Indigo Bunting near Hayward Shoreline?????
Sat, 23 Jun 2001 09:37:17 -0700
From: Mike Feighner
East Bay Birders:
Yesterday I called the Northern California Birdbox to report the continuing presence of the male Rose-breasted Grosbeak on Mt Davidson in San Francisco (outside of this list area of course) and heard someone report a male Indigo Bunting from somewhere near Hayward Regional Shoreline from last week. I no longer remember the exact location.
Nothing has been mentioned over EBB of this Indigo Bunting.
Has anyone bothered to look for it?
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, Alameda County
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Re: Indigo Bunting near Hayward Shoreline?????
Sat, 23 Jun 2001 10:11:40 PDT
From: Steve Glover
Mike and all,
If I remember correctly the Indigo Bunting was found by Jeff Seay along Alameda Creek somewhere near Alvarado-Niles Blvd. I don't remember any more than that but defintitely don't go looking at Hayward Shoreline.
Steve Glover
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Alameda Creek Indigo Bunting
Sat, 23 Jun 2001 22:43:48 PDT
From: Bob Richmond
Mike
Alvarado-Niles Rd does not cross the Alameda Creek Flood Control Channel - it does cross the old creek bed. But this is not very good bunting habitat. In the summer of 1997, during the last year of the Alameda County breeding bird atlas, a male Indigo Bunting was found downstream from where Alvarado Blvd crosses the flood control channel. It was about two-thirds to three-fourths of the way towards a railroad bridge. This bird was found singing in mid July. It nested with an unidentified female bunting. That year another male was seen near where Decoto Rd crosses the flood control channel
Bob
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Where are the birds?
Mon, 25 Jun 2001 12:04:04 -0700
From: Jerrie Arko
I set out early Friday morning with two companions to find the Black Skimmers at Hayward Shoreline. None of us had ever been there so finding the Interpretive Center was an adventure in itself! When we finally figured it out (with the help of a very nice man at a gas station) we walked out to the spot where we thought we could see the Skimmers. There wasn't so much as a bee buzzing around, much less any birds! We walked down the path and back and looked and scanned. Nothing. So we enjoyed the Cliff Swallows and Barn Swallows that are in abundance at the Center.
Then we drove down to Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge and watched the Forster's Terns doing tern things. And chatted with a very nice man at the desk in the Visitors Center. I ask him if those were Forster's Terns or maybe the Least Terns reported in that area. Bob Long said with a straight face that they were Roseate Spoonbills. Ahhh, I thought, I am not in south Texas... they can't be... and then Bob grinned!! We had a nice chat about all sorts of things and then Betty, Marie, and I left.
We headed for Coyote Hills Regional Park hoping to find a bird or two. Not much there either! And not even one bird at Dumbarton Bridge.
We did have fun and a nice lunch and now that we know the way, we will go back this fall.
Yesterday I was in Marin County and stopped at the refuge in Larkspur, just off Lucky Drive. (I can never remember the name of that place) and saw 8 American White Pelicans, preening and feeding, about 20 Black-necked Stilts, nesting Caspian Terns, Great Egrets, Snowy Egrets, and a Mallard family.
I know... those aren't East Bay birds, but I as glad to see them!
Jerrie, El Cerrito, CA
Re: Clapper Rails in Richmond
Mon, 25 Jun 2001 17:37:02 -0700
From: Tom Condit
Dustin Alcala wrote:
While you're out looking for the Long-tailed Duck you might want to hit the Richmond Waterfront. For about 5 weeks now a Clapper Rail has been putting on a grand display at Meeker Slough. Every evening after 6:00 the bird is just out there, noisy and conspicious.
The easiest way to find the bird is to exit I-80 at Bayview. From the West go straight onto Seaport and make a quick left onto S. 51st. You'll see the trail just where the road curves left. From the east make a left turn onto Bayview and then a left at the first street which is Seaport. A longer walk, but more desirable parking can be had from the end of Central Ave.
This trail will quickly take you to the main trail along the shoreline. Head west (right) here. You cross a bridge right away. Walk for about 10 minutes, or more if you bird your way along, until you reach an abandoned pier with a boathouse at its end. The bird is ahead to the right. If you haven't heard the rail already, you soon will. He is regularly and dependably on the upstream side of the bridge here. He calls loudly and almost incessantly between 6 and 8 PM and is usually easy to see, sometimes right out in the open, even swimming in the main channel.
Please note with regard to Dustin's directions that the 10-minute walk is from S 51st St, not from the parking lots at the Central Ave end. Therefore ignore the various ruined piers and bridges you'll encounter until you get to the northwest end of the trail near the big houses.
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Hummingbirds at UC Botanical Garden
Mon, 25 Jun 2001 17:42:11 -0700
From: Tom Condit
At mid-day on Monday, June 25, the UC Botanical Garden in Strawberry Canyon, Berkeley, was swarming with hummingbirds! Selasphorus hummers of every variant hue from all-red to solidly green backs, Anna's Hummingbirds, etc. They were not only in their usual haunts on the Mesamerican hill (where fuschias and monkey's hands are in bloom, as well as some Stevia) and the South American section, but scattered around other parts of the garden.
Another highlight was a female goldfinch (I think American Goldfinch) feeding a fledgling on a tree limb in the New Zealand area.
Tom Condit
Black Skimmers at Hayward Shoreline
Mon, 25 Jun 2001 19:39:24 -0700
From: Jerrie Arko
Bob Lewis wrote:
I suspect you didn't walk quite far enough. You have to go out to the water, turn right, and keep walking until you look right and see several islands.
I am sure we didn't walk far enough. The directions I got last week from this list weren't all that clear, 'specially for someone who had never been there! I will go back this weekend and give it another try!
Thanks! And thanks, Larry, for the map!
We still had a good day and certainly saw lots of places to go back to.
Jerrie, El Cerrito, CA
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Peregrine Falcon
Mon, 25 Jun 2001 20:40:18 PDT
From: Mark Rauzon
At Redwood Regional Park in the Oakland hills on Sunday midday, saw from the Stream Trail, a Peregrine Falcon fly over East Ridge Trail. Much chatter as it harassed a Red-tailed Hawk nest on the ridge.
mark rauzon