[EBB Sightings] Crockett Hills Raptor Census 4/13

April 13, 2007

Turkey Vulture 58
Red-tailed Hawk 333
Sharp-shinned Hawk 0
Cooper's Hawk 1
Northern Harrier 13
Am. Kestrel 1
Peregrine 0
White-tailed Kite 7
Golden Eagle 0
Red-shouldered Hawk 0
Osprey 1
Unidentified Accip 1
Unidentified Buteo 5
Unidentified Raptor 27

Total Count: 447
Total Minutes: 240
Raptors per Hour: 111.75

Temp62F-72F, Wind 280-290 3-9 mph, Sky clear

Crew: Harv Wilson, Gary Palmer, Laura Thomas, Nina Wong

The crew did a great job today, thorough and careful. We rotated sectors
every hour and continued to be conservative about double-counting.

The large majority of today's activity was again in the SW and SE. We
observed birds arriving from high, medium, and low altitude. Most of them
would then hang around on the hills just south of the site. The next most
active area was along the southern shore of San Pablo Bay. Birds approached
from the SW about 1/4 mile south of the shoreline. 

We did not spend much time doing overhead scans. However, whenever we did,
we frequently noticed one or more red tails passing northbound overhead at
high altitude, about 1500-3000 feet. Typically, these birds would pass east
of San Pablo Bay. We observed one Red Tail flying north over the bay. 

After about 1 pm as thermals improved, kettles of red tails increased,
containing from 3 to 7 birds. After about 2 pm, kettles were increasingly at
medium to high altitude. Typically, several birds would dive out of each
kettle and remain local. Usually, the two or three birds at the top would
glide off northbound. However, sometimes these birds would glide off in
other directions, including south.

The local dark-morph red-tail would join kettles if they formed near its
nesting territory. Typically, the DM-RT would remain in the low or middle
portion of the kettle and attack any dive-outs over its nesting territory.
The DM-RT was not usually the highest bird in the kettle and was the last
bird to dive out. The DMRT joined kettles even when the kettles were quite
high. This suggests that kettle dive-outs can be birds that are abandoning
the kettle due to lack of lift or are birds defending local territories.

We will be doing the census Mon-Fri of next week. Everyone is invited to
participate. It's a lot of fun and a great way to sharpen up on raptors. If
you are interested, contact me at harvmon at comcast.net.

If you are coming to the site tomorrow Sunday 4/15, the weather is forecast
to be clear, cool, and windy. Dress warmly and bring a chair. The ground is
likely to be damp. Will meet you at the turn-out at 11 a.m. 


DIRECTIONS:

The site is located near Crockett and the Carquinez Bridge. 


WALNUT CREEK/CONCORD
Take Highway 4 toward Crockett.  Take the Crockett exit and turn toward
Crockett. You are now on the Cummings Skyway(There is no Cummings Skyway
street sign).  In approx. 2 miles, you will pass a stop light (Crockett
Blvd.).  Don't turn but continue on Cummings Skyway about 1/2 mile until
you see the first large gravel pullout on your right. Park here. There is
room for at least 20 cars.


SFO/BERKELY/OAKLAND
Take 80/580 north toward Vallejo/Sacramento and the Carquinez bridge. Near
the Carquinez bridge, take the Cummings Skyway exit. 

Turn right onto Cummings Skyway and go about 1 mile. Then turn left into the
large, gravel pull-out. (If you come to a stop light at Crockett Blvd, you
have gone too far).


NAPA/SONOMA/NORTH BAY
Take 101 to 37. When you reach Vallejo, turn south on 80 toward
Richmond/Berkeley. Cross the Carquinez Bridge. 

About one quarter mile after crossing the bridge, take the Cummings Skyway
exit. At the end of the exit ramp, turn left and cross over 80 on the
Cummings Skyway.

Go about 1 mile and turn left into the large, gravel pull-out. (If you come
to a stop light at Crockett Blvd, you have gone too far).

 
BENICIA/VALLEJO/DAVIS/SACRAMENTO
Get on 80 and cross the Carquinez Bridge. About one quarter mile after
crossing the bridge, take the Cummings Skyway exit. At the end of the exit
ramp, turn left and cross over the 80 on the Cummings Skyway.

Go about 1 mile and turn left into the large, gravel pull-out. (If you come
to a stop light at Crockett Blvd, you have gone too far).

 
IF YOU COME LATE
Walk to the downhill end of the turn-out and then cross the highway.  BE
VERY CAREFUL OF TRAFFIC. On your right, you will see an old dirt road--head
to this dirt road.  At the gate, you will be able to pass under the barbed
wire fence through a hole on your left. When you get on the other side, you
are in Crockett Hills Regional Park. This is public land; you are not
trespassing.  

Once through the fence, you'll encounter a dirt road that parallels the
fence.  Turn left on the dirt road and head up the hill.  About halfway up
the hill (about a 4 to 5 minute walk), you will pass a lone oak tree on your
right.  Exit the trail to your right once you pass this oak tree and head
down the ridge a few hundred yards.  You will see a fence in the near
distance with several long piles of wood stacked parallel against the fence.
Hike about half way toward this fence from the dirt road you just left and
find a comfortable place to sit.  It is about an 8 to 10 minute walk from
where you park.


WHAT TO BRING 
There is frequently at 10-15 mph wind, so dress warmly. I recommend bringing
a hat with visor, light-weight chair, lunch, and water. Note there are no
bathrooms. If you have a scope, it will come in handy for spotting birds on
distant hills. 


Harv Wilson