[EBB Sightings] Kites to Siskins

EastBayBirders,

Pat's report of copulating WHITE-TAILED KITES in our west side San 
Ramon neighbor's redwood tree turned my attention to birding. As always 
Skip was up for a dog-and-bird-walk, so after a visit to the dog run 
(he always makes a pit stop before leaving home) and one more sniff at 
the pile of blue feathers on the back lawn, Skip and I set off. (The 
feathers are all that's left of a Western Scrub-Jay predated by the 
neighborhood COOPER'S HAWK -- Pat witnessed the attack, Skip and I 
heard the screams, and we all watched until the hawk finally left with 
a bulging crop.)

As we neared the eastern end of Celaya Circle, Skip and I spotted our 
second intergrade NORTHERN FLICKER in recent weeks. This one was on the 
Yellow-Shafted end of the spectrum with a bright red nape crescent, 
blood-red malars that appeared black except at close range in good 
light, and pale yellow-orange under the tail and wings. I suspect 
Skip's color vision is even worse than mine as he didn't seem impressed 
by "yet another flicker."

Continuing down Norris Canyon Dr we crossed Marsh Dr where on a 
previous dog-and-bird-walk, Skip and I noticed a Turkey Vulture 
circling at rooftop level and a second vulture perched nearby. In the 
middle of the street lay a recently deceased squirrel, feet pointed 
skyward. We waited for the vultures to dig in, but they just sat there. 
Skip seemed exasperated with the vultures' circumspection. Why didn't 
they just pounce on the carcass and wolf it down? Anyway, why would 
they want to eat carrion? Roll in it yes, but eat it?

Just past the tennis court on the greenbelt that runs south from Norris 
Canyon Dr between Marsh and Sherbear, we spotted a FERRUGINOUS HAWK in 
the same redwood for the second time in a week.

We returned home to find the usual crowd at the backyard feeder where 
PINE SISKINS are still visiting, though less often than before.

Dennis and Patricia Braddy and Skip
San Ramon