Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sun, 12 Mar 2000 20:13:06 -0800
From: Lillian Fujii
As Mike reported, Steve Hayashi, Dorthy Furseth and I spent a long time (over 5 hours) at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve yesterday, hoping to see the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. Fortunately, there are other things (mine exhibit) and birds to see. Western Bluebirds are all over the place there - warms one's heart. Unfortunately, only I got a brief look at what is probably the bird. We were sitting at a picnic table next to the marshy area, across from the pepper tree, when we heard soft tapping. The other birders saw the bird in this area. Try as we did, we could not find the source of the tapping when a bird flew out. I trudged up the hill and found the bird in a small grove of branchy leafless trees, but it flew out, not to be re-found. Here is a poor description based on a brief look at the bird. It was a brown sapsucker with tan and dark brown facial stripes, pale yellow belly.
Although not an East Bay bird, if anyone is interested in seeing the Swamp Sparrow at Lake Merced in San Francisco (north end of lake at cat-feeding area between bridge and golf course reataurant), it is relatively easy to find (stand on the path in front of the box with the paper plate - I'm not kidding), and is a beautiful bird. It took us a while because there were so many people when we first got there at about 10 this morning. Just stand quietly and the bird will appear.
Happy birding.
Lillian Fujii
Contra Costa County Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sun, 12 Mar 2000 20:40:38 -0800
From: Mike Feighner
East-Bay-Birders:
Late this morning I returned to previously described pepper tree at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve near Antioch in Contra Costa County. After a few minutes of waiting I saw some movement at the trunk of the pepper tree that reminded me of sapsucker behavior I have witnessed in the past. An object on the trunk quickly moved to behind the trunk and out of view.
Later I ran into Joel Summerhill and the lady who does the Diablo Audubon Newsletter. Neither had seen the sapsucker at all today. Joel reminded me that he had originally seen his sapsuckers near the entrance to the mine. So, I gave that a try. One again, Phainopeplas were very conspicuous, and three White-throated Swifts flew overhead, but there was no sign of any sapsuckers.
Next I had a plan. I hiked up to the cemetery and then hiked back down the hill. Apparently someone else had had the same idea. I followed someone else's path through the grass. I ended just short of the "backside" of the pepper tree. Without warning the sapsucker flew out of the upper portion of the pepper tree and flew to the two large oaks immediately to the south. I moved over to the oaks and quickly relocated the immature Yellow-bellied Sapsucker that soon moved over to the other large oak to the right and held tight to the lower trunk which was quite easy to view.
It has been my experience that sapsuckers like both oaks and pepper trees. Both the pepper tree and the two oaks mentioned above had plenty of sapsucker holes.
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA
Oldsquaw/Long-tailed Duck on March 12
Mon, 13 Mar 2000 04:40:53 -0800
From: Mike Feighner
East Bay Birders:
Cheri Pillsbury of Stockton informs me that she saw the Oldsquaw / Long-tailed Duck yesterday, March 12, in the Richmond Marina [Marina Bay]. It was only the third bird she looked at while walking away from the parking lot.
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA
Burrowing Owl is still at Berkeley's César
Chávez Park
Mon, 13 Mar 2000 12:22:49 -0800
From: Becca Freed
This isn't nearly as cool as a Tufted Duck or an Oldsquaw, but I thought I'd report that the Burrowing Owl is still present near the Berkeley Marina. I saw it last night at about 5:30 PM. It was sitting at the top of the riprap right before the curve where the trail [along the west side of César Chávez Park] turns to the west [as you walk north].
Becca Freed
Berkeley CA
Las Gallinas
Mon, 13 Mar 2000 14:34:43 -0800
From: Sheila Dickie
Yesterday afternoon at the Las Gallinas sewage treatment plant ponds in Marin County, I saw the male Tufted Duck on pond #2 in with two male and several female scaup, an Osprey hovering in the field to the right as you cross the bridge, a Greater (?) White-fronted Goose in with a flock of Canada Geese in the ploughed field near the marsh, and American Avocet in the marsh some of which were in breeding plummage. Also in pond #2, six Western Grebe.
Spring continues to be in the air in my North Oakland back garden as I saw a pair of Oak Titmice this weekend one of which was carrying nesting material into the ivy around a Eucalyptus tree. I have had one lone titmouse for the longest time coming to the feeder. This is the first pair I have seen. The nesting material looked like either cat hair or lint from a dryer. No sign of the Lucy's Warbler last seen February 27 round about 11:30 AM.
Sheila Dickie
University of California, Berkeley
Editor's Note: The Las Gallinas ponds are north of San Rafael. From Hwy 101, take Smith Ranch Rd east. Just before you enter the county park, turn left into the sewage treatment plant.
Bat in Berkeley on March 13
Wed, 15 Mar 2000 08:52:44 -0800
From: Tom Condit
Monday night at dusk, Marsha Feinland and I saw a solitary bat flying over the 1500 block of Edith St. (between Jayne and Vine) in Berkeley. I lived in that neighborhood for 25 years and never saw a bat before. (There is allegedly a resident colony in the South Campus area, but generally the weather here isn't very bat-friendly - not enough warm evenings and winters not cold enough for hibernation. Global warming?)
Tom Condit
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Re: Bat in Berkeley on March 13
15 Mar 2000 09:34:45 -0800
From: Les Chibana
A couple of bats have returned to roost on my house on Skyline Blvd., Santa Clara County, early this month when the overnight temperatures were at around 40 degrees [Fahrenheit]! So much for needing warmth! These are myotis-sized, but I am unable to identify them because they are barely visible. Last summer, we had up to 8 roosting on warmer nights. Some of these huddled together and were browner than the solitary ones. Maybe Little Browns? I believe the larger Hoary Bats fly early in the evening at about 35 to 40 feet. The myotis fly lower, I think, at about 10 to 12 feet.
Oh yeah, birds....
I'm preparing a note about Selasphorus hummingbird migration times to post to this list and to the SFBirds list because of some of the recent late, over-wintering(?), and early sightings.
Les Chibana, Palo Alto, CA
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White-throated Swifts in Walnut Creek
Wed, 15 Mar 2000 18:17:56 PST
From: Denise Wight
Hi EB Birders,
I have been watching a small colony of 7 to 9 White-throated Swifts from the seventh floor of the office building where I work in Walnut Creek for the past week. They spend most of the morning around the windows, just below the top of 1990 N. California Blvd. My guess it that they are just foraging, but it would be interesting to see if they find any acceptable nesting holes. If you take BART past the Walnut Creek station, take a look at the office building to the east as you head towards San Francisco.
Denise Wight
Martinez, CA
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Re: White-throated Swifts in Walnut Creek
Wed, 15 Mar 2000 19:31:35 -0800
From: Mike Feighner
East-Bay-Birders:
On Saturday March 11, I found a small flock of White-throated Swifts hanging out over the I-680 / Main Street Overpass in Walnut Creek in Contra Costa County. On Monday March 13, I found another slightly larger flock of White-throated Swifts hanging out over the I-680 / Highway 84 Overpass in Alameda County. These are both likely nesting sites.
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA
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Swifts
Wed, 15 Mar 2000 20:21:51 -0800
From: Lillian Fujii
Hi birders,
Following up on Denise's report, last Wednesday and Thursday, there was a flock of at least 20 White-throated Swifts flying around the intersection of Hways 4 and 80 in Hercules, where they nest. Last Wednesday was the first time I saw swifts this year. (I see them from the car and when someone else is driving, I try to count.) I haven't seen them since, but even when they are nesting, I don't always see them during the brief drive-by.
Happy birding. Lillian Fujii
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