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3 Jul Davis Wetlands Yolo Co ["Adamson, Roger" ] 3 Jul Beginning Bird Walk at 8am [Kasey Foley ] 2 Jul Re: Eagle at Folsom Lake [Brian Acord ] 03 Jul Family Group of Purple Martins in Land Park ["granatellus" ] 2 Jul RFI: Sac Co. PMartins, Yolo Co. BOwls [Dominik Mosur ] 02 Jul Lincoln - WTP - shorebirds ["chadaakre" ] 02 Jul Eagle at Folsom Lake ["jxpearce" ] 1 Jul Re: Shingle Springs yellow-billed cuckoo [Steve Abbott ] 01 Jul Lincoln WTP - W. Sandpiper, A. Avocet ["chadaakre" ] 30 Jun Re: Great-tailed Grackle near Delevan Road [BRUCE DEUEL ] 30 Jun Hummingbird Lesson in lower del Puerto Canyon [Susan M Schneider ] 30 Jun Lincoln WTP - Western Sandpipers ["chadaakre" ] 30 Jun Shingle Springs yellow-billed cuckoo ["bwade22001" ] 30 Jun Great-tailed Grackle near Delevan Road ["markeaton" ] 30 Jun Western bluebird ["christina" ] 28 Jun Least Terns, first peeps, Junco juv at CRP [Chris Conard ] 25 Jun RE: Re: Ospreys ["wildlightphoto AT earthlink.net" ] 25 Jun Re: Ospreys ["Dan Airola" ] 25 Jun Ospreys ["David" ] 25 Jun Towhee question ["naburris" ] 24 Jun 2009 Yolo Bypass Summer Shorebird Fields ["bypassdave2003" ] 23 Jun Tricolored Black Birds at the Yolo Bypass ["bypassdave2003" ] 22 Jun Re: RFI Status of Ovenbird [Chris Conard ] 22 Jun caspian terns at Folsom Lake [SallyWalters DonSchmoldt ] 23 Jun RFI Status of Ovenbird ["William H. Zachman" ] 23 Jun RFI Status of Ovenbird ["William H. Zachman" ] 23 Jun RFI Status of Ovenbird ["William H. Zachman" ] 21 Jun Ione Sewage Ponds ["Jim Rowoth" ] 19 Jun Black Tern in Colusa County ["William H. Zachman" ] 18 Jun Late Warbling Vireo, Least Tern viewing opp., etc. [Chris Conard ] 18 Jun Re: Town and Country Purple Martins ["Dan Airola" ] 18 Jun Re: Town and Country Purple Martins ["Dan Airola" ] 18 Jun RE: Re: Town and Country Purple Martins ["Perrone, Michael" ] 18 Jun wood pewee ["Perrone, Michael" ] 18 Jun Re: Town and Country Purple Martins ["Dan Airola" ] 17 Jun Putah Creek [Manfred Kusch ] 17 Jun Northern Parula in Vacaville (Solano Co) ["David Bell" ] 16 Jun Re: Re: Town and Country Purple Martins ["Todd Easterla" ] 16 Jun Consumnes/White Sl./Yolo Bypass 6/14/09 [Dominik Mosur ] 15 Jun Amador grackles and San Joaquin Bank Swallows ["John Sterling" ] 15 Jun Mokelumne Fish Hatchery Sunday AM - C. Merganser question [Susan M Schneider ] 14 Jun Delevan tricolor colony [Bob Meese ] 13 Jun Re: Sac. Ovenbird?? [Chris Conard ] 12 Jun Sac. Ovenbird?? [Dominik Mosur ] 12 Jun Grass Valley ["mrmcc1255" ] 11 Jun Kings County Hudsonian Godwit ["jeff67632003" ] 09 Jun Ibis nesting colony - Yolo Bypass ["bypassdave2003" ] 9 Jun White Slough Sunday morning [Susan M Schneider ] 8 Jun Sacramento, Placer, Alpine & El Dorado Cos. - 8 Jun 2009 [Kathryn Parker ] 8 Jun Sacramento, Placer, Alpine & El Dorado Cos. - 8 Jun 2009 [Kathryn Parker ] 8 Jun Re: Re: Town and Country Purple Martins [Keith Kwan ] 8 Jun Re: Ovenbird continues in SAC [SallyWalters DonSchmoldt ] 8 Jun Sad news about Luke Cole ["John Sterling" ] 8 Jun Ovenbird continues in SAC [Chris Conard ] 08 Jun Re: Town and Country Purple Martins ["Dan Airola" ] 08 Jun Re: Black swifts at Feather Falls? [Bruce Webb ] 08 Jun Re: Black swifts at Feather Falls? [Bruce Webb ] 7 Jun Re: Black swifts at Feather Falls? [BRUCE DEUEL ] 7 Jun El Dorado Grackles [Steve Abbott ] 7 Jun Re: ovenbird in Sacramento and Indigo bunting in Placer [BRUCE DEUEL ] 07 Jun Re: [CB] ovenbird in Sacramento and Indigo bunting in Placer [Joseph Morlan ] 7 Jun ovenbird in Sacramento and Indigo bunting in Placer ["John Sterling" ] 07 Jun Red-breasted Nuthatch, Davis, Yolo Co ["Ed Whisler" ] 07 Jun Black swifts at Feather Falls? ["tj2607mb" ] 6 Jun Fwd: [sjbirds] Sandhill Cranes [David Coursey ] 06 Jun Town and Country Purple Martins ["Dan Williams" ] 6 Jun Ovenbird today in Sacramento ["John Sterling" ] 5 Jun Ovenbird singing in Sacramento ["John Sterling" ] 5 Jun Migration Watch Backyard Roundup ["Cheri Pillsbury" ] 5 Jun Putah Creek [Manfred Kusch ] 05 Jun Cache Creek Capay Valley ["Steve Hampton" ] 4 Jun In other news...grounded migrants at the Bufferlands [Chris Conard ] 4 Jun SAC Least Tern viewing opportunities [Chris Conard ] 03 Jun CVBC Bulletin 2009 Issue #1 coming out - Join to get it ["Dan Airola" ] 3 Jun RE: Common Ground Doves? [Kevin Enns-Rempel ] 03 Jun Common Ground Doves? ["Richard" ] Subject: Davis Wetlands Yolo Co From: "Adamson, Roger" <rhadamson AT ucdavis.edu> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:12:51 -0700 The Davis Wetlands held no great surprises this morning, but show signs of the coming shorebird migration. There was 1 Western Sandpiper, 1 Least Sandpiper and 53 Long-billed Dowitchers. (Last weekend we had a single Least Sand and 30 LB Dowitchers). Other birds of mild interest were a Clark's Grebe, a Caspian Tern, and one each of Canvasback and Lesser Scaup (the latter two have been here for several weeks). Tract 1 has dried up; Stormwater tract is looking good, but only hosts herons, stilts, avocets, and the like, so far; Wastewater tract is where the action is. The surprise of the morning was a Raccoon walking along the spit at Wastewater. The birds were raising a real racket about that predator in their midst; there are lots of baby ducks, Killdeer, Black-necked Stilts, American Avocets, and Spotted Sandpipers to look out for. Roger Adamson Davis Subject: Beginning Bird Walk at 8am From: Kasey Foley <kaseyfoley AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 10:03:38 -0700 (PDT) Please join me for the beginning bird walk at Lodi Lake tomorrow morning, Saturday, July 4, at 8 am.  Meet me on Laurel Street adjacent to the park and we will be visiting the wilderness area that hopefully will be accessible because they are setting up for fireworks Saturday night. Kasey Foley San Joaquin Audubon Society [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Eagle at Folsom Lake From: Brian Acord <humbirds AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 21:46:40 -0700 A pair of Bald Eagles have successfully nested at Folsom Lake in 2008 (fledged 2) and 2009 (fledged 1, a couple of weeks ago). As far as I know, this is a first breeding record for the lake (they may have attempted nesting in 2007). Also, I got a BAEA near Brown's Ravine on this last CBC. Sincerely, Brian Acord On Thu, Jul 2, 2009 at 2:32 PM, jxpearce wrote: > > > While fishing at Folsom Lake this morning, I spotted > a mature bald eagle on the peninsula west of the mouth > of the south fork (Brown's Ravine). I see them regularly > during the winter in this area, but it seems very late > this year. Have there been any year round bald eagles > reported in the Sacramento area? > > Jim Pearce > Fair Oaks > > > -- Cyclists' Bill of Rights: www.bikewriterscollective.com/images/cyclists_bill_of_rights.pdf ********************************************************* Brian Acord Wildlife Biologist (916) 838-0160 Sacramento, CA Rancho Cordova, CA ********************************************************* [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Family Group of Purple Martins in Land Park From: "granatellus" <leoedson AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 03 Jul 2009 02:54:55 -0000 This afternoon there was a family group of four Purple Martins on the formerly known as Olive-sided Flycatcher/Merlin branch in the tall sycamore behind my house in Land Park. That's the third California Species of Special Concern that I've seen this year on what I currently refer to as the Olive-sided Flycatcher/Merlin/Purple Martin branch. My wife suggested that it's time for an acronym. Leo Edson Land Park, Sacramento Subject: RFI: Sac Co. PMartins, Yolo Co. BOwls From: Dominik Mosur <polskatata AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 14:45:04 -0700 (PDT) Greetings Central Valley birders, Can someone help me with the directions to the Purple Martin nesting colony in Sacramento? Also, are there any spots where Burrowing Owls have been consistently seen this spring/summer in Yolo or Sacramento counties? Thank you, Dominik Mosur San Francisco Subject: Lincoln - WTP - shorebirds From: "chadaakre" <chadaakre AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:03:51 -0000 Hello Folks, I took a spin around the Lincoln Sewage Ponds at lunch today and saw the following: Western Sandpiper - 7 - mud flats just SW of the east ponds. American Avocet - 1 - east ponds. Least Sandpiper - 6 - east ponds. Feeding at the waters edge. Spotted Sandpiper - 1 - east ponds. At waters edge. Tree Swallows were mating... second brood? I also had a pair of Swainson's Hawks foraging within an annual grassland on the SW of the Landfill. I have noticed a ton of California Vole crossing and being killed along Foothill Blvd., which is how I get from work to the ponds. They must be moving around right now... looking for water? This abundant prey base has attracted a lot of raptor activity and I have seen Swainson's Hawks and other raptors foraging in this field. Fun in the sun. Chad Aakre Granite Bay Placer County Subject: Eagle at Folsom Lake From: "jxpearce" <jxpearce AT yahoo.com> Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 21:32:42 -0000 While fishing at Folsom Lake this morning, I spotted a mature bald eagle on the peninsula west of the mouth of the south fork (Brown's Ravine). I see them regularly during the winter in this area, but it seems very late this year. Have there been any year round bald eagles reported in the Sacramento area? Jim Pearce Fair Oaks Subject: Re: Shingle Springs yellow-billed cuckoo From: Steve Abbott <papasula AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 22:42:05 -0700 Bill and CVBirders, I was able to photograph the YELLOW-BILLED CUCKOO this afternoon in Shingle Springs, El Dorado County. Thanks to Bill for his liaison work and to Nancy the bird rehabber for her wonderful hospitality. Pics and a brief write-up can be seen at my blog: http://papasula.blogspot.com Steve Abbott Cameron Park, CA On Jun 30, 2009, at 1:15 PM, bwade22001 wrote: > > > I have a friend in Shingle Springs that is a bird rehabber. Sunday > oneone brought her a bird that she couldn't immediately identify so > she sent me a picture of it. Evidently a cat got a hold of it (minor > injuries). There is no question that it is a yellow-billed cuckoo. > I'm familiar with this species from Kern Valley down to Central > America. I would like to be contacted by one of the experienced > birders in the area that would like to take on the task of > documenting this bird. > > Thanks, > > Bill Wade > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Lincoln WTP - W. Sandpiper, A. Avocet From: "chadaakre" <chadaakre AT yahoo.com> Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 23:53:25 -0000 During a cruise at lunch around the Lincoln sewage ponds. Western Sandpiper - 4 - mud flat near the east ponds. American Avocet - 2 - mud flat. Swainson's Hawk - 1 - flew over the mud flat. Forster's Tern - 6 - west ponds. Along with the regular suspects. Chad Aakre Granite Bay Placer County Subject: Re: Great-tailed Grackle near Delevan Road From: BRUCE DEUEL <bdeuel AT wildblue.net> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:04:09 -0700 Hi all, There is a small colony of nesting Great-tailed Grackles in the ponds on the east side of I-5 just north of Maxwell Road. I'll bet Mark's bird is part of this colony. Cheers, Bruce Deuel Red Bluff On Tue, Jun 30, 2009 at 12:32 PM, markeaton wrote: > Hello, > > I was driving back from Lassen yesterday along I5 when I was surprised to > find a male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE fly across the road. The location was > roughly around Delevan Rd. > > Good luck, > Mark > mark AT markeaton.org > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Hummingbird Lesson in lower del Puerto Canyon From: Susan M Schneider <sschneider7 AT juno.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:17:02 -0700 On Sunday, the birding highlight was a female/immature Costa’s Hummingbird, observed about 15 feet away for several minutes near MP 10.4 (right where the birdfinding guides predicted, what do you know). A comparison female/immature Black-chinned had obligingly posed for excellent scope viewing shortly before, lower down the canyon. This was my first female/immie Costa’s, and I’d anticipated more ID difficulties than I actually experienced, given the excellent look. Much more white and gray were on the side of the head of the Costa’s, and the head appeared huge, I imagine because of the “dumpier” body context. The difference in bill length was also reasonably clear. (Interesting how both beaks are slightly downcurved. I worked on tail/wing extension too but that was harder.) Throughout the early morning, birdsong brightened the canyon, and that helped lead me to Rufous-crowned Sparrows. Rock Wrens were downright abundant, and I saw at least three family groups. Lark Sparrows and Bullock’s Orioles were also not in short supply, but I found only lone individuals of Say’s Phoebe and Blue Grosbeak. Three spotty Western Bluebird juveniles squawked up a fuss, and elegant Yellow-billed Magpies showed me their dominance hierarchy. A Green Heron was a surprise, but I see from the guides that they discovered the riparian areas long ago. I was also surprised to see a lone Rough-winged Swallow, but I got good looks. One California Quail covey flew across the road not far from where I was standing, and an adult pair much further up shepherded two very young chicks partway across, then changed their minds and scurried back. Never a dull moment, but the action was about to get more intense despite the heat. I had an early lunch at Frank Raines park, and was horrified to discover what turned out to be a Pallid Bat struggling in one of the toilets, presumably for hours at that point. The rest of the afternoon was devoted to rescuing it, making sure it dried out and seemed healthy, protecting it from people while also protecting people from it (in case it had rabies or some other disease), and eventually making contact with local wildlife rehab/public health officials (no cell phone coverage there, of course). A long story with what seems to be a happy ending. (I didn’t stay till dusk, but the bat appears to have flown off OK.) In case it's of interest, for future reference--for those like me who don’t do this very often--probably the better choice would have been simply to take it down into the valley and find a wildlife rehabilitator somehow (although it was Sunday, after all). I’m sure everyone knows not to make direct contact with any bat. Probably best to let the experts do the rescues, too, but I felt a strong need to get this beautiful little animal out quickly. Given that this was my first time at del Puerto, though, I hope future visits are a little less exciting! (And I apologize if this story is considered off-topic.) Good birding, Susan Susan Schneider Stockton All birds were found between 6:30 and 11 AM along the first 12 miles of the road (i.e., mileposts 0 through 12, close to Patterson). All were in Stanislaus County. Green Heron Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Red-tailed Hawk California Quail Killdeer Mourning Dove Black-chinned Hummingbird Costa’s Hummingbird Acorn Woodpecker Nuttall’s Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker (heard) Northern Flicker Black Phoebe Say’s Phoebe Ash-throated Flycatcher Western Kingbird Loggerhead Shrike Western Scrub-Jay Yellow-billed Magpie American Crow Common Raven N. Rough-winged Swallow Oak Titmouse Bushtit White-breasted Nuthatch Rock Wren Bewick’s Wren Western Bluebird Spotted Towhee California Towhee Rufous-crowned Sparrow Lark Sparrow Blue Grosbeak Red-winged Blackbird Brewer’s Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock’s Oriole House Finch I thought I might have heard a Black-throated Gray Warbler, but couldn’t verify that. Does anyone know if they breed in the canyon? Other highlights: one scrawny juvenile coyote not far from I-5, and one healthy, buoyant adult trotting along considerably further up. * ____________________________________________________________ Click to learn about options trading and get the latest information. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTIzQZj3XMQhthfPhtk0tdsqOId9C3TqLI7VZ8nJDoKLiVEvoTpOlq/ Subject: Lincoln WTP - Western Sandpipers From: "chadaakre" <chadaakre AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:56:06 -0000 Hello All, I have been birding the Lincoln WTP during my lunch break and then keep forgeting to post my findings. Here is a summary of the last few visits. 6/30/2009 American avocet - 2 - mud flats near east ponds. Killdeer - many at mud flats. American pipit - 7 mud flats. Swainson's hawk - 1 dark rufous individual near Thunder Valley Casino. 6/29/2009 Western Sandpiper - 5 - mud flats near east ponds. American avocet - 3 - mud flats 6/24/2009 Black-necked stilt - 2 - west ponds. Swainson's hawk - 2 individuals foraging within the mown fields on near the west ponds. Likely nesting along Auburn Ravine riparian corridor. Good looks at one... light wing linings, dark breast. Northern harrier - 1 immature bird. 6/22/09 Black-necked stilt - 1 - west ponds. Swainson's hawk - 1 - I observed the bird catch a california vole and then flew away with it toward the west along Auburn Ravine. White cere, dark rufous spotted breast, dark wing linings. Northern harrier - 1 immature bird. 6/18/09 Forster's tern - 1 - west ponds. American white pelican - 26 circling off to the west of the west ponds. Marsh wren - heard - west ponds. Here are the more common birds spotted on a off on the above days. Mourning dove Western kingbird Red-tailed hawk Turkey vulture Northern mockingbird Snowy egret Great egret Great blue heron Bufflehead Cinnamon teal Ruddy duck Mallard Gadwall American coot Pied-billed grebe Canada goose Black phoebe Nuttal's woodpecker Red-winged blackbird Brewer's blackbird Horned lark Savannah sparrow Cliff swallow Tree swallow Barn swallow Sorry for the long post. Chad Aakre Granite Bay, California Placer County Subject: Shingle Springs yellow-billed cuckoo From: "bwade22001" <bill.wade AT ftb.ca.gov> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 20:15:06 -0000 I have a friend in Shingle Springs that is a bird rehabber. Sunday oneone brought her a bird that she couldn't immediately identify so she sent me a picture of it. Evidently a cat got a hold of it (minor injuries). There is no question that it is a yellow-billed cuckoo. I'm familiar with this species from Kern Valley down to Central America. I would like to be contacted by one of the experienced birders in the area that would like to take on the task of documenting this bird. Thanks, Bill Wade Subject: Great-tailed Grackle near Delevan Road From: "markeaton" <mark AT markeaton.org> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 19:32:35 -0000 Hello, I was driving back from Lassen yesterday along I5 when I was surprised to find a male GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE fly across the road. The location was roughly around Delevan Rd. Good luck, Mark mark AT markeaton.org Subject: Western bluebird From: "christina" <hadassah95678 AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 00:41:24 -0000 We were delighted to have a family of blue birds settle in one of our birdhouses. Two days ago, the parents were bringing in worms and bugs at a steady pace. Today, they came with worms and grubs, but stayed in the house opening. I figured the (4)unfeathered chicks were dead and my husband confirmed that when he got home at Noon. He said there were ants in there crawling around. I think it was the heat. I read up on placement of the house (at least five feet above the ground, not to close to bushes, etc.,), but didn't even think of putting it in the shade. Was it the heat, or could the ants have killed them ? Margaret Wrenn Roseville, CA Subject: Least Terns, first peeps, Junco juv at CRP From: Chris Conard <conardc AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 19:25:23 -0700 Folks, By last Wednesday, two of three eggs had hatched in the Least Tern nest at the Sacramento Reg. WTP--that which is buffered by the Bufferlands ( www.bufferlands.com). By Thursday morning, there were three, and on Friday they were running around. Despite my concern that they would get cooked in these temps, I was able to see two chicks today. They are now hiding among the rocks at the edge of the sewage ponds, and two came out when an adult brought in a small fish. Some video from Thursday morning is here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/conardc/ Today there were also 3 Western and 3 Least Sandpipers at the WTP--fall migration is underway. Earlier this morning at a closed portion of Cosumnes River Preserve, the highlight was a streaky juvenile Oregon Junco attended by a female. There were singing males at two other sites. Otherwise, it was just the usual cast of characters, but a total of 6 Blue Grosbeaks was nice. All the best, Chris Conard Sacramento [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: RE: Re: Ospreys From: "wildlightphoto AT earthlink.net" <wildlightphoto@earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 16:10:50 -0400 Dan Airola wrote: >>> Last week... in old Sacramento, I saw an Osprey circling (presumably foraging) over the Sacramento River. This is the first observation I can remember in 8 years of censusing here, although I do not have a direct view of the river. <<< On two occasions this spring I have observed Osprey circling overhead in the general area of the Railroad Museum, on one occasion there were two birds. I have been running at noon through the Old Sacramento area and along the Sacramento river to Discovery Park almost daily for the last ten years or so and I had not seen any Osprey in this area until this spring. Doug Herr Orangevale http://www.wildlightphoto.com -------------------------------------------------------------------- mail2web LIVE – Free email based on Microsoft® Exchange technology - http://link.mail2web.com/LIVE Subject: Re: Ospreys From: "Dan Airola" <d.airola AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:56:51 -0000 Last week, while censusing Purple Martins at the Railroad Museum in old Sacramento, I saw an Osprey circling (presumably foraging) over the Sacramento River. This is the first observation I can remember in 8 years of censusing here, although I do not have a direct view of the river. As most people know, Ospreys numbers and range has expanded substantially in California since the 1960s when they were being affected by DDT and related pesticides. Dan Airola Sacramento --- In central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com, "David" wrote: > > I took a short bike ride into the Curragh Downs community, west of Hazel Avenue and just north of the American River and heard what I thought was an Osprey calling and looked up and there were 4 of them flying overhead, probably a family unit though I'm not sure where the nearest Osprey nesting site was this year. When I was doing my 5 year research on the upper part of the American River Parkway I never saw more than 2 at a time. Also had young magpies, crows and Wild Turkeys. > > Dave Johnson > Fair Oaks > Subject: Ospreys From: "David" <davedlj1246 AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 19:02:58 -0000 I took a short bike ride into the Curragh Downs community, west of Hazel Avenue and just north of the American River and heard what I thought was an Osprey calling and looked up and there were 4 of them flying overhead, probably a family unit though I'm not sure where the nearest Osprey nesting site was this year. When I was doing my 5 year research on the upper part of the American River Parkway I never saw more than 2 at a time. Also had young magpies, crows and Wild Turkeys. Dave Johnson Fair Oaks Subject: Towhee question From: "naburris" <naburris AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 02:13:28 -0000 Is it common for a Spotted Towhee to frequent an urban yard? I've had one hanging around for the last week. There is a woody area not far from my house along a bike path where I see them along with California Towhees but this is the first time I have had one hanging out in my yard. Ann Burris West Sacramento, CA Subject: 2009 Yolo Bypass Summer Shorebird Fields From: "bypassdave2003" <dfeliz AT dfg.ca.gov> Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 16:11:23 -0000 I have posted a map in the "files" section showing the two fields we will be flooding for shorebird habitat this summer at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. One will be flooded starting July 1st, the other will start August 1st. Each will be flooded for 5 or 6 weeks. Migration, it never really stops! Dave Feliz Area Manager Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Subject: Tricolored Black Birds at the Yolo Bypass From: "bypassdave2003" <dfeliz AT dfg.ca.gov> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 06:55:08 -0000 We have a large group of Tricolored Blackbirds who have joined the White-faced Ibis in the cattail pond south of I-80 at the Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area. If you stand on the levee at the entrance and look south, you will see two continuous parades of blackbirds moving east or west. These are the Tricoloreds feeding on waste grain behind the rice dryers west of the Yolo Bypass. It is quite a sight. Dave Feliz Area Manager Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Subject: Re: RFI Status of Ovenbird From: Chris Conard <conardc AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 20:51:38 -0700 William and all, Unfortunately the Ovenbird was last found on June 8. It has been looked for several times since without luck. All the best, Chris Conard Sacramento On Mon, Jun 22, 2009 at 6:04 PM, William H. Zachman wrote: > I'm returning home from a trip to Oregon thru Sacto - is the Ovenbird still > being seen? I have the details on the previous location just need to know if > its worth a chase. > > Bill Zachman > Enroute > Groveland, CA > Tuolumne County > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: caspian terns at Folsom Lake From: SallyWalters DonSchmoldt <bajaowl AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 19:14:01 -0700 We had about 30 Caspian Terns flying over and around Folsom Lake on June 13,2009. Does anyone know where the nearest nesting location is? Sally Walters, Sacramento Subject: RFI Status of Ovenbird From: "William H. Zachman" <dummy1 AT hughes.net> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:07:42 -0000 I'm returning home from a trip to Oregon thru Sacto - is the Ovenbird still being seen? I have the details on the previous location just need to know if its worth a chase. Bill Zachman Enroute Groveland, CA Tuolumne County Subject: RFI Status of Ovenbird From: "William H. Zachman" <dummy1 AT hughes.net> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:04:28 -0000 I'm returning home from a trip to Oregon thru Sacto - is the Ovenbird still being seen? I have the details on the previous location just need to know if its worth a chase. Bill Zachman Enroute Groveland, CA Tuolumne County Subject: RFI Status of Ovenbird From: "William H. Zachman" <dummy1 AT hughes.net> Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 01:02:19 -0000 I'm returning home from a trip to Oregon thru Sacto - is the Ovenbird still being seen? I have the details on the previous location just need to know if its worth a chase. Bill Zachman Enroute Groveland, CA Tuolumne County Subject: Ione Sewage Ponds From: "Jim Rowoth" <rowoth AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 13:15:55 -0700 Location: Ione Sewage Treatment Ponds (Amador Co.) Observation date: 6/21/09 Notes: One possible Spotted Sandpiper, but too brief/tentative glimpse. Ponds all full, so hardly any shorebird habitat. Lots of swallow activity, so I tried (w/o success) to pull out a Bank Swallow. Number of species: 18 Mallard 38 (includes many babies of various sizes) Cinnamon Teal 1 male Common Merganser 2 females or juveniles Green Heron 1 Red-shouldered Hawk (California) 1 Red-tailed Hawk (Western) 1 Killdeer 3 Rock Pigeon 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 (creek) Black Phoebe 1 Tree Swallow 50 (feeding young) Northern Rough-winged Swallow 20 Cliff Swallow 4 Barn Swallow 1 American Robin 1 Yellow Warbler 1 (creek) Brewer's Blackbird 4 Bullock's Oriole 1 (creek) This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org) Jim Rowoth Stockton CA [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Black Tern in Colusa County From: "William H. Zachman" <dummy1 AT hughes.net> Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2009 03:06:59 -0000 On Thursday morning about 10:30 AM while stopped at the Rest Area on I5 between Williams and Maxwell I observed a fly-over Black Tern. I was out along the fence on the east side where there are 3-4 sewage ponds and it came westward across the southernmost pond and bobbed and weaved over the mowed grass at the southern end of the rest area. Saw it for about 30 seconds - definitely Tern flight and wingbeats - a dirty brown to black upper parts including the head - and when flying toward me showing bright white underbelly from mid-belly back thru the tail. I later had a chance to watch a dozen or more of the same birds at Lower Klamath NWR and am confident thats what it was in Colusa County. Bill Zachman Enroute North Groveland, CA Home Base Tuolumne County Subject: Late Warbling Vireo, Least Tern viewing opp., etc. From: Chris Conard <conardc AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 10:41:58 -0700 Folks, This morning (6/18/09) there was a singing Warbling Vireo at the SRCSD Bufferlands (www.bufferlands.com). It was singing the expected western song. This is the latest I've had one here. Also of note was a male Northern Shoveler. Today was the first day this "summer" that I've noticed large flocks of swallows containing a lot of juvie Cliff Swallows. I've seen Bank Swallows among this kind of flock in the past, though not today. Anybody seeing Bank Swallows anywhere in Sac County (the only report I've seen was from Dan Williams at Discovery Park on 4/28)? The Least Terns continue to sit on eggs at the Sac Reg WTP. I'm meeting someone today at 3:30 at the frontage road gate near Freeport to see the terns. If you are available, you can meet us there at 3:30 (short notice, I know--see directions below). Otherwise, I'm thinking of setting up another viewing this Sunday afternoon (2 and/or 3pm), as several people have expressed interest, but weren't able to make it on the available days and times. Please send me an e-mail if you are interested and available on Sunday. NOTE: don't just show up on Sunday, because if I don't hear from anyone, I won't be at the gate to let you in (today, Thursday, I'll be there for sure, but if you're running late, call my cell at 916 203 1610). Directions: From Sacramento, take I-5 south. Exit at Meadowview/Pocket Rd (just south of Florin Rd) and turn left (east) over the freeway. Turn right (south) on Freeport Blvd (the third light). After one mile, just before the town of Freeport, turn left on Stonecrest and follow it over the freeway and south to a locked gate. http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?hl=en&ie=UTF8&msa=0&msid=105205840320847329791.0004608b8a803b563c24b&ll=38.458159,-121.493618&spn=0.030514,0.077248&t=h&z=14 All the best, Chris Conard Sacramento [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Town and Country Purple Martins From: "Dan Airola" <d.airola AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:01:02 -0000 I hope readers are not yet sick of Purple Martin nest box discussions. I have close contact with several of the key folks in Washington and British Columbia who are managing martin nest box colonies there. Recovery there has been based on placement of next boxes on marine pilings where the few remaining martins were nesting (a nesting substrate that was in decline due to piling rot and removal). All birds in BC and nearly all in WA are nesting in boxes or rot holes in pilings. Not very many people have tried to develop a nest box program here. Because the martin is large, most nest boxes (and woodpecker holes) that allow martins to use them also allow starlings to use them. Our newly placed boxes have a restricted vertical entrance that martins can enter, but starlings cannot. So lack of martin use of non-standard boxes, at least in lowlands where starlings are abundant, is not that surprising. As an aside, boxes were placed at the Regional Transit bus parking lot at 29th and Capital in Sacramento in the 1970s or 80s, but I don't believe that they were ever used. Jesse Grantham also erected some aluminum houses at the 34th and T St colony in the 1990s, but they were overrun by House Sparrows (also a difficult problem in urban areas). Dan Airola Sacramento --- In central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com, "Perrone, Michael" wrote: > > The failure of martins to use nest boxes here is baffling. Around Puget > Sound martins had become virtually extinct by the1970's (when I lived > there) and then somehow reappeared and started using nest boxes and have > recovered nicely. I would have guessed that martins in western > Washington got there by flying past us up the coast, or perhaps were > from the same population...but their choice of nest sites suggests > otherwise. > > > > When martins did nest here in foothill oak woodland as late as the > 1960's (before starlings were common), they used tree holes, at least in > the Capay Valley where I found them. > > > > Michael Perrone > > Department of Water Resources > > Division of Environmental Services > > 3500 Industrial Blvd. > > West Sacramento CA 95691 > > (916) 376-9788 > > mperrone AT ... > > > > _____ > > From: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com > [mailto:central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dan Airola > Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 9:38 PM > To: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com > Subject: [CVBirds] Re: Town and Country Purple Martins > > > > > > > > > Interesting information. I recently reviewed Brian Williams' 1998 MS > thesis, where he attempted to summarize all available records on martin > occurrence in the state, and he noted, at most, only 5 instances of > martins using nest boxes since the late 1800s. > > Recently Stan Kostka, I, and others erected specially designed boxes at > Shelter Cove, Humboldt Co., and had the first martin use of a box in > 2007, and then 5 boxes were occupied in 2008. These birds came from > snags, so maybe were more accustomed to looking for nest sites in holes > in a vertical surface than are Sacramento bridge-nesting martins. > > In Sacramento, martins moved from woodpecker holes to buildings, and > then from buildings to bridges. So occupation of a nest box is > remarkable, but certainly not impossible. We have been trying to attract > martins to nest boxes in the Yolo Bypass since 2008, to get them away > from apparent high rates of vehicle collision mortality in urban > Sacramento. We've had no success yet, but the recent sightings in the > City of Davis illustrate that the boxes are within the dispersal range > of new colonists. > > We can't entirely discount the possibility that martins still might be > using a nest box in Sacramento. Dan Kopp and I check nearly all suitable > bridge sites each year, and follow up on any reports from outside our > colony locations. But Dan K. found the large (15 pair) colony in the El > Camino overpass in 2003, where no one had ever previously reported it, > despite use by 1000s of cars a day. Obviously, we'd sure like to hear > from anyone who has a nest boxes occupied by Purple Martins. > > Dan Airola > Sacramento > > --- In central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com > , "Todd Easterla" > wrote: > > > > Okay CV birders, > > > > I have to put this out there. > > > > Back in about 1989-90 I had at least two Purple Martins at a martin > house in this same general area. I was working on a ladder in a back > yard residential neighborhood watching the birds off and on for a few > minutes. I was not aware at the time the local birds only nested under > bridges. > > > > I grew up with Purple Martins nesting in my families back yard. My > father and I would put up the highest martin house every spring in > Northwest Missouri. I have many Martin sighting in my adult life through > out North America. I know what I saw that day installing some ones cable > T.V many years ago. I'm not crazy as some of my friends might say. > > > > I suppose these could have been some migrating birds just down for a > stop? Maybe they were actually nesting? I suppose we will never know, > but I know what I heard and saw that day on that martin house, Purple > Martins. > > > > Just food for thought................. > > > > Todd Easterla > > Rancho Cordova, CA > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Dan Airola > > To: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com > > > Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 8:27 AM > > Subject: [CVBirds] Re: Town and Country Purple Martins > > > > > > > > > > > > Fulton and Marconi is about 1.1 mile SE of the Purple Martin nesting > colony in the light rail overpass of Roseville Rd and UP railroad > tracks, just south of the I-80 crossing of these facilities. It is also > 1.1 mi E of the Marconi/Arcade overpass of these facilities, and 1.9 mi > from the El Camino overpass, which are both being used by martins this > year. I've heard reports of birds foraging over the Town and Country > area since the early 1990s, possibly attracted by insects produced at > the golf course there. > > > > Dan Airola > > Sacramento > > > > --- In central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com > , "Dan Williams" > wrote: > > > > > > My wife and I saw at least two pairs of PURPLE MARTINS drifting > around over Town and Country Village this morning at Fulton and Marconi > in the Arden-Arcade neighborhood of Sacramento. > > > > > > I grew up in that neighborhood and don't recall ever seeing martins > there, except perhaps as a late summer migrant high overhead. Curious to > know if there's a relatively new breeding location I wasn't aware of > over there. > > > > > > Dan Williams > > > South Natomas > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: Re: Town and Country Purple Martins From: "Dan Airola" <d.airola AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 16:00:32 -0000 I hope readers are not yet sick of Purple Martin nest box discussions. I have close contact with several of the key folks in Washington and British Columbia who are managing martin nest box colonies there. Recovery there has been based on placement of next boxes on marine pilings where the few remaining martins were nesting (a nesting substrate that was in decline due to piling rot and removal). All birds in BC and nearly all in WA are nesting in boxes or rot holes in pilings. Not very many people have tried to develop a nest box program here. Because the martin is large, most nest boxes (and woodpecker holes) that allow martins to use them also allow starlings to use them. Our newly placed boxes have a restricted vertical entrance that martins can enter, but starlings cannot. So lack of martin use of non-standard boxes, at least in lowlands where starlings are abundant, is not that surprising. As an aside, boxes were placed at the Regional Transit bus parking lot at 29th and Capital in Sacramento in the 1970s or 80s, but I don't believe that they were ever used. Jesse Grantham also erected some aluminum houses at the 34th and T St colony in the 1990s, but they were overrun by House Sparrows (also a difficult problem in urban areas). --- In central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com, "Perrone, Michael" wrote: > > The failure of martins to use nest boxes here is baffling. Around Puget > Sound martins had become virtually extinct by the1970's (when I lived > there) and then somehow reappeared and started using nest boxes and have > recovered nicely. I would have guessed that martins in western > Washington got there by flying past us up the coast, or perhaps were > from the same population...but their choice of nest sites suggests > otherwise. > > > > When martins did nest here in foothill oak woodland as late as the > 1960's (before starlings were common), they used tree holes, at least in > the Capay Valley where I found them. > > > > Michael Perrone > > Department of Water Resources > > Division of Environmental Services > > 3500 Industrial Blvd. > > West Sacramento CA 95691 > > (916) 376-9788 > > mperrone AT ... > > > > _____ > > From: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com > [mailto:central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dan Airola > Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 9:38 PM > To: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com > Subject: [CVBirds] Re: Town and Country Purple Martins > > > > > > > > > Interesting information. I recently reviewed Brian Williams' 1998 MS > thesis, where he attempted to summarize all available records on martin > occurrence in the state, and he noted, at most, only 5 instances of > martins using nest boxes since the late 1800s. > > Recently Stan Kostka, I, and others erected specially designed boxes at > Shelter Cove, Humboldt Co., and had the first martin use of a box in > 2007, and then 5 boxes were occupied in 2008. These birds came from > snags, so maybe were more accustomed to looking for nest sites in holes > in a vertical surface than are Sacramento bridge-nesting martins. > > In Sacramento, martins moved from woodpecker holes to buildings, and > then from buildings to bridges. So occupation of a nest box is > remarkable, but certainly not impossible. We have been trying to attract > martins to nest boxes in the Yolo Bypass since 2008, to get them away > from apparent high rates of vehicle collision mortality in urban > Sacramento. We've had no success yet, but the recent sightings in the > City of Davis illustrate that the boxes are within the dispersal range > of new colonists. > > We can't entirely discount the possibility that martins still might be > using a nest box in Sacramento. Dan Kopp and I check nearly all suitable > bridge sites each year, and follow up on any reports from outside our > colony locations. But Dan K. found the large (15 pair) colony in the El > Camino overpass in 2003, where no one had ever previously reported it, > despite use by 1000s of cars a day. Obviously, we'd sure like to hear > from anyone who has a nest boxes occupied by Purple Martins. > > Dan Airola > Sacramento > > --- In central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com > , "Todd Easterla" > wrote: > > > > Okay CV birders, > > > > I have to put this out there. > > > > Back in about 1989-90 I had at least two Purple Martins at a martin > house in this same general area. I was working on a ladder in a back > yard residential neighborhood watching the birds off and on for a few > minutes. I was not aware at the time the local birds only nested under > bridges. > > > > I grew up with Purple Martins nesting in my families back yard. My > father and I would put up the highest martin house every spring in > Northwest Missouri. I have many Martin sighting in my adult life through > out North America. I know what I saw that day installing some ones cable > T.V many years ago. I'm not crazy as some of my friends might say. > > > > I suppose these could have been some migrating birds just down for a > stop? Maybe they were actually nesting? I suppose we will never know, > but I know what I heard and saw that day on that martin house, Purple > Martins. > > > > Just food for thought................. > > > > Todd Easterla > > Rancho Cordova, CA > > > > > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > > From: Dan Airola > > To: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com > > > Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 8:27 AM > > Subject: [CVBirds] Re: Town and Country Purple Martins > > > > > > > > > > > > Fulton and Marconi is about 1.1 mile SE of the Purple Martin nesting > colony in the light rail overpass of Roseville Rd and UP railroad > tracks, just south of the I-80 crossing of these facilities. It is also > 1.1 mi E of the Marconi/Arcade overpass of these facilities, and 1.9 mi > from the El Camino overpass, which are both being used by martins this > year. I've heard reports of birds foraging over the Town and Country > area since the early 1990s, possibly attracted by insects produced at > the golf course there. > > > > Dan Airola > > Sacramento > > > > --- In central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com > , "Dan Williams" > wrote: > > > > > > My wife and I saw at least two pairs of PURPLE MARTINS drifting > around over Town and Country Village this morning at Fulton and Marconi > in the Arden-Arcade neighborhood of Sacramento. > > > > > > I grew up in that neighborhood and don't recall ever seeing martins > there, except perhaps as a late summer migrant high overhead. Curious to > know if there's a relatively new breeding location I wasn't aware of > over there. > > > > > > Dan Williams > > > South Natomas > > > > > > > > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: RE: Re: Town and Country Purple Martins From: "Perrone, Michael" <mperrone AT water.ca.gov> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:41:53 -0700 The failure of martins to use nest boxes here is baffling. Around Puget Sound martins had become virtually extinct by the1970's (when I lived there) and then somehow reappeared and started using nest boxes and have recovered nicely. I would have guessed that martins in western Washington got there by flying past us up the coast, or perhaps were from the same population...but their choice of nest sites suggests otherwise. When martins did nest here in foothill oak woodland as late as the 1960's (before starlings were common), they used tree holes, at least in the Capay Valley where I found them. Michael Perrone Department of Water Resources Division of Environmental Services 3500 Industrial Blvd. West Sacramento CA 95691 (916) 376-9788 mperrone AT water.ca.gov _____ From: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Dan Airola Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 9:38 PM To: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [CVBirds] Re: Town and Country Purple Martins Interesting information. I recently reviewed Brian Williams' 1998 MS thesis, where he attempted to summarize all available records on martin occurrence in the state, and he noted, at most, only 5 instances of martins using nest boxes since the late 1800s. Recently Stan Kostka, I, and others erected specially designed boxes at Shelter Cove, Humboldt Co., and had the first martin use of a box in 2007, and then 5 boxes were occupied in 2008. These birds came from snags, so maybe were more accustomed to looking for nest sites in holes in a vertical surface than are Sacramento bridge-nesting martins. In Sacramento, martins moved from woodpecker holes to buildings, and then from buildings to bridges. So occupation of a nest box is remarkable, but certainly not impossible. We have been trying to attract martins to nest boxes in the Yolo Bypass since 2008, to get them away from apparent high rates of vehicle collision mortality in urban Sacramento. We've had no success yet, but the recent sightings in the City of Davis illustrate that the boxes are within the dispersal range of new colonists. We can't entirely discount the possibility that martins still might be using a nest box in Sacramento. Dan Kopp and I check nearly all suitable bridge sites each year, and follow up on any reports from outside our colony locations. But Dan K. found the large (15 pair) colony in the El Camino overpass in 2003, where no one had ever previously reported it, despite use by 1000s of cars a day. Obviously, we'd sure like to hear from anyone who has a nest boxes occupied by Purple Martins. Dan Airola Sacramento --- In central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com , "Todd Easterla" wrote: > > Okay CV birders, > > I have to put this out there. > > Back in about 1989-90 I had at least two Purple Martins at a martin house in this same general area. I was working on a ladder in a back yard residential neighborhood watching the birds off and on for a few minutes. I was not aware at the time the local birds only nested under bridges. > > I grew up with Purple Martins nesting in my families back yard. My father and I would put up the highest martin house every spring in Northwest Missouri. I have many Martin sighting in my adult life through out North America. I know what I saw that day installing some ones cable T.V many years ago. I'm not crazy as some of my friends might say. > > I suppose these could have been some migrating birds just down for a stop? Maybe they were actually nesting? I suppose we will never know, but I know what I heard and saw that day on that martin house, Purple Martins. > > Just food for thought................. > > Todd Easterla > Rancho Cordova, CA > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Dan Airola > To: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com > Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 8:27 AM > Subject: [CVBirds] Re: Town and Country Purple Martins > > > > > > Fulton and Marconi is about 1.1 mile SE of the Purple Martin nesting colony in the light rail overpass of Roseville Rd and UP railroad tracks, just south of the I-80 crossing of these facilities. It is also 1.1 mi E of the Marconi/Arcade overpass of these facilities, and 1.9 mi from the El Camino overpass, which are both being used by martins this year. I've heard reports of birds foraging over the Town and Country area since the early 1990s, possibly attracted by insects produced at the golf course there. > > Dan Airola > Sacramento > > --- In central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com , "Dan Williams" wrote: > > > > My wife and I saw at least two pairs of PURPLE MARTINS drifting around over Town and Country Village this morning at Fulton and Marconi in the Arden-Arcade neighborhood of Sacramento. > > > > I grew up in that neighborhood and don't recall ever seeing martins there, except perhaps as a late summer migrant high overhead. Curious to know if there's a relatively new breeding location I wasn't aware of over there. > > > > Dan Williams > > South Natomas > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: wood pewee From: "Perrone, Michael" <mperrone AT water.ca.gov> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 08:32:01 -0700 A western wood pewee was calling near Slide Hill Park in east Davis today....a very late migrant, I suppose. Michael Perrone Department of Water Resources Division of Environmental Services 3500 Industrial Blvd. West Sacramento CA 95691 (916) 376-9788 mperrone AT water.ca.gov [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Town and Country Purple Martins From: "Dan Airola" <d.airola AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 18 Jun 2009 04:37:43 -0000 Interesting information. I recently reviewed Brian Williams' 1998 MS thesis, where he attempted to summarize all available records on martin occurrence in the state, and he noted, at most, only 5 instances of martins using nest boxes since the late 1800s. Recently Stan Kostka, I, and others erected specially designed boxes at Shelter Cove, Humboldt Co., and had the first martin use of a box in 2007, and then 5 boxes were occupied in 2008. These birds came from snags, so maybe were more accustomed to looking for nest sites in holes in a vertical surface than are Sacramento bridge-nesting martins. In Sacramento, martins moved from woodpecker holes to buildings, and then from buildings to bridges. So occupation of a nest box is remarkable, but certainly not impossible. We have been trying to attract martins to nest boxes in the Yolo Bypass since 2008, to get them away from apparent high rates of vehicle collision mortality in urban Sacramento. We've had no success yet, but the recent sightings in the City of Davis illustrate that the boxes are within the dispersal range of new colonists. We can't entirely discount the possibility that martins still might be using a nest box in Sacramento. Dan Kopp and I check nearly all suitable bridge sites each year, and follow up on any reports from outside our colony locations. But Dan K. found the large (15 pair) colony in the El Camino overpass in 2003, where no one had ever previously reported it, despite use by 1000s of cars a day. Obviously, we'd sure like to hear from anyone who has a nest boxes occupied by Purple Martins. Dan Airola Sacramento --- In central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com, "Todd Easterla" wrote: > > Okay CV birders, > > I have to put this out there. > > Back in about 1989-90 I had at least two Purple Martins at a martin house in this same general area. I was working on a ladder in a back yard residential neighborhood watching the birds off and on for a few minutes. I was not aware at the time the local birds only nested under bridges. > > I grew up with Purple Martins nesting in my families back yard. My father and I would put up the highest martin house every spring in Northwest Missouri. I have many Martin sighting in my adult life through out North America. I know what I saw that day installing some ones cable T.V many years ago. I'm not crazy as some of my friends might say. > > I suppose these could have been some migrating birds just down for a stop? Maybe they were actually nesting? I suppose we will never know, but I know what I heard and saw that day on that martin house, Purple Martins. > > Just food for thought................. > > Todd Easterla > Rancho Cordova, CA > > > > ----- Original Message ----- > From: Dan Airola > To: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com > Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 8:27 AM > Subject: [CVBirds] Re: Town and Country Purple Martins > > > > > > Fulton and Marconi is about 1.1 mile SE of the Purple Martin nesting colony in the light rail overpass of Roseville Rd and UP railroad tracks, just south of the I-80 crossing of these facilities. It is also 1.1 mi E of the Marconi/Arcade overpass of these facilities, and 1.9 mi from the El Camino overpass, which are both being used by martins this year. I've heard reports of birds foraging over the Town and Country area since the early 1990s, possibly attracted by insects produced at the golf course there. > > Dan Airola > Sacramento > > --- In central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com, "Dan Williams" wrote: > > > > My wife and I saw at least two pairs of PURPLE MARTINS drifting around over Town and Country Village this morning at Fulton and Marconi in the Arden-Arcade neighborhood of Sacramento. > > > > I grew up in that neighborhood and don't recall ever seeing martins there, except perhaps as a late summer migrant high overhead. Curious to know if there's a relatively new breeding location I wasn't aware of over there. > > > > Dan Williams > > South Natomas > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > Subject: Putah Creek From: Manfred Kusch <makusch AT ucdavis.edu> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 12:15:42 -0700 The first return-trip Rufous Hummingbird showed up today, an immature male feeding on the red flowers of a Chinese silk tree (albizia julibrissin)), an exotic tree, alas, but a magnet for hummingbirds throughout the summer. Black-chinned Hummingbirds are in full breeding mode. So far I have found 7 of their nests: three along the creek (all failed), 4 near my house (2 fledged, 2 incubating) and suspect 3 other locations but have not discovered the actual nests. Black-chinneds around here are especially fond of nesting in California sycamore trees. The garden is full of recently fledged birds: Hooded and Bullock's orioles, House Wrens, House Finches, Barn Swallows, Black Phoebes, Anna's Hummingbirds, Bushtits, Western Kingbirds, Western Bluebirds, American Robins, California Towhees, Black-headed Grosbeaks, making tempting targets for a pair of Kestrels nesting near by. Black-headed Grosbeaks, after producing chicks in 6 nests in my garden, have not packed up completely yet. At least two males are singing on territory and one pair has built a second brood nest in a redbud bush almost exactly half way between two earlier nests. Both adult birds are taking turns incubating. Another nest was started in a buckeye bush but although it looks nearly finished I have not seen any further activity. Two nest boxes hold Ash-throated Flycatcher nests. A fourth Western Bluebird nest with four eggs is being incubated in a box that held a bluebird nest with four eggs in early May but for reasons unknown was abandoned . The new nest was established after I cleaned out the box. The two other nests produced four and six(!) fledglings. A single chick has left the nest of the Red-tailed Hawks behind my house and can be observed along the creek, a particularly beautiful, crisply marked specimen. The Great-horned Owl chick, after climbing around on branches near its nest, has disappeared into the riparian woodland where its parents can be heard hooting day and night. The two Red-shouldered Hawk chicks have left their nest in a small eucalyptus tree near the creek some time ago now, but the two Swainson's Hawk chicks close by are still on their nest although they should be close to fledging. Manfred Kusch Davis/Winters makusch AT ucdavis.edu 707-678-1027 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Northern Parula in Vacaville (Solano Co) From: "David Bell" <davebell27 AT earthlink.net> Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 16:51:54 -0000 This morning I was surprised to hear a Northern Parula singing in my yard. Sure enough, a bright male was working through the oaks. I suspect that the bird is just moving through and is probably on someone else's property by now. However, if you want to check, feel free to give me a call 415 271 0775. Dave Bell Vacaville Subject: Re: Re: Town and Country Purple Martins From: "Todd Easterla" <teasterla AT comcast.net> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 21:30:52 -0700 Okay CV birders, I have to put this out there. Back in about 1989-90 I had at least two Purple Martins at a martin house in this same general area. I was working on a ladder in a back yard residential neighborhood watching the birds off and on for a few minutes. I was not aware at the time the local birds only nested under bridges. I grew up with Purple Martins nesting in my families back yard. My father and I would put up the highest martin house every spring in Northwest Missouri. I have many Martin sighting in my adult life through out North America. I know what I saw that day installing some ones cable T.V many years ago. I'm not crazy as some of my friends might say. I suppose these could have been some migrating birds just down for a stop? Maybe they were actually nesting? I suppose we will never know, but I know what I heard and saw that day on that martin house, Purple Martins. Just food for thought................. Todd Easterla Rancho Cordova, CA ----- Original Message ----- From: Dan Airola To: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com Sent: Monday, June 08, 2009 8:27 AM Subject: [CVBirds] Re: Town and Country Purple Martins Fulton and Marconi is about 1.1 mile SE of the Purple Martin nesting colony in the light rail overpass of Roseville Rd and UP railroad tracks, just south of the I-80 crossing of these facilities. It is also 1.1 mi E of the Marconi/Arcade overpass of these facilities, and 1.9 mi from the El Camino overpass, which are both being used by martins this year. I've heard reports of birds foraging over the Town and Country area since the early 1990s, possibly attracted by insects produced at the golf course there. Dan Airola Sacramento --- In central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com, "Dan Williams" wrote: > > My wife and I saw at least two pairs of PURPLE MARTINS drifting around over Town and Country Village this morning at Fulton and Marconi in the Arden-Arcade neighborhood of Sacramento. > > I grew up in that neighborhood and don't recall ever seeing martins there, except perhaps as a late summer migrant high overhead. Curious to know if there's a relatively new breeding location I wasn't aware of over there. > > Dan Williams > South Natomas > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Consumnes/White Sl./Yolo Bypass 6/14/09 From: Dominik Mosur <polskatata AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 16 Jun 2009 12:13:32 -0700 (PDT) Spend Sunday roaming around the Central Valley birding various locations for the first time. Some interesting sights besides many of the expected (and still excellent) species included: Consumnes River Preserve: Northern Pintail (lone drake among dozens of Mallards in pond on Bruceville) Wrentit/House Wren (several of both singing along Willow Slough trail) White Slough (San joaquin County): Western Wood Pewee (in row of Cottonwoods past "Pond 9", late migrant? or do they actually nest here? bird was silent) Western Grebe (in bare edged pond past Cottonwood row) Osprey (foraging over ponds) Yolo Bypass: Yellow-headed Blackbird (female)/Great-tailed Grackle (male)/Tricolored Blackbird (male, female) (these icterids were all in with many Red-winged Blackbirds along auto tour where it first sets east before Lot B) Blue-winged Teal (female, in pond near Lot B) Cattle Egrets (6, with other egrets/herons in ag field just east of preserve entrance) American White Pelican Good birding, Dominik Mosur San Francisco Subject: Amador grackles and San Joaquin Bank Swallows From: "John Sterling" <jsterling AT wavecable.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 19:26:39 -0700 Today there was a pair of Great-tailed Grackles at the Ione Sewage Ponds in Amador County. Also, I saw the Bank Swallows that Jim Rowoth reported several weeks ago in eastern San Joaquin County in a sand/gravel mine/pit west of Mackville Road. John Sterling VVVVVVVVVV 26 Palm Ave Woodland, CA 95695 cell 530 908-3836 jsterling AT wavecable.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Mokelumne Fish Hatchery Sunday AM - C. Merganser question From: Susan M Schneider <sschneider7 AT juno.com> Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 13:35:16 -0700 Liz West had reported a Yellow-breasted Chat at this location on Sat., and I heard it several times: first just downstream of the dam, and later much further downstream. Other highlights included Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Osprey, and White Pelican. I wondered, though, when I spotted a Common Merganser female, perched in a tree and then foraging in the river near the dam. Might there be any possibility of nesting? Or do they sometimes perch in trees when they're not nesting? Another highlight was a yipping River Otter just downstream of the dam. Good birding, Susan Susan Schneider Stockton * ____________________________________________________________ Criminal Lawyers - Click here. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTOVoL8dBvjprXN3MV7dtYR0HUbVCHnRz3hjnOFo84Jhu4InBQScOc/ Subject: Delevan tricolor colony From: Bob Meese <morningbreeze6am AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 15:04:38 -0700 (PDT) All, The Delevan tricolored blackbird colony has switched from incubation mode to feeding nestling(s) mode, so the level of activity has dramatically increased, with hundreds of birds crossing Maxwell Road each minute and infrequent (ca. every 30 min.) flyouts involving thousands of birds. Unfortunately, the flyouts I've seen go west and east (i.e. not across Maxwell Road), so would most easily be seen from 4 Mile Road on the west margin of Delevan T43 (which contains the tricolor colony). Due to support and assistance from Sacramento NWR Refuge staff, we have now banded 4,200 adult tricolors at Delevan, and are far from finished. About 2,000 of the Delevan birds are color-banded, with lavender left above federal and orange right, so if you see a color-banded tricolor, please report it to the tricolored blackbird portal (tricolor.ice.ucdavis.edu). The current level of activity is expected to last for at least two weeks. Be on the lookout for a subadult female prairie falcon on the east side of the T43 basin: she hunts from a perch in a willow tree and often crosses Maxwell Road. Tricolors respond to her flights by diving silently into the cattails (opposite of their response to northern harrier attacks). Regards, Bob Meese [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Sac. Ovenbird?? From: Chris Conard <conardc AT gmail.com> Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 16:19:28 -0700 Dominik, Since I haven't seen any answers to your question, the last reports I know of were from Monday. I know of one unsuccessful attempt on Tuesday morning, and would also be interested in any further reports (positive or negative). In other news, things have been really quiet in recent visits to the Bufferlands (www.bufferlands.com) and the Gristmill area of the American River Parkway. The only bird of modest note was a Willow Flycatcher at the Bufferlands on Thursday. The Least Terns continue on their nest. All the best, Chris Conard Sacramento On Fri, Jun 12, 2009 at 4:51 PM, Dominik Mosur wrote: > > Has anyone had luck with the Ovenbird behind Kaiser recently?? I will be > out there Sunday, wondering if its worth trying for it. > > Thank you, > Dominik Mosur > San Francisco > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Sac. Ovenbird?? From: Dominik Mosur <polskatata AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:51:50 -0700 (PDT) Has anyone had luck with the Ovenbird behind Kaiser recently?? I will be out there Sunday, wondering if its worth trying for it. Thank you, Dominik Mosur San Francisco Subject: Grass Valley From: "mrmcc1255" <mrmcc1255 AT yahoo.com> Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 20:27:40 -0000 My partner Beth and I will be in Grass Valley 6/14/09 through 6/21/09. Where are there good birding sites in and around the Grass Valley, Nevada City area, please? Your help will be appreciated. Murray Cherkas Pacifica Subject: Kings County Hudsonian Godwit From: "jeff67632003" <jseay AT harveyecology.com> Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 05:07:53 -0000 I found a Hudsonian Godwit this afternoon on private property in southern Kings County this afternoon. Unfortunately this area is off limits to the public, but it must be heading north, so keep a lookout. Jeff Seay Fresno, CA Subject: Ibis nesting colony - Yolo Bypass From: "bypassdave2003" <dfeliz AT dfg.ca.gov> Date: Tue, 09 Jun 2009 16:22:44 -0000 Last week, White-faced Ibis began restablishing a nesting colony in the Yolo Bypass. They are in the western cattail pond on the south side of Interstate 80. Dave Feliz Area Manager Yolo Bypass Wildlife Area Subject: White Slough Sunday morning From: Susan M Schneider <sschneider7 AT juno.com> Date: Tue, 9 Jun 2009 08:31:16 -0700 I was greeted by a pair of Blue Grosbeaks at the parking area for White Slough, and ample singing. In addition to the expected breeders, a couple of surprises were in store: an immature Yellow Warbler and a possible Least Bittern. I heard what sure sounded like the characteristic cu-cu-cu-cu call only once from dense marsh; I’m new to the area and I can’t rule out all the alternatives (frogs? female Black Rail?). (Thanks to Jim Rowoth and David Yee for letting me know that Least Bittern is considered a possibility in this area.) Baby Marsh Wrens were appealing, and I also enjoyed White-tailed Kite and Northern Harrier families foraging together. I found a female Robin still adding to her nest before settling down for some incubating. A flock of White-faced Ibis was a pleasant diversion from family life. No sign of the Great-tailed Grackles or Horned Larks that I had seen last month, but Clark’s Grebes and Forster’s and Caspian Terns were present as before. Non-bird highlights were two squat little voles crossing the path, and a great view of the iridescent blue patches on a male Western Fence Lizard. Wow. Good birding, Susan Susan Schneider Stockton Clark’s Grebe Double-crested Cormorant Least Bittern (possible, heard) Great Blue Heron Great Egret Green Heron Black-crowned Night Heron White-faced Ibis (flock of about 15) Turkey Vulture Mallard White-tailed Kite (family of four) Northern Harrier (family of three) Ring-necked Pheasant Killdeer Caspian Tern Forster’s Tern Mourning Dove Downy Woodpecker Northern Flicker Black Phoebe Ash-throated Flycatcher Western Kingbird Western Scrub-Jay American Crow Tree Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Bushtit Bewick’s Wren House Wren Marsh Wren American Robin Northern Mockingbird European Starling Yellow Warbler (immature) Common Yellowthroat Spotted Towhee Song Sparrow Blue Grosbeak Red-winged Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock’s Oriole House Finch American Goldfinch * ____________________________________________________________ You have a right to seek justice! Click here to find experienced lawyers across the USA. http://thirdpartyoffers.juno.com/TGL2141/fc/BLSrjpTOhjVouLxkMVxxdnV6kz8mkdkOsrb96N72ae6HOBNVKTZPfNna708/ Subject: Sacramento, Placer, Alpine & El Dorado Cos. - 8 Jun 2009 From: Kathryn Parker <jandkparker AT mindspring.com> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 22:14:10 -0700 Sacramento Co. - I plead guilty to being the crazybirder that was at the Kaiser Hospital parking lot at 5:30 this morning. After about a half hour of hearing the OVENBIRD calling, but not being able to see a thing because of the vine-covered fence, I finally climbed one of the dumpsters and got a look over the fence at the bird. As to climbing a dumpster, you didn't hear it from me.... Placer Co. - The male INDIGO BUNTING on Old Auburn Foresthill Rd. was singing away as I parked in the pullout about 1/10 of a mile west of the Mammoth Bar OHV sign. He is very accomodating as he seems to pick the highest perches to sing from. Also in the area were a pair of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES and an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER among others. Alpine Co. - It was a challenge to see the LEAST FLYCATCHER along Carson River Rd. but I finally got a good look after sorting through about a gazillion WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES. Also added BULLOCK'S ORIOLE and YELLOW WARBLER. Tried the hummingbird feeder Jim Lomax found along Chambers Lane, but there was not much action, although I did see a beautiful male BLACK- HEADED GROSBEAK. In Dutch Valley there were YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS in one of the marshes and I think I heard a rail of some sort. Indian Creek Reservoir was full of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS and 4 CALIFORNIA GULLS. I had lunch parked across from a house in Markleeville that has 2 hummingbird feeders. In the hour I was there, I had male and female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, 1 female CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD, male and female BROAD-TAIL HUMMINGBIRDS and 1 female BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD. A sock feeder was full of PINE SISKINS, but unfortunately, the seed feeder here was mobbed by BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS. El Dorado Co. - A quick jog out to the end of the path from Tahoe Keys Marina to the Truckee Marsh yielded 1 BONAPARTE'S GULL and almost nothing else - a couple of MALLARDS, 2 KILLDEER and CANADA GEESE. With lightning only about a mile away, I decided prudence was the better part of valor and headed home. Kathy Parker Los Gatos Subject: Sacramento, Placer, Alpine & El Dorado Cos. - 8 Jun 2009 From: Kathryn Parker <jandkparker AT mindspring.com> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 22:14:10 -0700 Sacramento Co. - I plead guilty to being the crazybirder that was at the Kaiser Hospital parking lot at 5:30 this morning. After about a half hour of hearing the OVENBIRD calling, but not being able to see a thing because of the vine-covered fence, I finally climbed one of the dumpsters and got a look over the fence at the bird. As to climbing a dumpster, you didn't hear it from me.... Placer Co. - The male INDIGO BUNTING on Old Auburn Foresthill Rd. was singing away as I parked in the pullout about 1/10 of a mile west of the Mammoth Bar OHV sign. He is very accomodating as he seems to pick the highest perches to sing from. Also in the area were a pair of BULLOCK'S ORIOLES and an ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER among others. Alpine Co. - It was a challenge to see the LEAST FLYCATCHER along Carson River Rd. but I finally got a good look after sorting through about a gazillion WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES. Also added BULLOCK'S ORIOLE and YELLOW WARBLER. Tried the hummingbird feeder Jim Lomax found along Chambers Lane, but there was not much action, although I did see a beautiful male BLACK- HEADED GROSBEAK. In Dutch Valley there were YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRDS in one of the marshes and I think I heard a rail of some sort. Indian Creek Reservoir was full of AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS and 4 CALIFORNIA GULLS. I had lunch parked across from a house in Markleeville that has 2 hummingbird feeders. In the hour I was there, I had male and female ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS, 1 female CALLIOPE HUMMINGBIRD, male and female BROAD-TAIL HUMMINGBIRDS and 1 female BLACK-CHINNED HUMMINGBIRD. A sock feeder was full of PINE SISKINS, but unfortunately, the seed feeder here was mobbed by BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS. El Dorado Co. - A quick jog out to the end of the path from Tahoe Keys Marina to the Truckee Marsh yielded 1 BONAPARTE'S GULL and almost nothing else - a couple of MALLARDS, 2 KILLDEER and CANADA GEESE. With lightning only about a mile away, I decided prudence was the better part of valor and headed home. Kathy Parker Los Gatos Subject: Re: Re: Town and Country Purple Martins From: Keith Kwan <keith_seagull AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 21:47:52 -0700 (PDT) Having commuted this stretch of Fulton Ave (from Arden to Hwy80) for the better part of the last 15+ years, it appeared many of these martins, in addition to other swallows and white-throated swifts, were foraging on the insects attracted to the bright car dealer lights.  It will be interesting to note the level of foraging this year, as many of the car dealers have either moved or succumbed to the economy.  The lights at the Haggin Oaks driving range have also attracted many of these insectivores, especially when we start hitting the summer hot spells. Keith Kwan Sacramento, CA --- On Mon, 6/8/09, Dan Airola wrote: From: Dan Airola Subject: [CVBirds] Re: Town and Country Purple Martins To: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, June 8, 2009, 8:27 AM Fulton and Marconi is about 1.1 mile SE of the Purple Martin nesting colony in the light rail overpass of Roseville Rd and UP railroad tracks, just south of the I-80 crossing of these facilities. It is also 1.1 mi E of the Marconi/Arcade overpass of these facilities, and 1.9 mi from the El Camino overpass, which are both being used by martins this year. I've heard reports of birds foraging over the Town and Country area since the early 1990s, possibly attracted by insects produced at the golf course there. Dan Airola Sacramento --- In central_valley_ birds AT yahoogroup s.com, "Dan Williams" wrote: > > My wife and I saw at least two pairs of PURPLE MARTINS drifting around over Town and Country Village this morning at Fulton and Marconi in the Arden-Arcade neighborhood of Sacramento. > > I grew up in that neighborhood and don't recall ever seeing martins there, except perhaps as a late summer migrant high overhead. Curious to know if there's a relatively new breeding location I wasn't aware of over there. > > Dan Williams > South Natomas > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Ovenbird continues in SAC From: SallyWalters DonSchmoldt <bajaowl AT earthlink.net> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 18:48:20 -0700 Don Schmoldt and I heard the Ovenbird today-Monday, June 8 at about 12:30 PM. It called about 6 times loud and clear "creacher teacher teacher." We did not see it. We parked and walked into the employee lot. We were north of the back hoe. Some grass is cut under the valley oak trees furthest north of the backhoe. The creek is fenced off but the big valley oaks we stood near have tree tags with numbers and blue flags on them. You can see the water in the creek. Across the creek there is a blue flag hanging near the valley oak where I first heard it. We also heard it on our side (Kaiser side) of the creek, also in a valley oak. The creek is Strong Ranch Slough on the 3-A map of Sacramento. Sally Walters and Don Schmoldt Sacramento On Jun 8, 2009, at 12:18 PM, Chris Conard wrote: > > > Folks, > > Kimya Lambert and I heard the Ovenbird singing at around 520 this > morning > (Monday, 6/8)--we had to hit the road to get to work, so couldn't > wait to > see if it might show itself. There was another birder there already > when we > left at 530. > > Just a note on access: it's best from Alta Arden (between Watt Ave and > Fulton Ave). Enter the Kaiser parking lot. Turn left into the nearly > empty > employee lot and head for the oaks. The bird has been in the > vicinity of a > parked backhoe in the riparian and oaks along the little creek. It was > about 50 feet south of where it was singing on Sunday, so it moves > around a > bit in its small patch. > > I'm glad word of this find got out as I rarely check the N Cal Bird > Box > unless I'm heading to the coast (415 681 7422). This is only the third > record for Sacramento County (11/5/07 and 10/1/06: both from > Cosumnes). > > Good luck, > > Chris Conard > Sacramento > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Sad news about Luke Cole From: "John Sterling" <jsterling AT wavecable.com> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 16:13:13 -0700 I just heard this sad news about Luke Cole's death from a car accident in Uganda last week. John Sterling VVVVVVVVVV 26 Palm Ave Woodland, CA 95695 cell 530 908-3836 jsterling AT wavecable.com Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 12:39:19 -0600 I'll let others do the grand memorials. I birded with him once, time out from a gathering we both attended up near Mt. Shasta back in the 1990s. Good man, and this is sad news. I'm sure other Birdchatters have had the pleasure of birding with Cole, and might want to share, too. Luke Cole's birding pages: http://www.lukecole.com/Birds/Luke%27s%20birding%20page.htm News story link: http://legalplanet.wordpress.com/2009/06/07/luke-cole-environmental-justice- activist-killed-in-car-crash/ Quote: I'm very sorry to report the news that Luke Cole, long-time environmental justice advocate, was killed in a car accident this week in Uganda. Luke had taken a sabbatical from the Center for Race, Poverty and the Environment , which he headed, to travel the world (he was also my law school classmate and friend). His death was announced by his father, Skip Cole, on Luke s Facebook page. Elizabeth Winter [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ovenbird continues in SAC From: Chris Conard <conardc AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2009 12:18:22 -0700 Folks, Kimya Lambert and I heard the Ovenbird singing at around 520 this morning (Monday, 6/8)--we had to hit the road to get to work, so couldn't wait to see if it might show itself. There was another birder there already when we left at 530. Just a note on access: it's best from Alta Arden (between Watt Ave and Fulton Ave). Enter the Kaiser parking lot. Turn left into the nearly empty employee lot and head for the oaks. The bird has been in the vicinity of a parked backhoe in the riparian and oaks along the little creek. It was about 50 feet south of where it was singing on Sunday, so it moves around a bit in its small patch. I'm glad word of this find got out as I rarely check the N Cal Bird Box unless I'm heading to the coast (415 681 7422). This is only the third record for Sacramento County (11/5/07 and 10/1/06: both from Cosumnes). Good luck, Chris Conard Sacramento [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: Town and Country Purple Martins From: "Dan Airola" <d.airola AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 15:27:10 -0000 Fulton and Marconi is about 1.1 mile SE of the Purple Martin nesting colony in the light rail overpass of Roseville Rd and UP railroad tracks, just south of the I-80 crossing of these facilities. It is also 1.1 mi E of the Marconi/Arcade overpass of these facilities, and 1.9 mi from the El Camino overpass, which are both being used by martins this year. I've heard reports of birds foraging over the Town and Country area since the early 1990s, possibly attracted by insects produced at the golf course there. Dan Airola Sacramento --- In central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com, "Dan Williams" wrote: > > My wife and I saw at least two pairs of PURPLE MARTINS drifting around over Town and Country Village this morning at Fulton and Marconi in the Arden-Arcade neighborhood of Sacramento. > > I grew up in that neighborhood and don't recall ever seeing martins there, except perhaps as a late summer migrant high overhead. Curious to know if there's a relatively new breeding location I wasn't aware of over there. > > Dan Williams > South Natomas > Subject: Re: Black swifts at Feather Falls? From: Bruce Webb <BruWebb AT surewest.net> Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:27:37 -0700 I am also posting this to Sierra-Nevadabirds because Feather Falls, Butte Co is at nearly 3000 ft elevation. From the species account in the most recent (2008) issue of California Species of Special Concern, it gives: "Feather Falls, Plumas National Forest (up to 7 pairs; Remsen 1978, Knorr 1993, H. Highley fide R. Altman pers. comm. 2004), Butte County" Years ago, Tim Manolis and I put together the first annotated Checklist of Birds of Butte County. We had made the 4-5 mile (one way) hike to Feather Falls, BUT (California, USA) looking for swifts. Recently, Tim shared his field notes from that day and here is what we saw Northern Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium gnoma) 1 Black Swift (Cypseloides niger) 2 White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis) 4 White-headed Woodpecker (Picoides albolarvatus) 2 Red-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus cafer) 2 Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) 2 Western Wood-pewee (Contopus sordidulus) 2 Pacific-slope (then Western) Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis) 3 Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) 2 Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) 1 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 3 Note: Even though the falls plunge over 400 feet, the water volume is small compared to places like Burney Falls with its many pairs (20?) of Black Swifts. A good census of Feather Falls would involve spending more time there especially late in the day to count adults returning to feed young. I recall that it took us longer to finally see our two Black Swifts, than it did to see the four White-throated Swifts. Also that day, my trusty Swift Telemaster spotting scope was taken from my locked VW Bug which was broken into. The Sheriff told me that the parking area is a prime for vehicle break-ins because the hike to the falls is very long and people are far away. This fact has probably not changed. Let us know if you make the trek to Feather Falls. -- Bruce Webb Granite Bay, CA U.S. Distributor for Wildlife Computing Software products http://home.surewest.net/bruwebb/WildlifeRecorder.htm BRUCE DEUEL wrote: > > > Black Swifts are pretty regular at Feather Falls, the only place in Butte > County where this is true according to Jim Snowden's annotated list of > Butte > County birds. > > Cheers, > Bruce Deuel > Red Bluff > > On Sun, Jun 7, 2009 at 9:12 AM, tj2607mb > wrote: > > > Hopefully someone can help me with this inquiry. Are there any > records of > > Black Swifts seen at Feather Falls, which is located east of the Lake > > Oroville Rec. area. Thank you in advance. > > Tim Jenkins > > Fairfield > > > > > > > > Subject: Re: Black swifts at Feather Falls? From: Bruce Webb <BruWebb AT surewest.net> Date: Mon, 08 Jun 2009 01:27:37 -0700 I am also posting this to Sierra-Nevadabirds because Feather Falls, Butte Co is at nearly 3000 ft elevation. From the species account in the most recent (2008) issue of California Species of Special Concern, it gives: "Feather Falls, Plumas National Forest (up to 7 pairs; Remsen 1978, Knorr 1993, H. Highley fide R. Altman pers. comm. 2004), Butte County" Years ago, Tim Manolis and I put together the first annotated Checklist of Birds of Butte County. We had made the 4-5 mile (one way) hike to Feather Falls, BUT (California, USA) looking for swifts. Recently, Tim shared his field notes from that day and here is what we saw Northern Pygmy-owl (Glaucidium gnoma) 1 Black Swift (Cypseloides niger) 2 White-throated Swift (Aeronautes saxatalis) 4 White-headed Woodpecker (Picoides albolarvatus) 2 Red-shafted Flicker (Colaptes auratus cafer) 2 Pileated Woodpecker (Dryocopus pileatus) 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher (Contopus cooperi) 2 Western Wood-pewee (Contopus sordidulus) 2 Pacific-slope (then Western) Flycatcher (Empidonax difficilis) 3 Steller's Jay (Cyanocitta stelleri) 2 Winter Wren (Troglodytes troglodytes) 1 American Robin (Turdus migratorius) 3 Note: Even though the falls plunge over 400 feet, the water volume is small compared to places like Burney Falls with its many pairs (20?) of Black Swifts. A good census of Feather Falls would involve spending more time there especially late in the day to count adults returning to feed young. I recall that it took us longer to finally see our two Black Swifts, than it did to see the four White-throated Swifts. Also that day, my trusty Swift Telemaster spotting scope was taken from my locked VW Bug which was broken into. The Sheriff told me that the parking area is a prime for vehicle break-ins because the hike to the falls is very long and people are far away. This fact has probably not changed. Let us know if you make the trek to Feather Falls. -- Bruce Webb Granite Bay, CA U.S. Distributor for Wildlife Computing Software products http://home.surewest.net/bruwebb/WildlifeRecorder.htm BRUCE DEUEL wrote: > > > Black Swifts are pretty regular at Feather Falls, the only place in Butte > County where this is true according to Jim Snowden's annotated list of > Butte > County birds. > > Cheers, > Bruce Deuel > Red Bluff > > On Sun, Jun 7, 2009 at 9:12 AM, tj2607mb > wrote: > > > Hopefully someone can help me with this inquiry. Are there any > records of > > Black Swifts seen at Feather Falls, which is located east of the Lake > > Oroville Rec. area. Thank you in advance. > > Tim Jenkins > > Fairfield > > > > > > > > Subject: Re: Black swifts at Feather Falls? From: BRUCE DEUEL <bdeuel AT wildblue.net> Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 20:45:54 -0700 Black Swifts are pretty regular at Feather Falls, the only place in Butte County where this is true according to Jim Snowden's annotated list of Butte County birds. Cheers, Bruce Deuel Red Bluff On Sun, Jun 7, 2009 at 9:12 AM, tj2607mb wrote: > Hopefully someone can help me with this inquiry. Are there any records of > Black Swifts seen at Feather Falls, which is located east of the Lake > Oroville Rec. area. Thank you in advance. > Tim Jenkins > Fairfield > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: El Dorado Grackles From: Steve Abbott <papasula AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 20:39:14 -0700 Birders, For anyone still wanting/needing GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE for El Dorado County, there are a few pairs breeding in El Dorado Hills Town Centre. This is off Latrobe Rd just south of Hwy 50. Take the left at McDonald's and drive through to the bridge that goes over the large water feature/pond. There have been at least 3 males "singing" at different spots on both sides of the road and I've seen several females here, as well, over the last week. Good birding, Steve Steve Abbott Cameron Park, CA Subject: Re: ovenbird in Sacramento and Indigo bunting in Placer From: BRUCE DEUEL <bdeuel AT wildblue.net> Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 20:36:11 -0700 Hi all, The Ovenbird sang 3 times when I arrived at 1100, then shut up. Some construction work was going on next to the big Valley Oak that might have affected it, but it may just be best to get there earlier. Cheers, Bruce Deuel Red Bluff On Sun, Jun 7, 2009 at 1:53 PM, John Sterling wrote: > The Ovenbird was still singing away this morning in Sacramento. It is best > heard from the sw parking lot of the Kaiser Hospital off Cottage Way or > Alta > Arden Way. It was singing in the very large valley oak at the edge of the > vacant lot between the parking lots at the hospital and the parking lot for > the federal building to the west. > > > > The singing Indigo Bunting was still on Old Auburn-Foresthill Road this > morning. It is singing on top of the old burned chamise at the same > location mentioned by Bruce Webb-about 1/10 mile west of the OHV area > turnoff. > > > > John Sterling > > VVVVVVVVVV > > > > 26 Palm Ave > > Woodland, CA 95695 > > cell 530 908-3836 > > jsterling AT wavecable.com > > > > > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] > > > > ------------------------------------ > > Yahoo! Groups Links > > > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Re: [CB] ovenbird in Sacramento and Indigo bunting in Placer From: Joseph Morlan <jmorlan AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 14:41:11 -0700 On Sun, 7 Jun 2009 13:53:43 -0700, "John Sterling" wrote: >The Ovenbird was still singing away this morning in Sacramento. It is best >heard from the sw parking lot of the Kaiser Hospital off Cottage Way or Alta >Arden Way. It was singing in the very large valley oak at the edge of the >vacant lot between the parking lots at the hospital and the parking lot for >the federal building to the west. Thanks to a contribution from Calvin Lou, a photo of this bird is on the WFO web site. http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu SF Birding Classes start Sept. 15 http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/ California Bird Records Committee http://www.californiabirds.org/ Western Field Ornithologists http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/ Subject: ovenbird in Sacramento and Indigo bunting in Placer From: "John Sterling" <jsterling AT wavecable.com> Date: Sun, 7 Jun 2009 13:53:43 -0700 The Ovenbird was still singing away this morning in Sacramento. It is best heard from the sw parking lot of the Kaiser Hospital off Cottage Way or Alta Arden Way. It was singing in the very large valley oak at the edge of the vacant lot between the parking lots at the hospital and the parking lot for the federal building to the west. The singing Indigo Bunting was still on Old Auburn-Foresthill Road this morning. It is singing on top of the old burned chamise at the same location mentioned by Bruce Webb-about 1/10 mile west of the OHV area turnoff. John Sterling VVVVVVVVVV 26 Palm Ave Woodland, CA 95695 cell 530 908-3836 jsterling AT wavecable.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Red-breasted Nuthatch, Davis, Yolo Co From: "Ed Whisler" <edwhisler530 AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 19:01:58 -0000 Birders: I had a late season (7 June 2009) Red-breasted Nuthatch calling in my yard on J Street in Davis. After several minutes, it headed west to I Street. Ed Whisler 634 J Street Davis, Yolo Co. 916-204-0471 Subject: Black swifts at Feather Falls? From: "tj2607mb" <timwjenkins AT jcis.net> Date: Sun, 07 Jun 2009 16:12:43 -0000 Hopefully someone can help me with this inquiry. Are there any records of Black Swifts seen at Feather Falls, which is located east of the Lake Oroville Rec. area. Thank you in advance. Tim Jenkins Fairfield Subject: Fwd: [sjbirds] Sandhill Cranes From: David Coursey <david AT coursey.com> Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 21:49:57 -0700 > From: "Donald Gill" > Date: June 6, 2009 9:42:58 PM PDT > To: sjbirds AT yahoogroups.com > Subject: [sjbirds] Sandhill Cranes > > > > This afternoon I saw seven Sandhill Cranes on Thornton Road, just > south of Highway 12. (San Joaquin County) They were flying out of a > field adjacent to the freeway. This was at about 5:00 p.m. It is two > months past the normal migration time. Are these very late migrants > or have they decided to stay in the area permanently? > > Donald Gill > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Town and Country Purple Martins From: "Dan Williams" <jaegermaestro AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 06 Jun 2009 22:10:02 -0000 My wife and I saw at least two pairs of PURPLE MARTINS drifting around over Town and Country Village this morning at Fulton and Marconi in the Arden-Arcade neighborhood of Sacramento. I grew up in that neighborhood and don't recall ever seeing martins there, except perhaps as a late summer migrant high overhead. Curious to know if there's a relatively new breeding location I wasn't aware of over there. Dan Williams South Natomas Subject: Ovenbird today in Sacramento From: "John Sterling" <jsterling AT wavecable.com> Date: Sat, 6 Jun 2009 08:24:30 -0700 Jim Lomax just called. He and John Luther heard and saw the Ovenbird in Sacramento this morning. Park in the sw parking lot of the Kaiser Hospital on Cottage Way. Look in the blue oaks on the west side of that parking lot in a vacant lot. This bird has been singing there since June 1st. They also had refound this morning the male Indigo Bunting in Placer County that was discovered by Bruce Webb yesterday. They are now heading to South Lake Tahoe and Alpine County! John Sterling VVVVVVVVVV 26 Palm Ave Woodland, CA 95695 cell 530 908-3836 jsterling AT wavecable.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Ovenbird singing in Sacramento From: "John Sterling" <jsterling AT wavecable.com> Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 22:29:57 -0700 Jim Weigand of the BLM had reported a singing Ovenbird on the N CA Birdbox. The bird was in a blue oak vacant lot next to the federal building on Cottage Way on June 1,3, and again today (5th). Jim knows the species well from the east coast where he lived, so this is definitely a bird to look for. You can call the Birdbox for more details. John Sterling VVVVVVVVVV 26 Palm Ave Woodland, CA 95695 cell 530 908-3836 jsterling AT wavecable.com [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Migration Watch Backyard Roundup From: "Cheri Pillsbury" <cpillsbury AT softcom.net> Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 17:26:35 -0700 I thought I'd share some of the results of my "Migrant Watch" in my backyard. Recently a bush was cut and I now can see about 70% of my backyard from the French doors for the first time in several years. As I can't stand long or walk more than a few feet I haven't woodland birded in years. In early April a hummingbird in a tree at dusk had me up at dawn the next morning to see if it came to a feeder. A Rufous Hummingbird was my reward, and I was soon getting up at dawn most days to see what other migrants could be seen from my doors. The fuller account of my adventures are in several posts on SJ Birds. My house is a WWII tract house with mature vegetation. It is in East Stockton about a mile north of the Crosstown Freeway and about a mile west of Highway 99. I'd start birding around dawn and quit if nothing happened or when the activity died down. Some days I quit by nine, others had me going until mid-afternoon. I've summarized some of my observations during this informal, non-scientific endeavor. I had migrants in my yard thirty of the days I birded. Twenty days were consecutive from April 29 through May 18- no migrants were seen afterwards. The other ten days were earlier in April. "Number Seen" is the addition of all birds counted in that period. Obviously, I can't know if birds counted one day were the same as the day before in most cases. Also, I can't know if the ten Black-headed Grosbeak sightings I had in a day were all of the same bird. "Days Species in Backyard" are the number of days out of thirty I saw at least one individual (or in a couple of cases heard). The birds are in order of the number of birds seen until the singles. Those are in the order seen. Number Seen - Days Species in Backyard Western Tanager 26- 17 (all in May) (15 M/ 11 F) Black-Headed Grosbeak 19- 10 (13 M/ 6 F) Wilson's Warbler 18- 18 Pacific-slope Flycatcher (8) 6- (6) 4 Cassin's Vireo* 6- 3 Rufous Hummingbird 4- 4 (3M/ 1F) Warbling Vireo* 3- 3 Black-throated Gray Warbler* 1- 1 (F) Hammond's Flycatcher* 1- 1 Yellow Warbler* 1- 1 (M) Cooper's Hawk* 1- 1 (F) Townsend's Warbler* 1- 1 (M) Yellow-breasted Chat* 1- 1 Western Wood-Pewee 1- 1 Swainson's Thrush 1- 7 * New Yard Birds Total migrants- 92 I made a few assumptions, like the Swainson's Thrush here from May 11-18 was only one bird, and that on the two occasions I had a group of three identical-looking birds flying in, foraging, and flying out together the other two birds were the same species as the individual I identified. Also, the two I had in my notes as "Empids" I've included with the Pacific-slope Flycatchers as I'm fairly certain that's what they were. I didn't count five species that wintered in my yard that had migrants later. I did count the Cooper's Hawk here May 6 even though it winters in the area as I've never had one in the yard in thirty years and I haven't seen it since. Most individual migrants- Twelve on May 3. Next was seven on May 12, then four days with six migrants, two days with five, four days with four, four days with three, and two days with two migrants. April had one day with three species, one with two, and the other ten were one-species days. May had three days with five species, four days with four, eight days with three species, and two with two. No days were zero or single species days. I had great fun and will probably do it again. The Yellow-breasted Chat was definitely the highlight, although an accipiter after 30 years was glorious. It's amazing what migrants drop into such a small little area like a backyard when you put in the hours looking! Cheri Pillsbury Stockton Subject: Putah Creek From: Manfred Kusch <makusch AT ucdavis.edu> Date: Fri, 5 Jun 2009 14:30:56 -0700 I was surprised to see this morning a male Western Tanager at my oriole feeder (a hollowed out half orange filled with grape jam). I have seen both a male and a female repeatedly during the last two weeks at the upper end of my usual walk in a stand of ancient valley oak on the upper bench of the the creek bank. Is it possible that they might actually nest there? I'll keep my eyes open. Also today I observed a pair of Warbling Vireos carrying and collecting food in an area where I have observed them frequently since early spring. They are clearly nesting there, but I was unable to follow them to their nest since they would forage in one tree then fly off to some other distant tree and vanish before I could catch up with them. Another intriguing mystery concerns a female Black-chinned Hummingbird. About 2 weeks ago I observed it building a nest in a California sycamore that a Black-chinned had successfully nested in last June. But the nest this year was about 8-10 feet from the nesting site of last year although at the same elevation (about 20 feet up). When the nest was about finished I noticed that it began to shrink and ultimately disappear over the next three days. Looking around, I found that the female had changed her mind and disassembled and transferred the nest to the exact spot where she had nested last year as if she remembered suddenly where it had been. Since I took many pictures of that nest and the rearing of the young it was easy to verify. What adds, however, to the mystery is that looking more closely at the female on the nest today, I was amazed to see a clearly defined triangular dark gorget not unlike that of an Anna's although the light made it impossible to see whether it had any color. My pictures of last year show, however, a female with neat and clearly separated spots on her throat. The relocation of the nest into the exact same spot as last year in a large sycamore makes it all but certain that the nest was built by the same female. Can she have changed this much in one year, or is the dark gorget simply the effect of the spots being pushed together as she is hunkered down on the nest? Last year's pictures were all taken when she was feeding the young since I discovered the nest only after the young had hatched; they fledged on June 6. I guess I 'll have to get my tall orchard ladder into position and take some photos especially when the female will be feeding the young in order to compare her more definitively to last year's female. I have, however, never seen a female Black-chinned on the nest that looked quite like this bird. Often their throats are completely unmarked. Another surprise was that this year all six Black-headed Grosbeak nests in my garden were successful. They all fledged within the last 4 days. Noteworthy is first of all the high number of nests, all of them built on the periphery of my garden 4-10 ft up in a variety of bushes and small trees: dwarf apple tree, elderberry bush, privet bush, lilac bush, buddleja, and toyon. Second, none of the nests produced more than two fledglings. In one nest, one of two eggs was a dud, in another one hatchling died, the other thrived. The other nests produced two fledglings. Most surprising, however, is the fact that these nests succeeded at all. In the past, Black-headed Grosbeaks have been the least successful breeders in my garden (and never in these numbers). Despite several renesting attempts, they very rarely produced any young at all. Typically, their eggs would disappear before they could hatch. I attribute their success this year to my rat control efforts. First of all, the rat population seems to have been below average this spring and second, Andy Engilis lent me a number of metal box traps that proved quite effective. The kind of bushes the grosbeaks choose for nesting around here are also the kind of bushes rats will scurry around in in search of food. Although Black-headed Grosbeaks are supposed to be single-brooded I noticed that now that the young have fledged the males have begun to sing quite vigorously again. Maybe it's the gorgeous weather we are having right now but I'll keep my eyes open for new nesting attempts. Manfred Kusch Davis/Winters makusch AT ucdavis.edu 707-678-1027 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Cache Creek Capay Valley From: "Steve Hampton" <shampton AT ospr.dfg.ca.gov> Date: Fri, 05 Jun 2009 10:59:10 -0700 Did my annual kayak trip from Rumsey to Guinda yesterday. Chocolate waters due to storm run-off. BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK was common; WOOD DUCKS were more numerous than in the past (about 8 pairs); SONG SPARROWS (I assume "Modesto") were singing from at least five locations. SPOTTED SANDPIPERS (groups of 1-3) at five locations (which is very constant over the years). The riparian habitat is overrun by tamarisk and arundo virtually everywhere, both sides of river for the entire length. I heard a possible YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT in Rumsey, on Rumsey side of the river; could not confirm the limited call notes. Also, possible PURPLE MARTINS heard near Guinda bridge, but never saw them. I have confirmed both these species at these places in past years. In Davis, the lightning deposited 3 PAC-SLOPE and 1 WILLOW FLYCATCHER near my home, typical late migrants. Of greater interest, there has been a very vocal PAC-SLOPE FLY singing the full 3-part song for 5 days now at the west end of Cordova along a north Davis greenbelt. This is a shady woodsy spot. Steve Hampton ________________ Resource Economist Office of Spill Prevention and Response California Dept of Fish and Game PO Box 944209 Sacramento, CA 94244-2090 ----------------------------------- (916) 323-4724 phone (916) 324-8829 fax Subject: In other news...grounded migrants at the Bufferlands From: Chris Conard <conardc AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 14:26:51 -0700 Folks, After last night's storm, I wondered if something interesting might have blown in. Of modest interest were two Wilson's Warblers, and a Warbling Vireo. I also heard a Warbling Vireo yesterday at Stone Lakes NWR. Of course, I was hoping for one of the interesting vireos, grosbeaks, etc. that have been turning up along the coast, but no such luck. The rains were far heavier than I originally thought, with Morrison Creek literally in flood and some of our dirt roads impassible. The heron and cormorant nests seem to have survived the wind. All the best, Chris Conard Sacramento [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: SAC Least Tern viewing opportunities From: Chris Conard <conardc AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 4 Jun 2009 14:07:35 -0700 Folks, Yesterday, 6/3/09, I was able to see one egg in the Least Tern nest at the Sacramento Regional Wastewater Treatment Plant—which is surrounded by the Bufferlands (www.bufferlands.com)--before one of the terns sat on the nest. Despite the wind and rain, the terns have continued on the nest through mid-day today. In the near term, I’d like to offer two opportunities to see the birds, plus a little of the Bufferlands. Sunday, 6/7/09, at 4pm. Wednesday, 6/10/09, at 5pm. Meet at the Stonecrest Gate near the town of Freeport and we’ll drive in and park along the frontage road. Depending on the number of people who arrive, we’ll have to shuttle over to see the terns a van load at a time, but while people are waiting, they’ll have a chance to look for Black-headed and Blue Grosbeaks, and Lazuli Buntings that have been singing along the road through the Bufferlands. The Sac Reg. County Sanitation District Bufferlands (www.bufferlands.com) contain 2,500 acres of wetlands, riparian forest, grasslands, vernal pools, and restored habitats. From Sacramento, take I-5 south. Exit at Meadowview/Pocket Rd (just south of Florin Rd) and turn left (east) over the freeway. Turn right (south) on Freeport Blvd (the third light). After one mile, just before the town of Freeport, turn left on Stonecrest and follow it over the freeway and south to a locked gate. Let me know if you have any questions. If you get lost, you can call me on my cell at 916 203 1610. Chris Conard Sacramento [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/central_valley_birds/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/central_valley_birds/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:central_valley_birds-digest AT yahoogroups.com mailto:central_valley_birds-fullfeatured AT yahoogroups.com <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: central_valley_birds-unsubscribe AT yahoogroups.com <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/ Subject: CVBC Bulletin 2009 Issue #1 coming out - Join to get it From: "Dan Airola" <d.airola AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 20:28:23 -0000 A new issue of the Central Valley Bird Club Bulletin is at the printers. This issue has articles on Occurrence of a Gyrfalcon in the southern San Joaquin Valley and responses to Purple Martins to construction disturbance beneath a known nesting colony. It also has an interesting note on Long-billed Curlew and Mountain Plover foraging on Jerusalem crickets, and our regular summary of seasonal bird observations. The subsequent issue will have articles on wintering Curlew abundance in the Central Valley, recent nesting by the Least Tern in Sacramento County, and a site guide to Gray Lodge Wildlife Area. We welcome CV Birds readers who are not Club members to join and receive the Bulletin, for the bargain price of $20. For membership information go to: www.cvbirds.org/membership.htm, or send directly to Central Valley Bird Club, c/o Frances Oliver, 1817 Songbird Place, Lodi, CA 95240. Thanks! Dan Airola Editorial Board Chair Sacramento Subject: RE: Common Ground Doves? From: Kevin Enns-Rempel <kennsrem AT FRESNO.EDU> Date: Wed, 3 Jun 2009 14:53:22 -0700 There are no accepted records of Common Ground Doves in either Fresno or Madera Counties. For a very good list of what's ever been seen in those counties, go to http://fresnoaudubon.org/checklist.pdf . This list is currently maintained by Jeff Davis, and is as reliable as anything one is likely to find on the topic. _________________________________ Kevin Enns-Rempel Fresno, CA ________________________________ From: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com [mailto:central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of Richard Sent: Wednesday, June 03, 2009 9:49 AM To: central_valley_birds AT yahoogroups.com Subject: [CVBirds] Common Ground Doves? I have a friend who lives in Fresno. He is not necessarily an experienced birder, but he swears he has 2 COMMON GROUND DOVES coming to his feeder. When he first described them to me, it never occurred to me that they might be the birds he is seeing. I did not think they were that far north. Can anyone confirm whether or not ground doves are present in Fresno area? Thanks, Richard Dana El Dorado Hills [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] Subject: Common Ground Doves? From: "Richard" <rdanaa AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Wed, 03 Jun 2009 16:48:50 -0000 I have a friend who lives in Fresno. He is not necessarily an experienced birder, but he swears he has 2 COMMON GROUND DOVES coming to his feeder. When he first described them to me, it never occurred to me that they might be the birds he is seeing. I did not think they were that far north. Can anyone confirm whether or not ground doves are present in Fresno area? Thanks, Richard Dana El Dorado Hills