[EBB Sightings] Fw: Birds!

Dear Birders:

For those of you who enjoy birding at the UC Botanical Gardens (and who doesn't), here's a current report from Chris Carmichael who is the Associate Director and an avid birder.  Of particular good news is that the California Thrasher is still a Strawberry Canyon resident.

-Phila rogers

--- On Wed, 7/15/09, Chris Carmichael  wrote:

> From: Chris Carmichael 
> Subject: Birds!
> To: "Phila Rogers" 
> Date: Wednesday, July 15, 2009, 8:48 AM
> Hi Phila,
> 
> Hope all is well with you, and I'm looking forward to our
> walk on Saturday.? Here are some updates I'm sure
> you'll find interesting:
> 
> Last night I gave a twilight tour of the Garden between
> 6:30 and 8PM. It was a warm and beautiful evening and a
> unique time to be in the Garden. Overall nothing out of the
> ordinary in the way of birds, BUT we did see the California
> Thrasher up by the? water towers in the Mediterranean
> Area across from the Rose Garden.? The Thrasher was
> silent, unlike the Swainson's Thrush calls drifting up from
> across the canyon at that point. There were also Pygmy
> Nuthatches in the pines, fly-overs of Band-tailed Pigeon,
> both Goldfinches, both Towhees, Purple and House Finches,
> Wrentits, etc.? At this time of year Pacific Slope
> Flycatcher calls are constant and Hutton Verios quite
> regular.? Others like Warbling Verios and Wilson's
> Warblers have quieted down significantly.
> 
> Since the Hooded Orioles fledged a brood from the
> /Washingtonia/ palm in the New World Desert earlier in the
> season I've been wondering where their next nest was, given
> that I've seen them regularly in the Garden.? I was
> never able to detect regular activity in the palms around
> the Conference Center, and over the past few days I've been
> hearing begging young in the vicinity of the bridge over
> Strawberry Creek leading to the Conference Center and
> Tropical House.? This morning I found the Hooded Oriole
> nest in a deciduous tree, /Pterocarya/ (aka Chinese
> wingnut).? Both Paul our director and Holly our curator
> have had them nesting in trees other than fan palms in their
> yards in El Cerrito, but I've personally never seen them in
> anything but a palm.? As you stand on the bridge
> looking upstream the nest is in the big tree right in front
> of you. The tree itself is rooted on the right side of the
> creek, but the nest is in a branch overhanging the left
> bank.? The parents are feeding and the young are
> calling vigorously making it easier to find.? From past
> experience I'm guessing they'll fledge soon.
> 
> Finally, our calling Olive-sided Flycatchers had been quiet
> last week and I wondered if they had moved on.? This
> week they've called as usual in the big redwoods and
> sequoias in the Asian Area.
> 
> 
> Looking forward to seeing you on Saturday and I'll be happy
> to show you the nest if we can coordinate.? Also, feel
> free to post any or all of this.
> 
> Best,
> 
> Chris
> 
> 
> 
>