Re: Owls in Berkeley flatlands
Fri, 4 Jul
2003 11:49:58 -0700
From: Rusty Scalf
Since making that impetuous post to EBB suggesting that a "chirp" call might have come from a Long-eared Owl, two people have e-mailed me suggesting Barn Owl.
The chirp I have heard Long-eared Owls make (in the Eastern Sierra, never locally) is difficult to describe. It has a kind of "exclamation mark," if that makes sense. I know this is anthropomorphic, but it has a "surprised, or shocked" quality, as though the bird were suddenly startled. It also has qualities of the Mountain Quail call, is ethereal and really carries.
Maybe chirp is the wrong descriptor, but I can't think of a different one.
I have heard chirpy noises around active Barn Owl nests or else from begging young. But adults I have only heard give that explosive hiss, or else bill-clap.
Rusty Scalf
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Re: Owls in Berkeley flatlands
Fri, 4 Jul
2003 13:36:32 PDT
From: Bill Gilbert
Anyone who has lived in the Central Valley and been out much at night probably has heard a Barn Owl call which seems to be delivered on the wing and reminds me of an extended, very fast metronome. In the Birds of North America (BNA) account for the Barn Owl this likely is what is called the kleak-kleak call, which is: "Given on the wing, it is a rapidly repeated staccato note." This may not qualify as a "chirp," however. Seemingly closer to what was heard are what the account calls "Chirrups and twitters," saying "The feeding call is a fast twitter, often prolonged; given by males when delivering food" and "Greeting and conversational twitters seemingly convey recognition of mate." So you well may have heard a pair of Barn Owls chirping or twittering to each other.
Bill Gilbert
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Hooded Oriole at Livermore feeder
Sat, 5 Jul
2003 07:46:23 -0700
From: Steve Huckabone
For the past week or so I've had a male Hooded Oriole visiting my backyard feeder. The bird uses the feeder and is also very good at catching the wasps that visit the nectar feeder. Last year Hooded Oriole nested in my backyard but this year they've been somewhat scarce.
Good birding.
Steve Huckabone
Alameda County
Livermore California
Hooded Oriole in north Oakland
Sat, 05 Jul
2003 16:59:41 -0700
From: Judi Sierra
Something other than my usual flatland yardbirds. While washing my car yesterday - without binocs, natch - a male Hooded Oriole sat atop a nearby telephone pole. At the same moment, of course, I heard an unusual call ( for around here) coming from my Magnolia tree and spotted a pair of Downy Woodpeckers gleaning insects.
Early July birds
Mon, 7 Jul 2003 19:07:09
PDT
From: Brian Fitch
Last Monday, we went up Wildcat Peak in Tilden Regional Park Nature Area to look for sparrows and found several each of Lark Sparrow and Grasshopper Sparrow as well as young Western Bluebirds on the plateau and hills just northwest of Wildcat.
During the days on the waterfront, the pale-headed Common Goldeneye continued at Albany, while Greater Yellowlegs, Western Sandpiper and Short-billed Dowitcher all made their first appearances for us at various Albany and Berkeley mudflats.
A juvenile White-tailed Kite successfully caught a rodent in the boat launch parking lot near C�sar Ch�vez Park, and a juvenile Downy Woodpecker was in the pines where University Ave splits around the boat basin.
Today, a Belted Kingfisher showed up at Jewel Lake in Tilden Nature Area, and the wandering Winter Wren was singing along Wildcat Creek, south of the playground by the Little Farm & Nature Center parking lot.
Brian Fitch & crew
Livermore birds
Mon, 7 Jul 2003 20:43:22 -0700
From: Steve Huckabone
On my evening walk south of the Livermore Airport I saw two Pine Siskins and a beautiful blue Budgerigar. The Budgerigar landed just inches from a Loggerhead Shrike - obviously a recent escapee.
Steve Huckabone
Alameda County
Livermore California
Ringed Turtle-Dove at Livermore feeder
Tue,
8 Jul 2003 19:09:55 -0700
From: Steve Huckabone
This morning a Ringed Turtle-Dove came to my platform feeder along with the usual mob of Mourning Dove. The bird was off-white in color and had a very different call.
Good birding.
Steve Huckabone
Alameda County
Livermore California
Battling avocets
Fri, 11 Jul 2003 19:20:38
-0700
From: Rita & Leonard
Yesterday (Wednesday, July 10), we spent about 30 minutes watching 2 pair of American Avocets squabbling over feeding territory in the University of California marsh restoration area off the Bay Trail (Richmond), about a quarter-mile south of the Meeker Slough bridge. The interaction was hot, heavy and continuous. Each pair had a pair of very young chicks. The spot is opposite an old pier on the west shore. About 90 minutes later, we passed the same site and is seems that the established pair had won the battle as the challengers were nowhere in sight.
Rita & Leonard