[EBB Sightings] Mines Road 4/23 and 4/27

I led two field trips this last week for Sequoia Audubon to Mines Road. 
  I thought I would send along the highlights along with the MP markers 
so you could hunt for all these great birds as well.  Please note that 
we did NOT see Lawrence's Goldfinch on either trip.  Wednesday 4/23 was 
cool and partly cloudy most of the day while Sunday 4/27 was quite warm 
to HOT by late afternoon.  I have indicated which day these birds were 
seen (W or S) if it mattered.  And I have not noted the really common 
things.

Murietta's Well (please note that the owners would now prefer that we 
park inside at the winery rather than on the road (especially if we are 
leaving cars for the day; apparently they have had some "problems".

Great Horned Owls have taken up residence in the old Red tailed hawk 
nest in the Eucalyptus over the house.  Two chicks were visible.
Bullocks Oriole (W&S)
Hooded Oriole (S)
Wild Turkey (W&S)
American Kestrel (nesting)
Eurasian Collared Dove (W&S)

MP 1.3
Annas' Hummingbird
Nuttall's Woodpecker
House Wren (S seen well at nest)
Tree Swallow
Barn Swallow

MP 3.2 (junction Mines Road and Del Valle Roads)
Killdeer
Western Bluebirds

Barn Owl - in a hole on the open cliff face just before the bridge

MP 4.7 (Bridge)
Olive-sided Flycatcher (W&S)
Ash-throated Flycatcher (W&S) (this bird was everywhere on Wednesday
Golden Eagle (W) - many were seen on W but none on S
Cliff, Rough-winged and VG swallows (W&S)
Black Phoebe (W&S)
Red-shouldered Hawk (S)
American Kestrel (S)

MP 5.74
Rufous-crowned sparrow (W)
California thrasher (W&S) - on Sunday there was a singing pair
Phainopepla (S)
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (W)

MP 7.69 - small pool of water just below the road attracted many birds 
(esp W)
Hermit Thrush (W)
Wilson's Warbler (W)
Phainopepla (W)
White-breasted Nuthatch (W)
Western Tanager (S)

MP 10.45 Roadrunner (W)

MP 18.2 Corral
Wood duck (W)
Lark Sparrow (W)
W. Kingbird (W)

San ?ntonio Valley Road (sorry don't know mile markers)
about 1/4 mile
Lewis' Woodpecker just beyond the first gate on the right; nesting in 
tree closest to road

large pond on left past the first ranch on the left had 4 male wood 
ducks on both days.

Creek crossing at mile 3.2 - 3 green herons on Sunday

Del Puerto Canyon Road

1.8 miles - colony of tri-colored blackbirds along with RWBB

16.8 miles - large rock outcropping on left
Rock Wren (W&S)
Canyon Wren (W)
Prairie Falcon (W)

Around the corner from Owl Rock (where there were no owls)
Costa's Humminbird (W&S)  Note on Sunday, the bird was not in its usual 
tree; so lots of searching found it in the next tree closer to Owl Rock 
and then impossible to see with the naked eye.  Bins searching found 
it.

Good birding!

Leslie Flint
San Mateo