Rough-legged Hawk still at Coyote Hills
Regional Park
Thu, 17 Jan 2002 17:06:40 PST
From: Phil Gordon
Greetings Birders,
This afternoon for a brief 20-minute (passing by) stop at Coyote Hills Regional Park in Fremont (Alameda County), birding from the entrance kiosk (free these days) to the first gravel parking lot (left turn); of the 26 species found, the following were of special interest (to me):
1. White-tailed Kite - total 8 (flying/hovering in several areas, 2 perched together - pairing begins about now); (one study I did demonstrated that a single non-nesting bird using an 1100 acre territory could reduce it to 850 acres when pressured by an incoming breeding pair - I never got to measure the territory of the pair). Of course this is influenced by the abundance of their prime food, Meadow Vole (Mouse).
2. Red-shouldered Hawk (first immature I've seen here, perch/hunting over and along edge of cattail marsh).
3. Rough-legged Hawk (adult?) (easily seen perched-flying-perched in right (north) field just before entrance kiosk - where one was last year). Another individual has been reported here this year (not seen today).
4. Virginia Rail - heard only (unsolicited).
5. White-throated Swift - 30+ swirling over/around marsh and hill, from low to specks in the sky (at their standard 80+/- mph) with a few, slower, Tree Swallows. ('tis said they may be the world's fastest [on average] bird).
Needless to say, it was hard to leave for errands to complete. Should anyone see (or knows who has seen) the two Rough-legged Hawks please let me know.
Phil Gordon, Co-Editor of Bird Sightings
Kite Call Newsletter, Ohlone Audubon
Hayward, Alameda County
Lake Chabot
Thu, 17 Jan 2002 18:50:14 -0800
From: Judi Cooper
Today I birded Lake Chabot [in Anthony Chabot Regional Park near Castro Valley] with Elizabeth Dickey from Mt Diablo Audubon Society. It is always such a pleasure to walk and talk with Elizabeth and glean from her the knowledge she has from many, many years of birding.
We saw a total of 38 species and the highlights, for me, were the 7 Varied Thrush we observed. We walked the trail, from the parking lot, to the right of the lake. Somewhere between about one-half and 1 mile there are 2 ravines off to the right with dry creek beds. The first one had 3 females and 1 male and the second had 2 females and 1 male. I was even able to put one in the scope for us both to observe. There were also Hermit Thrush in those areas.
We also watched a pair of quiet Wrentits in a bush next to the trail, while overhead, one of a pair of Osprey carried a fish around in circles for a while before heading off. Not much variety on the lake but there were a group of 4 Western and 2 Clark's Grebes and one close Common Loon at the marina. A "myrtle" Yellow-rumped Warbler and a covey of 12 California Quail were in the parking lot to bid us good-bye.
Judi Cooper
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Re: Varied Thrush at Lake Chabot
Thu, 17 Jan 2002 20:16:22 -0800
From: Bob Hole
Judi Cooper wrote:
Today I birded Lake Chabot ... the highlights, for me, were the 7 Varied Thrush we observed.
Judy, I'm sorry, that's disgusting. [BIG grin]
Bob "the Varied Thrushless"
Robert Hole, Jr.
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Re: Varied Thrush at Lake Chabot
Thu, 17 Jan 2002 20:06:22 -0800
From: Judi Cooper
Bob,
I know!!! I feel soooooooooooooooooo bad - can't you just feel my pain?
Judi
Hey, go give it a try
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