Yellow-headed Blackbirds in Martinez
Fri, 1 Jan 1999 15:44:04 PST
From: Denise Wight
Hi East Bay Birders,
Today, 1 Jan 1999, there were at least 9 Yellow-headed Blackbirds in with a huge flock of Tricolored and Red-winged Blackbirds in the reeds north of the Pacheco Creek bridge along Waterfront Rd. in Martinez. This incredibly vocal blackbird flock likely numbered in the 1000's, but the majority of the birds stayed within the vegetation. I saw one adult male Yellow-headed Blackbird deep within the reeds no more than 40 feet from the bridge. This sighting, at about 12:45 PM, coincided with a very high tide.
At Point Edith, Soras and Virginia Rails were very vocal during the high tide, but I did not see or hear any Black Rails. Marsh Wren were extremely easy to watch as they foraged about over the flooded reeds.
I didn't see the Tropical Kingbird at Hidden Lakes this morning.
Happy New Year!
Denise Wight
Martinez, CA
Coyote Hills Park: American Bittern
Fri, 1 Jan 1999 18:15:20 PST
From: Bill Scoggins
1 Jan. 1999
Hello East Bay Birdwatchers,
I walked Coyote Hills Regional Park this morning from 9:20 AM - 12:20 PM. It was a beautiful sunny morning. Clear and cool with a very light breeze. Highlights included American Bittern, Common Goldeneye, Eared Grebe, and Common Yellowthroat. Here is my complete list.
Nine Eared Grebe, 14 Pied-billed Grebe, 3 Double-crested cormorant, 1 American Bittern, 1 Black-crowned Night Heron, 2 Great Blue Heron, 3 Great Egret, 1 Snowy Egret, 6 Canada Goose, 78 American Wigeon, 8 Cinnamon Teal, 24 Gadwall, 9 Green-winged Teal, 135 Mallard, 2 Northern Pintails, 125 Northern Shoveler, 37 Canvasback, 3 Bufflehead, 145 Ruddy Duck, 6 Common Goldeneye, 2 Turkey Vulture, 2 White-tailed Kite, 7 Northern Harrier, 1 Red-shouldered Hawk by voice, 3 Red-tailed Hawk, 2 American Kestrel, 1 Ring-necked Pheasant by voice, 35 Rock Dove, 3 Mourning Dove, 6 California Quail, 1 Virginia Rail by voice, 4 Sora by voice, 43 American Coot, 1 Black-necked Stilt, 7 Avocet, 9 Killdeer, 2 Greater Yellowlegs, 2 Long-billed Dowitcher, 3 unidentified gulls, 1 Anna's Hummingbird, 1 Downey Woodpecker, 2 Black Phoebe, 8 Tree Swallow, 2 Western Scrub-Jay, 1 Common Raven by voice, 9 Marsh Wren, 5 Ruby-crowned Kinglet, 6 Hermit Thrush, 1 Northern Mockingbird, 2 American Pipit, 12 European Starling, 2 Common Yellowthroat, 3 Yellow-rumped Warbler, 2 Spotted Towhee, 5 California Towhee, 2 Fox Sparrow, 6 Song Sparrow, 70 Golden-crowned Sparrow, 14 White-crowned Sparrow, 17 Western Meadowlark, 9 House Finch.
The American Bittern was seen north of the Dust Trail near the intersection of the Lizard Rock Trail. The Red-shoulder Hawk was heard near the entrance Kiosk. Goldeneye, Canvasbacks and Eared Grebe are located in the big pond north of the boardwalk.
My birding route started at the Visitor Center. I crossed the Board Walk walking east to the end of the Dust Trail.
Happy New Year and Happy Birding,
Bill Scoggins
Castro Valley, CA
Native Plant Resources
What's going on at
Coyote Hills?
Birds at MLK/Arrowhead Jan. 1
Sun, 3 Jan 1999 19:11:57 PST
From: Collin Murphy
Dear Birders,
Thought you might like to see the list of species we viewed from 10 AM to 2 PM on New Year's Day. Numbers are included only for birds of special interest. It was a great way to start 1999. Observers: Rebecca Osborn-Coolidge, John Coolidge, Collin Murphy.
At Martin Luther King Jr Regional Shoreline:
Western Grebe, Clark's Grebe, Eared Grebe, Horned Grebe, Brown Pelican, Double-crested Cormorant, Snowy Egret, Great Blue Heron, Canada Goose, Lesser Scaup, American Wigeon, Ruddy Duck, Canvasback, Bufflehead, American Coot, Black-necked Stilt, Yellowlegs sp, Willet, Anna's Hummingbird, Black Phoebe, Yellow-rumped Warbler, Golden-Crowned Sparrow.
At Arrowhead Marsh:
Pied-billed Grebe, Eared Grebe, Horned Grebe, Great Blue Heron, Snowy Egret, Great Egret, Canada Goose, Green-Winged Teal, CinnamonTeal, Blue-winged Teal (1 male), Mallard, Northern Pintail, Northern Shoveler, Gadwall, Canvasback, Ruddy Duck, American Widgeon, Lesser Scaup, Common Goldeneye, Barrow's Goldeneye, Bufflehead, Turkey Vulture, Clapper Rail (at least 3), Sora (one), Black-necked Stilt, American Avocet, Yellowlegs sp, Willet, Long-billed Curlew (at least 5), Marbled Godwit, Dunlin, Western Sandpiper, Calif[ornia] Gull, Western Gull, Ring-billed Gull, White-crowned Sparrow, Western Meadowlark.