From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 01 08:26:57 2000 Subject: [SBB] WHPE, BLSK and Spring Folks: This morning, 3/1/2000, I counted 15 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS on Salt Pond A1. About a third are showing small nuptial 'nubbins', but nothing spectacular. Maybe these birds are oversummering. The count of BLACK SKIMMERS was up to 11 on Charleston Slough. From Adobe Creek to the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh I counted five COMMON YELLOWTHROATS singing so something must be up. 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 Mar 01 11:50:37 2000 Subject: [SBB] SCVAS Princeton 2/26 Hi Everyone-- A few folks ignored the weather forecasters and came to Princeton on Saturday (2/26). This time, the forecasters were correct: 40MPH winds all morning. Perhaps with unjustified optimism, we headed toward Pillar Point. Many WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBES were sleeping fitfully in the harbor, and clouds of CALIFORNIA, GLAUCOUS-WINGED, and WESTERN GULLS scudded in off the ocean, doing well just to stay in the air. We found a group of CINNAMON TEAL in the marsh, but the willows were quiet except for something in a reed patch that sounded like a loud Black Rail with a stutter (maybe 8 ki's before the derrrr). On the beach, we found two HEERMANN'S GULLS. At the jetty, only a few WHIMBREL, MARBLED GODWITS, and SANDERLING were around; no Oldsquaw or Rock Sandpiper. The tide was out, so we went past the jetty to the point, and found respite from the wind. There were two very close BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS at the point, and a few PELAGIC CORMORANTS were bobbing in the waves. We made a side trip to Ocean Colony in Half Moon Bay in hopes of finding some landbirds. Our best landbird was ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD, of which there were at least 5 in the Eucalyptus and bottlebrush between the northern fenceline and Turnberry Court. One nice thing about the cloudy skies: the diffuse light brings out the color in their gorgets so beautifully. In all, 58 species, and high hopes for next year. Mark Miller -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 01 12:37:33 2000 Subject: [SBB] more Spring in the air All, A pair of COMMON RAVENS was nest building on the northeast portion of the big wind tunnel here at NASA Ames just now. Les, have the birds at the Forebay tower been up to anything yet? Mike Rogers 3/1/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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]] Wed Mar 01 12:48:32 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] more Spring in the air As a matter of fact, one raven was atop the tower on Monday morning, 2/28, beginning a nest. Only about 5 twigs were in place. But I checked just now and there's no sign of a nest or any ravens right now. Bill Bousman mentioned Common Yellowthroats this morning. On 2/19 at SFBBO's Coyote Creek Field Station, the COYE were providing at least half the dawn chorus. Les On Wednesday, March 1, 2000, Dr. Michael M. Rogers <[[email protected]]> wrote: > >All, > >A pair of COMMON RAVENS was nest building on the northeast >portion of the big wind tunnel here at NASA Ames just now. >Les, have the birds at the Forebay tower been up to anything >yet? > >Mike Rogers >3/1/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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]] Wed Mar 01 15:48:02 2000 Subject: [SBB] ALHU and Spring Air This morning, there was 1 male ALLEN"S HUMMINGBIRD in the red-flowering eucalyptus trees east of the Elm Picnic Area in Ed Levin Park. The Double-crested Cormorants are getting their double crests and a few days ago, the Western Grebes on the Alviso Salt Ponds were practising their dancing complete with weeds. Kathy Parker -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 01 16:43:46 2000 Subject: [SBB] Ravens at Forebay I have noticed that PG & E is doing some retrofitting of the high tension towers in the Palo Alto/Mnt. View Area. They have been putting a 'top' on the towers for a new wire (s). Some towers (near the PA Airport and along Frontage Road) already have the new wire in place. Cable pulleys have been installed on a few towers toward Mnt. View. I think the Ravens at the Forebay tower might have to look for another nest site. Screech. -- Paul L. Noble "Screechowl" [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) / \ m m -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 01 17:13:58 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Ravens at Forebay I have seen these extra fixtures, too, and thought that they might interfere with the ravens' nesting. But the ravens near the Forebay usually build their nest on the second rung down from the top. There doesn't appear to be any obstruction where they usually nest. I just stepped out to check out the nest site because one of my co- workers said that she saw ravens walking around, seemingly looking for stuff on the ground. They're at it again, with about 4-5 sticks in place. The new fixtures don't seem to be a problem. Les On Wednesday, March 1, 2000, Paul L. Noble <[[email protected]]> wrote: >I have noticed that PG & E is doing some retrofitting of the high >tension towers in the Palo Alto/Mnt. View Area. They have been putting a >'top' on the towers for a new wire (s). Some towers (near the PA Airport >and along Frontage Road) already have the new wire in place. Cable >pulleys have been installed on a few towers toward Mnt. View. I think >the Ravens at the Forebay tower might have to look for another nest >site. > >Screech. > >-- >Paul L. Noble > >"Screechowl" > >[[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 Mar 02 09:56:14 2000 Subject: [SBB] Hummingbird Festival at U.C.S.C. March 4 Hello All, Sorry this is a little out of the South Bay, but I thought SBB hummer enthusiasts would find it of interest. The U.C. Santa Cruz Arboretum is having a "Hummingbird Festival" this Saturday, March 4 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. This is a peak time for hummer numbers at the arboretum, especailly Allen's. There will be a slide lecture and tour led by me at 10 a.m. and again by Jeff Davis at 1 p.m. The will be activities for kids and other tours led by horticulturists. It's free. To get there: Take Highway 1 north through Santa Cruz (where it is a.k.a. as Mission St.). Turn right on Western Drive, go uphill to the end, then turn left on Empire Grade. Look for the arboretum entrance to come up shortly on the right. David Suddjian, Capitola [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 03 07:47:47 2000 Subject: [SBB] interesting behavioral sightings There was a Red-breasted Sapsucker in the large Sycamore by the Adobe building along the Guadalupe River right where Park Avenue crosses it. Sighted between 4:30 and 5:00 PM, yesterday, March 2, 2000. I bird this area often and have not previously seen this bird. I assume it has already began migration to some extent. The bird was clearly of the daggetti subspecies. Eric Feuss ABTS Application Developer, Administrator ABTS Support Staff Adobe Systems Incorporated Mailstop: W10, 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]] Fri Mar 03 16:13:43 2000 Subject: [SBB] Looks like Spring Today (3/3) in Los Altos I saw a Scrub Jay covertly gathering fine twigs. I followed the sneaky bird to find a nest almost completed in a dense cherry laurel shrub. Look out Bushtits! Screech. -- Paul L. Noble "Screechowl" [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) / \ m m -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 03 16:38:13 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Looks like Spring On the same theme, a RED-TAILED HAWK carrying nesting material to one of the traditional nesting redwoods adjacent to Frenchman's meadow on the Stanford campus; and just after I saw that, a hangover of winter, a MERLIN flew through like a bat outta hell. -- Tom Grey Stanford Law School [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 03 17:48:01 2000 Subject: [SBB] Varied Thrush, bats While I haven't seen as many Varied Thrushes as Garth Harwood, I did have one foraging in my yard (Skyline Blvd., Santa Cruz Mtns.) on Tuesday. I also heard one call that morning. Band-tailed Pigeon numbers have been on the increase. We have around 20+ coming to the house. We haven't even put out any safflower seed. On Sunday, Mary thought she heard a bat fly by her ear. Since Tuesday, we've noticed 2 small myotis-sized bats roosting in our eves even though the temps have hovered around 40 degrees F. 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 Mar 03 22:20:38 2000 Subject: [SBB] bird notes. Birders: On Monday Feb 28, saw the following highlights: WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE 1 at the Pacific Athletic Club, Redwood Shores. LESSER BLACK BACKED GULL - the bird at Lake Cunningham. WHITE-THROATED SWIFT - 200+ at Lake Cunningham. Today, at the Coyote Creek Field Station (CCFS) near Alviso there was an adult WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE observed on the sewage ponds from the levee. IN the eventing lots of Canada Geese were flying into Milpitas to roost, somewhere out there is a large goose flock which likely has the White-front, Ross's and small Canadas in it. If you want to bird CCFS, let me know and I can send you the access agreement. In Half Mooon Bay, some bird of local interest include: First singing PURPLE FINCH in my yard this spring. They are absent from my neighbourhood in the winter, this one appears to have arrived for the breeding season. First TREE SWALLOWS of the season today, at Redondo Beach Road. Two AMERICAN CROWS today in my neighbourhoood. They are not common in Half Moon Bay, are never around in the winter, and are the first I have seen in my neighbourhood. Two SAY'S PHOEBES at Redondo Beach road today. They have not been here during many visits throughout the winter. I bet these are migrants. The timing seems right. Two HEERMANN'S GULLS have been around at Princeton Harbour the last week or so. I don't think these are migrants, but I guess they could be. One RING-BILLED GULL in Princeton Harbour last week, rarer than Glaucous Gull on this part of the coast, so worth a mention. There are two "BLACK" BRANT wintering on the southern section of Princeton Harbour (near the boat ramp). One of them is an immature bird, the other an adult. The immature has a plastic leg band. I have sent in the information but they don't have it in the database yet as it is this last season's bird. They figured it was a bird banded as a gosling in the Yukon Territory, but they will confirm with me later. regards, Al. Alvaro Jaramillo Senior Biologist San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory P.O. Box 247 Alviso, CA 95002 (408)-946-6548 http://www.sfbbo.org/ Home of the California Fall Challenge!! [[email protected]] Birds of Chile and New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Mar 04 12:40:23 2000 Subject: [SBB] Cross-billed RWBL --=====_95220242341=_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hi, Friday morning before work, I birded Shoreline park. I saw lots of nice birds, but nothing out of the ordinary except for a Red-winged Blackbird with a crossed bill. He was singing at the top of a reed in the forebay. Is this a common deformation? Don Ganton --=====_95220242341=_ Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii"
Hi,
 
Friday morning before work, I birded Shoreline park. I saw lots of nice birds, but nothing out of the ordinary except for a Red-winged Blackbird with a crossed bill. He was singing at the top of a reed in the forebay. Is this a common deformation?
 
Don Ganton
--=====_95220242341=_-- -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 04 13:40:37 2000 Subject: [SBB] Northern Rough-winged Swallows This morning we spotted ten or more NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS over at Oka Ponds. The were a number of HOODED MERGANSERS and BUFFLEHEADS. We also saw at least five GREEN HERONS. 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 Mar 04 15:10:02 2000 Subject: [SBB] Palm Warbler This morning at SFBBO-CCFS, we banded a Western PALM WARBLER. Judging from the typical dates of movement for this species provided in Dunn and Garrett's warbler guide, this is likely an overwintering bird and not an early migrant. I don't believe that we see very many in the Spring. It was netted along the creek at net 9280; it was released at the trailers, as are most of the birds. We had another big YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER day, with 20 Audubon's and 5 Myrtle's banded. This is out of 49 birds processed. We released another 4 Audubon's and 1 Myrtle's at the nets. Interestingly, the Audubon's are just about all showing a small amount of facial and head molt, and the Myrtle's are showing very little to none. 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]] Sat Mar 04 16:49:55 2000 Subject: [SBB] birds After seeing the McCOWN'S LONGSPURS in Colusa County, I stopped at Coyote Creek north of Tasman and found the GREEN-TAILED TOWHEE about 100 yards past the fourth metal power pole. Also of interest here is, what looked like, a pair of TURKEY VULTURES checking out a nest site. These birds were in the branches of a large sycamore, whose main trunk had broken off. When I passed them (within about 50 feet) they remained in place, instead of flushing. When I came by them a second time, they were laying on the branches (rather than standing), but stood and stretched when I came close. They still did not flush. I then watched from a discreet distance and saw one jump up onto the broken off main trunk. Then, after a minute, it dropped down into the opening, where it stood for a minute before going back up to the top of the broken trunk. It then remained there for the 15 minutes or so that my patience held out, and I then left. I thought that the bird's action was significant. Mike Mammoser -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Mar 04 20:57:12 2000 Subject: [SBB] Hooded Mergansers at Gunn HS All, Today was pretty slow at Phipp's Ranch for our field trip. Besides the unmentionables, the most interesting birds were a couple of ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS, BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, a large flock of PINE SISKIN and a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER in the Natural Garden Area. A few of the expected rock-loving shore birds were present on Pescadero Beach, such as BLACK OYSTERCATCHER, SURFBIRD, but generally, the rocks were empty of birds. We could only find three cormorants, and they were all Double-crested. The Pescadero marsh produced a VIRGINIA RAIL, and a SAY'S PHOEBE. A few VARIED THRUSHES on 84 going over the hill were seen. I bumped in to Al Eisner, who had a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET along Pescadero Road. I hope he did better than our little group. Back home, there was a male HOODED MERGANSER behind Gunn High school in a small pond. Off topic, my Texas trip went quite well. If you're interested, feel free to look at the itinerary and trip report on my website: http://www.shank.com/birdguy/texas.html Cheers, Matthew Dodder -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 05 11:22:58 2000 Subject: [SBB] SF's Millenium Big Year Some of the San Francisco bird loonies are at it again...another BIg Year to start the Millenium....and the number sthi year are far ahead of 1998, largely because we now where to look for those unsual over-winterers. Since this one was Dan Murphy's big idea, it's nice to see hinm so far behind...these prolonged contests verge on maniacal...only three alumni of the '98 contest have returned for this one... This from organizer and non-combatant, Mark Eaton. Kevin still has a comfortable lead: http://www.best.com/~eaton/Birding/B2K/B2KResults.html Also, I've put a clarification in the rules for birds not identifed to species as was agreed to in '98 (hope that's OK Dan M.). Check out rule 9. http://www.best.com/~eaton/Birding/B2K/B2KRules.html Mark -- Mark Eaton mailto:[[email protected]] SFBirds Web Page http://www.best.com/~eaton Golden Gate Audubon Web Page http://goldengate.ca.audubon.org "If two people love each other there can be no happy end to it." - Ernest Hemingway -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 05 12:56:35 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] SF's Millenium Big Year Harry Fuller wrote: > > This from organizer and non-combatant, Mark Eaton. > I can take no credit for organizing this latest bit of lunacy; I merely revel in the activities and am willing to organize the results. Credit for inspiration and organization must go to Dan Murphy. Mark -- Mark Eaton mailto:[[email protected]] SFBirds Web Page http://www.best.com/~eaton Golden Gate Audubon Web Page http://goldengate.ca.audubon.org "If two people love each other there can be no happy end to it." - Ernest Hemingway -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 05 15:55:01 2000 Subject: [SBB] White raptor sighting Lisa Myers, a member of my birding class, reported seeing a very white raptor along Hwy 152 about 6 mi. east of Casa de Fruta (Bell's Station Rd.?). There is a wide turnout on the eastbound side of Hwy 152 in this area. She and a friend saw the bird stoop down over the highway into the canyon on the right. As it took off, they could see rusty coloring in the tail but the rest of it looked white. As it rose above them, she said that the wings looked translucent. When it banked in front of the sun, she could see that there were some opaque areas in the wings. In a brief scope view, she felt that its eyes were dark. It was joined by another raptor that appeared to be a Red-tailed Hawk. The two raptors did not seem to have an adversarial relationship. The sighting occured at noon on Sat., 3/4. Has there been sightings of a leucistic Red-tailed HawK in this area? Any thoughts on what else this might have been? Les -- Les Chibana, Palo Alto, CA [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Mar 05 16:02:30 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Palm Warbler At 03:10 PM 3/4/00 -0800, Les Chibana wrote: >This morning at SFBBO-CCFS, we banded a Western PALM WARBLER. Judging >from the typical dates of movement for this species provided in Dunn >and Garrett's warbler guide, this is likely an overwintering bird and >not an early migrant. I don't believe that we see very many in the >Spring. It was netted along the creek at net 9280; it was released at >the trailers, as are most of the birds. > Birders: There are two previous records in the CCFS banding database. The dates are: 11/7/1990 11/10/1993 Also, I recall that there was one banded in the fall of 1999 which has not made its way to the database yet. This means that this week's Western Palm Warbler is the fourth banded at CCFS and the first banded outside of the fall months. Palm Warblers are one of the most common eastern warblers here in California, but they are overwhelmingly coastal in their occurrence and are a still a darn good find at CCFS. Good going banders! >We had another big YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER day, with 20 Audubon's and >5 Myrtle's banded. This is out of 49 birds processed. We released >another 4 Audubon's and 1 Myrtle's at the nets. Interestingly, the >Audubon's are just about all showing a small amount of facial and >head molt, and the Myrtle's are showing very little to none. > This is a very interesting observation and one worth following up on. Another tidbit may interest folks. I am working on the analysis of the last decade of banding at CCFS and have discovered that Myrtle Warblers (the eastern/northern form of the Yellow-rumped Warbler) has shown a significant increase in numbers over the last decade while Audubon's Warblers have stayed roughly at similar numbers during that time. So in relative terms Myrtle Warbles are more common at CCFS now than they were 12 years ago. I was quite surprised by this. 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 Mar 05 16:55:17 2000 Subject: [SBB] Sunday birds Late morning today (March 5) I visited Shoreline Lake in Mountainview. Conditions were windy and occasionally drizzly. There were at least 75 Surf Scoters on the Lake, but I didn't detect any more unusual ducks. The five species of Grebes included a number of Eared already in breeding plumage, and a few Horned en route. Finally, at least one Red-Throated Loon was still present. About 2 PM I stopped by Almaden Lake. I'd seen a small but varied set of Gulls there over a month ago, but in light of recent interesting sightings and comments that this time of day was best, it seemed worth checking out. Well, there were only 2 Gulls on the entire Lake! A bit later a few dozen settled in near the north end. I think there's a good chance that the Kumlein's-type Gull was among them -- at least, there was a first-year Gull which showed quite white wingtips in flight and a dark bill, and which didn't appear large enough for a faded Glaucous-Winged; but the distance was too great and it didn't stay long, so there was no chance to study it adequately. Other birds here: a Clark's Grebe, a Spotted Sandpiper, and at least 10 N. Rough-Winged Swallows. 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 Mar 06 07:26:32 2000 Subject: [SBB] Osprey and Peregrine While shopping on Sat. 3/4 my wife, Linda, and I observed a Peregrine Falcon feeding from a lamp pole over the intersection at Blossom Hill and Almaden Exp about 4:00 pm. Feathers were flying everywhere. It finally flew norht over the Almaden Plaza shopping center out of sight. While walking our dog (on leash) along Almacito Creek (3:00 pm) we observed an Osprey soaring overhead toward Almaden Lake. Also observed an aerial display between a pair of brightly colored Red-shoulder Hawks. As we were returning to parking lot where we parked the car (upstream from the lake), we observed a pair of coyote leaving the creek to return to the hills near an area where new homes are under construction. They seemed wary, but unafraid as we approached. In this year 2000, a chicken will still be a chicken. _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freeworld.excite.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 Mar 06 08:17:05 2000 Subject: [SBB] A few Sunday birds Hello All, Not much to add for Sunday, Mar 5, to what has already been posted, but here goes: Alum Rock Park: three COMMON MERGANSERS seen along the creek near the YSI - one adult female and two female/imm-types -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 06 11:29:16 2000 Subject: [SBB] birds On Sunday, 5 Mar 00, I drove around the south county and checked various sites. The SANDHILL CRANE was in a back yard of the housing complex at Santa Teresa and Fitzgerald, just on the other side of the fence separating it from the stubble field. At the Morabito goose farm, there were 9 ROSS' GEESE and the single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, which looked to be free-flying individuals. There were also 4 BLACK-NECKED STILTS here. I couldn't find any CCSP. A female OSPREY was feeding on a telephone pole along the entrance road to the Coyote Ranch, just south of Parkway Lakes. Mike Mammoser -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 06 13:25:06 2000 Subject: [SBB] February SC Co. List Bill Bousman has reported the February birds. The new ones are: Sandhill Crane, Lesser Yellowlegs, Allen's Hummingbird, Violet-green Swallow, Nor. Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff Swallow, Clay-colored Sparrow, Vesper Sparrow, Grasshopper Sparrow, Black-headed Grosbeak The total is now 200 for the year. The complete information is posted on: South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU) http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/ Kendric ----------------------------------------- Kendric C. Smith, Ph.D. 927 Mears Court Stanford, CA 94305-1041 (650) 493-7210 (voice or fax) [[email protected]] http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/ ------------------------------------------ -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 06 15:48:17 2000 Subject: [SBB] Fwd: bittern sighting SBBers, Here's a possible American Bittern sighting, from Sunday, 3/5, at Sunnyvale water treatment plant area. The bird description is minimal but the behavior sounds a bit more like bittern than night heron (of course, I'm reading a lot into this). The location directions are not very clear, but this sounds like the reedy area on the right while facing north, a short ways before the radar building. Les -------------------------------------- >Hi Les. > >Bob has more experience with American Bitterns, and that's what he >thought it was. He didn't hesitate to say it was a bittern. >Unfortunately, he's out of town for about a week. > >I saw a good-sized bird burst out of the reeds about twenty feet in >front of us, fly forward about thirty feet fairly low to the ground, and >then drop back out of site into the reeds. I basically saw the bird >from behind, and for no more than 5 seconds. It looked like it had a >mustard color. I would say it was about the size of a snowy egret, a >black crowned night heron, or a cormorant. Based on similar sitings at >Grey Lodge last year, I immediately thought it might be a bittern. I've >seen immature black-crowned night herons before, and that wasn't my >first thought. > >I'm not sure how to describe where we saw it, but I'll try. We parked >in the parking lot near a green port-a-potty. We walked forward past >the potty a bit and turned right. We then walked toward the bay a bit, >crossed some water and turned right. We walked forward a bit towards >Alviso and turned left. We walked forward a bit and then there was a >fairly big loop that looks like a square. We saw the bittern on the >right side of the square about a third of the way up. This side of the >square faces toward Alviso and there are two levees. Starting from >Alviso and going towards Palo Alto it would be marsh/reeds, levee, >channel, levee, big square of water, levee on the other side of square. >We were on the levee closest to Alviso facing the marsh. > >Hope this gives you a feel for whether it was an American Bittern, and >for where we saw it. > >Thanks, >Ira -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 06 18:19:39 2000 Subject: [SBB] Just Birds I had a PURPLE FINCH in my backyard today. 23 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS, 5 WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS and quite a few GOLDEN-CROWNED. I have not seen "my" WHITE-THROATED SPARROW in a month. I've been gone for 10 days on a cruise of the Southern Caribbean (disappointing birding). I checked out "my farm" Sunday. I am so proud of the Town of Los Gatos. They had their slave labor crew (those people being forced by the courts to do community service) clearing out bottle brush, etc. Whereas "my farm" had begun to look like an inner city park, it no longer does. The Park Ranger said he'd seen 5 people walk by with my "Birds of La Rinconada Park" list that morning. He was impressed. At "my farm" it appears that STELLER JAYS are working on a nest. BELTED KINGFISHER quite vocal. Didn't have time to bird. TUFTED TITMOUSE is carrying nesting material into same bird box that was used last year by them in my backyard. At my neighbors, the female WESTERN SCREECH OWL continues to use their nesting box each night. For the 4th year I am going to do the SF Bird Blitz with Alan Hopkins on Sat, March 25 7AM-9PM. If anyone would like to carpool with me, email me. I'm leaving for Seattle, but I'll be back! Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos off Quito "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 06 19:33:41 2000 Subject: [SBB] February archives, etc. now online. South Bay Birders, I have just updated the South-bay-birds message archive to include February 2000. http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/southbay.htm Mike Rogers has contributed some very interesting pictures of the Lesser Black-backed Gull currently at Lake Cunningham. See: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/lbbg4.htm Mike has also provided nice photos of the Sandhill Crane in Gilroy, and a Rufous-capped Warbler in Arizona. They are at the photo gallery: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/gallery.htm The mystery duck at the Palo Alto Baylands seems to be solved: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/feb00.htm but the debate now rages over a thrasher and a female bluebird. The bluebird reminds me of the controversy surrounding the infamous Geng Road Mountain/Western bluebird from a couple months ago. http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/mysteries.htm There is a new message board in case you'd like to offer reasoned opinion or shameless speculation. Enjoy! -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: mailto:[[email protected]] California Birding; Mystery Birds: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/ California Bird Records Committee: http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/ -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 06 20:45:55 2000 Subject: [SBB] Weekend Birds This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0094_01BF87AC.F8195E40 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Saturday=20 Gloria's Farm aka La Rinconda Park ACORN WOODPECKER, AMERICAN ROBIN, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, BEWICK'S WREN, = BLACK PHOEBE, BROWN CREEPER, BUSHTIT, CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, CEDAR WAXWING, = CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, DARK-EYED JUNCO, FOX SPARROW, GOLDEN-CROWNED = SPARROW, HAIRY WOODPECKER, HOUSE FINCH, LESSER GOLDFINCH, MOURNING DOVE, = NORTHERN FLICKER, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER, OAK = TITMOUSE, PURPLE FINCH, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, RED-TAILED HAWK, = RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, SPOTTED TOWHEE, STELLER'S JAY, WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, = WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER=20 Oka Ponds additional birds AMERICAN COOT, AMERICAN CROW, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON MERGANSER, COMMON = SNIPE, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, DOWNY WOODPECKER, GREAT BLUE HERON, = HOODED MERGANSER (several pairs), HORNED GREBE, LESSER SCAUP, MALLARD, = NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, OSPREY, PIED-BILLED GREBE, RED-WINGED = BLACKBIRD, RING-NECKED DUCK, ROCK DOVE, RUDDY DUCK, SNOWY EGRET=20 Sunday SCVAS field trip - VERY WINDY & COLD Coyote Hills Regional Park. Leader: Frank Vanslager=20 AMERICAN BITTERN, AMERICAN COOT, AMERICAN KESTREL, AMERICAN PIPIT, = AMERICAN ROBIN, BARN SWALLOW, BLACK PHOEBE, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, = BUFFLEHEAD, CALIFORNIA THRASHER, CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, CANADA GOOSE, = CINNAMON TEAL, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, COOPER'S HAWK, DOUBLE-CRESTED = CORMORANT, FOX SPARROW, GADWALL, GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, GREAT BLUE = HERON, GREAT EGRET, GREATER SCAUP, KILLDEER, MALLARD, MARSH WREN, = NORTHERN HARRIER, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, NORTHERN PINTAIL, NORTHERN = ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, PIED-BILLED GREBE, RED-TAILED HAWK, RED-WINGED = BLACKBIRD, RING-NECKED PHEASANT, RUDDY DUCK, SONG SPARROW, TREE SWALLOW, = TURKEY VULTURE, WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, WHITE-TAILED = KITE Grant Webb ------=_NextPart_000_0094_01BF87AC.F8195E40 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Saturday

Gloria's Farm aka La Rinconda Park

ACORN WOODPECKER, AMERICAN ROBIN, ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, BEWICK'S WREN, = BLACK=20 PHOEBE, BROWN CREEPER, BUSHTIT, CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, CEDAR WAXWING,=20 CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, DARK-EYED JUNCO, FOX SPARROW, GOLDEN-CROWNED = SPARROW,=20 HAIRY WOODPECKER, HOUSE FINCH, LESSER GOLDFINCH, MOURNING DOVE, NORTHERN = FLICKER, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER, OAK TITMOUSE, = PURPLE FINCH,=20 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, RED-TAILED HAWK, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, SPOTTED = TOWHEE,=20 STELLER'S JAY, WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, YELLOW-RUMPED = WARBLER=20

Oka Ponds additional birds

AMERICAN COOT, AMERICAN CROW, BUFFLEHEAD, COMMON MERGANSER, COMMON = SNIPE,=20 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, DOWNY WOODPECKER, GREAT BLUE HERON, HOODED = MERGANSER=20 (several pairs), HORNED GREBE, LESSER SCAUP, MALLARD, NORTHERN = ROUGH-WINGED=20 SWALLOW, OSPREY, PIED-BILLED GREBE, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, RING-NECKED = DUCK, ROCK=20 DOVE, RUDDY DUCK, SNOWY EGRET

Sunday

SCVAS field trip – VERY WINDY & COLD

Coyote Hills Regional Park. Leader: Frank Vanslager=20

AMERICAN BITTERN, AMERICAN COOT, AMERICAN KESTREL, AMERICAN PIPIT, = AMERICAN=20 ROBIN, BARN SWALLOW, BLACK PHOEBE, BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON, = BUFFLEHEAD,=20 CALIFORNIA THRASHER, CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, CANADA GOOSE, CINNAMON TEAL, = COMMON=20 YELLOWTHROAT, COOPER'S HAWK, DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT, FOX SPARROW, = GADWALL,=20 GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, GREAT BLUE HERON, GREAT EGRET, GREATER SCAUP, = KILLDEER,=20 MALLARD, MARSH WREN, NORTHERN HARRIER, NORTHERN MOCKINGBIRD, NORTHERN = PINTAIL,=20 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, PIED-BILLED GREBE, RED-TAILED HAWK, = RED-WINGED=20 BLACKBIRD, RING-NECKED PHEASANT, RUDDY DUCK, SONG SPARROW, TREE SWALLOW, = TURKEY=20 VULTURE, WESTERN SCRUB-JAY, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, WHITE-TAILED KITE

Grant Webb

------=_NextPart_000_0094_01BF87AC.F8195E40-- -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 07 21:37:07 2000 Subject: [SBB] COME Monday evening, 3/6/00, at 5:45pm I counted 43 Common Merganser on Almaden Lake, most of them were near or south of the . In this year 2000, a chicken will still be a chicken. _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freeworld.excite.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 08 09:57:49 2000 Subject: Fwd: [SBB] COME I just re-read my own posting and discovered it didn't send the entire message AND it contained an error. It should have read '...near or NORTH of the island." ----- Original Message ----- > Date: Tue, 7 Mar 2000 21:37:07 -0800 (PST) > From: Karl Fowler <[[email protected]]> > To: [[email protected]] > Subject: [SBB] COME > Message-ID:<3781218.952493827215.JavaMail.imail@derby> > > > Monday evening, 3/6/00, at 5:45pm I counted 43 Common Merganser on Almaden > Lake, most of them were near or south of the . > > In this year 2000, a chicken will still be a chicken. > > > > > > _______________________________________________________ > Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite > Visit http://freeworld.excite.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]] In this year 2000, a chicken will still be a chicken. _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freeworld.excite.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 08 13:32:52 2000 Subject: [SBB] Wed. birds. This morning, around 10 a.m. while walking the Alamitos Creek Trail I saw: A lone Killdeer calling and sprinting about on a rocky sandbar. This is first time I can recall seeing this bird in this area. Also seen; a pair of Spotted Towhee, and a pair of Bushtits near their nest. I had seen a single Bushtit enter this nest on Monday. (The next is located just inside the park area in a small tree on the park side between the entrance from the trail and the bridge. It is a beautiful example of the Bushtit's nest.) A Lincoln's sparrow was near the trail between the park entrance and the bridge to the south where the trail goes under the road. Near this bridge I could hear a very melodious song, but the only birds I could see in the area were a pair of Starling. Is it too early for the Northern Oriole? Barbara Harkleroad Almaden -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 08 15:47:00 2000 Subject: [SBB] Gulls All: Mike Rogers and I visited the BFI landfill in Milpitas today. There were about 25,000+ gulls (Mike will come up with some final numbers). We had 5 sightings of imm. Glaucous Gulls involving a minimum of 3 (1 2W, 2 1W) individuals. One of these was on the Fremont lagoons, which is almost a guaranteed site for seeing this species. We also saw a minimum of 220 Tricolored Blackbirds. Nick Nick Lethaby Technical Marketing Manager CoWare, Inc. Tel: 408 845 7646 E-mail: [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 08 16:22:53 2000 Subject: [SBB] Newby Island All, This morning 3/8/00, Nick Lethaby and I checked out the gulls at the Newby Island Landfill near the Alameda County line. Unfortunately, we spent less time attempting to estimate the number of gulls than we should have, but there were at least 20,000 gulls feeding at the landfill and quite likely as many as 23,000 there by the time we left. An additional 5,000 gulls on the Fremont Lagoons suggests a minimum of 25,000 gulls, with this number quite possibly being an underestimate. As usual, the vast majority of these birds were HERRING GULLS, but there were plenty of other species and unusual unidentifiables mixed in. I took about 75 pictures of a dozen or so individuals - if you like gulls I would be glad to send you scanned jpeg files for study. Remarkable was the large number of second-year birds of all species and relatively low numbers of first-winter birds. It seems that the summer of 1998 produced a bumper crop of young gulls, whereas 1999 was not so productive. This same age composition has been noted by several gull-watchers elsewhere in SCL, as well as on the San Mateo County coast this winter. Although it is hard to get good estimates of the number of each species, our rough estimates break down as follows, with the non-Herring species undoubtedly being under-estimated: HERRING GULL 20,000 CALIFORNIA GULL 5,000 THAYER'S GULL 150+ GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL 80 WESTERN GULL 70 (mostly adults, with some 1st-wtrs) RING-BILLED GULL 5 GLAUCOUS GULL 3 to 5 GLAUCOUS x HERRING GULL 4 + other possibles Also noted were several other large THAYER'S-type GULLS that were possibly GLAUCOUS-WINGED x HERRING GULLS, although they are perhaps best left as "strange gull sp". Other oddities included such things as an apparent second-winter HERRING GULL (pale eye, sharply bicolored bill) with no gray on the mantle, very pale GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS, a second-winter possible GLAUCOUS x GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL with a strange pink and black bill, a second-winter HERRING GULL with virtually white greater coverts, and several pale THAYER'S GULLS that were superficially similar to "Iceland" gulls because of bleached tertials and primaries (still with tail bands, secondary bars, and some dark pigment on the concealed portions of the primaries though). Nick found the first GLAUCOUS GULL in the first flock we scanned. It was largely chalk white, with some limited brown smudging on the underside. The yellow eye and paling bill tip identified the bird as a second-winter individual. I found the next bird flying at the other end of the dump later. It was also all chalk white, but it was too hard to see eye color and subtleties of the bill tip to age it beyond 1st/2nd winter. Shortly after this bird flew by, Nick picked out another all white bird down at the Fremont Lagoons. Again distance precluded aging beyond 1st/2nd winter. Just as we were concluding that all young Glaucous Gulls have faded to white by this time of year, Nick located a close first-year bird that had the usual pale tan marbling. And finally, just before leaving, I picked out a nearly all white first-year bird with somewhat extensive tan smudging on the underparts (all dark eye and bill tip). Thus there were at least two-first winter and one second-winter bird present, but all five may have been different individuals and the Fremont Lagoon bird didn't seem to be moving around much, staying in the same spot for the nearly half an hour that we could see that part of the lagoon. I managed to get photos for three of the sightings at the dump. There were also several large flocks of male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS, with up to 230 birds in a single flock. Despite these numbers we did not see a single female. Mike Rogers -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 09 09:05:50 2000 Subject: [SBB] SISKIN? Wednesday at my hanging sunflower feeder I observed what I first thought to be a Pine Siskin, the first for this year. It was about House Finch size, but chunckier, heavily streaked breast, pinkish legs (the field guide shows black legs.) The odd part was I could see none of the tell-tale yellow feathers. The top of the back had a greenish tone (almost the color of roof moss), a very distinct brown eye patch with a long whiteish eyebrow and a whiteish line under the eye patch. There was no white edge to the upper wing. I've never seen a bird like this before. Any ideas? Barbara Harkleroad Almaden -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 09 09:45:53 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] SISKIN? At 09:05 AM 3/9/00 -0800, Barbara Harkleroad wrote: >Wednesday at my hanging sunflower feeder I observed what I first thought to >be a Pine Siskin, the first for this year. It was about House Finch size, >but chunckier, heavily streaked breast, pinkish legs (the field guide shows >black legs.) The odd part was I could see none of the tell-tale yellow >feathers. The top of the back had a greenish tone (almost the color of roof >moss), a very distinct brown eye patch with a long whiteish eyebrow and a >whiteish line under the eye patch. There was no white edge to the upper >wing. I've never seen a bird like this before. Any ideas? This doesn't sound at all like a Pine Siskin. It doesn't sound right for Evening Grosbeak or Oriental Greenfinch (both of which show green backs) because of the streaking on the breast. Is there any first-winter pluamge of Evening Grosbeak that shows a heavily-streaked breast?? It may be some kind of escaped weaver finch. If it shows up again, please try to a really complete description or photos, just in case it's something really rare. >Barbara Harkleroad >Almaden >-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] Nick Lethaby Technical Marketing Manager CoWare, Inc. Tel: 408 845 7646 E-mail: [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 09 09:51:14 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] SISKIN? At 09:45 AM 3/9/00 -0800, Nick Lethaby wrote: >At 09:05 AM 3/9/00 -0800, Barbara Harkleroad wrote: >>Wednesday at my hanging sunflower feeder I observed what I first thought to >>be a Pine Siskin, the first for this year. It was about House Finch size, >>but chunckier, heavily streaked breast, pinkish legs (the field guide shows >>black legs.) The odd part was I could see none of the tell-tale yellow >>feathers. The top of the back had a greenish tone (almost the color of roof >>moss), a very distinct brown eye patch with a long whiteish eyebrow and a >>whiteish line under the eye patch. There was no white edge to the upper >>wing. I've never seen a bird like this before. Any ideas? > >This doesn't sound at all like a Pine Siskin. It doesn't sound right for >Evening Grosbeak or Oriental Greenfinch (both of which show green backs) >because of the streaking on the breast. Is there any first-winter pluamge >of Evening Grosbeak that shows a heavily-streaked breast?? It may be some >kind of escaped weaver finch. > >If it shows up again, please try to a really complete description or >photos, just in case it's something really rare. > > I sent a message to Barbara suggesting that it could be a female Purple Finch. I just got them back at the feeder here in Half Moon Bay and the descriptions fits pretty well. Purple Finches here in the west are a lot greener than those usually pictured in the field guides (race californicus in our part of the world) and commonly have a green wash to the back. Also, the birds coming to my feeder have dull pinkish legs which also fits the description. 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]] Thu Mar 09 10:04:40 2000 Subject: [SBB] PISI vs PUFI All, I agree with Al that a female/immature Purple Finch does sound like what Barbara is describing. A very useful mark in separating these two species (Pine Siskin and Purple Finch) is the bill. While a Purple Finch has a typical finch bill that is obviously thick, Pine Siskins have surprisingly thin and sharply pointed bills that can appear almost warbler-like rather than finch-like. If the bird returns, a careful study of the bill may be instructive. Mike Rogers -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 09 10:20:12 2000 Subject: [SBB] Coyote Hills Regional park All: Can anyone talk to me about the best way to bird Coyote Hills regional park up North of Fremont. Are there are species that are easier to see there than elsewhere locally? I will going there on Saturday. Nick Nick Lethaby Technical Marketing Manager CoWare, Inc. Tel: 408 845 7646 E-mail: [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 09 11:20:06 2000 Subject: [SBB] Yesterday's Alamitos Creek field trip All, Thought that I would drop a few lines on yesterday's SCVAS field trip which was refreshing on several layers. First off, we had a couple self confessed beginning birder's. (Wednesday field trips are usually composed of experienced birders 75 percent of which are active field trip leaders. It's nice to have birders along who get excited when seeing the red on the crown of a nearby Ruby-crowned Kinglet.) Second, the trip was well attended. (Lately with all the rain, wind and cold several trips have been canceled and several others poorly attended. I personally lead a trip recently with just two birders in attendance and know of another trip with only three birders.) Third, it was not to windy and it didn't even sprinkle until the very end of the trip. (A few people did, however, leave early because they were to cold.) Finally the birding was good despite the fact that there were no gulls on the sandy island at the mouth of the creek in Lake Almaden. (I personally saw 44 species and know I missed a White-tailed Kite. We even had extended "killer" looks at the best birds, a male Merlin perched on a dead snag less than 50 feet away [imagine what that looked like in the Questar at 50 power] and a Fox Sparrow perched on Blackberry vines about 20 feet away who then flew to a nearby tree and posed while slowly turning front to back to front much as a model would in displaying a fine outfit. We also had multiple sightings of Scaly-breasted Munias, Lonchura punctulata, a.k.a. Nutmeg Manikins, a striking male Common Merganser in the creek and in flight and a Clark's Grebe with two Westerns in the lake.) All in all it was one of those trips we've been waiting for these last few weeks. Take care, Bob Reiling, 11:02 AM, 3/9/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Mar 10 09:32:47 2000 Subject: [SBB] Coyote Valley Species Hi Folks, I have a couple questions regarding Federal or State special status species sightings in Coyote Valley - the area where the Cisco development is planned at Santa Teresa and Bailey, extending from Tulare Hill and Blanchard down to Bailey. -Has anyone seen any special status species such as White-tailed Kite, Coopers Hawk, Tricolored Blackbird, Loggerhead Shrike, Horned Lark, Long-billed Curlew, Northern Harrier, Golden Eagle, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Merlin, or Prairie or Peregrine Falcons nesting on that property or using it on a regular basis at any time of the year? I saw both Golden Eagle and Loggerhead Shrike across Santa Teresa next to the road during the CBC last January, but I don't know how common they are there. -Do geese occur out there during wet winters? I was told to check for them during the count, so I figured that was the case. Thanks, Leda Beth Gray. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 10 12:30:35 2000 Subject: [SBB] Fwd: Help with identification This message didn't seem to get through to the list. Les Chibana, SBB List Bureaucrat. -------------------------------------- Date: Thursday, March 9, 2000 From: [[email protected]] >From: "Andy Gibb" <[[email protected]]> >To: <[[email protected]]> >Subject: Help with identification > >Hello, South Bay Birders. > >I have been in the area for a few weeks and have got fairly confident = >with separating your sparrows, gulls and hawks. It seems as though the = >golden rule with the last of these is to assume a Red-tail until there = >is compelling evidence to the contrary! And the immature sparrows really = >got me for a while. > >I am left with one intriguing sighting at Sunnyvale Baylands Park on the = >17th of last month. I saw a small, dark sparrow up a tree near the = >entrance parking lot. I was able to get the binoculars on to it from a = >distance of about 30 feet, so the view was not bad. When I say dark, I = >mean that black would be an overstatement but not by much. And I assumed = >sparrow because of its somewhat conical bill. It had a short tail and = >there was the suggestion of a paler eyebrow. It was also possible that = >the head was paler than the rest of the body with darker ear patches. = >The light was not great and any of these effects could have been due to = >the it (I have seen enough crows with apparent markings to be aware of = >this). > >The bird flew off, fortunately in to another tree with a handful of = >others. I was now further away but its companions showed as all dark = >too. I may have caught a paler wing bar on one or two and one that was = >facing me definitely seemed to have a streaky chin. I fancied also that = >the bill may have been slightly paler than the rest of the >bird. > >And that's it. They took off before I could get closer. I have been back = >several times since without seeing anything remotely like them. I cannot = >find such a uniformly dark sparrow in my field guide nor any small = >passerine of that colouring. My suspicion now is that I was looking at a = >flock of escapees but perhaps someone out there will be able to put me = >right. > >Thanking you in anticipation. > >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 Mar 10 12:48:54 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Fwd: Help with identification Andy, Could the birds you saw have been female Red-winged or Tricolor blackbirds? They are dark, blackish brown with a noticeable, pale supercillium (eyebrow) and are often seen in flocks. I don't know if their bills would fit your description, "somewhat conical", or would appear paler than the body. Was this bird or its companions vocalizing? If so, can you describe? Les Chibana On Friday, March 10, 2000, Les Chibana <[[email protected]]> wrote: >This message didn't seem to get through to the list. > >Les Chibana, SBB List Bureaucrat. > >-------------------------------------- >Date: Thursday, March 9, 2000 >From: [[email protected]] > >>From: "Andy Gibb" <[[email protected]]> >>To: <[[email protected]]> >>Subject: Help with identification >> >>Hello, South Bay Birders. >> >>I have been in the area for a few weeks and have got fairly confident = >>with separating your sparrows, gulls and hawks. It seems as though the = >>golden rule with the last of these is to assume a Red-tail until there = >>is compelling evidence to the contrary! And the immature sparrows really = >>got me for a while. >> >>I am left with one intriguing sighting at Sunnyvale Baylands Park on the = >>17th of last month. I saw a small, dark sparrow up a tree near the = >>entrance parking lot. I was able to get the binoculars on to it from a = >>distance of about 30 feet, so the view was not bad. When I say dark, I = >>mean that black would be an overstatement but not by much. And I assumed = >>sparrow because of its somewhat conical bill. It had a short tail and = >>there was the suggestion of a paler eyebrow. It was also possible that = >>the head was paler than the rest of the body with darker ear patches. = >>The light was not great and any of these effects could have been due to = >>the it (I have seen enough crows with apparent markings to be aware of = >>this). >> >>The bird flew off, fortunately in to another tree with a handful of = >>others. I was now further away but its companions showed as all dark = >>too. I may have caught a paler wing bar on one or two and one that was = >>facing me definitely seemed to have a streaky chin. I fancied also that = >>the bill may have been slightly paler than the rest of the >>bird. >> >>And that's it. They took off before I could get closer. I have been back = >>several times since without seeing anything remotely like them. I cannot = >>find such a uniformly dark sparrow in my field guide nor any small = >>passerine of that colouring. My suspicion now is that I was looking at a = >>flock of escapees but perhaps someone out there will be able to put me = >>right. >> >>Thanking you in anticipation. >> >>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]] > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 10 14:48:32 2000 Subject: [SBB] Bushtit nest. Atten: Mike Rogers I was at Almaden Lake Park today and the Bushtit nest and birds were still there (at around 2 p.m.) I attempted a couple of pictures, but the outcome is questionable. I did not want to draw a lot of attention to the area. The tree holding the nest is the second tree, an evergree oak of small stature, from the picnic area by the bridge. The nest actually appears to overhang the dirt part of the trail. I may attempt more pictures later in the day when the sun is in a different position. Barbara Almaden area -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 10 15:06:21 2000 Subject: [SBB] Purple Finch I'm happy to report to all that the mystery bird at my feeder fits perfectly Al Jaramillo's description of a female Purple Finch-a new backyard bird for me. Thanks, Al. Barbara Harkleroad Almaden area -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Mar 11 15:51:25 2000 Subject: [SBB] CCFS 3/11/00 It was a busy morning of banding at CCFS. We processed 62 birds and released another 6. Once again, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were the most numerous. There were 22 Audubon's (5 recaptured) and 5 Myrtle's (no recaps). We had a flock of 11 AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES in one net at one run. There were several males molting into their black and yellow plumage. We also had 8 HERMIT THRUSHES (5 recaps). Most exciting, unique birds today: an adult male VARIED THRUSH (beautiful plumage!) and a WINTER WREN. Once again, the Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warblers often showed body molt while the Myrtle's didn't. Today, I noticed that the male Audubon's showed the most molt and several were replacing 5-6 of the inner greater coverts. A few were in neqrly full breeding plumage. One Audubon's showed heavy pox lesions on its feet. I've never seen this species with pox before. I haven't been seeing much evidence of avian pox lately, but I haven't been out at the station that much. For the leppers: there was one Mourning Cloak this morning (one also seen last Saturday). 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]] Sun Mar 12 12:04:45 2000 Subject: [SBB] rock doves Not an exciting request. But I need to take a photograph of a domestic pigeon for an educational piece I've just written for the Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley. Please send me an e-mail (do not reply to SBB) of any nearby sites that I may find a good concentration of these city birds. Thanks for your help, Trudi -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 12 17:01:53 2000 Subject: [SBB] Grant Park 12Mar00 > THIS MESSAGE IS IN MIME FORMAT. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --MS_Mac_OE_3035725313_98463_MIME_Part Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit All: Notable birds during a hike along the Eagle Lake Trail in Grant Park today included an adult male columbarius Merlin, six Tree Swallows, and the distinctive peeer of a calling Western Wood-Pewee in the area near the ranch house where a stream runs adjacent to the trail on the left heading toward Eagle Lake. This is about a mile (?) before the corral. I did not see the bird, but it was heard briefly in the oaks that grow very close to the left side of the trail. Good birding, Michael Wienholt Sunnyvale --MS_Mac_OE_3035725313_98463_MIME_Part Content-type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable Grant Park 12Mar00 All:

Notable birds during a hike along the Eagle Lake Trail in Grant Park today = included an adult male columbarius Merlin, six Tree Swallows, and the= distinctive peeer of a calling Western Wood-Pewee in the area near t= he ranch house where a stream runs adjacent to the trail on the left heading= toward Eagle Lake. This is about a mile (?) before the corral. I did not se= e the bird, but it was heard briefly in the oaks that grow very close to the= left side of the trail.

Good birding,

Michael Wienholt
Sunnyvale --MS_Mac_OE_3035725313_98463_MIME_Part-- -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 12 21:35:40 2000 Subject: [SBB] MERL, RUHU, PSFL and Swallows All, Yesterday, my Palo Alto Adult School group had a female MERLIN at Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge, we also had superb looks at at least 4 CLAPPER RAILS along the marsh trail. We had a nice opportunity to compare CLARK'S and WESTERN GREBE very close together. Many BONAPARTE'S GULLS were in the salt pond area as well as a few RING-NECKED DUCK. Later in the day I went to the small pond behind Gunn Highschool to get photos of the HOODED MERGANSERS (of which there were six) and found some other interesting birds as well. There were many Selasphorus hummingbirds around. I expect most of them were Allen's Hummingbirds, but the first bird I got a good look at turned out to be a beautiful RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD with a completely rusty back and flaming orange gorget. I tried to get a look at some of the other hummers buzzing around the eucalyptus trees, and found at least two ALLEN'S, and many ANNA'S. There were foraging over the pond, and an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER in the willows near the bridge. A PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER was calling in the same area. Today, Jesse Conklin and I went to Coyote Hills Regional Park and found HORNED LARK and a group of 12 HERRING GULLS along the levee trail. There were several BARN, TREE, VIOLET-GREEN and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS over the main pond by the first parking lot. Matthew Dodder Spring Quarter for the Palo Alto Adult School Beginning Birding Class begins April 3. http://www.shank.com/birdguy/ or http://www.paadultschool.org/ -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Mar 12 23:26:15 2000 Subject: [SBB] Almaden Lake --=====_9529323756334=_ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Hi, Today at Almaden Lake, I once again saw a Nutmeg Mannikin gathering nesting material, but was unable to find the location of any nests. Does someone know anything about where they locate their nests and what shape they are? About the only info I have is what is in the NGS field guide. Are there any online resources? These birds have me fascinated. I also saw an Acorn Woodpecker apparently excavating a nest cavity and three Northern Flickers foraging. If you bird the park, check out the "Hill Trail". It's a short walk, but it's interesting since parts of the trail are level with or above some of the oak trees lower on the hill, giving good vantage points. The trailhead is near the bridge on the side closest to Almaden Expressway. Don --=====_9529323756334=_ Content-Type: text/html; charset="us-ascii"
Hi,
 
Today at Almaden Lake, I once again saw a Nutmeg Mannikin gathering nesting material, but was unable to find the location of any nests. Does someone know anything about where they locate their nests and what shape they are? About the only info I have is what is in the NGS field guide. Are there any online resources? These birds have me fascinated.
 
I also saw an Acorn Woodpecker apparently excavating a nest cavity and three Northern Flickers foraging. If you bird the park, check out the "Hill Trail". It's a short walk, but it's interesting since parts of the trail are level with or above some of the oak trees lower on the hill, giving good vantage points. The trailhead is near the bridge on the side closest to Almaden Expressway.
 
Don
--=====_9529323756334=_-- -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 13 04:37:48 2000 Subject: [SBB] Lesser Black-backed Gull (3-12-2000) South-Bay-Birders: Cheri Pillsbury of Stockton informs me that she saw the Lesser Black-backed Gull at Lake Cunningham yesterday in San Jose. So, it's still around for those who still have not yet seen it. -- 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 Mar 13 07:56:30 2000 Subject: [SBB] Red Breasted Sapsucker -Skyline Open Space On Saturday, at Skyline Open Space Preserve, Alpine Pond side, near the Ranger Area on the wide trail back to Horseshoe Lake, just before the tennis courts were three Red-Breasted Sapsuckers. They were sitting in a tree with no leaves along with about 4 robins. They were squawking at each other. Their chest was a beautiful fire red with the yellow, orange, and red colors. I went back on Sunday, but I could not find them again. A single Double Crested Cormorant was at both Alpine Pond and Horseshoe Lake on Saturday and Sunday. Julie Muir Mountain View -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 13 10:39:06 2000 Subject: [SBB] birds On Friday, 10 Mar 00, I heard a WILSON'S WARBLER singing along Coyote Creek south of Hellyer. On Saturday, 11 Mar 00, I went to Stevens Creek Park. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were singing on territory. The pair of RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS is breeding again on the nest in the sycamore tree near the residence that is next to the Bay Trees Picnic Area. Not much in the way of migrants, but a lot of singing by local residents. A few wintering birds were also gearing up their voices, including RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS and a nice male VARIED THRUSH. A SPOTTED SANDPIPER in basic plumage was working the debris along the reservoir spillway. A check of Stevens Creek above Mt. Eden Rd failed to turn up any Dippers. On sunday, 12 Mar 00, I stopped at CCFS. Plenty of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS about. The local TREE SWALLOWS were cavorting about the cottonwoods, interrupted briefly by an immature PEREGRINE FALCON which decided to perch in their midst. An immature COOPER'S HAWK was hunting the overflow channel, and trying to be really sneaky about it. It was flying about 2 feet above the ground down a cut along the reveg area, darting quickly into the taller vegetation after unsuspecting birds it came across. I didn't see it take anything, though. This morning I saw a couple of WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS checking out the hwy 101 overpass of Bernal Ave. Mike Mammoser -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 13 10:43:56 2000 Subject: [SBB] Birds at Jasper Ridge Hi Folks, I did my new bird route at Jasper Ridge on Saturday and saw a female Commer Merganser "kayaking" down the creek below Searsville Dam. The creek was flowing swiftly, as the dam was still releasing water, and she, perhaps to get away from us, took off down the creek into some small rapids, looking very much like a little kayak, getting pulled back and forth, sucked down and flying back up. Other birds of interest were 10 Varied Thrushes, a couple of Orange-crowned Warblers, 3 Red-breasted Sapsuckers, 10 Purple Finches and a Green Heron along the lake that was out of my count area. Shooting stars were abundant, as were the purple Giant Trillium and Hounds Tongue. Leda Beth Gray. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 13 12:48:48 2000 Subject: [SBB] BEKI I took a walk today, 13 Mar 00, along Coyote Creek south of Hellyer, and had some activity at the BELTED KINGFISHER bank. Both birds were chattering away, and one flew up to the bank where they have nested in recent years. But it veered suddenly and flew off when it saw me coming up the trail. I'm assuming that they are working on a new burrow. Mike Mammoser -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 13 15:48:47 2000 Subject: [SBB] Some birds All, This morning in Alum Rock Park Frank Vanslager and I saw a Canyon Wren on the south side of the creek 50 feet downstream of the bridge located at the east end of the east parking lot (near the Youth Science Institute). We went there (and to Ed Levin County Park, the north part) in hopes of finding a Rufous Hummingbird. No such luck, lots of selasphorus hummingbirds but none with a sufficiently red back to be certain of the ID. It should be noted that shortly after we entered the park the Alum Rock Ave entrance was closed and no vehicles were being allowed in. Reason, the road near the entrance is clearly slipping downhill. Looks like they have another reason to close the park (they certainly don't want people coming in the Penitencia Creek Road entrance for as we left they closed that entrance behind us). I should also note that I was stopped by a park ranger, who was coming from the opposite direction, for driving to fast and for not having my headlights on? I was probably going between 15 & 20 mph (about half the speed that the bicycle in front of me was going). The headlight requirement is new to me. At Ed Levin Park a not-to-shy Bobcat was working the grassy field located between the Sandy Wool Lake dam and the Spring Valley Golf Course. At one point Frank and I were within about 100 feet of it and it just seemed to ignore our presence. By the time we left it had worked it's way north until it was about 150 feet from the parking lot and the restrooms. Final note, I heard that a possible Yellow-bellied/Red-naped Sapsucker was seen near the mausoleum on Sunday's SCVAS field trip. Take care, Bob Reiling, 3:50 PM, 3/13/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Mar 13 15:53:39 2000 Subject: [SBB] CBCH hello all A pair of CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE's started nestbuilding today (3/13/00) in a nestbox in our backyard in suburban San Jose (near Camden and 85). We bought one of those balls of readymade nest-material (cotton?) at the local birdfeeder store and the birds found it within an hour and are using it constantly. There goes another 20 rolls of film!! Alan W. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 13 16:12:37 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] CBCH At 3:53 PM -0800 3/13/2000, Alan Walther wrote: >A pair of CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE's started nestbuilding today >(3/13/00) We saw the first one on our feeder this morning (santa clara central park area) as well. And our niger feeder is being attacked by about a dozen goldfinches. We've also had crows in the backyard twig hunting, much to the amusement of the rest of the yard's population... -- -- 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]] Mon Mar 13 17:48:06 2000 Subject: [SBB] Saturday field trip, changes to my web pages Howdy South-bay-birders, The SCVAS field trip to Almaden Lake/Alamitos Creek on Saturday, Mar. 11, was fortuitously scheduled (no rain for a change!) and brought out a very large group or eager birders. The birds also seemed to be enjoying the break in the weather. In all about 70 species were observed. Winter birds were still plentiful, and there were a few small surprises. Frank Vanslager saw a female YELLOW-SHAFTED (NORTHERN) FLICKER at the Almaden Lake parking area just before I arrived. During our walk we also enjoyed excellent views of SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, HERMIT THRUSH, and LINCOLN'S SPARROW. Spring, however, was definitely in the air. Everywhere there were birds singing. A very vocal RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW was one of the highlights. RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, CALIFORNIA THRASHER, and a host of other birds were also singing upstream from the lake. There were the usual RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, and we had nice looks at COMMON MERGANSER (unusually scarce) and GREEN HERON. Signs of breeding activity: NUTMEG MANNIKINS were collecting nesting material in the reeds at Almaden Lake (they appear to be nesting in an oak near the creek inflow), some got to see a pair of RED-TAILED HAWKS copulating, and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES were excavating an old woodpecker hole in an oak at the picnic area upstream. We refound the BUSHTIT nest reported by Barbara Harkleroad in a live oak at the park. They have progressed pretty far in its construction. We did have a few returning migrants--an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was foraging in an oak near the park office, and N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS are again flying over the creek. We returned to the lake in the early afternoon, just in time for the daily gull influx. The six species on the gravel bar at the creek inflow included a freak CALIFORNIA GULL with a ridiculously long beak, 1 MEW GULL, and numerous THAYER'S GULLS of all ages. Non avian highlights of the trip were a pair of MUSKRATS in the creek and a WESTERN POND TURTLES at the lake. Sunday night I saw a large slow-flying bat along Alamitos Creek at dusk--possibly Hoary Bat? I've just given my web pages a major facelift, and added a bird photo gallery. You can find it at www.birdswest.com I have another beginning birding class starting on March 30th. For information on the class you can click on the above link, or go directly to http://home.att.net/~redknot/birdwatching_for_fun.htm John Mariani [[email protected]] www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 13 20:07:54 2000 Subject: [SBB] EEC At noon today, 3/13/00, I went to the Don Edwards Environmental Education Center in Alviso to observe birds and take a break from work. The gate was closed at the Railroad Crossing, so I walked on into the center. On the first salt pond beyond the EEC, I hadmy first close-up look at a male Surf Scoter. It was with a group of 25 Lesser Scaup. Also, there were about 100 or so Eared Grebes on the pond. Waterfowl included Mallard, Northern Shoveler, Northern Pintail, Cinnamen Teal, Green-winged Teal, Gadwall, Ruddy Duck, Canada Geese, Coots, Greater Yellowlegs (3), American Avocets, and Black-necked Stilts. Only one Snowy Egret and one Greater Egret were seen. Barn Swallows and Tree Swallows were flying around the stream. A Hermit Thrush and a very dark reddish-brown Fox Sparrow popped up from the bushes surrounding the pond behind the center (while a fox was taking a nap in the warm sun). Golden Crowned Sparrows are still around but no White-Crowned Sparrows were seen. Common Yellowthroat, Bushtits and about six Yellow-rumped Warblers were flitting through the Willows and Sycamores. Altogether, a beautiful, clear, sunny day with a light breeze blowing made for a wonderful lunch time break from work. In this year 2000, a chicken will still be a chicken. _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 14 00:48:53 2000 Subject: [SBB] Friday birds, Charleston Slough I actually got unchained from the desk, so I took a couple of hours down at Charleston Slough on Friday, altogether a wonderful change from the last month... along with the usual suspects (egrets, etc), there were a nice supply of greater scaups, ruddy ducks (everywhere!), a number of canada geese, canvasbacks, one western grebe, a bunch of american avocets and yellowlegs (I think lesser), and I ran into two ducks I noted as Mandarins, but I didn't refind them on the way back, and I might be wrong. I also ran into one true weirdie, which my notes described as looking like a puffin and a tern went off for a weekend, and the kid got a nosejob. I finally identified them at home with a different guide as two of the resident black skimmers that some guides insist aren't there... also had a nice look at four huge turkey vultures soaring, and a partial glance at an unidentified hawk (I'd heard it call a few times previous, and caught it just as it pounced into the grass; it didn't take off again, so it evidently found lunch); the underside was almost completely white, and that's all I saw. All in all, I'm glad spring is arriving. I might even see some of it (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]] Tue Mar 14 07:35:29 2000 Subject: [SBB] Loon, Pelicans, and Peregrines Folks: Yesterday, 3/13/2000, I saw three RED-THROATED LOONS on Shoreline Lake. I counted five AM. WHITE PELICANS on Salt Pond A1 in the morning, but none in the afternoon. At the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh I noted an adult PEREGRINE FALCON fly in from Moffett and, at first, I thought its legs were defective, as they were sort of dangling, instead of being tightly pulled in. But as it flew by, I could see that the dangling legs were instead those of its prey, tightly held. It landed on a tower there and I was able to determine that the prey was a WESTERN MEADOWLARK. The BLACK SKIMMER count at Charleston Slough was ten. Bill -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Mar 14 09:25:59 2000 Subject: [SBB] Stanford sapsucker, peregrines, etc Bob Reiling wrote: >...Final note, I heard that a possible Yellow-bellied/Red-naped Sapsucker >was seen near the mausoleum on Sunday's SCVAS field trip. True. On the Stanford field trip 3/12, we had brief glimpses of a sapsucker with a dark border on a very red throat and other prominent facial markings. Following it through the oak trees for several minutes failed to give better views. The location was about 100 yards southwest of the mausoleum and just east of the Cactus Garden (or "Arizona Garden", as signs now indicate). An attempt to refind the sapsucker Monday lunchtime failed. Other higlights of the Stanford field trip included: - 2 PEREGRINE FALCONs circling high over the vicinity of the steam and cogeneration plants near Campus Drive. (A pair was seen regularly using the thermal emissions from these facilities for soaring during January and early February. A single PEFA was circling high in the same area this morning (3/14) at 8:30 am.) - Lots of RED-SHOULDERED HAWK activity, including copulation on top of tree near the Art Museum. - Also lots of RED-TAILED HAWK activity including aerial courtship near Palm Drive, and a bird at a nest high in a eucalyptus near Campus Drive at the golf course. - A few WHITE-THROATED SWIFTs were seen repeatedly and were joined by a few VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWs over the oval. - A WESTERN BLUEBIRD female was near the Business School arch in an area where this species nested last year. - Several PURPLE FINCHes and at least 2 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERs were near the Cactus (Arizona) Garden. - Lagunita had at least 7 duck species: RING-NECKED DUCK (15), GREATER SCAUP (3), CANVASBACK (1), BUFFLEHEAD (6), COMMON GOLDENEYE (1), RUDDY DUCK (20), MALLARD (10) (Numbers approximate) Cheers, - Dick Stovel [[email protected]] Richard 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]] Tue Mar 14 19:09:29 2000 Subject: [SBB] Spring has sprung Today, Tuesday, a pair of DARK-EYED JUNCOS, maybe the same ones as last year, is building a nest in one of the pots hanging above our front porch. Last year they successfully nested there. We are in the flats of Los Gatos, so this pair is unusual. A MOURNING DOVE was testing the fit of a pot hanging outside the kitchen today, also. Kathy Parker -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Mar 14 19:18:44 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Spring has sprung Up here in the northland (SF) spring signs include: Brandt's Corm in breeding plumage Paired Clark's Grebe at Merced Real rings of the Pied-billed Grebe Winter Wrens, R/S Hawks and Crows carrying nesting material in GGP Marsh Wrens building faux nests at Merced Blue Herons already on nests at Merced Paired California Quail singing Townsend Warblers singing Juncos drumming Downies singing Co Yellowthroat Surfbirds in breeding plumage at Cliff House -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 14 22:38:50 2000 Subject: [SBB] Foothill College Dear Birders, Red-shouldered hawks are nesting on campus. They are in the eucalyptus trees at campus entrance #5. If you are facing the entrance to campus they are in the 5th eucalyptus tree to the right. High up were the tree forks into 3 branches. It is actually easier to see the nest if you enter the campus, stop at the campus map and look back (tree is 5th to left). Today both male and female were around. One carried a good sized twig to the nest. Ginny Becchine -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 15 08:11:58 2000 Subject: [SBB] Parrots & Juncos Hello all, The Naturalized Parrot Conference went very well. It was topped off by a field trip to a roost site in Temple City where nearly 1,000 Amazona & Aratinga parrots roost each evening. I will be writing up a summary of what I found which will go into the proceedings of the meeting. Please contact me off the listserv at ([[email protected]]) if you would like a copy. I have another request for information from a student at UCSC who is studying urban Juncos. I was wondering if people could send me reports of breeding Juncos within urban and residential areas in the south bay. I will then pass those along to the student. Thank you again for all your help. Good birding, Tom -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 15 09:06:25 2000 Subject: [SBB] FW: Birds at Jasper Ridge > This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --MS_Mac_OE_3035955985_88584_MIME_Part Content-type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII" Content-transfer-encoding: 7bit I am resending the following message that for some reason didn't go through on Monday. Leda Beth Gray ---------- From: Leda Beth Gray <[[email protected]]> Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 10:43:56 -0800 To: South Bay Birds <[[email protected]]> Subject: Birds at Jasper Ridge Hi Folks, I did my new bird route at Jasper Ridge on Saturday and saw a female Commer Merganser "kayaking" down the creek below Searsville Dam. The creek was flowing swiftly, as the dam was still releasing water, and she, perhaps to get away from us, took off down the creek into some small rapids, looking very much like a little kayak, getting pulled back and forth, sucked down and flying back up. Other birds of interest were 10 Varied Thrushes, a couple of Orange-crowned Warblers, 3 Red-breasted Sapsuckers, 10 Purple Finches and a Green Heron along the lake that was out of my count area. Shooting stars were abundant, as were the purple Giant Trillium and Hounds Tongue. Leda Beth Gray. --MS_Mac_OE_3035955985_88584_MIME_Part Content-type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII" Content-transfer-encoding: quoted-printable FW: Birds at Jasper Ridge I am resending the following message that for some reason didn't go through= on Monday.

Leda Beth Gray

----------
From: Leda Beth Gray <[[email protected]]>
Date: Mon, 13 Mar 2000 10:43:56 -0800
To: South Bay Birds <[[email protected]]>
Subject: Birds at Jasper Ridge


Hi Folks,

I did my new bird route at Jasper Ridge on Saturday and saw a female Commer= Merganser "kayaking" down the creek below Searsville Dam. The cre= ek was flowing swiftly, as the dam was still releasing water, and she, perha= ps to get away from us, took off down the creek into some small rapids, look= ing very much like a little kayak, getting pulled back and forth, sucked dow= n and flying back up.  

Other birds of interest were 10 Varied Thrushes, a couple of Orange-crowned= Warblers, 3 Red-breasted Sapsuckers, 10 Purple Finches and a Green Heron al= ong the lake that was out of my count area.  Shooting stars were abunda= nt, as were the purple Giant Trillium and Hounds Tongue.

Leda Beth Gray.
--MS_Mac_OE_3035955985_88584_MIME_Part-- -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 15 13:32:29 2000 Subject: [SBB] OUT OF AREA. 3-day Texas Gulf Coast Trip Report URL This is out of the area, but if you're interested, you can read about it at http://home.earthlink.net/~blutman/texasgulf2000.html Cheers, Bob & Sharon Lutman -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 15 14:42:58 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Spring has sprung--DEJU and OATI I think DEJU are changing their range. From the period 20-25 years ago when it was it unusual to find one overwintering here, they are year-round residents now in our yard north of the Foothill Expressway. A pair of Oak Titmice are sitting on eggs in one of our nest boxes. and hatching should be eminent. Ruth Troetschler 184 Lockhart Lane Los Altos, CA 94022 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At 7:09 PM -0800 3/14/00, Joe Parker wrote: >Today, Tuesday, a pair of DARK-EYED JUNCOS, maybe the same ones as last >year, is building a nest in one of the pots hanging above our front porch. >Last year they successfully nested there. We are in the flats of Los Gatos, >so this pair is unusual. A MOURNING DOVE was testing the fit of a pot >hanging outside the kitchen today, also. 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]] Ruth Troetschler -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 15 14:44:33 2000 Subject: [SBB] County Greater Roadrunner All, This morning during a survey trip for SCVAS's upcoming Gilroy Hot Springs/Canada Road field trip Frank Vanslager heard a GRRO calling from the hill across the road (Canada Rd.) from the M & M Ranch. The bird was finally found half way up a small oak tree located at the top a brushy portion of the hill (near the ridgeline). (M & M Ranch is a regular stop for this trip and is associated with two large Eucalyptus trees.) During this trip we saw most of the hoped for species; Common Merganser, Purple Finch, Varied Thrush, Lark Sparrow, Tree Swallow, Wild Turkey and Golden Eagle. A big miss was the Western Kingbird and a Wood Duck would have been a nice addition. The GRRO was a county life bird for Frank and me. Take care, Bob Reiling, 2:44 PM, 3/15/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Mar 15 14:56:58 2000 Subject: [SBB] EEC At noon today I visited the Environmental Education Center area in Alviso. Perched at the top of one of the power towers along Grand Ave. was a molting? Ferruginous Hawk (the feathers around the shoulders were fluffy and very faintly barred while the belly area was 'normal' (tight against the body) with no markings, making the FEHA look like it was wearing a loose cape. Only the front was visible - all white with an all white tail. I was unable to see the legs due to the tower. It was not there when I left an hour later. The male Surf Scoter was still on the salt pond behind the center - I was able to see that it is injured and unable to use its left leg. Seems to swim quite well anyway, could be around for awhile. Karl 'In this year 2000, a chicken will still be a chicken.' _______________________________________________________ Get 100% FREE Internet Access powered by Excite Visit http://freelane.excite.com/freeisp -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 15 18:18:42 2000 Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek All, Today 3/15/00, I spent lunch at Stevens Creek County Park, hoping for recent spring arrivals. There were at least 8 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS (5 singing), but I couldn't find other recent arrivals (not even a Pacific-slope Flycatcher), despite coming up with 42 species. Species found were fairly typical of March, with 8 HUTTON'S VIREOS (6 singing), 2 singing PURPLE FINCHES, a female VARIED THRUSH, a singing TOWNSEND'S WARBLER and early breeding activity by the resident species (e.g. OAK TITMOUSE carrying nesting material). An adult male COOPER'S HAWK was in courtship flight, with crissal feathers extended, near the Chestnut Picnic Area. A GOLDEN EAGLE soared high over the dam. I heard a Canyon Wren-like note (Dipper way down here?) near where the creek flows out of the park east of the Chestnut Picnic Area - would be an unusual place for either of these species - but I couldn't track the perpetrator down. Also many "MYRTLE" and "AUDUBON'S" YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and two LINCOLN'S SPARROWS back in this area as well. Mike Rogers -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 15 23:59:37 2000 Subject: [SBB] Downtown San Jose screech-owl Howdy Sout-bay-birders, At about 8pm tonight (Wed.), as we walked out of the San Jose State University library, Jolene and I were surprised to hear the primary song of a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL coming from across the quad. We followed the sound to a tall conifer. The bird continued calling high above us--of course we didn't have binoculars or flashlights. Jolene tells me she sees diurnal raptors around there, so I probably shouldn't be so surprised, but the location, a landscaped quad surrounded by building and urban downtown streets, was not where I would have expected to find one. It was calling frequently, apparently on territory. By the way, the SJSU library has a large collection of older bird books, but disappointingly little of recent vintage. It looks like during the 1990s they spent most of their resources on computer rather than book aquisition. John Mariani [[email protected]] www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 16 06:59:58 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Downtown San Jose SJSU screech-owl South-Bay Birding Afficianados: As someone who works at SJSU, I am happy to report that the Western Screech Owl _is_ resident on our campus. (I teach two night classes, so I am often on campus quite late.) I first saw it in 1995, and have heard it at least once every year since - but I hadn't yet heard it this year, so am delighted with the report. The campus actually does have some bird-y spots: I have a species list of over thirty, and that's without really trying (i.e. no binoculars, no time dedicated to birding on campus - just what I see in my daily rounds). As to the Western Screech-Owl, there are a couple of trees it seems to favor (judging more by call rather than sightings). If anyone wants to do a modest owl prowl on campus in search of it, I'd be happy to meet after one of my night classes. Jennifer Rycenga ---------- >From: "John Mariani" <[[email protected]]> >To: "South-bay-birds" <[[email protected]]> >Subject: [SBB] Downtown San Jose screech-owl >Date: Wed, Mar 15, 2000, 11:59 PM > >Howdy Sout-bay-birders, > >At about 8pm tonight (Wed.), as we walked out of the San Jose State >University library, Jolene and I were surprised to hear the primary song of >a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL coming from across the quad. We followed the sound to >a tall conifer. The bird continued calling high above us--of course we >didn't have binoculars or flashlights. Jolene tells me she sees diurnal >raptors around there, so I probably shouldn't be so surprised, but the >location, a landscaped quad surrounded by building and urban downtown >streets, was not where I would have expected to find one. It was calling >frequently, apparently on territory. > By the way, the SJSU library has a large collection of older bird books, >but disappointingly little of recent vintage. It looks like during the 1990s >they spent most of their resources on computer rather than book aquisition. > >John Mariani >[[email protected]] >www.birdswest.com > >-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 16 07:17:39 2000 Subject: [SBB] Libraries Folks: John Mariani commented on San Jose State U's old bird books. Keeping up a library is a tough business. Stanford's collection of _Bird-Lore_, the magazine that preceded _Audubon_ and had records of bird sightings prior to 1947, has apparently been trashed. Has anyone run into a library with this series? I assume Cal has it, but I haven't checked. 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 Mar 16 12:00:22 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Libraries Bill and all, The U.C.B. library does indeed have the full set of American Birds, Bird-Lore, etc. Steve Glover Dublin, CA [[email protected]] _______________________________________________________________________ When an Anglican bishop asked the famous biologist J.B.S. Haldane what biology had shown him about the designs and predilections of the Creator, Haldane is purported to have replied, "An inordinate fondness for beetles." -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 16 14:49:21 2000 Subject: [SBB] RFI: Is there a FLABIRD? Sharon and I are going all over Florida for eight days in early April. Does anybody know if there is a listserver like CALBIRD, for Florida, which I can subscribe to? The only one I know is BIRDEAST, but that's going to get me lots of stuff I'm not interested in. Thanks, Bob -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 16 14:51:15 2000 Subject: [SBB] Fwd: Bird Lore and other library-related things SBBers, I forwarded John Mariani's and Bill Bousman's message to Tina Peterson, SJSU Science Librarian, who has occasionally been on this list. Fortunately, Tina is a birder and has an interest in the available literature. She explains the nature of the SJSU science library holdings. Hope this is helpful. Les Chibana -------------------------------------- Date: Thursday, March 16, 2000 From: Tina Peterson <[[email protected]]> >Les, >Here is some insight on SJSU library's birding holdings. We do hold >a back run (1913 - 1940) of Bird Lore in our Senter Road facility which >is where all the Wahlquist Library materials went in preparation for >the new library. Senter Road is open to the public; go to > >http://library.sjsu.edu/info/maps/senter/default.htm > >for more information, or call (408) 924-2245 to find out Senter Road's >hours and location. > >The catalog record for Bird Lore is here > >http://130.65.100.1:80/search/t?SEARCH=bird+lore > >Senter Road has copy machines, but journals don't circulate outside >the facility. You can find out which journals are in SJSU Library by >doing a title search for the name of the journal in our Catalog > > > http://library.sjsu.edu > >Or, you can email me! > >As far as books are concerned, we must build our collection based on >the curriculum. Neither ornithology nor field studies have been >large components of the biology curriculum in the 13 years that I >have been biology librarian here. In the past, our budget allowed >us to buy outside the curriculum, and with my interest in birding >books, I have been happy to have access to the older books. However, >since the early nineties with the spiraling cost of scientific >journals and less than adequate state support, the budget has had >to stretch a long way in every discipline. I always welcome input >on which titles are the most important to own (hint, hint: suggest >a few!), but people need to realize that the serving the curriculum >is the library's main mission. >Happy birding and reading, >Tina Peterson > >Les Chibana wrote: > >> Tina, >> >> Do you happen to have any background or insights on these comments? >> I believe that you're currently off the SBB list, so I would like to >> forward any applicable comments that you might have. >> >> Thanks! >> >> Les >> >> -------------------------------------- >> Date: Thursday, March 16, 2000 >> From: [[email protected]] >> >> >Folks: >> > >> >John Mariani commented on San Jose State U's old bird books. Keeping >> >up a library is a tough business. Stanford's collection of _Bird-Lore_, >> >the magazine that preceded _Audubon_ and had records of bird sightings >> >prior to 1947, has apparently been trashed. Has anyone run into a >> >library with this series? I assume Cal has it, but I haven't >> >checked. >> > >> >Bill >> >> -------------------------------------- >> Date: Wednesday, March 15, 2000 >> From: John Mariani <[[email protected]]> >> >> [snip] >> > >> >By the way, the SJSU library has a large collection of older bird books, >> >but disappointingly little of recent vintage. It looks like during the 1990s >> >they spent most of their resources on computer rather than book >> >aquisition. >> > >> >John Mariani >> >[[email protected]] >> >www.birdswest.com > >-- >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]] Thu Mar 16 17:20:33 2000 Subject: [SBB] Some Skyline Blvd. birds Last night as Mary and I got home, we heard a robust screechy sound coming from trees above our house. The vocalizations persisted, so I got a flashlight and located a cinnamon-breasted, female BARN OWL, a new yard bird for us. It's "call" was more screechy with a tonal quality than the hissy sound I've usually heard. This morning, the first selasphorus hummingbird in our yard this year was chased off the feeder by a male Anna's. I only saw the rufous flanks. Also, seen this morning were 3 FOX SPARROWS among the lingering GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS. 2 of the FOSPs were typical sooty-types. The 3rd was brighter red in the tail and primaries, and lighter in the face and head. I wasn't able to get a good look at this bird to see if the lores were light or pick up any other details. Compared to the plates in the sparrow guides, it was a fairly good match with the altivagans depicted in Byers, et al. It was lighter than altivagans/schistacea as depicted in Rising and slightly darker than iliaca. This bird wasn't as bright as the iliaca-like bird that I saw here in 11/98. Perhaps it's a zaboria (duller, grayer than iliaca), altivagans, or shistacea. I'll see if I can get better views and details before it moves on. 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]] Thu Mar 16 17:24:15 2000 Subject: [SBB] Santa Teresa Hills Howdy South-bay-birders, This afternoon I took a hike in the Santa Teresa Hills for some much needed excercise. I started on the west side of the hills, and did the Stile Ranch Trail/Fortini Trail loop plus some side trails. Returning migrants included Selasphorus hummingbirds (there was a gorgeous male ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD near the trailhead parking lot in the county park) and BARN SWALLOWS. Along the Fortini Trail I saw some evidence of nesting: a pair of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were perched next to a bluebird box, and a pair of YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES were seen going to a nest in the crown of a redwood in front of a house. Odd for the location were a STELLER'S JAY heard in a wooded gully, and what sounded suspiciously like a BROWN CREEPER along another wooded seepage--both would be unusual in the Santa Teresa Hills, although the jays have been seen off and on in the hills since last fall. The 5-6 singing RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS seemed low, considering how much ground I covered. Raptors included NORTHERN HARRIER and WHITE-TAILED KITE. At Calero Reservoir there were VERY few waterfowl--they seem to have dispersed or moved on since the reservoir refilled. A male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRD was in a mixed flock at the boat ramp. About old issues of Birdlore--the SCVAS office has them going way back, but I am not sure how complete their collection is. John Mariani [[email protected]] www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Mar 18 15:08:48 2000 Subject: [SBB] Cassin's Kingbirds All, Today, after the SCVAS field trip to Gilroy Hot Springs Road, Gloria LeBlanc, Frank Vanslager, Lou ? and I went to the dairy farm near San Felipe Lake (lots of blackbirds but no Yellow-headed) and then to San Felipe Road where a "pair" of Cassin's Kingbirds were fly catching in the field of grape vines east of the road. Still no evidence of any Western Kingbirds? Best bird on the field trip was a Warbling Vireo (county year bird for most). Most unusual sight today was of at least 26 feral pigs (including a dozen young) walking, single file, up a hill on the east side of San Felipe Road north of Hwy 152. A dead adult feral pig was seen alongside Gilroy Hot Springs Road between the turnoff for the reservoir and Canada Road. Take care, Bob Reiling, 3:09 PM, 3/18/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Mar 18 21:09:02 2000 Subject: [SBB] Canyon Wren in Alum Rock Park This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_003A_01BF911E.2FF51320 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable This morning in Alum Rock Park Roland, Shelley and I saw a CANYON WREN = in the Sycamore Grove picnic area. The wren flew in and out of a large = cavity in a sycamore tree and spent quite a bit of time singing out in = the open on the edge of the cavity. To reach the Sycamore Grove picnic = area from the east end of the east parking lot walk about a quarter mile = upstream on the Creek Trail on the south side of the creek. Continue = walking until you reach the junction to the South Rim trail on your = right, and then look to your left for a sycamore tree with a large = cavity about twenty feet off the ground. Take care. Pat Kenny =20 ------=_NextPart_000_003A_01BF911E.2FF51320 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
This morning in Alum Rock Park Roland, = Shelley and I=20 saw a CANYON WREN in the Sycamore Grove picnic area.   The = wren flew=20 in and out of a large cavity in a sycamore tree and spent quite a bit of = time=20 singing out in the open on the edge of the cavity.  To reach the = Sycamore=20 Grove picnic area from the east end of the east parking lot walk about a = quarter=20 mile upstream on the Creek Trail on the south side of the creek.  = Continue=20 walking until you reach the junction to the South Rim trail on your = right, and=20 then look to your left for a sycamore tree with a large cavity about = twenty feet=20 off the ground.
 
Take care.
Pat Kenny
 
 
------=_NextPart_000_003A_01BF911E.2FF51320-- -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 19 15:16:26 2000 Subject: [SBB] "My Farm" The RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was in the largest Euc at La Rinconada Park--same place seen last time. Today was very "birdy". Had a CALIFORNIA THRASHER singing away high in a tree and was surprised to see 3 other CALIFORNIA THRASHER on the ground digging through leaves near it. Thank you to Grant and Kathy Webb for spending a couple of hours at "my farm". Also, for posting your bird list. The PURPLE FINCH was new, although I saw a male one today bathing in the creek. La Rinconada Park is only 6 acres - so pretty small. I have 79 species seen - still some obvious ones missing from the list. But, I'm only there a small part of any given week. If you see a species, not on the hand-out, I'd appreciate it if you let me know. There must be at least 1 species of owl there (I've seen whitewash). I go before the LG Park Commission on April 4 to discuss the results of the 2 month study of having a bird list. It's averaged about 15 lists taken each week (which surprises me for such a small park). Regarding my backyard. Thank you, Mark Miller, for pointing out to me that I had stated I had Tufted Titmouse nesting in my birdbox. Oops. How about Oak Titmouse? Last year I first spied a HOODED ORIOLE on March 22 in my backyard. No sign of one yet. The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW remains a no show. Daily visits by both WHITE-AND-GOLDEN CROWNED SPARROWS, PURPLE FINCH. My QUAIL have returned after a 2 month vacation. Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos off Quito "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Mar 19 16:08:09 2000 Subject: [SBB] Glaucous Gull at Almaden Lake Park Howdy South-bay-birders, Today (Sun.), at about 2pm, I saw a first year GLAUCOUS GULL join the gull flock on the bar at the inflow to Almaden Lake. It was entirely chalk white, with just a few brown flecks on its wing coverts. It was still there when I left at about 3pm. Other birds at the park included THAYER'S GULLS, GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL, a COOPER'S HAWK, RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, and both Myrtle and Audubon's type YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. No Nutmeg Mannikins today. From the numbers that were flying over it looks like TURKEY VULTURES are on the move. John Mariani [[email protected]] www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Mar 19 22:26:11 2000 Subject: [SBB] Charleston Slough.... Made a trip to Charleston slough today, between about 4:30PM and 6. highlights of the day included buffleheads (1 mail, 2 female), 6 of the black skimmers, ruddy ducks, greater and lesser scaups, one western grebe (male), barrows goldeneye, canvasbacks, lots of avocets, some whimbrels, a few Northern Shovelers, black-necked stilts, gadwalls, a couple of marbled godwits, a couple of cinnamon teals, and one green-winged teal. It's definitely spring.... -- -- 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]] Sun Mar 19 22:53:10 2000 Subject: [SBB] bird/butterfly notes. Birders: Here are some San Mateo/Santa Clara bird sightings for the last week or so. March 11 - Osprey, one soaring high on thermals and heading north straight over down town Palo Alto. An obvious migrant. March 11 - Short-eared Owl, one by the model airplane field in Half Moon Bay. At the foot of Wavecrest Ave. March 14-16. Nutmeg Mannikin - still coming to the feeder (Half Moon Bay), but now only one bird, not two. My guess is that its the male and the female is on a nest somewhere. March 17- Half Moon Bay Area: - Brown Pelican - 5+ going north. The first migrants I have seen this season. Saw some more going north today. - Rock Sandpiper, two in a flock of Black Turnstones. Base of Redondo Beach Road. Still in basic plumage. - Caspian Tern - one, Pillar Point Harbor, my first of the year. - California Thrasher - one singing at Burleigh Murray State Park in HMB, not a common bird here. - Orange-crowned Warbler - 4+ on Territory at Burleigh Murray State Park. First migrant warblers in there so far. Butterflies. - Spring Azure (=Echo BLue), common at Burleigh Murray State Park, HMB. - Satyr Anglewing, several at Burleigh Murray State Park. May be a good year for this species, I don't remember seeing this many so early in the season. Gerry Ellis reported one from CCFS, the other day and its not a common species there. March 18 - Glaucous Gull. One flying over near the mouth of Frenchman's Creek, Half Moon Bay. 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]] Mon Mar 20 09:48:11 2000 Subject: [SBB] Del Puerto Canyon This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --Boundary_(ID_cO66bpstKbeY2CcVy8PXUw) Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Hello all: On my drive home from Santa Maria last night (3/19), I drove through Del Puerto Canyon. I found a male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD at mile 3.3 and female at mile 5.0. The Tree Tobaccos are just now blooming. With just a little light left, I also saw 2 male PHAINOPEPLA at the Junction and 11 WOOD DUCKS along the stream on San Antonio Valley Road (mile 19). I missed Western Kingbird here but saw them in Kern Co on S.R. 58 near Buttonwillow so it shouldn't be too much longer. Steve Miller --Boundary_(ID_cO66bpstKbeY2CcVy8PXUw) Content-type: application/ms-tnef Content-transfer-encoding: BASE64 Comments: Conversion error: (No formatted text for errno = 0) eJ8+IhgRAQaQCAAEAAAAAAABAAEAAQeQBgAIAAAA5AQAAAAAAADoAAEIgAcAGAAA AElQTS5NaWNyb3NvZnQgTWFpbC5Ob3RlADEIAQWAAwAOAAAA0AcDABQACQAwAAsA AQAzAQEggAMADgAAANAHAwAUAAkALwAVAAEAPAEBCYABACEAAAA3RjQyMTNEOTg0 RkVEMzExODA5NDAwQzA0RjU3NTlFNAAJBwEEgAEAEgAAAERlbCBQdWVydG8gQ2Fu eW9uADwGAQ2ABAACAAAAAgACAAEDkAYAVAkAABwAAABAADkAACzGdZSSvwEeAHAA AQAAABIAAABEZWwgUHVlcnRvIENhbnlvbgAAAAIBcQABAAAAFgAAAAG/kpRzZdkT Qon+hBHTgJQAwE9XWeQAAB4AMUABAAAACQAAAFNFTUlMTEVSAAAAAAMAGkAAAAAA HgAwQAEAAAAJAAAAU0VNSUxMRVIAAAAAAwAZQAAAAAACAQkQAQAAAJQGAACQBgAA Jw8AAExaRnVL5FVoAwAKAHJjcGcxMjVyMgxgYzEDMAEHC2BukQ4QMDMzDxZmZQ+S TwH3AqQDYwIAY2gKwHOEZXQC0XBycTIAAJIqCqFubxJQIDAB0IUB0DYPoDA1MDQU IbMB0BQQNH0HbRLyZgdA+wVAB219AoMAUAPUEf8TC/5iE+EUUBOyGoQU0AcTFeew SGVsdhiwDeBhF2RjFFARjjIzOBjkFm4g7ENFFe8W+zQXwR1dFED7Hm8fdXkIsSAf ISoPwBGdXDE2F8EjTwOCRwnRa38kzyEMIxEm7g5QKA8Dc1SXCHApvyEMNSu/ODYs 7/0fdEIu0Q3gLo8hDDGhF/zvHjgHEx/KHC43NY8jBzcl+ySpHC45F94nyDckKWwc Lf8UMD0fLMc3JC5aP/4XzzGIXzckMy0cKgKRCOY7CW8w9Uk/ZQ4wNUpqS4FLP0xJ /0pUTHJK306vTm1N70wfSm/5EGAyOFQ6VVFVD1YZSlR/VkJUr1h/WD1Xv1XvWbQ5 Pw5QXQReYVaDXmACgnN01HlsB5BoCeB0AAAD8DBkY3RsCrEAYGRq5nVf0AUQZ2gF QkTCDAEOYwnAYKADMHNuZXhfGMAHsAWwAMACc3MAUHMkYjIdEXNhE/Bca/0J4HAL kGCYCGBg0AuAHDD6ZRxQbAFAYTsMMGIEHlA3ZOAEoAuAZ1ZRYoZiYf0YoGQCIGNA YuZgMGEwaHH8IDFfkw5QZD9lT2ZTAFH/ZtwAoGIOaV9qZl+ED8Brb39sf2ZTDlBm z28vcD9qkzP7AoITEGNkAHcBYTBqkBxwSRxQIEQBEGF1M+FQBQrAYQnAYXBoIEan AiFjxDBxaS0PkDgBQNdmEHuTYJhiCyByCVB88psYMHzydzBhfPBzcAHQ/3jSYV91 /3cGezB58AUQAjBWLXqQA2E6NABvglBTKHViagWQdIJQRGH4dGU6Y8QxoXt/fI99 n/9+rGAgaoMOIXcBZ5YOUIAP/YEeUmZhGJE78X6wBJBjxP85MYQvhT+GT2Xfh48P gZKQ5QjQYgqwdDh1Wg9UcjCfiZ+KppMgi7ALUHkveqD3hpALEYwlc2PEHlGNL44/ /49Pfq9/v5VPllmCcoIUg0nvPQBgn5u0ktM5m/+dD6JA8ERvY3UHgAIwBdB6YHNI YaByb3egsJmxAYBu/4LQAGAJ8HkApKACAWOAiDIuZQDwpKBf4HBM4Fx26QiQd2sL gGQjEKhCBPD/B0AQYQFADgCZgmpiqaUCEN5vBUIYsRLyg2BtC1GDYFEfwDpcXIGg b3pBbW96kAMQB5CsUE0N4ANgc3JvAYAgTwEgDeCnkFytrgZFAMADEC520HSlcG8Y oKCwYsGQkngBQKahbu9gMElQr6R5lGMDIBLzAID/BZAcQG3BcvAOcGOAsjIBkP8A ILLCqJGk4QHBsjEYcA9wzwAAcvAM0AGQIC5IcrIo/w5QsuIz4GEQs1+0b7V/D8Df cvAFgbcfuC+5P2wjEHLw7my237ufvKUptawwcLp/479fvJRiICgCkcB/snP/MaC+ L8Lvw//FD7KgOTDGUv+zL8e/yM+1rB5Qxl/L38zv/83/sqA9AMrf0G/Rf9KECvlv AzCgj5u/YrF7HCEJACBZB0BsOgqFCoVPA6Bt7HkgmaB5QmgDcBOAA1JvBgK84aUg ByEgC2Bf0CAjAwDZQigzL15QKSyUIEncUW95UXRoA2DuddlAeXEDIFAKUAAg2sDK QwBweQIgLiDfQQIQPnWmsNrQ3CCpQR/AT1PkVEEAEHF1quATgAXwAEhVTU1JTkdC 2ElSRNrQBUBtrQF4EHwuM9rQ4eEQUOIz5DY19C4w4WFUYDA0AAnRgmH9dpBjBaAE IArAE4DY4t5gfaXAIAJgqtDkYA9w4WFX/3kgeoDn494BeSDYYBOAkJC/2UJgAAGA 3zIHQK2wIHJwRwfgMgDiM1BIQeOwT+BQRVBMQeQi39ATgLZK4dDYUGkCIOTjMQ6Q CFdPT+QQRFVDS/8F8AdAAiBqwO0i2QFqcKzQP+3BBhE3EAIwAiDtsCBW/drhZdxA CADYwNHw5GPfAf4u2yzfUORgBBAJgOkQB5DLg2AEoUtocWJpltGw0r/oYJBw63Pt IazQ1+FLBJLTCFDwEy5S4WA1kyBjAP0KwUKQcPCxA/DaoQfg61F/eSDrcNzAecCw sOLWBUBi/9+xqtDcIA5weoDvIgSQ8m3n10TYD9kVe1ODYHlRrWAl8TFy+6Z9AP9g AwDxPwkEAAADAP0/5AQAAAMAJgAAAAAAAwA2AAAAAAACAUcAAQAAADUAAABjPVVT O2E9QVRUTUFJTDtwPUxNQ087bD1FTVNTMDFNMTYtMDAwMzIwMTc0ODExWi0zMTIw AAAAAB4AOEABAAAACQAAAFNFTUlMTEVSAAAAAB4AOUABAAAACQAAAFNFTUlMTEVS AAAAAEAABzDAHsN1lJK/AUAACDDgfY9XlJK/AR4APQABAAAAAQAAAAAAAAAeAB0O AQAAABIAAABEZWwgUHVlcnRvIENhbnlvbgAAAB4ANRABAAAAQgAAADw4MDAyRkM5 NzU1MjlEMjExQTNBRTAwMDBGOEJEQzQ2MzA0MTAzNDE1QGVtc3MwMW0xNi5lbXMu bG1jby5jb20+AAAACwApAAAAAAALACMAAAAAAAMABhAPnmYbAwAHEIYBAAADABAQ AAAAAAMAERAAAAAAHgAIEAEAAABlAAAASEVMTE9BTEw6T05NWURSSVZFSE9NRUZS T01TQU5UQU1BUklBTEFTVE5JR0hUKDMvMTkpLElEUk9WRVRIUk9VR0hERUxQVUVS VE9DQU5ZT05JRk9VTkRBTUFMRUNPU1RBU0hVTQAAAAACAX8AAQAAAEIAAAA8ODAw MkZDOTc1NTI5RDIxMUEzQUUwMDAwRjhCREM0NjMwNDEwMzQxNUBlbXNzMDFtMTYu ZW1zLmxtY28uY29tPgAAABUs --Boundary_(ID_cO66bpstKbeY2CcVy8PXUw)-- -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 20 10:14:08 2000 Subject: [SBB] Jasper Ridge Hi Folks, I led a tour at Jasper Ridge yesterday and had a few interesting sightings. Five to six Wrentits were squabbling in chaparral next to the fire road we were walking along. We got exceedingly good looks at them due to their concentration on their own issues. We had a similar sighting of 4 Hutton's Vireos not too far away in oak woodland habitat- very handy for teaching beginning birders about the differences between these and RCKIs! Many more Orange Crowned Warblers were singing than last week. We heard Ruby-crowned Kinglets starting to sing, but sounding a bit out of tune. We watched Oak Titmice collecting nest material and taking it into a well-located hole in an oak tree. Common Yellowthroats were singing loudly in the marsh area. Also heard Pine Siskins and Purple Finches singing. Didn't hear any gnatcatchers or Wilson's Warblers. Cheers, Leda Beth. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 20 10:26:14 2000 Subject: [SBB] birds On Saturday, 18 Mar 00, I visited Ed Levin Park. A YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE was carrying nesting material into a eucalyptus tree near the road, and TREE SWALLOWS were investigating nest boxes on a corral fence behind the Spring Valley picnic area. A pair of RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS was being quite vocal in a courtship flight, while a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK soared overhead with an AMERICAN KESTREL. RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS are still present as well. Up along Sierra Road an adult GOLDEN EAGLE was perched on a power tower. At the summit a ROCK WREN was seen among the rocks, and HORNED LARKS were being territorial out in the grasslands. The corral here had a SAY'S PHOEBE and LARK SPARROWS. On the way home, a stop at Lake Cunningham showed the apparent LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL to still be present. On Sunday, 19 Mar 00, I took a little hike in Santa Teresa Park. An adult SHARP-SHINNED HAWK soaring over the parking area had to run a gauntlet of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS. Many RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS were singing from the rocky hillsides, as was a single ROCK WREN. I also had 3 to 4 STELLER'S JAYS in a live oak/bay tree closed-canopy canyon. I can't speak to the historical presence of this species in the park, but this certainly looked like the typical microhabitat that these birds occupy in the Diablo Range. Mike Mammoser -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 20 15:56:26 2000 Subject: [SBB] County Parks checklists Hello all; I've got a couple of things that I need to bother you all about. First, I'm on a self-appointed crusade to develop and publish a birding checklist for each of our 28 (Santa Clara) county parks. I've begun with Ed. R. Levin park--for no other grand reason than my Bluebird trail is there (thank you, Dave Cook!). That, and the fact that I've been birding it regularly every week since around the beginning of the year. I will continue to do so for the rest of the year to help me develop and "flesh out" the new list under field conditions. The list currently available at the ELP entrance kiosk was a good start. But it needs major help. I updated the names, corrected spellings, deleted some species, added some species, and implemented a compact list format that I hope will prove to be both easy to use and easy to update/maintain. I reviewed and incorporated all of the records available from the park staff and their files. This included Mike Rogers', Breeding Birds Atlas work, CBC results, and other less formal sighting compilations. Some of the rangers at ELP have begun to use the new list. Their initial comments have been most promising. But clearly the checklist needs more field testing before I do a general release to the parks folks with it. That's why I'm here. I need A FEW birders to review my list format for aesthetics and general usability. In particular, I'm looking for feedback to help me improve the layout, readability, and most importantly the usability of this checklist. I shouldn't need to add that accuracy and comprehensiveness should also be considered--but for the moment, I want to see if the layout and content are suitable for general use. I think that beginners would be better judges of usability. Not that you hotshots shouldn't apply too, it's just that this list is targeted towards newer beginning birders. So if you're interested, send me your snail mail addy. I'll send the first 5 or so of you, a handmade and stapled hardcopy of the beta checklist for your careful review. Please don't just "say" that you'll review it just to get one. I don't have time for that. I need folks willing to "rip-it-up" and really tell me what they really think! Second item; I've already acquired bird lists for many of our county parks and surrounding environs. If any of you out there have SPECIFIC expertise in one or more of the parks _AND_ are willing to do either some field work or desk work for that park, I'd love to know who you are. Please drop me a note. Tell me which park you'd like to work to validate the checklists. I'll start things by using your lists and information, and work with you to make it as correct and complete as we can. Okay, so I lied. There is another issue. While this item really goes with the preceding issue, there is one more point: I'm now actively looking for the second park to get my checklist treatment. Please drop me an eMail and let me know which park YOU would like to see me do next. Left to my own devices, I'll probably do Los Gatos Creek next. OTOH; ranger "Debbie" up at Grant Ranch has a contagious smile...(:-)! Anyway, here's your chance to adjust my course... As an aside, once we've come to some consensus on format and content, I plan on making all of the park lists available on the website for anybody that wants them. Don't worry, I'll do the computer work, and manage the data base and distribution. All you'll need is sharp eyes, and a sharp red pencil. Best regards, Dusty Bleher Campbell, Ca. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Mar 21 11:50:59 2000 Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek Park I visited Stevens Creek Park this morning. Apart from the singing ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERs, the one other spring bird I encountered was a singing WARBLING VIREO (along the creek near where the road past the Ranger Station crosses it). Lingering birds included singing TOWNSEND's WARBLER(s) (1 or 2 at the Villa Maria area) and a VARIED THRUSH along the Canyon Trail. [I probably also heard singing RUBY_CROWNED KINGLET (although I haven't fully pinned that song down yet this year).] A search for Dippers along Stevens Canyon Road (toward the upper end of the park) was unsuccessful. 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]] Tue Mar 21 12:50:41 2000 Subject: [SBB] Conservation opp for birders Hello, Calbirders- I want to share with you information about a very important bird conservation initiative you can volunteer for. It's called Birds in in Forested Landscapes (BFL). BFL is working to determine the effects of disturbance from recreational development and forest fragmentation on the breeding success of Cooper's and Sharp-shinned hawks and on seven species of forest thrushes (Wood, Hermit, Swainson's, Bicknell's, Gray-cheeked, and Varied as well as Veery), several of which are experiencing population declines. You select your own study sites in a forest near you, then census birds on at least two visits. Results from a similar study, Project Tanager, have been written up as a publication now available from the Lab, called "Land Managers Guide to Improving Habitat for Scarlet Tanagers and Other Forest-Interior Birds." BFL is a great way to gain "in the field" experience; for those of you who are already in the field, it can be easily included in field work you may already be conducting. We send you all research material at no charge. If you can help with either or both of these projects, please e-mail me, Allison Wells, at [[email protected]]. This is the fourth year of the study, and last year we had only 8 participants in all of California last year. Although only a few of the BFL species breed in CA, we need as much data about as possible in order to determine the effects of forest fragmentation and recreational land use. We would appreciate your sharing this note with anyone (including wildlife agencies, university biologists, etc.) you think would be interested in helping. Thanks, as always, for your support of the Lab's work. Allison Wells Cornell Lab of Ornithology Ithaca, NY 14850 http://birds.cornell.edu -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 21 21:41:09 2000 Subject: [SBB] Asstd. birds On Sunday, 3/19/00, at CCFS I processed a male Myrtle's YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER that showed a good amount of body and upperwing covert molt, like the few Audubon's I reported over the past few weeks. We had an Audubon's YRWA that was missing more than half of the distal end of its mandible (complete maxilla). It appeared to be in healthy condition. Two interesting Audubon's Yellow-rumped Warbler recaptures were noted at CCFS on 3/11/00. One adult female was originally banded in 1993 as an after-hatch-year bird, making it at least 8 years old! The other was an adult male that was banded as AHY in 1997, making it 4 years old. Both recaps were the first for each bird. This is when migratory bird-banding gets interesting! Paul Noble's SFBBO owling field trip at Monte Bello, 3/18/00, got responses from 2 pairs of WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS with a good view of one at about 30 ft. -- 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 Mar 22 07:24:36 2000 Subject: [SBB] RTLO, EUWI Folks: Yesterday afternoon, 3/21/2000, I saw a single RED-THROATED LOON at Shoreline Lake. Throughout March there has been a large duck flock in the afternoon at Salt Pond A1 in Mountain View, my estimate is 3000-6000 birds. I'm not sure where they are in the morning--possibly they are on the Bay side of the pond or off somewhere else. The majority of the birds are AMERICAN WIGEONS, with lesser numbers of GADWALL, SCAUP spp, and RUDDY DUCKS. I've scanned the nearer birds over the last few weeks, but yesterday was the first time I've found a EURASIAN WIGEON. It was a 1st-winter male, which seems late for that plumage. At least eight BLACK SKIMMERS remain at Charleston Slough. Bill -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 22 09:47:35 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] RTLO, EUWI At noon, yesterday, 3/21/00, I saw 9 skimmers on the island and counted 10 in flight when something got most of the birds up in the air. Les Chibana On Wednesday, March 22, 2000, [[email protected]] wrote: At least eight BLACK SKIMMERS remain at >Charleston Slough. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 22 20:34:26 2000 Subject: [SBB] Rock Sandpiper still there. Birders: Today at the end of Redondo Beach Road in Half Moon Bay, I relocated one Rock Sandpiper on the rocks with a group of Surfbirds, Black Turnstone, one Western Sandpiper and Sanderlings. I could not find a second individual, last Friday two birds were present here. This is the third time I have checked these rocks since the initial sighting, so I can assure folks that the Rock Sand is not always there. I saw the bird today at about 0830h, during low tide. The entire patch of rocks was exposed. I do not know where it/they go in high tide, but its probably to the south near the golf course. I saw a birder looking for the kingbird up the road and told her about it, she phoned here and left a message that she had luck with the Rock Sandpiper. Her name was Jean, but didn't catch the last name. She mentioned seeing a Snow Goose near the 'airport' which could either be the HMB airport or the model airplane field, I am not sure. Yesterday I had my first coastal Northern Rough-winged Swallow of the season. Lesser Goldfinches appear to be around in greater numbers than normal in my neighbourhood in Half Moon Bay, I don't know if it is a regional phenomenon or more local. Usually, they don't become obvious here until later on in the season and numbers are lower than what I am seeing. Other stuff: Biologist Danielle Lefer of SFBBO mentioned to me that she had a singing male Bullock's Oriole along Guadalupe Creek today, which was the first one I had head of this season. An immature Golden Eagle was flying over the Arzino Ranch in Alviso this afternoon. Also, Western Pygmy Blue (smallest North American butterfly) was at the CCFS waterbird pond today. regards Al Alvaro Jaramillo Senior Biologist San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory P.O. Box 247 Alviso, CA 95002 (408)-946-6548 http://www.sfbbo.org/ Home of the California Fall Challenge!! [[email protected]] Birds of Chile and New World Blackbirds at : http://www.sirius.com/~alvaro -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 22 22:24:22 2000 Subject: [SBB] So long South Bay Birders, After 7+ years here in the South Bay, Heather, Rebecca (OK, she's only been here three years), and I are moving back East. It's funny that I wanted to get out of Virginia so much 7 years ago, yet now that a good job opportunity (with a wetlands restoration firm) has come up serendipitously close to where Heather and I grew up, moving back seems like a good idea. Still, we'll miss the Bay area quite a bit. I've enjoyed getting to know those of you whom I've met (both on-line and, especially, in person), and I regret that I haven't been able to personally meet more of you. I think the increased interest in, and knowledge of, Santa Clara County birds over the past few years has been fantastic, and by continuing to work on the breeding bird atlas I will stay in touch with what's going on out here. We wish you all the best! Good birding, Steve Rottenborn -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 23 10:19:52 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re: So long Steve, The local birding community will truly miss your presence in the South Bay, your eyes in the field, your knowledge and interest in getting to the bottom of ID issues. I recall hearing another local expert say 7 years ago, "Steve, he opens his mouth and a rare bird flies out!" As much as I've enjoyed trying to refind those rarities that you've discovered, you've got to stop putting those birds in your mouth! I wish you and your family the best in Virginia. I'm sure that we've not heard the last from you. Thank you for raising the bar! Les Chibana -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 23 11:35:39 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re: Rock Sandpiper still there. On Wednesday, March 22, 2000, Alvaro Jaramillo <[[email protected]]> wrote: [snip] >Biologist Danielle Lefer of SFBBO mentioned to me that she had a singing >male Bullock's Oriole along Guadalupe Creek today, which was the first one >I had head of this season. My class had an early or overwintering male Bullock's out of the county, on a field trip to the Los Banos Area on 2/26/00. It was at the plant at the corner of Sandy Mush Rd. and Hwy 59 south of Merced. 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]] Thu Mar 23 14:15:51 2000 Subject: [SBB] Junco Nest A week ago, Tuesday, a pair of DARK-EYED JUNCOS built a nest in one of the hanging pots on my front porch here in the flats of Los Gatos. I neither heard nor saw them after that and thought they might have abandoned it. This morning, Wednesday, I started to water that pot and a Junco exploded from it, very indignant. There are now four eggs in the nest. Maybe this is the same pair that nested in the next-over pot last year. Kathy Parker -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 23 14:16:24 2000 Subject: [SBB] Birds of Stanford Web Site The new "Birds of Stanford" web site is now up at: http://www.stanfordalumni.org/birdsite/ Check it out. Kendric ----------------------------------------- Kendric C. Smith, Ph.D. 927 Mears Court Stanford, CA 94305-1041 (650) 493-7210 (voice or fax) [[email protected]] http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/ ------------------------------------------ -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 23 14:49:46 2000 Subject: [SBB] Arrival Yesterday, 03/22/00, a male HOODED ORIOLE arrived on the seen in our neighborhood near the Cambrain area of San Jose. He was hanging out around the ususal three tall palm trees in neighbor's yards a few doors away. Welcome back! 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]] Thu Mar 23 17:02:16 2000 Subject: [SBB] Hungry Heron Today (3/23) Saw two Great Blue Herons and four Great Egrets foraging in the newly mowed fields near Agilent on Arastrasdero Road in Palo Alto. While stopped at a intersection I witnessed one of the GBHE skewer a pocket gopher with its bill right through the breadbasket! It then flipped the doomed gopher up and swallowed it whole. Screech. -- Paul L. Noble "Screechowl" [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) / \ m m -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 23 18:03:35 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] So long Hi, Steve-- I think back to the first messages that I sent you. I was such a beginning birder and you never made me feel like an idiot. I was not intimitated and therefore continued along the path of my birding knowledge. I'm entering my 6th year of birding and am sooo glad that I became a birder and had people like you to help me on my way. I wish you only the best. We'll miss your eyes here in Santa Clara Valley, but via internet, hopefully we'll never have to miss you. Thanks so much for all that you've contributed! Gloria LeBlanc At 10:24 PM 03/22/2000 -0800, you wrote: > >South Bay Birders, > >After 7+ years here in the South Bay, Heather, Rebecca (OK, she's >only been here three years), and I are moving back East. It's funny >that I wanted to get out of Virginia so much 7 years ago, yet now that >a good job opportunity (with a wetlands restoration firm) has come up >serendipitously close to where Heather and I grew up, moving back >seems like a good idea. Still, we'll miss the Bay area quite a bit. I've >enjoyed getting to know those of you whom I've met (both on-line and, >especially, in person), and I regret that I haven't been able to personally >meet more of you. I think the increased interest in, and knowledge of, >Santa Clara County birds over the past few years has been fantastic, and >by continuing to work on the breeding bird atlas I will stay in touch with >what's going on out here. We wish you all the best! > >Good birding, >Steve Rottenborn > > >-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > > "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 Mar 23 21:31:08 2000 Subject: [SBB] Hodded Orioles Tuesday 3/21 the local Hooded Oriole pair returned. They started their nest site search in the palm trees across our street where they (or their antecedents) have nested for 22 years. They have been checking out all of the palms in the neighborhood. Tonight, 3/23, an Osprey was seen at about 5:30 PM over the intersection of Prospect Road and Johnson Ave. When first seen it was coming from the direction of the Campbell percolation ponds and heading generally north, then it turned and seemed to be heading toward Stevens Creek reservoir. I couldn't follow it as I was on a building material mission. Lou Young -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 23 23:23:16 2000 Subject: [SBB] Mount Hamilton, San Antonio Valley Howdy South-bay-birders, Got a message from Ed Rooks that on March 21 he saw a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Almaden Quicksilver Park. I'm passing this on because the sighting seems a bit on the early side. This morning (Thurs.) I joined Ed and Janice Rooks for a trip over Mount Hamilton to San Antonio Valley. Highlights included a RED-TAILED HAWK carrying material to its nest in an oak along Mt. Hamilton Rd. (milepost 14.28); LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS at an apparent nest hole in San Antonio Valley; a male PHAINOPEPLA that Janice spotted along Del Puerto Road just this side of the Stanislaus County line; TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS in a mixed species flock in San Antonio Valley; and a pair of WILD BOAR with 12 piglets near Grant Lake. We went mainly for the wildflowers. There were some nice patches of shooting stars, but in general the wildlfower show was lackluster. It should become more impressive in the coming weeks. Aside from VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS migrant passerines were not much in evidence, and our trip was too early for many species. We did repeatedly see flocks of GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS feeding in bare oaks along the road--we couldn't tell whether they were feeding on fresh leaf buds or probing the budding leaves for insects. My understanding is that they are primarily vegetarians on their wintering grounds. Any ideas about what food resource they were most likely exploiting? It wasn't the most exciting day birdwise, but a pleasant outing nonetheless. John Mariani [[email protected]] www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 24 07:51:40 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re: Golden-crowned Sparrows John Mariani wrote: > We did repeatedly see flocks of > GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS feeding in bare oaks along the road--we couldn't > tell whether they were feeding on fresh leaf buds or probing the budding > leaves for insects. My understanding is that they are primarily vegetarians > on their wintering grounds. Any ideas about what food resource they were > most likely exploiting? It wasn't the most exciting day birdwise, but a > pleasant outing nonetheless. In my landscape work, I have noticed Golden-crowned Sparrows feeding on turf grass almost to the point of overgrazing. They do not venture far from cover and exploit the edges only. Screech. > > > -- Paul L. Noble "Screechowl" [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) / \ m m -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 24 08:19:15 2000 Subject: [SBB] A Moveable Feast Folks: It's my guess that opening leaf and flower buds are both nutritious and soft which makes them particularly attractive to birds. John Mariani's observation of GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS feeding on oak buds is typical for this species. The live oaks replace their leaves in March, so they are budding out now and the deciduous trees are doing the same as the days warm. In the last two week I've noticed both WHITE-CROWNED and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS feeding on the willow catkins and leaf buds along Stevens Creek. My area of Menlo Park has a good density of live and deciduous oaks and I've noticed many species working the fresh oak leaf buds over the last 30 years. I see both the WHITE-CROWNED and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS foraging on the buds and the local HOUSE FINCHES forage actively as well, but seem to prefer the flowering fruit tree flower buds. More interesting, I see a regular pattern of PURPLE FINCHES in the local area for a month or so as the oaks leaf out, and then they move on. They often sing at this time and therefore are more noticeable. I don't see them here earlier in the winter (when silent, I suppose), and they do not breed at this low elevation. Bill -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 24 11:51:06 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Golden-crowned Sparrows --============_-1258194981==_ma============ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ; format="flowed" I have observed GCSP feeding on any new green growth as they fatten up to fly north in spring. One year they even ate all the new growth from a poisonous Solanum rantonnetii shrub which was just leafing out after a killing frost. They also eat seeds and are currently stuffing themselves on my lard/peanut feeder. Ruth Troetschler ---------------------------------------------------------------------- ---------- At 11:23 PM -0800 3/23/00, John Mariani wrote: >Howdy South-bay-birders, > >Got a message from Ed Rooks that on March 21 he saw a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER >in Almaden Quicksilver Park. I'm passing this on because the sighting seems >a bit on the early side. > This morning (Thurs.) I joined Ed and Janice Rooks for a trip over Mount >Hamilton to San Antonio Valley. Highlights included a RED-TAILED HAWK >carrying material to its nest in an oak along Mt. Hamilton Rd. (milepost >14.28); LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS at an apparent nest hole in San Antonio Valley; >a male PHAINOPEPLA that Janice spotted along Del Puerto Road just this side >of the Stanislaus County line; TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS in a mixed species >flock in San Antonio Valley; and a pair of WILD BOAR with 12 piglets near >Grant Lake. > We went mainly for the wildflowers. There were some nice patches of >shooting stars, but in general the wildlfower show was lackluster. It should >become more impressive in the coming weeks. Aside from VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS >and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS migrant passerines were not much in evidence, >and our trip was too early for many species. We did repeatedly see flocks of >GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS feeding in bare oaks along the road--we couldn't >tell whether they were feeding on fresh leaf buds or probing the budding >leaves for insects. My understanding is that they are primarily vegetarians >on their wintering grounds. Any ideas about what food resource they were >most likely exploiting? It wasn't the most exciting day birdwise, but a >pleasant outing nonetheless. > >John Mariani >[[email protected]] >www.birdswest.com > >-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] Ruth Troetschler --============_-1258194981==_ma============ Content-Type: text/enriched; charset="us-ascii" I have observed GCSP feeding on any new green growth as they fatten up to fly north in spring. One year they even ate all the new growth from a poisonous Solanum rantonnetii shrub which was just leafing out after a killing frost. They also eat seeds and are currently stuffing themselves on my lard/peanut feeder. Ruth Troetschler -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- At 11:23 PM -0800 3/23/00, John Mariani wrote: Howdy South-bay-birders, Got a message from Ed Rooks that on March 21 he saw a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER in Almaden Quicksilver Park. I'm passing this on because the sighting seems a bit on the early side. This morning (Thurs.) I joined Ed and Janice Rooks for a trip over Mount Hamilton to San Antonio Valley. Highlights included a RED-TAILED HAWK carrying material to its nest in an oak along Mt. Hamilton Rd. (milepost 14.28); LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS at an apparent nest hole in San Antonio Valley; a male PHAINOPEPLA that Janice spotted along Del Puerto Road just this side of the Stanislaus County line; TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS in a mixed species flock in San Antonio Valley; and a pair of WILD BOAR with 12 piglets near Grant Lake. We went mainly for the wildflowers. There were some nice patches of shooting stars, but in general the wildlfower show was lackluster. It should become more impressive in the coming weeks. Aside from VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS migrant passerines were not much in evidence, and our trip was too early for many species. We did repeatedly see flocks of GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS feeding in bare oaks along the road--we couldn't tell whether they were feeding on fresh leaf buds or probing the budding leaves for insects. My understanding is that they are primarily vegetarians on their wintering grounds. Any ideas about what food resource they were most likely exploiting? It wasn't the most exciting day birdwise, but a pleasant outing nonetheless. John Mariani [[email protected]] www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] Ruth Troetschler --============_-1258194981==_ma============-- -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 24 12:15:42 2000 Subject: [SBB] Bullock's Oriole This morning over at Oak Meadow Park/Vasona Lake, we spotted a male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE in the oak trees near where the train bridge crosses over the creek. There was an oriole nest in this area last year. (When you cross the bridge from Oak Meadow, turn right on the foot path.) There is also an abundance of ACORN WOODPECKERS in the snags along this creek. You can see newly drilled holes and lots of activity going in and out. 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]] Fri Mar 24 14:30:06 2000 Subject: [SBB] HOME etc. All, On my run today 3/24/00 through Shoreline Park, I saw a female HOODED MERGANSER in the flooded channel west (towards the overflow parking area) of the Stevens Creek Mitigation Area/Tidal Marsh. Also here was a swallow flock that consisted of mostly VIOLET- GREEN and BARN SWALLOWS, but had at least one TREE and one CLIFF SWALLOW as well. Also two lingering AMERICAN PIPITS at Shoreline Park further west. Mike Rogers -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 24 16:29:22 2000 Subject: [SBB] Purple Finches, etc. Howdy South-bay-birders, Thanks for the replies to my question about Golden-crowned Sparrows and oak leaf buds. Bill Bousman mentioned that PURPLE FINCHES also exploit this food resource--we saw small flocks of them yesterday feeding in deciduous oaks on the floor of San Antonio Valley, in a more open setting than I would have expected to find them in. Sure enough, they were feeding among the tiny leaf buds. It's interesting that these bird's are altering their behaviour--leaving protective cover to feed on high branches in bare trees, or dispersing into other habitats--to take advantage of a new food source. Today I found WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS doing the same in deciduous oaks along Alamitos Creek, and even watched a NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER feeding among the new leaves/catkins (I again couldn't tell whether it was having a salad or after insects). John Mariani [[email protected]] www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Mar 25 14:16:05 2000 Subject: [SBB] Alum Rock Pk. All, Today in Alum Rock Park near the bridge at the Youth Science Institute parking lot, a red-phase Northern Pygmy-Owl eating a Western Fence Lizard. Also, 4 White-throated Swift seen flying over the North Rim Trail. Also, a Bobcat and 5 deer. Good birding, Michael Wienholt -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Mar 25 22:25:22 2000 Subject: [SBB] RE: HMB: Rock Sandpiper > At 7:45AM today (Sat 3/25), I saw a single ROCK SANDPIPER below the > parking lot at the end of Redondo Beach Rd in Half Moon Bay. It was > feeding on the rocks with 4 SURFBIRDs. About 8:00AM it flew out of sight > to the south. Later a birder who went out on the beach was able to find it > south of the parking lot, but reported that the bird had flown off > further south towards the golf course. > > No luck with the THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD at the Eucalyptus grove along > Redondo State Beach. > > Vivek Tiwari > Foster City, 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]] Sun Mar 26 13:24:33 2000 Subject: [SBB] March 25 birding On Saturday March 25, I made a late start with a visit to Alum Rock Park. The Canyon Wren was still present, singing from across the creek near the Sycamore Grove picnic area. Hopefully this bird will stick around for the field trip** next weekend. Recent arrivals I encountered: 2 singing House Wrens, and several Bullock's Orioles. Next, up to the Sierra Road summit. The highlight was an adult Golden Eagle which soared by not far away at eye level. I also managed to find one Rock Wren. At this point it occurred to me that it would be fun to find a Winter Wren. (I had already seen Bewick's for the day.) Unfortunately, I didn't recall any reliable spots; but I chose to take a walk in a location where I've previously encountered them: the Lake Ranch trail in Sanborn-Skyline Park. However, a mid-afternoon visit there proved very "un-birdy", and I failed in the attempt. The highlight was a displaying male Ruddy Duck, in full breeding plumage, on the lake. Finally, a late stop at the old Palo Alto Yacht Basin turned up 19 Semi- palmated Plovers, 3 Whimbrels, and at least 100 Bonaparte's Gulls (one al- ready in full alternate plumage, and a number of others en route). Al Eisner ** By the way, in case anyone needs to reach me for that field trip, the 2nd phone number listed for me in the Avocet is incorrect -- the "10" in it should read "01". -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 26 13:41:52 2000 Subject: [SBB] NUMA nest. Hello birders, After once again seeing a Nutmeg Mannikin carrying nesting material at Almaden Lake Park on Saturday, I went back Sunday morning to try to find the nest site. I had no luck at first, but ran into Don and Bernice (didn't get a last name). We went back to the place I had seen the bird on Saturday and quickly found a NUMA gathering nesting material. After watching it make a couple of trips, Don or Bernice (I forget which) was able to see it fly to the nest site. This is located on the East side of the second of three Italian Junipers (?) which are in front of the garage building adjacent to the Tamyen Picnic area. The nest is not visible, but the bird(s) we saw could be seen entering with the grasses. Probably the best way to spot the birds is to look in the reeds down by the lake directly behind the picnic area. Sooner of later, one will fly in to gather the material. I watched about a dozen trips. In a dead or sick tree just off the path near the picnic area is another nest. This one a fairly large cup made of mud. I saw no birds in or around it, and have no idea what is was made by. If someone else sees it, I would be interested in hearing what species may have constructed it. Don Ganton [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Mar 26 15:38:54 2000 Subject: [SBB] Bird Blitz I attended the annual SF Bird Blitz Saturday. Count for the day was 121 species. Interesting tidbits. At Park near base of Municipal Pier male Western Tanager Tropical Kingbird 3 Peregrin Falcon for the day Black-throated Gray Warbler Hooded Oriole - same location as last year and a Wrentit at McLaren Park--thought to have never been seen inthat location before and Wrentit's are rarely seen in SF anymore. This morning at "my farm" (La Rinconada Park) I saw more squirrels than birds. :-( The Nuttall's continues to chip out a hole in the largest of the Euc's. Last week-end it's head would go into the hole. Today, just the end of its tail was visible as it pecked inside. It surprises me that a perfectly live Euc is the chosen location for the Nuttall's. Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos near Quito "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Mar 26 15:40:40 2000 Subject: [SBB] Mystery bird Howdy South-bay-birders, At the end of today's SCVAS field trip to Almaden Quicksilver Park I spotted a very odd bird (clearly exotic) near the New Almaden entrance to the park. It was perched high in a tree along the creek across the road from the dirt parking area. The bird was about the size of a thrush or kingbird. In posture it was like a kingbird; it's bill was more like that of a thrush. It had a long thrush-like black bill with slight hook at the tip. It's face and throat were black, and the rest of it's head appeared to be dark brown. It had a bright red eye-ring and dark eyes. Its head appeared slightly crested (like a kingbird). The wings and back were brown. It had a fairly long dark brown tail, and its tail feathers appeared to have light tips. Didn't notice any obvious feather wear. It's breast was brown or dark gray, and it's belly was gray. Its undertail coverts were yellow. Its call was a mellow doubled whistle--"chu, chu." It also made a chirping call in flight. Most of the field trip participants had left, but several of those who stayed also saw the the bird. We watched it fly from the creek to an oak at the trailhead parking area and back to the creek again. Ann Verdi suggested it may be a bulbul of some kind. Any ideas as to what this odd bird might be? None of my reference books depict anything like this bird. I suspect it may be of Eurasian origin-- John Mariani [[email protected]] www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Mar 26 15:44:15 2000 Subject: [SBB] Windy Hill OSP --============_-1258008238==_ma============ Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" A friend (Lyn Sue Kahng) and I birded the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve today, going down the Hamms Gulch Trail and back up the Spring Ridge Trail to Skyline. In addition to the usuals, we were hoping to see returning migrants and were not disappointed. We had 4 (maybe 5) singing WILSON'S WARBLERS, 3 WARBLING VIREOS, at least 25 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, and at least 10 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS. Several PURPLE FINCH were also singing. PURPLE FINCH, LESSER GOLDFINCH, and PINE SISKEN (9) were all apparently eating the new leaf buds or associated insects in the oaks. There was lots of territorial behavior among the expected breeders, including what I interpreted to be territorial behavior between 2 pair of RED TAILS. One of the RED TAILS was a dark morph. We found a BUSHTIT nest, and saw an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD and a CHICKADEE gathering nesting material. (I found an ANNA female on a nest last week at Stevens Creek Park). On the way back down Page Mill we saw a deer chasing a bobcat. Happy birding, Richard Clark Richard M. Clark 279 Campus Drive Beckman Building B301 Stanford, CA 94305 Phone no.: 650-725-7599 email: [[email protected]] --============_-1258008238==_ma============ Content-Type: text/enriched; charset="us-ascii" TimesA friend (Lyn Sue Kahng) and I birded the Windy Hill Open Space Preserve today, going down the Hamms Gulch Trail and back up the Spring Ridge Trail to Skyline. In addition to the usuals, we were hoping to see returning migrants and were not disappointed. We had 4 (maybe 5) singing WILSON'S WARBLERS, 3 WARBLING VIREOS, at least 25 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, and at least 10 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS. Several PURPLE FINCH were also singing. PURPLE FINCH, LESSER GOLDFINCH, and PINE SISKEN (9) were all apparently eating the new leaf buds or associated insects in the oaks. There was lots of territorial behavior among the expected breeders, including what I interpreted to be territorial behavior between 2 pair of RED TAILS. One of the RED TAILS was a dark morph. We found a BUSHTIT nest, and saw an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD and a CHICKADEE gathering nesting material. (I found an ANNA female on a nest last week at Stevens Creek Park). On the way back down Page Mill we saw a deer chasing a bobcat. Happy birding, Richard Clark Richard M. Clark 279 Campus Drive Beckman Building B301 Stanford, CA 94305 Phone no.: 650-725-7599 email: [[email protected]] --============_-1258008238==_ma============-- -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Mar 26 15:50:03 2000 Subject: [SBB] Ed Levin Co. Pk. All, Today on a mid-afternoon hike: A Western Kingbird at the first parking lot at Sandy Wool Lake; 1 Golden-crowned and 3 Rufous-crowned Sparrows; 3 Barn and 2 Violet-green Swallows; 2 White-throated Swift. Good birding, Michael Wienholt -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Mar 26 19:47:05 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Mystery bird On Sun, 26 Mar 2000 15:40:40 -0800, "John Mariani" <[[email protected]]> wrote: > Ann Verdi suggested >it may be a bulbul of some kind. Any ideas as to what this odd bird might >be? How about Redeyed Bulbul (Pycnonotus nigricans)from southern Africa? -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: mailto:[[email protected]] California Birding; Mystery Birds: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/ California Bird Records Committee: http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/ -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Mar 26 22:09:49 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re: redeyed bulbul This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_0027_01BF9770.00E06320 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Looks like the mystery of the mystery bird has been solved. Ann Verdi = and Joe Morlan were right--it appears to have been a Red-eyed Bulbul. = Amy Summerfelt directed me to a photo of this species at = http://www.photobirder.com/Bird_Photos/red_eyed_bulbul.jpg The bird in the photo is a dead ringer for the one we saw in New = Almaden. Not our first "African vagrant" in the southern Santa Clara = Co.--Orange Bishop and Senegal Parrot round out the list. Thanks Joe and = Amy for the rapid and helpful response! John Mariani [[email protected]] =20 ------=_NextPart_000_0027_01BF9770.00E06320 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Looks like the mystery = of the mystery=20 bird has been solved. Ann Verdi and Joe Morlan were right--it = appears to=20 have been a Red-eyed Bulbul. Amy Summerfelt directed me to a photo = of this=20 species at  http:= //www.photobirder.com/Bird_Photos/red_eyed_bulbul.jpg
   =20 The bird in the photo is a dead ringer = for the one=20 we saw in New Almaden. = Not our first=20 "African vagrant" in the southern Santa Clara Co.--Orange Bishop=20 and Senegal Parrot round out the list. Thanks Joe and Amy for = the=20 rapid and helpful response!
 
John=20 Mariani
[[email protected]]&nbs= p;  
------=_NextPart_000_0027_01BF9770.00E06320-- -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 27 08:46:32 2000 Subject: [SBB] Almaden/Quicksilver Field Trip Hello All, SCVAS joined with the Santa Clara Chapter of Calif Native Plant Society (CNPS) for a joint field trip of birds, wildflowers, and butterflies at Almaden/Quicksilver CP on Sunday, Mar 27. In the early morning before the start of the field trip, I found my first PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER of the season along Alamitos Creek in New Almaden near La Foret Restaurant. I sent other birders over to the locale in hopes of refinding the bird, but at that point it was "heard only". The stretch of creek between the bridge at La Foret and the bridge crossing Alamitos Road seems to be a good place to look for this species. While waiting for folks to gather in the parking lot a pair of calling WOOD DUCKS flew over heading upstream along Alamitos Creek (the only ones seen for the day). Also a pair of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS flew between the fence posts and the first large oak at the trailhead. Most birds seen on this trip were typical of our oak woodlands and chaparral. Singing ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were both seen and heard along the trails, as well as HUTTON'S VIREO, LESSER GOLDFINCH, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, PURPLE FINCH, plus lingering YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS. Of special interest were several TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS and a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER (both initially spotted by John Mariani). A COOPER'S HAWK flew overhead, as well as VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW and N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW. Otherwise, our usual Quicksilver denizens (Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Dark-eyed Junco, Wrentit, Spotted Towhee, Bewick's Wren, Calif Quail, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Acorn Woodpecker, Northern Flicker, American Kestrel, and California Thrasher-heard only). After the field trip, John Mariani and I checked Almaden Reservoir and the road to Twin Creeks. Not much on the reservoir except for three COMMON MERGANSERS at the lower end, but John found our first HOUSE WREN of the season by the O'Day residence. And finally - our oddball bird of the day which John has already posted - a RED-EYED BULBUL found near the New Almaden entrance to the park. (Thanks, John, for posting the description!) In all, a good field trip enhanced with all the woodland & chaparral spring flowers and newly-emerged butterflies (including Spring Azure, Calif Ringlet, Sara Orangetip, Northern Cloudywing, and Western Swallowtail). Ann -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 27 11:14:14 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Ed Levin Co. Pk. Argggh! You stole my thunder, Michael (:-)! Penny and I went to ELP late yesterday afternoon. I was going to report the WESTERN KINGBIRDs when we got home, but got involved in dinner instead... We found 6 of them on the North/east side of the road to the Chaparral Ranch house. We were at the large radius bend in the road as it curls away from the golf course with the hill to your immediate right. A bit farther on, about 50m. before the Chaparral Ranch gate, we spotted at least 3 RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDs fooling around in the tall dry weeds. They were also on the east side of the road, just below a little red shed. RUHU was a first for us. All we've ever seen before this were Anna's. The rufous glow in the late afternoon sun was spectacular! It was especially nice in that for once, birds were actually "down-sun" of us. Their raggedy looking tails were readily apparent as they dashed about. We saw only the three males, no females. We had gone there explicitly because I had wanted to show them to my wife. I saw one there on Saturday, and knew she hadn't seen one either. Seeing three of them zipping and diving was quite a show... Best regards, Dusty Bleher Campbell, Ca. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Michael Wienholt" <[[email protected]]> To: <[[email protected]]> Sent: Sunday, March 26, 2000 15:50 Subject: [SBB] Ed Levin Co. Pk. > All, > > Today on a mid-afternoon hike: > > A Western Kingbird at the first parking lot at Sandy Wool Lake; 1 > Golden-crowned and 3 Rufous-crowned Sparrows; 3 Barn and 2 Violet-green > Swallows; 2 White-throated Swift. > > Good birding, > > Michael Wienholt > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 27 13:02:28 2000 Subject: [SBB] AMDI At Steven Canyon This message is in MIME format. Since your mail reader does not understand this format, some or all of this message may not be legible. --Boundary_(ID_aIeToxRMXyqn2tfL/G34uw) Content-type: text/plain; charset=iso-8859-1 Content-transfer-encoding: 7BIT Hello All: I was birding Stevens Canyon Park on Sunday (3/26) hoping for spring arrivals. I found many WARBLING VIREOS and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, no Wilson's or Yellows yet. OAK TITMICE and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES were gathering nesting material at the Madrone Group area. Woodpeckers were in abundance with 2 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS, 2 HAIRY, 4 DOWNY, 6 NUTTALS, and 2 FLICKERS, all in the vicinity of Camp Castadoan. I ran into a Tom Lathrop from New York. I was able to find him a life TOWNSENDS WARBLER and AMERICAN DIPPER. The Dipper was singing between the 4th bridge and the bridge to the private residence. We watched him for about ten minutes with no sign of a second bird. I also had a male HOODED ORIOLE on Palm Ave in Cupertino. Steve Miller A note about Steven's Canyon: they start charging $4 to use the park on April 3. --Boundary_(ID_aIeToxRMXyqn2tfL/G34uw) Content-type: application/ms-tnef Content-transfer-encoding: BASE64 Comments: Conversion error: (No formatted text for errno = 0) eJ8+IicVAQaQCAAEAAAAAAABAAEAAQeQBgAIAAAA5AQAAAAAAADoAAEIgAcAGAAA AElQTS5NaWNyb3NvZnQgTWFpbC5Ob3RlADEIAQWAAwAOAAAA0AcDABsADQACABwA AQAhAQEggAMADgAAANAHAwAbAA0AAQAjAAEAJwEBCYABACEAAABDQzBGRkNDRjBE MDRENDExODA5QTAwQzA0RjU3NTlFNABCBwEEgAEAFgAAAEFNREkgQXQgU3RldmVu IENhbnlvbgANBwENgAQAAgAAAAIAAgABA5AGAHgKAAAcAAAAQAA5AKAXz8IvmL8B HgBwAAEAAAAWAAAAQU1ESSBBdCBTdGV2ZW4gQ2FueW9uAAAAAgFxAAEAAAAWAAAA Ab+YL75az/wP1gQNEdSAmgDAT1dZ5AAAHgAxQAEAAAAJAAAAU0VNSUxMRVIAAAAA AwAaQAAAAAAeADBAAQAAAAkAAABTRU1JTExFUgAAAAADABlAAAAAAAIBCRABAAAA rgcAAKoHAACcEAAATFpGdTPwZogDAAoAcmNwZzEyNXIyDGBjMQMwAQcLYG6RDhAw MzMPFmZlD5JPAfcCpANjAgBjaArAc4RldALRcHJxMgAAkioKoW5vElAgMAHQhQHQ Ng+gMDUwNBQhswHQFBA0fQdtEvJmB0D7BUAHbX0CgwBQA9QR/xML/mIT4RRQE7Ia hBTQBxMV59MHExdkMzgRjjIc0hkCMRZuIENFFe8W+zM57xz/FEAeLx81eQixH98X GeY0F8ERrDE2F8EjDwOC+kcJ0WskjyWcDlAmnyth+yffA4JUCHApfyWcD8Arjuw4 NiyvHzRCLpEN4C5PfyWcItEX/B34BxMfihwpNL41NU8ixzblJGk3+jcX3v8niDbk KSw3+hzhPH4sljbk/y4aN/ohoTx9MVc25DLtHCarApEI5jsJbzBHv2UOMP41SOpK AUm/SslI1ErySV8/TS9M7UxvSp9I7xBgMjj/UrpT0VOPVJlI1FTCUy9W/+9WvVY/ VG9YNDkOUFuEXOGHVQNc4AKCc3R5bAeQGmgJ4HQAAAPwZGN0xmwKsQBgZGp1XlAF ENxnaAVCF8IMAWMJwF8g4QMwc25leBjAB7AFsIsAwAJzcwBQc2IyFFClXkBhE/Bc awngcAuQr18YCGBfUAuAZV6AdmTA/wFAX7sMMGCEHOBjYASgC4CmZ1TRYQZiYRig ZAIgn2HAYWZesF+wZvEgMV4T/w5QYr9jz2TTAFFlXACgYI7/Z99o5l4ED8Bp72r/ ZNMOUG9lT22vbr9pEzMCghMQYz9igHWBX7BpEDMQZPAgRKkBEGF1M6FQCsBhCcDg YXBoIEYCIWJEOLH0aS0PkDgBQGSQehNfGHpiCyByCVB7chgwe3J38zihe3BzcAHQ d1Jf33R/33WGebB4cAUQAjAteRADYQo6M8BvgNBTdWJqBQWQdIDQRGF0ZTr/YkQx YXn/ew98H30sXqBpA78OIXWBZhYOUH6Pf55SZOH5GJEgSGjxBJBiRDxBgq9/g7+E z2Rfhg8PgZEQCNBi+QqwdDhz2g9UcLCIH4km55GgijALUHkveSCFEAsR/Yqlc2JE HOGLr4y/jc99L/9+P5PPlNmA8oCUgckhoF8fO5o0kVM5mn+bj6DARG/8Y3UHgAIw BdB44EbhnvLcb3efMJgxAYBugVAAYL8J8HeAoyACAWIAhrJlAPBLoyBeYHBLYFx2 CJB3+msLgGQi0KbCBPAHQBBhvwFADgCYAmjiqCUCEG8FQncYsRLygeBtC1GB4B+A OtRcXIAgb3jBbXkQAxCbB5Cq0E0N4ANgc28BgFwgTwEgDeCmEFyshkXrAMADEC51 UHSj8BignzDbYUGPEngBQKUhbl6wR9B7riR4FGMDIBLzAIAFkGz+dmxBcXAOcGIA sLIBkAAg/7FCpxGjYQHBsLEYcA9wAADncXAM0AGQIC5G8rCoDlD/sWIzoF+Qsd+y 77P/D8BxcG8FgbWftq+3v2wi0HFwbPe1X7ofuyUptCw4sLj/vd/xuxRiICgCkb7/ sPMxYP+8r8Fvwn/Dj7EgPEDE0rGv/8Y/x0+0LBzgxN/KX8tvzH//sSAhoMlfzu/P /9EECvkDMNefD5o/YTF7irBsCQAcEM3ZIDoKhQqFSSCVMAQg7GJpCyBpIlOB4I9w BjGaQwBweQIgeHJrINwhE4EwpTBhedBwMy8yZDYpaNBvcGkipZEgX5lggDFpQArA BRB2B0Bz3C4g2nECENzhIAOB3SAAV0FSQkxJTkfAIFZJUkVPBfAAcNFhQE9SQeCw Ra8CdSABeQBDUk9XTkVEweBERVJTLCATUOBA7wMQrDALkBkQdalgE4AEIM0FsVnZ EqeQIHkYsN9RCE9BSzPASVRNSQMfkOFDQ0hFU1ROgFVULUJBQ0viwcPm0OZQS0FE Rebw2pD5r2EgZ4HQr1FpImGAXlDfaSIAwIHgNvOB0CDo8aOR35ggAiATgCkgCGBw 3sFo8NXfUVepUGSmgGNmsQQg7+iD1mEBoNzibqzA2pB3oLd5ADHA4QBE51DhAEHn AMHiwVNBUFNV54HjUqkxwEhB4PBZ43A0d/Ab4pHwgTYHsOcwVEFM9+Nh4VIxwEbg kO+1B0ADIPfWYeqypsBjC4B3oN0grED/29GqQNvR0tF1UABw31N4oL8DoIBB2UC7 cIDwq1BM6OGvA2DrsANSB7NZBbBr31N/2qIBoF6A6qDZQJZw39FoPwdw9hGPEBBQ M8DikVNFnE5EBfDi9eFDQU3jQMfmUOGwd/BJUFDjQN9R+lTqwUQFIKaABcDaogCQ +w9waSJiGLDogAnw6qMU0H9eMeug/OHuQAKQ2tBhIWf/E4DhUuqy/4X18eqy3nHf EP+qgUfQDdDTgazA7BLuAYHQ/xhgCYD5I94iDKCO4eqg/iF+bQuAjvAHke4j45EN 0Gf/1nD0MbtwrjEQ4GFA2uLfUH/Zrt8h2UCGwfYRYhGKkU/OT+gw4tDhkElP4zDc krV4gGyrUEF30dZhQ/7i+emhby4G3Ntj6uCtsF6A+nIG3EHjgaqBA8TbZOQo39vk gNDqot0g0tMgGGL9g34k8LD18ddw+JEBItxlQXvecepgMws91cTWj9eVewkTtn0A FrAAAAMA8T8JBAAAAwD9P+QEAAADACYAAAAAAAMANgAAAAAAAgFHAAEAAAA1AAAA Yz1VUzthPUFUVE1BSUw7cD1MTUNPO2w9RU1TUzAxTTE2LTAwMDMyNzIxMDIyOFot NDk4NQAAAAAeADhAAQAAAAkAAABTRU1JTExFUgAAAAAeADlAAQAAAAkAAABTRU1J TExFUgAAAABAAAcwwIPKwi+YvwFAAAgwgP4doy+YvwEeAD0AAQAAAAEAAAAAAAAA HgAdDgEAAAAWAAAAQU1ESSBBdCBTdGV2ZW4gQ2FueW9uAAAAHgA1EAEAAABCAAAA PDgwMDJGQzk3NTUyOUQyMTFBM0FFMDAwMEY4QkRDNDYzMDQyNUVCQUVAZW1zczAx bTE2LmVtcy5sbWNvLmNvbT4AAAALACkAAAAAAAsAIwAAAAAAAwAGEFoqbiUDAAcQ qQIAAAMAEBAAAAAAAwAREAEAAAAeAAgQAQAAAGUAAABIRUxMT0FMTDpJV0FTQklS RElOR1NURVZFTlNDQU5ZT05QQVJLT05TVU5EQVkoMy8yNilIT1BJTkdGT1JTUFJJ TkdBUlJJVkFMU0lGT1VORE1BTllXQVJCTElOR1ZJUkVPU0FOAAAAAAIBfwABAAAA QgAAADw4MDAyRkM5NzU1MjlEMjExQTNBRTAwMDBGOEJEQzQ2MzA0MjVFQkFFQGVt c3MwMW0xNi5lbXMubG1jby5jb20+AAAAod0= --Boundary_(ID_aIeToxRMXyqn2tfL/G34uw)-- -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 27 14:07:11 2000 Subject: [SBB] Weekend Skyline Blvd. birds On a short morning walk around Monte Bello on Sunday, 3/26/00, my sweep (docentspeak for "assistant who brings up the rear and makes sure you don't lose anyone"), spotted a brown lump on a snag 40 ft. west of the Canyon Trail just above eye-level. It turned out to be a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL alertly watching the ground below it. This was at about 8:45 am, halfway up the steep rise north of the meadow (the intersection of Canyon and Stevens Creek Nature Trails). There is a little opening in the canopy to the west and a snag of an oak or madrone and a douglas fir are prominent in the near-view. Lots of ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS were heard, but no Wilson's. Lepidoptera: A Mournful Duskywing was seen a the campground. This morning, a reddish FOX SPARROW was in the group of ground feeders at our house. This looked like the bird I reported on 3/16/00. It did not look like the typical sooty-type of Fox Sparrow, being more grayish in the face and head and more reddish-brown in the primary edging, uppertail coverts and tail. There was a faint light triangle above the moustachial streak on the side of the neck. The lores did not apper to be lighter than the face. This is the bird that I narrowed down to altivagans, schistacea, or zaboria. :-) I also had a glimpse of a Varied Thrush this morning. Yesterday, a female Selasphorus hummingbird was at our feeder; probably the same bird I reported on 3/16. I heard and saw a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH above our house (late?); seemed pale in the breast which NGS labels as a female, although Pyle's says nothing about this for sexual difference. 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]] Mon Mar 27 14:07:53 2000 Subject: [SBB] Joseph D Grant & Ed R. Levin park - Sunday G'day all; We enjoyed a leisurely and interesting SCVAS walk along a portion of Dave Cook's Bluebird box nest trail in the south half of Joseph D. Grant Park. It was a great day for birding, in addition to which we were fortunate to be in great company. Garth Harwood kept us interested and entertained with his boundless knowledge of birds in general, and Bluebirds in particular... Along with the usual list of suspects, we saw lots of Western Bluebirds(WEBL)--the point of our going, Tree Swallows (TRES), Violet-green Swallows (VGSW), Oak Titmouse (OATI), were all abundant. A few of the others were: Chestnut-backed Chickadee (CBCH), BUSHTIT, YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, WRENTIT, SPOTTED TOWHEE, CALIFORNIA TOWHEE, CALIFORNIA THRASHER (heard, not seen), YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER (could not determine which race), sparrows, black birds, and meadowlarks. We also watched what appeared to be an adult Golden Eagle (no white visible on the tail or primaries) being chased off by a diving swooping Red-tailed Hawk. I had received two new hanging nest boxes from Dave Cook. So we went to Ed R. Levin park to put them up, and relocate some post mounted boxes. After hanging the boxes, we went to find a Rufous Hummingbird (RUHU) spotted the day before. In that process we found 6 Western Kingbirds (WEKI) as well as the 3 RUHU already discussed in a previous posting. In addition to that, a pair of Bullocks Oriole's (BUOR) were found east of Spring Valley Pond. The nesting pair of White-tailed Kites (WTKI) west of the pond continue to be very easy to spot. We observed them feeding upon (sharing) what appeared to be a common field vole. Sadly, we did NOT find our Burrowing Owl (BUOW) at his usual location (one of 3 burrows on the hillside about 300m northwest of the landing zone). We have failed to find it for 2 weekends now. It may well have flown the coop... We found a pair of Sharp-shinned Hawks (SSHA), and about a dozen Wild Turkey's on the Golf course side about 100m east of where the road "Y's", across from the group picnic area. Three of the Tom's were putting on a pretty astounding display. Well worth the visit... General question to the group; has anyone ever reported a Western Gull at ELP? Best regards, Dusty Bleher Campbell, Ca. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 27 14:50:37 2000 Subject: [SBB] HOODED ORIOLE Both a female and a male HOODED ORIOLE are in my backyard now. First visit of the year. Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos off Quito "We can't change the financial winds, but we can adjust the sails" http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 27 15:05:53 2000 Subject: [SBB] Oriole and Tanger This morning I checked out Los Gatos Creek as it flows through Vasona Lake Park in Los Gatos. Two male BULLOCK"S ORIOLES were squabling over territory while a young male? WESTERN TANAGER looked on with interest. Also found a BUSHTIT nest in an oak tree overhanging the creek trail. My juncos are progressing nicely incubating their four eggs. I have also had a pair of MOURNING DOVES checking out a hanging pot near our side door and a pair of CHESTNUT_BACKED CHICKADEES remodeling a nest box near our back door. We may have to start coming down the chimney to get in and out of OUR house. 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 Mar 27 15:28:56 2000 Subject: [SBB] birds and fibers Hi Everyone-- Last weekend we put a hunk of carded raw silk (combed, but not spun into thread) on top of our thistle feeder, and Lesser Goldfinches immediately began coming by and tearing off beakfuls of it. We tried putting a hunk of carded wool near our peanut feeder, and all the chickadees coming by ignored it. Mark -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 28 11:59:17 2000 Subject: [SBB] Owl update The WESTERN SCREECH OWL in my neighbor's box laid her first egg on Sunday. Interesting she left the box for at least 6 hours Sunday night after she'd laid the egg. This year Mike has an infra-red camera (1 of 5 cameras) on the box so we'll know more this year than last. At "my farm" this morning the birds were abuzz. Had a couple of CALIFORNIA THRASHERS courting in public. 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 Mar 28 15:52:37 2000 Subject: [SBB] Fw: {EBB} Gyrfalcon lost in San Jose ----- Original Message ----- From: Philip Maynard <[[email protected]]> To: <[[email protected]]> Sent: Tuesday, March 28, 2000 8:00 AM Subject: {EBB} Gyrfalcon lost in San Jose > While out hiking in Miller/Knox Regional Park in Richmond I was very > surprised to see a Harris Hawk on a picnic table. (???) Then the falconer > came by > and explained that he uses the hawk and other raptors in a demonstration to > school children, but he said that he recently lost a Gyrfalcon down by San > Jose. > > He is very upset about losing this bird, he was very nice to me, so I told > him I would send out this message in the hope that some birder might spot > his falcon and give him a call. > > The bird is a Gyr X Lanner (more white than gray), he lost it on Wednesday > March 22, at Baylands Park in San Jose (it could be anywhere around south > bay). It has a bell or a transmitter on it. If anyone spots such a bird > would you please call Ray Pena (cellular) 904-679-4265, (home/message ) > 914-255-5906. He will be at Pt. Richmond till Thursday 3/30. > > Also could someone please post this message to the Santa Clara Co/ > South Bay bird list. THANK YOU > > Phil Maynard > [[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 Mar 29 09:45:47 2000 Subject: [SBB] RTLO Folks: Yesterday, 3/28/2000, I saw one RED-THROATED LOON still on Shoreline Lake and counted nine BLACK SKIMMERS at Charleston Slough. Bill -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 29 14:18:42 2000 Subject: [SBB] birds On Sunday, 26 Mar 00, I stopped at Sunnyvale Baylands Park. There was a wide variety of duck species still present. They included MALLARD, GADWALL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, NORTHERN PINTAIL, AMERICAN WIGEON, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, CINNAMON TEAL, and RUDDY DUCK. Also of interest was a male BLUE-WINGED TEAL. All 5 normally-occurring species of swallow were present here as well. Two BURROWING OWLS were at a burrow in the field east of the park. Mike Mammoser -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 29 16:48:41 2000 Subject: [SBB] Ed Levin Park All, Today 3/29/00 over lunch, I decided to check for selasphorus hummingbird migration at Ed Levin Park. There were indeed many SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRDS in the various eucalyptus around the park, with a conservative total of 35 birds. This included 9 adult male ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS (6 in full-blown courtship display), 3 adult male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS, 15 adult males of unknown species (wing noise heard or unsatisfactory views of back obtained), and 8 females of unknown species. Our summer birds are returning in numbers with 16 BULLOCK'S ORIOLES, 5 HOUSE WRENS, and 4 WESTERN KINGBIRDS present along with all 5 expected swallow species. Lingering wintering birds are also still present, with 8+ RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS (some singing), 3+ LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, and a HERMIT THRUSH being found along with many WHITE-CROWNED and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS. Also had 8 species of raptors, the rarest being an immature PEREGRINE FALCON hunting near the northeast corner of the golf course. Copulating RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS in atlas block 0045 were of interest, as they have yet to be confirmed breeding there (had at least 5 of this species at the park today, as they continue to increase in numbers in the Diablo Range). Ended up with 71 species, which seemed quite decent. Mike -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 29 21:19:18 2000 Subject: [SBB] Rock Sandpipers. The two Rock Sandpipers were still at the end of Redondo Beach Rd S. of Half Moon Bay on Wed., March 29. -- Richard C. Carlson Full-time Birder, Biker, Skier, Hiker Palo Alto, California Part-time Economist [[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 Mar 29 22:38:18 2000 Subject: [SBB] Another funny-looking sparrow I need the collective expertise of the group again. Twice recently, at Mountain View Shoreline and Sunnyvale Baylands, I have seen a sparrow with a great deal of yellow at the front of the face. The rest of the markings were just like a Song Sparrow although not quite as bold, so I figured on White-throated Sparrow the first time. Today though I got a better look and the white throat is by no means obvious. Also it is bordered by a somewhat streaky breast -- not grey as it is in my National Geographic. And the legs and bill are pinkish. Could it be a Song/Savannah Sparrow that has been at the turmeric? 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]] Thu Mar 30 10:37:58 2000 Subject: [SBB] Re: Another funny-looking sparrow Andy, This sounds like a Savannah Sparrow. Bill and leg color are correct. The intensity of yellow in the lores is variable; sometimes it's bright, sometimes it's more like a pale wash. The darkness of brown streaking are also variable but usually not as dark as on Song Sparrows. The local Savannahs are on the darker end of their scale. The central valley birds can be very pale. Savannahs also have a very flat-headed look where this flat-top profile is continuous with the top of the bill. Local Song Sparrows would have grays and darker browns in the face, but never yellow, unless from some external source, like pollen. They usually have some black component to their back feathers. The desert race, saltonis, can be very pale, but doesn't show any yellow in the face. Les Chibana On Wednesday, March 29, 2000, Andy Gibb <[[email protected]]> wrote: >I need the collective expertise of the group again. > >Twice recently, at Mountain View Shoreline and Sunnyvale Baylands, I have >seen a sparrow with a great deal of yellow at the front of the face. The >rest of the markings were just like a Song Sparrow although not quite as >bold, so I figured on White-throated Sparrow the first time. Today though I >got a better look and the white throat is by no means obvious. Also it is >bordered by a somewhat streaky breast -- not grey as it is in my National >Geographic. And the legs and bill are pinkish. > >Could it be a Song/Savannah Sparrow that has been at the >turmeric? > >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]] Thu Mar 30 10:55:21 2000 Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek Park This morning, in the lower portion of Stevens Creek Park, the only new spring arrival I had (that is, in addition to the Orange-Crowned Warblers and Warbling Vireos) was Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher. Lingering winter birds included Hermit Thrush and singing Townsend;s Warbler and Ruby-Crowned Kinglet. An unanticipated, but in retrospect not unexpected, sighting was of Kathy Parker (who can hopefully report some more good stuff). I also made a very brief stop at the Cooley Picnic Area, where I saw a singing Wilson's Warbler. Cheers, Al -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 30 13:01:25 2000 Subject: [SBB] Steven's Creek Park This morning at Steven's Creek Park I found, in addition to an adult male AL EISNER, a pair of BLUE_GRAY GNATCATCHERS on the north side of the orchard area in a clump of cactus. Also, lots of WARBLING VIREOS and two calling PACIFIC-SKOPE FLYCATCHERS at the creek at the entrance to the Costanoan Campground. Also of interest to some, were flowering larkspur, delphinium and trilliums on the roadbank across from the Costanoan Campground entrance. Kathy Parker -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 30 14:02:02 2000 Subject: [SBB] Sage Grouse at Honey Lake Has anyone been to the sage grouse lek at Honey Lake recently? Is it still active? Would anyone be interested in going there this Saturday and coming back on Sunday? Cagan Cagan H. Sekercioglu Stanford University Center for Conservation Biology Department of Biological Sciences Stanford, CA 94305-5020 http://jasper1.stanford.edu/~cagan/main.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]] Thu Mar 30 14:48:14 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Steven's Creek Park ----- Original Message ----- From: "Joe Parker" <[[email protected]]> To: <[[email protected]]> Sent: Thursday, March 30, 2000 13:01 Subject: [SBB] Steven's Creek Park > This morning at Steven's Creek Park I found, in addition to an adult > male AL EISNER, a pair of... Okay, Kathy. I give up. What's the abbreviation for that one, ALEI? It's available. Do you think I should put it on Mike Mammoser's Stevens Creek County Park list? (;-) 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]] Thu Mar 30 18:29:00 2000 Subject: [SBB] Spring arrivals Today, ( 3/30) in Los Altos Hills I heard a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher and a Black-headed Grosbeak. Both were in full song. Screech. -- Paul L. Noble "Screechowl" [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) / \ m m -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 30 20:58:47 2000 Subject: [SBB] Birds I checked the Fremont Lagoons yesterday. A surprise was a Yellow-headed Blackbird in the Tricolored Blackbird flock. It never flew into Santa Clara county while I was looking at it, but it must at some stage since the blackbird flock feeds on the dump. There were 2 Glaucous Gulls (1W + 2W) there. More interesting was a leucistic adult Herring Gull. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 30 21:35:46 2000 Subject: [SBB] Thick-billed Kingbird still around This is a multi-part message in MIME format. ------=_NextPart_000_008B_01BF9A8F.E8ACC1E0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable Hi SBBers, Went to Half Moon Bay today (~1330 hrs., low tide) to check out the = Redondo Beach Rd. hotspot for Rock Sandpipers and Thick-billed Kingbird. = No luck on the Rock Sandpipers--I saw what might have been them but the = light was bad and I had my 18-mo.old son in a backpack bouncing around = so it was hard to keep steady. On the way out, I found the THICK-BILLED KINGBIRD in the exact tree that = Joe Morlan describes on his website (the bare pine tree west of the = house with the horse trailer). If you haven't seen this bird yet, you = should do so soon. There was a bulldozer working this area and it looks = as though it might be cleared. I took photos of the bird from outside = the fence (with a 300mm lens and no tripod so the photos probably aren't = too great). I'll let you know if they turn out. Also saw a beautiful = male ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD doing his display flight in some scrub on the = north side of Redondo Beach Rd. Amy Summerfelt ------=_NextPart_000_008B_01BF9A8F.E8ACC1E0 Content-Type: text/html; charset="iso-8859-1" Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
Hi SBBers,
 
Went to Half Moon Bay today (~1330 = hrs., low tide)=20 to check out the Redondo Beach Rd. hotspot for Rock Sandpipers and = Thick-billed=20 Kingbird.  No luck on the Rock Sandpipers--I saw what might have = been them=20 but the light was bad and I had my 18-mo.old son in a backpack bouncing = around=20 so it was hard to keep steady.
 
On the way out, I found the = THICK-BILLED=20 KINGBIRD in the exact tree that Joe Morlan describes on his website = (the=20 bare pine tree west of the house with the horse trailer).  If you = haven't=20 seen this bird yet, you should do so soon.  There was a bulldozer = working=20 this area and it looks as though it might be cleared.  I took = photos of the=20 bird from outside the fence (with a 300mm lens and no tripod so the = photos=20 probably aren't too great).  I'll let you know if they turn = out.  Also=20 saw a beautiful male ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD doing his display flight in = some scrub=20 on the north side of Redondo Beach Rd.
 
Amy = Summerfelt
------=_NextPart_000_008B_01BF9A8F.E8ACC1E0-- -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 31 07:41:23 2000 Subject: [SBB] EUWI Folks: Yesterday afternoon, 3/30/2000, I saw an adult male EURASIAN WIGEON in the wigeon flock on Salt Pond A1 in Mountain View. This afternoon flock is still quite large with 3000+ birds. Bill -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 31 09:18:03 2000 Subject: [SBB] Burrowing owls Following up on Mike Mammoser's note about finding two burrowing owls at Sunnyvale Baylands Park, I stopped by there yesterday. I found two burrowing owls on the western edge of the large mowed grassy area located on the Hiway 237 side of the park. I also found a third burrowing owl perched on a stake on the second artificial mound on the eastern side of the park adjacent to Hiway 237. This owl was banded with a blue band on the right leg and a white band on the left leg. Lou Beaudet -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 31 11:26:12 2000 Subject: [SBB] Stevens Ck CP All, This morning 3/31/00, I made a few quick stops in Stevens Creek County Park, hoping to find a Cassin's Vireo for the composite list before March runs out - no such luck (no Caspian Tern or Black-headed Grosbeak either). Recent arrivals were much as others have reported, 7+ WARBLING VIREOS, 2 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS, 2 PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, and a singing WILSON'S WARBLER. Lingering birds included a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER at the Cooley Picnic Area, a HERMIT THRUSH near the ranger station, a small flock of GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS above the Bay Tree Picnic Area, singing TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, and several RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS. Most interesting were two Aechmophorus grebes swimming together just off the Lakeshore Picnic Area; one was a WESTERN, the other a CLARK's (both with brightly patterned breeding plumages, not drab winter patterns). A quick check above the fourth bridge resulted in an AMERICAN DIPPER. Mike -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 31 12:04:18 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Spring arrivals At Palo Alto's Arastradero Park today I heard a Gnatcatcher, House Wren and Orange-Crowned Warbler and saw a Bullocks Oriole, Western Bluebird, Tree Swallow, Pine Siskin flock and Violet-Green Swallow. No other migrants had arrived. -- 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]] Fri Mar 31 14:52:03 2000 Subject: [SBB] WEKI Yesterday, 3/30/00, I noticed the following birds at the Coyote Creek Golf Course south of Bernal Road along highway 101 in San Jose: First, there was an OSPREY at the Parkway fishing lake nearby. At the golf course, there was a KILLDEER with a single young in tow at the 1st hole, a WESTERN KINGBIRD flew to an oak tree at the 7th hole, and a beautiful adult GOLDEN EAGLE flew lazily low over the 13th tee near the clubhouse. 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]] Fri Mar 31 14:57:34 2000 Subject: [SBB] Grasshopper Sparrows All, This morning Frank Vanslager and I birded the northeastern edge of Spring Valley Golf Course and "the" hill above Sandy Wool Lake. We saw our first Bullock's Orioles of the year east of the golf course but dipped on the Rufous Hummingbirds previously reported there. We then saw our first Western Kingbirds (3) of the year on the trail leading up the hill behind Sandy Wool Lake from Chaparral Ranch. Our first Rufous-crowned Sparrow of the year (the first of many) was singing near where the trail levels off about 100 feet past the green Gate. The cottonwoods further on had a number of birds but none that were "mentionable". (Let's face it I'm just lazy.) We then continued on up the trail to the second hang glider launch pad located on the hill above the cottonwoods (more singing RCSP and a wind blown Northern Mockingbird (an "unmentionable"). We then worked our way along the hillside above the cottonwoods and on down the ridgeline toward the gate. As we walked past a group of rocks near the top Frank suddenly heard a Grasshopper Sparrow calling/singing. With some patience and a little luck we then found the bird in the grass north of the rocks. I then saw another sparrow fly just over the ridge to a weedy (not grassy) patch on the top of the hill, it was followed shortly by our GRSP which flew to the same weedy patch. We then moved to the top of the hill and refound a singing GRSP in the weed patch. As we watched the bird flew to several perches nearby providing excellent, prolonged and close views. My feeling is that there was another GRSP in the weed patch but we never saw two birds at one time and did not want to try and force the bird from the grass. We also spotted a fairly rare PLAT (thats Peter LaTourrette to non-birders:-). Take care, Bob Reiling, 2:51 PM, 3/31/00 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== 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 Mar 31 16:56:38 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Spring arrivals The Hooded Oriole males have been back in SFD for over a week, Pigeon Guillemots for a few days, no flycatchers yet (except BLPH) ------------ Previous Message from Richard Carlson <[[email protected]]> on 03/31/2000 12:04:18 PM ---------- To: "Paul L. Noble" <[[email protected]]> cc: "So. Bay Bird List" <[[email protected]]> Subject: Re: [SBB] Spring arrivals At Palo Alto's Arastradero Park today I heard a Gnatcatcher, House Wren and Orange-Crowned Warbler and saw a Bullocks Oriole, Western Bluebird, Tree Swallow, Pine Siskin flock and Violet-Green Swallow. No other migrants had arrived. -- 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]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Mar 31 21:28:12 2000 Subject: Re: [SBB] Burrowing owls You can also see Burrowing Owls in the grassy area between the sports complex and the boardwalk that leads out to the wetlands. And I have disturbed a very disgruntled one just to the west of the central pool. Talking of the boardwalk, I believe that a pair of Swallows may be attempting to nest underneath it. Twice recently they have swooped out from under my feet as I passed over. Many thanks to those who responded to my yellow-faced sparrows. They were indeed Savannah Sparrows. My NG does mention the possibility of yellow lores and eyebrow in passing but does not picture them. Most interesting sighting at SBP today was a couple of Snipe at the car park end of the central pool. What with them and the Mallards and the Starlings it felt almost like home! There was also a Killdeer with a mashed-up bill -- poor sod. I don't know how it will survive that. Andy. ----- Original Message ----- From: Louis J. Beaudet <[[email protected]]> To: South, Bay Birds Mailing <[[email protected]]> Sent: Friday, March 31, 2000 9:18 AM Subject: [SBB] Burrowing owls > Following up on Mike Mammoser's note about finding two burrowing owls at > Sunnyvale Baylands Park, I stopped by there yesterday. I found two > burrowing owls on the western edge of the large mowed grassy area > located on the Hiway 237 side of the park. > I also found a third burrowing owl perched on a stake on the second > artificial mound on the eastern side of the park adjacent to Hiway 237. > This owl was banded with a blue band on the right leg and a white band > on the left leg. > > Lou Beaudet > > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]]