From [[email protected]] Tue May 01 07:25:29 2001 Subject: [SBB] - -------- Folks: Yesterday afternoon, 4/30/2001, there was a sleeping male BLUE-WINGED TEAL in the North Pond of the Palo Alto FCB. The BLACK SKIMMER count was nine. In the morning I saw two flocks of 18 AM. WHITE PELICANS, one in the North Pond and the other in Salt Pond A2W. BURROWING OWLS are using at least three man-made mounds at Shoreline presently--one across from Michaels (since early March), one near A2W, and one west of the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh. 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 May 01 12:18:44 2001 Subject: [SBB] Palo Alto RUTU -------- Palo Alto's "Unyacht" harbor had two Ruddy Turnstones, along with a dozen Whimbrels. Whimbrels were also wandering among the Burrowing owls in the grassy knolls west of the Steven's Creek tidal marsh. In the middle of the marsh across from Michael's restaurant was a singing male Bullock's Oriole. I've seen many Orioles wintering in marsh areas in West Mexico, but never here. 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]] Tue May 01 14:29:48 2001 Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek Park -------- Good Afternoon Birders, I ran over to Steven's Creek Park and the Red-shouldered Hawk that was nesting their has had two babies. The male brought in a squirrel and tore it up and fed it to the two little ones. The Hairy Woodpecker was not flying in and out of the nest hole. Could the babies have fledged? Lots of flycatchers: Olive-sided, Ash-throated and Western Wood Peewee were there, along with Wrentits, Spotted Towhees and lots of Cedar Waxwings. Also Grosbeaks and Orioles are in good numbers. Did get to see a great pair Western Tanagers. Good birding to all and 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]] Tue May 01 14:54:24 2001 Subject: [SBB] [SBB] Picid road rage -------- Janet & All-- Similar behavior for ACWO has been described in the literature---but usually the "victim" was injured or even dead. Since this species has multiple mates--based on DNA evidence--it may not be unusual, though the act of mating has seldom been seen. Ruth Troetschler >----- Original Message ----- >From: Janet T. Hanson >To: South Bay Birders >Sent: Monday, April 30, 2001 12:47 PM >Subject: [SBB] Picid road rage > >This weekend I came across two Acorn Woodpeckers slugging out in the >middle of Sandhill Road, right across from Jasper Ridge entrance. It >looked like a ball of B&W feathers rolling around on the pavement. >Two gang members were flying down to egg them on. Being the good cop >that I am, I pulled over to break it up but all the perps fled the >scene. >I recall seeing two flickers do this once before - is beak-to-beak >combat typical of woodpeckers? >Ah spring! When a young woodpecker's fancy turns to ......thrashing >the neighbor??? > >Janet Tashjian Hanson >Executive Director >San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory >P.O. Box 247 >Alviso, CA 95002 > >[[email protected]] >408/946-6548 -- Ruth Troetschler -------- Attachment 2.2 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Tue May 01 17:10:53 2001 Subject: [SBB] Bullocks Oriole nest at Stanford dish -------- Bullock's Orioles are nesting in an oak just across the path from the big Stanford Dish. From the driveway that goes into the big dish, walk a few feet on the path in front of the dish (the spur that goes to Alpine Road parking area). The nest is in the second branch in hanging down on the right. In that branch, it is in the second clump of leaves up from the bottom. When I was there around 10:30 AM on May Day, both male and female were active. Female entered nest a couple of times. Marti Oetzel -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 01 17:48:11 2001 Subject: [SBB] Another Visit to Sunnyvale Dump -------- Today at noon I went to the Sunnyvale Water Pollution & Control Plant to face my shame after erroneously reporting seeing a beaver there on Sunday night (hmmm -- hadn't I noticed there are NO TREES at the bay?!). Indeed the MUSKRAT was present along the shore, munching away on the grasses for a few minutes and then taking a swim. Its black tail looked almost as long as its body. There's a cute photo of a muskrat at: http://www.holoweb.com/cannon/muskrat.htm Other interesting sights included the BURROWING OWL standing so still on a wood stake that at first glance it looked like a store-bought statue, at least until the BARN SWALLOW swooped down at it and the Burrowing Owl quickly ducked out of the way. The male RUDDY DUCKS, with their exquisite coloring, were bobbing their heads up and down in a funky sort of way while calling out. The females did not seem to be impressed. An AMERICAN COOT had 9 colorful babies, and there were several MALLARD families with lots of babies as well. I was surprised to see a yellow gosling behind the white DOMESTIC GEESE and the SNOW GOOSE. Finally, there were several TURTLES sunning themselves on the log near the algae "pond" by the pump shed. 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 May 02 00:14:25 2001 Subject: [SBB] Re: Red-shouldered Hawks -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Following up on Linda Sullivan's oberservations, about squirrel-eating Red-shouldered Hawks...I've long wondered whether this raptor's local increase might be related to the introduction of non-native squirrels along valley streams. Might the introduction and recent abundance of the squirrels be connected to the increase in Red-shouldered Hawks over the last twenty years? As recently as the early 1980s Red-shouldereds were scarce in the county. Any ideas on what might have produced the hawk population increase? Is this just re-colonization of former range after early persecution, or could a change in the prey base have played a role? John Mariani [[email protected]] www.birdswest.com ----- Original Message ----- From: <[[email protected]]> To: <[[email protected]]> Sent: Tuesday, May 01, 2001 2:29 PM Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek Park > Good Afternoon Birders, > > I ran over to Steven's Creek Park and the Red-shouldered Hawk that was > nesting their has had two babies. The male brought in a squirrel and tore it > up and fed it to the two little ones. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 02 09:38:39 2001 Subject: [SBB] Rock Wren Birdathon Report -------- We read Mike Rogers' Vagrants birdathon report with interest. The Rock Wrens (David McIntyre, Sue Hunt, David Drake and Leda Beth Gray) did our birdathon the same day (Sunday), totaling 131 species. We also forgot to log 3 species and ended the day thinking we had 128, 3 better than our previous best birdathon, but 2 short of our target of 130 species. We kept running into the Vagrants despite the fact that we had started on the west side of the valley and they began on the east side of Mt Hamilton. We started out at Lexington Reservoir, and then went to SCVAS and then to Stevens Creek County Park before heading to Smith Creek on the Mt Hamilton Road. After hitting Grant Ranch Park we did Sierra Rd, Ed Levin Park and then hurried back to sites along the Bay to catch the incoming tide. We found it really interesting what we did and didn't find compared to the Vagrants, at the sites we all visited. At Smith Creek it was noon and the warblers had gone quiet so we didn't pick up some of the ones that the Vagrants had, but did find White-crowned Sparrows, which they didn't see, along with Golden Crowns. We found the Blue-winged Teal sitting in plain sight at the Palo Alto Forebay, where they were out of sight or gone when the Vagrants were there. We missed the moorhen and goldeneye at Shoreline but found the American Wigeon at Alviso, missed the dipper and kingfisher at Stevens Creek County Park, but got an Osprey and Olive-sided Flycatcher. And so on. Interesting how the luck of your timing and the amount of time you decide to put into particular sites affects the outcome. Also your choice of places that you think will yield the most species the fastest. We cut out the hike to Ed Levin, and so we missed the Grasshopper Sparrow and Rufous-crowned Sparrow that the Vagrants saw. But we did bird Sierra Road which yielded Horned Larks, Savannah Sparrows and one American Pipit, a couple of which were missed by the Vagrants. Perhaps we would have found more species if we had started on the back side of Mount Hamilton, but we would have risked not finding certain species by the time we got to the west side of the valley. There is a lot of strategy that goes into these birdathons, but skill and persistence are requirements for a high species total. Highlights of the day were W. Screech Owl, Caspian Tern and Green Heron at Lexington, numerous W. Tanagers, especially in Stevens Creek Park but also other places. Osprey and Olive-sided Flycatcher were found at Stevens Creek County Park, W. Bluebirds throughout the day including at SCVAS and Grant Ranch Park (using SCVAS boxes!), single Nashville Warbler and Swainson's Thrush along the Mount Hamilton Road, Blue-winged Teal at the PA Forebay, and Loggerhead Shrikes at Ed Levin and Alviso. Our day had a dramatic end when Sue spotted a heretofore elusive White-tailed Kite doing its hovering maneuver, seen past the top of a dumpster at the Palo Alto dump. We had been increasingly concerned about not seeing the kite at all the expected places, so this was a big relief. We missed the Belted Kingfisher entirely, and three other species that were surprisingly elusive were the Northern Harrier, Kestrel and Snowy Egret, but we got them near the end of the day. All in all, we had a great time on a beautiful day. We are already starting to plan next year's birdathon when we will be shooting for even more species. We know they are out there! Leda Beth Gray David Drake -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 02 10:20:08 2001 Subject: [SBB] Mines Rd, San Antonio Valley -------- Hi, My son Will and I are planning on birding the areas of Mines Rd and San Antonio Valley. I've only birded this area once. I have a copy of "Birding Northern California", which has some very good information, but would appreciate any personal experiences or tips on birding this area - particularly for Phainopepla, Lewis's Woodpecker and Greater Roadrunner. The recent birdathon reports noted places like "South Pocket", Biel Ranch, "Ruthie's Shopping Mall", etc. Where are these? I'm aware that there is an SCVAS trip this Saturday, but we probably won't be able to make it. Thanks, 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]] Wed May 02 14:50:07 2001 Subject: [SBB] Coyote Valley -------- Hi all, I observed a female Wood Duck with 5 ducklings (<1wk old) in Coyote Creek Park in Coyote Valley near Riverside Drive today (5/1/01). 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]] Wed May 02 23:38:36 2001 Subject: [SBB] RNPH and DUNL -------- All, Before work yesterday morning I stopped by the Ravenswood Bayfront area at the west end of the Dumbarton Bridge and found many hundreds of RED-NECKED PHALAROPES feeding in the shallows. By staying in my car I was able to approach closely and from the turn out and I got good photos of these breeding plumage birds. As well, there were quite a few DUNLIN in colorful spring plumage. CLIFF SWALLOWS were busy gathering mud from a small puddle along the road. On Sunday, a trip to Stevens Creek park produced three singing WESTERN TANAGERS, four singing BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, many WARBLING VIREOS and WILSON'S WARBLERS. There were also three OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS calling loudly from the tops of trees and a pair of duelling PURPLE FINCHES, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, WESTERN WOOD PEWEES and ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS. BULLOCK'S ORIOLES were harder to find, but there were four by the second parking lot. We failed to find the Blue-gray Gnatcatcher nest that Frank Vanslager's group turned up, but we did find an ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD nest near the bridge by the Ranger Station. The structure was unbelievably small and made of cobwebs and tiny bits of lichen or leaves. We observed the female adding finishing details. Perhaps when we return this coming weekend we'll be able to see eggs. Matthew Dodder http://www.birdguy.net -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu May 03 05:33:30 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- Today, 3 May 01, I went to the Sunnyvale sewage ponds and found the SNOW GOOSE still present. Also, 2 BURROWING OWLS were at the burrow up the hillside from the parking lot. 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 May 03 10:33:23 2001 Subject: [SBB] HAWO nest--not? -------- This (Thursday) morning I wnet to check out the Hairy Woodpecker nest at Stevens Creek Park. At first things seemed normal enough with the adults carrying food to the hole. I wasn't paying close enough attention to notice whether or not they left the hole still carrying the food. Then I was distressed to see a starling go into the hole and stay for almost a minute. After that I watched for evidence of "successful" feeding on the part of the woodpeckers and didn't see any. The woodpeckers and the starling had various skirmishes, but it looked like the starling was prevailing and it entered the hole at least once more while I was there. Is it likely that it has killed the chicks? --Peter ------------------------------------------------------ Peter LaTourrette North American Bird Photo Gallery: http://www.birdphotography.com/ Jasper Ridge, Hawai'i, New Zealand: 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]] Thu May 03 10:34:00 2001 Subject: [SBB] Fwd: [NBB] Fwd: Banded Black Skimmer - Yellow X85 -------- This exchange may be of interest to SBB skimmer watchers. Les Chibana -------------------------------------- Date: Wednesday, May 2, 2001 8:57 PM From: myra ulvang <[[email protected]]> We saw a banded Black Skimmer on 4/1/01 in Corte Madera at the pond along highway 101 north of Nordstrom and reported it to Mary Gustafson, the coordinator of non-shorebird banded birds. Bill managed to read "X85" on a yellow band on the left tarsus(lower leg). We could not read anything on the metal band on the right leg. Unfortuneately, the city of corte Madera has raised and lowered the water level in the pond to such extremes that the Black Skimmer left and we never saw it again. The following 2 messages were received from the man who banded the bird in Orange County, CA. Myra and Bill Ulvang >From: Charles Collins <[[email protected]]> >To: [[email protected]], [[email protected]] >Subject: Skimmer - Yellow X85 >Date: Wed, 02 May 2001 06:28:38 -0700 > >TO: Mary Gustafson, Bird Banding Laboratory > Myra and Bill Ulvang >From: Charles T. Collins > CSULB > >RE: Banded Skimmer: Yellow X85 > >Sorry to be so slow in answering; I had to dig a bit in the files. We >are trying to get a new program loaded which will do this instantly but >are having problems. > >Anyway, the Black Skimmer with the yellow band with the characters X85 >was banded at the Bolsa Chica Ecological Reserve near Huntington Beach, >CA on August 7, 1998 as a chick in the breeding colony there. This may >print out as "near Seal Beach" but the colony is at Bolsa Chica. The >metal band number is 0764-80441. > >Needless to say, we are delighted to get reports of any color banded >skimmers and hope the observers in the bay area will continue to look >for them up there. > >Charlie Collins > >P.S. Mary- are size 3A bands in stock? I REALLY need at least on >string!! The following is a second message he sent: I just checked other records and find that Yellow X85 has been wintering in Long Beach. I have seen it nine times since 15 December 2000 and the last time was on 9 March 2001. It was not seen on the latest trip on 28 April. So, I guess he/she got some wanderlust or spring fever in early April and ended up in the Bay area. CTC > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [[email protected]] Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 03 10:47:25 2001 Subject: [SBB] Red Knot at Charleston Slough -------- At 8:45 this morning there was a lovely pink Red Knot on a small island north of the main "Skimmer Island" in Charleston Slough at Shoreline. The Knot was clearly pink and gray (not brown), and noticeably fatter with a shorter bill than the adjacent Dowitcher. The bill was also wider at the base. The Skimmers were absent. The rising tide was concentrating a huge flock of Godwits and Western Sandpipers on the island. There were a few Black-Bellied Plovers, Willet, Long-Billed Curlew, Whimbrels and Dowitchers. 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]] Fri May 04 06:35:09 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- At the Alviso Marina impoundment today, 4 May 01, I had a few hundreds of WESTERN SANDPIPERS and DUNLIN, which included 7 WILSON'S and 3 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, plus a SEMIPALMATED PLOVER. A number of AMERICAN AVOCETS were on nests and a pair of BLACK-NECKED STILTS had 2 downy young. At the EEC a pair of BLACK SKIMMERS was on the island in the salt pond. Perhaps another nesting attempt this year? 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 May 04 13:23:19 2001 Subject: [SBB] Guadalupe Oak Grove -------- Good Afternoon All.... This morning I went to Guadalupe Oak Grove to see if I could find the reported Ash-throated Flycatchers...no such luck. Did get to add three birds to my park list, a male BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD and a SPOTTED TOWHEE. The STARLINGS have taken over the park, fledglings all over the place. But it is still the place to go to see ACORN WOODPECKERS in action. A pair of OAK TITMOUSE are using a nesting box and you can hear the peeps of the babies as they bring food. The resident RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was out and about as a pair of RED-TAILED HAWKS soared above the park. A COOPER'S HAWK was flying over the driving circle. Lots of NUTHATCHES and the NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER pair is still bringing food in and out of their nest hole. There are a few LESSER GOLDFINCH feeding off the grasses. For some reason there are a lot of HOUSE SPARROWS there that were not there for the Christmas Bird Count. A wonderful Bewick's Wren can be heard singing by the second level rocks. Okay, good birding to all, and 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 May 04 14:51:45 2001 Subject: [SBB] Hairy Woodpecker, Stevens Creek Park -------- Folks-- We're not sure if it is the same next, but this morning at Stevens Creek Park we saw a Hairy sitting in a hole in a broken eucalyptus ? tree during the time we were present in the picnic area. No Starlings were present. Is this the same tree? We saw this same tree occupied by HAWO on last Wednesdays SCVAS field trip. Ruth Troetschler -------------------------------- On Thu, 03 May, Peter wrote, This (Thursday) morning I wnet to check out the Hairy Woodpecker nest at Stevens Creek Park. At first things seemed normal enough with the adults carrying food to the hole. I wasn't paying close enough attention to notice whether or not they left the hole still carrying the food. Then I was distressed to see a starling go into the hole and stay for almost a minute. After that I watched for evidence of "successful" feeding on the part of the woodpeckers and didn't see any. The woodpeckers and the starling had various skirmishes, but it looked like the starling was prevailing and it entered the hole at least once more while I was there. Is it likely that it has killed the chicks? --Peter -- Ruth Troetschler -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri May 04 22:49:54 2001 Subject: [SBB] Pied-billed Grebe nest -------- All, While waiting for a presscheck in Campbell this afternoon I visited Los Gatos Creek County Park and followed the bike path for a mile or so. A few interesting birds such as CASPIAN TERN and BULLOCK'S ORIOLE made an appearance. But the most wonderful thing I encountered was a PIED-BILLED GREBE on a nest. In fact, I saw two active nests. The more easily observed nest was next to the bride near the picnic area close to Hwy 17 and Camden Avenue. I watched for 20 minutes as both adults loaded the nest with new green building material -- mostly aquatic grass and vines. They frequenly added this new material to the water-logged and blackening older material. Almost the entire time, the four pale green-gray eggs sat unattended and in plain view atop the floating nest. I wondered how long they could survive without being incubated. The adults had constructed the nest in the midst of floating vegetation and preferred accessing their raft from under water because the greenery made a surface approach difficult. At one time an adult dragged a vine that had to have been 4' long to the structure. Finally, I watched as one adult clambered up onto the nest and shuffled over the eggs. It was especially interesting because I've seen grebe feet only a few times and never at such close range. I had never seen a grebe on a nest before today. Anyway, his is a common bird, but it was an uncommon experience and very interesting to watch. Matthew Dodder http://www.birdguy.net -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat May 05 12:11:31 2001 Subject: [SBB] CCFS 5/5/01 -------- It was a very slow day for birds in the net at Coyote Creek Field Station today. Only 12 birds processed; one female Song Sparrow got into the net 3 times during the morning. One of the other banders told me that they had the 1st Swainson's Thrush and Black- chinned Hummingbird netted for the year last Saturday, 4/28/01. We netted 3 Swainson's Thrush today, all in the same net and panel on 3 different net runs. We also netted and released a male Black-chinned Hummingbird, what a little beauty! This bird was netted in the overflow channel, net 9330G, maybe a migrant. One of two Common Yellowthroat netted today was interesting in that it had a lot of fat, implying that it was a migrant. I'm not sure if it's plumage was of any significance: it was a female with a reddish brown wash on the forehead. It resembled the eastern tricha race in the illustrated plate of the Garrett and Dunn NA Warbler ID guide, but not the photo in the species account of the same guide. Also processed a Wilson's Warbler and more Song Sparrows. A male Downy Woodpecker drummed all morning on the utility pole next to the trailer. Up to 6 male Brown-headed Cowbirds were on the wires above the trailer at one point. Common Yellowthroat were singing all morning in the overflow channel. 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 May 05 19:51:18 2001 Subject: [SBB] Cooper's nesting activities this week -------- Our Los Altos Cooper's hawks are incubating eggs. No opportunity to check nest Sat-Mon, but on Tuesday I had a possible glimpse of a tail over the edge of the nest. Wednesday I found a better viewing point and yes, someone was sitting on the nest! The next day, Thursday the 3rd, I watched the incubating hawk get up and change positions while the mate called kek kek kek from nearby. And yesterday I guess the heat of the day seemed sufficient to the hawks, because everytime I checked (3 times over 4 hours or so), the "sitting" bird was actually mostly perched on the edge of the nest, preening. Great views, gorgeous bird! I was interested to read in the Ehrlich materials posted on the Stanford website that Coopers may add finishing lining material to the nest AFTER the eggs are already laid. I had assumed that incubation began sometime between Fri, when I saw the hawks working on the nest and not sitting, and Tuesday, when they were probably already sitting. But I suppose it's possible they got a bit earlier start than that. I hope to be able to check the nest frequently enough to know when hatching occurs. 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]] Sun May 06 06:41:55 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- On Saturday, 5 May 01, I attended the field trip to Del Puerto Canyon. Much of the birding, and the notable birds, was in Stanislaus County. Perhaps most notable was possibly the first breeding record of CASSIN'S KINGBIRD for the county ( I don't have any references in front of me). We had stopped at a location along the creek, where a good 8-10 kingbirds were seen. I was able to pick out a Cassin's and point it out to the rest of the group. A second Cassin's was also present and I observed at least 3 trips of one carrying nesting material into an oak tree. Other birds of interest included a few singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, 3 BLUE GROSBEAKS (an adult male, an immature male, and a female), 3 GOLDEN EAGLES, a GREATER ROADRUNNER, a male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH, a male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD, a LEWIS' WOODPECKER, and 3 male PHAINOPEPLAS. On a nonbird note, we had a pair of WESTERN RATTLESNAKES copulating at the edge of the road where we had made a stop. We birded only briefly in Santa Clara County, having about 4 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES at the junction fire station and 4 singing SAGE SPARROWS up towards the cattle guard. The rest of the group had a LEWIS' WOODPECKER south of the junction, but I wasn't with them at the time. On the way home going up Mines Road, I had excellent looks at another GREATER ROADRUNNER in Alameda County, at mile marker 7. On Sunday, 6 May 01, I went to CCFS and checked the sludge ponds across the fence. There were a number of shorebirds, which included WESTERN SANDPIPERS, DUNLIN, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and a dozen SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. A GREEN HERON was in the reach area, northwest of the waterbird pond. The Double-crested Cormorants are absent from the power towers at the north edge of pond A18. I don't know when they last bred here (there are no nest remnants). However, a COMMON RAVEN nest is currently active on one of these towers. A BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON was carrying nesting material from near here towards the rookery. That's quite a distance to go for nest material. At the EEC I could not find any skimmers on the island, but I did have a WHIMBREL and 2 alternate-plumaged SPOTTED SANDPIPERS there. The pond still has a good number of alternate-plumaged EARED GREBES and 1 WESTERN GREBE. 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 May 06 14:38:12 2001 Subject: [SBB] LEWIS' W. at Joe D Grant Park -------- Following-up on Jim Yurchenco's message from last week (thanks Jim!), I hiked up to Eagle Lk. from Smith Creek Fire Stn. LEWIS' WOODPECKERs were flying about the Valley Oaks surrounding the lake. There were 3 in view simulatenously at one point, flying very high, hawking insects. Quite a show. No signs of breeding though. A 1.5 mile hike thru Oak-Pine woodland to a Valley Oak grassland, surrounding a lake - this nice little spot is as beautiful as it sounds. Other birds at Smith Creek Stn - CHIPPING SPARROWs and a WILSON's WARBLER. 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 May 06 16:32:46 2001 Subject: [SBB] Juvenile Acorn Woodpecker at Stevens Creek -------- I spent this Sunday morning at Steven's Creek Park. The highlight was watching at least 3 Acorn Woodpeckers feeding insects to a juvenile bird inside a cavity. Near the Chestnut parking area, a Hairy Woodpecker was excavating a nest hole. Other interesting birds included Olive-Sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Ash-Throated Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwing, Western Bluebird, Swainson's Thrush, Brown Creeper, Wilson's Warbler (the only warbler species I saw), Scarlet Tanager, Bullock's Oriole and Black-headed Grosbeak. I only had a single vireo species, Hutton's. In the afternoon, I visited the Triton Art Museum. While walking through some landscaping interspersed with redwoods, I came upon a fledgling American Crow. In short order, four crows were cawing, both in flight and from the tops of the young redwoods, and the baby crow shuffled off into some shrubbery. Here's hoping the adults will be able to defend the baby from any cats in the neighborhood until it can take care of itself. Jan Hintermeister Santa Clara -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 06 16:57:20 2001 Subject: [SBB] "my farm" -------- On Tuesday I led a Boy Scout troop through "my farm". One of the 8-year-old boys found a DOWNY WOODPECKER, a species I rarely see there. It occurred to me that when I'd led a SCVAS field trip that a Downey had been seen at the same location as the boy scout found it - the middle bridge - a bridge I never use. So, today I headed for the middle bridge and immediately was rewarded with the Downy. As I listened to the sounds, I heard a bird song I was not familiar with. I spent 20 minutes or so trying to see it...got a HUTTON'S VIREO, a STELLAR JAY (has become rare again in the park)...etc...finally I saw a piece of the bird and knew it was a thrush. I watched it for another 10 minutes until it went up towards the country club property. It was a SWAINSON'S THRUSH. The flock of CEDAR WAXWING were there. I even saw one bird feeding another. Also saw a pair mating. I didn't think they did that here. All 10 of the fluffy ducklings seem to be no more. Today a female MALLARD had 4 males in hot pursuit. Thank goodness I didn't have to witness a rape session. In my backyard the baby CHICKADEES are chirping inside the bluebird house. I have 4 COWBIRDS I'm willing to give anybody who wants them. The HOODED ORIOLE continues its daily feeding. BAND-TAIL's tend to be in the 20+ area populationwise. Their preferred seed is safflower. 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]] Sun May 06 17:08:21 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Juvenile Acorn Woodpecker Correction -------- Yipes! For a moment I was transported back to Minnesota, my boyhood home. I saw Western Tanagers, not Scarlet. Hope I didn't cause any heart attacks. Jan ----- Original Message ----- From: Jan Hintermeister <[[email protected]]> To: south-bay-birds <[[email protected]]> Sent: Sunday, May 06, 2001 4:32 PM Subject: [SBB] Juvenile Acorn Woodpecker at Stevens Creek > I spent this Sunday morning at Steven's Creek Park. The highlight was > watching at least 3 Acorn Woodpeckers feeding insects to a juvenile bird > inside a cavity. Near the Chestnut parking area, a Hairy Woodpecker was > excavating a nest hole. Other interesting birds included Olive-Sided > Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Ash-Throated Flycatcher, Cedar Waxwing, > Western Bluebird, Swainson's Thrush, Brown Creeper, Wilson's Warbler (the > only warbler species I saw), Scarlet Tanager, Bullock's Oriole and > Black-headed Grosbeak. I only had a single vireo species, Hutton's. > > In the afternoon, I visited the Triton Art Museum. While walking through > some landscaping interspersed with redwoods, I came upon a fledgling > American Crow. In short order, four crows were cawing, both in flight and > from the tops of the young redwoods, and the baby crow shuffled off into > some shrubbery. Here's hoping the adults will be able to defend the baby > from any cats in the neighborhood until it can take care of itself. > > Jan Hintermeister > Santa Clara > > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon May 07 07:32:20 2001 Subject: [SBB] Western Tanager -------- This Morning ( 5/7) heard a WETA in the eucalyptus' at the Greek Orthodox Church in Belmont across from my home. Has been here for the past two days. Screech Paul L. Noble "Screechowl" [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) / \ m m -------- Attachment 1.1 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Mon May 07 07:53:00 2001 Subject: [SBB] House Finches -------- I live in a condo in Sunnyvale and have hanging plants on my balcony. I was out filling my hummingbird feeder when a bird flew out of one of the planters giving me quite a scare. Upon further investigation I found two tiny baby blue eggs inside the planter. No nest has even been built. I had wondered why those House Finches had been hanging around my balcony. I plan to discontinue watering the plant and see what develops. _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.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 May 07 08:33:36 2001 Subject: [SBB] Santa Teresa CP breeding birds -------- Hello All, On Sunday, May 6, I hiked the Stile Ranch/Fortini Trail Loop in Santa Teresa CP and saw the following: A pair of VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS bringing food to Nest Box #32 on IBM property. The nest box is located near the old stone wall on the south-facing grassy slope (after the switch-back portion of the trail through the chaparral growth). A pair of ROCK WRENS going in and out of crevice in a boulder about a mile farther along the trail on the north-facing slope. The exact location is a bit hard to describe, but it's in a rocky area about half a mile from the buildings of the IBM Research Facility which could be seen from this spot. The Rock Wrens and their boulder were inside the boundary of Santa Teresa CP, although quite near the fence dividing Santa Teresa CP and the IBM property. A pair of ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS were seen perched on a fence post at this location. And RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWS were seen and heard singing throughout my hike. Also of interest on May 6 was a singing male LAZULI BUNTING seen along the Barlow Rd Trail on Mt. Umunhum. Others were heard but I was unable to pinpoint the singers. 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 May 07 08:57:43 2001 Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek Park -------- Hi, I went to Stevens Creek Park Sunday at about 7:00PM. Highlights for me were two QUAIL and six WESTERN TANAGERS. I also got an opportunity to watch the nest of the Red Shouldered Hawk. One of the babies is getting quite big although it appeared that it was just learning how to get out of the nest and grip the branch. It was a little wobbly :) The parent hawk was calling quite loudly and its mate finally came but without food. I was hoping to see the babies eat a nice squirrel dinner. Maybe "nest" time. Riccardo Magni __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.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 May 07 17:36:42 2001 Subject: [SBB] Wood Ducks at Stevens Creek -------- Early on Sunday morning I took a largely uneventful walk along the reservoir at Stevens Creek CP. On the way back a duck flew past making a noise that I could not recognise. I only got a brief glimpse through the bins but I saw a white eye-ring and white trailing edge to the wings. Was it a female Wood Duck? Well, yep, it probably was because I rounded the next bend to see a very obvious male in the centre of the reservoir. I haven’t heard of Wood Ducks around there and wonder if they may even be attempting to breed? Somewhat out of area I have to thank someone for a recommendation to visit the Arboretum at UCSC – a fab spot. I’m pretty sure I got Allen’s and Black-chinned Hummingbirds but it was heaving with all sorts of other stuff too. It’s only half-an-hour over highway 17, if you can dodge the accidents. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 08 12:44:45 2001 Subject: [SBB] Baylands, etc. -------- I had to work through most of Saturday-Sunday, so I took Monday morning for a trip up to the Smith Creek's Fire Station. And I visited the Palo Also estuary mouth on both Sunday and Monday afternoons - too late both days for much going on at the yacht basin. Most interesting was the Raven nest at the mouth, where three large yound were standing on the nest flapping, and re- ceiving food from the parents. [I thought there might have been a more-con- cealed fourth bird, but I came to doubt it.] It looked like these birds would be fledging any day. On Sunday there were over 200 Semipalmated Plovers at the mouth; while on Monday I saw 4 Whimbrels. Smith Creek (and the Mt. Hamilton Rd. through Grant Ranch Park) had nothing unexpected, Warblers apart from Orange-Crowned included just 1 or 2 singing Yellow, and a flock of a few Townsend's up on the hillside. Western Wood Pewees are now evident, and a few Western tanagers are migrating through, as elsewhere. Al -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue May 08 13:01:27 2001 Subject: [SBB] Skyline L. Bunting & W.Bluebirds -------- Greetings from south SM County near SC County. I've been watching two different Lazuli buntings males for several days now, as they sit in trees very close to our house. Does their continual singing imply they do or don't have mates? Or is that unrelated? I also see them in the nearby forest but can't tell if they are the same or different individuals. There are also at least two pairs of Western Bluebirds. Only one nest box is occupied, but there's plenty of natural habitat here and the WBs were here for several seasons before Bill put up bluebird boxes. He has three boxes; currently #2 has 5 eggs; #1 and #3 are completely empty. Other "regulars" include spotted towhee, red-breasted nuthatch, lesser goldfinch and juncos. It's very hot again today at 2400 ft. 88F at 1pm. Regards, Georgia Stigall home list: http://www.nativehabitats.org/homelist.htm -------- Attachment 1.0 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Tue May 08 13:12:42 2001 Subject: [SBB] PUMA Briefly at Loma Prieta -------- All: (No! Not the cat.) Tuesday morning, May 8, at Loma Prieta it was hot and still, with lots of birds singing. But there was NO swallow activity. Later, while I was up on the ridge to the northwest of the first (powerline) saddle and trying to locate an interesting-sounding bird, a small flock of birds surprised me by soaring low southward along that ridge towards me. When they wheeled up and back to the north, I saw that one was obviously a male Purple Martin and I tried to keep my binocs on him. Since they seemed to be working the area where the habitation is (with the truncated water tower), I focussed the Questar on the tallest dead tree east of that tower and waited. They landed briefly 3 times. Once I saw a full dark male sideling up to a female while what I dismissed as a large Cliff Swallow watched closely. But then, when the male PUMA began sideling up to this bird also, I changed my mind. (He wasn't funny. Sibley later confirmed that the female Western PUMA can have a distinctly whitish forehead and a whitish collar.) The birds then began a long flight to the west over Santa Cruz County and didn't return. There were at least 2 males and 2 females. Considering previous year's behavior, I think that they nest somewhere else, and just use this convenient dead tree whenever they patrol this area. 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]] Tue May 08 13:26:31 2001 Subject: [SBB] Mines Rd. area 5/6/01 -------- All, I took half of my class to the Mines Rd./San Antonio Valley/Del Puerto Canyon area this past Sunday. We started our birding at the cattle guard just north of San Antonio Junction at 8:30a, then headed south into San Antonio Valley, and backtracked to go down Del Puerto Canyon Rd. As noted by Bill Bousman, an early start was the key to getting good views of singing Bell's SAGE SPARROWs at this location. We saw about 3 pairs in the chamise chaparral. LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHes were active at the fire station. We saw a pair of WESTERN KINGBIRDs nest-building and copulating on the communications tower at the station. There were a surprising number of HOUSE SPARROWs in this rather remote location and on the rest of the trip. BULLOCK'S ORIOLEs, numerous everywhere, were nest-building at the fire station. Two LEWIS'S WOODPECKERs were busily feeding at roadside near the first driveway south of the Junction. It didn't seem like they were tending a nest as they were not spooked by our presence. We saw 3-4 more of them further down the valley. One sub-adult GOLDEN EAGLE molting its primaries was seen over the valley. At Frank Raines Park on Del Puerto Canyon Rd., we saw a pair of PHAINOPEPLA feeding on currants behind the restrooms. In the creek area, there was one or two GREEN HERONs. At about MP 10.4, at a wide turnout under a rock face, there's a COMMON RAVEN nest with nestlings. We also saw a female COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD and a RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW here, but no Canyon or Rock Wrens. At the "grafitti rocks" area along Del Puerto Cyn Rd., we were unsuccessful at finding a male Costa's Hummer, but we did see a female BLUE GROSBEAK on a rock in the creek. A pair of ravens cruised through the area only to be met by 3-4 pair of irate kingbirds. All of the kingbirds that we studied appeared to be Western. We saw two adult-plumaged GOLDEN EAGLEs here. There was a tail-less YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE in this area that looked very odd. At the north end of Mines Rd., we saw that there were at least three RED-TAILED HAWK nestlings in the nest above the Murietta Wells Winery buildings. This is the same nest that was active last year, and we saw a rufous-morph adult fly nearby; last year, a similar adult was perched by the nest. We stopped to encourage a good-sized Gopher Snake and a Western Racer off the road in different locations. 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]] Tue May 08 13:48:32 2001 Subject: [SBB] Mines and San Antonio Roads, Del Puerto Canyon -------- [Apologies for cross-posting, but the Mines Road Ciruit spans three different mailing lists.] On Sunday, May 6th, I too did the Mines Road circuit and had reasonably good success. Of particular note were the estimated 35 WESTERN KINGBIRDS seen throughout the day at various different locations, though most of them were confined to Del Puerto Canyon Road. Unusual/migrants: Stanislaus County: 4-5 CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS at milepost 3.7 and another at milepost 9.9 along Del Puerto Canyon Road. Several were calling, but I did not see any direct evidence of nesting behavior. MacGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER, singing at milepost 17.7 in the willows Santa Clara County: WESTERN TANAGER, calling at milepost 22.3 along Del Puerto Canyon Road ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, singing at milepost 23.3 WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, at the Fire Station just south of the junction. WILSON'S WARBLER, a silent female at milepost 24.7 along San Antonio Road (a.k.a the summit) Regular occuring species of interest: Stanislaus County: GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, 2 at milepost 1.8 along Del Puerto Canyon Road, just west of a cattle gard near a small stream. I flushed one and another perched on the barbed wire obligingly for a rare photograph. GOLDEN EAGLE, one at milepost 3.7 along Del Puerto Canyon Road. RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW, singing at milepost 3.7 along Del Puerto Canyon Road COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD, a male perched high in a tree at milepost 5.4 Santa Clara County: WOOD DUCK, in the usual pond on the south side of Del Puerto Canyon Road at milepost 23.8 LEWIS' WOODPECKER, at least two at milepost 0.3 of San Antonio Road LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH, at least three at the Fire Station Alameda County: CALIFORNIA THRASHER, singing from the top of a mature oak tree at milepost 10.68 along Mines Road PHAINOPEPLA, at milepost 5.65 along Mines Road Mines Road Stanislaus County Del Puerto Canyon Road 1.8 Grasshopper Sparrow Say's Phoebe Killdeer Western Meadowlark 2.3 American Crow Common Raven 2.7 Brewer's Blackbird Western Kingbird 3.2 Red-winged Blackbird 3.6 Bullock's Oriole 3.7 Golden Eagle Red-tailed Hawk California Towhee Ash-throated Flycatcher Rufous-crowned Sparrow Black-headed Grosbeak Brown-headed Cowbird Lesser Goldfinch Cassin's Kingbird House Finch Mourning Dove 3.9 Rufous-crowned Sparrow Lesser Goldfinch American Goldfinch 5.4 Lark Sparrow Costa's Hummingbird Yellow-billed Magpie 5.5 Rock Wren 5.9 Northern Flicker Western Bluebird 6.8 Black Phoebe 9.7 Western Scrub-Jay 9.9 Cassin's Kingbird 10.5 Canyon Wren Lesser Goldfinch 11.1 Spotted Towhee 12.5 Canyon Wren 12.8 Ash-throated Flycatcher Lesser Goldfinch 13.4 House Wren 14.2 California Quail 14.7 Acorn Woodpecker Frank Raines Hutton's Vireo American Robin Oak Titmouse 17.1 MacGillivray's Warbler 17.7 Violet-green Swallow (nesting) 18.1 Chipping Sparrow Wrentit 19.0 Bewick's Wren 19.7 Anna's Hummingbird 21.0 Bushtit Santa Clara County 21.7 Northern Flicker Hutton's Vireo 22.3 Western Tanager 23.3 Orange-crowned Warbler 23.8 Wood Duck Junction White-breasted Nuthatch European Starling St. Antonio Road 0.3 Lewis' Woodpecker White-breasted Nuthatch 1.1 Tricolored Blackbird Turkey Vulture Mines Road Fire Station House Sparrow Western Kingbird Western Wood-Pewee Lawrence's Goldfinch 20.0 American Coot 24.7 Bewick's Wren Wilson's Warbler Wrentit Ash-throated Flycatcher 26.2 Western Bluebird Alameda County 19.26 House Wren Acorn Woodpecker Northern Flicker 16.96 Lark Sparrow Oak Titmouse 16.5 Belted Kingfisher 11.5 Nuttall's Woodpecker 10.68 California Thrasher 5.65 Phainopepla -- Mark Eaton mailto:[[email protected]] SFBirds Web Page http://home.pacbell.net/mweaton SFBirds mailing list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SFBirds "The years 1990, 1991 and 1992 could not be located." Anonymous -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 08 16:00:36 2001 Subject: [SBB] (fwd) Hummingbirds in Santa Clara/San Jose -------- I'm forwarding this request in the hopes that someone may be able to help. Please reply directly to Gordon, not to me. Thanks. On Tue, 8 May 2001 17:55:15 -0500 , "Gordon, Michael T." <[[email protected]]> wrote: > >Hello! I've been looking at your California Birding Pages, but I have a >rather specific question I hope you are able to help me with. > >I will be in Santa Clara/San Jose in two weeks for a conference. I would >like to find a location where I could sit an watch hummingbirds for a few >hours at a feeder somewhere. Can you suggest any parks or nature centers in >that area where there would be feeders I could sit and watch for long >periods without disturbing anyone? > >I will be dependent on public transportation or a cab to reach any location >if that limits the suggestions. > >I band Ruby-throated Hummingbirds in Missouri, but I don't often have a >chance to watch the western species (especially immatures and females). I'm >assuming Anna's hummingbirds are the most likely species, with Black-chinned >hummingbirds in more arid areas. I'd be happy with getting good looks at >any of them to help me improve my id skills for them. > >Thank you very much for any suggestions! > >Troy Gordon >Columbia, MO >[[email protected]] >http://web.missouri.edu/~multgord/banding.htm -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: mailto:[[email protected]] California Birding, mystery birds: 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 May 09 02:36:50 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- Yesterday, 9 May 01, a lunch time trip to the EEC in Alviso showed the WHIMBREL to still be present on the island in front of the center. A pair of LESSER SCAUP and some numbers of EARED GREBES also continued. This morning, 10 May 01, I had a YELLOW WARBLER singing from a hedgerow along San Tomas Expressway near Scott 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]] Wed May 09 06:50:24 2001 Subject: [SBB] Hidden Villa birds -------- All, A couple of Lazuli Buntings have begun to sing from chaparral areas near the center of the farm. I first heard them on Friday 5/4 and they're still singing lustily from the same spot, suggesting the establishment of a breeding territory. Unfortunately, this location is very hard to glimpse from public-access areas. The Western Tanagers that had been a constant presence for the past couple of weeks have been silent since late last week. Can't tell if they've moved on, or just entered a stealthy phase of courtship/nesting. An Olive-sided Flycatcher sang at the farm for a couple of days last week, but does seem to have moved along. On Thursday 5/3 I observed a single dark swift foraging with mixed Cliff & Violet-green Swallows. The conservative call on this swift would be Vaux's, but Black Swift seemed a distinct possibility, as the bird used very few wingbeats and was completely silent, as opposed to the chattering call I've learned to expect from my "backyard" VASW in Pescadero. Unfortunately this is a tough distinction for me to make quickly and I was in the middle of leading a kids' nature hike, so it will remain a mystery to me. --Garth Harwood -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed May 09 15:36:02 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] PUMA Briefly at Loma Prieta -------- In a message dated 5/8/01 1:17:59 PM Pacific Daylight Time, [[email protected]] writes: > Considering previous year's > behavior, I think that they nest somewhere else, and just use this > convenient > dead tree whenever they patrol this area. > Back about 10 years there was a nest in a snag on the north side of Loma Prieta peak in Barrett Canyon, but that snag has since fallen down. David Suddjian, Capitola Santa Cruz Bird Club Bird Records Keeper [[email protected]] -------- Attachment 767 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Wed May 09 19:12:51 2001 Subject: [SBB] Some county birds -------- All, Some unusual birds were seen today during and after the SCVAS field trip to Gilroy Hot Springs Rd/Canada Rd. The first was a Grasshopper Sparrow which was well seen by all on a bush west of Canada Rd just north of the M&M ranch. Across from the M&M ranch an unseen Lazuli Bunting continued singing until we finally had to leave and as we continued down Canada Rd. toward Hwy. 152 two Horned Larks were seen along the side of the road. When we finally reached the bottom of the hill (and the end of the trip) it was decided that some of us would go to San Felipe Rd to check out the Cassin's Kingbirds as we ate our lunch (they still seem to be using the middle eucalyptus tree) while others decided to eat their lunches in an evergreen shaded area on Susle Lane, a dead end street near the bottom of the hill (off Canada Rd). Later Emily Curtis called to say that as they ate they were entertained by Lawrence's Goldfinches carrying nesting material to one of the evergreens. Big misses today included Common Merganser and Lark Sparrow. Take care, Bob Reiling, 7:15 PM, 5/9/01 -------- Attachment 1.3 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Thu May 10 06:10:43 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- At lunch today, 10 May 01, I visited the Sunnyvale sewage ponds. The SNOW GOOSE is still present with the domestics. A flock of 82 SCAUP were on the western sewage pond. The ones that I could identify were all LESSERS. Salt pond A4 had 84 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS, with another 5 on the eastern sewage pond. One each of WESTERN and CLARK'S GREBE were on the salt pond as well. A couple of BLACK-NECKED STILTS were complaining about the near presence of a grazing CANADA GOOSE (probably too close to their nest). Their cries brought in another 10 or so stilts to surround the offender. The goose was pretty unfazed by it all. 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 May 10 07:36:19 2001 Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek Park -------- Good Morning All, Sorry I didn't post this last night, guess I was birded out! Went to Steven's Creek Park yesterday and birded with Debbie Stephenson and we saw some really nice birds. A pair of ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS bringing nesting material to a hole in a tree. A WESTERN-WOOD PEEWEE, the OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER who stayed high up in the trees. At the restrooms, we watched the RED-SHOULDERED HAWK nestlings move about, with one much larger than the other. The parents were absent for quite some time and we could hear them but did not see them. We also had a very cooperative BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, who just flew low in the branches and gleaned. We also heard but did not see a GREAT-HORNED OWL. Boy, what a thrill that was for me. Last night around 5 PM I ran over to La Rinconada to get a life bird, the Swainson's Thrush. I only heard the bird and did not see it. Saw a beautiful pair of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES (thanks Gloria, they were by the Western Tanager tree) A wonderful pair of singing SPOTTED TOWHEES, and the BEWICK'S WRENS were singing as well. The CALIFORNIA THRASHER was most upset to have a cat just sitting under the tree, it must have had a nest in the same area. Poor bird was frantic. I decided it was time to leave when I spotted the COYOTE! Wishing you all good birding and 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]] Thu May 10 11:48:19 2001 Subject: [SBB] funny Nuttall's; Cooper's update -------- Yesterday I watched a male Nuttall's pry out a large insect and then spend the next 4+ minutes apparently trying to get the bug (held crosswise) properly oriented for swallowing, rubbing his beak on various branches at various angles. For some time the bug (earwig?) was resisting, but even after it seemed to be getting rather shredded, the woodpecker just kept rubbing. I never saw the end result, since I was already running later than I planned. Later I wondered whether this might be a method of preparing the insect to be fed to a young one?? The bird does seem to have a distinct territory, and I have looked for a nest with no success thus far, but it's certainly possible I've missed it. In brief, our Cooper's are doing well. As someone suggested to me privately, they do seem to have become a quieter presence in the neighborhood now that they're brooding. Although the nest is really easy to observe when you know where it is, it blends in well and the birds are doing their best not to call attention to themselves. I feel very privileged to know their secret! 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 May 10 12:15:26 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] funny Nuttall's; Cooper's update -------- Best thing to do is to spend the time to see if the woodpecker carries the food to a nest. Then you'll have found the nest. If the bird just gulps down the bug, then it may just be feeding itself and not tending nestlings or carrying food to an incubating mate. When I photographed a male Pileated Woodpecker that nested at Table Mtn., a few years ago, he seemed to regurgitate swallowed bug hunks to feed a couple of hungry nestlings. I don't know if Nuttall's would do likewise. Carrying food, instead of swallowing, usually means that there's a nest to tend. Les Chibana On Thursday, May 10, 2001 11:48 AM, [[email protected]] wrote: >Yesterday I watched a male Nuttall's pry out a large insect and then spend >the next 4+ minutes apparently trying to get the bug (held crosswise) >properly oriented for swallowing, rubbing his beak on various branches at >various angles. For some time the bug (earwig?) was resisting, but even >after it seemed to be getting rather shredded, the woodpecker just kept >rubbing. I never saw the end result, since I was already running later >than I planned. Later I wondered whether this might be a method of >preparing the insect to be fed to a young one?? The bird does seem to have >a distinct territory, and I have looked for a nest with no success thus >far, but it's certainly possible I've missed it. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu May 10 15:08:52 2001 Subject: [SBB] Archive updated -------- SouthBay Birders, The SouthBay Birders archive for April has been posted at: http://fog.ccsf.org/~jmorlan/southbay.htm Also the monthly mystery has been updated at: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/mysteries.htm Enjoy! -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: mailto:[[email protected]] California Birding, mystery birds: 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]] Fri May 11 14:16:42 2001 Subject: [SBB] White-faced Ibis & Black-chinned Hummingbird at CCFS -------- All, This morning as Frank Vanslager and I started to check out a few birds in the second pond on the left as you enter Coyote Creek Field Station Frank spotted a breeding plumaged White-faced Ibis flying low over our heads. Impression was that the Ibis had just flown from the southwestern edge of the pond we were inspecting. The bird first flew North Northeast, then gradually turned to the right until it was flying roughly South Southeast, over Milpitas and out of sight down the valley. Later we had good views (two sightings) of at least one adult male Black-chinned Hummingbird along the Coyote Creek mist net trail (south of mist net #9550). At least three Swainson's Thrush were also heard to make there liquid pwip contact call near the trail. Take care, Bob Reiling, 2:19 PM, 5/11/01 -------- Attachment 1010 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Fri May 11 14:42:18 2001 Subject: [SBB] Ibis at Sunnyvale WPCP -------- Hello All: At 12:30 this afternoon, I had just finished my run at around Sunnyvale WPCP ponds and was at the parking lot getting into my car when 5 WHITE-FACED IBIS flew over my head and on toward Alviso. Steve Miller -------- Attachment 2.3 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Fri May 11 18:42:45 2001 Subject: [SBB] RE:Oka Ponds -------- Good Evening All....... Spent the day birding with Debbie Stephenson. Our first stop this morning was La Rinconada Park, there we had the CALIFORNIA THRASHER, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, SPOTTED TOWHEE, BROWN CREEPER and lots of CEDAR WAXWINGS. >From there we went to Guadalupe Oak Grove, spotting a pair of Red-tailed Hawks overhead. We heard but did not see the Red-shouldered Hawk. We did watch the Hutton's Vireo on its nest and enjoyed the nesting NUTTALL'S and ACORN Woodpeckers. Then we made a quick stop at Oka Ponds around 4:30 and Debbie spotted a life bird for me, the SPOTTED SANDPIPER. I was thrilled to see it for the first time and add it not only to my life list, but to my Oka Ponds list. It was pretty quiet at Oka, we did manage to see some FORSTER'S TERNS and NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS. All and all a really nice birding day. 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 May 12 12:55:05 2001 Subject: [SBB] Steven's Creek Park -------- Good Afternoon All... Ran over to Steven's Creek Park this morning around 8 am. I want to thank Alan Walther for showing me that there are four (4) Red-shouldered babies in the nest (I had only spotted two). I was so excited. Two very small ones, and two large. They are still fluffy with downy feathers on their heads. You can see the them very well now and they are very alert and just wonderful to watch. The park was busy with bird activity and lots of birds signing and nesting. Enjoy your birding. My best regards, Linda -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 12 22:31:52 2001 Subject: [SBB] Mines Road -------- All, Our class trip to Mines Road was successful today. We saw two GREATER ROADRUNNERS at milepost 6-6.5 as well as RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW at milepost 11. We had fantastic looks at a pair of LEWIS' WOODPECKERS just beyond the Junction as well as many of the expected species elsewhere along the trail. A full report is available on my site at: http://www.birdguy.net/trip_report.html Nothing too surprising today, but we considered the day a total success the moment we found male LAZULI BUNTING singing atop a small bush at milepost 6.5. Gosh, that's blue! Matthew Dodder http://www.birdguy.net -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun May 13 02:32:02 2001 Subject: [SBB] Grant Ranch, Saturday -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Jolene and I checked Grant Lake on Saturday. Near the parking area we saw 2 male LAZULI BUNTINGS involved in a small turf war. A pair of GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS were seen perched on coyote bushes near the parking area, and another was singing in fields between the lake and the main park entrance. A male RING-NECKED DUCK was on the lake. John Mariani [[email protected]] www.birdswest.com -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun May 13 05:41:31 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- This morning, 13 May 01, I found a YELLOW-THROATED VIREO along Coyote Creek in south San Jose. I believe that this is a first county record. Take hwy 101 south to Bernal and turn right. Almost immediately take the Monterey Hwy exit and turn left (south) on Monterey. At Metcalf Road turn left and look on the right for a small (unamed?) road just past the bike path. Turn right on this road and follow it a short distance until it intersects Coyote Ranch Road (right at the entrance to Coyote Ranch Park). Find a place to park here and then walk up Coyote Ranch Road towards Monterey Hwy and turn right onto the paved bike path. In about 200 yards the path will break out into the open from the closed canopy of walnut trees. The vireo was right here near the path on the right hand side. The bird was singing quite persistently while I was there at 9:30 am. Its song is a lot like a Cassin's Vireo, but without the more distinctive "up" and "down" inflections of that species. On the way home I stopped at the northern-most pond in the Parkway Lakes chain and again found an OSPREY on the same perch as was occupied a few weeks ago. Only this time it was a female. Having a pair of birds here at this time of year is indicative of oversummering, if not breeding. However, this pond is hard to scan, since it is quite overgrown along the shore between the bike path and the pond edge. Yesterday, 12 May 01, was fairly slow. I stopped at CCFS and checked the sludge ponds and waterbird pond. There was a brood of NORTHERN PINTAILS on the waterbird pond, consisting of 5 downy young. A GREEN HERON was along the creek near here. At the EEC the only thing of note was 4 CASPIAN TERNS foraging over the marsh and salt pond. 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 May 13 10:34:49 2001 Subject: [SBB] Red-shouldered hawk chicks at Ulistac's grand opening -------- Attachment 1.8 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Sun May 13 12:29:22 2001 Subject: [SBB] More on Hidden Villa birds/butterflies -------- All, Some helpful input from others on this list has enabled me to clarify that the lone dark swift seen with swallows at HV last week was in fact a Vaux's. In particular, overall size was a feature I neglected to consider properly; as Mike Mammoser noted, a Black Swift foraging among swallows should be noticeably larger than its companions, even when in a distracted state, as I was. At least 2 Western Tanagers are still in place around the farm. Although quieter than a week or two ago, they do call from time to time and are glimpsed among taller trees in the central farm area. Butterflies are peaking at Hidden Villa now, with all 3 swallowtails (Western Tiger, Pale, and Anise) making an occasional appearance, Lorquin's Admirals and Chalcedon Checkerspots in profusion, Acmon Blue, Brown Elfin, Northern Cloudywing, Mournful and Propertius Duskywing, Sara Orangetip, and more. --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]] Sun May 13 18:07:19 2001 Subject: [SBB] ALHU in Stevens Creek Pk. -------- Spent the morning 5/13 at Stevens Creek Pk. 50-odd species just between the Chestnut picnic area, parking lot and ranger station. Lots of breeding activity. At the RED-TAILED HAWK nest (Chestnut picnic area), at least 3 chicks were visible, with 2 already starting to spread their wings. Also HAIRY WOODPECKER, WILSON's WARBLER, PACIFIC SLOPE FLYCATCHER, HOODED ORIOLE, B-G GNATCATCHER (Chestnut parking lot), etc. No Western Tanagers or Cedar Waxwings today. Several of these were here just 2 weekends ago. A Selasphorous hummer above the restrooms in Chestnut picnic area. Calling is an ALLEN's based on green upper back and rufous lower back. Rather late in the season? 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 May 13 21:34:39 2001 Subject: [SBB] Joseph Grant -------- A short hike this afternoon produced about 50 species of bird including Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Kingbird and Lazuli Bunting. However, the highlight was yet another enigmatic bird. I always seem to get one. It was perched on a low fence to the east of the Ranch House and at first I dismissed it as a female finch. But its underparts were not streaky enough. In fact there was only slight streaking on the rear flanks. The upperparts were a mid-brown with a couple of wing bars, the underparts were pale and the bill was grey. The bill also seemed too large for House or Purple Finch. The real clincher was the California Towhee-like chink that the bird kept making. Also it did not behave much like finch -- foraging close to the ground and totally on its own. I think I have seen reports recently of Blue Grosbeaks at JDG. Could this be one of them? -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 14 04:42:24 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- I went to Alviso at lunch time today, 14 May 01, where I had 11 WHITE-FACED IBIS in the marshy pond west of Lafayette and just north of hwy 237, with another 2 ibis in the pond east of Lafayette. Arzino Ranch had 2 BURROWING OWLS and a LONG-BILLED CURLEW. At the end of Nortech Pkwy I watched TURKEY VULTURES evidently predating nests of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS. These vultures would course low over the field, while the blackbirds rose up to attack them. I would have thought nothing of this except I saw one vulture carrying a nestling as the adults chased it. I assume the nestling was plucked alive from the nest. Also, I heard from Mike Rogers that he had refound the YELLOW-THROATED VIREO this morning. 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 May 14 07:47:49 2001 Subject: [SBB] LEWO at JD Grant CP -------- Hello Everyone, This is to report the continued presence of two LEWIS'S WOODPECKERS in the vicinity of Eagle Lake at Jos D. Grant CP on Saturday, May 12. Actually the woodpeckers were seen about 1/4 mile west of the small lake in the hilltop valley oaks along Hotel Trail. Their favored tree appeared to be a valley oak with a large clump of mistletoe hanging down from the lower branches at the crest of the hill. There is a yellow sign indicated "steep downgrade" on the trail near this particular oak. I tried observing them for several minutes but they kept disappearing into the thick foliage of the oaks. They flew from tree to tree and mostly seemed to be pecking and feeding. Occasionally one would pick up bits of twigs and other vegetation, but then drop them. I could not discern definite nesting behavior - but they're still here. I also saw a male TOWNSEND'S WARBLER in fulling breeding plumage in the oaks and grey pines above the fire station. Also, when coming back down the trail I met up with Norma Cabot by the fire station and we both saw a pair of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH on the wires. And finally, early in the morning I encountered a gray fox by the ranger station when I first arrived. We both paused to acknowledge each other and then the fox took off down the wooded banks of Smith Creek - a most beautiful animal. 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 May 14 09:38:06 2001 Subject: [SBB] More White Faced Ibis in South Bay -------- I saw 10 White Faced Ibis this morning (~9:00 AM Monday) on my way to work. They were landing in the small pond near 237 & Lafayette. The actual pond is near the construction at Lafayette and Great America on the N. side of 237. I saw the birds fly in or wouldn' have known they were there. They can be seen if you are driving west on Great America from where you turn off of Lafayette (this is the section of Lafayette that goes to Alviso. -Chris -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 14 10:25:52 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- I just returned from Alviso, where the GLOSSY IBIS was still present at 5:45 pm. It was with 8 WHITE-FACED IBIS in the pond on the east side of Lafayette and just north of hwy 237. 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 May 14 11:24:56 2001 Subject: [SBB] Continuing Yellow-Throated Vireo -------- I was at the Yellow-Throated Vireo spot from about 9:10 to 10:00 this morning, and found the bird was still present. [Mike Rogers reported it to BirdBox from earlier this morning.] It was in the same location from which Mike Mammoser first reported it: along the bike path on the east side of Coyote Creek about 200 yards north of Coyote Ranch Road. The Vireo sang on and off the whole time, but only infrequently by 10:00. It was using walnuts and cottonwoords on both sides of the bike path (mainly on the east side). Because it tended to stay very high up, it was difficult to spot or observe. But I (and Bob Reiling, who arrived with Frank Vanslager about 10 minutes after I did, and remained after I left) had several excellent looks. A great find by Mike M.! Al -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon May 14 12:36:15 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Continuing Yellow-Throated Vireo -------- All, Frank Vanslager and I left for home about 11:25 and the Yellow-throated Vireo had called only once between then and 10:10 AM (when Al Eisner left). The last call heard was in the vicinity of a large Cottonwood on the far (west) side of Coyote Creek about half way along the relevant tree covered portion of the bike trail. It should be noted that at least two top birders had tried for the bird yesterday afternoon with no luck. It seems apparent that if one wants to try for this bird then they need to be "in place" before 9:30 AM (the latest). Note; even when actively calling this brightly marked bird can be hard to find! Good luck, Bob Reiling, 12:35 PM, 5/14/01 -------- Attachment 842 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Mon May 14 15:00:43 2001 Subject: [SBB] Mines Rd., etc. -------- I took a 2nd group from my birding class on the Mines Rd.-Del Puerto Canyon Rd.-San Antonio Valley Rd. route on Saturday, 5/12/01. Once again, we started at the cattle guard just north of San Antonio Junction. Well, we did stop briefly in Alameda Co. to look at a WILD TURKEY hen with chicks a half mile south of the Del Valle Res. junction. At the cattle guard by the Junction, SAGE SPARROWs were activly singing in the chamise chaparral. We also heard, then found, a pair of BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERs in the same area. At one point, both gnatcatchers became agitated by the presence of a WESTERN SCRUB-JAY. Perhaps they had a nest in the area. A scrub-jay was the center of attention a few moments later as we heard the cries of a baby brush rabbit emanating from the chamise. We could see a jay pecking at the rabbit. Never thought this sp. would predate on live prey of this size. LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHes entertained us with their natty plumage at the fire station. WESTERN KINGBIRDs were on the nest on the transmission tower behind the station. BLACK PHOEBEs have a nest under the eaves of the garage. A pair of WOOD DUCKs were at Mallison Pond just east of the Junction on Del Puerto Canyon Rd. On DPC Rd. in Stanislaus county, we found a CANYON WREN singing from the road cut on the south side of the road at roughly 10.5 mi. from I-5. A COMMON RAVEN was in the area, carrying food, but it did not come to the nest ledge while we were there. A GREEN HERON flew high over us from one point of the creek to another point upstream. At about mi. 5.4, we saw a male YELLOW WARBLER. At the roadside rock outcrops at mi. 3.8, we did not find a Costa's Hummingbird nor could we ID any kingbirds as Cassin's. We did see a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE. At the cattle guard approx. .75 mi., we saw 3 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWs. Killer views! Orange lores, yellowish coverts. On the north side of the road, a male and female BLUE GROSBEAK were seen on the fenceline. The female was seen carrying nesting material and they copulated briefly. Two LONG-BILLED CURLEW flew by overhead. >From the Junction going into San Antonio Valley, we didn't find any Lewis's Woodpecker activity at .3 mi. We continued past the YZ Ranch where we saw a CHIPPING SPARROW. At about 3.5 mi. from the Junction, we saw a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER in the vicinity of a large dead valley oak on the west side of the road at the northern edge of a large meadow. At the second large pond south of the Bill Gehri Bridge, we saw 3 male and 2 female WOOD DUCKs. There was a juvenile KILLDEER at this pond. Back at mi. .3 south of the Junction, we saw two LEWIS'S WOODPECKERs. They weren't as actively foraging as the previous week but we did see them copulate. Again, briefly. On Sunday, 5/13/01, I participated in banding at Coyote Creek Field Station. To set the stage, last Sat., 5/6/01, I reported that things were slow with a total of 12 birds processed. Conditions were much the same for the previous and succeeding week. On Sat., 5/12/01, 44 birds were processed, a significant jump. Among these birds, 15 were Swainson's Thrushes, 3 Wilson's Warblers, and one each of Western Flycatcher and Yellow Warbler. Yesterday, we processed 92 birds! This included 45 Swainson's Thrushes, 15 Wilson's Warblers, 3 Yellow Warblers, 2 Western Flycatchers, and one MacGillivray's Warbler. This indicates that we had (are still having?) a significant push of migrants through the valley. That's 60 newly banded Swainson's Thrushes and 18 Wilson's Warblers in two days of banding. Big numbers. Add Mike Mammoser's Yellow-throated Vireo to this and an exciting scenario emerges. For those of you on Calbird, this seems to correlate with Bill Principe's radar sighting reports. At noon, I stopped by Alum Rock Park. At the Rustic Lands picnic area, there was a singing LAZULI BUNTING. There appears to be an active RED-TAILED HAWK nest in a eucalyptus tree near the old entry road. A male HOODED ORIOLE was seen over the picnic area. WARBLING VIREO and WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE were heard. Up at YSI, DJ said that the Great Horned Owl still comes to visit the captive owls. She has not heard about any Northern Pygmy Owl sightings recently. Good birding, 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 May 14 15:10:24 2001 Subject: [SBB] RED-SHOULDERED nest at Stevens Creek Pk -------- In my message yesterday about Stevens Creek Pk, I should of course have said RED-SHOULDERED HAWK nest (not RED-TAILED). Sorry for the confusion. (Thanks for the catch, Mike). Vivek -----Original Message----- From: Dr. Michael M. Rogers [mailto:[[email protected]]] Sent: Monday, May 14, 2001 3:00 PM To: Tiwari, Vivek Cc: [[email protected]] Subject: Re: [SBB] ALHU in Stevens Creek Pk. Vivek, "At the RED-TAILED HAWK nest (Chestnut picnic area)," Is there a Red-tailed Hawk nest as well as the Red-shouldered Hawk's nest? Mike -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon May 14 15:51:59 2001 Subject: [SBB] Almaden Lake -------- Early this morning, 5/14/01, I spent some time observing the Egret/Heron colony at Almaden Lake in San Jose. The SNOWY EGRETS and GREAT EGRETS were busy incubating (no real evidence of any feeding of nestlings) as well as BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS. Two almost grown GREEN HERONS were out of the nest being fed by a parent bird. A PIED BILLED GREBE was near the island along with 2 chicks . All this on the reed island of the lake. No less than 3 COMMON GALINULEs were foraging on the low gravel bar near the south end of the lake, where there was also a pair of COMMON MERGANSERs ; three FORSTERS TERNS, and a KILLDEER. I also discovered an active BULLOCK's ORIOLE nest at the parking lot near the restoooms at the east side of the lake. 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 May 14 16:53:34 2001 Subject: [SBB] GLOSSY IBIS IN ALVISO!!! -------- All, Checking out the report of a WHITE-FACED IBIS flock in Alviso today 5/14/01, I was amazed to find an alternate-plumaged adult GLOSSY IBIS in with 6 WHITE-FACED IBIS in the pond east of Lafayette/ Gold Street just north of Highway 237 in Alviso. The bird was easy to pick out, with extensive bright powder blue between the eye and the bill, completely lacking the red eye, the red facial skin, and the white border (including behind the eye on the WFIB) of the nearby WHITE-FACED IBIS. The bird was still in the pond when I left at 4:02pm. Another WHITE-FACED IBIS was in the pond west of the road. There are as yet no accepted records of the species for CA, although records from southern CA (mainly Salton Sea) from the last two years will likely be accepted soon. This is a first for northern CA though and obviously a new species for Santa Clara County. Hope it stays around! 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 May 14 18:36:17 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] GLOSSY IBIS IN ALVISO!!! -------- This bird (as well as several birders!) are in the pond immediately adjacent to my office here at TiVo. I've warned the folks here to expect some extra traffic tomorrow :-) I can't "officially" tell you all to come and park here, but in practice, there is no problem. That is, we do not have parking stickers and we don't have any special vistor parking. Enjoy! "Dr. Michael M. Rogers" wrote: > > All, > > Checking out the report of a WHITE-FACED IBIS flock in Alviso today > 5/14/01, I was amazed to find an alternate-plumaged adult GLOSSY > IBIS in with 6 WHITE-FACED IBIS in the pond east of Lafayette/ > Gold Street just north of Highway 237 in Alviso. The bird was > easy to pick out, with extensive bright powder blue between the > eye and the bill, completely lacking the red eye, the red facial > skin, and the white border (including behind the eye on the WFIB) > of the nearby WHITE-FACED IBIS. The bird was still in the pond > when I left at 4:02pm. -- Paul Stevens [[email protected]] Tivo, Inc. http://www.tivo.com P.O. Box 649101 408-519-9194 Alviso, CA 95164-9101 Fax: 408-519-5339 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 14 23:12:44 2001 Subject: [SBB] Glossy Ibis photos -------- Hi, My son Will and I went to the pond North of 237 on Gold Street in Alviso around 6:15pm today (5/14). We saw the Glossy Ibis as well as 8 White-faced Ibises. I managed to get a few digital photos through my scope. I've posted 6 of the photos on my website here: http://www.thebirder.com/photos.html The blue around the face and the eye color did not reproduce well in the photos. 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]] Tue May 15 06:11:09 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Thanks Mike & Mike..... -------- ----- Original Message ----- From: <[[email protected]]> > > What an exciting morning. I ran over to see the Ibis, both the White-faced > and Glossy. I cannot thank Mike M & Mike R enough for sharing this wonderful > find I wish I could take credit for this, but the birds here were initially found and reported by someone named Chris, and Mike Rogers found the Glossy later that afternoon. I was just an innocent bystander. (I will take credit for the vireo, though :-) Mike Mammoser -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue May 15 07:55:40 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- Just a note to let people know that the GLOSSY IBIS was still present at lunch time today, with at least 16 WHITE-FACED IBIS. Mike Mammoser -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue May 15 09:15:01 2001 Subject: [SBB] Glossy Ibis -------- All: The Glossy Ibis discovered by Mike Rogers was back in the pond at the northeast corner of Lafayette and #237 in Alviso this morning. It was with, by Maria's count, 26 White-Faced Ibis. We saw it from 7:10 until we left about 8:15. The Ibises come and go from the pond. Last night, all of them had left, flying high and north, by 7:30. (The Glossy had left earlier.) Thanks, Mike! 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]] Tue May 15 11:30:05 2001 Subject: [SBB] - -------- Folks: This morning, 5/15/2001, I arrived along the bike path east of Coyote Creek and 100-200 m north of Coyote Ranch Road at 7:20 am and left an hour later. The YELLOW-THROATED VIREO was singing repeatedly over this entire period and moved from cottonwoods at the northern edge of the walnut grove to nearly the southern edge. It was found on both sides of the bike path. Most of the time the bird stayed high and moved slowly and was hard to see. In an hour's time I had three to four looks, none longer than five seconds. Thanks Mike M. Returning north I stopped at the TiVo pond east of Gold Street in Alviso and accepted Bob Reiling's offer of a scope view of the GLOSSY IBIS there with the WHITE-FACED IBIS. The bird was still present when I left at 9:20 am. Thanks Mike R. 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 May 15 11:48:22 2001 Subject: [SBB] The birding capital of CA? -------- Ordinarily, a feeding flock of 26 White-Faced Ibis in Santa Clara Co. (Maria Meyer's count - I got 23 but I thought I had missed a few) would be cause for some local excitement. But being able to view a Glossy Ibis over a prolonged period with excellent lighting was just a great treat; I had spent several hours unsuccessfully searching through Ibis flocks near the Salton Sea last year. I was there (the pond at the northeast "corner" of Hwy. 237 and Gold Street in Alviso) from about 7:20 to 8:10 AM. The Meyers were already there, but only three more birders showed up before I left. The Ibis flock had diminished to 20 by then. On one occasion, all of them headed over to the pond across Gold St. for about 5 minutes, but then returned. Rather than fight the traffic, I headed up to Ed Levin Park. I hadn't yet this year been to the hillside east of Sandy Wool Lake, and I had planned a visit this week anyway. I didn't intend to go much beyond the sycamore draw, so I was fortunate that a female-type Blue Grosbeak briefly perched on the lowest sycamore before heading back up the draw - it was silent, and I could never refind it. I had a good look at the body, and a quick look at the bill, but the head was largely obscured, so I couldn't entirely rule out a young male. The same tree has a Western Kingbird nest (incubation stage). I also found two singing Rufous-Crowned Sparrows (one persistently from up in a sycamore), but, oddly, only one Lazuli Bunting was heard singing briefly. On the way up I heard one Grasshopper Sparrow singing above the gate; there was a Loggerhead Shrike near the base of the hill; and one Hooded Oriole was with the Bullock's down in the Eucs at the picnic area. Not a bad few days around here! Cheers, Al -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue May 15 13:06:05 2001 Subject: [SBB] Thanks Mike & Mike..... -------- Good afternoon all. What an exciting morning. I ran over to see the Ibis, both the White-faced and Glossy. I cannot thank Mike M & Mike R enough for sharing this wonderful find. I have now added two life birds, what a thrill. Also, thank you Alan W. for helping me spot the bird and your descriptions of the Glossy IBIS helped me a lot. Wishing you great birding... My best regards, Linda -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 15 14:42:00 2001 Subject: [SBB] Oops! Thanks Chris. -------- Good Afternoon All, I posted before thanking Mike R and Mike M. I was told that Chris (sorry I do not have a last name) was the one who found the IBIS and later Mike R found the Glossy. So, Chris....... Thanks so much for sharing. GREAT FIND. 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]] Tue May 15 15:12:23 2001 Subject: [SBB] Loma Prieta, YTVireo, GLIB -------- All, A summary of some weekend birding, a little delayed... On Saturday 5/12/01 I spent the morning at Loma Prieta, looking for signs of migration. In general there weren't many, although a few migrant warblers were detectable, mainly by furtive chip notes and half-hearted songs. My first stop was the saddle at the former pavement end (the yellow "pavement ends" sign is still here, although the actual pavement end is now further up the road). This location was barely above the heavy fog bank and I was hoping that migrants might be hugging this first sight of land as they moved north - no such luck. I had no swifts and the only swallows were a group of 15 CLIFF SWALLOWS, which were likely wandering local breeders (a few singles and pairs were seen later as well). A single male WESTERN TANAGER looked like a migrant but was moving east up the draw instead of north. An adult male "AUDUBON'S" YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER singing from the very top of a Douglas Fir was likely a local breeder rather than a migrant. More likely migrants included at least 3 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS, a WILSON'S WARBLER, and 2 pairs of HERMIT WARBLERS heading north low over the saddle, the first alighting briefly atop the Douglas Firs in Santa Clara County, the other only observed in Santa Cruz County. A single female LAZULI BUNTING heading north at the same location may also have been a migrant and some of the 4 singing males may have been as well. At 9:15 the fog bank rolled in further and I had to move up closer to the summit to see anything. Up here were another singing YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, at least 2 more TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS and a male YELLOW WARBLER. A strange sight at this location were 7 fly-by ROCK DOVES. At least 7 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS were tallied during the morning. After this, I made a quick stop along Wright's Station Road, where I heard many PYGMY NUTHATCHES and 5 WILSON'S WARBLERS (likely breeding birds here). Then I continued north on Summit Road (crossing Highway 17) and finding 2 singing male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS and all three species of VIREOS. The next stop was at the call box 035-100 near "The Peaks" along Skyline Blvd. A short hike up to the ridge did indeed turn up a vocal RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH, but the bird remained on the Santa Cruz County side of the hill the whole time - this is a known breeding location for this species. On Sunday morning 5/13/01 I took a short stroll at Shoreline Park with my Dad, who was out for a visit. Two BLACK SKIMMERS at Charleston Slough, 2 GREEN HERONS at Shoreline Lake, a lingering BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and a worn adult GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL at Charleston Slough, and a migrating YELLOW WARBLER near Shoreline Lake were the highlights here. Also of interest were a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT carrying food for young, and precocial young of both AMERICAN AVOCETS and MALLARDS. Sunday afternoon I received a call from Mike Mammoser informing me of his Yellow-throated Vireo find. I headed out to that portion of Coyote Creek, arriving just before 4pm and staying until dusk after 8pm. Birds were quiet and the wind had picked up, but intensive searching turned up 56 species of birds and 5 ticks (all removed before they took a bite out of me). There was no sign of the Yellow-throated Vireo, but I did have 2 GREEN HERONS, 2 "WESTERN" FLYCATCHERS, 2+ ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS, 1 singing HOUSE WREN, 2 CALIFORNIA THRASHERS, 28 CEDAR WAXWINGS, 5 WARBLING VIREOS (including a territorial pair with a singing male), 5 YELLOW WARBLERS (including 2 singing males), 1 WILSON'S WARBLER, 2 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, 2 HOODED ORIOLES, and 3 BULLOCK'S ORIOLES. There was also lots of breeding activity along the creek here, including recently fledged BLACK PHOEBES, SCRUB JAYS, CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES, OAK TITMICE, BUSHTITS, and BEWICK'S WRENS being fed by adults. Parkway Lake had a perched OSPREY (until at least 7:35pm) and a brood of CANADA GEESE. Monday morning 5/14/01 I returned to this spot along Coyote Creek at 6:45am and had the singing YELLOW-THROATED VIREO as soon as I arrived at the spot where Mike Mammoser had found it. It sang continuously until I left a half-hour later. I did manage to get 3 (distant and perhaps lousy) photos. The only other species not also found the day before included a WESTERN KINGBIRD out by Coyote Ranch and a singing SWAINSON'S THRUSH along the creek. As I have already posted, later in the day I checked out the Alviso ibis flock (on the way to get my son for a baseball game). Being aware of recent Glossy Ibis records from southern CA, I decided to check out each bird carefully. I figured my odds of success were about 1:1000, so I was truly amazed to find the adult GLOSSY IBIS, my second new county bird for the day! Also here were 8 adult WHITE-FACED IBIS and a HOODED ORIOLE. Mike Rogers -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue May 15 15:49:44 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Oops! Thanks Chris. -------- Pretty sure that was Chris Illes Yes!! Thanks, Chris!! Janet Tashjian Hanson Executive Director San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory P.O. Box 247 Alviso, CA 95002 [[email protected]] 408/946-6548 -----Original Message----- From: [[email protected]] <[[email protected]]> To: [[email protected]] <[[email protected]]> Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2001 2:42 PM Subject: [SBB] Oops! Thanks Chris. Good Afternoon All, I posted before thanking Mike R and Mike M. I was told that Chris (sorry I do not have a last name) was the one who found the IBIS and later Mike R found the Glossy. So, Chris....... Thanks so much for sharing. GREAT FIND. 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]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 15 16:47:16 2001 Subject: [SBB] Fwd: Indigo AND Lazuli Buntings ON Windy Hill -------- Just received this note about buntings at Windy Hill. They're baaack! Les Chibana -------------------------------------- Date: Tuesday, May 15, 2001 4:42 PM From: [[email protected]] All, I thought you folks might be interested in this. I just returned from a (rather warm) walk up the Spring Ridge Trail from Portola Road to Skyline at Windy Hill, but my reward was to see (terrific views) both an Indigo Bunting and a Lazuli Bunting at the top. I watched the IB for about 20 minutes, split into two almost equal parts by about 10 minutes of the LB feeding on wild oats, when the IB had flown to a distant tree (but then returned). If you are interested in the site, the easy access is the Windy Hill main parking area on Skyline. Take the sign to the Anniversary Trail, go about 150 yards to the left and as you bend around the hill, there is a draw to your right. The IB was mostly there flying and singing from Coyote Brush to willow to thistles and back. Quite active but stopped to sing on top of the Coyote Brush and the willow. The LB was feeding, with a few songs, in the thistles and wild oats that would be straight ahead of you on the trail, the side of the top of Windy Hill. They are marvelous birds  !!! Regards, Dick Wiesner -------- All,
I thought you folks might be interested in this.
I just returned from a (rather warm) walk up the Spring Ridge Trail from
Portola Road to Skyline at Windy Hill, but my reward was to see (terrific
views) both an Indigo Bunting and a Lazuli Bunting at the top. I watched the
IB for about 20 minutes, split into two almost equal parts by about 10
minutes of the LB feeding on wild oats, when the IB had flown to a distant
tree (but then returned).
If you are interested in the site, the easy access is the Windy Hill main
parking area on Skyline. Take the sign to the Anniversary Trail, go about 150
yards to the left and as you bend around the hill, there is a draw to your
right. The IB was mostly there flying and singing from Coyote Brush to willow
to thistles and back. Quite active but stopped to sing on top of the Coyote
Brush and the willow. The LB was feeding, with a few songs, in the thistles
and wild oats that would be straight ahead of you on the trail, the side of
the top of Windy Hill.
They are marvelous birds  !!!
Regards,
Dick Wiesner From [[email protected]] Tue May 15 16:55:20 2001 Subject: [SBB] Many thanks -------- I, too, would like to add my thanks first to all the experienced birders who shared their knowledge and scope views with me this morning (between 9:30 and 10:30) at Alviso and secondly to all those whose postings have given me such wonderful new birds to look out for in my first six months in Mountain View. Sincere thanks, Debbie -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 15 18:09:27 2001 Subject: [SBB] Glossy Ibis photos posted -------- I got a few images taken this morning in Alviso, CA up on our Web site: http://www.auc.com/bird_droppings/glib/glib.html 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]] Tue May 15 19:20:23 2001 Subject: [SBB] Glossy Ibis Still Present -------- The Glossy Ibis is still present in the pond next to the Tivo parking lot at 6:45PM this evening. Michael Wienholt -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue May 15 19:49:48 2001 Subject: [SBB] Frenchman's Meadow, Stanford -------- Bored with Glossy Ibis and Yellow-throated Vireos? Come to the meadow, where a HOODED ORIOLE pair are feeding nesting young in one of the fan palms, and the female is building a second nest in the other palm. The RED-TAILED HAWK nest on Gerona again had an adult perching on the side. No nesting young seen yet. 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]] Wed May 16 07:14:06 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- I wandered around at lunch time today, 16 May 01. At the Sunnyvale sewage ponds the SNOW GOOSE is still present. One of the domestic geese also has a young gosling. The Arzino Ranch in Alviso produced 15 BURROWING OWLS, with one family group of 2 adults and 6 fuzzy young. A female RING-NECKED PHEASANT had 8 poults. A single WHITE-FACED IBIS was foraging along the entrance road to the EEC. Salt pond A16 had 12 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, 8 EARED GREBES, and an aechmophorus grebe too distant to identify to species. 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 May 16 15:44:09 2001 Subject: [SBB] Negative results -------- I got to the Yellow-throated Vireo spot about 9, only to meet some discouraged departing birders who had been there all morning and reported no sign of the bird. I high-tailed it to Alviso, where I located 13 Ibis in the two ponds straddling Gold Street -- all of them (up to 11:30 at least) of the White-faced ilk. GREEN HERON in the west pond. 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]] Wed May 16 17:24:13 2001 Subject: [SBB] Cooper's Hawk Nest -------- For any and All Post Santa Clara County Breeding Birds Atlasers....... I observed an active Cooper's Hawk nest today (5/16) in Los Altos. An adult was carrying what appeared to be a Mourning Dove to a nest in a large Coast Redwood. The hawk dropped the bird in the nest to much squealing and flesh and feather ripping. I would guess the young are fairly well grown to be dismantling prey themselves. Any atlasers that need more specific location info can contact me and I'll respond privately. Paul L. Noble "Screechowl" [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) / \ m m -------- Attachment 1.5 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Wed May 16 21:05:42 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] EEC -------- The Sunnyvale-Saratoga/Mathilda parrots are possibly Sunnyvale's well-known flock of Mitred Conures. They've been around for many years. I've seen them fly over my Sunnyvale home several times over the past eight years, and seen them settle in the following places: a tree in front of the Good Samaritan Church on Homestead near Wolfe and in the trees next to the Peppermill on De Anza Blvd., right at the main entrance to Apple Computer. The Sunnyvale Sun website has a nice 1998 article on them, including a picture (so you can verify whether you're seeing the same birds). Check out http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sunnyvale.sun/08.12.98/CoverStory.html. Since they've been here for 15 or more years, can they be considered "established"? I was at the pond east of Gold street this evening at 6:15pm and saw no sign of the Glossy Ibis (I did get to see it yesterday at noon). There were two White-faced Ibis feeding, and two more Ibis in the West pond that other birders reported were also White-faced. Barry Langdon-Lassagne ----- On Wednesday, May 16, 2001, at 02:05 PM, [[email protected]] wrote: > After the excitement of the Glossy Ibis yesterday it was > back to business as usual at the EEC this lunchtime. > Well, not quite as usual. The Ibis may have been > species #109 for me in the Alviso area but Pied-billed > Grebe checked in today at #110. How could I have > missed that in all my visits? > > One of the White-faced Ibises had migrated to > alongside the road leading into the Centre, so I got > great looks at that from the car. Of note also was a > single Pintail (unusual for this time of the year?) and a > Burrowing Owl out in the grassland to the south of the > boardwalk. The Bonaparte’s Gulls don’t seem to be > rushing into breeding plumage. Might I be seeing first- > summer birds that don’t bother to migrate? > > Finally on a much more artificial note does anyone know > what species of parakeet has a little colony by > Sunnyvale-Saratoga and Mathilda? Are they even > parakeets? I frequently see, and hear, them from the > car on my way home. > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus 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 May 16 22:05:31 2001 Subject: [SBB] EEC -------- After the excitement of the Glossy Ibis yesterday it was back to business as usual at the EEC this lunchtime. Well, not quite as usual. The Ibis may have been species #109 for me in the Alviso area but Pied-billed Grebe checked in today at #110. How could I have missed that in all my visits? One of the White-faced Ibises had migrated to alongside the road leading into the Centre, so I got great looks at that from the car. Of note also was a single Pintail (unusual for this time of the year?) and a Burrowing Owl out in the grassland to the south of the boardwalk. The Bonaparte’s Gulls don’t seem to be rushing into breeding plumage. Might I be seeing first- summer birds that don’t bother to migrate? Finally on a much more artificial note does anyone know what species of parakeet has a little colony by Sunnyvale-Saratoga and Mathilda? Are they even parakeets? I frequently see, and hear, them from the car on my way home. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 17 07:28:04 2001 Subject: [SBB] GOEA and Chicks at Calero -------- All: There seemed to be 3 young chicks of staggered ages on the nest platform on the 4th power tower west of McKean Road, just north of the Calero Reservoir. With their light heads and dark, new wing feathers, they looked quite a bit like Ospreys. But then an adult Golden Eagle flew in and landed on the adjacent tower. 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]] Thu May 17 09:23:41 2001 Subject: [SBB] EEC again -------- An interpretive walk around the EEC yesterday revealed 2 Black Skimmers at the salt pond, along with some Bonapartes. This morning the White Pelicans have made a showing on the salt pond as well. Sml __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.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]] Thu May 17 16:29:37 2001 Subject: [SBB] Santa Clara Co. Bird List 4/30/01 -------- Bill Bousman Wrote: The number of species jumped 31 this month, but part of this is corrections and oversights from previous months. I added Rock Wren for February and seven species for March that I had overlooked: Rufous and Allen's Hummingbird, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Horned Lark, Rufous-crowned Sparrow, Hooded Oriole, and Lawrence's Goldfinch. April was, as expected a big month, with 23 new species. Many were returning summer residents such as: Vaux's Swift, Black-chinned Hummingbird, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Cassin's Vireo, Swainson's Thrush, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler, Western Tanager, Chipping Sparrow, and Lazuli Bunting. There were also some rare migrants such as Lesser Yellowlegs, Ruff, Solitary Sandpiper, Calliope Hummingbird, Hammond's Flycatcher, and Nashville Warbler. A few rare residents were also found: Greater Roadrunner, Lewis's Woodpecker, and Cassin's Kingbird. Finally, the status of Cattle Egret and Blue Grosbeak remains an enigma. Of the '2's on the checklist, only Red-necked and Wilson's Phalaropes are left and it's no secret that they've been found in May. All the '3's have been found this year and only eight '4's are left unfound (and some have been). So that leaves a lot of exciting birding to do. The complete list is posted on: South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU) http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/ ----------------------------------------- Kendric C. Smith, Ph.D. 927 Mears Court Stanford, CA 94305-1041 (650) 493-7210 (voice or fax) [[email protected]] http://www.stanford.edu/~kendric/ ------------------------------------------ -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu May 17 17:37:05 2001 Subject: [SBB] Chukar at Edgewood -------- A MROSD docent reported seeing a pair of Chukar in the developed area around Edgewood County Park and Natural Preserve for several months. They range a bit and no detailed locations were provided. Edgewood Natural Preserve is in San Mateo Co. and is located south of Edgewood Rd., east of Hwy 280. For more information about this unique preserve and maps, go to http://www.friendsofedgewood.org/edgewood.htm Les Chibana -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu May 17 20:06:04 2001 Subject: [SBB] Palo Alto Summer Bird Count! -------- All, June 2 is almost here and The Palo Alto Summer Bird Count is rapidly approaching. Final Regional Coordinators have been set and have already begun assembling teams. Good coverage is crucial to making this event a useful survey of summer birds in our area. If you would like to help this important effort get the attention it deserves, please consider contacting the following Regional Coordinators and joining a team. With all the recent excitement about Glossy Ibis and Yellow-throated Vireo our energy is high and who knows... this year's Count might produce produce the next big thing! Thank you in advance for all your support. Let's make this Count really shine! Matthew Dodder Count Compiler/Region 7 Coordinator http://www.birdguy.net ________ Region 1 (Redwood City and EP Alto waterfronts) Jack Cole [[email protected]] ________ Region 2 (PA Baylands, Shoreline and Moffet Field) Mike Rogers [[email protected]] ________ Region 3 (Residential Menlo Park, Atherton RWC) David Drake/Leda Beth Gray [[email protected]] ________ Region 4 (Residential PA, MView and Sunnyvale) Phylis Browning [[email protected]] ________ Region 5 (Woodside) Marcia Keimer [[email protected]] ________ Region 6 (Los Altos Hills) Ruth Troetschler [[email protected]] ________ Reglion 7 (Skyline Open Space Areas) Matthew Dodder (I'll be out of town May 18-26 but will respond when I return) [[email protected]] ________ Region 8 (Lower Skyline, Foothills Park and Montebello) Garth Harwood [[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 May 17 22:18:21 2001 Subject: [SBB] Sunnyvale Baylands -------- A lunchtime stroll round the pond in the north-east corner of Sunnyvale Baylands produced a female Hooded Merganser – somewhat late, I thought. There were also five American White Pelicans with two of them in breeding plumage. A Common Moorhen was tending one chick in the reeds to the south of the pond. Many thanks for the flood of information about the parakeets. I’m inspired to take a closer look some day – but only if they become tickable ;-) -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 18 10:08:31 2001 Subject: [SBB] status of local naturalized parrots -------- Hi all, I have been recruited by the Parrot Project folks in LA to keep track of our local parrots and did a general summary of the local population, which should appear in the proceedings of a meeting held last year in LA. Basically, it is well known that there are several flocks in the bay area. There have been 1-4 flocks of Aratinga (Mitred/Red-masked/Blue-headed/etc.)parakeets on the Penninsula, one large flock of Aratinga parakeets in San Francisco. There is also a large flock of Brotogeris (Canary-winged & White-lined) parakeets near Dolores Park in San Francisco. These flocks appear to be stable. There have been reports of parrots & parakeets in Berkeley and the east bay, but the reports are of few individuals and inconsistent over the past 10 years. More observations are needed to get a handle on these birds. Little is known about their breeding status in SF Bay. Nests have been documented from 2 of the San Jose/Penninsula flocks and the SF flocks. However, it has not yet been established that the populations are self-supporting. Although I suspect that they probably are (opinion) as large numbers of naturalized Amazona & Aratinga parrots are breeding in street trees in the LA area. Naturalized parrots are probably here to stay, they have been included in recent bird bird books and some species will likely be accepted as an introduced species once sufficient information is available to make the determination which species and in which areas the populations are self-supporting (also my opinion, there are others that disagree with good reason). For more information on the LA flocks you can visit the Parrot Project website at http://www.parrotproject.org/ Please keep reporting sightings to the list. Cheers, Tom -----Original Message----- From: [[email protected]] [mailto:[[email protected]]]On Behalf Of Barry Langdon-Lassagne Sent: Wednesday, May 16, 2001 9:06 PM To: [[email protected]] Cc: [[email protected]] Subject: Re: [SBB] EEC The Sunnyvale-Saratoga/Mathilda parrots are possibly Sunnyvale's well-known flock of Mitred Conures. They've been around for many years. I've seen them fly over my Sunnyvale home several times over the past eight years, and seen them settle in the following places: a tree in front of the Good Samaritan Church on Homestead near Wolfe and in the trees next to the Peppermill on De Anza Blvd., right at the main entrance to Apple Computer. The Sunnyvale Sun website has a nice 1998 article on them, including a picture (so you can verify whether you're seeing the same birds). Check out http://www.metroactive.com/papers/sunnyvale.sun/08.12.98/CoverStory.html. Since they've been here for 15 or more years, can they be considered "established"? I was at the pond east of Gold street this evening at 6:15pm and saw no sign of the Glossy Ibis (I did get to see it yesterday at noon). There were two White-faced Ibis feeding, and two more Ibis in the West pond that other birders reported were also White-faced. Barry Langdon-Lassagne ----- On Wednesday, May 16, 2001, at 02:05 PM, [[email protected]] wrote: > After the excitement of the Glossy Ibis yesterday it was > back to business as usual at the EEC this lunchtime. > Well, not quite as usual. The Ibis may have been > species #109 for me in the Alviso area but Pied-billed > Grebe checked in today at #110. How could I have > missed that in all my visits? > > One of the White-faced Ibises had migrated to > alongside the road leading into the Centre, so I got > great looks at that from the car. Of note also was a > single Pintail (unusual for this time of the year?) and a > Burrowing Owl out in the grassland to the south of the > boardwalk. The Bonaparte’s Gulls don’t seem to be > rushing into breeding plumage. Might I be seeing first- > summer birds that don’t bother to migrate? > > Finally on a much more artificial note does anyone know > what species of parakeet has a little colony by > Sunnyvale-Saratoga and Mathilda? Are they even > parakeets? I frequently see, and hear, them from the > car on my way home. > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus 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]] Fri May 18 10:11:17 2001 Subject: [SBB] Brotogeris parakeets -------- The correct common names for two species in San Francisco are the Canary-winged Parakeet or White-winged Parakeet (Brotogeris versicolurus) and the Yellow-chevroned Parakeet (Brotogeris chiriri) Tom -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri May 18 11:18:40 2001 Subject: [SBB] Frenchman's Meadow, Stanford -------- After chasing through the traffic fruitlessly after rarities, I spent an hour watching at my patch this nice windless spring morning. Best bird was a VAUX'S SWIFT overhead, a Stanford campus first me. Also saw a silent "WESTERN" FLYCATCHER. I have to correct an earlier too hasty inference about the nesting HOODED ORIOLES here. When I independently saw a] a male and a female feeding young at nest in one palm, b] a female weaving a nest in the second palm, and c] a female flying between the two palms, I assumed (from [c]) that there must be only one pair, with the female making a second nest for a quick double-clutch. Today, longer observation revealed that there are indeed two nesting pairs in the meadow, one in each tree. Maybe the females call on each other. (Or maybe back door hanky-panky?) Also there are nesting NUTTALL'S WOODPECKERS in the birch near the bayward of the two palm -- adults feeding visible young. And a ROBIN feeding young right near the stop sign at the end of Estudillo. There are a couple of pair of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES in the area, but I haven't found nests. One of the Gerona adult RED-TAILED HAWKS was perched on a branch a few feet above the nest - still no sight of young. -- Tom Grey Stanford Law School [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri May 18 11:38:46 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Frenchman's Meadow, Stanford -------- Greetings Tom, As a reader more than a writer of SBB, I just wanted to mention that often it is one male Hooded Oriole simultaneously servicing two different nesting females. This might be something to look for when next you check on their nesting progress. It may take another person to track down the male or simultaneously watch the other nest site. Are they within two miles apart? - - Motorola Talk-About+ communicators might work well. Phil Gordon Hayward, ALA Co. 1(510) 538-3550 -------- Attachment 635 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Fri May 18 19:35:33 2001 Subject: [SBB] Ringed Turtle-Dove in Milpitas -------- For those interested, Janet & I were observing a Ringed Turtle-Dove feeding at our backyard ground feeder, along with 8 Mourning Dove. Male & female Hooded Orioles were using the oriole feeder, drinking sugarwater, and the male used the fountain bird bath (it is Friday night don't you know!). Still have about 6 each American and Lesser Goldfinch coming to thistle sock feeders. That's all from Milpitas, Randy Little [[email protected]] "Do to the current energy situation, the light at the end of the tunnel will be turned off until further notice!" -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 18 20:37:07 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Frenchman's Meadow, Stanford -------- At 11:18 AM 5/18/01 -0700, Tom wrote: >I have to correct an earlier too hasty inference about the nesting HOODED >ORIOLES here. When I independently saw a] a male and a female feeding >young at nest in one palm, b] a female weaving a nest in the second palm, >and c] a female flying between the two palms, I assumed (from [c]) that >there must be only one pair, with the female making a second nest for a >quick double-clutch. Today, longer observation revealed that there are >indeed two nesting pairs in the meadow, one in each tree. Maybe the >females call on each other. (Or maybe back door hanky-panky?) Does that mean there are three nests total, now, or has one of the nests been removed/replaced/abandoned? I ask because on April 14th you reported two Oriole nests, one in each palm. That's exactly what we found and reported there on the 27th. Seems like the new one is in addition, or? We've visited once since but have never seen more than one male or female at a time, so we can't help on the total count. >Also there are nesting NUTTALL'S WOODPECKERS in the birch near the bayward >of the two palm -- adults feeding visible young. I'm not absolutely sure which way would be "bayward," but I think these would be the ones we *thought* must be nesting in April. I'm glad to know that there really is a nest there! My husband reminds me that I never mentioned the Western Bluebird we saw in early May at the Meadow. Have you seen it, Tom? 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]] Fri May 18 20:56:11 2001 Subject: [SBB] Cooper's questions -------- Our Los Altos Coopers continue their incubation. Getting closer now! As we wait, a couple of questions/issues have come up. First, on Wednesday a neighbor noticed me watching the nest and asked about the birds. She said that she's seen as many as 4 of the "same kind" in the air, this year, at the same time. She seemed to know the difference between these and the Red-tails, for example, so she may be a decent witness. She also reported seeing the hawks flying from tree to tree in a slightly different set of trees than those I've observed our known birds using. I too have heard Coopers nearby when I thought I had the known birds accounted for, and have been wondering about the chances of another nearby pair. How close might they nest? (This is the Adobe Creek area--lots of tall trees.) What are the chances that one pair nested early, and already has fledged young (thus accounting for "4 at the same time"), while ours are still incubating? Second is a matter of concern. The same neighbor told me that the man who has the trees (right on edge of street) with the nest has been wanting the city to trim and/or remove them for some time now. He does know about the nest, and I'm hoping he will have put off his plans. I will speak to him the next time I see him. But I'm concerned that he might have other plans, and also that the city (or maybe it would be PG&E?) may have already put him on their calendar. What steps can I take to help ensure that the birds are allowed to incubate and fledge in peace? Third is another (smaller) concern. Tonight we found a sick rat just hanging around the area. It didn't move more than a few inches when a cat came up to investigate. Cat had the sense to leave it (or possibly it was too boring). I'm hoping I can assume that the hawks will do the same! I figure even if they do go for it, they can probably deal with any disease issues, but if the rat was poisoned, it might be a different story. We certainly didn't want to touch the thing.... 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]] Fri May 18 23:59:05 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Cooper's questions -------- Natasha: Regarding the trimming of trees with nests in them--it is illegal to disturb the nest of any native bird under the U.S. Migratory Bird Treaty Act. Your neighbor should be advised that he must wait until the nesting has been completed and the young hawks are fledged before removing or trimming the tree. Even trimming nearby would be enough disturbance invoke this law, since if the parent birds are driven off, the eggs could cool off too much or the chicks could be in danger of predation. If you don't think your neighbor will comply, you can notify whoever is scheduled to remove, or trim the tree and tell them there is an active nest in the tree, and explain that it is illegal for them to disturb the nest or remove the tree until the birds have fledged. Sometimes folks working for PG and E or City governments are not familiar with these protections. If they won't pay attention and still plan to do the work, you can get in touch Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society (408) 252-3747 who will have someone, perhaps me, intervene. You can also call the Fish and Wildlife Service Enforcement office at 650-867-8820, which is usually what I do if I can't talk someone out of cutting down a tree with an active nest. They will also intervene in a situation like this, and they have the authority to impose hefty fines. With sufficient evidence such as photos, or the actual nest with eggs, they will fine whoever was responsible after the fact. The threat of fines should be enough to discourage anyone. As far as possible poisoned rats, I suggest you call the city animal control or county humane society to get the rat removed ASAP. If it has died perhaps you can at least get it away from potential predators. Eating poisoned rats can kill predators as well. I know of at least one Great Horned Owl that has brain damage as a result of being fed a poisoned rat by his parents as an owlet. You could try contacting one of the wildlife rescues for advice on educating your neighbors about not using rat poison. Wildlife Rescue in Palo Alto is 650-494-7283. Wildlife Center of Silicon Valley (for San Jose area) is 650-494-7283. Cheers, Leda Beth Gray Board Member and Conservation Chair Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society --------------------------------------------------------- JOIN US! Check out our web site at: http://www.scvas.org Visit our Nature Shop for gifts, including including puppets, childrens' books, field guides, nature related books --22221 McClellan Road in Cupertino. --------------------------------------------------------- Our mission is to maintain, protect and preserve native animal and plant habitat, and to foster a greater public awareness of our environment, with emphasis on birds and their ecosystems, particularly in Santa Clara County and in the San Francisco Bay Area. > From: amphibian <[[email protected]]> > Date: Fri, 18 May 2001 20:56:11 -0700 > To: [[email protected]] > Subject: [SBB] Cooper's questions > > Our Los Altos Coopers continue their incubation. Getting closer now! As > we wait, a couple of questions/issues have come up. > > First, on Wednesday a neighbor noticed me watching the nest and asked about > the birds. She said that she's seen as many as 4 of the "same kind" in the > air, this year, at the same time. She seemed to know the difference > between these and the Red-tails, for example, so she may be a decent > witness. She also reported seeing the hawks flying from tree to tree in a > slightly different set of trees than those I've observed our known birds > using. I too have heard Coopers nearby when I thought I had the known > birds accounted for, and have been wondering about the chances of another > nearby pair. How close might they nest? (This is the Adobe Creek > area--lots of tall trees.) What are the chances that one pair nested early, > and already has fledged young (thus accounting for "4 at the same time"), > while ours are still incubating? > > Second is a matter of concern. The same neighbor told me that the man who > has the trees (right on edge of street) with the nest has been wanting the > city to trim and/or remove them for some time now. He does know about the > nest, and I'm hoping he will have put off his plans. I will speak to him > the next time I see him. But I'm concerned that he might have other plans, > and also that the city (or maybe it would be PG&E?) may have already put > him on their calendar. What steps can I take to help ensure that the birds > are allowed to incubate and fledge in peace? > > Third is another (smaller) concern. Tonight we found a sick rat just > hanging around the area. It didn't move more than a few inches when a cat > came up to investigate. Cat had the sense to leave it (or possibly it was > too boring). I'm hoping I can assume that the hawks will do the same! I > figure even if they do go for it, they can probably deal with any disease > issues, but if the rat was poisoned, it might be a different story. We > certainly didn't want to touch the thing.... > > 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]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 19 05:14:06 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- I visited Coyote Creek again in the south county today, 19 May 01. Present were a handful of WILSON'S WARBLERS, and a couple each of SWAINSON'S THRUSH and WARBLING VIREO. A fairly large colony of TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS has set up shop in the Coyote Ranch marsh, with many females carrying in nesting material. There were at least 3 GREEN HERONS here as well. There were about 200 CEDAR WAXWINGS about, with most in a single flock of 150 or so. Also, I had a flock of about 50 WHITE-FACED IBIS fly overhead towards the south. 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 May 19 09:10:07 2001 Subject: [SBB] Frenchman's Meadow, Stanford -------- Visited the meadow a second straight beautiful morning for an hour; in the RED-TAILED HAWK nest a single downy young bird is showing, standing in the nest, for the first time. This nest is visible from the corner of Cabrillo and Mirada, as well as from near the corner of Santa Maria and Gerona. In the NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER nest (in one of the birches in the middle of the meadow), a young male looks to be fully fledged (red head feathers partly grown in) and ready to depart -- he had his whole head out of the nest this morning, and was giving a higher-pitched, softer, and wobbly version of the Nuttall's call. A ROBIN was building a nest in a branch of a sweetgum directly over the sidewalk, a few yards up Estudillo from Frenchman's, on the right side. In answer to Natasha's question, and for the benefit of anyone else following spring events in this little patch, I did see fully constructed HOODED ORIOLE nests in both the two palms in mid-April, presumably the same ones she saw later. I conjecture that the one in the bayward palm (the one on the right facing the meadow from Frenchman's) was later blown down or destroyed by a predator -- hence the female constructing a new nest (now complete) a few days ago. This morning I observed a second female HOOR flying into one of the palms already occupied by a nesting pair, both present at the time, without any aggressive response on the part of either of the occupants. -- 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 May 19 17:13:40 2001 Subject: [SBB] ERLCP - Saturday A.M. -------- Good afternoon all; I went out to Ed R. Levin County Park this morning for my weekly Bluebird trail walk. The weather was gorgeous, and the air was filled with hawks, eagles, vultures, and rogallo kites and paragliders trying to earn their "kamikaze" star with purple and blue clusters. Mostly the trail walk went as they all go. A few more boxes fledged, and a few more boxes have new nest starts in them. I'm enjoying about a 75% percent occupied rate at the moment. All-in-all, a pretty good day. We only got 73 species; a bit higher than usual, but less than my 121 species best day... Two high points of the morning; we discovered a "wild" nest of a pair of Ash-throated Flycatchers about 18 inches down a "deer tube" around a young tree. The sun was at *the* perfect angle to let us see down the tube and find two beautiful brown spotted eggs! We're hoping for a few more next week... The second; it seems that our now resident LEOW has bestowed upon us at least two fuzzy hatchlings! We had an excellent view of one, and a partial view of the other. I think there are two more--I could see some shapes and movement, but the cover was simply too thick for us to pierce--even with a scope! Please forgive me for not specifying exactly where they are. I want to do a small part to prevent the legions of adoring Asio Otus worshippers from driving them away--as happened to the pair that was in the Elm picnic area earlier this year. So! How was your week? 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]] Sat May 19 17:18:18 2001 Subject: [SBB] Western Tanager -------- I had a breeding plumaged Western Tanager at Guadalupe Oak Grove Park this morning. It was flitting around the tops of the trees near the parking lot off Thorntree Drive. Janna Pauser has posted a bird list (and wildflower list) on the bulletin boards in the park. The Great Horned owl pair have been heard and seen in the evenings around the Vargas gate entrance, I'm told. The Acorn Woodpeckers are busy and noisily feeding their young. The Red Shouldered Hawk has a marvelous nest in one of the oaks, the Bewicks Wren is singing and calling as are the quail, the White breasted Nuthatches are raising their young, a Hutton's Vireo is still working on her rather shabby nest, and a coyote was very recently seen. Apparently, not all were trapped. Barbara Harkleroad Almaden Area __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.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]] Sat May 19 18:16:00 2001 Subject: [SBB] Stilt chicks at Palo Alto Baylands -------- I took my two young children to Palo Alto Baylands this morning and attempted to do a bit of birdwatching at the same time. The highlight of the short hike was a family of Black-necked Stilts just behind the visitor center at the beginning of the boardwalk. There were four chicks and the parents let them wander out of the grass into a puddle in full view of the boardwalk. Sadly (for my kids) the visitor center was closed, but a ranger came out as we were walking past. She said that the chicks had just hatched yesterday and that it was a real treat to watch them attempting to walk (wobble) on their new legs. Barry Langdon-Lassagne -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 19 23:22:42 2001 Subject: [SBB] Possible Lazuli x Indigo Bunting Hybrid seen at Windy Hill OSP -------- This afternoon I went with a friend to see the INDIGO BUNTING that has been reported recently at Windy Hill OSP. We found it after a little searching singing from atop a clump of Coyote Bush near the Anniversary Trail. We also noted 4-5 LAZULI BUNTINGs in the same general area. We thought we might have located a second INDIGO male singing from another location but noted that this bird had a white belly and the slightest hint of a light colored single wing bar. Other than the white on the belly, the bird was otherwise completely blue. Sibley has a depiction of a LAZULI x INDIGO hybrid that looks fairly close to the bird we saw. As we were leaving the OSP, we noted a PEREGRINE FALCON flying north along Skyline, more or less following the line of the road. It disappeared beyond the Redwoods north of the north entrance to Windy Hill. It was the first time I have seen a PEREGRINE along Skyline. Kenneth Petersen -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 20 05:15:07 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- Today, 20 May 01, I stopped by CCFS. On the way in a flock of 27 WHITE-FACED IBIS flew overhead towards the southeast. Another 10 WHITE-FACED IBIS were on the waterbird pond. A single bird was still at Lafayette and 237 as well. Now, I couldn't say whether or not the flyby birds contained a Glossy Ibis, but it's best to assume the common species in a situation like that. Some baby birds that were on the waterbird pond included MALLARD, CANADA GOOSE, AMERICAN AVOCET, and KILLDEER. 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 May 20 08:04:33 2001 Subject: [SBB] Western Tanager -------- Yesterday I saw the Western Tanager in breeding plumage at Guadalupe Oak Grove Park. It was flitting through the tree tops on the trail near the parking lot off Thorntree Drive. (I sent this message yesterday, but it appears something happened to it.) Breeding birds easily seen are White Breasted Nuthatches, Hutton's Vireo, Acorn Woodpeckers, Nutall's Woodpeckers, Bewicks Wren, Red Shouldered Hawk, Red Tailed Hawk, and more. Barbara Harkleroad Almaden Area __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Yahoo! Auctions - buy the things you want at great prices http://auctions.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]] Sun May 20 10:24:38 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Possible Lazuli x Indigo Bunting Hybrid seen at Windy Hill OSP -------- I too saw this bird yesterday and was confused by the white belly. It certainly seemed that a couple of Indigo Buntings were calling in the area. However, I did get sight of a really cracking male where the Hawk and Alder Springs trails meet in Russian Ridge OSP. There were plenty of Grasshopper Sparrows around there too. A quick stop at the parking lot for Horseshoe Lake produced a couple of singing Chipping Sparrows. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 20 12:31:11 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Possible Lazuli x Indigo Bunting Hybrid seen at Windy Hill OSP -------- At 11:22 PM 5/19/01 -0700, Kenneth Petersen wrote: >This afternoon I went with a friend to see the INDIGO BUNTING that has been >reported recently at Windy Hill OSP. We found it after a little searching >singing from atop a clump of Coyote Bush near the Anniversary Trail. We also >noted 4-5 LAZULI BUNTINGs in the same general area. We thought we might have >located a second INDIGO male singing from another location but noted that >this bird had a white belly and the slightest hint of a light colored single >wing bar. Other than the white on the belly, the bird was otherwise >completely blue. Sibley has a depiction of a LAZULI x INDIGO hybrid that >looks fairly close to the bird we saw. > >As we were leaving the OSP, we noted a PEREGRINE FALCON flying north along >Skyline, more or less following the line of the road. It disappeared beyond >the Redwoods north of the north entrance to Windy Hill. It was the first >time I have seen a PEREGRINE along Skyline. I saw a Peregrine there flying south along the road early this morning. --Peter ------------------------------------------------------ Peter LaTourrette North American Bird Photo Gallery: http://www.birdphotography.com/ Jasper Ridge, Hawai'i, New Zealand: 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]] Sun May 20 13:29:30 2001 Subject: [SBB] County birding -------- All, Friday morning Frank Vanslager and I checked out the northern portion of Ed Levin County Park. Still no Blue Grosbeaks (guess it's a miss this year for some of us), a "family" of five Loggerhead Shrikes was working the hillside above the "green gate" so we saw no Grasshopper Sparrows (although Frank did hear one short call), two male Lazuli Buntings, several Rufous-crowned Sparrows, Western Kingbirds, Bullock's Orioles and the "unmentionables" did keep us busy though. On the way home we decided to check some of the marshes for Ibis, the only one found was a White-faced in the marsh in the northeast corner of Hwy. 237 and Gold Street in Alviso. Take care, Bob Reiling, 1:30 PM, 5/20/01 -------- Attachment 889 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Sun May 20 14:26:44 2001 Subject: [SBB] Lewis' Woodpeckers at Grant Park breeding? -------- This morning I went for a hike at Joseph D. Grant Park in an attempt to find the Lewis' Woodpeckers that had been sighted there recently. After parking outside of the CDF station at Smith Creek, I had some trouble figuring out where to pick up the trail. While I was looking around, I saw some Lawrence's Goldfinches near the CDF headquarters. I eventually got on the right trail by way of a stile that crosses the fence at the back of the CDF property. After a very pleasant, short hike, I reached Eagle Lake. Following Ann Verdi's directions, I continued past the lake on the Hotel Trail for a little less than 1/4 mile. I scanned the oak trees in the area with my binoculars and saw a Lewis' Woodpecker flying. It landed in an oak tree directly behind a dead tree. Here's a photo of the dead tree: http://www.thebirder.com/photos/deadtree.jpg After setting my scope up and watching for a bit, I saw a second bird. After some more time in the sun, I saw one and then the other bird enter a cavity in the oak tree. I hung around for about an hour after this, trying to get some photos of the birds entering the cavity. I managed to get some rather poor quality photos of the birds around the cavity and have put them on the web here: http://www.thebirder.com/lewo.html Would these woodpeckers be entering a cavity for any other purpose than to nest? If not, this would confirm at the least, an attempt at breeding. I think that there is a possibility that there are already young, since I saw one of the birds carrying an insect (though I didn't see it enter the cavity with it). Also, when one of the adults would approach the cavity, I heard a high-pitched vocalization, but couldn't tell if it was coming from the adult bird or from within the cavity. Some other nice birds along the way were Black-headed Grosbeak, Violet-green Swallow, Bullock's Oriole and American Kestrel. Don Ganton [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun May 20 15:02:40 2001 Subject: [SBB] ibis over Sunnyvale Baylands -------- At around 12:30 today, I saw the flock of approx. 26 ibis. They flew up from the vicinity of Twin Creeks and headed not towards Alviso but northwest towards Sunnyvale/Mountain View. Also around Sunnyvale Baylands were two families of Ruddy Ducks, one female with 3 chicks, the other with 7 chicks. One of the Ruddy Ducks chased a nearby coot until the coot clambered up on land. Also, behind Twin Creeks were three White Pelicans and a perched rufuous-morph Red-Tailed Hawk. Many singing Common Yellowthroats. Jan Hintermeister -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 20 15:32:38 2001 Subject: [SBB] Glossy Ibis -------- A Glossy Ibis was seen around 10am today at Hayward Regional Shoreline by Peter Dramer, Bob Richmond and I. It was with a flock of White-faced Ibis. We initially saw 18 Ibises circling the eastern end of the marsh (the same area where Peter saw 27 Ibises on Thursday). They disappeared to the south. A few minutes later a group of Ibis flew in and landed on one of the islands. A similar sized group landed about a minute later. I counted 30 Ibis in all. The Ibises flew south of Highway 92 and were not seen again as of 1pm. The area where the Ibises landed is closed to the public and not visible from the public trail. The closest public access is the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center at the east end of the San Mateo Bridge (Clawiter exit from Highway 92 then take Breakwater - by the gas station to get to the frontage road on the north side of the freeway). The Interpretive Center has an observation deck that provides views both north and south. Also seen today 20+ Brown Pelicans and 2 Black Skimmers. Sheila Junge Hayward, CA -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon May 21 09:49:52 2001 Subject: [SBB] - -------- Folks: This morning, 5/21/2001, I counted 12 AM. WHITE PELICANS on Salt Pond A2. An adult PEREGRINE FALCON was on one of the towers over the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh. There were at least three BURROWING OWLS on two of the mounds at Shoreline Park. 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 May 21 10:17:26 2001 Subject: [SBB] Grant Ranch, Ed Levin Co. Parks, and Alum Rock -------- I, too, with Andi Stephens, visited Ed Levin County Park, Alum Rock Park, and Joseph D. Grant (Ranch) County Park this weekend on Sunday (5/20/2001). Highlights were an adult male Costa's Hummingbird on the trail up to Eagle Rock in Alum Rock and the Lewis's Woodpeckers near Eagle Lake at Grant Ranch. The Lewis' Woodpeckers do indeed require more intensive watching and note taking. There appears to be two pairs. I watched one adult make two forays from the dominant oak, near the trail and behind the large visible stump, into the ravine across the trail and then return, going into "its" hole. During the second foray, we had moved in closer and the adult was quite aware of our presence. He?/she? remained hidden behind the limb until feeling it safe enough to navigate into the apparent nest site. All activity centered around this "hole/cavity." No young could be heard. Behind this tree about 75 meters to the west (right hand side of the trail if coming from Eagle Lake), there were two Lewis' Woodpeckers to which we could not find a nest. One was readily identified as an adult who continually gave an alarm call until we completely left the area (backing away was insufficient. It was hard to tell if the other bird was an adult or not, but appeared quit dark and a little smaller. I cannot image the adult giving an alarm call unless young were actually out of the nest, but then I cannot image young at this early date. Had no time to make further observations. At Ed Levin 27 Ibis, presumably White-faced, were seen flying west into San Jose toward the Bays' edge. A lot of nesting activity and nests were seen of some seven species both in the north parking lot of Sandy Wool Lake and in the grove of trees up the hill and behind the water tower. Will give a more detailed account of species and events seen at all three parks later when I have more time. Wanted to get this information out now. Eric Eric Feuss ABTS Application Developer, Administrator Program Management, Program Management Technologies (Team) Adobe Systems Incorporated Mailstop: W06, 345 Park Ave., San Jose, CA 95110 Phone: (408) 536-3050 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon May 21 10:24:24 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Grant Ranch, Ed Levin Co. Parks, and Alum Rock -------- At 10:17 AM 5/21/01 -0700, Eric Feuss wrote: >Behind this tree about 75 meters to the west (right hand side of the trail >if coming from Eagle Lake), there were two Lewis' Woodpeckers Opps. I meant left-hand side. Eric Eric Feuss ABTS Application Developer, Administrator Program Management, Program Management Technologies (Team) Adobe Systems Incorporated Mailstop: W06, 345 Park Ave., San Jose, CA 95110 Phone: (408) 536-3050 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon May 21 11:47:54 2001 Subject: [SBB] Weekend birding -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, On Friday I drove Mines Road Del Puerto Canyon Road. At the usual spot on Mines Road (milepost 5.75) there were at least a half dozen PHAINOPEPLAS, mostly upslope from the road among the elderberry bushes. In chaparral areas along Mines Road, after crossing into Santa Clara County, I saw a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER perched atop a snag and heard a SAGE SPARROW singing. Farther south, near the cattleguard 0.5 mile north of San Antoinio Junction, I saw 2 Sage Sparrows (of 3-4 that were singing in this area). Although it was early afternoon and hot when I arrived there, it didn't seem to stop the sparrows from singing. A CANYON WREN was seen singing from a sheer cliff face next to Del Puerto Canyon Road at a pullout between Frank Raines County Park and I-5 (again, the usual place). Didn't see any Costa's Hummingbirds, but I was more busy with picture taking and didn't look too hard. On Saturday my class and I had a field trip to Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. From the trailhead we observed a pair of WHITE-TAILED KITES copulating in a distant oak. Between the parking area and Canyon Trail we saw a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW atop a coyote bush and the first of what would be at least a half dozen singing LAZULI BUNTINGS (gorgeous!). Near the sag pond a few of us had a brief view of a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (a couple more sang unseen farther up the trail). Other birds we saw during our hike included an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS, WARBLING VIREO, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, and PURPLE FINCHES. We ended the trip in the noon hour with the temperature rapidly climbing-- 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 May 21 11:50:03 2001 Subject: [SBB] Frenchman's Meadow fledging -------- Was able to see a young male NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER leave the nest this morning. With both adults nearby he hopped around, calling, on a branch for less than a minute after emerging, and then followed the adult male on a short flight across some open ground. -- Tom Grey Stanford Law School [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon May 21 12:33:41 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Fledglings-- California Thrasher/ Dark-eyed Juncos -------- Yesterday a California Thrasher was feeding my lard-peanut mixture to a fledgling. Last week I banded 6 immature Dark-eyed Juncos in my yard. Presumably this represents at least 2 families. Ruth Troetschler -- Ruth Troetschler -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon May 21 14:05:25 2001 Subject: [SBB] (no subject) -------- Today at the Hayward Regional Shoreline, Peter, Sheila, and I started at 0630 to once anain look for the Glossy Ibis. We had just started when a flock of 27 Ibis took off from what we thought was Cogswell Marsh. They flew south and landed near Coyote Hills Regional Park. Also seen here were 3 Black Skimmers and a lone White-faced Ibis. Later in the morning I went down to Coyote Hills, I found a flock of 27 Ibis near the NE corner of the park. The Glossy Ibis was with 26 White-faced Ibis. This was about 1220 and they were with 40 Am. White Pelicans. Later when I was back on the road, a flock of 27 Ibis flew overhead, possibly the same birds. They flew south and looked to be over the wildlife refuge when they came back and landed out of sight just east of the south marsh. This area is fairly close to the entrance station. Good Birding Bob Richmond -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 21 15:09:45 2001 Subject: [SBB] Grant Ranch birds -------- SB Birders--- Yesterday, May 20, 2001, I led an Audubon field trip to the Twin Gates area of Grant Ranch County Park up the Mt. Hamilton Rd. We started early, at 7:00 Am, to focus on bird song and avoid mid-day heat. A moderate wind was blowing for the first 2 hours, impairing our ability to hear singing birds but providing some relief to high temperatures. At the Twin Gates parking lot a pair of WESTERN KINGBIRDS was actively attending a nest near the top of the first oak just above the parking lot. BULLOCK'S ORIOLE and LESSER GOLDFINCH also sang from the cluster of oaks, but the nice surprise was several LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES singing and perching cooperatively in these same trees. Later we had at least 10 of these uncommon finches flying around in a small flock, which seemed to contain more males than females. About 1/2 mile up the trail in open grassland next to a trail junction, we had a singing GRASSHOPPER SPARROW which perched cooperatively for outstanding scope views. Within another 1/4 mile we observed at least 4 HORNED LARKS foraging in the trail; close observation revealed that 2 of the birds were juveniles. This spot is exactly where I confirmed this species breeding when I covered the area for the bird atlas 10 years ago. The wind died down about 9:30 so we decided to beat the heat by visiting nearby Smith Creek. Fortunately it was cooler there and birds were still singing. HOUSE WREN, 3 CHIPPING SPARROWS, WARBLING VIREO, CASSIN'S VIREO and others sang near the bridge; down by the creek we heard BROWN CREEPER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, DOWNY WOODPECKER, W. WOOD PEWEE, PAC. SLOPE FLYCATCHER and others. One migrant SWAINSON'S THRUSH was silent; a pair of LAZULI BUNTINGS was secretive and difficult to see, and the male sang only sporadically (we were probably too close to a nest site). Frank Vanslager had a couple VAUX's SWIFTS overhead. Just as we were preparing to leave, we heard and then spotted 2 male YELLOW WARBLERS singing and chasing each other through the trees right over the parking area. One bird featured significantly stronger red streaking on the underparts than the other. A female observed the competition from a nearby bough. ---Grant Hoyt -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon May 21 15:42:56 2001 Subject: [SBB] Grant Ranch Yesterday -------- Ring-necked Duck was not at Grant Lake. GRASSHOPPER SPARROW calling at the lake parking lot. Another calling behind the ranch house/ranger office in the park. LAZULI BUNTING calling from atop the first thicket past the gate on the Hotel trail. Other LAZULI's heard calling from further up. YELLOW WARBLER calling from within the same thicket. 2 WESTERN BLUEBIRDs seen along Quimby Rd. Many more at Grant Lake and within the park. Ran into David Cook who was checking up on his Bluebird trail. A box on an Oak west of the lake, near the picnic table, had 4 TREE SWALLOW chicks. On an adjoining tree 3 fledling Bluebirds were being fed by their parents. An ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER was picking up fur from a roadkill (was not timid and almost became roadkill itself). 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]] Mon May 21 21:33:50 2001 Subject: [SBB] Black-chinned Sparrow etc. at Monte Bello -------- All, At 11AM this morning, 5/21/2001, a Black-chinned Sparrow was seen singing from the top of a flowering Chamise shrub on a dense slope of chaparral about 1/4 mile west of the Black Mtn. walk-in campground at Monte Bello Open Space Preserve. Access to this spot, located just uphill from the "0.55" marker along the Indian Creek trail, requires an approximate 5-mile walking loop from the main MB-OSP parking area. Warning: it's hot up there. Bonus: many species of butterflies are flying everywhere up there right now, visiting the many flowering chaparral species such as Yerba Santa, Chamise, and Blue Elderberry. Other noteworthy birds encountered included about 12 buntings, all of them apparently Lazuli Buntings (several escaped visual detection and sang variant songs, so who knows?). One Black-throated Gray Warbler and one Chipping Sparrow were down among the tall trees along the Stevens Creek Nature Trail, as were all 3 vireos (the single Cassin's was between the first and second footbridges over Stevens Creek as you head downstream). A silent male Western Tanager was in an oak top briefly along the Bella Vista Trail. Several Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were heard and/or seen in the chaparral. Otherwise, things were pretty quiet in hot, bright, breezy conditions. I listened carefully for, but failed to find any Grasshopper Sparrows. Butterflies in the area included Pale Swallowtail, Mylitta Crescent, Northern and Chalcedon Checkerspots, Yellow-orange Sulfur, Acmon Blue (seems like a big year for these), Mournful and Propertius Duskywings, California Ringlets, Buckeyes, and a couple of Calif. Tortoiseshells. Also a few which I tentatively ID'd as Purplish Coppers. Several of the Ladies flitted by but I was unable to ID to species. Reptiles included 100s of bluebelly lizards, and one each Western Whiptail and Western Skink. As the whiptail wandered up the trail sucking up ants, it passed a resting bluebelly, which reacted by raising itself to the absolute highest point its limbs would allow, thereby showing off its bright blue belly stripes. (I have never seen this to such an extent for intra-species display.) --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]] Tue May 22 09:31:53 2001 Subject: [SBB] McClellan Ranch Park -------- Howdy South-bay-birders, Yesterday evening my class and I spent some time watching the feeders and riparian at McClellan Ranch Park. BULLOCK'S ORIOLES were nesting in a redwood near the parking area, and coming to the feeders along with HOODED ORIOLES. Mike Danzenbaker was there taking pictures there, and he showed us the location of an active NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER nest. The young bird peering out of the nest hole appeared to be close to fledging (I was surprised to see that a fledgling would already show a small red crown patch). A WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE was flitting in the sycamores across the road at dusk, and I heard a YELLOW WARBLER sing once. At around 9pm we spent some time watching and listening for barn owl without success. We did see BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON go by, and heard a single drawn-out hoot coming from the riparian across the field. It sure sounded like a LONG-EARED OWL, but unfortunately it only called once. 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 May 22 10:29:53 2001 Subject: [SBB] Re: McClellan Ranch Park -------- According to Pyle's ID guide to NA Passerines (and picids, trochilids, and columbids), juvenile Nuttall's of either sex have red on the forecrown with whitish/creamy foreheads. Adult males have the red from the center to the hindcrown. With experience it's supposed to be possible to tell juv. females from males, the latter having more red. I've handled one juv. Nuttall's while banding but without any other feature to sex them, I couldn't tell you how much red differentiates male from female in this age group. I didn't check Pyle's to see when the young female loses her red crown. I would imagine it either wears off or is replaced during perhaps a pre-alternate molt, if they have one. Juvenile Pileated Woodpeckers are supposedly possible to sex by the presence or absence of red in the crown. Even as youngsters, they reflect the adult plumage. A few years ago, while observing the active nest at Table Mtn., I was able to see that one of the nestlings had a red crown while the other two didn't. Les Chibana On Tuesday, May 22, 2001 9:31 AM, John Mariani <[[email protected]]> wrote: >the location of an active NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER nest. The young bird peering >out of the nest hole appeared to be close to fledging (I was surprised to >see that a fledgling would already show a small red crown patch). -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 22 12:18:01 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Re: McClellan Ranch Park -------- I've noticed that the chick and fledgling Nuttall's red patches also seem to be duller than the adult male's. Leda Beth Gray > From: Les Chibana <[[email protected]]> > Reply-To: Les Chibana <[[email protected]]> > Date: 22 May 2001 10:29:53 -0700 > To: "South-bay-birds" <[[email protected]]> > Subject: [SBB] Re: McClellan Ranch Park > > According to Pyle's ID guide to NA Passerines (and picids, trochilids, > and columbids), juvenile Nuttall's of either sex have red on the > forecrown with whitish/creamy foreheads. Adult males have the red > from the center to the hindcrown. With experience it's supposed to be > possible to tell juv. females from males, the latter having more red. > I've handled one juv. Nuttall's while banding but without any other > feature to sex them, I couldn't tell you how much red differentiates > male from female in this age group. I didn't check Pyle's to see when > the young female loses her red crown. I would imagine it either wears > off or is replaced during perhaps a pre-alternate molt, if they have > one. > > Juvenile Pileated Woodpeckers are supposedly possible to sex by the > presence or absence of red in the crown. Even as youngsters, they > reflect the adult plumage. A few years ago, while observing the active > nest at Table Mtn., I was able to see that one of the nestlings had a > red crown while the other two didn't. > > Les Chibana > > On Tuesday, May 22, 2001 9:31 AM, John Mariani <[[email protected]]> > wrote: > >> the location of an active NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER nest. The young bird peering >> out of the nest hole appeared to be close to fledging (I was surprised to >> see that a fledgling would already show a small red crown patch). > > > -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus 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 May 22 13:15:47 2001 Subject: [SBB] County birding -------- All, This morning Frank Vanslager and I birded the first "saddle" on Loma Prieta (where the paving used to stop). Best bird was a female/immature Purple Martin perched on "the" snag located northwest of the "saddle". Other mentionables included Black-throated Gray Warbler and Western Tanager. Usual suspects included Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Western Wood-Pewee, Purple Finch, Orange-crowned Warbler and Cliff Swallow. Take care, Bob Reiling, 1:16 PM, 5/22/01 -------- Attachment 721 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Tue May 22 20:01:24 2001 Subject: [SBB] 27 White-faced Ibis -------- East-Bay-Birders, South-Bay-Birders: Today at 4:28 PM I spotted 27 White-faced Ibis at Coyote Hill Regional Park in Alameda County. The flock was flying in from the bay in the south-west over the hill to the east, crossing the main paved trail from the parking lot where it merges with the trail along Alameda Creek, then to the south-east and then to the south and then out of sight. It seems there have been several reports of a flock of 27 ibises. The Glossy Ibis may have been in that flock. -- 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]] Wed May 23 16:33:17 2001 Subject: [SBB] White-faced Ibis -------- I stopped by the TiVo Pond at Lafayette/Gold St. in Alviso today at 3:00 pm and found one lone White-faced Ibis in the pond. The lighting was poor and I did not have my scope so it may warrant a 2nd look to check for the Glossy Ibis. 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]] Wed May 23 16:39:34 2001 Subject: [SBB] Golden-crowned Kinglets -------- Hi SBB, Today (5/23) I went out to private forest lands in the Bodfish Creek watershed, southeast of Mount Madonna. I encountered seven singing GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, well spaced in redwood forest habitat. Three others were heard singing in redwood forest on the inland slope at Mount Madonna County Park. This extends the species' known breeding season range in the Santa Cruz Mountains well into the southeast-most part of the mountains, and they are generally considered pretty rare on the inland side of the crest. However, just this year I have documented a substantial range expansion and population increase in southern portion of the mountains on the Santa Cruz County side. Prior to this year there was little evidence that GCKI nested occurred south and east of the Hwy 17 corridor, except very locally in small numbers. This year I have found GCKI to be uncommon to fairly common and widespread in a number of watersheds where previous recent coverage found it to be absent or extremely rare. For example, an extensive point count survey in the East Branch of Soquel Creek (where GCKI seemed to be absent in previous years) has found them at roughly 75%+ of count stations in suitable habitat. Probably the birds at Bodfish and at Mt Madonna are a result of this new expansion. David Suddjian, Capitola Santa Cruz Bird Club Bird Records Keeper [[email protected]] -------- Attachment 1.5 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Wed May 23 19:44:34 2001 Subject: [SBB] Black Phoebes Fledge -------- Three Black Phoebes fledged from the nest in the neighbors yard today. Success! Screech.\ Paul L. Noble "Screechowl" [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) / \ m m -------- Attachment 1.1 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Wed May 23 20:30:40 2001 Subject: [SBB] Mines Road Redux -------- Alan Hopkins and I did the Mines Road circuit today and a nice, if toasty warm day. Birds of note: CASSIN'S KINGBIRD, one at MP 8.7 and another at MP 9.0 on Del Puerto Canyon Road. We did not see any at MP 3.7, but did not spend a lot of time looking GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, one at MP 0.8 on Del Puerto Canyon Road just beyond the cattle guard. They were not singing even at 8:00 this morning. RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW, two at MP 3.7 on Del Puerto Canyon Road BLUE GROSBEAK, one at MP 3.9 on Del Puerto Canyon Road 3 COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, at MP 3.9 on Del Puerto Canyon Road GREATER ROADRUNNER, one at MP 3.9 on Del Puerto Canyon Road and another ridiculously cooperative bird at MP 6.74 along Mines Road PHAINOPEPLA, one at MP 7.4 along Del Puerto Canyon Road GREEN HERON, a surprise flyover at MP 8.7 along Del Puerto Canyon Road SWAINSON'S THRUSH, one or two at the Summit along San Antonio Road CALIFORNIA THRASHER, two at MP 15.3 along Del Puerto Canyon Road and another pair at the Summit along San Antonio Road Also of note was an apparent family group of ROCK WRENS at MP 7.4 along Del Puerto Canyon Road, a probable breeding record. Mark Partial bird list: Del Puerto Canyon Road 0.8 Grasshopper Sparrow 1.1 Horned Lark 2.0 Loggerhead Shrike 3 Western Kingbird 3.0 Rock Wren Bullock's Oriole 3.7 Lark Sparrow Bullock's Oriole Rufous-crowned Sparrow Northern Rough-winged Swallow Red-tailed Hawk 3.9 Blue Grosbeak 3 Costa's Hummingbird Greater Roadrunner Belted Kingfisher Northern Flicker 5.8 California Towhee 7.4 3 Rock Wren (PR) Phainopepla Bewick's Wren Canyon Wren Ash-throated Flycatcher 8.7 Green Heron Cassin's Kingbird 9.0 Cassin's Kingbird 10.4 Black Phoebe Canyon Wren 11.7 Oak Titmouse 13 House Finch 14.3 Western Scrub-Jay California Quail Acorn Woodpecker 15.3 California Thrasher Spotted Towhee Black-headed Grosbeak Frank Raines White-breasted Nuthatch 17.x Wrentit 25 Lewis' Woodpecker Junction Western Bluebird Anna's Hummingbird Birding-hostile locals San Antonio Road Barn Swallow Metal Bridge Violet-green Swallow Wood Duck Cattle Guard Turkey Vulture Summit Swainson's Thrush Spotted Towhee Wrentit Mines Road 6.74 Greater Roadrunner Western Kingbird -- Mark Eaton mailto:[[email protected]] SFBirds Web Page http://home.pacbell.net/mweaton SFBirds mailing list http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SFBirds "The years 1990, 1991 and 1992 could not be located." Anonymous -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 24 10:22:11 2001 Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek north of L'Avenida -------- All, This morning 5/24/01 I made a quick check of Stevens Creek north from the end of L'Avenida before coming into work. The 35 species seen/heard did not include any migrants. Of interest were two BULLOCK'S ORIOLE nests with young less than a hundred yards apart in the nearby Moffett housing complex, 7 precocial MALLARD young in the creek, and an incessantly singing COMMON YELLOWTHROAT in the reeds just south of L'Avenida. An unfamiliar call led to the discovery of a male ZEBRA FINCH (escapee), also in the nearby Moffett housing complex. Mike Rogers -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri May 25 22:42:23 2001 Subject: [SBB] COPOs at Almaden Quicksilver Park -------- All: For three years now I've been able to take a short walk at sunset, and confirm the Common Poorwills at Almaden Quicksilver Park; this was off the McAbee entrance by the Senador Mine ruins. They were all short encounters, but satisfying. At 8:35 PM I heard several start calling from the north hillside by the ruins, then another answered from the south hillside. Then it was quiet until 8:45, when one came fluttering up like a giant moth, flew erratically overhead, and disappeared against the gloomy hills to the east. While hunting around in the increasingly dark brush I probably heard one give several squawks as I disturbed it. Then, some time after 9:00 PM (I couldn't see my watch) one started serenading me from quite close with its distinctive Poor Will-ik, Poor Will-ik calls. 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]] Sat May 26 17:06:43 2001 Subject: [SBB] Stevens Creek Park 5/26/01 -------- Hi all, My class did a trip today at Stevens Creek Park. We had lots of unexpectedly great sightings of expected species. Highlights: The RED-SHOULDERED HAWK (RSHA) nest was still active at the Chestnut picnic area. We saw 2 nestlings, Pete LaTourette reported that there were actually 3 there. A GOLDEN EAGLE cruised over the area just as an adult RSHA brought food to the nest. BAND-TAILED PIGEONs were frequently seen overhead. VAUX'S SWIFT were seen flying low over Cooley picnic area. A probable ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD was at Picchetti Ranch. An active NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER nest was observed at the bridge to the Cooley picnic area. OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERs were vocal at various locations and a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE was nearby an OSFL at Villa Maria picnic area for a nice comparison. A calling PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER was carrying food in the area of the bridge to the Cooley picnic area. It may have a nest under the bridge. One or two CASSIN'S VIREOs were feeding a juvenile BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD at the Canyon picnic area. A VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOW entered a tree cavity at the edge of the orchard next to Villa Maria picnic area. Two AMERICAN DIPPER were seen flying along the creek upstream of the 4th bridge above the Costanoan turnoff. One was later well-seen downstream of the 4th bridge. 2 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERs were seen and a third was heard in the Villa Maria orchard area. Only ORANGE-CROWNED and WILSON'S WARBLERs were seen. Great views of WESTERN TANAGERs were had at the Canyon picnic area as a persistent male chased STELLER'S JAYs. A pair of BULLOCK'S ORIOLEs were feeding young at a nest at Chestnut picnic 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]] Sun May 27 11:04:14 2001 Subject: [SBB] Stanford Dish WEKIs -------- I walked the Dish loop this morning early, hoping maybe to find a Grasshopper Sparrow or Lazuli Bunting on the grassy slopes. No luck on that, but there were two adult WESTERN KINGBIRDS foraging right near the Dish. I stayed and watched for a half hour or so, but didn't see any direct evidence of nesting. A pair of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES were carrying food to a nest in the live oak right in front of the Dish, and two juvenile BUORs were flying around near the oak behind it. ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS were at various point along the trail. 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]] Sun May 27 15:39:49 2001 Subject: [SBB] Thanks Frank Vanslager -------- Good Afternoon All... Just wanted to thank Frank Vanslager for the great directions for the Golden Eagle nest out by Calero Reservoir. There were two nestlings with one larger than the other. No parents in sight. Terrific sight to see baby Golden Eagles.... Thanks Frank. At Calero Reservoir it was rather quiet, could be the all the boats? Did manage to scope some Caspian Terns sitting with some Forster's Terns. Had a scope view of a Grebe (Western or Clarks?) to far for me to tell. Looked like there was two small baby grebes with an adult. Other than that mostly quiet. 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]] Sun May 27 18:25:57 2001 Subject: [SBB] Tahoe Rose Breasted Grosbeak -------- I know this is far afield, but I thought some of you would be interested. We saw and photographed a Rose-Breasted Grosbeak this Sunday morning at the River access parking area just south of the "Y" in Tahoe City. The adult male Rose-Breasted was often fighting with an adult male Black-Headed Grosbeak. Gorgeous bird, reminded me of my Minnesota home. Richard C. Carlson Full Time Birder, Biker, Skier, Hiker Part-time Economist Palo Alto, CA [[email protected]] Tahoe phone 530-581-0624 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 27 18:33:30 2001 Subject: [SBB] Baylands Ibis -------- All: At 4 pm today there was a White-Faced Ibis at the northern side of the Mt. View Forebay. In Charleston Slough, one Black Skimmer was on the usual island. Two broods of Canada geese, with parents at each end, paraded in Adobe Creek. 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]] Mon May 28 08:05:58 2001 Subject: [SBB] Fledglings Los Altos -------- All-- I have banded 3 immature Spotted Towhees this week, and 6 immature California Towhees this spring. A Nuttall's Woodpecker fed a fledgling my lard/peanut butter mixture this AM. A male House Finch was feeding a fledgling white millet. Although there are many adult Brown-headed Cowbirds locally, we have yet to see an immature. Ruth Troetschler -- Ruth Troetschler -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon May 28 11:44:08 2001 Subject: [SBB] Arastradero -------- I walked along Corte Madera and Meadowlark trails this morning. A pair of adult HOUSE WRENS were feeding young in a nestbox well up the hill to the left of the entrance to the preserve. A VAUX'S SWIFT flew by overhead. A male RUDDY DUCK was in Arastradero Lake, the first time I've seen one here. A juvenile COOPER'S HAWK was circling overhead, and a juvenile WHITE-TAILED KITE was perched along the Meadowlark trail. No Red-shouldered Hawks seen or heard at all. With nesting season arrived, passerines were hard to come by -- I heard just one singing ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, and three PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, seeing one of the latter. For the count next week, it's worthwhile checking all the green-and-white swallows to see if any are Tree Swallows, but I didn't find any today. I couldn't find a large flock of Lesser Goldfinches, and certainly no luck finding Lawrence's. Tom Grey Stanford Law School [[email protected]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon May 28 12:17:34 2001 Subject: [SBB] Red_Shouldered Hawk Fledglings -------- I visited the Red-Shouldered Hawk's next at Stevens Creek Park this morning. I saw only two of the fledglings who have now begun to limb-walk and take short flights. It's worth a trip over to see them. The third fledgling may have been down lower in the tree or on the ground out of sight. One of the parents made a trip down below my view several times. The nest is located in the Chestnut Picnic area. Go east of the men's restroom about 30 or 40 feet and look to the northeast. The nest is in the 2nd layer of Sycamore trees, up about 30 feet or so. It should be pretty easy to spot with all the action that's now going on. Also in the area, Belted Kingfisher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Black-headed Grosbeak, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and various woodpeckers (Oak, Nuthall's, and Downy) to name a few.) Good views of Blue-Grey Gnatcatchers in the Villa Maria Group area in the orchard south of the parking area. 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]] Mon May 28 13:44:57 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Red_Shouldered Hawk Fledglings -------- Opps: I meant to say Acorn, Nutthall's, and Downy. "Louis J. Beaudet" wrote: > I visited the Red-Shouldered Hawk's next at Stevens Creek Park this > morning. I saw only two of the fledglings who have now begun to > limb-walk and take short flights. It's worth a trip over to see them. > The third fledgling may have been down lower in the tree or on the > ground out of sight. One of the parents made a trip down below my view > several times. > The nest is located in the Chestnut Picnic area. Go east of the men's > restroom about 30 or 40 feet and look to the northeast. The nest is in > the 2nd layer of Sycamore trees, up about 30 feet or so. > It should be pretty easy to spot with all the action that's now going > on. > Also in the area, Belted Kingfisher, Olive-sided Flycatcher, > Black-headed Grosbeak, Ash-throated Flycatcher, and various woodpeckers > (Oak, Nuthall's, and Downy) to name a few.) > Good views of Blue-Grey Gnatcatchers in the Villa Maria Group area in > the orchard south of the parking area. > > 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]] -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 28 15:46:59 2001 Subject: [SBB] Lewis' Wooddpeckers -------- Yesterday Dennis Eccles and I, with the assistance of the description of the yellow warning from Ann Verdi and a copy of the dead tree photo from Don Ganton, located the area where the Lewis' Woodpeckers had been observed. Within 10 seconds of setting up the scope one bird flew to a dead limb in the tree directly in front of us as if we had been expected. Our thanks to Ann and Don for a very interesting first for both of us. John Hutz -------- Attachment 1.0 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Tue May 29 04:11:12 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- On Monday, 28 May 01, I visited Ed Levin Park. There wasn't a lot of activity, but I did have a couple of CASPIAN TERNS with a FORSTER'S over Sandy Wool Lake. Also, a group of 5 branchling LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE juveniles were being fed by adults in the Elm Picnic Area. Since they were incapable of flight, I assume they came from one of the two nest structures in the particular tree they occupied. Mike Mammoser -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue May 29 07:51:27 2001 Subject: [SBB] : -------- I paid a lunch time visit to the Sunnyvale sewage ponds today, 29 May 01, and noted that the Snow Goose is no longer present there among the domestics. These geese do have 3 young goslings, though. I also found at least 6 pairs of LESSER SCAUP in the perimeter channels. A single brood of GADWALL and 3 broods of MALLARD were also 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]] Tue May 29 08:42:51 2001 Subject: [SBB] LEWO COCF -Reply -------- I agree with Jim on the exisitance of at least two nesting pair of LEWIS WOODPECKER's at the site near Eagle Lake in Grant Ranch Park. My brother Chuck and I visited the site along the Hotel trail (thanks to Don Ganton's digital landmark photo's!) on Saturday, 5/26 and immediately saw the birds. In fact, there were a minimum of 5 birds for sure in the area. Watching them catch insects on the wing like swallows was great to see. This is a great place to observe these birds. The pair nesting in the Oak nearer the trail was feeding the nestlings about every 15 minutes. After hearing other LEWO's calling from the stand of oaks imediately southwest of the previously reported nest tree, we tried to find another nest site. Although I think we found it, we couldn't stay long enough to actually see the birds enter the hole. Chuck reported a bobcat strolling by as he was sitting quietly abserving the LEWO's. 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]] Tue May 29 08:55:02 2001 Subject: [SBB] LEWO COCF -------- Amy and I checked the Grant Park Lewis' Woodpeckers on Monday, 5/29/01. The birds were confirmed nesting at two sites. At the first site, the birds were observed carrying large insects and entering a nesting cavity in a Valley Oak. The birds reappeared quickly without the food. At the second site, the birds were observed disappearing into the crown mass of another set of oaks, also carrying food. While the nesting cavity was not located, the birds soon reappeared without the food, indicating young were being fed. The birds made many back and forth trips during the time we watched them. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first confirmed nesting of LEWO in Santa Clara County away from their metropolis in the San Antonio/Isabel Valley area on the east side of Mt. Hamilton. Hopefully, they will continue to nest next year in the same area. On Sunday, a walk up to Monte Bello OSP yielded calling Mountain Quail northeast of the Black Mountain Trail and singing Black-chinned Sparrows below the Gold Mine Creek trail. James Yurchenco -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 29 10:07:29 2001 Subject: [SBB] - -------- Folks: This morning, 5/29/2001, I counted 26 AM. WHITE PELICANS on the Mountain View salt ponds, most on A2W. There were 10-20 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS around the electrical transmission towers on Long Point (outer edge of Salt Pond A2W) and they may have started nests out there, but the distance is too great for my binoculars. A sub-adult WHITE-FACED IBIS was in the Mountain View Forebay, probably the one John Meyer reported over the weekend. It appears that Mountain View has added orange numbered stakes to the Burrowing Owl mounds at Shoreline in the last week. Some of these can be read from the bike path, but others are facing the opposite direction. There was a single BURROWING OWL at mound #1 this morning, and two at the mound just west of the Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh. 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 May 29 12:37:15 2001 Subject: [SBB] INDIGO BUNTING? -------- SB (and San Mateo Co.) Birders--- On Sunday, May 27 2001, I was hiking at Windy Hill OSP in San Mateo County on the trail that goes from the Portola Rd. parking area to Skyline Blvd. About 1 and 1/2 miles up I had a singing INDIGO BUNTING right next to the trail. I am not familiar with INDIGO X LAZULI BUNTING hybrid plumage; I understand that this there is a good possibility of this cross in this location. The bird I saw was definitely blue all over, including underparts, save for a bit of off-white feathering low on the abdomen near the legs. The head was very dark blue, and there was a small amount of black near the bill. The back and underparts were a somewhat lighter shade of blue; the rump and upper tail appeared more turquoise. The flight feathers were a dull, darkish color. There were numerous LABU's singing in the thistly growth next to the trail, and their songs were somewhat variable; I couldn't really distinguish this bird's song from the other bunting songs I was hearing. Its location was approximately 50 - 100 yards before a small blue and white sign reading "Caution Water Pipeline". The bird was singing from some coyote bush right next to an ascending portion of the trail. Whatever its identification, this was a beautiful individual, easily viewed and heard, in a fairly accessible spot. I hope it remains for others to observe. (I have asked Bill Bousman to post this on the San Mateo County birders' list---thanks, Bill.) ---Grant Hoyt -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue May 29 14:28:38 2001 Subject: [SBB] Red-breasted Nuthatch and Indigo Bunting -------- All, This morning Frank Vanslager and I checked out the "peaks" above Skyline to the east of call box 035-100 (previously referenced by David Suddjian as a known breeding location for Red-breasted Nuthatches). As we broke out into the open very near the top of the hill a single Red-breasted Nuthatch was sighted on the southern edge of the trail. My problem is that I'm not sure which county this bird would be in (if the county line follows the ridgeline, which I assume, then this bird would have been in Santa Cruz County). Later, on two occasions, however I heard Red-breasted Nuthatches calling some distance to the north of the trail which I will assume is in Santa Clara County. A quick stop at the Castle Rock parking area yielded Western Tanager (a male), Western Wood-Pewee, Cassin's and Warbling Vireo to name a few. We then went to Windy Hills OSP in hopes of finding the Indigo Bunting. A thorough search of the gullies associated with the Anniversary Trail, starting from the Spring Ridge Trail parking area to another parking area east of it, only turned up Lazuli Buntings. As we were leaving, slowly driving east on Skyline, Frank spotted a dark bird on a bush ahead of us that we just had to check out. Unfortunately this bird was a male Red-winged Blackbird but two buntings singing nearby flushed as I approached with a Lazuli making a large circle and returning to it's original perch. During a quick search for the second bunting an adult male Indigo Bunting was found singing in a Coyote bush near the road (about 100 yds east of the Spring Ridge Trail parking area on the southern edge of the road). With persistence we were subsequently able to get a good look at the front of the bird to assure ourselves that he was not a hybrid. It's interesting to note that this bird is less than 100 yds from where we saw an adult male Indigo Bunting on July 9,1996. Take care, Bob Reiling, 2:32 PM, 5/29/01 -------- Attachment 2.2 KBytes -------- From [[email protected]] Tue May 29 17:47:26 2001 Subject: [SBB] SBB admin help -------- South Bay Birders, I will need some help from June 2 through 24 with the administration of the list. I could let it run unmanaged, but new subscribers could not be added and people having problems with unsubscribing may be out of luck. You don't have to be an info technologies professional, but a firm grasp of how to send an e-mail is useful. I'll even share my SBB list admin salary with you! :-) If you've had trouble unsubscribing yourself in the past and you need to sign off the list during the period that I'm away, please send me an e-mail by this Thursday, 5/31. Let me know when you want to be unsubscribed and when you want to be resubscribed. Remember to address all SBB list administrative messages to <[[email protected]]> and NOT my address, and your message will get to whomever is managing the list. 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 May 29 17:48:51 2001 Subject: [SBB] Rare bird at Moss Landing State Beach -------- On Sunday, May 27, three experienced birders watched, for more than half an hour and VERY close, a RED PHALAROPE as it fed along the beach from kelp pile to kelp pile. It had the slightly less brilliant coloring of a male but MIGHT have been a molting female. This bird had a relatively thick yellow bill with a muted black tip. Its white face was a dominant feature. The bird had one yellow leg, though it had one thicker, gray leg that we could see no reason for! We saw the bold white wing stripe in flight several times as it flew away, then returned to a kelp pile near us. The striped back was very apparent and did live up to the nickname "sea snipe" mentioned in one of the bird books we consulted. We found the phalarope at water's edge just outside the fenced- off protected area for nesting snowy plovers, and we saw one SNOWY PLOVER, again very close, as it dashed down the beach quite close to the phalarope. The Elkhorn Slough checklist shows the red phalarope as rare (not present every year) in winter and spring, occasional (seen only a few times in a season) in fall, extraordinary (1 or 2 records) in summer. See The Birder's Handbook for details of the female's polyandry. Our list for the day totaled 69 birds, and we each had one (the phalarope) life bird or more. Quite a day! -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 29 19:53:12 2001 Subject: [SBB] Cooper's chicks! -------- "Our" Los Altos Cooper's have hatched at least two chicks! I saw their fuzzy heads this afternoon. Not sure when the great event occurred, since we weren't around Sat-Monday. I saw one of the parents tearing food up at the nest on Friday and looked in vain for signs of the chicks, thinking that I didn't used to see the adults feeding themselves on the nest. It's possible that the great hatching occurred Friday, but my best incubation time guess makes sometime this weekend the most likely timing. Does anyone know how soon the chicks are able to stick their necks up and look around after hatching?? 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]] Tue May 29 22:02:13 2001 Subject: [SBB] Oscar the Grouse -------- At 4 p.m. this afternoon we arrived at Alpine Meadows' Sherwood Bowl parking area (near Tahoe City, CA) to see a large Blue Grouse chasing a bicycle down the road. "Oscar the Grouse" angrily pecked the tires as soon as the bike stopped. The biker said he had been chased for the last 100 yards. He was able to pet the large male Blue Grouse, but then it nipped his finger and took a hunk out of his calf. The biker took off, and Oscar chased him awhile and then flew back to challenge us as the slower targets. Oscar and I clucked at each other until Oscar finally strutted off in full display mode. We didn't have our camera along. If you look for these birds, they are impossible to find, but then they just walk up to you. Incredible! 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]] Wed May 30 09:08:12 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] Red-breasted Nuthatch and Indigo Bunting -------- All, My assumption that the Santa Cruz/Santa Clara County line follows the ridge line (and not the road) was verified by Mike Rogers in an e-mail to me this morning. I should also note that it was Mike, not David, who had sent an SBB e-mail stating that this spot was a known breeding site for Red-breasted Nuthatches. Take care, Bob Reiling, 9:05 AM, 5/30/01 -------- Attachment 480 bytes -------- From [[email protected]] Wed May 30 12:51:21 2001 Subject: [SBB] Biking & Birding in Coyote Valley -------- Hi all, I am going to co-lead a biking and birding trip with County Parks Ranger Jeff Cossins in Coyote Valley. Its free & open to the public and the details are in the general announcement below. Tom Ryan Activity date: June 9, 2001 Activity time: 8:00 am to 11:00 am. Join Santa Clara County Park Rangers and a local ornithologist on a bike ride along the Coyote Creek Bike Trail in Morgan Hill. The bike ride will start at the Anderson Park Office located at 19245 Malaguerra Ave, in Morgan Hill. We will ride North on the bike trail stopping to look for birds in the various habitats found along the trail. We will continue to Ogier Ponds where we will park the bikes and walk around the ponds. Expected birds include Red-shouldered Hawk, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Bullock's Oriole, and Black-headed Grosbeak. The ride will be approximately 7 miles round trip on a paved semi level bike trail. Please bring plenty of water and some snacks, a bicycle, bicycle helmet, binoculars, and your favorite bird guide. If you have any additional questions please call 408-779-3634. -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 30 14:26:50 2001 Subject: [SBB] Sunnyvale -------- I witnessed two GREEN PARROTS mating in Sunnyvale right near the Toys 'R Us on El Camino. There were at least 15 parrots in the flock and they were quite large. For those interested in seeing them, this is the second time this month that I have seen them at Toys 'R Us in the afternoon. The reason that I mentioned this is that I think that someone was wondering if the parrots are breeding. They are. I also went to the Sunnyvale WasteWater Treatment Plant and saw a BURROWING OWL, FORSTER'S TERN, and GREEN HERON. Riccardo Magni __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Get personalized email addresses from Yahoo! Mail - only $35 a year! 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]] Wed May 30 14:57:42 2001 Subject: [SBB] Breeding Bird Count -------- All-- If any of you are available Saturday, June 2 to count Arastradero Preserve, we could certainly use the help. Please call me at 650-948-4142 today, or e-mail me with your phone number. Please volunteer, its fun. Ruth Troetschler 184 Lockhart Lane Los Altos, CA 94022 -- Ruth Troetschler -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed May 30 20:08:42 2001 Subject: [SBB] One final request -------- All, I apologize for going off-topic a bit, but I need to make one final request for volunteers for the Palo Alto Count this Saturday. I need experienced birders who would be willing to lead a small teas in Region 7 at Windy Hill, Russian Ridge or Los Trancos. I have a few less experienced birders who feel they need some support. Good coverage will ensure that a thorough survey of the circuit is achieved. And, as I said before, most of us would be birding anyway, so why not lend a hand and help the Count? Please contact me immediately at home and let me know if I can count on your help for this very important event. I will hand deliver the necessary paperwork to your home if necessary. Thank you so much for your attention and I promise not to send any more requests for volunteers until December. Matthew Dodder 650.858.0847 [[email protected]] http://www.birdguy.net P.S. Florida was a huge success! Results will be posted on my website soon. 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 May 31 09:28:16 2001 Subject: Re: [SBB] One final request -------- > I apologize for going off-topic a bit, but I need to make one final > request for volunteers for the Palo Alto Count this Saturday. > > I need experienced birders who would be willing to lead a small teas in > Region 7 at Windy Hill, Russian Ridge or Los Trancos. I have a few less > experienced birders who feel they need some support. Good coverage will > ensure that a thorough survey of the circuit is achieved. And, as I said > before, most of us would be birding anyway, so why not lend a hand and > help the Count? > > Please contact me immediately at home and let me know if I can count on > your help for this very important event. I will hand deliver the > necessary paperwork to your home if necessary. My wife Kathi Bump and I would be happy to do this. We're competent birders though not extremely active. We're pretty familiar with the songs of the local species as I've lived in the area since 1986. I'm also familiar with many of the trails in Windy Hill, Russian Ridge and Los Trancos. We have an appointment with the veterinarian at 8:45 on Saturday so we might not be able to get started until 10 PM. We could do some birding in our Menlo Park neighborhood before 8 if that would help. We live near San Francisquito Creek in the Willows neighborhood. Daniel Bump work: 723-4011 home: 328-2515 -++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 May 31 09:33:17 2001 Subject: [SBB] - -------- Folks: This morning, 5/31/2001, I counted only two AM. WHITE PELICANS in the Mountain View salt ponds. A GREEN HERON flew over Adobe Creek and dropped into the Mountain View Forebay in the cattails near the pump inlet. The WHITE-FACED IBIS is still actively foraging in the forebay. Three BURROWING OWLS were on Shoreline mounds. I saw a Euplectes-like finch, probably a NORTHERN RED BISHOP along the bike path by Adobe Creek (I saw an alt. male here in October 1996). This bird was in moult and showed a bright orange throat and upper breast tapering to single feather tract in the center of the breast. Below this was a single black feather tract that extended roughly to the vent. The undertail coverts were a bright yellow and extended nearly to the tips of the retrices. The bill was quite heavy (for a bird this small). The crown and face were a mixture of black and tan feathers. The back had a mixture of tan and orange feathers, mostly tan. Curiously, the large tertials on the left side were bordered with rufous, while the tertials on the white were bordered by light tan. Bishops nested along Matadero Creek, I believe, in the mid-1990s, but there have been no observations since that time. 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 May 31 22:16:46 2001 Subject: [SBB] New Golden Guide edition -------- St. Martins has published a revised version (2001) of my old favorite, with updated names/maps. Found it at Costco tonight for under $10, so I bought it. A very quick check of a few items suggested that the updated info may be OK, but unfortunately the printing quality is NOT up to par. Copies varied, but all seemed to have at least some blurry maps and the bird paintings (the originals, as far I can tell) are faded. All the same, if the updated info bears out upon closer examination, I may carry it about. It's thinner than the previous edition, in a slightly larger format, but still one of the lighter options, and still includes maps and sonograms on the same page as the descriptions--a big plus. I'm looking forward to examining my copy more closely. 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]]