Green Heron at Martinez Marina
Mon, 7 Jan 2002 06:13:32 PST
From: Jeff Mohamed
There was a Green Heron near the pond west of Martinez Marina at noon on January 5. I've seen it there several times over the past two months. It seems mainly to fish the south end of the pond and the water channel running from the pond to the river.
Also seen 11:00 AM to noon on the same day in the Martinez Regional Shoreline:
Yellow-rumped Warblers
Anna's Hummingbirds
White-tailed Kite
Marsh Wrens
Song Sparrows White-crowned Sparrows
Turkey Vultures
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Egrets Snowy Egrets
Red-winged Blackbirds
Common Yellowthroat
Black-bellied Plovers
American Avocet
Black-necked Stilts
Ring-billed Gulls
Mallards
American Coots
Canvasbacks
Pied-billed Grebes
Western Grebe
Canada Geese
Ruddy Ducks
scaups sp.
Buffleheads
Double-crested Cormorants.
In case people haven't visited the site recently, it now attracts many more birds than before because of a lot of restoration work completed late last year.
Jeff Mohamed
Bald Eagle east of Tilden Regional Park
Mon, 7 Jan 2002 06:13:59 PST
From: Jeff Mohamed
There was an adult Bald Eagle just northeast of Inspiration Point (Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley Hills) yesterday (January 6) at noon.
An hour's walk along Wildcat Canyon Rd east of the Point also revealed:
Red-tailed Hawk
Steller's Jays
American Robins
Varied Thrush
Chestnut-backed Chickadees
Bushtits
Winter Wren
Spotted Towhees
Lesser Goldfinch
Common Ravens
Anna's Hummingbirds
Jeff Mohamed
Niles Community Park, Fremont
Mon, 7 Jan 2002 12:33:01 -0800
From: Val Blakely
It was another glorious hazy morning (no sarcasm here) in Niles Community Park in Fremont on Saturday. Even though the sun wasn't out, the birds were. It was great. I saw 64 Cedar Waxwings in one tree hanging out with 6 American Robins. I have never seen so much. The pond had American Coots, Mallards, and 2 male Wood Ducks. I found also perched in the everglade-like trees were about 6 Black-crowned Night-Herons. I heard a Belted Kingfisher along Alameda Creek, but did not see it. And of course a half-dozen European Starlings, not a joy to see. It was great to see a Snowy Egret because it climbed out of the creek and stood on a stick out of the water so I can see his yellow feet. Also saw several White-crowned and Golden-crowned Sparrows along with a Hermit Thrush. One bird was too fast and I couldn't figure out if it was a Yellow-rumped Warbler or a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. I will have to return and see. Exercise and bird watching, what a life.
Thanks for reading
Val Blakely
Fremont, CA
Wood Ducks at Upper San Leandro Reservoir
Mon, 7 Jan 2002 12:52:54 -0800
From: Emily Serikin
Greetings.
On Sunday at dusk I saw over 30 Wood Ducks hanging out with Ring-necked Ducks at the Upper San Leandro Reservoir - viewed from the big overlook beyond the horse pasture on the Rocky Ridge trail. (Several Common Snipe were also there, at the water's edge.) [Note: An East Bay Municipal Utility District trail permit is needed to enter this area.]
Also saw an immature nuttalli (Sibley calls it West Taiga) White-crowned Sparrow at the MacAvoy Harbor in Bay Point. I don't know how common these are.
Good birding,
Emily Serkin
Oakland
Heather Farms Park, Walnut Creek
Mon, 07 Jan 2002 16:10:35 -0800
From: Robert Hole, Jr.
Today, my first "real" birding day of the year, I took a quick walk around the lake at the Heather Farms Park in Walnut Creek and came up with some fun stuff (Okay - so I think even pigeons are fun).
American Coot
Anna's Hummingbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bufflehead
Canada Goose
Cinnamon Teal (a pair, "sleeping" on the shoreline opposite the parking lot)
Double-crested Cormorant
European Starling
Golden-crowned Sparrow
House Sparrow
Mallard
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-winged Blackbird
Ring-billed Gull
Ring-necked Duck (right up under my nose at the overlooks!)
Rock Dove
Ruddy Duck
Turkey Vulture
Western Scrub-Jay
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Swift (way up yonder)
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Those plus a male American Kestrel along Mitchell Canyon, and Mourning Doves at home made for a nice round 25-species day.
Later this week, I'm off in search of swans.
Robert
Photos of Dusky-capped Flycatcher in Oakland
Mon, 07 Jan 2002 16:20:45 -0800
From: Joseph Morlan
The Dusky-capped Flycatcher was still showing well at Lakeside Park by Lake Merritt in Oakland today. I have posted a few notes at:
Calvin Lou has kindly contributed photos of the bird.
Also at Lake Merritt, numerous Barrow's Goldeneyes were in the channel which flows out of the south end of Lake Merritt, just north of 10th Street.
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044
Original Message Subject Index
Harlequin Duck in Richmond
Mon, 07 Jan 2002 21:15:05 -0800
From: Dustin Alcala
A female Harlequin Duck was seen in Richmond on Sunday afternoon. The bird was along the shore east of Shimada Friendship Park at the bend in the path as it heads towards Meeker Slough. This extremely cooperative bird was seen between 3:45 and 4:30 PM. Also of interest was a female Barrows Goldeneye among the Common Goldeneyes in Marina Bay.
Directions (borrowed from Larry Tunstall): From Hwy 580 in Richmond, take the Marina Bay Pkwy exit. Go south (toward the bay) on Marina Bay Pkwy, following this street as it winds through the housing development. Eventually, you will see the small Shimada Friendship Park on the left. If you reach the end of the road at Vincent Park, you've gone about a quarter-mile too far.
Dustin Alcala, Albany
Re: Lewis' Woodpecker in Clayton
Tue, 8 Jan 2002 21:32:23 -0800
From: Polly Boissevain
I thought I should have noted after my initial post that this is not great birding unless you're bent on looking for the Lewis' Woodpecker. The area where I saw it is on the edge of the newly developed Crystyl Ranch subdivision and there are large homes on either side of the creek. However, you might want to consider combining it with a trip to Mitchell Canyon, a bit further down the road. Pine Hollow Rd continues on to Mitchell Canyon Rd. Go right until the road dead ends in the park. A bit quiet this time of year, but still nice.
Good birding
Polly Boissevain
Original Message Subject Index
Nesting already?
Wed, 9 Jan 2002 21:39:38 -0800
From: Jerrie Arko
Judging from the action that is going on in my backyard, it isn't too early to put out any nesting materials you may have collected over the winter. The towhees, House Finches and Mourning Doves are "billing and cooing." Short lengths of soft yarn, lint from the clothes dryer trap, moss and planting stuff saved from flower and plant gifts, scraps of material, and other bits and bobs. I have collected small twigs and long, dry grasses from the vacant lot across the street to add to the mix.
Do not use sewing thread, plastic, paper or other stuff that might be harmful.
I use an old basket that once held Easter Eggs and candy. I fill it up and hang it in the trees where I can see it and the birds can get to it without any trouble. I try to shelter it a bit in case I am not home when it rains. Using bright colors will help you spot the nests later.
Now is a good time to empty the feeders, give them a good cleaning and disinfecting.
And wait for Spring!!
Jerrie Arko, El Cerrito, CA
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