Bob O'Brien
Wed, 24 Sep 2003 21:09:09 -0700
From: Larry Tunstall
I am forwarding the following message to the list for Bob Lewis:
Wed, 24 Sep 2003 14:17:40 PDT
I wanted to let the local birding community know that Bob O'Brien passed away on September 21. Bob was a great friend to many of us who enjoy birds. I first birded with him in the 1970s, and his good nature and enthusiasm were contagious - everyone always had a good time when Bob was along. He will be missed.
Bob Lewis
Posted to EBB by Larry Tunstall
Golden-crowned Sparrows in Berkeley Hills
Wed, 24 Sep 2003 21:11:36 -0700
From: Larry Tunstall
I am forwarding the following message to the list for Phila Rogers:
Subject: The golden crowns are back in the neighborhood!
Date: Wed, 24 Sep 2003 16:13:27 -0700For many years I've been keeping track of when the Golden-crowned Sparrows return to my neighborhood. Every year I see the first ones resting in one the shrubs out the end of the street (Olympus Ave) where it dead-ends at path to Lawrence Hall of Science.
No sign this foggy morning, but returning to the house I just happened to glance out on the deck to the tray where I keep millet and there was a fine-looking Golden-crowned Sparrow male chowing down. The dates of arrival have been as early as September 17 and as late as the 29th. No obvious meteorological explanation for the variation - at least not at this end of their migration. Reviewing fall and winter patterns doesn't produce any correlations either.
Anyway, I mighty glad they're here. All's right with the world (sort of), and I'm looking forward to hearing that sweet Oh-dear-me, especially just before it begins to rain.
What other bird regularly treats us to song on even the shortest and grayest of days?
Phila Rogers
Posted to EBB by Larry Tunstall
Hayward Regional Shoreline
Wed, 24 Sep 2003
21:48:16 PDT
From: Bob Richmond
I went to the W Winton Ave parking area of Hayward Regional Shoreline very early in the day. I was here from 7:00 AM to 8:00 AM. Unlike yesterday, the Brewer's Sparrow was not seen. Most of the warblers seen the day before were also gone. Along the entrance road to the parking area, a Gray Flycatcher was on the south side. Also seen was a Bewick's Wren and a "Plain" (Oak?) Titmouse (rare here).
Bob
Hayward Regional Shoreline
Sat, 27 Sep 2003
16:57:06 -0700
From: Dennis & Patricia Braddy
EastBayBirders,
We spent a couple of hours early this afternoon birding the fennel patch behind the trees on the south side of the W Winton Ave parking lot at Hayward Regional Shoreline and the fennel-lined trail that leads west from the parking lot out toward the bay and then south along the bay side of Mt Trashmore. Warblers: Yellow Warbler (6), Common Yellowthroat (1), Orange-crowned Warbler (1). Flycatchers: Pacific-slope Flycatcher (2), Western Wood-Pewee (1), Say's Phoebe (1), Black Phoebe (5).
Dennis and Patricia Braddy
San Ramon
Hayward Regional Shoreline
Mon, 27 Sep 2003
23:14:08 PDT
From: Bob Richmond
I got here at 6:25 PM and was around the W Winton Ave parking area. Most of the birds seen earlier were not here. I was not able to check the area where the Brewer's Sparrow was seen earlier in the week. The skunks the Peter had seen in the area were present so I decided to avoid the area. The Bewick's Wren was still present. If it follows the pattern of past Bewick's Wren's in fall, It probably has been here for at least a week and will be here for a while. A thrush was poorly seen, but heard, and was probably a late (at least here) Swainson's Thrush. At dusk, a White-winged Dove flew in, probably to roost for the night.
Bob
Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont
Sun, 28
Sep 2003 15:46:12 -0700
From: Matthew Dodder
All,
I led my Palo Alto Adult School Birding Class to Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont yesteday. Activity was high and the mild, overcast conditions were generally good for observation. A noisy "Walk/Run" fundraising event however, made it somewhat difficult to hear the birds at times, but we managed. We also noticed a conspicuous absence of water in the familiar south pond, explaining an unseasonably slim waterfowl and shorebird turnout. Passerines were in abundance though, with migrants like an unspecified "Western" Empidonax, Barn Swallow, Yellow Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, and Warbling Vireo providing great excitement. Wintering songbirds included our first Hermit Thrush and our first Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the season. Most notable, but also the most elusive bird, was the Rock Wren located upslope by two members of our group. Five sparrow species were recorded in healthy numbers, including the two wintering "crowned" species. Raptors were prevalent as usual and at one point we had four Red-tailed Hawks, a Red-shouldered Hawk, a Cooper's Hawk and a White-tailed Kite all in the same airspace, providing us great opportunities to compare relative sizes and flight patterns. Nearby, an American Kestrel perched a power line as if waiting for his cue to make an entrance. As expected, the resident Great Horned Owl was located in the oaks above Hoot Hollow and scope views revealed a second owl sitting two feet away! We found several Elegant Terns on the distant salt ponds. A full list is included below.
Matthew Dodder
http://www.birdguy.net
Hayward Regional Shoreline
Sun, 28 Sep 2003
20:27:16 PDT
From: Bob Richmond
Today at Hayward Regional Shoreline:
W Winton Ave
Hayward Landing
Frank's Dump West
Other Birds
Good Birding
Bob
Along the Richmond shoreline
Sun, 28 Sep 2003
23:11:07 -0700
From: Phil Maynard
EBBirders:
Saturday morning I was out for a bike ride along the Richmond shoreline from Pt Isabel to Marina Bay. Highlights were
One disappointment: feral cats hunting along Meeker Slough and in Marina Bay shoreline.
Phil Maynard