[EBB Sightings] Peregrine falcon and Green Heron, Lake Elizabeth, Fremont

I took advantage of the mid-day sunny break in the weather to go for a walk along the path by the creek at Lake Elizabeth, from the southeast lot to the soccer lawns on the north side.  An hour into it, a light pitter-patter turned into a thunder and lightning storm with cold, 45-degree driving rain. It was worth it as the birding was great before the storm began!

Best bird was a PEREGRINE FALCON flying south over the berry bushes into the Stiver's Lagoon area.  Park ranger Sandy Ferreira had just pulled up in her truck and was telling me about the bird when it appeared! Two ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS continue near the restroom by the playground on the south side of the lake, and I heard at least five other selasphorous hummingbirds in the woodland by the creek.  A nice surprise was an OAK TITMOUSE, uncommonly seen here, vocalizing as it fed in the trees.  A female DOWNY WOODPECKER shimmied up a tree trunk nearby, and a flock of CEDAR WAXWINGS flew overhead.

I accidentally flushed my first GREEN HERON of the year from the lake side across from Tree Swallow Box #19. "Only" about 30 BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS were on Duck Island today along with 5 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS. Two uncommon CINNAMON TEAL were on the rocks at the island.

The two LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES were interacting on and near the Tree Swallow boxes at New Marsh.  One would perch on a swallow box with the other in a nearby tree; then they'd fly at each other and switch perches.  Two loud AMERICAN CROWS gave chase to a RED-TAILED HAWK over the soccer lawns, hounding it out of sight.  

The SNOW GOOSE continued with the Canada geese today on the northeast arm of the lake.  I was happy to see it take off and fly out strongly with two other geese over the golf course, circling back to land on the lawn near 16 continuing GREATER WHITE-FRONTED geese.  Perhaps when they leave, it'll go with them.

Stephanie Floyd
Fremont