From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 01 04:57:03 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- I returned to Bloomfield Ave this morning, 1 Mar 01, and failed to find the Rough-legged Hawk. Other birds in the area included at least 50 COMMON SNIPE in a wet field on the north side of Bloomfield, a MERLIN along Bloomfield near hwy 25, a pair of RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS along Sheldon south of Bloomfield, and a WHITE-TAILED KITE carrying nesting material at the intersection of Sheldon and Bloomfield. Mike Mammoser -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 01 09:32:13 2001 Subject: [SBB] Los Gatos Creek Park -------- Hi, I took a quick walk around Los Gatos Creek Park on Wednesday morning. There were two Common Snipe on their island, a small flock of Cedar Waxwings at the Northeast corner of the second pond and a male Hooded Merganser in the creek. 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]] Thu Mar 01 10:20:02 2001 Subject: [SBB] Pine Siskins -------- When I first posted about my "herd" of over 100 Pine Siskens, I mentioned that I had taken down my 4' thistle feeder, filled it and a Pine Sisken had never left. I found it unusual to be able to get so close to these birds (not just that one.) Jean DuBois told me he'd had one on his shoulder, that he thought they were "tamer" than most species. So, I just said OK. Then Linda Sullivan posted her comment. The same day I had 3 dead ones that just fell off the feeder onto the patio. And, I've just replaced the 4' feeder with a new one, so I know it is fine. I had the Sharpie pluck one out of the birdbath. Just now a Sharpie came in and picked up a dead one from yesterday. I see him eating it up on my hill. I didn't realize Sharpie ate dead birds. And, Linda asked me...will the Sharpie get sick? Good question. That's 2 sick ones from my backyard he's eaten. I seldom see Turkey Vultures...and this week there has been one circling...wonder if it's eating Pine Siskens! >From my perspective the Pine Siskens this year ARE more lethargic. When they come to eat, they eat, they don't tend to flitter. My 4' feeder practically empties in one day. FWIW...Gloria LeBlanc http://www.wallstreetgifts.com "largest selection of Wall Street inspired gifts" http://www.cowscowscows.com "site for the Chicago and NYC cows" http://www.lgsia.com "money management for YOU using 9 distinct portfolios" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 01 11:55:45 2001 Subject: [SBB] another one -------- Well, the Sharpie just came and grabbed another Pine Siskin that was eating off the ground. Another bird, just 2 hours later? seems like a lot to eat. Gloria LeBlanc http://www.wallstreetgifts.com "largest selection of Wall Street inspired gifts" http://www.cowscowscows.com "site for the Chicago and NYC cows" http://www.lgsia.com "money management for YOU using 9 distinct portfolios" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 01 21:16:28 2001 Subject: [SBB] American Redstart -------- All, The American Redstart first found by Randy Little over a month ago in Milpitas is alive and well. I saw it at 9:30 this morning in the lower branches of the trees immediately north of the southernmost Adaptec sign on Milpitas Boulevard. It was hanging out with Chestnut-backed Chickadees. Another new LifeScan area bird for me! To get to this area, take 680 north and exit westward on Montague Expressway. Turn right at the second traffic light onto Milpitas Blvd. Go through two traffic lights and Adaptec is on the left. This bird has been seen from the corner of Milpitas Blvd and Gibraltar (first traffic light) northward to where I saw it today. Be warned that the areas where it has been seen are along a busy street and the parking lots are either LifeScan or Adaptec property. Contact me if you need further information. 408-956-4826 during the day. Jim Danzenbaker San Jose, CA 408-264-7582 (408-ANI-SKUA) [[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 02 00:09:43 2001 Subject: [SBB] Calero Reservoir on Thursday, 1/31 -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Thursday afternoon at about 4:30 pm I saw an adult BALD EAGLE from the boat launch at Calero Reservoir. It flew up the far west end of the reservoir and perched in a distant oak. Other birds seen from the boat launch included a COMMON LOON, HORNED and EARED GREBES, about 20 Aechmophorus grebes, an OSPREY, 1 BLACK-NECKED STILT, and lots of diving ducks. Nearby I saw a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK perched on a wire along McKean Rd. A flock of CANADA GEESE at the east end of the reservoir contained 4 geese of a smaller type. They were far away, but at least 2 had broad white collars, and I assume them to be Aleutians; another appeared to lack the white collar and have a darker breast, so I would assume at least one to be of the Cackling race. Last Saturday (Feb. 24) we had a class field trip to Merced and San Luis National Wildlife Refuges. Weather was dismal and chilly with high wind and heavy rain. Even so the participants were enthusiastic and we managed to see about 60 species. A flock of approximately 5,000 ROSS'S GEESE was near the entrance to Merced NWR. Along the tour route we watched SANDHILL CRANES in flight, and had great close-up views of TREE and CLIFF SWALLOWS fighting the wind. The swallows were clearly stressed by the weather, with tired groups perched in low vegetation along the shores. At San Luis NWR we saw a flock of 20+ TUNDRA SWANS, WHITE-FACED IBIS, at least 1 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW, and the penned herd of TULE ELK. 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 02 00:17:49 2001 Subject: [SBB] Correction -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Sorry for the dyslexic date error on my earlier posting, which should read Thursday, 3/1. Also I forgot to mention that in recent days I've heard WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS overhead at work (off San Ignacio near Bernal Road in San Jose). Lately I've also seen GOLDEN EAGLES along Bailey Road and from the McDonald's at Bernal and San Ignacio. 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 02 16:29:49 2001 Subject: [SBB] Barn Owl and Les and Al -------- A barn owl has been spotted, in the box at the SF Bay Observatory/ Bayside Cannery Building in Alviso. If you would like to see it, please come during business hours, or call ahead to make sure someone is here. The rest of this email is off-topic, but I think, of interest to many of you. Please accept my apologies for leading the list temporarily astray. Les Chibana and Al Jaramillo are teaching a new class, March 8th and 10th, at the Observatory, which will discuss the ins and outs of leading birding trips, here and abroad. For more details, and directions to the Observatory, please see the website at www.sfbbo.org, or call (408) 946-6548. Sincerely, Anna Clarke -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 03 04:13:21 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- I stopped by Calero Reservoir today, 3 Mar 01. I found both the COMMON and RED-THROATED LOON, the adult BALD EAGLE, 12 COMMON MERGANSERS, and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER. A number of aechmophorus grebes included at least 4 CLARK'S. The grassy edges to the reservoir had numbers of WESTERN MEADOWLARKS and a handful of HORNED LARKS. 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 03 17:06:09 2001 Subject: [SBB] Half Moon Bay -------- Attachment 957 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Sat Mar 03 17:47:22 2001 Subject: [SBB] WAGTAIL -------- All, This afternoon, the BLACK-BACKED WAGTAIL was still present and foraging at the "tire pond" in Alviso off of Gold Street. That's all, Matthew Dodder http://www.birdguy.net/ Beginning Birdwatching classes begin on March 26 at the Palo Alto Adult School. Enrollment begins Monday, March 5. Please sign up early as space is limited. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 03 20:13:32 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] WAGTAIL -------- Where is the tire pond?? Richard C. Carlson Full Time Birder, Biker, Skier, Hiker Part-time Economist 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 03 21:30:19 2001 Subject: [SBB] Saturday at Ed R. Levin Park -------- Evening all; I did my weekly tour through Ed Levin park. Pickin's were slim--I only managed 55 species. Mostly they were the usual list of suspects. Highlights for me were an ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW (just past the "green gate", it's hard to miss the flat head and the yellow on the wings), and both TREE SWALLOWS and 6 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were hanging around my nest boxes. I don't often find the HERMIT THRUSH, nor the TOWNSEND'S WARBLER but got them too. I got all the swifts and swallows except the Rough-wing & Barn Swallow. There's still a couple of Buffleheads hanging around, in case you haven't had your fill of those. After missing them for a long time, I finally got my CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE's again... Cute little beggars! Lots and lots of RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, even a WRENTIT! Some probables (pretty sure I saw, but just not enough of a view to be absolutely certain): Western Kingbird, Rough-winged & Barn Swallow, Merlin. I was unable to re-find the Grasshopper Sparrow when I brought a witness a couple of hours later... Notable misses: Burrowing Owl, Long-eared Owl, Say's Phoebe, Golden Eagle, Wild Turkey, Gadwall, Shoveler, White-tailed Kite, Gulls, Terns, and Quail. A pair of LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES are working the McMinnis Ranch road area. It was pretty interesting finding their "larder". This is the second week in a row that I've managed to do that. Some of the critters they get are truly unique. I've just gotta take a "bug expert" one of these days... Later all, 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]] Sun Mar 04 08:29:01 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] WAGTAIL -------- Matthew Is there public access to view this site? Can you give any more specific directions? Thank You Merry Matthew Dodder wrote: > All, > > This afternoon, the BLACK-BACKED WAGTAIL was still present and foraging > at the "tire > pond" in Alviso off of Gold Street. > > That's all, > Matthew Dodder > http://www.birdguy.net/ > > Beginning Birdwatching classes begin on March 26 at the Palo Alto Adult > School. Enrollment begins Monday, March 5. Please sign up early as space > is limited. > > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Mar 04 08:48:06 2001 Subject: [SBB] Re: [CALBIRD] Black-backed Wagtail -------- Mathew, South Bay Birders (Santa Clara County), CALBIRDERS: One request has already gone out over South Bay Birds on the location of the "tire pond" in Alviso in Santa Clara County. I too am a little unclear on the exact location of the "tire pond" on Gold Street in Alviso. I had not paid much attention in the past since people were not seeing the Black-backed Wagtail. As the location may be likewise unclear to many CALBIRDERS I would like to request that directions to this location and whether the wagtail is still being seen be posted both over South Bay Birds and CALBIRD and not merely to me directly or to the other South Bay Birder who had placed the original request which so far has remained unanswered over both of these listserves. Matthew Dodder wrote: > All, > > This afternoon, the BLACK-BACKED WAGTAIL was still foraging at the "tire > pond" in Alviso off of Gold Street. > > That's all, > Matthew Dodder > http://www.birdguy.net/ -- Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, Alameda County -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 04 09:25:04 2001 Subject: [SBB] Wagtail clarificaton -------- All, The Black-backed Wagtail was first detected in Alviso on December 17 when it was discovered on the Christmas Bird Count by David McIntyre, Michael Booth and Deborah Swarts--later confirmed by Mike Rogers. A good article about the bird appears in the February edition of the Santa Clara Valley Audubon newsletter. At that time it was seen on private land owned by the Cargill Salt Company along Gold Street near a construction site. The land remains private and is inaccessible to the public wthout a pemit. 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 04 10:59:56 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Wagtail clarificaton -------- Hi All, Thanks very much, Matthew, for the information on the Black-backed Wagtail. You mentioned that a permit is required to gain access to the private property on which the bird has been seen. Does anyone know how to obtain a permit? Cheers, J.D. Phillips On Sun, 4 Mar 2001, Matthew Dodder wrote: > All, > > The Black-backed Wagtail was first detected in Alviso on December 17 > when it was discovered on the Christmas Bird Count by David McIntyre, > Michael Booth and Deborah Swarts--later confirmed by Mike Rogers. A good > article about the bird appears in the February edition of the Santa > Clara Valley Audubon newsletter. At that time it was seen on private > land owned by the Cargill Salt Company along Gold Street near a > construction site. The land remains private and is inaccessible to the > public wthout a pemit. > > 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]] > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 04 12:18:09 2001 Subject: [SBB] Canada Goose Subspecies -------- Hi, Experts, About twenty years ago I read a book called "The Year of the Canada Goose," part of the Lipincott series. The author seemed to be quite well informed. He said there are seventeen races of Canada Goose, but I see only four listed in Monroe and Sibley, "A World Checklist of Birds." Would anyone care to comment on that? Lee Lovelady, Volunteer Natauralist. ________________________________________________________________ GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO! Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less! Join Juno today! For your FREE software, visit: http://dl.www.juno.com/get/tagj. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Mar 04 13:49:57 2001 Subject: [SBB] Wagtail statement -------- All, The Wagtail mentioned earlier is indeed on private property. I was aware the surrounding areas were privately owned but believed in error I had found a public entry to a accesible area. I had heard rumors the bird could be observed without trespassing, but this does not appear to be the case. Upon examining maps in detail and reading previous posts regarding the bird's location it is clear the entire area is private and should not be entered. I was mistaken and acted with poor judgement when I accessed an overlook that "seemed" safe. I did not have enough information. Despite my efforts to be responsible and consciencious, I both trespassed and alarmed many birders who have justifiably expressed their concern. I wish to apologize to the entire birding community and the Cargill Salt Company. I urge people to avoid the same mistake I have made. I hope my actions will not convince others to pursue the bird. Most sincerely, 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]] Mon Mar 05 08:51:05 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- On Sunday, 4 Mar 01, I stopped by the Sunnyvale sewage ponds and noted that the immature SNOW GOOSE is still present. It has molted in some pure white feathers on the back, giving it a mottled look there. Sunnyvale Baylands Park had a dark-morph RED-TAILED HAWK. 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 05 19:03:29 2001 Subject: [SBB] -------- I was leaving LPCH @ Stanford today around 3:30 PM, heading toward the Blake Wilber Center. I encountered a flock of ~ 250 cedar waxwings eating the new growth on trees in the parking lot. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 05 21:22:53 2001 Subject: [SBB] Weekend birds -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Saturday we had a class field trip to the Monterey Peninsula. Highligthts included very close views of RHINOCEROS AUKLET, WANDERING TATTLER, SURFBIRD, and a mother Sea Otter with pup at the Coast Guard Pier in Monterey; a ROSS'S GOOSE, BLACK-LEGGED KITTIWAKE, and 2 Gray Whales at Point Pinos in Pacific Grove; and a RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER in Jacks Peak Regional Park. We really lucked out--the rain didn't start until after our final stop of the trip. On the way home I stopped at Jetty Road in Moss Landing, where an OLDSQUAW was on the sea just outside the harbor mouth. Sunday, driving around San Jose in the rain, I saw a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK fly over Camden near Union Avenue, and a MERLIN flew over Almaden Expressway just south of Blossom Hill Road. 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]] Tue Mar 06 16:40:51 2001 Subject: [SBB] RE: Vasona/Oka Ponds -------- Good Afternoon, Desperate to bird, I went back to Vasona to check on the COMMON MERGANSERS and found only the female swimming in the creek by the children's playground. Found lots of ROBINS, FLICKERS and a lonely SONG SPARROW. Went down to Oka Ponds and found 5 NORTHERN-ROUGH WING SWALLOWS and 4 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS. 2 pairs of HOODED MERGANSERS were swimming in the creek by the big bridge. Oh, and a MUSKRAT was in the swimming in the center waterway. Wishing you all great birding.. My best regards, Linda Sullivan Saratoga 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 06 17:39:28 2001 Subject: [SBB] Ferruginous Hawk -------- Hi all, I observed the adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK again today (3/5/01) along with Robin Dakin along the Coyote Creek Trail at the 85/101 Interchange in San Jose. I also observed it last Thursday (3/1/01) with Don Rocha along the Coyote Creek Trail at Riverside Drive. Good birding, Tom -----Original Message----- From: [[email protected]] [mailto:[[email protected]]]On Behalf Of Michael Mammoser Sent: Monday, March 05, 2001 8:51 AM To: SBB Subject: [SBB] : On Sunday, 4 Mar 01, I stopped by the Sunnyvale sewage ponds and noted that the immature SNOW GOOSE is still present. It has molted in some pure white feathers on the back, giving it a mottled look there. Sunnyvale Baylands Park had a dark-morph RED-TAILED HAWK. 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]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 06 17:40:27 2001 Subject: RE: [SBB] : -------- Hi all, I observed the adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK again today (3/5/01) along with Robin Dakin along the Coyote Creek Trail at the 85/101 Interchange in San Jose. I also observed it last Thursday (3/1/01) with Don Rocha along the Coyote Creek Trail at Riverside Drive. Good birding, Tom -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Mar 06 20:31:30 2001 Subject: [SBB] Calero Reservoir, Tuesday -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Stopped at the Calero Reservoir boat launch at about 4:30 this afternoon. The BALD EAGLE was again seen in a distant oak to the southwest (a scope is often necessary to get a decent look at this bird). Other birds there included an OSPREY that flew low overhead, a few GREATER SCAUP, and a 3 lingering BLACK-NECKED STILTS. At the east end of the reservoir there was a large flock of CANADA GEESE, among which there were 4 runts--one was of the Cackling race, with darker breast and no white neckband. The other 3 runty geese appeared to be Aleutians, with lighter breasts and white bands at the bases of their necks. The Cackling Goose looked to be a bit smaller, and didn't associate with the Aleutians while I was watching them. 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]] Wed Mar 07 02:26:38 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- A pair of WHITE-TAILED KITES is building a nest in the top of a conifer in my neighbor's yard. I suspect they will support this breeding attempt with the good hunting over Tulare Hill nearby. 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 07 07:44:43 2001 Subject: [SBB] South county birding -------- All, Yesterday Frank Vanslager and I did some south county birding in the showers looking for some "good" hawks. We had no joy. Best birds were an early Swainson's Thrush and Northern Rough-winged Swallows seen along Coyote Creek south of Blossom Hill Rd. Take care, Bob Reiling, 7:50 AM, 3/7/01 -------- Attachment 482 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 07 10:59:04 2001 Subject: [SBB] Calero -------- I made a quick trip to Calero Reservoir this morning to look for a couple of recently reported birds. The water level is much higher than on my last visit (about 10 days ago). There were few birds west of the boat launch, and those to the east were much farther off and into the sun. Nonetheless, by scoping the far west end of the Reservoir (with the sun), I did manage to spot my two targets. An adult Bald Eagle, first seen in flight, landed in a tree there, and was evidently feeding. And the Common Loon was also down there. Cheers, Al -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 07 11:20:57 2001 Subject: [SBB] Kites and Crows -------- Having just read Mike Mammoser's post about kites, I've seen one in my neighborhood being harrassed by crows. Will crows force them out? They've nested nearby in the past. Nancy -- Nancy R. Teater Hamilton Communications phone: +1 650 321 0252 [[email protected]] http://web.hamilton.com fax: +1 650 327 4660 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 07 15:25:35 2001 Subject: [SBB] Sharpie, my story -------- For 3 days the SHARPIE feasted in my backyard...always a PINE SISKEN...I saw him catch 7...I would guess he got more than that. It took him 10 minutes to devour one. His behavior was interesting. One day he perched in my tree that I hang most of the bird feeders from (12 of them). He was very well camouflaged even though the tree has no leaves. The leafless branches and his chest blended very well. My desk is 15-20 feet from where he perched. He sat there for at least an hour that I watched him. He would turn his head to the left, all the way back (like an owl would)...then slowly move to where he looked to the right, all the way back....then he would look straight up...then all the way to the right, etc. he went through the same routine for the entire hour. What surprised me was why he kept looking up. Anyway he saved me bird seed, since no bird was seen while he perched there. Now he seems to have moved his hunting ground elsewhere and I haven't seen a Pine Siskin since they became the entree of preference. I'm flooded with GOLDFINCHES, both species...the yellow is really turning into their breeding plumage. Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos off Quito http://www.wallstreetgifts.com "largest selection of Wall Street inspired gifts" http://www.cowscowscows.com "site for the Chicago and NYC cows" http://www.lgsia.com "money management for YOU using 9 distinct portfolios" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 07 15:33:38 2001 Subject: [SBB] RE: Alviso -------- Good Afternoon All.... Had a wonderful morning at the EEC. On the way in there were a pair of RED-TAILS on the tower (had another dark hawk, completely brown, with no other markings, could this be a dark morph Red-tail?). A LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE on the wire going into the ECC. Two NORTHERN HARRIERS flying over the water. Also a BLACK-SHOULDERED KITE eating a mouse in the tree. Lots of BLACK-NECK STILTS, AVOCETS, KILLDEER, NORTHERN SHOVELERS, CANADA GEESE, and MARSH WRENS. In the large levy was four EARED GREBES and one WESTERN GREBE? Had one MARSH WREN going in and out of a nest. The Ranger pointed out the Barn Owl box, and when I looked up and inside the box there was the BARN OWL! Hope you all had a great birding day! My best regards, Linda Sullivan Saratoga CA -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 07 16:32:05 2001 Subject: [SBB] Rufous Hummingbird -------- Attachment 540 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 08 07:27:56 2001 Subject: [SBB] Some Wednesday Birds -------- Wednesday, March 7, was a good day for seeing some interesting birds. At Almaden Lake there were interestingly-plumaged American Goldfinches and Nutmeg Mannikins (aka Scaly-breasted Munias) just upstream of the Mazzone Drive Bridge over Alamitos Creek. At Calero Reservoir the adult Bald Eagle was in a tree above the north edge of the lake (with binocs it was only a small white spot; it required a scope) but an mature Golden Eagle was closer to the road, in a tree several miles north of the lake. And there were one, or more, Ospreys working Coyote Creek, from Ogier Ponds to Metcalf Lake. Frank Vanslager -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 09 06:58:02 2001 Subject: [SBB] Owling trip, 3/8/01 -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Thursday evening (3/8), under a bright full moon, I took some people from my class owling along Hicks Road. Near Guadalupe Reservoir we saw GREAT HORNED OWL and WESTERN SCREECH-OWL. We also heard a COMMON POORWILL there. 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 09 07:43:02 2001 Subject: [SBB] - -------- Folks: Yesterday, 3/8/2001, there were four female HOODED MERGANSERS in the channel next to the bike path beside Adobe Creek in the Palo Alto FCB towards sunset. I did not see any there in the morning. Seven BLACK SKIMMERS continue on the island in Charleston Slough. Bill -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 09 08:49:39 2001 Subject: [SBB] Los Gatos Creek -------- Good Morning, Sorry I didn't post this yesterday, but I needed to recoup from the 7 1/2 mile walk up and back Los Gatos Creek! Dori Rhodes and I found, 2 pairs of HOODED MERGANSERS, one male COMMON MERGANSER (near the Creekside Way overpass) two male and one female KINGFISHERS in the center creek. Also a large flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS eating berries along the path towards Leigh Avenue. At the large pond at Los Gatos Creek were two large schools of KOI and the OSPREY was flying overhead. Also two EARED GREBES still in the large pond. Best regards, Linda Sullivan Saratoga CA -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 09 11:32:20 2001 Subject: [SBB] Alum Rock Park birds: Hermit Warbler -------- Thursday morning I walked the South Rim trail starting at the old entrance kiosk. I saw several Orange-crowned Warblers and a Hermit Warbler. The Hermit Warbler was near the lone picnic table on the short, off-shoot trail at the nearly highest and furthest east point of the South Rim trail; it was in a flock of Townsend's Warblers and Chestnut-backed Chickadees. There was also an adult Golden Eagle out over the canyon and four Common Mergansers (3 F, 1 M) in Penitencia Creek. Roland Kenner -------- Attachment 923 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 09 13:42:32 2001 Subject: [SBB] Proper Wigeon at Sunnyvale Baylands :-) -------- by which I mean Eurasian, not one of these new-fangled American types. There was a pair off the end of the boardwalk this lunchtime. It was interesting to get the ducks of the two species together for a spot of comparison. It's not a decision I would care to call without the birds being side-by-side. A strange thing is that only a handful of drakes in the UK show a white or creamy head stripe. The rest are clearly yellow. Yet every one I have seen over here has been white/creamy. Perhaps there is some colour gradient from Asia to Europe? -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 09 14:02:18 2001 Subject: [SBB] County birding -------- All, This morning Frank Vanslager and I saw the continuing Common Loon in the western portion of Calero Reservoir but there was no sign of the Bald Eagle recently seen there. At Ogier Ponds we had an Osprey (unable to sex it) eating a large fish, thirty minutes later we had an adult male Osprey near the western entrance to Riverside Golf Course. A few minutes after that he caught and was eating a large fish (so probably not the same bird we saw at Ogier Ponds). We had several (6-8) Red-shouldered Hawks, a "pair" of White-tailed Kites, a Northern Harrier, many Red-tailed Hawks and many American Kestrels. Take care, Bob Reiling, 2:03 PM, 3/9/01 -------- Attachment 868 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 09 16:11:25 2001 Subject: [SBB] Nice comments about SBB -------- SBBers, SBB list member Don Kennedy has a great characterization of this list in the current issue of Stanford Magazine. http://www.stanfordalumni.org/jg/mig/news_magazine/magazine/marapr01/features/cardinal.html Thanks Don! Les -- Les Chibana List Bureaucrat South-Bay-Birds List [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Mar 10 11:14:33 2001 Subject: [SBB] Arastradero -------- This beautiful spring morning called for a walk along the Corte Madera trail at Arastradero Preserve, which turned up 45 species. A flock of 6 WILD TURKEYS crossed the utility road at the end of the trail. A GREEN HERON was at the lake. A SAY'S PHOEBE is still near the parking lot. Spring is sprung all over the place. Among 7 species of raptors seen, no less than 4 were doing display flights: one pair each of COOPER'S HAWKS, RED-TAILS, and HARRIERS, and two of WHITE-TAILED KITES, one of which were also copulating. There were a couple of TREE SWALLOWS, not usual here, along with the regular VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS now arrived in force. All the regulars were singing their hearts out, including HUTTON'S VIREOS, and of the winterers, I heard one song each from YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET, and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW. A single NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOW was at the 280/Page Mill overpass. No spring migrants seen or heard. 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]] Sat Mar 10 13:10:14 2001 Subject: [SBB] Mannikins -------- All: The Nutmeg Mannikins noted by Frank Vanslager near Almaden Lake are carrying nesting material into a small oak tree. It's the third tree south of the Mazzone Drive bridge on the east side of the Alamitos Creek trail. Yours, John Meyer -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 10 13:18:22 2001 Subject: [SBB] Sick or injured Red-throated Loon -------- All, This morning, during the Santa Clara Valley Audubon field trip to Los Gatos Creek park (AKA Oka Ponds), we saw a Red-throated Loon that was on the grass just south and east of the entrance kiosk located off Dell Ave (a good 150 feet from the water). The bird seemed alert, was calling and had reportedly "chased" someone who gotten too close but one would not expect to see a healthy loon so far from the water and in such a vulnerable place. (I had to stop a well meaning individual who was throwing pieces of banana at it!) There was some discussion about what the local ranger might do but the consensus was to let nature take it's course. The bird had beached itself and attempting to put it back in the water prematurely could not only stress the bird but may well be the wrong thing to if the bird had lost it's water proofing or some other facility for dealing with it's natural habitat. Someone thought that the bird may have swallowed a fishing hook while feeding in the ponds. The bird was still there at 12:30 PM after the trip. It was a life bird for several on the trip. Take care, Bob Reiling, 1:17 PM, 3/10/01 -------- Attachment 1.3 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Sat Mar 10 13:25:51 2001 Subject: [SBB] Mtn View Forebay area -------- I recently heard about nest deterrents that were being put up at the Mtn. View Forebay pumphouse. This morning, I was at the Forebay co-leading a field session with Al Jaramillo for people interested in leading fieldtrips. We saw no sign of nesting deterrents of any kind on the pumphouse. In fact, some of the spikey metal things that were there a while ago were gone (activist birders?). Cliff Swallows were merrily building nests, collecting mud from Adobe Creek. Also present were a few Barn, Tree and Violet-green Swallows. Also: 2 Common Snipe in Adobe Creek 9 Black Skimmers in Charleston Slough 1 Merlin at the edge of Shoreline Lake 3-4 Sharp-shinned Hawks 1 Red-shouldered Hawk 4 small and 5 large Canada Goose flying over and into the PA Flood Control Basin and plenty of regular species 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]] Sat Mar 10 13:28:04 2001 Subject: [SBB] Mtn View Forebay addendum -------- I forgot to mention that Al Jaramillo noted a Great Blue Heron carrying nesting material over Charleston Slough, heading north toward the Creek area. We didn't see where it set down. 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]] Sat Mar 10 19:48:26 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Mtn View Forebay area -------- Les, and all, I was surprised to hear you say there were Cliff Swallows building nests. Were they building them on the pumphouse where the deterrents had been installed? Apparently that the deterrents were being put up on Thursday due to concerns of swallow poop landing in the nearby drinking fountain where visitors and children on field trips drink. Thursday night the deterrents were ripped down by someone who left the wreckage at the site. I just talked to someone was out there this afternoon and said that she saw no signs of nesting on the pumphouse yet (?!). She says that Mountain View still plans to replace the deterrents this season before the swallows start their nests. She is trying to change their minds and get them to solve their poop problem in another way. If nesting has started, then Mountain View cannot legally disturb the nest unless they get a permit from the Fish and Wildlife Service to do so. I hope to assist in working out a solution to this issue, so the birds will be able to continue nesting there. Best regards, Leda Beth Gray Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society > From: Les Chibana <[[email protected]]> > Reply-To: Les Chibana <[[email protected]]> > Date: 10 Mar 2001 13:25:51 -0800 > To: South Bay Birders <[[email protected]]> > Subject: [SBB] Mtn View Forebay area > > I recently heard about nest deterrents that were being put up at > the Mtn. View Forebay pumphouse. This morning, I was at the Forebay > co-leading a field session with Al Jaramillo for people interested > in leading fieldtrips. We saw no sign of nesting deterrents of any > kind on the pumphouse. In fact, some of the spikey metal things that > were there a while ago were gone (activist birders?). Cliff Swallows > were merrily building nests, collecting mud from Adobe Creek. Also > present were a few Barn, Tree and Violet-green Swallows. > > Also: > 2 Common Snipe in Adobe Creek > 9 Black Skimmers in Charleston Slough > 1 Merlin at the edge of Shoreline Lake > 3-4 Sharp-shinned Hawks > 1 Red-shouldered Hawk > 4 small and 5 large Canada Goose flying over and into the PA Flood > Control Basin > > and plenty of regular species > > 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]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 10 23:44:11 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Sick or injured Red-throated Loon -------- In the case of a sick or injured bird, you can call a local wildlife rescue center for advice. They usually only take birds that are brought to them but they can at least advise you of what options are available. For your convenience, here are the numbers for the three rescue centers in Santa Clara Co. Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley 408-283-0744 Wildlife Rescue of Palo Alto 650-494-7283 Wildlife Education Rehabilitation Center (for South County) 408-779-9372 If someone sees the loon tomorrow and it still seems abnormal, I suggest calling the Silicon Valley Center which is open daily, to let them know the situation and see what they suggest. Best regards, Leda Beth Gray Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society From: [[email protected]] Date: Sat, 10 Mar 2001 16:18:22 EST To: [[email protected]] Subject: [SBB] Sick or injured Red-throated Loon All, This morning, during the Santa Clara Valley Audubon field trip to Los Gatos Creek park (AKA Oka Ponds), we saw a Red-throated Loon that was on the grass just south and east of the entrance kiosk located off Dell Ave (a good 150 feet from the water). The bird seemed alert, was calling and had reportedly "chased" someone who gotten too close but one would not expect to see a healthy loon so far from the water and in such a vulnerable place. (I had to stop a well meaning individual who was throwing pieces of banana at it!) There was some discussion about what the local ranger might do but the consensus was to let nature take it's course. The bird had beached itself and attempting to put it back in the water prematurely could not only stress the bird but may well be the wrong thing to if the bird had lost it's water proofing or some other facility for dealing with it's natural habitat. Someone thought that the bird may have swallowed a fishing hook while feeding in the ponds. The bird was still there at 12:30 PM after the trip. It was a life bird for several on the trip. Take care, Bob Reiling, 1:17 PM, 3/10/01 -------- Attachment 2.5 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Sun Mar 11 08:44:56 2001 Subject: [SBB] Red-shouldered Hawk at Stevens Creek Park -------- Friday a Red-shouldered Hawk female was on a nest about 40 yards downstream from the Chesnut picnic area in lower Stevens Creek Park. The nest is about 40 feet up on a large sycamore that curves to the right (downstream) very uniformly. The trunk is nearly horizontal at the nest. Charles Coston ------------------------------------------------------------ WWW.COM - Where the Web Begins! http://www.www.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 11 11:16:33 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Mtn View Forebay area -------- In a message dated 3/10/01 1:37:58 PM Pacific Standard Time, [[email protected]] writes: > I recently heard about nest deterrents that were being put up at > the Mtn. View Forebay pumphouse. This morning, I was at the Forebay > co-leading a field session with Al Jaramillo for people interested > in leading fieldtrips. We saw no sign of nesting deterrents of any > kind on the pumphouse. In fact, some of the spikey metal things that > were there a while ago were gone (activist birders?). I was there this past Tuesday and saw the spikey metal deterrants on the pumphouse. There weren't many though...and it did appear they were placed specifically to keep bird scat off certain sections of the pumphouse (that was my theory at the time, anyway :-) Georgia Stigall www.nativehabitats.org/homelist.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]] Sun Mar 11 12:44:54 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Mtn View Forebay area -------- The Cliff Swallows have definitely started building nests. They are collecting mud from the opposite shore of Adobe Creek. You can watch them make their trips from the wooden fence at the edge of the Creek behind the bleachers at the pumphouse. Les On Saturday, March 10, 2001 7:48 PM, Leda Beth Gray <[[email protected]]> wrote: >Les, and all, > >I was surprised to hear you say there were Cliff Swallows building nests. >Were they building them on the pumphouse where the deterrents had been >installed? Apparently that the deterrents were being put up on Thursday due >to concerns of swallow poop landing in the nearby drinking fountain where >visitors and children on field trips drink. Thursday night the deterrents >were ripped down by someone who left the wreckage at the site. I just >talked to someone was out there this afternoon and said that she saw no >signs of nesting on the pumphouse yet (?!). She says that Mountain View >still plans to replace the deterrents this season before the swallows start >their nests. She is trying to change their minds and get them to solve >their poop problem in another way. If nesting has started, then Mountain >View cannot legally disturb the nest unless they get a permit from the Fish >and Wildlife Service to do so. > >I hope to assist in working out a solution to this issue, so the birds will >be able to continue nesting there. > >Best regards, > >Leda Beth Gray >Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 11 17:56:01 2001 Subject: [SBB] Hooded Mergs in Mtn View Forebay area -------- On Saturday 5:45PM, there were 4 HOODED MERGANSERs, in the small water body west across the main path from the Mtn View Forebay. (I suppose this is the end of the PA Flood Control Basin.) This is at the jn. of the main path and the path that heads to the west along Adobe Creek. 3 females and 1 imm. male as far as I could tell. Vivek Tiwari [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Mar 11 18:10:17 2001 Subject: [SBB] Soaring Short-eared Owl ! -------- Around 5PM today, on a bright and sunny afternoon, I saw a soaring SHORT-EARED OWL. This was above Belmont Slough, east of Sea Cloud Park in Foster City. I first saw a "raptor speck" flying above a couple of distant TURKEY VULTUREs. Looking thru binocs, I noticed its strange flight and chunky, tailess, flat-faced, brown profile. It came in west and lower and eventually flew right overhead (on the path between the slough and Sea Cloud Park). I could not belive my luck! Truly bizarre and memorable sight. It then landed out of view in behind some bushes in the slough. Has anyone else see this kind of soaring behaviour in this species? BTW, this is a very pleasant birding area. Today it seemed to be at its peak, with flocks of ducks and shorebirds in constant motion, lots of species. Have rarely seen any birders here though. Vivek Tiwari [[email protected]] PS: I am not on penn-birds. If this is of interest there, please forward. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 11 19:05:31 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Soaring Short-eared Owl ! -------- Short-eared Owls do soar, that's how we picked one up on our San Jose Christmas count 2 years ago: First bird of the morning, soaring high overhead. A real funny shape in the middle of all the gulls. Richard C. Carlson Full Time Birder, Biker, Skier, Hiker Part-time Economist 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 11 21:18:38 2001 Subject: [SBB] Cliff Swallows/Mt View Forebay -------- Hi Folks, Now that the Cliff Swallows have started their nests on the pump house next to the forebay at Shoreline Park, we are hoping they will be safe in their nesting efforts. If anyone is out there in the next few days, help us keep an eye on them. Call SCVAS (408-252-3747) if you see anyone attempting to remove nests or otherwise interfere with them. In the meantime, I hope to get this situation settled for the long term. There are many other options to protect the water fountain besides preventing or disturbing the nesting of Cliff Swallows. Best regards, 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 12 06:19:16 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- On Sunday, 11 Mar 01, I took a walk along the Coyote Creek Trail south of Metcalf in San Jose. A RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was present, and seemed quite the bully with a pair of DOWNY WOODPECKERS. Groups of LESSER GOLDFINCHES were chowing down on the newly-sprouted willow buds. A pair of BUSHTITS was building a nest, and a pair each of RED-SHOULDERED and RED-TAILED HAWKS were seen copulating nearby. The singing of a CALIFORNIA THRASHER alerted me to the presence of a pair in the undergrowth just off the trail. Saturday I was up at Klamath, where a family group of 5 WHOOPER SWANS is still present. 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 12 08:06:03 2001 Subject: [SBB] Red-breasted Sapsucker @ "My Farm" -------- When I walked through "My Farm" (La Rinconada Park) on Friday, I ran into Eva who said she'd seen a Red-breasted Sapsucker a couple of times. I've seen one in previous years, but not this year. (That's what happens when you work too much. )I needed to work on Friday and I didn't have my binocs with me. So, Sunday I went to "my farm" and planned to spend an hour or so there to find it. I know where to look. Took me 5 minutes as it flew from one tree to another tree to spot it. If anyone wants to see it, there are 3 picnic tables along the path, 1 is painted dark green. If you sit on top of that table facing the path, the sapsucker will be to your left - either in the trees between you and the path or across the path in the row of trees heading up the hill. At least that's where is was yesterday and where I've seen it in previous years. There still were a lot of YELLOW RUMP's and a CALIF THRASHER was quite active. Eva also showed me on Friday a BUSHTIT nest being built. Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos off Quito http://www.wallstreetgifts.com "largest selection of Wall Street inspired gifts" http://www.cowscowscows.com "site for the Chicago and NYC cows" http://www.lgsia.com "money management for YOU using 9 distinct portfolios" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 12 08:10:17 2001 Subject: RE: [SBB] Sick or injured Red-throated Loon -------- About 5PM yesterday (Sunday), I saw what I believed to be a Red-throated loon swimming upstream in Los Gatos Creek, toward Highway 85 from the bridge by Oka Ponds. Since it was swimming away from me, the only diagnostic field mark I could see was the bill, as it turned its head from side to side. The upturned angle seemed to indicate Red-throated. Could this be the same bird Bob's group saw Saturday Morning? Dick Williams -----Original Message----- From: [[email protected]] [mailto:[[email protected]]] Sent: Saturday, March 10, 2001 1:18 PM To: [[email protected]] Subject: [SBB] Sick or injured Red-throated Loon All, This morning, during the Santa Clara Valley Audubon field trip to Los Gatos Creek park (AKA Oka Ponds), we saw a Red-throated Loon that was on the grass just south and east of the entrance kiosk located off Dell Ave (a good 150 feet from the water). The bird seemed alert, was calling and had reportedly "chased" someone who gotten too close but one would not expect to see a healthy loon so far from the water and in such a vulnerable place. (I had to stop a well meaning individual who was throwing pieces of banana at it!) There was some discussion about what the local ranger might do but the consensus was to let nature take it's course. The bird had beached itself and attempting to put it back in the water prematurely could not only stress the bird but may well be the wrong thing to if the bird had lost it's water proofing or some other facility for dealing with it's natural habitat. Someone thought that the bird may have swallowed a fishing hook while feeding in the ponds. The bird was still there at 12:30 PM after the trip. It was a life bird for several on the trip. Take care, Bob Reiling, 1:17 PM, 3/10/01 -------- Attachment 2.7 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 12 08:13:22 2001 Subject: [SBB] Almaden birds -------- Hello All, Here are some birds from the Almaden area for the weekend of Mar 10-11. Saturday, Mar 10, Quicksilver CP: A pair of N. PYGMY OWLS was seen in an oak about 1/4 mile up Mine Hill Trail from the New Almaden/Hacienda parking area right after you come around the first big curve in the trail. I watched the owls for several minutes and then they took off flying uphill into the oak woodlands. I did not see them again when I came down the trail later in the morning. For anyone wishing to check out this area, watch for agitated behavior among the smaller passerines (chickadees, titmice, juncos, etc) indicating that the owl(s) may be nearby. Sunday, Mar 11, Almaden Reservoir: The wintering WOOD DUCK population has decreased as the ducks disperse, but ten were seen on Sunday with several perched on tree branches. Last week (Mar 3) I saw a pair perched on a dead stump at the shallow upper end of the reservoir. Two male COMMON MERGANSERS were seen as well as the OSPREY back at its perch on the dead tree near the dam. VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS have returned to this wooded area and 15-20 were seen perched on the wires by the reservoir with several more seen by the O'Day property. Also seven WILD TURKEYS were seen along Alamitos Road before the dam (six females and one displaying male). Sunday, Mar 22, Quicksilver CP: Some birds of interest in the Mockingbird Hill area included HAIRY WOODPECKER, RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, and approx 6-8 PINE SISKINS associating with a flock of American Goldfinch in the budding oaks. And finally with spring blooming under way, here are some butterflies seen in the hills of Quicksilver CP over the weekend: Calif Tortoiseshell, Calif Ringlet, Spring Azure, Sara Orangetip and Cabbage White. That's it for now - Ann -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 12 09:42:42 2001 Subject: [SBB] BAEA, HOME, RTLO, etc. -------- All, Since Bill Bousman reported the Forebay Hooded Mergansers in the evening, I decided to look for them just after 6pm on Friday 3/9/01. Sure enough, the four "female-plumaged" HOODED MERGANSERS were there, with the yellow eye on one bird indicating an immature male as Vivek has noted from his Saturday observation. On Sunday afternoon 3/11/01, Alma Kali and I spent a couple hours birding in the Almaden area. We started at Calero Reservoir, where a 35-minute watch from the boat launch failed to produce any eagles. Just as we were leaving, however, an adult BALD EAGLE flew in overhead and, after soaring for five minutes, disappeared up one of the southwest arms of the reservoir just after 4pm. Other good birds here, among the many jet skiers, included the continuing RED-THROATED LOON and a female-plumaged HOODED MERGANSER among the SCAUP flock. Almaden Reservoir had 21 WOOD DUCKS flying around over the hills and a single female COMMON MERGANSER, but no White-throated Sparrow. Almaden Lake had relatively few gulls, although a steady stream kept arriving to bathe, then headed off north along the creek towards the bay. Among them were many bleached THAYER'S GULLS, all too far away for photographs :(. Also at the lake were 11 COMMON MERGANSERS, including 3 adult males and 8 females, the females vying for the males' attention (and indeed we did see one act of copulation). Other birds here included 1 COMMON MOORHEN, 1 male LESSER SCAUP, 1 male CINNAMON TEAL, a PEREGRINE FALCON, and 2 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS. Mike Rogers -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 12 10:43:18 2001 Subject: [SBB] Miscellany -------- Folks: I received a report of a SANDHILL CRANE in Saratoga in mid-December, which I forwarded to SBB. A photo was reportedly taken which I have not seen. However, my original correspondent has seen the photo and says that it is of very poor quality, but is sufficient to indicate a WILD TURKEY. So that one can be ignored. Concerning the status of Swainson's Thrush. Generally, the first birds are residents and are first found singing on territory. Although we've a few exceptional records in early April, most resident birds do not return until late April or early May. The CCFS banding program along Coyote Creek probably samples only migrants as there are few breeding records from the valley floor in recent decades. In eleven years of banding from 1986 to 1996, they had 2458 new captures. The earliest was 4/13/1988. The 10th to 90th percentile dates (80% of all birds) were 5/7 to 5/29. Distinguishing this thrush from the common wintering Hermit Thrush can be difficult. Early records of Swainson's Thrush or any other summer visitant need to be supported with detailed descriptions. Bill -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 12 12:11:05 2001 Subject: [SBB] Stanford birding -------- My favorite quote from Don Kennedy's article on Stanford birding is, "If birding were basketball, the South Bay Birders would be playing above the rim." [See: http://www.stanfordalumni.org/jg/mig/news_magazine/magazine/marapr01/features/ca rdinal.html ] (I wouldn't drift off-topic so far as to point out the timeliness of this remark relative to Stanford's PAC-10 championship and #1 NCAA seed....) On Sunday's Stanford field trip, most of the birds were playing above the rim as well, with excellent aerial shows from WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS (about a dozen) and RED-SHOULDERED HAWKs (at least 2 pairs with some territorial jousting, and appearances by RED-TAILED HAWKS, a COOOPER'S HAWK and a KESTREL, all in the Oval and Arboretum areas. In addition a pair of RAVENS were attending a nest on Green Library (its placement on a light fixture prompted some discussion of whether the eggs would be auto-incubated or impaired by rolling blackouts), and a pair of BARN OWLS roosting and probably nesting on a ledge on the GATES building where the ravens have nested in the past. Small groups of CEDAR WAXWINGS were seen in several places. Lagunita was about 1/3 full with many MALLARDs and 6 BUFFLEHEAD being the only birds on the lake. Single TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS were found in oaks at Lagunita and at near Cummings Building. The below-the-rim birds were scarcer. In particular, we came upon no flocks of crowned sparrows despite a couple of hours of tromping around in places where they have historically been common. I don't think it is a case of early migration. These birds have been scarcer this winter, possibly due to the university grounds management which doesn't seem to like undergrowth. Dick 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]] Mon Mar 12 12:12:01 2001 Subject: [SBB] Grant Ranch County Park -------- Saturday, 10 March, we had a class field trip to Grant Ranch County Park. There we found a few returning migrants--TREE, VIOLET-GREEN, and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS were flying around Grant Lake, and at a nearby stand of eucalyptus a Selasphorus (Rufous or Allen's) hummingbird was heard buzzing. No Orange-crowned Warblers were heard, so it might be too early for them at this higher elevation. PLAIN TITMOUSES, CALIFORNIA THRASHERS, and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS were singing, RED-TAILED HAWKS were courting, and flowers are beginning to appear, so spring can't be too far off. A pair of dazzling WESTERN BLUEBIRDS at the Grant Lake picnic area may have been prospecting for a nest site among the tall oaks. Among the ducks on Grant Lake there were 3 RING-NECKED DUCKS and a few COMMON MERGANSERS, plus 6 GREAT BLUE HERONS were lined up along the shore. We also got good looks at RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER along a loop trail near Grant Lake, and later saw 2-3 more along Smith Creek, where construction is being done around the bridge. Walking in the shady woods along Smith Creek we had a VARIED THRUSH, BROWN CREEPER, and a singing HUTTON'S VIREO. On our way back to the cars we finally saw a distant GOLDEN EAGLE, a bird we had been watching for all day. Altogether we saw or heard about 63 species. 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 12 16:46:51 2001 Subject: [SBB] Update on Cliff Swallows -------- Hi Folks, I just received word that Mountain View will not proceed with putting up barriers on the pump station, and that an alternate nesting structure they had planned to do will be postponed until next fall. A letter from SCVAS was sent to the City this morning requesting this course of action, and we are pleased and grateful that this decision has been made. However, it may have been actions by members of the community to rally support for the swallows that were the deciding factor. The swallows are apparently very popular with many folks that visit Shoreline. A point of clarification from a discussion I had with a US F&WS official this morning: Under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act, it is illegal to remove nests at any time, however it is the policy of the Pacific Region of the Fish and Wildlife Service to only enforce that with regard to Cliff Swallows if the nests have eggs or chicks in them. In trying to research this issue, I was directed to Tom Ryan at HT Harvey and Associates who is doing a diversion experiment with Cliff Swallows this spring. They have alternate nesting structures built in a couple of locations to provide nesting spots for Cliff Swallows who will be displaced due to construction on a couple of local overpasses. It will be very interesting to see how this goes, and it will be a good test for what Mountain View is planning. Thanks to Tom for taking the time to describe his experiments to me and offering to share his results with Mountain View. Best regards, Leda Beth Gray Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 13 08:45:29 2001 Subject: [SBB] - -------- Folks: On Sunday, 3/11/2001, I walked the trail at the Stanford Dish. Four LARK SPARROWS are still about a hundred meters N of the dish. Conventional wisdom is that winter flocks break up in March as birds pair up and nest. Not yet for this group. This morning, 3/13/2001, there were three female-plumaged HOODED MERGANSERS in the channel next to the Adobe Creek bike path at the Palo Alto FCB, one with a yellow eye. I was able to pick out only three BLACK SKIMMERS on the island in 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]] Tue Mar 13 18:53:11 2001 Subject: [SBB] Ed Levin Co. Park -------- Today, Janet & I found a sleepy Barn Owl and Great Horned Owl in the pines at the end of the Elm Picnic area parking lot. The Barn Owl was right above the paved path near the parking lot and the Great Horned Owl was on the back side by the golf course. We also had a Selasphorus hummingbird with a predominately orange back. Western Bluebirds were investigating the birdboxes along the Spring Valley Trail, but a Tree Swallow was seen leaving one of the boxes near the horse corral. Randy Little Milpitas -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 13 19:16:56 2001 Subject: [SBB] S.C.Co. Bird List (February 28) -------- Bill Bousman reports: There were nine new species for the county list in February, plus I obtained three January "clean-up" records. This brings the county list total to 196. The best new birds, all 5's, were: Rough-legged Hawk, Snowy Plover, Long-eared Owl, and Costa's Hummingbird. Bill New Birds: Ferruginous Hawk, Rough-legged Hawk, Snowy Plover, Semipalmated Plover, Great Horned Owl, Long-eared Owl, Costa's Hummingbird, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Cliff Swallow January Birds: Greater Scaup, Black-bellied Plover, Wrentit The complete list can be viewed at: South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU) http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/ Kendric P.S. Besides keeping track of Merlie (the Merlin), we now have a new addition, a lady Red-tailed Hawk named Jamie (Buteo jamaicensis) who comes almost every day for some hours to the stand of Redwoods across the street from Merlie's tree. If you have to ask how I know it is a lady RTHA, then you are too young to be on this list. Actually, Jamie is rather distinct. Her chest and belly is a faint orange pink all over, with barring at the belly; like a Red-shouldered Hawk. The back of her head and neck are quite "golden" in color, while her face is dark like a regular RTHA. She has a very red tail. No signs of nesting locally, however. Sometimes her husband (?) sits on Merlie's tree while she is on her tree. I haven't had good looks at him. ----------------------------------------- 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]] Tue Mar 13 21:04:53 2001 Subject: [SBB] More From Ed Levin Co. Park -------- Janet reminded me that I forgot to report the Anna's Hummingbird nest with two young birds who look like that are about ready to fledge. Randy -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 14 19:41:56 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Ed Levin Co. Park -------- Kathleen and others interested in directions to Ed Levin Park, Ed Levin Park is approximately 2 miles east of I-680 on Calaveras Blvd/Hwy 237. The Elm Picnic area is found by taking Downy Road to the left (north) off Calavaras Blvd. Following Downy Road you will come to the park entrance kiosk ($4 fee). Immediately after leaving the kiosk, there is a fork in the road. Take the right fork to the Elm Picnic area. To the left is a play ground area and between the playground and the fenced golf course to the east is a large grassy area, perimetered by a paved walking path and lined with pines, oaks and eucalyptus along the golf course. The owls have been seen periodically in these trees. There are "owl pellets" (regurgitated fur and bones for food prey) on the path and under the trees, along with "whitewash" (fecal droppings). These owls are not always easy to find and some days I don't locate them, but that's part of the fun. The terrain here is flat. The birdboxes are located at the other portion of Ed Levin Park. This is located by returning or continuing up (east) on Calaveras about 1/2 mile past the intersection with Downy Road. The park entrance kiosk for this section is on the right. (If you've already paid once, you don't pay again.) Turn left and follow the road to the last parking lot. Look for the metal fence horse corral and the birdboxes are on the fence post at the back. (Nice pond with ducks and coots there too!!) Please watch from a distance and don't encroach on the birds around the birdboxes. Good Luck, Randy ----- Original Message ----- From: <[[email protected]]> To: "Randy & Janet Little" <[[email protected]]> Sent: Wednesday, March 14, 2001 10:03 AM Subject: Re: [SBB] Ed Levin Co. Park > > HI! > > I was wondering if I could get directions to Ed Levin park. I would like > to go there soemtime to see these owls. Since I have never been there and > I also have a young son, if you could also give me some insight as to the > type of terrain (rough, steep, etc.) and the length of walk to these areas > (e.g. the Elm Picnic area and the peak(?)--I believe there was some > reference to this in previous messages). > > Actually from your message, are both of these birds visible from the > parking lot itself? > > Thank you for your help, > Kathleen McGall > > > > > > "Randy & Janet Little" <[[email protected]]>@lists.Stanford.EDU on > 03/13/2001 06:53:11 PM > > Sent by: [[email protected]] > > > To: "South Bay Birds" <[[email protected]]> > cc: > > Subject: [SBB] Ed Levin Co. Park > > > Today, Janet & I found a sleepy Barn Owl and Great Horned Owl in the pines > at the end of the Elm Picnic area parking lot. The Barn Owl was right > above > the paved path near the parking lot and the Great Horned Owl was on the > back > side by the golf course. We also had a Selasphorus hummingbird with a > predominately orange back. Western Bluebirds were investigating the > birdboxes along the Spring Valley Trail, but a Tree Swallow was seen > leaving > one of the boxes near the horse corral. > > Randy Little > Milpitas > > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to > [[email protected]] > > > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 14 23:08:44 2001 Subject: [SBB] Fwd: Unusual chase -------- ~Tom Cochrane -------- Message -------- Subject: Unusual chase -------- I saw something interesting last weekend I thought I would share. I was driving along Arastadero road, on the straight part, passing the preserve, when I saw what I think was a Red-Shouldered Hawk chasing a Great Blue Heron. The Heron had a fish in its beak. They where going the same speed I was going, parallel to me so I looked at my speedometer and saw that I was going 40 mph. I've never seen a GBH fly that fast! I guess that big bird's adrenaline was really going good! ~Tom Cochrane From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 15 20:29:10 2001 Subject: [SBB] Re: [pen-bird] Mountain Quail -------- David, It is interesting that Cal Fish & Game does not list Mnt. Quail as inhabiting either San Mateo or Santa Cruz cos. My contacts at Fish & Game indicate that these birds we see are decendants from an illegal release many years ago. What is the historical record of Mnt. Quail in these two counties? Is Fish & Game correct or is there a native component of Mnt. Quail here? Screech. [[email protected]] wrote: > Hi All, > > I was surprised to chance upon MOUNTAIN QUAIL in two spots today (3/15). The > first was a trio of a male and 2 females along China Grade Road about 2 miles > up from the northern junction with Hwy 236, in Santa Cruz County, approx. > 2,200' elevation. Then later there was a male and female along Butano Fire > Road about 1/2 a mile past the end of China Grade, San Mateo County, approx. > 2,000' elevation. Both areas had a mosaic of knobcone - manzanita scrub and > mixed forest. The Santa Cruz Bird Club records include a handful of > non-breeding season reports from this area and elsewhere in Big Basin, but > those were all over 20 years ago. I've been in these areas many many times > and never found this species there until today. > > Elsewhere, a WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH was in the oaks at the parking lot of > the Zayante Fire Station, SCZ. > > David Suddjian, Capitola > Santa Cruz Bird Club > Bird Records Keeper > [[email protected]] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~> > Make good on the promise you made at graduation to keep > in touch. Classmates.com has over 14 million registered > high school alumni--chances are you'll find your friends! > http://us.click.yahoo.com/l3joGB/DMUCAA/4ihDAA/TzJVlB/TM > ---------------------------------------------------------------------_-> > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ -- 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 15 21:11:08 2001 Subject: [SBB] Mountain Quail locations -------- What are the best places for non-intro Mnt. Quail around here (within 3 hours drive)? Thank you At 08:29 PM 3/15/01 -0800, Paul L. Noble wrote: >David, > >It is interesting that Cal Fish & Game does not list Mnt. Quail as inhabiting >either San Mateo or Santa Cruz cos. My contacts at Fish & Game indicate that >these birds we see are decendants from an illegal release many years ago. What is >the historical record of Mnt. Quail in these two counties? Is Fish & Game correct >or is there a native component of Mnt. Quail here? > >Screech. Cagan H. Sekercioglu Stanford University Center for Conservation Biology Department of Biological Sciences 371 Serra Mall 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 15 22:31:14 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Mountain Quail locations -------- To answer Cagan's question, Mountain Quail are fairly common at Chews Ridge near upper Carmel Valley. In addition, Mountain Quail can be heard easily at the top of Pine Canyon Road which runs west from King City. Both locations are in Monterey County. Steve Rovell [[email protected]] > What are the best places for non-intro Mnt. Quail around here (within 3 > hours drive)? Thank you > > At 08:29 PM 3/15/01 -0800, Paul L. Noble wrote: >> David, >> >> It is interesting that Cal Fish & Game does not list Mnt. Quail as inhabiting >> either San Mateo or Santa Cruz cos. My contacts at Fish & Game indicate that >> these birds we see are decendants from an illegal release many years ago. > What is >> the historical record of Mnt. Quail in these two counties? Is Fish & Game > correct >> or is there a native component of Mnt. Quail here? >> >> Screech. > > Cagan H. Sekercioglu > Stanford University Center for Conservation Biology > Department of Biological Sciences 371 Serra Mall > 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]] > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 16 07:09:37 2001 Subject: [SBB] Re: [pen-bird] Mountain Quail -------- In a message dated 3/15/01 8:30:50 PM Pacific Standard Time, [[email protected]] writes: > It is interesting that Cal Fish & Game does not list Mnt. Quail as inhabiting > either San Mateo or Santa Cruz cos. My contacts at Fish & Game indicate that > these birds we see are decendants from an illegal release many years ago. > There is no solid evidence from Santa Cruz County of any historic population of Mountain Quail. Two early writers (Emerson & Fiske) make mention of its occurrence in the Santa Cruz Mountains in the late 19th century, but no specific records are cited and it is hard to make much of their reports. More recently there have been a number of records from the Castle Rock - Big Basin area from the mid-1970's onwards. I have also considered these to of an introduced stock. Nesting was confirmed at Castle Rock on 6/16/1987, but there have been very few subsequent SCZ records. Jeff Davis heard them at Castle Rock in May 2000. Those I saw yesterday at China Grade were my first in the county in over 10 years. On the whole, the habitat and areas where they have been seen in SCZ have been undervisited by birders. David Suddjian, Capitola Santa Cruz Bird Club Bird Records Keeper [[email protected]] -------- Attachment 1.6 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 16 07:44:40 2001 Subject: [SBB] More on Mountain Quail -------- Folks: The basis of David's comments of Fiske and Emerson: "Fiske.-Rare, occasionally seen in the Santa Cruz mountains. Must breed, as I saw a very young bird in the market here in July, 1888. Emerson.-I am told that in the Ben Lomond region this species is found. _Oreortyx_ was not observed by Kaeding nor have I seen it in the county. It is safe to say that if found here it will prove to be a local race, quite distinct from either _pictus_ or _plumiferus_." {McGregor, R. C. 1901. A List of the Land Birds of Santa Cruz County, California. Pac. Coast Avifauna. No. 2, Cooper Ornithological Club} The lack of historical evidence suggests that if native Mountain Quail were here, they were very uncommon. There are a number of other cryptic or secretive Santa Cruz Mountain known residents which were not considered to be present by historical observers either , i.e., Northern Saw-whet Owl was believed to be only a rare wintering species until one used a nestbox put out for Western Screech-Owls in 1937. These debates are of great interest but as has been said "the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." There is much we do not know of the bird life here a century ago. In Santa Clara County, most of our records for Mountain Quail date back to the early 1980s. All locations have been from MPROS District reserves that were not accessible to the public prior to these dates. By the way, I would love to see copies of the correspondance from Calif. Fish & Game that states the basis of their knowledge of illegal releases of Mountain Quail in the Santa Cruz Mountains; something that I could cite in a peer-reviewed publication! Bill -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 16 13:51:08 2001 Subject: [SBB] Mtn View Forebay area -------- Between 1:00 and 1:30 this afternoon, 3/16/01, at the Mtn View (Coast Casey) Forebay area, the 4 HOODED MERGANSERs continued in the small pond/channel between the forebay and Adobe Creek. As previously reported, one has very yellow eyes, indicating a 1st spring male. 9 BLACK SKIMMERS were splayed out on the large island at the base of Charleston Slough. The water level in the slough seems to be changing more frequently these days. Two days ago a bit after noon, there was more mudflat than water in the slough with lots of foraging shorebirds and no skimmers visible. Oddly, no Cliff Swallows were around in the short time I was there today; only a few BARN SWALLOWs were present. The Cliff Swallow nests were still intact and only on the north sides of the pumphouse. The COMMON RAVEN nest on the tower along Marine Way appears complete, but there's no evidence of an incubating bird yet. 2 ravens are in the immediate area. 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]] Fri Mar 16 14:02:08 2001 Subject: [SBB] Grasshopper Sparrow Ed Levin Park, north -------- All, This morning in Ed Levin Park north Frank Vanslager and I had two separate GRSP sightings near the path at the high point in the trail just past the green gate (on the hill northeast of Sandy Wool Lake). This was not as easy as it sounds as we were on our way down from the top of the hill when the first bird flushed (both sightings were made from about 100-150 feet up the hill looking down toward the trail). The "second" bird was actually perched on the barbed wire fence where we got great looks using Frank's scope. At one point we had White-throated Swifts with the swallows soaring over the hillside (included Barn Swallow for a year bird) and later Frank had a Common Snipe flying low over the ridge line and down into the valley. Other mentionable birds include two closely interacting Loggerhead Shrikes, Red-tailed Hawks, a Cooper's Hawk, Northern Harriers, Savannah Sparrows, two White-crowned Sparrows, Bewick's Wrens and Lesser Goldfinches. Of concern was a lack of water in the seep at "Sycamore Gulch," this is the first time in recent years that I can remember that we haven't had a muddy spot in the trail near the Sycamores. Earlier we had tried for owls in the Elm Picnic area, lots of fresh scat and white wash but no owls (but then we didn't have time to check the Southwest corner of this part of the park). Take care, Bob Reiling, 2:08 PM, 3/16/01 -------- Attachment 1.5 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 16 16:01:32 2001 Subject: [SBB] Osprey & Barn Swallow -------- Good Afternoon, After work this afternoon (around 2 o'clock) I ran over to Oka Ponds and the first of the season a single Barn Swallow was flying over the ponds, along with four Northern-rough Wing Swallows. Over at Los Gatos Creek Ponds, the Osprey was fishing for quite some time. Other than that it was very quiet, with no Mergansers, and the ducks have dwindled down in numbers. Handful of Scaup, Gadwalls and Buffleheads. Good Birding. My best regards, Linda Sullivan -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 16 18:51:25 2001 Subject: [SBB] Almaden Valley birds, Friday -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, This afternoon I scoped Calero Reservoir from the boat launch. No Bald Eagle, but I did see 2 RED-THROATED LOONS along the northeast shore, WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBES, an OSPREY, and a MERLIN (perched in a hillside oak across McKean Road). Back at my parent's house at the foot of the Santa Teresa Hills there was an adult SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, a singing RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW, and a COYOTE was yodeling from a hilltop at sundown. 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 16 20:43:13 2001 Subject: [SBB] RBME at EEC -------- Sorry for the delayed post. This past Wednesday, 3/14/01, I went to the Environmental Education Center about 7:30AM for a much needed birding break. I observe a number of HErmit THrush chasing each other around in the bushes near the center, mostly near the lookout deck at the back. BArn SWallows were flying around the building. Ring-Necked PHeasants, two male and two female flew over the road as I entered the preserve (one male was perched in a tree). Chicago Marsh contained Northern PINtail, GADWall, AMerican Wigeon, Pond A16 contained LEsser SCaup, and Red-Breasted MErgansers(a EEC first for me). I looked for, but did not see, the BArn OWl in the nest box (construction activity on the trail beneath the box didn't help). What is the construction all about? All in all, a beautiful time birding with 42 specie identified. Karl We change best when we learn from the past and plan for the future, while enjoying the present. _SJ _______________________________________________________ Send a cool gift with your E-Card http://www.bluemountain.com/giftcenter/ -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 17 13:21:24 2001 Subject: [SBB] CCFS banding 3/17/01 -------- SBB, The banding effort by SFBBO at the Coyote Creek Field Station netted the following this morning: Nuttall's Woodpecker - 2 Hermit Thrush - 4 Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 2 Orange-crowned Warbler - 1 Yellow-rumped Warbler (YRWA) Audubon's - 3 Myrtle's - 3 Common Yellowthroat - 1 Fox Sparrow - 3 Golden-crowned Sparrow - 7 House Sparrow - 2 (new species for the year) No breeding condition noted in the resident species. We did have a Chestnut-backed Chickadee(?) with a brood patch last Sunday. The YRWAs are going through pre-alternate molt. 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]] Sat Mar 17 16:27:44 2001 Subject: [SBB] Ed R Levin - Saturday, March 17th -------- Hello all; I just came back from the ERLCP nestbox trail. 15 boxes have: 4 WEBL (Western Bluebird) starts, 2 CBCH (Chestnut-backed Chickadee) starts, and 3 TRES (Tree Swallow) starts. And one--although somewhat oddly early in the year--that could be an ATFL (Ash-throated Flycatcher) start. The WEBL nests all seem well along, lacking only the cup lining & eggs. The CBCH & TRES nests are still pretty spare. The possible ATFL nest is also very sparse. Only the horse pucky and rabbit fur pretty well define the owner... Got 55 species today. The highlight was a pair of BURROWING OWLS. The lowlight was the easily spooked Long-eared Owl. We found him half a dozen times. Even when approaching slowly, with great care, and with lots of space, he flushed about as soon as you laid eyes on him. I think we need to give this fellow some space & privacy. As an added bonus, I got to meet and enjoy the company of Kathleen and her young son Trevor. All-in-all, a great day birding! Dusty San Jose, 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 18 05:40:31 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- On Saturday, 17 Mar 01, I stopped at Calero Reservoir and saw a RED-THROATED LOON right at the east-most dam. It looked to have some dark feathering coming in on the throat. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was soaring over the boat launch. Another GOLDEN EAGLE was sitting on the power tower nest just northwest of the reservoir. It looked to be incubating. At Almaden Quicksilver Park the air was full of birdsong. ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, PURPLE FINCHES, OAK TITMICE, BEWICK'S WRENS, DARK-EYED JUNCOES, HUTTON'S VIREOS, and LESSER GOLDFINCHES were in full song. I heard the call of a Pacific-slope Flycatcher, but I only heard it once and it came from the direction of a singing Lesser Goldfinch. So, it may have been mimicry. The goldfinches (including at least 1 AMERICAN) were chowing down on the newly-sprouted valley oak buds. I counted about 25 PINE SISKINS in the area, many of them joining the goldfinches in the oak bud buffet. On the way back to the Mockingbird Lane parking lot, I flushed an adult female COOPER'S HAWK, which began calling "wek wek wek" in a somewhat agitated manner. It sat perched while I watched it for a minute, without it leaving at my presence. I found a raptor-sized stick nest in the crotch of a bay tree above the spot where the hawk was perched and wondered whether it was hers. It was quite visible from the parking lot, which may be unusual for an accipiter, but I'm not sure to what other bird it would belong. On Sunday, 18 Mar 01, I visited Byxbee Park at the Palo Alto Baylands. The grass on the hill had been completely mowed on the side facing the estuary, but not yet completed on the top and the side facing the flood control basin. I heard many SAVANNAH SPARROWS singing from the unmowed areas of grass, and I'm wondering if the park personnel realize the impact that mowing could have on the successful breeding of these sparrows there. The Sunnyvale sewage ponds is still hosting the immature SNOW GOOSE. A pair of BURROWING OWLS was at the usual burrow entrance on the hillside facing th e parking area, while 2 more owls were at different locations on the east side of the old landfill hill. 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]] Sun Mar 18 11:41:36 2001 Subject: [SBB] Almaden Lake, Nutmeg Mannikins -------- I went to Almaden Lake on Saturday with the intention of seeing the Nutmeg Mannikin nest found by John Meyer. But I spent so much time birding other areas of the park that I ran out of time and never did get to see the nest area. However, I did observe a pair of Nutmeg Mannikins entering the first of three tall, ornamental, columnar trees that are in the fenced-in garage area directly across from the Tamyen Picnic Area. Later, I saw 5 or 6 Mannikins feeding in a tree just upstream from the bridge that crosses the lake inflow. One of the birds appeared to be a juvenile. It was much lighter overall than the adult birds and had only a few, widely spaced "scales". It got close to one of the feeding adults and was pecked at. It swung upside-down on the branch and assumed a submissive posture (my characterization). Has anyone seen any confirmed juvenile NUMAs? I've seen plenty of nesting activity, but never any proof of successful fledging. I saw 40 other species on my walk, including a Sora in the creek, also upstream from the bridge. I saw a Bewick's Wren, a couple of Lincoln's Sparrows, a Spotted Towhee and two Oak Titmouse on the hillside near the bridge. Don Ganton [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 19 09:35:14 2001 Subject: [SBB] HOOR -------- The first HOODED ORIOLE of the season was calling from a tree top across the street this morning in suburban San Jose. Always a welcome bird! 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 19 11:51:24 2001 Subject: [SBB] SCL firsts for my area -------- I finally had a chance to relax in the morning at home and notice the birds yesterday, Sunday, 3/18/01 along Skyline Blvd at around 2200' elev. A female selasphorus hummingbird (prob. Allen's) "shared" the feeders with a couple of bully male Anna's. Two HUTTON'S VIREOs were calling and foraging; I haven't detected this species during the winter in my yard. A pair of BLACK PHOEBEs that showed up a week or so ago, were flying up to the spot on our house where they've nested for the past few years. I didn't see if they were carrying nesting material. I'm still seeing FOX and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWs and a week ago there were 2 VARIED THRUSHes in the yard. 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]] Mon Mar 19 12:21:54 2001 Subject: [SBB] Calero Res. -------- This morning, Monday, in addition to the two Golden Eagles cavorting on the north side of the road, there were three Red-throated Loons near the dam at Calero Reservoir, all visible from the boat ramp. No Bald Eagles were seen, but the 50 I saw last Thursday at White Lake at the Klamath NWR should last me for some time. jack cole __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get email at your own domain with Yahoo! Mail. http://personal.mail.yahoo.com/ -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 19 14:33:47 2001 Subject: [SBB] Nuttall's? -------- HI! Since last Thursday my neighborhood in Mountain View near Cuesta and Springer has been graced with a woodpecker on the various telephone poles in the morning. I looked on Friday morning about 7:30 and the sun was behind it so I could not get a good ID. I was finally able to look at it yesterday morning around 9:30 am and today around 7:30 am and it looks like a Nuttall's (vs. a Ladderback) based on the amount of black on its face and the extent of red on its head. The last two mornings he has been at the same pole, while he seemed to be trying different ones before that. This morning he was distracted for a couple minutes while a squirrel climbed up the pole past him to the top of the pole. He flew from his spot to an arm of the pole and flew back after the squirrel had passed. Since I have not posted an original sighting previously, I am interested in feedback on whether this is worthy of a post or if more details are needed. I was also curious, what are the chances that it is a Ladder-backed in this area? Have they ever been seen here? Kathleen -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 19 19:50:24 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] More on Mountain Quail -------- In a message dated 3/16/01 7:45:59 AM Pacific Standard Time, [[email protected]] writes: > > The lack of historical evidence suggests that if native Mountain > Quail > were here, they were very uncommon. There are a number of other cryptic or > secretive Santa Cruz Mountain known residents which were not considered to > be > present by historical observers either , i.e., Northern Saw-whet Owl was > believed to be only a rare wintering species until one used a nestbox put > out > for Western Screech-Owls in 1937. These debates are of great interest but > as > has been said "the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." There > is > much we do not know of the bird life here a century ago. > My 3/16 comments on the occurrence of Mountain Quail in SCZ were nagging me a bit, so I dug around in the county files and also came up with this info: 3 Mountain Quail were recorded on a breeding bird census plot at Big Basin (100 Acre Woods, in the basin proper) in spring-summer 1957 (Eleanor A. Pugh & Robert W. Pugh, Aud. Field Notes 11(6):440-441). E. Pugh was a reliable, careful observer, and also served as an AFN regional editor for several years. The published census results list MOQU as a "visitor" (i.e., not nesting in the redwood forest survey plot) and extrapolate the numbers per 100 acres out to 12. However, none were reported on Pugh's subsequent published census results for winter 57-58, spring 58, winter 58-59 or spring 59. A print out I received in 1994 from the collection of the U.S. National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian) includes the report of 1 MOQU egg collected by W. A. Cooper at "Santa Cruz" on 6/15/1872 (USNM #B21121). I've not looked at the specimen myself or otherwise sought verification of the identification, but that would be a worthwhile thing to do. I think these two records emphasize the need for caution that I read in Bill's post as we seek to interpret the past status of some species in the S.C. Mountains. What actual evidence is there that recent populations of MOQU stem from releases, I wonder? David Suddjian, Capitola Santa Cruz Bird Club Bird Records Keeper [[email protected]] -------- Attachment 2.6 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 19 20:21:41 2001 Subject: Re: [pen-bird] Re: [SBB] More on Mountain Quail -------- David, I did some 'digging' of my own regarding Fish & Game. My comments regarding 'unauthorized' releases came from a phone conversation with someone (name escapes my memory) at Fish & Game in the Fresno office a number of years ago. I was inquiring about finding huntable populations of Mnt. Quail in the Central Sierra Nevada. In the course of this conversation I mentioned something about seeing Mnt. Quail on Black mnt. in Santa Clara co. and the other records from Steven's Creek ( Atlas work). It was this conversation that brought the comment from the F & G guy about 'possible releases' in the past. I had no clear knowledge of the historical record of Mnt quail in the Santa Cruz Mnts. I contacted Fish & Game and inquired about Mnt. Quail in the Santa Cruz Mnts., despite the lack of inclusion in range maps in the latest guide to California Quail Hunting put out by F & G. My contact at Fish & Game has informed me that their range maps have been revised recently and now include Mnt. Quail as inhabiting the Santa Cruz Mnts., albeit a small population(see comments below). Given the historical records ( some dating back to the 1880s) it seems plausible that Mnt. Quail are a legitimate native component of the Santa Cruz Mnts.--at least to me. Blankenship response# 1: Paul: I have forwarded your request to Tom Blankinship my previous supervisor. I now work in the Department's habitat conservation branch and don't know the answer to your question without some research. I will try to take some time to look at our new range map (1995 version), but I have asked Tom to research the translocation records. CDFG did translocate mtn quail many years ago in an attempt to expand their range. If it is a rare observation, I would recommend sending info into our Natural Diversity Data Base. Thanks, Sam Daniel Sam Blankenship Senior Biologist Specialist (Wildlife) Habitat Conservation and Planning Branch 916-651-8762 Blankenship response # 2 Paul: I just reviewed CDFG's current GIS range for mtn quail. It shows a polygon of range on the north east edge of Santa Cruz County and on the south east edge of San Mateo County with most of the polygon located in Santa Clara County. I don't have a quail guide in front of me, but I know the guide used an older version of the range map. In approximately 1995, we sent out 1:250,000 scale maps to all of the CDFG Unit Biologists working in potential mountain quail range and they delineated known occurrence areas. The quail guide is currently being revised and should update the maps. Sam Daniel Sam Blankenship Senior Biologist Specialist (Wildlife) Habitat Conservation and Planning Branch 916-651-8762 >>> "Paul L. Noble" <[[email protected]]> 03/16/01 06:41P [[email protected]] wrote: > In a message dated 3/16/01 7:45:59 AM Pacific Standard Time, > [[email protected]] writes: > > > > > The lack of historical evidence suggests that if native Mountain > > Quail > > were here, they were very uncommon. There are a number of other cryptic or > > secretive Santa Cruz Mountain known residents which were not considered to > > be > > present by historical observers either , i.e., Northern Saw-whet Owl was > > believed to be only a rare wintering species until one used a nestbox put > > out > > for Western Screech-Owls in 1937. These debates are of great interest but > > as > > has been said "the absence of evidence is not evidence of absence." There > > is > > much we do not know of the bird life here a century ago. > > > > My 3/16 comments on the occurrence of Mountain Quail in SCZ were nagging me a > bit, so I dug around in the county files and also came up with this info: > > 3 Mountain Quail were recorded on a breeding bird census plot at Big Basin > (100 Acre Woods, in the basin proper) in spring-summer 1957 (Eleanor A. Pugh & > Robert W. Pugh, Aud. Field Notes 11(6):440-441). E. Pugh was a reliable, > careful observer, and also served as an AFN regional editor for several > years. The published census results list MOQU as a "visitor" (i.e., not > nesting in the redwood forest survey plot) and extrapolate the numbers per > 100 acres out to 12. However, none were reported on Pugh's subsequent > published census results for winter 57-58, spring 58, winter 58-59 or spring > 59. > > A print out I received in 1994 from the collection of the U.S. National > Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian) includes the report of 1 MOQU egg > collected by W. A. Cooper at "Santa Cruz" on 6/15/1872 (USNM #B21121). I've > not looked at the specimen myself or otherwise sought verification of the > identification, but that would be a worthwhile thing to do. > > I think these two records emphasize the need for caution that I read in > Bill's post as we seek to interpret the past status of some species in the > S.C. Mountains. What actual evidence is there that recent populations of MOQU > stem from releases, I wonder? > > David Suddjian, Capitola > Santa Cruz Bird Club > Bird Records Keeper > [[email protected]] > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > ------------------------ Yahoo! Groups Sponsor ---------------------~-~> > Make good on the promise you made at graduation to keep > in touch. Classmates.com has over 14 million registered > high school alumni--chances are you'll find your friends! > http://us.click.yahoo.com/n4HqaC/DMUCAA/4ihDAA/TzJVlB/TM > ---------------------------------------------------------------------_-> > > > > Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ -- Paul L. Noble "Screechowl" [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) / \ m m -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Mar 20 03:49:44 2001 Subject: [SBB] The Owl -------- With my message that I'm moving, several of you have inquired about the viewing of the WESTERN SCREECH OWL at my neighbor's this year...sadly a squirrel took over the box...the owners kicked it out...it came back...they kicked it out...but no owl this year :-( at least not yet. Gloria http://www.wallstreetgifts.com "largest selection of Wall Street inspired gifts" http://www.cowscowscows.com "site for the Chicago and NYC cows" http://www.lgsia.com "money management for YOU using 9 distinct portfolios" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 20 15:07:16 2001 Subject: [SBB] SBB archives vaporized -------- The SBB archives are no longer available through Joe Morlan's site. They are a victim of the fickleness of commercialism. A new solution will emerge. I will keep the list apprised. Thanks, Joe, for starting the archives and maintaining it these past years. Les -- Les Chibana List Bureaucrat South-Bay-Birds List [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Mar 20 16:01:21 2001 Subject: [SBB] Alviso Marina -------- The Cliff Swallows are busy building nests with the resident House Sparrows hoping to nick a free maternity ward when they’re done. Presumably the swallows are more than capable of repelling unwanted guests but it will be interesting to see how that transpires. Also after over a year of visiting Alviso I saw my first American Robin for the site this lunchtime. How weird is that? -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 20 22:24:13 2001 Subject: [SBB] Byxbee Park Owls -------- Has any one seen the owls lately at Byxbee Park - the ones on the grassy knoll. Spent an hour there Monday evening with no luck. Was entertained by a GBH stalking ground squirrels at the small mound inside the fenced area. Didn't catch one (yet) Larry S -------- Attachment 345 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Tue Mar 20 22:30:43 2001 Subject: [SBB] Feed my Quail! -------- I had a flock of 40 CEDAR WAXWINGS a few moments ago. 12 CA QUAIL are eating. My house goes on the market Saturday - hopefully whoever buys it will continue to feed "my" quail. In the 5 years I've been keeping track of my backyard visitors I've had 64 species. I'll miss it. Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos off Quito http://www.wallstreetgifts.com "largest selection of Wall Street inspired gifts" http://www.cowscowscows.com "site for the Chicago and NYC cows" http://www.lgsia.com "money management for YOU using 9 distinct portfolios" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 21 09:06:05 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] : -------- At 01:40 PM 3/18/01 +0000, Mike Mammoser wrote: >On Sunday, 18 Mar 01, I visited Byxbee Park at the Palo Alto Baylands. The >grass on the hill had been completely mowed on the side facing the estuary, >but not yet completed on the top and the side facing the flood control >basin. I heard many SAVANNAH SPARROWS singing from the unmowed areas of >grass, and I'm wondering if the park personnel realize the impact that >mowing could have on the successful breeding of these sparrows there. I've been meaning to ask about the sparrows we saw at Byxbee on the previous weekend. We weren't able to find any bird that matched our sightings, but the Savannahs came pretty close. What was different, however, was the face: our birds had distinctly YELLOW facial stripes, rather than the simply pale stripes I see in Sibley and several other guides. Is this a common variant of the Savannah? Or does anyone have another suggestion? I'm afraid I'm still not good at voice ID, so I can't speak to that element. Thanks, Natasha -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 21 09:41:11 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] : -------- amphibian wrote: > > At 01:40 PM 3/18/01 +0000, Mike Mammoser wrote: > > >On Sunday, 18 Mar 01, I visited Byxbee Park at the Palo Alto Baylands. The > >grass on the hill had been completely mowed on the side facing the estuary, > >but not yet completed on the top and the side facing the flood control > >basin. I heard many SAVANNAH SPARROWS singing from the unmowed areas of > >grass, and I'm wondering if the park personnel realize the impact that > >mowing could have on the successful breeding of these sparrows there. > > I've been meaning to ask about the sparrows we saw at Byxbee on the > previous weekend. We weren't able to find any bird that matched our > sightings, but the Savannahs came pretty close. What was different, > however, was the face: our birds had distinctly YELLOW facial stripes, > rather than the simply pale stripes I see in Sibley and several other > guides. Is this a common variant of the Savannah? Or does anyone have > another suggestion? I'm afraid I'm still not good at voice ID, so I can't > speak to that element. Thanks, > Yes, the amount of yellow on the fact of a Savannah Sparrow is highly variable. Your bird(s) sound well within expected variation. Mark -- Mark Eaton mailto:[[email protected]] SFBirds Web Page http://home.pacbell.net/mweaton Golden Gate Audubon Web Page (note new URL) http://www.goldengateaudubon.org Subscribe to the GGAS Conservation Mailing List at http://list.audubon.org/archives/ca-ggas-conservation.html "The death of the participant may be modeled using statistical life expectancy tables or a defined date, depending on the particular simulation being executed." APOCRYPHAL -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 21 10:17:58 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Byxbee Park Owls -------- Strangely I was there last night and caught a brief glimpse of one. I wondered if anyone has seen the White-fronted Goose lately? Being dusk I was also entertained by the calling Clapper Rails. At least I think I can tell the difference between them and Virginia Rails. > >Has any one seen the owls lately at Byxbee Park - the ones on the grassy >knoll. Spent an hour there Monday evening with no luck. Was entertained by a >GBH stalking ground squirrels at the small mound inside the fenced area. >Didn't catch one (yet) > >Larry S > >-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==-- ++**==--++**==--++**== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 21 10:29:18 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] SBB archives vaporized -------- It turns out that the SBB archives are once again available from Joe Morlan's site . Apparently, its disappearance was due an administrative error (sounds like a Monty Python routine...) and not because of an ISP advertising requirement alluded to in my previous message. In the words of Emily Latella, "Never mind!" Les -- Les Chibana List Bureaucrat South-Bay-Birds List [[email protected]] On Tuesday, March 20, 2001 3:07 PM, Les Chibana <[[email protected]]> wrote: >The SBB archives are no longer available through Joe Morlan's site. >They are a victim of the fickleness of commercialism. A new solution >will emerge. I will keep the list apprised. > >Thanks, Joe, for starting the archives and maintaining it these past >years. > >Les > >-- > >Les Chibana >List Bureaucrat >South-Bay-Birds List >[[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 21 10:35:22 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] : -------- The Savannah Sparrows singing at the Greater Sandplover beach in Marin last weekend were all quite buttery around the face, those bright breeding colors will have faded to a mere hint by summer...according to my birding friends in the southeastern US we see much more yellow in our Nor Cal birds than they ever see...I would be interested to know if Sav Spar coloring is diet-influenced as it is on House Finches and some other species ------------ Previous Message from "Mark W. Eaton" <[[email protected]]> on 03/21/2001 09:41:11 AM ---------- To: amphibian <[[email protected]]> cc: [[email protected]] Subject: Re: [SBB] : amphibian wrote: > > At 01:40 PM 3/18/01 +0000, Mike Mammoser wrote: > > >On Sunday, 18 Mar 01, I visited Byxbee Park at the Palo Alto Baylands. The > >grass on the hill had been completely mowed on the side facing the estuary, > >but not yet completed on the top and the side facing the flood control > >basin. I heard many SAVANNAH SPARROWS singing from the unmowed areas of > >grass, and I'm wondering if the park personnel realize the impact that > >mowing could have on the successful breeding of these sparrows there. > > I've been meaning to ask about the sparrows we saw at Byxbee on the > previous weekend. We weren't able to find any bird that matched our > sightings, but the Savannahs came pretty close. What was different, > however, was the face: our birds had distinctly YELLOW facial stripes, > rather than the simply pale stripes I see in Sibley and several other > guides. Is this a common variant of the Savannah? Or does anyone have > another suggestion? I'm afraid I'm still not good at voice ID, so I can't > speak to that element. Thanks, > Yes, the amount of yellow on the fact of a Savannah Sparrow is highly variable. Your bird(s) sound well within expected variation. Mark -- Mark Eaton mailto:[[email protected]] SFBirds Web Page http://home.pacbell.net/mweaton Golden Gate Audubon Web Page (note new URL) http://www.goldengateaudubon.org Subscribe to the GGAS Conservation Mailing List at http://list.audubon.org/archives/ca-ggas-conservation.html "The death of the participant may be modeled using statistical life expectancy tables or a defined date, depending on the particular simulation being executed." APOCRYPHAL -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 21 11:04:43 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] SBB archives vaporized -------- However most of the archive files for September 2000 and earlier are missing. Sheila Junge Hayward, CA ----- Original Message ----- From: "Les Chibana" <[[email protected]]> To: "South Bay Birders" <[[email protected]]> Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 10:29 AM Subject: Re: [SBB] SBB archives vaporized > It turns out that the SBB archives are once again available from > Joe Morlan's site . > Apparently, its disappearance was due an administrative error > (sounds like a Monty Python routine...) and not because of an ISP > advertising requirement alluded to in my previous message. > > In the words of Emily Latella, "Never mind!" > > Les > > -- > Les Chibana > List Bureaucrat > South-Bay-Birds List > [[email protected]] > > > On Tuesday, March 20, 2001 3:07 PM, Les Chibana <[[email protected]]> wrote: > >The SBB archives are no longer available through Joe Morlan's site. > >They are a victim of the fickleness of commercialism. A new solution > >will emerge. I will keep the list apprised. > > > >Thanks, Joe, for starting the archives and maintaining it these past > >years. > > > >Les > > > >-- > > > >Les Chibana > >List Bureaucrat > >South-Bay-Birds List > >[[email protected]] > > > > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 21 11:09:17 2001 Subject: [SBB] Re: Savannah sparrow -------- I saw the same sparrow. It was singing like a Savannah, but the yellow facial stripes were very bright and it was a relatively dark bird -- quite striking. Heavily streaked with a dark dot in the middle of the breast. -- 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 21 11:28:40 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] : -------- At 10:35 AM 3/21/01 -0800, [[email protected]] wrote: >The Savannah Sparrows singing at the Greater Sandplover beach in Marin last >weekend were all quite buttery around the face, those bright breeding colors >will have faded to a mere hint by summer...according to my birding friends in >the southeastern US we see much more yellow in our Nor Cal birds than they >ever >see...I would be interested to know if Sav Spar coloring is diet-influenced as >it is on House Finches and some other species Savannah Sparrows are quite variable overall in their plumage patterns and colour. Some of this variation is correlated with geography, in other words it suggests that different populations look different (subspecies!). However, a great deal of colour variation in Savannah Sparrows is individual in nature. Keep in mind that variation on the continental level has to do with size, not plumage patterns. Jim Rising of the University of Toronto has dedicated most of the last 20 years or so to attempting to figure out the geographical variation patterns in the Savannah Sparrow. I was a student of his while I did my Masters thesis, so got to learn a lot about Savannah Sparrows from Jim. I know that he feels that in general most named subspecies of this species are not valid, but that the really different subspecies probably deserve to be elevated to species (Large-billed Sparrow, Ipswich Sparrow, Belding's Sparrow etc.). One area that Jim only recently has explored is the identity of Bay Area Savannah Sparrows. It turns out that those nesting in salt marsh tend to be dark and have a very indistinct central crown stripe, suggesting Belding's Sparrow of southern California. Upland nesting birds are paler overall. The amount of yellow on the face is variable, and does appear to be dullest in the middle of summer when birds are worn. What the Savannah Sparrows are in coastal Marin county is probably not known as this is still an area of ongoing research. Hopefully Jim has enough data by now to write something on Bay Area Savannah Sparrows, but maybe not yet. By the way, if you don't have Jim's book (illustrated by Dave Beadle) on sparrows, then pick it up because it really is a good book and is very reasonably priced in soft cover. Rising - A guide to the identification and natural history of the sparrows of the United States and Canada. Academic Press. I am in no way unbiased, both Dave and Jim are good friends. But I really do think its a great book. For you book enthusiasts Jim and Dave are about to publish a photographic guide to the sparrows of US and Canada so look for that soon. I have seen the photos and they are really wonderful. With regards to the influence of diet on colour, its not likely to be a factor in this case. Diet influenced colours tend to be the brighter reds and oranges (high level of carotenoid pigments). Yellows, are less influenced. Basically, carotenoid pigments have to be ingested , they can't be produced by the bird. Therefore if food is poor, high levels of carotenoid pigments may not be available for the bird to lay down in its plumage. But never say never, maybe there is an effect which no one has determined. regards, Al Alvaro Jaramillo 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 21 11:35:06 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] : -------- At 10:35 AM 3/21/01 -0800, [[email protected]] wrote: >The Savannah Sparrows singing at the Greater Sandplover beach in Marin last >weekend were all quite buttery around the face, those bright breeding colors >will have faded to a mere hint by summer...according to my birding friends in >the southeastern US we see much more yellow in our Nor Cal birds than they >ever >see...I would be interested to know if Sav Spar coloring is diet-influenced as >it is on House Finches and some other species Thanks for the several swift replies on this question! I'm going to note those sparrows as Savannahs. The House Finch comment is interesting--the first time I saw them around here it took me quite a while to figure out what they were: the only books I had access to (at that time) showed only red marked finches, but "my" finches were quite yellow! I've since noticed that the yellow-orange types are at least as common as the red ones around here, if not more so. If color is influenced by diet, what's the dietary difference? --Natasha -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 21 11:38:45 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] SBB archives vaporized -------- Yes, this does seem to be the case. Previous to Oct. 2000, only the August and April archives and December 1999 are still intact. So, most of the older archives are gone. If this is a problem for anyone, please e-mail me privately and let me know about your usage of these archives. Les -- Les Chibana List Bureaucrat South-Bay-Birds List [[email protected]] On Wednesday, March 21, 2001 11:04 AM, Sheila Junge <[[email protected]]> wrote: >However most of the archive files for September 2000 and earlier are >missing. > >Sheila Junge >Hayward, CA > >----- Original Message ----- >From: "Les Chibana" <[[email protected]]> >To: "South Bay Birders" <[[email protected]]> >Sent: Wednesday, March 21, 2001 10:29 AM >Subject: Re: [SBB] SBB archives vaporized > > >> It turns out that the SBB archives are once again available from >> Joe Morlan's site . >> Apparently, its disappearance was due an administrative error >> (sounds like a Monty Python routine...) and not because of an ISP >> advertising requirement alluded to in my previous message. >> >> In the words of Emily Latella, "Never mind!" >> >> Les >> >> -- >> Les Chibana >> List Bureaucrat >> South-Bay-Birds List >> [[email protected]] >> >> >> On Tuesday, March 20, 2001 3:07 PM, Les Chibana <[[email protected]]> wrote: >> >The SBB archives are no longer available through Joe Morlan's site. >> >They are a victim of the fickleness of commercialism. A new solution >> >will emerge. I will keep the list apprised. >> > >> >Thanks, Joe, for starting the archives and maintaining it these past >> >years. >> > >> >Les >> > >> >-- >> > >> >Les Chibana >> >List Bureaucrat >> >South-Bay-Birds List >> >[[email protected]] >> >> >> >> -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== >> This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >> server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >> message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to >[[email protected]] >> > >-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to >[[email protected]] > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 21 14:34:49 2001 Subject: [SBB] Mountain Quail (more) -------- Folks: I didn't have one of my files handy when I commented on Mountain Quail in the Santa Cruz Mountains last week. The era of museum collecting as a means of exploring new flora and fauna finished up by the end of the 19th century in California. A Mr. Thomas Bridges of San Jose sent collected specimens to the Zoological Society in London prior to 1857 and these were reported by Philip L. Sclater: List of birds collected by Mr. Thomas Bridges, Corresponding Member of the Society, in the Valley of San Jose, in the state of California. Proc. Zool. Soc. London 25:125-127. The 32 species on this list included _Callipepla picta_, or Mountain Quail. The provenance of specimens can always be questioned, particularly when information is lacking on the tags. But in this situation we have a published list, which certainly makes for a stronger case. Perhaps this thread is becoming bare. 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 21 16:20:22 2001 Subject: [SBB] The BGGNs Are Back -------- Today, Wednesday the 21st, I had an interesting view of an adult Cooper's Hawk silently eyeing some fenced-in chickens near the last house on Prospect Rd in the Freemont Older Open Space Preserve. But mostly it was a "noisy" spring day: There were impossible-to-find Orange-crowned Warblers trilling most everywhere on the trail from Freemont Older Open Space Preserve to Stevens Creek County Park. I heard various parts of the complex call of the migrating Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and the phone-dial trill (and squabbling) of Dark-eyed Juncos. There were twittering Barn Swallows swooping along the slopes up to the ridgeline, where California Quail were Chicago-ing. And along the highest part of this ridge from FOOSP to SCCP, I saw and heard my first Blue-gray Gnatcatchers of the year, Buzz-ing at me to go away. In the upper parts of Stevens Creek, there were many warbling, but hard to find, Purple Finches; and easy-to-find Oak Titmice were Twit-ing everywhere, one through a mouthful of nesting materials. Along the creek there was the machine-gun rattle of a Belted Kingfisher, as well as the "Johnny One Note" call of some Hutton's Vireos while Bewick's Wrens were starting their engines. A Red-shouldered Hawk near the Ranger Station occasionally looked up from his warm lunch to scream at a nearby Western Scrub Jay, who would occasionally scream back. Northern Flickers, Stellar's Jays, and Acorn Woodpeckers all contributed to the Whak-iness. And when I did a pratfall on the steep trail down from the back of the Villa Maria area, I'd swear that a nearby California Thrasher burst out laugh-ing. Frank Vanslager -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 21 16:24:33 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] SBB archives vaporized -------- On 21 Mar 2001 11:38:45 -0800, Les Chibana <[[email protected]]> wrote: >Previous to Oct. 2000, only the >August and April archives and December 1999 are still intact. So, >most of the older archives are gone. All the old archives have been restored and I have added the February 2001 archives. See http://fog.ccsf.org/~jmorlan/southbay.htm -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: mailto:[[email protected]] California Birding & new rarities: http://fog.ccsf.org/~jmorlan/ California Bird Records Committee: http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/ -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 21 21:23:01 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] The BGGNs Are Back (also: Hidden Villa today) -------- All, The Blue-gray Gnatcatchers also arrived at Hidden Villa today (3/21). Warbling Vireos are also singing in good numbers there, as of yesterday. Butterflies at HV are already numerous, and include hundreds of Echo Blues, as well as Satyr Anglewings, Mourning Cloaks, Mylitta Crescents, an unidentified yellow Sulphur, Veined Whites, Painted Ladies, and several other small and inconspicuous types which I haven't had a chance to chase down yet. Saw the first Western Rattlesnake of the year at HV today, as well as the first Western Aquatic Garter Snake. --Garth Harwood -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 22 13:53:28 2001 Subject: [SBB] County birding -------- All, This morning Frank Vanslager and I birded Stevens Creek between La Avenida and Crittenden Marsh, including the marsh, the Mitigation Pond and Salt Pond A2E. Birds of note included an adult male Bullocks Oriole in the mobile home park (a county year bird), three Common Mergansers in the creek (one female, based on the fact that one male would chase the other when it got too close to her) and an unidentified displaying raptor. The raptor was briefly seen diving from a height of about 50-60 feet (initially somewhat higher) following which it would pull up, at height of about 20 feet, and climb straight up until it stalled and fell straight back down, repeating this maneuver at least three times until it was lost from sight in the Moffet Field housing area. The creek near La Avenida had lots of Yellow-rumped Warblers and White-crowned Sparrows, two Belted Kingfishers (a female and a young male), a couple Golden-crowned Sparrows and a few Ruby-crowned Kinglets. Further upstream we had lots of House Finches, several American Goldfinches (including a nice breeding plumage male) and a Lesser Goldfinch. The flooded Mitigation Pond contained a nice variety of ducks but was primarily composed of Green-winged Teal, Canvasback, Gadwall and Mallards. A single Whimbrel was spotted in the Mitigation Pond while the pond and Crittenden Marsh (both) had Willett and Long-billed Curlew. The marsh also had a nice flock of American Avocets, Ruddy Duck, a couple Canada Geese and at least one adult male American Wigeon. Salt Pond A2E added Lesser Scaup. Take care, Bob Reiling, 1:57 PM, 3/22/01 -------- Attachment 1.8 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 22 14:45:33 2001 Subject: [SBB] Surf Scoter, Bullock's Oriole -------- At Calero Reservoir this morning (3/22) there was a male SURF SCOTER near the main dam. 2 RED-THROATED LOONS were also present. Yesterday evening I had a male BULLOCK'S ORIOLE along Los Gatos Creek in Vasona/Oak Meadow County Park (first of the year since I never saw the Palo Alto bird). It was in the mature sycamores near the Blossom Hill Rd bridge. Good birding, Scott Werner -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 22 15:55:02 2001 Subject: [SBB] Coe Birds -------- Amy and I took at day off on 3/21 to celebrate the equinox and spent it at Coe State Park. The wildflower displays were surprisingly excellent given the less than abundant rains this year. Birds of note included Common Merganser on Coyote Creek and returning House Wren, Orange-crowned Warbler, Lark Sparrow, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Warbling Vireo and a probable Cassin's Vireo heard but not seen. James Yurchenco [[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 22 16:58:58 2001 Subject: [SBB] Sky-dance -------- Folks: I don't know if one can confirm an identification of a raptor based on courtship flight, but Bob Reiling's description certainly matches the courtship flight of the Northern Harrier and this is certainly the right time of year. In this flight, the male strings together a series of U's. Each U begins with a dive towards the ground, followed by a rapid ascent and, at the top of the ascent, the harrier rolls on its back and dives to start the next U. I've seen harriers string out more than five of these in a row. 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 22 22:09:10 2001 Subject: [SBB] Wilson's Warbler arrives -------- WIWA joined the chorus at Hidden Villa in Los Altos Hills today, 3/22/01 (they first arrived at my Pescadero home 3/17). --Garth Harwood -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 23 05:40:32 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- I took a walk along San Tomas Aquino Creek today, 23 Mar 01, in Santa Clara. NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS have showed up in the last couple days and seemed quite interested in the holes in the Scott Blvd bridge, an idea that the EUROPEAN STARLINGS have already gotten. An ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was along the creek, undoubtedly a migrant. Meanwhile, a flock of at least 90 CEDAR WAXWINGS continues in the eucalyptus near Mission College Blvd. Mike Mammoser -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 23 08:49:52 2001 Subject: [SBB] COHA Nesting in the Burbs -------- This morning I saw an accipiter, probably a Cooper's Hawk, carrying nexting material in my Palo Alto neighborhood, vicinity of Greer and Edgewood Road. A couple of weeks ago, I saw five raptors on my morning walk: two Red-shouldered, two Red-tailed, and one Kite. Happy Spring, Nancy Teater -- Nancy R. Teater Hamilton Communications phone: +1 650 321 0252 [[email protected]] http://web.hamilton.com fax: +1 650 327 4660 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 23 11:01:41 2001 Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek Park -------- I spent a couple of hours at Stevens Creek Park this morning. One week ago, the only apring arrivals I found were Orange-Crowned Warblers. Today, in the lower portion of the park, I added Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher (as previously noted by Frank), and one each of Warbling Vireo and Wilson's Warbler, the latter two both seen and singing near the Bay Tree parking area. Early on, singing was pretty sparse, probably due to the cloud cover, but activity picked up later in the morning. At the Cooley picnic area, I heard another singing Wilson's Warbler, and there was a flock of Townsend's Warblers in the oaks. (I saw at least 3 or 4, and a song I heard was probably of this species.) Al -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 23 18:36:33 2001 Subject: [SBB] Really thin thread, Mountain Quail -------- All, I don't how most feel about seeing Mountain Quail but as far as I'm concerned I'm only interested if the bird is countable. I may have missed something in all of the e-mails but if MOQU were intentionally released in the Santa Cruz Mountains in the late1800's then they most certainly are countable. However, if they have been released in the last few years then I would appreciate knowing that. What's the score? One or zero? Thanks, Bob Reiling, 6:28 PM, 3/23/01 -------- Attachment 645 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 23 19:24:35 2001 Subject: [SBB] Oka Ponds -------- Good evening, all Took a walk to Los Gatos Creek / Oka Ponds tonight. Los Gatos Creek ponds and creek very quite. Oka ponds side was quite busy. Had a three firsts for my Oka list, a Killdeer, Hermit Thrush and a Marsh Wren. There are two pair of American Wigeons looking just beautiful, swimming with Gadwalls. First Oka Pond near Oka Lane had a great looking Ruddy Duck with his blue bill and big white cheek patches, also in that pond were Bufflehead. The Swallows species has grown to three, Northern-rough Winged, Violet Green and Barn. I had my back turned to the Swallows watching the White Crowned Sparrows when I heard all the Swallows calling, when I turned I saw a Sharp-shinned Hawk had flown into the tree. Have a great weekend. My best regards, Linda Sullivan -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 24 08:39:26 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] COHA Nesting in the Burbs -------- Nancy, The Cooper's Hawk you saw might be the one that is nesting in the large tree overhanging the children's play area in Henry Seale Park in Palo Alto. David Kohler ----- Original Message ----- From: "Nancy Teater" <[[email protected]]> To: <[[email protected]]> Sent: Friday, March 23, 2001 8:49 AM Subject: [SBB] COHA Nesting in the Burbs > This morning I saw an accipiter, probably a Cooper's Hawk, carrying nexting > material in my Palo Alto neighborhood, vicinity of Greer and Edgewood Road. > A couple of weeks ago, I saw five raptors on my morning walk: two > Red-shouldered, two Red-tailed, and one Kite. > Happy Spring, > Nancy Teater > -- > Nancy R. Teater Hamilton Communications phone: +1 650 321 0252 > [[email protected]] http://web.hamilton.com fax: +1 650 327 4660 > > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Mar 24 15:25:08 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Really thin thread, Mountain Quail -------- As I stated in my previous posts, I feel there is no evidence of releases of Mnt. Quail in the Santa Cruz Mnts. The small population there seem to be of natural occurrence. Certainly not released in the 1880s as there were no game laws to speak of at all then, and no reason for release for sport hunting, as most quail hunting at that time was of the market massacre kind. Screech. [[email protected]] wrote: > All, > > I don't how most feel about seeing Mountain Quail but as far as I'm > concerned > I'm only interested if the bird is countable. I may have missed > something in > all of the e-mails but if MOQU were intentionally released in the > Santa Cruz > Mountains in the late1800's then they most certainly are countable. > However, > if they have been released in the last few years then I would > appreciate > knowing that. What's the score? One or zero? > > Thanks, > Bob Reiling, 6:28 PM, 3/23/01 -- 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]] Sun Mar 25 05:05:20 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- On Saturday, 24 Mar 01, I returned to Almaden Quicksilver Park to check on the raptor nest I had seen the previous weekend. It was still unoccupied, but nearby I found a pair of adult COOPER'S HAWKS, quite furtive and quiet. They moved off into a denser area at my presence. Other recently reported birds were seen as well; WARBLING VIREO, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, and WILSON'S WARBLER. PINE SISKINS are still in the area as well. Both GOLDEN EAGLES were at the power tower nest, one incubating and the other perched nearby. I had a newly-arrived male HOODED ORIOLE in my front yard. On Sunday, 25 Mar 01, I birded along Coyote Creek near the end of Silicon Valley Blvd in south San Jose. Both NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS and EUROPEAN STARLINGS were building nests in the overpass holes. A pair of RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS was being quite vocal, and one was duking it out with a RED-TAILED in a territorial squabble. At the Trimble Ave overpass of the Guadalupe River I looked for the Harlan's Hawk, without success. A dark raptor landed on a power tower just as I was leaving and I thought is was the hawk, but it turned out to be an adult GOLDEN EAGLE. It was harrassed out of the area by a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. Lake Cunningham was devoid of any gulls and the domestic goose flock lacked any chen geese. 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]] Sun Mar 25 10:13:32 2001 Subject: [SBB] Ed R Levin - Saturday, March 24th -------- Morning all; Spent another beautiful morning running the Bluebird trail and cataloging the ERLCP birds. Lots of nest starts, but no eggs yet. The nests found so far are: WEBL, OATI, CBCH, and TRES; with 3 that I can't quantify with any certainty just yet... During my walkabout, I found the usual list of suspects for about 55 species. Notable newcomers (for me) for this year were two stunning Bullocks Orioles (BUOR), and a Western Kingbird (WEKI). Notable misses, I tried for several hours, and manually checked 100's of burrows, but no Burrowing Owls (BUOW). I was unable to find the Long-eared Owl (LEOW), but did find the resident Barn Owl (BNOW). I don't think that the increasing press of weekend revelers is helping make them feel any better about staying about. 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]] Sun Mar 25 11:50:37 2001 Subject: [SBB] Ogier Ponds field trip report -------- All, Saturday had been a gorgeous day, a bit windy but still very nice, and as I was leaving Ogier Ponds a Red-shouldered Hawk flew over my car. It was just one of many species seen the week before on a SCVAS field trip but that was missed during the morning's Sequoia Audubon field trip. Big misses included American Bittern and Osprey [to say nothing of the Peregrine Falcon seen the week before]. All of the ponds were almost empty of ducks and those species seen were in small numbers, raptors were few and far between and only four gulls were seen all day [two flying southeast and a single California Gull in each of the ponds on either side of the entrance] this, in spite of the fact that we worked both of the "northern" ponds. Best bird of the day was an adult male Wood Duck [missed on most trips lately] under a tree overhanging Coyote Creek and, thanks to the sharp eyes of Merry Haveman, two Spotted Sandpipers in unusual locations. During the morning we did have a chance to study a mixed flock of Greater and Lesser Scaup and saw our first juvenile Pied-billed Grebes of the year. Common Mergansers put on a nice flight demonstration for us while Tree Swallows perched for us and two well seen California Thrashers sang for us. All things being equal it was a very pleasant if not birdy field trip. Take care, Bob Reiling, 11:06 AM, 3/25/01 -------- Attachment 1.5 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Sun Mar 25 12:00:32 2001 Subject: [SBB] Re: Ogier Ponds field trip report -------- All, Knew I would forget something, Merry also found us a nice adult male Bullock's Oriole in the morning which was only the second that I have seen this year Bob Reiling, 12:08 PM, 3/25/01 -------- Attachment 286 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Sun Mar 25 15:12:40 2001 Subject: [SBB] Sunnyvale WPCP: Imm. SNOW GOOSE -------- Saturday 4:30PM Sunnyvale Water Pollution Control Pond 2 BURROWING OWLS on the mound facing the parking lot. Imm. SNOW GOOSE feeding with the flock of Domestic Geese. Others: BARN SWALLOW, COMMON MOORHEN A male RUDDY DUCK in bright breeding plumage was "singing". Not very loud. For the first part of the song (the "bouncing ball") it rapidly beat it breast with its bill, then leaned outwards to belt out the second part. Very interesting. Vivek [[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 25 15:49:21 2001 Subject: [SBB] Gulls and Chen geese -------- During Scott Terrill's fun and very informative gull identification class for the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory on Saturday we did not get the numbers of gulls expected but had great looks at eight different gull species, giving Scott the opportunity to share his wisdom about the challenging world of gull ID. The eight species seen were: Bonaparte's, Ring-billed, Mew, California, Herring, Thayer's, Western and Glaucous-winged Gulls, along with some intriguing hybrids. For other highlights: At Palo Alto Baylands in the morning the class also had wonderfully close looks at Long-billed Dowitchers in the old yacht harbor. At pond A16 by the Environmental Education Center in Alviso, a few of the Eared Grebes swimming near the first island were in breeding plumage. At Almaden Lake Park the heronry on the island in the middle of the lake appeared to be quite busy and Luke Cole's eagle eye spotted a Green Heron at the island's base. Also seen there were an Osprey overhead and Pied-billed Grebes mating. The last stop of the day at Lake Cunningham brought both a Snow Goose and a Ross's Goose in with the Chinese and Domestic Geese in the strip between the lake and the parking lot. You couldn't hope for a closer look at the two species. All in all, a great day! Cheryl Millett -------- Attachment 1.9 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 26 02:11:27 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- ----- Original Message ----- From: <[[email protected]]> > > Can you tell me which entrance you went in and roughly where the Golden > Eagles nest would be? The eagle nest is just northwest of Calero Reservoir, rather than in Almaden Quicksilver. Sorry for the confusion. If you take McKean Rd to the NW corner of Calero (just where it turns north away from the reservoir), look for the power lines crossing the road. The nest is at the top of the fourth power tower west of the road. This nest is easily viewable (with a scope) by pulling to the side of McKean Rd right where it intersects with Schillingsburg Ave. The eagles have nested here for a number of years, historically on the third power tower west of the road. The old nest was built in the rafters of the tower, and PG&E ? finally tore the nest down (probably because it was getting too bulky and dangerous). However, they installed a metal platform on the next tower over and the eagles readily took to it. They seem to be incubating right now, so chances are good that at least one bird will be present at any time. However, you may only be able to see the head of the sitting bird above the edge of the nest. If it lays down, it may not be visible. 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 26 08:58:17 2001 Subject: [SBB] Bolinas Lagoon -------- Hello birders, Though the weather wasn't as cooperative as we might have liked, we saw some good birds on Saturday on Ted Chandik's Fly By Dawn trip to Bolinas Lagoon/Audubon Canyon Ranch. Best bird was the Tufted Duck, a life bird for most of us, which we saw opposite the entrance to Audubon Canyon. We also saw two Peregrine Falcons and several Osprey, including one that dived four times in front of us, finally coming up with a fish. At Audubon Canyon we enjoyed seeing Great Egrets with their beautiful courting plumage spread out, and one fellow was lowering and raising his head to attract even more attention. The viewing at Five Brooks, up the road, was limited because it started to rain fairly hard, but we got a good look at one Fox Sparrow and some CA Quail. Nancy Teater -- Nancy R. Teater Hamilton Communications phone: +1 650 321 0252 [[email protected]] http://web.hamilton.com fax: +1 650 327 4660 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 26 09:29:35 2001 Subject: [SBB] Almaden/Quicksilver CP -------- Hello All, This is an SCVAS field trip report for Almaden/Quicksilver CP on Sunday, Mar 25. Under cloudy overcast skies about 14 of us made the trek up Mine Hill Trail to Capehorn Pass, then over to English Camp and back down again. Early in the morning as participants were arriving, N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS flew about the parking area and two BULLOCK'S ORIOLES were seen in a bare tree near the ranger station. As the trip officially got underway W. BLUEBIRDS were seen on the fence posts and in the first oak tree leading up the trails. As we hiked up into the oak woodlands, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS could be heard on either side of the trail and we were able to get good looks at about two or three of these elusive singers. Among other birds seen and heard in the oaks and brush were Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse, Hutton's Vireo, Bushtit, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Dark-eyed Junco, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Lesser Goldfinch, Bewick's Wren, Wrentit, Spotted Towhee, Yellow-rumped Warblers (with both Aububon and Myrtle coming into breeding plumage), and Violet-green Swallows overhead. Up in the chaparral at Capehorn Pass we found newly arrived BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS including good looks at a pair in a blue oak. A singing CALIF THRASHER was perched out in the open in the brush and a brilliant male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD dove into the chaparral brush like a tiny glowing meteor. Unfortunately, only one person saw this little gem of a hummer although we searched the chaparral and blooming ceanothus bushes for him. A male COOPER'S HAWK soared above and landed in a tree farther up the hill. In the English Camp area we found Band-tailed Pigeon, American Robin, Golden-crowned Sparrow, and Hermit Thrush. Coming back down to the parking area after the long hike, we were rewarded with the sightings of WILD TURKEYS - one on the hill across from the park and three in former reduction works area near the parking lot. Also a pair of COMMON RAVENS was seen soaring overhead - a rare sighting for this area. Afterwards three of us opted to check out Almaden Reservoir and the Alamitos/Twin Creeks area. WOOD DUCKS were seen in a secluded seasonal woodland pond 3/10 mile from the dam (where theWhite-throated Sparrow had been seen previously). Farther along Alamitos Rd near the O'Day property we added Great Blue Heron, Belted Kingfisher, Hairy Woodpecker, White-breasted Nuthatch, and Cedar Waxwing to the day list. A good field trip with over 50 species tallied. Everyone on the trip completed the full Mine Hill/Capehorn Pass/English Camp loop - you were all troopers! 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 26 11:24:21 2001 Subject: [SBB] Byxbee Park Burrowing Owl -------- In Byxbee Park at 7:30 this morning I saw a burrowing owl atop the mound below the “hanging string art”. The mound is just behind a larger mound near the path along the water. Also, lots of Black-bellied Plovers in breeding plumage in the bay off the end of the pier at the Lucy Evans Nature Center. Ted Dolton -------- Attachment 462 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Mon Mar 26 20:45:03 2001 Subject: [SBB] SCVAS field trip to Almaden Lake Park / Alamitos Creek Trail on 3/24/01 -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, About 40 birders turned out for the SCVAS field trip to Almaden Lake Park / Alamitos Creek on Saturday. Best and brightest of the returning migrants that we observed were BULLOCK'S ORIOLES (2-3 singing and chattering near the lake). Other birds at Almaden Lake included 1 HORNED GREBE, a BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON carrying nesting material, GREEN HERON, a COMMON GOLDENEYE, a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK (carrying prey!), a COMMON MOORHEN, 2 THAYER'S GULLS, and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS. Farther upstream, along the Alamitos Creek Trail, we had several COMMON MERGANSERS, COOPER'S and RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, WILD TURKEYS, bunches of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS, and a few NUTMEG MANNIKINS. In all we tallied 65-plus species for the day. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- ---- 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]] Tue Mar 27 10:18:50 2001 Subject: [SBB] "My Farm" experience -------- Today as I entered "my farm" (La Rinconada Park) off Bicknell I was attracted to a male RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD who was in flight and banking so that his red seemed at a glance to cover his entire wing - and oh so brilliant. There are only a handful of this species at "my farm.." I checked to see if the SNOWY EGRET was perhaps in its tree, whether the ACORN WOODPECKERS were arriving at the big Euc for the day. There were swallows or vaux above and I was checking them out (no binocs). I walked on to the first bridge and turned back to see a pair of MALLARD's in the creek. As I looked down, I was amazed to see a RED FOX just a foot away from my dog (toy poodle). The fox's tail was very bushy, but it looked pretty scrawny. I got my dog on the middle of the bridge with me (about a 15' bridge) and the fox would go to one end of the bridge, circle down cross the creek and go to the other end of the bridge, then it went back to the other side, then it went on the other side of the bridge. It basically circled us never being more than 20 feet away. But, never stepping foot on the bridge. After what seemed forever, I decided that perhaps it was so close because I was frozen in place. So, I started off the bridge. It followed me. Thinking my 10 lb dog might be breakfast, I picked her up and carried her. The fox followed. He'd go in and out of the trees but he followed us to the 2nd bridge. Never saw another person, have to admit I even stopped noticing birds! After we left the fox, I did see 6 CALIFORNIA QUAIL by the wired part of the pathway. The 2 BUSHTIT nests that were filmed being constructed are still there. 2 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS who aren't a normal occurance were there. A CALIFORNIA THRASHER...and my heart which finally returned to normal! Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos off Quito http://www.wallstreetgifts.com "largest selection of Wall Street inspired gifts" http://www.cowscowscows.com "site for the Chicago and NYC cows" http://www.lgsia.com "money management for YOU using 9 distinct portfolios" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 27 13:23:47 2001 Subject: [SBB] posting precise nest info -------- Hi all, I hate to be a downer on the very interesting topic of nesting raptors within the county. However, I would like to point out that there are still people out there who for a variety of reasons could target raptor nests and other sensitive wildlife species for sport, hobby, economic reasons, etc. Further, disturbance by anyone at this sensitive stage in their life-cycle can lead to nest abandonment, which is illegal regardless of the intent of the observer. I think that Mike's suggestion of scope viewing from a distance is excellent. I am not at all suggesting that foul (or is it fowl) play is at work here in any way, shape or form. This nest in particular is very well known. I would like to suggest that PRECISE directions to nests of raptors, or for that matter species of special concern or Threatened or Endangered species probably should not be posted in such a public forum. Instead maybe posting general site information and then sending exact directions specifically to interested individuals whose intentions are known. The other side to the arguement is that increased public awareness increases informal monitoring of these sites, but that is probably also is accomplished if general localities are given. Again, I am not suggesting that anything bad is happening or has happened within the county, just that it is possible and we should be careful. Just food for thought. Tom Ryan -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Mar 27 22:08:58 2001 Subject: [SBB] Do Black-crowned Night Herons Migrate? -------- For the past two weeks I have been extensively birding the Casey Forebay area of the Mt. View Shoreline area at the end of San Antonio Rd., Mt View. I have not seen one Black-crowned Night-Heron in the past two weeks. This area has been know as kind of a Night-Heron condominium. Where did they go? Lou -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Mar 27 23:19:16 2001 Subject: [SBB] woodpecker damage -------- All, A nonbirding friend called me this evening about a woodpecker pecking large holes in the eaves of his house. He didn't know what species it was & I haven't had a chance to go over and see. He wanted to know how to get the bird to stop. Anyone have any ideas? Jean -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 28 07:18:39 2001 Subject: [SBB] Night Heron Migration -------- Folks: Lou Beaudet asked if our local Black-crowned Night Herons migrate, having noticed that the birds roosting here during the winter have left. My guess is that these are local birds that have started to nest at some local heronry. However, it is possible that these are more northern birds, without banding studies it is hard to determine whether are truly local birds or just wintering 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]] Wed Mar 28 09:43:56 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] woodpecker damage -------- Almost undoubtedly an Acorn Woodpecker. Unless they've got some *serious* insect problem in their house, in which case the woodpecker is the least of their troubles :-) I had this problem with my old house in Ben Lomond. They seemed to prefer one side of a wooden chimney that was fortunately pretty much not visible. I tried various things to discourage them with really no success. Maybe nail up some sheet metal on the eaves and paint it to match the house? Paul [[email protected]] wrote: > > All, > > A nonbirding friend called me this evening about a woodpecker pecking > large holes in the eaves of his house. He didn't know what species it was & > I haven't had a chance to go over and see. He wanted to know how to get the > bird to stop. Anyone have any ideas? > > Jean > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 28 10:29:00 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] woodpecker damage -------- Hi All, Just received notice that a white (imprinted) gyrfalcon has escaped from a falconer in Watsonville, yesterday. I saw this bird a few years ago and he is beautiful. Anyone seeing the bird can call Bill Murphy at 831 722-6890. Sorry for the out of the county message. Karen Hoyt -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 28 12:46:30 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] woodpecker damage -------- On Wed, 28 Mar 2001 02:19:16 EST, [[email protected]] wrote: > He wanted to know how to get the >bird to stop. Anyone have any ideas? Tack mylar strips at the top over the area. Let the bottoms of the strips hang loose. If that doesn't work, contact your friendly county extension agent. -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: mailto:[[email protected]] California Birding & new rarities: http://fog.ccsf.org/~jmorlan/ California Bird Records Committee: http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/ -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 28 13:28:17 2001 Subject: [SBB] Thick-billed Kingbird still at Ocean Colony -------- I saw the bird at 10:30 this (Wednesday) morning in the area about the eastern fence of the maintenance yard. I had been searching for half an hour without success when it suddenly started calling and sallying for insects. I think the late start might have been due to morning overcast and cool temperature. --Peter ------------------------------------------------------ Peter LaTourrette North American Bird Photo Gallery: http://www.birdphotography.com/ Jasper Ridge Bird Photo Gallery: http://www.stanford.edu/~petelat1/ -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Mar 28 14:56:09 2001 Subject: [SBB] Ed Levin County Park -------- All, Today 3/28/01 I birded Ed Levin Park over lunch (apparently on the heels of an Audubon trip there this morning). A quick check of the pines near the Elm Picnic Area parking lot turned up a roosting BARN OWL (still in the same spot when I left), but no Long-eared Owls. Checking the row of eucalyptus along the golf course turned up 4 to 5 furtive male SELASPHORUS HUMMINGBIRDS, at least 2 of which were courting male ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS. Also lots of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES (at least 5), both "AUDUBON'S" and "MYRTLE" YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, and many CEDAR WAXWINGS. I next headed up to Sandy Wool Lake, where I found a single male RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in the eucalyptus east of the lake. An adult SHARP-SHINNED HAWK burst from its hiding place beneath a bushy tree. A RED-TAILED HAWK brought a small mammal to a nest west of the lake. Heading up to the sycamore grove, I heard a singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROW where others have reported them just past the green gate. On the way back out I managed to get a look at perhaps the same bird. At the sycamores were the expected HOUSE WRENS and RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS, as well as a pair of LESSER GOLDFINCH building a nest and seven WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS overhead. A few lingering winter birds are still around, with several of both WHITE-CROWNED and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS and a RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was hunting over the southeast corner of Moffett Field (near the Highway 237/101 junction) on my return to work. 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 28 17:24:23 2001 Subject: [SBB] Sunnyvale Dump -------- The two BURROWING OWLS on the hill across the creek from the parking area at Sunnyvale Dump were standing about 20 feet apart at 4:45 PM today (3/28). Further up around the trail was another pair of BURROWING OWLS facing the radar loop ponds. On the San Francisco Bay Trail behind the sewage treatment plant I counted over 35 SNOWY EGRETS along the north & west shore, 2 GREAT EGRETS, and 1 GREAT BLUE HERON. There were only 2 CANADA GEESE, and I didn't see any Black-Crowned Night Herons. Karen DeMello ([[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 28 22:47:55 2001 Subject: [SBB] WB Nuthatches -------- What a difference a block makes! I frequently walk a bit in Los Altos (west of downtown), on my way to work. Lately I've seen and heard a lot of Lesser Goldfinches and a few Bewicks Wrens, as well as the usual Oak Titmice, Chestnut-sided Chickadees, A. Robins, Scrub Jays, and resident hawks (we saw one of "our" Coopers last Thursday). Today I took the next street over from my typical route and saw 3 White-breasted Nuthatches within one block (two working a tree together, one separate and down the street a bit). This is the first time I've seen them nearby in at least 4 or 5 months. I wonder what's on the the next street....? --Natasha -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 29 06:00:00 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- Along San Tomas Aquino Creek in Santa Clara today, 29 Mar 01, I had a pair of KILLDEER with 2 precocial young birds in the creekbed. These young birds couldn't have been more than a couple days old, which means that the adults probably laid eggs around the beginning of March. At least 3 nests of EUROPEAN STARLING are active in the concrete holes of the Scott Blvd bridge. I keep seeing NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS here, but haven't yet seen them enter any of these holes. Near Mission College Blvd I had a flock of 18 CEDAR WAXWINGS. Mike Mammoser -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Mar 29 14:41:38 2001 Subject: [SBB] nests and young -------- All, Lots of breeding activity during a 10K run from Moffett Field to Shoreline Park and back today 3/29/01. Two recently hatched precocial young KILLDEER were running around on the gravel area under the electrical substation west of the wind tunnel inlet. One had to be helped up over the curb and out of the road, where it was likely to fall victim to somebody's tire. I only have one record of precocial young from a date earlier than this, one from 3/26/98. A pair of BURROWING OWLS was at a hole on the mound north of the bike path opposite the entrance to the Shoreline golf course; they were here on Tuesday as well. It appears that we have two COMMON RAVEN nests on the big wind tunnel on Moffett Field this year, with a pair changing at a nest on the north side of the inlet and another copulating at a nest just south of the elevator shaft on the west wall of the tunnel. BELTED KINGFISHERS have been regular along Stevens Creek and are probably nesting not far from highway 101. Plenty of singing AMERICAN GOLDFINCH all over Shoreline Park and many singing MARSH WRENS at the south end of the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh (aka mitigation area). Not a breeding bird, but nonetheless of interest, was a very white (bleached/faded) first-year GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL along the southern edge of Salt Pond A2W. 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 29 17:45:39 2001 Subject: [SBB] Fwd: Pine Siskin illness -------- This was posted on the Monterey list and may be of interest to SBB. Les Chibana -------------------------------------- Date: Thursday, March 29, 2001 5:32 PM Hi MBBers -- Seems that another pathogen, in addition to Salmonella, is responsible for some of the sick Pine Siskins in our area. I just talked with Hillary Stern, a veterinarian with For The Birds in Los Gatos, who has a siskin that is infected with what has been called Megabacteria. This is apparently a recently described avian disease. The pathogen is actually a fungus, not a bacterium as the name suggests. The disease is fecal-oral, so, like Salmonella, it could easily be transmitted at feeders. Another reason to clean and disinfect our feeders regularly. Jeff Davis Santa Cruz -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 29 19:14:44 2001 Subject: [SBB] Goldfinches sick? -------- As you know I had a lot of PINE SISKENS some of which died and a lot more looked quite sick. I no longer have any Pine Siskens in my yard. However, for the past several days I've noticed a handful of AMERICAN GOLDFINCH that have the same symptons of the Pine Siskens. All puffed up. Very sedentary. Anyone else experiencing this? And, just for the record, I bought a brand new 4' feeder and 20 lbs of thistle about a week before the sick Pine Sisken flock arrived. So, my feeders are not unhealthy.... The BAND-TAILED PIGEON flock is increasing. During the winter just 2-4 at a time...am up to 20-25 now. Last summer I reached a peak of 73. I still have about 30 CEDAR WAXWINGS that seem to be stopping and resting in my yard every day. Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos off Quito http://www.wallstreetgifts.com "largest selection of Wall Street inspired gifts" http://www.cowscowscows.com "site for the Chicago and NYC cows" http://www.lgsia.com "money management for YOU using 9 distinct portfolios" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 29 23:18:08 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Fwd: Pine Siskin illness -------- On Thursday, March 29, 2001, at 05:45 PM, Les Chibana wrote: > I just talked with Hillary > Stern, a veterinarian with For The Birds in Los Gatos, who has a siskin > that is infected with what has been called Megabacteria. This is > apparently a recently described avian disease. The pathogen is > actually a > fungus, not a bacterium as the name suggests. time to bleach the back yard again... FWIW, Hillary is one of the vets who manages my birds. She and the for the birds folks rock. Assuming she's not too busy, I should see her tomorrow, and if I do, I'll see if I can get more details and/or some references to pass along. chuq (who has a cockatoo under treatment...) -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 29 23:30:07 2001 Subject: [SBB] Fwd: Fwd: Pine Siskin illness -------- On Thursday, March 29, 2001, at 11:18 PM, chuq von rospach wrote: I'll see if I can get more details and/or some references to pass along. I just did a quick lit search on the megabacteria. If you want more details (they aren't fun) start here: . -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 30 08:50:48 2001 Subject: [SBB] HOODED ORIOLE & GREEN HERON -------- The first HOODED ORIOLE of the year has made an appearance in my backyard :-) Last year it appeared on April 2. In 1999 on March 22. While walking through "My Farm" this morning there was a GREEN HERON sitting about 20 feet from the top of the humongous Euc tree. It's about as big as any Euc tree I've seen. I don't recall seeing a Green Heron that high before. Gloria LeBlanc http://www.wallstreetgifts.com "largest selection of Wall Street inspired gifts" http://www.cowscowscows.com "site for the Chicago and NYC cows" http://www.lgsia.com "money management for YOU using 9 distinct portfolios" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 30 10:09:43 2001 Subject: [SBB] OT - Unicorn JackRabbit at ERLCP -------- Good morning all, While this item probably doesn't rate for typical posting to this forum, I thought that I'd send you all a link and tell you the story anyway. If you're interested in seeing a Jack Rabbit with a "Unicorn" type horn sticking out of his head, click here: http://fsinc.com/wildbirds/unicorn.htm. No, it's not a trick picture. But this Jack Rabbit had a 2 inch "horn" sticking straight out of his forehead. I chased after him a bit trying to get a closer and better view, but couldn't get much closer than about 3 meters or so... As you might imagine, a Jack Rabbit isn't all that eager to let folks get close. Although I got several good views, the camera view suffered from distance and a bad sun angle. By the time we thought of and brought the camera to bear, he'd taken a distinct dislike to our presence, and kept well away. I've seen him since. He seems otherwise healthy and "normal". And I couldn't see the horn (distance and brush). But there did still seem to be something that wasn't smooth fur between his eyes... Enjoy! Dusty Bleher Campbell -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 30 12:12:56 2001 Subject: [SBB] Re: Sibley guide -------- Mike: > For those looking to obtain a copy (or second copy?) of the > new Sibley guide cheap, Costco in Mountain View (Rengstorff > at Highway 101) has a big stack of them for the great price > of $21.99 each. > > Mike Rogers > > P.S. This is the fourth printing of the first edition, which > includes a few corrections, such as the names of Black-billed > Magpie and Crested Caracara etc... Any improvement yet in the color printing (e.g., solving the too-intense reds on a few illustrations)? Al -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 30 12:49:35 2001 Subject: [SBB] Sibley guide -------- All, For those looking to obtain a copy (or second copy?) of the new Sibley guide cheap, Costco in Mountain View (Rengstorff at Highway 101) has a big stack of them for the great price of $21.99 each. Mike Rogers P.S. This is the fourth printing of the first edition, which includes a few corrections, such as the names of Black-billed Magpie and Crested Caracara etc... -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 30 13:47:53 2001 Subject: [SBB] Re: Sibley guide -------- On Friday, March 30, 2001 12:12 PM, [[email protected]] wrote: >Mike: > >Any improvement yet in the color printing (e.g., solving the too-intense reds >on a few illustrations)? > Al > >> For those looking to obtain a copy (or second copy?) of the >> new Sibley guide cheap, Costco in Mountain View (Rengstorff >> at Highway 101) has a big stack of them for the great price >> of $21.99 each. >> >> Mike Rogers >> >> P.S. This is the fourth printing of the first edition, which >> includes a few corrections, such as the names of Black-billed >> Magpie and Crested Caracara etc... The only color change that I'm aware of is in lightening the adult Clay- colored Sparrow near the bottom on pg. 485. Here's the rest of the changes and some of Sibley's comments about the color reproductions, maps, etc. from David Sibley's web site: http://www.sibleyart.com/updates.htm Updates and Corrections to the fourth printing The fourth printing of the "Sibley Guide to Birds" will be in stores in February 2001. In that printing there will be a small number of changes to art and text. I have listed the substantive changes so that those of you who own earlier printings can update your guides. Some general topics of discussion are outlined below, followed by a page-by-page listing of changes. I continue to work on the guide and I will post updates, supplements, and corrections on the website as I work on revisions for future printings. Please contact me with any questions or comments. A "quick index" (a one-page index of the common names of groups of species) will be added inside the back cover. Many people expressed interest in having this feature added, and at least two different versions of a quick index appeared on the web soon after the book went on sale. If you would like to download one of these and paste it into the cover of your 1st or 2nd printing guide, you can find one at the website of the Northern Arizona Audubon Society and another at the Avisys birding software site. Color reproduction has been criticized. In particular the brightness of certain rufous colors (e.g. Brown Thrasher) and blue colors (e.g. Jays), which seem too intense, and some gray species (e.g. gulls) which appear too bluish. Efforts to correct this are ongoing, but the process is not as simple as just "taking out some blue ink" or "darkening the rufous areas", and will almost certainly involve retouching original art and rescanning selected paintings (much of the trouble is with the original art). People often ask me if I am happy with the colors in the book, and I certainly am. The original paintings are rather bright, showing the birds at their best, brightest, and most contrasting, as if on a sunny day. The reduction and printing enhanced the colors throughout, creating a rich, bright look to the whole book, and in a few cases pushing the colors beyond the range of normal. When looking at the colors in the book bear in mind that our color perceptions of birds are cont! rolled by lighting, a Brown Thrasher in sunlight looks much brighter than one in shadow, and there is of course no practical way to show such variation in a book. Similarly, the colors in the book itself appear to change under different lighting conditions, compare the appearance of the pages under fluorescent light with that under sunlight. Maps generated the most criticism, and I suppose rightly so. The attempt to show migration routes and vagrant records on a small field guide map was, in my opinion, successful, but many people pointed out that the green dots showing vagrant records are often not placed accurately. My intention was simply to show the broad pattern of such records for a given species, rather than details of individual records. In that sense the system works, but I agree that the dots imply a kind of precision that is lacking in the actual maps. Efforts are under way now to completely overhaul the maps, a project that may take two years or so to finish. UPDATES Two name changes (Black-billed Magpie and Crested Caracara) are the most important correction in this printing. In both cases I had tried to anticipate American Ornithologist's Union Checklist Committee changes that were made just before this book was printed, and I got it wrong. Black-billed Magpie and Crested Caracara were both split from extralimital populations, and the scientific names of both were changed. There was some discussion of changing the English names as well to emphasize the splits, but in the end the committee decided to retain the established English names. * "American" Magpie changed back to Black-billed Magpie on page 350, 358, and 541 * "Northern" Caracara changed back to Crested Caracara on page 105, 128, 129, and 539 page 58: There are apparently records of Cory's (dark morph) Least Bittern from Ontario as recently as xx and New York as recently as 1992, so the caption at the bottom of the page is changed to read simply "very rare". The illustration of this plumage variant should be darker overall, corrections to art will be made in a later printing. page 112: The images of perched adult male and female Sharp-shinned and Cooper's Hawks should be different sizes to reflect the sexual size dimorphism in those species. Scans were inadvertently resized during printing and have been corrected so that the adult male Cooper's is just barely larger than the adult female Sharp-shinned, while the adult male Sharp-shinned is smaller than all others. page 115: Common Black-Hawk - The label that reads "white 'comma'" on the flying adult is changed to read "pale 'comma'" page 141: Ring-necked Pheasant - voice description is changed to reflect the fact that apparently only the male gives a loud harsh cackle when flushed. page 147: Greater Prairie-Chicken - label describing Attwater's subspecies is changed for clarity "Attwater's averages 10 percent smaller than Northern..." page 164: Piping Plover - all three standing birds have been enlarged to better represent the true size of the species, similar to Semipalmated Plover. page 240: Black Skimmer - the reference to "Oldsquaw" in the voice description has been changed to "Long-tailed Duck" page 292: Lucifer Hummingbird image has been reduced to better represent the true size of the species, similar to Costa's Hummingbird. page 361: Header text amended with new sentence "Tamaulipas [Crow] is now an extremely rare visitor". This species is apparently unrecorded in Texas since 1998, and should be identified there with great care. page 374: Black-capped Chickadee - the fresh adult Eastern bird has been enlarged to be larger than the Pacific bird, similar in size to the Rocky Mountain bird. page 378: Drab Gray Birds of the Arid Southwest - a text note has been added "see also Gray Vireo". page 455: Hooded Warbler - the right-hand bird in flight is an adult male and should be labeled as such. page 485: The adult Clay-colored Sparrow image is too dark and contrasty in the first and second printing. This has been corrected with a new scan. page 514: Brewer's Blackbird - the bird labeled "adult male nonbreeding" is now called "drab 1st winter male (Aug-Mar)", as this plumage type seems to be scarce in general and virtually all males in winter look essentially all black. Therefore the all black bird here is now labeled simply "adult male". UPDATES FOR FUTURE PRINTINGS page 62: The label for "2nd year" Reddish Egret of both dark and white morphs should be changed to "adult nonbreeding" and the bright-billed "adult" should be labeled "adult breeding". The bright colors are worn by an individual bird for a few months when breeding, which can happen almost year-round, but mainly about Jan to Jun. page : Most or all of the Purple Swamphens seen in Florida are of the gray-headed Caspian population. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 30 15:10:50 2001 Subject: [SBB] Black-head Grossbeak -------- Good Afternoon, What a special treat to find a female Black-headed Grosbeak at my feeder just minutes ago. She was eating the Black-oil Sunflower seeds from the feeder tray. Just a wonderful sight! Good birding to all. My best regards, Linda Sullivan -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 30 17:04:28 2001 Subject: [SBB] La Rinconada -------- Hi, I made a quick trip to La Rinconada park in Los Gatos this afternoon. Just past the big Euc tree was a hanging nest about 8 inches tall with a circular opening near the top. It was about 6 1/2 feet above the ground. No birds were around it, but I didn't have time to sit on the picnic bench and wait. I was thinking it might be an oriole nest. There were good numbers of American Goldfinch, some bathing in the creek with White-crowned Sparrows. I saw a Common Yellowthroat by the creek, the first I've seen here. A Green Heron flushed and flew high up into an Oak tree. On the way out I saw a Brown Creeper spiraling up an oak. 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]] Fri Mar 30 20:04:17 2001 Subject: [SBB] Banded Bird -------- All, Today around 4:30 I was birding along the levee going north from the Alviso Marina that is parallel to the railroad when I spotted a Least Sandpiper wiith two banded legs. The left leg had a plain white band and the right leg band was "hot pink" on the upper part and white on the lower part. This was the first time that I have seen a banded bird and I'm curious as to what the significance might be and if the sighting is of interest to anyone. Thanks, John -------- Attachment 1.5 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Fri Mar 30 22:35:15 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Banded Bird -------- John, Birds are usually banded with color bands when they are part of someones study that requires individual identification. Reporting them can be very important to the person doing the study, so YEAH for reporting it! The USGS Bird Banding Lab has info on how and where to report banded birds at http://www.pwrc.usgs.gov/bbl/default.htm They say there that the prefered method of contact is by phone, toll-free at 1-800-327-BAND (2263). Then they can ask you questions they may need to know about a bird sighting. Often they may be able to put you in contact with the researcher as well to find out what kind of study they're doing. That all assumes, of course, that the bird was banded in the U.S. Bob At 08:04 PM 3/30/01 -0800, you wrote: >[[email protected]] All, Today around 4:30 I was birding along the levee going north from the Alviso Marina that is parallel to the railroad when I spotted a Least Sandpiper wiith two banded legs. The left leg had a plain white band and the right leg band was "hot pink" on the upper part and white on the lower part. This was the first time that I have seen a banded bird and I'm curious as to what the significance might be and if the sighting is of interest to anyone. Thanks, John [[email protected]] Robert B. Hole, Jr. Research Librarian San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory P. O. Box 247 Alviso, CA 95002 http://www.sfbbo.org -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Mar 31 10:40:42 2001 Subject: [SBB] Frenchman's Meadow, Stanford -------- Spring-ish developments of possible local interest: Two adult male HOODED ORIOLES have arrived as of this morning. Good place to come if you want to listen to songs of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS -- several of them singing, both Audubon's and Myrtle. Heard TOWNSEND'S WARBLER singing two mornings ago.. no Wilson's heard yet. Other hangers-on still around -- CEDAR WAXWINGS, singing GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS. RED-TAILED HAWK pair nesting in redwood along Gerona Road. Saw pair of HAIRY WOODPECKERS near the palm tree on Gerona Road two mornings ago. Had first sighting of DAVE LEWIS, neighbor and fellow campus birder, previously known only from SBB reports. 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]] Sat Mar 31 13:53:32 2001 Subject: [SBB] CHICKADEE nest material -------- I'm lucky in that some Chickadees are building a nest in the Bluebird box that some Titmouse built a nest in last year in my backyard. What's interesting is the "nest" material...red camillia petals...they are back and forth, one petal at a time... Gloria LeBlanc http://www.wallstreetgifts.com "largest selection of Wall Street inspired gifts" http://www.cowscowscows.com "site for the Chicago and NYC cows" http://www.lgsia.com "money management for YOU using 9 distinct portfolios" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]]