Golden Eagle chick at Sibley
Tue, 28 May 2002 09:33:28 -0700
From: Mike Ezekiel
I have been to look at the Golden Eagle nest at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve off Skyline Blvd in the Oakland Hills twice in the last several weeks including yesterday - late afternoon. The chick is now moving from a white fuzzball into juvenile plumage - mostly brown feathered but still pinfeathers/white head and partially white legs. Very wonderful look into the nest.
Followed some eagle watchers to a different vantage point - up the hill on the paved path starting on the right side of the parking lot and continuing on the right of Round Top nearly to the top. There is a little path leading to a downed tree with a great look to the nest. It is fairly close to the nest so one should be quiet - a scope gives a fantastic view of the chick.
Mike Ezekiel
Oakland
Cooper's Hawk on deck in southeast Berkeley
Wed, 29 May 2002 07:52:58 -0700
From: Leonard & Rita Elmwood
About 7 PM on Saturday, we observed a Cooper's Hawk on our deck in southeast Berkeley, just a foot outside the french doors, apparently intent on flushing prey from behind planter boxes. It is probably one of a pair we have observed feeding chicks in a tree at Russell and Pine in the Elmwood District of Berkeley, about 0.5 mile away. (Fledging expected about June 10 to 15.)
Perhaps sensing our presence inside the house, the beautiful bird flew to the deck rail, where it remained long enough for me to run upstairs, find my camera, fit a 200mm lens and snap off 4 or 5 shots (which are questionable because of the low light level).
After the big bird flew off, I went out on the deck and found a female House Finch, in shock, behind the planter. As I reached for her, she snapped to and flew away, seemingly unharmed and undoubtedly a bit wiser.
Leonard & Rita
Mitchell Canyon on Sunday
Wed, 29 May 2002 13:03:38 -0400
From: Nick Newton
On Sunday, a good day was had at Mitchell Canyon near Clayton, on the north slope of Mount Diablo. Close to the main trailhead was a Blue-Gray Gnatcatcher, as was a Western Screech Owl poking its head out of a hole in a dead tree. Further up the trail, passing by many warbling Warbling Vireos, were at least one pair of Lawrence's Goldfinches, a pair of Ash-throated Flycatchers, and soaring overhead, a Golden Eagle and a flock of about 30 American White Pelicans. Another interesting highlight - a pair of White-throated Swifts mating in mid-air!
On the way back to Oakland, we stopped off at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve again (it was fogged in on Sunday morning) to see the Golden Eagles. There was an adult on the nest and the chick is growing up and changing colour fast. There was a tree full of warblers near the viewing point - Wilson's Warbler, Orange-Crowned Warblers, and MacGillivray's Warblers. (A late post this - 3 weeks ago, also by the eagle viewing spot, there was a Townsend's Solitaire doing some flycatching).
All in all, an excellent day. Good birding.
Nick Newton
Oakland
Re: Golden Eagle chick at Sibley
Wed, 29 May 2002 20:21:33 -0700
From: Doug Wade
Actually, I'm using the chick as an excuse to say hello and thank you as much as anything else. I made it up to Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve in the Oakland Hills today and found the nest without too much trouble using the technique of keeping to the right of the paved trail and looking for birders. Sure enough, I ran into three very friendly people all looking the same way with binoculars. Suspicious.
Once they established that I knew there was a Golden Eagle nest in the area they were very helpful in pointing out the right tree and suggesting camera angles (if anybody saw a guy with a tripod on his backpack and a white lens on his camera, chances are that was me).
I didn't see the parents but the chick seemed happy enough, although he was having trouble staying out of the sun. He was raising his wings a bit but not extending them fully. He was more active when the sun had gone down a bit, looking around and walking around a bit in the nest. I was there from about 4:45 PM until sometime around 6:00, when he went to the far side of the nest and I didn't see him again. I guess it was time for a nap.
On the way back I ran into more birders who saw the lens and assumed I must be on the way back from seeing the eagle. They were kind enough to fill me in on some other viewing sites which I'll have to check out.
Anyway, I wanted to thank the group for the interesting postings, the information that gave me such a wonderful experience, and if anybody I ran into is on the list, well, thanks again.
Doug, San Leandro.
Original Message Subject Index
Coyote Hills Regional Park
Wed, 29 May 2002 20:22:54 -0700
From: Tom Condit
Coyote Hills Regional Park, Fremont, Wednesday, May 29, 2002
We took a second-grade field trip to Coyote Hills today. The highpoint for the children was seeing a deer in the North Marsh and two Great Horned Owls (adult and juvenile) at Hoot Hollow.
Birds seen:
Pied-billed Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Great Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Great Blue Heron
Canada Geese
Mallards
Ruddy Duck
Red-tailed Hawks (one being chased by a whole flock of Red-winged Blackbirds)
Forster's Tern
Anna's Hummingbird
Great Horned Owls
Marsh Wrens (plus a nest seen)
Tree Swallows
Violet-green Swallows
Cliff Swallows
Barn Swallows
Mourning Doves
Rock Doves
American Robins
Western Scrub-Jays
California Towhees
Song Sparrows
Red-winged Blackbirds
Brewer's Blackbirds
Western Meadowlarks
Brown-headed Cowbirds (Boooo!)
House FinchesMany lizards, dragon flies, etc.
Tom Condit