signs say it will be blocked off for over a month. Nick Lethaby Product Manager, ARC Cores Inc. Tel: 408 360 2131 e-mail: Nick.Lethaby@arccores -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 01 14:03:46 2000 Subject: [SBB] Table Mountain -------- All, This morning Frank Vanslager and I went to Table Mountain to try for some year birds. Unfortunately we did not see or hear the Pileated Woodpecker. Lots of evidence on several dead snags that they've been there but it's hard to tell how old some of the holes are. We also missed Pygmy Nuthatch. Our only county year bird was a Cassin's Vireo. Lots of good stuff, all singing, in the first half mile from Skyline including several Western Tanagers, Purple Finches, Lazuli Bunting, Warbling Vireo, Hutton's Vireo, a Wilson's Warbler, Orange-crowned Warblers and Black-throated Gray Warblers. We then came home via Page Mill Road and verified that the adult male Indigo Bunting is still singing it's heart out just uphill from the Los Trancos OSP parking lot. Take care, Bob Reiling, 2:06 PM, 6/1/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Jun 01 14:22:26 2000 Subject: [SBB] God(wit)lessness at CCFS -------- On midday Tuesday I spent some time viewing the Hudsonian Godwit at CCFS. Although I had enough to ID it, viewing was distant and not really satisfying. (It never flew or flapped a wing. It did, while preening, show me its tail pattern; there were visible structural differences and a few other visible plumage differences from Marbled I'm assuming -- don't laugh -- that the bill shape was enough to rule out a Black-Tailed Godwit.) It was present than with about 50 Marbled Godwits. So, I went back this morning for a better look. This time I only found 5 Marbled Godwits in the pond across from the trailers (and just 2 more at the Waterbird pond), and no Hudsonian. Has it always been found here, or does it (and the rest of the Godwits) sometimes move deeper into the WPCP? Other birds in the godwit pond: a pair of Blue-Winged Teal, two Greater Yellowlegs, and at least 8 Wilson's Phalaropes. By the way (some of you may already know this): there's a Killdeer nesting right on the roda at one of the prime viewing spots. CCFS folks (I guess) have delineated the area with logs, so at least a car won't run over the eggs (which Al Jaramillo pointed out to me on Tuesday). But the bird gets dis- turbed if one approaches too closely even outside that area. This may be a naive question, but how long is it safe to go without incubating? Anyway, it is quite possible to fully see the pond from far enough along the road so as not to cause a disturbance. As for Nick's question about the entrance: I just went in the usual way (don't tell anyone); I assumed it would be okay until actual construction equipment appeared. Al J. told me on Tuesday that he'd be looking into the question. Al -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Jun 01 21:35:52 2000 Subject: [SBB] Ongoing Yellow Warbler saga -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, The pair of YELLOW WARBLERS continue at my work site in the business park on San Ignacio near Great Oaks and Bernal. Rarely have I gone in or out of the building in the past few weeks without hearing one of them sing or chip. They are accustomed to lots of people being around, and I've had the male sing from as close as a few yards away--almost hurts my ears at that range! Today I followed the male around for about half an hour. He repeatedly returned to a low hedge next to the building, each time disappearing briefly into the leaves close to the ground and then flying back out to sing and forage. Not conclusive evidence of a nest, but I'm keeping an eye on them. So are the cowbirds. John Mariani [[email protected]] http://www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Jun 02 08:24:14 2000 Subject: [SBB] on the list -------- With many thanks for being included, please take me off your list for SBB sightings. Jim Ernst [[email protected]] -------- Attachment 588 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Fri Jun 02 09:15:22 2000 Subject: [SBB] CCFS -------- All: I checked CCFS this morning. Only 4 Marbled Godwits. There were 7 Wilson's Phalaropes (I assume the recent birds are 'fall' migrants), 2 Long-billed Dowitchers, and 3 Bonaparte's Gulls. A nearby pond had many ducks including a female Pintail with 7 young. Nick Lethaby Product Manager, ARC Cores Inc. Tel: 408 360 2131 e-mail: Nick.Lethaby@arccores -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 02 18:27:57 2000 Subject: [SBB] Wilson's Phalaropes at Alviso -------- Seven of 'em (four female, three male) right up by the shore at the EEC, quite unconcerned by my presence. Unlike the avocets, which disapproved strongly. Also three very distant American White Pelicans and a couple of Black Skimmers on the island in the middle of the lagoon. Would the Eared Grebes have young by now? There were a couple of quite plain ones in the company of breeding-plumaged birds. Andy. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 02 18:46:59 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re: Wilson's Phalaropes at Alviso -------- Andy Gibb wrote: > Seven of 'em (four female, three male) right up by the shore at the EEC, > quite unconcerned by my presence. Unlike the avocets, which disapproved > strongly. Of course: the Avocets are breeding, and many have young already. They see you as a threat, and it's best to stay back from areas in which they are particularly aggressive. The Phalaropes are migrants. > Also three very distant American White Pelicans and a couple of Black > Skimmers on the island in the middle of the lagoon. Would the Eared Grebes > have young by now? There were a couple of quite plain ones in the company of > breeding-plumaged birds. I know of no body of water in Santa Clara Co. called "the lagoon". Could you elaborate? If you mean the salt pond by the EEC, I think that would be a new location for Skimmers, so of considerable interest. As for Eared Grebes, I think they've bred only very occasionally in Santa Clara, and even if they did I think it would be much too early for full-grown young -- I'm sure Bill Bousman can provide a more intelligent answer. Cheers, 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]] Sat Jun 03 08:28:38 2000 Subject: [SBB] CCFS Access -------- Any word on whether it is allowable to bypass the barricade? -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 03 12:21:01 2000 Subject: [SBB] CCFS 6/3/00 -------- Hi folks, No Hudsonian Godwit at CCFS this morning, in fact the pond is drying up and there were only 3 Marbled Godwits. 5-6 breeding-plumaged WILSON'S PHALAROPE were in the pond opposite the banding trailer along with 4 BONAPARTE'S GULLs (only one of these was in breeding plumage). We banded 2 BARN SWALLOWs and one CLIFF SWALLOW, uncommonly banded species at CCFS, There were fledgling Barn Swallows on the utility lines for the banding trailers over the overflow channel. Other netted species included one hatch-year ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, one SWAINSON'S THRUSH, one HOUSE SPARROW (rarely caught or seen at the station), and one WESTERN SCRUB-JAY. In higher numbers and more common this time of year, 4 SONG SPARROWs, 4 COMMON YELLOWTHROATs, 5 BUSHTITS. One male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD was in the revegetated area just south of the trailers. Les Chibana, Palo Alto, CA 94304 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 03 16:39:41 2000 Subject: [SBB] Summer Bird Count at Los Trancos Woods -------- Nancy Teater and I spent three hours basically walking the Franciscan Loop this morning. It's amazing how long a couple of miles can take when you're seriously trying to id birds! We started with the Indigo Bunting -- as obliging as ever. It even perched on a telegraph wire more than half-way across Page Mill Road when we got back, which I reckon technically puts it in Santa Clara County. We also got a good view of its cousin, the Lazuli, later on. We were accompanied everywhere by family parties of Chestnut-backed Chickadees. Strangely we didn't get a single titmouse. One Brown Creeper scurried briefly up a trunk and disappeared into thin air. Bushtits were pretty scarce -- only a couple, but we heard plenty of Wrentits. For me a couple of lifers were Black-throated Grey Warbler and Warbling Vireo. However, we could certainly have done with a flycatcher and warbler song expert. We missed out on a few birds that way. One big surprise was a Mallard calling overhead and we were pretty short on raptors -- just one Red-tailed Hawk. So, big fun. We must do it again. Andy. PS. Because this may be important, I can confirm that the Black Skimmers were in the "body of water" immediately to the north of the EEC at Alviso. When you guys get a grid reference system and some decent maps, then I can be more precise. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 04 16:11:19 2000 Subject: [SBB] Indigo Bunting at Los Trancos- June 4, 2000 -------- June 4, 2000 - Afternoon The Indigo Bunting was once again perched on the telegraph wires on Page Mill Road at the parking lot at Los Trancos. Calvin Lou -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 04 23:43:52 2000 Subject: [SBB] More sunday birding, MetroED summer birding class -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Did some midday birding on Sunday, June 4th. In the riparian upstream from Almaden Reservoir, between Hicks Road and Twin Creeks, there was still quite a lot of bird activity in the late a.m. Birds there included 1 GREAT EGRET, 1 WOOD DUCK, COMMON MERGANSERS (female with 10 downy young on the creek at O'Day's), BELTED KINGFISHER, OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, WARBLING VIREO, HOUSE WREN, WESTERN BLUEBIRD, YELLOW WARBLER, and BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. Along Branham, near Cherry Ave. in south San Jose, there was a COOPER'S HAWK circling at noon. In the afternoon Jolene Lange and I did a short hike into the Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. We arrived at the Los Trancos OSP parking area at about 2pm, and immediately upon stepping out of the truck saw the much-reported INDIGO BUNTING, singing from the wires. It was still there when we returned at about 4pm. From the parking area I also heard a LAZULI BUNTING and GRASSHOPPER SPARROW singing across the road. Walking into Monte Bello OSP, along the Stevens Creek Nature Trail we had 2 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, excellent looks at a singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, and heard 2-3 LAZULI BUNTINGS. We then walked the Canyon Trail as far as the junction with the Bella Vista Trail. Birds along this stretch included ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, HUTTON'S VIREOS, 3 more LAZULI BUNTINGS, and a CHIPPING SPARROW that practically landed at our feet. There was actually a Coyote prowling near the coyote sign along the trail--how does the Open Space District arrange these things? Considering that it was mid-afternoon it was surprisingly cool, and the birding was excellent. MetroED will be offering another beginning bird class this summer, starting on June 14th. The classes will be on Wednesday evenings, with weekend field trips to local sites, Big Sur, and the Sierra Nevada. Those who are interested can get more class info. at http://home.att.net/~redknot/birdwatching_for_fun.htm, or register by calling MetroED at 408-723-6553. John Mariani [[email protected]] http://www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 05 06:53:41 2000 Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek -------- Yesterday morning I hit Stevens Creek Park early. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER and a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE were singing near the Ranger Station, a CASSIN'S VIREO, a WILSON'S WARBLER, and 2 more WWPWs were singing at the Costanoan/Canyon area, and at a pulloff alongside the upper reservoir were singing WILSON'S and YELLOW WARBLERS, and a silent very bright ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (orange crown nicely evident), plus a flyby CASPIAN TERN. WARBLING VIREOS still singing at all three sites. -- Tom Grey Stanford Law School [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 05 13:13:06 2000 Subject: [SBB] Buntings, Los Trancos, June 3rd -------- Penny and I got a chance to bird with Garth Harwood and friends for the Palo-Alto SBC. What a treat! Garth's ability to distinguish birds by ear is uncanny. We also got to view the INDIGO BUNTING at Los Trancos. I spent some time there trying to establish an area and activity pattern for that bird. After having spent the morning observing "ear" birding, I was also looking for an opportunity to engrave the Indigo's melodious notes into my hearing memory. He obliged us with picture perfect views for over 2 hours. In addition to him, we also got a chance to do a side-by-side with an adult LAZULI BUNTING (always a treat). About the same time, I caught several pretty good looks at what appeared to me to be an adult female Indigo Bunting. I know that these are very similar to Lazuli Bunting; however the wing bars were barely discernable--and I believe that this is a field mark. But these are new birds to me, and I certainly don't know them well enough to say for sure. I also know that the Lazuli and Indigo will hybridize... Over a 2 hour period, I got 4 pretty good looks at her. Although she did spend some time on the wire near where the male was typically singing, she generally perched on the power lines about 70-80m east of the Santa Clara side of the road. She did not visibly interact with either the male Indigo or Lazuli Bunting during my observation period. She would go to ground and cover to the north and east of her perch. I tried working my way into that area, but was unable to anticipate her actions; and failed to get close enough to do find out anything useful. I was hoping that if some of the more skilled birders that participate in this list were in that area, that they could keep an eye on that spot and hopefully confirm or correct my sighting... Dusty Bleher Campbell, Ca. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 05 14:57:13 2000 Subject: [SBB] Purple Martin, Loma Prieta -------- All, This morning Frank Vanslager and I went to where the power lines cross Loma Prieta Rd, 4.6 miles after the stop sign on Highland Way. From the ridge line north of the road we saw a single adult male Purple Martin flying up the valley below us. The only other swallows seen all morning were Cliff Swallows. Lots of the usual birds for this area; Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Bewick's Wren, Wrentit, Spotted Towhee, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Olive-sided Flycatcher, and Purple Finch but no Black-chinned or Sage Sparrows :-( The Orange-crowned warbler was the only warbler species seen (way down from a couple of weeks ago but then Mike Rogers wasn't along) and the number of Lazuli Bunting (calling) was also drastically reduced. We did see a number of female (as well as male) Black-headed Grosbeaks with one female singing an unusual variation of their song just prior to flying across the road. We also did not hear Mountain Quail near the upper saddle ;-( A nice windy (so not buggy) and clear day for birding (great views also). Take care, Bob Reiling, 2:50 PM, 6/5/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 05 21:11:13 2000 Subject: [SBB] Probable Hudsonian godwit at Palo Alto Baylands -------- A bird answering to the recent descriptions of HUDSONIAN GODWIT was at the Palo Alto Baylands between 7 and 8:30 PM this evening (Monday, 6/5) on the mud flats opposite the Sea Scout building. The overall appearance was very much like a marbled godwit, with mottled dark barring and streaking on a buffy background on the back, and some streaking on the neck and upper breast. The bill was long, straight and bicolored, but considerably shorter than that of a marbled godwit. No marbleds were around for comparison, but this bird spent much of the time associating with a willet, giving good comparisons with that species. This bird was very similar in size to the willet but longer-legged, smaller-headed and thinner-billed. It did no flying, and only opened its wings very briefly two or three times, revealing a prominent black and white underwing pattern. I watched it for half an hour with binoculars from perhaps 80 yards, then went home for my scope and called my sister, Lennie Stovel, who came to see it also. We both scoped it from about 120 yards in good lighting, but it never showed its tail pattern for the clincher I.D. - Dick Stovel [[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 Jun 05 22:43:44 2000 Subject: [SBB] Grant Ranch -------- At Grant Ranch on Saturday, there were many Lazuli Buntings and Bullock's Orioles. In addition, I had Grasshopper Sparrow, a single Lawrence's Goldfinch, Pacific-Slope Flycatcher, House Wren, Golden Eagle, Black-Headed Grosbeak, Oak Titmouse feeding fledglings, Bullock's Oriole feeding young in a nest. Also a Western Kingbird on a nest. At Ulistac Natural Area in Santa Clara on Sunday, two Common Moorhen in the pond at the north end, and a White-Throated Swift flying overhead. Jan Hintermeister Santa Clara, CA -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Jun 07 04:42:12 2000 Subject: [SBB] [Fwd: Invitation to join northbaybirds] -------- Hello Birders: >From time to time birders have submitted e-mail reports from Marin County with the side note that this was "outside the area". Well, there is a new birding listserve just for that now. It's called North-Bay-Birds and covers birding in Marin, Sonoma, Napa, Lake, and Solono Counties. See below: -- Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, [[email protected]] -------- Message -------- Subject: Invitation to join northbaybirds -------- Hello, This is an invitation to join the northbaybirds group, an email group that I moderate at eGroups, a free, easy-to-use email group service. By joining this group, you'll be able to easily send messages to fellow group members using just one email address. eGroups also makes it easy to store photos and files, coordinate events and more. Here's my introductory message for you: ------------------------------------------------------------------------ I have set up a discussion group for birds in Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Lake, and Solano counties. The group will focos on sightings and distribution. ------------------------------------------------------------------------ TO JOIN THIS GROUP, simply choose ONE of these 2 options: 1) REPLY to this email by clicking "reply" in your email program -OR- 2) Go to our site at http://www.egroups.com/invite/northbaybirds and click the "JOIN" button If you do not wish to join the northbaybirds group, just ignore this invitation. Regards, Moderator, northbaybirds SPECIAL NOTE FROM eGroups: Because eGroups values your privacy, it is a violation of our service rules for moderators to add subscribers to a group against their wishes. If you feel this has happened, please notify us at [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Jun 07 12:52:54 2000 Subject: [SBB] No godwits -------- All, This morning Frank Vanslager and I tried to find a godwit, any godwit but preferably the Hudsonian Godwit. We failed to find any godwits at the Palo Alto Yacht Harbor (nice looks at three Clapper Rails). We then tried the eastern portion of Ravenswood (oops, that's out of the county) where we had two Black Skimmers flying east along the shore but no godwits. Then on to Ravenswood near the Dumbarton Bridge where we had an immature Peregrine Falcon but no godwits. We thought, incorrectly, that the Stevens Creek Mitigation Pond or surely Crittenden Marsh would have a godwit, unfortunately a dowitcher with a bad or missing leg was our best find. Finally we went to the Sunnyvale Water Treatment Facility where the only thing worth reporting was two Burrowing Owls on the bank west of the parking area. It looks as if the summer doldrums have hit the bay. Take care, Bob Reiling, 12:41 PM, 6/7/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Jun 07 13:11:02 2000 Subject: [SBB] Charleston Slough... -------- Took a walk along charleston last night, and it was very quiet. Forster's terns, a pair of cinnamon teals, one ruddy duck, mallards. Highlight of the evening was when two female mallards with large clutches got too close to each other, the ducklings mingled, and the two mom's had a big fight while trying to get the kids back into two groups again... (did I say it was quiet?) One thing I don't know if it's something to worry about or not. Coming in from San Antonio, in one of the first ponds on the left before you hit the pumping station (and the zillion swallow kids learning to fly...), we saw a couple of weird beasts. Could have been water snakes, Laurie thinks they were possibly pikes. they were circling in the pond nearest the path, and the birds were giving them wide berth. In that pond, it seemed likely to us they were dumpoffs, and probably shouldn't be there. Is this something that should be reported to someone? If so, who? we weren't thrilled at the thought of pikes getting loose in that area, if that's what they were. -- Chuq Von Rospach - Plaidworks Consulting (mailto:[[email protected]]) Apple Mail List Gnome (mailto:[[email protected]]) And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar and say 'Man, what are you doing here?'" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Jun 07 16:16:43 2000 Subject: [SBB] Almaden Lake -------- Hello All this morning (6/7/00) around 7:15 I stopped by Almaden Lake at Coleman and Almaden Expressway in San Jose to check the heron/egret colony. The SNOWY EGRETS and GREAT EGRETS were all very busy feeding young, as well as the BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS. There is also at least one pair of GREEN HERONS feeding young on the island there. There were 2 family groups of CANADA GEESE, one group with young still in yellow plumage, and one group with young in almost complete "adult" plumage, but about half-size. There was also an adult female COMMON MERGANSER with 6 tiny young in tow. The young mergansers were swimming behind mom, copying her with there heads under water, seemingly being trained to forage. A recently fledged group of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES were hanging around the trees near the restrooms on the east side of the lake. 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]] Wed Jun 07 16:41:05 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Charleston Slough... -------- Chuq - I asked Ginny Kaminski, the naturalist at Shoreline and she says they are carp! If she has more info later, I will pass along. Best, Janet Janet Tashjian Hanson Executive Director San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory P.O. Box 247 Alviso, CA 95002 [[email protected]] 408/946-6548 -----Original Message----- From: Chuq Von Rospach <[[email protected]]> To: [[email protected]] <[[email protected]]> Date: Wednesday, June 07, 2000 1:19 PM Subject: [SBB] Charleston Slough... > >Took a walk along charleston last night, and it was very quiet. >Forster's terns, a pair of cinnamon teals, one ruddy duck, mallards. >Highlight of the evening was when two female mallards with large >clutches got too close to each other, the ducklings mingled, and the >two mom's had a big fight while trying to get the kids back into two >groups again... (did I say it was quiet?) > >One thing I don't know if it's something to worry about or not. >Coming in from San Antonio, in one of the first ponds on the left >before you hit the pumping station (and the zillion swallow kids >learning to fly...), we saw a couple of weird beasts. Could have been >water snakes, Laurie thinks they were possibly pikes. they were >circling in the pond nearest the path, and the birds were giving them >wide berth. > >In that pond, it seemed likely to us they were dumpoffs, and probably >shouldn't be there. Is this something that should be reported to >someone? If so, who? we weren't thrilled at the thought of pikes >getting loose in that area, if that's what they were. > >-- >Chuq Von Rospach - Plaidworks Consulting (mailto:[[email protected]]) >Apple Mail List Gnome (mailto:[[email protected]]) > >And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar >and say 'Man, what are you doing here?'" >-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 07 16:52:29 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Charleston Slough... -------- Northern Pike eh? Big Lunkers, Eh? I'll get my rod and reel, eh. ( Apolgies to our Canadian birders). PS isn't that the fish that the Fish and Game poisoned Davis Lake for? Chuq Von Rospach wrote: > Laurie thinks they were possibly pikes. they were > circling in the pond nearest the path, and the birds were giving them > wide berth. > > -- > Chuq Von Rospach - Plaidworks Consulting (mailto:[[email protected]]) > Apple Mail List Gnome (mailto:[[email protected]]) > > And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar > and say 'Man, what are you doing here?'" > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] -- Paul L. Noble "Screechowl" [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) / \ m m -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Jun 07 16:56:07 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Charleston Slough... -------- At 4:52 PM -0700 6/7/2000, Screech wrote: >Northern Pike eh? Big Lunkers, Eh? I'll get my rod and reel, eh. ( Apolgies to >our Canadian birders). > >PS isn't that the fish that the Fish and Game poisoned Davis Lake for? Yup. that's why we were worried! but evidently, they're carp, and known. -- Chuq Von Rospach - Plaidworks Consulting (mailto:[[email protected]]) Apple Mail List Gnome (mailto:[[email protected]]) And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar and say 'Man, what are you doing here?'" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Jun 07 17:28:08 2000 Subject: RE: [SBB] Charleston Slough... -------- To all, I got a call from Ginny at Shoreline wanting to know what these huge fish were and they are Carp. This happens every year about this time and we would like to get rid of them but this takes a lot of person power. These fish are non-native and very destructive to waterfowl habitat, they destroy aquatic plants and roil the water which also kills of silt-sensitive fish and numerous aquatic invertebrates. They were introduced to California from Germany in 1872 to be raised for food. They can grow up to 80 pounds and live for over 40 years. If you can reach them, take them with our blessings. Deborah Bartens Naturalist-Palo Alto -----Original Message----- From: Chuq Von Rospach [mailto:[[email protected]]] Sent: Wednesday, June 07, 2000 1:18 PM To: [[email protected]] Subject: [SBB] Charleston Slough... Took a walk along charleston last night, and it was very quiet. Forster's terns, a pair of cinnamon teals, one ruddy duck, mallards. Highlight of the evening was when two female mallards with large clutches got too close to each other, the ducklings mingled, and the two mom's had a big fight while trying to get the kids back into two groups again... (did I say it was quiet?) One thing I don't know if it's something to worry about or not. Coming in from San Antonio, in one of the first ponds on the left before you hit the pumping station (and the zillion swallow kids learning to fly...), we saw a couple of weird beasts. Could have been water snakes, Laurie thinks they were possibly pikes. they were circling in the pond nearest the path, and the birds were giving them wide berth. In that pond, it seemed likely to us they were dumpoffs, and probably shouldn't be there. Is this something that should be reported to someone? If so, who? we weren't thrilled at the thought of pikes getting loose in that area, if that's what they were. -- Chuq Von Rospach - Plaidworks Consulting (mailto:[[email protected]]) Apple Mail List Gnome (mailto:[[email protected]]) And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar and say 'Man, what are you doing here?'" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 08 10:14:55 2000 -------- Folks: Yesterday, 6/7/2000, I checked San Felipe Lake and San Felipe Road. On the lake I counted at least six nests of GREAT BLUE HERON with the young nearly fully grown. Although there were both adult and imm. DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS around, none still remained in their nests. Along San Felipe Road, between Hwy 152 and Pacheco Creek I saw a pair of CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS at a nest in the 2nd of the large eucalypti north from the creek. The nest is about 40 feet up on the south side (slightly west of south), about 15 feet in from the tip. It is in an area of thick leaf growth and it was only by looking directly up that I could see some of the nest material. However, during 15 minutes, I saw 3 to 4 nest exchanges (eight o'clock in the morning). I did not note food being carried by the adults, so I'm not certain that there are young in the nest. This is an area where these birds have nested, more or less regularly, since 1997. Just to the south, in the 1st eucalyptus, is a WESTERN KINGBIRD nest. This nest is readily visible at the end of a pruned limb on the north side of the tree, about 20 feet up. This morning, 6/8/2000, I saw a male and female GREEN-WINGED TEAL on Adobe Creek in the Palo Alto FCB. The male was courting the female. There are few nest records for the county, so keep an eye out. A female/imm. HOODED MERGANSER was in the channel west of the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh. There are only a handful of summer records for this merganser. Bill -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Jun 08 10:38:50 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Charleston Slough... -------- I once watched a Great Blue Heron at Adobe Creek take about 10 minutes to swallow a very large fish that I assumed to be a carp. I estimated the size to be about 11 in. long by 2 in. wide by 6 in. tall/deep. I've never been able to estimate fish weight by size, so I won't try. It was blue- gray in color. I don't know how the heron managed to get that girth past its mouth (but isn't that always the case?). Les Chibana On Wednesday, June 7, 2000, Bartens, Deborah <[[email protected]]> wrote: >To all, >I got a call from Ginny at Shoreline wanting to know what these huge fish >were and they are Carp. This happens every year about this time and we >would like to get rid of them but this takes a lot of person power. >These fish are non-native and very destructive to waterfowl habitat, they >destroy aquatic plants and roil the water which also kills of silt-sensitive >fish and numerous aquatic invertebrates. They were introduced to California >from Germany in 1872 to be raised for food. They can grow up to 80 pounds >and live for over 40 years. If you can reach them, take them with our >blessings. >Deborah Bartens >Naturalist-Palo Alto -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 08 22:24:19 2000 Subject: [SBB] Fw: {EBB} new listserv announcement and clarification -------- Doug Shaw, Santa Rosa, CA [[email protected]] ----- Original Message ----- From: Barred_Owl <[[email protected]]> To: <[[email protected]]> Sent: Thursday, June 08, 2000 9:45 PM Subject: {EBB} new listserv announcement and clarification > There seems to be some confusion on the new listserv for northbay birds. > Mike Feighner did me a favor by promoting the listserv. I am the moderator > of the group, not Mike. I am posting the directions again below for anyone > that may be interested. > I have formed a new discussion group on sightings and distribution of > birds in Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Solano, and Lake Counties. The listserv is > called " northbaybirds " [NBB]. To subscribe send an e-mail to: > [[email protected]] > > > Doug Shaw, Santa Rosa, CA [[email protected]] > > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Jun 09 12:18:30 2000 Subject: [SBB] Fledglings and juvies -------- Seen recently around our home on Skyline Blvd.: Juvenal-plumaged Bandtailed Pigeons Juvenal-plumaged Dark-eyed Juncos 4 - 6 California Quail puffballs with attentive parents - the male CAQU chases away Steller's Jays but doesn't bother the gray squirrels that are within foot of their chicks Our pair of nesting Black Phoebes must have fledged their young. They've stopped taking food to the nest. We still have a male and 2 female (prob.) Allen's Hummingbirds coming to our feeders. The male is the dominant bird right now. He was also checking out our vine honeysuckle buds for any blooms. I wouldn't be surprised if these are breeders, but I haven't seen any indications other than their presence. Les -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 09 13:25:46 2000 Subject: [SBB] Odd combo -------- After being gone for most of a month on business, I viewed the birds in my backyard quite intently yesterday. While a couple of CALIFORNIA QUAIL and some young OREGON JUNCOS, were nibbling under my tree, about 30 feet away on my hill a large hawk landed. It walked around like a chicken going in and out of bushes - twas a RED-SHOULDERED adult. Then a pair of MALLARDS arrived. He, sadly, was not a thoroughbred. He watched while she ate a large quantity of Dr. Geis. I do not have a pool. There seem to be a larger than normal number of ANNA's. The BAND-TAILED population has dropped to 30 something. Gloria LeBlanc "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Jun 09 13:32:57 2000 Subject: [SBB] Oak Meadow/Vasona Field Trip tomorrow -------- I wrote a Letter to the Editor of the Los Gatos Weekly and told her to "deep 10" the letter or use it. She chose to use it. It ran in this weeks paper. In the letter, I thank the LG Park Commission for distributing the "Birds of La Rinconada" and I also mention that I am heading an Audubon field trip tomorrow at Oak Meadow/Vasona. (Saturday, 8 AM) A column in the Los Gatos Weekly entitled "The Prowler" also highlighted the field trip at Oak Meadow/Vasona and tells everyone how they can become a member of the Santa Clara Valley Audubon including a phone number. Dale Bryant, the editor of the Los Gatos Weekly, is a friend. If you know her or anyone else associated with the paper, please pass on your thanks for giving SCVAS such a nice "pitch." The purpose of the trip tomorrow is to help create a bird list that LG Parks can hand out for Oak Meadow/Vasona Parks. Gloria LeBlanc "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Jun 09 14:08:48 2000 Subject: [SBB] Shoreline/Forebay area -------- I just took a quick, short stroll around the Mtn. View (Coast Casey) Forebay, 6/9/00. Nothing extra-special seen. There was a full-sized juvenal-plumaged Pied-billed Grebe on Shoreline Lake near the Forebay. 2-3 American Goldfinches fed in the weeds. The pumphouse is bursting with fledging Cliff Swallows. There were several fledging Barn Swallows along the channel on the northside of the path from the parking area to the pumphouse. A small flight of American White Pelicans flew from over pond A1 toward Shoreline Lake. No Black Skimmers seen near the Forebay. Les Chibana, Palo Alto, CA [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Jun 09 15:05:40 2000 Subject: [SBB] Some good county birds -------- All, This morning Frank Vanslager and I went to the top of Sierra Rd. (near the corral on the right side of the road) where we saw a Rock Wren and Horned Larks (both county year birds for us). We also saw at least three singing Grasshopper Sparrows (one bathed near us, 7-8 feet away, and showed us the hard to see yellow shoulder mark). The yellow shoulder (actually the wrist?) mark is depicted and commented on in Peterson's Western Field Guide but is not shown or commented on in the new NGS Field Guide. Even Rising's Sparrows of the United States and Canada fails to mentioned the shoulder mark (the drawings do show it). In a discussion of the history of the GRSP Rising notes that Audubon referred to the bird as the 'Yellow-winged Bunting' . Other species seen included an adult Golden Eagle, White-throated Swift, Lazuli Bunting, Western Bluebird, Yellow-billed Magpie, Ash-throated Flycatcher and Western Kingbird. Take care, Bob Reiling, 3:09 PM, 6/9/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Jun 09 15:45:08 2000 Subject: [SBB] S.C. Bird List as of 5/31/00 -------- Eleven birds were added for a total of 252. Pacific Loon 5/7/00 White-faced Ibis 5/26/00 Mountain Quail 5/18/00 Hudsonian Godwit 5/26/00 Wilson's Phalarope 5/12/00 Red-necked Phalarope 5/6/00 Black Swift 5/10/00 Purple Martin 5/10/00 Black-chinned Sparrow 5/6/00 Rose-breasted Grosbeak 5/13/00 Indigo Bunting 5/24/00 The complete results can be viewed on: South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU) http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/ ----------------------------------------- Kendric C. Smith, Ph.D. 927 Mears Court Stanford, CA 94305-1041 (650) 493-7210 (voice or fax) [[email protected]] http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/ ------------------------------------------ -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Jun 09 16:53:20 2000 Subject: [SBB] Indigo Bunting still at Los Trancos (no message) -------- ------------------------------------------------------ Peter LaTourrette Bird Photography: http://www.birdphotography.com/ Bird Photo Gallery: http://www.stanford.edu/~petelat1/ -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 10 10:06:03 2000 Subject: [SBB] Archive updated through May. -------- South Bay Birders, I have updated the South Bay Birders Online message archive through May 200. You can browse past messages at: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/southbay.htm Also I have posted details on the Bermuda Petrel seen off North Carolina on 2 June at: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/bepe.htm You may wish to ponder this month's mystery birds at: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/mysteries.htm and there is an account of a singing Blue-headed Vireo from Orange County last month at: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/descriptions.htm Enjoy! -- Remove NOSPAM if replying by email. California Birding pages: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/ -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: mailto:[[email protected]] Fall Birding Classes begin Sept 5: 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]] Sat Jun 10 11:40:17 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Some good county birds/Sierra Rd. summit -------- At 06:05 PM 6/9/00 EDT, [[email protected]] wrote: >All, > >This morning Frank Vanslager and I went to the top of Sierra Rd. (near the >corral on the right side of the road) where we saw a Rock Wren and Horned >Larks (both county year birds for us). We also saw at least three singing >Grasshopper Sparrows (one bathed near us, 7-8 feet away, and showed us the >hard to see yellow shoulder mark). I went there this morning and saw the above birds plus Lark Sparrow, but nothing at 7-8 feet :-( A San Jose Police officer stopped by and told me that some of that land is being donated to the city for use as an open space park. There will be a 20-car parking area on the south side of the summit and hiking trails from there. He didn't know if land on the north side of the road would be part of it. Sounds pretty neat to me--does anyone know more about it? --Pete ------------------------------------------------------ Peter LaTourrette Bird Photography: http://www.birdphotography.com/ Bird Photo Gallery: http://www.stanford.edu/~petelat1/ -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 10 15:09:48 2000 Subject: [SBB] CCFS 6/10/00 -------- Banding efforts at CCFS processed 30 birds today. Only 6 different species were handled. It was a big day for CLIFF SWALLOWs with 17 banded and several of these in breeding condition; we also banded two TREE SWALLOWs, one recent fledgling and one adult male. Swallows are really neat, close up! Swallows seem to be caught infrequently at CCFS but when they are, they can be caught in high numbers. The other bander recalled finding 34 Cliffies in the nets on one run a few years back! Other species were the regulars: a Downy Woodpecker, a Chestnut-backed Chickadee, several Common Yellowthroats, and Song Sparrows. Two summer-plumaged DOWITCHERs and 3 BONAPARTE GULLs were present on the settling ponds opposite the banding trailers. Nick Lethaby stopped by and opined that the dowitchers were likely 1st summer birds. The gulls were also present last weekend. The Killdeer eggs by the banding trailer disappeared last Saturday sometime after we finished banding. I saw a pair of ravens cruise by slowly before I left last Saturday. The Killdeer that had been incubating had departed the nest, apparently, to not call attention to the nest location. I guess the strategy didn't work as when another bander stopped back later that day, she discovered that the nest was empty. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 10 19:56:34 2000 Subject: [SBB] Birds at Alum Rock Park -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Today (Sat., June 10) we had a post-class field trip to Alum Rock Park. Birds were plentiful, as was evidence of breeding activity. We saw recently fledged BLACK PHOEBES, AMERICAN ROBINS, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, and nesting ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS, HOUSE WRENS, and STARLINGS. The highlight was a juvenile AMERICAN DIPPER found upstream from the last parking area (near the old mineral springs). It allowed us to watch it for a long time, and was still resting on the rocks there when walked by again later. It had a mottled pale gray breast, white tips to its primaries, and mostly white underwing coverts. We walked the road down to the Rustic Lands Picnic Area, then returned via the North Rim Trail. Birds included a COMMON MERGANSER, BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, WARBLING VIREOS, BROWN CREEPER, CALIFORNIA THRASHER, several RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS, a LAZULI BUNTING, HOODED ORIOLE (in palms above North Rim Trail), and BULLOCK'S ORIOLES. No Golden Eagle, no Canyon Wren. Best mammals: a BOBCAT at the Rustic Lands parking area, and a BLACK-TAILED DEER with cute fawn near YSI. I haven't visited YSI in a long time, and it may be common knowledge, but it came as news to me: they have an excellent collection of bird mounts there. Lots of waterfowl, raptor, gamebird, rail, shorebird, alcid, and owl specimens are on exhibit (including the only Eskimo Curlew most of us will ever see). John Mariani [[email protected]] http://www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Jun 11 14:04:10 2000 Subject: [SBB] Montebello Ridge/Los Trancos -------- We spotted the INIDIGO BUNTING on Saturday morning within three minutes of arriving up at Los Trancos. We walked a small loop around Montebello Ridge and got some good looks at the GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS and LAZULI BUNTINGS. At the pond near Russian Ridge, we saw the BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER. Down at Yerba Buena Nursery, we saw ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and WILSONS WARBLERS, but only heard MACGILLIVARY'S WARBLER. It was a great morning! 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]] Sun Jun 11 14:32:51 2000 Subject: [SBB] Thank You SBB!!! -------- Decided to try for a couple of county birds this AM with the help of SBB. Decided on a Horned Lark and Indigo Bunting. Drove up Sierra Road, pulled off by corral, and there 4 fence posts in front of me was a Horned Lark singing its heart out. OK, did that. Drove up Page Mill Road per SBB instructions, into parking lot, got out of car and looked up at wire...BINGO!...Indigo Bunting, also singing. So, got two birds, 5 seconds spent per bird to locate....but took more time to enjoy. Gloria LeBlanc "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Jun 11 14:40:40 2000 Subject: [SBB] SCVAS field trip/Oak Meadow/Vasona -------- Yesterday, Saturday, a composite list of 54 species was seen at Oak Meadow/Vasona. Frank Vanslager found a PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER for us. Most enjoyment was from the large number of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES. It's like a free trip to the tropics when we see these magnificantly colored birds in our own backyard. Birds seen included: OSPREY, HAIRY-ACORN-DOWNY & NUTTALL'S WOODPECKERS, GREAT BLUE-GREEN-BLACKCROWNED HERONS, FORSTER'S TERN, VIOLET GREEN-BARN-CLIFF-NORTHERN ROUGH WINGED SWALLOWS, VAUX SWIFT, ETC. Gloria LeBlanc "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Jun 11 15:38:54 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re: Page Mill Indigo Bunting -------- On May 27, Les Chibana wrote: > I led a bird walk for the Open Space District at Monte Bello today, > 5/27/00. The INDIGO BUNTING over at the Los Trancos OSP parking lot > was being well-viewed when we started out. Its rounds takes it into San > Mateo County. First, with respect to the location [those impatient with nitpicking will want to skip this]: the AAA Palo Alto map plainly shows that both the Los Trancos parking lot and the full width of Page Mill Road beside it are in San Mateo County -- it is ambiguous from this map whether any of the Montebello parking lot is in Santa Clara Co. On the other hand, the Mindego Hill topo map (at least the last one I have) shows the county line passing on the north side of the road, thus either through or more likely north of the Los Trancos parking lot. Does anyone know the actual truth? (The Mid-Peninsula Open Space District maps take the safe path, and do not show the county line at all.] I finally got up to see the Indigo Bunting this afternoon. Its favorite spot was on the wires just north of the Los Trancos lot. I concluded from the AAA map that this location, as well as all other spots where I saw it, were in San Mateo Co. But the topo map makes it at least ambiguous.... Help! [Maybe if I go back the bird will range widely enough to cover both counties unambiguously, but it didn't while I was there.] Second, with respect to plumage. In my scope views, I felt that the tertials, primaries, and uppertail had predominantly brown color (the primaries entirely so). Wouldn't this make it a sub-adult bird? There also appeared to be a few grayish feathers on the mid-back. Also, the lower back and rump appeared to be a less deep blue ("azure"?? - at any rate, more toward a Lazuli's color) than the head, upper back, and underparts. The NGS guide shows this sort of color on younger birds, but I don't know how accurate it is. Any comments? Cheers, Al -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Jun 11 16:48:05 2000 Subject: [SBB] Pt. Reyes - Y.B. Loon, B&W Warbler -------- Yesterday (June 10th), Dan Froehlich and I saw the BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER that Dan had found on the 9th. It was still singing, foraging and occasionally would fly onto the wooden fence. We also found a (the?) YELLOW-BILLED LOON at the lighthouse, off the visitor center. It was at a distance in the open water, but allowed good scope views. A COMMON LOON was conveniently about for comparison, and at one point, even a PACIFIC LOON came close. Vivek Tiwari [[email protected]] >------- Forwarded Message >N. California RBA June 9th > >Today, June 9th, at Point Reyes, a YELLOW-BILLED LOON was off the >Drake's Bay side of Chimney Rock. This is likely the same bird seen >off the lighthouse earlier this week. (GM) A male BLACK-AND-WHITE >WARBLER was in trees at the Spaletta Ranch. (DF) >------- End of Forwarded Message -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 11 18:59:58 2000 Subject: [SBB] dowitchers at CCFS -------- At 03:09 PM 6/10/00 -0700, Les Chibana wrote: >Two summer-plumaged DOWITCHERs and 3 BONAPARTE GULLs were present on >the settling ponds opposite the banding trailers. Nick Lethaby stopped >by and opined that the dowitchers were likely 1st summer birds. The >gulls were also present last weekend. The Killdeer eggs by the banding >trailer disappeared last Saturday sometime after we finished banding. >I saw a pair of ravens cruise by slowly before I left last Saturday. >The Killdeer that had been incubating had departed the nest, apparently, >to not call attention to the nest location. I guess the strategy didn't >work as when another bander stopped back later that day, she discovered >that the nest was empty. > I don't know if these are the same dowitchers which I saw on Friday but there were two and one was a lot brighter than the other. My thoughts were that the bright bird, which had an injured leg, was an adult. The dull bird looked like a first summer bird. What was interesting is that the bright bird appeared to be a Short-billed Dowitcher based on plumage features (lack of white tips to scapulars, more spotting below, white vent etc.). I could not identify the dull bird, but based on structure (both birds were on the small-billed end of the spectruum) I would guess that it was also a Short-billed Dowitcher. Unfortunately, I did not hear the birds call. There were also 2 female and one male Wilson's Phalaropes. The females kept chasing each other, with one of them "defending" the male and driving away the second female. This is breeding behaviour, which surprised me. Two Marbled Godwits were all that remained of our wonderful spring for godwits. cheers, Al Alvaro Jaramillo Senior Biologist San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory P.O. Box 247 Alviso, CA 95002 (408)-946-6548 http://www.sfbbo.org/ Home of the California Fall Challenge!! [[email protected]] Birds of Chile and New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Jun 11 20:36:02 2000 Subject: [SBB] Indigo Bunting status -------- I am strictly an immediate birder, but I was in St. Louis last weekend and saw many INDIGO BUNTINGS. I also saw "ours" this afternoon In St. Louis I saw mostly adult, but did see about 3 that were similar to "ours". My assumption in St. Louis was that the 3 were not yet in adult plumage. BTW St Louis is the only place in the US that I have birded that was "birdier" than the Bay Area. August A. Busch Memorial Park of 7000 acres was awesome. Gloria LeBlanc "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Jun 11 21:18:14 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Re: Page Mill Indigo Bunting -------- Al and South-Bay-Birders: see below..... [[email protected]] wrote: > On May 27, Les Chibana wrote: > > > I led a bird walk for the Open Space District at Monte Bello today, > > 5/27/00. The INDIGO BUNTING over at the Los Trancos OSP parking lot > > was being well-viewed when we started out. Its rounds takes it into San > > Mateo County. > > First, with respect to the location [those impatient with nitpicking will > want to skip this]: the AAA Palo Alto map plainly shows that both the > Los Trancos parking lot and the full width of Page Mill Road beside it are > in San Mateo County -- it is ambiguous from this map whether any of the > Montebello parking lot is in Santa Clara Co. On the other hand, the Mindego > Hill topo map (at least the last one I have) shows the county line passing > on the north side of the road, thus either through or more likely north of > the Los Trancos parking lot. Does anyone know the actual truth? (The > Mid-Peninsula Open Space District maps take the safe path, and do not show > the county line at all.] I finally got up to see the Indigo Bunting this > afternoon. Its favorite spot was on the wires just north of the Los > Trancos lot. I concluded from the AAA map that this location, as well as all > other spots where I saw it, were in San Mateo Co. But the topo map makes it > at least ambiguous.... Help! [Maybe if I go back the bird will range widely > enough to cover both counties unambiguously, but it didn't while I was there.] Earlier Les Chibana checked the USGS map right after the initial sighting and determined that this area was in fact within Santa Clara County. For once we get a male Indigo Bunting in Santa Clara County and not another repeated one within San Mateo County. My Thomas Guide shows part of the county line along Los Trancos Creek. The gate to Monte Bello Road is well within Santa Clara County. Some distance later the road bends right into San Mateo County, passing later for short time again back into Santa Clara County and then back into San Mateo County. Unlike along I-8 where the highway passes back and forth of the Imperial/San Diego County line, you will see no county line signs here. I was under the impression all along with Les's supporting USGS Map that Los Trancos Parking Lot was within Santa Clara County. -- Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 12 06:37:10 2000 Subject: [SBB] Ovenbird in Milpitas -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Just received message that early this morning Jim Danzenbaker heard an OVENBIRD singing in Milpitas. It was in trees lining the road at the S.E. corner of Yosemite Dr. and Milpitas Boulevard (this is about 3 long blocks south of where Milpitas Blvd crosses Calaveras, between Calaveras and Montague), If you go look for it watch out for traffic which moves fast through there. The bird was still singing when he was last there. John Mariani [[email protected]] http://www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 12 07:58:27 2000 Subject: [SBB] 3 swift week -------- Hi all, I guess I cheated a little, I observed Vaux's Swifts at the "covered bridge" park and at the Railroad Station in Felton, Santa Cruz Co on Saturday, June 10, 2000. Within Santa Clara Co., on Friday, June 9, 2000, I observed White-throated Swifts at Page Mill & 280 and Arastadero & 280. On Wed., June 7, 2000. I observed a lone Black Swift on private property along Coyote Creek near where Hwy 101 and 85 converge. It was seen foraging in a mixed flock with White-throated Swifts, N. Rough-winged Swallows, Cliff Swallows and a Barn Swallow over the creek. Sorry for the delay, I haven't been at my computer in a few days. Good birding, Tom Ryan -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 12 08:11:37 2000 Subject: [SBB] Sierra Rd instructions -------- All, >From I-680 in East San Jose take Berryessa Rd. toward the hills (northeast), turn left at the first light (Capitol), after two blocks turn right on Sierra Rd. Follow Sierra Rd to where it tops the hill just past the corral on the right side of the road. Bird the area down to just past the corral, then walk the road to northeast (the other direction) for the next half mile or so, we then drive the road stopping at obvious wide spots until Sierra Rd. becomes Felter Rd. (There are also a couple good spots to bird driving up the hill, near some Eucalyptus trees and near a pond.) Expect cold and windy conditions at the top of the hill even on nice days in the valley. A scope would be highly desirable for checking out the distant rocks, fence lines and trees. Take care and good luck, Bob Reiling, 8:05 AM, 6/12/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 12 09:09:25 2000 Subject: [SBB] Cliff Swallows on Hamilton -------- Hi, I've seen swallows, probably Cliff, soaring over Hamilton Ave. in Palo Alto for the past two weeks, both early morning and late afternoon. This is the first time I've seen them here and wonder if this is a particularly good swallow year and if they're expanding their range beyond the Baylands, which I'm fairly close to. I'm on the part of Hamilton near Channing and Embarcadero. Some friends who live on Garland Ave. said they've seen a few also. Nancy Teater -- Nancy R. Teater Hamilton Communications phone: +1 650 321 0252 [[email protected]] http://web.hamilton.com fax: +1 650 327 4660 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 12 09:29:28 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Cliff Swallows on Hamilton -------- Swallows and swifts have been abundant for years along Hamilton in downtown Palo Alto. The swifts nest under the roof tiles of several of the old buildings. Watching them fly full speed into the tiny roof opening is one of the high points of my lunch hour. Swallows here are mostly violet green. The local winter Peregrine left his perch on the high rise a few months ago and the hawk migration is over for a few months. Dick Carlson -- Richard C. Carlson Chairman, Spectrum Economics Palo Alto, CA [[email protected]] 650-324-2701 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 12 10:07:14 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re: Page Mill Indigo Bunting -------- Mike Feighner wrote: > Earlier Les Chibana checked the USGS map right after the initial sighting and > determined that this area was in fact within Santa Clara County. For once we get > a male Indigo Bunting in Santa Clara County and not another repeated one within > San Mateo County. My Thomas Guide shows part of the county line along Los Trancos > Creek. The gate to Monte Bello Road is well within Santa Clara County. Some > distance later the road bends right into San Mateo County, passing later for short > time again back into Santa Clara County and then back into San Mateo County. > Unlike along I-8 where the highway passes back and forth of the Imperial/San Diego > County line, you will see no county line signs here. I was under the impression > all along with Les's supporting USGS Map that Los Trancos Parking Lot was within > Santa Clara County. I noted that I was referring to the topo map, and also the AAA map, and that they disagreed. Since a county line is not topography, I see no particular reason why the topo map should be considered the authoritative source. Your information about the Thomas guide (as a third source) map be helpful if we do a side-by-side comparison to the other two.... 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]] Mon Jun 12 10:29:33 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re: Page Mill Indigo Bunting -------- I wrote earlier: > I noted that I was referring to the topo map, and also the AAA map, and that > they disagreed. Since a county line is not topography, I see no particular > reason why the topo map should be considered the authoritative source. Your > information about the Thomas guide (as a third source) map be helpful if we > do a side-by-side comparison to the other two.... Of course, I wrote the above before receiving Bill's detailed explanation, for which thanks. Any comments re. the plumage portion of my original mail? 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]] Mon Jun 12 11:03:51 2000 -------- Folks: This morning, 6/12/2000, the female HOODED MERGANSER that I saw last week near the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh was in the Mountain View Forebay. I'll offer some comments on the Indigo Bunting and the county borders for anyone who is sufficiently inane to read on. Mapping brings up the realities of errors in data and how they propagate. The original surveys that defined San Francisco and Santa Clara counties (yes, Virginia, there was no San Mateo until 1858), may or may not be archived somewhere. Those surveys had errors in them and were provided to the folks who made maps. They, in turn, made registration errors when they etched the early plates for the maps and subsequent maps probably used the earlier maps (rather than survey data) for the new maps, each with a new technology in the printing process. These errors have built up to the level that it is doubtful that any of these features that are not associated clearly with geomorphological characters, i.e. streams, hill crests, etc, have errors of 50 to 100 m. And this is just for the USGS maps. When you add in commercial maps, where they will also purposely create errors for copyright protection, then the error band increases significantly. The current GPS systems are providing accuracies now of 10 m, but the GPS can only tell where you are with respect to an earth reference. It does nothing about resurrecting the surveyor's archives of the 1850s. So, if you keep the county records what do you do? First, you follow the USGS, as the sole authority in mapping. If you look at the Mindego Hill quad (as many of you have), you will note that there are no parking lots on Page Mill Road, no power line, no readily available reference. My best guess, looking at the contours, is that the county line is very close to the northern side of the Los Trancos OSP parking lot. The wires, so beloved of the Indigo Bunting, are in San Mateo County to the northeast, but appear to move into Santa Clara County 10-30 m before they reach Page Mill Road. The first report of this bird had it on the wires south of Page Mill Road which is in Santa Clara County. However, most observers see the bird more regularly in San Mateo County. If anyone has been foolish enough to read this far then I'll recount that a few years ago there was a guy in Australia who certified bird lists for birders for a nominal fee, I think he charged five cents a bird. Thus, if you were concerned whether you had seen a bird in Santa Clara County as opposed to San Mateo County, or California as opposed to Nevada, or Mexico as opposed to the US, you just mailed him your list and your check and he would certify whatever you wanted. It may seem unbelievable, but he made a lot of money. Or maybe that's just an urban myth. Anyone want to set up a local certifying agency? 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 Jun 12 12:52:39 2000 Subject: RE: [SBB] Cliff Swallows on Hamilton -------- Nancy & others, Cliff Swallows are nesting on numerous bridges throughout the county from the bay to the Pajaro River. I have been documenting locations while working on various projects. It seems that maybe 1 in every 4-5 bridges has at least a few pairs. I have seen groups as small as 8 on a small structure. There are also swifts and N. Rough-winged Swallows nesting in the drain holes. It might be interesting to start to keep track of the locations of some of these bridge nesting species. Their breeding habitat seems to be increasing within the county. Tom > ---------- > From: Nancy Teater[SMTP:[[email protected]]] > Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 9:09 AM > To: [[email protected]] > Subject: [SBB] Cliff Swallows on Hamilton > > Hi, > I've seen swallows, probably Cliff, soaring over Hamilton Ave. in Palo > Alto > for the past two weeks, both early morning and late afternoon. > > This is the first time I've seen them here and wonder if this is a > particularly good swallow year and if they're expanding their range beyond > > the Baylands, which I'm fairly close to. I'm on the part of Hamilton near > Channing and Embarcadero. Some friends who live on Garland Ave. said > they've seen a few also. > > Nancy Teater > -- > Nancy R. Teater Hamilton Communications phone: +1 650 321 0252 > [[email protected]] http://web.hamilton.com fax: +1 650 327 4660 > > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to > [[email protected]] > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 12 12:58:02 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Re: Page Mill Indigo Bunting -------- After reading Al's note, I reviewed the slides I shot of this bird. I had a few shots straight-on of the back. The topmost tertial, #3, (sometimes referred to as secondary #9) was very blue on the inner web. The outer web and the other two tertials were blackish, not at all brownish. I could not detect any brownish in the uppertail, or primaries. Is there perhaps more than one male Indigo Bunting here? That shouldn't be too surprising. When I photographed this bird, I had great afternoon light behind me, at about 6:30 - 7:30 pm on 5/27/00. Now, one might correctly argue that low afternoon sun warms up colors. But I think that since the bird in question is all blue (which means it derives its plumage color by a cellular feather structure rather than from pigments) the color that I saw and photographed may not have been substantively affected by low-angled sunlight. I did note in my original post that the lower back and rump seemed close to Lazuli in color instead of the darker indigo color. I believe Eric Feuss noted that this bird seemed well within the range of color for an Indigo. I don't know of Eric's experience with this species. I do know that I don't see very many of these birds and don't know if this is normal for the individuals appearing in the west. I recall reading that western Indigos used to be more readily considered hybrids with Laz. Currently, I believe, most western Indigo sightings are considered "pure". Maybe we'll discover that the manifestation of the hybridization of these two species has become more subtle... Les On Sunday, June 11, 2000, [[email protected]] wrote: [snip] > >Second, with respect to plumage. In my scope views, I felt that the tertials, >primaries, and uppertail had predominantly brown color (the primaries entirely >so). Wouldn't this make it a sub-adult bird? There also appeared to be a >few grayish feathers on the mid-back. Also, the lower back and rump appeared >to be a less deep blue ("azure"?? - at any rate, more toward a Lazuli's color) >than the head, upper back, and underparts. The NGS guide shows this sort of >color on younger birds, but I don't know how accurate it is. >Any comments? > > Cheers, Al -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 12 13:08:48 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re: 3 swift week -------- I think Tom meant Stevens Creek for the Black Swift sighting. I thought I saw a Black Swift fly by the CCFS banding trailers on Sat., 6/10/00, which IS near Coyote Creek. But I didn't get the right views of the bird to be certain. There was a White-throated Swift present with the numerous swallows. Les On Monday, June 12, 2000, Tom Ryan <[[email protected]]> wrote: >Hi all, > >I guess I cheated a little, I observed Vaux's Swifts at the "covered >bridge" park and at the Railroad Station in Felton, Santa Cruz Co on >Saturday, June 10, 2000. > >Within Santa Clara Co., on Friday, June 9, 2000, I observed White-throated >Swifts at Page Mill & 280 and Arastadero & 280. On Wed., June 7, 2000. I >observed a lone Black Swift on private property along Coyote Creek near >where Hwy 101 and 85 converge. It was seen foraging in a mixed flock with >White-throated Swifts, N. Rough-winged Swallows, Cliff Swallows and a Barn >Swallow over the creek. > >Sorry for the delay, I haven't been at my computer in a few >days. > >Good birding, >Tom Ryan -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 12 13:33:15 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Re: Page Mill Indigo Bunting -------- Nitpickers, My computer program Streets and Trips 2000 roughly agrees with my 1989 Thomas Guide. It says that 1.1 miles from Skyline Blvd the county line crosses to the north side of Page Mill Rd, the line then closely follows the north side of the road for 0.3 miles where it crosses the road, continues a bit further to the south and returns to cross Page Mill Rd, for the last time, 0.2 miles further on. It is my opinion that the county line roughly follows the ridgeline and therefore crosses the road uphill of the two power poles (of Indigo Bunting fame, putting them in Santa Clara County), it then crosses back near the entrance to the Monte Bello OSP parking lot to take in the ridge to the southeast of the parking lot (of Grasshopper Sparrow fame, placing those to the road side of the ridge in San Mateo County), the county line then crosses the road below where cars park beneath the large evergreens (about two-thirds the distance from the Monte Bello OSP parking lot entrance to where the road makes a fairly sharp turn from the east to the north (if going downhill). If anyone (Les?) actually measures the distance please let us know. Take care, Bob Reiling, 1:24 PM, 6/12/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 12 13:53:49 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re: 3 swift week -------- Boy, what a Mtn. View mindset I have! I forgot, that 101 and 85 meet again in the south valley. Les On Monday, June 12, 2000, Tom Ryan <[[email protected]]> wrote: >No, Coyote Creek, 85 & 101 meet up again down there. > >> ---------- >> From: Les Chibana[SMTP:[[email protected]]] >> Reply To: Les Chibana >> Sent: Monday, June 12, 2000 1:08 PM >> To: [[email protected]]; Tom Ryan >> Subject: Re: 3 swift week >> >> I think Tom meant Stevens Creek for the Black Swift sighting. I thought >> I saw a Black Swift fly by the CCFS banding trailers on Sat., 6/10/00, >> which IS near Coyote Creek. But I didn't get the right views of the bird >> to be certain. There was a White-throated Swift present with the numerous >> swallows. >> >> Les >> >> On Monday, June 12, 2000, Tom Ryan <[[email protected]]> wrote: >> >Hi all, >> > >> >I guess I cheated a little, I observed Vaux's Swifts at the "covered >> >bridge" park and at the Railroad Station in Felton, Santa Cruz Co on >> >Saturday, June 10, 2000. >> > >> >Within Santa Clara Co., on Friday, June 9, 2000, I observed >> White-throated >> >Swifts at Page Mill & 280 and Arastadero & 280. On Wed., June 7, 2000. >> I >> >observed a lone Black Swift on private property along Coyote Creek near >> >where Hwy 101 and 85 converge. It was seen foraging in a mixed flock >> with >> >White-throated Swifts, N. Rough-winged Swallows, Cliff Swallows and a >> Barn >> >Swallow over the creek. >> > >> >Sorry for the delay, I haven't been at my computer in a few >> >days. >> > >> >Good birding, >> >Tom Ryan >> >> > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 12 14:53:51 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Re: Page Mill Indigo Bunting -------- I'm glad that I don't keep a county list! [I barely keep track of a life list.] For the sake of county record keepers (not listers), I do know that the bird has ranged north far enough to be in San Mateo County, and has also been on the south side of the road for a Santa Clara presence (if you only accept the road as the boundary). If the bird shows any sign of breeding activity, maybe then I'll join an effort to "county" it's nest. Les On Monday, June 12, 2000, [[email protected]] wrote: >Nitpickers, > >My computer program Streets and Trips 2000 roughly agrees with my 1989 Thomas >Guide. It says that 1.1 miles from Skyline Blvd the county line crosses to >the north side of Page Mill Rd, the line then closely follows the north side >of the road for 0.3 miles where it crosses the road, continues a bit further >to the south and returns to cross Page Mill Rd, for the last time, 0.2 miles >further on. > >It is my opinion that the county line roughly follows the ridgeline and >therefore crosses the road uphill of the two power poles (of Indigo Bunting >fame, putting them in Santa Clara County), it then crosses back near the >entrance to the Monte Bello OSP parking lot to take in the ridge to the >southeast of the parking lot (of Grasshopper Sparrow fame, placing those to >the road side of the ridge in San Mateo County), the county line then crosses >the road below where cars park beneath the large evergreens (about two-thirds >the distance from the Monte Bello OSP parking lot entrance to where the road >makes a fairly sharp turn from the east to the north (if going downhill). If >anyone (Les?) actually measures the distance please let us >know. > >Take care, >Bob Reiling, 1:24 PM, 6/12/00 > > >-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to >[[email protected]] > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 12 15:00:24 2000 Subject: [SBB] Indigo Bunting -------- All, Finding the controversy regarding age and county location too irresistible to pass on, I finally headed up to check on the oft-reported male INDIGO BUNTING. I arrived at the Los Trancos Parking Area at 11:39am and immediately heard the bird singing to the north (it's song was typical of Indigo Bunting in that several phrases were doubled, which is not as typical of Lazuli Bunting). Walking to the north I found the bird singing from the top of a small brushy tree well into San Mateo County. At 11:45am it flew to the telephone wire near the parking lot, providing excellent scope-viewing. It is my opinion (see below) that this location is still in San Mateo County. At 11:53am it flew to the south across the road to a Coyote bush atop a small hill - this spot was well within Santa Clara County. I will check Pyle tonight, but I believe that the bird is a worn and somewhat faded adult male, rather than a SY (second-year) bird. The outer edges of the tertials are deep blue (especially the uppermost pair), all the secondary coverts are completely blue, the secondaries themselves have blue edgings, the primary coverts (usually hidden) also had blue, and the tail feathers were edged in blue as well. Admittedly the "black portions" of the tertials, flight feathers, and tail were quite a dull brown, especially at the tips, but it does not seem unlikely too me that a worn and faded adult bird could look like this at this time of year (especially one that sings so much in the California sunshine!). Regarding the county the bird is in, I measured the distance from the Canyon Trail to Alpine Road and came up with 1.0 miles, which agrees with the USGS topo; the distance to the Los Trancos OSP parking lot from the Canyon Trail was 0.25 miles. This places the Los Trancos parking area right where the county line (as drawn on the USGS map) runs north of the road and agrees with the topo relief lines, which show an initial sharp rise from the Canyon trail turnoff, followed by a shallower rise to a relatively flat spot at the parking area. According to the USGS map, the county line runs between about 50 feet and 130 feet north of the centerline of Page Mill Road here. My best guess locates the parking lot where this distance is about 80 feet, which seems to me to be just inside the telephone lines. County lines often do follow ridge lines as Bob Reiling noted, but in this area examination of the USGS topo shows this to clearly not be the case, with the county boundary not riding the high points of the contours. It is interesting to note that as far as road maintenance is concerned San Mateo County seems to have claimed the whole thing, with a red "San Mateo County" sign at the Canyon Trail turnoff and an "end San Mateo County" sign at Alpine Road. Also had a singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROW south of the road in Santa Clara County, as well as a couple LAZULI BUNTINGS. Mike Rogers -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 12 17:56:46 2000 Subject: [SBB] Indigo Bunting -------- Finally made it up to Los Trancos this afternoon ( hate that road) and saw the INDIGO BUNTING> It was originally on the telephone wires just uphill of the parking lot. As I walked up the trail under the wires to try and get a closer look, it very cooperatively flew across the street to the wires on the Montebello OSP side. Kathy Parker -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 12 21:09:55 2000 Subject: [SBB] Baby Northern Pygmy-Owl, birding class, etc. -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, This morning I tried for the Ovenbird but was too late--there was roadwork going on there and a heavy volume of traffic. Jim reported the bird to me at around 6:30am, so I guess you have to get up early. This evening I visited some areas near New Almaden. At Almaden Reservoir there was a single WESTERN GREBE, unusual for the locality and time of year. WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES were calling upstream from the reservoir. Walked the trail from Mt. Umunhum Road to Bald Mountain at about 7pm. Birds everywhere! A male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER was near the start of the trail, and there was lots of singing going on--the sounds of CALIFORNIA THRASHERS, WRENTITS, PURPLE FINCHES, and SPOTTED TOWHEES were all around. Saw plenty of recently fledged DARK-EYED JUNCOS on the path, but I couldn't turn any into Sage Sparrows. Other birds there included ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. Flowers were blooming everywhere, especially orange monkey flower, and ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS were unusually numerous. I made a very fortunate stop at the New Almaden entrance to Almaden Quicksilver County Park, where a hiker told me he had just seen a "little owl." I followed his directions a short distance up the trail, and took the second narrow unofficial trail on the left, which leads into a wooded gully. Sure enough, within 50 feet I found a newly fledged NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL sitting in the middle of the pathl! It allowed me to get within a few feet of it, snapping its bill, fluttering its wings, and twittering when I got too close. Head was gray, breast was solid brown with brown streaks on the belly. Showed some white barring on its flight feathers and tail. It didn't appear to be hurt, and I figured it must have just fledged. Of course I didn't have my camera with me! There is still space in MetroED's summer birding class, which begins this Wednesday (14 June). We will doing field trips in and out of Santa Clara County, including an owling trip and a Sierra Nevada weekend. There is still time to register by calling MetroED at 408-723-6553. For more info.check out the class web page at http://home.att.net/~redknot/birdwatching_for_fun.htm. John Mariani [[email protected]] http://www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 12 21:35:11 2000 Subject: [SBB] Page Mill Road and County lines -------- South-Bay_Birders: After 2:00 PM I headed out for a return trip to Los Trancos OSP to settle my curiosity and independent of Mike Rogers notes which I did not see until just now. As I pulled into the Los Trancos Parking lot two birders (who just joined SBB in the past 48 hours) were standing there as the Indigo Bunting flew from the Montelbello side of the road over their heads and my car and landed on the telephone wire closest to Montebello OSP. Sometime passed before the Indigo Bunting returned to the Montebello side of the road and then chased a male Lazuli Bunting back a forth over both sides of Page Mill Road. After today's discussion I will assume the portion of the Los Trancos parking lot furthest away from Page Mill Road is in San Mateo County. This places the wires then in San Mateo County. Driving up Page Mill Road from I-280 I watched my compass on my dashboard while I swerved around the curves. For the most-part Page Mill Road Road runs in a north-south direction with some deviation at some of the curves. As I parked my car in the Los Trancos Parking lot (parallel to the telephone wires), I noted the compass showed "West" giving this small portion of Page Mill Road a west-east direction putting Los Trancos parking lot north of the road. As I was drivng up the hill I noted some new interesting landmarks that I had never noticed before. These are the red markers noted by Mike Rogers. Following up on Bob Reilling earlier e-mail, I drove up to Skyline Blvd (leaving the Indigo Bunting singing on its favorite wire). At Skyline I turned around and noted my odometer. A) 0.6 mile from Skyline Blvd there is a red SM marker sign at the left side of the road at 6000 Page Mill Road; at the left side of the road there is a white marker: 0.41 SM Co. From here to the entrance to the Los Trancos Parking lot it is 0.3 mile; on the right (Montebello) side of the road there is a white marker: SC 0.0. After another 0.2 mile you will see brown and yellow marker MB03 (dirt trail into Montebello); at the right side of the road there is a white marker SC 0.2.... just a few feet further there is a Palo Alto City limit sign. On the right side of the road facing the opposite direction there is a red sign SM Co with an up arrow signifying San Mateo County from here...... for a visual landmark this is where there is a row of large pines along the side of the road. This is confusing, but it supports what both Bill Bousman and Mike Rogers have said earlier. -- Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 12 22:04:01 2000 Subject: [SBB] Is there a Digest version of this list? -------- Douglas W. Aguillard San Diego, CA. [[email protected]] "The Birds & Butterflies of San Diego County" http://sdbirds.basiclink.com SoCal Field Guides- Personal Bird Guide http://sdbirds.basiclink.com/socal_field_guides.htm -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Jun 13 09:26:15 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Re: Page Mill Indigo Bunting -------- ALL: Looking at my Thomas Bros map, I felt comfortable that the Los Tracos parking lot is in Santa Clara county since this map shows the county boundary going N of the road around here. Nick Lethaby Product Manager, ARC Cores Inc. Tel: 408 360 2131 e-mail: Nick.Lethaby@arccores -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 13 11:08:48 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Page Mill Road and County lines -------- Sorry that this discussion seems to be drifting off list topic. The county and city designations in this area are very confusing. E.g., I live across Skyline Blvd. from Long Ridge Open Space Preserve in Santa Clara Co. AND within the City of Palo Alto. You may have noticed signs along Skyline in this area for the City of PA. The San Mateo-Santa Clara Co. line runs in proximity with Skyline Blvd. in this area also, but not necessarily down the middle of the road. It jogs to the east side of Skyline and runs through the kitchen of one of the dwellings on my neighbor's property. You can probably prepare lunch and get birds for both counties here! At the south end of Long Ridge OSP, you enter Santa Cruz Co. on the west side of Skyline. Think of the possibilities here! Another male Indigo Bunting was reported this spring in Long Ridge (perhaps the same one I found last year). This bird is in San Mateo Co. I haven't been able to look for this bird yet. Then there's the Windy Hill bird(s?) and the Pescadero area female. So, what is it about San Mateo Co. that's so appealing to this species? :-) Les -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 13 11:22:47 2000 Subject: [SBB] Weekend birds and butterflies -------- All: I made a quick trip to CCFS on Saturday but saw little. On Sunday, prodded by Bob Reiling's sightings, I went up to Sierra Summit and had gret looks at Grasshopper Sparrows. I saw three birds really well and had in flight views of another 2-4 birds. Also a Lark Sparrow, 6 Rock Wrens, Horned Lark and Western Kingbirds. Later that day I check CCFS EAST of the creek where the previous year I had noticed an abundance of alkali mallow. I quickly found the hoped for Small Checkered Skipper here, seeing 3 as well as 3 Common Checkered Skippers. I also had repeated Fritillary sightings with 2 together on several occasions. Had good looks at the upperside of one, but the books aren't much help on distinguishing these. Based on the flight periods described in the Butterflies of S. Cal for Crowned and Callippe, which are the two fritillaries that are widespread in the Bay Area, these may be Callippes. Does anyone know of professors at Stanford or San Jose State who have expert local knowledge of the butterfly populations? Nick Lethaby Product Manager, ARC Cores Inc. Tel: 408 360 2131 e-mail: Nick.Lethaby@arccores -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 13 14:13:20 2000 Subject: [SBB] Black Phoebe -------- Bob, Was it you who wanted the SJSU Black Phoebe thesis? If not, please disregard this message. If so, let me know; I have some good news. Tina Peterson > > > > > > erves a larger community. In > addition to the original purpose of the informal network the reports to the > network were also used to provide records for the Santa Clara County > notebooks and that information was used in turn as source material for the > column "Field Notes" in _The Avocet_, the newsletter of the Santa Clara Valley > Audubon Society, and as a basis for the quarterly submission of Santa Clara > County records to the Regional Editors of _Field Notes._ > > I will continue to use the records provided to this mailing list for the > purposes mentioned above. I offer the following comments to describe how this > information is normally used. > > 1. A record is considered complete if it includes the bird(s) seen, the > numbers observed, the location of the observation, the date, and the > observer(s). I will use records that are second hand if I am familiar with > both the observer and the person passing on the record. In this case I > annotate the record with _fide_ which is the accepted way of noting that a > record has not been directly obtained, but has been provided by the _fide_ > source. I rarely use third hand records out of concern with the mischief that > occurs during information transmittal as the number of pathways increase. > > 2. I am selective in which records I enter in the county notebooks. For the > more common birds I may record a report of a particularly large number of > birds or an unusual plumage. For uncommon birds, or those that I feel are > marginally rare, I may record all observations, although I rarely provide > these in _The Avocet_. These records are particularly useful for clarifying > the temporal distribution of birds that are not permanently resident in the > county. I attempt to record all species that are listed as rare > on the current Santa Clara County Checklist. For common non-resident species I > attempt to record the first arrival and last departure dates. > > 3. I write the "Field Notes" column ten months a year and it is nominally due > on the first of the month. I usually try to draft the column at the end of > the month and then fit the last few records in before I deliver it to the > SCVAS office. > > 4. Four times a year I provide a "quarterly" summary of records for _Field > Notes._ There are currently three Regional Editors and they each get a copy > of my summary although they split the species up between them. Currently, I > send electronic versions to Don Roberson, Dan Singer, and Steve Rottenborn. > If you would like a copy of this quarterly summary and your mailer is able to > handle Word 6.0 attachments then send me a request at > [[email protected]]. > > 5. I entered all county records in the notebooks by hand up until the summer > of 1993 when I started writing the records to Word files on a quarterly basis. > I intend, eventually, to create a data base based on literal string recognition > and I've designed my data entry structure accordingly. But at this time the > computerized aspect is a simple computerized echo of hand-entry. > > 6. It is not always obvious to people providing records to this mailing list > when they should provide additional details on a record or even if they should > provide the record at all. There is no simple answer to this other than > experience. A useful example to consider is stimulated by the detailed > plumage description that Mike Rogers provided for a December 1996 Ash-throated > Flycatcher. This species is a fairly common resident in the county, arriving > in early April and leaving by the end of August. First and last records > within that range are of interest as are very early or late birds. Wintering > birds are so rare in the county that a detailed description is necessary. In > part this is not just because of the rarity, but also to exclude other > _Myiarchus_ that may just as likely be here at that season. > > 7. When a rarity turns up and this information is passed on many people obtain > the opportunity to see the bird. The very quantity of people seeing the > rarity tends to encourage sloppiness in people's records after the initial > observation. If the bird is missed for a week and then found a mile away is it > the same bird? We may be able to answer these questions if people are careful > to age and sex each rarity they see (if possible) and note any unusual > characteristics. Rarities frequently come in clumps and these descriptions > are useful. Please include these in your posts for the real rarities--it will > help all of us. > > The South-Bay-Birds Mailing List provides many of us immediate > information on the occurrence of rare birds as well as the vicarious pleasure > of birding and discovery. That this mailing list has worked so well is a > tribute to its many faithful contributors and, perhaps, to the mailing list > rules that we've implemented. There is some arbitrariness, however, in these > rules and I invite anyone to communicate directly with me, at > [[email protected]], if they would like to discuss any of these issues. > > Bill > 4 January 1999 > ========================================================================== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] -- Christina A. Peterson Science Librarian San Jose State University California [[email protected]] 408-924-2727 (voicemail) 408-924-2701 (fax) Visit the Library without Walls! http://library.sjsu.edu/staff/peterson/peterson.htm -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Jun 13 21:18:32 2000 Subject: [SBB] Urban warblers nest, raise monster -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Today I confirmed that the business park YELLOW WARBLERS (BPYW's for those fond of letter codes) have indeed nested. The female was seen plunking food into the mouth of her baby....which as expected turned out to be a cowbird. The newly fledged bird dwarfed its adoptive parent. Guess this proves that on at least one freak occasion this riparian obligate didn't feel so obligated, and that nothing good can come from breeding out of habitat. At the east end of Calero Reservoir this evening there were a few TREE SWALLOWS flying over the creek inflow, and 3 GUINEA FOWL were loose near the stables there (another exotic for the Almaden Valley list). A WESTERN KINGBIRD was flying back and forth across Camden Avenue where it crosses Alamitos Creek. John Mariani [[email protected]] http://www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Jun 13 21:33:16 2000 Subject: [SBB] Bayland walk -------- All, I walked from Charleston Slough to Byxbee Park with a friend Sunday and ended up near the Matero Creek mouth. We had great looks at 2 GREEN HERON near the SPCA on frontage road and an adult PEREGRINE FALCON circling over the Charleston Slough pumphouse! A flock of no less than 60 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS soared overhead near the Byxbee damn. Matthew Dodder http://www.birdguy.net/index.html -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 14 07:47:03 2000 Subject: [SBB] Another Amusing Jay Story -------- To All, The recent postings about clever jays and such reminds me of an incident many years ago. We were skiing with friends in Aspen and had stopped for lunch on the mountain. We were seated indoors next to a large window that looked out on a deck with other tables and people. We watched this scene unfold before us. A man walked outside past our window with a tray of food - one dish was a bowl of cottage cheese with a large maraschino cherry on top. He stopped in front of our window. When he turned his head away to see where the rest of his party were seated, a gray jay swooped in, and on the fly picked off the maraschino cherry and flew off, unseen by the man. All this happened in a matter of a few seconds. When he turned his attention back to his food, he realized the cherry was gone - there was no one within 10 feet of him. He just stood there, staring at his cottage cheese with the most dumbfounded look on his face. We roared. Jim -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 14 12:13:10 2000 Subject: [SBB] Crows -------- Here's an odd question. I have customer who walks a certain route every day here in Los Gatos. Over the past few months a crow has been "harrassing" her. She says that it follows her for about four blocks and is now swooping by her shoulder getting within three or four feet of her head. She stopped wearing anything shiney (like earrings and jewelry) thinking this might be what is attracting its attention. I thought maybe she was getting too near its nest but it has been going on too long for that to be the case. She doesn't know how to interpret the bird's behavior. Should she be afraid or is it just being friendly? Any suggestions? Pat Curtis -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Jun 14 12:46:46 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Crows -------- This is purely a guess: It's possible that the crow correlates a bad experience with a person at that location and is reacting to all people who pass. Or, if she seems to be the only one getting this reaction, it could be that she resembles someone else who may have been involved in an incident with the crow. I have noticed a similar behavior by the ravens that nest on the tower across the street from my office near the Mtn. View forebay over the years. They will harrass people who have picked up the carcass of one of their fledgling's or who have come too close to one of their downed young. They seem to be able to recognize specific people. I haven't noticed if they remember people from the previous year. Or, maybe they just don't hold a grudge that long. :-) Corvids are considered very intelligent (by human standards, of course) and have demonstrated remarkable memories. Les Chibana, Palo Alto, CA [[email protected]] On Wednesday, June 14, 2000, Pat Curtis <[[email protected]]> wrote: >Here's an odd question. I have customer who walks a certain route every day >here in Los Gatos. Over the past few months a crow has been "harrassing" >her. She says that it follows her for about four blocks and is now swooping >by her shoulder getting within three or four feet of her head. She stopped >wearing anything shiney (like earrings and jewelry) thinking this might be >what is attracting its attention. I thought maybe she was getting too near >its nest but it has been going on too long for that to be the case. She >doesn't know how to interpret the bird's behavior. Should she be afraid or >is it just being friendly? Any suggestions? > >Pat Curtis -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Jun 14 13:07:36 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Crows -------- Reply to: Re: [SBB] Crows Vis crows recognizing individuals. There was an article in the Point Reyes Bird Observatory newsletter a few years ago about research and observations concerning the ability of Western Gulls nesting on the Farallones to distinguish and remember individual human faces. It seems that they could and several experiments verified this. If gulls can do it, it should be a cinch for corvids. James Yurchenco Les Chibana wrote: >This is purely a guess: >It's possible that the crow correlates a bad experience with a person >at that location and is reacting to all people who pass. Or, if she >seems to be the only one getting this reaction, it could be that she >resembles someone else who may have been involved in an incident with >the crow. > >I have noticed a similar behavior by the ravens that nest on the tower >across the street from my office near the Mtn. View forebay over the >years. They will harrass people who have picked up the carcass of one >of their fledgling's or who have come too close to one of their downed >young. They seem to be able to recognize specific people. I haven't >noticed if they remember people from the previous year. Or, maybe they >just don't hold a grudge that long. :-) > >Corvids are considered very intelligent (by human standards, of course) >and have demonstrated remarkable memories. > >Les Chibana, Palo Alto, CA [[email protected]] > >On Wednesday, June 14, 2000, Pat Curtis <[[email protected]]> wrote: >>Here's an odd question. I have customer who walks a certain route every day >>here in Los Gatos. Over the past few months a crow has been "harrassing" >>her. She says that it follows her for about four blocks and is now swooping >>by her shoulder getting within three or four feet of her head. She stopped >>wearing anything shiney (like earrings and jewelry) thinking this might be >>what is attracting its attention. I thought maybe she was getting too near >>its nest but it has been going on too long for that to be the case. She >>doesn't know how to interpret the bird's behavior. Should she be afraid or >>is it just being friendly? Any suggestions? >> >>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]] > > > >RFC822 header >----------------------------------- > > Received: from lists.Stanford.EDU (lists.Stanford.EDU [171.64.14.232]) > by astro.ideo.com (Build 98 8.9.3/NT-8.9.3) with SMTP id MAA03034 > for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 14 Jun 2000 12:47:46 -0700 > Received: (from daemon@localhost) > by lists.Stanford.EDU (8.9.3/8.9.3) id MAA26951 > for south-bay-birds-out506152; Wed, 14 Jun 2000 12:46:35 -0700 (PDT) > Received: from mail.auc.com (mail.auc.com [216.218.194.66]) > by lists.Stanford.EDU (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id MAA26937 > for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 14 Jun 2000 12:46:29 -0700 >(PDT) > Received: from [216.218.194.70] by mail.auc.com > with SMTP (QuickMail Pro Server for Mac 2.0); 14 JUN 00 12:44:37 UT > Date: 14 Jun 2000 12:46:46 -0700 > Message-ID: <[[email protected]]> > From: Les Chibana <[[email protected]]> > Subject: Re: [SBB] Crows > To: South Bay Birds <[[email protected]]> > X-Mailer: QuickMail Pro 2.0.4 (Mac) > X-Priority: 3 > MIME-Version: 1.0 > Reply-To: Les Chibana <[[email protected]]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-Ascii" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit > X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by lists.Stanford.EDU >id MAA26939 > Sender: [[email protected]] > Precedence: bulk > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 14 13:22:26 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Crows -------- At 12:46 PM -0700 6/14/2000, Les Chibana wrote: >This is purely a guess: >Corvids are considered very intelligent (by human standards, of course) >and have demonstrated remarkable memories. Tell me about it. Growing up more years ago than I want to admit, we had a cat that once made the mistake of catching a fledging bluejay. the cat spent the next four summers lawn furniture, because the pair of jays returned every summer to nest, and every time the cat went outside, they dedicated their spare time to strafing the cat. They didn't annoy anyone else in the back yard, the dogs, or any other cat that wandered through, just this cat. FWIW, I had a fun jay happening over the weekend. I was out arguing with the weeds in the backyard when suddenly there was a commotion in a kumquat tree a couple of yards down. Out of the tree flew a bluejay screaming bloody murder. Out of the tree chasing the jay were three orioles (one adult, two older, fledged juvies), screaming bloody murder. they chased the jay two back yards and then turned back. The Jay ended up on a wire in the back yard facing ours, and stood there about ten seconds acting highly agitated, and then took off, strafed the finches on our feeder, and flew off over the house. The Jay clearly was trying to rob a nest and got caught, since I know there was a nest in that tree (it's one of two trees that orioles always nest in around us). but what really amused me was that after it'd been chased off, it had to do *something* to prove its dominance, so it took it out on some smaller, uninvolved birds on the way out. Our backyard is right on a boundary between jay territory and mockingbird territory, which makes breeding season interesting. When we first moved in, it was 100% mockingbirds, but over the last couple of years, the jays have been enroaching. right now, the jays usually control the area during the winter, but once the mockingbirds get ready to nest, they gang up and drive the jays away. Some days the yard's looked like West Side Story, but it's clear the mockingbirds are losing this continuing turf war, and in another three or four years, probably won't be in our yard at all (which is a mixed blessing, because one of the females insists on singing all night, and is *loud* -- but jays are simply the JD's of the backyard set, and I get tired of them replanting the birdseed in all my containers. If I wanted sunflowers on my patio, I'd plant them there! grin) -- Chuq Von Rospach - Plaidworks Consulting (mailto:[[email protected]]) Apple Mail List Gnome (mailto:[[email protected]]) And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar and say 'Man, what are you doing here?'" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Jun 14 13:24:10 2000 Subject: [SBB] Indigo Bunting between power poles & county lines -------- All, Following the SCVAS field trip today Frank Vanslager and I used Page Mill Rd on our way home because of repair work on Hwy 9. When we saw the Indigo Bunting it became apparent to me that there are two pairs of power poles (three poles in total) that the bird has been seen perched between. When we saw it today it was perched between the two widely spaced poles, both located on the north side of Page Mill Rd and west of the Los Trancos OSP parking lot. In my opinion this is in San Mateo County. When first found (also during a Wednesday SCVAS field trip) the bird was between the two closely spaced power poles (with one pole on each side of Page Mill Road) and was basically located over the center line in Page Mill Rd. In my opinion this location is well within Santa Clara County. Take care, Bob Reiling, 1:25 PM, 6/14/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Jun 14 13:37:21 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Crows -------- All: I recall that Alfred Hitchcock documented similar behavior some decades ago. Nick Lethaby Product Manager, ARC Cores Inc. Tel: 408 360 2131 e-mail: Nick.Lethaby@arccores -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 14 13:43:00 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re: Butterflies -------- All: I discovered that there is a south bay butterfly count on June 25. If anyone wants to help out or wants to get to know more about butterflies down here, it should be worth attending. Details are below. Nick Lethaby Product Manager, ARC Cores Inc. Tel: 408 360 2131 e-mail: Nick.Lethaby@arccores ----- Forwarded by Nick Lethaby/ARC on 06/14/00 01:39 PM ----- SJSteiner@aol .com To: [[email protected]] cc: 06/14/00 Subject: Re: Butterflies 01:36 PM Dear Nick, Thanks for the offer. I would appreciate some help in recruiting counters for the June 25 count. Here is the detailed information: The group will convene at 10:00 a.m. in the Visitor Center at San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge for a short (15-min.) slide show to help with identification during the day. We will break up into groups and go to either the HQ area at the Refuge, or to the large willow grove at Coyote Hills Regional Park. Following these morning counts, we will reconvene at the Visitor Center for a bag lunch. Then, we will head for Coyote Creek Riparian Station, and then on to the Environmental Education Center at the Refuge on Grand Blvd. in Alviso. My telephone number, in case anyone wants to discuss details of the count, is 510/523-1604. Thanks again. I can send you data from Coyote Creek if you wish. - John -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 14 14:41:21 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Crows -------- Addressing Nick's comment: You wouldn't have happened to purchase a couple of lovebirds recently, would you? ;) Screech. Pat Curtis wrote: > Here's an odd question. I have customer who walks a certain route every day > here in Los Gatos. Over the past few months a crow has been "harrassing" > her. She says that it follows her for about four blocks and is now swooping > by her shoulder getting within three or four feet of her head. She stopped > wearing anything shiney (like earrings and jewelry) thinking this might be > what is attracting its attention. I thought maybe she was getting too near > its nest but it has been going on too long for that to be the case. She > doesn't know how to interpret the bird's behavior. Should she be afraid or > is it just being friendly? Any suggestions? > > 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]] -- Paul L. Noble "Screechowl" [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) / \ m m -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Jun 14 15:07:12 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Crows -------- Heinrich Berndt's new book Mind of a Raven is replete with scientifically observed incidents of Ravens recognized specific people or other specific animate individuals and they are good at readin ggesture and boyd language...in some cases they clearly take the other animal's fear as an excuse to attack ------------ Previous Message from Jim Yurchenco <[[email protected]]> on 06/14/2000 01:07:36 PM ---------- Please respond to Jim Yurchenco <[[email protected]]> To: South Bay Birds <[[email protected]]> cc: Subject: Re: [SBB] Crows Reply to: Re: [SBB] Crows Vis crows recognizing individuals. There was an article in the Point Reyes Bird Observatory newsletter a few years ago about research and observations concerning the ability of Western Gulls nesting on the Farallones to distinguish and remember individual human faces. It seems that they could and several experiments verified this. If gulls can do it, it should be a cinch for corvids. James Yurchenco Les Chibana wrote: >This is purely a guess: >It's possible that the crow correlates a bad experience with a person >at that location and is reacting to all people who pass. Or, if she >seems to be the only one getting this reaction, it could be that she >resembles someone else who may have been involved in an incident with >the crow. > >I have noticed a similar behavior by the ravens that nest on the tower >across the street from my office near the Mtn. View forebay over the >years. They will harrass people who have picked up the carcass of one >of their fledgling's or who have come too close to one of their downed >young. They seem to be able to recognize specific people. I haven't >noticed if they remember people from the previous year. Or, maybe they >just don't hold a grudge that long. :-) > >Corvids are considered very intelligent (by human standards, of course) >and have demonstrated remarkable memories. > >Les Chibana, Palo Alto, CA [[email protected]] > >On Wednesday, June 14, 2000, Pat Curtis <[[email protected]]> wrote: >>Here's an odd question. I have customer who walks a certain route every day >>here in Los Gatos. Over the past few months a crow has been "harrassing" >>her. She says that it follows her for about four blocks and is now swooping >>by her shoulder getting within three or four feet of her head. She stopped >>wearing anything shiney (like earrings and jewelry) thinking this might be >>what is attracting its attention. I thought maybe she was getting too near >>its nest but it has been going on too long for that to be the case. She >>doesn't know how to interpret the bird's behavior. Should she be afraid or >>is it just being friendly? Any suggestions? >> >>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]] > > > >RFC822 header >----------------------------------- > > Received: from lists.Stanford.EDU (lists.Stanford.EDU [171.64.14.232]) > by astro.ideo.com (Build 98 8.9.3/NT-8.9.3) with SMTP id MAA03034 > for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 14 Jun 2000 12:47:46 -0700 > Received: (from daemon@localhost) > by lists.Stanford.EDU (8.9.3/8.9.3) id MAA26951 > for south-bay-birds-out506152; Wed, 14 Jun 2000 12:46:35 -0700 (PDT) > Received: from mail.auc.com (mail.auc.com [216.218.194.66]) > by lists.Stanford.EDU (8.9.3/8.9.3) with ESMTP id MAA26937 > for <[[email protected]]>; Wed, 14 Jun 2000 12:46:29 -0700 >(PDT) > Received: from [216.218.194.70] by mail.auc.com > with SMTP (QuickMail Pro Server for Mac 2.0); 14 JUN 00 12:44:37 UT > Date: 14 Jun 2000 12:46:46 -0700 > Message-ID: <[[email protected]]> > From: Les Chibana <[[email protected]]> > Subject: Re: [SBB] Crows > To: South Bay Birds <[[email protected]]> > X-Mailer: QuickMail Pro 2.0.4 (Mac) > X-Priority: 3 > MIME-Version: 1.0 > Reply-To: Les Chibana <[[email protected]]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-Ascii" > Content-Transfer-Encoding: 8bit > X-MIME-Autoconverted: from quoted-printable to 8bit by lists.Stanford.EDU >id MAA26939 > Sender: [[email protected]] > Precedence: bulk > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Jun 14 23:23:03 2000 Subject: [SBB] cowbirds -------- For several days a female Bullocks Oriole was feeding a screaming cowbird youngster in my Guava tree. She looked kind of frantic, poor thing. Marianne Dieckmann -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 15 10:30:55 2000 -------- Folks: This morning, 6/15/2000, the female HOODED MERGANSER was in the Mountain View Forebay, preening with the MALLARDS molting into eclipse. A pair of NORTHERN HARRIERS have nested in the Mountain View Tidal Marsh next to Mountain View Slough and it appears there is one nestling, now ambulatory in the dodder-covered pickleweed amongst the Grindelia. Bill -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Jun 15 13:32:05 2000 Subject: [SBB] Peregrine Falcon Downtown SJ -------- There is a Peregrine Falcon that has spent the last hour or so in Downtown San Jose flying between the two PG & E buildings as well as the Heritage and Adobe buildings along Almaden Blvd. (Park Ave. and W. San Fernando St. as cross-streets). Did not appear to be actively hunting, but the present Cliff and Northern Rough-winged Swallows appeared a little uneasy. The swallows were still flying, just not anywhere near the Peregrine. The Peregrine actually spent quite some time on the PG & E building on the north corner of Almaden Blvd. and W. San Fernando, on a ledge constructed over the top of the highest row of windows facing W. San Fernando and across from the 94.5 KBAY (?) building. Did not have my binoculars with me, but if flew by my window twice. Eric Feuss ABTS Application Developer, Administrator ABTS Support Staff Adobe Systems Incorporated Mailstop: W06, 345 Park Ave., San Jose, CA 95110 Phone: (408) 536-3050 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 15 17:10:16 2000 Subject: [SBB] info needed -------- I am leading a bird trip for a group of out-or-towners on June 25...it is a group from the land conservation group, Trust for Public Land. We will be meeting at Stanford and the walk is in the afternoon :-( I am thinking of taking these folks to Palo Alto Baylands and to Shoreline, but don't go there often in summer. Presume the White Pelicans will be about, and even the beginners will see those guys. And there'll be swallows, egrets, Sav Sparrows, Bushtits. Are the Skimmers on their usual island near Charletson Slough? Any ducks or shorebirds who forgot to migrate? Any visible Stilt or Avocet nesting areas? Forster Tern nests? Any good spots to look for Shrike, Kite, Burrowing Owl? Meadowlarks? Any other hints for an afternoon walk there? ---- Also anybody know a website where I can get information on how the cres cent of open space from Menlo Park to Milpitas got saved? These are land conservation folks so they'll enjoy hearing the local history if I can find 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]] Thu Jun 15 20:58:12 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] info needed -------- At 5:10 PM -0700 6/15/2000, Harry Fuller wrote: >Are the Skimmers on their usual island near Charletson Slough? >Any ducks or shorebirds who forgot to migrate? I was up there about ten days ago. The skimmers were therer, being skimmers. the place was stuffed with juvie plumage Forsters. We saw a cinnamon teal and a ruddy, but otherwise, it was pretty quiet on the unusual front. -- Chuq Von Rospach - Plaidworks Consulting (mailto:[[email protected]]) Apple Mail List Gnome (mailto:[[email protected]]) And they sit at the bar and put bread in my jar and say 'Man, what are you doing here?'" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Jun 16 05:55:36 2000 Subject: [SBB] COPOs at Almaden Quicksilver Co Park -------- In order to beat the heat last night, June 15, I decided to see if the Common Poorwills were singing again at dusk in Almaden Quicksilver Park, at the end of McAbee Road. (Where Alan Thomas led his trip from on 5/27.) After walking in the half mile, or so, to the open area just below the ruins of the Senator Mine, right on schedule at 8:50 PM, I heard the first scattered "Poor Will" calls. And then at 9PM, the concert started in earnest. However, this time, unlike last year, I couldn't get any definite binocular views of them flying in the gloom. There were at least 3 singing birds, and they moved around considerably as I stalked them in the dark for an hour or more. I got close enough so that at times the call was definitely 3 syllables, "Poor-Will-Ik", or like Poor Will with the hiccups. But the only bird that I saw was a Great Horned Owl that silently flew directly over my head. There were also a few calls of a Pygmy Owl, and another loud owl screech that I didn't identify. There were also deer, sounding like large, grizzly bears in the bushes, a Coyote's short song, and what I think was an angry squirrel moaning at me from the dark leaves of an Oak tree over-arching the trail. Altogether, a wild and melodious outing, considering that I was in the city. Note that, I am NOT saying that it's safe to go alone into that park after dark. Frank Vanslager -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 16 09:37:50 2000 Subject: [SBB] Urban Cooper's Hawk Nest -------- There is a Cooper's Hawk nest in a Modesto Ash in front of a house at 3363 Kipling St. in Palo Alto. Four young are about ready to fledge, but are still being fed by adults. Rosalie Lefkowitz -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 17 11:16:46 2000 Subject: [SBB] FLYCATCHERS -------- We saw two ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS, a few PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, and one WESTERN WOOD PEWEE at Stevens Creek Park this morning. We also saw a family of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS feeding in a field. Pat Curtis -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Jun 17 12:31:15 2000 Subject: [SBB] San Mateo/Santa Clara County Line -------- All, Regarding the controversy over which map shows the correct county boundary, has anyone checked the Tax Assessors plats for both counties? At least, you would know what line these taxing authorities have agreed to. Jean -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 17 18:51:31 2000 Subject: [SBB] Black-chinned Sparrow at Monte Bello -------- I went to Monte Bello Open Space today to look for BLACK-CHINNED SPARROWs. I found at least one bird singing at the "regular" spot along Indian Creek Trail just below the campground near Black Mtn. I was not able to see the bird; it seemed to be singing below the rock outcrop that's below the trail. I can't be sure that there wasn't more than one bird because the song was repeated frequently. This location is near the 0.5 trail marker on the inside edge of the fire road. The rock outcrop is below the culvert pipe that protrudes below the trail. The best viewing spot seems to be about 50 ft. up-trail from here, but, remember, I didn't see the bird from this spot. The chaparral shrubs have gotten taller over the years. At the ridgetop, on Old Ranch trail, 2 VAUX'S SWIFTs were seen flying with a mixed swallow flock of mostly CLIFF, a few VIOLET- GREEN and BARN. 1 or 2 more Vaux's Swift were seen on the descent down Indian Creek trail, but these could have been 1 or both of the 2 seen earlier. A WARBLING VIREO was seen with a fledgling (and 1 or 2 others heard) by the sag pond. ORANGE-CROWNED and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERs were heard in good numbers. There were CHIPPING SPARROWs at Page Mill Rd. at the Canyon trail- head. At least one GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (GRSP) was seen singing from a coyote brush on the parking lot side of the trail. 3 more GRSP were seen .5 mi. north of the Bella Vista trail junction with Old Ranch trail at the top of the ridge. Another was seen .75 south of the junction on Old Ranch trail. Several more were heard in various locations. 10-11 LAZULI BUNTINGs were heard or seen. Among these were two pairs. At the Bella Vista and Canyon trails junction, a female was seen carrying food in the coyote brush and grasses with the male singing nearby. At the 2nd drainage crossing on Bella Vista, another female was seen flying down into the grasses at the drip line of a live oak. I couldn't tell if it was carrying food to a nest or if it was catching an insect. This female was also accompanied by a male. There was an active LESSER GOLDFINCH nest at the campground. Reptiles: CA Whiptail (liz.), Western Fence Liz and Skink, Northern Pacific (Western) Rattlesnake. Leppies: Pale and Anise Swallowtail, Crown Fritillary (I think), Acmon Blue, Common Buckeye, CA Sister, Lorquin's Admiral, Common Checkerspot, Mournful Duskywing, and Cabbage White. Les Chibana, Palo Alto, CA [[email protected]] [[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 Jun 19 09:51:52 2000 Subject: [SBB] Lawrence's Goldfinches in the south county -------- All, The last day-bird seen on Sunday's (6/18) SCVAS Anderson Lake County Park field trip was a pair of Lawrence's Goldfinches (a male & a female) . The birds were well seen in the field and bushes along the northern edge of Coyote Creek just past the first pedestrian bridge north of the Coyote Creek Park, Malaguerra Av. parking area (off Cochrane Rd. in Morgan Hill). The bridge is about a mile north of the parking area. Other birds included three types of swallows; mainly Northern Rough-winged with at least one Violet-green and a Cliff Swallow, and five types of flycatchers; Black Pheobe, Western Wood-pewee, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher and Western Kingbird. At least two Caspian Terns were over the reservoir, we had very distant views of what was most probably a Golden Eagle, closer views of an American Kestrel, a distant White-tailed Kite and had the unusual distinction of seeing a Red-tailed Hawk chasing a Red-shouldered Hawk. We also had some quick and/or distant views of swifts, one of which was determined to be a White-throated (with obvious white saddle bags). Lesser Goldfinches were in good numbers, we had a small flock of Band-tailed Pigeons, a least one male Bullock's Oriole, one of two male Nuttall's Woodpeckers (in adjacent trees) was apparently a juvenile with a very small amount of red on the head, a small band of raucous Acorn Woodpeckers, singing Black-headed Grosbeaks and a single singing Purple Finch that refused to be seen. The usual unmentionables included; Turkey Vulture, American Crow, California Quail, Killdeer, American Robin, Western Scrub Jay, Steller's Jay, Northern Flicker, Brewer's Blackbird, California & Spotted Towhees, Mourning Dove, Song Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, House Finch, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Bewick's Wren, Wrentit (actually seen), Bushtit and Anna's Hummingbird but oddly did not include European Starling, Mallard (thought that I heard one but could not find it) or American Coot. A dead Great Blue Heron was near the trail not to far from the Malaguerra Av. parking area. Take care, Bob Reiling, 9:40 AM, 6/19/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 19 15:31:42 2000 Subject: [SBB] Yosemite -------- All: I visited Yosemite this weekend in another unsuccessful quest for Great Gray Owls. I spent my time in the general vicinity of Bridalveil Campground, going as far as Sentinel Dome. Best birds were 4 Williamson's Sapsuckers (including great views of a male from all angles), 3 Red-breasted Sapsuckers, 1+ White-headed Woodpecker, 2 Pine Grosbeaks, 3 Green-tailed Towhees, 2 Thick-billed Fox Sparrows, and a Townsend's Solitaire. Mountain Quail were calling everywhere and a Long-eared Owl was calling at the campground. Butterflies included Thicket, Bramble Green, and Common (Gray) Hairstreaks, Clodias Parnassian, at least 4 sp. of Swallowtail, including Indra, California Tortoishell, Zephyr Anglewing, Western Meadow Fritillary, Icaroides Blue, and Western Tailed Blue. Nick Lethaby Product Manager, ARC Cores Inc. Tel: 408 360 2131 e-mail: Nick.Lethaby@arccores -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 19 16:10:02 2000 Subject: [SBB] RFI Klamath, Crater Lk. -------- Hope to draw on the collective wisdom of SBB. (Is CALBIRD currently active?) I plan to visit Klamath/Tule Lk. NWRs and Crater Lake over the July 4th weekend. Any suggestions for: a) Willamson's Sapsucker b) Pine Grosbeak c) Three-toed Woodpecker Info on good general birding spots would also be helpful. Thanks! 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 Jun 19 18:03:10 2000 -------- On Saturday, 17 Jun 00, I found 2 GREEN HERONS along Coyote Creek at the Riverside Golf Course. The golf course itself had 2 broods of CANADA GEESE. On Sunday, 18 Jun 00, I found a female HOODED MERGANSER on Adobe Creek at Charleston Slough, and a couple of lingering AMERICAN WIGEON. Mike Mammoser -------- Attachment 792 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Tue Jun 20 11:02:37 2000 Subject: [SBB] Test- please delete -------- I'm just testing the list. -- Les Chibana List Bureaucrat South-Bay-Birds List [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Jun 20 11:50:19 2000 Subject: [SBB] Green Heron vs Red-tailed, etc. -------- Yesterday while I was at "My Farm" (La Rinconada Park), I heard a loud raukus that wasn't the Steller's vs. the Scrubs. It was a Green Heron flying overhead, circling around, constantly "crying". Perched on a tree was a Red-tailed also "talking". The 2 seemed to have a major interaction with each other. Obviously, the Red-tailed won, it remained perched...and the Green Heron flew off. But, the interchange lasted for at least 5 minutes. I don't ever remember hearing a Green Heron before. On the home front, in my backyard, I had 56 Band-tailed Pigeons, my most ever. My cowbirds have grown to 8. :-( either species are available for adoption. A family of 4 HOODED ORIOLES are eating several times a day. A BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK appeared yesterday for the first sighting this year. Today there were a pair. The rest of the birds, although numerous in quantity, are pretty bland. My quail has dropped to 3 (from 8) probably thanks to the neighbor's cat. Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos off Quito "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Jun 20 16:23:12 2000 Subject: [SBB] Montebello/Los Trancos -------- I got to Los Trancos about 9:30 AM, where the Indigo Bunting was showing off. I tried for Black-chinned Sparrow at Indian Ridge? road - nothing. It was too hot to hike down to the Pileated Woodpecker site. Lots of Indigo Buntings, Grasshopper Sparrows, and other assorted usual suspects (no raptors). Charles Coston ___________________________________________________________________ Get your free, permanent e-mail @www.com, the original Net address! - http://www.com/freemail Listen to your favorite music while you work! - http://www.com/radio -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 20 16:31:21 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Montebello/Los Trancos -------- Where is there a Pileated Woodpecker site around Montebello / Los Trancos? Thanks, Don Ganton *********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** On 06/20/2000 at 4:23 PM [[email protected]] wrote: >I got to Los Trancos about 9:30 AM, where the Indigo Bunting was showing off. I tried for Black-chinned Sparrow at Indian Ridge? road - nothing. It was too hot to hike down to the Pileated Woodpecker site. Lots of Indigo Buntings, Grasshopper Sparrows, and other assorted usual suspects (no raptors). > >Charles Coston > > >___________________________________________________________________ >Get your free, permanent e-mail @www.com, the original Net address! >- http://www.com/freemail > >Listen to your favorite music while you work! >- http://www.com/radio >-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Jun 20 18:07:21 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Montebello/Los Trancos -------- All, I know from experience you need to look for the Black-chinned Sparrows very early, like around sunrise. They quit singing by 8 or 9 AM. By this time of year ( almost July) they do not sing at all or at the very most only at sunrise or so. Screech. [[email protected]] wrote: > I got to Los Trancos about 9:30 AM, where the Indigo Bunting was showing off. I tried for Black-chinned Sparrow at Indian Ridge? road - nothing. It was too hot to hike down to the Pileated Woodpecker site. Lots of Indigo Buntings, Grasshopper Sparrows, and other assorted usual suspects (no raptors). > > Charles Coston > > ___________________________________________________________________ > Get your free, permanent e-mail @www.com, the original Net address! > - http://www.com/freemail > > Listen to your favorite music while you work! > - http://www.com/radio > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] -- Paul L. Noble "Screechowl" [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) / \ m m -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Jun 20 18:57:28 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Montebello/Los Trancos -------- I don't think the bird that I heard was adhering to Paul's experience. I was in the area a bit afternoon when I heard it. Come to think of it, the individuals that I've heard in this location have often been singing late in the morning. I should note that I could not hear the Black-chinned Sp. singing from the sharp trail bend on the Page Mill Rd. side of the outcrop. But it was very audible from above near trail marker 0.5. The trail where the Black-chinned Sparrow was singing this weekend is Indian Creek Trail. It goes steeply uphill from about 2.5 to 3 mi. along Canyon Trail up to the backpacking campground at the ridge. Or, if you approach from Bella Vista Trail and the campground, it's downhill. Les On Tuesday, June 20, 2000, Screech <[[email protected]]> wrote: >All, > >I know from experience you need to look for the Black-chinned >Sparrows very early, like around sunrise. They quit singing by >8 or 9 AM. By this time of year ( almost July) they do not >sing at all or at the very most only at sunrise or so. > >Screech. > >[[email protected]] wrote: > >> I got to Los Trancos about 9:30 AM, where the Indigo Bunting >was showing off. I tried for Black-chinned Sparrow at Indian >Ridge? road - nothing. It was too hot to hike down to the >Pileated Woodpecker site. Lots of Indigo Buntings, Grasshopper >Sparrows, and other assorted usual suspects (no raptors). >> >> Charles Coston >> >> ___________________________________________________________________ >> Get your free, permanent e-mail @www.com, the original Net address! >> - http://www.com/freemail >> >> Listen to your favorite music while you work! >> - http://www.com/radio >> -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== >> This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >> server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >> message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to >[[email protected]] > >-- >Paul L. Noble > >"Screechowl" > >[[email protected]] > > ^ ^ > @ @ > ( v ) > ( ) > / \ > m m > > >-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to >[[email protected]] > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 20 18:57:30 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Montebello/Los Trancos -------- Don, Pileated Woodpeckers were reported earlier in the spring at the Table Mtn. area in Upper Stevens Creek park which can be accessed from Canyon Trail down in Stevens Creek canyon. But this is a long way to get there. While not all that much easier, you can get to Table Mtn. from Skyline Blvd. via Charcoal Rd. (green gate) on the northeast side of the road opposite and bit south of the Hickory Oaks trailhead (which goes west into the south end of Long Ridge OSP). (Confusing? Pick up the "South Skyline Region" trail map at one of the Open Space preserves.) The woodpeckers have nested at Table Mtn. In the past few years although their nests are not always found. I saw juveniles last summer along nearby Grizzly Flat Trail, I don't believe a nest was found last year. They are apparently more abundant on the west slope of the Santa Cruz Mtns. But you may have to be Garth Harwood or David Suddjian in order to find them. On Tuesday, June 20, 2000, Don Ganton <[[email protected]]> wrote: >Where is there a Pileated Woodpecker site around Montebello / >Los Trancos? > >Thanks, > >Don Ganton > > >*********** REPLY SEPARATOR *********** > >On 06/20/2000 at 4:23 PM [[email protected]] wrote: > >>I got to Los Trancos about 9:30 AM, where the Indigo Bunting was showing >off. I tried for Black-chinned Sparrow at Indian Ridge? road - nothing. >It was too hot to hike down to the Pileated Woodpecker site. Lots of >Indigo Buntings, Grasshopper Sparrows, and other assorted usual suspects >(no raptors). >> >>Charles Coston -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 21 08:20:14 2000 -------- Folks: Yesterday afternoon, 6/20/2000, I saw the female HOODED MERGASER again in the Mountain View Forebay, roosting with the molting _Anas_ species ducks. Bill -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Jun 21 09:06:32 2000 Subject: [SBB] Cliff Swallow nests -------- Hi, I walked from work over to the new Kaiser Medical offices in Campbell (at Dell and Winchester) for an appointment. Unfortunately the appointment was canceled, but this gave me some time to watch the Cliff Swallows nesting there. I walked around the main building and counted 138 nests, at least one of which had been usurped by House Sparrows. Don Ganton -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 21 12:45:41 2000 Subject: [SBB] Los Trancos Indigo Bunting continues -------- I saw the Indigo Bunting and heard it singing from the phone lines by the Los Trancos parking lot along Page Mill Rd. this morning, 6/21/00, on my commute into work. Les Chibana, Palo Alto, CA [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Jun 21 14:22:28 2000 Subject: [SBB] Purple Martins at Loma Prieta -------- All, This morning Frank Vanslager and I went up to Loma Prieta in hopes of finding either a Black-chinned or Sage sparrow. No luck on the sparrows but we did see at least three Purple Martins (2 males, 1 female) northwest of the ridge where the power lines cross Loma Prieta Rd at the lower saddle (one half to three quarters of a mile before the pavement ends). This is the same area where they have been seen in the past. There was very little wind and they were hunting quite close to the ground on the northern slopes, seldom flying above the horizon. Take care, Bob Reiling, 2;25 PM, 6/21/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Jun 22 12:07:40 2000 Subject: [SBB] Green Herons -------- Hi, I've noticed that Green Herons are particularly abundant lately at Los Gatos Creek Park. On 6/14, I counted 5-6 (I may have counted one twice), including one individual that perched in the open not more than 15 feet from me. I've always known them to be very shy and flush easily. On both 6/19 and today (6/22) I counted 3 Green Herons. Normally, if I see one or two, it's a big day. Perhaps not coincidentally, I have seen lots fo bullfrog tadpoles and adult bullfrogs in the water. Don Ganton -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 22 13:08:26 2000 Subject: [SBB] Sierra Rd diredtions -------- Hi, Could someone please repost or mail me the directions to Sierra Rd? I deleted the original message. Thanks, Don Ganton -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 22 13:11:03 2000 Subject: [SBB] new species at My Farm -------- At 1 pm today, a WILD TURKEY was munching on the front lawn at "my farm" (La Rinconada Park). This adds a species to my bird list and brings the total to 81. The closest I am aware that a Wild Turkey has been to this park are the ones off Blossom Hill Road in the Belwood area. Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Jun 22 14:30:45 2000 Subject: [SBB] Great-tailed Grackle -------- Today (6/22/00) we observed a male and female Great-tailed Grackle on private property near the corner of Almaden Expressway and Coleman Ave. in San Jose. They may show up at Almaden Lake Park or the SCVWD headquarters pond. Is this the farthest north they've been seen in the county?? Tom Ryan -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Jun 22 14:37:03 2000 Subject: RE: [SBB] Great-tailed Grackle -------- Tom: No, a few years back there was a male in Alviso and the same road that takes you out to the refuge headquarters. Mike Feighner > -----Original Message----- > From: Tom Ryan [SMTP:[[email protected]]] > Sent: Thursday, June 22, 2000 2:31 PM > To: [[email protected]] > Subject: [SBB] Great-tailed Grackle > > Today (6/22/00) we observed a male and female Great-tailed Grackle on > private property near the corner of Almaden Expressway and Coleman Ave. in > San Jose. They may show up at Almaden Lake Park or the SCVWD headquarters > pond. > > Is this the farthest north they've been seen in the county?? > > Tom Ryan > > > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to > [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 22 20:45:27 2000 Subject: [SBB] Black-chinned Sparrows -------- Re: [SBB] Montebello/Los Trancos Date: Wed, 21 Jun 2000 20:22:39 -0700 From: Screech <[[email protected]]> To: Les Chibana <[[email protected]]> References: 1 Not trying to sound like a know-it-all in my previous post ( though it probably came out that way), Les probably is up and around there ( Monte Bello) more than I. Having said that ( hate that cliché), I think the Black-chinned sparrow seekers are better early than not. Also, I have found that warm clear days on the ridge are best for finding this species. I have had trouble finding the singing Black-chinned sparrows in the cold, windy, foggy conditions that sometimes are prevalent up here. An aside-- Frank V. said he had failed to find any Sage Sparrows on Loma Prieta (sp?). During the Atlas, I found singing birds at the Monte Sereno OSP. I remember a narrow winding road off SR 17 near Lexington Res. Quite a hike too, but the birds were in the chemise/sage type habitat. Have never gone back there ( Almost no parking save for one vehicle--and one with a short wheelbase to boot) but have always wondered if the birds were regular there. Any adventuresome souls willing to try? Screech. Les Chibana wrote: > I don't think the bird that I heard was adhering to Paul's experience. > I was in the area a bit afternoon when I heard it. Come to think of > it, the individuals that I've heard in this location have often been > singing late in the morning. > > I should note that I could not hear the Black-chinned Sp. singing > from the sharp trail bend on the Page Mill Rd. side of the outcrop. > But it was very audible from above near trail marker 0.5. > > The trail where the Black-chinned Sparrow was singing this weekend > is Indian Creek Trail. It goes steeply uphill from about 2.5 to 3 mi. > along Canyon Trail up to the backpacking campground at the ridge. > Or, if you approach from Bella Vista Trail and the campground, it's > downhill. > > Les > > On Tuesday, June 20, 2000, Screech <[[email protected]]> wrote: > >All, > > > >I know from experience you need to look for the Black-chinned > >Sparrows very early, like around sunrise. They quit singing by > >8 or 9 AM. By this time of year ( almost July) they do not > >sing at all or at the very most only at sunrise or so. > > > >Screech. > > > >[[email protected]] wrote: > > > >> I got to Los Trancos about 9:30 AM, where the Indigo Bunting > >was showing off. I tried for Black-chinned Sparrow at Indian > >Ridge? road - nothing. It was too hot to hike down to the > >Pileated Woodpecker site. Lots of Indigo Buntings, Grasshopper > >Sparrows, and other assorted usual suspects (no raptors). > >> > >> Charles Coston > >> > >> ___________________________________________________________________ > >> Get your free, permanent e-mail @www.com, the original Net address! > >> - http://www.com/freemail > >> > >> Listen to your favorite music while you work! > >> - http://www.com/radio > >> -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > >> This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > >> server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > >> message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to > >[[email protected]] > > > >-- > >Paul L. Noble > > > >"Screechowl" > > > >[[email protected]] > > > > ^ ^ > > @ @ > > ( v ) > > ( ) > > / \ > > m m > > > > > >-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to > >[[email protected]] > > > > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] -- Paul L. Noble "Screechowl" [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) -- Paul L. Noble "Screechowl" [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) / \ m m -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Jun 22 23:36:18 2000 Subject: [SBB] Great-tailed Grackles -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Following up on Tom Ryan's report of a pair of GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES near Almaden Lake Park I went there this evening, and found them on a little patch of reeds in the middle of the lake just before dusk. This is where Frank Vanslager spotted a female grackle in April of last year. Other birds at Almaden Lake this evening: lots of gangly young BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS; CANADA GEESE and a COMMON MERGANSER with broods of half-grown young; CASPIAN and FORSTER'S TERNS, and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS feeding a fledgling. John Mariani [[email protected]] http://www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Jun 23 08:46:28 2000 Subject: [SBB] Babies -------- I would say two RED-TAILED HAWKS have fledged from the nest on the La Rinconada Country Club golf course. Last night they were really squawking. At one point in time I had the two sitting on a tree with the Mother flying past while they begged. I was at "my farm". Talked to the lady who lives next door to "my farm" - La Rinconada Park. She said the Screech Owls were quite noisy the night before. I still haven't been in the park at night, so haven't heard them. But, it would make sense that they would be there since 12 Western Screech Owls have fledged in the bird box about 1/2 mile away over the past 3 years. Some day I'll be able to add them to the park bird list. She also said she's had a pheasant in her yard. So I have more possibilities. Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Jun 24 15:10:57 2000 Subject: [SBB] Mines Road -------- All, A belated report, I'm afraid... Earlier this week my friend Jesse Conklin and I birded the Mines Road area, and upon entering Santa Clara County we encountered three LEWIS' WOODPECKERS at the Del Puerto Canyon Road junction and a few miles further south, near the turn up toward Mount Hamilton, we had a large flock of aprox 45-50 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES. Other highlights were a family of WOOD DUCKS at the first pond on Del Puerto Canyon Road and two SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS. Lot's of CHIPPING SPARROWS on the summit of Mt. Hamilton. Today, over Hwy 280 near El Monte Road there was a VAUX'S SWIFT. That's all for now, Matthew Dodder http://www.birdguy.net/ -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 25 10:08:03 2000 Subject: [SBB] San Felipe Road -------- Saturday, David Haveman, Marilyn Hemmeter, Eileen Kay and I went to San Felipe Road to look for the Cassin's Kingbird. An adult was bringing food to the 2nd Eucalyptus, where a nest was reported to be. While we were there, a fledgling came out onto a branch where it called for a few minutes before flying out over the apple orchard where the adult had gone. The feldgeling had a prominent yellow gape and very stubby little tail and flight feathers, very cute! Also in the area was a female Lawerence's Goldfinch being followed by two males as she gathered nesting material. Bullock's Oriole and Western Kingbirds were also seen to be carrying food. Merry -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 25 16:24:30 2000 Subject: [SBB] Sierra Road birds -------- Hi, I went up Sierra Rd today (thanks again to those who sent me the info). Not far up, I flushed a Great Horned Owl from a eucalyptus tree. It flew into a larger stand of eucalyptus and stayed put in full view until I left. In the same area, I saw several Lark Sparrows and a couple of Bullock's Orioles. Farther along the road there were many Yellow-billed Magpies, and at the corral area, Horned Larks. These were very tolerant of my presence, staying still at close range. White-throated Swifts flew over twice. After parking near the corral, I walked down the road quite a ways without seeing much more than a Turkey Vulture, Western Meadowlarks and more Horned Larks. Around the corral, I caught only fleeting glimpses of what I thought were Grasshopper Sparrows. I had brought my Minidisc player with a copy of National Geographic Bird Sounds with the intention of familiarizing myself with Grasshopper Sparrow vocalizations. However, at this time, the thought occurred to me to plug it into my car stereo and play the track with the windows down. Immediately, 5 Grasshopper Sparrows flew in close to investigate. I had great views and saw the yellow mark on the wings. I have never used recordings to attract birds before and would welcome some comments on the ethics of doing so. More with regards to it's effect on the bird than whether it is "cheating" from a birding standpoint. Thanks, Don Ganton -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 26 01:19:37 2000 Subject: [SBB] Weekend birding -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Saturday, on a class field trip to Monte Bello OSP we saw the singing male INDIGO BUNTING still at the Los Trancos OSP parking area, and a singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROW across the road. another Grasshopper Sparrow was between the Monte Bello OSP parking area and Canyon Trail. Other birds seen included ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, and LAZULI BUNTINGS. Sunday I led a SCVAS trip to Rancho del Oso in Santa Cruz County. Highlights: COMMON LOONS, PIGEON GUILLEMOTS, and a pair of MARBLED MURRELETS (spotted by Frank Vanslager) off Waddell Creek Beach, lots of SWAINSON'S THRUSHES and WILSON'S WARBLERS along Waddell Creek, and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER with an actual orange crown. Altogether about 50 species were observed on the hike from Hwy 1. John Mariani [[email protected]] http://www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 26 08:45:40 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re: Stanford birds -------- Was at conference on Stanford campus over this past weekend: Were those young Barn Owls I heard hissing from the belfry in the old quad just east of Tressider? What might have been the smallish dark owl I saw overhead in that same area..size implied Western Screech I saw no Hooded Orioles...in all those fan palms....did I just miss them? Nice family of N. RW Swallows on east side of Lagunitas "lake" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 26 08:57:16 2000 Subject: [SBB] Great-tailed Grackles -------- Folks: The Great-tailed Grackle is an invading species. It was orginally reported in Arizona in 1935, in California in 1964, and in Northern California in 1978. It is now found annually in Oregon, and there are a few records for Washington. As with many invaders, there appears to be a number of early records which are then followed by breeding attempts, and then the establishment of a population. Birds showed up in San Francisco in 1979, and a pair attempted to nest from 1980 to 1983. As far as I know, these attempts were unsuccessful. These birds were, however, resident and lived until 1990 and 1991, when the male and female, respectively, were last seen. Early breeding records include a breeding colony in Fresno, Fresno County, May 1993; Benton Hot Springs, Mono County, July 1994; Baldwin Reservoir, Placer County, May 1996; Sacramento Wastewater Bufferlands, Sacramento County, July 1996; Woodlake, Tulare County, April 1998; San Felipe Lake, San Benito County, May 1998; Shadow Cliffs R.P., Alameda County, June 1999; and Seaside, Monterey County, July 1999. The invasion process of vagrants, followed by scattered breeding, and eventually by established breeding populations can only be documented by amateur birders who make careful observations and share them with the county and state network that prepares the quarterly records published in _North American Birds_. This species has not yet nested in Santa Clara County, as far as I know, although the San Felipe Lake nest was within tens of meters of the county line. Their nesting preference appears to be for cat-tails or tules. The island in Almaden Lake might very well be an attractive place. Although an invading bird quickly goes from great excitement to ho-hum status (us birders is fickle), massive invasions such as this one are few, and detailed records to chronicle the establishment of breeding and, in subsequent years, the increase in numbers, is immensely valuable. 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 Jun 26 10:08:09 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re: Stanford birds -------- At 08:45 AM 06/26/2000 -0700, Harry Fuller wrote: >Was at conference on Stanford campus over this past weekend: >Were those young Barn Owls I heard hissing from the belfry in the old quad >just >east of Tressider? I will check this out. A pair of Barn Owls nested last year on the roof of the Law School, not far from the Old Union, which is the place Harry is describing. >What might have been the smallish dark owl I saw overhead in that same >area..size implied Western Screech That would be a good one! Never have seen or heard one on campus, though they are found on Dish Hill, just across Junipero Serra in back of (south of) the campus. >I saw no Hooded Orioles...in all those fan palms....did I just miss them? A pair (with a first year male as a tag-along) is nesting in the fan palms in Frenchman's Meadow, not far from the Quad, on campus. We live a few blocks from there, and they are regular and oh-so-welcome visitors at our hummingbird feeder. (By the way, we have the flat disc-shaped 4-hole "Humfeeder" and it turns out to be accessible to Hooded Orioles -- interestingly, I haven't ever seen a Bullock's feed at it, though there are a good number in the neighborhood.. maybe the slightly thicker bill is just marginally too thick to get through the small holes to the sugar water) >Nice family of N. RW Swallows on east side of Lagunitas "lake" Another good spot -- the regulars on campus are VG, Barn, and Cliff, though NRWs are regular at the Page Mill / 280 overpass, and at the entrance to Arastradero Preserve, not far from campus. -- Tom Grey Stanford Law School [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 26 10:14:42 2000 Subject: RE: [SBB] Re: Stanford birds -------- Harry: Lagunitas Lake sounds like Marin County. Have you set up your account for egroups North Bay Birds? Only Doug Shaw and I have posted to NBB so far. How was your field trip yesterday? I took part on the Central Valley Trip to the Chico Area: Yellow-billed Cuckcoo, Blue Grosbeak, Leset Nighhawk, etc. Mike ----- Sent using MailStart.com ( http://MailStart.Com/welcome.html ) The FREE way to access your mailbox via any web browser, anywhere! -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 26 10:16:41 2000 Subject: [SBB] from [Tom Grey <[[email protected]]>] -------- >From: Tom Grey <[[email protected]]> >Subject: Re: [SBB] Re: Stanford birds >In-Reply-To: <[[email protected]]> >Mime-Version: 1.0 >Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii"; format=flowed > >At 08:45 AM 06/26/2000 -0700, Harry Fuller wrote: > > >>Was at conference on Stanford campus over this past weekend: >>Were those young Barn Owls I heard hissing from the belfry in the old quad >>just >>east of Tressider? > >I will check this out. A pair of Barn Owls nested last year on the roof of >the Law School, not far from the Old Union, which is the place Harry is >describing. > > >>What might have been the smallish dark owl I saw overhead in that same >>area..size implied Western Screech > >That would be a good one! Never have seen or heard one on campus, though >they are found on Dish Hill, just across Junipero Serra in back of (south >of) the campus. > > >>I saw no Hooded Orioles...in all those fan palms....did I just miss them? > > >A pair (with a first year male as a tag-along) is nesting in the fan palms >in Frenchman's Meadow, not far from the Quad, on campus. We live a few >blocks from there, and they are regular and oh-so-welcome visitors at our >hummingbird feeder. > >(By the way, we have the flat disc-shaped 4-hole "Humfeeder" and it turns >out to be accessible to Hooded Orioles -- interestingly, I haven't ever >seen a Bullock's feed at it, though there are a good number in the >neighborhood.. maybe the slightly thicker bill is just marginally too thick >to get through the small holes to the sugar water) > > >>Nice family of N. RW Swallows on east side of Lagunitas "lake" > > >Another good spot -- the regulars on campus are VG, Barn, and Cliff, though >NRWs are regular at the Page Mill / 280 overpass, and at the entrance to >Arastradero Preserve, not far from campus. > > >-- Tom Grey Stanford Law School [[email protected]] > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Jun 26 10:25:06 2000 Subject: [SBB] please disregard last post of mine, sorry -------- South-Bay-Birders: Please disregard my last post which was intended only for Harry Fuller. I apparently had hit "reply to all". Sorry about that. Mike Feighner -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 27 06:20:49 2000 Subject: [SBB] Yellow Streamer -------- There is a hole in the fence at "my farm" (La Rinconada Park) and the Town of Los Gatos put up a "Caution" streamer made of bright yellow. Last night I watched 2 immature BULLOCK'S ORIOLES nibbling at the yellow streamer. They were obviously eating it. So, I removed it. since I figured it wasn't providing any nutrients. The ACORN WOODPECKERS continue to be quite busy going in and out of their nest hole. The 2 immature RED-TAILED HAWKS were again in constant squawk mode as they sat perched on trees. Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Jun 29 13:25:24 2000 Subject: [SBB] GT Grackle continues -------- All: I checked Amaden Lake today and saw the female GT Grackle at the SE end of the island. It spent a lot of time perched on the bird sanctuary sign there. Of more interest (GT Grackle was the most guaranteed county lifer ever, until Collared Doves show up), was a concentration of 40+ Forsters and 4 Caspian Terns at the inflow where the gulls hang out in winter. If this flock persists into migration, it could pick up good species like the flock at the Sunnyvale Sewage ponds. Interestingly, many of the male Red-winged Blackbirds showed an obvious yellow-orange band outside the red. I assume this is due to wear and that these are still 'Bicolored Blackbirds'. Am I correct in this? Nick Lethaby Product Manager, ARC Cores Inc. Tel: 408 360 2131 e-mail: Nick.Lethaby@arccores -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 29 13:39:33 2000 Subject: [SBB] Great-tailed Grackles continue at Almaden Lake Park -------- All, This morning Frank Vanslager and I saw the pair of (adult male and female) Great-tailed Grackles at Almaden Lake Park. The impression is that they may have a nest in the southeastern portion of the small reed covered island (located northeast of the larger island). The male spent most, if not all, of his time on the small island near the top of the reeds while the female would be out of sight near the base of the reeds. On one occasion the pair was together on the east side of the lake, the female feeding along the edge of the lake while the male was usually further up the bank near the picnic tables. On another occasion the male was seen foraging alone on the bank and on the larger island. When both birds would fly to or from the small island the male would be in the lead (at least during those few flights that we observed). There was a fair amount of bird activity considering the time of year. We saw at least three groups of young Common Mergansers (including two adults) totaling perhaps 25 - 30 birds. There were several Forster's Terns, one near adult Ring-billed Gull, Egrets (fluffy young Snowy Egrets still on the nest on the large island), Great Blue Heron, lots of immature Black-crowned Night-Herons, Killdeer, lots of Northern Rough-winged Swallows, some Violet-green Swallows and they definitely have a Canada Goose problem. Other birds included; Red-tailed Hawks, Mallards, Brewers & Red-winged Blackbirds, Brown-headed Cowbirds, European Starlings, Ash-throated & Pacific-slope Flycatchers, Black Phoebes, Bullock's Orioles, Lesser Goldfinches, House Finches, House Sparrows, White-breasted Nuthatches, Oak Titmouse (2, Titmice?), Bewick's Wren, Spotted Towhee, American Robin, Northern Mockingbird, Western Scrub Jay, and lots of Bushtits. Take care, Bob Reiling, 1:44 PM, 6/29/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Jun 29 21:14:16 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Great-tailed Grackles continue at Almaden Lake Park -------- In addition, there was a Green Heron on the larger island last week.... Roy Carlson San Carlos, California -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 30 10:47:21 2000 Subject: [SBB] CCFS birds -------- All: Prior to a dental appointment, I briefly checked CCFS. The pond just south of the trailers is full of birds, especially ducks. There were at least 10 Blue-winged Teal. Shorebirds included 7 Greater and 1 Lesser Yellowlegs, a dowitcher, 50+ Wilson's Phalaropes, and 15+ peeps. Obviously the pond is a bit distant and heat haze was evident even by 8.30. They have partially reflooded the pond opposite the trailers so there is good shorebird habitat but whether there is any food there after it drying out I don't know. There was a Marbled Godwit on it. Didn't have time to check anywhere else. Nick Lethaby Product Manager, ARC Cores Inc. Tel: 408 360 2131 e-mail: Nick.Lethaby@arccores -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Jun 30 12:14:07 2000 Subject: [SBB] a common bird in an uncommon spot 6/29 -------- Hi Everyone-- As I was leaving work (Lockheed Martin in Sunnyvale) last night, I heard a chip note coming from the ornamental shrubbery just outside the front door (building 107). Sure enough, an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was snuffling around. This area is heavily travelled, subjected to pest control, and well away from anything resembling normal habitat. It was not there this morning. A little post-breeding wanderlust? Mark Miller -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Jun 30 14:01:32 2000 Subject: [SBB] Sage Sparrow & Purple Martins in the county, Loma Prieta -------- All, This morning Frank Vanslager and I got an early start in hopes of finding a Black-chinned Sparrow (we were where the power lines cross Loma Prieta Rd., we call this the Lower Saddle, at 6:05 AM). Best bird was a silent, but well seen, Sage Sparrow on the ridge northwest of this point (we call it the Observation Ridge). Later we had great, close-in views of an adult male Purple Martin as it flew near us in the same general area. We earlier had a good views of a female PUMA flying up the valley north of the ridge and distant iffy views of 2-3 birds we felt may well be PUMA near the dead trees to the northwest. People hoping to see PUMA in this area should be aware that these three sightings were over a 2.5 hour span (they no longer seem to be roosting in the big dead snag to the northeast). When we first arrived we decided to bird the Upper Saddle area first. This was some of the most pleasant birding I have experienced at Loma Prieta. It was just a little cool with a breeze (nicely limiting insect activity) and visibility was unlimited. We had several flocks of juvenile Dark-eyed Juncos and Bushtits, families of Bewick's Wrens and Wrentits at our feet watching our every move while a constant stream of Cliff Swallows flew by in the valley below us. We saw lots of meowing Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, California Thrasher, Towhees, some calling Purple Finches and a single adult male Wilson's Warbler near a CDF water tank on Mt Umunhum Loma Prieta Rd. We then went back down to the Lower Saddle and climbed the ridgeline to the northwest. The Sage Sparrow was spotted just as we neared the top of the ridge when it flew to the top of a bush. Later we had close-in views of an adult male Western Tanager. Other birds included Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Olive sided Flycatcher, Acorn Woodpecker, Black-headed Grosbeak, Lesser Goldfinch, both Jays, Band-tailed Pigeon, Mourning Dove, Violet Green Swallow, Cliff Swallow and Purple Martin (the adult male being one of the last birds seen). Last night Frank and I heard at least two Common Poorwill (on quite near) and a Western Screech-Owl in Almaden Quicksilver County Park (trail at the end of McAbee Rd). Take care, Bob Reiling, 2:02 PM, 6/30/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]]