Re: Longspurs at Hayward Regional Shoreline
Wed, 05 Nov 2003 07:41:42 -0800
From: Joseph Morlan
On November 3, Dave Quady wrote:
Between 10 AM and noon today Bob Lewis and I enjoyed excellent looks at two Lapland Longspurs and two Chestnut-collared Longspurs atop "Mt Trashmore" at Hayward Regional Shoreline.
Bob returned yesterday and obtained interesting photos of both species which I have posted on my web site at:
http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/gallery.htm
Enjoy!
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044
California Birding & new rarities
http://fog.ccsf.org/~jmorlan/
California Bird Records Committee http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc/
Original Message Subject Index
Longspurs and Short-eared Owl at Hayward Regional
Shoreline
Wed, 5 Nov 2003 09:11:21 PST
From: Phil Gordon
Greetings EBB'rs,
Yesterday between 8:20 AM & 9:30 AM, I walked the Mt Trashmore "grassy plateau" and I (showing it also to J. Saklin?) had good views of one of the two Lapland Longspurs (an additional individual was reported at last night's Ohlone Audubon Society meeting, for a total of 3). Note that the loud "rattling" call could be heard at considerable distasnce and in flight one Lapland Longspur showed a bright, white, transverse neck collar. Also, one Chestnut-collared Longspur was heard (of the two reported by Jean Richmond and others on the Northern California Bird Box). These birds were spending time in the southern half of the area, but were wide ranging along with American Pipits, Horned Larks and Savannah Sparrows.
When walking here several shorebird flocks flew over including around 150 Black-bellied Plovers, 140 Red Knots, and 20 Short-billed Dowitchers (of 200 to 300 dowitcher spp.). At 9:30 AM a lone Short-eared Owl, flying south, crossed the western edge of Mt Trashmore. See earlier reports for directions to this location found from the East Bay Regional Parks parking lot at the end of W Winton Ave, Hayward, Alameda County.
Phil Gordon
Hayward, Alameda County
Barrow's Goldeneyes at Lake Merritt, Oakland
Thu, 06 Nov 2003 12:30:42 -0800
From: Bob Power
Hi all:
Two male Barrow's Goldeneyes and one female along with a dozen or so Common Goldeneyes were working around the island opposite the Rotary Nature Center at Lake Merritt in Oakland. I went to the Lake's [southern] outlet channel and birded the next two stretches in the hopes that the numerous makes and models of goldeneye had come back for the winter and were frollicking along the channel as usual. No goldeneyes to be seen ... but they're coming!
Bob Power
Longspurs at Hayward Regional Shoreline
Thu,
6 Nov 2003 22:42:39 -0800
From: Don Lewis
We saw a male Lapland Longspur Thursday at about 10 AM from the road along the eastern edge of the raised reclaimed dump area (Mt Trashmore), as described by Dave Quady on November 3. It was at the two sawhorses with signs on them along the more southerly of the two plastic half-culverts. The bird was almost certainly the same bird as shown on the photo by Bob Lewis on Joe Morlan's webpage:
http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan/lalo110403.htm
After several hours fruitlessly looking for more, we got good views of a probable female Lapland Longspur at 1:30 PM about a hundred yards southwest of the northeast corner of Mt Trashmore.
The first bird was with a couple Savannah Sparrows and the second bird was with American Pipits and Horned Larks in a gray, relatively bare area - i.e., not in the yellow grass, although when first seen (or a different bird?) it was in the grass.
We dipped on the Chestnut-collared Longspurs but not through lack of trying.
Don Lewis, Judi Cooper, Bingham & Larry Gibbs
Lafayette, Moraga,
and Danville, CA
Hayward Regional Shoreline
Thu, 6 Nov 2003
23:48:41 PST
From: Bob Richmond
I was at Hayward Regional Shoreline from 06:30 - 07:45 (before going to work).
Mt Trashmore - north quarter of the field:
Hayward's Landing:
Good birding
Bob
Sage Thrasher Near Livermore
Fri, 07 Nov 2003
14:00:50 -0800
From: Dennis & Patricia Braddy
EastBayBirders,
A Sage Thrasher reported on the Northern California BirdBox continued north of Livermore in Alameda County today. At midday we found the thrasher perched on a fence running east from Dagnino Rd 0.65 mile north of May School Rd.
While we were observing the thrasher a Great Horned Owl called several times. We eventually located the owl in a nearby eucalyptus.
Dennis and Patricia Braddy
San Ramon
Reply #1 Reply #2 Reply #3 Reply #4 Reply #5 Reply #6 Reply #7 Subject Index
American Pipit at Moraga Country Club
Fri,
7 Nov 2003 18:59:27 -0800
From: Judi Cooper
I was checking out the Moraga Country Club pond this morning to see if the Hooded Mergansers had arrived yet and they have not. However, I spotted a beautiful nonbreeding adult American Pipit which I have never seen there before. It looks exactly like Sibley's illustration.
There are now Ring-necked Ducks, and a Bufflehead did put in an appearance a couple days ago. Today, the Green Heron was very visibly fishing the edge of the pond.
Judi Cooper
Moraga