Re: Blue-winged Teal continue in Livermore
Thu, 22 Jan 2004 10:35:27 -0800
From: Mike Feighner
Steve and East Bay Birders:
This morning I took a 500-foot detour to the Livermore Sewage Treatment Facility on the way to work, and at least one male Blue-winged Teal was still there along with a male Cinnamon Teal. The facility is located northwest of Kitty Hawk and E Jack London. Turn right into Matt's Ave, and the pond is immediately on the left and is viewable from the vehicle.
Mike Feighner, Livermore, Alameda County
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Lake Merritt warblers
Fri, 23 Jan 2004 15:02:47
-0800
From: Nick Newton
The Black-and-white Warbler and Black-throated Gray Warbler put in very nice appearances at noon today exactly at the spot previously described (in the canopy above the purple mushrooms at the right of the Children's Fairyland entrance by Lake Merritt). The Black-and-white warbler later hopped over the fence and explored the trunks of the trees between the entrance and Grand Ave, giving beautiful views with the sun behind us. All the other previously described species were also present - Townsend's Warbler, Olive-crowned Warbler, Yellow-Rumped Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Oak Titmouse, Bushtits, and a pair of Black Phoebes, one of which appeared to have a head on collision with a telephone pole!
One rather curious observation had to do with the music that was coming out of Fairyland - they were playing Beethoven quite loudly (it makes for fine carousel music!) when we got there, and we found the warblers almost immediately. However, when they changed to Schubert, the birds all but disappeared into thin air. But when they switched back to Beethoven a few minutes later they magically reappeared!!!??? This was a single observation and no doubt wouldn't stand up to scientific scrutiny, but it was highly suggestive, very amusing, and I can imagine a whole string of experiments to test it out! It also allowed me to indulge in two of my favourite hobbies simultaneously!
Good birding.
Nick Newton
Oakland
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Merritt badge
Fri, 23 Jan 2004 20:09:50 -0800
(PST)
From: Bob Power
Hi all:
Ate our Wheaties, took our scopes, got up early ... Forgot the Beethoven tapes!!!!!!!
Steve Shunk and I showed up at the purple mushroom warbler epicenter at 8:30. We had Yellow-rumped Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Black-throated Gray Warbler and Townsend's Warbler. No Black-and-white Warbler. I'll try again tomorrow. I'm an early riser. I think the Black-and-white is a late riser. I think we're disharmonically non-converging. This is only my fifth try. Don't cry for me passerina (a stretch).
We also had a hybrid Red-breasted Sapsucker X Red-naped Sapsucker in the oaks two trees west of the purple mushrooms.
We went to the outflow channel and had twoa Cackling Canada Geese, but no Tufted Duck.
Good birding,
Bob Power
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Greater White-fronted Goose flock in Fremont
Fri, 23 Jan 2004 21:28:55 -0800
From: Debbie Wong
All,
Today (22 January) while I was walking on the Alameda Creek Regional Trail from Union City towards Coyote Hills Regional Park, I found a flock of 22 Greater White-fronted Geese mixed with 30+ Canada Geese grazing in a green pasture to the right of the trail.
At one point, the whole flock of birds flew across (left) and into the Coyote Hills area.
This trailhead starts behind a stable, near the Union City Fire Station 4. From Union City Blvd, turn right onto Lowry Rd and then turn left into the trailhead parking lot, passing the fire station on your right.
On my way back, I found the Greater White-fronted Goose flock again in the same general area but by themselves without the Canada Geese.
There was the usual cast of birds and ducks along the trail.
Debbie
Ross' Geese in Pleasanton
Sat, 24 Jan 2004
12:51:14 -0800
From: Derek Heins
Just before sundown yesterday I biked to Shadow Cliffs Regional Recreation Area in Pleasanton and saw 2 Ross' Geese in the grassy area feeding with the Canada Geese. So perhaps the sightings by Steve Huckabone at the Livermore Airport and Akira at Shadow Cliffs were these two.
Derek Heins
Piedmont
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Black-and-white Warbler at last
Sun, 25 Jan
2004 00:02:07 +0000
From: Judi Sierra
I found the Black-and-white Warbler today at 3:00 on the west side (lake side) of Children's Fairyland at Lake Merritt in Oakland. It was inside the fence about midway down the path on the upper trunk of a large pine. There is a orange-and-green structure in front of the tree (says Playland). I followed the Bushtits for awhile and believe I had a glimpse at the Black-throated Gray Warbler. The Cooper's Hawk was in the same oak I described in last weeks post.
Judi Sierra - Oakland
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