[EBB Sightings] Bullock's oriole, Wilson's warbler, GHO at CHRP

On a two-hour walk this afternoon at Coyote Hills Regional Park, I saw 42 species.  The highlights were:

In the butterfly garden:
1 male Bullock's oriole flying to and from the eucalyptus outside the garden gate, 1 male Wilson's warbler near the top of the garden, 1 Allen's hummingbird in the tree over the bird baths.

At the main entrance to the visitor center:
1 barn swallow darting up under the eaves to check out last year's nests

Hoot Hollow:
At 2:53 PM I heard a great-horned owl hooting, and I looked up to find a GHO on the nest in the large tree above Hoot Hollow.  The bird was tending to the same nest as last year's in the place where the branches form a huge "U" shape with the trunk of the tree.  Later, I got another look of the bird on its nest - tail only - from near the outhouse that's on the Quail Trail just down from Hoot Hollow.  If you stand by the BBQ grill near the picnic table, you can get a good look at the nest even with afternoon backlighting.

In the fennel near the willows as you start up the Bayview Trail from the visitor center parking lot:
1 Lincoln's sparrow

At Quarry parking area I also saw a black-tailed hare and three desert cottontails...and mosquitoes!  

In winter, it's common to see six or seven red-tailed hawks one after the other in this park.  Today - not a single one.  They're off on more important business.

Stephanie Floyd
Fremont