Blue Grosbeaks along Patterson Rd, Alameda
County
Mon, 6 May 2002 08:24:39 PDT
From: Phil Gordon
Greetings EBB'ers,
On Saturday, 4 May 2002, Pat Gordon and I found a male and female Blue Grosbeak (pair?) at the first trees near "milemeter" 5.90 and again, another couple (male and female) (pair?) of blue Grosbeaks at mm 6.23 on Patterson Pass Rd (as first reported by Rich Cimino last week). This was around 10:00 AM. Other migrants/transients here included:
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Warbling Vireo
Nashville Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Black-headed Grosbeak
Bullock's Oriole
Special residents near here included:
Golden Eagle
Horned Lark
Lark Sparrow
Patterson Pass Rd (west end) is best reached via Hwy 580 east from Livermore. Just before Altamont Pass, turn south on Greenville Rd, then left on Patterson Pass Rd (east) (set milemeter to 0).
Happy Birding,
Phil Gordon
Hayward, Alameda County
Re: Blackbird riding hawk
Mon, 6 May 2002 08:48:43 PDT
From: George McRae
Don Lewis wrote:
The blackbird did not appear to be pecking the hawk, just riding it.
Hawk surfing?
George McRae
Original Message Subject Index
Sunol & Coyote Hills Regional Parks
Mon, 6 May 2002 09:42:45 PDT
From: Jerry Bibbey
Since we are new to the area and relatively new birders, Estrella and I went out this weekend to hone our skills in some new areas. On Saturday afternoon we went to Sunol Regional Wilderness near Sunol, and the highlight by far was the female Red-Shouldered Hawk tending to her nest above the bridge by the visitor center and a Green Heron in the creek below. We also added a Bewick's Wren and a Steller's Jay to our life list.
On Sunday afternoon we went to Coyote Hills Regional Park and walked along the Bayview Trail. The highlight there for us was a pair of Northern Shovelers and watching a male Cinnamon Teal landing on the water. We also heard, but did not see a Ring-Necked Pheasant.
Jerry and Estrella Bibbey
List for Sunol Regional Wilderness:
Yellow-billed Magpie
Turkey Vulture
Black Phoebe
Hooded Merganser
Green Heron
Spotted Towhee
House Wren
Dark-eyed Junco
California Towhee
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Steller's Jay
Western Meadowlark (heard)
Northern Flicker
Acorn Woodpecker
American Crow
Wild Turkey (2)
Western Bluebird
Bushtit
Bewick's Wren
Mallard
European Starling
Red-shouldered Hawk
California Quail
Oak Titmouse
Coyote Hills Regional Park:
Killdeer
Red-winged Blackbird
Canada Goose
Brewer's Blackbird
Western Scrub-Jay
Song Sparrow
Tree Swallow
Mallard
American Coot
Ruddy Duck
Pied-billed Grebe
Gadwall
Forster's Tern
Cinnamon Teal
Marsh Wren (heard)
Cliff Swallow
Northern Mockingbird
House Finch
American Avocet
Great Egret
Northern Shoveler
Black-necked Stilt
Ring-necked Pheasant
White-tailed Kite
Mourning Dove
California Towhee
American Goldfinch
Hayward Regional Shoreline
Mon, 6 May 2002 13:40:30 PDT
From: Bob Richmond
Today at the Hayward Shoreline despite the wind:
Bullock's Oriole - 1 at Winton Ave trailhead.
Swainson's Thrush - 1 at Winton.
Golden-crowned Sparrow - 2 at Winton were late.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 1 at Winton was also late.
Snow Goose - 1 at San Lorenzo Community Park
Ross' Goose - 1 at San Lorenzo Community Park.
Good Birding
Bob
Cormorant nests at San Mateo Bridge
Mon, 6 May 2002 16:08:35 PDT
From: Lois Hoy
Dear Birders,
On the way to wonderful birding at the Charleston Slough area in Mountain View - 14 Black Skimmers et alia - I saw many Double-crested Cormorants on nests on the platforms of the power towers on the south side of the bridge near the San Mateo side. They are best viewed returning to the East Bay and from the passenger seat!
Lois Hoy
Addendum re: May 4 at Mitchell Canyon
Mon, 06 May 2002 16:18:14 -0700
From: Tom Condit
Hmmm ... I forgot two birds seen in the Mitchell Canyon parking lot:
Northern Mockingbird
Eurasian Starling
Just in case anyone needs these for their county list. :)
Tom Condit
Original Message Subject Index
Good birding locations for late May?
Mon, 06 May 2002 16:52:52 -0700
From: Nick Newton
I have some English birder friends visiting at the end of May, and am looking for some suggestions as to where to take them for the day. Is May 24th to 26th too late for migrants? Is there a good place for stragglers? Is Point Reyes a good place at this time of year, and if so, where would be the best places to go (for breeders and residents as well as migrants?) Any tips would be greatly appreciated. (Send c/o birds@folkbird.net )
Thanks
Nick Newton
Oakland
Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve
Mon, 6 May 2002 20:16:31 PDT
From: Mark Rauzon
In the Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve on Skyline Blvd in Oakland (Contra Costa County), I had a glimpse of a bird I thought was a single Vaux's Swift flying over the forest. Also saw a Rufous Hummingbird. A couple of Swainson's Thrushes have replaced the Varied Thrushes here. The forget-me-nots are well unforgettable.
Mark Rauzon