[EBB Sightings] Red-tailed hawk nest near Mission Peak (Alameda County)

Forwarding to EBB a post from SBB regarding nesting Red-tailed Hawks in
Fremont in Alameda County 
--
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, Alameda County

-----Original Message-----
From: south-bay-birds at yahoogroups.com
[mailto:south-bay-birds at yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Laurie Bechtler
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 4:50 PM
To: south-bay-birds at yahoogroups.com
Subject: [SBB] Red-tailed hawk nest near Mission Peak


While returning from a walk up Mission Peak (in Fremont)last Saturday
(4/12), we noticed a RTHA fly into a tall tree, which had a suspicious clump
of stuff near the top.  Soon the clump stirred and another adult RTHA got up
from a nest and flew off, letting the first adult take over.  I had only my
mini binocs with me but I'm pretty sure I saw eggs.  From this trail, I
think with a scope you would get a pretty good look down into the nest.  

The nest is in a eucalyptus tree above the tennis court of the former MC
Hammer house.  (It's a faux castle-y looking thing with some sheep in a
meadow...just south of Ohlone College.)  The view is from the trail higher
than the point where the two lower trails merge (one trail goes to the
college while the other trail goes more directly down to Mission Blvd.).  If
you are on the trail above the tennis court, there are three eucalyptus
trees between the trail and the tennis court.  The center tree is tallest,
and the right trunk of the tree contains the nest.

On the way up, we had a lovely close range fly-by as one of the adults used
the thermals to gain altitude.

Laurie