Another new yard bird
Tue, 16 May 2000 08:39:09 -0700
From: Debbi Brusco
This morning at 6, I was awakened by a somewhat persistent call that I'd describe as a "pick" (not the woodpecker kind). The bird was in the tree next to my bedroom window, but I couldn't see it for the leaves. I thought perhaps it was one of the American Goldfinches that have started to come since I put up a thistle feeder (and have surprised me with some of their sounds). But then it started to sing - a Black Headed Grosbeak! Unfortunately, after a brief serenade, it left before I could see it.
Debbi Brusco
Hermosa Terrace, Hayward
Strawberry Canyon and UC Botanical Garden
Tue, 16 May 2000 17:14:13 -0700
From: Tom Condit
It was very birdy this morning in the UC Botanical Garden:
Turkey Vulture
Anna's Hummingbird (two)
Allen's Hummingbird (I'm pretty sure - adult male, most of back a continuous green patch without red spotting)
Selasphorus sp. (several)
Downy Woodpecker
Steller's Jays
Common Ravens (at least four)
Chestnut-backed Chickadees
Wrentit
American Robins
Cassin's Vireo
Nashville Warbler (a female in the canyon just below the parking lot for the fire road)
House Finches (in canyon near playing fields)
Spotted Towhees (several, including singing males and what appeared to be a begging young one)
California Towhees
Dark-eyed Juncos
A nice day for me because I had never seen a Nashville Warbler before, despite rumours that they are "common" in various places.
Tom Condit
New yard birds
Wed, 17 May 2000 18:59:45 -0700
From: Mike Feighner
East Bay Birders:
Some time ago we were discussing what sort of yard lists each of us had here in the East Bay. Well, how many times have you walked out to the local marsh following up on that reported Ruff or Solitary Sandpiper only to encounter not a single birder to help in the search and only to come across another person, realizing you are looking for birds, who points out that Great Blue Heron further down the trail. Well, I'm sure each of us has experienced that at least once one time or other.
But how many of you have a Great Blue Heron or a Great Egret on your yard list? Well, I've found someone who can say yes. I've just got this e-mail from my Dad who lives at the south side of Livermore:
Great Egret at our kitchen window this morning. Almost the size of the Great Blue Heron that visited us earlier. How do they know there is fish in our pond?
I live at the north side of town, and today in the lerp-infested eucalyptus there was a male Western Tanager and a singing male Yellow Warbler. The Western Tanager was not the new new yard bird, just the Yellow Warbler, #68 on my yard list.
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA
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Re: New yard birds
Wed, 17 May 2000 21:57:48 -0700
From: Kay Loughman
Guess it depends on how you define yard list. I count anything seen in or from my yard. Great Blue Heron's been on my yard list for a while - but only as a flyover. It would be truly amazing to have one actually on the ground where I live.
Kay Loughman
Berkeley
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Great-tailed Grackle, Contra Costa County
Wed, 17 May 2000 22:30:31 -0700
From: John Luther
Hello All,
I followed up on the Great-tailed Grackle report at McNabney Marsh near Martinez. Today (May 17) I saw a female and male, but I was there 50 minutes before they showed up at 9:25 AM. I was standing in the parking area described by Steve when the female flew in from the southwest over the marsh. The male was close behind. The female landed on the pile of dirt in the parking area. The male landed on the yellow and black sign on Waterbird Way by the marsh. What is it about that pile of dirt? Birds that are black seem to like it. While I was there an American Crow, Brewer's Blackbirds, Red-winged Blackbirds and the female grackle all landed on it. After a few minutes, after seeming to "explore" the dirt pile, the female grackle flew across the road to the railroad tracks with the male close behind. About ten minutes later they both (with the male following the female) flew back across the roads and into the marsh. No nesting material being carried or any other observation to confirm nesting.
John Luther
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Re: New Yard Birds
Wed, 17 May 2000 22:36:38 -0700
From: John Luther
I also have Great Blue Heron (and Great Egret) on my yard list in Oakland. The same way as Kay - flyovers. In fact it is fairly common for them to fly up or down Shepard Canyon to get over the hills.
John Luther, Oakland
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