Black-crowned Night-Herons in Oakland's
Chinatown
Fri, 03 May 2002 03:20:08 -0700
From: Richard Mix
Kathy Jarrett wrote:
Sunday evening April 28 at dusk there were at least 2 Black-crowned Night-Herons in the old quarry at the Rockridge Shopping Center, Pleasant Valley (51st St) and Broadway in Oakland.
This reminded me I meant to report a sighting in Oakland's Chinatown on Eighth St at Harrison St last Saturday around 6:00 PM, as the shops were closing. I was startled by a loud croak near my elbow; one red-eyed critter was on the hood of a parked car and others were atop the awnings. A nice tick for my sidewalk list, though pride of place must go to the fifty or so Long-billed Curlews in downtown Fairfield some years ago.
Richard Mix, El Cerrito
Original Message Subject Index
Wildcat Canyon Regional Park
Sat, 4 May 2002 18:56:39 -0700
From: Russ Wilson
For 23 years Malcolm Sproul has lead a Wildcat Canyon Regional Park field trip for Golden Gate Audubon Society. And as usual, we started the 6-mile hike today (Saturday) at 8:00 AM at the end of Rifle Range Rd in El Cerrito, then followed the trail down to Wildcat Creek. A highlight on the way down was an excellent view of a Western Tanager. Along the streamside trail we were treated to the sighting of a Hooded Oriole (not too uncommon in the suburbs, but a first on this field trip). Heading uphill across the canyon (on Havey Canyon Trail) the highlight was a snag with an active Downy Woodpecker nest, and both male and female adults coming and going. In the grasslands we thought we would miss the Grasshopper Sparrow because a Park District helicopter came in on an emergency rescue operation, and the feeble song of the sparrow was drowned out, but fortunately one appeared further along the trail.
Observations by sight or sound were:
Double-crested Cormorant (flyover)
Mallard (flyover)
Turkey Vulture
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
California Quail
Mourning Dove
Anna's Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Western Wood-Pewee
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Violet-green Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
Steller's Jay
Western Scrub-Jay
American Crow
Common Raven
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Oak Titmouse
Bushtit
Bewick's Wren
House Wren
Western Bluebird
American Robin
Wrentit
Northern Mockingbird
Cedar Waxwing
European Starling
Hutton's Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Lark Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
Red-winged Blackbird
Hooded Oriole
Bullock's Oriole
Purple Finch
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
American Goldfinch
Good Birding!
Russ Wilson
99 species today
Sat, 04 May 2002 21:49:41 -0700
From: Dennis Braddy
EastBayBirders,
Well, the highlight of the day for us, by far, was running into Tom Grey at Stevens Creek County Park (Santa Clara County) this morning. He graciously allowed us to tag along as he birded the region of the park below the dam. Tom seems to know where every bird and nest is to be found. What a thrill! Thanks again, Tom.
The birding highlights at Stevens Creek included Cassin's Vireo, Olive-sided Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Hutton's Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Western Wood-Pewee Brown Creeper, Ash-throated Flycatcher, Black-headed Grosbeak, Osprey, Red-shouldered Hawk, White-breasted Nuthatch, Bullock's Oriole, Western Tanager, California Thrasher, and Hairy Woodpecker. The Cassin's Vireo was relatively cooperative and allowed us some excellent views. Tom showed us where the Brown Creeper nest is and the three of us watched as the birds entered and exited the nest repeatedly and worked their way up the trunks of nearby trees. Too cute! Western Wood-Pewee appeared singly and in pairs all along our route. An Olive-sided Flycatcher singing from his perch in the highest tree around could be heard from everywhere. The California Thrasher flew right between us into a bush beside the trail affording excellent close-up views. In the open space directly below the spillway a large bat flew above us. The sun shining through its wings revealed the hand (?) bones. No we didn't count it. Two Osprey soared over the reservoir.
We next stopped by the Don Edwards San Francisco Bay National Wildlife Refuge Environmental Education Center in Alviso (also Santa Clara County). The highlights there were two Burrowing Owls and a Bonaparte's Gull. We also saw Least Sandpipers, Western Sandpipers, Short-billed Dowitchers, and Long-billed Dowitchers, and an assortment of other shorebirds, terns, ducks and geese.
Our last stop was at the Hayward Regional Shoreline. We parked in the parking lot at the end of Winton Ave and walked south to the point just beyond the first footbridge. Highlights here included White-tailed Kite (in the parking lot), Ruddy Turnstone (in breeding plumage - really neat!), Dunlin (with black bellies), Semipalmated Plover, Gadwall, Marbled Godwit, Northern Harrier, American White Pelican (about 15 flying in formation), and Whimbrel. Unfortunately, we missed the Short-eared Owl.
After returning home to San Ramon we added Western Bluebird and Lazuli Bunting to the day's tally for a total of 99 species - our highest one-day total ever. Hmmm, maybe we could snag an owl....
Dennis and Patricia Braddy
San Ramon