New yardbird in Berkeley
Sun, 11 Mar 2001 08:58:32 -0800
From: Kay Loughman
East Bay Birders:
Very early this morning I glanced out the window and saw a small falcon on the rail of the deck outside the dining room. It was facing me directly, and I could see a pale throat and a red streaked breast. We've seen American Kestrels at the house several times in the last week, so I assumed 'kestrel' and went back to doing my e-mail. The next time I looked, the bird had turned around, and I was able to see the back was solidly light gray, and the tail dark gray. I was thinking about other things, so it took awhile to register that this bird was no kestrel. In fact, it was a Merlin - most closely resembling Sibley's drawing of the adult male Prairie form. It was around for about 45 minutes, and flew when I was not watching. Although I've never seen a Merlin in the neighborhood before, I believe this individual may have been around for a few days. A couple of times recently I've seen a bird in our canyon with the right size and flight character to be a Merlin, but moving at a speed and distance which precluded identification. Nice way to start the day!
Kay Loughman
in Claremont Canyon
Berkeley
Pileated Woodpecker sighting
Sun, 11 Mar 2001 17:00:37 PST
From: Sylvia Sykora
Same time, same place. Or very nearly. At 4:20 this afternoon, walking south from Skyline Gate on the West Ridge Trail in Redwood Regional Park and approaching Moon Gate, I heard the Pileated Woodpecker call. It was very close to the trail. After a second call I located the bird in a Bishop pine with many broken branches, about 50 feet upslope (west) from the main trail and adjacent to an informal path, the second of two which intersect the West Ridge as you walk north from Moon Gate (on the East Bay Regional Park District maps but not signed on Skyline Boulevard) toward Skyline Gate. This location is about one-half mile south of earlier sightings in Redwood Park.
Could not determine bird's sex. It sat still, preened, spread its wings, and then turned to work out on the tree. I watched for five minutes. The bird called once more after I left it.
Sylvia Sykora
Castle Drive near Skyline, Oakland
Partial albino Fox Sparrow at Coyote Hills
Sun, 11 Mar 2001 20:37:53 PST
From: Bill Scoggins & Carol Donohoe
11 March 2001, Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont, CA, Alameda County.
At noon today a partial albino Fox Sparrow was seen at the Visitor Center at Coyote Hills. It had large white spots on the head, breast, and wings, but not the tail. The bill color and eye color appeared normal. We were able to view this bird for about 15 minutes before it flew away. It was with other Sooty Fox Sparrows (9 total) and Golden-crowned Sparrows feeding in areas with wood chips and leaves under bushes. We attempted to take pictures of this special Fox Sparrow and hope to make these available at the end of the week.
Also seen were one Rough-legged Hawk in the South Marsh along with two White-tailed Kites.
Yesterday we saw Red-tailed Hawks mating in a large conifer at Hoot Hollow. Red-tailed Hawks have nested successfully here for the last three years.
Happy birding,
Bill Scoggins and Carol Donohoe
Trail washout repaired at Briones
Sun, 11 Mar 2001 22:23:04 -0800
From: Larry Tunstall
I went birding this morning at the western (Bear Creek) entrance to Briones Regional Park, near Orinda. I didn't see any unusual birds, but it did seem worth reporting to those who (like me) haven't been there in a long time that the washout on Homestead Valley Trail has been repaired, so that you can now walk easily from the Bear Creek Staging Area to the Archery Range.
There were two Acorn Woodpeckers tending the acorn "granary" snag. Nearby, one or two Cooper's Hawks were swooping about and setting up a lot of racket, while a cacophony of Steller's Jays had a lot to say about it. A White-tailed Kite soared over the western edge of the park.
There were a lot of Ruby-crowned Kinglets flashing gaudy neon crowns. In the vicinity of the Archery Range I heard at least three different groups of California Quail.
Good birding, Larry
Larry Tunstall
El Cerrito CA
Cedar Waxwings
Mon, 12 Mar 2001 12:38:52 -0800
From: Tom Condit
We had a nice little flock of Cedar Waxwings in our back yard [in Berkeley] this morning. They were getting the latest few ripe berries off our neighbor's pyracantha (if that's what it is), but mostly gleaning in a tree on the property line. There was some bill-rubbing and mutual feeding going on as well.
A red-shafted Northern Flicker flew over.
Tom Condit
White-throated Sparrow
Mon, 12 Mar 2001 20:31:59 PST
From: Denise Wight
Hi EB Birders,
Yesterday at Carquinez Regional Shoreline in Martinez there was a White-throated Sparrow in with the flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows, just outside the entrance to the gated parking lot. This was the most intensely streaked White-throated Sparrow I've ever seen. Check it out if you have the chance.
Carquinez Scenic Drive, on the Martinez side, is one of the most reliable areas I have found for White-throated Sparrows in central Contra Costa County. I've seen at least 7 individuals in various spots along this road in the past year. Anyone else know of other locations where they are this common?
Denise Wight
Martinez, CA
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Lake Merritt duck with pom pom still going
strong
Mon, 12 Mar 2001 23:39:16 -0800
From: Judy Schlosser
At the beach at Lake Merritt in Oakland there is a mix breed female duck with a pom pom at the back of its head. I've been occasionally feeding this duck for 3.5 years. It hangs with the Mallards. It is still looking in good shape today even though some of it's original companions have gone to the hereafter. What's the average Mallard life span?