Re: Cattle Egret returns to Lake Merritt
Tue, 20 Nov 2001 6:56:39 PST
From: Mike Feighner
East Bay Birders:
My first record of Cattle Egret at Lake Merritt is 4 December 1988, but I believe the first arrival was in November 1987. Alameda County Records Keeper: can you verify this?
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, Alameda County
Original Message Next Reply Subject Index
Observations editor needed
Tue, 20 Nov 2001 07:54:36 PST
From: Collin Murphy
Dear EBBers,
At the end of November, I will no longer be writing the Observations column for The Gull. No volunteers have yet come forward to assume this post! Please contact me for information about this interesting position. I will gladly train the new person.
Thanks, Collin Murphy
Re: Cattle Egret returns to Lake Merritt
Tue, 20 Nov 2001 09:56:14 PST
From: Steve Glover
Mike and all,
My files, which include all sightings of interest from all three Audubon newsletters from the East Bay, North American Birds, and The Condor, do show one bird present from the winter of 1987-1988, though there was a bird there carrying nest material on 2/16/85 which could also be the same bird. If this is the same bird it is clearly muy viejo (or vieja).
Steve Glover
Original Message Subject Index
American White Pelicans
Tue, 20 Nov 2001 14:13:08 -0800
From: Val Blakely
I spotted about 15 American White Pelicans [in Fremont] out in Alameda Creek this morning about three-quarters of a mile downstream from Mission Blvd bridge, which crosses over the creek. Also, I watched a Belted Kingfisher dive in the water as he was out and about on a fishing trip.
Val Blakely
Fremont, CA
Info needed on sightings of Clapper Rail
in Richmond
Tue, 20 Nov 2001 20:49:28 -0800
From: Larry Tunstall
Hi EBBers,
Kacy Kobrin is working on a Biological Assessment of the area including Meeker Slough, Stege Marsh, and Carlson Creek (in Richmond between Richmond Marina Bay and Point Isabel Regional Shoreline). She just recently learned of the sightings of Clapper Rail in this area, and is very anxious to learn more details because the presence of this endangered species is a very important factor in the assessment of what should be done for the remediation/ clean-up of this area.
She would greatly appreciate hearing from those who have seen or heard the rail(s), specifying as much detail as you can, including as close to an exact location as possible and the dates of the observations.
She is particularly interested in knowing of any observations from December through May, because this would be important evidence that rails may be resident here rather than just seasonal or occasional visitors.
If you have any information for her, please contact
Kacy Kobrin
510.596.9637
Thanks for your help,
Larry Tunstall
El Cerrito CA
Goldeneye flocks in Carquinez Strait, an
Amtrak report
Wed, 21 Nov 2001 08:43:53 -0800
From: Kirk Swenson
Background: Last year at the end of November, I spotted a large flock of predominantly Barrow's Goldeneyes in the Carquinez Straits just west of the Martinez station while riding Amtrak. The flock stayed around in the same general vicinity until about mid-January, during which time a land-based count reached a high of 135 Barrow's Goldeneyes.
Recently: This month, goldeneyes started to arrive in numbers along the route, but most have been appearing further west in areas that were predominantly Common Goldeneyes last year. They've also been congregating further from shore making it more difficult to make positive identifications from the train. The largest concentration of goldeneyes has been forming about 50 to 100 yards offshore behind a large asphalt platform where they are only visible for about five seconds before the train enters a tunnel. I have been able to pick out a couple of male Barrow's Goldeneyes as well as some Common Goldeneyes in this group on one or two occasions, but I haven't been able to get a good sense of the overall species composition.
Today: A moderate-sized flock of about 25 birds appeared in last year's location just west of the Martinez station. There were a number of Barrow's Goldeneyes in the group, and given last year's events I think it likely that most were Barrow's although it's hard to get an exact count from the train. Whether the flock will grow to the size of last year's or whether the Barrow's are dispersing more widely this year, only time will tell.
Kirk Swenson
Davis, CA