Selasphorus hummingbirds in UC Botanical Garden
Mon, 27 Jan 2003 19:33:08 -0800
From: Tom Condit
There were two singing male Selasphorus hummingbirds at the Mesoamerican Hill in the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden this morning. The only one I got a good look at had a predominately red back with fairly large green splotches. The head appeared to be uniformly reddish-brown, but it may just be that the sun wasn't hitting right to produce irridescence in my direction. There was also at least one female or immature Selasphorus hummingbird.
Other birds at the garden or on the way up:
Tom Condit
Waterbird Regional Preserve (McNabney Marsh)
Fri, 31 Jan 2003 18:57:05 -0800
From: Dennis Braddy
EastBayBirders,
The fog never really lifted at McNabney Marsh in Martinez today. Sometimes I could see the opposite shore; sometimes not. Nevertheless, I persisted in my plan to see how many birds a reasonably determined effort could turn up at the new Waterbird Regional Preserve which surrounds McNabney. The answer today was 51.
Personal highlights included Ross' Goose (keeping company with 50 Canada Geese), Common Goldeneyes (outstanding mating displays), Northern Harrier (male), Osprey, American White Pelicans (feeding in unison, year-bird), Say's Phoebe, American Pipit, Red-breasted Sapsucker (see the rows of little round holes in the pepper trees), Wilson's Snipe (well-hidden, year-bird), Tree Swallows, and Common Yellowthroat (female). While circumnavigating the park I flushed hundreds of Western Meadowlarks and dozens of Killdeer and Savannah Sparrows. The resident Loggerhead Shrike and American Kestrel stuck close to the parking lot as usual.
While eating lunch and scoping the marsh from a bench near the parking lot, I was approached by a policeman who patrols the area. He seemed quite interested in the park's feathered residents and asked what time of year was best for birds at McNabney. "Now," I replied. As I scoped the marsh I began reeling off the names of birds, mostly ducks, as I spotted them. Incredulous, he said, "You mean you're seeing them now?" "Yep," I replied.
Walking back to my truck, two men doing landscape maintenance waved me over. They described a bird they had seen near the Martinez Marina. I pulled out Sibley and they were pleased to discover that they had seen several Canvasbacks. As one of them was telling me how they mark Killdeer nests that they find, a Red-tailed Hawk landed in a nearby eucalyptus. They enjoyed the view through the spotting-scope.
It was a very rewarding day of birding at McNabney Marsh today.
Dennis Braddy
San Ramon
Directions:
Take the Marina Vista exit from Hwy 680 North (the last exit before the Benicia Bridge). Turn right onto Waterfront Rd, right onto Waterbird Way, and then right into the Waterbird Preserve parking lot.
Complete list: