Arrowhead Marsh
Wed, 23 Jan 2002 15:51:19 -0800
From: Nick Newton
Greetings - I birded Arrowhead Marsh [in Martin Luther King Jr Regional Shoreline, Oakland] at lunchtime today at almost low tide. It was (and still is!) a beautiful bright sunny day, and it was almost warm. There were very nice male Common and Barrow's Goldeneye in the slough under the first footbridge. There were many American Wigeon, Northern Pintail and Green-winged Teal on the edge of Arrowhead (didn't see any Eurasian Wigeon). Greater Yellowlegs, American Avocet, Black-necked Stilt and a flock of about thirty Long-billed Dowitchers were the wader highlights. There was a White-tailed Kite sitting in the trees to the south of the parking lot (I haven't seen them here before). No sign of the Peregrine Falcon. The main highlight however was a very nice view of a Clapper Rail out in the open on the mud (it was low tide) and in between the cement blocks right below the path just to the west of the second footbridge.
On a different subject, has anyone seen the Dusky-capped Flycatcher in the Lake Merritt Botanical Gardens since the weekend? I looked for it on Monday and Tuesday lunchtime, without success.
Good birding - Nick Newton
Re: San Pablo Reservoir access problems
Wed, 23 Jan 2002 15:23:13 -0800
From: Tom Condit
As Roy Carlson noted, the Rec Area at San Pablo Reservoir (between El Sobrante and Orinda) is closed for the winter, but you can hike in from the staging area on Bear Valley Rd just east of Camino San Pablo. You need an East Bay Municipal Utility District (EBMUD) hiking permit, which can be purchased at Lafayette Reservoir or at the EBMUD headquarters in Oakland [or at most East Bay Regional Park District visitor centers]. There are also trails from the staging area by Briones Dam and down from Nimitz Way in Tilden Regional Park (although I don't recommend that one in muddy weather). Hiking north from Bear Valley Rd you'll pass by the south end of the reservoir where the Wood Ducks hang out, and through some prime territory for nuthatches, etc. If you come down the longer way from Briones Dam, you might see some swallows and goldfinches (and west across Briones Dam takes you to bluebird territory).
Tom Condit
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Mitchell Canyon and Round Valley
Date: Wed, 23 Jan 2002 16:33:46 -0800
From: Bob Hole
Greetings,
Now that I'm done with Varied Thrush for the year, I headed east today. There were no great surprises, except in association today.
At Mitchell Canyon in Mount Diablo State Park (9:30 to 10:30 AM), I spent most of my time in the parking lot area [south end of Mitchell Canyon Rd from Clayton] but walked up to the base of the first "big hill." Rather than robins, the place was jumping with Dark-eyed Juncos. The "find" of the morning was a female Northern Harrier skimming along the field to the left (west/south?) of the quarry face.
At Round Valley Regional Preserve near Brentwood (11 AM to 1:00 PM) I walked to the second bridge (not including culvert-overcrossings). Highlights there, for me, were the Western Bluebirds accompanied by Yellow-rumped Warblers in their "flycatching" behaviors in two different spots, and in separate instances a Canyon Wren and a Oak Titmouse feeding amongst robins in the grass. I also had a staring contest with a small beef and his mother.
If you haven't been out there, it's beautiful!! Park-like oak woodland, well grazed - obviously. Simply teeming with ground squirrels. And no dogs allowed (I love dogs, just not when I'm birding). The main trail is a fire-road, though it is kinda steep in places. As late as at least 12:30 PM today there was still ice some places in the creek.
Cheers,
Bob
No Bay-breasted Warbler seen in Lafayette
Thu, 24 Jan 2002 13:16:53 PST
From: Bill Gilbert
I checked out Millie�s Kitchen in Lafayette on Thursday about noon, in response to the report of a Bay-breasted Warbler seen there. I found a large flock (perhaps 20 to 30) of yellow-rumped Warblers foraging in the olive trees and other vegetation to the north of Millie�s, and behind the pool center. In looking these over for a half hour, however, I saw no Bay-breasted. It is possible that one could be hanging out with the group, however, and I overlooked it.
The Yellow-rumped Warblers were actively foraging, but it was unclear on what. Ripe olives were on the trees, but I did not see them pecking at these. The yellow-rump, incidentally, has the broadest range of digestive and foraging adaptations of perhaps any warbler species. It can digest a wide range of arthropod and vegetative food, including even the wax of bayberries. It sallies, hovers, gleans, and frequently forages on the ground. All this no doubt contributes to it staying north while most other warblers fly south.
Bill Gilbert, Lafayette
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