Banded Aleutian Canada Goose at Hayward Regional Shoreline
in January
Fri, 26 Mar 2004 10:35:22 -0800
From: Peter Dramer
Here is the information that came back on the banded Aleutian Canada Goose at Hayward Regional Shoreline in January:
Thank you for reporting your observation of neck-banded Aleutian Canada Goose (14A) in January of 2004. The Department of Fish and Game has marked Aleutian Canada Geese several years in a row in an effort to estimate the population and monitor survival. The Aleutian Canada goose population is now estimated to be approximately 55,000 and was recently delisted from the Endangered Species list.
The bird you observed (14A) was banded December 17, 2003 at the San Joaquin River National Wildlife Refuge as a bird hatched the prior summer.
Thank you for taking time to report your sightings. If you have additional questions, please call me at 916.445.3717.
Original Message Subject Index
Yellow-orange, black and white
Fri, 26 Mar
2004 16:07:07 -0800
From: Dennis Braddy
EastBayBirders,
As Skip and I strolled along Norris Canyon Rd this afternoon our attention was first attracted to a blooming eucalyptus by a pair of dog-fighting hummingbirds and then by a spot of orange. Adjusting our position slightly for a better look we spied our first Hooded Oriole of the year, an electric yellow-orange adult male. Though Skip was gratified to see that the orioles had once again returned to our westside San Ramon neighborhood, he found the bird's color scheme a bit gaudy. As far as Skip is concerned black and white or perhaps liver and white is all the color one needs. But then what do you expect from an English Springer Spaniel?
Dennis Braddy and Skip
San Ramon
Breeding-plumage Double-crested Cormorant in Tilden
Nature Area
Fri, 26 Mar 2004 16:28:36 -0800
From: Larry Tunstall
Alan Kaplan reports that an adult Double-crested Cormorant in breeding plumage (with very visible crests) has been on Jewel Lake in Tilden Nature Area (Berkeley Hills) for the past couple of days.
Good birding, Larry
Larry Tunstall
El Cerrito CA
Hermit Thrush singing in Berkeley
Sat, 27
Mar 2004 08:38:37 -0800 (PST)
From: John Poole
Heard my first singing Hermit Thrush in the back yard this morning. He sounded impatient for the Sierra snows to melt.
John Poole
Berkeley
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Walnut Creek
Sat,
27 Mar 2004 16:55:41 -0800 (PST)
From: Mark Inman
A male Yellow-bellied Sapsucker outside my apartment by the Pleasant Hill BART station, 111 Roble Rd between buildings 111 and 2985. One of these was outside in that same tree a couple of years ago.
Valle Vista Staging Area, Upper San Leandro Reservoir,
Moraga
Sat, 27 Mar 2004 17:49:32 -0800 (PST)
From: Bob Power
Hi all:
Amy and I got out for a nice walk at Valle Vista Staging Area of Upper San Leandro Reservoir near Moraga this afternoon [EBMUD Trail Permit required]. The reservoir is as high as I've seen it. Showing it's best when it's this full. Highlights were:
Good Birding,
Bob Power
Another lifer for Skip
Sat, 27 Mar 2004 20:43:46
-0800
From: Dennis Braddy
EastBayBirders,
Not 30 feet from where we had a Hooded Oriole on Norris Canyon Rd yesterday, Skip and I were stunned today to find an industrious male Red-breasted Nuthatch busily enlarging a nest cavity 12 feet up in a telephone pole! We soon spotted a female nearby. Skip usually takes new life birds in stride, but the nuthatches were so unexpected that he just stood there with his tongue hanging out.
When I returned with Pat a few minutes later the nuthatches were gone, but before long we heard them calling in the pine trees across the street. Gradually working her way back to the nest cavity, the female nuthatch took a quick peek inside and then stationed herself just outside the hole and quivered her wings. Presumably this display was intended to encourage the male to return to his arduous task.
Sibley notes that Red-breasted Nuthatches nest in coniferous forests. Yeah, and sometimes telephone poles.
Dennis and Patricia Braddy and Skip
San Ramon