Fall woodland birds
Mon, 20 Oct 2003 10:36:24
PDT
From: Bill Gilbert
Last week, while waiting at the end of Briones Rd for my daughter to return from a biology field trip (Briones Regional Park access here was closed because of fire danger; the group walked down the road), I wandered the area but saw few birds. Then a mixed flock flew into the area of the drinking fountain at the trailhead, and many took turns drinking from an overflow pail. I recorded seven species in the area: Western Bluebirds, Oak Titmice, White-breasted Nuthatches, an Acorn Woodpecker, Dark-eyed Juncos, California Towhees, and a Golden-crowned Sparrow. The birds stayed for 5 to 10 minutes, and then moved on. This observation suggests two things about fall woodland birds: they tend to travel in mixed flocks, and they are attracted to water sources. Because they are in mixed flocks, a person may see few for a long time, and then see many (and several species) all at once. Because water tends to be scarce, providing water really attracts them.
Speaking of attracting birds, our back yard is in landscaping transition, and has become dry and grass challenged. This has not gone unnoticed by groups of quail and turkeys who regularly descend on it for dust baths. If you live near woods (and don't want to let your yard go dry) you might consider a sandbox-type venue for these addicted dust bathers.
Bill Gilbert
Snow Goose & Greater White-fronted Goose in Pleasanton
Mon, 20 Oct 2003 12:44:31 -0700
From: Mike Feighner
East Bay Birders, County Birders:
This morning while I was waiting for my car at Big-O Tires at Stanley Blvd & Reflections Dr in Pleasanton for a tire repair, I saw three separate flocks of Canada Geese fly overhead to the northeast: two separate flocks of 50 each, followed by one smaller flock of 30. The second flock of 50 Canada Geese contained one Snow Goose while the smaller flock of 30 contained one Greater White-fronted Goose.
For the past couple of months there has been a large concentration of Canada Geese in the field at E Jack London Blvd and Kittyhawk Rd in Livermore. Perhaps the geese were heading that way.
Mike Feighner
Horned Larks at Hayward Regional Shoreline
Mon, 20 Oct 2003 14:01:28 -0700 (PDT)
From: Peter Diegutis
Good Afternoon
This morning I went looking for the Chestnut-collared Longspurs at Mt Trashmore, Hayward Regional Shoreline. Alas, these birds eluded me, but I did have the opportunity to observe at close hand a small group of Horned Larks. These are new to me, so I cannot explain the behavioral oddity that I observed - one female seemed to be either brooding or incubating! I was quite close before I saw her (10 to 12 yards or so), and she seemed reluctant to move. The male perched on guard, a few yards away. I suppose that she could have been taking a dust bath, but it seemed too deliberate and restrained to me. Do these birds "drop and freeze" when danger approaches? Or could they have young so late in the season?
Have a nice day.
Cheers
Peter
Original Message Next Reply Subject Index
Longspurs not found at Hayward Regional Shoreline
Tue, 21 Oct 2003 19:17:44 -0700
From: Kris Olson
Hello East Bay Birders:
I spent a couple of hours this afternoon at what I think is Mt Trashmore searching for longspurs. No luck. I did see 4 Horned Larks, 30+ American Pipits, 20+ Savannah Sparrows, 8 Western Meadowlarks, and one Burrowing Owl up on the "mount." Also a Peregrine Falcon that flushed up the pipits to begin with, conveniently showing me where they were.
A very quick scope from on high down to the water to the east of this trash mountain showed gazillions of Northern Shovelers, 2 Northern Pintail males and 1 Green-winged Teal coming out of eclipse plumage.
Mt Trashmore? I walked from the official parking area (end of Winton Ave) toward the Bay. I first climbed up on the area marked "landfill" on the map, which pretty much borders the parking area. Here I found only Savannah Sparrows. I saw a bigger landfill ahead and closer to the Bay, and that is where I spent my time. I could see another landfill to the north with bulldozers on part of it; they seem to have denuded the ground of any grass, and I was not sure if longspurs like bare earth, so I stuck with the cut-grass mountain. Was this the correct Mt Trashmore - prior location of longspurs?
Good birding!
Kris Olson
Menlo Park, CA
Original Message Next Reply Subject Index
Chestnut-collared Longspurs at Hayward Regional Shoreline
Tue, 21 Oct 2003 23:59:42 EDT
From: Bob Richmond
Today from 7:15 AM to 8:00 AM at least 2 Chestnut-collared Longspurs were seen on "Mt Trashmore" at the Hayward Regional Shoreline. One was seen from a distance of 10+ yards.
Bob
Original Message Next Reply Subject Index