Palm Warbler in Fremont/Newark
Sat, 5 Oct
2002 08:06:17 -0700
From: Mike Feighner
East Bay Birders:
Forwarding the following message posted over South Bay Birds. We have determined that the Palm Warbler was actually at the Refuge Visitor Center in Alameda County (in Fremont at the Newark border) and not the Environmental Education Center in Santa Clara County (near Alviso).
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, Alameda County
From: South Bay Birds
Sent: Friday, October 04, 2002 10:51 AM
Subject: [SBB] EEC in AlvisoAll,
Thursday, October 3, 2002, Jim Holmes of Sacramento County reported a Palm Warbler with Yellow, Orange-crowned, and Yellow-rumped Warblers "below the visitor center of the Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge" in Newark near the Dumbarton Bridge in Alameda County.
Mike Rogers
Parrot in Lafayette
Sun, 6 Oct 2002 10:23:08
-0700
From: Don Lewis
This morning, while I was engaged in my morning ritual of repairing my lawn ( I hate raccoons!), a single parrot flew directly over me. It was bigger than a dove, with long tail, pointed wings, and sort of chirring. The sun not yet up and with no binoculars, I couldn't see any color on the bird.
For the last several mornings I had been hearing an unusual bird sound, sort of like an Ash-throated Flycatcher but not quite (I've never seen or heard one around my home and I suspect that they've gone south already?). Now I know at least that it's a parrot.
I suppose this could be a single escapee, or have some of the Berkeley parrots moved east? What kind of parrot are the Berkeley ones? Anyone else in Lafayette or Orinda seen one? I live in Happy Valley in Lafayette.
Don Lewis
Lafayette, CA
Chipping Sparrows and Virginia Rails in Martinez
Sun, 6 Oct 2002 11:41:30 PDT
From: Denise Wight
Hi E.B. Birders,
Saturday, at Hidden Lakes Park in Martinez, 6 Chipping Sparrows were seen in the exact location 6 Chipping Sparrows were found last December on the Contra Costa Christmas Bird Count. It would be interesting to see if this group winters here again this year. They were foraging with House Finch and Lesser Goldfinch just to the right of the small amphitheater near the eucalyptus grove.
This morning, Sunday, at Point Edith in Martinez, the low tide brought Virginia Rails out onto the mudflats along the slough which parallels the paved road. I watched quietly from between the fennel stalks, and enjoyed their out-in-the-open foraging. One kept jumping and raising its wings. I wondered if this behavior was nervousness from being away from the concealment of the cattails, or if it was responding to the presence of another Virginia Rail which was also foraging nearby. (Then again, maybe it just kept slipping on the slick mud and had to balance itself.)
Common Yellowthroat and Marsh Wren were extremely easy to view along the levee road. I saw at least 15 Marsh Wren, with three birds at one time within 5 feet of me. Other birds included Wilson's Snipe, White-tailed Kite, Northern Harrier, Black-necked Stilt, Greater Yellowlegs, dowitchers, Song Sparrow, and Lincoln Sparrow.
The smell from the nearby refinery was extremely strong this morning, so I only stayed about a half an hour. I left with a soapy taste in my mouth, a headache and my eyes burning. Ah, the things we put up with to see birds.
Denise Wight
Martinez, CA
Tilden Regional Park, Berkeley Hills
Sun,
06 Oct 2002 22:06:12 -0700
From: Larry Tunstall
During the later part of Sunday morning, Karen Peterson and I birded Upper Packrat Trail in Tilden Nature Area (Berkeley Hills) from the parking lot to Jewel Lake. As often happens, we got half of our list for the morning near the parking lot, around the start of the Packrat Trails. A large mixed flock here included along with numerous Chestnut-backed Chickadees and Bushtits, at least 3 Townsend's Warblers, a probable Orange-crowned Warbler, and a woodpecker (probably Hairy Woodpecker). Around that area also were Bewick's Wren, Steller's Jay, Dark-eyed Junco, Northern Flicker, and American Robin.
Along the trail we encountered California Towhee, Spotted Towhee, many Fox Sparrows, many Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a capless Wilson's Warbler, and a Black-throated Gray Warbler, as well as several warblers and vireos we didn't see well enough to identify (most birds were working the top surface of the trees, well hidden by leaves).
At Jewel Lake we found the usual Great Blue Heron, Mallards, and Black Phoebe, as well as Alan Kaplan with a small group of birders. They said they had encountered Warbling Vireo and Yellow-rumped Warblers.
Nothing terribly exciting, but still a nice morning considering that it was late and sunny and warm, and generally very quiet.
On Friday morning, I walked out Nimitz Way from Inspiration Point to Wildcat Peak, hoping to encounter Steve Glover doing a raptor watch, but no such luck. I saw about 7 Red-tailed Hawks and a number of Turkey Vultures, one accipiter (probably Cooper's Hawk), and heard a Red-shouldered Hawk, but there seemed to be little migratory activity.
Highlights of the morning for me were a flock of around 10 Western Bluebirds seen at a great distance, and close looks at 3 Wrentits at various times, each coming up to within a few feet of me making "ratchety" noises and apparently eager to defend territory.
Both mornings I thought I heard Swainson's Thrush calls. Shouldn't they be gone by now?
Good birding, Larry
Larry Tunstall
El Cerrito CA