Birdingonthe.Net Recent Postings from Monterey Bay > Home > Mail > Alerts Updated on Thursday, September 2 at 12:06 AM ET The most recently received Mail is at the top.	Summer Tanager,©Barry Kent Mackay

2 Sep Re: West Santa Cruz Birds [] 2 Sep West Santa Cruz Birds [] 01 Sep More Pagrovian Updates, Etc. [] 01 Sep more Baird's Sandpipers [Roger Wolfe ] 31 Aug Baird's Sandpiper at Asilomar State Beach [Inga Waite ] 31 Aug Capitola: Two-Merlin morning! [Judy Donaldson ] 31 Aug another Bald Eagle [Todd Newberry ] 31 Aug Re: Young Juncos [Don Roberson ] 31 Aug bird-surveyers needed on the 21st [Todd Newberry ] 31 Aug Young Juncos [] 30 Aug Jetty Rd./Watsonville Sloughs 8/30/10 [Dominik Mosur ] 30 Aug Fwd: can you add this to MBB? [Shirley Murphy ] 30 Aug FW: [AnoNuevoDocents] Fwd: Ano Nuevo Island Restoration Project needs volunteers ["Glasco, Don" ] 30 Aug Bethany Curve [] 29 Aug Ano Nuevo: Baird's Sandpiper? ["Glasco, Don" ] 29 Aug Re: Eary Pagrovia Falls [Don Roberson ] 29 Aug Eary Pagrovia Falls [] 29 Aug MTY highlights updated [Don Roberson ] 28 Aug Re: Osprey in Pacific Grove [Eric Miller ] 28 Aug Monterey BAEA bird [Walter Goldfrank ] 28 Aug Sabine's Gull, Stilt Sandpiper [Clay Kempf ] 28 Aug Osprey in Pacific Grove ["Betsy Buchalter Adler" ] 28 Aug A few birds [] 28 Aug . . .and just a few more [] 28 Aug a few from the west side [Lois Goldfrank ] 28 Aug Natural Bridges [Alexander Gaguine ] 28 Aug Re: More Slough Birds [] 27 Aug Eastern Kingbird photos, Schwan Lake [David Sidle ] 27 Aug More Slough Birds [] 27 Aug correction [Bernadette Ramer ] 27 Aug Stilt Sandpiper Struve Slough 8/26 & 8/27 [Bernadette Ramer ] 27 Aug Monterey Bay birds, pics [Tom Grey ] 27 Aug E. Kingbird, Am. Redstart, etc. [] 27 Aug Another Black-chinned Hummer in Capitola [Judy Donaldson ] 27 Aug Hooded Orioles in Capitola [Judy Donaldson ] 26 Aug Baird's near Salinas River mouth, pic [Tom Grey ] 26 Aug Costa's Hummingbird [] 26 Aug Capitola Black-chinned Hummer [] 26 Aug Stilt Sandpiper [Lois Goldfrank ] 26 Aug Egrets at Corcoran's Lagoon [] 25 Aug Younger Lagoon [Lois Goldfrank ] 25 Aug Watsonville Slough [Roger Wolfe ] 25 Aug Baird's continues [Edward Frost ] 25 Aug Sept/Oct Albatross newsletter is online [Judy Donaldson ] 25 Aug a few Santa Cruz birds [] 24 Aug Stilt Sandpiper at Natural Bridges (Monday/photos) [David Sidle ] 25 Aug New Brighton SB [] 24 Aug Morning Birds - Moro Cojo/Salinas River Mouth [] 24 Aug West Struve Baird's [Jeff Wall ] 24 Aug White-winged Dove--Rocky Point [Brian Sullivan ] 23 Aug random birds ["Alex Rinkert" ] 23 Aug good birds in flight (and another yard bird) [] 23 Aug a few from Younger [Lois Goldfrank ] 23 Aug RE: RE: Ano update. island restoration: appendenum Raven ["Glasco, Don" ] 23 Aug new yard bird [] 22 Aug Re: Golden-crowned sparrow [Dominik Mosur ] 22 Aug Re: RE: Ano update. island restoration: appendenum Raven [Greg Meyer ] 23 Aug Re: Golden-crowned sparrow [] 22 Aug Re: Golden-crowned sparrow [Joseph Morlan ] 22 Aug Re: Golden-crowned sparrow [Mark Eaton ] 22 Aug Some Santa Cruz County birds [Phil Brown ] 23 Aug Golden-crowned sparrow [kathy kuyper ] 22 Aug Re: Ca. Quail ... county records [] 22 Aug Re: Ca. Quail [] 22 Aug Re: Ca. Quail [chris hartzell ] 22 Aug Black Tern [Roger Wolfe ] 22 Aug RE: Ca. Quail ["Glasco, Don" ] 22 Aug Re: Ca. Quail [] 22 Aug Re: Ca. Quail [] 22 Aug Ca. Quail [] 21 Aug shorebirds, shrike, larks [Scott Smithson ] 21 Aug RE: Ano update. island restoration: appendenum Raven ["Glasco, Don" ] 21 Aug Ano update. island restoration ["Glasco, Don" ] 21 Aug Monterey Bay boat trip [chris hartzell ] 20 Aug Pileated Woodpecker [Claire Wilson ] 20 Aug Some Santa Cruz Birds [] Subject: Re: West Santa Cruz Birds From: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 01:05:52 -0400 (EDT) Also, I forgot to mention there were 5 COMMON MERGANSERS swimming in the Moore Creek Lagoon in the early morning, then they flew up the coast. Steve Gerow -----Original Message----- From: stephengerow To: mbb Sent: Wed, Sep 1, 2010 10:02 pm Subject: [MBB] West Santa Cruz Birds This morning a juv. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was at Younger Lagoon, possibly the same bird that Lois Goldfrank reported there a few days ago. Also at Younger were 3 NORTHERN PINTAILS, 6 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, and a flock of 14 N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS. A juv. PEREGRINE FALCON flew over the Terrace Point field Antonelli Pond had a group of 8 VAUX'S SWIFTS foraging with mixed swallows (Barn, Cliff, N. Rough-winged, and Violet-green); also, an OSPREY flew over carrying a fish northward, and other passerine migrants included a SWAINSON'S THRUSH. In the early morning Natural Bridges was very active with common migrants. Among the more notable were a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, 2 juv. LAZULI BUNTINGS, a few CEDAR WAXWINGS (more than one, but I couldn't get an exact count),a flock of 9 WESTERN TANAGERS (at least 12 total in the park), a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, 2 HOODED ORIOLES, a group of 8 PINE SISKINS, 4 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, 4 HOUSE WRENS, etc. Several SAVANNAH SPARROWS were on the upper beach and in the lower Moore Creek salt marsh , and a couple of others were near the Homeless Garden. The first SOOTY SHEARWATERS that I have seen off the west Santa Cruz coast this season were streaming by off Natural Bridges Beach this morning, with about 250 passing in a few minutes of viewing, but the flow soon moved farther offshore. Steve Gerow Santa Cruz _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: West Santa Cruz Birds From: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Thu, 2 Sep 2010 01:02:04 -0400 (EDT) This morning a juv. BAIRD'S SANDPIPER was at Younger Lagoon, possibly the same bird that Lois Goldfrank reported there a few days ago. Also at Younger were 3 NORTHERN PINTAILS, 6 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, and a flock of 14 N. ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS. A juv. PEREGRINE FALCON flew over the Terrace Point field Antonelli Pond had a group of 8 VAUX'S SWIFTS foraging with mixed swallows (Barn, Cliff, N. Rough-winged, and Violet-green); also, an OSPREY flew over carrying a fish northward, and other passerine migrants included a SWAINSON'S THRUSH. In the early morning Natural Bridges was very active with common migrants. Among the more notable were a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, 2 juv. LAZULI BUNTINGS, a few CEDAR WAXWINGS (more than one, but I couldn't get an exact count),a flock of 9 WESTERN TANAGERS (at least 12 total in the park), a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, 2 HOODED ORIOLES, a group of 8 PINE SISKINS, 4 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, 4 HOUSE WRENS, etc. Several SAVANNAH SPARROWS were on the upper beach and in the lower Moore Creek salt marsh , and a couple of others were near the Homeless Garden. The first SOOTY SHEARWATERS that I have seen off the west Santa Cruz coast this season were streaming by off Natural Bridges Beach this morning, with about 250 passing in a few minutes of viewing, but the flow soon moved farther offshore. Steve Gerow Santa Cruz _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: More Pagrovian Updates, Etc. From: lammergeiereyes AT aol.com Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 22:08:34 -0400 A presumed pugetensis adult White-crowned Sparrow came to my feeder today. Hopefully it will linger for photos to conclusively rule out nuttali. My first fall Surfbird was on the rocky shore at Arena Cove on August 30. Wandering Tattler are still present there daily. And, a second Red-breasted Nuthatch was in the Valenzuela area of residential Jacks Peak. Blake T. Matheson President, Monterey Audubon Society "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know." Leopold (1949). _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: more Baird's Sandpipers From: Roger Wolfe <rogwolfe AT cruzio.com> Date: Wed, 01 Sep 2010 16:14:36 -0700 There were single BAIRD'S SANDPIPERS present at both Watsonville Slough (juv.) and in Struve Slough (alt. adult) behind the title company. Also present at the second location were 5 LESSER YELLOWLEGS. Roger that Soquel _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Baird's Sandpiper at Asilomar State Beach From: Inga Waite <ingawaite AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 20:23:13 -0700 (PDT) Dan and I had a juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER at Asilomar State Beach at 6:30 this evening. It was feeding on sand flies in the company of three LEAST SANDPIPERS, up on the dry sand about 100 yards beyond the fresh water seep. Dan saw the bird in the same vicinity this morning at about 9:30 a.m. The scaly pattern of the feathers on the back are very pronounced in this individual. Good birding! Inga Labeaune _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Capitola: Two-Merlin morning! From: Judy Donaldson <calqua AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 15:35:47 -0700 (PDT) As I walked upstream on Riverview this morning (between 8 & 9 am), a MERLIN flew overhead, coming from the direction of the Rispin property. Then 3 seconds later, a second Merlin followed the first. Judy Donaldson_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: another Bald Eagle From: Todd Newberry <taxa AT biology.ucsc.edu> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 12:51:28 -0700 Wally Goldfrank recently had a Bald Eagle fly over the UCSC campus in mid-morning. A young Bald Eagle just now (just after noon Tues) soared eastward rather low over the house here at High & Spring Sts, SC. Todd Newberry Santa Cruz _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Re: Young Juncos From: Don Roberson <creagrus AT montereybay.com> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:41:44 -0700 It was also a late nesting season in Pacific Grove. We currently have at our feeder begging fledgling juncos, several just-fledged Acorn Woodpeckers being fed by parents, begging fledgling Pygmy Nuthatches heard constantly, a just-fledged Cal Towhee, several just-fledged Steller's Jays, and an apparent late-fledged juv Pac-slope Flycatcher. For several of these species, I suspect that these are either second broods, or replacement broods from an earlier failed effort. One possible reason for all this late activity in Pacific Grove is that the summer fog has continued through August, breaking up only occasionally, and so cool conditions promoted late nesting. I am not sure why it would promote late nesting, but this summer has been much cooler and foggier than even our 'typical' summer. I am told this situation (i.e., late nesting) is not the case for inland areas where it has been hot and sunny most of the summer. Don Roberson _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: bird-surveyers needed on the 21st From: Todd Newberry <taxa AT biology.ucsc.edu> Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 11:15:53 -0700 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: *Susanne Fork* > Date: Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 10:53 AM *ELKHORN SLOUGH * *MIGRATORY SHOREBIRD MONITORING Tuesday, September 21st* We are looking for birding enthusiasts (intermediate skills required) to carry out surveys of the waterfowl, waders, and peeps of Elkhorn Slough. Since 2003, spring and fall surveys from the main channel (by boat) as well as several land-based sites have revealed seasonally rich assemblages of birds, including Northern Pintail, Green-winged and Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shovelers, and other waterfowl, waders such as herons, egrets, Long-billed Curlews, Marbled Godwits, Greater Yellowlegs, etc.), the ever-present peeps, plus many other species. Surveys are carried out at low tide and take about 2 hours to complete, including walking to and from the site (plan a half day for the boat survey). Survey times are as follows: 3:00pm-5:00pm Parsons Slough, South Marsh, and Jetty Road 3:00pm-7:00pm Main channel boat survey 10:00am-12:00pm North Marsh (high tide survey) Contact Susie Fork (skfork AT gmail.com ) for details. MANY THANKS FROM ME, TOO, IF YOU CAN HELP SUSIE! Todd Newberry Santa Cruz _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Young Juncos From: cotopaxihigh AT comcast.net Date: Tue, 31 Aug 2010 17:13:57 +0000 (UTC) I observed an adult Junco feeding a begging young this morning.  This also seems late.  Our yard has had a very productive nesting season. I am anxiously waiting for the first of the fall sparrows.  Barb Scharfenstein _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Jetty Rd./Watsonville Sloughs 8/30/10 From: Dominik Mosur <polskatata AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 20:12:45 -0700 (PDT) Passing through north Monterey and south Santa Cruz counties I made a couple of stops to bird. At the end of Jetty Rd. there were two adult BONAPARTE'S GULLS in basic plumage, a COMMON LOON in basic and a WANDERING TATTLER. An adult GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL was flying over, the first I've seen this "fall." I then birded Harkins/E. and W. Struve Sloughs in Watsonville. No luck relocating the Stilt Sandpiper but I did see good diversity of shorebirds some of which were new for me in SCZ including : LESSER YELLOWLEGS (3 AT W. Struve, 5 AT E. Struve) GREATER YELLOWLEGS (E. Struve) SEMIPALMATED PLOVER (12 AT W. Struve, 6 AT E. Struve) BLACK-NECKED STILT (10 AT W. Struve) LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER (W. Struve) Also interesting was hearing a persistently chipping YELLOW WARBLER AT E. Struve break out briefly into song. Good birding, Dominik Mosur San Francisco Sent from my iPhone _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Fwd: can you add this to MBB? From: Shirley Murphy <smurphbird AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 16:23:41 -0700 ---------- Forwarded message ---------- From: Susanne Fork Date: Mon, Aug 30, 2010 at 10:53 AM Subject: can you add this to MBB? To: Shirley Murphy Hi Shirley, So far I am short on folks agreeing to help out with the upcoming shorebird survey. Could you add an announcement about the Sept 21 survey? (the details are below) Thanks, Susie ELKHORN SLOUGH MIGRATORY SHOREBIRD MONITORING Tuesday, September 21st We are looking for birding enthusiasts (intermediate skills required) to carry out surveys of the waterfowl, waders, and peeps of Elkhorn Slough. Since 2003, spring and fall surveys from the main channel (by boat) as well as several land-based sites have revealed seasonally rich assemblages of birds, including Northern Pintail, Green-winged and Cinnamon Teal, Northern Shovelers, and other waterfowl, waders such as herons, egrets, Long-billed Curlews, Marbled Godwits, Greater Yellowlegs, etc.), the ever-present peeps, plus many other species. Surveys are carried out at low tide and take about 2 hours to complete, including walking to and from the site (plan a half day for the boat survey). Survey times are as follows: 3:00pm-5:00pm Parsons Slough, South Marsh, and Jetty Road 3:00pm-7:00pm Main channel boat survey 10:00am-12:00pm North Marsh (high tide survey) Contact Susie Fork (skfork AT gmail.com) for details._______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: FW: [AnoNuevoDocents] Fwd: Ano Nuevo Island Restoration Project needs volunteers From: "Glasco, Don" <Don.Glasco AT cengage.com> Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:09:36 -0400 One may argue if this is conversation dollars well spent. But it is happening. Here is a possible opportunity to visit Ano Island. Don Glasco Senior Systems Engineer Cengage Learning Technical Services, Web Hosting don.glasco AT cengage.com 831.277.5042 http://www.cengage.com ________________________________ From: AnoNuevoDocents AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:AnoNuevoDocents AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Patricia Connor and Linn Johnson Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2010 6:04 PM To: Año Nuevo Docent Yahoo Group Subject: [AnoNuevoDocents] Fwd: Ano Nuevo Island Restoration Project needs volunteers Here is an opportunity to get on the Año Nuevo Island. Linn Johnson Begin forwarded message: From: Dru Devlin > Date: August 29, 2010 9:44:40 AM PDT To: beachwatchlist AT willamette.nos.noaa.gov Subject: Ano Nuevo Island Restoration Project needs volunteers The Año Nuevo Island Restoration Project is in need of volunteer expertise, sweat, and laughter. Beginning now through mid-November, we are conducting restoration activities towards the goal of protecting sensitive wildlife on the island. Skills: Comfortable in a small boat Access to a wetsuit Healthy back and other parts to lift 35 lbs Enjoy using a shovel and doing general planting and yard-type work Able to participate for a whole day (10+ hours given travel and clean up time) Immediate Needs: 8/30 - Help create fascine logs out of eucalyptus slash (bring your creativity) - mainland site near Año Nuevo State Reserve 9/1 and 9/2 - Island clean-up, packaging up materials left behind over the years (feels great to remove human trash) 9/7 - Island preparation - last minute tasks to prepare for restoration Please see the volunteer calender at AnoNuevoIsland.org for other needs through November. You may sign in to the volunteer or friends group if you like. We hope volunteers will post stories and photos about their experiences. Past volunteers check out the People photo album. Please call or email with any questions. Thank you very much, Michelle -- Michelle Hester Oikonos Ecosystem Knowledge PO Box 1918, Kailua, HI 96734 (415) 868-1399 or (808) 228-4463 Michelle AT oikonos.org www.oikonos.org www.AnoNuevoIsland.org -- Dru Devlin Ecosystems Monitoring Programs Assistant Farallones Marine Sanctuary Association 991 Marine Dr.,The Presidio San Francisco, CA 94129 Phone: 415.561.6625 Ext 311 Fax: 415.561.6616 email: ddevlin AT farallones.org __._,_.___ Reply to sender | Reply to group | Reply via web post | Start a New Topic Messages in this topic (1) Recent Activity: Visit Your Group MARKETPLACE Get great advice about dogs and cats. Visit the Dog & Cat Answers Center. ________________________________ Hobbies & Activities Zone: Find others who share your passions! Explore new interests. ________________________________ Stay on top of your group activity without leaving the page you're on - Get the Yahoo! Toolbar now. [http://l.yimg.com/a/i/us/yg/logo/us.gif] Switch to: Text-Only, Daily Digest * Unsubscribe * Terms of Use . __,_._,__________________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Bethany Curve From: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Mon, 30 Aug 2010 00:05:11 -0400 (EDT) This morning there was a WILLOW FLYCATCHER at Bethany Curve Park in Santa Cruz, my first for this fall season. It was in the segment between Plateau and Alta Avenues, mostly around the east side of the little bridge. A PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER was foraging in the same area, along with several YELLOW and WILSON'S WARBLERS, etc. Other "firsts" for the park for this season were a migrant COMMON YELLOWTHROAT just up from West Cliff Drive, and a BELTED KINGFISHER working between Plateau Avenue and Oxford Way. There was also a group of three juv. HOODED ORIOLES between Oxford and West Cliff. A few photos of the Willow Flycatcher are here: http://picasaweb.google.com/steve.gerow/UntitledAlbum06# Steve Gerow Santa Cruz _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Ano Nuevo: Baird's Sandpiper? From: "Glasco, Don" <Don.Glasco AT cengage.com> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 23:51:47 -0400 A beautiful sunny windless day at North Point at Ano Nuevo on Sunday 29 Aug. With exception of a sandpiper puzzle described below, it was rather boring bird and pinniped wise (OK. I've become spoiled vis-à-vis pinnipeds.) Usual suspects. The pair of Mute Swans is still present on the pond. They have there for over two months now. Many more Ravens than I'm used to. I normally see maybe a score. This morning there were 40-50 in the wrack and flying about. Numbers diminished back to normal numbers during the day. At the same time ~350 starlings flew by N to S within 20 minutes in spurts of 10-30. Again, by end of the day down to the more normal 30 or do by days end. Ravens and starlings migrating thru? I made a half hearted attempt to scope and count the Brant Corms on the island. 1000? No nests seen. As expected (there were still some a month ago). The re-vegetation project on the island is well underway. A couple of the PCV pipe (old) and one of the new ceramic artificial burrows for Rhinoceros Auklets are visible from the mainland if you know what to look for. Euc logs and coconut fiber bales are being stockpiled at beginning of Equal Access trail. SANDPIPER PUZZLE: Baird's Sandpiper? Four sandpipers appeared about 3 PM below North Point lookout amongst a dozen W. Gulls. I did not see them fly in so I did not see wing pattern. "Oh, just some Sanderlings" was my immediate thought. A handful of Sanderlings had flown by a couple or hours earlier, S to N. Distinctive wing pattern. These were the size of a Sanderlings. Totally black bill and legs. Bill as long as head. Coloring very similar to breeding Sanderlings but not quite the same to my eye. These stayed within 4 x 12 meter area in the wrack (near high tide) foraging in the wrack and bare sandy spots amongst that patch of wrack. A bit more dainty than a Sanderlings. They were not surf chasing and stayed put in a single spot for hour or more (still there when I left). Definitely not Solitary Sandpiper (none of the spotting as I see in photos I goggled). They certainly looked like Baird's by the books - but I've never knowingly seem one before. I have to go by guide books. I'd be satisfied with calling them Baird's. Except habitat. Per Don Robinson and other sources, Baird's frequent estuaries (e.g. Salinas, Pajaro, a seep at Asilomar). There are seeps at Ano entering into the channel between mainland and island but not at this particular spot. A puzzled amateur. Don Glasco Senior Systems Engineer Cengage Learning Technical Services, Web Hosting don.glasco AT cengage.com 831.277.5042 http://www.cengage.com _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Re: Eary Pagrovia Falls From: Don Roberson <creagrus AT montereybay.com> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 16:18:46 -0700 We also had our first two Townsend's of the fall today, in a yard two blocks from "Pagrovia" Don Roberson Pacific Grove CA http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/ _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Eary Pagrovia Falls From: lammergeiereyes AT aol.com Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 18:17:18 -0400 I was pleased to have my first garden Townsend's Warbler of the fall this afternoon. It came several hours after a Red-breasted Nuthatch appeared in Pines behind my property. A spirited juv. Sharp-shinned Hawk also had a go at some crows by my feeder yesterday. It left rather chastened by the experience. On that note, a week ago, 8-22, had a juv. Cooper's Hawk feeding on nuttali Sparrows at the asilomar dunes, a place I don't associate with accipiters. Wandering Tattler and Ruddy Turnstone have been present daily along the rocky shore since about 7.20, though over the past few days Tattler numbers seem to have been on the wane. On the corvid front, in addition to the Common Ravens which flew over the yard on 8.16, a Steller's Jay also came to the garden today. This is the third time I've seen one here over the summer. Humpbacks are still visible offshore between Point Pinos and Point Joe. During the warm spell last week I watched them blow emerald crystalline spume before the setting sun as it flashed green and turned below the horizon. Blake T. Matheson President, Monterey Audubon Society "Men still live who, in their youth, remember Passenger Pigeons. Trees still live who, in their youth, were shaken by a living wind. But a decade hence only the oldest oaks will remember, and at long last only the hills will know." Leopold (1949). _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: MTY highlights updated From: Don Roberson <creagrus AT montereybay.com> Date: Sun, 29 Aug 2010 14:14:58 -0700 New photos of interesting birds from late June through today are now included on the updated "Monterey County" highlights page at http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/MTY_2010b.html Don Roberson Pacific Grove CA _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Re: Osprey in Pacific Grove From: Eric Miller <eaglit AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 21:45:17 -0700 There has been a BRANDT hanging out on the beach/seal rookery for the last several weeks. I had never seen it in the water before. Wonder if it is the same. On Aug 28, 2010, at 5:27 PM, Betsy Buchalter Adler wrote: > An OSPREY circled above the water in the cove just north of Lovers > Point around 11:30 this morning, then flew south. I waited in hopes > of its return, but no luck. A pair of BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS and their > chick (nearly full size but with the bicolored beak of a juvenile) > preened in the sun on the rocks offshore from the Green Gables Inn. > At Hopkins Marine Station, a BRANT and 10-12 BLACK TURNSTONES > foraged in the kelp, ignoring the harbor seals hauled out on the sand. > > Good birding, > Betsy Buchalter Adler > Pacific Grove > _______________________________________________ > mbb mailing list > mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu > http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Monterey BAEA bird From: Walter Goldfrank <wally AT ucsc.edu> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 21:38:15 -0700 This morning at about ten I was in the second set of a hotly contested tennis match on the east courts at UCSC, serving from the south end of the court. I looked up preparing to toss the ball when I saw a large raptor coming toward the courts from the east. I pointed and said to my playing partner across the net, "red-tail?" then as it neared, "no, eagle," then "must be a golden," but it didn't look right, head and tail all white, and besides, it didn't act like the GOEAs I often see on campus. "Are there bald eagles around here?" he asked. "Very occasionally," I replied. But that's what it was, I came to realize, somewhat stunned. The BAEA never stopped, flying westward over the redwoods toward Performing Arts and Davenport. And thanks to Steve Gerow for consulting the archives and telling me that one was seen last year and two in 2007 at roughly this time of year, late summer to early fall. wally goldfrank _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Sabine's Gull, Stilt Sandpiper From: Clay Kempf <ltjaeger AT att.net> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:35:50 -0700 Rick Fournier, Earl Lebow and I made the shorebirding rounds today without much success. Numbers at traditional locations were down from a week ago. Other than a smattering of LESSER YELLOWLEGS here and there, the only birds of note were a SABINE'S GULL at the Salinas Rivermouth and the continuing STILT SANDPIPER in upper East Struve Slough. Clay Kempf Royal Oaks _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Osprey in Pacific Grove From: "Betsy Buchalter Adler" <adler AT adlercolvin.com> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 17:27:18 -0700 An OSPREY circled above the water in the cove just north of Lovers Point around 11:30 this morning, then flew south. I waited in hopes of its return, but no luck. A pair of BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS and their chick (nearly full size but with the bicolored beak of a juvenile) preened in the sun on the rocks offshore from the Green Gables Inn. At Hopkins Marine Station, a BRANT and 10-12 BLACK TURNSTONES foraged in the kelp, ignoring the harbor seals hauled out on the sand. Good birding, Betsy Buchalter Adler Pacific Grove _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: A few birds From: dsuddjian AT aol.com Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 19:42:47 -0400 A survey at the Porter-Sesnon area of New Brighton SB this morning had mostly expected birds. The only migrant highlight was a WILLOW FLYCATCHER. I noted COMMON RAVENS commuting E in groups of 1-3, totalling 10 during 1.5 hours. these are apparently in the same commuting route I was observing last winter, coming from some roost to the west of Capitola or maybe far away. A home this afternoon an AMERICAN GOLDFINCH flew over, for my 1st in Capitola since the last of the spring migrants on May 2 (thanks eBird). A female YELLOW WARBLER has been foraging in a birch tree in my yard for 7 days now. David Suddjian Capitola_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: . . .and just a few more From: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 18:11:30 -0400 (EDT) In addition to what Alexander and Lois reported, there was a BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER at Natural Bridges near trail marker #5, the first I have seen this fall. Four juv. WANDERING TATTLERS were wandering as a group (more or less) along West Cliff Drive between Stockton and San Jose Avenues. Also in this area, two PIGEON GUILLEMOTS were busy bringing fish to a nest in the cliff at the the Stockton Avenue point, maybe the last active nest in that area this season. Steve Gerow Santa Cruz _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: a few from the west side From: Lois Goldfrank <loisg AT cruzio.com> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 14:07:12 -0700 It seemed exceptionally windy but not especially exciting this morning on the west side of Santa Cruz - I ran into more good birders than good birds. But at Younger there was a juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPE (possibly the one which had been at Moore Creek earlier) and a juvenile BAIRD'S feeding with 12 LEASTS and 2 WESTERN SANDPIPERS. At Bethany, 2 HOODED ORIOLES and 3 YELLOW WARBLERS provided a bit of color. Lois Goldfrank _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Natural Bridges From: Alexander Gaguine <gaguine AT baymoon.com> Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 13:44:22 -0700 This morning before the winds started to blow, Moore Creek Lagoon had a LEAST and two SPOTTED SANDPIPERS, two KILDEER and a SEMI-PALMATED PLOVER, and a juvenile RED-NECKED PHALAROPE. A flock of over 100 BROWN PELICANS flew north. The interior of the park had 1-2 WESTERN WOOD- PEWEES, a CALIFORNIA THRASHER at "coffeeberry corner" and a WILSON'S WARBLER. Alexander _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Re: More Slough Birds From: dsuddjian AT aol.com Date: Sat, 28 Aug 2010 01:13:44 -0400 Off the top of my head I can't recall another instance of Ruddy Turnstone being observed away from the immediate coast in Santa Cruz County. David Suddjian county records compiler -----Original Message----- From: awarbler AT aol.com To: mbb AT biology.ucsc.edu Sent: Fri, Aug 27, 2010 6:27 pm Subject: [MBB] More Slough Birds After viewing the STSA with Bob and Bernadette, I went over to Lee Rd and upon pulling-up, had a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER out on the dry portion of the slough bed with Semipalmated Plovers. As the light was improving, I decided to return to the STSA for better looks and upon pulling-up ran into Clay Kempf. We birded together for a while and before heading over to Harkin’s Slough bumped into Roger Wolf who was also coming to see the STSA. At Harkin’s Slough we were treated excellent views of a juv LEAST TERN foraging out over the water. While we were enjoying the bird, a RUDDY TURNSTONE flew overhead heading in the direction of Sturve Slough. Sounded like a good idea so went back to the Lee Rd area and had a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER and the same or another RUDDY TURNSTONE in the pond immediately behind the the Industrial Park. From there we went over to the Pajaro River Mouth. Not much activity at the river with the exception of 23 BRANTS. Good Birding – Rick _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Eastern Kingbird photos, Schwan Lake From: David Sidle <dsidle AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:37:44 -0700 Photos from today's EASTERN KINGBIRD at Schwan Lake can be viewed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tanager22/sets/72157624822832500/ The first picture was taken during the Santa Cruz Bird Club field trip led by Steve Gerow and I stayed after to take the remaining photos. The kingbird was flycatching successfully and was very approachable, sometimes landing closer to me, rather than the flying away from me behavior that birds typically employ. Looks like a pretty young bird based on some paleness in the gape. For a while the kingbird perched atop a fruiting coffeeberry bush that was visited by a Western Tanager and some Song Sparrows and California Towhees. Seemed like a popular bush. I also found two Cedar Waxwings in the central grassy field. David Sidle Santa Cruz _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: More Slough Birds From: awarbler AT aol.com Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 21:27:47 -0400 After viewing the STSA with Bob and Bernadette, I went over to Lee Rd and upon pulling-up, had a PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVER out on the dry portion of the slough bed with Semipalmated Plovers. As the light was improving, I decided to return to the STSA for better looks and upon pulling-up ran into Clay Kempf. We birded together for a while and before heading over to Harkin’s Slough bumped into Roger Wolf who was also coming to see the STSA. At Harkin’s Slough we were treated excellent views of a juv LEAST TERN foraging out over the water. While we were enjoying the bird, a RUDDY TURNSTONE flew overhead heading in the direction of Sturve Slough. Sounded like a good idea so went back to the Lee Rd area and had a BAIRD’S SANDPIPER and the same or another RUDDY TURNSTONE in the pond immediately behind the the Industrial Park. From there we went over to the Pajaro River Mouth. Not much activity at the river with the exception of 23 BRANTS. Good Birding – Rick _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: correction From: Bernadette Ramer <baramer AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 17:48:26 -0700 Oops! I misspelled Jeff Poklen's name on my last post. Sorry Jeff! Bernadette _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Stilt Sandpiper Struve Slough 8/26 & 8/27 From: Bernadette Ramer <baramer AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 15:10:57 -0700 Yesterday afternoon at 3:30 PM, I went to Struve Slough at the Title Company overlook and saw the STILT SANDPIPER that Lois Goldfrank and Jeff Polkin had identified earlier in the day. I observed it for 20 minutes and saw it feeding with its characteristic probing action with its bill perpendicular to the water. The bird was close enough to see the droopy appearance of the bill It was in the proximity of LESSER and GREATER YELLOWLEGS and LEAST SANDPIPERS which gave good size and behavior comparisons. It appeared to be a juvenile bird but the afternoon lighting made for poor visibility. This morning (Aug. 27th, 7:30 AM), Bob and I returned to the Title Company overlook and were joined by Rick Fournier soon thereafter. We spent about 20 minutes looking for the STSA but only found the accompanying birds from yesterday until Rick spotted it flying into the spot that he was viewing. We all had good looks at the bird and determined it to be a juvenile. Bernadette Ramer (with Bob and Rick) Santa Cruz (and/or Royal Oaks) _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Monterey Bay birds, pics From: Tom Grey <tgrey AT law.stanford.edu> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 13:31:25 -0700 Some pictures of birds from Jetty Road, the Salinas River mouth, and Point Pinos, taken last earlier this week (8/24-25) in addition to the already posted Baird's Sandpipers are up at http://www.pbase.com/tgrey/monterey_aug10 . -- Tom Grey www.pbase.com/tgrey tgreybirds.com_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: E. Kingbird, Am. Redstart, etc. From: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 16:02:04 -0400 (EDT) This morning's Santa Cruz Bird Club field visited the area of Twin Lakes State Beach at the north side of Schwan Lake. While we were still gathering in the parking lot at the Simpkins Center, a flycatcher flew in and landed on one of the large dead eucalyptus just south of the parking larea. Dark gray upperparts (blackish on the head) and mostly white underparts, plus a kingbird shape, identified it as an EASTERN KINGBIRD, and its first flycatching foray showed off its prominent white tail band. It flew to a small bare-topped tree in the adjacent grassy field, which proved to be its favorite perch, where we had several good views of it through the morning, and David Sidle got some good photos. It was still in the same area when we left at around 11:30. After our initial study of the kingbird, we started down the trail toward the northeast side of the lake. A large mixed flock was working through the oaks that included some migrant warblers. Among these was one extremely active bird flitting around, spreading its tail, and constantly in motion. Various people were getting various glimpses of details- whitish underparts with yellow patches on the sides, yellow patches at the base of the tail, etc. --and the glimpses finally added up to be a female/immature type AMERICAN REDSTART. Other migrants included good numbers of YELLOW and WILSON'S WARBLERS and at least one TOWNSEND'S, and four species of swallows (mostly BARN, but also a few VIOLET-GREEN and one each CLIFF and N. ROUGH-WINGED. A NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER was near the entrance, a pair of AM. KESTRELS were hunting the area, and an adult COOPER'S HAWK zipped ac ross the trail in the north central part of the park. There was also a steadily singing ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER--the steady singing at this time of year was, in itself, odd, and this one sang a variation that I con't remember hearing before- a trill, but with a series of staccato single notes at the end, almost like an Orange-crowned beginning and a Nashville ending. That one had us searching the oaks and willows for quite some time before we finally had enough of a look to confirm what it was. One never knows what will happen next, during fall migration. Steve Gerow Santa Cruz _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Another Black-chinned Hummer in Capitola From: Judy Donaldson <calqua AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:51:39 -0700 (PDT) Late report... Wednesday morning (8/25, 8:00 am) I saw two unfamiliar hummingbirds (neither Anna's nor Allen's) sipping nectar from some nasturtiums on a fence along Soquel Creek, halfway between the trestle and Stockton St. bridge. One of them kept flying away, but the other one was hovering about 3 feet from me or perching nearby long enough for good viewing. BCHU was my first thought--small size, shortish tail, dark grayish coloring with light underparts, indistinct face pattern, a little bit of dark on the throat. Back home, I checked Howell's "Hummingbirds of North America", and there was a picture of an almost identical bird--an immature male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD. Also on Wednesday morning, a BEWICK'S WREN with two youngsters was foraging in the oaks along the back edge of the Capitola city parking lot. _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Hooded Orioles in Capitola From: Judy Donaldson <calqua AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 27 Aug 2010 09:25:02 -0700 (PDT) I saw three HOODED ORIOLES--one adult female and two immature--at the corner of El Salto and Saxon, on Depot Hill this morning about 7:45. A wild, overgrown yard there seems to attract lots of birds, and many of the usual suspects were hanging around. A BEWICK'S WREN and at least one YELLOW WARBLER appeared briefly. A second Yellow Warbler was in a yard at the edge of the Depot Hill cliffs. Judy Donaldson_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Baird's near Salinas River mouth, pic From: Tom Grey <tgrey AT law.stanford.edu> Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:09:51 -0700 I was staying at our friends' house in Monterey Dunes Colony south of Moss Landing earlier this week (very lucky with the weather!) and walked down to the river mouth Tuesday evening (8/24) where I had fun watching and photographing the CASPIAN and ELEGANT TERNS. On the way back, I came upon a lone juvenile BAIRD'S SANDPIPER which let me get pretty close on my belly in the sand. Pic up at http://www.pbase.com/tgrey/latest along with a couple of others from the visit. I'll post more later,, including the terns. -- Tom Grey www.pbase.com/tgrey tgreybirds.com_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Costa's Hummingbird From: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:24:46 -0400 (EDT) This morning at Natural Bridges, an immature male COSTA'S HUMMINGBIRD was just a bit south (toward the coast) from trail marker #5 on the east side of the park. It stood out as smaller and paler than an Anna's, and with a different structure from Black-chinned. It perched a couple of times just south of the big mound of blackberries south of #5, on the eucalptuus grove side of the trail. The small size, pale breast, short tail aind more compact structure, rounder head, and short, thin, slightly curved bill set it apart from Anna's, and some of the adult-like crown and gorget feathers were growing in, showing hints of the adult pattern, and a bit of violet in some lights. A few photos are at the following link (the yellow stuff on the chin and bill base is just pollen staining). http://picasaweb.google.com/steve.gerow/UntitledAlbum05# The "marker # 5" area was quite active in general this morning, with lots of ANNA'S and RUFOUS/ALLEN'S hummers, WILSON'S, YELLOW, and 2 TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS,3 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, a HOUSE WREN, and all the regular resident species. Along Moore Creek just upstream from Natural Bridges Beach there were 3 juv. SPOTTED SANDPIPERS chasing each other around, Yesterday (8/25) at Bethany Curve Park, there was an immature BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD just a bit in from West Cliff Drive. New arrivals of local dispersants there (that are regular in fall and winter in the park, but don't breed) included a HUTTON'S VIREO and a SPOTTED TOWHEE yesterday, and a SONG SPARROW today. Things declining include PIGEON GUILLEMOTS. Today there were only four swimming off the end of Stockton Avenue and none elsewhere. HOODED ORIOLE numbers have also been down the last few days. but there are still a few around the neighborhood. Steve Gerow Santa Cruz _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Capitola Black-chinned Hummer From: dsuddjian AT aol.com Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 20:05:33 -0400 A female or imm. male BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD was in the willows and cottonwoods of Soquel Creek beside the Mid-County Senior Center Garden in Capitola this morning. A HOUSE WREN was in the garden. David Suddjian Capitola_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Stilt Sandpiper From: Lois Goldfrank <loisg AT cruzio.com> Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 16:43:29 -0700 At about 1:15 today, looking down from behind the Title Company into Struve Slough, we were surprised and happy to see a STILT SANDPIPER feeding with 6 LESSER and at least 3 GREATER YELLOWLEGS. Thanks to David Sidle's photos and Steve's discussion of field marks, it was an almost instant i.d. At one point we had both Yellowlegs, the Stilt Sandpiper, and a Least Sandpiper in a single scope view - unfortunately not close enough for photos however. Nothing else of great interest, though 22 GREAT EGRETS was a good number in Struve SLough at Lee Rd. as were 350+ CANADA GEESE. A WILSON"S PHALAROPE was running around the back edge feeding on flies. There were very few ducks today, Mallards, Cinnamon Teal, and Gadwall. Of some interest were 6 AMERICAN AVOCETS and 4 very young PIED-BILL GREBES with striped heads belonging to 3 different adults. 24 BRANT continue at Pajaro Dunes. Lois Goldfrank, Jeff Poklen, and Jeff Wall (at Struve) _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Egrets at Corcoran's Lagoon From: magpiejay AT comcast.net Date: Thu, 26 Aug 2010 15:40:47 +0000 (UTC) This morning (Thursday) at 6:30 AM during my walk along East Cliff Drive, I encountered 10 GREAT EGRETS and at least 45 SNOWY EGRETS feeding in the Southwest corner of Corcoran's Lagoon.  While egrets are frequently hanging out there, this is by far the greatest number I've seen there at one time in the 5 years I've lived in the area. Rich Griffith Santa Cruz (Live Oak) _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Younger Lagoon From: Lois Goldfrank <loisg AT cruzio.com> Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 15:10:12 -0700 A rare visitor to Younger Lagoon, an AMERICAN AVOCET flew in this morning and stayed at least as long as we did. Unfortunately no other shorebirds followed suit except for a trio of LEAST SANDPIPERS ad a fly-over group of about 25 small peeps. NORTHERN PINTAILS numbered 9 today, and still present were presumably the same NORTHERN SHOVELER and 2 GADWALLS seen earlier this week. 20 MALLARDS were back, but left after a short while. 12 NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWS was a large flock for Younger and 40 species was not a bad count for that location - and only took us an hour and a half! Lois Goldfrank and Bernadette Ramer _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Watsonville Slough From: Roger Wolfe <rogwolfe AT cruzio.com> Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 14:08:54 -0700 Two WILSON'S PHALAROPES and a single BAIRD'S SANDPIPER were present at Watsonville Slough near Lee Rd. early this morning. Roger over and out _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Baird's continues From: Edward Frost <efrostee AT pacbell.net> Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 12:29:22 -0700 (PDT) This (Wednesday) morning, Jack Cole and I hiked through the field at the north end of West Struve Slough across from the high school. There, in a group of four Least Sandpipers, was the foraging Baird's Sandpiper. Also, in East Struve Slough, out from the bench along the trail behind West Marine and sundry warehouses, a parent Bittern flew off, leaving behind a fuzzy-necked young Bittern looking forlorn. Ed Frost_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Sept/Oct Albatross newsletter is online From: Judy Donaldson <calqua AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 11:11:20 -0700 (PDT) The Sept/Oct issue of the Santa Cruz Bird Club newsletter, the Albatross, is now available on the SCBC website. http://santacruzbirdclub.org/The_Albatross.html In addition to the calendar of walks and meetings, the Albatross includes articles, photos, and announcements. Each issue also features "Santa Cruz Birds", a summary of recent, seasonal bird activity in Santa Cruz County. Enjoy! Judy Donaldson Editor_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: a few Santa Cruz birds From: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:52:31 -0400 (EDT) Today at Younger Lagoon there were two WESTERN KINGBIRDS foraging from the coyote brush near the overlook bench. Other passerine migrants there included a YELLOW WARBLER and a HOUSE WREN. The duck flock was a little different than usual today--7 NORTHERN PINTAILS, one NORTHERN SHOVELER, and not a single Mallard. Yesterday an OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER stopped along the San Lorenzo River in downtown Santa Cruz below Broadway, then continued westward. Steve Gerow Santa Cruz _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Stilt Sandpiper at Natural Bridges (Monday/photos) From: David Sidle <dsidle AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 21:46:41 -0700 I enjoyed observing and photographing a collection of shorebirds at the Moore Creek Lagoon at Natural Bridges State Beach in Santa Cruz yesterday (Monday, August 23rd) afternoon around 5:00-5:30pm.  There were about 20 peeps to investigate, 3 dowitchers, and several yellowlegs, 5 Greater and 3 Lesser, or so I thought! I sent some photos to Steve Gerow late that night and Steve spotted a juvenile STILT SANDPIPER in one of the photos! That photo and others can be viewed here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/tanager22/sets/72157624802056972/ Note to self: Dude, if you ever see a small "yellowlegs" with a scaly pattern and stocky, down-curved bill, look again! I apologize for not being able to identify this bird myself and post earlier.  Steve and some other birders searched for the bird today at some likely west-side shorebird spots but did not find it. Many thanks to eagle-eyed Steve! David Sidle Santa Cruz _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: New Brighton SB From: dsuddjian AT aol.com Date: Wed, 25 Aug 2010 00:44:32 -0400 This morning's survey at New Brighton SB had a few interesting migrants, though nothing really rare. My favorites were an adult male LAZULI BUNTING with a juvenile tagging along closely with it - apparently its offspring. -- at campsite #31. (Lazulis don't nest in or anywhere near the park). I hardly ever encounter adult males in fall migration, and I'm not sure I've had an apparent parent-offspring combo before. A dispersant or migrant PACIFIC WREN (formerly "Winter") at Tannery Gulch near the trail was the first in the park since last winter, and the first such bird I've had in the mid-county coastal region this season. Two TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS were my first in the park this season. Two female type COMMON YELLOWTHROATS were in the campground, a migrant only rarely encountered at New Brighton or anywhere in the Capitola - Seacliff region. Other migrants included 1 YELLOW WARBLER, 7 WILSON'S, 1 WESTERN TANAGER (1st in park this season), 1 HOUSE WREN, 1 BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and 1 PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER. A few of the Wilson's were singing, but I think all were migrants based on observations of the local breeders over the past month. There was a family of DARK-EYED JUNCOS with very fresh begging young, indicating a nesting effort that was later than most. I saw one of the local resident ACORN WOODPECKERS was at the (empty) granary tree at the west edge of the campground for the first time since early spring, although I think the nest that produced young was nearby. Seven Acorns were in that part of the park today. One adult PIGEON GUILLEMOT was still on the ocean near the nesting cliff west of the state beach. 3 adult male SURF SCOTERS were scattered among the kelp there, I think probably all summering locally. The chattering calls of foraging ELEGANT TERNS have transformed the Soquel Cove lately, as it should be in in late summer. I find this very welcome after the dearth of such activity last year and the late arrival this year. A flock of about 15,000 SOOTY SHEARWATERS was parked on the ocean off Capitola at mid-afternoon today. David Suddjian Capitola_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Morning Birds - Moro Cojo/Salinas River Mouth From: awarbler AT aol.com Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 19:05:47 -0400 Birding the Salinas River mouth this AM, there were two COMMON TERNS amongst 30 Elegant Terns plus, the three BRANTS that continue to summer at that location. Driving back along Dolan, 9 WHITE-FACED IBIS were flying east over Moro Cojo Slough. Good Birding - Rick Fournier Elkhorn Slough, CA _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: West Struve Baird's From: Jeff Wall <jhwall AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 22:18:49 +0000 This morning I walked around the shoreline of the upper end of West Struve Slough. I knew it was supposed to be hot, but I had forgotten what hot feels like. I didn't last very long. There is beginning to be a nice rim of mud around the slough, and there were fair numbers of shore birds. Around 70 WHITE PELICANS were feeding at the entrance to W. Struve, accompanied by14 GREAT EGRETS and 7 SNOWY EGRETS. Several CASPIAN TERNS were also trying to get in on the action, circling above the pelicans. Small flocks of peeps from several areas, totaling around 50, were all LEAST SANDPIPERS. Also darting around were 14 KILLDEER, 8 BLACK-NECKED STILTS, and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER. In with one of the small flocks of Least Sandpipers was bird that was distinctly larger, with long wings and a buffy color across the upper chest and throat. I called it a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER, but the heat might have been affecting me. In the weeds and coyote brush there HOUSE FINCHES, lots of AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES, and 2 very bright YELLOW WARBLERS. Jeff Wall Soquel _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: White-winged Dove--Rocky Point From: Brian Sullivan <bls42 AT cornell.edu> Date: Tue, 24 Aug 2010 10:04:13 -0700 Birders This morning while watching Black Swifts at Rocky Point I had a fly-by White-winged Dove. The bird perched briefly on the rock cliffs below the restaurant before continuing off to the north. Thanks -- =========== Brian L. Sullivan 49 Holman Road Carmel Valley, CA 93924 eBird/AKN Project Leader www.ebird.org www.avianknowledge.net Photographic Editor, Birds of North America Online http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 Photographic Editor, North American Birds American Birding Association www.americanbirding.org bls42 AT cornell.edu 609-694-3280 -------------------------------_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: random birds From: "Alex Rinkert" <arinkert12 AT comcast.net> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 17:52:11 -0700 This morning I awoke to the sound of a RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH calling outside my window. This was the first one I have seen in Ben Lomond. An adult male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER was also in the yard this morning and an immature was seen on 8/14. On 8/18, a BARN OWL was calling outside my house around 10:30 P.M., a WESTERN TANAGER passed through around mid-day, and a VAUX'S Swift flew over at twilight. On 8/13, a GOLDEN EAGLE and two AMERICAN KESTRALS were in the Great Meadow at UCSC. Alex Rinkert Ben Lomond _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: good birds in flight (and another yard bird) From: dsuddjian AT aol.com Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 19:28:41 -0400 Atop the bluffs at Seacliff SB this morning I was torn between looking to sea and looking over the upper parking lot. That parking lot can be a happening spot at times when it is not full of cars. Best was a female YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD that flew northwest over the lot, pausing on a wire not far from a crow. The crow chased it and it flew to the top of one of the myoporum trees for several minutes before continuing northwest and away from the area. Later a flock of about 65 RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS flew over (apparently traveling some distance, as they are not normally found in that area), and I was able to spot 3 male TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS among them as they passed by! I don't recall any prior reports of Trikes from the Seacliff area. The flock came out of the southeast, and passed back and forth over the area a few times before moving west. A flock of 9 CEDAR WAXWINGS flew down the coast, my first for this season. The CALIFORNIA THRASHER that I heard a few weeks ago, unusual at Seacliff, was calling again in the same area at the west side of the lot. I enjoyed watching 4 PYGMY NUTHATCHES launch into a long flight. They are sometimes present in the pines and cypress that line the edge of part of the parking lot, so their presence was not unusual. But today I watched the foursome fly out from a pine and go east over urban Seacliff, flying a minimum of 600 yards over houses before I lost them. There were also 3 YELLOW WARBLERS in the lot this morning, plus 1-2 at my house, suggesting some movement of those. Later I spotted an interesting looking songbird flying over Monterey Avenue Park in Capitola. Thankfully it landed in the cluster of redwoods at the north corner of the park, so I could determine that it was an immature male SUMMER TANAGER with splotches of red. It stayed in those trees for about 5 minutes and then continued north, passing over my yard for another new yard bird! (Perhaps had I been home earlier I'd have seen the Yellow-headed Blackbird fly over, too...that was its trajectory). Of course, another remarkable feature of the day here at Capitola was that it began with sunshine instead of fog. According to my notes, this was the first fog-free morning here since June 21! David Suddjian Capitola _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: a few from Younger From: Lois Goldfrank <loisg AT cruzio.com> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 16:17:37 -0700 A few ducks have been stopping by Younger, though not necessarily staying. On Aug. 19th there was a GREEN-WINGED TEAL, the first I've seen for a while. Today a NORTHERN PINTAIL, NORTHERN SHOVELER, and two GADWALL joined the group of Mallards. Along the edge were 3 SHORT- BILLED DOWITCHERS, 4 WESTERN and 10 LEAST SANDPIPERS. A HOUSE WREN sang vociferously, and one VAUX'S SWIFT was flying with Cliff, Barn, and 2 Northern Rough-winged Swallows. Walking with a friend on West Cliff just now, I was startled to see a WESTERN KINGBIRD sally out from a tree over the water and back, opposite the Catholic Church. Lois Goldfrank _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: RE: RE: Ano update. island restoration: appendenum Raven From: "Glasco, Don" <Don.Glasco AT cengage.com> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 09:07:55 -0400 My bad. Ashy SP Don Glasco Senior Systems Engineer Cengage Learning Technical Services, Web Hosting don.glasco AT cengage.com 831.277.5042 http://www.cengage.com ________________________________ From: Greg Meyer [mailto:gmeyer AT csumb.edu] Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 10:17 PM To: Glasco, Don Cc: mbb AT biology.ucsc.edu; info AT virtualsilk.com Subject: Re: [MBB] RE: Ano update. island restoration: appendenum Raven Are there really sightings of Dusky Storm-Petrels on Ano Nuevo Island? This must be a new species... G On Sat, Aug 21, 2010 at 8:54 PM, Glasco, Don > wrote: Forgot to mention that there is Raven nest. Another breeding bird on Ano island? A Barn Owl was observed, Eating young birds? No rodents on the island and last rabbit was eradicated about 1981. Vultures have not been observed on the island, despite only being only a km or two from roost on mainland. enior Systems Engineer Cengage Learning Technical Services, Web Hosting don.glasco AT cengage.com 831.277.5042 http://www.cengage.com ________________________________ From: mbb-bounces AT acg.ucsc.edu [mailto:mbb-bounces AT acg.ucsc.edu] On Behalf Of Glasco, Don Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2010 8:36 PM To: mbb AT biology.ucsc.edu Cc: info AT virtualsilk.com Subject: [MBB] Ano update. island restoration The couple of Mute Swans are still present. I attended a presentation today on restoration of vegetation on Ano Island to promote habitat for Rhino Auklet. See http://www.anonuevoisland.org/ A million dollar project using oil spill fines. I won't get into if this a wise us of such funds. Anyway. Known breeding birds on Ano Island W Gull Brant Corm Pelagic Corm Pid. Guill Rino Auklet (50% fledging from about 80 observed borrows) Cassin Auklet (6 observed pairs fledged chicks. Presenter estimated maybe an dozen pairs.) And some produced a second clutch successfully. Dusky Storm-Petrel. Suspected. Several have been seen on Ano Island. Hermann's Gulls have laid eggs the last two years and hatched. None fledged. No evidence of Pelicans trying to nest. (I mention Pelicans because I've seen breeding plumage pelicans in last few years and they once breeded on Central California coast according to Don Robertson) Don Glasco Senior Systems Engineer Cengage Learning Technical Services, Web Hosting don.glasco AT cengage.com 831.277.5042 http://www.cengage.com _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb -- Greg Meyer, M.A. Outdoor Education and Recreation Program Kinesiology Department, Valley Hall 82D California State University Monterey Bay 100 Campus Center Seaside, CA 93955_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: new yard bird From: dsuddjian AT aol.com Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 01:27:39 -0400 I mentioned back in early July that a sighting of an ACORN WOODPECKER 0.5 mile from my Capitola home had put me on notice to watch for this species as a potential new yard bird. Well, it didn't take too long, as today one was on the trunk of our neighbor's tall fan palm, then it flew off northwest over my yard. Yea! I think this bird's appearance is related to some movements I've been noting recent at the New Brighton area. Hopefully I can mention a few details on those when I get a chance to catch up on reporting some recent birds. David Suddjian yet again. _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Re: Golden-crowned sparrow From: Dominik Mosur <polskatata AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 22:18:11 -0700 (PDT) This a good lesson for me to start using e-bird because I just had to search through a ton of old emails to get these dates but: I had a Golden-crowned sparrow on Mt. Davidson in San Francisco last year on July 11th and again on August 27th. I photographed the bird the first time and studied it at length on the second date to make sure it was the same bird. This bird was extremely "tame", allowing close approach and appeared to have a drooping/injured wing so I suspect that it never left in spring rather than an "early" arrival. I believe this record is in the NAB archive as well. Dominik Mosur San Francisco Sent from my iPhone On Aug 22, 2010, at 9:13 PM, Joseph Morlan wrote: Mark, California eBird data includes the following previous July and August records: JULY: San Luis Obispo, US-CA Date # Observer 7/2/06 1 ALAN SCHMIERER AUGUST: Wymore house, North Arcata Humboldt, US-CA Date # Observer 8/30/02 8 Mark Morrissette Pinnacles NM--West Entrance San Benito, US-CA Date # Observer 8/7/10 1 Jessie Barry 8/7/10 1 Chris Wood On Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:56:59 -0700, Mark Eaton wrote: I'm curious about the timing of this. Birds of Northern CA suggests an early arrival date in the 2nd week of September, so this would appear to be very early... Mark --- Mark Eaton mark AT markeaton.org On Aug 22, 2010, at 6:49 PM, kathy kuyper wrote: This morning I was greeted by the descending three-note call (?) song (?) of a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW! Welcome back! Kathy Kuyper Felton _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu SF Birding Classes start Sep 14 http://fog.ccsf.edu/jmorlan/ California Bird Records Committee http://www.californiabirds.org/ Western Field Ornithologists http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Re: RE: Ano update. island restoration: appendenum Raven From: Greg Meyer <gmeyer AT csumb.edu> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 22:16:44 -0700 Are there really sightings of Dusky Storm-Petrels on Ano Nuevo Island? This must be a new species... G On Sat, Aug 21, 2010 at 8:54 PM, Glasco, Don wrote: > Forgot to mention that there is Raven nest. > > Another breeding bird on Ano island? > > > > A Barn Owl was observed, Eating young birds? > > No rodents on the island and last rabbit was eradicated about 1981. > > > > Vultures have not been observed on the island, despite only being only a km > or two from roost on mainland. > > > > enior Systems Engineer > > Cengage Learning Technical Services, Web Hosting > > don.glasco AT cengage.com 831.277.5042 > > http://www.cengage.com > ------------------------------ > > *From:* mbb-bounces AT acg.ucsc.edu [mailto:mbb-bounces AT acg.ucsc.edu] *On > Behalf Of *Glasco, Don > *Sent:* Saturday, August 21, 2010 8:36 PM > *To:* mbb AT biology.ucsc.edu > *Cc:* info AT virtualsilk.com > *Subject:* [MBB] Ano update. island restoration > > > > The couple of Mute Swans are still present. > > > > I attended a presentation today on restoration of vegetation on Ano Island > to promote habitat for Rhino Auklet. > > See http://www.anonuevoisland.org/ > > > > A million dollar project using oil spill fines. I won’t get into if this a > wise us of such funds. > > > > Anyway. > > Known breeding birds on Ano Island > > W Gull > > Brant Corm > > Pelagic Corm > > Pid. Guill > > Rino Auklet (50% fledging from about 80 observed borrows) > > Cassin Auklet (6 observed pairs fledged chicks. Presenter estimated maybe > an dozen pairs.) And some produced a second clutch successfully. > > > > Dusky Storm-Petrel. Suspected. > > Several have been seen on Ano Island. > > > > Hermann’s Gulls have laid eggs the last two years and hatched. None > fledged. > > > > No evidence of Pelicans trying to nest. > > (I mention Pelicans because I’ve seen breeding plumage pelicans in last few > years and they once breeded on Central California coast according to Don > Robertson) > > > > > > > > Don Glasco > > Senior Systems Engineer > > Cengage Learning Technical Services, Web Hosting > > don.glasco AT cengage.com 831.277.5042 > > http://www.cengage.com > > _______________________________________________ > mbb mailing list > mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu > http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb > > -- Greg Meyer, M.A. Outdoor Education and Recreation Program Kinesiology Department, Valley Hall 82D California State University Monterey Bay 100 Campus Center Seaside, CA 93955_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Re: Golden-crowned sparrow From: dsuddjian AT aol.com Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 01:14:57 -0400 This report is a new record for the county by 2 days. The prior early fall arrival record for Santa Cruz County is Aug 24, 1986, and there are also two other arrivals in other years from later in August. But the average arrival for SCZ is Sept 14 (+/- 8 days; n - 41 years). So from the average it is 3 weeks early. David Suddjian county records compiler Birds of Northern CA suggests an early arrival date in the 2nd week of September, so this would appear to be very early... -----Original Message----- From: Mark Eaton To: kathy kuyper Cc: Bird Club listserve Sent: Sun, Aug 22, 2010 8:56 pm Subject: Re: [MBB] Golden-crowned sparrow I'm curious about the timing of this. Birds of Northern CA suggests an early arrival date in the 2nd week of September, so this would appear to be very early... Mark --- Mark Eaton mark AT markeaton.org On Aug 22, 2010, at 6:49 PM, kathy kuyper wrote: This morning I was greeted by the descending three-note call (?) song (?) of a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW! Welcome back! Kathy Kuyper Felton _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb = _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Re: Golden-crowned sparrow From: Joseph Morlan <jmorlan AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 21:13:27 -0700 Mark, California eBird data includes the following previous July and August records: JULY: San Luis Obispo, US-CA Date # Observer 7/2/06 1 ALAN SCHMIERER AUGUST: Wymore house, North Arcata Humboldt, US-CA Date # Observer 8/30/02 8 Mark Morrissette Pinnacles NM--West Entrance San Benito, US-CA Date # Observer 8/7/10 1 Jessie Barry 8/7/10 1 Chris Wood On Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:56:59 -0700, Mark Eaton wrote: >I'm curious about the timing of this. Birds of Northern CA suggests an early arrival date in the 2nd week of September, so this would appear to be very early... > >Mark >--- >Mark Eaton >mark AT markeaton.org > > > > >On Aug 22, 2010, at 6:49 PM, kathy kuyper wrote: > >> This morning I was greeted by the descending three-note call (?) song (?) of a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW! Welcome back! >> >> Kathy Kuyper >> Felton >> >> >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> mbb mailing list >> mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu >> http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu SF Birding Classes start Sep 14 http://fog.ccsf.edu/jmorlan/ California Bird Records Committee http://www.californiabirds.org/ Western Field Ornithologists http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Re: Golden-crowned sparrow From: Mark Eaton <marksffo AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:56:59 -0700 I'm curious about the timing of this. Birds of Northern CA suggests an early arrival date in the 2nd week of September, so this would appear to be very early... Mark --- Mark Eaton mark AT markeaton.org On Aug 22, 2010, at 6:49 PM, kathy kuyper wrote: > This morning I was greeted by the descending three-note call (?) song (?) of a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW! Welcome back! > > Kathy Kuyper > Felton > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > mbb mailing list > mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu > http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Some Santa Cruz County birds From: Phil Brown <pdpbrown AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 20:10:34 -0700 This morning at Watsonville Slough I found a BAIRD'S SANDPIPER amongst the large flock of SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS. Expected species were present including LEAST and WESTERN sandpipers, and also some AMERICAN AVOCETS. Struve Slough had one LESSER YELLOWLEGS along with a couple of GREATER, AND 3 GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES flew over. Prior to the meeting at Terrace point I scoped Younger and found 5 NORTHERN PINTAIL, unusual for that location. The rocky shelfs had one WANDERING TATTLER, one BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER and a few BLACK TURNSTONES. An immature COOPERS HAWK flew over the field. Phil Brown_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Golden-crowned sparrow From: kathy kuyper <chswift AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 23 Aug 2010 01:49:00 +0000 This morning I was greeted by the descending three-note call (?) song (?) of a GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROW! Welcome back! Kathy Kuyper Felton _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Re: Ca. Quail ... county records From: dsuddjian AT aol.com Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:42:05 -0400 Looking back through Santa Cruz County records, there were a couple of September records of small young in recent years. I think what Steve is referring to, at least in part, as a source of info is the online archive of "Santa Cruz Birds" articles from the Albatross for 1991-2010, found on the Bird Club's web page here: http://santacruzbirdclub.org/Santa%20Cruz%20Birds%20Archive%201991-present.pdf So I take this opportunity to remind MBBers of this archive as a place to seek some perspective on questions of bird occurrence in the county, or even topics like late nesting. If something notable was reported, it is probably touched on in those articles in the archive. David Suddjian_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Re: Ca. Quail From: dsuddjian AT aol.com Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 19:34:30 -0400 I find it hard to make sense of apparent patterns or even to discern patterns without consistent observation from multiple areas or larger areas. For example, an observation of apparent poor success at Ben Lomond this year can be countered with apparent good success at Rancho Del Oso this year. Although it did seem to be a late year in terms of nesting timing. There are many factors that affect nesting effort and success at a given site and more broadly in our local region, and some of them cannot be resolved without some detailed field study. Possible rates of predation are one of these, in addition to affects of weather trends, timing of weather, food resources, etc. I guess this is my way of saying I don't have any answers and the answers will probably elude us since we are not actually studying apparent population changes in our region. Often we are barely even tracking such changes for our "regular" birds. But Diane asked for guesses and not answers. My guess would be to carefully consider predators, and also that a suite of factors related to weather may have depressed nesting effort or success this season. David Suddjian Capitola With no visible rise in predator activity I've chalked it up to the cool, wet spring we had this year. We got a lot of rain and nights in the 40s right through May, on nights that I know were slightly warmer and drier at lower elevations. The same was true for last year, but I think the cycle and timing of the rain and lower temps was more broken, whereas this year it was pretty constant during normal nesting season. If memory serves it warmed up several times in the spring of 2009 and that may have allowed clutches of eggs to get a little farther along. Just a subjective guess - I'm more interested in figuring out what the bigger picture is. When we moved here we had 8-10 adult pairs visible almost daily. Over 10 years that has dwindled to just the two I've seen this year. Did we move here during a population boom, and are we now just experiencing a population bust? If so, what governs that? Because its not like habitat around here in the sand hills is changing, and no development is underway nor likely to be. And predator numbers seem no greater than before. Any guesses? -----Original Message----- From: lbkinglet AT aol.com To: mbb AT biology.ucsc.edu Sent: Sun, Aug 22, 2010 10:22 am Subject: Re: [MBB] Ca. Quail Hey, at least you folks have some baby quail. On our 2 acres in Ben Lomond the 2010 nesting season was a total failure. We've lived here since 2000 and this is the first year there have been no quail chicks spotted. Not even tracks. With no visible rise in predator activity I've chalked it up to the cool, wet spring we had this year. We got a lot of rain and nights in the 40s right through May, on nights that I know were slightly warmer and drier at lower elevations. The same was true for last year, but I think the cycle and timing of the rain and lower temps was more broken, whereas this year it was pretty constant during normal nesting season. If memory serves it warmed up several times in the spring of 2009 and that may have allowed clutches of eggs to get a little farther along. Just a subjective guess - I'm more interested in figuring out what the bigger picture is. When we moved here we had 8-10 adult pairs visible almost daily. Over 10 years that has dwindled to just the two I've seen this year. Did we move here during a population boom, and are we now just experiencing a population bust? If so, what governs that? Because its not like habitat around here in the sand hills is changing, and no development is underway nor likely to be. And predator numbers seem no greater than before. Any guesses? Diane Goodboe Ben Lomond -----Original Message----- From: stephengerow AT aol.com To: mbb AT biology.ucsc.edu Sent: Sun, Aug 22, 2010 9:29 am Subject: Re: [MBB] Ca. Quail Barb's message reminds me that I also recently saw a brood of quail that looked within a few days of hatching, at least 6 at Natural Bridges on August 18. It is late. The Birds of North America account shows the end of the "normal" period for eggs to be around the end of July, but mentions that occasionally hatching has been recorded as late as early September. Looking back through Santa Cruz County records, there were a couple of September records of small young in recent years. It's great to keep track of and report very late nestings, as we may be seeing some new trends developing, or perhaps we have missed some of these late nestings over the years, but either way it is valuable to try to figure out what is "normal" now. Steve Gerow -----Original Message----- From: cotopaxihigh To: MBB Server Birds Listing Sent: Sun, Aug 22, 2010 9:03 am Subject: [MBB] Ca. Quail Yesterday, I observed a pair of Ca. Quail in our yard with four very small youngsters in tow. They were less than a week old. Does this seem late? We have many other Quail families with half grown chicks. Fall is just around the corner. Barb Scharfenstein _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Re: Ca. Quail From: chris hartzell <c.hartzell AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 12:44:11 -0700 (PDT) It must also have something to do with weather and food supplies. In the Highlands we had a couple of regular pairs of Quail. Both pairs would have young almost year round after I set up the feeders. Just before we moved one couple brought a clutch to the yard in late November (about a month old) and the year before that a young clutch showed up in late March (about 1-2 months old). That was the year we had little rain and dry warm weather starting in mid-January and they had been frequenting the yard feeders for 4 years by then so they knew they had steady food. At the new house we also have a brand new clutch coming to the feeders. They are very small and probably no more than a couple weeks old.  -Chris Hartzell ________________________________ From: "stephengerow AT aol.com" To: mbb AT biology.ucsc.edu Sent: Sun, August 22, 2010 9:29:53 AM Subject: Re: [MBB] Ca. Quail Barb's message reminds me that I also recently saw a brood of quail that looked within a few days of hatching, at least 6 at Natural Bridges on August 18.  It is late.  The Birds of North America account shows the end of the "normal" period for eggs to be around the end of July, but mentions that occasionally hatching has been recorded as late as early September.  Looking back through Santa Cruz County records, there were a couple of September records of small young in recent years. It's great to keep track of and report very late nestings, as we may be seeing some new trends developing, or perhaps we have missed some of these late nestings over the years, but either way it is valuable to try to figure out what is "normal" now.                                                                                                                     Steve Gerow -----Original Message----- From: cotopaxihigh To: MBB Server Birds Listing Sent: Sun, Aug 22, 2010 9:03 am Subject: [MBB] Ca. Quail Yesterday, I observed a pair of Ca. Quail in our yard with four very small youngsters in tow.  They were less than a week old.  Does this seem late?  We have many other Quail families with half grown chicks. Fall is just around the corner.  Barb Scharfenstein _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Black Tern From: Roger Wolfe <rogwolfe AT cruzio.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 12:30:07 -0700 A single BLACK TERN was flying back and forth over Watsonville Slough this fine morning around 11:00 am. It was easily viewed from the back of the industrial warehouse complex off Lee Rd. Roger over and out Soquel _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: RE: Ca. Quail From: "Glasco, Don" <Don.Glasco AT cengage.com> Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:33:52 -0400 Do quail double clutch? Don Glasco Senior Systems Engineer Cengage Learning Technical Services, Web Hosting don.glasco AT cengage.com 831.277.5042 http://www.cengage.com ________________________________ From: mbb-bounces AT acg.ucsc.edu [mailto:mbb-bounces AT acg.ucsc.edu] On Behalf Of lbkinglet AT aol.com Sent: Sunday, August 22, 2010 10:23 AM To: mbb AT biology.ucsc.edu Subject: Re: [MBB] Ca. Quail Hey, at least you folks have some baby quail. On our 2 acres in Ben Lomond the 2010 nesting season was a total failure. We've lived here since 2000 and this is the first year there have been no quail chicks spotted. Not even tracks. With no visible rise in predator activity I've chalked it up to the cool, wet spring we had this year. We got a lot of rain and nights in the 40s right through May, on nights that I know were slightly warmer and drier at lower elevations. The same was true for last year, but I think the cycle and timing of the rain and lower temps was more broken, whereas this year it was pretty constant during normal nesting season. If memory serves it warmed up several times in the spring of 2009 and that may have allowed clutches of eggs to get a little farther along. Just a subjective guess - I'm more interested in figuring out what the bigger picture is. When we moved here we had 8-10 adult pairs visible almost daily. Over 10 years that has dwindled to just the two I've seen this year. Did we move here during a population boom, and are we now just experiencing a population bust? If so, what governs that? Because its not like habitat around here in the sand hills is changing, and no development is underway nor likely to be. And predator numbers seem no greater than before. Any guesses? Diane Goodboe Ben Lomond -----Original Message----- From: stephengerow AT aol.com To: mbb AT biology.ucsc.edu Sent: Sun, Aug 22, 2010 9:29 am Subject: Re: [MBB] Ca. Quail Barb's message reminds me that I also recently saw a brood of quail that looked within a few days of hatching, at least 6 at Natural Bridges on August 18. It is late. The Birds of North America account shows the end of the "normal" period for eggs to be around the end of July, but mentions that occasionally hatching has been recorded as late as early September. Looking back through Santa Cruz County records, there were a couple of September records of small young in recent years. It's great to keep track of and report very late nestings, as we may be seeing some new trends developing, or perhaps we have missed some of these late nestings over the years, but either way it is valuable to try to figure out what is "normal" now. Steve Gerow -----Original Message----- From: cotopaxihigh > To: MBB Server Birds Listing > Sent: Sun, Aug 22, 2010 9:03 am Subject: [MBB] Ca. Quail Yesterday, I observed a pair of Ca. Quail in our yard with four very small youngsters in tow. They were less than a week old. Does this seem late? We have many other Quail families with half grown chicks. Fall is just around the corner. Barb Scharfenstein _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Re: Ca. Quail From: lbkinglet AT aol.com Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 13:22:41 -0400 Hey, at least you folks have some baby quail. On our 2 acres in Ben Lomond the 2010 nesting season was a total failure. We've lived here since 2000 and this is the first year there have been no quail chicks spotted. Not even tracks. With no visible rise in predator activity I've chalked it up to the cool, wet spring we had this year. We got a lot of rain and nights in the 40s right through May, on nights that I know were slightly warmer and drier at lower elevations. The same was true for last year, but I think the cycle and timing of the rain and lower temps was more broken, whereas this year it was pretty constant during normal nesting season. If memory serves it warmed up several times in the spring of 2009 and that may have allowed clutches of eggs to get a little farther along. Just a subjective guess - I'm more interested in figuring out what the bigger picture is. When we moved here we had 8-10 adult pairs visible almost daily. Over 10 years that has dwindled to just the two I've seen this year. Did we move here during a population boom, and are we now just experiencing a population bust? If so, what governs that? Because its not like habitat around here in the sand hills is changing, and no development is underway nor likely to be. And predator numbers seem no greater than before. Any guesses? Diane Goodboe Ben Lomond -----Original Message----- From: stephengerow AT aol.com To: mbb AT biology.ucsc.edu Sent: Sun, Aug 22, 2010 9:29 am Subject: Re: [MBB] Ca. Quail Barb's message reminds me that I also recently saw a brood of quail that looked within a few days of hatching, at least 6 at Natural Bridges on August 18. It is late. The Birds of North America account shows the end of the "normal" period for eggs to be around the end of July, but mentions that occasionally hatching has been recorded as late as early September. Looking back through Santa Cruz County records, there were a couple of September records of small young in recent years. It's great to keep track of and report very late nestings, as we may be seeing some new trends developing, or perhaps we have missed some of these late nestings over the years, but either way it is valuable to try to figure out what is "normal" now. Steve Gerow -----Original Message----- From: cotopaxihigh To: MBB Server Birds Listing Sent: Sun, Aug 22, 2010 9:03 am Subject: [MBB] Ca. Quail Yesterday, I observed a pair of Ca. Quail in our yard with four very small youngsters in tow. They were less than a week old. Does this seem late? We have many other Quail families with half grown chicks. Fall is just around the corner. Barb Scharfenstein _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Re: Ca. Quail From: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 12:29:53 -0400 (EDT) Barb's message reminds me that I also recently saw a brood of quail that looked within a few days of hatching, at least 6 at Natural Bridges on August 18. It is late. The Birds of North America account shows the end of the "normal" period for eggs to be around the end of July, but mentions that occasionally hatching has been recorded as late as early September. Looking back through Santa Cruz County records, there were a couple of September records of small young in recent years. It's great to keep track of and report very late nestings, as we may be seeing some new trends developing, or perhaps we have missed some of these late nestings over the years, but either way it is valuable to try to figure out what is "normal" now. Steve Gerow -----Original Message----- From: cotopaxihigh To: MBB Server Birds Listing Sent: Sun, Aug 22, 2010 9:03 am Subject: [MBB] Ca. Quail Yesterday, I observed a pair of Ca. Quail in our yard with four very small youngsters in tow.  They were less than a week old.  Does this seem late?  We have many other Quail families with half grown chicks. Fall is just around the corner.  Barb Scharfenstein _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Ca. Quail From: cotopaxihigh AT comcast.net Date: Sun, 22 Aug 2010 16:02:47 +0000 (UTC) Yesterday, I observed a pair of Ca. Quail in our yard with four very small youngsters in tow.  They were less than a week old.  Does this seem late?  We have many other Quail families with half grown chicks. Fall is just around the corner.  Barb Scharfenstein _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: shorebirds, shrike, larks From: Scott Smithson <wscottsmithson AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 22:13:09 -0700 Hello birders, This afternoon, I stopped by the mouth of the Pajaro River and saw one LONG-BILLED CURLEW on the MTY side, but no other shorebirds in sight. There was a big flock of gulls with a few CASPIAN TERNS and a dozen BRANT on the SCZ side. Looking up Watsonville Slough from the overlook, there were several small flocks of GREATER YELLOWLEGS seemingly feeding in association with groups of dabbling MALLARDS. The fewest shorebirds I've ever seen in this area... I headed over to Jetty Road and enjoyed looking through flocks of peeps and godwits, but nothing unusual popped out. There was a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE perched in the dead cypress north of the road near the dunes. A PEREGRINE FALCON was out in the pickleweed tearing apart an afternoon snack, probably the vagrant shorebird I arrived too late to see. Just before I moved on, I saw two RUDDY TURNSTONES on one of the more distant mudflats. Salinas River NWR was fairly birdy as the sun got lower, with the most interesting birds being 3 WILSON'S PHALAROPES on the water and 2 HORNED LARKS in the dunes. Good birding, Scott Smithson_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: RE: Ano update. island restoration: appendenum Raven From: "Glasco, Don" <Don.Glasco AT cengage.com> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:54:19 -0400 Forgot to mention that there is Raven nest. Another breeding bird on Ano island? A Barn Owl was observed, Eating young birds? No rodents on the island and last rabbit was eradicated about 1981. Vultures have not been observed on the island, despite only being only a km or two from roost on mainland. enior Systems Engineer Cengage Learning Technical Services, Web Hosting don.glasco AT cengage.com 831.277.5042 http://www.cengage.com ________________________________ From: mbb-bounces AT acg.ucsc.edu [mailto:mbb-bounces AT acg.ucsc.edu] On Behalf Of Glasco, Don Sent: Saturday, August 21, 2010 8:36 PM To: mbb AT biology.ucsc.edu Cc: info AT virtualsilk.com Subject: [MBB] Ano update. island restoration The couple of Mute Swans are still present. I attended a presentation today on restoration of vegetation on Ano Island to promote habitat for Rhino Auklet. See http://www.anonuevoisland.org/ A million dollar project using oil spill fines. I won't get into if this a wise us of such funds. Anyway. Known breeding birds on Ano Island W Gull Brant Corm Pelagic Corm Pid. Guill Rino Auklet (50% fledging from about 80 observed borrows) Cassin Auklet (6 observed pairs fledged chicks. Presenter estimated maybe an dozen pairs.) And some produced a second clutch successfully. Dusky Storm-Petrel. Suspected. Several have been seen on Ano Island. Hermann's Gulls have laid eggs the last two years and hatched. None fledged. No evidence of Pelicans trying to nest. (I mention Pelicans because I've seen breeding plumage pelicans in last few years and they once breeded on Central California coast according to Don Robertson) Don Glasco Senior Systems Engineer Cengage Learning Technical Services, Web Hosting don.glasco AT cengage.com 831.277.5042 http://www.cengage.com_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Ano update. island restoration From: "Glasco, Don" <Don.Glasco AT cengage.com> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 23:36:22 -0400 The couple of Mute Swans are still present. I attended a presentation today on restoration of vegetation on Ano Island to promote habitat for Rhino Auklet. See http://www.anonuevoisland.org/ A million dollar project using oil spill fines. I won't get into if this a wise us of such funds. Anyway. Known breeding birds on Ano Island W Gull Brant Corm Pelagic Corm Pid. Guill Rino Auklet (50% fledging from about 80 observed borrows) Cassin Auklet (6 observed pairs fledged chicks. Presenter estimated maybe an dozen pairs.) And some produced a second clutch successfully. Dusky Storm-Petrel. Suspected. Several have been seen on Ano Island. Hermann's Gulls have laid eggs the last two years and hatched. None fledged. No evidence of Pelicans trying to nest. (I mention Pelicans because I've seen breeding plumage pelicans in last few years and they once breeded on Central California coast according to Don Robertson) Don Glasco Senior Systems Engineer Cengage Learning Technical Services, Web Hosting don.glasco AT cengage.com 831.277.5042 http://www.cengage.com_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Monterey Bay boat trip From: chris hartzell <c.hartzell AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sat, 21 Aug 2010 01:43:29 -0700 (PDT) Ame and I went for a whale watching trip in Monterey Bay. Finally got some pics and a video loaded. Although most of the pics are of the numerous Humpback and Blue Whales we saw, we had several CASSIN'S AUKLETS, SOOTY SHEARWATERS, BLACK FOOTED ALBATROSS, RED NECKED PHALAROPE, and a lone CASPIAN TERN. The whale activity was incredible which made up for the slow birding. Pics and a short video of a whale playing next to the boat are here... http://www.flickr.com/photos/chartzell/4912642416/in/set-72157602872963207/ -Chris Hartzell_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Pileated Woodpecker From: Claire Wilson <cwilson16 AT verizon.net> Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 13:50:11 -0700 This morning, we had great views of a pileated woodpecker on a redwood across from 23300 Old Santa Cruz Highway (Santa Cruz County side off Summit Road). It was being aggressively hazed by an ACWO. Claire Wilson and Rich Kelso _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb Subject: Some Santa Cruz Birds From: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Fri, 20 Aug 2010 01:44:42 -0400 (EDT) This morning there was a female/ immature type BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD in Bethany Curve Park between Plateau and Alta Avenues, There were also 4-5 Rufous/Allen's and a number of Anna's in the park. At least 4 YELLOW WARBLERS were in the park, three of them bathing together in the creek along with one ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER. Yesterday (August 18), Younger Lagoon had a lone WILSON'S PHALAROPE, also seen by Mike Geneau. The lagoon also had a nice concentration of egrets, with 13 SNOWY and 5 GREAT, plus a GREAT BLUE HERON. A flock of over 20 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS flew over, heading eastward. Later at Natural Bridges the Moore Creek Lagoon had 17 juvenile WESTERN SANDPIPERS. A LAZULI BUNTING and a NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER were also still in the park. Steve Gerow Santa Cruz _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb