Lesser Nighthawk and Short-eared Owl
Thu, 30 May 2002 23:11:36 PDT
From: Denise Wight
Hi E.B. Birders,
This evening, from about 8:10 to 8:40 PM, Dorthy Furseth and I watched at least 15 Lesser Nighthawks from the Byron wastewater treatment area. At one point, there were 8 individual nighthawks in flight simultaneously.
Another highlight for me was seeing a Short-eared Owl, hovering over a field, just beyond the marsh to the southwest. This was an owl I have waited 16 years to see in Contra Costa County.
Thanks to everyone who posted about the nighthawks.
Denise Wight
Martinez, CA
New CD benefit for Audubon Canyon Ranch
Fri, 31 May 2002 00:17:22 -0700
From: Larry Tunstall
Hi EBBers,
Berkeley resident and nationally renowned bluegrass musician Laurie Lewis has released a new CD called "Birdsong." The eleven songs all feature abundant bird imagery. Most are collected from previously released Laurie Lewis albums, but two are newly recorded for this collection. Profits from the album will be donated to Audubon Canyon Ranch.
Laurie writes, "On May 23, I visited Audubon Canyon Ranch and watched the egrets and herons, through a scope from an overlook, tending their chicks in their tree-top nests, feeding them and noisily warning off the ravens, hawks, and vultures that occasionally flew over them. The place was hosting two bus-loads of school children, who were taking it all in. and being remarkably intent and quiet. It was such a beautiful day, and I kept on thinking how lucky we are that this spot was saved from developers back in the 1960's. It could so easily have become a suburb, probably called 'The Heronry' or something, without a bird in sight. The lagoon was scheduled to be dredged for a yacht harbor.
"Preserve what you love for your children's children's children."
For more information about the CD, see
and
It is available in some East Bay music stores.
Thanks to Jannie for letting me know about this CD, and thanks to Laurie for the great music and support for the birds.
Good birding, Larry
Larry Tunstall, El Cerrito CA
Las Trampas Regional Wilderness
Fri, 31 May 2002 07:58:32 -0700
From: Dennis Braddy
EastBayBirders,
Because of the shorts-and-tee-shirt weather last evening, Pat and I decided to go for a stroll up Bollinger Canyon Trail (BCT) at Las Trampas Regional Wilderness.
Drive west on Crow Canyon Rd in San Ramon, turn right at Bollinger Canyon Rd, and follow it several miles to the end. After 7:00 PM the outer gate is locked. Park here and walk up the road or up Elderberry Trail for half a mile to BCT, a dirt extension of Bollinger Canyon Road closed to motor vehicles.
Arriving at about sunset we headed northwest, first along Elderberry Trail and then along BCT. Once we reached BCT we soon heard the muffled hooting of a Great Horned Owl. Before long it was joined by others and by the whistles of Western Screech-Owl. At 0.8 mile along BCT we reached a saddle and followed the main trail to the right and continued to ascend. Almost immediately we heard the poor-will-it of the Common Poorwill. (Actually it sounds more like Brer Rabbit to me.) All together we heard 10 to 12 individuals of each of the three species. At times we were within just a few yards of calling poorwills, though we never actually saw any. (We occasionally saw dark silhouettes fly past, but no positive identifications.)
A very bright Venus, accompanied by Jupiter, hung low in the west . Three of Jupiter's moons were visible through binoculars using averted vision. Castor and Pollux were fainter echoes above the two planets.
As we retraced our steps down the canyon we were serenaded by poorwills, screech-owls, crickets, and frogs. Cattle that were standing when we ascended the trail were now (10:30 PM) prone and littered the trail. The cow-averse may need to go off-trail a bit. The Great Horned Owls had fallen silent.
Dennis and Patricia Braddy
San Ramon