Re: Common Snipe
Thu, 8 Mar 2001 00:23:59 PST
From: Kathy Robertson
Peter,
The largest group of Common Snipe I've seen was a flock of nine at Lake Chabot [near Castro Valley] this January.
Also, back in November, on a Central Valley Birding Symposium field trip to Modesto Sewer Ponds, we had many small groups (4 to 6 birds) of Common Snipe as we drove the levees around the ponds (very much like Les's experience at Merced National Wildlife Refuge).
Kathy Robertson
Hayward
Original Message Subject Index
Lewis' Woodpeckers at Round Valley
Fri, 9 Mar 2001 18:51:29 -0800
From: John Luther
Today two Lewis' Woodpeckers continued at Round Valley Regional Preserve in eastern Contra Costa County near Brentwood. They were in the area described by Mike Feighner in his 7 January report. Take the Miwok trail from the Marsh Creek Rd parking lot. Go a little over a mile, and just past the black water tank on your right go through the green gate (instead of staying on the main trail that turns left). Look in the trees there along the creek that is in the gully and in the trees out in the meadow beyond the row of trees and creek.
There is a Killdeer nest with 3 eggs just past the gate at the end of the parking lot. It is in the gray gravel of the road and I can't imagine it being successful in that place.
John Luther
Lake Merritt - Tufted Duck, Glaucous Gull,
Cattle Egret
Fri, 9 Mar 2001 19:16:02 -0800
From: Mike Ezekiel
Dear EBBers,
Just when I was considering that the obstinate, determined and willful refusal of the female Tufted Duck at Lake Merritt (in Oakland) to sit up and be identified might actually mean that the duckie had done went and gone, a beautiful chocolate brown scaup-like thing (one of many in the flock just in front of the islands nearest the Nature Center) rotated and displayed the merest of scruffy, tufty feathers at the back of its head. The Tufted Duck was still there - despite my inability to see it in numerous visits over the past month or so.
However, I must dethrone the lowly Ruddy Ducks, which prior to this winter ruled as my top ducks in the sleepy duck category. I think that the scaup gang probably sleeps more then any duck I have spent time watching with its bill and head tucked under a wing - therefore concealing the lack of white at the base thereof.
Despite that caveat, the fault is probably with the birder, rather then the bird. Since its tuft is now tinier then when I previously saw it, I think I may have simply passed over it on several occasions. A scope would have helped, but I am scopelessly birding before and after work.
Also continuing to be present at Lake Merritt is the first winter Glaucous Gull (quite a dirty belly - must spend nearly all its time in the dirt around the pond), the Cattle Egret, and the 2 highly vocal Egyptian Geese all in close proximity to the Duck Pond, as well as the usual gang of goldeneye, Ruddy Ducks, cormorants, night-herons, egrets, and Great Blue Herons.
Mike Ezekiel
Oakland, Ca
Castle Rock Regional Park
Sat, 10 Mar 2001 16:42:09
From: Jim Tietz
Hi
Yesterday, March 9th, at Castle Rock Regional Park near Walnut Creek I encountered 43 species including a pair of Peregrine Falcons, a displaying Cooper's Hawk, 2 Golden Eagles and 2 Violet-green Swallows. The Peregrine Falcons appear to be attempting to nest on the cliff face this year and are visible from the open area just after the main trail swings to the south side of the cliffs. Occasionally, one would sit in an oak on the opposing ridge and the two would talk to each other. The Cooper's Hawk flew past the cliffs with extremely slow nighthawk-like flight. I've seen it do this here in years past and suspect that it is also a nester in the nearby oak forests. The swallows and eagles were flybys.
Jim Tietz
"Oh-Lonely" Greenway
Sat, 10 Mar 2001 16:48:30 PST
From: George McRae
Yesterday March 8, 4 PM, out on the Ohlone Greenway heading north in El Cerrito at the Jehovah's Witness temple (Elm Street), came upon a Sharp-shinned Hawk on the ground with a freshly killed pigeon. It tried to take off but with the weight of the pigeon it could only get 8 feet of altitude to a pine tree along the path. I approached it for identification (so similar to the Coopers!), got to within 10 feet or so, didn't want to get closer for fear of spooking it. Watched it for 3 or 4 minutes. Coloring and size, everything matches the photograph in the Audubon guide (plate 336) as a Sharp-shinned. But can't see the tail shape even when it eventually flies away with dinner, what with its unsteady awkward clumsy flight. Tail was squared off then, no, rounded, etc. Lost him as he headed down Elm Street, pigeon in talon.
Backyard news: A pair of Chestnut-backed Chickadees have finally occupied a long abandoned bird house in the back yard just a few short feet from the feeder. And a bunch of Steller's Jays have noisily invaded the back yard greedily emptying the feeder daily. And there are resident Anna's Hummingbirds who wintered just fine. A female owns the feeder in the front of the house. She bombed me the other day. She built a nest outside the front door 2 summers ago. Maybe she's a Mom again? Haven't found the nest as yet although I hear they will build in the same spot again?
George McRae
Glaucous Gull
Sat, 10 Mar 2001 21:37:04 PST
From: Brian Fitch
I led a field trip today at Lake Merritt in Oakland for some families from my school. We saw most of the usuals, and found the first-year Glaucous Gull sitting on the low hill across the street from the dome cage, looking very sickly. It stayed up there for two hours, and before we left I reported it to the folks at the Rotary Nature Center.
If anyone on this line heads out there tomorrow, I'd be interested in hearing about the bird's condition, or whether it was captured for treatment.
Brian Fitch