Birdingonthe.Net

Recent Postings from
Peninsula Birding

> Home > Mail
> Alerts

Updated on Saturday, November 21 at 12:12 AM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.
Red-throated Loon,©David Sibley

20 Nov Oyster Point & Colma Creek ["Kris Olson" ]
20 Nov Nob Hill Pond [Lisa Weber ]
19 Nov Video of the WCPE [Mark Eaton ]
19 Nov Nob Hill pond water level ["IIWI1" ]
18 Nov RE: The Brussels Sprouts field @ Cascade Ranch, and other new entries ["Kris Olson" ]
18 Nov The Brussels Sprouts field @ Cascade Ranch, and other new entries [Jennifer Rycenga ]
18 Nov Birding the Brussels Sprouts field @ Cascade Ranch ["Kris Olson" ]
17 Nov Barrows Goldeneye, Common Merganser [sonny mencher ]
17 Nov San Bruno Mt.-GHO Mated Pair, WTK in Cypress on trail in SB park ["sfrosegrower" ]
16 Nov Re: western bluebirds continue to expand range in SM Co. [Jennifer Rycenga ]
16 Nov western bluebirds continue to expand range in SM Co. ["Peter Metropulos" ]
16 Nov Seawatch and recent sightings []
16 Nov RE: Christmas Bird Counts - San Mateo County ["Kris Olson" ]
16 Nov Sequoia Audubon's raptor field trip to Wavecrest [Lisa ]
16 Nov Weekend birds around Pescadero (many WW Scoters etc.) ["Garth Harwood" ]
16 Nov RE: Common Goldeneyes Redwood Shores ["Kris Olson" ]
16 Nov San Mateo Bayfront and Coast sightings 11-15-2009 [Eric Feuss ]
16 Nov Common Goldeneyes Redwood Shores ["IIWI1" ]
15 Nov Redwood Shores/Oracle ["Kris Olson" ]
16 Nov Bayside Birding 11/15/09 ["geodani55" ]
15 Nov Christmas Bird Counts - San Mateo County ["leslieflint" ]
15 Nov 2009 Palo Alto SBC Summary [Bill Bousman ]
14 Nov RE: Cascade Ranch + Wild Turkeys @ Filoli ["Kris Olson" ]
14 Nov Cascade Ranch ["Kris Olson" ]
14 Nov Re: misc. 11/9/09 and RFI: White-breasted Nuthatches [Bill Bousman ]
14 Nov Re: Phipp's Ranch [Eric Goodill ]
14 Nov Phipp's Ranch [Matthew Dodder ]
14 Nov eBird and San Mateo county [Jennifer Rycenga ]
14 Nov Pigeon Point ["mark" ]
14 Nov Pescadero and Brussels Sprouts [Jennifer Rycenga ]
14 Nov Yellow Rumps in Pacifica ["spectaclebear" ]
13 Nov Raptors [Bob Power ]
13 Nov FW: 2 tundra swans at Pescadero Marsh Nov. 13, noon ["Kris Olson" ]
13 Nov Another Photo Request [Jennifer Rycenga ]
12 Nov Clay-colored Sparrow at Coyote Pt. []
12 Nov Menlo Park misc. 11/11/09 [Dominik Mosur ]
12 Nov San Mateo Co. Year Bird List: Oct. 2009 ["Kris Olson" ]
11 Nov Two requests for the San Mateo County Birding Guide [Jennifer Rycenga ]
11 Nov Half Moon Bay Review story on Pelagic trips [Jennifer Rycenga ]
9 Nov misc. 11/9/09 and RFI: White-breasted Nuthatches [Dominik Mosur ]
9 Nov Cooper's Hawk on the dairy aisle [Janet Hanson ]
9 Nov California Gulls Taking Over the Wetlands ["Kris Olson" ]
9 Nov Gulls on the Radio-Tonight, Monday November 9th at 5pm KALW ["Leonie Batkin" ]
09 Nov Brussel's Sprouts--Nashville Warbler ["mark" ]
9 Nov white-fronted goose at Sharp Park ["Peter Metropulos" ]
09 Nov backyard Cooper's Hawk ["squirtz72" ]
09 Nov northern peninsula bayside, 11-08-09 ["squirtz72" ]
8 Nov Skylawn Memorial Park and other notes []
8 Nov [SBB] Palo Alto CBC (fwd) [Al Eisner ]
8 Nov Fwd: [SFBirds] Brussel's sprout dump [Jennifer Rycenga ]
07 Nov Cackling Goose at Calera Creek [Joseph Morlan ]
7 Nov Pigeon Pt. seawatch []
7 Nov Sequoia Audubon Society Birding Class ["Sue Cossins" ]
7 Nov some more bayside birding ["Kris Olson" ]
07 Nov Radio Road Black Skimmers ["IIWI1" ]
6 Nov Bayside birds ["Kris Olson" ]
5 Nov SFBBO Shorebird survey ["Kris Olson" ]
4 Nov Bayfront Park - Probable YH Blackbird etc. [Rich Ferrick ]
3 Nov Tropical Kingbird still there today [Virginia Marshall ]
03 Nov Monday at Pescadero Lake ["squirtz72" ]
2 Nov North County Coast 11/2/09: (cont.) TRKI [Dominik Mosur ]
2 Nov first Varied Thrush on Skyline [Janet Hanson ]
2 Nov FW: ferruginous hawk over Sand Hill & Alameda/Alpine ["Kris Olson" ]
1 Nov Celata Orange-crowned Warbler, ECDoves, and Brussels Sprouts Field [Jennifer Rycenga ]
1 Nov Pescadero Marsh Rails etc. 10/31/2009 []
1 Nov RE: Tropical Kingbird-Princeton Marsh ["Kris Olson" ]
1 Nov White Fronted Goose [Virginia Marshall ]
1 Nov Tropical Kingbird-Princeton Marsh ["Leonie Batkin" ]
1 Nov Halloween in Menlo Park [Robert Dell'Immagine ]
01 Nov Golden Eagle, Arastradero, October 31st ["henriksondergaard" ]
31 Oct Tropical Kingbird at Moss Beach Bluffs ["James Barnes" ]
31 Oct (Yellow-shafted) Northern Flicker 10/31/09 ["geodani55" ]
30 Oct Peregrine Falcon in Half Moon Bay ["maliadances" ]
30 Oct Update on location of Short-tailed Albatross ["Kris Olson" ]
30 Oct Report of Wilson's Storm-Petrel Oct. 15-22 ["Kris Olson" ]
30 Oct white-throated sparrow, FOS, in our yard ["squirtz72" ]

Subject: Oyster Point & Colma Creek
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 22:12:07 -0800
I stopped by Oyster Point today during and after the storm (roughly 1-2pm).
Drove down to the marina and parked by the bait house/fishing pier.
Yesterday I had discovered this area and seen a loon, but I did not have
binoculars. Today I could not find it, so I don't know whether it was a
Common or Pacific. 

Today there were 2 Black Oystercatchers on one of the concrete piers along
with Sanderlings. The wooden piers along the boats and little marsh had
Black-bellied Plovers, one Whimbrel, a few Willets and Mallards. Coots and 2
Great Blue Herons in the marsh. Near the fishing pier were a scattered 100
scaup, occassional flying Surf Scoter, Buffleheads, Clark Grebes, one Eared
Grebe. On shore several Yellow-rumped Warblers (one feeding on the rocks
along the shore), 19 Least Sandpipers hunkered down in the rocks and 20+
White-crowned Sparrows. 

Standing on the pier was a little like pelagic birding with the scoters and
buffleheads flying by.

Then I stopped at Colma Creek (Littlefield and Harbor)-- the tide was
already receeding.  All the action was around by the marsh and the
eucalyptus trees. 10 or so Yellow-rumped warblers with a Say's Phoebe
feeding on the ground. The water in the marsh was high but I could see
several Willets, 1 Greater Yellowlegs, Northern Shovelers, Black-bellied
Plovers, 1 Eared Grebe. I have not  heard nor seen a Clapper Rail here this
year. Among the crowned sparrows was one Lincoln's Sparrow on the edge of
the pickleweed. Having a scope would be good for looking at any sparrows in
the marsh, as they have fenced off the area we used to go tromping around in
-- good for the birds, harder for birders.

Good birding,

Kris Olson

No osprey today in Burlingame-- 9am or 3pm
Subject: Nob Hill Pond
From: Lisa Weber <45.lisa AT gmail.com>
Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 11:09:38 -0800
Ran into the water level manager for the pond at 11am today who said  
the recent low level was caused by a pump malfunction (wouldn't turn  
off). He said he likes the current water level for winter.

Also of note: four Turkey Vultures and a Raven were eating a carcass  
on the Nob Hill shore of the pond.

Good birding,
Lisa
Subject: Video of the WCPE
From: Mark Eaton <marksffo AT gmail.com>
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:56:03 -0800
I've uploaded a video taken by Hugh Cotter to my web site.  It can be  
accessed from:

	http://tinyurl.com/y86ejdf

At 270MB (no, not KB), it's not for the faint of heart; don't even  
think of trying if you don't have fast DSL or a cable modem.

Mark
---
Mark Eaton
mark AT markeaton.org






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Nob Hill pond water level
From: "IIWI1" <tgoodier AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 01:13:48 -0000
I stopped at the Nob Hill pond in Redwood Shores today (11/18 4:45 PM). The 
water level has dropped about 3 feet, so the island is connected to the shore 
by mud in some areas. 


I didn't see any unusal birds. There were hundreds of Green-winged Teal in the 
water. The only Shorebirds I saw were about 50 Dowitchers feeding in the mud. 


Tom Goodier
Subject: RE: The Brussels Sprouts field @ Cascade Ranch, and other new entries
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:01:41 -0800
Parking at Cascade Ranch for the Brussels Sprouts fields has to arranged in
advance. This is a working farm (people also live there) and having us just
show up and park does not work for them.

As I mentioned below, I have parked several times along highway 1 on the
east side so that my car would be in plain view once I reached the fields. I
have also parked along the little entrance area (holds 2 cars outside of the
gate area) with no problems, though I cannot see my car once I walk out to
the fields. So for regular, ongoing access, this is where we need to park.

This year, as 3 years ago, the fields seem to be getting some more promising
birds, so we have asked for parking access from Cascade Ranch.

Kris Olson


-----Original Message-----
From: peninsula-birding AT yahoogroups.com
[mailto:peninsula-birding AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Jennifer Rycenga
Sent: Wednesday, November 18, 2009 5:57 AM
To: Olson Kris; Peninsula-Birding Birding
Subject: [pen-bird] The Brussels Sprouts field  AT  Cascade Ranch, and other
new entries

Dear Birders - I am preparing the San Mateo County Birding Guide entry  
for the Brussels Sprouts field, and hope to have it in place before  
Thanksgiving.  Parking at the ranch itself is my preference: it is  
known to be safe, and that 1/4 mile walk out is along a flat road,  
with opportunities to do some open air birding. It is sometimes easier  
to see raptors during this walk than at the riparian zone.

Radio Road, Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve, and Flood Park  
(suddenly a popular destination with county birder listers eager to  
add White-breasted Nuthatch) have all been added to the SMCBG in the  
last couple of days.  As always, I invite readers to call to my  
attention errors, needed additions, and missing species from any  
account, or to donate better pictures than what is currently in  
place.  Visit http://birding.sequoia-audubon.org/

Jennifer Rycenga
Half Moon Bay, CA




On Nov 18, 2009, at 12:25 AM, Kris Olson wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> A couple of people asked about parking and safety while birding the  
> Brussels
> Sprouts fields just north of Cascade Ranch (highway 1). Three years  
> ago
> during the exciting first time this area was birded, there were  
> several car
> break-ins. To my knowledge, there have been no car break-ins since.
>
> However, the Cascade Ranch is doing the following now to support  
> birders:
>
> 1) They are leaving the little gate open so that more people can  
> park there
> -- drive in a bit further. This won't work when it gets muddy but it  
> ok for
> now. [Note that cars left here 3 years ago were broken into -- they  
> are not
> visible from the fields.]
>
> 2) You can park at the Cascade Ranch itself and walk about a 1/4  
> mile back
> north to the fields (the sprouts are at the base of the big  
> eucalyptus trees
> and out in the weedy fields some... all the way in a big semicircle.)
>
> REQUEST from Cascade Ranch: We are setting up a birder parking area  
> at the
> east end of the big tree row on the right along the main Cascade Ranch
> driveway. It's about a 1/4 mile walk to the Brussels sprouts area.  
> People
> should be careful in the area near the buildings during the week and
> sometimes on Saturday as the farmer is in the middle of harvesting and
> tractors are moving in and out of the packing area nearby.
>
> 3) I have parked along side of highway 1 (east side), back from the
> gate/entrance so that I can see my car while I am in the fields..
>
> DIRECTIONS (from 3 years ago in Pen Bird):
> To find this area go south on highway 1 about a mile south of Rossi  
> Rd and
> look for a single mail box on the right side of the road. On the  
> left side
> of the road is the entrance to the K+S Ranch. About 100 meters south  
> of
> here (after going over Cascade Creek) on the left is the entrance to a
> hidden old road with a gate. One or two cars could park here.
>
> If you go out to the fields, please let me know how the parking and  
> access
> are working -- I'll collect input and pass it back to Cascade Ranch.
>
> Good birding,
> Kris Olson
>
>
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links
Subject: The Brussels Sprouts field @ Cascade Ranch, and other new entries
From: Jennifer Rycenga <gyrrlfalcon AT earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 05:57:17 -0800
Dear Birders - I am preparing the San Mateo County Birding Guide entry  
for the Brussels Sprouts field, and hope to have it in place before  
Thanksgiving.  Parking at the ranch itself is my preference: it is  
known to be safe, and that 1/4 mile walk out is along a flat road,  
with opportunities to do some open air birding. It is sometimes easier  
to see raptors during this walk than at the riparian zone.

Radio Road, Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve, and Flood Park  
(suddenly a popular destination with county birder listers eager to  
add White-breasted Nuthatch) have all been added to the SMCBG in the  
last couple of days.  As always, I invite readers to call to my  
attention errors, needed additions, and missing species from any  
account, or to donate better pictures than what is currently in  
place.  Visit http://birding.sequoia-audubon.org/

Jennifer Rycenga
Half Moon Bay, CA




On Nov 18, 2009, at 12:25 AM, Kris Olson wrote:

> Hi all,
>
> A couple of people asked about parking and safety while birding the  
> Brussels
> Sprouts fields just north of Cascade Ranch (highway 1). Three years  
> ago
> during the exciting first time this area was birded, there were  
> several car
> break-ins. To my knowledge, there have been no car break-ins since.
>
> However, the Cascade Ranch is doing the following now to support  
> birders:
>
> 1) They are leaving the little gate open so that more people can  
> park there
> -- drive in a bit further. This won't work when it gets muddy but it  
> ok for
> now. [Note that cars left here 3 years ago were broken into -- they  
> are not
> visible from the fields.]
>
> 2) You can park at the Cascade Ranch itself and walk about a 1/4  
> mile back
> north to the fields (the sprouts are at the base of the big  
> eucalyptus trees
> and out in the weedy fields some... all the way in a big semicircle.)
>
> REQUEST from Cascade Ranch: We are setting up a birder parking area  
> at the
> east end of the big tree row on the right along the main Cascade Ranch
> driveway. It's about a 1/4 mile walk to the Brussels sprouts area.  
> People
> should be careful in the area near the buildings during the week and
> sometimes on Saturday as the farmer is in the middle of harvesting and
> tractors are moving in and out of the packing area nearby.
>
> 3) I have parked along side of highway 1 (east side), back from the
> gate/entrance so that I can see my car while I am in the fields..
>
> DIRECTIONS (from 3 years ago in Pen Bird):
> To find this area go south on highway 1 about a mile south of Rossi  
> Rd and
> look for a single mail box on the right side of the road. On the  
> left side
> of the road is the entrance to the K+S Ranch. About 100 meters south  
> of
> here (after going over Cascade Creek) on the left is the entrance to a
> hidden old road with a gate. One or two cars could park here.
>
> If you go out to the fields, please let me know how the parking and  
> access
> are working -- I'll collect input and pass it back to Cascade Ranch.
>
> Good birding,
> Kris Olson
>
>
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peninsula-birding/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peninsula-birding/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    peninsula-birding-digest AT yahoogroups.com 
    peninsula-birding-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    peninsula-birding-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Subject: Birding the Brussels Sprouts field @ Cascade Ranch
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 00:25:48 -0800
Hi all,

A couple of people asked about parking and safety while birding the Brussels
Sprouts fields just north of Cascade Ranch (highway 1). Three years ago
during the exciting first time this area was birded, there were several car
break-ins. To my knowledge, there have been no car break-ins since.

However, the Cascade Ranch is doing the following now to support birders:

1) They are leaving the little gate open so that more people can park there
-- drive in a bit further. This won't work when it gets muddy but it ok for
now. [Note that cars left here 3 years ago were broken into -- they are not
visible from the fields.]

2) You can park at the Cascade Ranch itself and walk about a 1/4 mile back
north to the fields (the sprouts are at the base of the big eucalyptus trees
and out in the weedy fields some... all the way in a big semicircle.)

REQUEST from Cascade Ranch:  We are setting up a birder parking area at the
east end of the big tree row on the right along the main Cascade Ranch
driveway.  It's about a 1/4 mile walk to the Brussels sprouts area.  People
should be careful in the area near the buildings during the week and
sometimes on Saturday as the farmer is in the middle of harvesting and
tractors are moving in and out of the packing area nearby.  

3) I have parked along side of highway 1 (east side), back from the
gate/entrance so that I can see my car while I am in the fields..


DIRECTIONS (from 3 years ago in Pen Bird):
To find this area  go south on highway 1 about a mile south of Rossi Rd and
look for a single mail box on the right side of the road.  On the left side
of the road is the entrance to the K+S Ranch.  About 100 meters south of
here (after going over Cascade Creek) on the left is the entrance to a
hidden old road with a gate.  One or two cars could park here.

If you go out to the fields, please let me know how the parking and access
are working -- I'll collect input and pass it back to Cascade Ranch.

Good birding,
Kris Olson
Subject: Barrows Goldeneye, Common Merganser
From: sonny mencher <soccerquiz AT yahoo.com>
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 15:13:03 -0800 (PST)
ABout noon today I checked Gossamer Lane in Redwood Shores
Found a male Barrows Golden as well as a Common Merganser


      

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: San Bruno Mt.-GHO Mated Pair, WTK in Cypress on trail in SB park
From: "sfrosegrower" <leewaysf AT pacbell.net>
Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 19:50:46 -0000
I keep hearing GHO's calling around 5ish am, then Sunday around 4 pm.heard the 
calls and the resident 1/2 dozen or so Mourning Doves blew out of the large 
connifer behind my fence. For at least 20 minutes I alternated in my garden, 
upstairs window, then out over my fence on the hillside to locate. It was light 
enough, but I only caught a glimpse of an owl flying through the forest, then 
of course it was obscured by the eukes and ivy. 


Feeder has been very slow. GC sparrows now around a dozen and only a single 
Townshend's were at least a week or more later than other postings. No fox 
sparrow in yard yet. 


Doug Allshouse,wrote:
heard a male and female GHO calling to one another in the eucs just across the 
street from you at 6am. It's nice to know that we probably have a mating pair 
back in the park, since we had a 1st-year GHO screeching this summer. 


From:M.Bruce Grosjean, pics posted at end of SB Mt. Feeder file

Sunday I parked in the lot so I could take my long lens up the Day Camp trail 
and immediately witnessed a rather intense 5 or 

6 minutes. I heard the Kites which were involved in a skirmish with what must 
be our resident Red-shouldered (?) and then the RS took on a TV which was a new 
one for me. Most of the action was too far away even for my long lens to be 
very effective but then one of the Kites landed in a Cypress trees along the DC 
trail and I was able to grab a couple of shots before it spotted me and moved 
away to try some hunting. Since it seems to have some color on its breast I 
thought it might be a first year. Maybe last year was a breeding success after 
all. Then about a half dozen Ravens swept through taking swipes at all 
participants and everyone was gone. 


Much to my surprise and excitement, I saw two White-tailed  
Kites hovering around the same trees that fledged the young two years ago. I 
was hoping to see them arrive in February to start nesting, so maybe this was 
just a hunting foray, but they did seem to looking around those trees. The 
resident Kestrel took notice of them too, along with a couple of swipes. 


Bruce
Subject: Re: western bluebirds continue to expand range in SM Co.
From: Jennifer Rycenga <gyrrlfalcon AT earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:25:09 -0800
Dear Pen-birders - The Bluebird Box program to which Peter refers, is  
in need of volunteers, of all ability levels.  While I am not in  
charge of this program, I am happy to take the names of potential  
volunteers and steer them to the right place.  Email me at  
gyrrlfalcon AT  earthlink.net

Jennifer Rycenga
Half Moon Bay, CA




On Nov 16, 2009, at 8:15 PM, Peter Metropulos wrote:

> Dear County-birders,
> Last week Ron Thorn mentioned seeing his first-ever WESTERN  
> BLUEBIRDS in the hills of Belmont.
> I grew up in Belmont, have birded there for over 40 years, and have  
> never seen one there. Great news !
>
> Back on November 4, while working on a landscaping project in the  
> hills of San Bruno (Glenbrook Ave.), I was delighted to observe a  
> group of 9 WESTERN BLUEBIRDS flying north, the first I have ever  
> seen in San Bruno !
>
> It is encouraging to see these harbingers of happiness increasing  
> throughout the SF Peninsula. I suspect SEQUOIA AUDUBON SOCIETY'S  
> Bluebird Nest Box Program deserves some of the credit.
>
> Peter J. Metropulos
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peninsula-birding/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peninsula-birding/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    peninsula-birding-digest AT yahoogroups.com 
    peninsula-birding-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    peninsula-birding-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Subject: western bluebirds continue to expand range in SM Co.
From: "Peter Metropulos" <pjmetrop AT pacbell.net>
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:15:42 -0800
Dear County-birders,
Last week Ron Thorn mentioned seeing his first-ever WESTERN BLUEBIRDS in the 
hills of Belmont. 

I grew up in Belmont, have birded there for over 40 years, and have never seen 
one there. Great news ! 


Back on November 4, while working on a landscaping project in the hills of San 
Bruno (Glenbrook Ave.), I was delighted to observe a group of 9 WESTERN 
BLUEBIRDS flying north, the first I have ever seen in San Bruno ! 


It is encouraging to see these harbingers of happiness increasing throughout 
the SF Peninsula. I suspect SEQUOIA AUDUBON SOCIETY'S Bluebird Nest Box Program 
deserves some of the credit. 


Peter J. Metropulos

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Seawatch and recent sightings
From: Tronthorn AT aol.com
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:10:54 EST
  This morning, I did a seawatch from 07:00-10:00 from Moss Beach. 
  Visibility was very good with clear sky. Wind was out of the north at
  ( 7 ) knots. Swell ( 4 ) feet, calm.

  Red-throated Loon and Surf Scoter were the obvious migrants today.

  Common Loon ( 3 south )
  Pacific Loon ( 5 south )
  Red-throated Loon ( 560 south )
  Western Grebe ( 60 on the water )
  Eared Grebe ( 1 on the water )
  BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATER ( ( 2 landing on the water among
  Common Murres and flying north )
  Brown Pelican ( 32 south )
  Double-crested Cormorant ( 4 south )
  Brandt's Cormorant ( 20 )
  Pelagic Cormorant ( 8 )
  Greater Scaup ( 2 south with Surf Scoters )
  White-winged Scoter ( 3 south with Surf Scoters )
  Surf Scoter ( 1,053 south, largest group 90 )
  RED PHALAROPE ( 1 foraging on the water )
  Heerman's Gull ( 8 south )
  Bonaparte's Gull ( 2 south )
  Mew Gull ( 3 south )
  California Gull ( 20 south )
  Herring Gull ( 1 south )
  Glaucous-winged Gull ( 26 south )
  Western Gull ( 14 south )
  Glaucous-winged x Western Gull ( 1 south )
  Common Murre ( 200 north )
  Marbled Murrelet ( 2 south )

  After the seawatch I hiked to a stock pond east of the Half Moon Bay
 Airport, where a single ALEUTIAN CACKLING GOOSE was on the
 shoreline. While at the same location, up to ( 60 ) American Pipits
 came in to drink and bath. 

  Some recent sightings with Leonie Batkin.

  On the night of November 13, we decided to try for the first time owling
 along Skyline between Highway 84 and 92. Around 08:00 at our second
 stop, we had ( 2 ) Northern Saw-whet Owls calling just south of Skeggs
 Point at the trail head for the El Corte De Madera Creek Open Space
 Preserve. We were happy to get the owls, as Butano State Park is close
 to the public until spring because of the state budget cuts. Later that 
 evening, we had a calling Western Screech-Owl in Menlo Park.

  On November 15, we birded some sites along San Francisco Bay.

  At Coyote Point, there were ( 16 ) Wilson's Snipes in the fresh
 water marsh. These were not be the last Wilson's Snipe we would
 see for the day, as we came across a high count of ( 34 ) that 
 were all together during the high tide at Colma Creek. In my past 
 experience during a high tide, I have only encountered a few at
 this location.

  In San Mateo, the lagoon on the southside of East third Avenue
 just west of Anchor Way, the male intergrade Eurasian Teal x
 Green-winged Teal returned for its second winter. There was
 also ( 1 ) Hooded Merganser.

  In Foster City, the Vintage Park lake had ( 3 ) adult female
 Common Goldeneyes, the first we had seen this fall. ( 12 )
 Hooded Mergansers were present.

  Last at Radio Road in Redwood Shores, there was a high  
 count of ( 19 ) Hooded Mergansers on the north pond.

  Ron Thorn
  Leonie Batkin

             


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: RE: Christmas Bird Counts - San Mateo County
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 19:34:08 -0800
Hi all,

I wanted to add my pitch to Leslie's for the two Christmas Bird Counts in
San Mateo County

 

First of all, it's just great territory and really fun being out with a
small group of birders of all levels. You can just hold a clipboard and mark
down sightings, or be a spotter, etc. I started at the former just a few
year's back and you see the birds, one way or the other. There are also a
couple of routes, at least, that involve a lot of hiking if you like to
hike. And now and then, rain and mud-but what the heck.

 

Second, we have so much bird variety and often pretty rare birds. Some teams
get onto land that is normally closed to the public (one of the big
incentives of CBCs). But honestly, the most average or normally uninvolved
birding teams can find the best birds.  The Oakland CBC gets 200 observers
every year -as Leslie said, we get 40-50, so think what we would find with
more eyes, legs, counters, et.al. 

 

I also love the "count down" dinners. They are small, funky, warm, friendly.
Everyone sits with his/her count group and one by one, the group leaders
report their  team's finds. For some reason, the tradition is to keep those
rare birds secret until the end of the evening, when Al De Martini asks if
anyone has seen any bird NOT on the official list. Suspense! Then people
joyfully reveal their finds.

 

Here are some of the birds that have been found (skimming through Pen bird):

 

Ano Nuevo 2006 found the now-famous Brussels Sprouts field with a female
Hooded Warbler, Nashville Warbler-and either then or later a Swamp Sparrow.
Last year we saw a Prairie Warbler AND a Brown Thrasher- that rusty guy from
the East Coast. Visiting on closed POST land that Sequoia Audubon then got
access to for 4 weeks of weekend hikes into see it.

 

One year we saw a Ferruginous Hawk by Pescadero High School. One a
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker.

 

2002 Ano Nuevo CBC saw a Rock Sandpiper and the list below.

 

Crystal Springs found a Williamson's Sapsucker at San Mateo College. I think
last year Crystal Springs saw a Prairie Falcon (which I have never seen in
the county, so that was  a real treat for that team).

 

Crystal Springs 2007:

a Prairie Falcon bathing in Upper Crystal Springs Reservoir (and also a
tundrius Peregrine Falcon in that general area); three Evening Grosbeaks
along Pilarcitos Creek about a mile east of Half Moon Bay; one each of
Yellow and Wilson's Warblers along lower Pilarcitos Creek (and one Wilson's
elsewhere); a Swamp Sparrow at the Ocean Colony Golf Course; one lingering
American White Pelican at Redwood Shores; the continuing flock of Wild
Turkeys at Filoli, and a Lesser Yellowlegs in San Mateo.  

 

A report from Ano Nuevo CBC 2002

------------------------------------

On Dec16, the Crystal Springs CBC reported a total of 200 to 202 species,
with the following highlights- (1-2) RED-NECKED GREBES, BLACK-VENTED
SHEARWATER, GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE, CACKLING GOOSE, EURASIAN WIGEON,
HARLEQUIN DUCK (Coyote Point), LONG-TAILED DUCK (Pillar Point), ROUGH-LEGGED
HAWK, (2) GOLDEN EAGLE (Skyline),(2-3) POMARINE JAEGERS, (1) PARASITIC
JAEGER, ELEGANT TERN, six species of alcids, PILEATED WOODPECKER, AMERICAN
DIPPER, YELLOW WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER and BLACK-THROATED-GRAY WARBLER,
ROCK SANDPIPER.

 

HOPE YOU GIVE IT A TRY THIS YEAR! Even if you are super new to birding, give
it a try. Leslie will pair you with a more experienced birder.

 

Kris Olson

 

 

Some stories about the Christmas Bird Count

 

http://10000birds.com/what-is-the-christmas-bird-count.htm-- history behind
CBCs

 

Oakland bird count, 2006:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2006/12/18/BAGI7N1F7T1.DTL

 

http://www.americanprofile.com/article/24683.html

 

 

Maybe we'll get our own story this year!

 

 

From: peninsula-birding AT yahoogroups.com
[mailto:peninsula-birding AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of leslieflint
Sent: Sunday, November 15, 2009 11:08 AM
To: peninsula-birding AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [pen-bird] Christmas Bird Counts - San Mateo County

 

  

HI all,

Note all of the great work done this year by San Mateo birders: Jennifer
Rycenga's post regarding ebird; Kris Olson's compilation of the San Mateo
County Year Bird list; and the terrific county birding guide posted on the
SAS website (kudos to Jennifer Rycenga). 

Birders, won't you also join us for the two San Mateo County Christmas
Counts. The Crystal Springs count (December 19) has been in the top ten
counts in the United States for 18 of the last 20 years! and we manage to do
that with only 40-50 counters. Imagine what we might do if we had 100
counters! Our Ano Nuevo (January 2) count last year had the most counters
ever - but with so much territory to cover, we could use even more. You
don't have to be an expert birder; just enthusiastic, willing to hike and
able to point out birds.

If you haven't already signed up, send me an email at lflint AT earthlink.net
  and tell me which count you would like to
participate in and I'll add you to a team.

Leslie Flint
CBC Coordinator
San Mateo





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Sequoia Audubon's raptor field trip to Wavecrest
From: Lisa <lisa AT letsgobirding.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 10:47:29 -0800 (PST)

Hello all -
 
I had the opportunity to conduct a "raptor workshop" Thursday night for Sequoia 
Audubon. We reviewed the diurnal raptors that winter in the greater Bay Area. 
To do this we also reviewed the resident raptors so one could better identify 
the wintering raptors. 

 
A follow-up to the Thursday evening talk was a Sunday morning Nov. 15 field 
trip to Half Moon Bay's WAVECREST open space. We spent the morning observing 
many, many KITES, RED-SHOULDERED HAWKS, RED-TAILED HAWKS, AMERICAN 
KESTREL'S and NORTHERN HARRIERS.   

 
Since the focus was on raptor ID we spent all of our time talking about how to 
tell the various raptors up close and from afar. There were also many juvenile 
birds in addition to the adult's so we had the chance to review the various 
plumage's including the juvenile WHITE TAILED KITE Bob Power mentioned in an 
earlier post. This bird had a large amount of orange, brownish coloring and 
caught everyone's attention. One question from the group asked how long this 
juvenile plumage is retained? In looking at Brian Wheeler's Raptor's of Western 
North America he states on page 94 that this juvenile plumage is retained for 
3.5 months. 

 
Never did find any Accipiters, but there was little activity from other 
bird families although we did spend the morning with a SAY'S PHOEBE that had to 
dodge a female Kestrel at one point in the action. 

 
We walked below the row of Cypress trees that are found to the right of the 
baseball field and found owl pellets throughout, but no owls. 

 
We later came upon a rather freshly kill rodent. Not sure if a raptor dropped 
its catch, but we had great looks and shared the experience with passer-by's. A 
nicely skinned lizard also seemed to have been a recent meal. 

 
We had a great morning on our magnificant California coast and I want to thank 
all the folks that came out yesterday morning for the adventure. 

 
Lisa Myers
Reporting for Sequoia Audubon 
 
 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Weekend birds around Pescadero (many WW Scoters etc.)
From: "Garth Harwood" <gharwood AT hiddenvilla.org>
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 11:15:57 -0800
Hi All,

Saturday 11/14/2009, I walked my neighborhood, turning up a dark Merlin and a 
m/f pair of Hooded Mergansers, but nothing else unusual. 


Sunday 11/15, I followed up on Mark Kudrav's report and had a quick look at my 
favorite scoter spot, from the tall bluffs just north of Pescadero Marsh. 
(Scoters hang out between Pescadero and Pomponio Beachers here all year; there 
must be a prodigious shellfish ledge down there.) Last winter I had nary a 
white-winged there, but at times, there were as many as 40 Black Scoters among 
the several hundred Surfs. Yesterday, there were no Black Scoters to be found, 
but at least 24 White-winged Scoters were among the approximately 250 Surf 
Scoters present in a band of numerous subflocks spread between the 2 beaches. 
At the marsh, I only scoped from the parking lot, seeing no swans. A 
Bonaparte's Gull working the inner marsh was the most interesting bird I found 
there. 


Garth Harwood
Pescadero

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: RE: Common Goldeneyes Redwood Shores
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 09:39:35 -0800
Yeah, thanks Tom, glad to hear they are back! It just does not seem like
fall without goldeneyes and Hooded Mergansers.

 

Kris

 

From: peninsula-birding AT yahoogroups.com
[mailto:peninsula-birding AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of IIWI1
Sent: Monday, November 16, 2009 8:39 AM
To: peninsula-birding AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [pen-bird] Common Goldeneyes Redwood Shores

 

  

I went out this morning (11/16 8AM) to find a Common Goldeneye for Kris
Olsen. In the Redwood Shores Main Lagoon, near the Sofitel Hotel, the only
non-Mallard ducks were several Greater Scaup. There were 5 Brown Pelicans.

Then I looked in the Main Lagoon from the boat dock on Shorebird Circle.
Near Shorebird Island, where the Lagoon branches out in different
directions, there were 4 Common Goldeneyes with several Greater Scaup and
American Coots. The Goldeneyes were in "female type" plumage.

Tom Goodier





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: San Mateo Bayfront and Coast sightings 11-15-2009
From: Eric Feuss <ericfeuss AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 08:54:09 -0800 (PST)
A Santa Cruz Bird Club field trip, a group of five birders, visited Coyote 
Point, Redwood Shores / Nob Hill location, Radio Road, 35-92 crossroads, and 
Princeton Harbor, with some great success, but also some sad sights. 


Litter and garbage remianed rampant at all location visited.  Coyote Point had 
much of its understory cleared and removed throughout the point.  New 
construction also appeared visible in most locations visited.   

A male HARLEQUIN DUCK was the highlight at Coyote Point - always an incredible 
feast for the eyes.  We were unable to re-locate the Clay-colored Sparrow 
reported by Ron on the 12th in the sweet fennel.  I think we picked up our only 
Commoin Goldeneye here.  Standard sighting included Spotted Sandpiper, Dunlin, 
Western Sanpiper, Least Sandpiper, Black Oyster Catchers, Whimbrel, 
Black-bellied Plovers, and more were all seen.    

 
The Redwood Shores / Nob Hill location, provided great looks at a variety of 
water birds, including all the common Duck species.  No Redheads were seen, 
but BLUE-WINGED TEAL (male, possibly two) was observed.  It is awlays 
interesting to observe the clustering behavior.  The Mew Gulls stayed near the 
few American White Pelicans on an upper portaion of "the island".  Snowy Egrets 
styed together on another part around the Russian Alkali thistle (tumbleweed).  
The predomiantly Willet / Godwit flock remained together on far side of "the 
island", while the Canvasbacks were out in the water way to the right of the 
island. Etc.. 

 
Radio Road yielded hightlights of BLACK SKIMMER (14 count), HOODED MERGANSER, 
Cinnamon Teal, one male EURASION WIGEON, both Short-billed and Long-billed 
Dowitchers, and, unfortunately with only two members of the group left, a male 
PEREGRINE FALCON.  Only one Bonapartes Gull was on the main pond.  I'm sure I 
am missing some sightings here.   

 
This trip to Radio Road was the first time I have seen substantial water on the 
dog park side of the road, which meant most of the shorebirds were located on 
this side of the road in vast numbers in the numerous shallow pools..  It also 
meant that the main pond was probably deeper and was the first time I have seen 
Hooded Mergansers in it.  I have usually seen them in the deep water canals 
along the homes. 

 
Princteon Harbor yielded a 1st winter WHITE-WINGED SCOTER exibhiting 
interesting feeding behavior, separate from all the Surf Scoters. Thanks to 
Pat, who first observed the Peregrine, we picked up quite a few more raptors, 
including White-tailed Kite and American Kestrel. 

 
Happy Birding, 
Eric
 
 
 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Common Goldeneyes Redwood Shores
From: "IIWI1" <tgoodier AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 16:38:40 -0000
I went out this morning (11/16 8AM) to find a Common Goldeneye for Kris Olsen. 
In the Redwood Shores Main Lagoon, near the Sofitel Hotel, the only non-Mallard 
ducks were several Greater Scaup. There were 5 Brown Pelicans. 


Then I looked in the Main Lagoon from the boat dock on Shorebird Circle. Near 
Shorebird Island, where the Lagoon branches out in different directions, there 
were 4 Common Goldeneyes with several Greater Scaup and American Coots. The 
Goldeneyes were in "female type" plumage. 


Tom Goodier
Subject: Redwood Shores/Oracle
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:28:00 -0800
Hi all,

 

Tonight after a Sequoia Audubon meeting at the new (and terrific!) Redwood
Shores Library, I stopped by the Oracle lagoon on the way home since I had
seen ducks there when I drove in. It was just after 5pm, however, so
post-sunset lighting.

 

In the lagoon were 6 HOODED MERGANSERS, yeah! Tom Goodier has reported
seeing 9, with the first one on Oct. 25.  I have seen Hooded Mergansers in
the Oracle lagoon other years - they like the corner areas.  There were
about 30 scaup and 1 male Bufflehead visible, along with 200-300 American
Crows in the parking lot and around back.  All over the place!!

 

I drove around behind Oracle to check the geese on the lawn, and found 4
Greater White-fronted Geese with two different flocks. I took some super
poor photos, even trying flash.. .but at least one can tell what they are. 

 

I still haven't seen any goldeneye this fall. I tried to get the Sofitel to
check the lagoon from their parking lot-but it was too dark. So if you see
them, please report them.

 

Good birding,

Kris Olson

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristenolson/
Subject: Bayside Birding 11/15/09
From: "geodani55" <geodani55 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 02:44:01 -0000
 This morning I birded the high tide along Third Avenue near Mariner's Point 
Golf Course in San Mateo. Best birds along the boardwalk were two SPOTTED 
SANDPIPERS, 2 GREATER YELLOWLEGS, 1 PEREGRINE FALCON, 1 NORTHERN HARRIER, 1 
SAY'S PHOEBE and several COMMON YELLOWTHROATS & SAVANNAH SPARROWS. There were 
hundreds of GREATER SCAUP and a few LESSER SCAUP mixed in. 

 Later this evening, there was a male HOODED MERGANSER in the lake in front of 
the Oracle Headquarters in Redwood Shores on Marine Parkway and an adult male 
COMMON GOLDENEYE in Lower Crystal Springs Lake at the intersection of Highway 
92. Both were first of season ducks for me. 

Good Birding,

George Chrisman
Burlingame, CA
Subject: Christmas Bird Counts - San Mateo County
From: "leslieflint" <lflint AT earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:07:56 -0000
HI all,

Note all of the great work done this year by San Mateo birders: Jennifer 
Rycenga's post regarding ebird; Kris Olson's compilation of the San Mateo 
County Year Bird list; and the terrific county birding guide posted on the SAS 
website (kudos to Jennifer Rycenga). 


Birders, won't you also join us for the two San Mateo County Christmas Counts. 
The Crystal Springs count (December 19) has been in the top ten counts in the 
United States for 18 of the last 20 years! and we manage to do that with only 
40-50 counters. Imagine what we might do if we had 100 counters! Our Ano Nuevo 
(January 2) count last year had the most counters ever - but with so much 
territory to cover, we could use even more. You don't have to be an expert 
birder; just enthusiastic, willing to hike and able to point out birds. 


If you haven't already signed up, send me an email at lflint AT earthlink.net and 
tell me which count you would like to participate in and I'll add you to a 
team. 


Leslie Flint
CBC Coordinator
San Mateo
Subject: 2009 Palo Alto SBC Summary
From: Bill Bousman <barlowi AT earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 09:17:30 -0800
Folks,

I've finished a summary of the 2009 Palo Alto Summer Bird Count that 
was held on 6 Jun 2009.  I've sent a copy of the summary to the count 
participants (some of whom may not receive it for a variety of 
reasons).  I have also posted the summary on the south-bay-birds and 
peninsula-birding group website.  It is in a folder under "files."  I 
am posting this message to both groups as the count circle is about 
equally split between Santa Clara and San Mateo counties.  If you 
were a participant on the count and have not received the summary, 
then you can download it from either of the group sites or contact 
me.  Even if you were not a participant, you are welcome to download 
and read the summary.

Bill
Subject: RE: Cascade Ranch + Wild Turkeys @ Filoli
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 21:59:07 -0800
I forgot to mention the 8 Wild Turkeys we saw when driving by Filoli about
5pm. Filoli says it is closed until Mid-Feb (good time to check for
turkeys.)

 

We also scanned Crystal Springs for swans..no luck, but there was a bird
that I could only see in silhouette that could have been a Common Loon. 

 

From: peninsula-birding AT yahoogroups.com
[mailto:peninsula-birding AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kris Olson
Sent: Saturday, November 14, 2009 8:10 PM
To: Peninsula-Birding
Subject: [pen-bird] Cascade Ranch

 

  

After "Saving the Bay" this morning with my daughter (planting marsh coyote
bushes), I took off for Pescadero and points south with Michael Scott. We
scoped for Tundra Swans at "Lake Pescadero", but they weren't there in the
afternoon, either. Saw Buffleheads, Northern Shovelers, etc.

When we arrived at the Brussels Sprouts fields at Cascade Ranch at 2:30pm,
it was totally quiet and birdless at the place that has been lively in the
past. Fortunately, we kept on walking over towards the ranch along the row
of trees; when we hit the sun, we found birds. The warblers were focused on
the area with dead eucalyptus trees near the ground, and sparrows were
behind that further out in the weedy field.

We were enjoying many Townsend's Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, 1
Orange-crowned Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Chestnut-backed Chickadees
when Michael spotted the Nashville's Warbler a couple of times. We felt
"obligated" (hey, it's fun!) to get some photos as record shots, not
realizing that Jennifer had already succeed in that, and with some
persistence we managed to get recognizable shots.

In the sparrow area, we saw a sooty Fox Sparrow, 1 Lincoln's Sparrow, 4 or 5
Song Sparrows and multiple White- and Golden-crowned Sparrows. We did not
see anything else more unusual. A scope would have been useful here.

As we arrived at the fields, we saw an immature Cooper's Hawk.

Driving north along highway 1, we saw 2 White-tailed Kites, 3 American
Kestrels, 2 Red-shouldered Hawks (including a dead one along the road), and
4 or 5 Red-tailed Hawks.

Good birding!

Kris

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael12850/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristenolson/4104139083/in/set-7215762009756347
2/





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Cascade Ranch
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 20:09:48 -0800
After "Saving the Bay" this morning with my daughter (planting marsh coyote
bushes), I took off for Pescadero and points south with Michael Scott.  We
scoped for Tundra Swans at "Lake Pescadero", but they weren't there in the
afternoon, either. Saw Buffleheads, Northern Shovelers, etc.

 

When we arrived at the Brussels Sprouts fields at Cascade Ranch at 2:30pm,
it was totally quiet and birdless at the place that has been lively in the
past. Fortunately, we kept on walking over towards the ranch along the row
of trees; when we hit the sun, we found birds. The warblers were focused on
the area with dead eucalyptus trees near the ground, and sparrows were
behind that further out in the weedy field.

 

We were enjoying many Townsend's Warblers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, 1
Orange-crowned Warbler, Ruby-crowned Kinglets and Chestnut-backed Chickadees
when Michael spotted the Nashville's Warbler a couple of times. We felt
"obligated" (hey, it's fun!)  to get some photos as record shots, not
realizing that Jennifer had already succeed in that, and with some
persistence we managed to get recognizable shots.

 

In the sparrow area, we saw a sooty Fox Sparrow, 1 Lincoln's Sparrow, 4 or 5
Song Sparrows and multiple White- and Golden-crowned Sparrows. We did not
see anything else more unusual. A scope would have been useful here.

 

As we arrived at the fields, we saw an immature Cooper's Hawk.

 

Driving north along highway 1, we saw 2 White-tailed Kites, 3  American
Kestrels, 2 Red-shouldered Hawks (including a dead one along the road), and
4 or 5 Red-tailed Hawks.

 

Good birding!

 

Kris

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/michael12850/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristenolson/4104139083/in/set-7215762009756347
2/
Subject: Re: misc. 11/9/09 and RFI: White-breasted Nuthatches
From: Bill Bousman <barlowi AT earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:20:37 -0800
At 11:37 PM 11/9/2009, Dominik Mosur wrote:
>
>
>Finally I was wondering if anyone could suggest a place besides 
>Filoli (which is closed until Feb. and requires $12 admission!) 
>where White-breasted Nuthatch can be found in the county.
>
>Thank you and good birding,
>Dominik Mosur

Dear Domink,

The Menlo Oaks area, near Menlo-Atherton HS, (Arlington, Menlo Oaks, 
Berkeley, etc) at the south edge of the county has resident 
White-breasted Nuthatches (sez Kris Olson and I, both 
residents).  One was calling this afternoon as I gardened.

Bill
Subject: Re: Phipp's Ranch
From: Eric Goodill <ericgmac AT mac.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 18:33:26 -0800
Hi,

I happened to be with Matthew's class, and I geotagged the location of  
the WHITE-THROATED SPARROW.


http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&q=37.253464,-122.369110+(WTSP)&ie=UTF8&ll=37.253031,-122.368383&spn=0.002477,0.005423&t=h&z=18 


Good birding, Eric

On Nov 14, 2009, at 4:58 PM, Matthew Dodder wrote:

> All,
>
> Indeed, the brussels Sprouts piles at Cascade Ranch are ripening for
> sure. We encountered no rarities, and saw nothing beyond what
> Jennifer reported, but it was very active with beautifully lit common
> species for our photographers. We had the sense something interesting
> might show up at any moment, so we'll have to visit again soon.
>
> Our best bird of the day was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at Phipp's
> Ranch at the base of the line of poplars (?) leading away from the
> animal enclosures. The very strikingly marked tan-striped bird was
> associating with a large group of Dark-eyed Juncos, White- and Golden-
> crowned Sparrows in the middle of the large field accessed from the
> back farm animal area.
>
> Matthew Dodder
> http://www.birdguy.net
Subject: Phipp's Ranch
From: Matthew Dodder <mdodder AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:58:20 -0800
All,

Indeed, the brussels Sprouts piles at Cascade Ranch are ripening for  
sure. We encountered no rarities, and saw nothing beyond what  
Jennifer reported, but it was very active with beautifully lit common  
species for our photographers. We had the sense something interesting  
might show up at any moment, so we'll have to visit again soon.

Our best bird of the day was a WHITE-THROATED SPARROW at Phipp's  
Ranch at the base of the line of poplars (?) leading away from the  
animal enclosures. The very strikingly marked tan-striped bird was  
associating with a large group of Dark-eyed Juncos, White- and Golden- 
crowned Sparrows in the middle of the large field accessed from the  
back farm animal area.

Matthew Dodder
http://www.birdguy.net
Subject: eBird and San Mateo county
From: Jennifer Rycenga <gyrrlfalcon AT earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 16:00:50 -0800
I just wanted to call the attention of our local county birders to our  
spectacular level of participation in eBird.  The good folks at eBird  
have launched a new initiative to try to get people to bird in places  
that are underbirded (and underrepresented in the eBird database).   
They have called this initiative eBird County Birding, and you can  
read more about it at this webpage:

http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/county_birding

Attached as part of that article is a spreadsheet recording how many  
checklists were submitted from each county.  In California, San Mateo  
is the fourth ranked county.  We have submitted 9,091 checklists from  
this county to eBird, trailing only LA (23,035), San Diego (15,026),  
and Marin (9,635).  I think this is quite a significant  
accomplishment.  We are a much smaller county than either LA or San  
Diego, and Marin has the fame and attraction of Pt. Reyes.  For us to  
be ahead of counties like Monterey, Alameda, and Santa Clara is a  
testimony to the dedication of many local birders who faithfully  
record their sightings, providing scientists and future generations  
with a rich and (hopefully) accurate picture of avian life in our time.

eBird launched another project, asking birders to pick a patch that  
they can bird regularly, that does not already receive a lot of  
coverage.  Check out this site survey project at this webpage:

http://ebird.org/content/ebird/about/eBird_Site_Survey

Please remember that the pages of the San Mateo County Birding Guide  
all contain links to eBird, and a status of how many species have been  
reported from that site to eBird (if the site is what eBird terms a  
"hotspot"); I am going to try and update these at least annually.

Thanks to all who are recording their findings, to George Chrisman for  
being regional editor, and to all the members of team eBird.

Jennifer Rycenga
Half Moon Bay, CA
Subject: Pigeon Point
From: "mark" <mkudrav AT gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 22:17:30 -0000
All,
 I did a seawatch today at Pigeon Point from 8am-10:45. The visibility was good 
and the wind was mostly out of the north. It seemed to shift to the NW slightly 
while I was there. 

 There was a slow, but steady trickling of Red-throated/Pacific loons (400). 
Most were passing about halfway to the horizon or farther out so I found it 
difficult to ID most to species. 

 Most impressive was the SURF SCOTER migration today (just shy of 2000). Groups 
were most between 30-70 individuals. The largest group was 200. One 
WHITE-WINGED SCOTER passed going south in one of the larger groups. 

   RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS (32) also were heading south today. 

 I made it to the Brussel's sprouts yesterday as well. Jennifer Ryecenga's post 
from today sums up what I encountered there. I did get lucky with an 
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER on the walk in toward the sprouts. 

  
 No luck finding the tundra swans, though I only scanned briefly from the road 
on the way to and from the lighthouse. 

Good luck everyone and have a good weekend.

Mark Kudrav
Subject: Pescadero and Brussels Sprouts
From: Jennifer Rycenga <gyrrlfalcon AT earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 13:23:29 -0800
Peggy and I spent the morning exploring Pescadero  
Marsh...Pond...Lake...wow, but there is a lot of water there these  
days! We walked the trail on the south end of the park to the bridge  
and causeway.  We could not walk further than about five yards past  
the bridge of the causeway because of the water level.  We did hear at  
least two VIRGINIA RAILS.  Nothing else unusual, but we did enjoy the  
spectacle of two PEREGRINE FALCONS flying and screaming at each other  
across the length of the park.  There's an abundance of FOX SPARROWS  
all along the coast right now; with some determined rhythmically  
interesting pishing, we actually (accidentally) got two of them to  
start singing!  An immature WHITE-TAILED KITE  perched near SR1. One  
HERRING GULL was seen on the overlook to the ocean in the middle  
parking lot.

Perhaps our most exciting but frustrating sighting of the day was a  
GOLDEN EAGLE that we watched soaring and flying, south of Bean Hollow  
and north of Pigeon Point.  We were able to get good enough looks to  
determine it was a GOEA and not a TV, but not good enough looks to  
actually savor this unusual county bird.

We then resumed our drive south to re-explore the Brussels Sprouts  
field at Cascade Ranch.  We ran into Matthew Dodder and his class  
there as they were leaving.  Things have gotten much more active since  
we were there two weeks ago!  We relocated the NASHVILLE WARBLER, and  
I was lucky enough to get two good pictures of it: one of the front of  
the bird, and one of the breast and belly.  I'll put those in my  
folder on penbirds later today.  Plenty of the expected birds:  
TOWNSEND'S WARBLER, YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER, SONG SPARROW, GOLDEN- 
CROWNED SPARROW, WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW, FOX SPARROW, LINCOLN'S  
SPARROW, HERMIT THRUSH, etc.  What a wonderful spot this is!  I will  
be writing up the entry for it in the San Mateo Birding Guide sometime  
very soon, so I KNOW you photographers have oodles of great photos of  
rarities from this location; please share with me whatever you want.   
Appreciated, as always.

Jennifer Rycenga
Half Moon Bay, CA

P.S. Skyline Ridge Open Space Preserve is now available on the San  
Mateo County  Birding Guide, newly revised by Garth Harwood.  Check it  
out - we are now at 56 sites: http://birding.sequoia-audubon.org/
Subject: Yellow Rumps in Pacifica
From: "spectaclebear" <mkeitelman AT hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 09:15:41 -0000
The annual Yellow-rumped Warblers to our Pacifica backyard was today. One was 
the common Audubon's, and the other appeared to be a Myrtle.
Subject: Raptors
From: Bob Power <rcpower AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 20:13:38 -0800 (PST)
Hi all,

A stop at Menlo Park's Sharon Park Dr. had zero White-throated Sparrows, but 
did net a Merlin. 

Wavecrest has been on my hit list for two months and finally I had the chance 
to visit. It didn't disappoint as the Kites, Kestrels, Harriers, 
Red-shouldereds, and Red-tails all put on a show. 


Of note was a juvenile White-tailed Kite with extensive rufous coloring. I 
thought it was way on the late side, but review of the SCCo Breeding Bird Atlas 
shows the bulk of breeding confirmations done by July, but confirmations as 
late as 10/10; so there you go. 


My apologies to the one photographer. Between the dogwalkers and me, we spooked 
just about anything photographable, or so it seemed. 


A few digi-scoped photos from the day can be seen at: 
http://www.flickr.com/photos/14935921 AT N00/

Good birding, 

Bob Power
Oakland, CA
Subject: FW: 2 tundra swans at Pescadero Marsh Nov. 13, noon
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:51:55 -0800
Hi birders,

 

Another great post from Gary Strachan, Ano Nuevo ranger.

 

Kris

 

Kris Olson

 

From: Strachan, Gary [mailto:gstrachan AT parks.ca.gov] 
Sent: Friday, November 13, 2009 2:46 PM
To: Kris Olson
Subject: tundra swan

 

Kris: two tundra swans at Pescadero marsh way to the east today at about
1200

 

Gary J. Strachan

Supervising Ranger

Ano Nuevo State Reserve

Pescadero, CA 94060
Subject: Another Photo Request
From: Jennifer Rycenga <gyrrlfalcon AT earthlink.net>
Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 07:00:47 -0800
Dear Pen-birders:

Thanks so much to those birders who responded with pictures from Radio  
Road.  I hope to go live with that entry by this weekend.  I have  
another request: Skyline Open Space Preserve's entry is also nearly  
ready.  If anyone has pictures of these three rarities, I'd love to  
include them in the guide:

Sage Sparrow (2008)
Indigo Bunting (2007)
Lewis's Woodpecker (2003-04)

There may be more that I am not yet remembering from Skyline, but  
these are three I know there were good pictures of. Appreciate any and  
all contributions.

Jennifer Rycenga
Half Moon Bay, CA
Subject: Clay-colored Sparrow at Coyote Pt.
From: Tronthorn AT aol.com
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:44:08 EST
  This morning, I checked the field near the fresh water marsh at Coyote
 Point. The Sweet Fennel is still blooming and is attracting Yellow-rumped
 Warblers and ( 2 ) Orange-crowned Warblers. A CLAY-COLORED
 SPARROW flew out of the Sweet Fennel into the nearby scrubs.

  Yesterday November 11, the first EURASIAN WIGEON arrived at
 Radio Road in Redwood Shores. It is an adult male and has
 mostly moulted out of eclipse plumage, but is still retaining brown 
 feathers on the sides and flanks.

  In Belmont, Pat Boor had ( 3 ) GREATER WHITE-FRONTED
 GEESE and a CACKLING GOOSE showing characteristics of 
 Tavener's at the Belmont Sports Complex on November 10.

  During the week while at a client's house in Belmont off of Ralston
 Avenue near Highway 92, I was surprised to see ( 6 ) Western Bluebirds
 foraging around the front and backyards of the houses on the street.
 I have never seen Western Bluebirds in the city of Belmont before.

  Ron Thorn 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Menlo Park misc. 11/11/09
From: Dominik Mosur <polskatata AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 18:29:15 -0800 (PST)
After working a holiday shortened shift yesterday, I made it out to Menlo Park 
to look for a San Mateo county nemesis bird. 


The first place I stopped at was Flood Park and within 20 minutes of searching 
I had awesome looks at a pair of WHITE-BREASTED NUTHATCHES working one of the 
huge Live Oaks. 


Oak Titmice, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Bewick's Wrens, Nuttall's/Downy 
Woodpeckers and others were also present here. 


Next stop was Bayfront Park. I scoped in vain for odd pipits, longspurs or a 
Burrowing Owl and watched in dismay as a seemingly unattended Labrador 
Retriever constantly dug up one ground squirrel burrow after another. After 
politely telling the owner, who eventually appeared with another off-leash pet, 
that I was a visiting naturalist and volunteer Audubon bird walk guide and that 
her dog was disturbing and harassing wildlife (chasing pipits/meadowlarks in 
addition to the digging) and infringing on my ability to recreate in the park I 
was told to "go back to San Francisco." 


On the bright side I did manage a high count of (61) AMERICAN PIPITS in the 
central grass area and I'm sure there must have been at least another 30-40 out 
there. A male NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER was hiding out in the first stand of trees 
closest to the salt ponds. (6) WESTERN BLUEBIRDS, SAY'S PHOEBE, (50+) WESTERN 
MEADOWLARKS were also present. 


I then birded the restoration area east of University, just north of East Palo 
Alto. I had a high count of (48) roosting KILLDEER, a single fly-over AMERICAN 
PIPIT, SAVANNAH SPARROW, (10) WHITE-CROWNED SPARROWS, (2) WHITE TAILED KITES, 
an AMERICAN KESTREL and a lone LEAST SANDPIPER. 


Last stop was Ravenswood where I stayed past sun down hoping for another 
nemesis, Short-eared Owl. Of course that didn't happen (I need to bird the 
county intensively for another decade before the birding deities allow me such 
a privilege) but the good numbers of shorebirds present on the exposed mudflats 
were well worth it. Also of local interest (perhaps) was a fly-over group of 
(37) FORSTER'S TERNS heading north and a lone adult BROWN PELICAN flying south. 
A Black-tailed Jackrabbit emerging from the low vegetation just a few feet from 
the busy road was a nice reminder of the resiliency of nature. 


Many THANKS also to all the generous peninsula birders who shared their 
knowledge of sites to look for White-breasted Nuthatches: 

L. Batkin/A. Eisner/V. Marshall/D. Pendleton/J. Ryecenga/ K. Schneider/ T. 
Snyder/ F. Toldi/ and listmaster A. Winer 


Good birding,
Dominik Mosur
San Francisco
Subject: San Mateo Co. Year Bird List: Oct. 2009
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 12 Nov 2009 11:24:39 -0800
October 2009 is a month that will go down in San Mateo County - and
California - birding history. Thirteen new species were added to the
cumulative year list - two of which was new to the county, one to the state.
I am sure you have all read about the WHITE-CHINNED PETREL, seen October 18
off the coast of Half Moon Bay on a pelagic trip organized by the Sequoia
Audubon Society (SAS). Lots more information and photos about this sighting
can be found at www.sequoia-audubon.org. The first bird seen was a hatch
year SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS. See the Pen-Bird archive for many photos, maps
and
posts about the travels of this bird.

The month started off with two observations at the coast by Alvaro
Jaramillo. One Oct. 2, he heard a BOBOLINK fly over in Half Moon Bay, and on
Oct. 3, he saw and heard a HORNED LARK fly over Pillar Point. Both are
rarity code "4". 

A LEWIS'S WOODPECKER ("4") was seen by Searsville Lake at Jasper Ridge
Biological Preserve by Ron Thorn and Leonie Batkin on October 3. It was
described as a hatch year bird with a pink belly and some retained
"scaliness" of its juvenile plumage. Garth Harwood observed a first-year
BLACKPOLL WARBLER ("4") Oct. 4 at Phipp's Ranch in Pescadero. Six days
later, Oct. 10, Ron Thorn and Leonie Batkin observed a BLACK-THROATED BLUE
WARBLER ("4") also in Pescadero behind Duarte's garden.  At Edgewood County
Park, Ginny Marshall saw a VESPER'S SPARROW ("4") on Oct 10.

October 11 was the first of two very exciting pelagic trips in the county,
both starting from Half Moon Bay. This first trip, organized as fund-raiser
for SFBBO.org (bird research), with Alvaro Jaramillo and Linda and Scott
Terrill as guides, found three new birds for the county this year:
SHORT-TAILED ALBATROSS (#6) - a first year bird complete with big
bubblegum-pink bill, leg band and transmitter; a FLESH-FOOTED SHEARWATER
("5"); and a beautiful gray FORK-TAILED STORM-PETREL ("4"). Short-tailed
Albatrosses are endangered with an estimated 2,200 in the world. 

On Oct. 13, at Mori Point north of Pacific, Laurie Graham and Jeff
Fairclough found 2 juvenile AMERICAN GOLDEN PLOVERs ("5"). Far offshore on a
private 27' sailboat, two birders found a WILSON'S STORM-PETREL ("5") on
Oct. 17 (Wes Fritz, David Bell).  Peter Metropulos found the first PALM
WARBLER for the county at this year, on October 18 at Ano Nuevo. And the
now-famous SAS pelagic trip found the first California record for
WHITE-CHINNED PETREL.

The collective county list for 2009 now stands at 331 species or 73% of
those birds on the county checklist.

October has also brought first fall arrivals of Tropical Kingbird (Oct.8),
White-throated Sparrow (Oct. 24), Hooded Merganser (Oct 25).  

Interestingly, LAYSAN ALBATROSSES were seen on both pelagic trips, but had
been already sighted by a research boat on May 23, so they are not new this
month for the county list.

As always, please let me know any additions, corrections, etc.
Good birding!

Kris Olson

A trial discussion of sightings for the county August and September 2009
(more detail):
http://www.sequoia-audubon.org/sightings.html
and
the October Year List:
http://www.sequoia-audubon.org/SMCbirds.php
Subject: Two requests for the San Mateo County Birding Guide
From: Jennifer Rycenga <gyrrlfalcon AT earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:19:34 -0800
Dear Pen-birders:

This certainly has been an exciting year in the annals of San Mateo  
birding, with two remarkable pelagic trips out of Half Moon Bay 
(http://www.sequoia-audubon.org/ 

), Kris Olson maintaining an annual county list 
(http://www.sequoia-audubon.org/SMCbirds.php 

), the addition of four new birds (at least) to the county list (Short- 
tailed Albatross, Cook's Petrel, White-chinned Petrel, and Gull-billed  
Tern), and the launching of the San Mateo County Birding Guide (SMCBG, 
http://birding.sequoia-audubon.org/ 

  )

Regarding the SMCBG, first, thanks to all of you who have contributed  
entries, photos, and corrections.  Having an online guide means we can  
update, correct, and change entries to reflect the latest  
information.  Second, thanks to those of you who have indicated that  
you've used the guide profitably to visit new areas or improve your  
birding skills.

Two requests: first, I am preparing the Radio Road entry.  There have  
been so many rare birds seen there over the years - it is a remarkable  
place.  I am asking for people who have good pictures of rare birds  
taken at Radio Road (such as the Gull-billed Tern, Yellow-headed  
Blackbird, etc.), who are willing to share them publicly, to send them  
to me.  Please include your name and the date when you took the  
picture.  Thanks.

Finally, I am asking that during the CBC season, please take the entry  
for your assigned areas with you, and enter corrections and  
additions.  The CBC is a time when more birders are covering more  
territory exhaustively than at any other time of year.  Some of the  
entries in the SMCBG could really benefit from additional information.

To quote the Beatles -  "everybody had a good year"  - let's keep the  
energy going for birding San Mateo!

Jennifer Rycenga
Half Moon Bay, CA
Visit the San Mateo County Birding Guide
http://birding.sequoia-audubon.org/
Subject: Half Moon Bay Review story on Pelagic trips
From: Jennifer Rycenga <gyrrlfalcon AT earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 17:22:13 -0800
Dear Birders - The Half Moon Bay Review today published an article on  
last month's two pelagic trips out of Half Moon Bay, and the rare  
sightings that resulted from them.  This is in the edition of November  
11. You can see it online at 
http://www.hmbreview.com/articles/2009/11/11/news/doc4afb5b1563592407324267.txt 


Jennifer Rycenga
Half Moon Bay, CA
Subject: misc. 11/9/09 and RFI: White-breasted Nuthatches
From: Dominik Mosur <polskatata AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 23:37:16 -0800 (PST)
Spend much of the day birding various locations around the county today from 11 
a.m. to 5:30 p.m. including Edgewood/Canada Rd., Cascade Ranch/Terrace prairie 
north of Ano Nuevo/Gazos Creek Road/Cloverdale Road/Stage Road/Pomponio Creek 
Road ending the day at Wavecrest. 


However it seemed that the force was not with me today as I didn't (re)find any 
unusual birds/rarities. Nonetheless some of the highlights included: 

nice mixed flocks of CB CHICKADEES/OAK TITMICE/HUTTON'S VIREO/RC 
KINGLET/TOWNSEND'S WARBLER/BEWICK'S WREN in Edgewood 

WESTERN BLUEBIRDS and many ACORN WOODPECKERS seen from across the fence in 
Filoli 

Nice flock at Pulgas water temple (same as Edgewood plus BROWN CREEPER)
several hundred TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS along with Brewer's/Red-winged/Western 
Meadowlark in the Cascade ranch fields on the West side of 1 

at least 60 (probably more) Trikes in the fields on Cloverdale across from 
Canyon rd., also seen in these fields 50+ COMMON RAVENS 

(4) RING-NECKED DUCKS on the pond on Cloverdale (some sort of flower farm 
operation) 

The prairie north of Ano Nuevo (which looks to have undergone prescribed burn 
recently) was good for (6) WHITE-TAILED KITES, (3) NORTHERN HARRIERS, (2) 
RED-TAILS including a very pale juv. with a very bold eyebrow that had me 
wondering at its ID for a bit and an AMERICAN KESTREL. 


A non bird highlight was seeing two different BOBCATS along Pomponio Creek Road 
between 4:15 - 4:45 p.m. 


Finally I was wondering if anyone could suggest a place besides Filoli (which 
is closed until Feb. and requires $12 admission!) where White-breasted Nuthatch 
can be found in the county. 


Thank you and good birding,
Dominik Mosur
Subject: Cooper's Hawk on the dairy aisle
From: Janet Hanson <janethanson AT earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 22:55:16 -0800
Late this afternoon I stopped at Piazza's market on Middlefield and  
did not believe my eyes when I spotted a juvenile Cooper's Hawk  
sitting atop the dairy case.  ( No wonder that lady was yelling "turn  
off the fans!" ) After a quick zoom through produce, he nearly  
managed to make it out the front door, when Frank the Checker (with  
big gloves on) scooped him up and tossed him out.   A loud hurrah!  
went up from all the shoppers.

And this morning, a juvenile Sharp-shinned cleared the room at our  
bird bath.  The Lesser Goldfinches and company made a cautious return  
an hour later.
It was a great day to observe shopping accipiters.

good birding!
Janet Hanson
Subject: California Gulls Taking Over the Wetlands
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 11:02:44 -0800
Found another article today in the San Jose Mercury News that I thought
might be of interest to local birders:

http://www.mercurynews.com/news/ci_13722097?nclick_check=1

 

Note a radio interview with Alvaro Jaramillo and SFBBO/Jill Demers tonight.

 

Kris Olson

 

From: south-bay-birds AT yahoogroups.com
[mailto:south-bay-birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Kris Olson
Sent: Sunday, November 08, 2009 10:30 PM
To: south-bay-birds AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [SBB] Alvaro Jaramillo/SFBBO on the radio MON. 11/19--about Gull
research

 

  

Thought this might be of interest.. The mixed blessings of the success of
the California Gull nesting in south bay wetlands...

Check out today's editions of the Oakland Tribute, the Contra Costa Times,
Tri-Valley Herald, and other Bay Area News Group newspapers for the
front-page article Gulls Winning Wetlands Battle. 
http://www.insidebayarea.com/dailyreview/localnews/ci_13722097

Since 1980, the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory has documented the
astounding increase of breeding California Gulls in the South San Francisco
Bay. 

Today's article discusses the implications of this population growth for
other breeding waterbirds and the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration Project,
and includes interviews with Executive Director Jill Demers and Biologist
Josh Scullen. Make sure to view the online photo slide show of Josh at work
in the salt ponds! 

Also, to hear an interview with Executive Director Jill Demers and Biologist
Alvaro Jaramillo about California Gulls in the South San Francisco Bay, tune
into the radio program Crosscurrents on KALW-FM (91.7) at 5 p.m. Monday. The
show will repeat at 8:50 a.m. Tuesday, or listen online at www.KALW.org.

-- Kris Olson
Subject: Gulls on the Radio-Tonight, Monday November 9th at 5pm KALW
From: "Leonie Batkin" <lbatkin AT stanford.edu>
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 10:59:31 -0800
Folks, 

 

Tonight at 5pm there will be a radio broadcast about the California
Gulls research being conducted by the San Francisco Bay Bird
Observatory, see information below.  

 

Recent News article about the research and radio show can be found here:
http://www.mercurynews.com/bay-area-news/ci_13722097 

 

Be sure to tune in,

Leonie Batkin 

 

 

Since 1980, the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory has documented the
astounding increase of breeding California Gulls in the South San
Francisco
Bay. 

Today's article discusses the implications of this population growth for
other breeding waterbirds and the South Bay Salt Pond Restoration
Project,
and includes interviews with Executive Director Jill Demers and
Biologist
Josh Scullen. Make sure to view the online photo slide show of Josh at
work
in the salt ponds! 

Also, to hear an interview with Executive Director Jill Demers and
Biologist
Alvaro Jaramillo about California Gulls in the South San Francisco Bay,
tune
into the radio program Crosscurrents on KALW-FM (91.7) at 5 p.m. Monday.
The
show will repeat at 8:50 a.m. Tuesday, or listen online at www.KALW.org
 .

 

 

 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Brussel's Sprouts--Nashville Warbler
From: "mark" <mkudrav AT gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:32:57 -0000
All,
 I visited the Brussel's sprouts yesterday after recieving J.R. and Dillon's 
tip. The NASHVILLE WARBLER continues. No luck with the swamp sparrow, though 
there are plenty of sparrows there to sort through so I may have just missed 
it. I did see LINCOLN SPARROWS (3), WHITE-THROATED SPARROW (1), and 
ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER (1). Could be good birding there this winter. We'll see! 

 Here at home (11000 Pescadero Rd) I've been fascinated by watching flocks 
gorge themselves on ripe madrone berries. Band-tailed pigeons, robins and some 
pine siskins have been feasting regularly. For the years that I've lived here, 
we always get cedar waxwings stopping in for just a couple of weeks when the 
berries are ripe. This year they seem significantly abundant. On Friday, there 
was a swarm of over 100 Cedar Waxwings. I'm used to seeing flocks of 15-20 at 
this spot. Very exciting. 


Mark Kudrav
Subject: white-fronted goose at Sharp Park
From: "Peter Metropulos" <pjmetrop AT pacbell.net>
Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 06:59:32 -0800
Greetings,
Yesterday afternoon I observed a juvenile GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE dodging 
golfballs while it grazed on the turf at Sharp Park Golfcourse. 

At the Mori Point Trail the restoration is looking good, if only we could rid 
the area of the many plump house cats wandering through the coastal scrub. I 
saw a California Thrasher, 3 Western Meadowlarks, and a singing Wrentit here. 

Peter J.Metropulos

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: backyard Cooper's Hawk
From: "squirtz72" <fair80 AT comcast.net>
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 03:04:46 -0000
As we relaxed at home after birding, we had a couple of window strikes, about a 
half hour apart. The second time it happened, Jeff found Grizelda up a tree, 
ripping a Rock Pigeon to pieces. Grizelda is our backyard Cooper's Hawk, a 
female, who has been eating her catches in our trees since at least 2006. She 
is banded on her right leg, but we have never been able to read the band. 
Earlier this year, she brought a young 'un to the restaurant, but we have not 
seen it again. 


We are happy she kills Rock Pigeons, which we do not have in our yard, instead 
of the Mourning Doves, which we do. We are ecstatic that she uses our yard and 
let's us glimpse her. Today she was so busy eating, we got long good looks. 


About 4:50, the juncos came back, so she must have left by then.

Laurie & Jeff
hangin' on the side of Sign Hill, SSF
Subject: northern peninsula bayside, 11-08-09
From: "squirtz72" <fair80 AT comcast.net>
Date: Mon, 09 Nov 2009 02:54:22 -0000

Location:     SF Bay Trail, San Bruno Point, SSF, CA
Time 8:10 – 10:25 am

The day was warm and sunny. We arrived at Point San Bruno at mid tide, and left 
at low, 3.3'. The new bridge behind the SSF waste transfer station is open, 
which completes the Bay Trail from Sierra Point in the north to SamTrans 
Peninsula in the south. On a bicycle, one can stretch the ride to include 
Brisbane Lagoon and Candlestick Cove. The view from the new bridge is quite 
nice – you can look down into the marsh, which has had most of the garbage 
removed, and then up the creek to the willows and fennel, where there were a 
number of House Finches, mostly male, mostly hatch year. The shore birds 
weren't terribly exciting, but reminding ourselves of the differences between 
Sanderling, Dunlin, and other peeps was educational, and 

it always interesting to see the arrivals of the fall birds. 

Number of species:     41
Mallard     4
Greater Scaup     2067
Surf Scoter     51
Bufflehead     2
Ruddy Duck     150
Eared Grebe     1
Western Grebe     62
Clark's Grebe     2
Brown Pelican     36
Double-crested Cormorant     42
Snowy Egret     2
American Coot     35
Black-bellied Plover     7
Black Oystercatcher     1
Black-necked Stilt     2
Spotted Sandpiper     1
Greater Yellowlegs     1
Willet     27
Whimbrel (American)     4
Black Turnstone     1
Sanderling     53
Western Sandpiper     17
Least Sandpiper     41
Dunlin     57
Ring-billed Gull     2
Western Gull     18
California Gull     3
Anna's Hummingbird     2
Black Phoebe     2
American Crow     1
Common Raven     1
European Starling     20
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)     18
Common Yellowthroat     3
White-crowned Sparrow     20
Golden-crowned Sparrow     6
Red-winged Blackbird     2
Brewer's Blackbird     29
Purple Finch (Western)     1
House Finch     19
House Sparrow     3

Location:     Oyster Point Marina park
Time 10:30 am – 1:30 pm

We parked at the bait shop lot. The man in the car next to ours was feeding the 
birds: gulls, blackbirds, pigeons. There were three male Brown-headed Cowbirds 
in the flock. We walked out onto the fishing pier to see what might be on the 
shore (not much). Then we drove to Harbor Master's and checked out the gulls 
and Forster's Terns on the breakwater wall. The SSF Ferry Terminal is under 
construction at the next dock. The birds don't seem bothered by the noise, as 
the crane pulls concrete pilings out of the bay floor like very long teeth. 


We walked from the swimming beach, to and around the office parking lot, 
looking at night herons and yellow-rumps. We drove to Oyster Cove Marina 
parking, walked out to the mudflat, checked the shore birds and the 
ever-more-derelict pier, and scoped Oyster Cove. A very satisfactory day, as we 
continue to revel in the amazing weather. 


Number of species:     46
Canada Goose     58
Mallard     5
Greater Scaup     31
Surf Scoter     3
Bufflehead     16
Ruddy Duck     32
Pied-billed Grebe     3
Horned Grebe     1
Eared Grebe     1
Western Grebe     36
Clark's Grebe     8
Brown Pelican     9
Double-crested Cormorant     2
Great Blue Heron     1
Snowy Egret     2
Black-crowned Night-Heron     4
American Coot     41
Black-bellied Plover     2
Killdeer     6
Black Oystercatcher     1
Black-necked Stilt     3
Spotted Sandpiper     3
Greater Yellowlegs     5
Willet     9
Whimbrel (American)     2
Sanderling     2
Least Sandpiper     129
Ring-billed Gull     36
Western Gull     45
Western x Glaucous-winged Gull (hybrid)     1
Herring Gull (American)     1
Forster's Tern     66
Rock Pigeon     16
Anna's Hummingbird     4
Black Phoebe     2
American Crow     4
Bushtit     20
Hermit Thrush     1
Northern Mockingbird     1
European Starling     15
Yellow-rumped Warbler (Audubon's)     21
Fox Sparrow     1
White-crowned Sparrow     6
Golden-crowned Sparrow     2
Brewer's Blackbird     36
Brown-headed Cowbird     3
House Sparrow     2

Total species for the day: 55

Laurie Graham & Jeff Fairclough	
SSF
Subject: Skylawn Memorial Park and other notes
From: Tronthorn AT aol.com
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 21:04:46 EST
  This morning, myself and Leonie Batkin headed to the crest of the
 Santa Cruz Mountains to visit the cemetery at the Skylawn Memorial
 Park off of Skyline Boulevard and Highway 92. Shortly after arriving,
 we noticed two flocks of migrating Band-tailed Pigeons headed south.
 We then decided to stay to see if there were more to pass through.
 In the next ninety minutes we tallied ( 1,026 ) Band-tailed Pigeons
 flying south. The highest number in a group were ( 150 ) Band-tailed
 Pigeons. Other birds flying south were ( 28 ) American Robins,
 ( 40 ) Red Crossbills and ( 45 ) Pine Siskins. The highlight was 
 when I spotted a PRAIRIE FALCON flying from one ridgeline to
 another. The Prairie Falcon passed behind the trees at the cemetery
 and I thought Leonie would get a view as it came back in the open.
 It never appeared and I felt bad she had missed the bird, but several
 seconds later it appeared headed north giving the two of us a departing
 view. Last weekend, we had ( 14 ) Red Crossbills giving us primo
 views, as individuals came in with Pine Siskins to drink water from a
 flower holder on the lawn.   

  Some past notes

  October 14, we were surprised to see ( 29 ) American Crows in the
 town of Pescadero. There has been several seen around the town in
 the last couple of years with confirmation of a pair breeding the last
 two summers.

  October 25, there was a high of ( 13 ) Blue-winged Teal at Radio Road
 in Redwood Shores. The first Canvasbacks arrived at Redwood Shores
 October 23.

  October 28, while at the pond behind the Nob Hill Market in Redwood
 Shores, an adult Tundra Peregrine Falcon passed over sending the
 shorebirds into a panic mode. I have only ever seen a few of this race
 in San Mateo County. Behind the dog park along Radio Road, there
 was a high of ( 450 ) Long-billed Curlews, as this species usual takes
 rest at a different location away from Redwood Shores during a high
 tide. ( 5 ) Adult Mew Gulls at Radio Road were the first arrivals at
 that location.

  October 29, first arrival of Bufflehead were ( 18 ) at Princeton Harbor.
 A White-winged Scoter in the harbor has become seldom seen there
 over the years A hatch year Ruddy Turnstone and a hatch year 
 Short-billed Dowitcher were late migrants.

  October 31,  a hatch year female Hermit Warbler was at the big pullout
 along Gazos Creek Road. A Nashville Warbler was along Pescadero 
 Creek at the Phipp's County Store in the town of Pescadero. A new
 location this fall was a Loggerhead Shrike along Bean Hollow Road
 near Highway 1. ( 120 ) Brown-headed Cowbirds at Pomponio State
 Beach was a high number.

  November 1, I was surprised to see a Barn Swallow flying north near
 Venice State Beach. I can remember when sightings of Barn Swallows
 flying north first occurred in early February and at the time was 
 unprecedented. Every year after north bound Barn Swallows would
 show up earlier as I watched arrivals in January to early December.
 Last fall, the earliest arrival was over the Thanksgiving weekend.
 All of these early arrivals have taken place during when a high
 pressue system has built in with clear skies and mild to warm 
 temperatures.   

  A couple of messages from Pat Boor, where on October 23, the hybrid
 male GADWALL X NORTHERN SHOVELER returned for it's second
 winter along Belmont Slough behind Oracle. On November 3, Pat
 had a possible LARK BUNTING with a crowned sparrow flock behind
 the houses at the Nob Hill pond. 

  Ron Thorn
  Leonie Batkin     

 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: [SBB] Palo Alto CBC (fwd)
From: Al Eisner <eisner AT SLAC.Stanford.EDU>
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 15:27:52 -0800 (PST)
[Note that this count circle is nearly half in San Mateo County.]

Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 20:07:15 -0800 (PST)
From: Jack Cole 

Birders,

The Palo Alto Christmas Bird Count will be held on December 21st this
year, and that's only six weeks away. The time will go by fast, and
it's not too early to make your plans. Our region coordinators will be
recruiting their teams, and if you are one of their "regulars", feel
free to let them know you are available once again. If you are new to
the game, then contact me and I'll find a spot for you. Minumum
experience required: Be able to say, "There's a bird!"

Jack Cole
Subject: Fwd: [SFBirds] Brussel's sprout dump
From: Jennifer Rycenga <gyrrlfalcon AT earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, 8 Nov 2009 06:25:46 -0800
Forwarding to peninsula birds - obviously things have picked up since  
Peggy and I visited last weekend - as we predicted!

Jennifer Rycenga
Half Moon Bay, CA




Begin forwarded message:

> From: "jrblair AT outrageous.net" 
> Date: November 8, 2009 12:45:42 AM PST
> To: SFBirds AT yahoogroups.com
> Subject: [SFBirds] Brussel's sprout dump
>
> Visited the brussel's sprout dump at Cascade Ranch
> this afternoon from about 4 to 5. I was joined by
> Dillon Keel. The highlights were a NASHVILLE WARBLER,
> SWAMP SPARROW, and WHITE-THROATED SPARROW. A juvenile
> cooper's hawk was near the buildings - looked large
> to me, maybe a female. Lots of yellow-rumps,
> townsend's warblers, white- and golden-crowned
> sparrows, and song sparrows. Good looks at a hermit
> thrush and a couple of lincoln's sparrows foraging
> under the willows.
>
> J.R. Blair
>
>
> 



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peninsula-birding/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peninsula-birding/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    peninsula-birding-digest AT yahoogroups.com 
    peninsula-birding-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    peninsula-birding-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Subject: Cackling Goose at Calera Creek
From: Joseph Morlan <jmorlan AT gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 07 Nov 2009 21:28:24 -0800
Birders,

Robbie Fischer, Jeff Morlan and I visited the mouth of Calera Creek in
Pacifica this morning and were surprised to see a lone Cackling Goose in
the creek mouth.  

I'm not sure which race, but I'm leaning towards an immature Aleutian
(Branta hutchinsii leucopareia).  The pale neck band is quite faint, but
does appear to be bordered below by a dark band.  The chest is fairly pale.
Additional thoughts on identification would be welcome. 

The bird allowed close approach and I may go back and try for photos.

-- 
Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA        jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu 
SF Birding Classes start Nov. 3    http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/
California Bird Records Committee  http://www.californiabirds.org/
Western Field Ornithologists       http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/
Subject: Pigeon Pt. seawatch
From: Tronthorn AT aol.com
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 22:51:14 EST
  This morning, Leonie Batkin and myself headed to Pigeon Point to do a
  seawatch knowing from the weather report there would be no patchy
  fog this weekend obscuring the viewing. We had particular interest if
  there would be Red Phalaropes seen from shore as a powerful storm
  has been pounding the pacific northwest.  

  Time 07:30-10:45  Visibility light haze  wind northwest 7-10 knots
  Swells 16-18 feet 

  Common Loon ( 2 south, 1 turning inland )
  Red-throated Loon ( 375 south, largest group 12 )
  Horned Grebe ( 1 south )
  Northern Fulmar ( 4 dark morphs north )
  Brown Pelican ( 124 south )
  Brandt's Cormorant ( 300 south )
  Pelagic Cormorant ( 8 south )
  Brant ( 1 north )
  Green-winged Teal ( 1 south with Surf Scoters )
  Surf Scoter ( 472 south )
  White-winged Scoter ( 1 south )
  Black Oystercatcher ( 4 )
  Sanderling ( 100 north )
  RED PHALAROPE ( 66 south, small numbers scattered over the water,
  most were about halfway out to the horizon, many were most likely not
  detected flying through the large swells )
  Bonaparte's Gull ( 41 south, a group of 40 )
  Mew Gull ( 3 adults south )
  Heerman's Gull ( 118 south )
  California Gull ( 20 south )
  Herring Gull ( 3 adults south )
  Glaucous-winged Gull ( 3 adults south )
  Western Gull ( 70 south )
  Glaucous-winged x Western Gull hybrid ( 1 adult north )
  Common Murre ( 2,750 south, most at the horizon )

  There have been many more the numbers than usual of Tricolored
  Blackbirds this fall. Fields south of Pigeon Point had a group of
  ( 120 ) and ( 500 ).

  Ron Thorn
  Leonie Batkin  
      


   


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Sequoia Audubon Society Birding Class
From: "Sue Cossins" <birdersue AT earthlink.net>
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 17:05:39 -0800
You're invited to a free birding class to be held at the San Mateo Garden 
Center, 605 Parkside Way, San Mateo: 


“Raptors in Winter”
By Lisa Myers
Thursday, November 12, 2009 7:00pm-9:00pm
 
This evening's presentation will be centered on the raptors that can be 
observed in the San Francisco Bay Area each Winter. We'll review the different 
genus so we can identify a buteo from a falcon or a vulture from an eagle. 
Living in California we get to see some spectacular Wintering raptors including 
Ferruginous and Rough Legged Hawks and the elusive Merlin and we'll go over 
them all. We'll also go into detail how one can identify a Sharp-Shinned Hawk 
from a Cooper's. In addition to field marks and behavior, we'll go over 
preferred habitats and food preferences. 


Lisa is a San Francisco Bay Area native. With a desire to get more people into 
birding she opened her own business, Let's Go Birding and leads birding tours 
throughout Northern California and Costa Rica. In addition to leading tours 
Lisa teaches adult birding classes throughout the bay area and the Santa Clara 
Valley Audubon Society. Lisa is a Nikon Birding Prostaff member and is Vice 
President of the Board of Directors for the San Francisco Bay Bird Observatory. 

Check out her website: www.LetsGoBirding.com
 
Accompanying Field Trip: Raptors of Wavecrest
Sunday, November 15th, 9:30AM to noon
Open to everyone with a $5.00 fee paid to the instructor.

For more info check our website: www.sequoia-audubon.org

Sue Cossins
birdersue AT earthlink.net

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]



------------------------------------

Yahoo! Groups Links

<*> To visit your group on the web, go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peninsula-birding/

<*> Your email settings:
    Individual Email | Traditional

<*> To change settings online go to:
    http://groups.yahoo.com/group/peninsula-birding/join
    (Yahoo! ID required)

<*> To change settings via email:
    peninsula-birding-digest AT yahoogroups.com 
    peninsula-birding-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com

<*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to:
    peninsula-birding-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com

<*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to:
    http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
Subject: some more bayside birding
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 15:21:25 -0800
Michael Scott and I birded some stops along the bay this morning.

 

Ravenwood/end of Bay Road in EPA

Tide was low, highlight was 43 Long-billed Curlews. On the mudflats in the
bay were hundreds of peeps, Dunlin, Black-bellied Plovers.

 

Redwood Shores/back of Nob Hill pond

Actually, nothing really of interest - Yellow-rumped Warblers, crowned
sparrows, ducks, common shorebirds. Continuing male Common Yellowthroat. No
sign of the Say's Phoebe that was here for awhile. Also today did not spot
any Lincoln's Sparrows (there had been at least 2 in various places).

 

Marlin Park and Davit Lane/RWS-looking for ducks which have not arrived yet
(goldeneye and hooded mergansers)-none. There were a few scaup at Davit,
including a Lesser Scaup female. No sign today of the Redhead male.

 

Radio Rd pond-15 Black Skimmers, including 2 juveniles. 16 Mew Gulls.  At
least 5 male Cinnamon Teal (Michael took pix) and 2 male Blue-winged Teal.

 

Kris Olson
Subject: Radio Road Black Skimmers
From: "IIWI1" <tgoodier AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:01:34 -0000
I saw 16 Black Skimmers today (11/6/09 11:45) on Radio Road in Redwood 
Shores. They were on the strip of land between the two ponds next to the sewer 
plant. 


This is the most I've seen there at one time. None of them were banded so I 
know that more than 16 Skimmers use the sight. 


Tom Goodier
Subject: Bayside birds
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 14:32:58 -0800
A few miscellaneous sightings from the past few days.

 

Nov. 4, Wed - Milbrae (?) - the Osprey was present on a power tower across
from the Embassy Suites at 9am but not at  12 noon.

 

Nov. 4-Oyster Point - 11:30AM, high tide apparently - Clark's Grebe, Eared
Grebe, 20 Greater Scaup; 3 Surf Scoters; 1 Brown pelican on the wharves
along with 30 Forster's Terns, some Western Gulls and 1 Black Oystercatcher

 

Nov. 4, Wed. - Marine Parkway and Bridge - a Belted Kingfisher female was
across the channel on the Redwood Shores side, sitting on a dock post

 

Nov. 5, Thurs - Redwood Shores, Nob Hill pond - made a 10 min stop behind
the grocery store at 3pm.  Loads of shorebirds and 30-50 Snowy Egrets were
highlights. Also, 3 American White Pelicans, 15 or so Whimbrels, Avocets,
Willets, Marbled Godwits, dowitchers.  50+ (did not count) Green-winged
Teal. No terns in sight.

 

October - Atherton, corner of Middlefield and Ringwood-several times I saw a
pair of Acorn Woodpeckers busily stuffing acorns into the back of the silver
light fixture. They flew from the light fixture to a large oak tree on the
campus-back and forth. This occurred over several days. then I saw one of
them. Yesterday (5pm, 5 sec look) I saw neither. Hope they stay around. I
have seen them on the Menlo Atherton HS campus before.

 

 

Kris Olson

 

 

Good birding,

 

Kris Olson
Subject: SFBBO Shorebird survey
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 18:21:17 -0800
Birders,

 

I got this in an email from SFBBO and thought you might be interested in the
top-line results. (the more detailed report, link below, shows populations
over time.) Starting on page 8 of the report, charts are shown for different
species by different sections of the Bay. San Mateo County is areas H and I.
We had the highest or second highest count for Whimbrels, Spotted
Sandpipers, Willets, Ruddy Turnstones, Surfbirds,  and Red Knots (found in
only 2 locations for this survey).

 

Kris

 

2008 Shorebird Survey Results 

From November 13-15, 2008, more than 150 staff and volunteers from San
Francisco Bay Bird Observatory, PRBO Conservation Science, Audubon
California, U.S. Geological Survey, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
counted shorebirds in the San Francisco Bay. We recently completed the
report
 , which we are pleased to share with our membership and
volunteers. 

During the census, volunteers counted more than over 343,000 shorebirds of
22 species in the Bay. The most abundant species in the Bay in 2008 was the
Western Sandpiper (30% of total birds), followed by Dunlin (29%), Least
Sandpiper (12%), American Avocet (8%), and Willet (6%). We also compared the
2008 numbers to those collected during censuses in 1990-92 and 2006-07. For
many species, the number of individuals counted was remarkably similar over
the last three years (2006-08). However, an initial comparison of the data
from the 1990-92 and 2006-08 periods suggest some species, including
American Avocet, appear to have increased while others such, as Dunlin may
have decreased. Read the full
  report for more information, and thank you to all of
the volunteers that helped collect this important data. 

http://www.sfbbo.org/docs/2008_SFBayShorebirdCensus_SummaryReport.pdf
Subject: Bayfront Park - Probable YH Blackbird etc.
From: Rich Ferrick <richferrick AT comcast.net>
Date: Wed, 4 Nov 2009 02:24:48 +0000 (UTC)
Hi Pen-Birders

This morning (11/3, 745AM) there was a probable Yellow-headed Blackbird at 
Bayfront Park in Menlo Park. There was a large, mixed blackbird flock on the 
wires near the first parking lot and the YH Blackbird had its back to me but 
the side of its face was paler than the nearby Red-winged and Brewer's 
Blackbirds. It briefly turned to the side, and yellowish on throat/upper breast 
was evident. It then flew towards the center of the park, by itself, and did 
not return. Observation time was only about 5 seconds, but I'm fairly sure it 
was a YH Blackbird. 


Also, mid-day (1215PM), the first Chestnut-backed Chickadee that I have 
recorded at Bayfront Park was in the NE corner of the park in the trees at the 
top of the hill. Two Western Bluebirds were in the area as well. 


Rich Ferrick
Subject: Tropical Kingbird still there today
From: Virginia Marshall <ginnybirder AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 14:28:18 -0800 (PST)
I finally got a little time to try for the Kingbird at Maverick's parking lot 
at Pillar Point around 1:00.  I didn't even have to leave the parking lot 
before I spotted it on top of a conifer accross the road from the entrance.  
Good birding, 

Ginny

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Monday at Pescadero Lake
From: "squirtz72" <fair80 AT comcast.net>
Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:56:20 -0000
Although there were several tempting bird sightings this weekend to pursue, we 
decided to follow Garth's suggestion to check out Pescadero Marsh, which is now 
a lake. You have to see it to believe it. Sand has blocked the lagoon's outlet 
to the ocean, and everything is underwater, except for the Sequoia Audubon 
Trail (has a few low spots), and the southern levee (one serious low spot just 
past the bridge). 

The North Pond is now a very large lake that covers the entire marsh, all the 
way up to the trail. The two feeder creeks, the Butano and the Pescadero, are 
indeterminate, all just part of a huge body of water. You have to see it! 

The weather was beautiful, hot and sunny. We first went out the south marsh 
trail to the metal bridge. We tried for rails but didn't hear or see any. There 
were many coots, and four Northern Harriers. Two of them may have been 
siblings, because they were playing with each other in the willows in Delta 
Marsh. While scanning the coots for a possible moorhen, I spied a dark-headed 
duck, which eventually proved to be a Ring-necked male. 

We could see that there were more ducks in the north marsh lake, so we went to 
the free parking lot and made our usual way over the bridge, under the bridge, 
and along the trail to the north marsh overlook. Of course, all the ducks 
flushed when our heads crested the levee, so we proceeded east to the wooden 
bridge where the two trails come together. The bridge approach was underwater, 
and the bridge deck is at water level. 

We managed to get across, rather than go all the way around, but if you go, 
follow the arrows for the Sequoia Audubon Trail, rather than the trail that 
hugs the marsh. 

On top of the levee where the water gates and the sandbags are, there was a 
huge amount of driftwood. Savannah Sparrows were running along the wood. The 
Pescadero Creek was very quiet. A female Belted Kingfisher, flushed from the 
beach cliff as we crossed the Highway 1 bridge, accompanied us. We had one 
chickadee, one female Common Yellowthroat, one Ruby-crowned Kinglet. All the 
action was on the water, with many ducks. We found more Ring-necks, pintails, 
American Wigeons, Green-winged Teal, a few Gadwall, and a small flock of 
Mallards. One male Blue-winged Teal flew west to the traditional north pond 
area. 

It was hot, sunny, quiet, and eerie. I felt like we were in a swamp.
As we made our way back to the beach, I saw a man in a canoe in the lake. I was 
so envious! That's exactly what I wanted to be doing. 

The gulls took turns flying back and forth from the north lake to the beach. 
The Californias were mostly in the lagoon, and the Westerns were mostly on the 
beach. There were no shorebirds anywhere. 


Location:     Pescadero State Beach
Observation date:     11/2/09
Notes:     Pescadero Lake.
Number of species:     46

Gadwall     20
American Wigeon     200
Mallard     6
Blue-winged Teal     1
Northern Shoveler     35
Northern Pintail     10
Green-winged Teal     60
Ring-necked Duck     46
Bufflehead     52
Common Merganser     2
Ruddy Duck     53
Common Loon     1
Pied-billed Grebe     6
Eared Grebe     9
Western Grebe     3
Clark's Grebe     1
Brown Pelican     4
Double-crested Cormorant     4
Great Blue Heron     2
Snowy Egret     3
White-tailed Kite     1
Northern Harrier     4
American Coot     150
Killdeer     5
Black Oystercatcher     1
Western Gull     41
California Gull     66
Glaucous-winged Gull     1
Belted Kingfisher     1
Northern Flicker     3
Black Phoebe     7
Western Scrub-Jay (Coastal)     3
Common Raven     1
Chestnut-backed Chickadee     1
Marsh Wren     6
Ruby-crowned Kinglet     1
Wrentit     4
European Starling     5
American Pipit     1
Common Yellowthroat     1
Spotted Towhee     1
Savannah Sparrow     5
Song Sparrow     14
White-crowned Sparrow     2
Red-winged Blackbird (Bicolored)     2
Brewer's Blackbird     2

This report was generated automatically by eBird 
v2(http://ebird.org/california/)
Subject: North County Coast 11/2/09: (cont.) TRKI
From: Dominik Mosur <polskatata AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 19:47:10 -0800 (PST)
This afternoon, about 2:30 p.m. I decided to stop by Pillar Pt. on my way home 
from birding Santa Cruz to try for the reported Tropical Kingbird. 


I rode my bike up the service road which runs just behind the main parking lot 
to Pillar Pt./Mavericks. 


Scanning the treetops and fencelines from near the top of the road where it 
ends at the gates to the "giant golf ball" I quickly relocated the TROPICAL 
KINGBIRD. It was flyhawking from the tops of cypress trees behind the parking 
lot. 


While studying the kingbird I heard it give its soft call several times, 
eliminating any possibility of a Couch's (just in case ;) 


On the way down the hill I saw a couple of birders who had already been there 
when I arrived staring somewhat dejectedly out over the marsh, apparently not 
aware that the object of their search was less than a hundred feet away behind 
them. I called out that the bird was still present pointing in its direction as 
I rode away, hope they eventually got to see it! 


Other birds of note present here were:
a WHITE TAILED KITE perched in a coyote bush at the edge of the freshwater 
marsh, a female COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, fly-over adult HERRING GULL and a very 
cooperative CALIFORNIA THRASHER that I watched hopping/walking along the edge 
of the service road for over 30 feet before it disappeared into the scrub. 


On the way home I stopped briefly at McNee Ranch just north of the town of 
Montara. In the "Cypress alley" between the parking lot and the ranger's 
residence I found a flock of (at least 3, maybe more) GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS, 
(2) TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS and several CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEES. 


Good birding,
Dominik Mosur 
San Francisco
Subject: first Varied Thrush on Skyline
From: Janet Hanson <janethanson AT earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 16:31:21 -0800
Here on Skyline a couple miles north of 84, over the weekend I heard,  
then saw my first Varied Thrush and Cedar Waxwings of the season.

Other fun things in the bird bath:
a passel of Purple Finches
Hermit Thrush
huge flock of Band-tailed Pigeons
Pygmy Nuthatches
Red-breasted Nuthatch
a single American Goldfinch
a single Townsend's Warbler
American Robins
Downy Woodpecker (heard only)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet eating manzanita berries

One very bold coyote, seen multiple times (warned the new neighbors  
who let their cat out....)

and the Acorn Woodpeckers continue to work hard every day on their  
acorn cache in a couple of snags outside our kitchen windows.
I may have to tree-sit to keep the chainsaw away  - those trees look  
more likely to fall and maybe hit the roof every day.   However tree- 
sitting would probably accomplish the same thing.

good birding!
Janet Hanson
Subject: FW: ferruginous hawk over Sand Hill & Alameda/Alpine
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 13:33:21 -0800
Michael Scott sent me this message. It started at the intersection of Sand
Hill Road and Alameda de las Pulgas/Alpine Roads.

-----Original Message-----
From: Michael Scott [mailto:MScott AT hewlett.org] 
Sent: Monday, November 02, 2009 11:27 AM
To: Kris Olson
Subject: ferruginous

Just saw one soaring outside my window at work [San Mateo Count]
It was being harassed by a group of crows and quickly headed overhead going
southeast.  Might end up at the dish or in Arastradero.  

Michael Scott
The William and Flora Hewlett Foundation
2121 Sand Hill Road
Menlo Park, CA  94025
650.234.4500 x 5737
Subject: Celata Orange-crowned Warbler, ECDoves, and Brussels Sprouts Field
From: Jennifer Rycenga <gyrrlfalcon AT earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 18:23:44 -0800
Peggy and I did a bit of coastal wandering today.  We went to the  
famous Brussels Sprouts Field near Año Nuevo.  No rarities there, but  
a good set of aging Brussels Sprouts.  As was true everywhere on the  
coast today, lots of raptors, including an interesting battle between  
an AMERICAN KESTREL and a COOPER'S HAWK.  At Bean Hollow State Beach,  
we were disappointed to see a large flock (at least ten birds) of  
EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVES, on the east side of Highway One.  I guess  
these are fanning out from the very large population in and around  
Pescadero (we saw another flock of at least a dozen birds along Water  
Lane).  At the Water Lane entrance to Pescadero State Park, we walked  
the trail out to the riparian area near the round hill.  First, the  
number of raptors here was impressive - a group of five WHITE-TAILED  
KITES were associating with each other; at least one of them was an  
immature bird.  There were three RED-TAILED HAWKS, three NORTHERN  
HARRIERS, a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK, and a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK.  I am glad  
to not be a rodent this winter - that's for sure!  The highlight  
though, was a first-year female ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER of the Celata  
subspecies.  It had a very light colored, almost gray head, with some  
yellow in the undertail coverts. The breast was a dirty light gray;  
our looks were not good enough to see any streaking on the front.  The  
eye ring appeared split by the line through the eye.  I don't think  
I've ever seen a Celata OCWarbler in the county before, so that was a  
special treat.

Jennifer Rycenga
Half Moon Bay, CA
Subject: Pescadero Marsh Rails etc. 10/31/2009
From: flycatcher AT southcoast.net
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 18:23:09 -0800 (PST)
Hello All,

I continue to be fascinated with the drowned marsh, so despite the fog on
Saturday morning 10/31/2009, I decided to explore the trail which proceeds
from the intersection of Pescadero Rd and Hwy 1 to see what might be
lurking in the back of the marsh. (Mark Kudrav happened along as I was
getting underway and joined me for the excursion.) This trail has been
cleared and is passable for about 3/4 mile now with no bushwhacking, but
in the current high water situation there is one low spot that requires
several steps through shallow water.

The fog stayed with us for our 2 hour visit limiting visibility to an
average of perhaps 100 feet, which prevented most waterfowl identification
as the shyer species had no difficulty drifting deeper into the fogbank
and out of view. Rails, on the other hand, have lost most of their typical
haunts and seem to be fairly thick along the shoreline of the new lagoon.
Within a few feet of either side of the metal bridge which separates the
coastal bluff from the marsh proper, we saw two silent Soras and one
Virginia Rail; at least 3 more VIRA were heard at that spot and nearby -
one individual was literally about 6 feet from us along the dike a ways
farther in but we could not even glimpse it. What masters of concealment
they can be!

The only other notable species encountered were 3 Wilson's Snipe in the
very back of the marsh where there is plenty of cover still, and 13
White-tailed Kites even farther back near the fire station. (Are they
learning to love fish??)

Garth Harwood
Pescadero
Subject: RE: Tropical Kingbird-Princeton Marsh
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 15:03:21 -0800
When I arrived at Princeton Marsh this morning, Leonie and Ron were already
watching the Tropical Kingbird. It had apparently taken a bath and its chest
was very wet, as you can see in  photos, below.

 

I noticed the long bill, green upper back,  gray head, white throat. It was
hard to know what its breast and chest would look like if it were dry - -but
I think the yellow breast comes up close to the white throat.

Ron pointed out how its notched tail feathers are staggered, which I think
you can see in the two photos below. Ron may have more comments on the bird
later.

 

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristenolson/4065519829/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristenolson/4065525025/in/photostream/

 

Good birding,

 

Kris Olson

 

From: peninsula-birding AT yahoogroups.com
[mailto:peninsula-birding AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Leonie Batkin
Sent: Sunday, November 01, 2009 9:52 AM
To: peninsula-birding AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [pen-bird] Tropical Kingbird-Princeton Marsh

 

  

This morning Ron Thorn, Kris Olson and I watched the TROPICAL KINGBIRD,
reported yesterday, for about 20 minutes from about 9:10 am until 9:30 while
it caught all sorts of insects. Ron first spotted it on the power lines
along the road adjacent to the marsh just before the Mavericks parking lot.
It later flew down to the shrubs alongside the marsh and foraged around
there. The fog is still thick here so it did require looking around the area
before locating it. 

Happy November Birding, 
Leonie Batkin 

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: White Fronted Goose
From: Virginia Marshall <ginnybirder AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 14:40:16 -0800 (PST)
Early this morning I was walking my dog through Lakeshore Aquatic Park in San 
Mateo.  A small group of Canada Geese flew over and I heard a high whining cry 
along with the honks.  I looked up and saw a small Greater White Fronted Goose 
bobbing along behind the Canada geese.  It may have been in the area a while as 
I saw the silhouette of a small goose with 3 bigger geese a week ago over 101 
near here. 

Ginny

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Tropical Kingbird-Princeton Marsh
From: "Leonie Batkin" <lbatkin AT stanford.edu>
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 09:51:54 -0800
This morning Ron Thorn, Kris Olson and I watched the TROPICAL KINGBIRD, 
reported yesterday, for about 20 minutes from about 9:10 am until 9:30 while it 
caught all sorts of insects. Ron first spotted it on the power lines along the 
road adjacent to the marsh just before the Mavericks parking lot. It later flew 
down to the shrubs alongside the marsh and foraged around there. The fog is 
still thick here so it did require looking around the area before locating it. 


Happy November Birding, 
Leonie Batkin 


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Halloween in Menlo Park
From: Robert Dell'Immagine <rdellimmagine AT vmware.com>
Date: Sun, 1 Nov 2009 08:08:26 -0800
On my street in West Menlo Park on 10/31 between 5 and 5:30pm, I saw the 
following: 

- red-breasted sapsucker (pair, went through 3 trees and then moved on)
- northern flicker (red-shafted)
- yellow-rumped warbler (several)
- black phoebe
- cedar waxwing (two)

Regards, Robert Dell'Immagine
Subject: Golden Eagle, Arastradero, October 31st
From: "henriksondergaard" <henriksondergaard AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 01 Nov 2009 04:25:17 -0000
Hi, an adult Golden Eagle was a nice surprise in Arastradero this afternoon. A 
couple of Red-shouldered harassed a Red-tailed, and three Harriers (one male, 
two females) were seen, too. No sign of the usual White-tailed Kites. 


Photos at www.flickr.com/photos/36611434 AT N02/sets/72157622706084870/

Best, Henrik
Subject: Tropical Kingbird at Moss Beach Bluffs
From: "James Barnes" <james AT barnesdawn.net>
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 16:26:43 -0700
Birding today with Jeff Miller, we toured the northern end of Pillar Point 
harbor, then climbed the road up to the radio tower on the bluffs. There we saw 
a TROPICAL KINGBIRD on and around the fence around the tower. We started off 
assuming it was a Western Kingbird but then noticed the long and thick bill, 
the lack of any white tail margins, and greenish back. We had an excellent look 
as we watched the bird for 15 minutes as it caught flies and drove off both a 
Say's and a Black Phoebe. 


We hiked all around the bluffs before heading back to our car at the point 
parking lot, and totaled up 62 species for the afternoon! 


Good Birding!

James Barnes

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: (Yellow-shafted) Northern Flicker 10/31/09
From: "geodani55" <geodani55 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sat, 31 Oct 2009 22:08:32 -0000
This morning in my back yard, I had one male Red-shafted and one male 
Yellow-shafted NORTHERN FLICKERS in the same dead tree. I had great looks at 
the black malar and brown face on the Yellow-shafted bird. I could hear at 
least two other Flickers in the yard while I was watching these two. Northern 
Flickers arrived in my area around October 8 after being absent since April. 
HERMIT THRUSHES are also back, along with the first of season TOWNSEND'S 
WARBLER. 

  
George Chrisman
Burlingame, CA
Go Ducks, Beat USC!
Subject: Peregrine Falcon in Half Moon Bay
From: "maliadances" <maliadances AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 22:54:46 -0000
Today, around 1:30pm, while taking a birding walk along the bluff, my husband 
and I spotted a Peregrine Falcon sitting on top of a cypress tree at Sweetwood 
Group camp near Venice Beach 


It's the first one we've seen so close to home!


Malia
Subject: Update on location of Short-tailed Albatross
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 14:07:25 -0700
Hi Pen Birders,

The Half Moon Bay Review  is doing an article about the sightings of two
very rare birds off the coast of San Mateo County. 
http://hmbreview.com/  [not posted yet]
So I got curious about what happened to “our” Short-tailed Albatross, seen
Oct. 11. 

Link to map of this bird’s travels until the transmitter fell off Oct. 16:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/kristenolson/4059316032/in/set-7215762244626364
5/


Here is what the researcher, Rob Suryan, emailed back today:

Hi Kris,

Yes, quite the media frenzy.  Attached is the final map for this bird.  We
lost track of it off Vancouver Island.  From the photos off CA you could see
the feathers on the front of the tape attachment beginning to lift from body
molt.  I was hoping it would hang on a bit longer, but not as long as I had
hoped.

We were initially tracking 7 birds post-fledging from Mukojima - the
translocated and hand-reared birds (14 total, transmitters were attached to
half).  We are still tracking 3 of these birds, which are still in AK.  No
official names other than what the hand-rearing field crews may have dubbed
them.  

Rob  

*************************************
Robert M. Suryan
Assistant Professor - Senior Research
Oregon State University
Hatfield Marine Science Center
2030 S.E. Marine Science Dr.
Newport, Oregon 97365
(541)867-0223
(541)867-0138 fax
rob.suryan AT oregonstate.edu
 
link to story about bird’s time in Oregon:
http://oregonseabirds.blogspot.com/2009/10/radio-tagged-short-tailed-albatro
ss.html

Enjoy!
Maybe we’ll hear about this bird in 5+ years when it comes back to its
island to breed. It could still have its leg band on.Y18.

Kris Olson
Subject: Report of Wilson's Storm-Petrel Oct. 15-22
From: "Kris Olson" <kristenolson AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 09:25:36 -0700
Hi birders,

 

This report came in across County Birds. I saw Wes Fritz, one of the two
sailors involved, on Oct. 24 and he described the trip as harrowing at the
end, but did not mention these San Mateo County birds. I will write to see
if we can get the entire list seen in San Mateo County and dates. I guess
it's on ebird as well.

 

San Mateo: WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, BLACK STORM-PETREL



 

 

Kris Olson

 

From: countybirders AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:countybirders AT yahoogroups.com] 
Sent: Friday, October 30, 2009 7:16 AM
To: countybirders AT yahoogroups.com
Subject: [CB] Digest Number 2115

 

 
 Countybirders 


Messages In This Digest (1 Message) 


1. 

MAR, SF, SMA, MTY, SLO, SBA, VEN, LA Pelagic trip Oct 15-22 From: Dave 

 
 View All Topics |
 Create New Topic 


Message 


1. 


 
 MAR, SF, SMA, MTY, SLO,
SBA, VEN, LA Pelagic trip Oct 15-22 


Posted by: "Dave"
 d AT vidbell.com
 davebell27 


Thu Oct 29, 2009 7:22 pm (PDT) 




Greetings county birders,

I just finished a pelagic trip with Wes Fritz that is probably best
described as idiotic. We sailed my 27' sailboat from San Rafael to Marina
del Rey from Oct 15th through October 22nd. Much of the trip was well
offshore, ranging from about 25 miles to over 100 miles from the mainland.

Here is a summary of the more interesting (to me) birds we saw. Birds that
were new for me for the county are in uppercase:

Marin: before our departure we had an ORCHARD ORIOLE at the RCA building on
outer Point Reyes.
San Francisco: BLACK-FOOTED ALBATROSS, BULLER'S SHEARWATER, SOUTH POLAR SKUA
San Mateo: WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, BLACK STORM-PETREL
Monterey: Wilson's Storm-Petrel, Tufted Puffin, South Polar Skua
San Luis Obispo: COOK's PETREL, Mottled Petrel (Wes only, I missed it), Dark
Pterodroma (probable Solander's), Dark-rumped Petrel sp (probable Hawaiian),
BULLER'S SHEARWATER, WILSON'S STORM-PETREL, BLACK STORM-PETREL, LEAST
STORM-PETREL, SOUTH POLAR SKUA. Also a good number of unidentified
Pterodromas.
Santa Barbara: Black-footed Albatross, LEAST STORM-PETREL, Cookilaria sp,
CHESTNUT-COLLARED LONGSPUR, Xantus's Murrelet
Ventura: Black-footed Albatross, Horned Lark
Los Angeles: MANX SHEARWATER with a large group of Black-vented Shearwaters
off PV. Upon our arrival, Wes found a Tennessee Warbler in the harbor at
Marina del Rey.

The highlight of the trip was definitely the dark Pterodroma, which if our
ID of Solander's Petrel is correct would be a first State record ... if we
had been able to get photos. Anyway we had good looks and it was a cool
bird. 

In general, the numbers of birds observed were low. At times 3 or more hours
passed with no bird sightings. The most productive area for Pterodromas was
from Davidson Seamount, south along the Santa Lucia escarpment, across
Arguello Canyon and to Rodriguez Seamount. In this stretch there were more
Pterodromas than shearwaters by 2 to 1. Ironically, this area seems to get
the least coverage by organized pelagic trips due to the near-certainty of
seasickness-inducing conditions.

We saw Blue, Minke, Sperm and Humpback Whales, Common and Pacific
White-sided Dolphins, Short-finned Mako Shark, Albacore Tuna, Skipjack and
Sunfish. One Sperm Whale stayed right next to the boat for about an hour one
night -- I mean almost touching distance. We encountered rough weather
rounding Pt Conception. According to NOAA it we saw gusts up to 60kts in
8-10' (max 15') cross-seas with 8sec period. That's unpleasant in a 27'
boat.

It was a very memorable trip, far from the hairless apes as Lomax would say.
Our hope is to continue the trip to Cabo San Lucas at some point.

All of these sightings have been entered into ebird for your viewing
pleasure.

David A Bell
Vacaville, CA

Back to top 

 
 Reply to sender |

Reply to group |
 Reply
via web post 
 
 Messages in
this topic (1) 

Recent Activity

.          6 

 
 New Photos

.          1 

 
 New Links

 
 Visit Your Group 

Yahoo! Finance

 
 It's Now
Personal

Guides, news,

advice & more.

Cat Zone

 
 on Yahoo! Groups

Join a Group

all about cats.

Check out the

 
 Y! Groups blog

Stay up to speed

on all things Groups!

Need to Reply?

Click one of the "Reply" links to respond to a specific message in the Daily
Digest.

 
 Create New Topic |
 Visit Your Group on the Web 

 
 Messages |
 Files |
 Photos |
 Links |
 Database |
 Polls |
 Members |
 Calendar 

MARKETPLACE

 
 Mom Power: Discover the community of moms
doing more for their families, for the world and for each other 

 

Yahoo! Groups
 
 Change settings via the Web (Yahoo! ID
required) 
Change settings via email:
 Switch delivery to Individual |
 Switch format to Traditional 
 
 Visit Your Group |  
Yahoo! Groups Terms of Use |

Unsubscribe
Subject: white-throated sparrow, FOS, in our yard
From: "squirtz72" <fair80 AT comcast.net>
Date: Fri, 30 Oct 2009 04:33:53 -0000
This morning we had an absolutely gorgeous White-throated Sparrow in our back 
yard. We are on the west side of Sign Hill in So SF, south of San Bruno 
Mountain. 


Laurie & Jeff
SSF