White-faced Ibis at Martin Luther King Jr Regional
Shoreline
Sat, 1 May 2004 13:18:07 -0700
From: Chris Heins
This morning there was a lone White-faced Ibis in nice breeding plumage in the southeast pond at Martin Luther King Jr Regional Shoreline in Oakland. Some of the waterfowl and shorebirds inthe vicinity:
I believe I also saw my first Hooded Oriole of the year in a palm tree on Otis Ave in Alameda.
Derek Heins
Piedmont
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Another hat trick for Skip
Sat, 01 May 2004
14:21:14 -0700
From: Dennis Braddy
EastBayBirders,
Skip begged so piteously to return to nearby Bishop Ranch Regional Preserve on our Dog-and-Bird-Walk this morning that despite the ticks and stickers he invariably collects there I finally relented. We took the hikers-only shortcut to Stream View Trail and turned right. Within 100 yards we saw a pair of Ash-throated Flycatchers, one of which disappeared into a hole in an oak tree. (Nest?) A little farther along the trail we spotted a Lazuli Bunting, a life bird for Skip. When we reached the hilltop Red Tail Hawk Trail we turned left. Near the south end of the trail where it dead-ends at the park boundary, we first heard and then saw Skip's second life bird of the day, Grasshopper Sparrow. "Arf!" said Skip with a wide and wet grin. (Uncharacteristically vocal for this usually phlegmatic birder.) As we descended Gray Fox Trail back toward the park entrance a Western Kingbird flew over, made an effortless loop to snag an insect, and continued on its way. This was Skip's first kingbird and completed his second life bird hat trick in a week. But as we neared the car Skip was whining that he had heard a Cassin's Vireo back by the stock pond and hadn't been able to get my attention. Sure.
Dennis Braddy and Skip
San Ramon
For directions and a map: http://www.ebparks.org/parks/bishop.htm
Spotted Sandpipers in Heather Farm Park, Walnut Creek
Sat, 1 May 2004 20:10:57 -0700
From: Hugh Harvey
This evening in Heather Farm Park in Walnut Creek, eight Spotted Sandpipers were on a floating log at the north end of the natural pond. Heather Farm is off of Ygnacio Valley Rd east of John Muir Hospital. All eight were in full alternate plumage.
Hugh Harvey
Birding around Livermore
Sat, 1 May 2004 22:22:13
-0700
From: Mark Miller
Hi everyone--
This afternoon I did some light birding around Livermore, including Mines Rd and Patterson Pass Rd. Along Mines Rd, at the pullout south of the entrance to Del Valle Regional Park, two Western Wood-Pewees were calling, my first for the year. In the suburbs, a Hooded Oriole was singing from a eucalyptus (fan palm nearby) along Helsinki St. In the willow patch at Milepost 6.21 along Patterson Pass Rd, the male Blue Grosbeak continues in full song, but only showed itself briefly. A brown bird the shade of a female darted out, but I didn't get a good view of it. Two Western Tanagers and a Pacific-slope Flycatcher were also there.
Mark Miller
Pleasanton, CA
Re: White-faced Ibis at Martin Luther King Jr Regional
Shoreline
Sun, 02 May 2004 10:24:00 -0700
From: Courtenay Peddle
Hello folks,
On Saturday morning, a White-faced Ibis was feeding in the algae on pond 2 (the middle one) at Mitigation Marsh, Martin Luther King Jr Regional Shoreline in Oakland. [Mitigation Marsh is the recently restored area on your right as you drive in the park road to Arrowhead Marsh.] On the other two ponds were American Avocet chicks that appeared to be less than a week old (I'd been out of town all week so had no opportunity to find them earlier). Also of note was a Merlin flyover, more than 100 Semipalmated Plovers and 10 Whimbrel in the marsh. Of negative note was neither sight nor sound of Clapper Rail, Marsh Wren or Savannah Sparrow. Perhaps they're on nest and silent. The Pied-billed Grebe was calling. Here's the complete list:
Good birding!
Courtenay Peddle
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Two White-faced Ibis at Martin Luther King Jr Regional
Shoreline
Sun, 2 May 2004 14:13:18 -0700 (PDT)
From: John Harris
Two White-faced Ibis were in the southeast pond of the Mitigation Marsh at Martin Luther King Jr Regional Shoreline in Oakland. By walking down the path along the south fence it was possible to get pretty close to them, though there was considerable heat shimmer by 12:00, when I visited the area. Many other shorebirds and waders as reported by others.
John H. Harris
Biology Department, Mills College
Oakland, CA
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Patterson Pass Road and Pleasanton
Sun, 2
May 2004 22:56:20 -0700
From: Rich Cimino
Saturday 7:15 AM on Paterson Pass Road, Marker 5.90 to 6.21 with great weather and no wind.
Missing were Western Kingbirds ?????
Sunday Pleasanton, 7:30 AM at 1475 Cedar Wood Ln - off of Black Ave, 3 female Western Tanagers in olive trees feeding.
Rich Cimino
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