American Redstart and others
Sun, 14 Jan 2001 22:28:04 -0800
From: Larry Tunstall
I am forwarding this message for Johan Langewis, who is having trouble getting the server to accept his messages. --Larry
From: Johan Langewis
To: EBBC
Sent: Saturday, January 13, 2001 7:12 PM
Subject: American Redstart and othersI followed David Quady's directions today (January 13) and found the American Redstart near the same location, at 5 PM. It took about 15 minutes to find it. It seems to be hanging out with a few Yellow-rumped Warblers, which move from tree to tree, not staying in one location for more than a couple of minutes.
For those of you with an EBMUD [East Bay Municipal Utilities District] trail permit you may be interested in a Ross' Goose at Upper San Leandro Reservoir. It was sighted yesterday, January 12, during an eagle census, in the mid-afternoon. The eagle census was done by boat, but the goose would have been visible from the King Canyon loop trail, just south of Rancho Laguna Park, Moraga. The goose also flew off and landed in a spot visible from the end of Pinehurst Trail, accessible from the Valle Vista Staging Area off of Canyon Road, Moraga. Look for a flock of Canada Geese, which the goose stayed with. If you are not aware, the bridge at Moraga Creek near the Valle Vista Staging Area is closed for repairs, so views of the reservoir are not available from that direction. Pinehurst Trail is west of the parking lot and is not affected by the bridge closure.
On a local note, I had a "Slate-colored" Dark-eyed Junco at my feeder today. It has been appearing occasionally at my feeder since December 20.
Posted to EBbird by Larry Tunstall who notes for county birders that the Contra Costa / Alameda county line cuts through the north end of Upper San Leandro Reservoir. The locations described for the Ross' Goose probably are in Alameda County.
Short-eared Owl at Hayward Shoreline
Sun, 14 Jan 2001 22:45:02 -0800
From: Lillian Fujii
Hi.
Today, Sunday January 14, there was a Short-eared Owl at Hayward Shoreline. We saw the bird between about 3 to 4 PM roosting on the southwest-most island in the first pond from the Hayward Shoreline Interpretive Center. There was also a Eurasian Wigeon further along the levee. Otherwise, not too many birds at high tide.
Earlier in the day, we birded Upper San Leandro Reservoir near Town of Moraga. (EBMUD trail permit required). The Rocky Ridge Trail in temporarily closed at the bridge for bridge repairs. Still a birdy area with singing Wrentits, California Thrashers, California Quail, and many woodpeckers.
Happy birding. Lillian Fujii
Long-tailed Duck
Tue, 16 Jan 2001 12:04:16 -0800
From: Emilie Strauss
On Sunday, one of the two "short-tailed Oldsquaws" [Long-tailed Ducks] reported off and on for the last 6 weeks was visible north of the Berkeley Fishing Pier (Alameda County). I didn't see it there today.
Vicinity of Point Emery
Tue, 16 Jan 2001 20:02:42 -0800
From: Johan Langewis
At lunch time today (January 16) I went to Point Emery and the frontage road north of the point and south of University Ave, Berkeley. Two Black Turnstones were present among Sanderlings and Least Sandpipers on the south side of Point Emery. Redheads were among scaup sp. and Canvasback near the frontage road north of Point Emery.
Raven-crow dispute in Berkeley
Tue, 16 Jan 2001 19:53:58 -0800
From: Tom Condit
We got a new bird for our yard list (2200 block of McGee Ave in Berkeley) at about 7 AM this morning when a Common Raven flew over, then was hazed by an American Crow, soon joined by a second crow. The raven lit in a tree on the south side of the 2200 block of Roosevelt, then was chased off by the crows, who then occupied the tree. The raven counterattacked, driving off the crows, who then counterattacked in turn. Eventually the raven was driven off, and the crows returned to a tree in our next-door neighbor's yard. A gull came to see what all the fuss was about, but didn't see any obvious food and left. This whole process lasted between five and ten minutes.
Snow Geese at Richmond Yacht Harbor
Wed, 17 Jan 2001 13:09:05 -0800
From: Emily Serkin
At the Richmond Yacht Harbor on Saturday (January 13) I saw three Snow Geese. (Also a Pelagic Cormorant and a jellyfish!)
Reeve still at Dumbarton toll area
18 Jan 2001 14:39:31 -0800
From: Les Chibana
[Sorry for the duplicates from cross-posting but this bird, although in Alameda County, is close to San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties.]
The adult female Ruff (Reeve) was still present at the east end of the Dumbarton Bridge crossing near the toll booths. It's on the north side of the roadway in the first pond. It's on the westbound (toll direction) side and I don't think you can avoid paying the $2 bridge toll. The bird's worth it. The Los Gatos Creek Park phalarope is $4 if you don't want to walk too far. :-)
The Reeve spent most of its time on the roadway side of the pond. It flushes easily, reacting to the nervous Black-necked Stilts. Fortunately, it seems to be fixated by the food resource that's probably windblown to this edge and it returns quickly to this shore. Also present was a Lesser Yellowlegs along with several Greater Yellowlegs.
I think this bird was first reported on by Christie Nelson on Friday(?) to the BirdBox and followed up by Al DeMartini. I don't recall seeing any reports on EBbird.
Les Chibana
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Arrowhead Marsh, Oakland
Thu, 18 Jan 2001 22:05:02 -0800
From: Larry Tunstall
On the Ohlone Audubon Society trip this morning with Willie & Friends to Martin Luther King Jr Regional Shoreline in Oakland, we had a large species count in the marshes and a few somewhat unusual sightings.
Along the road into Arrowhead Marsh, a pair of Burrowing Owls continue to reside by the white stick on a mound inside the fence to the right, and one owl was at the old burrow used a couple of years ago on the grassy hill north of the middle parking lot.
There were lots of Black Turnstones around. At Arrowhead we saw Green-winged Teal. In Damon Slough at Garretson Point, we saw Cinnamon Teal, Blue-winged Teal, some Red Knots, and a Ruddy Turnstone. From Garretson, we spotted a couple of Clapper Rails in Arrowhead Marsh.
Unfortunately, we didn't find Barrow's Goldeneye or Eurasian Wigeon. And among the usual species that didn't turn up today were Great Blue Heron and Forster's Tern. There were a couple of Surf Scoters looking a bit lost off Garretson Point.
Good birding, Larry
Larry Tunstall
El Cerrito CA