Strawberry Canyon on 26 May
Thu, 01 Jun 2000 22:13:11 PDT
From: Richard Mix
Ann Callaway and I took a walk along the south ridge of Strawberry Canyon starting from Panoramic Dr [Panoramic Way (?), leading uphill from the south end of the UC Berkeley stadium] last Friday. Highlights were a Red-breasted Nuthatch (usually a heard-only bird in this area), a very cooperative flock of Band-tailed Pigeons perching at eye level, a pair of Pacific-slope Flycatchers for the naked-eye list, and several extremely plain birds that kept hopping into bushes from which came the Orange-crowned Warbler trill - this was more a half and half 'doppler shift' than the falling at the very end version on our recordings. Also a Brown Creeper making Brown Creeper noises....
Around El Cerrito our Purple Finch is finally spending time in the open and the Red-breasted Nuthatches in the telephone pole at Tapscott and Gatto seem to have fledged - one was making such a plaintive racket we couldn't decide if it was a distraught parent or a begging youngster. Nutall's Woodpeckers have nested in the opposite side of the pole and seem to get along, but Sunday they were nose to nose with a House Wren and got a most impressive scolding.
Richard Mix, El Cerrito
Indigo Bunting returns
Thu, 1 Jun 2000 22:31:35 PDT
From: Steve Glover
Hello everyone,
This morning I went out to Piper Slough and found what is probably the same male Indigo Bunting that was there two years ago. It was in the exact same spot. From the end of Bethel Island Rd, walk up onto the levee and go left. You will have to climb over the metal gate as some idiot has chained up the wooden gate around the side. Go several hundred yards to where the levee bends left (south). Go 500 yards or so around a bend to the right and you will see a dirt road going off to the left toward the east (back toward Bethel Island Rd). The Bunting was here. Two years ago it was also noted all the way over to Bethel Island Rd and was eventually seen several hundred yards further down the levee where it was seen in the company of a female Lazuli and her (their?) young.
There were no migrants today except for two Yellow Warblers and a single Willow Flycatcher. Another highlight was 34 White-faced Ibis flying southeast over the slough in the general direction of Holland Tract.
Good birding,
Steve Glover
Dublin, CA
Lotsa birds
Fri, 02 Jun 2000 00:10:00 -0700
From: Martha Lowe
I just got this in an e-mail from a plant list, don't know where she lives but it is somewhere rural:
This is being a tremendous year for song birds - not just variety of species, but numbers of individuals as well. Every morning brings a symphony that lasts well into the day.
I have been meeting to write in and ask, but thought it was just me. Is this an incredible year for birds or what?! I agree with the above, lots of species and lots of individuals as well. I have heard more of each species than I can remember. Part of this has to do with my improved birding-by-ear skills, but there are birds I have known for several years, like Swainson's Thrush, that seem extra-abundant this year. What do you think?
A Pileated Woodpecker was sighted in Joaquin Miller Park a few weeks ago! This makes two in as many years (or the same one twice!). Keep your eyes and ears peeled if you are over this way and you might get lucky!
Do Olive-sided Flycatchers breed here?
Martha
Least Terns vs Red-tailed Hawk
Fri, 2 Jun 2000 01:15:28 -0700
From: Larry Tunstall
Early Thursday afternoon, I dropped by the Albany Mudflats to look for the Least Terns. The location where nesting has been reported is just south of Central Avenue, just west of Hwy 580. Park on Central near the corner of Rydin Ave and walk south toward the mudflats. The section of the Bay Trail from here to the Albany Bulb has been reported in some newspaper articles to be finished, and I haven't seen any work going on there for weeks, but there still are signs saying "Do Not Enter - Construction Zone." However, hikers and bicyclists seem to be routinely ignoring them, and the trail is quite passable. If you want to avoid possible trouble, there is a viewing area on top of the native-planted mound just south of Central Ave.
In this corner of the mudflats area, there are two small shell-mound "islands" - actually connected to the shore except at high tide. I saw apparent nesting activity on the larger island, which is best viewed from the mound-top viewing spot. A scope would be very useful to get a good view of what's going on here, though you can see quite a bit with binoculars.
I saw at least 4 Least Terns fishing over the water, and one sitting on the island, possibly nesting. There were other birds sitting on this island that might be nesting, but I couldn't tell much about that without a scope.
While I was there, a Red-tailed Hawk landed on the shore just across the narrow strip of water from the large island. I didn't see whether it was attacking a nest, but it almost immediately was mobbed by a couple of dozen birds including avocets, stilts, Killdeer, peeps, and the terns. Within less than a minute it was driven back into the air and off across the flooded mudflat area to the south. A very impressive display of the power of group action!
Good birding, Larry
Larry Tunstall
El Cerrito CA
Dawn Chorus walk at Tilden
Fri, 2 Jun 2000 01:29:47 -0700
From: Larry Tunstall
Thursday morning, Alan Kaplan led a Dawn Chorus birdwalk beginning at 6 AM in Tilden Nature Area. A surprisingly large group turned out to walk past Jewel Lake a short distance into the chaparral, then back along Upper Packrat Trail to the Visitor Center.
There was indeed an early abundance of birdsong, which tapered off after about 7 or 7:30 AM. However, it seemed to be picking up again in the mid to late morning.
Here's our list for the group:
Great Blue Heron
Red-tailed Hawk
California Quail - heard only
Mourning Dove - heard only
Anna's Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Downy Woodpecker
Olive-sided Flycatcher - heard only
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Black Phoebe
Hutton's Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Steller's Jay
Common Raven - seen by two of us after the walk
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Oak Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch - heard only
Bewick's Wren - heard only
House Wren
Swainson's Thrush - heard only
American Robin - one seen on nest at Jewel Lake
Wrentit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow - heard only
Black-headed Grosbeak
Dark-eyed Junco
American Goldfinch
Alan says that Dawn Chorus Day is a regular British birding feature on the first Sunday in May. Does anyone know of any regular observations here? Alan also asked if anyone is aware of any recent research on the dawn chorus phenomenon.
Good birding, Larry
Larry Tunstall
El Cerrito CA
Hayward Shoreline
Sun, 4 Jun 2000 15:17:26 PDT
From: Bob Richmond
The following was seen today -
8 Black Skimmers, 2 on nests and 1 possibly on a nest.
1 Arctic Tern on a 2-egg nest (crossing with a Forster's Tern).
2 adult Eared Grebes with 3 chicks, the other pair with chicks was not seen today.Unusual waterfowl include -
Green-winged Teal
Blue-winged Teal
American Wigeon (pair)
Good birding
Bob