Piper Slough on 3 May
Thu, 4 May 2000 13:27:48 EDT
From: Steve Glover
Hello all,
Haven't been out too much lately with a new job schedule and a trip to Florida but I got out yesterday to my favorite spot at the north end of Bethel Island Rd.
As usual for this time of year it was pretty windy. The good news about all of the bulldozing the past few years is that you can now bird down at the base of the levee where you are protected from most of the wind.
Nothing was terribly unusual on this day, just lots of the usual stuff. There were at least 5, and probably 6, singing male Yellow-breasted Chats, this being the usual number in recent years. Two males were easily seen in the southwest corner of the levee. For those who haven't been there, the shape of the levee to the west of Bethel Island Rd basically forms an irregular U with the bottom of the U to the south. This means that the easy chats were where a dirt track runs off to the south and the main levee turns to the north.
There was also the usual Black-chinned Hummer near the house at the end of the road and several singing Blue Grosbeaks. A female Selasphorus, probably a Rufous based on location, was unusual. There were a fair number of migrants but little variety: 9 singing Wilson's Warblers, 4 Orange-crowned Warblers, 14 Yellow-rumped Warblers (2 of them Myrtle) and a male Western Tanager. A Golden-crowned Sparrow was lingering fairly late.
A quick stop at the east end of Camino Diablo near Byron revealed several broods of Mallard, an occupied Black-necked Stilt nest, a moorhen, occupied Red-tailed Hawk and Raven nests on towers to the east and lots of male Cinnamon Teal (hopefully the missing females are on nests).
Finally, heading back on Camino Diablo I found an occupied Swainson's Hawk nest, again in a large eucalyptus tree. I think this is the fifth atlas block out there where we have confirmed this species.
Steve Glover
Dublin, CA
New Yardbird
Thu, 04 May 2000 13:36:40 -0700
From: Kay Loughman
East Bay Birders,
Last September I reported an Indigo Bunting that came to my feeder for several days. A thrilling yard bird to be sure. Rusty asked then if I'd ever had Lazuli Buntings at my feeders. And I said no. Today I can say yes. This morning a male Laz made several brief visits to one of my feeders, while I just happend to be gazing out the window!
Kay Loughman
Berkeley
SeaView Trail, Tilden Regional Park
Thu, 4 May 2000 21:43:34 -0700
From: Larry Tunstall
A small group including birders from England and Massachusetts joined Alan Kaplan this morning for his early morning birdwalk along SeaView Trail south from Inspiration Point in Tilden Regional Park (in the Berkeley Hills). The fog and overcast lifted enough to give us some views of the Bay, but there were good views eastward over Briones and out to the Delta.
Highlight of the morning were some Pygmy Nuthatches working in trees near the trail and low enough to give us very good views.
Here is a composite list for the group:
Great Blue Heron - flyover
Turkey Vulture - seen by me from Inspiration Point after the walk, down near San Pablo Reservoir
Band-tailed Pigeon
Mourning Dove
White-throated Swift
Anna's Hummingbird
Selasphorus hummingbirds
Hairy Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher - heard only
Hutton's Vireo - heard only
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay - seen at Inspiration Point, after the walk
Common Raven - flyover
Violet-green Swallow - lots of them, apparently nesting along SeaView
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Pygmy Nuthatch
Bewick's Wren
House Wren
American Robin - seen by a few at Inspiration Pt before the walk
Wrentit - heard only
Cedar Waxwing - flock flew over
Wilson's Warbler - heard only, though very close several times
Spotted Towhee
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Purple Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
After the walk, from Inspiration Point, I also saw a large raptor skimming the ground down near San Pablo Reservoir, probably a Red-tailed Hawk. Although the early morning walks (7 to 9 AM) are great for passerine activity, the raptors usually are not yet up and soaring, especially on a cool morning like today.
Good birding, Larry
Larry Tunstall
El Cerrito CA
Tropical Kingbird at W Winton Ave
Thu, 4 May 2000 16:04:35 -0700
From: Calvin Lou
The Tropical Kingbird was seen at the Winton Ave entrance to Hayward Regional Shoreline again today, 4 May, around 8:30 AM. It was in a bare tree in the row of trees north of the channel and across from the park office. It was seen on both sides of W Winton Ave for about 30 minutes. Other birds at the entrance incuded Northern Mockingbird, White-throated Swift, and Green Heron.
At Garin Regional Park [also in Hayward], it was quite birdy this mid-morning. I took the High Ridge Trail hoping to hear/see Grasshopper Sparrows. Getting to the junction of High Ridge Loop Trail and Newt Pond Trail, I decided to head back. I took the Newt Pond Trail. I got to a point where there was a junction. One trail headed to the right, down the hill (I later learned that this was Newt Pond Trail). The more-traveled trail head straight to the hill overlooking the place where the High Ridge Loop Trail first started. After about 5 to 10 minutes, I heard Grasshopper Sparrows in the grasses to the left. After about 15 minutes, I finally saw one. This area is just before a large area on the left with yellow flowering and thistle plants. Other birds seen here included Rufous-crowned Sparrows, Bullock's Oriole, Lazuli Buntings, Cooper's Hawk, Western Bluebirds, Black-headed Grosbeaks, Loggerhead Shrike, Bewick's Wrens, Spotted Towhees, and others.
Calvin Lou
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