[EBB Sightings] RE: "Cliffsweepers" SFBBO Report - Alameda Creek Watershed, ALA Co., 7 Oct.07

Greetings EBB'ers,
 
The Ohlone Audubon Team, "Cliffsweepers", were Steve Huckabone, Jim  Ross, 
and leader Phil Gordon (4th member, Pat Gordon, was birding at  9,200ft. at a 
Global Warming Conference in Colorado). With us were an  experienced group of 
supporters (including SFBBO Staff) for the Calif. Fall  Challenge 2007. We all 
welcomed the cheery, if a bit cool, morning at the  "confluence" of Calaveras 
Blvd., X Hwy 680 X Hwy 84 in the middle of Sunol  Valley. At 7:30 AM it was 
still pre-dawn (no sun on us - yet).
Although the expected species, White-throated Swift and Golden Eagle were  
elsewhere, winter migrants soon became evident: NORTHERN FLICKER,  WHITE-CROWNED 
& GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW, and even a flock of FOS (for  most of us), CEDAR 
WAXWINGs; and at later spots, RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET  and HERMIT THRUSH.
 
After relocating the extra cars in an undisclosed site in Sunol (thanks to  
the car-poolers), we headed for Welch Creek Rd. (only 4 parking  permits were 
available; thanks to the Sunol Wilderness Park, EBRPD).   Our first two GOLDEN 
EAGLES were atop ridgetop power towers - where else? Absent  here were the 
Yellow-billed Magpies and Wild Turkeys, just lots  of vocalizing EUROPEAN 
STARLINGS.  We at least  could (with mixed feelings) count these introduced aliens 
for the first  time - I guess, metaphorically, 'twas a good sign. Our first 
cliff sweeping  was for the elusive Rufous-crowned Sparrow; but, we had to wait. 
In the deeply  dark canyon our STELLER'S JAY called.  Next down Geary Rd. to 
the entrance  of Sunol Park (another free entrance); we then drove to the back 
lot to walk the  fine Ohlone Trail along Alameda Creek.  Our next cliff near 
the  famous, former Prairie Falcon eyrie (now occupied by PeFa), produced one, 
lone,  YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE flying high with a couple of cousins, AMERICAN 
CROWs.   At the horse corral along with the expected WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were three  
more Hermit Thrushes insecting in the sun along the fence row. The Calif.  
Sage patch held a couple of RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROWs, one of which gave its  
signatory ""mew, mew, mew, mew." Other birds along the mile trail (we didn't  make 
it to Little Yosemite) inluded SHARP-SHINNED AND COOPER'S HAWKs,  
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, BAND-TAILED PIGEON, BELTED KINGFISHER, HUTTON'S VIREO,  VIOLET-GREEN 
SWALLOW (late?), CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE, YELLOW-RUMPED  ("AUDUBON'S") 
WARBLER, both TOWHEES (SpTo & CaTo), and LESSER  GOLDFINCH, to name most of them.  
 
A drive down Niles Canyon (Hwy 84) is always interesting, but has  limited 
access. Best of all was minimal traffic. We found Niles Community Park  (3rd St. 
X H St.) and crossed the lawn to the see primary gravel,shrub  island.  Along 
the shore were our waterbirds: DOUBLE-CRESTED  CORMORANT; RING-BILLED GULL; 
GREATER YELLOWLEGS; CASPIAN TERN (looking like  a Forster's, but was an 
immature CaTe, easier when its reddish bill could be  seen); SPOTTED SANDPIPER;  and 
in this wide part of Alameda Creek were  AMERICAN COOTs, MALLARDs, GADWALL, 
and PIED-BILLED GREBE.  On the island  were two surprising WILSON'S SNIPE along 
with several KILLDEER, CANADA  GEESE a lone GREAT EGRET. A first year 
BLACK-CROWNED  NIGHT-HERON flew out from our near shore along with two GREAT BLUE 
HERONs  that chased one another down stream, out of sight. The AMERICAN WHITE  
PELICANS finally made their appearance along the Creek, as well. On the far  
side, towards Shinn Park we all could here a singing NORTHERN  MOCKINGBIRD.  A few 
lingerers told us of the RING-NECKED DUCK they found as  we headed for the 
cars. 
 
Directions to the Don Edward's S.F. Bay National Wildlife Refuge apparently  
needed much more tweaking,  since only half of us arrived at the  parking lot, 
and by cell phone we located the others on their way toward  Oakland.  At the 
meetings spot, we tried to locate the Sage Thrasher  found by Phil the day 
before - it never showed, the one half day  was almost over,  but we waited 
'till all of us were back together,  added 5 minutes and then Phil closed the 
Bird-A-Thon for the  day. During that time, however, two WESTERN TANAGERs a YELLOW 
WARBLER  and our only SAVANNAH SPARROW were counted from the tall brush/trees 
along  the slope above the Florence LaRivier Marsh.
 
For those who had brought lunches, we drove the 2 miles out Marsh Rd. onto  
the old Dumbarton Bridge to the parking access for the fishing (or birding)  
piers. Several other species were then found (for some later Bird-A-Thon, no  
doubt) as we munched and birded away.
 
It was a most congenial group of folks who each had good finds during the  
day, and hopefully will try this again - in the best interest of San Francisco  
Bay Bird Observatory. I thank them all for their support.
 
Respectfully submitted and Happy Birding,
 
Phil E. Gordon
Hayward, ALA Co.
 
P.S. Our Half-Day total was 73 species. All pledges are yet to be  counted.
P.P.S.  A complete list of Cliffsweepers species found will be sent  to 
SFBBO.  



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