From [[email protected]] Sun Nov 01 13:16:50 1998 Subject: Ogier Ponds All, In my trip report last week I forgot to mention that we had a single Tree Swallow feeding from a tree near Coyote Creek just south of the "West Pond". This seems like an unusual location for a TRSW. The bird had "saddle bags" and did not have any white behind or around the eye. Take care, Bob Reiling, 12:45 PM, 11/1/98 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Nov 01 14:40:33 1998 Subject: Sierra Road All, I made a trip up Sierra Road yesterday 10/31/98. Hearing a lot of sparrows halfway up to the summit (by the big eucalyptus grove with the popular pullout overlooking San Jose), I stopped and worked this area. The wet seep and water trough were attracting many birds but most were usually hidden in the brush and birding from the road was tough. I spent an hour there in hopes of seeing something pop up and was rewarded with a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, about 10 LARK SPARROWS, 4 PINE SISKIN, 5 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, 3 DARK-EYED JUNCOS, and 2 HOUSE WRENS among the many HOUSE FINCHES, SAVANNAH SPARROWS and WHITE- and GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS. Also both GOLDFINCHES, WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS, WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCH, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS etc. Quite a birdy spot. Had another 2 PINE SISKIN and 1 to 2 SAY'S PHOEBES on my way up to the summit. The summit was pretty quiet, as Tom Grey noted, with just a few, mostly flyover, HORNED LARKS and AMERICAN PIPITS. At least 3 ROCK WRENS, a SAY'S PHOEBE, and up to 5 more PINE SISKIN were also here. An adult GOLDEN EAGLE was perched on a power tower. A stop overlooking Calaveras Reservoir on Felter Road produced a calling VARIED THRUSH. Ed Levin Park was full of people by the time I got there and I had no Red-breasted Nuthatches (only 1 WHITE-BREASTED) or sapsuckers at the Spring Valley Picnic Area. Did have 2+ GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS though. A PRAIRIE FALCON soared over the park before heading back towards Weller Road. A RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW was right along Calaveras Road here. Heading down towards the stables on the other side of Calaveras Road I found 1 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, at least 7 more PINE SISKINS, and 3 BUFFLEHEAD on a golf course pond. A quick spin through Alviso on the return turned up no real surprises, although there were over 100 BONAPARTE'S GULLS at the San Jose-Santa Clara WPCP near Zanker and Los Esteros. 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 Nov 02 06:28:42 1998 Subject: Palo Alto Baylands - Sunday Just a couple of birds of note: On the pond(s) adjacent to the frontage road between Embarcadero Road and San Antonio Road, there was a male blue-wing teal. Scoped him for only a few seconds before something spooked everything into the air. If it was a Peregrine, I regret missing that. Charleston Slough vicinity, a snow goose was flying in the direction of Shoreline Lake. Also, 2 Common Moorhens. Lots of ducks. Lots of luck. Ken ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Nov 02 08:03:05 1998 Subject: Common Loon/Calero Res Hello Everyone, On Saturday, Oct 31, a COMMON LOON was seen at the lower end of Calero Reservoir near the dam. I also checked the upper end of the reservoir for other birds and found a good variety of ducks among the thousands of coots and hundreds of Mallards, including Green-winged Teal, N. Pintail, N. Shoveler, Gadwall, Amer Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, and Ruddy Duck. Also seen were six EARED GREBE, 25 BLACK-NECKED STILTS, two GREATER YELLOWLEGS, two LEAST SANDPIPERS, and one SPOTTED SANDPIPER. Other birds of interest in the Almaden area on Oct 31 include the following: 50+ WOOD DUCKS at Almaden Reservoir. Unfortunately the ducks were spooked from the marshy upper end by some people with their dogs, and the ducks all flew to Larrabee Gulch, a protected arm of the reservoir near the lower end, so I was unable to get an accurate count. Nine COMMON MERGANSERS were seen at Almaden Lake and the confluence of Guadalupe Creek and Alamitos Creek. On Sunday, Nov 1, four HOODED MERGANSERS were seen at the Oka Ponds (three adult males and one female). Other ducks seen here included Amer Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Gadwall, Bufflehead, and Canvasback. And that's it for now - Ann Ann Verdi AMD/CA Central Svc Scheduling 408-749-2199 or x42199 [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 02 08:44:59 1998 Subject: Charleston Slough/Shoreline Lake Hi Everyone-- I stopped by Charleston Slough and Shoreline Lake on Sunday. The male EURASIAN WIGEON is still visible near the pump house associating with AMERICAN WIGEON. Other duck or duck-like species present in the slough include AMERICAN COOT (don't you just cringe when some tourist points to a coot and says "look at the funny duck"?), GADWALL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, CINNAMON TEAL, GREEN-WINGED TEAL, CANVASBACK, and RUDDY DUCK. There was an immature COMMON MOORHEN in the flood control pond south of the pump house. At Shoreline Lake, there were 5 SURF SCOTERS, a WESTERN GREBE, 8 HORNED GREBES, and 2 EARED GREBES. No goldeneyes yet. Mark ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 02 10:11:52 1998 Subject: composite list NOVEMBER 2, 1998 SANTA CLARA COUNTY YEAR LIST UPDATE Well, things have slowed since the last update in the very beginning of October. Unless Nick gets his "montane invasion" we will be hard-pressed to reach 300 species this year. Some things to look for include Oldsquaw, Sandhill Crane, Heermann's Gull, Long-eared Owl, longspurs, Bobolink, Red Crossbill, and Evening Grosbeak. Mike P.S. Some advice from Kendric: [To make the columns line up, please copy this list to a word processor, and change the font to a monospaced font (Monoco, Courier, etc.), and set the right hand margin to 7.5 inches.] ________________________________________________________________________ Recent progress of the composite list: 291: 10/22/98 CLAY-COLORED SPARROW 292: 10/26/98 TROPICAL KINGBIRD Please send any additions, corrections, or comments to Mike Rogers, [[email protected]]. SANTA CLARA COUNTY YEAR LIST - 1998 SCR MMR MJM COMP SOURCE 377 259 247 242 292+ICGU % OF COMPOSITE FOR 1998 % OF 377 (Iceland Gull not counted) Red-throated Loon 2/16 2/ 8 2/ 8 SBT Pacific Loon 2/21 SBT Common Loon 2/ 8 2/11 2/14 1/ 2 AVe Pied-billed Grebe 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Horned Grebe 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Red-necked Grebe 1/ 2 1/16 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Eared Grebe 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Western Grebe 1/ 2 2/11 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Clark's Grebe 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Northern Fulmar Sooty Shearwater Ashy Storm-Petrel Brown Booby American White Pelican 1/ 2 1/16 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Brown Pelican 7/ 3 1/ 6 2/ 8 1/ 4 JMa Double-crested Cormorant 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Brandt's Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Magnificent Frigatebird American Bittern 1/16 2/28 1/15 CWh Least Bittern Great Blue Heron 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Great Egret 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Snowy Egret 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Little Blue Heron 5/ 7 8/21 4/29 PJM Cattle Egret 1/ 2 4/24 4/26 1/ 2 SCR Green Heron 1/ 6 2/11 2/13 1/ 1 DJC Black-crowned Night-Heron 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC White-faced Ibis 8/16 8/ 6 8/ 8 8/ 6 RWR Fulvous Whistling-Duck Tundra Swan 1/ 2 1/ 7 1/ 3 1/ 1 CKS,JML,DJC Greater White-fronted Goose 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Snow Goose 1/ 2 1/19 1/ 3 1/ 2 SCR Ross' Goose 2/ 8 1/19 1/16 1/16 MJM Brant Canada Goose 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Wood Duck 4/21 4/11 1/18 1/ 1 AVe,CH Green-winged Teal 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Mallard 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Northern Pintail 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Garganey Blue-winged Teal 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Cinnamon Teal 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Northern Shoveler 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Gadwall 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Eurasian Wigeon 1/26 2/24 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM American Wigeon 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Canvasback 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Redhead 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Ring-necked Duck 1/ 2 1/ 7 1/31 1/ 1 m.ob. Tufted Duck 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Greater Scaup 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Lesser Scaup 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Oldsquaw Black Scoter 3/ 8 3/ 2 3/ 8 3/ 1 JMe Surf Scoter 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC White-winged Scoter 2/11 1/ 6 2/13 1/ 6 MMR Common Goldeneye 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Barrow's Goldeneye 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Bufflehead 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Hooded Merganser 1/ 4 2/28 2/28 1/ 1 AVe,CH,NLe Common Merganser 1/ 2 1/ 7 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Red-breasted Merganser 1/16 2/11 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Ruddy Duck 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Turkey Vulture 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. California Condor Osprey 3/ 2 1/19 1/18 1/17 JMa,JLa White-tailed Kite 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 2 SCR,MJM Bald Eagle 2/ 8 2/16 1/16 SGu Northern Harrier 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Sharp-shinned Hawk 1/ 2 1/19 4/26 1/ 2 SCR Cooper's Hawk 1/ 2 1/ 6 2/22 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Northern Goshawk Red-shouldered Hawk 1/ 2 1/16 1/ 3 1/ 1 DJC Broad-winged Hawk Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Ferruginous Hawk 1/ 2 1/19 1/ 2 SCR Rough-legged Hawk 1/ 3 1/ 3 SCR Golden Eagle 1/ 6 1/ 7 1/17 1/ 1 DJC American Kestrel 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Merlin 1/ 9 2/ 9 1/ 3 1/ 2 fide CKS Peregrine Falcon 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Prairie Falcon 3/ 4 10/31 10/17 1/25 NLe Ring-necked Pheasant 1/ 6 1/13 2/22 1/ 6 SCR Wild Turkey 3/16 4/11 4/ 5 1/ 1 JMa California Quail 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/18 1/ 1 SCR,DJC Mountain Quail 6/11 5/13 MLF Yellow Rail Black Rail 1/12 1/12 2/ 8 1/ 9 VTi,RWR,FVs Clapper Rail 1/12 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Virginia Rail 1/ 2 1/12 1/31 1/ 2 SCR Sora 1/ 2 1/16 2/ 8 1/ 2 SCR Common Moorhen 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC American Coot 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Sandhill Crane Black-bellied Plover 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Pacific Golden-Plover 7/27 7/26 7/25 AME American Golden-Plover 9/19 NLe Golden-Plover sp 8/16 Snowy Plover 5/13 6/14 4/19 TRy,SSa Semipalmated Plover 1/ 6 4/24 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Killdeer 1/ 1 1/ 7 1/18 1/ 1 m.ob. Mountain Plover Black Oystercatcher Black-necked Stilt 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC American Avocet 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Greater Yellowlegs 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Lesser Yellowlegs 1/ 6 4/24 8/ 1 1/ 6 SCR Solitary Sandpiper 4/19 PJM Willet 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Wandering Tattler Spotted Sandpiper 4/27 2/ 8 2/16 1/ 1 AVe,CH Whimbrel 1/ 6 1/ 6 2/ 8 1/ 4 CKS,JML Long-billed Curlew 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Hudsonian Godwit Bar-tailed Godwit 10/ 2 10/ 2 SCR Marbled Godwit 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Ruddy Turnstone 7/24 8/24 4/28 RWR Black Turnstone 10/ 2 10/ 2 SCR Red Knot 1/ 6 8/24 1/ 6 SCR Sanderling 5/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 6 MMR Semipalmated Sandpiper 7/ 4 8/22 7/ 4 SCR,NLe Western Sandpiper 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Least Sandpiper 1/ 2 1/ 6 2/14 1/ 1 AVe,CH White-rumped Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper 9/27 8/ 9 8/ 1 DWe,TGr Pectoral Sandpiper 9/14 9/16 7/26 7/26 MJM Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Dunlin 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Curlew Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper 8/16 8/18 8/16 8/16 SCR,MJM Buff-breasted Sandpiper Ruff 8/ 3 8/ 6 8/ 1 8/ 1 DWe,TGr Short-billed Dowitcher 1/ 6 1/ 6 4/26 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Long-billed Dowitcher 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 2 SCR,MJM,AVe Common Snipe 1/ 5 10/12 3/ 8 1/ 1 DJC Wilson's Phalarope 6/16 7/10 6/13 6/12 BMc Red-necked Phalarope 6/30 8/ 4 4/17 4/17 MJM,AVE,FVs Red Phalarope 2/11 2/ 8 2/ 8 SBT Pomarine Jaeger Parasitic Jaeger 9/18 9/18 9/17 SMi Long-tailed Jaeger Laughing Gull 6/22 DSt Franklin's Gull 6/ 9 6/10 6/13 5/13 RWR,FVs Little Gull 4/28 4/29 4/28 4/28 SCR Black-headed Gull Bonaparte's Gull 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Heermann's Gull Mew Gull 1/ 2 1/19 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,TGr Ring-billed Gull 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. California Gull 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Herring Gull 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Thayer's Gull 1/ 2 1/16 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH ??Iceland Gull 1/16 1/16 SBT,SCR,AJa,MH Lesser Black-backed Gull 1/18 3/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Western Gull 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Glaucous-winged Gull 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,TGr Glaucous Gull 1/ 6 2/24 1/ 6 SCR Black-legged Kittiwake Sabine's Gull 8/18 FB,JMS Caspian Tern 4/17 4/11 4/11 4/ 2 RWR Elegant Tern 9/ 3 9/ 1 8/ 8 NLe Common Tern 9/ 3 9/23 5/15 SBT Arctic Tern Forster's Tern 1/ 6 2/ 8 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Least Tern 7/ 2 7/ 7 7/ 3 7/ 2 SCR Black Tern 5/ 7 4/29 9/18 4/28 TGr,JSt,RWR Black Skimmer 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Common Murre Ancient Murrelet Cassin's Auklet Rock Dove 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Band-tailed Pigeon 1/ 1 3/27 3/15 1/ 1 SCR White-winged Dove Mourning Dove 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Yellow-billed Cuckoo Greater Roadrunner 4/19 SMi Barn Owl 4/19 1/ 9 4/26 1/ 9 MMR,RJe Flammulated Owl Western Screech-Owl 6/ 2 4/26 1/ 1 JMa Great Horned Owl 1/14 4/25 3/22 1/ 1 DJC Northern Pygmy-Owl 1/ 1 4/12 1/ 1 SCR,JMa Burrowing Owl 1/ 5 1/20 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Long-eared Owl Short-eared Owl 10/ 2 3/ 7 RiC Northern Saw-whet Owl 4/26 1/ 1 JMa Lesser Nighthawk Common Nighthawk Common Poorwill 9/30 4/26 4/26 MJM,GKH,DSt Black Swift Chimney Swift Vaux's Swift 4/13 4/25 4/25 4/12 DPo,SMi White-throated Swift 1/18 1/21 2/22 1/ 8 RWR,FVs Black-chinned Hummingbird 5/ 6 5/ 8 4/18 4/16 CCRS Anna's Hummingbird 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Costa's Hummingbird 6/ 8 6/ 8 SCR Calliope Hummingbird 4/19 4/19 SCR,HLR,RPR Broad-tailed Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird 3/16 4/ 8 4/ 5 3/16 SCR Allen's Hummingbird 3/ 4 4/11 3/15 1/25 AME Belted Kingfisher 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/17 1/ 1 DJC Lewis' Woodpecker 1/ 6 NLe,RWR,FVs Acorn Woodpecker 1/ 1 1/ 6 2/28 1/ 1 SCR,JMa,DJC Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1/ 2 1/ 1 CKS,JML Red-naped Sapsucker 1/ 6 1/ 6 MMR Red-breasted Sapsucker 1/ 2 1/ 7 1/17 1/ 1 m.ob. Williamson's Sapsucker Nuttall's Woodpecker 1/ 2 1/ 7 1/ 3 1/ 2 m.ob. Downy Woodpecker 1/ 1 3/ 4 1/ 3 1/ 1 SCR,CKS,JML Hairy Woodpecker 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 SCR,JMa,DJC Northern Flicker 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Pileated Woodpecker 6/11 4/12 4/12 MJM Olive-sided Flycatcher 4/26 5/ 6 4/25 4/16 JCo Western Wood-Pewee 4/26 4/25 4/25 4/19 JDa Willow Flycatcher 5/28 8/29 6/12 5/28 SCR Least Flycatcher Hammond's Flycatcher 4/30 4/11 4/11 4/11 MMR,MJM Dusky Flycatcher Gray Flycatcher Pacific-slope Flycatcher 3/28 3/27 3/18 1/ 4 CCRS Black Phoebe 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Eastern Phoebe 1/ 2 3/ 4 3/ 1 1/ 2 SCR Say's Phoebe 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/18 1/ 2 SCR Ash-throated Flycatcher 4/14 4/25 4/26 4/ 8 RWR Tropical Kingbird 10/26 KG Cassin's Kingbird 5/ 4 4/11 4/11 3/ 1 DRo,RCa kingbird sp. 2/ 8 AGu Western Kingbird 3/16 4/ 8 4/11 3/16 SCR Eastern Kingbird Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Horned Lark 3/16 4/26 3/15 1/25 AME Purple Martin 5/14 RCi Tree Swallow 1/18 1/19 3/ 1 1/17 LCh Violet-green Swallow 2/ 5 1/19 2/22 1/18 JDa Nor. Rough-winged Swallow 2/ 8 2/25 2/28 2/ 8 SCR Bank Swallow 7/ 2 5/26 NLe Cliff Swallow 3/ 2 3/ 1 3/ 8 2/26 TRy Barn Swallow 1/ 2 1/19 3/ 1 1/ 2 SCR Steller's Jay 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/17 1/ 1 m.ob. Western Scrub-Jay 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. Clark's Nutcracker Black-billed Magpie Yellow-billed Magpie 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. American Crow 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Common Raven 1/ 1 1/ 5 2/13 1/ 1 m.ob. Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1/ 1 1/16 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. Oak Titmouse 1/ 3 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 CKS,JML,DJC Bushtit 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. Red-breasted Nuthatch 9/27 4/12 1/ 1 JMa White-breasted Nuthatch 1/ 3 1/ 6 1/13 1/ 1 DJC Pygmy Nuthatch 1/ 1 4/12 1/ 1 SCR,JMa Brown Creeper 1/ 1 4/25 1/17 1/ 1 m.ob. Rock Wren 3/ 16 1/19 1/13 1/13 MJM Canyon Wren 1/ 1 JSa,HGe Bewick's Wren 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. House Wren 3/29 4/ 8 4/ 5 3/21 LAY Winter Wren 1/ 1 10/12 4/ 4 1/ 1 SCR Marsh Wren 1/12 1/12 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM American Dipper 4/11 3/29 TGr Golden-crowned Kinglet 1/ 2 10/ 1 10/17 1/ 2 SCR Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4/26 3/27 3/29 1/ 5 CJC Western Bluebird 1/ 2 1/ 6 2/16 1/ 1 DJC Mountain Bluebird 1/17 JLu Townsend's Solitaire 5/ 6 5/ 3 MHa,DHa Swainson's Thrush 4/30 5/ 6 5/ 9 4/ 2 PMB Hermit Thrush 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/13 1/ 1 SCR,JMa American Robin 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/13 1/ 1 m.ob. Varied Thrush 1/ 1 10/31 11/ 1 1/ 1 SCR Wrentit 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/17 1/ 1 SCR,JMa,DJC Northern Mockingbird 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Sage Thrasher 4/ 7 BWe Brown Thrasher California Thrasher 1/ 1 1/ 6 2/28 1/ 1 SCR Red-throated Pipit 9/26 NLe American Pipit 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Bohemian Waxwing Cedar Waxwing 1/ 2 1/14 3/28 1/ 1 JMa Phainopepla 4/18 1/ 6 NLe,RWR,FVs Northern Shrike Loggerhead Shrike 1/ 1 1/19 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. European Starling 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Bell's Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Cassin's Vireo 4/26 4/11 4/12 4/ 5 LAY Plumbeous Vireo Hutton's Vireo 1/ 1 1/19 1/ 3 1/ 1 SCR,JMa Warbling Vireo 3/28 3/27 3/29 3/18 AME Red-eyed Vireo Tennessee Warbler 9/28 9/28 9/28 SCR Orange-crowned Warbler 1/ 4 1/24 3/ 1 1/ 4 SCR,CCRS Nashville Warbler 4/14 4/25 9/20 4/12 JMM Virginia's Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler 1/ 4 4/11 4/25 1/ 4 SCR Chestnut-sided Warbler 9/27 10/ 7 10/10 9/27 SCR Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Black-throated Gray Warbler 4/30 4/25 4/ 5 1/ 9 SBT Townsend's Warbler 1/ 1 3/27 3/15 1/ 1 SCR,JMa,DJC Hermit Warbler 4/26 4/ 4 2/ 1 AVe,CH Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Prairie Warbler 1/ 4 1/17 1/ 4 SCR Palm Warbler 1/ 4 1/13 1/ 4 SCR,HLR Blackpoll Warbler 9/23 9/16 10/10 9/14 CCRS Black-and-White Warbler American Redstart Prothonotary Warbler Worm-eating Warbler Ovenbird 6/ 7 SRo,KVV Northern Waterthrush 9/23 8/29 8/30 8/29 MMR Kentucky Warbler Connecticut Warbler MacGillivray's Warbler 4/26 4/25 8/30 4/19 NLe Common Yellowthroat 1/ 4 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Hooded Warbler Wilson's Warbler 3/28 3/27 3/22 3/22 MJM Yellow-breasted Chat 5/ 6 5/ 3 CCRS Summer Tanager 9/17 JMa Scarlet Tanager Western Tanager 4/24 4/26 4/25 1/23 RWR Rose-breasted Grosbeak 10/10 10/ 7 10/10 5/25 KCo,MWr Black-headed Grosbeak 4/ 8 4/11 4/11 4/ 5 VTi Blue Grosbeak 5/ 6 5/11 4/19 4/19 MJM Lazuli Bunting 4/19 4/26 5/ 3 4/19 SCR Indigo Bunting 7/18 AJa Passerina sp. 4/10 4/10 SCR Dickcissel Green-tailed Towhee 9/28 CCRS Spotted Towhee 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 SCR,JMa,DJC California Towhee 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/13 1/ 1 m.ob. Rufous-crowned Sparrow 1/ 2 4/ 8 4/11 1/ 2 SCR American Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow 4/27 4/26 3/31 GFi,MPl Clay-colored Sparrow 10/22 10/26 10/24 10/22 SCR Brewer's Sparrow 9/15 9/11 NLe Black-chinned Sparrow 5/23 JGa Vesper Sparrow 9/15 9/15 SCR Lark Sparrow 4/ 8 1/19 1/ 4 1/ 4 MJM Black-throated Sparrow Sage Sparrow 4/12 AME,DPo Lark Bunting 9/16 9/16 MMR Savannah Sparrow 1/ 2 1/12 1/ 4 1/ 1 DJC Grasshopper Sparrow 4/10 6/ 2 4/10 SCR Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow 1/ 9 fide AME Fox Sparrow 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Song Sparrow 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Lincoln's Sparrow 1/ 2 1/13 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Swamp Sparrow 1/ 2 10/17 1/ 2 SCR White-throated Sparrow 10/ 6 3/29 1/15 AJb Golden-crowned Sparrow 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. White-crowned Sparrow 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Harris' Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. Lapland Longspur Chestnut-collared Longspur Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Tricolored Blackbird 1/ 2 1/14 4/11 1/ 2 SCR Western Meadowlark 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Yellow-headed Blackbird 5/ 4 9/16 10/ 5 4/ 4 NLe Brewer's Blackbird 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Great-tailed Grackle 5/25 5/28 5/30 5/25 SCR Brown-headed Cowbird 1/ 2 1/16 1/18 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Hooded Oriole 3/29 4/24 4/26 3/21 AWa Baltimore Oriole Bullock's Oriole 3/28 4/ 8 3/22 3/19 GHa Scott's Oriole Purple Finch 1/ 1 3/27 2/28 1/ 1 SCR Cassin's Finch House Finch 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Red Crossbill Pine Siskin 1/18 10/31 11/ 1 1/ 9 TGr Lesser Goldfinch 1/ 1 1/13 1/ 4 1/ 1 m.ob. Lawrence's Goldfinch 5/ 5 4/26 4/26 1/ 6 NLe,RWR,FVs American Goldfinch 1/ 1 1/ 7 1/20 1/ 1 m.ob. Evening Grosbeak House Sparrow 1/ 2 1/ 6 2/22 1/ 1 CKS,JML,DJC Observer codes: m.ob.-many observers, AGu-Arnel Guanlao, AJa-Al Jaramillo, AJb-Alberta Jasberg, AME-Al Eisner, AVe-Ann Verdi, AWa-Alan Walther, BMc-Bert McKee, BWe-Bruce Webb, CCRS-Coyote Creek Riparian Station, CH-Caralisa Hughes, CJC-Chuck Coston, CKS-Chris Salander, CWh-Clark White, DHa-David Haveman, DJC-Don & Jill Crawford, DPo-David Powell, DRo-Don Roberson, DSt-Dick Stovel, DWe-Dave Weber, FB-Florence Bennett, FVs-Frank Vanslager, GFi-George Finger, GHa-Garth Harwood, GKH-Grant Hoyt, GLB-Gloria LeBlanc, HGe-Harriet Gerson, HLR-Heather Rottenborn, JCo-Jack Cole, JDa-Jim Danzenbaker, JGa-Jim Gain, JLa-Jolene Lange, JLu-John Luther, JMa-John Mariani, JMe-John Meyer, JML-Jeanne Leavitt, JMM-John & Maria Meyer, JMS-Jean-Marie Spoelman, JSa-June Santoro, JSt-John Sterling, KCo-Kitty Collins, KG-Ken Goss, KLP-Kathy Parker, KVV-Kent Van Vuren, LAY-Amy Lauterbach & James Yurchenco, MH-Matt Heindel, MHa-Merry Haveman, MJM-Mike Mammoser, MLF-Mike Feighner, MMR-Mike Rogers, MPL-Marjorie Plant, MWr-Marti Wright, NLe-Nick Lethaby, PMB-Phyllis M. Browning, RCa-Rita Caratello, RCi-Rich Cimino, RCo-Rita Colwell, RiC-Richard Carlson, RJe-Richard Jeffers, RLe-Rosalie Lefkowitz, RPR-Rebecca Paige Rottenborn, RWR-Bob Reiling, SBT-Scott Terrill, SCR-Steve Rottenborn, SGu-Stephan Gunn, SMi-Steve Miller,SRo-Steve Rovell,SSA-Susan Sandstrom, TGr-Tom Grey, TRy-Tom Ryan, VTi-Vivek Tiwari, WGB-Bill Bousman SANTA CLARA COUNTY YEAR LIST HISTORY 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 HIGH COMP 278 295 303 293 296 305 305 SCR 279 291 262 251 268 291 MJM 234 250 265 242 253 276 276 MMR 214 234 254 271 257 258 275 275 MLF 136 183 199 209 215 235 194 165 218 265 265 WGB 216 228 245 170 245 AME 240 220 219 231 240 KLP 232 232 RWR 204 201 203 228 228 TGr 189 211 211 CKS 185 195 186 195 GLB 190 190 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 02 10:47:02 1998 Subject: Weekend birds-Evening Grosbeak Highlights of Saturday bird banding, 10/31/98, at CCRS: one male GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET and one ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. I heard several more GCKIs when I released the banded bird. Also on Saturday, up at our house on Skyline Blvd., or should I say "in" our house, Mare had two RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES. One seemed to have difficulting finding its way out and during this period, Mare had some great close views of it. It got out okay. (I guess I should start an "in-house" list!) Early Saturday afternoon, while chatting with some guests on our deck, I heard an unfamiliar call from the top of a Doug fir. It was a male EVENING GROSBEAK, a great new yard bird for us! I looked for it and others later that day and on Sunday, but no further luck, yet. I believe that it flew north, toward Black Mtn. and Monte Bello OSP. Sunday evening, around 8:30, a NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWL called from a nearby woodland edge. Around midnight GREAT HORNED OWLS duetted and a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL called. Good birding, Les ========================================== Les Chibana, Mountain View [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 02 12:55:12 1998 Subject: Montane bird woes On both Saturday and Monday, I spent a couple of hours at Loma Prieta, arriving about 30 minutes after dawn. I had just a few Varied Thrushes, Robins, Pine Siskins, and Purple Finches both days, many just heard. On Saturday, I had at least 2 Red-breasted Nuthatches there and today there was a Merlin. I checked Wright Station Rd on Saturday and Loma Prieta Avenue today without anything of interest beyond the usual Pygmy Nutchatches. I saw the Clay-colored Sparrow found by Steve R. at the Sunnyvale Baylands on Saturday. I saw it immediately as I arrived since Mike Mammoser was looking at it! On Sunday, Sierra Rd Summit was intermittently cloudy and I saw even less than MIke Rogers and Tom Gray. I have given up on Loma Prieta for this year so good luck if anyone else wants to try. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Nov 02 13:09:42 1998 Subject: birds On Saturday, 31 Oct 98, I went to the Sunnyvale Baylands Park to try and find some of Steve=92s rarities. I had a BURROWING OWL near the fence by the softball field parking lot, a sub-adult GOLDEN EAGLE was flying low over the manicured lawn towards the east, and both a SAY=92S PHOEBE and LONG-BILLED CURLEW were working this lawn area. I checked through numerous YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, but the only other species I could find was an ORANGE-CROWNED. Finally, heading back towards the car to leave, I came upon a group of Yellow-rumpeds foraging on the ground and among them was the CLAY-COLORED SPARROW. This bird differed from the Alviso bird by having a more uniform buff supercilium, both wing bars being buff, and a lack of any noticeable buff tones on the breast. I went then to Crittenden Marsh, stopping first at the overflow parking lot for Shoreline, where I found a group of 22 AMERICAN PIPITS. Both VIRGINIA RAILS and SORA were calling from Stevens Creek Tidal Marsh. Also in this marsh was the partial albino GREEN-WINGED TEAL. The salt pond north of Crittenden had a buzz of activity from FORSTER=92S TERNS (nothing unusual in with them), DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANTS, and 8 BROWN PELICANS. A single MEW GULL was roosting on the boardwalk with the other gulls. On the way back I had a HOUSE WREN along the levee that separates Crittenden from the salt pond, and an immature COOPER=92S HAWK on the power tower. On Sunday, 1 Nov 98, a tip from Mike Rogers sent me up to Ed Levin Park. Here I had 3 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS, and I heard a VARIED THRUSH call in the distance. In the northern part of the park I heard at least 2 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES calling from the golf course, while an apparently pure male YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER sat at the top of a tree. = On Felter Road I passed a flock of WILD TURKEYS that numbered about 10-12. Right at the start of Sierra Road a large flock of HOUSE FINCHES contained about a dozen PINE SISKINS, about 10 LARK SPARROWS, and a handful of LESSER GOLDFINCHES. They were all feeding on, and adjacent to, the road. The summit of Sierra Road was fairly fogged-in, but a couple of HORNED LARKS settled down in the field next to the road, while an adult SHARP-SHINNED HAWK sat on a rock. Back down in Alviso, I looked for the Lesser Black-backed Gull, but failed to find it. An adult PEREGRINE FALCON was on a power tower along the EEC entrance road. 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 Nov 02 14:11:41 1998 Subject: Nashville Warbler, Varied Thrush & Golden-crowned Kinglet @ the EEC All, This morning the EEC gate happened to be open and the wind was not blowing (two mutually exclusive events). As Frank V. and I went to check on the gulls in Salt Pond A-16 we stopped and found a GCKI in the "cottonwoods" alongside the canal. While watching the GCKI we saw a small, chunky, short-tailed warbler with mostly bright yellow under-parts (throat, chest, flanks and undertail coverts) an unmarked lower tail and dark, unmarked greenish-gray upper-parts. I also saw a much larger warbler with a light yellowish washed throat and chest a white lower belly and undertail coverts and greenish-gray upper parts. We then lost track of both warblers as they were both working fairly high in the trees and our leaf filter was not working. We later refound the first warbler a couple of trees further south. While trying to get better looks at this bird a Varied Thrush flew to a limb just below it a posed for a few minutes before disappearing. We were then joined by Andrew Rush from San Francisco who observed that the bird had some faint streaking on the flanks and breast, that it had a grayish (grayish-green) head and an eye ring and that the lower belly was whitish. He felt that the bird was a Nashville Warbler. Take care, Bob Reiling, 2:01 PM, 11/2/98 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Nov 03 08:15:48 1998 Subject: WTSP Folks: On my bike commute this morning, 11/3/1998, I lucked onto a white-stripe WHITE-THROATED SPARROW near Crittenden Lane and Stevens Creek. It was with a large flock of _Zonotrichia_ north of Crittenden Lane and west of the west levee. Two imm. BROWN PELICANS were in with the 80-120 AM. WHITE PELICANS in Salt Pond A2W as well. 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 Nov 03 09:21:40 1998 Subject: FWD:birding trip I don't know this personand won't be available this weekend. If anyone is interetesed, contact Alison directly. James Yurchenco ------------------------------ Date: 11/3/98 11:59 AM From: Kruk, Alison Hi Doug: I recall you saying that you knew of people who liked birding.... Here is the deal: I am going up to Pt Reyes this weekend, for a seminar on Animal Communication. I have never been to Pt Reyes, but understand it is great for birding. Therefore, I am leaving Friday around noon, and plan on spending Sat and Sun morning birding, then Sat and Sun afternoon in the seminar. IFFFFFFFFFFFFFF; (here is the deal part), someone would be willing to do the driving for me, they can join me at no charge at the cottage I reserved up in Pt Reyes. It is called the Berry Patch, and is right in Pt Reyes Station. There are not many places to stay up there, but I always wanted to do the trip as an overnighter, as the drive is pretty long for a one day outing. I figure it to be 90 minutes north of SF, so from San Jose, around 3 hours...? (I just do not feel like doing that drive, it is long. But, I still want to go up there. The seminar should be good, and the birding great as well.It might rain this weekend, but birds are still out in the rain!) It could be a nice opportunity for someone who has the free time, and likes birds/Pt Reyes. If you know someone that would be interested in this, (and is not the ax murderer of Pt Reyes), let me know! I will then contact them. thanks, alk ps: your order for Adobe products was not received, although I sent it in over the net. I reordered last Friday and received confirmation. I will keep you posted. Alison Kruk Adobe Information Services Email: [[email protected]] Voice: 408-536-3253 ========================================================================== == RFC822 header ----------------------------------- Received: from susie.ideo.com (susie.ideo.com [205.231.218.3]) by ideo_pa.ideo.com (8.7.5/8.6.12) with ESMTP id LAA26098 for ; Tue, 3 Nov 1998 11:43:06 -0800 (PST) Received: (from uucp@localhost) by susie.ideo.com (8.7.5/8.6.12) id MAA07120 for <[[email protected]]>; Tue, 3 Nov 1998 12:02:19 -0800 (PST) Received: from smtp-relay-2.adobe.com(192.150.11.2) by susie.ideo.com via smap (V2.0) id xma007116; Tue, 3 Nov 98 12:02:05 -0800 Received: from inner-relay-1.Adobe.COM (inner-relay-1.corp.adobe.com [153.32.1.51]) by smtp-relay-2.Adobe.COM (8.8.6) with ESMTP id MAA10030 for <[[email protected]]>; Tue, 3 Nov 1998 12:02:40 -0800 (PST) Received: from rudy.corp.Adobe.COM by inner-relay-1.Adobe.COM (8.8.5) with ESMTP id LAA09719; Tue, 3 Nov 1998 11:59:24 -0800 (PST) Received: by rudy.corp.Adobe.COM (8.7.5) with SMTP id LAA22572; Tue, 3 Nov 1998 11:59:23 -0800 (PST) Message-Id: <3.0.32.19981103115922.0069c6a4@rudy> X-Sender: akruk@rudy X-Mailer: Windows Eudora Pro Version 3.0 (32) Date: Tue, 03 Nov 1998 11:59:22 -0800 To: [[email protected]] From: Alison Kruk <[[email protected]]> Subject: birding trip Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Nov 03 11:52:39 1998 Subject: Pine Siskins All, I just had a good sized flock (12-16) of Pine Siskins in my bird bath. The Hermit Thrush then grabbed a quick bath (don't know where my nearsighted California Towhee was) followed rapidly by more Pine Siskins, House Finches, House Sparrows, Lesser Goldfinches a Ruby-crowned Kinglet and a Chestnut- backed Chickadee. Up to six birds at a time! An Anna's Hummingbird even seemed to try to benefit from the spray they created. Take care, Bob Reiling, 11:47 AM, 11/3/98 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Nov 03 11:58:07 1998 Subject: Re: Curious behavior My wife and I had a similar experience with a Hermit Thursh over the weekend in our Mountain View backyard. While watering some shrubs, the HETH was very bold in approaching us. He stood on the ground within just a few feet of the hose, obviously very interested in the water. Tim Johnson [[email protected]] wrote: > > All, > > For about the last three weeks a Hermit Thrush has been coming to my bird > baths for water and a bath. Twice in the last three days a California Towhee > has chased the HETH from the bath (while the thrush was bathing), to some > bushes and from there on over the fence. The CATO may be my resident CATO. > Any comments? > > Take care, > Bob Reiling, 3:40 PM, 10/28/98 > ========================================================================== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Nov 03 14:01:09 1998 Subject: RUDU with white head Yesterday, 11/2, there was an odd Ruddy Duck on the far SE corner of salt pond A2W, just north of the tidal basin and west of Stevens Creek. It was a typical Ruddy except for the all-white head. It was not a European White-headed Duck, which has an enlarged base of the bill, at least some black on the top of the head, and a rusty tinge to the body. Also found 5 Blue-winged Teal (3M, 2F) on the Palo Alto flood control basin, and the European Wigeon near the pumphouse on salt pond A1. Charles Coston ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Nov 03 14:21:37 1998 Subject: Reminder: 11/9 Slide-show "Corbett NP and Birds of India" Folks, I will be presenting a slide-show on "Corbett NP and Birds of India" at the SCVAS Hq. at 22221 McClellan Road, Cupertino on Nov. 9th at 7:00PM. I will start with a quick overview of the zoogeography of the Indian subcontinent with the help of maps. Then we will visit Corbett National Park. Nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas, Corbett NP is the oldest and one of the largest and finest national parks in India. While its well-known for its mammals, its bird list exceeds 500. We will be introduced to the Birds of India primarily through the photographic tour of this park. This will be followed by more birds and sights from other parts of the country. I have over 140 slides and about half of these are bird slides. Will also play a few bird calls that characterize the Indian wilderness. I will also provide information on travelling and birding in India and will bring along field-guides and other birding books. Seating is limited to 20 in the SCVAS meeting room. We do not know how many people to expect, but it may be a good idea to arrive early, just in case ... Looking forward to meeting some of you on Nov 9th. Vivek Tiwari [[email protected]] PS: Please check the Santa Clara Audubon Society webpage http://www.scvas.org/ for directions to the SCVAS headquarters. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Nov 04 08:04:39 1998 Subject: EUWI continuing Folks: On my bike commute yesterday afternoon, 11/3/1998, I saw the male EURASIAN WIGEON on the south end of Charleston Slough where it has been for the last couple of weeks. I had a distant and very dark PEREGRINE FALCON over Salt Pond A2W as well. This morning, 11/4/1998, I saw a PEREGRINE FALCON on the power transmission tower at Elwell Court in Mountain View for the first time this season. Bill ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Nov 04 12:52:12 1998 Subject: No Nashville Warbler All, I have decided that my earlier ID of a NAWA in the EEC "cottonwoods" cannot be supported by my sightings. Sorry for any inconvenience this may have caused and many thanks to Mike Rogers for his inputs on the matter. Take care, Bob Reiling, 12:46 PM, 11/4/98 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Nov 04 14:06:07 1998 Subject: small Canada Geese I was alerted to the presence of 5 small-form CANADA GEESE by Bob Jewel? on Cottonwood Lake at Hellyer County Park. I checked the birds out at lunchtime. These birds are all approximately the size of a Mallard (give or take an inch or two) and are slightly darker brown above and below than the larger Canada Geese, of which many are present for comparison. They have short stubby bills and steeply rising foreheads, and the white cheek patches seem to connect below the throat on all of them. Two of these birds have bold white neck rings at the bottom of the black neck. The bottom side of this white neck ring is bordered by a thin dark edge, darker than the rest of the breast. The other 3 birds have only a vague pale area at the bottom of the neck, which blends gradually into the breast color. The 2 with the neck rings also have more distinct pale edging to the upperpart feathers, and more distinct mottled barring on the flanks. My initial impression is that these birds are leucopareia (Aleutian Canada Geese), but I'd like to do more research. I'd be interested in anybody else's input on the subspecies of these birds. 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 Nov 04 14:48:02 1998 Subject: EUWI, poss. LBHE While photographing the EURASIAN WIGEON at the south end of Charleston Slough at about 1:00p today, I noticed that it and a few AMERICAN WIGEON would engage in a kind of opportunistic, or cooperative, feeding with AMERICAN COOT. The AMCO would submerge and resurface with some vegetable matter. The wigeon would hurry over to the coot and scarf up either bits of the same or assoaciated material. The wigeon weren't attempting to take anything from the coots' bills. I did see the EUWI make an attempt to up-end and pick up some underwater material. Last night, I got a report from a person in my class of what he thought was a Little Blue Heron at the Mtn. View Forebay this past Sunday. He saw an all blue, Snowy Egret-sized ardeid fly into the forebay. He's on this list and may be able to provide additional fieldmarks noted, like leg and bill color. What records are there of LBHE for the Forebay and Charleston Slough area? I know of their summer presence in the Alviso salt ponds. And I recall getting a photo of the SNEG X LBHE in Charleston Slough years ago. Les ========================================== Les Chibana, Mountain View [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Nov 04 15:07:53 1998 Subject: Status of Little Blue Heron in South Bay Folks: Les asked about LITTLE BLUE HERON records in the South Bay. Except for a December record of an immature, all South Bay records are from mid-April to the start of October. However, away from the South Bay, in other areas of California there are more records of winter wandering birds, particularly immatures. Tom Ryan has prepared a manuscript that summarizes the status of this species in Northern California and I hope that it is published soon. Bill ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Nov 04 17:13:11 1998 Subject: Black Rail tides All, Here is a "reprint" of the tide schedule composed for us by Deborah Bartens at the Baylands Nature Center. I am re-sending it now because the series of favorable tides for observing Black Rails has now begun, and volunteers are still needed to assist in protecting the rails. All it entails is checking in with Deborah at 650-329-2382, getting her briefing, then maintaining a presence at the main viewing area and stepping in if anything untoward takes place. Considering that many of us are likely to hang out there once or twice during the coming series of tides, it may dovetail rather nicely with your current plans. >extreme high tides at the Palo Alto Baylands for >viewing the Black Rail, so here goes: > >11-03-98 11:27a 9.0' >11-04-98 12:06p 9.2' >11-05-98 12:48p 9.3' >11-06-98 1:33p 9.2' >12-01-98 10:14a 9.2' >12-02-98 10:56a 9.5' >12-03-98 11:39a 9.6' >12-04-98 12:24p 9.5' >12-05-98 1:10p 9.3' >12-06-98 1:58p 9.0' >12-29-98 8:59a 9.2' >12-30-98 9:47a 9.4' >12-31-98 10:35a 9.6' >01-01-99 11:21a 9.6' >01-02-99 12:08p 9.5' >01-03-99 12:54p 9.3' >01-27-99 8:35a 9.1' >01-28-99 9:29a 9.3' >01-29-99 10:22a 9.4' >01-30-99 11:11a 9.4' >01-31-99 11:58a 9.2' > >A total of 21 tides based on good weather conditions, there >could be more with low pressure systems from storms >moving in. > >I could use help if anyone would be interested in keeping an >eye on folks that might want to walk into the marsh. Please >let me know if you can help out. >Thanks, >Deborah Bartens >City Naturalist ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Nov 04 17:13:16 1998 Subject: Peregrines All, Yesterday morning 11/3/98 I saw two Peregrine Falcons fly over the tree service yard and nursery area along Stevens Creek near L'Avenida and the fallen cottonwood (site of last month's Rose-breasted Grosbeak etc.). The following bird appeared to be a juvenile, being somewhat darker underneath, and this bird was also vocalizing noisily and continuously for the 15-20 seconds I had them in view (took the calls for those of alarmed shorebirds at first). --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 Nov 04 17:13:27 1998 Subject: Yellow-shafted Flicker in Cupertino All, I've just received a telephone report from a Cupertino resident that a YELLOW-SHAFTED FLICKER was present on Belknap Ct near Rainbow Drive in Cupertino at 8:35 this morning, 11-4-98. --Garth Harwood ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Nov 05 10:48:56 1998 Subject: Santa Clara Co. Bird List Mike Rogers has updated the Santa Clara County Bird List 291: 10/22/98 CLAY-COLORED SPARROW 292: 10/26/98 TROPICAL KINGBIRD "Well, things have slowed since the last update in the very beginning of October. Unless Nick gets his "montane invasion" we will be hard-pressed to reach 300 species this year. Some things to look for include Oldsquaw, Sandhill Crane, Heermann's Gull, Long-eared Owl, longspurs, Bobolink, Red Crossbill, and Evening Grosbeak." Check it out on SBBU. Kendric South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU) http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/ ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Nov 05 13:17:52 1998 Subject: Web site update South Bay Birders, I have updated my California Birding web site with the South Bay Birders mailing list archives for October. Other additions include new mystery birds (two hummingbirds, including one from San Benito County; please help me out with these) and answers to last month's orioles. New additions to the county pages include a site guide to Humboldt County contributed by David Fix. The photo gallery has images of the Great-winged Petrel and Wedge-tailed Shearwater in Monterey Bay and I have just added a beautiful image of the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper currently at the Santa Clara River Estuary, Ventura County contributed by Don DesJardin. I have also updated California Bird Records Committee web site with a revised copy of the bylaws for your reading pleasure. Enjoy! -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044: [[email protected]] California Birding; Mystery Birds: http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan California Bird Records Committee: http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Nov 06 13:19:13 1998 Subject: Golden Eagles All, This morning three GOEAs (2 ad, 1 begging imm) flew over Sierra Rd and perched on a power tower near the road. Lots of Lark Sparrows and Horned Larks and the seep near the Eucalyptus trees had lots of bird activity but just to wet. Take care, Bob Reiling, 1:13 PM, 11/6/98 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Nov 06 14:19:13 1998 Subject: South Bay Birds list List members, Some administrative stuff. I have received a request to add an identifier to the subject line of all mail distributed to the South Bay Bird list. I would probably make it: [SBB]. If it's not obvious, the reason for this would be to make a South Bay Bird list message easily identifiable by its subject line. Some list subscribers are on other lists as well (e.g. Calbird [CALBIRD], Monterey Bay [MBB], San Mateo [pen-bird], East Bay [EBB], Birdchat, etc.) and this would help you find the South Bay reports quickly, as well as separate them from the non-birding e-mail that I'm sure some of you receive. ;-) On some lists, subscribers have to manually add the identifier; the software for this list allows this to be done automatically, as long as I can handle the commands. I would like to hear DISSENTING OPINIONS ONLY about adding this feature to the SBB, as I will do this unless there is enough negative feeling about this. Please e-mail me directly to the address below; DO NOT just reply to this post or post your comment to the list. I can summarize the comments to the list if necessary. There's no reason to generate too much non-bird traffic. Thank you, and get out there and see those birds! Les =================================== Les Chibana South Bay Birds list List Bureaucrat [[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 Nov 06 14:30:05 1998 Subject: FEHA All, I birded Lake Cunningham today over lunch, but gull excitement consisted only of 23 BONAPARTE'S GULLS in with the many CALIFORNIA and RING-BILLED GULLS. Also 8 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS and a GREEN HERON at the lake. A fair number of birds were along Silver Creek at the northen edge of the park, but the only real highlight was a nice adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK flying slowly towards the airport to the west. Mike Rogers 11/6/98 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Nov 08 12:17:09 1998 Subject: Snow Goose at Shoreline There was an immature SNOW GOOSE on Shoreline Lake this morning between 11 and 12, swimming with a group of Canada Geese s mostly on the east side of the lake. I first saw it from the golf course side and identified it as a Snow rather than Ross's Goose on the basis of the very extensive dark feathering on the head and neck. Later I ran into Dick Carlson who had seen it and said he thought it might be a Ross's, mainly on the basis of size. I went back and got excellent close-up views from the east side down near the boathouse, and was able to clearly see the "grinning patch." The bill (except for the dark grinning patch) is dull pinkish, rather than the mainly dark gray to black color shown in both the NGS Guide and the photo in the Audubon Master Guide for the winter immature. There was also a single BROWN PELICAN on one of the rafts in the lake. Dick Carlson said he had seen an AMERICAN BITTERN flush from the reeds in the Forebay at the Lake end. -- Tom Grey Stanford CA [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Nov 08 14:53:29 1998 Subject: Sierra Rd Summit Late Friday afternoon I saw a Burrowing Owl and Rufous-crowned Sparrow. Several Rock Wrens were calling at dusk. Sunday morning. I ran into Mike Mammoser and Steve Rottenborn at the summit. However all the Horned Larks were flying in the distance. No sooner had they left when a Lapland Longspur flew over calling.It did this several times and was last seen flying NE from the summit, into the area where the main Horned Lark flock has been. There were also 2 Lark Sparrows, a Golden Eagle, and a Rock Wren at the summit. On the way down, I refound Steve and Mike who went back to find the longspur (and what else!?). I saw 60 Pine Siskins, including a bird with reduced poorly-defined streaking (possibly a green-morph,but I didn't see the upperside), an immature Peregrine, and a Sharp-shinned Hawk. I'll be in Europe for a couple of weeks so make sure you stake out those montane vagrants for when I return. Regards, Nick ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Nov 08 23:55:32 1998 Subject: Bittern at Campbell ponds The willows on the west bank of the southern Campbell percolation pond held an immature American Bittern about noon today. The northern Oka pond had a dozen Ring-necked Ducks (7M, 5F) and four Hooded Mergansers (2M, 2F). I was hoping for Bufflehead and/or Goldeneye - no luck. A Red-shouldered Hawk flew across Los Gatos creek out of the trees south of the Oka ponds. Charles Coston ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 09 04:26:58 1998 Subject: Re: [SBB] Alviso EEC [[email protected]] wrote: > > For about a half minute I repeatedly heard what sounded > like a Yellow Warbler calling from inside a dense willow (?), but I couldn't > spot it, and didn't hear it again over the next hour. [One has wintered here > for the past three winters.] A Yellow Warbler was there last Wednesday (4 Nov.) - forgot to post it. Bert McKee ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 09 09:25:35 1998 Subject: Shoreline Lake 11/6/98 All, I checked Shoreline Lake late on Friday 11/6/98 for wind-blown rarities. No surprises, although COMMON GOLDENEYES are back, with 2 females near the island. Other totals (from one spot near the Forebay only) include 5 HORNED GREBES, 1 EARED GREBE, 1 adult BROWN PELICAN, 4 SURF SCOTERS (3 males, 1 female), 5 BUFFLEHEAD and a MERLIN. The male EURASIAN WIGEON was still on Charleston Slough and a LESSER YELLOWLEGS was in the north pond of the PAFCB (no sign of the reported Stilt Sandpiper there though). 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 Nov 09 10:01:00 1998 Subject: [SBB] South Bay Birds list test If you see [SBB] at the beginning of the subject line, then I have successfully configured the list to have the identifier on all posts. Hope this helps. =================================== Les Chibana South Bay Birds list List Bureaucrat [[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 Nov 09 10:20:43 1998 Subject: [SBB] Alviso EEC Mid-PM Saturday I visited the Environmental Education Center in Alviso. There was an adult Peregrine Falcon along the entrance road, and two Golden-Crowned Kinglets in the vegetation (from cottonwoods to reeds) along Mallard Slough. For about a half minute I repeatedly heard what sounded like a Yellow Warbler calling from inside a dense willow (?), but I couldn't spot it, and didn't hear it again over the next hour. [One has wintered here for the past three winters.] Checks before and after at State and Spreckles didn't turn up the Lesser Black-Backed Gull, but there were two adult Mew Gulls among the flock of California's. Al Eisner ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 09 13:30:01 1998 Subject: [SBB] birds On Saturday, 7 Nov 98, I braved the intermittent rain to go out birding. After a failed stop at the Sunnyvale sewage ponds, I went to the Charleston Slough area. The male EURASIAN WIGEON was still at the end of the slough. I saw little of note on Shoreline Lake, but had a nice view of a SORA in the Forebay. Two pairs of BLUE-WINGED TEAL were on the flood control basin. = At the Palo Alto Baylands I found an adult PEREGRINE FALCON feeding on what looked like a duck of some sort at the top of a power tower on Hook=92s Isle. Both WESTERN and CLARK=92S GREBES were present on the bay,= and a basic-plumaged COMMON LOON was just south of the estuary mouth. = I then went to Alviso, checking the pond at State and Spreckles without finding anything unusual. At the EEC I had the female YELLOW WARBLER in the willows, probably the same bird that has wintered here previously, and a GOLDEN-VROWNED KINGLET in the cottonwoods. An adult PEREGRINE FALCON was on a power tower along the entrance road. = At the Arzino Ranch I had about 20 COMMON SNIPE, 3 AMERICAN PIPITS, and a CATTLE EGRET in the wet field next to the christian center. = I returned to the Palo Alto Baylands for the high tide, waiting around at the corner as the water rose, and hearing about 2 BLACK RAILS having been seen the previous day. Then I left to walk down the levee and just missed a BLACK RAIL which gave everyone great looks in a scope for about 10 minutes. I had 7 VIRGINIA RAILS and 4 SORAS in the rest of the marsh on my walk. On Sunday, 8 Nov 98, I met Steve Rottenborn at Ed Levin Park. We worked the park, finding some numbers of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, about 4 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES, and 4 or 5 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS. = We then worked Felter, Marsh, and Sierra Roads checking the sparrow flocks. We had 1 tan-striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW along Felter. On Marsh Road, scoping the south end of Calaveras Reservoir produced 2 GOLDEN EAGLES of undetermined age perched in the trees, while an immature eagle soared over the ridge to the east. We had some scattered flocks of PINE SISKINS on Sierra Road, on either side of the summit, and a HOUSE WREN called from the undergrowth at the eucalyptus grove that had been recently mentioned by other birders. At the summit we had 3 more GOLDEN EAGLES (an adult and 2 immatures), a ROCK WREN or two, and scattered HORNED LARKS and AMERICAN PIPITS. We tried in vain to refind Nick=92s Lapland Longspur. Steve thought that he heard it in the distance= initially, but further straining of our ears produced nothing. 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 Nov 09 13:42:37 1998 Subject: [SBB] Reminder: Slide show today Folks, A just-in-time reminder for the slide show today on the Birds of India at the SCVAS Hq. (http://www.scvas.org/) at 7:00PM. Obligatory warning: seating is limited to 20. Vivek Tiwari [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 09 17:36:46 1998 Subject: [SBB] 2 Mystery birds--exotics takeover the Almaden Valley Howsy South-bay-birders, What a weird day of birding I've had. It's becoming like Miami with all the exotics down here. This afternoon I walked around the Santa Clara Valley Water District Pond. At the back of the pond I encountered a flock of about 10 small finch-like birds that were feeding in the shrubs and willows. At first I assumed they were goldfinches--until I really looked at them. They were slightly larger than goldfinches, with brown upperparts, a thick black conical bill, brown flanks, pale buff-brown underparts, and a stubby rounded brown tail. The wings were brown, with the color brighter and warmer on the flight feathers. The head was just brown. On one or two I saw a small dark smudge on the breast. Overall their coloration reminded me of a immature Indigo Bunting, but shape was more like a seedeater! I'm guessing they were some kind of weaver finch. Any ideas? At Almaden Lake there were at least 40 HERRING GULLS, also about 5 THAYER'S GULLS. Heard MARSH WREN along the Guadalupe River near the SCVWD Pond. Went to Calero Reservoir afterward, where the receding shore has opened up good shorebird habitat. A few of the birds I had at the upper end were 2 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 2 WHITE-TAILED KITES, about 20 LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 3 DUNLIN, 15+ LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 3 C. SNIPE, 10+ BLACK-NECKED STILTS, lots of KILLDEER, a large flock of AMERICAN PIPITS, and a flock of 50-60 W. MEADOWLARKS. At the other end of the reservoir, near the dam, I had at least 3 COMMON LOONS, 3 BONAPARTE"S GULLS, many FORSTER"S TERNS, and a PSITTID(!)? The psittid was nibbling on an oak tree on a hill by the reservoir. Oak savanna is not where I would have expected to find one! It was not an Amazona type--it was the size of a large parakeet, but with a short tail. It had a gray head with pale eyes, gray bill that became black toward the tip, bright green breast that formed a downward "V", bright yellow underparts, and its upperparts and nape were bright green. It flew right over me at one point, showing yellow underwing linings. Its voice was not raucous and loud, more like a starling's. Weird, Huh? Again, any ideas on its identity? John Mariani [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 09 17:47:01 1998 Subject: [SBB] RE: 2 Mystery birds--exotics takeover the Almaden Valley REPLY RE: 2 Mystery birds--exotics takeover the Almaden Valley = It's no wonder that not many people are birding down there!!! ;-) I'll make a wild guess at the exotic seedeaters without the benefit of an = appropriate guide: Nutmeg Mannikins? John S. Mariani wrote: >Howsy South-bay-birders, > >What a weird day of birding I've had. It's becoming like Miami with all >the exotics down here. This afternoon I walked around the Santa Clara >Valley Water District Pond. At the back of the pond I encountered a >flock of about 10 small finch-like birds that were feeding in the shrubs >and willows. At first I assumed they were goldfinches--until I really >looked at them. They were slightly larger than goldfinches, with brown >upperparts, a thick black conical bill, brown flanks, pale buff-brown >underparts, and a stubby rounded brown tail. The wings were brown, with >the color brighter and warmer on the flight feathers. The head was just >brown. On one or two I saw a small dark smudge on the breast. Overall >their coloration reminded me of a immature Indigo Bunting, but shape was >more like a seedeater! I'm guessing they were some kind of weaver finch. >Any ideas? [snip] >John Mariani >[[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 09 18:14:14 1998 Subject: [SBB] exotics Hi Everyone-- I wish I had my books with me here at work, but John Mariani's seed-eating bird is surely a mannikin (genus Lonchura). There was no mention of rump color, so it could be either Nutmeg or White-backed (White-backed look especially short-tailed, and females have a less obvious pale rump than the males). The parrot sounds African rather than South American (Pionus parrots have roughly that shape, but they have dark eyes and dark bills). I might venture the wild guess of Senegal Parrot as the most common cagebird that fits your description. You'll find mannikins in Asian field guides, and Senegal Parrot in the West Africa guide (Collins). Mark Miller ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 09 21:07:07 1998 Subject: [SBB] Almaden Valley bird list, new web pages Howdy South-bay-birders, Over this rainy weekend I put together all the information contributed to me, and now have a heavily-annotated Almaden Valley bird list. I'm sure this list has its deficiencies, and if you see errors, or know of any birds that ought to be on the list, let me know! To view the list go to the following url, and click on the Western Screech-Owl: http://home.pacbell.net/redknot/birdingalmaden.htm You will also find some information on birding sites in the Almaden Valley there. If you go to my home page you will find links to some new birding pages I've put together for Modoc and Siskiyou Counties, decorated with some of my own bird sketches and photographs. The url is: http://home.pacbell.net/redknot/index.htm Or you can get there from the Almaden Valley pages. Enjoy-- John Mariani [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Nov 10 07:28:19 1998 Subject: [SBB] RE: 2 Mystery birds--exotics takeover the Almaden Valley Hi John et al. I too have seen some exotics in back of the Water District Pond (Almaden area) from time to time - Budgie, a flock of Spice Finch, and most recently a N. Red Bishop in the tules at the confluence of Guadalupe and Alamitos Creeks. Ann > -----Original Message----- > From: John S. Mariani [SMTP:[[email protected]]] > Sent: Monday, November 09, 1998 5:37 PM > To: South Bay Birds; Verdi, Ann > Subject: 2 Mystery birds--exotics takeover the Almaden Valley > > Howsy South-bay-birders, > > What a weird day of birding I've had. It's becoming like Miami with > all > the exotics down here. This afternoon I walked around the Santa Clara > Valley Water District Pond. At the back of the pond I encountered a > flock of about 10 small finch-like birds that were feeding in the > shrubs > and willows. At first I assumed they were goldfinches--until I really > looked at them. They were slightly larger than goldfinches, with brown > upperparts, a thick black conical bill, brown flanks, pale buff-brown > underparts, and a stubby rounded brown tail. The wings were brown, > with > the color brighter and warmer on the flight feathers. The head was > just > brown. On one or two I saw a small dark smudge on the breast. Overall > their coloration reminded me of a immature Indigo Bunting, but shape > was > more like a seedeater! I'm guessing they were some kind of weaver > finch. > Any ideas? > At Almaden Lake there were at least 40 HERRING GULLS, also about 5 > THAYER'S GULLS. Heard MARSH WREN along the Guadalupe River near the > SCVWD Pond. > Went to Calero Reservoir afterward, where the receding shore has > opened up good shorebird habitat. A few of the birds I had at the > upper > end were 2 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 2 WHITE-TAILED KITES, about 20 > LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 3 DUNLIN, 15+ LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 GREATER > YELLOWLEGS, 3 C. SNIPE, 10+ BLACK-NECKED STILTS, lots of KILLDEER, a > large flock of AMERICAN PIPITS, and a flock of 50-60 W. MEADOWLARKS. > At > the other end of the reservoir, near the dam, I had at least 3 COMMON > LOONS, 3 BONAPARTE"S GULLS, many FORSTER"S TERNS, and a PSITTID(!)? > The psittid was nibbling on an oak tree on a hill by the > reservoir. > Oak savanna is not where I would have expected to find one! It was not > an Amazona type--it was the size of a large parakeet, but with a short > tail. It had a gray head with pale eyes, gray bill that became black > toward the tip, bright green breast that formed a downward "V", bright > yellow underparts, and its upperparts and nape were bright green. It > flew right over me at one point, showing yellow underwing linings. Its > voice was not raucous and loud, more like a starling's. Weird, Huh? > Again, any ideas on its identity? > > John Mariani > [[email protected]] > ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Nov 10 07:29:52 1998 Subject: [SBB] Pine Siskins The flock of Pine Siskins visiting our feeders has grown to 40+ birds. It's hard to know how many are hiding in the shrubbery waiting their turn. One is a partial albino, which has also turned up at the Armers', about a quarter mile down the road. I've read about a salmonella outbreak among siskins in the northwest. So far, we haven't seen any sign of it here. ---------------- George Oetzel <[[email protected]]> ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Nov 10 08:40:13 1998 Subject: Re: [SBB] 2 Mystery birds--exotics takeover the Almaden Valley John S. Mariani wrote: > John: Sounds like a Mannikin to me. These birds are all over Huntington Cebntral Park in Orange county. I had a close look at some down there earlier this fall and had the same impression goldfinch / bunting. Doug Shaw [[email protected]] > Howsy South-bay-birders, > > What a weird day of birding I've had. It's becoming like Miami with all > the exotics down here. This afternoon I walked around the Santa Clara > Valley Water District Pond. At the back of the pond I encountered a > flock of about 10 small finch-like birds that were feeding in the shrubs > and willows. At first I assumed they were goldfinches--until I really > looked at them. They were slightly larger than goldfinches, with brown > upperparts, a thick black conical bill, brown flanks, pale buff-brown > underparts, and a stubby rounded brown tail. The wings were brown, with > the color brighter and warmer on the flight feathers. The head was just > brown. On one or two I saw a small dark smudge on the breast. Overall > their coloration reminded me of a immature Indigo Bunting, but shape was > more like a seedeater! I'm guessing they were some kind of weaver finch. > Any ideas? > At Almaden Lake there were at least 40 HERRING GULLS, also about 5 > THAYER'S GULLS. Heard MARSH WREN along the Guadalupe River near the > SCVWD Pond. > Went to Calero Reservoir afterward, where the receding shore has > opened up good shorebird habitat. A few of the birds I had at the upper > end were 2 NORTHERN SHOVELERS, 2 WHITE-TAILED KITES, about 20 > LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, 3 DUNLIN, 15+ LEAST SANDPIPERS, 1 GREATER > YELLOWLEGS, 3 C. SNIPE, 10+ BLACK-NECKED STILTS, lots of KILLDEER, a > large flock of AMERICAN PIPITS, and a flock of 50-60 W. MEADOWLARKS. At > the other end of the reservoir, near the dam, I had at least 3 COMMON > LOONS, 3 BONAPARTE"S GULLS, many FORSTER"S TERNS, and a PSITTID(!)? > The psittid was nibbling on an oak tree on a hill by the reservoir. > Oak savanna is not where I would have expected to find one! It was not > an Amazona type--it was the size of a large parakeet, but with a short > tail. It had a gray head with pale eyes, gray bill that became black > toward the tip, bright green breast that formed a downward "V", bright > yellow underparts, and its upperparts and nape were bright green. It > flew right over me at one point, showing yellow underwing linings. Its > voice was not raucous and loud, more like a starling's. Weird, Huh? > Again, any ideas on its identity? > > John Mariani > [[email protected]] > > ========================================================================== > This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list > server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the > message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Nov 10 09:46:51 1998 Subject: [SBB] Re: 2 Mystery birds-- exotics takeover the Almaden Valley John et al.: I thumbed through all the plates in the new Parrots book -- Mark's suggestion of Senegal Parrot is a good match, and indeed is the only thing illustrated which seemed even close to your description. 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 Nov 10 11:06:05 1998 Subject: [SBB] A flock of Common Snipe All, I sent this note out yesterday but neither I nor Frank got it back so I assume something happened. Today at Arzino Ranch in Alviso, Frank and I saw 35-40 Common Snipe. At one point I had counted 27 COSN (along a line of weeds) when Frank called out 6 more COSN flying in while 2-3 more were in a group nearer us (and these were the ones we could see). On Sierra Rd. we also had 2 Rock Wren (rocks on the right just past the summit), at least two Golden Eagles (a Red-tailed Hawk harassing one at one point), several Yellow-billed Magpies (all over the hill), 5-6 American Pipits (near the summit), lots of Horned Larks (near the summit), lots of Lark Sparrows (further down the hill) and Western Bluebirds. We also had a flock of 150-200 Pine Siskins (at 5000 Sierra Rd) with goldfinches, Western Bluebirds and House Finches mixed in. Take care, Bob Reiling, 11:00 AM, 11/10/98 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Nov 10 12:18:28 1998 Subject: [SBB] [Fwd: [CALBIRD] Mystery birds, escaped cage birds] This is a multi-part message in MIME format. --------------10316711AF7DD1180AAC4E62 Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit --------------10316711AF7DD1180AAC4E62 Content-Type: message/rfc822 Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Content-Disposition: inline Return-Path: [[email protected]] Received: from mail-gw3.pacbell.net (mail-gw3.pacbell.net [206.13.28.55]) by mail-sf1.pacbell.net (8.8.8/8.7.1) with ESMTP id MAA28727; Tue, 10 Nov 1998 12:13:20 -0800 (PST) Received: from pterodroma.kiwi.net (pterodroma.kiwi.net [208.153.244.5]) by mail-gw3.pacbell.net (8.8.8/8.7.1+antispam) with ESMTP id MAA16140; Tue, 10 Nov 1998 12:13:16 -0800 (PST) Received: (from root@localhost) by pterodroma.kiwi.net (6.6.6/Moody Blues ready for SUSHI at) id MAA29363 for calbird-outgoing; Tue, 10 Nov 1998 12:09:07 -0800 (PST) Received: from trogon.kiwi.net (trogon.kiwi.net [208.153.244.2]) by pterodroma.kiwi.net (6.6.6/Moody Blues ready for SUSHI at) with ESMTP id MAA29359 for <[[email protected]]>; Tue, 10 Nov 1998 12:08:58 -0800 (PST) Received: from mail-gw5.pacbell.net (mail-gw5.pacbell.net [206.13.28.23]) by trogon.kiwi.net (6.6.6 [rel. 666] / Hi.. Big brother is watching..) with ESMTP id MAA21494 for <[[email protected]]>; Tue, 10 Nov 1998 12:08:56 -0800 (PST) Received: from pacbell.net (ppp-206-170-2-175.sntc01.pacbell.net [206.170.2.175]) by mail-gw5.pacbell.net (8.8.8/8.7.1+antispam) with ESMTP id MAA03348 for <[[email protected]]>; Tue, 10 Nov 1998 12:08:53 -0800 (PST) Message-ID: <[[email protected]]> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 1998 12:07:22 -0800 From: "John S. Mariani" <[[email protected]]> Organization: Pacific Bell Internet Services X-Mailer: Mozilla 4.05 [en]C-PBI-NC404 (Win95; I) MIME-Version: 1.0 To: Calbird <[[email protected]]> Subject: [CALBIRD] Mystery birds, escaped cage birds Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Sender: [[email protected]] Precedence: bulk Reply-To: "John S. Mariani" <[[email protected]]> Howdy Calbirders and South-bay-birders, Thanks for all the responses regarding my 2 "mystery birds." Many people were able to identify them for me as Senegal Parrot and Nutmeg Mannikin--this has really pointed out to me the importance of having field guides to the old world birds, even here in CA. Ann Verdi mentions finding Spice Finch, Red Bishop, and a Budgerigar at the same place where the Mannikins were. To that list I can add cockatiel. I suspect there might be someone living nearby whose collection of exotic birds have found escape routes-- John Mariani [[email protected]] --------------10316711AF7DD1180AAC4E62-- ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Nov 10 12:25:21 1998 Subject: [SBB] Guidebooks for all those exotics All, Just a reminder...we've got nearly 1,000 volumes in our birding library down here at our offices if anyone wants to do some research on the exotic species that seem to be cropping up all over. Call first to make sure I'm here (best between 12-6 mon-Fri). If you're a member you can check out SCVAS books for 3 weeks, but they're available to anyone for on-site browsing. --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 Nov 10 23:34:44 1998 Subject: [SBB] recent birds All: On 28 Oct., a brief check of a few locations in Alviso turned up a total of 6 SPOTTED TOWHEES (3 at the Alviso marina, 1 at the northwest end of Spreckles Ave., and 2 at the EEC). A YELLOW WARBLER, 1 WILSON¹S WARBLER, and 2 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were also at the EEC, a female BLUE-WINGED TEAL was in Artesian Slough (also present here on 27 Oct.), and an ad. GOLDEN EAGLE was at Arzino Ranch. On 2 Nov., an adult male MERLIN was roosting near our office in Alviso, and the WILSON'S WARBLER was still at the EEC. On 3 Nov., 3 MERLINS (the ad. male near our office and 2 female/imm. near Grand and Spreckles), an ad. PEREGRINE FALCON, and an ad. GOLDEN EAGLE were at various locations around Alviso, and an adult FERRUGINOUS HAWK was near the junction of Hwy. 101 and Cochrane Road in Morgan Hill. The alternate-plumaged LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER was again at State and Spreckles in Alviso. On 4 Nov., 3 MERLINS (the ad. male near our office, and single female/imm. near the Grand/Spreckles and Zanker/237 intersections) were in Alviso, and an imm. PEREGRINE FALCON was near CCRS. The ad. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL was roosting in the pond at State and Spreckles from 16:45-15:00, allowing close study. It had dropped its outer two primaries since I last saw it; only two primary tips showed beyond the tertials, and the next outer primary (p9?) on each wing was half-grown. On 6 Nov., a MERLIN was near our apartment in Santa Clara. Much more unusual was a female WOOD DUCK feeding with 100+ gulls on an athletic field across the street from our apartment! Another MERLIN (a female/imm.) was at CCRS, and 5 ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS and a WINTER WREN were seen/heard during a few brief stops along the levee road. On 10 Nov., a quick stop at the Palo Alto Baylands produced 79 RED KNOTS foraging on mudflats right at the yacht harbor mouth as the tide was falling (but still fairly high); these birds were all in Santa Clara County. An imm. SNOW GOOSE at the Emily Renzel Wetlands with 125 CANADA GEESE was likely the one that has been reported from Shoreline Park recently, as it and the Canadas eventually flew in that direction. Steve Rottenborn ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Nov 11 00:28:59 1998 Subject: [SBB] Re: [CALBIRD] Mystery birds, escaped cage birds Howdy South-bay-birders, et al I was typing on autopilot and never made that connection between Spice Finch and Nutmeg Mannikin (duh!). I'm guessing they are the same species. In leafing through on old Hawaii guide I found 2 other names for Nutmeg Mannikin: Ricebird and Spotted Munia (I'm guessing the latter name is from the cagebird trade? I dunno). Because the picture in that book is of a heavily spotted adult I also didn't draw a connection to the juvenile birds I saw-- John Mariani [[email protected]] John Mariani [[email protected]] Glen Holstein wrote: > John: Since "Spice Finch" is not indexed in several comprehensive > references, nutmeg is a spice, and Nutmeg Finch is a synonym of Nutmeg > Mannikin, can I assume "Spice Finch" = Nutmeg Mannikin? Glen Holstein > > >Howdy Calbirders and South-bay-birders, > > > >Thanks for all the responses regarding my 2 "mystery birds." Many people > >were able to identify them for me as Senegal Parrot and Nutmeg > >Mannikin--this has really pointed out to me the importance of having > >field guides to the old world birds, even here in CA. > > Ann Verdi mentions finding Spice Finch, Red Bishop, and a Budgerigar > >at the same place where the Mannikins were. To that list I can add > >cockatiel. I suspect there might be someone living nearby whose > >collection of exotic birds have found escape routes-- > > > >John Mariani > >[[email protected]] > > > > ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Nov 11 11:29:05 1998 Subject: [SBB] WTSP & FXSP? Yesterday, during the Eve Case Bird Discussion meeting, we were treated by the appearance of both a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and a FOX SPARROW at my platform feeder. This is the fifth year for a WTSP. Jean ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Nov 11 12:03:08 1998 Subject: [SBB] Fox Sparrow I had never noticed a Fox Sparrow in my backyard until Oct 15th this year. I have a pair that now appear to be residents. It's interesting when you go beyond the counting stage into the behavioral stage. A Fox Sparrow is not a species that I had seen often, or had occasion to view their habits. I find it interesting to watch their interaction witht the other species. Makes me realize how fascinating ornithology could be...but for this investment manager it gives me a chance to keep in touch with the outside world as I slave away at my desk. I find it interesting that Jean Dubois also has a Fox Sparrow, just a mile or so from me...wish she'd send me her White-throated Sparrow! I'm just back from a couple of weeks in Florida and I appear to be down to 1 Band-tailed Pigeon from the 30 or so I'd been getting. Yours left too Jean? My Pine Siskin count is 6. The Nuttall's is still eating my sunflower seeds from the feeder. I count 50 birds in my yard as I type this but they're mostly house finches and MODO's - though I see a couple of Calif Quail have wandered down and a Spotted Towhee, and there's a Titmouse, a Scrub and some Juncos. Well back to work...Gloria LeBlanc, Los Gatos off Quito Road http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Nov 11 14:49:08 1998 Subject: Re: [SBB] Re: [CALBIRD] Mystery birds, escaped cage birds According to Clements,Harris and Davis's "Finches and Sparrows - An Identification Guide", Princeton Univ. Press _Lonchura punctulata_ of south and south-east Asia is known as Spotted Munia (alternately as Spice Finch, Nutmeg Mannikin, Spotted Mannikin and Scaly-breasted Munia) Spotted Munia is the name commonly used by birders in India, though Scaly-breasted Munia is the new name used in Tim Inskipp's Oriental Bird Club's checklist. The other names I assume are used for the cagebird trade. An adult Spotted Munia will be heavily scaled below. The description for juveniles in Clements matches John's description except that the bill is not all blackish but "dark greyish-horn or blackish, with pale flesh-pink base to lower mandible". And this blackish bill of juveniles is useful in separating them from those of _L. malacca_ (Black-headed Munia/Chestnut Munia, ...) and _L. maja_ (White-headed Munia/Pale-headed Munia). Leafing thru the plates, there are some other birds especially juveniles that fit the description and seem to have even darker bills - _L. cucullata_ (Bronze Mannikin) of Africa and _L. nana_ (Madagascar Munia) a Madagascar endemic. These could certainly be confused with juvenile _punctulata_. There won't be any confusion in the field, since these are found on different continents. Since Munia's are caught in the wild in India and exported in large numbers, the exotics seen here are most likely Spotted Munia's. Hope this helps, Vivek [[email protected]] PS: BTW, the Green Avadavat or Green Munia _Amandava formosa_ an Indian endemic has become very rare in the wild and is considered threatened primarily due to the cagebird trade. Though its trade is officially banned, international demand continues to fuel 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]] Wed Nov 11 17:05:15 1998 Subject: [SBB] More munias/mannikins, Almaden Valley birds Howdy South-bay-birders, This afternoon I walked a short distance upstream from Almaden Lake along Alamitos Creek. In a sparrow flock there I saw 3 more NUTMEG MANNIKINS/SPOTTED MUNIAS. This is within a mile of my earlier sighting, so could be some of the same birds. At Almaden Lake there were over a hundred CANADA GEESE, and I saw a TOWNSEND's WARBLER near the park office. On my way to Calero Reservoir. I saw an OSPREY in flight. It was holding prey, and landed on a pole over by the Arroyo Calero. Judging from its flight direction it might have come from Almaden Reservoir, but wherever it caught its fish it sure carried it a long way berfore sitting down to dinner. At Calero Reservoir highlights were 4+ WHITE-TAILED KITES, 1 adult GOLDEN EAGLE, 1 LESSER YELLOWLEGS, 2 COMMON SNIPE, 1 SAY'S PHOEBE, and 25+ AMERICAN PIPITS. John Mariani [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Nov 11 23:09:06 1998 Subject: [SBB] San Benito County, 11/11/98 Hi Birders - Today, Craig Hohenberger, Pat Stadilly (spelling), Patty Scollan and I took a trip to San Benito County in hopes of seeing some of the species we usually don't see on the coast. We started at the Hollister Sewage Ponds (which were closed due to the holiday) in a heavy fog. We walked to the top of the hill outside the fence and looked in. On the way up, Craig saw a CASSIN'S KINGBIRD, which most of us got to see before it flew away. A single WILLET was inside the ponds area, but that was all we could see. So we moved on. Paicines Reservoir was our next stop. Both water level and the number of birds was high. Amongst the hundreds of AMERICAN COOTS were many RING-NECKED DUCKS, CANVASBACK, PIED-BILLED GREBES, RUDDY DUCKS and a few BUFFLEHEAD. I knew that storms can produce seabirds on inland bodies of water, so I scoped out the deeper waters for loons, scoters and the like. I was rewarded with a COMMON LOON at the far end of the lake. On our way to Panoche Valley, we stopped every now and again to look for target species and whatever else we could find. At one of our first stops, Craig and I heard a distant MOUNTAIN QUAIL up on the ridge somewhere. This is a long way from the San Benito Mountain area, the only known population in the county. At Willow Springs we saw a ROCK WREN in the river's gravel bed. A bit farther we all got good looks at a LEWIS' WOODPECKER on a dead snag. Finally we got to Panoche Valley where we ran into Clay Kempf and his companions. They had had a PRAIRIE FALCON somewhere in the area, but I'm not sure where. On our way to the Silver Creek Ranch there was a MERLIN. Farther down the road, after the turnoff away from New Idria, there were about a dozen MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS along the wires and at the Silver Creek Ranch. Also at the ranch were 3-4 VESPER SPARROWS and Clay saw a LARK BUNTING that nobody else got to see. >From there, Clay's group went one way, Craig, Pat and Patty went toward Merced NWR and I headed back. On my way back I stopped briefly to look for PHAINOPEPLA, which I did see atop a tree alongside the road. I also decided to check San Justo Reservoir, the industrial ponds (Hollister) and the Hollister Sewage Ponds. Nothing fancy at San Justo or the industrial ponds, but I did manage to see the male BLUE-WINGED TEAL that had been there for at least a week. I still had some time left before I had to head on back, so I checked the Lover's Lane, Shore Road areas for whatever I could find. I was looking for CATTLE EGRETS, which had evaded me for so long, and they still are doing a good job of it. There is a pond on the west side of Lover's Lane south of the bridge that is not easy to see unless you know about it. Two WILLETS were resting comfortably there. I wish I had heard about the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW seen yesterday and today just a couple hundred yards from this spot BEFORE I returned home. Next time. Steve Rovell [[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 Nov 12 08:55:53 1998 Subject: [SBB] REDH All, A trip to the bayside with my son Steve yesterday 11/11/98 netted a fem/imm MERLIN at the Forebay and a male REDHEAD on Charleston Slough. The (now adult) GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and an adult anatum PEREGRINE FALCON were at the Palo Alto Baylands. Mike Rogers ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Nov 12 17:10:17 1998 Subject: [SBB] Great News! I have obtained permission from the City of Palo Alto and the Map Maker (Teater & etc.) to post the Palo Alto Baylands Map on SBBU. Check it out. Kendric South Bay Birders Unlimited (SBBU) http://www-leland.stanford.edu/~kendric/birds/ ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Nov 12 17:27:35 1998 Subject: [SBB] MBB - White-throated Sparrow Hi Birders - The WHITE-THROATED SPARROW on Lover's Lane in north San Benito County was still there this afternoon. To get there, take Highway 101 to Highway 25. Take 25 to Shore Road and turn left. Follow for a couple miles to Lover's Lane. Turn left again, and drive to the bridge. The bird was with a flock of WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS in a pile of brush which was piled up on the bank. This pile of brush is on the north side of the river and on the east side of the road. Steve Rovell [[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 Nov 14 11:57:51 1998 Subject: [SBB] Oka Ponds Jack Cole led us on a bird walk this morning out at the Oka Ponds. We got a great look at a GREEN HERON (which rounded out our five-heron day with the GREAT BLUE HERON, GREAT EGRET, SNOWY EGRET, and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON.) There were at least six HOODED MERGANSERS. In addition we saw some LESSER SCAUP and plenty of RING-NECKED DUCKS. Thanks, Jack! Pat Curtis Lily Douglas Dori Rhodes ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Nov 14 13:31:06 1998 Subject: [SBB] CCRS 11/14 All, Banding efforts this morning at Coyote Creek Riparian Station netted the following: first bird of the morning was an already banded WINTER WREN at net 9800 and a female Red-shafted NORTHERN FLICKER; truly an impressive bird in the hand! I noticed from the banding tally board that one was banded yesterday, also. I think that this was about the 4th banding/recapture for the season. FOX SPARROWS and RUBY-CROWNED KINGLETS were processed in good numbers. Bird sightings included: - 2 more WINTER WREN (unbanded, one at net 9515 and one at 9900) - 5 NORTHERN FLICKERS in one tree at one time, two were a male and female Yellow-shafted and the rest Red-sh. at net 9800 - 2 VARIED THRUSH near the south banding station Les ========================================== Les Chibana, Mountain View [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Nov 14 13:59:58 1998 Subject: [SBB] Yellow-shafted Flicker At 1:30 this afternoon 11/14/98 there was a male Yellow-shafted Flicker a= t Matadero Creek east of Louis Rd. in Palo Alto. Rosalie Lefkowitz ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Nov 15 10:48:48 1998 Subject: [SBB] SNGO at Shoreline On Sunday, Nov 15, at 8am, there was a juvenile Snow Goose in with a large flock of Canada Geese on Shorline Lake. Frank Vanslager ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Nov 15 14:32:25 1998 Subject: [SBB] NOSH, VESP, RNSA All: This morning (15 Nov.), I headed to Mines Road to look for the Northern Shrike found yesterday by Rogers and Mammoser. Owling 0.4-0.5 miles south of the county line (where they had the Long- eared Owl) produced 3 NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS, 6 WESTERN SCREECH- OWLS, and 2 GREAT HORNED OWLS but no Long-eared. I then drove to the cattle guard north of the Junction to look for the shrike. >From 06:25 until 07:30 I walked along the road scanning everything in sight without success. I did have a male PHAINOPEPLA, 2 WOOD DUCKS, 25 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES, 2 WILD TURKEYS, and 3 RED- BREASTED SAPSUCKERS along the road. Then, at 07:30, I saw the imm. NORTHERN SHRIKE perched in a bare tree on the ridge west of the cattle guard. I watched it through the scope for five minutes as it preened before it flew down into the ravine between it and Mines Road and disappeared. The bird did not reappear after five minutes, so I left. Compared to a Loggerhead Shrike, the Northern Shrike was clearly a larger, bulkier bird with a longer, deeper bill. It was also paler, appearing more washed-out or "ghostly" than a Loggerhead, both because of the paler upperparts and the lack of a clear dark mask. I could see only a faint darker dusky strip behind the eye, this strip being quite narrow and becoming even more narrow anteriorly. The lores looked pale. I was not close enough to see any barring on the bird, and although the bird's plumage did not appear as pure gray as that of a Loggerhead, I did not specifically see any brown. Continuing south on San Antonio Valley Road, I found two VESPER SPARROWS foraging with a large flock of juncos and Lark/Savannah Sparrows at milepost 04.40 (on the small white sign). These birds were foraging in the grassy fields on both sides of the road about 1/4-mile north of the Mallison Ranch. Totals for San Antonio Valley Road include 1 imm. FERRUGINOUS HAWK, 3 male PHAINOPEPLAS, 1 WILD TURKEY, 30 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES, 1 LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, and 1 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER. At the Arnold Ranch at milepost 10 on Mt. Hamilton Road, I found an adult male RED-NAPED SAPSUCKER, likely the one that wintered here last year. To see this bird, park near the Arnold Ranch entrance and walk 0.2 miles west along the road (past the sharp curve to the left) and look for the bird in the large valley oaks on the north side of the road. One RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER and a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH were also here. Steve Rottenborn ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sun Nov 15 17:42:03 1998 Subject: [SBB] NOSH, LBBGU All, Mike Mammoser and I headed for Mines Road yesterday 11/14/98. We reached the Alameda/Santa Clara county line just before 5:15am in time for some owling. In the first 1.1 miles south of the county line we had 7+ WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS, 3+ GREAT HORNED OWLS, 5+ NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS (2 seen, one at 6:30am, by which time it was quite light), and a hooting LONG-EARED OWL. The LONG-EARED OWL was about 0.5 miles south of the county line at the same spot where Bob Richmond et al. had a bird last year on 12/30/97 and Ralph Hunter reported one to Bill Bousman on 10/11/98. It was hooting here at about 5:35am and again from 6:16am to at least 6:23am. The NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS put on quite a vocal display, with many birds giving the fast "tututututututu" series call that ends with a single typical toot (often given by the Monte Bello birds). These birds also gave a Mountain-Quail like rising "kweow" toot on occasion (no nocturnal Mountain Quails out there!). This underscores the need for care when calling out-of-range Mountain Quails. >From 7:00am to about noon, Mike and I worked our way to the San Antone Junction, where we ended up spending our next (and last) two birding hours trying to refind an immature NORTHERN SHRIKE I spotted there just before 12:30pm. Looking east from the first cattle guard north of the junction I spotted a bird perched atop an oak about 70 yards from the road. Fully expecting a Scrub Jay, I was surprised when I saw a bird with a weak mask. I asked Mike "Is this a shrike?". At first Mike could not see the mask and the brownish-gray color of the bird combined with a wing patch made him think of Townsend's Solitaire. He soon saw the mask too, though, and I ran to the car to get my scope. Just as I set up the scope on the tree, the bird flew across the road. Its flight was quite high (50+ feet up) and more powerful and less undulating than the typical flight of a Loggerhead Shrike. When it landed across the road in another oak it was almost 50% larger than the WESTERN BLUEBIRDS it flushed (it caught an insect during the middle of the flight). I quickly got my scope on the bird and was able to study it reasonably well (although it was somewhat backlit). I moved down the road and checked it again, but as I was moving still further down the road (to get better light) the bird flew back into a gully to the west. We saw it fly up towards the tree once again before heading back into the gully and disappearing for good. Besides the size and flight style noted above, several plumage and structural features distinguished this bird from Loggerhead Shrike. The bill was quite long and had a pronounced hook at the tip. The bill of a Loggerhead Shrike is not short, but tapers somewhat towards the tip, giving it a more conical appearance. This bird's bill was of fairly uniform depth throughout its length, contributing to the long-billed appearance. Also, the hook on the tip of the beak was bigger than that of a LOSH and pointed more downward instead of angling forward. The bill color appeared black but it is unlikely that a pale base could have been noted because the bird was backlit when seen in the scope. Overall the plumage was not the crisp gray, black, and white of an adult LOSH. The colors were more muted and less contrasty than this (although still maintaining the same general pattern) and had a brownish cast, particularly on the chest. The gray of the crown and back was quite pale and the underparts showed some faint barring on the sides and flanks (never could see the center of the underparts in the scope to confirm whether the barring crossed the entire underparts or not). The facial pattern was quite distinctive, with a very limited area behind and below the eye showing a slightly darker gray wash than the rest of the face. The upper half of the eye was above the upper boundary of this mask and had a narrow white crescent above and behind it. No obvious mask could be seen in front of the eye, although there may have been a few darker feathers here. This pale and small mask eliminates all adult shrikes, and no young LOSH should still be in juvenile plumage in mid-November. Even if a young LOSH lost all its barring before its mask darkened up it would still not have such a limited pale mask as this bird and the bird's size and bill shape confirm its ID as an immature NORTHERN SHRIKE. Besides this highlight of the day (county bird for both of us!) we had a generally good day of birding with lots of birds. Although there were not all that many sparrows to sort through, we had good numbers of finches, with 73+ PURPLE FINCHES, 65 PINE SISKIN, and 54 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH (also had LESSER and AMERICAN GOLDFINCH as well). GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS were also in numbers, with at least 14 found at 5 different spots between the county line and 2.65 miles of it. Also had good numbers of thrushes, with 8+ VARIED THRUHSES among the many AMERICAN ROBINS and HERMIT THRUSHES. One flock of 25 AMERICAN ROBINS contained 2 CEDAR WAXWINGS. Remarkable given the late date were 10 HOUSE WRENS at 7 different stops between the county line and the Digger Pine Ranch. Other highlights included 2 GOLDEN EAGLES, 1 MERLIN (milepost 0798 1.5 miles north of Ruthie's), 1 PRAIRIE FALCON (seen from the first cattle guard north of the junction), 1 COMMON SNIPE (at the pond east of the junction), 2 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS, 2 DOWNY WOODPECKERS, 3 HAIRY WOODPECKERS, 2 STELLER'S JAYS (at and north of the Biel Ranch), 4 CALIFORNIA THRASHERS, 1 HUTTON'S VIREO (Digger Pine Ranch), 2 YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS (fire station near the junction), 2-3 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS (1.8 miles south of the county line just south of the Biel Ranch), 33+ LARK SPARROWS, 2 SAGE SPARROWS (in chaparral 2.9 miles south of the county line), and 2 LINCOLN'S SPARROWS. Back in Alviso an adult anatum PEREGRINE FALCON flew to a tower along the EEC entrance road. This morning 11/15/98 I checked some spots on the western edge of the Diablo Range, starting at Grant Lake at 7:45am. No surprises in the sparrow flocks, but I did have 5 HOUSE WRENS, continuing yesterday's high numbers. The lake itself had a good assortment of waterfowl, including 17 EARED GREBES, 4 BUFFLEHEADS, 4 CANVASBACKS, and 2 female RING-NECKED DUCKS. Large groups of AMERICAN GOLDFINCH contained a few PINE SISKIN. Two RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS, 1 LARK SPARROW, and at least 1 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET were near the ranger's houses. A stop at the Spring Valley Picnic Area at Ed Levin Park turned up at least 3 each of RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH and GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET in the pines behind the lake, as well as 2 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS and a TOWNSEND'S WARBLER. Four male RING-NECKED DUCKS were on the pond. A check of Calaveras Reservoir turned up no surprises, but a stop in Alviso resulted in nice looks and some photos of the adult LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on the mudflat east of the Alviso Marina at 1:00pm. 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 Nov 16 08:19:17 1998 Subject: [SBB] Calero Res update Hello All, On Sunday, Nov 15, three COMMON LOONS were still present at the lower end of Calero Reservoir, as previously reported by John Mariani. At the upper end of the reservoir a pair of CINNAMON TEAL and at least twelve COMMON GOLDENEYES have joined the mix of waterfowl (Green-winged Teal, Mallard, N. Shoveler, N. Pintail, Amer Wigeon, Ring-necked Duck, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck). Shorebirds seen included Black-necked Stilt, Greater Yellowlegs, Long-billed Dowitcher, Least Sandpiper, and Common Snipe. Gulls seen included Ring-billed, Herring and Bonaparte's. That's it for now - Ann Ann Verdi AMD/CA Central Svc Scheduling 408-749-2199 or x42199 [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 16 11:38:01 1998 Subject: [SBB] composite list NOVEMBER 16, 1998 SANTA CLARA COUNTY YEAR LIST UPDATE A few new species have brought us to within 4 of 300. Some things to look for include Oldsquaw, Sandhill Crane, and Red Crossbill. We'll probably need some good rarities from the upcoming Christmas counts too. Mike P.S. Some advice from Kendric: [To make the columns line up, please copy this list to a word processor, and change the font to a monospaced font (Monoco, Courier, etc.), and set the right hand margin to 7.5 inches.] ________________________________________________________________________ Recent progress of the composite list: 293: 10/11/98 LONG-EARED OWL 294: 10/31/98 EVENING GROSBEAK 295: 11/ 8/98 LAPLAND LONGSPUR 296: 11/14/98 NORTHERN SHRIKE Please send any additions, corrections, or comments to Mike Rogers, [[email protected]]. SANTA CLARA COUNTY YEAR LIST - 1998 SCR MMR MJM COMP SOURCE 377 263 252 245 296+ICGU % OF COMPOSITE FOR 1998 % OF 377 (Iceland Gull not counted) Red-throated Loon 2/16 2/ 8 2/ 8 SBT Pacific Loon 2/21 SBT Common Loon 2/ 8 2/11 2/14 1/ 2 AVe Pied-billed Grebe 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Horned Grebe 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Red-necked Grebe 1/ 2 1/16 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Eared Grebe 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Western Grebe 1/ 2 2/11 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Clark's Grebe 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Northern Fulmar Sooty Shearwater Ashy Storm-Petrel Brown Booby American White Pelican 1/ 2 1/16 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Brown Pelican 7/ 3 1/ 6 2/ 8 1/ 4 JMa Double-crested Cormorant 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Brandt's Cormorant Pelagic Cormorant Magnificent Frigatebird American Bittern 1/16 2/28 1/15 CWh Least Bittern Great Blue Heron 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Great Egret 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Snowy Egret 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Little Blue Heron 5/ 7 8/21 4/29 PJM Cattle Egret 1/ 2 4/24 4/26 1/ 2 SCR Green Heron 1/ 6 2/11 2/13 1/ 1 DJC Black-crowned Night-Heron 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC White-faced Ibis 8/16 8/ 6 8/ 8 8/ 6 RWR Fulvous Whistling-Duck Tundra Swan 1/ 2 1/ 7 1/ 3 1/ 1 CKS,JML,DJC Greater White-fronted Goose 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Snow Goose 1/ 2 1/19 1/ 3 1/ 2 SCR Ross' Goose 2/ 8 1/19 1/16 1/16 MJM Brant Canada Goose 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Wood Duck 4/21 4/11 1/18 1/ 1 AVe,CH Green-winged Teal 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Mallard 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Northern Pintail 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Garganey Blue-winged Teal 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Cinnamon Teal 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Northern Shoveler 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Gadwall 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Eurasian Wigeon 1/26 2/24 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM American Wigeon 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Canvasback 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Redhead 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Ring-necked Duck 1/ 2 1/ 7 1/31 1/ 1 m.ob. Tufted Duck 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Greater Scaup 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Lesser Scaup 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Oldsquaw Black Scoter 3/ 8 3/ 2 3/ 8 3/ 1 JMe Surf Scoter 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC White-winged Scoter 2/11 1/ 6 2/13 1/ 6 MMR Common Goldeneye 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Barrow's Goldeneye 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Bufflehead 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Hooded Merganser 1/ 4 2/28 2/28 1/ 1 AVe,CH,NLe Common Merganser 1/ 2 1/ 7 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Red-breasted Merganser 1/16 2/11 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Ruddy Duck 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Turkey Vulture 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. California Condor Osprey 3/ 2 1/19 1/18 1/17 JMa,JLa White-tailed Kite 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 2 SCR,MJM Bald Eagle 2/ 8 2/16 1/16 SGu Northern Harrier 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Sharp-shinned Hawk 1/ 2 1/19 4/26 1/ 2 SCR Cooper's Hawk 1/ 2 1/ 6 2/22 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Northern Goshawk Red-shouldered Hawk 1/ 2 1/16 1/ 3 1/ 1 DJC Broad-winged Hawk Swainson's Hawk Red-tailed Hawk 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Ferruginous Hawk 1/ 2 1/19 1/ 2 SCR Rough-legged Hawk 1/ 3 1/ 3 SCR Golden Eagle 1/ 6 1/ 7 1/17 1/ 1 DJC American Kestrel 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Merlin 1/ 9 2/ 9 1/ 3 1/ 2 fide CKS Peregrine Falcon 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Prairie Falcon 3/ 4 10/31 10/17 1/25 NLe Ring-necked Pheasant 1/ 6 1/13 2/22 1/ 6 SCR Wild Turkey 3/16 4/11 4/ 5 1/ 1 JMa California Quail 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/18 1/ 1 SCR,DJC Mountain Quail 6/11 5/13 MLF Yellow Rail Black Rail 1/12 1/12 2/ 8 1/ 9 VTi,RWR,FVs Clapper Rail 1/12 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Virginia Rail 1/ 2 1/12 1/31 1/ 2 SCR Sora 1/ 2 1/16 2/ 8 1/ 2 SCR Common Moorhen 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC American Coot 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Sandhill Crane Black-bellied Plover 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Pacific Golden-Plover 7/27 7/26 7/25 AME American Golden-Plover 9/19 NLe Golden-Plover sp 8/16 Snowy Plover 5/13 6/14 4/19 TRy,SSa Semipalmated Plover 1/ 6 4/24 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Killdeer 1/ 1 1/ 7 1/18 1/ 1 m.ob. Mountain Plover Black Oystercatcher Black-necked Stilt 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC American Avocet 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Greater Yellowlegs 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Lesser Yellowlegs 1/ 6 4/24 8/ 1 1/ 6 SCR Solitary Sandpiper 4/19 PJM Willet 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Wandering Tattler Spotted Sandpiper 4/27 2/ 8 2/16 1/ 1 AVe,CH Whimbrel 1/ 6 1/ 6 2/ 8 1/ 4 CKS,JML Long-billed Curlew 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Hudsonian Godwit Bar-tailed Godwit 10/ 2 10/ 2 SCR Marbled Godwit 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Ruddy Turnstone 7/24 8/24 4/28 RWR Black Turnstone 10/ 2 10/ 2 SCR Red Knot 1/ 6 8/24 1/ 6 SCR Sanderling 5/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 6 MMR Semipalmated Sandpiper 7/ 4 8/22 7/ 4 SCR,NLe Western Sandpiper 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Least Sandpiper 1/ 2 1/ 6 2/14 1/ 1 AVe,CH White-rumped Sandpiper Baird's Sandpiper 9/27 8/ 9 8/ 1 DWe,TGr Pectoral Sandpiper 9/14 9/16 7/26 7/26 MJM Sharp-tailed Sandpiper Dunlin 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Curlew Sandpiper Stilt Sandpiper 8/16 8/18 8/16 8/16 SCR,MJM Buff-breasted Sandpiper Ruff 8/ 3 8/ 6 8/ 1 8/ 1 DWe,TGr Short-billed Dowitcher 1/ 6 1/ 6 4/26 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Long-billed Dowitcher 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 2 SCR,MJM,AVe Common Snipe 1/ 5 10/12 3/ 8 1/ 1 DJC Wilson's Phalarope 6/16 7/10 6/13 6/12 BMc Red-necked Phalarope 6/30 8/ 4 4/17 4/17 MJM,AVE,FVs Red Phalarope 2/11 2/ 8 2/ 8 SBT Pomarine Jaeger Parasitic Jaeger 9/18 9/18 9/17 SMi Long-tailed Jaeger Laughing Gull 6/22 DSt Franklin's Gull 6/ 9 6/10 6/13 5/13 RWR,FVs Little Gull 4/28 4/29 4/28 4/28 SCR Black-headed Gull Bonaparte's Gull 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Heermann's Gull Mew Gull 1/ 2 1/19 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,TGr Ring-billed Gull 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. California Gull 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Herring Gull 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Thayer's Gull 1/ 2 1/16 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH ??Iceland Gull 1/16 1/16 SBT,SCR,AJa,MH Lesser Black-backed Gull 1/18 3/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Western Gull 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Glaucous-winged Gull 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,TGr Glaucous Gull 1/ 6 2/24 1/ 6 SCR Black-legged Kittiwake Sabine's Gull 8/18 FB,JMS Caspian Tern 4/17 4/11 4/11 4/ 2 RWR Elegant Tern 9/ 3 9/ 1 8/ 8 NLe Common Tern 9/ 3 9/23 5/15 SBT Arctic Tern Forster's Tern 1/ 6 2/ 8 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Least Tern 7/ 2 7/ 7 7/ 3 7/ 2 SCR Black Tern 5/ 7 4/29 9/18 4/28 TGr,JSt,RWR Black Skimmer 1/ 6 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Common Murre Ancient Murrelet Cassin's Auklet Rock Dove 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Band-tailed Pigeon 1/ 1 3/27 3/15 1/ 1 SCR White-winged Dove Mourning Dove 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Yellow-billed Cuckoo Greater Roadrunner 4/19 SMi Barn Owl 4/19 1/ 9 4/26 1/ 9 MMR,RJe Flammulated Owl Western Screech-Owl 11/15 6/ 2 4/26 1/ 1 JMa Great Horned Owl 1/14 4/25 3/22 1/ 1 DJC Northern Pygmy-Owl 1/ 1 11/14 4/12 1/ 1 SCR,JMa Burrowing Owl 1/ 5 1/20 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Long-eared Owl 11/14 11/14 10/11 RHu Short-eared Owl 10/ 2 3/ 7 RiC Northern Saw-whet Owl 4/26 1/ 1 JMa Lesser Nighthawk Common Nighthawk Common Poorwill 9/30 4/26 4/26 MJM,GKH,DSt Black Swift Chimney Swift Vaux's Swift 4/13 4/25 4/25 4/12 DPo,SMi White-throated Swift 1/18 1/21 2/22 1/ 8 RWR,FVs Black-chinned Hummingbird 5/ 6 5/ 8 4/18 4/16 CCRS Anna's Hummingbird 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Costa's Hummingbird 6/ 8 6/ 8 SCR Calliope Hummingbird 4/19 4/19 SCR,HLR,RPR Broad-tailed Hummingbird Rufous Hummingbird 3/16 4/ 8 4/ 5 3/16 SCR Allen's Hummingbird 3/ 4 4/11 3/15 1/25 AME Belted Kingfisher 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/17 1/ 1 DJC Lewis' Woodpecker 1/ 6 NLe,RWR,FVs Acorn Woodpecker 1/ 1 1/ 6 2/28 1/ 1 SCR,JMa,DJC Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1/ 2 1/ 1 CKS,JML Red-naped Sapsucker 11/15 1/ 6 1/ 6 MMR Red-breasted Sapsucker 1/ 2 1/ 7 1/17 1/ 1 m.ob. Williamson's Sapsucker Nuttall's Woodpecker 1/ 2 1/ 7 1/ 3 1/ 2 m.ob. Downy Woodpecker 1/ 1 3/ 4 1/ 3 1/ 1 SCR,CKS,JML Hairy Woodpecker 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 SCR,JMa,DJC Northern Flicker 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Pileated Woodpecker 6/11 4/12 4/12 MJM Olive-sided Flycatcher 4/26 5/ 6 4/25 4/16 JCo Western Wood-Pewee 4/26 4/25 4/25 4/19 JDa Willow Flycatcher 5/28 8/29 6/12 5/28 SCR Least Flycatcher Hammond's Flycatcher 4/30 4/11 4/11 4/11 MMR,MJM Dusky Flycatcher Gray Flycatcher Pacific-slope Flycatcher 3/28 3/27 3/18 1/ 4 CCRS Black Phoebe 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Eastern Phoebe 1/ 2 3/ 4 3/ 1 1/ 2 SCR Say's Phoebe 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/18 1/ 2 SCR Ash-throated Flycatcher 4/14 4/25 4/26 4/ 8 RWR Tropical Kingbird 10/26 KG Cassin's Kingbird 5/ 4 4/11 4/11 3/ 1 DRo,RCa kingbird sp. 2/ 8 AGu Western Kingbird 3/16 4/ 8 4/11 3/16 SCR Eastern Kingbird Scissor-tailed Flycatcher Horned Lark 3/16 4/26 3/15 1/25 AME Purple Martin 5/14 RCi Tree Swallow 1/18 1/19 3/ 1 1/17 LCh Violet-green Swallow 2/ 5 1/19 2/22 1/18 JDa Nor. Rough-winged Swallow 2/ 8 2/25 2/28 2/ 8 SCR Bank Swallow 7/ 2 5/26 NLe Cliff Swallow 3/ 2 3/ 1 3/ 8 2/26 TRy Barn Swallow 1/ 2 1/19 3/ 1 1/ 2 SCR Steller's Jay 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/17 1/ 1 m.ob. Western Scrub-Jay 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. Clark's Nutcracker Black-billed Magpie Yellow-billed Magpie 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. American Crow 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Common Raven 1/ 1 1/ 5 2/13 1/ 1 m.ob. Chestnut-backed Chickadee 1/ 1 1/16 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. Oak Titmouse 1/ 3 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 CKS,JML,DJC Bushtit 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. Red-breasted Nuthatch 9/27 11/15 4/12 1/ 1 JMa White-breasted Nuthatch 1/ 3 1/ 6 1/13 1/ 1 DJC Pygmy Nuthatch 1/ 1 4/12 1/ 1 SCR,JMa Brown Creeper 1/ 1 4/25 1/17 1/ 1 m.ob. Rock Wren 3/ 16 1/19 1/13 1/13 MJM Canyon Wren 1/ 1 JSa,HGe Bewick's Wren 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. House Wren 3/29 4/ 8 4/ 5 3/21 LAY Winter Wren 1/ 1 10/12 4/ 4 1/ 1 SCR Marsh Wren 1/12 1/12 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM American Dipper 4/11 3/29 TGr Golden-crowned Kinglet 1/ 2 10/ 1 10/17 1/ 2 SCR Ruby-crowned Kinglet 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. Blue-gray Gnatcatcher 4/26 3/27 3/29 1/ 5 CJC Western Bluebird 1/ 2 1/ 6 2/16 1/ 1 DJC Mountain Bluebird 1/17 JLu Townsend's Solitaire 5/ 6 5/ 3 MHa,DHa Swainson's Thrush 4/30 5/ 6 5/ 9 4/ 2 PMB Hermit Thrush 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/13 1/ 1 SCR,JMa American Robin 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/13 1/ 1 m.ob. Varied Thrush 1/ 1 10/31 11/ 1 1/ 1 SCR Wrentit 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/17 1/ 1 SCR,JMa,DJC Northern Mockingbird 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Sage Thrasher 4/ 7 BWe Brown Thrasher California Thrasher 1/ 1 1/ 6 2/28 1/ 1 SCR Red-throated Pipit 9/26 NLe American Pipit 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Bohemian Waxwing Cedar Waxwing 1/ 2 1/14 3/28 1/ 1 JMa Phainopepla 11/15 4/18 1/ 6 NLe,RWR,FVs Northern Shrike 11/15 11/14 11/14 11/14 MMR,MJM Loggerhead Shrike 1/ 1 1/19 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. European Starling 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Bell's Vireo Blue-headed Vireo Cassin's Vireo 4/26 4/11 4/12 4/ 5 LAY Plumbeous Vireo Hutton's Vireo 1/ 1 1/19 1/ 3 1/ 1 SCR,JMa Warbling Vireo 3/28 3/27 3/29 3/18 AME Red-eyed Vireo Tennessee Warbler 9/28 9/28 9/28 SCR Orange-crowned Warbler 1/ 4 1/24 3/ 1 1/ 4 SCR,CCRS Nashville Warbler 4/14 4/25 9/20 4/12 JMM Virginia's Warbler Northern Parula Yellow Warbler 1/ 4 4/11 4/25 1/ 4 SCR Chestnut-sided Warbler 9/27 10/ 7 10/10 9/27 SCR Magnolia Warbler Black-throated Blue Warbler Yellow-rumped Warbler 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Black-throated Gray Warbler 4/30 4/25 4/ 5 1/ 9 SBT Townsend's Warbler 1/ 1 3/27 3/15 1/ 1 SCR,JMa,DJC Hermit Warbler 4/26 4/ 4 2/ 1 AVe,CH Black-throated Green Warbler Blackburnian Warbler Prairie Warbler 1/ 4 1/17 1/ 4 SCR Palm Warbler 1/ 4 1/13 1/ 4 SCR,HLR Blackpoll Warbler 9/23 9/16 10/10 9/14 CCRS Black-and-White Warbler American Redstart Prothonotary Warbler Worm-eating Warbler Ovenbird 6/ 7 SRo,KVV Northern Waterthrush 9/23 8/29 8/30 8/29 MMR Kentucky Warbler Connecticut Warbler MacGillivray's Warbler 4/26 4/25 8/30 4/19 NLe Common Yellowthroat 1/ 4 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 2 MJM Hooded Warbler Wilson's Warbler 3/28 3/27 3/22 3/22 MJM Yellow-breasted Chat 5/ 6 5/ 3 CCRS Summer Tanager 9/17 JMa Scarlet Tanager Western Tanager 4/24 4/26 4/25 1/23 RWR Rose-breasted Grosbeak 10/10 10/ 7 10/10 5/25 KCo,MWr Black-headed Grosbeak 4/ 8 4/11 4/11 4/ 5 VTi Blue Grosbeak 5/ 6 5/11 4/19 4/19 MJM Lazuli Bunting 4/19 4/26 5/ 3 4/19 SCR Indigo Bunting 7/18 AJa Passerina sp. 4/10 4/10 SCR Dickcissel Green-tailed Towhee 9/28 CCRS Spotted Towhee 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 SCR,JMa,DJC California Towhee 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/13 1/ 1 m.ob. Rufous-crowned Sparrow 1/ 2 4/ 8 4/11 1/ 2 SCR American Tree Sparrow Chipping Sparrow 4/27 4/26 3/31 GFi,MPl Clay-colored Sparrow 10/22 10/26 10/24 10/22 SCR Brewer's Sparrow 9/15 9/11 NLe Black-chinned Sparrow 5/23 JGa Vesper Sparrow 9/15 9/15 SCR Lark Sparrow 4/ 8 1/19 1/ 4 1/ 4 MJM Black-throated Sparrow Sage Sparrow 11/14 11/14 4/12 AME,DPo Lark Bunting 9/16 9/16 MMR Savannah Sparrow 1/ 2 1/12 1/ 4 1/ 1 DJC Grasshopper Sparrow 4/10 6/ 2 4/10 SCR Nelson's Sharp-tailed Sparrow 1/ 9 fide AME Fox Sparrow 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Song Sparrow 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Lincoln's Sparrow 1/ 2 1/13 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH Swamp Sparrow 1/ 2 10/17 1/ 2 SCR White-throated Sparrow 10/ 6 3/29 1/15 AJb Golden-crowned Sparrow 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. White-crowned Sparrow 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Harris' Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 3 1/ 1 m.ob. Lapland Longspur 11/ 8 NLe Chestnut-collared Longspur Bobolink Red-winged Blackbird 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Tricolored Blackbird 1/ 2 1/14 4/11 1/ 2 SCR Western Meadowlark 1/ 2 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 DJC Yellow-headed Blackbird 5/ 4 9/16 10/ 5 4/ 4 NLe Brewer's Blackbird 1/ 1 1/ 4 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Great-tailed Grackle 5/25 5/28 5/30 5/25 SCR Brown-headed Cowbird 1/ 2 1/16 1/18 1/ 1 AVe,CH,DJC Hooded Oriole 3/29 4/24 4/26 3/21 AWa Baltimore Oriole Bullock's Oriole 3/28 4/ 8 3/22 3/19 GHa Scott's Oriole Purple Finch 1/ 1 3/27 2/28 1/ 1 SCR Cassin's Finch House Finch 1/ 1 1/ 6 1/ 2 1/ 1 m.ob. Red Crossbill Pine Siskin 1/18 10/31 11/ 1 1/ 9 TGr Lesser Goldfinch 1/ 1 1/13 1/ 4 1/ 1 m.ob. Lawrence's Goldfinch 5/ 5 4/26 4/26 1/ 6 NLe,RWR,FVs American Goldfinch 1/ 1 1/ 7 1/20 1/ 1 m.ob. Evening Grosbeak 10/31 LCh House Sparrow 1/ 2 1/ 6 2/22 1/ 1 CKS,JML,DJC Observer codes: m.ob.-many observers, AGu-Arnel Guanlao, AJa-Al Jaramillo, AJb-Alberta Jasberg, AME-Al Eisner, AVe-Ann Verdi, AWa-Alan Walther, BMc-Bert McKee, BWe-Bruce Webb, CCRS-Coyote Creek Riparian Station, CH-Caralisa Hughes, CJC-Chuck Coston, CKS-Chris Salander, CWh-Clark White, DHa-David Haveman, DJC-Don & Jill Crawford, DPo-David Powell, DRo-Don Roberson, DSt-Dick Stovel, DWe-Dave Weber, FB-Florence Bennett, FVs-Frank Vanslager, GFi-George Finger, GHa-Garth Harwood, GKH-Grant Hoyt, GLB-Gloria LeBlanc, HGe-Harriet Gerson, HLR-Heather Rottenborn, JCo-Jack Cole, JDa-Jim Danzenbaker, JGa-Jim Gain, JLa-Jolene Lange, JLu-John Luther, JMa-John Mariani, JMe-John Meyer, JML-Jeanne Leavitt, JMM-John & Maria Meyer, JMS-Jean-Marie Spoelman, JSa-June Santoro, JSt-John Sterling, KCo-Kitty Collins, KG-Ken Goss, KLP-Kathy Parker, KVV-Kent Van Vuren, LAY-Amy Lauterbach & James Yurchenco, LCh-Les Chibana, m.ob.-many observers,MH-Matt Heindel, MHa-Merry Haveman, MJM-Mike Mammoser, MLF-Mike Feighner, MMR-Mike Rogers, MPL-Marjorie Plant, MWr-Marti Wright, NLe-Nick Lethaby, PMB-Phyllis M. Browning, RCa-Rita Caratello, RCi-Rich Cimino, RCo-Rita Colwell, RHu-Ralph Hunter, RiC-Richard Carlson, RJe-Richard Jeffers, RLe-Rosalie Lefkowitz, RPR-Rebecca Paige Rottenborn, RWR-Bob Reiling, SBT-Scott Terrill, SCR-Steve Rottenborn, SGu-Stephan Gunn, SMi-Steve Miller,SRo-Steve Rovell,SSA-Susan Sandstrom, TGr-Tom Grey, TRy-Tom Ryan, VTi-Vivek Tiwari, WGB-Bill Bousman SANTA CLARA COUNTY YEAR LIST HISTORY 1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 HIGH COMP 278 295 303 293 296 305 305 SCR 279 291 262 251 268 291 MJM 234 250 265 242 253 276 276 MMR 214 234 254 271 257 258 275 275 MLF 136 183 199 209 215 235 194 165 218 265 265 WGB 216 228 245 170 245 AME 240 220 219 231 240 KLP 232 232 RWR 204 201 203 228 228 TGr 189 211 211 CKS 185 195 186 195 GLB 190 190 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 16 14:31:58 1998 Subject: [SBB] Northern Shrike On 14 Nov 98 I observed, along with Mike Rogers, an immature Northern Shrike in Santa Clara County=92s San Antonio Valley, along Mines Road about 1/4 mile north of its junction with Del Puerto Canyon Road. The bird was perched at the top of a live oak tree about 100 yards east of the road. After about a minute and a half, it flew to the west side, almost directly over my head, caught a bug and landed in a live oak about 50 yards from the road. After a couple of minutes it disappeared to the west into a large gully. Total observation time was probably three to five minutes, initially with the sun to the side and behind me, and then with it to the side and slightly in front of me. All of my observation was with a pair of Zeiss 10x40 binoculars. The bird was a rather large-headed, long-tailed, medium-sized passerine, perhaps half again as large as a Western Bluebird; the only bird in the vicinity for comparison. The bill looked completely black and was about half as long, from base to tip, as the length of the head, from bill base to nape. The thickness of the bill was about half that of the length. The shape and structure of the bill was generally shrike-like; maintaining its thickness through most of its length, with a slight taper towards a blunt, hooked tip. The eye was dark, standing out on a head that was, for the most part, rather plain. The general color of the head, neck, and face was a pale tan/gray. There was a dusky auricular patch behind the eye, starting out narrowly at the rear of the eye and widening slightly towards the rear. This patch was relatively blurry and indistinct. The underparts were uniformly pale, generally the same color as the head. I noticed no barring on the bird, though my views were rather distant and using binoculars (Mike Rogers noted barring through his scope views). The wings were rather broad and short, as is typical of this genus, with the upperwing being dark brownish/black (not quite the jet black color of an adult) with white bases in the primaries forming a white patch on the wing. The tail had a rather rounded tip, was generally dark in color, with the corners being white (much the same type of pattern as on a Lark Sparrow). = I have seen many Loggerhead Shrikes, including immatures, and have never seen one of that species being as pale and lacking in contrast as this bird (especially in the head and face). The general indistinctness and less extensive auricular patch seems typical of immature Northern Shrike, while Loggerheads that I've seen always seem to have dark contrasty face masks. The bill on this bird seemed somewhat longer and more heavily hooked than I've seen on Loggerheads; also indicative of Northern. In addition, the bird's size seemed somewhat larger than what I recollect for Loggerhead. Another differing aspect was the bird's flight style. As it moved across the road, it flew high (about 50 feet or so) with deeper and slower wingbeats than a Loggerhead, which typically flies low with rapid and shallow wingbeats. The pale base to the bill on a Northern Shrike could easily have been missed by me in my views, considering that my observations were relatively distant and I was only using binoculars. The same holds true for barring on the underparts. Unfortunately, when the bird flew directly over my head, I was watching it with the naked eye rather than with my binoculars, which may have cost me seeing more detail on this bird. 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 Nov 16 14:34:24 1998 Subject: [SBB] birds Mike Rogers gave a good account of our trip to San Antonio Valley on the 14th of November, so I won't rehash it here. After returning from that trip, I stopped at the Alviso Marina and saw the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on the bare flat across the railroad tracks east of the marina. 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 Nov 16 17:52:18 1998 Subject: [SBB] Pacific Loon at Calero Reservoir Howdy South-bay-birders, This afternoon I visited Calero Reservoir. The 3 COMMON LOONS seen by myself and Ann Verdi were nowhere in sight, but I did see a PACIFIC LOON (until the jet skis came, and then it also disappeared). Shorebirds included STILTS, DUNLIN, LEAST SANDPIPERS, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, LONG-BILLED DOWITCHERS, and COMMON SNIPE. John Mariani [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 16 19:02:32 1998 Subject: [SBB] Almaden birds It has been an interesting few days here in the Almaden foothills. On the 11th, I had a STELLAR'S JAY, the second time for me in many years of observation. On the 13th, I had a PINE SISKIN--none since then. Today, the 16th, within one hour's time, I had a BLACK PHOEBE and a FLICKER in the Pistachio tree, (a yearly happening). the WRENTIT I have been occasionally hearing for several months showed it's face at the birdbath, a WHITE THROATED SPARROW, HERMIT THRUSH, 3 SPOTTED TOWHEE, and a flock of CROWS (unusual), along with the WHITE CROWNS, GOLD CROWNS, HOUSE FINCHES, QUAIL, BROWN TOWHEES, ETC. The crows were in the Pistachio tree which is now loaded with berries. I believe it possible that I was seeing two different WHITE THROATED SPARROWS. The first one, seen in the morning, had the obvious white stripes and yellow eye area. The one seen in the afternoon appeared more like the tan-striped phase. The last time I documented one in my yard was in Dec. '91. Barbara Harkleroad ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Nov 17 08:02:33 1998 Subject: [SBB] No Northern Shrike (0 fot 3) All, Yesterday morning (11/16/98, from about 10:15 AM to around 1:15 PM) Frank V. and I unsuccessfully tried for the NOSH. An unidentified birder from Livermore was also there and he said that someone he knew had tried for the bird on Sunday at around noon. It did not seem to be especially birdy but it was cold and overcast and we got a late start because I hadn't checked my e- mail over the weekend (My mistake but weekend birder's usually don't post until Monday morning). We also tried for but did not find Sage Sparrows or Vesper Sparrows. There were lots of Lawrence's Goldfinches, American Goldfinches, Lesser Goldfinches, Dark-eyed Juncos, Pine Siskins and Western Bluebirds at the NOSH cattleguard. We had lots of Purple Finches a couple of miles north of "the" cattleguard; a Sora, six Common Snipe and a Greater Yellowlegs in the pond east of the junction; two ad male Phainopepla and a couple of Savannah Sparrows (one well seen and no white tails when they flew) south of the junction. We found very few sparrows. We did not try for the Red-naped Sapsucker (we had seen "it" earlier this year) but the birder from Livermore said he did not find it. Take care, Bob Reiling, 7:48 AM, 11/17/98 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Wed Nov 18 12:38:26 1998 Subject: [SBB] Skimmers at Charleston Sl. This morning, Nov. 18, there were 12 Black Skimmers on the one and only island in Charleston Slough. Phyllis ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Nov 18 16:10:48 1998 Subject: [SBB] Almaden Valley birds Howdy South-bay-birders, Stopped by Calero Reservoir this afternoon. I didn't see any loons, but did spot the HORNED GREBE previously reported by Ann Verdi. Numbers of EARED GREBES were way up, more than on my earlier visits. Just south of Almaden Lake I saw an adult male NORTHERN HARRIER flying over the Santa Teresa Hills, the first one I've ever seen down here (at least as far as I can recall). John Mariani [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Thu Nov 19 10:05:01 1998 Subject: [SBB] LBBG, Heermann's All: This morning (19 Nov.), the ad. LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL has been roosting on the mud flat on the east side of the railroad tracks east of the Alviso Marina since about 08:00. At about 09:40, while looking at the bird with Dave Johnston (standing at our office), we had a first-winter HEERMANN'S GULL fly from the direction of that mud flat heading west/southwest over the marina. Steve Rottenborn ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Fri Nov 20 12:07:23 1998 Subject: [SBB] Montebello I took a brief walk this morning along the Canyon Trail at Montebello OSP. (I started too late for owls, however.) The one surprise was a Hermit Warbler, about 0.5-0.6 miles along in the oaks. It was rather bright and had at least some black in the throat. (An adult? My references are at home.) Other species of note: a calling Winter Wren at the sag ponds; two Varied Thrushes (heard only); and at least 30 Pine Siskins at Page Mill Rd. (moving between the two counties). By the way, I heard a possible Crossbill in that area a few weeks ago, but couldn't confirm it. 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]] Sat Nov 21 14:47:31 1998 Subject: [SBB] LBBG Finally! Saw the LESSER BLACK-BACKED GULL on the flats east of the tracks at the Alviso Marina this morning from about 9:15 to 10. -- Tom Grey Stanford CA [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 23 10:21:55 1998 Subject: [SBB] Birds at CCRS 11/21 All, Saturday morning banding at Coyote Creek Riparian Station netted some interesting birds. A hatch-year female (HYF) WILSON'S WARBLER (WIWA) seemed like a very late presence, over a month later than the last one processed this year. Also, a HYF ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (OCWA) was banded. Unlike the WIWA, there have been several OCWA processed recently. We recaptured a WINTER WREN that was a different bird than the one recapped last weekend. Also processed two GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS. We had an interesting adult WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW that had mixed features of the Puget Sound race (pugetensis) and Gambel's (gambelii). It had the orange bill color and white wing linings at the wrist of gambelii, but dark culmen and brownish tones (including the face and chestnut brown centered, brown fringed back feathers) of pugetensis. I don't know what the wing chord measured (as I didn't process this individual and we had a enough birds lined up). This measure could indicate one race. Unfortunately, I was not able to get photos of it. There were at least two VARIED THRUSHES in the area of net 9800. There was a singing FOX SPARROW in the same area that seemed slightly grayer in the crown and back than our typical FOSPs. The reddish uppertail contrasted noticeably with the grayish brown back and folded flight feathers. I forgot to note that this bird was present and singing last weekend, 11/14, also. It's beautiful song really brightened the morning! Afterwards, enroute to the Alviso Marina, I stopped at State and Spreckles streets at the same time that an apparent hybrid female Red- and Yellow-shafted NORTHERN FLICKER paused on one of the guard rail posts before flying on toward the marina. The red V on its nape was clearly visible and when it flew, the wing shafts and underwings were orange-salmon in color. BTW, I did not see the LBBG at the marina between 2:30 and 3:00p. Calvin Lou, who was in the area, stopped by and said that he saw it at around 11:00a that morning, a bit later than Tom Grey's reported sighting. Les ========================================== Les Chibana, Mountain View [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 23 11:10:38 1998 Subject: [SBB] no LBBG Sunday PM Hi Everyone-- I looked at gulls on the flats across the railroad tracks from the Alviso Slough Trail on Sunday afternoon. I saw GLAUCOUS-WINGED (a strange-looking one with small bill and deep black eyes--I would have called it a Thayer's but for its large primary spots and pale color out to the wingtips), HERRING, THAYER'S, RING-BILLED, CALIFORNIA, and MEW GULLS (one adult), but no Lesser Black-backed or Heermann's. Mark Miller ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 23 11:33:48 1998 Subject: [SBB] Cedar Waxwings All, On Saturday (11/21} I had my first flock of fall Cedar Waxwings in my bird bath (juveniles and adults). Take care, Bob Reiling, 7:42 AM, 11/23/98 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 23 12:37:43 1998 Subject: [SBB] Sparrows & Waxwings Sparrow habits in our Menlo Park yard are quite interesting. If we look out when it's barely light (6:30-6:45 AM yesterday) there are usually several Golden Crowns and a couple of CA Towhees running about. Yesterday, we had 8 Golden Crowns. By 7, they disappeared, and we only occasionally saw one at a time later in the day. It's a consistent pattern that we also noticed last winter. One of yesterday's Towhees has half of a white rump patch, a clump of white feathers on the left side. White Crowned Sparrows seem not to be able to find our yard till Feb or March. I've seen numerous flocks of Cedar Waxwings in Menlo Park in the past 2 or 3 weeks. Usually, I hear them, then look up to see a flock of 20-30 flying overhead. So far, they haven't stopped in our neighbor's oak tree (as far as we know). It's often attracted them in the past. ---------------- George Oetzel <[[email protected]]> ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 23 12:57:07 1998 Subject: Re: [SBB] Cedar Waxwings On Saturday, 11/7/98, there was a flock of Cedar Waxwings at the The Forum (Seniors Community). This is right near Rancho San Antonio Park in Cupertino. Claire At 02:33 PM 11/23/98 EST, [[email protected]] wrote: >All, > >On Saturday (11/21} I had my first flock of fall Cedar Waxwings in my bird >bath (juveniles and adults). > >Take care, >Bob Reiling, 7:42 AM, 11/23/98 >========================================================================== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > > ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Nov 23 13:02:09 1998 Subject: [SBB] Sparrows in my backyard In past years it has seemed as if the number of white-crowned and golden-crowned sparrows that feed in my backyard is about the same. This year the equation has changed. I rarely see white-crowned and have 20-30 golden-crowned who feed frequently. My pair of Fox Sparrows continue to be in residence having arrived oct 15...The flock of Cedar Waxwings that always come through the neighborhood haven't arrived yet... Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos - off Quito >We had a Fox Sparrow in our yard on Saturday. This is the first time >that I have seen this species well away from the parks and foothills. > >Gina Sheridan >Santa Clara, CA >[[email protected]] > >At 02:33 PM 11/23/98 -0500, [[email protected]] wrote: >>All, >> >>On Saturday (11/21} I had my first flock of fall Cedar Waxwings in my bird >>bath (juveniles and adults). >> >>Take care, >>Bob Reiling, 7:42 AM, 11/23/98 >>========================================================================== >>This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >>server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >>message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] >> > > > >========================================================================== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > > http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 23 13:19:05 1998 Subject: [SBB] Fox Sparrow We had a Fox Sparrow in our yard on Saturday. This is the first time that I have seen this species well away from the parks and foothills. Gina Sheridan Santa Clara, CA [[email protected]] At 02:33 PM 11/23/98 -0500, [[email protected]] wrote: >All, > >On Saturday (11/21} I had my first flock of fall Cedar Waxwings in my bird >bath (juveniles and adults). > >Take care, >Bob Reiling, 7:42 AM, 11/23/98 >========================================================================== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Nov 23 13:36:06 1998 Subject: [SBB] birds On Saturday, 21 Nov 98, I headed over Mt. Hamilton to the Arnold Ranch, in hopes of finding the Red-naped Sapsucker. This was not to be, though I did have an adult GOLDEN EAGLE fly by. So I headed down into the valley, having a GREATER ROADRUNNER cross the road about a 1.5 miles beyond the Arnold Ranch. About a mile and a half after entering the San Antonio Valley, I had a male PHAINOPEPLA sitting in the top of an oak tree, in which this species had nested a few times in the past. At the Mallison Ranch a LEWIS=92 WOODPECKER flew overhead. Other than that, I ha= d at least one each of RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, LAWRENCE=92S GOLDFINCH, and PINE SISKIN. = On the way back, a stop at Grant County Park produced at least one each of RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER, GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET, and PINE SISKIN. On Sunday, 22 Nov 98, I started out at Shoreline Lake and Charleston Slough. There was little unusual on the lake; though I did have a handful of HORNED GREBES. Both SORA and VIRGINIA RAIL were calling from the forebay. Charleston Slough seems to be tidal now, or at least the water level has dropped significantly from the last time I was there. Twelve BLACK SKIMMERS were loafing on an island here. At the North Pond of the flood control basin I found 3 male and 1 female BLUE-WINGED TEAL. = At the Sunnyvale sewage ponds I found precious few scaup to look through for a Tufted Duck, but I did have a female or immature MERLIN and an immature COOPER=92S HAWK. Mike Mammoser ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 23 13:41:46 1998 Subject: [SBB] WIWR On my walk today I had a calling WINTER WREN along Coyote Creek south of Hellyer. 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 Nov 23 13:56:56 1998 Subject: [SBB] Sparrows & Waxwings I wake up to "three blind mice" most mornings...but my golden-crowned's stay all day...i count a dozen eating as i type this...in this miserable, yucky, rainy weather...i also count 7 quail, a spotted towhee, a calif towhee, juncos and modos...those are the birds, i guess, that were hungry enough to venture out...gloria >Sparrow habits in our Menlo Park yard are quite interesting. If we >look out when it's barely light (6:30-6:45 AM yesterday) there are >usually several Golden Crowns and a couple of CA Towhees >running about. Yesterday, we had 8 Golden Crowns. By 7, they >disappeared, and we only occasionally saw one at a time later in >the day. It's a consistent pattern that we also noticed last winter. > >One of yesterday's Towhees has half of a white rump patch, a >clump of white feathers on the left side. White Crowned Sparrows >seem not to be able to find our yard till Feb or March. > >I've seen numerous flocks of Cedar Waxwings in Menlo Park in the >past 2 or 3 weeks. Usually, I hear them, then look up to see a flock >of 20-30 flying overhead. So far, they haven't stopped in our >neighbor's oak tree (as far as we know). It's often attracted them in >the past. > > >---------------- >George Oetzel <[[email protected]]> > >========================================================================== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > > http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 23 16:01:47 1998 Subject: [SBB] Cedar Waxwing, Pacific Loon Howdy South-bay-birders, Checked my notes, and for this fall my earliest CEDAR WAXWINGS were 3 along Alamitos Creek on September 24th. This rainy afternoon I stopped by Calero Reservoir. From the boat launch I again spotted a PACIFIC LOON. While scoping the lake I also saw COMMON GOLDENEYES, a SPOTTED SANDPIPER, 3+ BONAPARTE'S GULLS, and the usual stilts, ducks, etc. ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 23 21:19:05 1998 Subject: [SBB] Fox Sparrow We had a Fox Sparrow in our yard on Saturday. This is the first time that I have seen this species well away from the parks and foothills. Gina Sheridan Santa Clara, CA [[email protected]] At 02:33 PM 11/23/98 -0500, [[email protected]] wrote: >All, > >On Saturday (11/21} I had my first flock of fall Cedar Waxwings in my bird >bath (juveniles and adults). > >Take care, >Bob Reiling, 7:42 AM, 11/23/98 >========================================================================== >This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list >server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the >message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] > ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Nov 24 10:23:05 1998 Subject: [SBB] Birding San Juan Bautista Greetings, I will be leading an informal bird walk during a faculty retreat at San Juan Bautista in mid-January. We will be at St. Francis Retreat Center to be exact. I would appreciate hearing privately from anyone with advice as to what species to expect as well as interesting places in the area to bird. Most, if not all, participants can be classified as varying degrees of amateurs. Thanks in advance. Tina Peterson [[email protected]] -- Christina A. Peterson Life Sciences Reference Librarian San Jose State University California [[email protected]] 408-924-2727 (voicemail) 408-924-2701 (fax) Visit the Library without Walls! http://library.sjsu.edu/staff/peterson/peterson.htm ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Nov 24 13:03:56 1998 Subject: [SBB] EAPH The EASTERN PHOEBE has returned to Shady Oaks Park in San Jose. It was about 250 yards into the orchard from the blue jungle gym, and was vocalizing repeatedly with its burry "fee bee" call. 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 Nov 24 13:06:30 1998 Subject: [SBB] YS Flicker, Merlin & Osprey All, This morning just NE of Shoreline Lake Frank and I saw a female Yellow-shafted Northern Flicker that was associating with a male Red-shafted Northern Flicker (So that's where those hybrids come from!). She had a red "V" shaped mark on the back of the head and yellow shafts showing on the primaries of the folded wing. We tried but we were unable to get a look at the underside of the wing. (Can the feathers be red and the shaft yellow in a hybrid?) We also had a female Merlin which looked unusually large on the edge of the golf course. I did get a good look at the underside of the wing to rule out Prairie Falcon. Finally we had an adult male Osprey over the channel SE of the Environmental Education Center. It caught a "fish" in the channel and was last seen flying south and being harassed by a gull. We were both surprised that the Osprey didn't land on one of the towers to feed. Take care, Bob Reiling, 12:58 PM, 11/24/98 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Tue Nov 24 17:22:22 1998 Subject: [SBB] Local Reservoirs etc. Dear South Bay Birders, At Coyote Reservoir on 23 Nov. 1998, Debie Kinsey and I observed WOOD DUCK, both male and female HOODED MERGANSERS, RING-NECKED DUCK GREEN-WINGED TEAL and GOLDEN EAGLE. The mudflats are exposed and my meager scope was able to pick out COMMON SNIPE, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, BLACK-NECKED STILT and lots of LEAST SANDPIPER. HOODED MERGANSERS are also being reported at the Oka Ponds near Hwy 17. COMMON MERGANSER were in the small offshoot on the west side of Uvas Reservoir. A large flock of WOOD DUCK were at the south end of Almaden Reservoir. On 24 Nov. 1998, I observed 2 SNOW GEESE mixed with the CANADA GEESE at the ponds north of the intersection of Monterey Hwy and Metcalf Rd. Cheers, 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 Nov 25 14:44:05 1998 Subject: [SBB] Aleutian Canada Geese After doing some research in the literature, I'm convinced that the group of 5 small-form Canada Geese that I saw at Cottonwood Lake in Hellyer County Park on 4 Nov 98 are, in fact, a family group of Aleutian forms (leucopareia). Though none of the birds had a black throat separating the white cheek patches, I don't believe this to be a diagnostic feature for all individuals anyway. All the birds had a steep forehead and flattened crown, which is a typical mark for this race. They were all slightly larger than a drake Mallard, which is also typical. The two adults had a distinct white neck ring at the bottom of the black neck, which widened on the front of the neck. The lower edge of this neck ring was thinly bordered by blackish feathering. The characteristics of this neck ring are also a good fit for this race. The markings of the other three birds differed in ways that are typical of immatures of this race. They lacked a distinct white neck ring, having only a pale area at the base of the neck, which blended smoothly into the darker breast color. They also had less distinct pale edgings to the feathers on the flanks and upperparts, giving them a less scalloped and barred appearance. None of the birds had any noticeable artificial bands or collars. Evidently, these birds did not remain in this area. I could not find them on subsequent visits. 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 Nov 27 08:32:41 1998 Subject: [SBB] Free issues of Birding All: I have 5 copies of the current issues of Birding. I will donate one to CCRS and send one to my Mum. Assuming I get my normal copy in the post, I have 3 copies I can give to local individuals or worthy institutions, like CCRS. I would prefer not to have to post them. If you're interested, please contact me. Nick ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. 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 Nov 28 14:58:42 1998 Subject: [SBB] La Rinconada Park A control freak and a birder within the same body would certainly be a difficult combination. I remember as a kid my Dad would go off birding and my Mom would always ask when he'd be back. His response was always "when I get back". My Dad died last year and today I felt I needed to spend some time with him, so I took his Peterson's Bird book, a Diet Pepsi, my binocs, and my dog and left my house on foot. Even though I bird La Rinconada Park fairly frequently I never know what I'll see there--sometimes very little. But, the worse case is that I'll land up doing a 3 mile walk, exercising my dog and communing with nature. So not much downside! As I entered the park from the end of Bicknell, I noticed a flicker on the hillside. Then all of a sudden about 30 MODO's flushed from the Santa Clara Valley Water Treatment plant and landed in a large oak tree on the hillside. That seemed strange, until I noticed a Red-Tailed Hawk overhead circling. There was a real symphony playing with what appeared to be 2, maybe even 3, families of Bushtits, a flock of Cedar Waxwings, and a flock of Robins. A group of Golden-Crowned and White-Crowned Sparrows were along the creek. I could easily see over a hundred birds while standing in one spot. It was difficult to leave the symphony but I always walk to the end of the park closest to the tennis court and then return. That way I will have gotten more exercise and sometimes the other end of the park is even better. I walked to the other end and as I was returning I decided to sit and have my Diet Pepsi at a bench that has been productive for me in the past. It always fascinates me how there doesn't appear to be any feathers and then they keep appearing as you sit and watch. I saw 27 species while sitting on the bench. The best was a yellow-shafted Flicker. It was beautiful and so close to me. A Wrentit also ignored my presence as did a Hutton's Vireo. A pair of Stellar's Jays seem to have decided to take up residence here. This has always been Scrub Jay territory. The Acorn Woodpeckers were busy as well as several Nuttall's. But the "junk bird" of the day were the Flickers. I must have seen 8. As I retraced my steps to leave the park, the symphony of 100 or so birds that I had heard initially had disappeared. But, I did see what I think was a second yellow-shafted Flicker. I don't think it had flown past me to get ahead of me. A white-breasted nuthatch was my final bird as I left the park. For not having any idea of what I would see, I felt pleased with my hour in the park. I trust you all had enjoyable birding times this week-end too! Gloria LeBlanc Los Gatos off Quito Road http://www.lgsia.com http://www.wallstreetgifts.com ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Sat Nov 28 17:18:43 1998 Subject: [SBB] Barrow's Barbara and I went for a walk at Shoreline before sunset, and there was a male BARROW'S GOLDENEYE on the lake, first one I've seen this Fall. I counted 11 BLACK SKIMMERS on the island in Charleston Slough. -- Tom Grey Stanford CA [[email protected]] ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 30 03:43:28 1998 Subject: [SBB] Out of Area Birds Friday 11/27 early afternoon I stopped by the Merced NWR. It was very windy and gray; not what I would consider good birding weather. However on a field toward the end of the Auto Loop we saw 1,000+ snow geese and 100+ Sand Hill Cranes. The ponds held many coots, a few ducks and at least three Curlews. Grant Webb ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 30 09:21:45 1998 Subject: [SBB] Panoche Hills All, I and my hunting partners went to the Panoche Hills in Fresno County on a rainy morning Sunday in search of some quail. We tried an area we have not hunted in a few years, and our dogs kicked up eight LEOW's along a moderate canyon amongst some junipers. The Panoche Hills is a good area to see LEOW's, but it is quite a hike and a 4WD vehicle is needed if one ventures off the main graveled road. We also saw up to 40 Mountain Bluebirds along the access road. As for the quail, we saw none. A very poor year for quail in these hills this year. A BLM biologist told us that there was too much rain last winter producing more grasses and not enough forbes. Regards, Screech. -- Paul L. Noble [[email protected]] ^ ^ @ @ ( v ) ( ) / \ m m ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 30 09:45:16 1998 Subject: [SBB] AMBI,EUWI All, On Wednesday 11/25/98 I saw an OSPREY hovering over the Parkway Lakes fishing area from highway 101. On Saturday 11/28/98 I spent from 11:00am to 2:40pm encircling the North Pond of the Palo Alto Flood Control Basin, spending by far the most time in the marshy area northeast of the pond. I did not see anything that looked like a Black Duck, nor could I pish up any Swamp Sparrows in the wind (single FOX and WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS were here along with plenty of SAVANNAH, SONG, and LINCOLN'S SPARROWS though). Highlights in the marsh here included an AMERICAN BITTERN and a hunting female/immature MERLIN. Also lots of RAILS (both SORA and VIRGINIA) calling - even got looks at two of the SORA. The habitat has really grown up here since last year thanks to the fresh water outflow from Matadero Creek. Access is difficult, though, even with calf-high waders. The North Pond had lots of ducks (mostly NORTHERN SHOVELERS - the bulk of the GREEN-WINGED TEAL, GADWALL, and MALLARDS were in the marsh to the northeast), several EARED GREBES, and lots of roosting large gulls from the dump (WESTERN, GLAUCOUS-WINGED, and hybrids thereof). At least 10 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS were foraging over the area, primarily near Matadero Creek. Farther out in the Flood Control Basin was a male EURASIAN WIGEON, apparently different from the bird seen previously in Charleston Slough. Lots of CANVASBACK around, but no Redheads noted here. From out in the FCB I could see a large flock of CANADA GEESE on the grassy slopes of Byxbee Park. Heading over there later to investigate this, I was treated to very close views of the immature SNOW GOOSE with 180+ CANADA GEESE foraging on the upper grassy plateau of Byxbee Park. Scoping from here also added 15+ AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS in the FCB and an adult PEREGRINE FALCON hunting over the Bay - no sign of any Short-eared Owls though. 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 Nov 30 10:17:14 1998 Subject: [SBB] birds On Friday, 27 Nov 98, I went out to the Palo Alto Baylands, where CLAPPER RAILS were calling from the marsh. Nothing much unusual was about, but an immature COOPER=92S HAWK was stirring things up at the duck= pond and our now-resident WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE was present. At the North Pond of the Palo Alto flood control basin a pair of BLUE-WINGED TEAL was present, and the wide variety of gulls included an adult THAYER=92S. At Shoreline Lake a male BARROW=92S GOLDENEYE was among the COMMONS, and the 12 BLACK SKIMMERS were still on Charleston Slough. At the Arzino Ranch in Alviso I had 28 COMMON SNIPE. On Saturday, 28 Nov 98, I stopped at the Los Gatos perc ponds, where I had a single adult MEW GULL among the others present. At the Oka ponds, there were 11 HOODED MERGANSERS (5 males and 6 females) and 24 RING-NECKED DUCKS. A check of Calero Reservoir yielded 3 COMMON LOONS and an adult GOLDEN EAGLE. On Sunday, 29 Nov 98, a check of the Palo Alto Baylands on the high-to-ebbing tide produced no unusual shorebirds. Four WHIMBRELS were among the usual suspects, and the WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and calling CLAPPER RAILS were present. Mike Mammoser ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]] From [[email protected]] Mon Nov 30 12:35:13 1998 Subject: [SBB] Red Fox Sparrow Being confined to the my house most of last week with a nasty episode of back spasms, my birding was limited to seeing what was outside of our kitchen window. With the several Sooty FOX SPARROWS feeding around our house was one bird that stood out from the others. Although it appeared structurally and size-wise like a Fox Sparrow, it lacked any of the chocolate brown coloration of our typical wintering race. It had a well-defined facial pattern with a bright brick-red auricular patch set in a light gray face. Its lores were gray, like the supercillary area; it didn't have an eyeline. The bill was bicolored, dusky maxilla, yellowish mandible. Its crown was gray in the front, gradating to reddish brown on top and down its nape. Its mantle was brick-red, showing slightly darker streaking only when it faced away from me. The folded primaries showed lots of brick-red tones. The tertials were dark brown centered with wide reddish fringes. Its rump and entire tail was a bright brick-red unlike the Sooty races which seem to be reddish only on the rump and at the base of the retrices (tail feathers). The left half of its retrices were half grown in, owing to adventitious molt, I imagine. Its undersides had a base tone of white with brick-red triangular spotting (pointing towards the head). The belly was unspotted; I didn't note undertail covert features or leg color. What was striking about the bird was its brightness of reds in most of the darker plumage. Gray (in the face) and white (undersides) were the only other plumage colors noted except in the tertials. I would call it a P. i. iliaca, except for the weak streaking on its back. The three references that I checked (C. Byers, et al; J. Rising; and P. Pyle, 2nd Ed.) indicate that the streaking for this race should be obvious and contrasting: red streaks on a gray back. Among the Red Fox Sparrows, Iliaca is the Eastern race and is the brightest; Zaboria is more Western (more likely to appear in California, I guess) and is duller. Rising feels that it's not possible to separate iliaca from zaboria in the field, and possibly not so in-the-hand as well. If it's still around, I'm planning to study the bird further for details of the malar and submalar stripes that Rising mentions. Best illustration matches, except for back pattern: Rising pl. 15, 38a; Byers pl. 30, 48a (the individual at my home seems brighter than this illus.). I would appreciate any feedback and thoughts, especially from those with more experience with the Red forms of FOSP. Of the Sooty races, Pyle notes that several winter to coastal, West-central Calif. These include fuliginosa, townsendi, and chilcatensis. Does anyone know if we see all of these in equal numbers, or if fuliginosa is the pre-dominant one? If so, how do you know this? (I haven't checked Grinnell and Miller yet.) Thanks, Les ========================================== Les Chibana, Palo Alto [[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 Nov 30 14:57:06 1998 Subject: [SBB] RFI: Where to Watch Birds in Australasia and Ocenia book, birding partner Hello. I am planning a trip to Australia, New Caledonia and New Zealand and I am looking for site info. ABA is out of " Where to Watch Birds in Australasia and Ocenia" so I would greatly appreciate if anyone could tell me where I could find it around here or borrow it from someone for 2 days. Also, is there anyone going there b/w Dec. 11 and Jan. 5 for birding together? Also, how could I post this on birdchat and calbird? Thanks cagan Cagan H. Sekercioglu Center for Conservation Biology Dep. of Biological Sciences Stanford University Stanford, CA 94305 Cagan H. Sekercioglu Center for Conservation Biology Dep. of Biological Sciences Stanford University Stanford, CA 94305 ========================================================================== This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list server. If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to [[email protected]]