[EBB Sightings] Coyote Hills 10-15-05

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All,

I led my Palo Alto Adult School birding class to Coyote Hills Regional 
Park on Saturday, October 15. Sparrows abounded on the weedy slopes to 
our left with SONG, WHITE-CROWNED, GOLDEN-CROWNED, FOX and LINCOLN'S 
all present. Later we would add SAVANNAH SPARROW along the bay trail. 
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were numerous as expected, but WILSON'S WARBLER 
also made for a bright yellow surprise appearance near Hoot Hollow. In 
that same area, four HERMIT THRUSHES fed in full view, among the now 
familiar groups of foraging Sparrows.

As we climbed the hill leading toward the south pond AMERICAN KESTREL, 
COOPER'S HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER and RED-TAILED HAWK were all seen. We 
also watched the rocky outcropping for any sign of Rock Wren, but it 
was not located. As a consolation, SAY'S PHOEBE and LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE 
were seen instead. The south pond had been drained completely so no 
Waterfowl were found there. As well, the bayfront contained few 
species, but KILLDEER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, wintering LEAST SANDPIPER, 
DUNLIN and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER were present.

As we scanned the bay, EARED, numerous GREAT EGRETS, distant CALIFORNIA 
and WESTERN GULLS and flyover AMERICAN PIPITS were logged. Small 
numbers of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen soaring way overhead. We 
backtracked and then rounded the rocky hills by the first parking area, 
stopping at the tiny reed brake to listen to COMMON YELLOWTHROAT. 
BEWICK'S WREN was heard in the chaparral, but little else was 
descovered here.

We opted to walk along the road back instead of up the hill on our way 
back to the cars, and while we did so we broadcast a few short Rail 
calls. The SORA heard earlier in the morning did not call again at this 
time, but VIRGINIA RAIL did. A few of us heard what could only have 
been BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER here as well, but we could not get the bird 
to call again or show itself. That one got away, I guess... All in all, 
today was a good sampling of newly arrived wintering species, a few 
birds on their way south, and many resident birds. Yesterday's 
hoped-for Merlin did not reappear, but perhaps on one of the upcoming 
trips we'll have more luck with that.  The full species list is below.

Matthew Dodder
http://www.birdguy.net

Pied-billed Grebe
Eared Grebe
American White Pelican
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Black-crowned Night Heron
Turkey Vulture
Canada Goose
Gadwall
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Ruddy Duck
White-tailed Kite
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Ring-necked Pheasant
California Quail
Virginia Rail (heard only)
Sora (heard only)
Common Moorhen
American Coot
Killdeer
Black-necked Stilt
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Least Sandpiper
Dunlin
Short-billed Dowitcher
California Gull
Western Gull
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Acorn Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker (heard only)
Northern Flicker
"Western" Flycatcher (pres. Pacific-slope)
Black Phoebe
Say's Phoebe
Loggerhead Shrike
Western Scrub Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee (heard only)
Bushtit
Bewick's Wren (heard only)
Marsh Wren
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Hermit Thrush
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
American Pipit (heard only)
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Wilson's Warbler
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird (heard only)
House Finch
American Goldfinch
House Finch

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All,


I led my Palo Alto Adult School birding class to Coyote Hills Regional
Park on Saturday, October 15. Sparrows abounded on the weedy slopes to
our left with SONG, WHITE-CROWNED, GOLDEN-CROWNED, FOX and LINCOLN'S
all present. Later we would add SAVANNAH SPARROW along the bay trail.
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were numerous as expected, but WILSON'S WARBLER
also made for a bright yellow surprise appearance near Hoot Hollow. In
that same area, four HERMIT THRUSHES fed in full view, among the now
familiar groups of foraging Sparrows.


As we climbed the hill leading toward the south pond AMERICAN KESTREL,
COOPER'S HAWK, NORTHERN HARRIER and RED-TAILED HAWK were all seen. We
also watched the rocky outcropping for any sign of Rock Wren, but it
was not located. As a consolation, SAY'S PHOEBE and LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE
were seen instead. The south pond had been drained completely so no
Waterfowl were found there. As well, the bayfront contained few
species, but KILLDEER, GREATER YELLOWLEGS, wintering LEAST SANDPIPER,
DUNLIN and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER were present. 


As we scanned the bay, EARED, numerous GREAT EGRETS, distant
CALIFORNIA and WESTERN GULLS and flyover AMERICAN PIPITS were logged.
Small numbers of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS were seen soaring way
overhead. We backtracked and then rounded the rocky hills by the first
parking area, stopping at the tiny reed brake to listen to COMMON
YELLOWTHROAT. BEWICK'S WREN was heard in the chaparral, but little
else was descovered here. 


We opted to walk along the road back instead of up the hill on our way
back to the cars, and while we did so we broadcast a few short Rail
calls. The SORA heard earlier in the morning did not call again at
this time, but VIRGINIA RAIL did. A few of us heard what could only
have been BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER here as well, but we could not get the
bird to call again or show itself. That one got away, I guess... All
in all, today was a good sampling of newly arrived wintering species,
a few birds on their way south, and many resident birds. Yesterday's
hoped-for Merlin did not reappear, but perhaps on one of the upcoming
trips we'll have more luck with that.  The full species list is below.


Matthew Dodder

http://www.birdguy.net


Pied-billed Grebe

Eared Grebe

American White Pelican

Double-crested Cormorant

Great Blue Heron

Great Egret

Snowy Egret

Black-crowned Night Heron

Turkey Vulture

Canada Goose

Gadwall

Mallard

Northern Shoveler

Northern Pintail

Ruddy Duck

White-tailed Kite

Northern Harrier

Cooper's Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

American Kestrel

Ring-necked Pheasant

California Quail

Virginia Rail (heard only)

Sora (heard only)

Common Moorhen

American Coot

Killdeer

Black-necked Stilt

Greater Yellowlegs

Willet

Least Sandpiper 

Dunlin

Short-billed Dowitcher

California Gull

Western Gull

Rock Pigeon

Mourning Dove

Anna's Hummingbird

Acorn Woodpecker

Nuttall's Woodpecker (heard only)

Northern Flicker

"Western" Flycatcher (pres. Pacific-slope)

Black Phoebe

Say's Phoebe

Loggerhead Shrike

Western Scrub Jay

American Crow

Common Raven

Chestnut-backed Chickadee (heard only) 

Bushtit

Bewick's Wren (heard only) 

Marsh Wren

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Hermit Thrush

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

American Pipit (heard only) 

Yellow-rumped Warbler

Common Yellowthroat

Wilson's Warbler

Spotted Towhee

California Towhee

Savannah Sparrow

Fox Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Lincoln's Sparrow

White-crowned Sparrow

Golden-crowned Sparrow

Dark-eyed Junco

Red-winged Blackbird

Western Meadowlark

Brewer's Blackbird

Brown-headed Cowbird (heard only)

House Finch

American Goldfinch

House Finch 


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