Re: What happened to Pied-billed Grebe nest in Berkeley Aquatic Park?
Thu, 22 Jul 2004 18:28:52 -0700
From: Larry Tunstall
I am forwarding this message to the list for Phila Rogers:
Thu, 22 Jul 2004 18:00:15 -0700
Dear Birders:
In answer to Alan Howe's question about the Pied-billed Grebe's nest at Berkeley Aquatic Park: Yesterday I talked to a member of the egret group who plant native plant material in the area and occupy the old bird rescue building. They seem to act as "keepers." He told me that indeed the nest had failed. He seemed to think that, because it's a tidal pond, the rising and falling water kept damaging the nest and though the adult(s) labored to keep building it back up, they finally gave up. It was his impression that these grebes usually nest in freshwater ponds.
Phila Rogers
Posted to EBB by Larry Tunstall
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Olive-sided Flycatchers and Hermit Warblers
Fri, 23 Jul 2004 17:43:48 PDT
From: Brian Fitch
Thanks for all of the EBB and personal responses to my Olive-sided Flycatcher (OSFL) query. The jist of the responses is that there seems to be a local population drop this year, but there has been a bird well upslope west of Lake Anza, and another some distance northwest of Inspiration Point, both areas that we usually don't cover during a normal week of hiking and birding. Some people mentioned late dates for sightings or hearings of OSFL, so I checked our records for the past two years: only one sighting last year, on July 7 in the pines north of Wildcat Camp; four sightings in 2002, the latest being on July 26 east of Lake Anza.
In my message Wednesday, I forgot to mention a Ruddy Turnstone was out on some concrete debris on the Albany mudflats early before the kids arrived. Yesterday, five Black Turnstones were on the rocky beach of the mainland between the racetrack and the fields north of University Ave.
And today, despite the thick fog, we found four Hermit Warblers, all young or female birds, in pines north and northwest of Vollmer Peak, while the juvenile Chipping Sparrow (or another?) was near the peak on the paved road just east of the lower equipment tower.
Brian Fitch & crew
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San Pablo Reservoir, Orinda
Fri, 23 Jul 2004 20:06:34 -0700
From: Larry Tunstall
This morning, Ore Carmi and I heard an Olive-sided Flycatcher singing across the boat-launch access road from the East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) Watershed Headquarters at the south end of San Pablo Reservoir north of Orinda.
On the Old San Pablo Road trail near the north edge of the EBMUD equipment yard there, we saw a warbler that looked like a Hermit Warbler with gray throat patch and some stripe-like patterning across the eye - perhaps a female or immature (though the latter seems unlikely here).
There were lots of American White Pelicans and two yellowlegs (species uncertain) at the south end of the reservoir (EBMUD trail permit required). We heard several Western Wood-Pewees and lots of Brown Creepers. The usual wide assortment of birds were around, as well as quite a lot of rabbits and deer.
Good birding, Larry
Larry Tunstall
El Cerrito CA
Re: Olive-sided Flycatchers
Sat, 24 Jul 2004 21:06:08 -0700
From: Larry Tunstall
I am forwarding this message to the list for Mark Chao:
Sat, 24 Jul 2004 19:42:16 PDT
I just read the thread of messages regarding Olive-sided Flycatchers in the East Bay. (It's hard for me to stop checking your list - you've got me thinking about East Bay birds, even from afar!) I thought I'd add that I saw and heard an Olive-sided Flycatcher on a trip to the Oakland Zoo with my kids on July 15. The bird was flying about above the playground near the lower entrance, by the environmental education building.
All the best,
Mark Chao
Ithaca, NY
Posted to EBB by Larry Tunstall
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Bay Trail, Richmond
Sun, 25 Jul 2004 16:40:11 -0700 (PDT)
From: Alan Howe
Hi all.
My wife and I hiked part of the Bay Trail south of Richmond this afternoon and I was a bit surprised by a couple of sightings.
First, there were a couple of Black Oystercatchers feeding in mudflats on the edge of an inlet in the salt marsh. I expect to see these in more rocky coastal areas, which my National Audubon field guide seems to confirm. Was seeing these 2 unusual for the bay shore?
Second, there was a lone Turkey Vulture flying quite low over the trail and marsh. It set down for a couple of minutes on a semi-gravelly spot on the edge of marsh (and rather close to the trail and people) near some gulls. After it took off, I discovered the gulls were scavenging a fish carcass. There was no confrontation between the vulture and gulls, but the Turkey Vulture seemed to know it shouldn't try to move closer.
I see Turkey Vultures soaring over city areas on occasion, but don't think I've ever seen one right on the shore like this. It it unusual?
I've got a lot to learn - and I appreciate EBB folks helping me out.
Cheers,
Alan Howe
Re: Bay Trail, Richmond
Sun, 25 Jul 2004 17:07:15 -0700
From: Doug Greenberg
Hello,
I walk my dog regularly at Point Isabel Regional Shoreline at the south end of Richmond, and I see Black Oystercatchers there regularly, maybe once every few weeks. They've become well established along the bay shore, apparently.
Doug Greenberg
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Re: Olive-sided Flycatchers
Mon, 26 Jul 2004 01:08:44 -0700
From: Larry Tunstall
I have received a couple of notes about further sightings of Olive-sided Flycatchers.
Win Kryda writes: "We've had a lot of Olive-sided Flycatchers in Montclair [Oakland] along Larry Lane this summer. Of interesting note is Piedmont Pines club has been active in acquiring land adjacent to this area known as Castle Canyon to preserve some land from being developed and maintaining some open space."
Mark Rauzon writes: "I guess I should check in from Wake Island then. I heard an Olive-sided Flycatcher calling as late as July 10 (and earlier in the season) from Joaquin Miller Court off Mountain Blvd next to Hwy 13 on the Palo Seco Trail in Redwood Regional Park."
I think that the Palo Seco Trail is actually in Joaquin Miller Park. Interestingly, Joaquin Miller Court and Larry Lane are only about a quarter-mile apart.
Good birding, Larry
Larry Tunstall
El Cerrito CA
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