Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve, Oakland Hills
Fri, 30 Apr 2004 10:14:18 -0700
From: Debbie Viess
Got up and out early this morning to try and find/hear that Blue Grosbeak again on Patterson Pass Rd. No such luck. After seeing the marginal habitat in which it chooses to live at the Altamont Pass, I can't believe that it wouldn't prefer the Huckleberry Canyon/Sibley area in the Oakland Hills. There's plenty of rolling grasslands at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve, and lots of thickets for nesting in the canyon. Perhaps folks should check out Sibley for Blue Grosbeak?
Plenty to see at Huckleberry Botanic Regional Preserve anyway ... Band-tailed Pigeons, Northern Flickers, Olive-sided Flycatcher (at the entrance, as usual), Hammond's Flycatcher, Anna's Hummingbird, Rufous Hummingbird, Allen's Hummingbird, American Goldfinch, California Towhee, Spotted Towhee, Wrentit, Song Sparrow, Steller's Jay, Violet green Swallow, Bushtit, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Hermit Warbler, and Orange crowned Warbler. Too early in the morning for the Golden Eagles to perch on the power poles across the canyon at Sibley (I like to do lunch there on the first bench, within the eagle's purvue, hence my secret Indian name, "Lunches with Eagles").
If you walk there, don't forget to look down ... star flowers, Douglas iris, spotted coral root (an orchid), red columbine and a few remnant milk maids are all in bloom. It's depressing to think that I'll have to go back to that awful Patterson Pass Rd to see my Blue Grosbeak.
Debbie Viess
Mission Peak Regional Preserve, Fremont
Fri,
30 Apr 2004 18:14:37 -0700
From: Kay Loughman
East Bay Birders,
Today I hiked up Mission Peak in Fremont - for exercise, great views, wildflowers and birds. All goals achieved, although 2000 feet elevation gain in 3.5 miles is more exercise than I want again for awhile!
Kay Loughman
Berkeley
Here's the bird list:
Hampton Road, Martinez
Fri, 30 Apr 104 23:48:45
PST
From: Patrick King
Western Kingbird have returned to Hampton Rd in Martinez. There is a curious population of Common Peafowl along here also. The peafowl are often seen in the morning and evening, near the road between the middle farmhouse and the Hampton trailhead. The for-sale sign just went up today for the expanse of land that borders Hampton Rd on the north, which is perhaps 30 to 50 acres. The plan is to subdivide this area and build estate homes. Be prepared for the suspicious owner/broker in the cowboy hat and giant pickup truck to pin you in on the public road so that he can cleverly assess your intentions to interfere with his land deal.
Patrick King
Martinez / Berkeley