Re: Tropical Kingbird
Thu, 10 Dec 1998 07:49:15 -0800
From: John Luther
Hi All,
Wanted to let you all know that the Tropical Kingbird was still in Martinez
on Wed 9 Dec. Denise and I saw the bird at about 8:15am, but could not find
it again with a quick search at about 9:30. I think it probably uses the
eucalyptus as a night roost and feeds and warms up on the SE side of the
grove as the sun comes up and then moves to other areas during the day. We
saw the bird on the SE corner of the grove just south of the group seating
area as described in earlier messages. This in the west side of Hidden Lakes
Park in Martinez. There is a parking area for the park on Center Street just
west of Glacier. You will see the grove of eucalyptus to the southwest of
the parking area.
John Luther
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Contra Costa Swamp Sparrows
Thu, 10 Dec 1998 13:32:07 PST
From: Steve Glover
Hello Central Valley and East Bay Birders, County Listers,
This morning I birded the Iron House Sanitary District in Oakley, Contra Costa. This spot is at the south end of an area known as "Big Break", just east of the confluence of the Sacramento and the San Joaquin. There are 2 fairly large sewage ponds here (off limits behind a chain link fence), open fields that are often flooded by the sanitary district, as well as an extensive area of willows and tules.
To get to this area take Hwy 4 into Oakley (just east of Antioch). Turn north onto VIntage Parkway. Go over the overpass and turn right onto Walnut Meadows. Continue to Jordan and go left. The trailhead is dead ahead. Take the trail past the ponds (checking the Bonaparte's Gulls for something unusual) and continue a half mile or so to a few bedraggled tamarisks and an outhouse. Just around the corner from there you will be within a hundred yards or so of the open water known as Big Break. This morning at least 2 Swamp Sparrows were calling noisily in the tules at this spot. Denise Wight reported one from very close to hear a few weeks ago and I suspect that there are several more here.
This area has only recently been opened to the public and already rarities have included Franklin's Gull, Least and Black Terns, Pac[ific] Golden-Plover and Great-tailed Grackle.
Steve Glover
Dublin, Ca
Information request on misplaced sighting
record
Fri, 11 Dec 1998 12:43:13 -0800
From: Doug Shaw
Hello all:
Sometime in the winter fall / winter of 1994 there was a Costa's Hummingbird at the Berkley botantical gardens. Does anyone have the date range of that sighting?
Thanks,
Doug Shaw
Santa Rosa
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Re: Information request on misplaced sighting
record
Date: Fri, 11 Dec 1998 13:30:15 PST
From: Joseph Morlan
Doug Shaw wrote:
Sometime in the winter fall / winter of 1994 there was a Costa's Hummingbird at the Berkley botantical gardens. Does anyone have the date range of that sighting?
The only record I have from there is July-August 1994 as follows:
COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD
07/08/94
08/04/94
1
UC Berkeley Botanic Garden
ALA
DWi\JM\GGr\FGB\DSh\B Gallagher
Immature male at bed 359 in Mesoamerican Section.
JM on 7/23
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044
California Birding; Mystery Birds:
http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan
California Bird Records Committee:
http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc
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Costa's Hummingbird
Fri, 11 Dec 1998 14:26:31 PST
From: Steve Glover
East Bay Birders,
The following are the East Bay winter records that I am aware of.
One ad. male "wintering", El Cerrito, (American Birds 5-6/1983, fide The GULL).One male 12/21/75 Oakland seen on Oak. CBC (fide R. Erickson, American Birds 6/76).
One imm. male 8/15/86 to 2/6/87, Moraga, K. Prill, voice recorded by L. Baptista (American Birds Summer of 1987). This bird was apparently found injured on 2/1 and died at the California Acad. of Sci. (AB Fall of '87).
One (age, sex?) Walnut Creek, Gen Graves, 12/19/89 to at least 2/24/90 (The Quail 2/90 & 4/90).
American Birds Summer of 1990 presumably refers to the previous record as well as another record when it stated that two wintered in the East Bay in 89-90. The second bird appears to have been seen on the Oakland CBC that year but I have no further details.
One female, Hayward 12/20/92 to at least 1/22/93 (The Quail 2/93).
Note also that there are a handful of November and January records that should probably best be considered late/early migrants. If anyone has anymore to add to these I would love to hear about it.
Steve Glover
CoCo Tropical Kingbird
Fri, 11 Dec 1998 23:15:23 -0800
From: Mike Feighner
East-Bay-Birders:
This morning I looked for and refound the Tropical Kingbird in Martinez in Hidden Lakes Park. I had arrived at 8:40 AM. Another birder had already been there since about 8:15 AM and wasn't seeing anything. I spent about 30 minutes looking and wasn't seeing anything. So, I looked around the rest of the park for the White-throated Sparrows that were reported earlier. Not finding anything spectacular, I headed back to the eucalyptus grove at about 9:40 AM to see from a distance a flash of yellow move up into the trees. I moved in for a closer look, and this was in fact the Tropical Kingbird which was actively flycatching from a eucalyptus right behind the right side of the amphitheater or seating area. The yellow feathering on its belly and vent was bright, notched tail was obvious as well at its darker cheeks and longer bill. At no time did the bird vocalize. The bird was still there when I left at about 9:45 AM.
I had been to the same area on Tuesday, 12/8/98, with George Finger, Jean Richmond and others. We struck out on the kingbird but instead found a Merlin perched in the dead eucalyptus tree eating a House Finch.
I have checked several maps including the one on Joe Morlan's page. Are Hidden Valley Park and Hidden Lake Park one and the same?
To reach the area where the Tropical Kingbird has been, drive west on Center, past Glacier, and park in the parking lot on the left across from Redwood and Center. Take the path past the yellow and blue playground equipment to the seating area or amphitheater.
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA
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Re: CoCo Tropical Kingbird
Fri, 11 Dec 1998 23:33:10 PST
From: Joseph Morlan
Mike Feighner wrote:
Are Hidden Valley Park and Hidden Lake Park one and the same?
I don't think so.
Hidden Lakes Park
Location: Morello Avenue at Chilpancingo Parkway
Two ballfields, multi-use field, jogging track, concession building, restrooms,
two totlot play areas, sand volleyball area, trails to Hidden Valley Park
and large parking lot (26 Acres)
Hidden Valley Park
Location: Center Avenue at Redwood Drive
Two lighted tennis courts, picnic areas, playground area, two ballfields,
restrooms, bicycle/jogging paths, 1-mile exercise course and a 2-mile pathway
leading up to Hidden Lakes Park. (16 Acres)
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA 94044
California Birding; Mystery Birds:
http://fog.ccsf.cc.ca.us/~jmorlan
California Bird Records Committee:
http://www.wfo-cbrc.org/cbrc
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