Mitchell Canyon and Black Point Trail
Sat, 01 Jun 2002 20:06:40 -0700
From: Jay Withgott
Hello, East Bay Birders -
Today my wife Susan Masta and I hiked a loop in Mount Diablo State Park near Clayton: Mitchell Canyon Trail around the Black Point Trail to Red Road and back on Mitchell Canyon Trail. Very leisurely, as there was much to see. Despite a late-morning start we had the following birds:
Yellow-breasted Chat - 1 singing from the draw down to the right of Mitchell Canyon Trail about 0.25 mile up from the parking lot
Phainopepla - 2 males (or 1, repeated?) along lower Mitchell Canyon and adjacent slopes
Lawrence's Goldfinch - 1 pair (or possibly 2) 50 meters up Black Point Trail from Mitchell Canyon Trail
Black-chinned Sparrow - 2 singing along Black Point Trail
Sage Sparrow - 6 or 7 singing or seen along Black Point Trail
2 Golden Eagle - look up
Also 5 Lazuli Bunting, 2 Rufous-crowned Sparrow, 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher, 1 Western Wood-Pewee, 3 Ash-throated Flycatcher, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Western Bluebirds, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, California Thrasher, and 1 Warbling Vireo singing while sitting on its nest.
In the non-avian department, we had 2 Western rattlesnakes, California whiptails, probable sagebrush lizard, and a wonderful coast horned lizard (Phrynosoma coronatum). 42 species of blooming wildflowers, including the two endemic Calochortus lilies. Over 15 species of butterflies, many dragonflies, and some beautiful views. And not another soul on the Black Point Trail, even on a Saturday. Our thanks to Denise Wight for her recent post about this terrific trail, which we might never have tried otherwise.
Jay Withgott, San Francisco
June 1 at McNabney Marsh
Mon, 3 Jun 2002 10:30:59 PDT
From: Steve Glover
Hello all,
On Saturday, June 1, at McNabney Marsh near Martinez there was a late male American Wigeon, 23 American White Pelicans still present, at least 6 White-throated Swifts in with the hordes of Cliff Swallows, a hunting Peregrine Falcon, and several Great-tailed Grackles. The grackles have been present all spring around the north end of the marsh though they are a little less conspicuous right now as the female is apparently on the nest.
Good luck,
Steve Glover
Dublin
Editor's Note: McNabney Marsh is just east of Hwy 680 and south of Waterfront Rd (the eastward continuation of Marina Vista from Martinez). The south end of the marsh can be accessed via Pacheco Blvd and Arthur Rd (check at the office of the sanitary district for permission). The north end can be birded from Waterfront Rd and Waterbird Way (a fine East Bay Regional Park District marsh-overlook facility called Waterbird Regional Preserve off Waterbird Way was to open this spring, but the loss of the bond issue led to postponement of the opening).
Blue Grosbeak on Morgan Territory Rd
Mon, 3 Jun 2002 10:38:06 PDT
From: Steve Glover
Hello all,
On May 31, Misty and I birded for a little while on lower Morgan Territory Rd, hoping to fill in some gaps in Contra Costa County Breeding Bird Atlas block 605-180. There isn't a lot of habitat here, mostly grassland and savannah, but there is a nice draw further up with eucalyptus and willows. The easiest way to get there is to exit Hwy 580 in Livermore at N Livermore Ave. Go north. In a few miles the road will take an abrupt left turn and soon you will come to Morgan Territory Rd on your right. Typical savannah birds included Western Meadowlark (carrying food), Loggerhead Shrike (fledgling), Western Kingbird, Western Scrub-Jay (fledgling), Nuttall's Woodpecker (carrying food). A couple of miles up, the canyon narrows and there are some willows on the right. Continue past as there is no place to park until you come to a wide pullout on the left with a rockwall behind it. Check in the hole because there is always a Barn Owl here. Walk back down the road. Here were Western Bluebird (fledgling), Ash-throated Flycatcher (pair), a migrant Western Wood-Pewee, a pair of Lazuli Buntings, and - best of all - a singing male Blue Grosbeak. This may have been a late migrant as I never detected a female but on the other hand she could be on the nest. This is the fourth time we have had Blue Grosbeak in the Diablo Range during the atlas project.
If you continue a few miles you will get to Morgan Territory Regional Park.
Good birding,
Steve Glover
Dublin
Grasshopper Sparrows at Bishop Ranch Regional
Open Space
Mon, 3 Jun 2002 10:39:16 PDT
From: Steve Glover
Hello all,
On May 29 I birded Bishop Ranch Regional Open Space in San Ramon. This is a nice little park with very few people, though the main trail is very steep for the first quarter-mile or so.
A good deal of the park is in Contra Costa County Breeding Bird Atlas block 590-175 where I still had some holes to fill in. Around the lot and in the first half-mile or so, typical oak woodland birds included Nuttall's Woodpecker (fledgling), Acorn Woodpecker (occupied nest), Downy Woodpecker (nest with young), Ash-throated Flycatcher, Violet-green Swallow (fledgling), a singing Swainson's Thrush (late migrant), Western Wood-Pewee, Western Meadowlark (carrying food), Western Bluebird (fledgling). A pair of Common Ravens were circling around.
At the intersection of the Grey Fox and Red-tail Trails were several singing Grasshopper Sparrows (they are loosely colonial).
I took the Red-tail Trail down into block 585-175, a part of the park I had never been into. Here were at least 4 more singing Grasshopper Sparrows, Lazuli Bunting, Western Wood-Pewee, Warbling Vireo, Steller's Jay, Lesser Goldfinch (nest material), House Wren, Acorn Woodpecker, Bewick's Wren (carrying food), Orange-crowned Warbler (fledgling), Hutton's Vireo, Lark Sparrow (carrying food).
Steve Glover
Dublin
May 27 at Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve
Mon, 3 Jun 2002 10:40:17 PDT
From: Steve Glover
Hello everyone,
I'm a little backed up on getting my trips posted so I'm sending several at once today.
On May 27 I birded Black Diamond Mines Regional Preserve near Antioch. To get there take Hwy. 4 east to Somersville Rd and go right towards the hills. At a sharp left, continue straight into the park. You may have to pay an entrance fee but often not.
My goal was to bird the Stewartville section of the park which is the south end of the park. To get there I took the Stewartville Trail over the summit (there is sometimes Grasshopper Sparrow on the hillside to the left) and then the Miners Trail down the hill. A Rock Wren was feeding a fledgling at the top.
Birds around the Canyon Loop Trail were typical of open oak woodlands: Bullock's Oriole (feeding a fledgling), Western Meadowlark (carrying food), Lawrence's Goldfinch (pair flying over), Acorn Woodpecker (occupied nest), Lark Sparrow (fledgling), Northern Mockingbird (always seems strange in oak woodlands!), Nuttall's Woodpecker (carrying food), Ash-throated Flycatcher (carrying food), Lesser Goldfinch (building a nest), Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (carrying food), Lazuli Bunting, Bewick's Wren (fledgling), Wrentit (fledgling - always nice!), and American Kestrel (fledgling). There are no heavily wooded canyons out there, so good migrant habitat is sparse at best, but I did manage to find one Pacific-slope Flycatcher, 2 Wilson's Warblers, a Swainson's Thrush, and a singing Warbling Vireo away from suitable nesting habitat. A pair of Turkey Vultures were repeatedly entering a hole in a rock wall.
The walk back is a pain as the trail up the ridge is quite steep. Back at the parking lot there was a fledgling Rufous-crowned Sparrow being fed by an adult.
A single Caspian Tern flew over heading west, probably after leaving nearby Contra Loma Regional Park.
Good birding,
Steve Glover
Dublin
Commuting Caspian Terns
Mon, 3 Jun 2002 11:03:21 PDT
From: Mark Rauzon
Steve Glover writes:
A single Caspian Tern flew over heading west, probably after leaving nearby Contra Loma Regional Park.
Thanks for your interesting observations, Steve.
I wanted to mention this before, but some time in the past I have twice seen Caspian Terns (once carrying food) at Sibley Volcanic Regional Preserve and at Briones Regional Park, heading west from the estuary and presumably to the Brooks Island nesting colony. Interesting to presume that they forage far afield and reverse commute.
Mark Rauzon
Original Message Subject Index
Magic Moment
Mon, 3 Jun 2002 20:56:14 -0700
From: Jerrie Arko
It was time to water the back yard so I got my binoculars, a comfortable chair, and sat on the deck with the hose and sprayed the plants and lawn. Just day-dreamin' away. I noticed something flitting through the misty spray and perked up and saw an Allen's Hummingbird. He was flying back and forth through the spray and having a grand old time. Then there were two more hummers joining in the shower. I just sat there and held the hose really still and enjoyed! By the time the show was over there were eight hummers flitting through the water! What a magic moment!!!
Then the sun went down and it was time for the wildlife to go to their nests....
I have only had Allen's hummers for two years. This year there were very few Anna's Hummingbirds and I really hadn't seen but one or two Allen's. Guess I should water a little oftener.
Jerrie, El Cerrito, CA