[EBB Sightings] Flicker, green heron

I had an office in the vertebrate reference collection at Sonoma State
University for five years, and I often perused the bird skins. Hybrid
flickers are not uncommon in these collections, and as you say the
features are intermediate. I remember one hybrid male with both a red
moustache and a black moustache (one one top of, but separate from, the
other). The bird you describe is equally interesting to me.

Thanks,

Roger

Roger Hartwell
Fisheries and Wildlife 
EBMUD
Orinda 
(510) 287-2025

   

-----Original Message-----
From: sightings-bounces at diabloaudubon.com
[mailto:sightings-bounces at diabloaudubon.com] On Behalf Of Alan Howe
Sent: Monday, January 22, 2007 6:04 PM
To: EBB Sightings
Subject: [EBB Sightings] Flicker, green heron

Hi again.
  Saturday I was down at the Berkeley meadow and assume I saw the
red-shafted/golden-shafted hybrid flicker. It had the red wind
undersides and it had both the red mustache of the red-shafted and the
red nape of the golden-shafted. Am I correct in my assumption?
  Among other birds, I saw a couple of
raptors--buteos?--in a tree, but the distance and light didn't allow a
better id.
  The green heron was on the west side of the northern pond in Aquatic
Park. It was at the north end of the swampy area, where there's a little
creek of sorts (and a bridge?). It flew down to the water, but when I
drew nearer to investigate, it flew up into a
(willow?) tree. A snowy egret was in this same area.
  The large pond sported quite a few buffleheads and stilts, a few great
scaups, a few common golden eye and a canvasback or two, not to mention
more coots than I think I've ever seen in one place at a time.
  Finally, another question. As I ascended the bike/pedestrian bridge
across 80, I saw a radio controlled model boat zooming around the pond
below.
As I watched, it chased a few of the wintering waterfowl. Is this
illegal? I suspect it is. If so, I'll talk to the guy if I see him
again.
Cheers,
Alan Howe
North Oakland


 
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