Mourning Doves nesting in Livermore Feeder
Tue, 1 Jul 2003 07:06:58 -0700
From: Mike Feighner
East Bay Birders:
There is nothing unusual about Mourning Doves nesting. But I have never seen any bird put its nest inside of a gazebo-type feeder. Since June 26, 2003, there have been two eggs in the nest, and the dove stays put even with a trail of other birds coming to the feeder to feed all day long.
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, Alameda County
Re: Indigo Bunting in Briones Regional Park
Tue, 1 Jul 2003 09:37:20 -0700
From: Mark Wales
Just a warning: for the last few days and I think until Wednesday or Thursday this week, they are rounding up and shipping out the cattle at the corral in Briones Regional Park. When I've been there I've only had fleeting glimpses of the Indigo Bunting during all the disturbance at the corral. He has not been out singing as before.
I don't know if it was any better over the weekend.
Mark
Original Message Subject Index
Five Cooper's Hawks in north Oakland
Tue,
1 Jul 2003 15:29:41 -0700
From: Bob Battagin
Hi Birders,
While riding my bike in north Oakland at 7:00 PM yesterday I noticed five Cooper's Hawks on the power pole and power lines. Without binoculars I could identify one as an adult and two as immature. Presumably this family recently fledged from the nest located in a nearby large tree. The scat splats under the nest are profuse.
Good Birding,
Bob Battagin
Oakland, CA
Editor's Note: For the protection of the hawks, this message was edited for the archive to remove information about the exact location of the nest.
Lazuli Bunting in Briones Regional Park
Tue,
01 Jul 2003 16:22:13 -0700
From: Kitty O'Neil
I just went for a walk at Briones Regional Park and got to see the Lazuli Bunting. He was singing and very easy to see on the barbed wire enclosure (full of tall weeds). It is on the trail before the regular corral (right as you come out of the woods). The regular corral was dusty, stinky, and noisy with 7 semi trucks and about 15 cowboys loading up the cows. So, no Indigo Bunting.
I got to see 2 Lark Sparrows in the parking lot when I got back to my car.
Kitty
Kitty O'Neil
Orinda, CA
Editor's Note: There are many Lazuli Buntings presently in Briones Regional Park, but only one Indigo Bunting has been reported.
Cattle Egret at Lake Merritt, Oakland
Wed,
2 Jul 2003 15:32:40 -0700
From: Rusty Scalf
I saw a Cattle Egret at Lake Merritt (downtown Oakland) on a noon walk yesterday (July 1). It was in the concrete pool surrounded by amazing numbers of Canada Geese.
Possibly the same fellow returned once again? And if so, how old is this bird by now?
Canada Goose fecundity is truly remarkable.
One Western Grebe on the lake was the only 'winter' bird I saw, unless the Cattle Egret falls into that category.
I was impressed by the Violet-green Swallows foraging around the Children's Fairyland park. I don't see too many in the city. Does anyone know if they're nesting in buildings? In holes in trees? There were at least four of them.
Rusty Scalf
Re: Cattle Egret at Lake Merritt, Oakland
Wed, 02 Jul 2003 15:42:28 -0700
From: Mike Feighner
My earliest record for the Lake Merritt Cattle Egret is December 4, 1988.
Mike Feighner
Original Message Subject Index
Owls in Berkeley flatlands
Thu, 03 Jul 2003
08:32:15 -0700
From: Lisa Owens-Viani
Last night, at about 9:00 PM in the Berkeley flatlands near Curtis St, I saw (and heard!) two owls fly overhead, calling with some short, high repeated "chirps." They may have landed in some tall redwoods; I'm not sure. Does anyone have any idea which species this could be? I was surprised to see owls in the Berkeley flatlands.... (?)
Lisa Owens-Viani
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Re: Owls in Berkeley flatlands
Thu, 3 Jul
2003 09:59:28 -0700
From: Rusty Scalf
Boy, that sounds like Long-eared Owl!
Rusty
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Hayward Regional Shoreline
Thu, 3 Jul 2003
12:52:17 -0700
From: Steve Huckabone
This morning I birded the Hayward Regional Shoreline from the W Winton Ave access. Although the tide was way out I managed to see some good birds. Birds of note included:
Good birding.
Steve Huckabone
Alameda County
Livermore California
Richmond Marina Bay
Thu, 03 Jul 2003 14:26:20
-0700
From: Larry Tunstall
Late this morning I birded the area around Richmond Marina Bay, Vincent Park, and Meeker Slough in Richmond. Although the tide was very low and a strong cold wind was blowing, I saw and heard several White-crowned Sparrows, a Black Oystercatcher and two Western Grebes and a Clark's Grebe inside the inner harbor, some Long-billed Curlews and Marbled Godwits, a few Caspian Terns, and a lot of Willets.
I also ran into some people involved with the marsh restoration project along the Bay Trail between Point Isabel and Marina Bay. They said that a survey in February found 2 breeding pairs of Clapper Rails along Meeker Slough, one above the Bay Trail bridge and one below. The work on the restoration is being suspended during the Clapper Rail breeding/nesting season. The area now covered by a temporary cap (that looks like paving) will eventually be developed, but all of the areas not capped will be restored to marsh eventually. It may take a few years, but they promise the end result will be good bird habitat.
Good birding, Larry
Larry Tunstall
El Cerrito CA