Re: Lazuli Bunting, Yellow Warbler, White-crowned
Sparrow
Tue, 12 Jun 2001 09:25:40 -0700
From: Bob Brandriff
Lillian and Steve and East Bay Birders:
On June 10th I birded Jewel Lake in Tilden Regional Park [Berkeley Hills] late in the morning and was lucky enough to confirm Yellow Warbler breeding. Ted and Kris Koundakjian (whose Contra Costa County block this is) confirmed it as well independently earlier in the day, seeing both adult male and female birds carrying food. I saw both birds but only the male carrying food. This was right at the dam. I'm pretty sure this is the first confirmation for the atlas project and possibly a first for the county as well.
Bob
Original Message Subject Index
Volunteers needed for bird survey in Albany
Village
Tue, 12 Jun 2001 10:50:06 -0700
From: Lisa Viani
Would any of the birders on this listserve be able/willing to help some community gardeners in Albany Village do a bird survey of the community garden that borders Codornices Creek? The gardeners feel this is a very important area for birds but do not have the expertise to do a survey (they are in danger of losing the garden).
If anyone is willing, please contact me, and I'll connect you with the garden people.
Thanks very much.
Lisa Viani
510.237.7968
White-throated Swifts in San Leandro
Tue, 12 Jun 2001 13:05:20 PDT
From: Kathy Robertson
Hello all,
I've found White-throated Swifts nesting in San Leandro [or Castro Valley], where 164th Ave passes under Hwy I-580. I parked on 164th Ave downhill from the freeway, walked across Liberty St (frontage road) and up under the freeway (where there are sidewalks on both sides of the street). There appear to be at least two active nests in the lower part of the overpass (actually an onramp) and at least one more under the freeway itself. The small round holes they're using are easy to spot - just look for the whitewash.
Good birding,
Kathy Robertson
Hayward, CA
Do Northern Rough-winged Swallows breed
here?
Tue, 12 Jun 2001 14:50:09 PDT
From: Mark Rauzon
I saw a Nothern Rough-winged Swallow flying catching (swallowing?) and flying into a culvert that houses Sausal Creek in Oakland, and the Alameda Ship Channel. It got me wondering what the breeding status is for this species in our area. Do they commonly breed here for I've not seen them?
Thanks,
Mark Rauzon
PS On Saturday, a flock of 20 American White Pelicans flew over Ashby and San Pablo Aves in Berkeley like a living mobile.
Reply #1 Reply #2 Subject Index
Re: Do Northern Rough-winged Swallows breed
here?
Tue, 12 Jun 2001 15:12:23 PDT
From: Rusty Scalf
I think that the vast majority of Rough-wings nesting in developed areas nest in manmade structures such as the drainage holes in freeway overpasses. Recently I found both Northern Rough-winged Swallows and White-throated Swifts nesting in an overpass on the Richmond Pkwy in Richmond. These are the holes on the horizontal undersides of the overpass. The birds literally fly into the holes (do not perch or even pause on the outside).
Rusty
Original Message Next Reply Subject Index
Re: Do Northern Rough-winged Swallows breed
here?
Tue, 12 Jun 2001 20:18:09 -0700
From: John Luther
Yes, they are frequent nesters here. I have found nests as Rusty says in human-made structures. For example I have found them nesting under the Hwy 580 freeway by Mills College (Oakland), in holes in concrete by Hwy 24 near Lake Temescal (Oakland), and under a concrete bridge over a creek in Hayward.
John Luther
Original Message Subject Index
Fwd: Contra Costa County nesting birds
Tue, 12 Jun 2001 22:22:56 -0700
From: Larry Tunstall
I'm forwarding the following message from Steve Glover that was slightly
misaddressed and so did not get posted to the list earlier today.
--Larry
Contra Costa County nesting birds
Tue, 12 Jun 2001 10:57:09 PDT
From: Steve GloverHello all,
This is cross-posted to two groups so if something doesn't make sense let me know.
I have been doing a lot of atlasing in northern Contra Costa County this past week and some of the things are somewhat interesting.
First of all I got good news from several atlasers while I was on vacation. Hugh Harvey finally got our first confirmation of Ruddy Duck on June 5 at Heather Farms Park in Walnut Creek when he saw a female with 7 precocial young. I never would have suspected that Ruddies would be so scarce as breeders in the county.
Bob Brandriff, as mentioned in a previous message, found nesting Yellow Warblers at Jewel Lake in Tilden Park on June 5, these birds also seen by Kris and Ted Koundakjian. These are indeed the first for the atlas project. Frankly I had long since given up hope on these declining warblers. While there are county nest records there may have been none in the last half century!
Most of my atlasing has been in residential areas, city parks, etc. but also some of the northern Marshes.
On June 6 I birded the Markham Nature Center on Cowell Rd in Concord. Here were typical suburban and oak birds including fledgling Nuttall's Woodpecker and American Robin carrying food. Surprises included two pairs of Pacific-slope Flycatchers and a singing Western Tanager. The tanager may be a late migrant but the flycatchers are probably nesting.
Later I went to Newhall Park, also in Concord, Where I confirmed Hooded Oriole in two different blocks, saw many broods of Mallard (7+ broods, mostly of tiny precocial young), Canada Goose with 2 half-grown young, and also confirmed Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Cliff Swallow, American Robin, Bullock's Oriole, Nuttall's Woodpecker, Bushtit and Mourning Dove. Other neat birds not confirmed included Belted Kingfisher, Northern Rough-winged Swallow and Green Heron.
On June 7 I birded north Concord. Around Olivera St and Walnut Creek (the actual creek) and in adjacent residential areas I confirmed Lesser Goldfinch, American Goldfinch, American Robin, American Crow, Song Sparrow, Western Meadowlark, Cliff Swallow and Nuttall's Woodpecker. I then birded on Waterfront Rd which is in two blocks. Here I confirmed Northern Harrier, Common Yellowthroat, Marsh Wren, Song Sparrow, Green Heron, Black-necked Stilt, American Kestrel, American Goldfinch, Cliff Swallow and Barn Swallow. There were several broods of Gadwall. Other neat birds included two singing Black Rails and a male Blue-winged Teal. The teal now seems to be annual in summer in the county. To bird Waterfront Rd, exit Hwy I-680 at the Marina Vista exit, the last one before the Benicia Bridge Toll Plaza. Head right, east, a couple of miles until you reach a guard shack. Tell the guard you want to go birdwatching and he will give you a pass. Continue on and bird as you drive. Just after passing the last buildings on the left you will see a few parking spaces on the right. Park here and cross the road. Go through the gate and just walk the trail. Black Rail can be anywhere along here.
On June 10 Misty and I birded the north part of Bay Point (still looks like West Pittsburg to me) and Pittsburg. Widespread nesting birds found included Mallard, Red-winged Blackbird, Northern Mockingbird, Western Meadowlark, Western Scrub-Jay, Common Yellowthroat, Song Sparrow, European Starling, Western Kingbird, American Robin, Marsh Wren, Cliff Swallow and Barn Swallow. At the McAvoy Harbor in Bay Point there is a nice trail that runs out to the shore of Suisun Bay. The parking area is a little seedy but the birding is pretty good. This is on Port Chicago Hwy. When you enter the harbor area there is a parking area for the public trail on your right. The trail is across the lot. Walk the path west and at the gate bear right to follow the fence. It is dry right now all the way to the bay but boots would be a good idea much of the time. Here were lots of Common Yellowthroats, Marsh Wrens, "Maxillaris" Song Sparrows, Cliff Swallows nesting on old boats, at least two singing Black Rails and a pair of Western Gulls. This is apparently about as far east into the bay/delta system that they nest although I saw some birds flying further east. There was also a pair of adults with a bird of the year out on a sandbar in Solano County.
Hope everyone is having a nice summer,
Steve Glover
Hooded Orioles still around Kensington
Tue, 12 Jun 2001 22:39:19 -0700 (PDT)
From: Peter Rauch
I've been continuing to see a female Hooded Oriole feeding on the feijoa and Abutilon in the yard here on Ardmore Rd (at elevation 400 feet) in Kensington, most days since I first reported the species' occurrence in the yard to this list on 2 June 2001.
Today is the first time I saw a male (this season) in the yard, accompanying a female. They were not observed feeding.
I don't spend a lot of time looking at/for birds in my yard, so records of incidence are merely casual observations. E.g., the male could well have been here often as well.
Peter