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09 May Friday birds [Todd Newberry ] 9 May Watsonville area ["Jeff Poklen" ] 9 May Gray Whale Ranch ["Scott & Dawn Smithson" ] 09 May Watsonville [Roger Wolfe ] 09 May QH County Park [Jim and Anne Williams ] 9 May more birds from varied spots; Franklin's [] 9 May Big Basin, Dusky Flycatcher and Rock Wren [] 9 May Various Santa Cruz Birds [] 8 May : Elkhorn Slough ["W. Breck Tyler" ] 8 May Moore Creek Preserve [Jeff Wall ] 8 May PIGU at Capitola [Judy Donaldson ] 8 May Terrace Point Seawatch [Kumaran Arul ] 6 May West Cliff [Alexander Gaguine ] 6 May Meder Canyon [Kumaran Arul ] 6 May Re: Pigeon ID [Lois Goldfrank ] 06 May Re: Pigeon ID [Siobhan Ruck ] 06 May Pigeon ID ["Larry Selman" ] 5 May mysteries pigeons [richard lange ] 5 May Dusky Flycatcher, etc. [] 5 May a few on the west side [Lois Goldfrank ] 5 May Wilson's warbler [kathy kuyper ] 4 May SCBS Beginners Walk 5/4/08 ["Phil Brown" ] 4 May Quail Hollow Ranch ["Alex Rinkert" ] 4 May Santa Cruz Co. annual list updated through April [] 3 May Lighthouse Field [Alexander Gaguine ] 3 May Re: Morning at Quail Hollow [Paul Miller ] 03 May Morning at Quail Hollow [Jim and Anne Williams ] 3 May Re: Dippers [Judy Donaldson ] 3 May Dippers [Paul Miller ] 3 May Recent birds (Prairie Falcon, Solitary Sand., Chat, Nashville) [] 3 May Andrew Molera State Park 5/3 [Steve Rovell ] 03 May Big Year count mounts ["Walter L Goldfrank" ] 3 May Ducks and Goose [Paul Miller ] 2 May San Lorenzo- Solitary Sandpiper, etc. [] 02 May Red-throated Loon [Matthew Coale ] 02 May Watsonville/Jetty Rd. [Roger Wolfe ] 2 May Canada Geese [Alexander Gaguine ] 2 May SCBC Moore Ranch Road Trip Tomorrow 7:00 am ["Phil Brown" ] 1 May Hooded Orioles on the rocks [Debra Shearwater ] 1 May VWS/BSOL Birdathon Results [Don Roberson ] 1 May Various Santa Cruz Birds [] 30 Apr Santa Cruz Bird Club Big Year Summer Tripalooza ["Phil Brown" ] 29 Apr Re; pied-billed grebes at Neary Lagoon [Mary Crouser ] 29 Apr Natural Bridges VASW ["Phil Brown" ] 29 Apr Neary Pied-billed grebe chicks [] 29 Apr Sooty Shearwaters? [Paul Miller ] 29 Apr ceder waxwing... [Becky Silva ] 29 Apr Fwd: ceder waxwing... [Becky Silva ] 29 Apr Birding and Wildlife Guide and Maps for SC Co. [Barry McLaughlin ] 28 Apr Rancho Del Oso MGWA ["Phil Brown" ] 27 Apr Merk Rd. in Corralitos ["Heidi Sandkuhle" ] 27 Apr above average Marina migration [Steve Rovell ] Subject: Friday birds From: Todd Newberry <taxa AT biology.ucsc.edu> Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 16:20:19 -0700 Several WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS mingled with swallows along the west ridge at Rancho del Oso this morning, and a splendid male MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER was active along Sapsucker Alley there. Fifteen RED-NECKED and two RED PHALAROPES swam in a farm pond at Hwy 1 & Dimeo (county dump) Rd. Todd Newberry Santa Cruz ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Watsonville area From: "Jeff Poklen" <jpkln AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 16:09:31 -0700
This morning (9 May) Lois and Wally Goldfrank and I birded the Sunset State
Beach entrance area and campground searching for the Lawrence's Goldfinch ..to
no avail at which point Wally left for work. Lois and I continued on, checking
out Watsonville Slough (from the overlook off Lee Road) where we met Jeff Wahl
who had just seen an American Bittern which we all re-found. Our last stop was
College Lake (or what's left of it!).
Highlights:
Slough Sunset State Beach.........WESTERN TANAGER, female
Watsonville Slough at Lee Rd.......AMERICAN BITTERN
2 CASPIAN TERNs
1 CLARK'S GREBE
~6 GREAT-TAILED GRACKLEs
College Lake..............................1 alternate SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHER
with 4 dowitcher sp in prealternate molt.
~8 GREATER YELLOWLEGS
1 alternate WILSON'S PHALAROPE
3 alternate RED-NECKED PHALAROPE
Jeff Poklen
Santa Cruz, CA
----- Original Message -----
From: "Lois Goldfrank"
Subject: Gray Whale RanchFrom: "Scott & Dawn Smithson" <scottndawn AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 15:29:31 -0700 Hello birders, Yesterday's SCBC field trip to Gray Whale Ranch started with misty fog and little visibility but ended with the sun peeking out and waking up the birds a bit. We enjoyed a great walk through some great "edge habitat." Although we did not hear or see Lark or Chipping Sparrows, we did enjoy many other birds, including LAZULI BUNTING, WILSON'S & ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, ALLEN'S HUMMER, HERMIT & SWAINSON'S THRUSH, AND OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER. We heard a few WILD TURKEYS gobbling in a ravine late morning. Surprise birds of the day were two BLACK SWIFTS and at least two WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS with some swallows, allowing great comparisons. The swifts were above Empire Grade Road near the double fence entrance to the Chinquapin Trail just before noon. Good birding, Scott & Selva SmithsonSubject: Watsonville From: Roger Wolfe <rogwolfe AT cruzio.com> Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 15:17:18 -0700 This morning at Watsonville Slough near Lee Rd. in addition to a dozen Red-necked Phalaropes there was a single RED PHALAROPE present. In the very back of the slough there was a WHITE-FACED IBIS. Lingering waterfowl included a single female BUFFLEHEAD and a drake NORTHERN SHOVELER. At the confluence of Watsonville Slough and the Pajaro River there were 2 pair of NORTHERN PINTAIL that eventually paddled into MTY county waters. On the opposite bank of the river (MTY) I was surprised to see a single GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE and a BRANT. Roger over and out ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: QH County Park From: Jim and Anne Williams <jimanne AT cruzio.com> Date: Fri, 09 May 2008 13:47:21 -0700 Observed a KILLDEER at pond's edge and a BULLOCK'S ORIOLE in willows above pond this AM at Quail Hollow County Park. jim w. ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: more birds from varied spots; Franklin's From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 16:38:49 EDT On May 8, after the Big Basin trip, I went up to Locatelli Ranch at the upper end of Empire Grade. This is the area near Eagle Rock up past Jamison Creek Road, with grassland on both sides of the road, just before the public access ends at the entry into the Lockheed facility. I recommend it as an interesting place to visit this time of year, but you have to stay on the road. The site is mentioned at the end of this description of birding along upper Empire Grade: _http://scbirdingguide.org/The%20Mountains/Upper%20Empire%20Grade.htm_ (http://scbirdingguide.org/The%20Mountains/Upper%20Empire%20Grade.htm) Birds in the trees at the road edge included a few cooperative BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS, 1 CASSIN'S VIREO, 1 ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, 2 WESTERN TANAGERS, and a LAZULI BUNTING. A male BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD feeding with cows and some blackbirds was of some interest, as that species seems to be sparse on largely forested Ben Lomond Mountain. Heading back southeast of Empire Grade I stopped near the big viewshed (3.0 miles up from Alba Road), and had nice looks at three singing LAZULI BUNTINGS. A WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE was at the nice viewshed near the top of Alba Road. The remains of Davenport Pier sported 8 active BRANDT'S CORMORANT NESTS with incubating birds, and 6 other nest starts. Swanton Pond (at the Swanton Berry Farm) had 1 RED PHALAROPE and 11 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES, all in gorgeous plumage. And a PINE SISKIN was in the willows there. This morning (May 9) an adult FRANKLIN'S GULL paused at Waddell Creek Beach. It was not there when I arrived for a brief scan, then I looked again and there it was. But within 10 min. it took off continued up the coast. I checked Last Chance Road to see what was going on with the TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS. There were about 220 Trikes present at Last Chance Lagoon and the surrounding grasslands, with females carrying food to nests in the marsh, confirming nesting. As far as I can tell, Trikes failed to nest there the last 2-3 years, so it was nice to have them back, even if the count was low. There is only one other location (Soda Lake) where they have been found nesting in recent years in Santa Cruz County, but it is on private land with no access so I'm not sure of the status of that colony. A pair of WESTERN BLUEBIRDS was also present at Last Chance, with the female seen entering a nest box. Also 16 PINE SISKINS and 1 GRASSHOPPER SPARROW. Seven tardy GOLDEN-CROWNED SPARROWS were in scrub habitat along Swanton Road near Molino Creek. On May 6 I saw two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES at 711 Graham Hill Road, near the entry to the Santa Cruz Water Dept. facility. One of them was carrying a twig, confirming nesting there. At home in Capitola I was surprised to have a PINE SISKIN fly over, as I do not have them in the nesting season. On May 7 I stopped at Sycamore Grove on the San Lorenzo River. There were 2 WESTERN WOOD-PEWEES, and a few WARBLING VIREOS, but no Yellow Warblers. A PILEATED WOODPECKER was calling from just upstream of the grove, sounding like it was in trees right along the river. David Suddjian Capitola **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)Subject: Big Basin, Dusky Flycatcher and Rock Wren From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 16:28:01 EDT A survey at Big Basin on May 7 was not too eventful, as it was cloudy, cool and a bit breezy, but I was pleased to have a decent level of activity by MARBLED MURRELETS, with 39 detections recorded during the dawn flight. (A detection being a visual or auditory encounter with one or more birds...some detections are of the same individuals detected more than once as they fly over the area during a period of time.) A NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL was in the Huckleberry Campground tent cabins area, and another was in the western 1/4 of Blooms Creek Campground. I was back again on May 8, when conditions were similar, but no wind and the birds were more active. Even more MARBLED MURRELET activity this morning, with 58 detections in the dawn flight. This is some of the best activity I've had there over the last 6 years, so this is good stuff. Several other highlights in the Basin itself...A VARIED THRUSH was singing along Hihn-Hammond Road between Blooms Creek Campground and the Pine Mountain Service Road. I flushed a recently fledged juvenile NOR. SAW-WHET OWL in the day use picnic area, about 0.3 mile from the junction with Gazos Creek Road. It still had several down feathers. Great looks as it stared at me from an eyelevel perch just 15 feet way! A RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH was just west of the south end of the picnic area. A PINE SISKIN was in the same place...only the second time I've had this species in the interior region of this park in the nesting season in the last 8 years or so, although they were formerly regular breeders there. Single VAUX'S SWIFTS (same bird twice?) were near the park store and over the Father of the Forest tree. NOR. PYGMY-OWLS were at the south end of the day use picnic area, in the vicinity of the campfire center, at the Father of the Forest, and at the west edge of Blooms Campground. I think these were actually just three individuals in these four areas, but it was hard to sort out. The owl at the Father of the Forest was cool as it was flying back and forth between the Father and the Mother of the Forest...a cool little owl way up at the tops of the biggest trees. Later on May 8 I went up to Ocean View Summit to see if the DUSKY FLYCATCHER was back. One was present in the breeding season in 2006 and 2007, with a May - August stay documented in 2007. Sure enough, he was back on some of his favorite perched, singing away. He was in the shallow swale that is just north of the summit itself. Once I walked as far as the sign for the summit I could hear him right away. He was frequenting some slender pine snags, a tanoak with dead limbs and the top of a youthful Douglas-fir. I've appended directions from last year at the end of this post. The Santa Cruz Bird Club has a field trip on June 9 that will specifically seek this bird at this spot. Later I ended up on North Escape Road and was surprised to find a ROCK WREN on the road and its rocky margin! This was about 0.4 mile down from the north (upper) end of the road, at its junction with Hwy 236 in an area of knobcone pine and chaparral (with rocks). Rock Wren does not reside in that area, so this was surely a migrant. David Suddjian Capitola & The Forest Directions to Dusky Flycatcher: The spot is not hard to get to, but will require a 1.8 mile hike or bike ride. From park HQ (day use fee), take the road (North Escape Road) that leads north from the entrance kiosk, across from the park office & visitor center. Go 0.25 mile, turn left onto Gazos Creek Road, cross the creek and park in the picnic area somewhere near the gate that is a short way ahead. Walk for 1 mile up Gazos Creek Road, then turn right (north) onto Middle Ridge Road. Continue for 0.7 miles on Middle Ridge. The walk is steady uphill, but easy except for a few hundred moderately strenuous yards after you start up Middle Ridge. The road eventually enters a sizable open area of chaparral and knobcone pines, and atop a low ridge in this open area there is a new trail signpost indicating you are at Ocean View Summit (not truly a summit, as the ridge that road is following continues to climb, but there is a view). The bird was close to that sign and just over the low ridge on its north side. It does get warm up there, so an early visit would be wise, and you get to sort through Hermit and Black-throated Gray Warblers on the walk up Middle Ridge. **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)Subject: Various Santa Cruz Birds From: Stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Fri, 9 May 2008 01:07:56 EDT Today a flock of 4 female RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were flying up the coast off West Cliff Drive, getting a little late. Also on the late side was an alternate-plumaged EARED GREBE swimming off West Cliff near Chico Avenue. RED-NECKED PHALAROPES were here and there--about 15 in the Moore Creek lagoon at Natural Bridges Beach, others off the coast, and one at Antonelli Pond. A WESTERN KINGBIRD was in the brushy meadow in the north central part of Natural Bridges. About 10 VAUX'S SWIFTS were over the eastern part of the park. A female duck with eleven young in Moore Creek just up from the lagoon was interesting. It appeared to be some sort of hybrid, though almost certainly part Mallard. It basically looked like a Mallard, but was smaller, darker, all-gray billed, and showed some differences in face and wing patterns, etc. It also had a higher-pitched quack than the familiar female Mallard call. There was a male duck in this area last year that showed features of a Mallard X Cinnamon Teal, and I think this bird may be either an offspring or a sibling of that duck (I'll post some photos and analysis later.) An OSPREY flew over Antonelli Pond. Yesterday (May 7) a TREE SWALLOW entered one of the nest boxes at Neary Lagoon, remaining there, suggesting it might be incubating eggs now. A flock of 14 WHIMBRELS flew over the lagoon. Tuesday (May 6) there was a flock of about 55 WHIMBRELS flying up the coast off Lighthouse Field, the largest flock I have seen this spring. An alternate plumaged WANDERING TATTLER was east of Woodrow, the only spring migrant I have seen so far this year. A faded first-cycle HERRING GULL was on the rocks near Columbia Street, with a group of mostly Western Gulls. Steve Gerow **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001) ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: : Elkhorn Slough From: "W. Breck Tyler" <ospr AT ucsc.edu> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 17:36:39 -0700 This morning a group of us paddled upper-middle Elkhorn Slough and found quite a good variety of waterbirds, 33 species, many in exquisite breeding plumage. Highlights were 10+ COMMON LOONS (2 in full alternate plumage), 12 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS feeding, 1 OSPREY, 2 RUDDY TURNSTONES (full alternate plumage), 2 RED KNOTS (1 alternate, 1 basic), and 2 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES (alternate). Full list below. Breck Tyler and Martha Brown Santa Cruz Common Loon 10+ Pacific Loon 1-2 Clark's Grebe 3 ( and 10+ unidentified grebe) American White Pelican 12 Double-crested Cormorant 20+ Pelagic Cormorant 4 Brandt's Cormorant 1 Snowy Egret 5+ Great Egret 15+ Great Blue Heron 3 Canada Goose 10+ Mallard 8 Surf Scoter 3 (females) Turkey Vulture 8 Red-tailed Hawk 3 Northern Harrier 1 male Osprey 1 Killdeer 3 Semipalmated Plover 2 Black-bellied Plover 5 American Avocet 4 Black-necked Stilt 6 Long-billed Curlew 1 Whimbrel 15 Marbled Godwit 100+ Willet 25+ Ruddy Turnstone 2 Dunlin 30+ Western Sandpiper 40+ Least Sandpiper 1 Red Knot 2 Short-billed Dowitcher 2 Red-necked Phalarope 2 Western Gull 10 Caspian Tern 10 Forster's Tern 6 Barn Swallow 100+ ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Moore Creek Preserve From: Jeff Wall <jhwall AT hotmail.com> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 22:06:22 +0000 After oversleeping the start of the SCBC Gray Whale trip I drove up to Moore Creek Preserve. Despite the heavy overcast and poor light I had a pretty good morning. 2 Grasshopper Sparrows 2 Savannah Sparrows 2 Cassin's Vireos 2 Hutton's Vireos 3 Western Wood Pewees 4 Western Kingbirds 2 Hutton's Vireos 1 Olive-sided Flycatcher 1 Ash-throated Flycatcher 3 Pacific-slope Flycatchers plus lots of more common birds. At Younger Lagoon there was a pair of Gadwall, a Bonaparte's Gull, and 75-100 Red-necked Phalaropes. From Terrace Point there was a steady trickle of Pacific Loons, and 2 small flocks of Brant in about 15 minutes of fighting the wind. Didn't have my scope. Jeff Wall Soquel ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: PIGU at Capitola From: Judy Donaldson <calqua AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 11:35:50 -0700 (PDT) Yesterday morning was the first time I'd seen a PIGEON GUILLEMOT (1 adult) near the Capitola Wharf. A COMMON LOON in breeding plumage is hanging around the same area. The young Bushtits have fledged from a nest that was (and still is) hanging above the path along Soquel Creek upstream from the trestle. I saw them out one morning last week with the adults. Hard to count them, as they moved around so fast, but I'd say there were 3-4 youngsters, at the most. Judy Donaldson ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Terrace Point Seawatch From: Kumaran Arul <kumaranarul AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 8 May 2008 11:01:59 -0700 The winds the last days had me itching to get out to the ocean. I finally got out to Terrace Point at 5pm yesterday and as in the past, I've found late afternoon/evening to be surprisingly productive when the winds pick up. The little shed at the overlook was an adequate wind break. Birds were all over the ocean--too many things to look at (!), but the wind made it a bit difficult. Seawatch, 5-7pm from Terrace Point, Santa Cruz, Wednesday 5/7/08: -Loons (95% were Pacific about 85% of these in alternate plumage-- they were flying by in fairly regular medium sized groups--- as the wind died down towards the end, the Pacifics were flying high above the water like Commons often are--beautiful sight). -SOOTY SHEARWATER (small groups flying around fairly far out, with occasional stragglers closer in--some *nice* arcing flight--no large masses seen---some show worn or molting feathers with white visible on top of wing (like Fulmar)). -Surf Scoters (a few stragglers flying and a flock of (40) on water near the point) -BRANT (one flock of 13 high above water) -BLACK LEGGED KITTIWAKE (loose flock of 5 birds passed by mid way out--one 1st year) -Bonaparte's Gull (11) -California Gulls (were passing by in occasional large groups close to the point--large proportion of young birds) -Glaucous Winged Gull (4) -Herring Gull (2) -Forster's Tern (9) -Caspian Tern (3) -Common Murre (small flocks were steadily flying by the whole time I was there, with others sitting on the water--all were in alternate plumage). -Rhino Auklet (2) -CASSIN'S AUKLET (1) (this bird I saw quite close in as it flew and then landed-- I watched it in the swells for about five minutes-- relatively slower wingbeats, very rounded shape with very little head projection and small size--in moderate light appeared all dark). -RED NECKED PHALAROPE (large movement today (see bayside reports in the last days, too). They were streaming by almost constantly close to the water in mobile (flexible looking) flocks mid way and further out--up to 150 in flock. A few flew closer in and were on the water. At YOUNGER LAGOON just after the seawatch, about (50) were bobbing around (with (2) GADWALL). -RUDDY TURNSTONE (I caught a nice flock of 5 birds close in for beautiful views of the black on the neck and the striking back pattern and colors.) First time I've seen more than one at a time in SCZ (!) -Dowitcher (flock of 13 birds) -Peeps (flock of 7--didn't get a good look). -Black Oystercatcher (3) flying up coast. -Harbor Porpoise (2) Also singing coastal White Crowned Sparrow and Cowbird were heard at the point. (4) VAUX'S SWIFTS were flying around Westlake Pond earlier in the day. Kumaran Arul ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: West Cliff From: Alexander Gaguine <gaguine AT baymoon.com> Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 23:10:06 -0700 Five SANDERLINGS and a WESTERN SANDPIPER were foraging on a small pocket beach near Swift St. yesterday, and a tight flock of 50 SURF SCOTERS were resting on the water. Alexander ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Meder Canyon From: Kumaran Arul <kumaranarul AT earthlink.net> Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 22:19:04 -0700 A MERLIN flew around and then perched in a Doug fir in Meder Canyon this morning. Some returning breeders and migrants were in evidence. A Western Tanager was singing, Wilson's and Orange Crowned Warblers were in various spots. My first Meder Canyon Swainson's Thrush of the year was singing. Other birds included Olive Sided and Pacific Slope Flycatchers, Hooded Orioles in usual palms, Ca. Thrasher nesting, Black Headed Grosbeak and Allen's Hummer nests were seen. Band Tailed Pigeons have been rather numerous recently. Three belated reports: I saw (5) Caspian Terns fly over at Broadway and Ocean in the city of Santa Cruz last Friday. Earlier that day a neat sight was a large flock of Cedar Waxwings in the area around Escalona and Bay taking off together (~300). Also a Yellow Warbler was at Quail Hollow pond on Sunday. Kumaran Arul ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Re: Pigeon ID From: Lois Goldfrank <loisg AT cruzio.com> Date: Tue, 6 May 2008 21:04:53 -0700 I think they may be Roller Pigeons , a breed of domestic pigeon. I remembered there was a parent at my school that raised them, and when I googled them , I came up with several photos that looked like what we saw today at NB. Lois Goldfrank On May 6, 2008, at 6:13 PM, Larry Selman wrote: > Here is a photo of one Richards pigeons taken with a point and > shoot. Very friendly birds. > > http://Mostlybirds.com/archive%20recent%202008/ > > Any ideas? > > "Does anyone have information about the small flock of > PIGEONS that have been hanging around the stand of > pines just to the west of the back entrance of Natural > Bridges? They vaguely resemble ROCK DOVES, but have a > wide pale orange eye ring and lighter beaks than any > ROCK DOVES I've ever seen. They also show a > reluctance to settle on the ground, seeming to prefer > the pine branches, which seems rather un-ROCK-DOVE > like. Thanks. Richard." >Subject: Re: Pigeon ID From: Siobhan Ruck <siobhanruck AT mindspring.com> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 20:26:17 -0700 It's a variation of rock dove. Don't know if it's a specific breed, or if it's a hybrid between the normal wild ones and a special breed, but it is a rock dove. It looks like it might be a young bird. The short bill is reminiscent of owl pigeons, and I think they have big eye rings, too. Try googling images of "owl pigeons" Siobhan Ruck, SF Larry Selman wrote: > Here is a photo of one Richards pigeons taken with a point and shoot. > Very friendly birds. > > http://Mostlybirds.com/archive%20recent%202008/ > > Any ideas? > > "Does anyone have information about the small flock of > PIGEONS that have been hanging around the stand of > pines just to the west of the back entrance of Natural > Bridges? They vaguely resemble ROCK DOVES, but have a > wide pale orange eye ring and lighter beaks than any > ROCK DOVES I've ever seen. They also show a > reluctance to settle on the ground, seeming to prefer > the pine branches, which seems rather un-ROCK-DOVE > like. Thanks. Richard." > s ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Pigeon ID From: "Larry Selman" <lselman AT got.net> Date: Tue, 06 May 2008 18:13:45 -0700 Here is a photo of one Richards pigeons taken with a point and shoot. Very friendly birds. http://Mostlybirds.com/archive%20recent%202008/ Any ideas? "Does anyone have information about the small flock of PIGEONS that have been hanging around the stand of pines just to the west of the back entrance of Natural Bridges? They vaguely resemble ROCK DOVES, but have a wide pale orange eye ring and lighter beaks than any ROCK DOVES I've ever seen. They also show a reluctance to settle on the ground, seeming to prefer the pine branches, which seems rather un-ROCK-DOVE like. Thanks. Richard."Subject: mysteries pigeons From: richard lange <richardmlange AT yahoo.com> Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 23:04:06 -0700 (PDT) Does anyone have information about the small flock of PIGEONS that have been hanging around the stand of pines just to the west of the back entrance of Natural Bridges? They vaguely resemble ROCK DOVES, but have a wide pale orange eye ring and lighter beaks than any ROCK DOVES I've ever seen. They also show a reluctance to settle on the ground, seeming to prefer the pine branches, which seems rather un-ROCK-DOVE like. Thanks. Richard. ____________________________________________________________________________________ Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all with Yahoo! Mobile. Try it now. http://mobile.yahoo.com/;_ylt=Ahu06i62sR8HDtDypao8Wcj9tAcJ ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Dusky Flycatcher, etc. From: Stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 22:33:53 EDT A DUSKY FLYCATCHER was at Natural Bridges today, working through the small trees and scrub in the southwest portion of the brushy meadow north of the park headquarters buildings (north and a bit east of the compost area). It was mostly foraging around an area that has a small coast live oak and a small pine growing among coffeeberries and coyote brush, and seemed to prefer the oak, though it was wandering around the area. It was giving "whit" calls fairly regularly, but getting clear views was not easy, but I was finally able to see it well enough to confirm the identification (narrow bill with a lower mandible that was over half dark, long-tailed and smallish headed proportions, fairly short primary projection, light gray throat that didn't contrast much with the medium gray face, more pronounced white loral spot than most empids, upward tail flicking, etc.) I did manage to get one photo, not great but it shows the lower mandible and the face and throat, etc: _http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2986201900077220537xfxdLw_ (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2986201900077220537xfxdLw) The Dusky several times got into conflicts with one of the local pairs of PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS, which have a territory near the compost area. A migrant WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE was also in the area, as well as a couple of WESTERN TANAGERS, etc. Two WESTERN KINGBIRDS stopped briefly at Terrace Point. Younger Lagoon had a pair of GADWALLS and 6 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES. Natural Bridges Beach had 7 SANDERLINGS (more or less in alternate plumage) and a WHIMBREL. More BRANDT'S CORMORANT nests were underway at the Natural Bridges colony, with a total of 25 nests under construction (22 on the ledge by the entrance gate, 1 on the narrow ledge to the east of the small beach there, and 2 on the natural bridge). A RED-BREASTED MERGANSER was lingering along West Cliff Near Woodrow. Steve Gerow **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001) ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: a few on the west side From: Lois Goldfrank <loisg AT cruzio.com> Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 17:52:08 -0700 Back from a couple of weeks on grandma duty, I checked out a few places to see what was around. First, yesterday, Wally and I tried unsuccessfully for the Solitary Sandpiper along the San Lorenzo . One lingering adult MEW GULL was with a couple of Westerns at the river mouth , a WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE was at the other end near the Water St. bridge. Otherwise we saw many of the same birds that Steve reported Friday including a very spotted SPOTTED SANDPIPER and one in basic plumage - quite a contrast. Today Younger Lagoon had 4 RED-NECKED PHALAROPES , and a VAUX'S SWIFT among three types of swallows. At the Arboretum, the best find was a gorgeous, big muscular BOBCAT dragging a ground squirrel by its nape across the big field in the back. Two WANDERING TATTLERS were on the cliffs near Woodrow this afternoon. At least 250 loons passed by in small groups as I was walking with a friend, mostly Pacific as far as I could tell without actually stopping to look each time. The only other shorebirds I noticed were one Sanderling and one Black Oystercatcher. Lois Goldfrank ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Wilson's warbler From: kathy kuyper <chswift AT hotmail.com> Date: Mon, 5 May 2008 15:01:08 +0000 Thanks to our fearless and patient leaders on the Saturday bird club hike, it only took a couple of seconds for me to recognize by sound the Wilson's warbler working its way down Soquel Creek this morning! Thanks again to Wally, Todd & Phil (for waiting, especially). Kathy Kuyper _________________________________________________________________ Make Windows Vista more reliable and secure with Windows Vista Service Pack 1. http://www.windowsvista.com/SP1?WT.mc_id=hotmailvistasp1bannerSubject: SCBS Beginners Walk 5/4/08 From: "Phil Brown" <pdpbrown AT gmail.com> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 19:49:22 -0700 A small group of birders met at Natural Bridges this morning. We went down the boardwalk on the North side hoping for migrants but found a huge flock of Cedar Waxwings instead. Over the pond at Moore Creek was another large flock, this time Swallows, which was mostly Cliff, with a few Barn and Violet Green thrown in. They were all flying within a few feet of us, a mesmerizing spectacle that was hard to tear ourselves away from. Mixed in were at least half a dozen Vaux's Swifts, twinkling amongst the swallows. Activity was generally very good, with Nuthatches, Allen's Hummers and Chickadees all appearing to be nesting. We got good looks at an Oak Titmouse, a Common Yellowthroat, A Wilson's Warbler, a Pacific-Slope Flycatcher, an Olive-Sided Flycatcher, a Downy Woodpecker, and heard Western Tanager and Hooded Oriole. We had a complete beginner with us, who's delight in the Hummingbirds alone made the walk worthwhile. Thanks to Emeline, and all who joined us for a very enjoyable morning. We had over 50 species by my count. Phil BrownSubject: Quail Hollow Ranch From: "Alex Rinkert" <arinkert12 AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 15:55:35 -0700 I went to Quail Hollow Ranch this morning to look for the Spotted Sandpiper, but disappointingly , it wasn't there. On the Sunset Trail, there was a WESTERN TANAGER and farther up the trail was a female COOPER'S HAWK (holding a small mouse) perched on a limb. Walking back down, I saw a HUTTON'S VIREO feeding it's begging young and heard a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER. Later, on the Discovery Loop, 13 CALIFORNIA GULLS flew by and closely behind them were 23 COMMON RAVENS and an AMERICAN CROW. Alex Rinkert Ben LomondSubject: Santa Cruz Co. annual list updated through April From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com Date: Sun, 4 May 2008 10:56:06 EDT The collective annual list for Santa Cruz County has been updated through April 30: _http://santacruzbirdclub.org/annual%20list.html_ (http://santacruzbirdclub.org/annual%20list.html) Thank you Barry for posting the update. David Suddjian **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)Subject: Lighthouse Field From: Alexander Gaguine <gaguine AT baymoon.com> Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 21:10:39 -0700 This afternoon in the interior of Lighthouse Field a CASPIAN TERN flew directly over a perched OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER - I liked that combo! A WESTERN WOOD-PEEWEE was nearby. Alexander ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Re: Morning at Quail Hollow From: Paul Miller <paulbug AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 19:49:04 -0700 (PDT) Before going to Mount Hermon, my son and I stopped at Quail Hollow. I pulled over to show him the WESTERN BLUEBIRDS. They were both there. This was at about 330 pm. Paul Miller Jim and Anne WilliamsSubject: Morning at Quail Hollow From: Jim and Anne Williams <jimanne AT cruzio.com> Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 19:25:57 -0700 Pond at Quail Hollow County Park hard a SPOTTED SANDPIPER and a RING-NECKED DUCK this AM. WESTERN BLUEBIRDS were on the fence line at the lower meadow at 7:30. County worker decided to mow the meadow later in the AM. Did not see bluebirds after the mowing. ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Re: Dippers From: Judy Donaldson <calqua AT sbcglobal.net> Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 19:30:08 -0700 (PDT) --- Paul MillerSubject: Dippers From: Paul Miller <paulbug AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 18:55:03 -0700 (PDT) While showing my son a good time at the creek, I noted 2 fledgling AMERICAN
DIPPERS being fed by mom/dad at the confluence of Zayante and Bean Creeks in
Mount Hermon.
Quite entertaining were their constant bobbing gyrations.
They all started bobbing in sync when I began playing Credence Clearwater
Revival at max volume on my Ipod.
Paul Miller
Scotts Valley
---------------------------------
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Subject: Recent birds (Prairie Falcon, Solitary Sand., Chat, Nashville)From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 19:36:47 EDT I visited College Lake early this morning (5/3). Overcast conditions made for good viewing. Shorebirds were fairly numerous, but most were out in the middle of the lake bed. A highlight was a breeding plumaged SOLITARY SANDPIPER. Tallies of other shorebirds were 91 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, 6 KILLDEER, 14 AM. AVOCETS, 2 BLACK-NECKED STILTS, 13 GR. YELLOWLEGS, 18 (!) SPOTTED SANDPIPERS (all in one loose flock), 1 WHIMBREL, ~75 WESTERN SANDPIPERS, ~110 LEAST SANDPIPERS, 62 DUNLIN (spectacular with their black bellies), and 16 SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS. I did not see any phalaropes. I had a nice opportunity to tally the shorebirds before all were set to flight by an unexpected PRAIRIE FALCON that came in from the east and made a wide sweeping patrol around the whole lake area, throwing many of the birds into a tizzy. It perched briefly on one of the power towers and then exited full tilt toward the south. There are few spring records for that species in Santa Cruz County. Egrets were abundant, attracted by the concentration of food in the drying lake. I counted 79 GREAT EGRETS, 53 SNOWY EGRETS, and 11 GREAT BLUE HERONS. Nine WHITE-FACED IBIS flew in from the west and joined a large group of egrets in the northwest arm of the lake. Ducks are dropping in number, with little variety. The male COMMON MERGANSER was still there. Otherwise it was just 1 CANADA GOOSE, ~45 MALLARDS, 18 GADWALL, and 4 RUDDY DUCKS. One PIED-BILLED GREBE was lingering, ~50 AM. COOTS, and a COOPER'S HAWK flew over. About 400 swallows were 98% CLIFF SWALLOWS. I went to Pinto Lake County Park to look at the cormorant/heron rookery. It had 38 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT nests, 5 GREAT BLUE HERON nests, and 12 GREAT EGRET nests. The latter is a high nest count for the county. There were 3 pairs of COMMON MOORHENS in the arm of the lake that is on the left as you approach the rookery. They were doing lots of calling, and I realized it had been a long time since I've listened to moorhens in the spring. Their calls strike me as an interesting mix of Sora x Cooper's Hawk, with a sora-like pattern and a Cooper's kekking quality. An AM. BITTERN called from the marsh. A NASHVILLE WARBLER was singing about 2/3 of the way out the path to the rookery. I watched an adult EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVE fly into a redwood near the parking lot and saw it go to its nest with two young! I stopped at Merk Road to check on the WESTERN BLUEBIRDS. The male bluebird was near the nest box and foraging in the area, but I did not see the female. Maybe she was sitting in the box on a nest? A YELLOW-BREASTED CHAT sang from a poison oak - nettle thicket. A PINE SISKIN flew over. Yesterday (5/2) was another good flight day for CASPIAN TERNS passing over my Capitola neighborhood, heading north into the trans-mountain flyway. I tallied 91 during the morning, most in loud groups of 8-20 birds. A WESTERN GULL flew over carrying a robust bill-full of grasses. It was headed toward the 41st Avenue nesting areas, about a mile away. On 4/30 an early morning seawatch at El Jarro Point (near Davenport Landing) had many of the expected species, but not too much of note. RED-BREASTED MERGANSERS were plentiful, with 29 passing in under two hours. There were just 4 males. Also noted were 2 LONG-BILLED CURLEWS, several DUNLIN and other shorebirds, a MERLIN (perhaps the same as there on 4/23), 1 RHINO AUKLET, and lots of MURRES. I was surprised to see a GREEN HERON fly over the coastal fields and drop down onto the rocky reef at the point. Several SAVANNAH SPARROW were singing at the point. Back at Davenport Landing there were 4-5 PINE SISKINS, including one feeding on the road. A check of the confluence of Struve and Watsonville Sloughs on 4/30 produced the continuing male REDHEAD swimming at the flooded section of Lee Road. With reports over the last few weeks variously of a lone male or a pair, I wonder if there are three Redheads there in total? Either way, they are unusual in spring in SCZ. There were also 2 WHITE-FACED IBIS at Struve, 14 AM. WHITE PELICANS lifting up from Watsonville Slough and drifting off elsewhere, 1 calling AM. BITTERN at Struve, 1 female BUFFLEHEAD at Watsonville, and some 15-20 CANADA GEESE in the area. There were at least 8 male and 7 female GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES. Nesting was confirmed at the confluence of the two sloughs, where 2-3 different females were repeatedly carrying food into the marsh vegetation. A BULLOCK'S ORIOLE continued at the south side of the flooded section of Lee Road. A VAUX'S SWIFT was over Watsonville Slough. A look at College Lake on 4/30 produced many of the same species noted above for 5/3, but smaller numbers of shorebirds and egrets. There was 1 breeding-plumaged WHITE-FACED IBIS, 3 WESTERN GREBES (rare there in spring), ~20 GREAT EGRETS, 12 AM. AVOCETS, ~50 SEMIPALMATED PLOVERS, ~10 GR. YELLOWLEGS, and 1 imm. BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON. Lastly, on 4/28 there were 6 CANADA GEESE at Corcoran Lagoon. David Suddjian Capitola **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001)Subject: Andrew Molera State Park 5/3 From: Steve Rovell <tapaculo AT comcast.net> Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 16:07:13 -0700 Hi Birders - I led a bird walk down at Andrew Molera SP this morning for a group down from Marin. While it was pretty dreary here in the Monterey Bay, it was sunny down in Big Sur. However, sometimes with the sun comes wind, and there was plenty of it. This made it particularly hard to see birds. Hearing them was the rule of the morning. A partial list of what we saw (and heard) follows: Barn and Cliff Swallows (seen) White-throated and Vaux's Swifts (seen) Purple Martin (seen) Bewick's and House Wrens (seen) Black-headed Grosbeak (heard) Western Tanager (seen) Rufous, Allen's and Anna's Hummingbirds (seen) Wilson's (seen), Yellow-rumped (seen) and Orange-crowned Warblers (heard) Yellow-breasted Chat (heard) Cassin's, Hutton's and Warbling Vireos (heard) Green Heron (seen) Belted Kingfisher (seen) Spotted Sandpiper (seen) late Golden-crowned Sparrows (3) (seen) Lazuli Bunting (heard) Pacific-slope Flycatcher (seen) Cedar Waxwing (seen) Common Merganser (seen) The birds weren't the most interesting sighting of the day, though. While birding the gravel bar along the Big Sur River, we encountered a young, sick ELEPHANT SEAL. It was well up river, just lying in shallow water. It just so happened that two of the participants on the bird walk worked/volunteered for a marine mammal rescue and recovery center up in Marin. The rest of the walk was dedicated to making sure this sick animal got the care it needed. Steve Rovell Marina ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Big Year count mounts From: "Walter L Goldfrank" <wally AT ucsc.edu> Date: Sat, 03 May 2008 13:12:37 -0800 May 3, half-day club trip to Moore Ranch Road
Ten birders spent all or some of the morning
exploring the grasslands and forest of Moore
Ranch Road on the near north coast. The
highlight had to have been three WESTERN
KINGBIRDS, new for the Big Year count.
Everyone had splendid views. Also on the
grassland portion of the walk were SAVANNAH
and (mostly heard) GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS, BLACK-
SHOULDERED KITE (performing a dazzling stoop),
a single RED-THROATED LOON flyover,
VAUX'S SWIFT, COMMON RAVEN, BAND-TAILED PIGEONS
(seen again in the forest), CALIFORNIA & WESTERN
GULLS (heading to & from the dump), scads of
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRDS (the bi-colored race),
RED-TAILED HAWKS (including a super display
dive), TURKEY VULTURES, and CLIFF, BARN, and
VIOLET-GREEN SWALLOWS.
In the scrub below and above the benchlands, we
noted ANNA'S and ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS, PURPLE FINCH,
CALIF TOWHEE, WRENTIT, W SCRUB JAY, and many
many SONG SPARROWS.
At the forest edge we observed ORANGE-CROWNED, WILSON'S
and BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK,
WARBLING VIREO, PAC SLOPE FLYCATCHER, LESSER GOLDFRINCH,
and SWAINSON'S THRUSH--some of this observation auditory
only.
And inside the forest the ears had it all over the
eyes, though we did see CHESTNUT-BACKED CHICKADEE,
HUTTON'S VIREO, AMERICAN ROBIN, STELLER'S JAY, BUSHTIT,
MOURNING DOVE, WINTER WREN, and DARK-EYED JUNCO. Also
heard were CALIFORNIA QUAIL and ACORN & HAIRY
WOODPECKERS.
Most participants had not previously experienced this
lovely walk, about a four-mile round trip, and all
expressed delight in learning about it. Special thanks
to Phil Brown for waiting for late arrivals--there
had been some confusion about the start time--and for
first spotting the kingbirds, and to Todd Newberry for
agreeing to co-lead this trip when Lois's grandparental
calling necessitated an unexpectedly long East Coast
sojourn.
Wally Goldfrank
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Subject: Ducks and GooseFrom: Paul Miller <paulbug AT yahoo.com> Date: Sat, 3 May 2008 13:35:54 -0700 (PDT) Kismet the CANADA GOOSE was at the Kismet Lane pond along Glen Canyon today,
along with 2 male WOOD DUCKS.
I couldn't locate the Solitary Sandpiper today.
4 WESTERN SANDPIPERS were with several SANDERLINGS at Natural Bridges this am.
Paul Miller
Scotts Valley
---------------------------------
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Subject: San Lorenzo- Solitary Sandpiper, etc.From: Stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 18:29:06 EDT Today's Santa Cruz Bird Club field trip along the San Lorenzo River got off to a good start this morning. Just a few minutes after starting out, we were scanning from the footbridge across the river by San Lorenzo Park, and a shorebird flew in showing solid dark wings and upperparts (except some white on the sides of the tail), giving a "pit-Weet!" call once in flight- a SOLITARY SANDPIPER. It worked its way around the stretch of river between the footbridge and the Water Street bridge, foraging on various sandbars and muddy banks, and sometimes remaining long enough to give us some good studies. For a while it was feeding only a few feet away from a SPOTTED SANDPIPER, for a nice comparison. The only other shorebirds on the river today were several KILLDEER (a couple of agitated pairs were almost certainly nesting in the area), and a few LEAST SANDPIPERS. A pair of AMERICAN KESTRELS appeared to be nesting in a hole in a building between Water Street and Highway 1. The Water Street bridge provided a means for close views from above of NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED and CLIFF SWALLOWS nesting on (or in, in the case of the Rough-wings) the bridges. The lower stretch of the river (from just above Riverside down) had 60 or more BONAPARTE'S GULLS, about a quarter to a third of them black-headed adults. The larger gulls in this area included at least two lingering HERRING GULLS, plus a couple of almost white GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULLS. Seven CASPIAN TERNS were in this area. A surprise was a MERLIN (female columbarius type) that swooped through the swallows foraging in this area, getting quite late. On the way back a couple of VAUX'S SWIFTS joined a the swallow flock. A bird giving "buzz" calls between Riverside and Broadway was some sort of Passerina--probably a Lazuli Bunting, but we never had a look at it. Another single buzz north of Water Street was possibly another one of these, but both remained unidentified. Among the river "usuals" were about 10 COMMON MERGANSERS. A GREEN HERON flew down the river below Soquel Avenue. There were 2-3 adult BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS near San Lorenzo Park, plus a couple each SNOWY EGRETS and GREAT BLUE HERONS, and a variety of other expected species. Steve Gerow **************Wondering what's for Dinner Tonight? Get new twists on family favorites at AOL Food. (http://food.aol.com/dinner-tonight?NCID=aolfod00030000000001) ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Red-throated Loon From: Matthew Coale <mco AT cruzio.com> Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 12:50:32 -0700 There was been a RT LOON in the Harbor for the last couple of days. Good views of breeding plumage close by. It has been seen on the west side ( Aldos side) of the harbor with some western or Clark's GREEBS,some doing courtship displays. Lately they have been seen between F dock and A dock. Matthew Coale Santa Cruz ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Watsonville/Jetty Rd. From: Roger Wolfe <rogwolfe AT cruzio.com> Date: Fri, 02 May 2008 11:48:03 -0700 College Lake is more like a big puddle presently. Lots of egrets, herons and cormorants taking advantage of the rapidly dropping water level. On the surrounding mudflats that will soon be ag fields there were a quite a few shorebirds. Notable were 4 WILSON'S PHALAROPES, a LESSER YELLOWLEGS and 3 WHITE-FACED IBIS. There was a drake COMMON MERGANSER near the outflow. Birders should be aware that it is the seasonal quality of this lake that makes it so appealing to birds. Efforts by the city of Watsonville to excavate it to make it deeper and thus a year round lake would be bad for birds and boring for birders! Down the road at Watsonville Slough there was a REDHEAD pair up quite close to the back of the industrial park. Other lingering waterfowl included 2 female BUFFLEHEADS and 2 pair of LESSER SCAUP, a swimming MUSKRAT and 7 AMERICAN WHITE PELICANS. There were even more pelicans at Pajaro Dunes (25) and 40 more in the middle of the Pajaro River channel. Another WHITE-FACED IBIS was at the little corner of mud where Watsonville Slough and the river meet just inside SCZ county. BOTTLENOSE DOLPHINS were just outside the surfline. Nice to see that the river mouth has shifted to the north. That makes the walk to it quite a bit shorter than it has been for a few years. Over on the north side of Jetty Rd. there were 10 very snappy looking RUDDY TURNSTONES and 2 pre-alternate RED KNOT. Roger over and out ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Canada Geese From: Alexander Gaguine <gaguine AT baymoon.com> Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 11:23:32 -0700 Five noisy Canada Geese flew north over the fields at Terrace Point this morning. Alexander ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: SCBC Moore Ranch Road Trip Tomorrow 7:00 am From: "Phil Brown" <pdpbrown AT gmail.com> Date: Fri, 2 May 2008 11:13:36 -0700 Just a reminder that the entry in the Albatross is incorrect. The correct meeting time is *7:00* am at Beckmann's Bakery on Mission, not 7:30. Thanks, PhilSubject: Hooded Orioles on the rocks From: Debra Shearwater <debiluv AT earthlink.net> Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 21:09:08 -0700 Hi, all, I was delighted to watch a female HOODED ORIOLE at my birdbath this afternoon. While I was away on a month-long voyage that began in Antarctica, some friends who stayed at my home added rocks to my dripping birdbath. The ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRDS now bath on the rocks. I was surprised to see a LINCOLN'S SPARROW on April 25th, also there. This is the latest spring date that I know of for SBT County. I can't be certain if it was a migrant, or the one that spent the winter in my yard. On a sad note: it appears that the very successful breeding BALD EAGLES have abandoned their nest this year. The nest looks as though it was built up and used, as there is white wash. I don't know if chicks perished, or if an adult somehow died, but I fear the worst. This unique pair preyed mostly on ground squirrels. Glad to be home in Hollister, Debi Debra Shearwater Shearwater Journeys, Inc. PO Box 190 Hollister, CA 95024 831.637.8527 debi AT shearwaterjourneys.com www.shearwaterjourneys.com *Antarctica, South Georgia, & The Falkland Islands, January 5-24, 2010* Shearwater Journeys' Exclusive CharterSubject: VWS/BSOL Birdathon Results From: Don Roberson <creagrus AT montereybay.com> Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 19:11:14 -0700 Full results of the 15th annual BSOL birdathon, and the sixth in the current 'cooperative Big Day' format, conducted last weekend, are now available at http://montereybay.com/creagrus/birdathon08.html The page includes photos of birds and birders from the day [thanks in part to Brian Sullivan & Chris Hartzell]; a summary of highlights; and a complete birdathon checklist. This year's birdathon format also includes expanded time to do your own day and help raise funds for Big Sur Ornithology Lab, and a gala evening in July; find the link on my birdathon page for more details. Don Roberson Pacific Grove CA ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Various Santa Cruz Birds From: Stephengerow AT aol.com Date: Thu, 1 May 2008 12:18:27 EDT Yesterday (April 30) BRANDT'S CORMORANTS were finally starting to build nests on the cliff ledges by the West Cliff entrance to Natural Bridges. This is the first nesting effort I have seen there this year since an attempt in February (which was quickly abandoned.) There were at least three just-started nests on the wide shelf that held most of the colony last year, plus one more-complete nest on a small ledge on the steep cliff to the east of the little beach (a regular spot for years). Other pairs were around and displaying on the ledges there, as well as on the natural bridge. Also yesterday, there were some larger-than-usual concentrations of birds in the waters along West Cliff, maybe due to the windy weather. Mitchell's Cove had a big grebe flock, including 73 WESTERN and 3 CLARK'S GREBES in very close, and 1 PACIFIC and 4 RED-THROATED LOONS in with them. There was also the most COMMON MURRE activity I have seen in a long time off West Cliff, with well over 200 birds. The murre flocks would stop and swim for a while, then move on westward--it looked like they were migrating, but it may have been more likely birds blown into the bay working their way back out to more offshore waters. The flow of migrant flocks picked up after about 10 AM, mostly PACIFIC LOONS (with some COMMON and a few RED-THROATED), but also still quite a few SURF SCOTER flocks. Other things included a female RED-BREASTED MERGANSER off Stockton Avenue, and a male GADWALL that landed on the ocean off Natural Bridges Beach. Close to 50 BROWN PELICANS were around Natural Bridges; their numbers have been gradually increasing over the last month. A flock of 20-25 VAUX'S SWIFTS (with some swallows mixed in) were working up and down the West Cliff coast between Getchell and Stockton. Tuesday (April 29), Sarah Underwood and I saw a WESTERN KINGBIRD stop briefly at Neary Lagoon. Tuesday evening, two large BRANT flocks (one of about 50 birds, the other at least 60) flew up the coast off West Cliff and Woodrow near dusk. Steve Gerow **************Need a new ride? Check out the largest site for U.S. used car listings at AOL Autos. (http://autos.aol.com/used?NCID=aolcmp00300000002851) ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Santa Cruz Bird Club Big Year Summer Tripalooza From: "Phil Brown" <pdpbrown AT gmail.com> Date: Wed, 30 Apr 2008 11:03:44 -0700 Hi Fellow Birders. As the new Field Trip Co-ordinator for the Bird Club I had the somewhat overwhelming task of arranging the trips for this summer. Normally the club has a couple of trips at most in the summer months, but due to the Big Year we have over 40 for the months of May, June, July and August. Here is a link to the Big Year page on the Club Website. http://www.santacruzbirdclub.org/The_Big_Year.html As you can see we have started well, and have well over 200 birds on our list so far. Here is a link to the calendar of events, which lists all the trips we have scheduled: http://www.santacruzbirdclub.org/Calendar_of_Events.html I would like to remind everyone that the trips are all open to then public, so everyone is welcome, and that includes beginners all the way to experts. We would very much like to see new faces out there for these trips, so please come out and join us in our search for new and familiar birds. I owe a couple of people apologies here, Earl Lebow and Steve Gerow are leading two trips that got missed out from the Albatross (which Club members should have either just received, or should get shortly). These two trips are: Sunday, June 29 7:30am Big Year - Swanton Road Redux - leader Earl Lebow Friday, August 29 7:00am Big Year - West Santa Cruz - leader Steve Gerow Also, the time for this Saturday's Moore Ranch Road trip should be 7 am at Beckmann's Bakery on Mission, not 7:30 am as advertised in the Albie. I will send out reminders for the missing trips nearer the time, but both are on the website calendar. Phil BrownSubject: Re; pied-billed grebes at Neary Lagoon From: Mary Crouser <mecrouser AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 16:04:44 -0700 (PDT) I saw the PIED-BILLED GREBE young reported by Sarah Underwood at Neary Lagoon
this afternoon about 2:00 p.m. There are 5 of them and they're big enough that
they're probably at least two weeks old.
To find them, go out onto the floating docks from the lawns end. Turn left at
the "T' that goes out towards the bat box. When you get out near the end, turn
left and look along the edge of the tules. They were quite noisy and visible as
they were getting fed and then they slipped quietly back into the tules...
Mary Crouser
Park Maintenance Worker
Neary Lagoon
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Subject: Natural Bridges VASWFrom: "Phil Brown" <pdpbrown AT gmail.com> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 15:08:20 -0700 A fairly quiet morning at Natural Bridges was enlivened by a pair of VAUX'S SWIFTS which flew over me as I walked the back trail past marker #5. Perhaps the regular nesting pair have returned. PhilSubject: Neary Pied-billed grebe chicks From: sarah AT santacruzmuseums.org Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 13:31:07 -0700 Saw two PIED-BILLED GREBE chicks at Neary Lagoon on 4/27 around 1pm. They were in the tule reeds, due west from the bat box on the island. They look to be a few weeks old, judging by their size. Sarah -- Sarah Underwood Neary Lagoon Wetland Walk Program Coordinator Santa Cruz Museum of Natural History 831-420-6117 ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBBSubject: Sooty Shearwaters? From: Paul Miller <paulbug AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 11:17:42 -0700 (PDT) Rode down to West Cliff yesterday afternoon and saw hoards or what I thought
were shearwaters quite a ways out from Woodrow Ave. They were circling and
landing, mostly staying in one large, spread-out mass.
I only had my bins, but my guess was SOOTY SHEARWATERS.
Any comments or corrections most welcome.
Paul Miller
Scotts Valley
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Subject: ceder waxwing...From: Becky Silva <beckyszoo AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:19:21 -0700 (PDT) Just now had a Ceder Waxwing hit the window here at work in the Emeline
Complex. my co- worker took her to Native Animal Rescue.
Becky
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Subject: Fwd: ceder waxwing...From: Becky Silva <beckyszoo AT yahoo.com> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 10:20:32 -0700 (PDT)
Just now had a Ceder Waxwing hit the window here at work in the Emeline
Complex. my co- worker took her to Native Animal Rescue.
Becky
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Subject: Birding and Wildlife Guide and Maps for SC Co.From: Barry McLaughlin <barry AT coincidence.net> Date: Tue, 29 Apr 2008 08:56:31 -0700 You can obtain a free Birding and Wildlife Watch Kit for Santa Cruz County from http://www.santacruz.org/things/wildlife.shtml It includes a map of birding and wildlife sites in the county, as well as a seasonal bird checklist based on records compiled and edited by David Suddjian and the Bird Club. To have a copy sent to you, simply go online to that site and fill out the form for "Free Birding & Wildlife Watch Kit ". Barry McLaughlin, WebmasterSubject: Rancho Del Oso MGWA From: "Phil Brown" <pdpbrown AT gmail.com> Date: Mon, 28 Apr 2008 12:20:16 -0700 The MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER was singing his heart out this morning on Sapsucker alley, and appears to be successful. I did not see him, but I saw a female MGWA after she chipped a few times at the foot of the tree he was in. A failed search for the Chat at Natural Bridges ended with a very surprising close view of a CALIFORNIA THRASHER right by the Delaware entrance road. Phil BrownSubject: Merk Rd. in Corralitos From: "Heidi Sandkuhle" <Mrskuhle AT charter.net> Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 20:41:35 -0700 After dinner, Richard and I wanted to do some quick nearby birding so we headed to Merk Rd. in Corralitos. We stopped at the pond first and saw PB Grebe, Coots, Mallards, Gadwalls, RWBlkbirds, Oak Tits, and a Red Shoulderd Hawk that was under attack by a RW Blkbird. The mosquitos soon drove us back into the car, so we went a bit further and stopped at the orgainic farm. Here we saw Cliff, Tree, Barn, and RoughWinged Swallows, the pair of W.Bluebirds, CA Towhee, Robins, CA Quail getting ready to roost for the night, a Red-Tail Hawk, Mourning Doves, Starlings, House Finches, Cedar Waxwings, CA Thrasher, and a Chipping Sparrow. Heidi Sandkuhle CorralitosSubject: above average Marina migration From: Steve Rovell <tapaculo AT comcast.net> Date: Sun, 27 Apr 2008 19:47:38 -0700 Hi Birders - Today I noticed an above average number of migrants in my yard in Marina. In fact, during migration, I generally don't see much in terms of migration, at all! So, today was nice. One Bullock's Oriole male, one Western Tanager male and two Orange-crowned Warblers. That's all. Welcome to Marina! Steve Rovell Marina ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBB |