[EBB Sightings] Common Moorhens at Heather Farms Pond, Walnut Creek, CC Co.

Greetings EBB'ers,
 
Yesterday, 4 March 2008, I circled the Heather Farms Park lake in Walnut  
Creek, Contra Costa County at mid-day finding a few special  birds/events.  A 
pair?/nesting? of COMMON MOORHENs were foraging in the  central mats of algae 
(perhaps reported earlier, but new to me here). BARN  SWALLOWS (4 - 5) twittered 
above and low over the water.  Later I found at  least three of them zooming 
under the street bridge (near the southeast end of  lake) apparently visiting 
separate, hidden nests.  Young  BnSw's could be heard, food begging; usually 
done only when an adult is present  in the nest with them.  A BLACK PHOEBE was 
carrying food to a likely  nest under the central lookout deck along the east 
lakeshore.  Food was  being delivered into a Valley Oak nest by an Oak Titmouse 
along the west  lake trail; and CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEEs were carrying food 
in a couple of  places (one of which, just north of the lookout deck, was 
where several land  bird species were bathing in a secluded pond edge pool).  
Although no  Black-crowned Night-Herons were seen (winter only?), a half dozen 
DOUBLE-CRESTED  CORMORANTs we scattered around the one island; in both tree and 
shoreline  perches.  What fish species are in this lake?
 
Note that the Sixth Annual RETURN OF THE SWALLOWS FESTIVAL (at  Chabot 
College, Hayward, ALA Co.) will be held on Tuesday, 15 April,  in  the Cesar Chavez 
Plaza, Chabot College,  A colony of over 1,200 Cliff  Swallows nest on campus 
buildings here; some only 8 feet from viewers (good  photo-ops). Prizes, Art 
Contests, Music, local eco- & green demonstrations  and displays are presented 
(meet the six foot mosquito!).  A new  limerick poem written by William G. 
Charles, especially for the Chabot  Swallows, will be read for the first time in 
public.  On the  following weekend (free) Field Trips will be held to view 
other swallow species'  nesting and general behavior (includes Lake Elizabeth 
City Park & Coyote  Hills Regional Park).  T-shirts, 44 page Swallow Booklet 
(Swallow in 40  languages, etc.), bookmarks, pens, and other goodies are 
available.  The  prime time will be from 11 am to 1:30 pm. Ceremonies are at noon, in 
the Plaza,  which is near the Bookstore and Cafeteria. 
 
Details of the above Festival are available from PEG.
 
Happy Birding,
 
Phil E. Gordon
Hayward, ALA Co.
_PAGPEG at aol.com_ (mailto:PAGPEG at aol.com) 



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