Lake Merritt on Tuesday afternoon
Tue, 9 Mar 1999 20:26:38 -0800
From: Larry Tunstall
During the 3:30 PM feeding at Lake Merritt today, a lovely female Tufted Duck with a prominent tuft was in the feeding area (staying back toward the island). After the feeding, she moved north and was with many scaup in an area between the main island cluster and the shore.
The Cattle Egret was present briefly during the feeding but soon left, and I did not spot it hanging around anywhere near the nature center.
I did not see signs of egret or night-heron nesting beginning yet, but there is a lot of spring-type activity going on. Most of the wintering ducks are still present, though most are somewhat reduced in numbers in the past month. I didn't see any Barrow's Goldeneyes, but I didn't check the channel where they often stay.
A variety of gulls are present, although the Ring-billed Gulls still remain in large numbers. The area near the nature center where the feeding is done at 3:30 PM is a great spot currently to compare Greater and Lesser Scaup at short range. Light is perfect around the time of the feeding to make identification of the two species almost easy.
Good birding,
Larry Tunstall
El Cerrito CA
Iron House Sanitary District
Wed, 10 Mar 1999 16:07:46 PST
From: Steve Glover
East Bay Birders,
This morning I birded the Iron House Sanitary District area at Oakley, eastern Contra Costa County. Highlights, unfortunately in the order I found them, were:
White-throated Swift (1), Lincoln's Sparrow (9), Mew Gull (155), Black Rail (4, all giving the ki-ki-kerr call), Winter Wren (1, the first I've had there, although it should be regular), Green Heron (1), Barn Swallow (35), Common Moorhen (7), Tree Swallow (160), Virginia Rail (10), Greater Scaup (10 amongst 90 Lessers), Cliff Swallow (34), Black-bellied Plover (1, a species that for some reason I find very infrequently in east county), Cattle Egret (2), Long-billed Curlew (40), California Quail (1 chi-ca-going at Marsh Creek which is the north end of the trail - this species is quite local in east county).
Just before turning around and heading back I heard a rail start calling that I believe to have been a Clapper. Some of the Virginia Rails were giving their less-frequently heard ki-dick calls but this bird was basically just going kick,kick,kick,kick,kick. It continued to do this off and on for over half an hour and never made any of the noises I would normally associate with Virginia. There are no county records this far east into the Delta. I may return tomorrow and try to voice record the bird.
Steve Glover
Annoucements
Thu, 11 Mar 1999 15:39:07 -0800 (PST)
From: Tom Condit
From this morning's San Francisco Chronicle Sports Section:
Crescent City A Good Place For Geese
Thursday, March 11, 1999Naturalists present a reason to trek to northwestern California when the First Annual Aleutian Goose Festival is launched, March 26-28, in Crescent City and other sites around Del Norte County's redwood coast. Fest includes: Goose field trips (to view dawn and dusk flights) at 5 AM and 6 PM, Saturday and Sunday (Cost: $25, included with basic registration); tours of coastal sea life at St. George Reef, or a Smith River drift trip, both at 8 AM or 1 PM Saturday and Sunday ($35). Many other workshops in birding and natural history are available, some free with basic registration. Register by March 15 for best chance of entry in most desirable events. (707) 465-0888, or http://www.delnorte.org/soar/
The Wild on Wetlands Weekend takes place 7 AM - midnight on Saturday and 5:30 AM - 4 PM on Sunday at Merced College in Los Banos and other sites in The Grassland Ecological Area. Event includes field trips to view wildlife, and workshops and talks on photography, birding, and enhanced environmental understanding. Cost: $10 (one-day, adult); $14 (two-day); youth 16 and under admitted free with paying adult. (209) 827-4772; (800) 336-6354.
Hundreds of herons and egrets are returning to breed and nest, and viewing opportunities open to the public 10 AM - 4 PM this Saturday (as well as weekends and holidays through July 11) at Audubon Canyon Ranch, near Stinson Beach. Admission: free, but donations are encouraged. (415) 868-9244.
Briones Regional Park Thursday morning
Thu, 11 Mar 1999 18:49:34 -0800
From: Larry Tunstall
Alan Kaplan's birdwalk at Briones this morning, from the Bear Creek Rd entrance to the group camping/picnic area at the junction of Bear Creek Trail and Homestead Valley Trail. We saw and heard Orange-crowned Warblers (Alan says they first appeared in the Tilden Nature Area near the end of February). No screech-owl, flycatchers, or buntings. Here's my list (including observations by others):
Double-crested Cormorant (flying over before the walk), Turkey Vulture, Cooper's Hawk, Red-tailed Hawk, Mourning Dove, Anna's Hummingbird, Acorn Woodpecker, Nuttall's Woodpecker (heard), Northern Flicker, Black Phoebe, Steller's Jay, Western Scrub-Jay, Chestnut-backed Chickadee, Oak Titmouse (heard), Bushtit, Brown Creeper (heard), Ruby-crowned Kinglet, American Robin, Varied Thrush (heard), Wrentit (great views of mostly quiet birds!), European Starling, Hutton's Vireo (heard), Orange-crowned Warbler, Spotted Towhee (heard), California Towhee, Song Sparrow, Golden-crowned Sparrow, White-crowned Sparrow, Dark-eyed Junco, Red-winged Blackbird, Purple Finch (heard), Lesser Goldfinch
In the afternoon I was up in Petaluma and visited Schollenberger Park, which has a nice walk around a big area of dredging spoils ponds. This park is not shown on many maps. From Lakeville Hwy (Hwy 116) going out of Petaluma toward Vallejo, turn right on McDowell Blvd. Soon after passing the postal facility, watch for a tiny street sign saying "City Park -->". Turn in there to the parking lot. This is only about 45 minutes drive from El Cerrito if you're not fighting rush-hour traffic. In less than an hour, walking about one-fourth of the way around the ponds, I observed:
Pied-billed Grebe, Eared Grebe, Snowy Egret, Mute Swan, Canada Goose, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shoveler, American Wigeon, Bufflehead, Ruddy Duck, Turkey Vulture, Red-tailed Hawk, Common Moorhen, American Coot, unidentified gulls, Rock Dove, Northern Rough-winged Swallow, Barn Swallow, Marsh Wren (heard), American Robin, Song Sparrow (heard), Golden-crowned Sparrow, Red-winged Blackbird, Western Meadowlark, House Finch
With a little more time, a longer walk, and a scope, this would be a very good fieldtrip location within easy drive of the East Bay. The cover of the current activity guide from the City of Petaluma Parks & Recreation Dept shows a flock of American White Pelicans at this park. If you have trouble finding the park, drop in at the Visitors Center by the Petaluma Marina for directions (and lots of free brochures, maps, tide tables, etc.).
Good birding, Larry
Larry Tunstall
El Cerrito CA