Influx of robins
Mon, 21 Jan 2002 10:20:20 -0800
From: Lisa Viani
Today, there is a huge gathering of American Robins around and about my house. I live just at the foot of the hills at the Richmond / El Cerrito border. I have counted at least 100 robins, and I think there are probably more. I see robins occasionally around here (usually in mixed flocks with waxwings), but this is quite an explosion. It's very nice!
Lisa Viani
UC Berkeley campus
Mon, 21 Jan 2002 10:53:26 -0800
From: James Parham
Birds I saw between 10 AM and 1 PM on the University of California campus, Berkeley.
January 19 (Saturday)
1 Winter Wren
2 Townsend�s Warblers
2 or 3 Yellow-Rumped Warblers
Many (12+) Cedar Waxwings
3 Bushtits
1 Black Phoebe
1 Steller�s Jay
6 House Finches
some Chestnut-Backed Chickadees
some California Towhees
some Dark-eyed Juncos
dozens of American Robins
hummingbirds
January 20 (Sunday)
1 Hermit Thrush
1 Townsend�s Warbler
1 Yellow-Rumped Warbler (in with juncos)
3 Brown Creepers
1 Black Phoebe
1 Scrub Jay
2 Steller�s Jays
3 House Finches
some Chestnut-Backed Chickadees
some California Towhees
some Dark-eyed Juncos
several American Robins
hummingbirds
James Ford Parham
Robins in Berkeley Hills
Mon, 21 Jan 2002 17:23:47 PST
From: Collin Murphy
Dear EBBers,
On Saturday morning at dawn I walked the ridge (Creston Rd) above Grizzly Peak Blvd just west of Tilden Regional Park in the Berkeley Hills. Flock after small flock of American Robins swooped up out of the park and into trees on the ridge that were catching the first rays of sun. Conservative count of birds seen along just two blocks: 200+.
I stopped counting then and just enjoyed the birds.
Collin Murphy
Richmond Marina Bay on Sunday
Mon, 21 Jan 2002 20:34:19 -0800
From: Larry Tunstall
The Oakland Bird Club walk at Richmond Marina Bay on Sunday morning had an impressive species count, as well as beautiful and comfortable weather. It was clear, cool, and still. There were not a lot of individual birds around, but the variety was nice. Despite missing some of the typical regulars in the area, we saw almost 70 species in the morning, and the few who continued in the afternoon took the total to 72.
Highlights included Peregrine Falcon dining, Osprey, a pair of Northern Harriers hunting, and a pair of Red-breasted Mergansers.
The morning group included over 30 people, so the following list kept by Dustin Alcala includes some species that were not seen by everyone. We walked from Shimada Friendship Park along the inner yacht harbor out to Vincent Park and the harbor entrance, then back along the bay to Meeker Slough.
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Snowy Egret
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
American Wigeon
Mallard
Green-winted Teal
Canvasback
Greater Scaup
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Osprey
Northern Harrier
Peregrine Falcon
American Coot
Black-bellied Plover
American Avocet
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Long-billed Curlew
Marbled Godwit
Black Turnstone
Sanderling
Western Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin
dowitcher sp.
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Western Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Forster's Tern
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Black Phoebe
American Crow
Common Raven
Bushtit
Marsh Wren (heard)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
American Robin
Northern Mockingbird
American Pipit
European Starling
Yellow-rumped Warbler ("Audubon's")
Common Yellowthroat
California Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow
After a picnic lunch at Shimada Park, a small group walked back to Meeker Slough, out on the Bay Trail to the mudflats, then along the channel feeding Meeker Slough to Marina Park, visited the Rosie the Riveter Monument, and finally made our weary way back to Shimada Park at almost 4 PM. Although we had a pleasant afternoon of birding, we added only five more species to the day's list:
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Gadwall
American Kestrel (identification uncertain - far away)
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Lincoln's Sparrow
Thanks to everyone who came to the walk and to the Oakland Bird Club for sponsoring it. And to the weather for being so cooperative.
Good birding, Larry
Larry Tunstall
El Cerrito CA
Flock of robins in El Cerrito
Mon, 21 Jan 2002 21:05:45 PST
From: George McRae
I'm up the hill from Lisa at Barrett and Edwards (El Cerrito) above Poinsett Park. The American Robins were here as well flying through and about a pyracantha at the side of the house! Long time no see! and very welcome.
George McRae