Birdingonthe.NetRecent Postings from
> Home > Mail |
Lincolns Sparrow |
|
20 Nov SCBC field trip on Nov 21 is CANCELLED [] 20 Nov Harlequin Duck at Waddell Bluffs [] 19 Nov Molera Road [Lois Goldfrank ] 19 Nov Swamp Sparrow, etc. [] 19 Nov Santa Cruz Bird Club Jetty Rd. 18 Nov. [Bernadette Ramer ] 18 Nov HARLEQUIN DUCK spotted in Monterey Bay, Fisherman's Wharf 11/16/09 [Natalie Mann ] 18 Nov Pacific Golden-Plovers on Molera Rd [Scott Smithson ] 17 Nov Burrowing Owl [chris hartzell ] 17 Nov Snipe [sydney ] 17 Nov Midweek birding oops! [] 17 Nov Midweek Birding [] 17 Nov SCBC Meeting this Thursday [Roger Wolfe ] 17 Nov Woodrow Ave gull [Phil Brown ] 17 Nov Santa Cruz Bird Club Weds. Nov. 18th field trip rescheduled for 2 PM instead of 8 AM [Bernadette Ramer ] 16 Nov Clay-colored Sparrows, etc. [] 16 Nov Red Knot and Rock Sandpiper [Ryan Terrill ] 16 Nov Capitola [] 15 Nov Clay-colored Sparrow [kent Van Vuren ] 15 Nov Pogonip [] 15 Nov Re: Soquel grosbeak 11/14 [] 15 Nov Scott Creek Beach ["Larry Selman" ] 15 Nov Quail Hollow teal and others ["Alex Rinkert" ] 15 Nov Santa Cruz County CBC - Sat. Dec 19 [] 15 Nov Re: Snowy Plovers on Seabright Beach [Bernadette Ramer ] 15 Nov Snowy Plovers on Seabright Beach [Shantanu Phukan ] 15 Nov Moutain Bluebirds [Inga Waite ] 14 Nov Soquel grosbeak 11/14 [Pete Sole ] 15 Nov Seawatch at El Jarro Pt (and Swanton Berry Farm Pond) [kathy kuyper ] 14 Nov 2 soaring Merlins over my yard [] 13 Nov West Cliff area [] 13 Nov Some recent birds: Seacliff, Monterey Bay Academy, New Brighton [] 13 Nov (no subject) [Sheila Baldridge ] 13 Nov coastal birds [kathy kuyper ] 11 Nov Rancho Del Oso / Big Basin on 11/10 [] 11 Nov Baldwin Creek mouth [Alexander Gaguine ] 11 Nov College Lake [Jeff Wall ] 11 Nov continuing TROPICAL KINGBIRD ["Heidi Sandkuhle" ] 10 Nov Re: Mission Springs & North SCZ Co Kestrels [Scott Smithson ] 10 Nov South County - Lockwood [chris hartzell ] 10 Nov Some Santa Cruz Birds [] 10 Nov South County Dancing [chris hartzell ] 10 Nov Clay-colored Sparrow at Asilomar [Brian Sullivan ] 10 Nov RE: Scaup ["Betsy Buchalter Adler" ] 10 Nov Scaup [Jeff Wall ] 10 Nov Belated Tropical Kingbird, Cackling Goose and more [Jean Myers ] 10 Nov Neary [Alexander Gaguine ] 10 Nov Presentation [Rebecca Dmytryk ] 10 Nov South County [chris hartzell ] 10 Nov RE: Panoche Valley Solar Project Threatens Critical Habitat [chris hartzell ] 9 Nov Mission Springs & North SCZ Co Kestrels [Scott Smithson ] 9 Nov Fw: TROPICAL KINGBIRD (belated post) [Michael Rieser ] 10 Nov Fwd: Swanton Pond area on 11/7 [] 9 Nov Black Pt. Ruddy Turnstone [David Sidle ] 07 Nov West Side Golden Eagle Fly By [Pete Sole ] 7 Nov Panoche Valley Solar Project Threatens Critical Habitat [Clay Kempf ] 7 Nov MTY highlights updated [Don Roberson ] 07 Nov Wilder Ranch [] 6 Nov TROPICAL KINGBIRD ["Heidi Sandkuhle" ] 5 Nov Cassin's Kingbirds [Debra Shearwater ] 5 Nov Golden-crowned Kinglet [Katherine Klein ] 5 Nov Santa Cruz Co. annual list updated for Oct 09 [] 5 Nov Capitola birds on the morning walk... [Judy Donaldson ] 5 Nov Re: Big Basin (Phainopepla), and a few tid bits elsewhere [] 5 Nov Big Basin (Phainopepla), and a few tid bits elsewhere [] 04 Nov Continuing Rock Sandpiper [Bill Bousman ] 5 Nov wigeon hybrid? [kathy kuyper ] 3 Nov Continuing Sage Thrasher, Carmel River S.B. [Michael Rieser ] 04 Nov West Cliff Drive [] 03 Nov news from UCSC's weekly report ["Walter L Goldfrank" ] 3 Nov RE: Off topic -- Bush Hawk shoulder mounts ["COBB_ROGER" ] 3 Nov change of i.d. [Lois Goldfrank ] 3 Nov Off topic -- Bush Hawk shoulder mounts [] 2 Nov Sage Thrasher ["Bill Hill" ] 2 Nov ROSA at Woodrow&Westcliff [Phil Brown ] 3 Nov Pajaro River, et. al. [Jeff Wall ] 2 Nov Santa Cruz/Sawnton Rd 11/2/09: ROSA, PRFA... [Dominik Mosur ] Subject: SCBC field trip on Nov 21 is CANCELLED From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 18:25:55 EST Sorry, but I have to cancel the S. C. Bird Club field trip to Pajaro Dunes that was scheduled for Saturday afternoon, Nov 21. If you are aware of anyone who is not on MBB who had been planning to attend, please pass along word. David Suddjian_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Harlequin Duck at Waddell Bluffs From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com Date: Fri, 20 Nov 2009 02:24:23 EST Today a female HARLEQUIN DUCK was with a large flock of Surf Scoters off Waddell Bluffs, about 200 meters directly out from Alligator Rock. David Suddjian Capitola_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Molera Road From: Lois Goldfrank <loisg AT cruzio.com> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 22:18:49 -0800 Thanks to Scott Smithson's report, we left the county to drive down to Molera Rd. this morning and found 2 PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS in a plowed field about 1/2 a mile down the road after the turn-off from Highway 1. No sign of an American though, just some AMERICAN PIPITS. A little farther on, we stopped at another field in the middle of being plowed and counted at least 150 BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS, 8 RUDDY TURNSTONES, 15 RING-BILLED GULLS, a dozen AMERICAN PIPITS, and some KILLDEER feeding in the furrows. At Salinas State Beach there were 10 SNOWY PLOVERS, some banded but the light was not good enough to see colors. Finally, at the river mouth, we had at least one adult THAYER'S GULL in a mixed flock which included Western, California, Herring, Glaucous-winged, and Ring-billed gulls. A PEREGRINE swooped in several times and scattered everyone. Lois Goldfrank, Barry MacLaughlin, Jeff Poklen _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Swamp Sparrow, etc. From: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 18:59:27 -0500 This afternoon a SWAMP SPARROW was at the north end of Antonelli
Pond, just below the railroad trestle (mostly staying on the south side
of the trestle. It was calling quite a bit, and was feeding in the
open on the mud at times. Also at Antonelli, one each SORA and
VIRGINIA RAIL called, and a MERLIN flew in and landed on a tree near
the UCSC building on the east side of the pond. At Natural Bridges a
pair of NORTHERN PINTAILS were among the Mallards at the butterfly-area
pond.
Yesterday there was still a female GREEN-WINGED TEAL at Neary
Lagoon. A TURKEY VULTURE flying low over the lagoon was probably a
late migrant, and a little unexpected there. Tuesday (11-17) a juv.
NORTHERN HARRIER flying down the coast near West Cliff and Woodrow was
another rather out-of-place late migrant. Also that day there were
four GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS in cypress in Lighthouse Field.
A few photos of the Swamp Sparrow (on the dark and grainy side, but
visible) are here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/steve.gerow/SwampSparrow111909#
Steve Gerow
Santa Cruz
_______________________________________________
mbb mailing list
mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu
http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb
Subject: Santa Cruz Bird Club Jetty Rd. 18 Nov. From: Bernadette Ramer <baramer AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 19 Nov 2009 13:26:04 -0800 The Santa Cruz Bird Club held a field trip at Jetty Rd yesterday afternoon with the objective of learning a few techniques for counting and estimating shorebird numbers and of acquiring some tips for identifying them. Tidal conditions at Jetty Rd were ideal, and the trip began with a PEREGRINE FALCON swooping repeatedly through the peep flock attempting to catch small sandpipers. This scene played out 3 to 4 times while we were there without any success on the Peregrine's part. Interestingly, the willets and godwits (who had been relatively spread out while feeding) bunched together in very tight groups and kept very still when the falcon was hunting, whereas the peeps took flight in synchronized movements through the sky. Although we practiced counting group of shorebirds, we did not attempt to count all the birds on the mudflat; thus my numbers will be somewhere between actual counts, estimates and guesstimates. The usual assemblage of shorebirds were present. WILLETS and MARBLED GODWITS lined the shoreline feeding at the water's edge. Dowitcher species (only heard one LONG-BILLED DOWITCHER) grouped together in tight groups plunging their long bills into the mud in their typical "sewing machine" fashion. A few LONG-BILLED CURLEWS probed the mud twisting their head and sometimes coming up with crabs to eat. The plovers were well represented with about 15 SNOWY PLOVERS (4 or more banded), 30+ SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS and perhaps 50 or so BLACK- BELLIED PLOVERS and 2 KILLDEER. GREATER YELLOWLEGS (2) walked or ran about picking at the surface. We spent a considerable amount of time trying to distinguish sandpipers in dense feeding flocks, in various light condiitons, and at variable distances. We were able to distinguish the small, brownish LEAST SANDPIPER, the more gray and white WESTERN SANDPIPER, and the very white SANDERLING (about 15). (Obviously there is more to identifying sandpipers then this. )I did not take the time to accurately estimate the various species of sandpipers, but the total number was about 1500 with 3/4 Least and 1/4 Western. DUNLINS (150+) were also feeding, mostly probing their slightly down-turned bills into the mud at the water's edge, where their size differences, dark overall back and chest color, and behavior aided in their identification. Although our focus was on shorebirds, we noted a few additional birds: CALIFORNIA GULL (500+), HERRING GULL (4), RING-BILLED GULL (1), WESTERN GULL (25+), EARED GREBE (4), RED-BREASTED MERGANSER (3), WESTERN and CLARK GREBES, WHITE and BROWN PELICANS and FORSTER'S TERNS. An immature RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was perching on a post next to my car at the end of the trip. Seconds earlier, it had plunged into the nearby field hunting for who knows what! The hawk was very reluctant to leave its perch. A delightful way to end an insightful day of counting shorebirds. Bernadette Ramer _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: HARLEQUIN DUCK spotted in Monterey Bay, Fisherman's Wharf 11/16/09 From: Natalie Mann <nataliermann AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 23:19:58 -0800 Hi all, While visiting from San Francisco this past Monday 11/16, my husband and I spotted a single drake HARLEQUIN DUCK just off of Fisherman's Wharf at about 11am. Accompanied by many BUFFLEHEADS (~20) and a solo COMMON MURRE, the Harlequin seemed to be extremely active, diving about every 45-60 seconds. Overall, we had a wonderful day in the area. In addition to our finds at Fisherman's Wharf, I also saw my lifer SURFBIRD and RED-BREASTED MERGANSER just off the coast near Asilomar Beach. We're looking forward to more trips along the Monterey/Santa Cruz coast! Good birding, Natalie Mann_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Pacific Golden-Plovers on Molera Rd From: Scott Smithson <wscottsmithson AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:26:42 -0800 Hello all, I made a quick stop by Molera Rd about 3pm today to check the plover spot near the intersection of the Monterey Dunes turnoff, and there were 5 PACIFIC GOLDEN-PLOVERS with a dozen KILLDEER, a few W. MEADOWLARKS, and one AMERICAN PIPIT in the little plowed section just north of the bridge over the channel. One of the plovers was paler than the others, but alas, I did not have my scope with me to get a good look at the primary extension. The golden-plovers took flight briefly when hawks flew by, but settled back down each time while the Killdeer scattered. Good birding, Scott Smithson_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Burrowing Owl From: chris hartzell <c.hartzell AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:21:17 -0800 (PST) I was able to find the BURROWING OWL at the Carmel River Mouth today. At the pathway intersection where the Sage Thrasher was seen a couple weeks ago, take the pathway north towards the river about 50-100 feet. It was in a dirt burrow in the ice plant between the path and the ocean. Here are pics...http://www.flickr.com/photos/chartzell/sets/72157602872963207/ -Chris Hartzell_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Snipe From: sydney <shifafa AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 21:05:17 -0800 Early in the afternoon my friend, Jim Irving, and I saw a COMMON SNIPE, at Moore Creek Lagoon. (A first for both of us.) It was at the very end of the lagoon on the muddy flat area near the cliff. Its flanks and belly appeared to be uniformly white, rather than buff and streaked as portrayed in Sibley. Also, it was very distinctly bobbing now and then, like a Spotted Sandpiper. Don Roberson's book and Bent's both refer to these birds as "Wilson's" Snipes. Would someone please clarify for me? Thanks. Sydney Nash Ben Lomond __________________________________________________ The cure for boredom is curiosity. There is no cure for curiosity. ~ Dorothy Parker_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Midweek birding oops! From: cotopaxihigh AT comcast.net Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:23:58 +0000 (UTC) Please excuse my doubling the numerous YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. However, they really were numerous!! Barb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Midweek Birding From: cotopaxihigh AT comcast.net Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 23:20:20 +0000 (UTC) Today, Madeline Spencer, Mayrebelle Lukins , & I set out for a day of local birding. We check the three Mobile Home Parks in Scotts Valley with the best results at Spring Lakes. There were two COMMON MERGANSERS at the main lake. Both females. The upper lake had a single female HOODED MERGANSER. There were numerous YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, & numerous YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS. After a Starbuck's stop we headed down to West Cliff Drive. However, the tide was too high. We checked the area near Woodrow an hour later & were rewarded with the ROCK SANDPIPER, two OYSTERCATCHER'S , & SURFBIRDS & BLACK TURNSTONES . All in all a love day with good friends. Barb Scharfenstein _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: SCBC Meeting this Thursday From: Roger Wolfe <rogwolfe AT cruzio.com> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 14:39:23 -0800 Due to Thanksgiving the Santa Cruz Bird Club meets this *Thursday, November 19th at 7:30 p.m. *at the Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History, 1305 East Cliff Drive. Our featured speaker will be Ted Cheeseman. The topic will be *Penguins and Albatross, The World Through the Eyes of a Seabird.** * Join naturalist and expedition leader Ted Cheeseman for a lecture exploring what it is to be a seabird in the vast unforgiving desert of the open ocean. How is it that albatross can fly 14,000 miles on a single feeding trip to bring home just one meal for a chick? How can penguins survive, thrive and raise chicks in the world's harshest environments, but yet do not populate the mild tropics? Illustrated with images from Ted's travels with Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris around the world, Ted will tell stories of the new views we are able to have into the lives of seabirds through GPS-telemetry. We are only now learning how truly magnificent penguins and albatross are just as many species face sharp declines at the hands of industrial fishing and climate change. Through his expeditions with Cheesemans' Ecology Safaris, Ted frequently travels across the Southern Ocean and to its sub-Antarctic islands, the heart of prime penguin and albatross habitat. Ted will take you undersea with penguins and on the wing of an albatross, an entertaining and educational journey among the world's greatest mariners with beautiful photographs and the most recent bird science. Santa Cruz Bird Club meetings are free and open to all, and nonmembers are especially welcome to attend. Come for a great program, fellowship, and refreshments. Interested in joining the club? Do it at the meeting, or go here for more info: http://www.santacruzbirdclub.org/member.html Hope you can make it, Roger Wolfe SCBC Programs _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Woodrow Ave gull From: Phil Brown <pdpbrown AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 13:30:05 -0800 Looking for the Red Knot this morning (no luck) I found the ROCK SANDPIPER at the end of Woodrow and an interesting gull. It was very pale (white really) with a brown speckle pattern to the sides, and brown wing tips. It had pink legs. It was close to the size of the Mew Gulls in the same flock. Is there an immature Mew Gull plumage? I can't find one in the "not very good" book I'm looking in. Phil_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Santa Cruz Bird Club Weds. Nov. 18th field trip rescheduled for 2 PM instead of 8 AM From: Bernadette Ramer <baramer AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 17 Nov 2009 09:36:49 -0800 The Santa Cruz Bird Club field trip for Wednesday, November 18th at 8 AM is being rescheduled for the same day at 2 PM. We will meet at the Jetty Rd entrance. The field trip will be about 2-3 hours long. Rain Cancels If you have any questions, please call Bernadette Ramer 831 426-342_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Clay-colored Sparrows, etc. From: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 23:38:43 -0500 This morning a CLAY-COLORED SPARROW was along Delaware Avenue about
halfway between Swift Street and Swanton Blvd. It first flew from the
(now inactive) construction site on the north side of the street to
some shrubs in front of the buildings across the street, then flew back
again to the north side, ending up among some White-crowned Sparrows
near the small creek. Later I checked the Homeless Garden, where
another CLAY-COLORED SPARROW appeared at the south side of the garden
near the lavender patch. When this one flew, another (!) small
Spizella sparrow also flushed with it, both flying to the fenceline
along the west side of Shaffer Road, then continuing into the Terrace
Point field. I only had a quick look at that sparrow, but was clearly
a Spizella, and I think likely another Clay-colored, so at least two
and likely three of these were in the area today. The lavender area in
the garden also had at least seven LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, and others were
near Antonelli. A gray-headed orestera-type ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER was
in the garden's blackberry patch. GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS seemed to be
in very large numbers around the area.
Four HOUSE WRENS were in various spots ranging from west of the
Homeless Garden to just east of Antonelli Pond, a good number for this
late in the fall. KILLDEER numbers seemed to be up in the area, with
several running around the Homeless Garden, and about 30 in the
construction site off Delaware Avenue. That area also had at least 150
MOURNING DOVES, and a scattering of WESTERN MEADOWLARKS.
Steve Gerow
Santa Cruz
_______________________________________________
mbb mailing list
mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu
http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb
Subject: Red Knot and Rock SandpiperFrom: Ryan Terrill <enicurus AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 20:25:09 -0800 (PST) Hi everyone- Today, Jill Gautreaux and I went to check out the ROCK SANDPIPER, which was at the end of Woodrow; accompanied by many Surfbirds, Black Turnstones, and a RED KNOT. -Ryan Terrill Santa Cruz_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Capitola From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com Date: Mon, 16 Nov 2009 22:51:21 EST A CLAY-COLORED SPARROW joined the crowned sparrow flock at the south side of Monterey Avenue Park today. An adult THAYER'S GULL at Capitola Beach was my first of the season. A BARN OWL was flying around my neighborhood last night and again this evening. David Suddjian Capitola _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Clay-colored Sparrow From: kent Van Vuren <vanvurenk AT aol.com> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 22:13:30 -0800 From top of the hill, Prunedale Today I had a Clay-colored Sparrow at Moon Glow Dairy. Kent Van Vuren _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Pogonip From: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 21:40:57 -0500 Yesterday (Nov. 14) I walked some of the trails in Pogonip (in the
northern part of Santa Cruz just east of the UCSC campus). Highlights
included a pair PILEATED WOODPECKERS on the Fern Trail, where the trail
first enters the forest coming from the large meadow at the
intersection of the Spring and Fern Trails. I heard a Pileated call
again about a third of a mile farther down the Fern Trail, which I
thought was likely one of the same birds, but it could have been a
third individual. AMERICAN GOLDFINCHES were in large numbers in the
forests, including one flock of over a hundred (with just a few PINE
SISKINS mixed in) that flew out of the trees at the edge of the meadow
off the Spring and Fern Trails. A good crop of madrone berries was
attracting berry-eaters, especially CEDAR WAXWINGS, but also a moderate
number of AMERICAN ROBINS and HERMIT THRUSHES. I found at least two
VARIED THRUSHES, but it was mid-day when I was in the best Varied
Thrush habitats, so there could easily have been many more around. At
least 6 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS turned up among the mixed insectivore
flocks. A DOWNY WOODPECKER was in mixed evergreen forest on the Rincon
Trail, out of their usual habitat (but they wander a bit in fall and
winter). The grasslands of the lower parts of the park had good
numbers of SAVANNAH SPARROWS and a scattering of LINCOLN'S. A pair of
WHITE-TAILED KITES were perched in redwoods near the old club building,
a male AMERICAN KESTREL was near the UCSC border.
Steve Gerow
Santa Cruz
_______________________________________________
mbb mailing list
mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu
http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb
Subject: Re: Soquel grosbeak 11/14From: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 20:54:45 -0500 I was confused when I first looked at Pete's photos last night, but
looking at them again, I think this grosbeak is an adult male
Rose-breasted Grosbeak is fresh basic (winter) plumage. The wings on
this bird have a very black ground color, with large white patches at
the base of the primaries and on the median coverts, a pattern shown by
adult males of either species, but not by females, nor by hatch-year
males. It has to be a male in at least its second fall. Male
grosbeaks in fall molt into a winter plumage which has a more
female-like head pattern, and buff (and sometimes buff tipped with
dusky) tips to most of the body plumage, obscuring to varying degrees
the distinctive features of the two species.
Some points that I think indicate Rose-breasted are: the ground color
of the rump looks white (though obscured by those buff and dark tips),
not orange as in Black-headed; the underparts look mostly whitish (with
some buff wash, again caused by those feather tips), probably too pale
for an adult male Black-headed. Also, the base color of the back looks
more solidly black than the somewhat streaked pattern of Black-headed.
Finally the bill looks solidly pale (not darker on the upper mandible),
and pinkish, both pointing toward Rose-breasted.
I found some interesting discussion on-line of a similar bird in
Orange County, with some links to photos of similar birds, at this
address:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/OrangeCountyBirding/message/3834?l=1
Anyway, an interesting bird and ID challenge.
Steve Gerow
-----Original Message-----
From: Pete Sole
Subject: Scott Creek BeachFrom: "Larry Selman" <lselman AT got.net> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:36:28 -0800 Yesterday at Scott Creek beach there were at least 20 Snowy Plovers as well as a flock of Sanderlings. Pics: http://flickr.com/photos/mostlybirds Larry Selman (looking for photo opportunities in the Santa Cruz area) _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Quail Hollow teal and others From: "Alex Rinkert" <arinkert12 AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 16:10:51 -0800 Connor Chesus, Brian and Jane Orbuch, and I saw a female GREEN-WINGED TEAL at the Quail Hollow Ranch pond this morning at about 7:30. It flew off not too long after we saw it. Green-winged Teal is very rare at the park, and this was the first time I have seen one there. Also seen during the morning was a GREEN HERON, a GREAT BLUE HERON, and a WILSON'S SNIPE at the pond and two KILDEER in the overflow parking lot. Later this morning, a "white-striped" WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was feeding in my backyard with a small flock of Golden-crowned Sparrows. Also, a TURKEY VULTURE seen on the SCBC trip at Quail Hollow on 11/8 was somewhat unusual since they only occur during the spring and summer months at the park. Alex Rinkert Ben Lomond _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Santa Cruz County CBC - Sat. Dec 19 From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 19:03:15 EST Birders, The Santa Cruz County CBC will be Saturday, Dec. 19. The count circle extends along the coast from Davenport to Capitola, and from the ocean inland to Boulder Creek. Only a handful of folks have signed up so far, and we need lots more help. Please reply to let me know if you'd like to participate. For you Santa Cruz CBC regulars, I never presume anyone's participation from year to year, so please let me know of your intentions soon. Thanks all, David Suddjian _dsuddjian AT aol.com_ (mailto:dsuddjian AT aol.com) count compiler_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Re: Snowy Plovers on Seabright Beach From: Bernadette Ramer <baramer AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:57:53 -0800 Snowy Plover use Seabright Beach as a winter roost site. Yes, they definitely have the cute factor going for them. Many times people don't see them because they hunker down in depressions in the sand. Thanks for the information on the bands and I will pass them to those that keep track of them. Bernadette (Former PRBO Snowy Plover Biologist) On Nov 15, 2009, at 3:21 PM, Shantanu Phukan wrote: > Dear Birders: > > There is a flock of 21 (by my count) Snowy Plovers on Seabright > beach half way in between the Museum of Natural History and the > lighthouse. Is this something you all know about, or is it new? > > Last week while I walking this beach with a non-birding friend a > single plover scuttled by, surprising both of us. Today I went back > to the same area and there were 21 plovers mixed in with about the > same number of Sanderlings, and a dozen or so Black-Bellied > Plovers. This was in the part of the beach that has the flotsam > settled on it. The plovers, of course, were looking cute as buttons > crouched in the sand. > > I also ran into two local birders who are not on MBB (Greg and > Tara) who live a few blocks away and claim never to have seen any > plovers on that beach. One of the plovers had bands on: the color > markings were right: yellow, yellow, and left: pink, blue. Would > this make the plover a local hatchling? And are these plovers > reliably there, > or is this a quirk? > > Shantanu > Sta Cruz > > > Shantanu Phukan > Santa Cruz/San Jose > _______________________________________________ > mbb mailing list > mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu > http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Snowy Plovers on Seabright Beach From: Shantanu Phukan <phukan AT earthlink.net> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 15:21:04 -0800 (GMT-08:00) Dear Birders: There is a flock of 21 (by my count) Snowy Plovers on Seabright beach half way in between the Museum of Natural History and the lighthouse. Is this something you all know about, or is it new? Last week while I walking this beach with a non-birding friend a single plover scuttled by, surprising both of us. Today I went back to the same area and there were 21 plovers mixed in with about the same number of Sanderlings, and a dozen or so Black-Bellied Plovers. This was in the part of the beach that has the flotsam settled on it. The plovers, of course, were looking cute as buttons crouched in the sand. I also ran into two local birders who are not on MBB (Greg and Tara) who live a few blocks away and claim never to have seen any plovers on that beach. One of the plovers had bands on: the color markings were right: yellow, yellow, and left: pink, blue. Would this make the plover a local hatchling? And are these plovers reliably there, or is this a quirk? Shantanu Sta Cruz Shantanu Phukan Santa Cruz/San Jose _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Moutain Bluebirds From: Inga Waite <ingawaite AT yahoo.com> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 08:12:39 -0800 (PST) Yesterday (11/14/09) my husband Dan and I birded along Metz Road from
Greenfield to Soledad. We found a flock of about 30 MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRDS about
200 yards south of mile marker 14 on the uphill side of Metz Road. The birds
were hovering (hawking) in the wind and then landing on small shrubs on the
hillside. YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS were also present. It was quite a site.
Inga Labeaune
_______________________________________________
mbb mailing list
mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu
http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb
Subject: Soquel grosbeak 11/14From: Pete Sole <pete AT lighthousenet.com> Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 19:04:45 -0800 All, Today our yard was visited by an immature or female GROSBEAK, either Black-headed or Rose-breasted. Every time I've managed to convince myself that it is one or the other, one more look convinces me that I really don't know. I managed 2 miserable diagnostic shots through a window: http://www.lighthousenet.com/photos/birds/odd/grosbeak_091114a.jpg http://www.lighthousenet.com/photos/birds/odd/grosbeak_091114b.jpg I purposely left the images very large to glean every bit of diagnostic info possible. The bird was very skittish and flew when I tried to take better photos. Thus I was not able to get good shots or good looks at the breast. All comments, suggestions, speculations welcome. I am curious about what diagnostic marks you may have used to make your determination. Pete Sole' Soquel CA _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Seawatch at El Jarro Pt (and Swanton Berry Farm Pond) From: kathy kuyper <chswift AT hotmail.com> Date: Sun, 15 Nov 2009 01:27:11 +0000 It was a little overwhelming trying to keep track of all the activity, but highlights include lots (a few hundred) of WESTERN GULLS moving southward along the cliffs, many flocks of 30-50 scoters moving south (many were too far away to ID, but there were SURF and at least one WHITE-WINGED SCOTER), many PACIFIC and a few COMMON LOONS flying in both directions along the coast. PELAGIC CORMORANTS were clinging to the cliff walls. Gulls included a few MEW GULLS and BONAPARTE'S flying by and a GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL on a trajectory straight toward our group - until he saw us about 25 feet away. Three imm. NORTHERN HARRIERS coursed back and forth on the field behind the point most of the time we were there, while two WHITE-TAILED KITES were either hovering over prey or locking talons and spiraling to the ground and generally enjoying a warm, sunny day. As the day heated up, a flock of 16 CANADA GEESE flew north or northeast over the field, and RED TAILED HAWKS appeared in the air and on numerous telephone poles and other perches, as did the first of many (8?) AMERICAN KESTRELS seen at the point and later along the highway and at Swanton Berry Farm. At the berry farm pond were 12-15 RING-NECKED DUCKS, along with RUDDY DUCKS and AMERICAN COOTS, and some BREWER'S BLACKBIRDS that somehow appeared bluish down by the water. Seen from the pond were at least 7 TURKEY VULTURES kettling, and others in the distance, several RED-TAILED HAWKS, a MERLIN "attacking" a PEREGRINE FALCON, followed shortly by the sight of three peregrines or some combination of peregrines and merlins soaring about where the vultures had been kettling. Five TRI-COLORED BLACKBIRDS were counted in a mixed flock of red-wings, starlings, and Brewers before a kite set them off. (They were in the field uphill of the pond with cows.) Kathy Kuyper _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: It works the way you want. Learn more. http://www.microsoft.com/Windows/windows-7/default.aspx?ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen:112009v2 _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: 2 soaring Merlins over my yard From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com Date: Sat, 14 Nov 2009 17:31:55 EST Today I enjoyed a lengthy observation of two MERLINS that were soaring for an extended time (about 7 minutes) high over my yard and neighborhood. They were circling "endlessly" on set wings, one a little lower down with a full crop, and the other higher up. Except for a few beats by the lower bird, they did not flap at all. I don't think I've ever seen such extended soaring by Merlins, and on the rare occasions when I've seen more than one Merlin at a time they have always been chasing each other or having some aggressive interaction. These seemed peaceable. Given the cloudy skies and height of the birds I couldn't say much about their sex or age. ...and then at one point I looked away to deal with something else and they were gone just like that. Guess it was time to go. David Suddjian Capitola_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: West Cliff area From: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 23:25:57 -0500 Highlights of this morning's Santa Cruz Bird Club field trip
included good views of the continuing ROCK SANDPIPER on West Cliff
Drive. We found it in the late morning foraging with a few Black
Turnstones about halfway between Woodrow Avenue and Columbia Street.
Then as we continued back toward Woodrow a WANDERING TATTLER appeared
in the area below the corner in the railing just east of Woodrow, the
first I have seen in the area since late September.
Otherwise, it was a nice morning for studying the regular
species of the area and their behaviors. In the early morning we had
close
views of three BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS, two of them doing a "piping"
display. The early morning light shone through the pouch of a nearby
BROWN PELICAN, showing the outline of a large fish it had caught as it
manipulated and finally swallowed it (and later in the day we watched
waves of Brown Pelicans in variably
changing formations flying down the coast almost at eye level.) Six
gull species were around (Western, California, Mew, Heerman's,
Glaucous-winged, and one Ring-billed), providing some good opportunies
for comparison, as did mixed blackbird flocks with Brewer's, Red-wings,
and cowbirds. A WESTERN and a CLARK's GREBE swimming close together
close to shore was also a nice study opportunity (125 or so
Aechmophorus were farther offshore). Lighthouse Field had a selection
of expected species, including some nice views of TOWNSEND'S WARBLERS
and a very cooperative DOWNY WOODPECKER, plus a mass of clustered
Monarch Butterflies in the cypress and eucalyptus in the northeast
corner of the park.
Steve Gerow
Santa Cruz
_______________________________________________
mbb mailing list
mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu
http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb
Subject: Some recent birds: Seacliff, Monterey Bay Academy,
New BrightonFrom: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:29:44 EST The waters of Soquel Cove and on south towards Sunset SB currently have large numbers of scoters, loons and grebes, although the great majority are well off the beaches. Scoping from the bluff top at Seacliff SB yesterday morning (Nov 12) I counted 1,040 SURF SCOTERS, nearly all far off the beach. A male BLACK SCOTER was among one flock. Also tallied were 141 RED-THROATED LOONS and only small numbers of PACIFIC and COMMON. I counted 1,845 Aechmophorus grebes. The small fraction in close enough to ID were 185 WESTERN (94%) and 11 CLARK'S. 12 WESTERN MEADOWLARKS were feeding on the grassy median strips in the parking lot, and 2 AMERICAN PIPITS flew over. A MERLIN was seen flying east over the town of Seacliff, where I also tallied 19 EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES. Scoping early this morning (Nov 12) at Monterey Bay Academy Beach had a highlight of 2 LONG-TAILED DUCKS that flew down the coast with some scoters. And 2 WHITE-WINGED SCOTERS (male and female) were with some Surfs on the ocean. A handful of tubenoses cruised well of the beach, with at least 1 NORTHERN FULMAR and 4 BLACK-VENTED SHEARWATERS. My tally of SURF SCOTERS there was rounded off to 1,400. Also noted were 163 RED-THROATED LOONS, 1,500 Aechmophorus grebes (those identifiable were 236 WESTERN (95%) and 12 CLARK'S), 1 RED-BREASTED MERGANSER, AND 1 male BUFFLEHEAD on the ocean with scoters. A BONAPARTE'S GULL was just over the surf, and a LONG-BILLED CURLEW was on the beach. A MERLIN flew down the coast. A walk through the campground at New Brighton SB this morning had an imm. HERMIT WARBLER as the only unusual species. It was in the northeast park of the campground. Late this afternoon the SCBC group at Seacliff SB enjoyed two Humpback Whales while we studied the basics of gull ID. At first the whales were only about 0.25 mile off the beach. Later they were father out, but were breaching and slapping their tail flukes. Almost as much fun as learning to age Western Gulls... David Suddjian Capitola_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: (no subject) From: Sheila Baldridge <baldridge AT redshift.com> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 13:29:59 -0800 1 Varied Thrush - male - seen in garden on Seaview Avenue, Pacific Grove Friday November 13th. _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: coastal birds From: kathy kuyper <chswift AT hotmail.com> Date: Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:19:20 +0000 A few birds noted along the coast today: >From the highway at Lidell Creek 1 PEREGRINE FALCON and 10 RED-TAILED HAWKS. The pond on Swanton Road had 10 RING-NECKED DUCKS, some RUDDY DUCKS, and AMERICAN COOTS. On the beach at Scott Creek at least 25 SNOWY PLOVERS were running and stopping. Kathy Kuyper _________________________________________________________________ Hotmail: Trusted email with Microsoft’s powerful SPAM protection. http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141664/direct/01/_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Rancho Del Oso / Big Basin on 11/10 From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 21:34:02 EST Yesterday afternoon (Nov 10) a RED-NECKED GREBE was off the beach at Waddell Creek mouth. At late afternoon to sunset, while walking up the Waddell Canyon from a point north of Twin Redwoods all the way to the vicinity of Berry Creek Falls I had an impressive 7 NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS respond to my imitation (2 downstream of the Waddell Forks, 4 between the Forks and Berry Creek, and one upstream of Berry Creek), 1 AMERICAN DIPPER (just downstream of the Forks), and 6 PILEATED WOODPECKERS calling near their bed time. A BARN OWL called just now outside my window here in Capitola. David Suddjian Waddell walking_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Baldwin Creek mouth From: Alexander Gaguine <gaguine AT baymoon.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 14:58:36 -0800 This afternoon a LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE was on the wires above the west side of the marsh at Baldwin Creek mouth. A COMMON MERGANSER was swimming in the pond where the creek crosses the beach - I believe my first ever at Baldwin. Also present were a BUFFLEHEAD, a FOX SPARROW, many COMMON YELLOWTHROATS, and a pretty pair of PURPLE FINCHES. Alexander _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: College Lake From: Jeff Wall <jhwall AT hotmail.com> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 22:19:47 +0000 I made a stop to check out College Lake this morning. It is still very full and not attracting many dabblers, but there were some interesting new birds. Not far from the viewing area were 3 drake Hooded Mergansers. On the far side were around 25 Canvasbacks. Of course there was an Osprey on one of the power poles, and a Kingfisher was rattling around. There are very large numbers of both Ruddy Ducks and Coots. I was surprised to see a DC Cormorant displace the Osprey from it's perch. Jeff Wall Soquel _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: continuing TROPICAL KINGBIRD From: "Heidi Sandkuhle" <Mrskuhle AT charter.net> Date: Wed, 11 Nov 2009 13:39:59 -0800 The TROPICAL KINGBIRD continues at Lee Rd. overlook and Struve Slough. It was seen closest to the flooded road (Lee Rd.) and was observed chasing after a RED SHOLDERED HAWK. Also seen today at the same location was a COMMON MOORHEN and a SAY'S PHOEBE. Heidi and Richard Sandkuhle _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Re: Mission Springs & North SCZ Co Kestrels From: Scott Smithson <wscottsmithson AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:27:08 -0800 Resending... On Mon, Nov 9, 2009 at 11:23 PM, Scott SmithsonSubject: South County - Lockwood From: chris hartzell <c.hartzell AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 21:27:29 -0800 (PST) I received MANY inquiries on where Lockwood is and where the Grebes dancing are... Lockwood is located at the intersection of Jolon Rd and Interlake Rd in South Monterey County near Hunter Liggett. Take 101 south towards King City. At King City take Jolon Rd towards Hunter Liggett. There is excellent birding all along Jolon Rd. If you want to stop in at the Lockwood Fire Station and check the trees in the driveway, the CDF station is on Jolon Rd 4 miles north of the Interlake intersection. Nuthatches, Sapsuckers, Bluebirds, Titmouse, Phainopepla, and Sparrows are in the front yard. Be sure and check in with the Captain on duty and let them know you are just looking at birds here. I will send the two Captains an email letting them know people may be stopping by so they don't freak out. Continuing south past the station, at the intersection of Jolon Rd and Interlake Rd... To get to North Shore where the Bald Eagle and many sparrows are as well as great close-up views of the pelicans...Take Interlake Rd towards North Shore at the intersection. About 8 miles from the intersection take a left off Interlake Rd towards the North Shore gate. Signs are well posted. Explore the roads and walk down on the dock. To get to South Shore where the Grebes, sparrows, Merlin, and feeding waterfowl and pelicans were...continue south on Jolon Rd. a few miles and take a right towards South Shore of Lake San Antonio (there is a gas station as well as a well labeled sign). Follow the road to the lake through the gate. Take any of the dirt roads towards the shoreline, these are all public access. The Grebes are in the hundreds and can be seen all over the lake, but best seen by those shorelines off these dirt roads. The pelicans, gulls, and mergansers are everywhere and move on the lake depending on the fish. Today they were flocking at the dock at the very end of the road where it dead ends. There are pelicans at both North and South Shore. -Chris Hartzell_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Some Santa Cruz Birds From: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 22:44:34 -0500 Today a male WESTERN TANAGER was in the willows south of Neary
Lagoon, where the lagoon's outflow channel is crossed by the railroad
tracks. It could be a very late migrant, or possible planning to
winter in the area. The female GREEN-WINGED TEAL was still around, but
today it was in the lagoon itself, north of the old section of the dock
near the Laurel Creek mouth. Two adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERONS were
in the willows near the east end of the floating dock. A HOUSE WREN
was on the hill between Depot Park and the West Cliff Drive bridge.
The Santa Cruz Wharf had very little of note, but to the east there was
a congregation of about 85 SURF SCOTERS off Seabright Beach, the
largest group I have seen so far this season. In the early afternoon
Lighthouse Field had two GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS foraging in cypresses.
Sunday and yesterday (Nov. 8 and 9) the ROCK SANDPIPER was in usual
areas on West Cliff drive--on the 8th it was resting among some Black
Turnstones on rip-rap near the end of David Way, and on the 9th it was
foraging on the rocks west of Almar. Also on the 9th, a CANADA GOOSE
flew up the coast off West Cliff, the first I have seen in the
immediate Santa Cruz area since spring. Saturday afternoon (Nov. 7), a
MERLIN flew over Dufour Street near Seaside Street.
Steve Gerow
Santa Cruz
_______________________________________________
mbb mailing list
mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu
http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb
Subject: South County DancingFrom: chris hartzell <c.hartzell AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 17:52:39 -0800 (PST) My day here at Lockwood continued to the end full of good sightings. A PHAINOPEPLA was in the tree outside the station, LARK SPARROWS, LINCOLN'S SPARROWS, SAVANNAH SPARROWS, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKES, and a MERLIN were all along the roads to Lake San Antonio. And at the lake itself was a BALD EAGLE overhead, over 100 WHITE PELICANS, a dozen BONAPARTE GULLS, and a half dozen COMMON MERGANSERS. But the highlight of the day was seeing again for the first time in several years, the hundreds of pairs of WESTERN GREBES doing their dance across the lake. If you have never witnessed this, now is the time to come. There are nothing less than a few hundred grebes right now and the displays are happening about once every 5 minutes. -Chris Hartzell _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Clay-colored Sparrow at Asilomar From: Brian Sullivan <bls42 AT cornell.edu> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:59:42 -0800 Birders This afternoon I had a Clay-colored Sparrow in the dunes along the boardwalk at Asilomar Beach. If you access the trail at the creek outflow and then walk southwest on the wooden boardwalk, the bird was about 75 feet past the first section of boardwalk with a railing (about ten feet or so) on the beach side. Thanks Brian -- =========== Brian L. Sullivan Pacific Grove, CA eBird/AKN Project Leader www.ebird.org www.avianknowledge.net Photographic Editor, Birds of North America Online http://bna.birds.cornell.edu/BNA Cornell Lab of Ornithology 159 Sapsucker Woods Rd. Ithaca, NY 14850 Photographic Editor, North American Birds American Birding Association www.americanbirding.org bls42 AT cornell.edu 609-694-3280 -------------------------------_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: RE: Scaup From: "Betsy Buchalter Adler" <adler AT adlercolvin.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 15:38:01 -0800 There were several Scaup at the Zmudowski Beach marsh on Sunday afternoon along with a large flock of Ruddy Ducks. Betsy Buchalter Adler PG/East Bay ________________________________ From: mbb-bounces AT acg.ucsc.edu [mailto:mbb-bounces AT acg.ucsc.edu] On Behalf Of Jeff Wall Sent: Tuesday, November 10, 2009 3:36 PM To: Monterey Birds Subject: [MBB] Scaup Three scaup at Corcoran Lagoon this morning were FOS for me. Two males were lessers. I wasn't quite sure what to call the female that was with them. Jeff Wall Soquel _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Scaup From: Jeff Wall <jhwall AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 23:35:58 +0000 Three scaup at Corcoran Lagoon this morning were FOS for me. Two males were lessers. I wasn't quite sure what to call the female that was with them. Jeff Wall Soquel _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Belated Tropical Kingbird, Cackling Goose and more From: Jean Myers <birdermom AT mac.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:50:29 -0800 Hi all! This message is belated due to the MBB system problems. It was originally sent on Sunday, 11/8/09. - Tropical Kingbird (at Lee Rd. west of W. Beach Drive in Watsonville on the storm fence between the businesses and Struve Slough where one often parks when viewing from this area). I was able to take pictures from about 15 feet away! - Bonaparte's Gulls (18 at Lee Rd., 10 at Jetty Rd.) - Wilson's Snipe (3 feeding in flooded parking lot at Lee Rd. - the parking lot is looking more like habitat now that more mud has filled the area, but I feel for the long-billed dowitchers who were feeding there - I hope they don't chip the ends of their beaks off on the pavement!) - Red-throated Loon (in harbor at Jetty Road in Moss Landing - others said that 3 were present earlier in the day) - Cackling Canada Goose (probably minima as it wasn't much larger than the Coots it was feeding with on the Pacific Grove Golf Course near the pond) - Hutton's Vireo (one at the Butterfly Garden and another at George Washington Park - both in Pacific Grove) - Townsend's Warbler (2 at the Butterfly Garden and another 6 or so at George Washington Park) - Brown Creepers (several at George Washington Park - great close views - lots of scuffles for best position on trees) - Northern Fulmar (at least 10 off the coast at Ocean View Blvd. in Pacific Grove all within about 1/2 mile of the point) - Rhinocerous Auklet (2 seen from the same area) - Red-necked Phalarope (2 seen from the same area) - Red Phalarope (1 seen from the same area) - Common Murre (1 seen from the same area) - Small Gulls - there were about a dozen small gulls in this area that I couldn't ID due to the distance, large swells and my lack of skill. I don't think they weren't Sabine's Gulls as the wings didn't seem to have the large black patches extending back from the tip of the wing. I also don't think they were Bonaparte's, as I didn't see a black trailing wing edge. They appeared to have a subtle gray and white 'W' pattern on their backs and I didn't make note of the wing-tips. They flew with a stiff wing-beat for such light, tiny gulls and joined the several gull flocks that were attacking dead fish or whatever. They were about 1/2 the size of the Western Gulls and stuck together when flying - usually in flocks of 2-3. If anyone has any input for me, I'd appreciate it. Or, perhaps they'll be there tomorrow and someone can take a look. (On Google Maps it looks like they were seen from Ocean View Blvd. in Pacific Grove between Lovers Point and Coral Street where I pulled over several times and saw some each time). - American Crow - Ok - I know this doesn't seem interesting, but there was a huge flying ball of them over College Lake and the sound was very loud! I estimate that there were about 500+ crows in the ball which traveled east. The ball was so huge that the 300+ California Gulls in the lake (which is still more full than I've ever seen it) were all flushed. It turned into an enormous black and white ball (pun intended)! Overall, a beautiful day for birding! I totalled 93 species in 6 hours! Get out and enjoy the birds! Jean Myers Gilroy _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Neary From: Alexander Gaguine <gaguine AT baymoon.com> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 10:27:02 -0800 A female GREEN-WINGED TEAL was in the water treatment tanks yesterday at Neary Lagoon, along with Mallards, Wood Ducks and Coots. Hermit Thrush and a WRENTIT were in some blackberries by the water. Alexander _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Presentation From: Rebecca Dmytryk <diametryk AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:48:02 -0800 Just a reminder bout tonight's presentation: ‘THE YEAR IN RESCUES’ Directors of locally-based WildRescue will recount the year's memorable wildlife rescues through photographs, video, and vivid storytelling. Husband and wife team, Rebecca Dmytryk and Duane Titus, are renowned wildlife rescuers and capture specialists based in the Monterey Bay area. Having recently returned from teaching oiled wildlife capture and first aid in Estonia, their presentation will include a few slides from their workshop as well as their most recent ride aboard a Coast Guard C-130 to help save hundreds of marine birds. Nov 10th 7:00 pm Refreshments at 6:30 pm Pacific Grove Natural History Museum Hosted by the Monterey Peninsula Audubon Society ADMISSION IS FREE MATURE SUBJECT MATTER For more information on WildRescue please see www.wildrescue.org Rebecca Dmytryk WildRescue P.O. Box 65 Moss Landing CA 95039 Home/Office: 831.768.9068 Mobile: 831.840.3896 Pager: 831.429.2323 Hotline: 866.WILD.911 _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: South County From: chris hartzell <c.hartzell AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 09:29:36 -0800 (PST) I'm covering Lockwood station today where there are numerous WHITE BREASTED NUTHATCHES and a lone WHITE THROATED SPARROW. -Chris Hartzell _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: RE: Panoche Valley Solar Project Threatens Critical Habitat From: chris hartzell <c.hartzell AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 05:02:50 -0800 (PST) I would like to offer a suggestion... In today's economic climate, money is beating out environment more often than not and 'green projects' are getting pushed through red tape much easier. I think it will be hard pressed to stop this project flat out. However, a better tactic may be to "re-direct" the train than try and stop it. Come up with an alternative site or alternative layout and push that instead. Parties on the other end will be more receptive and more interested in working with us as partners than automatically placing us in the enemy category. Remember the saying..."keep your friends close, but your enemies closer". This strategy will accomplish more for us in the long run. -Chris Hartzell ________________________________ From: Clay KempfSubject: Mission Springs & North SCZ Co Kestrels From: Scott Smithson <wscottsmithson AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 23:23:47 -0800 A small SCBC group enjoyed a crisp morning field trip at Mission Springs in Scotts Valley on Saturday. Highlights for us: standing above a GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET in some oaks in a ravine and 2 RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKERS in their usual spots in the planted willow trees. We also enjoyed the view from the hilltop chaparral of Eagles' Landing, but alas, no birds of prey this time. Just a reminder that Mission Springs is private property, and permission must be obtained before birding the area. On Sunday, while driving from the SM County line south to the Santa Cruz city limits, I counted 9 AMERICAN KESTRELS on wires, poles or hovering. This morning, I took a stroller walk/nap with little Evan at Neary Lagoon, and there was an ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER with a mixed flock. The female GREEN-WINGED TEAL was hanging out in the wastewater treatment plant with MALLARDS and a few WOOD DUCKS. Scott Smithson_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Fw: TROPICAL KINGBIRD (belated post) From: Michael Rieser <carmelbird AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 23:15:44 -0800 (PST) I tried sending this earlier today, but it didn't seem to go through. ----- Forwarded Message ---- From: Michael RieserSubject: Fwd: Swanton Pond area on 11/7 From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com Date: Tue, 10 Nov 2009 02:03:29 EST Tried to send this previously....On a visit to the Swanton Pond area on the afternoon on 11/7 I had 2 HORNED LARKS that were flying around the area and eventually landed in the distance in a field northwest of the pond. This area had a large blackbird - Starling flock that included about 900 TRICOLOREDS (90% males) and others. The pond had a GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE among a smattering of ducks, and rails responding to my tape were two each of VIRGINIA RAIL and SORA. David Suddjian Capitola_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Black Pt. Ruddy Turnstone From: David Sidle <dsidle AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 9 Nov 2009 22:28:34 -0800 Visited Black Pt (at the end of 16th Ave. in Santa Cruz County's Live Oak region) late this afternoon (Monday, Nov. 9th) and found a RUDDY TURNSTONE, first across from and then amongst the hundreds of roosting cormorants, perhaps the same bird reported by Jeff Wall on Oct. 17th. Other rocky shorebirds were 15 Sanderlings, 12 Black Turnstones, 6 Black-bellied Plovers and 2 Black Oystercatchers. Four Surf Scoters and one Eared Grebe were in the bay. David Sidle Santa Cruz _________________________________________________________________ Windows 7: Unclutter your desktop. http://go.microsoft.com/?linkid=9690331&ocid=PID24727::T:WLMTAGL:ON:WL:en-US:WWL_WIN_evergreen:112009 _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: West Side Golden Eagle Fly By From: Pete Sole <pete AT lighthousenet.com> Date: Sat, 07 Nov 2009 19:39:32 -0800 All, Checking the homeless garden project today for sparrows, I noticed a large raptor flying down the canyon, just west of Western Drive. I was pleasantly surprised to see a GOLDEN EAGLE. I managed to snap a few diagnostic shots, one of which is available at: http://www.lighthousenet.com/photos/birds/odd/eagle_golden_091107a.jpg The bird flew down the canyon and turned right above HW1. It then flew towards Wilder Ranch where I lost sight of it. I must have seen the bird around 11:15am Saturday 11/7/09. Pete Sole' Soquel, CA _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Panoche Valley Solar Project Threatens Critical Habitat From: Clay Kempf <ltjaeger AT att.net> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 16:51:55 -0800 The SAVE PANOCHE VALLEY website has been officially launched http://savepanochevalley.com/ with many details on how to speak out in opposition to a solar project that would cover much of the valley floor. The area under consideration is the traditional Panoche Valley wintering grounds of MOUNTAIN PLOVERS, one of the most seriously threatened birds in North America. Those of you who regularly participate in Panoche field trips know this area is also great for MERLIN, FERRUGINOUS HAWK, GOLDEN EAGLE, LOGGERHEAD SHRIKE, PRAIRIE FALCON, MOUNTAIN BLUEBIRD, BURROWING OWL, etc. KIT FOX burrows have been recorded in the area slated for development, and San Benito Counties first record of LARK BUNTING was discovered nearby, at the foot of Shotgun Pass. The pressure of California's budget crisis puts enormous pressure on San Benito County elected officials, and it's going to take a very active effort on part of the birding community to bring a halt to this proposal. Please visit the website and voice your opposition. Clay Kempf _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: MTY highlights updated From: Don Roberson <creagrus AT montereybay.com> Date: Sat, 7 Nov 2009 14:56:45 -0800 Thanks to photos from ranger Chuck Bancroft, Chris Hartzell, Bill Hill, and Kent Van Vuren, the Monterey County highlights page has been updated with birds through 5 November. We also have a new member of the Monterey 400 Club, as introduced there. The page is at http://creagrus.home.montereybay.com/MTY_2009c.html Don Roberson P.S. Please note that I'd like to update the full page on the Monterey 400 Club in December. Please seek out your new county birds and total up your list through Thanksgiving (26 Nov) and then email me your totals shortly thereafter. I'd like to mention anyone with a county list of 350 or more. Thanks. _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Wilder Ranch From: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Sat, 07 Nov 2009 00:38:03 -0500 This afternoon a tan-striped WHITE-THROATED SPARROW was along Wilder
Creek near the bridge on the old road east of the ranch buildings. A
large blackbird flock in the fields along the Old Cove Landing Trail
near Fern Grotto Beach had about 800 TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS, with
smaller numbers of Red-winged and Brewer's. A NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER was
in willows along the railroad track near the start of that trail. Also
of note were 2 NORTHERN HARRIERS (ad. male and ad. female), a female
AM. KESTREL near the east border of the park, 3 WHITE-TAILED KITES, and
3 HOUSE WRENS, plus large numbers of the common winter sparrows. Near
the horse ranch east of the park, a LONG-BILLED CURLEW flew down out of
the grassy hills north of Highway 1, then continued southeast toward
the Santa Cruz coast.
Steve Gerow
Santa Cruz
_______________________________________________
mbb mailing list
mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu
http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb
Subject: TROPICAL KINGBIRDFrom: "Heidi Sandkuhle" <Mrskuhle AT charter.net> Date: Fri, 6 Nov 2009 14:00:38 -0800 This morning I was able to add another bird to my life list--TROPICAL KINGBIRD seen at the Lee Rd. overlook and Struve Slough in Watsonville. Also saw many of the expected birds including AMERICAN WIGEONS, CINNAMON TEALS, N. SHOVELERS, MALLARDS, BELTED KINGFISHER, 2 WHITE-TAILED KITES, RED-SHOLDERED HAWK, 2 N. HARRIERS, 2 RT HAKWS, GT GRACKLES, and COMMON YELLOW THROATS. Over on the flooded, dump side of Harkins Slough Rd. we saw one OSPREY, one W. GREBE, COOTS, BC NIGHT HERONS, and GULLS by the thousands! Will be able to ID them hopefully after taking David S.'s lectures and workshops! Heidi and Richard Sandkuhle_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Cassin's Kingbirds From: Debra Shearwater <debiluv AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 20:46:19 -0800 Hi, Birders, I was surprised to see two CASSIN'S KINGBIRDS in a residential area of Hollister about 4:30 this afternoon, at the intersection of Clearview and Sunset. Both birds were sitting on top of an old- fashioned TV antenna on the house at 1390 Sunset, along with 10 starlings! Both kingbirds were actively calling. Also, today, a LINCOLN'S SPARROW showed up at the drip water bath in my back yard. A BLACK PHOEBE flipped through the yard a couple of days ago. I've only seen black phoebes once or twice in my yard. Debi Shearwater Debra Shearwater Shearwater Journeys, Inc. PO Box 190 Hollister, CA 95024 831.637.8527 debi AT shearwaterjourneys.com www.shearwaterjourneys.com www.shearwaterjourneys.blogspot.com South Georgia: Where No Road Goes October 18- November 4, 2010 _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Golden-crowned Kinglet From: Katherine Klein <12okudaklein AT gmail.com> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:23:59 -0800 This morning at Elkhorn Slough on the South Marsh trail (Oak side) between the guzzler and Cattail Swale, I saw a Golden-crowned Kinglet feeding in an oak tree. I have never seen this bird species at ES before in the 5 years I have been a docent. A photo is available, but it is would be an attachment. If you want to see the photo, please request it individually. I also welcomed back our first of the season Buffleheads (8) this morning at ES. Katherine Klein Aptos_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Santa Cruz Co. annual list updated for Oct 09 From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 16:10:46 EST The collective annual list for Santa Cruz County has been updated through Oct 31, 2009: _http://santacruzbirdclub.org/annual%20list.html_ (http://santacruzbirdclub.org/annual%20list.html) David Suddjian_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Capitola birds on the morning walk... From: Judy Donaldson <calqua AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 10:39:16 -0800 (PST) A GREAT BLUE HERON has been hanging out on Soquel Creek, upstream of the trestle, and most mornings there is at least one BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT heron in the same area. However on Monday there were four BCNH--three adults and one juvenile. SNOWY EGRETS are also frequent visitors (one yesterday). In the ocean near the wharf, SURF SCOTERS have appeared the last two days--six this morning. WESTERN/CLARKS GREBES were scattered in the distance. More were visible from the Depot Hill cliffs, but I didn't attempt to count them. On Depot Hill, a RED-BREASTED SAPSUCKER was in the same place I reported a few weeks ago--Hollister Ave near Escalona, skulking in the walnut trees. Judy Donaldson _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Re: Big Basin (Phainopepla), and a few tid bits elsewhere From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 12:53:10 EST Also a male and female WOOD DUCK along Opal Creek upstream of Hihn-Hammond Road, Big Basin, on 11/4. David Suddjian_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Big Basin (Phainopepla), and a few tid bits elsewhere From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 12:38:24 EST Late afternoon hikes up to two of the highest points in Big Basin Redwoods SP on 11/3 (Eagle Rock) and 11/4 (Pine Mountain) had some interesting birds...and fabulous views and sunset skies... A female PHAINOPEPLA was quite a surprise late yesterday afternoon (11/4) at the top of the Pine Mountain Trail. It was along the last reach of trail just before reaching Buzzards Roost, perching up on knobcone pine and Douglas-fir trees. I think this is the 5th county record. They have been widely scattered in time: 11 Jan 1976 at Neary Lagoon, 9-13 Feb 1982 near Kelly Lake, 14 Sept 1992 near Scotts Valley, 31 Oct 2002 at Santa Rosalia Mountain, and yesterday's. Also on 11/4...A PEREGRINE FALCON was wailing at dusk in the direction of Mt McAbee, an area with some recent history of nesting. I had heard another or the same in that general region in Sept., which seems somewhat interesting to me as our winter birds are most often quiet. After sunset a COMMON POORWILL called from Pine Mountain from an area just northeast of Buzzard's Roost. I don't know if poorwill nests and is resident there, or if this was a wanderer or migrant. There is some potential nesting habitat, but not a lot; as far as I know no birder has ever sought poorwills up there at night before. 6 PILEATED WOODPECKERS were noted on the hike from park HQ to the top of the Pine Mountain Trail, with some nice vocal activity in the half hour before sunset. On the later afternoon of 11/3 a "Slate-colored" FOX SPARROW was a highlight just below the top of the Eagle Rock Trail. A pair of GREAT HORNED OWLS called outside the park near the upper end of Empire Grade just after sunset. AMERICAN ROBINS were more plentiful up there than I've had elsewhere yet this year, with 120 tallied, many passing over in flocks as if heading to some roost. Still not much to comment on, as far as robin numbers go, though. VARIED THRUSH is moderately common in parts of Big Basin SP. I had 26 on the hike up Eagle Rock Trail on 11/3, and 46 on the hike from park HQ to Pine Mountain on 11/4. The small owls were pretty responsive during surveys on 11/3 and 11/4 along the Pine Mountain and Eagle Rock Trails, Little Basin Road and the lower reaches of Opal Creek. I sampled at 25 survey stations and heard 59 WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS and 16 NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS, with at least one owl of any species at 22 of 25 stations. Elsewhere...A BARN OWL called near my Capitola home on 11/3. A MERLIN and HOUSE WREN were at the Porter-Sesnon area of New Brighton SB 11/4, but nothing unusual was noted on the SCBC trip. A TURKEY VULTURE over Capitola near Nob Hill Foods on 11/4 was esp. rare for the city in November. Scoping from New Brighton SB parking lot early on 11/4 I counted 1402 WESTERN GREBES, (only) 26 CLARK'S GREBES, plus 790 unidentified grebes, 36 RED-THROATED LOONS, 11 PACIFICS and 2 COMMONS. A non-bird aside...the summit of Eagle Rock gets my vote as the most interesting view point west of the crest of the Santa Cruz Mountains. On the way up the trail there is a short spur trail that leads to an overlook located below the summit which has a bench. It has to be the best view from any trailside bench on public land in Santa Cruz County...for those fans of benches. David Suddjian Hiking the heights _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Continuing Rock Sandpiper From: Bill Bousman <barlowi AT earthlink.net> Date: Wed, 04 Nov 2009 17:37:11 -0800 Folks: I stopped by West Cliff Drive at the foot of Woodrow this morning in Santa Cruz, 11/4/09. The ROCK SANDPIPER was mostly staying with Black Turnstones, but with the increasing tide and crashing waves, there was a lot of movement hither and yon. Bill Bousman Menlo Park _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: wigeon hybrid? From: kathy kuyper <chswift AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 5 Nov 2009 00:36:51 +0000 There was, at Struve Slough by West Marine, a chestnut-headed, with a fiery golden forehead and a hint of irridescent green around the eyes, duck, but aside from being black at the tail end (not as much as an American Wigeon) it had white on the flanks and the rest of the back and sides were kind of a confused mix of patches of white, reddish and grayish. I didn't have a scope, so couldn't really sort out any real pattern there. Oh, and it had a bluish bill. Kathy Kuyper _________________________________________________________________ Bing brings you maps, menus, and reviews organized in one place. http://www.bing.com/search?q=restaurants&form=MFESRP&publ=WLHMTAG&crea=TEXT_MFESRP_Local_MapsMenu_Resturants_1x1 _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Continuing Sage Thrasher, Carmel River S.B. From: Michael Rieser <carmelbird AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 22:06:04 -0800 (PST) This morning at around 11 a.m., the previously reported SAGE THRASHER continued
at Carmel River State Beach.
At first it was perched atop a rock at the south end of the beach (near to
where Meadows Beach starts), going after sandflies. It was then forced north by
some beachcombers, and then flew up into the scrub (affording good looks at its
white tail corners!). I last saw it foraging on the dirt path north of the
trash can.
Michael Rieser
Carmel
_______________________________________________
mbb mailing list
mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu
http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb
Subject: West Cliff DriveFrom: stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Wed, 04 Nov 2009 00:39:55 -0500 In the late morning today the ROCK SANDPIPER was back along West
Cliff Drive, at first bathing with BLACK TURNSTONES and SURFBIRDS in
the pool where the creek flows over the rocks at the end of Woodrow,
then it flew up the coast for a while, and later (along with Sarah and
Jerry) I saw it again east of Woodrow, on the rocks below the corner in
the wooden railing.
Also interesting today was a fairly steady movement of shearwaters up
the coast,lasting for well over an hour, and totalling in the high
hundreds, at least, many more than I expected for November. Many were
too far out to identify (and the mid-day lighting didn't help), but I
was able to identify some of the closer birds as BLACK-VENTED, and also
some SOOTIES. Based on the way they were flying, there might have been
a fairly large proportion of Black-vented, but it was hard to be
certain. One ELEGANT TERN was foraging near Stockton Avenue.
For anyone who is interested, there are some photos of the Rock
Sandpiper, and a few other birds from today, here:
http://picasaweb.google.com/steve.gerow/November3Photos#
Steve Gerow
Santa Cruz
_______________________________________________
mbb mailing list
mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu
http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb
Subject: news from UCSC's weekly reportFrom: "Walter L Goldfrank" <wally AT ucsc.edu> Date: Tue, 03 Nov 2009 16:39:59 -0800 Populations of Laysan albatross face severe declines due to widespread lead poisoning of chicks unless comprehensive cleanup measures gain momentum, according to a recent study by environmental toxicologist Myra Finkelstein. http://www.ucsc.edu/news_events/text.asp?pid=3322&src=email _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: RE: Off topic -- Bush Hawk shoulder mounts From: "COBB_ROGER" <COBB_ROGER AT smc.edu> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 13:12:18 -0800 Hello... For many years I used a home-made shoulder stock for my old B&L Balscope SR. It was wonderfully handy for hiking with a scope or using it propped on a window if birding from a car. I bought an old used gunstock (from an 1898 Mauser military rifle) for fewer than ten bucks, a sling and a ¼-20 bolt and a large fender washer. Total investment under $25. However... I no longer use it under any circumstances. In this post 9/11 climate it just looks too weapon-like and creates jangled nerves in those who have no idea what it is and assume it's some kind of rifle or rocket launcher. The late Eirik Blom wrote some years ago about such an encounter in his column in (I think) Bird Watcher's Digest. He related his experience with a Law Enforcement Officer who held him at gunpoint til the true nature of the device in question was settled. I could rather easily foresee a very unhappy ending to such a situation. A stock-mounted scope is almost guaranteed to make for nervous civilians and even more nervous cops. I'll stick with a tripod, monopod or window mount these days. Too bad but that's just how it goes. Roger Cobb Santa Monica College, Life Science Dept. Santa Monica, CA -----Original Message----- From: mbb-bounces AT acg.ucsc.edu [mailto:mbb-bounces AT acg.ucsc.edu] On Behalf Of MzPMyers AT aol.com Sent: Tuesday, November 03, 2009 10:02 AM To: MBB AT biology.ucsc.edu Subject: [MBB] Off topic -- Bush Hawk shoulder mounts My son wants to buy a Bush Hawk shoulder mount for our spotting scope. This seems like a waste of money to me. Does anyone have experience with them and can advise one way or another. Thanks, Pam Myers _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: change of i.d. From: Lois Goldfrank <loisg AT cruzio.com> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 10:49:23 -0800 After some thought, discussion (thanks Steve!), and further research, we've decided it was not a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE but a BALTIMORE ORIOLE that was found in the Homeless Garden Sunday on the SCBC field trip. Basically the bird was too orange to be a female or immature Bullock's. The head and tail were both a definite orangey-brown, there was no real yellow on the face or throat. No face pattern was evident. The underparts were also washed with orange, becoming gray on the belly. A mistake - but a new county bird for many of us! Lois and Wally Goldfrank _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Off topic -- Bush Hawk shoulder mounts From: MzPMyers AT aol.com Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 13:01:49 EST My son wants to buy a Bush Hawk shoulder mount for our spotting scope. This seems like a waste of money to me. Does anyone have experience with them and can advise one way or another. Thanks, Pam Myers_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Sage Thrasher From: "Bill Hill" <billhill AT redshift.com> Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 22:26:15 -0800 I posted a few shots of the Sage Thrasher at the Carmel River State Beach. http://www.birdshotphotography.com/Sage%20Thrasher/index.html _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: ROSA at Woodrow&Westcliff From: Phil Brown <pdpbrown AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 22:22:50 -0800 This morning at about 8:45 am I saw Sylvester about 50 yards west of Woodrow with a bug flock of BLACK TURNSTONES and SURFBIRDS. Nice to see him back. Phil_______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Pajaro River, et. al. From: Jeff Wall <jhwall AT hotmail.com> Date: Tue, 3 Nov 2009 04:58:57 +0000 I visited a few of the popular spots in Watsonville this afternoon. At the Lee Rd. overlook there were 2 Dowitchers and 9 Least Sandpipers in the large puddle that has formed in the semi trailer parking lot. Not much in the way of water fowl. A Kestrel snatched what I think was a dragon fly. At the Pajaro River Mouth there was a flock of 18 BB Plovers, 2 Marbled Godwits, and a LB Curlew at the water's edge, but in Monterey Co. Also 7 Western Sandpipers were feeding with Sanderlings. Out in the lagoon were two families of Common Mergansers with 5 and 7 birds. Some distance upriver were 8 Buffleheads. Over on the ocean beach were numerous flocks of Sanderlings, and perhaps 100 Snowy Plovers, more than I've ever seen there. They seemed to be scattered everywhere once I got used to picking them out of the beach litter. The gull flock was much reduced from summer numbers, but this may change with time of day (4:00) No Pelicans or Terns were seen. Driving back on Beach Rd. I saw an all black raptor on a roadside utility pole. The farm workers were getting off and traffic prevented a quick turn around, but eventually I got back for a better look. I studied it for awhile before it got bothered and flew off, showing it's very red tail, a dark morph RTHA. A very cool looking bird, made even better by my imagination before it showed it's true colors. Jeff Wall Soquel _______________________________________________ mbb mailing list mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbbSubject: Santa Cruz/Sawnton Rd 11/2/09: ROSA, PRFA... From: Dominik Mosur <polskatata AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 2 Nov 2009 19:36:02 -0800 (PST) This morning I headed down to Santa Cruz in hopes of seeing the previously
reported Rock Sandpiper.
First I made stop at the south end of Swanton Rd to check the pond and the
grasslands.
New birds for my SCZ list here included a juv. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT HERON and
(7) AMERICAN WIGEONS.
I then turned toward the fields and located (2) immature NORTHERN HARRIERS that
were tussling a bit in the grass at one point, a RED-TAILED HAWK and (2) WHITE
TAILED KITES.
Around 8:30 a.m., with my concentration beginning to wane I heard an odd call
and looked back up to the ridge in time to see one of the kites attempting to
mob another raptor like shape that was flying rapidly south along the ridge. I
managed to get a very brief look at what I determined must have been a PRAIRIE
FALCON based on:
rapid low flight with constantly beating wings eliminating another harrier,
angular falcon like wings eliminating a buteo, roughly the same size or
slightly larger than the kite eliminating a kestrel and dark
axillaries/"armpits" which eliminated a Peregrine.
I waited around for about 15 minutes hoping for a repeat performance but the
only other thing of note to show up was a single TREE SWALLOW which flew over
the pond heading South.
I then drove down into Santa Cruz, parked at near Natural Bridges and hopped on
my bicycle for a cruise down West Cliff.
Arriving at the end of Woodrow X West Cliff I found a group of about 20
roosting SURFBIRDS but nothing resembling a Rock Sandpiper was among them.
I then recalled David Suddjian's post about the Rock Sandpiper also having been
seen at Black Point so I headed south, asking people for directions along the
way.
I should have studied my map as the ride turned out to be much longer than I
anticipated! However along the way I did get to see a couple of the birding
spots I had only read about including the San Lorenzo river levee trail where I
saw my county first BUFFLEHEADS, Schwan Lake, Seabright Beach, Twin Lakes Beach
etc.
Finally after some searching I found the dirt alley at the end of 16th/Geoffrey
where I made it out to the terrace/Black Point.
The shorebird roost here is very immpressive and I was able to pick up some
more county birds like WILLET (37), SANDERLING (100+) as well as more
Surfbirds, Black Turnstones etc but no Rock Sanpiper.
So it was back on the bike and pedaling all the way to Woodrow and West Cliff
again where around 11:30 a.m. I was finally rewarded with life looks at my
350th California bird, the ROCK SANDPIPER.
The Rock Sandpiper appeared slightly smaller and less chunky than the nearby
Black Turnstones, with gray upperparts and chest that seemed to blend rather
gradually into a whitish belly w/streaked sides. Behaviorally it appeared
quicker and more nible than the turnstones and several times I observed it
chasing off neighboring turnstones or Brewer's Blackbirds that got too close to
it while foraging at the tideline.
Good birding,
Dominik Mosur
_______________________________________________
mbb mailing list
mbb AT lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu
http://lists.pbsci.ucsc.edu/mailman/listinfo/mbb
|