[EBB Sightings] Part Day CFC for Alameda Creek Watershed, ALA Co.

-------------------------------1127139459
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit

Greetings all EBB'ers,

Saturday, 17 Sept. saw the "Cliff Sweepers"  team beginning their San 
Francisco Bay Bird Observatory Bird-A-Thon (Calif. Fall  Challenge) 2005. The team 
was made up of Steve Huckabone, Jim Ross, Rich Cimino  (joined us later), John 
and Becky Bradley, Pat Gordon, and Leader, Phil Gordon.  

The day's focus was the Watershed of Arroyo de Alameda Creek. Highlights  for 
our 7, countable hours, with a Total of 86 species or species groups  
follows. Thus we began in Sunol with the top of Niles Canyon in view at Scott's  
Corner, the intersection of Hwy 680 x Hwy 84 & Calaveras Road.  Birding  was quite 
slow early on this day especially when the expected White-throated  Swifts 
failed to show (until later).  But with the juv. GOLDEN EAGLE  (eventually 4 for 
the day) and then a surprising two WESTERN BLUEBIRDS  (only ones seen) things 
began looking hopeful. Our second stop was at  Welch Creek Road (special 
permit from EBRPD only, thanking them for the free  passes as well as later Sunol 
Park entrance). Although the Rufous-crowned  Sparrow was absent, the only 
YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES flew in briefly. As usual the  din of Starlings voices was a 
challenge to ignore!  We continued, headed  south on Calaveras Rd., averting 
our gaze from the "Introduced" Wild Turkeys  foraging along the road (no 
introduced species allowed - all extinct in ALA Co.  ca. 10,000 years ago) to Geary 
Road, the turn into Sunol Regional Wilderness. We  glimpsed our first Cliff 
as we drove by on the NO-CARS-TO-STOP road, hoping to  spot one of the 
Peregrines known to roost there,  finally being greeted at  the Entrance Kiosk by Beth 
Tanner, who had arranged for our free passage. Here's  where most of us saw a 
healthy Bobcat trot across the road, linger at the Oak  Woodland edge, and 
melt away on our way out. One or more of the 7 raptors found  this day were seen 
along the 3.6 mile trail to "Little Yosemite" falls. These  included: 
WHITE-TAILED kITE, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, COOPER'S HAWK, RED-SHOULDERED  HAWK, 
RED-TAILED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, and AMERICAN KESTREL (no sign of the  Prairie Falcon 
seen by PEG during the preview on 16 Sept.).  Although the  Canyon Wren was 
elsewhere, several good looks were had of 3+ RUFOUS-CROWNED  SPARROWS. A nice flock 
of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS flew out, and many ACORN  WOODPECKERS, several 
NUTTALL'S WOODPECKERS, and NORTHERN FLICKERS (breeders or  migrants?) were here.  The 
Hairy Woodpecker (day before) never showed, but  new was the juvenile Western 
Blue Racer that disappeared into some secret hole  before we could get a 
better look (thanks for trying, John). Startling  (unbelievable by many) was the 
OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (last to leave?) near the  Bridge to the Ohlone Trail. 
We ended up with another 6 flycatcher sp. for the  day: WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE 
(Coyote Hills RP), WILLOW FLYCATCHER (Coyote Hills RP),  DUSKY FLYCATCHER, 
PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER (also Coyote Hills RP), BLACK PHOEBE,  and SAY'S PHOEBE. 

Both HUTTON'S VIREO and its look-a-like, RUBY-CROWNED  KINGLET, demonstrated 
their separable behaviors.  ORANGE-CROWNED and YELLOW  WARBLERS were in Sunol 
RW, and later at Coyote Hills a Wilson's Warbler was  found (only on next day 
was the first Yellow-rumped Warbler at Coyote Hills RW  found - fide, Eugene 
and Akiko Makishima). At lunch time in Sunol Park we had  only found 47 
species, but what a beautiful day it was!  Phil had all stop  at the "Water Temple" 
corner where the bridge across Arroyo de la Laguna gave  viewing access up 
stream so John could spot a WOOD DUCK, that flew off after the  4 preceding others 
    so we could all have a look.  Here too, a fine, 'rattling" voiced BELTED 
KINGFISHER swung by us.  On down Niles Canyon, to the Staging Area for Alameda 
Creek Trail (EBRPD)  (Old Niles Cyn. Rd.near Mission Blvd.) we found GADWALL 
and COMMON MERGANSER,  and GREATER YELLOWLEGS and SPOTTED SANDPIPER.  The Barn 
Owl nest box didn't  "seem" to have an inhabitant - John climbed up into a 
Sycamore for a better  look,  and all refrained from tapping the box.  

The drive  through Fremont Districts (Niles, Centerville) and Newark, 
eventually put us at  the end of Marsh Road, which is also the west end of the 
eastern segment of old  Dumbarton Bridge.  This time was not counted in the 7 hours 
for the day,  plus our long lunch, so by agreement we continued the Big Day to 
4 PM. With the  tide and the wind high, we got no species on the Bay except a 
nice trio of BROWN  PELICANS. The salt ponds and their levees did bring us: 
BLACK-NECKED STILT, AM.  AVOCET, WILLET, MARBLED GODWIT (thanks Steve), WESTERN 
& LEAST SANDPIPER,  RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (Wilson's only the day before), and 
only CALIF. GULLS.  At Coyote Hills RP (with special parking permission, 
thanks) the north  pond, with shallow waters, provided us (in addition) with good 
views of:  CINNAMON TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER (flight), GREEN-WINGED TEAL (PEG, 
later), and  LESSER YELLOWLEGS (fine comparison with Greater Yellowlegs here). 
Although Jim  had seen AM. WHITE PELICANS soaring at Sunol, they were well 
seen by all at  Coyote Hills RP. Also, at the marsh, two BARN SWALLOWS were seen. 
 The  flycatchers, mentioned above, were near/in/above the fine Butterfly and 
 Hummingbird Garden at the Park Interpretive Center. This was where our only  
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (thanks Steve) was spotted as was ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD, 
our  only AM. ROBIN, and HOUSE FINCH. 

We hope all teams had great days and  make lots of money for the deserving 
SFBBO.

Happy Birding,
Phil  Gordon

P.S.  For the complete list (in preparation) contact us via  PAGPEG at aol.com

-------------------------------1127139459
Content-Type: text/html; charset="US-ASCII"
Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable

Arial"=20
bottomMargin=3D7 leftMargin=3D7 topMargin=3D7 rightMargin=3D7>
s"=20
team beginning their San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory Bird-A-Thon (Calif.=20=
Fall=20
Challenge) 2005. The team was made up of Steve Huckabone, Jim Ross, Rich Cim=
ino=20
(joined us later), John and Becky Bradley, Pat Gordon, and Leader, Phil Gord=
on.=20
ghts=20
for our 7, countable hours, with a Total of 86 species or species groups=20
follows. Thus we began in Sunol with the top of Niles Canyon in view at Scot=
t's=20
Corner, the intersection of Hwy 680 x Hwy 84 & Calaveras Road.  Bir=
ding=20
was quite slow early on this day especially when the expected White-throated=
=20
Swifts failed to show (until later).  But with the juv. GOLDEN EAGLE=20
(eventually 4 for the day) and then a surprising two WESTERN BLUEBIRDS=20
 (only ones seen) things began looking hopeful. Our second stop was at=20
Welch Creek Road (special permit from EBRPD only, thanking them for the free=
=20
passes as well as later Sunol Park entrance). Although the Rufous-crowned=20
Sparrow was absent, the only YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIES flew in briefly. As usual=
 the=20
din of Starlings voices was a challenge to ignore!  We continued, heade=
d=20
south on Calaveras Rd., averting our gaze from the "Introduced" Wild Turkeys=
=20
foraging along the road (no introduced species allowed - all extinct in ALA=20=
Co.=20
ca. 10,000 years ago) to Geary Road, the turn into Sunol Regional Wilderness=
. We=20
glimpsed our first Cliff as we drove by on the NO-CARS-TO-STOP road, hoping=20=
to=20
spot one of the Peregrines known to roost there,  finally being greeted=
 at=20
the Entrance Kiosk by Beth Tanner, who had arranged for our free passage. He=
re's=20
where most of us saw a healthy Bobcat trot across the road, linger at the Oa=
k=20
Woodland edge, and melt away on our way out. One or more of the 7 raptors fo=
und=20
this day were seen along the 3.6 mile trail to "Little Yosemite" falls. Thes=
e=20
included: WHITE-TAILED kITE, SHARP-SHINNED HAWK, COOPER'S HAWK, RED-SHOULDER=
ED=20
HAWK, RED-TAILED HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, and AMERICAN KESTREL (no sign of the=20
Prairie Falcon seen by PEG during the preview on 16 Sept.).  Although t=
he=20
Canyon Wren was elsewhere, several good looks were had of 3+ RUFOUS-CROWNED=20
SPARROWS. A nice flock of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS flew out, and many ACORN=20
WOODPECKERS, several NUTTALL'S WOODPECKERS, and NORTHERN FLICKERS (breeders=20=
or=20
migrants?) were here.  The Hairy Woodpecker (day before) never showed,=20=
but=20
new was the juvenile Western Blue Racer that disappeared into some secret ho=
le=20
before we could get a better look (thanks for trying, John). Startling=20
(unbelievable by many) was the OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER (last to leave?) near=20=
the=20
Bridge to the Ohlone Trail. We ended up with another 6 flycatcher sp. for th=
e=20
day: WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE (Coyote Hills RP), WILLOW FLYCATCHER (Coyote Hills R=
P),=20
DUSKY FLYCATCHER, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER (also Coyote Hills RP), BLACK PHO=
EBE,=20
and SAY'S PHOEBE. 

Both HUTTON'S VIREO and its look-a-like, RUBY-CROW=
NED=20
KINGLET, demonstrated their separable behaviors.  ORANGE-CROWNED and YE=
LLOW=20
WARBLERS were in Sunol RW, and later at Coyote Hills a Wilson's Warbler was=20
found (only on next day was the first Yellow-rumped Warbler at Coyote Hills=20=
RW=20
found - fide, Eugene and Akiko Makishima). At lunch time in Sunol Park we ha=
d=20
only found 47 species, but what a beautiful day it was!  Phil had all s=
top=20
at the "Water Temple" corner where the bridge across Arroyo de la Laguna gav=
e=20
viewing access up stream so John could spot a WOOD DUCK, that flew off after=
 the=20
4 preceding others     so we could all have a look.=20
 Here too, a fine, 'rattling" voiced BELTED KINGFISHER swung by us.=20
 On down Niles Canyon, to the Staging Area for Alameda Creek Trail (EBR=
PD)=20
(Old Niles Cyn. Rd.near Mission Blvd.) we found GADWALL and COMMON MERGANSER=
,=20
and GREATER YELLOWLEGS and SPOTTED SANDPIPER.  The Barn Owl nest box di=
dn't=20
"seem" to have an inhabitant - John climbed up into a Sycamore for a better=20
look,  and all refrained from tapping the box.  

The drive=20
through Fremont Districts (Niles, Centerville) and Newark, eventually put us=
 at=20
the end of Marsh Road, which is also the west end of the eastern segment of=20=
old=20
Dumbarton Bridge.  This time was not counted in the 7 hours for the day=
,=20
plus our long lunch, so by agreement we continued the Big Day to 4 PM. With=20=
the=20
tide and the wind high, we got no species on the Bay except a nice trio of B=
ROWN=20
PELICANS. The salt ponds and their levees did bring us: BLACK-NECKED STILT,=20=
AM.=20
AVOCET, WILLET, MARBLED GODWIT (thanks Steve), WESTERN & LEAST SANDPIPER=
,=20
RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (Wilson's only the day before), and only CALIF. GULLS.=20
 At Coyote Hills RP (with special parking permission, thanks) the north=
=20
pond, with shallow waters, provided us (in addition) with good views of:=20
CINNAMON TEAL, NORTHERN SHOVELER (flight), GREEN-WINGED TEAL (PEG, later), a=
nd=20
LESSER YELLOWLEGS (fine comparison with Greater Yellowlegs here). Although J=
im=20
had seen AM. WHITE PELICANS soaring at Sunol, they were well seen by all at=20
Coyote Hills RP. Also, at the marsh, two BARN SWALLOWS were seen.  The=20
flycatchers, mentioned above, were near/in/above the fine Butterfly and=20
Hummingbird Garden at the Park Interpretive Center. This was where our only=20
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW (thanks Steve) was spotted as was ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD,=20=
our=20
only AM. ROBIN, and HOUSE FINCH. 

We hope all teams had great days an=
d=20
make lots of money for the deserving SFBBO.

Happy Birding,
Phil=20
Gordon

P.S.  For the complete list (in preparation) contact us v=
ia=20
PAGPEG at aol.com

-------------------------------1127139459--