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Updated on Friday, July 3 at 11:01 PM ET
The most recently received Mail is at the top.
Black-bellied Plover,©Barry Kent Mackay

04 Jul Moore Preserve and UCSC []
3 Jul Belated Big Basin []
3 Jul saw a saw-whet [Rebecca Dmytryk ]
3 Jul Watsonville Sloughs [Jeff Wall ]
02 Jul West Santa Cruz []
2 Jul Hidden Valley Hatchlings [ltjaeger ]
2 Jul around the county ["Alex Rinkert" ]
2 Jul Waddell again []
1 Jul UCSC, Meder Canyon [Kumaran Arul ]
01 Jul bounce/forward post re Salinas R Mute Swan [Todd Newberry ]
1 Jul Waddell Creek Beach and other north coast []
1 Jul Re: Western Drive and Upper UCSC []
30 Jun another oops [Lois Goldfrank ]
30 Jun Sooty Shearwaters [Clay Kempf ]
30 Jun Western Drive and Upper UCSC [Lois Goldfrank ]
29 Jun Skyline Boulevard [Bill Bousman ]
29 Jun RED-EYED VIREO [Scott Smithson ]
28 Jun Fw: Pt. Lobos Rookery ["Betsy Buchalter Adler" ]
28 Jun Re: Pt. Lobos Rookery [John Hiles ]
28 Jun Seacliff SB []
28 Jun Pt. Lobos Rookery ["Betsy Buchalter Adler" ]
28 Jun Pinto Lake Rookery [Robert Ramer ]
28 Jun Re: re: Cormorant nesting []
27 Jun re: Cormorant nesting [Alexander Gaguine ]
27 Jun Gray Whale [Lois Goldfrank ]
27 Jun Long Ridge OSP and vicinity and Skyline Blvd []
27 Jun crow commotion in motion []
27 Jun Davenport overlook ["W.Breck Tyler" ]
26 Jun Loma Prieta 6/26/09 [Dominik Mosur ]
26 Jun cormorant nesting [Alexander Gaguine ]
26 Jun A few Santa Cruz birds []
26 Jun West Santa Cruz []
25 Jun Loma Prieta and Martins ["Heidi Sandkuhle" ]
24 Jun Loma Prieta Martins [Phil Brown ]
24 Jun Red shouldered hawk []
23 Jun Quail Hollow Ranch ["Alex Rinkert" ]
22 Jun San Lorenzo River [will lawton lawton ]
23 Jun UCSC, Gray Whale, and Wilder Ranch []
22 Jun bounced/forwarded post re: raptors-presentation query [Todd Newberry ]
22 Jun Monterey county courthouse []
21 Jun Northern Parula at Rancho Del Oso []
21 Jun Purple Martins still near Loma Prieta []
21 Jun Various Santa Cruz Birds []
17 Jun Loma Prieta, Rancho Del Oso, Zayante Trail, and QHR ["Alex Rinkert" ]
15 Jun Moss Landing RTLO / pix [Ron Wolf ]
15 Jun Re: Lunacy at Moss Landing []
15 Jun Red-eyed Vireo [Oscar Johnson ]
15 Jun Re: Lunacy at Moss Landing [Rebecca Dmytryk ]
14 Jun Lunacy at Moss Landing [Ron Wolf ]
14 Jun Possible ARLO @ Moss Landing? ["Jeff Poklen" ]
14 Jun Re: Arctic Loon possible [Matthew Dodder ]
14 Jun Northern Goshawk - well, that was easy. [Randy Lauff ]
14 Jun LABU at Pogonip []
14 Jun Re: Arctic Loon possible ["Betsy Buchalter Adler" ]
14 Jun Seacliff & Capitola []
14 Jun Rancho Del Oso, Waddell Beach and vicinity recent []
14 Jun RBGR [Jeff Wall ]
14 Jun Re: Question about Sea Lions [Rebecca Dmytryk ]
14 Jun Question about Sea Lions [Barbara Novelli ]
13 Jun Arctic Loon possible ["Bill Hill" ]
13 Jun Re: ARCTIC LOON ? in Moss Landing (MTY) [Len Blumin ]
13 Jun Dolan Rd, Moonglow, and rookery ["Betsy Buchalter Adler" ]
13 Jun ARCTIC LOON ? in Moss Landing (MTY) [Steve Rovell ]
13 Jun ARCTIC LOON ? in Moss Landing (MTY) [Steve Rovell ]
13 Jun ARCTIC LOON ? in Moss Landing (MTY) [Steve Rovell ]
14 Jun RBGR [Jeff Wall ]
13 Jun Rose-breasted Grosbeak [Jeff Wall ]
13 Jun Re: Wilder Ranch []
13 Jun Wilder Ranch []
12 Jun Rancho del Oso ["Heidi Sandkuhle" ]
11 Jun Re: Watsonville Sloughs [Lois Goldfrank ]
11 Jun Watsonville Sloughs [Jeff Wall ]
11 Jun Re: Swan? [judy belden ]
10 Jun Hooded Warbler--Rancho del Oso 6/10 evening [bonnie ]
10 Jun Upper UCSC, etc. []
10 Jun Hooded Warbler - Rancho Del Oso [Kathryn Parker ]

Subject: Moore Preserve and UCSC
From: stephengerow AT aol.com
Date: Sat, 04 Jul 2009 00:00:03 -0400
   A highlight of this afternoon's Santa Cruz Bird Club field trip to 
Moore Creek Preserve was several good views of three BLACK SWIFTS 
foraging over the grassland, with three in view at once at times, and a 
couple of them flying over us fairly low at times.  We also had close 
studies of a family of two adult and two fledgling AMERICAN KESTRELS 
working around the upper slopes.   Two or three each SAVANNAH and 
GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS sang a bit off and on in the grassland areas,  but 
we didn't get any more than glimpses of either species.  Swallows were 
in good numbers over the grasslands, a majority CLIFF (with many young, 
some being fed in flight), some BARNS and VIOLET-GREENS, and one 
juvenile TREE.  A juvenile GREAT HORNED OWL was perched in open view in 
the forested area of the Vernal Ridge Trail.  Also in this area were a 
couple of WESTERN WOOD PEWEES, including one juvenile.
      This morning Bob and Bernadette Ramer, Lois and Wally Goldfrank 
and I took a walk on the upper UCSC Campus, finding expected species in 
good numbers.  A CHIPPING SPARROW was still singing on territory at the 
lower end of Marshall Field.  DOWNY WOODPECKERS were out of typical 
habitat on upper West Road and the Seven Springs Trail, probably post 
breeding dispersants moving uphill.  PINE SISKINS continued to be 
rather common along the upper part of Chinquapin Road and around 
Marshall Field.  ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS numbers were much lower than a 
couple of weeks ago, with only two or three female/immature types 
around, and one ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER just below Marshall Field was 
the only one we found.
                                                                   Steve 
Gerow
                                                                   Santa 
Cruz


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Subject: Belated Big Basin
From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 16:21:18 EDT
The material in this report is now "old" by MBB standards, but I want to 
share some highlights of continuing fieldwork at Big Basin from June 15-19 
before I am ready to report on efforts there occurring now. On the plus side, 
dear readers, I've probably forgotten half of what I wanted to say about the 
mid-June effort, so I won't be quite so long of hand ;-) 
 
First, that his persistent presence is not completely for naught, Old 
Reliable the DUSKY FLYCATCHER was still in position at Ocean View Summit on 
6/18. 

Folks who'd like to see him should try sooner than later. He is still 
singing (as of yesterday), but he can be expected to slow down as the month 
progresses.
 
MARBLED MURRELET activity came in at its lowest ever for long term 
monitoring surveys at a set of 5 stations. There were single detections at 
Redwood 

Trail on 6/17 and east of Blooms Creek Campground on 6/18, and zero at three 
other spots. A total of 2 detections for 5 survey mornings in June...
 
But PILEATED WOODPECKERS came on very strong. It is always hard to sort out 
multiple detections over several days, but my best assessment comes up with 
38 different Pileateds over these dates within the East Fork Waddell 
watershed (inclusive of the tributaries). On 6/15 I heard nine from just one 
spot 

during a dawn murrelet survey in the upper Opal Creek watershed! And they 
were all calling/drumming within a 10 min. period. Quite a display! 7 were 
heard from Gazos Creek Road east of Middle Ridge that same day. And 7 were 
noted from a dawn survey at Redwood Meadow on 6/17. Amidst all the auditory 
PIWOs, I also had some nice looks at a few. They are "thick" out there, but it 
does help to sit and listen in the 30 min. after sunrise (the best time to 
detect the most individuals at this season)...and when not sitting and 
listening, to cover a lot of forest.
 
VAUX'S SWIFTS were mostly where I had found some earlier this spring, and 
as on other recent visits they were not too easy to find. I had several 
encounters at various spots over the day use picnic area, with a high of 4 on 
6/15. Dusk watches at the park's water supply reservoir produced peak counts of 

3 on 6/15 and 4 on 6/18. A few detections in the park HQ region peaked at 3 
birds on 6/15. 2 were over Jay Camp on 6/18. 
 
A male VARIED THRUSH was along Opal Creek downstream of the bottom of 
Hollow Tree Trail on 6/15. A GREAT HORNED OWL calling shortly before sunrise 
east 

of Huckleberry campground on 6/16 was a surprise. It is rare for the park 
and was the first I'd heard there after surveying the area on multiple dates 
for the previous 7 years. It called just a few times at what seemed to be a 
moderate distance, but it was hard to gauge just how far away it really was 
or where it might have been. Two or three COMMON POORWILLS were in an 
expected area in the upper watershed of Sempervirens Creek on 6/17. An AMERICAN 

DIPPER was still at the falls on East Waddell on 6/17. It was a pleasant time 
for NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL, with six individuals detected within five 
territories. A few places that had pairs in the 2008 breeding season do not 
this year. 

An OSPREY was at the water supply reservoir on 6/18...perhaps the same one 
I saw there last summer. MOURNING DOVES had been absent in the park all 
season, but two calling birds appeared in the Blooms Creek watershed on 6/19. 
One was in a spot I had surveyed at dawn without hearing any dove just the day 
before. Two AMERICAN CROWS flew west over Slippery Rock on 6/19, heading 
for the upper Opal Creek watershed. 2nd June record for the park. And notable, 
but outside the park, a GREEN HERON flew over Highway 236 fairly high over 
the Boulder Creek Golf & Country Club on 6/17. 1st I've ever had in that 
area.
 
Any time one spends several days in the field (or forest, as the case may 
be), there are always unexpected and memorable events. The strangest such 
event for me on these dates occurred in the day use picnic area in the Opal 
Creek watershed on the evening of 6/18. About 6:15 p.m. I was eating my dinner 
and heard some odd sounds off to the south that I could not make out. But 
they did not last long, and they were not close by, so I put them out of my 
mind. Then shortly after 7:00 p.m. I was driving south on North Escape Road, 
toward the area of the now forgotten odd sounds. There, under the old growth 
forest canopy I came upon a carpet of white feathers scattered over the 
roadway, with a white lump in the middle. The lump turned out to be what was 
left of an adult CALIFORNIA GULL, lying belly up, gutted and mostly consumed. 
Not what I expect in the old growth forest! It was fairly gruesome and messy, 
as far as kills go, with entrails pulled out, and yellow jackets and flies 
very busy with the remaining flesh. There were two splotches of fresh gull 
poop on the scene (with attendant banana slug), suggesting to me the gull was 
still alive when it arrived there. So I conclude the odd sounds I heard 
earlier in the evening were connected to the killing of the gull. Evidence 
indicates it was a mammal that killed it, likely a coyote or maybe a gray fox. 
And perhaps the predator was interrupted before finishing and fled the scene 
before carrying off the remains. When I came through again near 10:30 the 
remains were gone, leaving just the scattered feathers as a riddle for a 
curious naturalist who might come along.
 
Considering all the possible scenarios that have come to my mind, I think 
this gull was flying over the area, perhaps enroute to the SF Bay area or 
otherwise migrating (part of the late push of CAGUs we have had), and it was in 

a weakened state and either fell to the ground (I've seen that happen with 
a sickly juv. Western Gull in Capitola) or had to land. That park of Big 
Basin is completely forested, but it might have spied the road down below 
through gaps in the canopy and figured it was not going to get any better. And 
it 

seems that a predatory mammal was soon upon it, and that was that. 
Interestingly, and I won't drag this part out, this was the 4th time I have 
found 

predated remains of larids in the forest of Big Basin, all in circumstances 
that seem to rule out a predator like a Peregrine that might carry the prey 
there from the coast. Prior occurrences included remains of two other 
California Gulls and of one Elegant Tern.
 
The other memorable events of this excursion, not gruesome and including 
some very magical moments, I'll have to leave for another time.
 
David Suddjian
Capitola
 
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Subject: saw a saw-whet
From: Rebecca Dmytryk <diametryk AT earthlink.net>
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 09:09:01 -0700
This morning the passerines alarmed of a stranger in our yard - went  
out to find, with great difficulty, what we believe is a young  
Northern saw-whet owl in the canopy of an oak. At least that is our  
first thought... its chest is completely buff like a robin. Adorable.  
And sleepy.

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





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Subject: Watsonville Sloughs
From: Jeff Wall <jhwall AT hotmail.com>
Date: Fri, 3 Jul 2009 05:25:52 +0000
This mornig (7/2) I visited several of the same spots reported by Alex Rinkert. 
A few minor additions are 4 Long-billed Curlews and a Dowitcher Sp. at the Lee 
Rd. overlook. Also, it was fun to see GB Heron, BC Night Heron, Green Heron, 
Great Egret, Snowy Egret, and American Bittern, all in an area of about an acre 
of wetland. There was a flock of medium sized shorebirds flying around, but 
whenever they landed they disappeared into the heat shimmer. My guess is 
Dowitchers. 


At Pajaro River mouth there was a flock of about 30 Western Sandpipers. Several 
baby Killdeer were dashing around attracting my attention while the parents 
tried desparately to get me to look somewhere else. The Sooty Shearwaters that 
have been in this area for at least two weeks now are amazing. At the river 
mouth the main flow of birds is northward. At the northern entrance to Sunset 
State Beach, 3.5 miles north, the main flow of birds is toward the south. In 
between there are huge flocks of birds on the water and milling around in the 
air. Impossible to count, but many many thousands, and I don't know the limits 
of the flock. They were coming from as far as I could scope to the south of the 
river, and to the north of the Sunset viewing overlook. 


Also at the river mouth there were four Ring-billed Gulls among the hundreds of 
Westerns, CA, and Heerman's Gulls. The total flock of Brown Pelicans, Caspian 
Terns, Forster's Terns and gulls is pretty impressive. 


Jeff Wall
Soquel
Subject: West Santa Cruz
From: stephengerow AT aol.com
Date: Thu, 02 Jul 2009 23:51:02 -0400
   This afternoon there were two small young visible in one of the 
remaining BRANDT'S CORMORANT nests at Natural Bridges.  There are only 
three nests left in the colony, all on the steeper cliffs to the east 
of the little beach.  The nests on the west ledges (below the 
short-term parking lot) are completely abandoned now.  Further east on 
West Cliff, PIGEON GUILLEMOTS were carrying fish to nests in two spots 
(the Stockton Avenue point and near the end of Swift Street).  About 
120 Aechmophorus grebes were between Natural Bridges and Woodrow, 
mostly Western but one Clark's was off the end of Sacramento Avenue.
      At Natural Bridges two VAUX'S SWIFTS were foraging silently around 
the northeast part of the park, circling around the pines and often 
feeding very low, just a foot or two over the tops of the coyote 
bushes.  A brood of small young CALIFORNIA QUAIL (I saw three, but 
calls suggested there were more in the bushes) were in the north 
central part of the park, further evidence of that species recovery in 
that area.
      Tuesday (June 30), an adult COOPER'S HAWK was flying around over 
Getchell Street about a block south of Delaware Avenue.
                                                                         
                                                                         
           Steve Gerow
                                                                         
                                                                         
           Santa Cruz


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Subject: Hidden Valley Hatchlings
From: ltjaeger <ltjaeger AT att.net>
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 20:34:23 -0700
This seems to be a big week for fledglings in the Hidden Valley  
(Elkhorn Slough) area, as I've had a brood of PYGMY NUTHATCHES cruise  
the yard at eye level late last week, followed by the kids emerging  
from the PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER nest yesterday.  This morning, the  
yard was full of DARK-EYED PUNCOS (juvenile Juncos), along with a  
begging RED-TAILED HAWK fledgling.   Juvenile CALIFORNIA TOWHEES have  
been on the back porch every morning, with BLACK PHOEBE kids overhead.

Clay Kempf

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Subject: around the county
From: "Alex Rinkert" <arinkert12 AT comcast.net>
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 17:09:03 -0700
Will Lawton and I visited a variety of spots around the county yesterday. At
Waddell Beach, we saw 5 MARBLED MURRELETS and a COMMON LOON in nonbreeding
plumage on the ocean. The pond near Swanton Road had large flocks of
TRICOLORED BLACKBIRDS. Two CHIPPING SPARROWS and a GRASSHOPPER SPARROW were
singing in the fields here.

 

We then continued to Merk Pond where three BARN OWLS (two young) were
spotted by Patty Durkee in an old building. Also present was a pair of
WESTERN BLUEBIRDS.

 

The Pajaro River Mouth had 6 BRANT and one male BUFFLEHEAD. We spotted a
large SOOTY SHEARWATER flock (about 5,100 birds), most likely the one seen
by Clay Kempf a few days ago, swirling very close to shore. The flock
eventually worked its way down to the ocean in front of the river mouth and
sat on the water.

 

Looking out from the Lee Road warehouses, we saw 10 WHITE-FACED IBIS and an
AMERICAN AVOCET in the slough.

 

Alex Rinkert

Ben Lomond
Subject: Waddell again
From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com
Date: Thu, 2 Jul 2009 20:04:21 EDT
A 1st summer BONAPARTE'S GULL was a new one for Waddell today. It had an
alternate plumage-like head pattern, but "salt & pepper" instead of a solid
dark hood. CALIFORNIA GULLS continue in good numbers, with 370 on the evening
of 7/1 and 330 at noon today. A PACIFIC LOON was present both dates, with a
partial alternate plumage RED-THROATED LOON on 7/1 and a basic COMMON LOON
today. The sea was very calm and flat at midday today, so I thought it would
be good for counting grebes and spotting Marbled Murrelets. But there were
only 11 WESTERN GREBES and I couldn't find any murrelets off the beach or the
bluffs.

A wonderful avian conjunction came about soon after a BLACK OYSTERCATCHER
flew in to drink where the creek flowed to the sea. After a bit it got worked
up about something and began its giving its piping call for quite a time.
As this was going on, a PILEATED WOODPECKER called from the pine forest slope
above the RDO Nature & History Center. It got a thrill out of hearing those
two species calling at the same time (the woodpecker was also notable, as I
haven't had one so close to the coast at RDO this season, nor have I ever
heard one call while I was on the beach). I suppose, if they were paying
attention, that the oystercatcher and woodpecker could hear each other call. 
But 

can an oystercatcher fathom the reality that is a Pileated Woodpecker? And
what would a woodpecker make of an oystercatcher?

David Suddjian
Capitola
**************Dell Summer Savings: Cool Deals on Popular Laptops – Shop
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Subject: UCSC, Meder Canyon
From: Kumaran Arul <kumaranarul AT earthlink.net>
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 22:35:56 -0700
One of the local GOLDEN EAGLES was flying low across the great meadow  
at UC Santa Cruz campus this afternoon being mobbed by a Red-tailed  
hawk.  Also, in Meder Canyon, I have noticed this spring/summer many  
more Acorn Woodpeckers than in the past representing a minor extension  
of their local range.  Whereas they used to be rare in the canyon  
itself in the past, this year I have noticed as many as six at a time  
in the middle of the canyon where they may be nesting.  I have seen  
this increase in numbers with visits for the first time to my home  
feeders by up to four birds.  Nice to hear them around the house  
actually.

Kumaran Arul
Santa Cruz, CA

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Subject: bounce/forward post re Salinas R Mute Swan
From: Todd Newberry <taxa AT biology.ucsc.edu>
Date: Wed, 01 Jul 2009 14:44:59 -0700

>From: Melinda Nakagawa 
>To: MBB 
>Subject: Mute Swan in Moss Landing
>Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 10:27:10 -0700
>
>The Mute swan has been feeding regularly in the Old Salinas River at
>least the last several weeks- Good views from Moss Landing Marine
>Labs, and sometimes close enough to view from Sandholt Bridge, and
>I've also seen it in the slough behind the Whole Enchilada Restaurant.
>It looks huge, especially when it's near the white pelicans!
>
>Right now, it's in the Old Salinas River Just south of Sandholt
>Bridge, Moss Landing.
>
>Melinda
>
>Melinda S. Nakagawa
>M.S. Student
>Vertebrate Ecology Lab
>Moss Landing Marine Labs
>mnakagawa AT mlml.calstate.edu
>
>
>--Apple-Mail-4--273424976
>Content-Type: text/html;
>         charset=US-ASCII
>Content-Transfer-Encoding: quoted-printable
>
>The Mute swan has been = feeding regularly in the Old Salinas River 
>at least the last = several weeks- Good views from Moss Landing 
>Marine Labs, and sometimes = close enough to view from Sandholt 
>Bridge, and I've also seen = it in the slough behind the Whole 
>Enchilada Restaurant. It looks huge, = especially when it's near the 
>white pelicans!
>
>Right = now, it's in the Old Salinas River Just south of Sandholt 
>Bridge, Moss = Landing.
>
>Melinda
>
>
>
>
>
>
>Melinda S. Nakagawa
>
>M.S. Student
>
>Vertebrate Ecology = Lab
>
>Moss = Landing Marine Labs
>
><3D.htm>mnakagawa AT mlml.calstate.edu
>
>=
>
>--Apple-Mail-4--273424976--


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Subject: Waddell Creek Beach and other north coast
From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 16:58:32 EDT
We have had, in my estimation, an unusual movement of CALIFORNIA GULLS for
late spring and early summer. There have been good numbers since the last
half of May, including many flying overland at Capitola all the way through
June. Normally that quits by mid-May or so. The good numbers have been
reflected by counts along the north Santa Cruz County coast, where my past
observations have usually had Cal. Gulls in the single or low double digits in 
June 

and early July. For example, two counts from Waddell Creek Beach in 2008 are
representative: 9 on June 13 and 4 on July 1. But this year has been
different, and there has been a spike in numbers just over the last few days, 
with 

counts over 400 at Waddell Beach and up to 615 (!) at Scott Creek Beach.
Some are maybe lingering for a time, but I am seeing evidence of steady
movement up the coast, so I suspect there is a lot of turnover. The majority 
are 

birds in their 3rd year, but also some one- and two-year olds. I have not
seen an adult for at least a few weeks. Here are some good counts from the last
few days:

Waddell Creek Beach
158 on the evening of 6/28, 103 on the morning of 6/29, 486 on the evening
of 6/29, 434 on the morning of 6/30, and 164 on the morning of 7/1.
Scott Creek Beach
293 on the morning of 6/29, 615 on the morning of 6/30 and 428 on the
morning of 7/1

AECHMOPHORUS GREBES have remained more numerous than usual in these areas,
as well, continuing the pattern I mentioned in mid-June. Some counts:

Waddell Creek Beach
Western Grebe - 36 on 6/28, 53 on 6/29, 71 on 6/30
Clark's - 1 on 6/29
Waddell Bluffs
Western - 18 on 6/28, 7 on 6/29
Scott Creek Beach
Western - 87 on 6/29, 43 on 6/30, 55 on 7/1
Clark's - 2 on 6/29, 1 on 7/1

Changes in numbers may be mostly due to varying viewing conditions due to
swells and chop. And/or they are moving around. But mostly the flocks are in
the same spots each day, so I suspect the variation is mostly due to viewing
conditions. For example, most evenings (when it is often windy), I can't
even spot the darn things or see just a handful.

On 6/29 Rancho Del Oso had an eclipse male WOOD DUCK at the Waddell Creek
lagoon, a worn BRANT at the creek mouth, 1 early dispersing HOUSE WREN
(Hoover Natural Preserve; my 1st dispersant of the season), 2 WHITE-THROATED
SWIFTS and the continuing male MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER along Skyline to the Sea
Trail a short way in from Hwy 1.  11 PINE SISKINS were along the Marsh Trail.
Another HOUSE WREN was near Pelican Rock on 6/30.

An adult DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT at Waddell Creek lagoon on 6/28 and 7/1
suggests dispersal, and was the 1st I'd seen at that area in a couple months.
Summer or straggling PACIFIC LOONS included one off Waddell Beach on 6/28
and 4 off Waddell Bluffs on 6/29 (one of the latter was flying up the coast).
All were in basic plumage or were immature.

Lastly, a male AMERICAN KESTREL at the south end of Swanton Road on 6/29
was the first I'd seen in that area since winter, and I think the first I've
seen anywhere along Hwy 1 north of Santa Cruz since winter.

David Suddjian
toes in sand, head in fog



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Subject: Re: Western Drive and Upper UCSC
From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com
Date: Wed, 1 Jul 2009 15:03:54 EDT
In a message dated 6/30/2009 4:18:38 PM Pacific Daylight Time,
loisg AT cruzio.com writes:

The most unusual bird was probably a singing
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER near Marshall Field.

That is unusual there. Audubon's Yellow-rumped has an interesting breeding
distribution in the county. Most occur in the general crest region, but
there are outlying areas of occurrence in the Skyland Ridge / Santa Rosalia
Mountain area (not far from the crest), and on Ben Lomond Mountain (and
apparently formerly at China Grade, too). At Ben Lomond Mountain they occur
regularly as close as about 4 miles northwest of the Marshall Field bird that 
Lois 

reports. They occur in three different habitats. Most are found in mixed
evergreen forest with Douglas-fir present or in knobcone pine forest at
elevations over 2,200 feet. But there are also a few areas where they occur in
second growth redwood forest at lower elevations down to at least 1,800 feet in
elevation. The curious thing is that this second growth redwood situation is
common and much more widespread in the Santa Cruz Mountains than the few
areas where the warbler is found in it. I don't know why.

David Suddjian
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Subject: another oops
From: Lois Goldfrank <loisg AT cruzio.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:54:38 -0700
Everyone probably already knows I'm geographically challenged.  
Chinquapin to Graham Hill would have been a rather long walk, we only  
made it to Empire Grade this morning...

Lois

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Subject: Sooty Shearwaters
From: Clay Kempf <ltjaeger AT att.net>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 17:27:06 -0700
Looking out my office window I can see perhaps the largest in shore  
SOOTY SHEARWATER flock that I've seen so this year, just offshore from  
Seacliff State Beach.

Yesterday morning a WHITE-FACED IBIS flew over Highway One just north  
of the Harkins Slough Rd. exit.  AMERICAN BITTERN has been seen two or  
three times in the past two weeks during daily commutes, once near  
Struve Slough, and once near Watsonville Slough & Beach Rd.

Clay Kempf

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Subject: Western Drive and Upper UCSC
From: Lois Goldfrank <loisg AT cruzio.com>
Date: Tue, 30 Jun 2009 16:17:27 -0700
On a whim, at the beginning of our walk this morning, we went to  
check out the RED-EYED VIREO on Western Drive reported by Scott  
Smithson yesterday . On the way there, we'd played its song, and we'd  
hardly gotten out of the car before Bernadette said, "There it is!"  
Sure enough, it sang several times, then seemed to be chased off by  
some Steller's Jays. An OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER was doing its "pip  
pip" call from the top of one of the tall trees. There was a lot of  
noise from traffic and a barking dog so it was hard to track the  
bird, but we did hear it again just before we left, though we never  
got a real look at it.

Then we went up behind UCSC and walked along Chinquapin road to  
Graham Hill and back. The most unusual bird was probably a singing  
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER near Marshall Field. Songs of many HERMIT and a  
couple of  SWAINSON'S THRUSHES , 4 GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS and a few  
BROWN CREEPERS  caught our attention as well. Although it was slow at  
first, by the time we left we'd seen and/or heard most of the  
expected species, several with or feeding young.

Lois Goldfrank, Bernadette Ramer, Michelle Scott

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Subject: Skyline Boulevard
From: Bill Bousman <barlowi AT earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 17:53:25 -0700
Folks:

This morning, 6/29/09, inspired by David Suddjian's descriptions of 
the birds he found along the Santa Clara and Santa Cruz County 
borders a week ago, I walked from the end of Charcoal Road (about 
M.P. 15.47), northwest to M.P. 16.42 and back.  The best birding was 
in the area across from the Hickory Oaks Trailhead in the Long Ridge 
OSP and near M.P. 16.31 where there is a large grove of Douglas 
firs.  If you are driving rather than walking, there is a nice 
pullout just southeast of M.P. 16.31 on the southwest side of the 
road.  Near the Hickory Oaks Trailhead I saw a female HERMIT WARBLER 
well into SCL.  On the start of my trip, I did not see any WESTERN 
TANAGERS there, but on my return there was a pair where David 
reported a nest.  I also found a pair of WESTERN TANAGERS at M.P. 
16.31.  The male was carrying food as he sang an abbreviated song and 
he appeared to move towards SCZ, but I was never certain where their 
young or nest might be.  (Later, I found a third male on the Bay 
Ridge Trail as it cuts over into SCL near Charcoal Road.  Also at the 
M.P. 16.31 area was a possible family of YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLERS, but 
I never saw positive evidence of dependency.  I also heard a 
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH calling in this area.


Bill Bousman
Santa Clara County records compiler 


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Subject: RED-EYED VIREO
From: Scott Smithson <wscottsmithson AT gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 29 Jun 2009 16:33:46 -0700
Hello all,

This morning at about 10:30am, I heard a RED-EYED VIREO singing across the
street from 904 Western Drive on the west side of Santa Cruz, the
neighborhood that borders Moore Creek Preserve.

Good birding,
Scott Smithson
Subject: Fw: Pt. Lobos Rookery
From: "Betsy Buchalter Adler" <adler AT adlercolvin.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:16:35 -0700
John is right - see my reply below, which I meant to send to the list. 
Betsy


----- Original Message -----
From: Betsy Buchalter Adler
To: 'jjhiles AT yahoo.com' 
Sent: Sun Jun 28 21:15:41 2009
Subject: Re: [MBB] Pt. Lobos Rookery

John is right. There are many safer ways to view nesting herons in Monterey 
County. I wanted to add to the active nest count, not to encourage people to 
ignore the signs. Sorry if that message did not get through. 

Betsy


----- Original Message -----
From: John Hiles 
To: Betsy Buchalter Adler
Sent: Sun Jun 28 21:08:56 2009
Subject: Re: [MBB] Pt. Lobos Rookery


Just wanted to let Betsy and anyone else wanting to view these nests that they 
can see them from the Whalers cove parking lot and not have to risk endangering 
any of the crews working on this trail. There are reasons why trails are closed 
during construction and usually safety is a priority. Using a mass listserv 
isnt very sneaky. 


          John Hiles

--- On Sun, 6/28/09, Betsy Buchalter Adler  wrote:

> From: Betsy Buchalter Adler 
> Subject: [MBB] Pt. Lobos Rookery
> To: mbb AT biology.ucsc.edu
> Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009, 6:24 PM
> The Carmelo Meadow and Granite Point
> trails are closed for ADA-related repairs, and anyone who
> ducks under the yellow tape and takes the trail anyway will
> find that the way is guarded by poison oak (watch out for
> the little plants sprouting in the middle of the path!), but
> a little bird - so to speak - told me that there are 3
> active GREAT BLUE HERON nests, and one that might be active
> but could not be verified, in the Monterey pine grove on the
> point north of Whalers Cove in Pt. Lobos (between Whalers
> Cove and Moss Beach). The same grove also hosted an OSPREY
> and a dark RED-TAILED HAWK this morning. 
> 
> Good birding,
> Betsy Buchalter Adler
> Pacific Grove
> N‹§²æìr¸›xÀA±éݶœ¢iš�Õ
I AT R   
> ÀA`å0D0


      
칻&0lzwm(fuCRPDD0X9DL4DI+h&2y
Subject: Re: Pt. Lobos Rookery
From: John Hiles <jjhiles AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 21:12:41 -0700 (PDT)
Just wanted to let Betsy and anyone else wanting to view these nests that they 
can see them from the Whalers cove parking lot and not have to risk endangering 
any of the crews working on this trail. There are reasons why trails are closed 
during construction and safety is a priority. 


Using a mass listserv isnt very sneaky.

     John Hiles







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Subject: Seacliff SB
From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 20:32:43 EDT
I tried Seacliff SB this morning to check in on the nesting Cormorants but 
It was so foggy I could not even see the cement ship! I went back late this 
afternoon and made a count of the nesting BRANDT'S CORMORANTS. There were 
about 139 active nests, down from the 201 nests I counted on June 14. There 
was quite a bit of debris and diminished unoccupied piles of nest material, so 
clearly a number of nests had been abandoned. I could see small and large 
young in some nests, but the majority had adults in incubation posture, which 
is late. But most of these nests started late, so we'll have to see how 
things progress. There were 940 Brandt's Cormorants in the area (not counting 
nestlings), with 680 on the cement ship and 260 on the ocean.
 
I scanned for Aechmophorus grebes and counted 89 WESTERN GREBES, 17 CLARK'S 
and 44 unidentified. One basic-plumaged COMMON LOON was south of the ship.
 
David Suddjian
Capitola
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Subject: Pt. Lobos Rookery
From: "Betsy Buchalter Adler" <adler AT adlercolvin.com>
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:24:04 -0700
The Carmelo Meadow and Granite Point trails are closed for ADA-related repairs, 
and anyone who ducks under the yellow tape and takes the trail anyway will find 
that the way is guarded by poison oak (watch out for the little plants 
sprouting in the middle of the path!), but a little bird - so to speak - told 
me that there are 3 active GREAT BLUE HERON nests, and one that might be active 
but could not be verified, in the Monterey pine grove on the point north of 
Whalers Cove in Pt. Lobos (between Whalers Cove and Moss Beach). The same grove 
also hosted an OSPREY and a dark RED-TAILED HAWK this morning. 


Good birding,
Betsy Buchalter Adler
Pacific Grove
칻&0lzwm(fuCRPDD0X9DL4DI+h&2y
Subject: Pinto Lake Rookery
From: Robert Ramer <rjramer AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 17:14:05 -0700 (PDT)
A survey of the rookery at Pinto Lake this morning produced sightings of 55 
active DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT nests, 11 GREAT EGRET nests, and 3 GREAT BLUE 
HERON nests. A few of the cormorant nests had relatively young nestlings 
visible; but most of the nests had young that appear to be close to fledgling 
size. In fact, in many cases, it was hard to distinguish the young birds from 
the adults. 


A PEREGRINE FALCON was perched in the same Eucalyptus grove (and seen later 
flying over the rookery). A RED-TAILED HAWK and a RED-SHOULDERED HAWK were also 
seen flying around the rookery. 


Bernadette and Bob Ramer
Santa Cruz
Subject: Re: re: Cormorant nesting
From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com
Date: Sun, 28 Jun 2009 10:18:35 EDT
In a message dated 6/27/2009 11:31:19 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
gaguine AT baymoon.com writes:

Any additional thoughts?


Conditions earlier this season were grim for Brandt's Cormorants with high 
mortality, low initial nesting effort, and abandonment of early nest 
attempts in Santa Cruz Co. That, as I understand it, was related to foraging 
conditions. Others with more info can chime in, please. Then they "rebounded" 
in 

their nesting efforts at the Santa Cruz County breeding sites in May, with 
late starts but good numbers of nests, some young in the nest and lots of 
incubating birds. I would guess that abandonment now is also related to feeding 

conditions. 
 
I am going to go have a look at the Seacliff SB colony this morning and 
will report back. 
 
What has been the story with nesting in Monterey County this season?
 
David Suddjian
Capitola

 



Steve Gerow wrote:

I'm sure there were no young.  For some reason most of the colony seems
to just have up and abandoned their nesting this year.  It seems like
they were going along pretty well the week before, with about 30 active
nests, so I'm not sure what's going on.  It's puzzling.
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Subject: re: Cormorant nesting
From: Alexander Gaguine <gaguine AT baymoon.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 23:30:28 -0700
Any additional thoughts?


Steve Gerow wrote:

I'm sure there were no young.  For some reason most of the colony seems
to just have up and abandoned their nesting this year.  It seems like
they were going along pretty well the week before, with about 30 active
nests, so I'm not sure what's going on.  It's puzzling.
                                                                         
                                                 Steve



-----Original Message-----
From: Alexander Gaguine 
To: MBB 
Sent: Fri, Jun 26, 2009 6:46 pm
Subject: [MBB] cormorant nesting


This evening the Brandt's Cormorant nesting colony just east of Natural
Bridges had adults on only 4 nests - one on the right side, three on
the left. The rest of the nests on the right appeared abandoned. (I
don't believe the young had hatched and fledged, had they?)

Alexander

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Subject: Gray Whale
From: Lois Goldfrank <loisg AT cruzio.com>
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 16:25:05 -0700
This morning we walked from Gray Whale's Empire Grade entrance down  
to Wilder ranch. We got a somewhat late start and weren't too sure  
what we'd find, but despite the heat it was pretty birdy. Highlights  
were 4 or 5 LAZULI BUNTINGS and at least 3 CHIPPING SPARROWS along  
the Chinquapin and Eucalyptus Loop trails, and 3 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS  
near the pond along Wilder Ridge Loop trail.

Others included singing HERMIT THRUSHES, calling SWAINSON THRUSHES,  
ORANGE-CROWNED and WILSON'S WARBLERS, PAC-SLOPE and OLIVE-SIDED  
FLYCATCHERS, ACORN and HAIRY WOODPECKERS, many CLIFF SWALLOWS but  
also a pair of TREE SWALLOWS at the pond and a few VIOLET-GREENS and  
BARNS in the same area. A pair of STELLER'S JAYS were feeding begging  
young. Lots of chances to compare trills of Orange-Crowneds, Juncos,  
Spotted Towhees, and Chipping Sparrows - crazy-making!

Lois and Wally Goldfrank
Subject: Long Ridge OSP and vicinity and Skyline Blvd
From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:25:00 EDT
(Tried twice to post this to MBB without apparent effect. Here is try #3...)
 
 
On June 23...
 
A PILEATED WOODPECKER and a family of GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS (6 young, 
adults feeding them) were on the Santa Clara County (SCL) side of Skyline Blvd 
near milemarker 16.42, northwest of Ward Road.
 
On the SCL side of Skyline Blvd at Long Ridge Open Space Preserve's Hickory 
Oaks Trail head there was a WESTERN TANAGER nest with young and a female 
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER was carrying food. A male Yellow-rumped was singing 
there, too, and I heard four others in Long Ridge OSP with two each along 
Hickory Oaks and Achistacha Trails in Santa Cruz County (in SCZ). A PILEATED 
WOODPECKER called to the east on the SCL side of Skyline Blvd near the trail 
head. A HERMIT WARBLER was singing on both sides of the road at the trailhead, 
giving 3 species of Dendroica at that spot that day, with Black-throated Gray 
being the 3rd species. In fact, I had males of all three species in view at 
the same time, responding to my Pygmy-Owl imitation (but no owl...), along 
with a male WESTERN TANAGER for extra color!
 
It was indeed a colorful outing, as I later found a singing adult male 
INDIGO BUNTING was along Achistacha Trail. It was first noted at the third 
grassland patch sotuheast of the junction with Hickory Oaks, then later it flew 

to the 1st (larger) grassland patch that is southeast of the junction. (I 
revisited the area briefly today but did not find it.) One LAZULI BUNTING was 
singing along Skyline Blvd near the Hickory Oaks Trail head; that was the 
only Lazuli I found, although in most years there are multiple birds in the 
areas I visited on June 23.
 
A male LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH was with LESSER GOLDFINCHES at the junction of 
Achistacha and Hickory Oaks. Four CHIPPING SPARROWS were at Hickory Oaks 
near that junction, all feeding on the ground along the trail, with no song, 
but great confiding views!. I heard one Chipping Sparrow singing along 
Achistacha Trail. BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLERS were abundant, as expected -- I 
tallied 32 singing males and saw two females (both carrying food) in about two 
hours along Achistacha and Hickory Oaks, despite being late morning on a warm 
day. There were 3 RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES along Hickory Oaks, and 6 along 
Achistacha. Four other PILEATED WOOPECKERS were heard from Achistacha Trail, 
including a pair that was very confiding and seen repeatedly southeast from 
the third grassland patch as one walks southeast. Four male WILD TURKEYS 
were in the same area along Achistacha. Today two males were at the Hickory 
Oaks x Achistacha junction. After they strolled away I admired their tracks in 
the soft dirt there, side by side with junco tracks. Quite a size comparison!
 
Continuing down the crest on June 23, now southeast of Las Cumbres Road 
(and Castle Rock SP)...A PILEATED WOODPECKER moved from the SCL side to the SCZ 

side near milemarker 8.46, and a pair of PILEATEDS moved from SCZ to SCL 
near milemarker 6.00 (vicinity of Gist Road). I found three pairs of WESTERN 
BLUEBIRDS on the SCZ side, all at spots with records in the last 1-3 breeding 
seasons. A pair was at a nest with young in a black oak at milemarker 7.00. 
A pair had 2 fledglings near milemarker 5.20. And a pair was at a nest with 
young in a black oak at milemarker 2.00 (Summit Road there). Three juv. 
SHARP-SHINNED HAWKS were piping calls and soaring here and there over Summit 
Road at Hwy 17, mostly southeast of the Highway (SCL).
 
I only heard one CASSIN'S VIREO the whole time (Skyline Blvd at Thompson 
Road, SCZ side), although they have been found in other years in all of the 
areas I have mentioned above.
 
David Suddjian
skating the crest

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Subject: crow commotion in motion
From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 17:18:18 EDT
I have learned to go outside and see what is up whenever the local AMERICAN 
CROWS raise a big ruckus. Sometimes I am rewarded with the sight of an 
interesting raptor that they are mobbing, but more often I can't figure out 
what 

has stirred their collective pot. Most events seem to be rooted in 
interactions among the crows themselves, with eruptions due to raptors and such 

being less frequent.
 
Over the last couple months there have only been small numbers of crows in 
my Capitola neighborhood, with walks down the street usually revealing just 
2-3 crows. But over the last 10 days the numbers have jumped a bit, with 
counts of 8-10 crows, suggesting some seasonal shift. Just now I heard a bigger 

than usual commotion of crows and ran out for a look. There were initially 
about 25 crows racing around between several trees with a torrent of cawing. 
I could not tell what had them worked up, but they were very loud and 
seemed very agitated. I noticed other parties of crows, apparently attracted by 

the vocalizations, were flying in from varied directions over distances of 
several hundred yards, mostly in groups of 2 and 3 birds. Within a few minutes 
a swirling commotion of about 90 crows had assembled. Drivers on Monterey 
Avenue were slowing down and looking out their car windows, probably thinking 
of the Hitchcock movie. After a few frenzied minutes, tensions eased as 
rapidly as they had escalated. Large segments of the flock broke off and left 
the scene this way and that, while some crows remained perched in the trees, 
vigilant but now much quieter. Just now, as I conclude this email, I took 
another look outside and there is not a single crow in evidence.
 
Most of the birds were clearly adults by their wing molt. No juvies 
evident. I have no idea what happened and how wide an area they had gathered 
from, 

but it seemed to represent a real shift from the low key breeding season 
pattern of small numbers in the 'hood.
 
David Suddjian
in the 'hood
 
 
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Subject: Davenport overlook
From: "W.Breck Tyler" <ospr AT ucsc.edu>
Date: Sat, 27 Jun 2009 08:35:36 -0700
Yesterday (Friday 6/26) morning at the Davenport overlook, we too 
observed the steady flow of north bound adult  HEERMANN'S GULLS. A 
dozen or so BRANDT'S CORMORANTS were sitting on nests on the old pier. 
Notable was a raft of 7 PACIFIC LOONS, all in basic or intermediate 
plumage, floating quietly near 5 WESTERN GREBES  and 1 CLARK'S GREBE. A 
couple of CASPIAN TERNS  were the only terns observed.

Breck Tyler
Santa Cruz



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Subject: Loma Prieta 6/26/09
From: Dominik Mosur <polskatata AT yahoo.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 21:45:52 -0700 (PDT)
I birded the "saddle" on Loma Prieta Way this morning from about 9 a.m. to noon 
hoping to see the oft-reported Purple Martins, joined for some of the time 
byJeff Wall. 


The martins never showed but Idid get scope views of two CASSIN'S VIREOS on 
the Santa Cruz county side of the road. One of the vireos was doing a lot of 
wing flicking and making calls I've never heard before and may have been a 
begging fledgling but I'm not 100% sure. 


Several Red-breasted Nuthatches were calling on the Santa Clara side of the 
road and eventually one flew across to the Santa Cruz side. No such luck with 
the Blue-gray Gnatcatchers though. 


Dominik Mosur
San Francisco
Subject: cormorant nesting
From: Alexander Gaguine <gaguine AT baymoon.com>
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 18:46:38 -0700
This evening the Brandt's Cormorant nesting colony just east of  
Natural Bridges had adults on only 4 nests - one on the right side,  
three on the left. The rest of the nests on the right appeared  
abandoned. (I don't believe the young had hatched and fledged, had  
they?)

Alexander

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Subject: A few Santa Cruz birds
From: stephengerow AT aol.com
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 20:21:04 -0400
      This morning a fresh juvenile RED-SHOULDERED HAWK was at Natural 
Bridges in the pines just north of the park headquarters building, 
probably just fledged from the nest site near the butterfly area.  A 
PEREGRINE FALCON flew over near the bend in the entrance road, escorted 
out of the area by about a dozen crows.
      A BRANT was in Younger Lagoon.  An OSPREY flew over the lagoon, 
then continued up the coast.  A lingering immature RED-THROATED LOON 
was swimming off Terrace Point.  HEERMAN'S GULL migration seemed to be 
picking up, with about 40 (almost all adults) flying up the coast past 
Terrace Point in about a half hour.
     A family group of 2 adult and 2 juvenile TREE SWALLOWS was working 
around the Antonelli Pond area, then over the Terrace Point fields; 
these are uncommon in this area, but there has been a pair around this 
season.  What I found interesting, though, was that the adults were 
repeatedly feeding the young while in flight (both the adults and the 
juveniles flying).  I sometimes see adult swallows of various species 
hovering while passing food to perched young, but I don't remember ever 
seeing feeding going on when both are in flight.
                                                                         
                        Steve Gerow
                                                                         
                         Santa Cruz

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Subject: West Santa Cruz
From: stephengerow AT aol.com
Date: Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:27:25 -0400
      Yesterday (June 25) at Natural Bridges the BRANDT'S CORMORANT 
colony was looking on the decline, with a large number of nests 
abandoned.  There were still 11 nests with incubating birds, and some 
cormorants were still adding to piles of seaweed, but many nests were 
gone,  and I'm not sure if this colony will have much success this 
season.  Last week there were over 30 intact nests with apparently 
incubating birds, and oddly, there were a couple of eggs laying on the 
ground between nests, something I don't remember seeing before.
      A late or summering 1st summer PACIFIC LOON was off West Cliff 
Drive near Swift Street, and there were still fairly large groups of 
Aechmophorus grebes, the great majority WESTERN (90-100 from Woodrow to 
Natural Bridges), but at least one CLARK'S was off Fair Ave, and more 
distant grebes I didn't count off Lighthouse Point.
      At Natural Bridges I was glad to see at least 3 VAUX'S SWIFTS, 
foraging with some Violet-green Swallows around Monterey pines along 
the park's east border.  They haven't been very much in evidence around 
this area so far this season, so that gives me some hope that there 
still might be a small breeding population around the lower west side 
(but who knows?).  The two spots where I've found them nesting over the 
last decade both now have spark arrestors, but I think there are still 
a few uncovered chimneys in the area.
      A female BELTED KINGFISHER at Antonelli Pond was the first I have 
seen in town since mid-March.  Other summer dispersants yesterday 
included single adult ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLERS at Natural Bridges and 
Antonelli Pond.  Last Sunday night (June 21), the first BARN OWL I have 
noticed since mid-winter flew over my house on Delaware Avenue
                                                                         
                  Steve Gerow
                                                                         
                   Santa Cruz

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Subject: Loma Prieta and Martins
From: "Heidi Sandkuhle" <Mrskuhle AT charter.net>
Date: Thu, 25 Jun 2009 15:35:36 -0700
Richard and I were very encouraged to hear that David Suddjian had seen the 
Purple Martins on Loma Prieta 3.2 miles from the intersection of Highland and 
Mt. Bache at the saddle on the ridge just below those towers. Took a drive up 
there this morning and saw them minutes from arriving at the saddle! Our 
sighting was confirmed by Lois and Wally Goldfrank who arrived moments later 
who had just seen them from their car as they parked just before the saddle. 
Also spotted a pair of Lazuli Buntings, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers, Bewick's Wren, 
loads of Cliff Swallows, Turkey Vulture, Band-tailed Pigeons, Lesser Goldfinch, 
Ash-throated Flycatcher, Pacific slope Flycatcher, Rufous Hummingbird, and 
Wrentits. 

Most of the birds were flying on both sides of the counties (except 
Ash-throated Flycatcher and Pacific slope Flycatcher). 

Thank you's to Alex Rinkert, David Suddjian, Phil Brown and Bob Reiling for 
fine tuning directions and locations. Now we know where to look the next time. 

Heidi Sandkuhle
Subject: Loma Prieta Martins
From: Phil Brown <pdpbrown AT gmail.com>
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 11:21:20 -0700
This morning at about 9:30 there was a cloud of swallows foraging over the
lower saddle, they started at the South peak and moved to the North peak
over the space of about 30 minutes. I saw at least one male PURPLE MARTIN
and the female PURPLE MARTIN flew by me at a distance of about 15 feet on
the North side peak for a great confirmed ID. BLUE-GREY GNATCATCHERS were
also still around on the North peak, For those wondering the spot is where
the power lines leave Loma Prieta road and go up the hill towards the comms
towers.
Phil Brown,
Santa Cruz
Subject: Red shouldered hawk
From: <tula AT hughes.net>
Date: Wed, 24 Jun 2009 8:07:00 -0700
adult male this a.m. in south county  near pinnacles on blue jay lane

Kellie D. Morgantini, 

(sent from my Palm Treo with leetle teeny buttons, so please excuse the 
(occasional) misspellng..... 



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Subject: Quail Hollow Ranch
From: "Alex Rinkert" <arinkert12 AT comcast.net>
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 21:09:59 -0700
This morning at about 10:20, a WESTERN KINGBIRD was on the telephone wires
by the Quail Hollow Ranch pond. It then flew off towards the Chaparral
Trial. Also around the pond was a VAUX'S SWIFT. In the overflow parking lot
I saw a European Starling which seemed to be the host of a juvenile
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD but the Starling refused to feed it no matter how
bothersome it was.

 

Later in the morning I met up with Will Lawton and Patty Durkee. We observed
a second AMERICAN COOT nest (empty) and a young scraggly coot baby being
escorted by its parents.

 

Alex Rinkert

Ben Lomond
Subject: San Lorenzo River
From: will lawton lawton <wiwwynils AT gmail.com>
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 21:15:57 -0700
Last Saturday Patty Durkee, Alex Rinkert, and I went for a walk on the San
Lorenzo River from Petsmart down almost to the river mouth. right of the bat
we heard a COMMON YELLOWTHROAT singing in the shrubs. we saw many MALLARDs
and WOODUCKs, a few with little ducklings, a few GREEN HERONs and GREAT BLUE
HERONsas well as 3 adult and 4 juvinile COMMON MERGANSERS. the highlights of
the trip were seeing 1 male and 3 female HOODED ORIOLES and one PIED-BILLED
GREBE in breeding plumage, along with what seemed like every urban species
you could imagine.

also I'd like to add to Alex Rinkert's earlier post about the Zayante Trail.
there was also a pair of NORTHERN ROUGH-WINGED SWALLOWs nesting in a pipe
hole in the rubber dam.

-- 
Will Lawton
Subject: UCSC, Gray Whale, and Wilder Ranch
From: stephengerow AT aol.com
Date: Tue, 23 Jun 2009 00:14:36 -0400
      This morning on the upper UCSC campus a fresh juvenile 
SHARP-SHINNED HAWK was in a douglas-fir on Red Hill Road near the 
intersection with Chinquapin Road.  It appeared to have fledged very 
recently.  A CHIPPING SPARROW was still singing on territory at the 
lower (southeast) end of Marshall Field.  A HERMIT WARBLER was near the 
south end of Red Hill Road, chipping but not singing.  One 
GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLET was still singing along Chinquapin Road a bit 
northwest of the West Road intersection, and a family group of 4-5 was 
near Marshall Field.  Most of the other regular species were in good 
numbers, with young birds all over the place.
      Another CHIPPING SPARROW was singing in Gray Whale Ranch, on the 
Long Meadow Trail near the edge of the north end of the Long Meadow.  A 
singing male LAZULI BUNTING was also in this area.  At least one 
GRASSHOPPER SPARROW was about halfway down the Long Meadow.  An 
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER entered a nest hole in a dead live oak on the 
Long meadow Trail below the Long Meadow.
      Further downhill in Wilder Ranch, 2-3 LAZULI BUNTINGS were in an 
area of coyote brush and brackens above the ponds on the east side of 
the Engelsmann Loop Trail.  The only one I saw well was an adult 
female, but I think it might have been a family group.  Some young 
CLIFF SWALLOWS had already left their nests around the Wilder Ranch 
ranch building complex, and those still in the nest mostly looked about 
full sized, and close to fledging.
                                                                         
                   Steve Gerow
                                                                         
                   Santa Cruz

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Subject: bounced/forwarded post re: raptors-presentation query
From: Todd Newberry <taxa AT biology.ucsc.edu>
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 15:05:20 -0700
>
>Subject: anyone know of a good raptor presentation?
>From: Juliana Grinvalsky 
>To: mbb AT biology.ucsc.edu
>
>Hi folks!
>I'm sorry to put out a non-bird report request, but I thought tapping some
>of the bird expertise out there on this listserve might help me solve a
>problem.  I help run the summer camp program at Life Lab (a garden education
>non-profit on the campus of UCSC) and we have "Bird of Prey Day" as the
>theme for one of our camp days this year.  We've been trying to get someone
>up here to do a bird presentation, preferrably with live birds, for our
>group of about 30 campers (ages 8-11).  If anyone has any thoughts or knows
>someone with traveling raptors and/or kid experience, please respond to the
>e-mail below and thanks for your help in advance!
>
>--
>Juliana Grinvalsky
>Administrative Assistant
>Life Lab Science Program
>1156 High Street
>Santa Cruz, CA 95064
>(831)459-2001
>admin AT lifelab.org
>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
>Life Lab Science Program is celebrating its 30th anniversary!  Check it out
>at www.lifelab.org/history.


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Subject: Monterey county courthouse
From: <tula AT hughes.net>
Date: Mon, 22 Jun 2009 12:13:00 -0700
 AT  noon - 5-6 adult male mointain towhees in 2nd pkg lot and two acorn 
woodpeckers. Could not tell if woodpeckers were a pair or both F. 


kelllie  


Kellie D. Morgantini, 

(sent from my Palm Treo with leetle teeny buttons, so please excuse the 
(occasional) misspellng..... 



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Subject: Northern Parula at Rancho Del Oso
From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:25:33 EDT
A highlight at Rancho Del Oso early this morning was a singing male 
NORTHERN PARULA along Waddell Creek approx. 0.75 mile north of the entry to 
Twin 

Redwoods Camp, or about 2.5 miles inland from Highway 1 along Skyline to the 
Sea Trail. Going north from Twin Redwoods Camp, watch for a locked gate at a 
road going off to the right. The bird was on the left (creek-side) near the 
trail a short ways north beyond that, where the trail passes some box elders 
after going through a stand of redwoods and firs. Most of the time I was 
near it, it was singing out of view amid the trees near the creek. I had a 
couple looks at it.
 
Other birds noted between Twin Redwoods and the Parula spot were 4 PILEATED 
WOODPECKERS and 2 NORTHERN PYGMY-OWLS. Another PYGMY-OWL was south of Alder 
Camp, and one was west of the ag. fields that are just north of Swing 
Hill...a 4 Pygmy-Owl morning.
 
David Suddjian
Capitola
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Subject: Purple Martins still near Loma Prieta
From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 21:28:09 EDT
This afternoon in the Loma Prieta area I had looks at an adult male and two 
female PURPLE MARTINS as they flew over the slopes near the "lower saddle" 
that has been recently mentioned. None were in evidence for at least 15 
min., then all three appeared together, roaming widely as they foraged. I saw 
them over both Santa Clara and Santa Cruz Counties. I did not see any 
interaction with the snags in that area, but I did not have long to stay. 
 
David Suddjian
Capitola
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Subject: Various Santa Cruz Birds
From: stephengerow AT aol.com
Date: Sun, 21 Jun 2009 02:17:08 -0400
      This morning a WHIMBREL was flying down the coast off West Cliff 
Drive.  It's hard to know whether it was a very early fall migrant, or 
a bird that's summering in the general area.  A MARBLED MURRELET was 
off Chico Avenue.  Two worn BRANT were swimming off Natural Bridges 
Beach, and five more flew up the coast past Terrace Point.  Numbers of 
HEERMAN'S GULLS were somewhat higher (about 20 this morning), and there 
were also a few more COMMON MURRES swimming offshore or flying by.  At 
least three juvenile and one adult GREEN HERONS were around the Natural 
Bridges and Antonelli Pond areas.  A recently fledged juvenile 
CALIFORNIA THRASHER was near the north end of Antonelli Pond.  At 
Terrace Point a Nuttall's WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW was feeding a fledgling 
BROWN-HEADED COWBIRD; there was also one juvenile White-crown in the 
same area.  A third cycle GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL was on the rocky 
shoreline.  Younger Lagoon had a pair of GADWALLS, and lots of young 
Mallards of various ages.  Adult male ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS seemed to 
have all left the Natural Bridges area by today; one territorial male 
was still there on June 16.
      Male WOOD DUCKS have been accumulating at Neary Lagoon lately, as 
they seem to do this time of year.  Yesterday (June 19) I counted 16 
males and 1 female around the lagoon.  Young TREE SWALLOWS have been 
fledging at Neary over the last week, and there was just one nest that 
still had young yesterday.
      On Tuesday (June 16), Bonnie Bedzin and I saw a late RED-THROATED 
LOON swimming in Antonelli Pond.  It was probably a first year bird, 
with just a bit of red on the throat, and had molted some of its 
primaries.  It was not there today.
                                                                         
              Steve Gerow

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Subject: Loma Prieta, Rancho Del Oso, Zayante Trail, and QHR
From: "Alex Rinkert" <arinkert12 AT comcast.net>
Date: Wed, 17 Jun 2009 13:34:53 -0700
I went up to Loma Prieta on 6/14 and saw the following. Between the
intersection of Loma Prieta Way x Mt. Bache Road and the first area of the
road where valleys are on both sides, there were 3 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS,
5-6 ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS, 3 OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS, 2 RED-BREASTED
NUTHATCHES and a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER.

 

Along the lower saddle, the previously reported 3 PURPLE MARTINS (two males,
one female) were flying in the valley on the Santa Clara County side but
then made one pass over the road into Santa Cruz County. Other birds at this
location included 10 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS (the majority in Santa Clara
Co.), 2 CASSIN'S VIREOS, 5 TURKEY VULTURES, 3 WESTERN TANAGERS, 3
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCHES and one WARBLING VIREO. About .5 miles up the road,
there was another small group of 4-5 BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS.

 

Yesterday (6/16) I went up to Rancho Del Oso and saw two MACGILLIVRAYS
WARBLERS, one about half way up the entrance road and the other by the park
HQ. Other birds in the area were 6 WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS and two
EURASIAN-COLLARED DOVES. 15 MALLARDS were feeding in the surf off of Waddell
Beach and three COMMON MERGANSERS were in the lagoon. A first-cycle
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL was also on the beach.

 

Today, Will Lawton and I walked along Zayante Creek (which turned into the
San Lorenzo River) from its crossing with Graham Hill Road to the main
entrance of Henry Cowell Redwoods SP. We tallied 16 WILSON'S WARBLERS and 14
YELLOW WARBLERS in about .4 of a mile along the creek. Yesterday evening in
this area we saw two juv. YELLOW WARBLERS and two juv. WILSON'S WARBLERS
being fed by parents. Six COMMON MERGANSERS and two female WOOD DUCKS were
along the river.

 

While riding past Quail Hollow Ranch this morning, I heard a CASSIN'S VIREO
in the Eucalyptus trees by the main entrance. Two WILD TURKEYS had 9 young
following them around. Two adult COOPER'S HAWKS were circling over the lower
meadow. Also in the lower meadow was a flock of at least 14 BREWER'S
BLACKBIRDS. I have only seen one or two at a time so this was unusual. The
AMERICAN COOT pair has a nest of begging young at the pond.

 

Lastly, a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL was sitting in the middle of Quail Hollow Road
at about 9:30 on the evening of 6/13.

 

Alex Rinkert

Ben Lomond
Subject: Moss Landing RTLO / pix
From: Ron Wolf <rewolf AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 23:03:15 -0700
Photos of the Red-throated Loon at Moss Landing
Sunday are now posted at:

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

All were shot from the parking lot or the jetty
along Jetty Road.


-- Ron Wolf
    Palo Alto

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Subject: Re: Lunacy at Moss Landing
From: lbkinglet AT aol.com
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 14:01:46 -0400
Given the degree of variability in this bird's markings, I have to ask - does 
anyone know anything about hybridization in loons? ?I've never seen anything 
specifically about this in the more popular publications. ? 




Just wonderin'.




Diane Goodboe

Ben Lomond
Subject: Red-eyed Vireo
From: Oscar Johnson <henicorhina AT yahoo.com>
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 10:59:18 -0700 (PDT)
For those of you in Santa Cruz who don't check the birdbox regularly; there was 
a singing Red-eyed Vireo behind Emily's Bakery on Mission Street at Laurel this 
morning. It was in the large tree-of-heaven behind the outdoor patio. 


Oscar Johnson
Santa Cruz
Subject: Re: Lunacy at Moss Landing
From: Rebecca Dmytryk <diametryk AT earthlink.net>
Date: Mon, 15 Jun 2009 09:09:45 -0700
Thanks for the pics. That is one very sick loon.

A not to birders - please, if you see an aquatic bird like this, on  
its side, or just resting on shore, please report it, as Ron did, to a  
wildlife rescue organization. Here in Moss Landing we are the closest  
at 831-429-2323. Anywhere in CA you can get the nearest number by  
calling 866-WILD-911 and following the prompts.


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




On Jun 14, 2009, at 11:21 PM, Ron Wolf wrote:

>
> After looking at photos shot Sunday afternoon of the loon at Moss  
> Landing -- the bird reported earlier as a possible Arctic Loon --  
> I'm convinced it's a Pacific Loon.
>
> Photos are at:
>
>    http://www.flickr.com/photos/rwolf/
>
> (After clicking on any one of the images, you can get larger sizes  
> by clicking on the "All Sizes" icon at the top of the image area. If  
> that still isn't large enough, click on "Original.")
>
> These shots give close views of the shape of the head and the  
> striping on the neck -- good enough to make clear that it's a  
> Pacific Loon.
>
> Alas, I think this poor bird is ailing. It beached itself twice  
> Sunday afternoon for a couple of hours each time. At 6 p.m. the bird  
> came right up to the edge of the Jetty Road pavement, where it  
> remained for a couple of hours, too lethargic to respond to cars or  
> people passing within several feet. (Rescuers are on the way.)
>
> The juvenile Red-throated Loon -- also reported earlier -- was  
> giving good close views from Jetty Road all afternoon. I'll finish  
> processing those shots and get them posted tomorrow.
>
>
> -- Ron Wolf
>   Palo Alto
>
> ((To unsubscribe MBB, send the command UNSUBSCRIBE MBB  EMAIL ADDRESS> to .))


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Subject: Lunacy at Moss Landing
From: Ron Wolf <rewolf AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:21:24 -0700
After looking at photos shot Sunday afternoon of the loon at Moss 
Landing -- the bird reported earlier as a possible Arctic Loon -- I'm 
convinced it's a Pacific Loon.

Photos are at:

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

(After clicking on any one of the images, you can get larger sizes by 
clicking on the "All Sizes" icon at the top of the image area. If that 
still isn't large enough, click on "Original.")

These shots give close views of the shape of the head and the striping 
on the neck -- good enough to make clear that it's a Pacific Loon.

Alas, I think this poor bird is ailing. It beached itself twice Sunday 
afternoon for a couple of hours each time. At 6 p.m. the bird came right 
up to the edge of the Jetty Road pavement, where it remained for a 
couple of hours, too lethargic to respond to cars or people passing 
within several feet. (Rescuers are on the way.)

The juvenile Red-throated Loon -- also reported earlier -- was giving 
good close views from Jetty Road all afternoon. I'll finish processing 
those shots and get them posted tomorrow.


-- Ron Wolf
    Palo Alto

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Subject: Possible ARLO @ Moss Landing?
From: "Jeff Poklen" <jpkln AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 23:03:04 -0700
My delayed response and 2 worth further to Steve Rovell's comment (6/13) 

>>Playing Devil's Advocate, we didn't see the prominent white flank  
patch we expected to see on an Arctic Loon.

and Matthew Dodder's post (6/14):

>>I'm not suggesting this bird is in fact an Arctic Loon, but I am  
asking what observable features should we consider diagnostic for the  
species? In the absence of white flanks, are there other marks we  
should consider dependable? 

Please keep in mind I've not seen this loon, nor have I ever seen an Arctic 
Loon. However, I recall being advised that, with possible rarities way out of 
range where most of the defining characters can be easily confused with local 
species, it's important (and probably required by most bird records committees) 
that ALL the diagnostic characters and behavior for the species in question be 
present and stand out clearly. I think that lacking the requisite white (Tree 
Swallow-like) flank patches this bird is either a Pacific Loon variant or must, 
unfortunately, remain unidentified --a point everyone, no doubt, arrived at 
long before I. The green throat patch could easily be due to the angle of 
light. Interestingly I've witnessed the head/neck iridescence of moving male 
Greater (& Lesser) Scaups (verified by structure and white wing bar length) 
shift from green to purple in the blink of an eye. 


Jeff Poklen
Santa Cruz, CA
Subject: Re: Arctic Loon possible
From: Matthew Dodder <mdodder AT sbcglobal.net>
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 22:13:50 -0700
All,

My wife and I met up with our friend Petersen to take a look at the  
"Moss Landing" Loon this morning. Each of us noticed the dull green  
sheen on the throat which made us happy, but as expected, other  
observers reported seeing flashes of purple. We also noted the  
triangular point of black at the breast, but were not certain this  
was truly a helpful feature. We debated the width and boldness of the  
neck stripes, as well as the head shape and bill character. While we  
did not see large white flanks, which didin't make us happy, we  
noticed a thin dark stripe that connected the two legs (basically the  
hip area on the underside) which seemed to agree with Peter Pyle's  
(Figure 164) on page 217 of IGNAB (Part 2). On this same page,  
however, Pyle shows Pacific with a strip of dark between the legs  
that was very much like what we saw. (Figure 163)

I'm not suggesting this bird is in fact an Arctic Loon, but I am  
asking what observable features should we consider diagnostic for the  
species? In the absence of white flanks, are there other marks we  
should consider dependable? Bill size is difficult to assess,  
especially without nearby Pacifics, nape color is also tough... I'm  
noticing a dearth of good illustrations showing field-observable  
features, especially from directly in front of the bird or the  
underside of tail.

Any suggestions?

Matthew Dodder
http://www.birdguy.net




On Jun 13, 2009, at 7:06 PM, Bill Hill wrote:

> Here are a few pictures of the Loon at Moss Landing Harbor today.   
> The pictures are self explanatory except for the tint on the throat  
> patch.  I over saturated the image in photoshop and confirmed that  
> it is definitely tinged green not purple Have fun with this
>
> http://www.birdshotphotography.com/Arctic%20Loon/index.html

.  .  .

Matthew Dodder
http://www.birdguy.net



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Subject: Northern Goshawk - well, that was easy.
From: Randy Lauff <randy.lauff AT gmail.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 19:15:02 -0300
An adult Northern Goshawk just flew right through my feeder area! Only the
Blue Jay's squack alerted me, and I watched the Gos head off to the orchard.
An easy tick for the MBBA, and quite a thrill to see, too. That's the first
gos in my yard (that I've recorded) since 2005.

No idea if it got anything, but the birds are already back at my feeders.
Randy
_________________________________
RF Lauff
Way in the boonies of
Antigonish County, NS.
Subject: LABU at Pogonip
From: hawkowl AT sbcglobal.net
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 14:19:15 -0700 (PDT)
This morning at 10 a.m. there was a singing male Lazuli Bunting just north of 
the Golf Club Drive entrance to the Pogonip in Santa Cruz. Walking north about 
1/4 of a mile from the parking area the trail makes a sharp right turn and the 
bunting was singing from a wild plum as well as from the adjacent vegetation in 
this area. When I returned at noon the Lazuli continued singing from the same 
location. No evidence of nesting was apparent though it may be worth checking 
in the future for nesting activity. 


Earl Lebow
Subject: Re: Arctic Loon possible
From: "Betsy Buchalter Adler" <adler AT adlercolvin.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 13:38:47 -0700
The possible ARCTIC LOON was still there at 10:30 this morning, along with a 
RED-NECKED LOON and a COMMON LOON. A loon trifecta! 


Betsy Buchalter Adler
Pacific Grove


________________________________

From: owner-mbb AT biology.ucsc.edu 
To: Mbb 
Sent: Sat Jun 13 19:06:45 2009
Subject: [MBB] Arctic Loon possible 


Here are a few pictures of the Loon at Moss Landing Harbor today. The pictures 
are self explanatory except for the tint on the throat patch. I over saturated 
the image in photoshop and confirmed that it is definitely tinged green not 
purple Have fun with this 

 
http://www.birdshotphotography.com/Arctic%20Loon/index.html
Subject: Seacliff & Capitola
From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:52:47 EDT
I took a look at the nesting BRANDT'S COMRORANTS at the cement ship at 
Seacliff SB this morning, 6/14. As at some other local nesting sites, their 
effort has rebounded after a poor start. A visit on May 5 had found just 14 
active nests and 63 cormorants present. This morning there were 201 active 
nests, and 1035 Brandt's present. About 650 of those were standing in close 
ranks 

in an area of the ship away from the two sections that had nesting birds. 
Of the nests, most had adults in incubation pose, but a small number (<5%) 
had young birds visible. The 201 nests is an increase over the 157 nests in 
2008, as this colony continues to grow.
 
There were large numbers of AECHMOPHORUS GREBES in the waters off Seacliff, 
New Brighton and Rio Del Mar, as is typical for late spring and early 
summer. I tallied 1,735 birds, but most were too far out and/or sleeping and 
could not be identified. Of 296 individuals that I did identify, 261 (88%) were 

Westerns. I identified 35 Clark's. Extrapolating, there might have been 
about 1530 Westerns and 205 Clark's. There were three species of loons off 
Seacliff: 1 RED-THROATED, 4 PACIFIC, and 1 COMMON. 
 
While counting grebes I noticed begging calls of DARK-EYED JUNCOS in the 
parking lot behind me. There was a family group of three juv. being tended by 
the parents, with the male also singing in a cypress in the parking lot. 
This is the first breeding record for Seacliff, and I had not even had the 
species there before. (Over at Soquel Creek near Peery Park in Capitola there 
were 4 singing males and another family group of fledglings, with the singing 
males now a dominant element in the songscape of that avian challenged 
riparian area.)
 
Capitola Beach had 183 WESTERNS, 17 CLARK'S and 44 Aechmophorus sp. Three 
PACIFIC LOONS flew by, heading up the coast
 
David Suddjian
still peering seaward on this good earth
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Subject: Rancho Del Oso, Waddell Beach and vicinity recent
From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 12:25:32 EDT
Mostly odds and ends of some interest...
 
Several checks at Waddell Creek Beach and the waters off Waddell Bluffs 
from June 8-13 have found higher than expected numbers of AECHMOPHORUS GREBES 
for this time of year. By this time in most years, there are often none 
present or just single digit counts. Some representative recent tallies: 
6/10 (Waddell Bluffs) - 47 Western, 3 Clark's, 44 unidentified
6/12 (Waddell Bluffs) - 123 Western, 2 Clark's, 39 unidentified
6/13 (Waddell Beach) - 195 Western, 4 Clark's, 35 unidentified; more were 
likely present on 6/13, as obscuring fog was fairly close to shore 
 
Straggling loons have also been regular, mostly PACIFIC, as expected. I've 
seen 2-3 Pacific's off the beach and bluffs on each visit, some flying up 
the coast, but most on the ocean, and none in breeding plumage. A RED-THROATED 
LOON was on the ocean off Waddell Beach on 6/9. Single COMMON LOONS were 
there on 6/9, and off the Bluffs on 6/10. A higher count of Pacific Loons was 
11 off Pelican Rock on 6/10, with 10 on the ocean and one flying up the 
coast.
 
A tardy flock of 21 BRANT flew up the coast past Waddell Beach on June 10. 
Three worn-plumaged Brant were at the creek mouth on June 12-13. Tardy SURF 
SCOTERS included four flying up the coast at the beach on 6/10, and one past 
the bluffs on 6/12. A CASPIAN TERN on the beach on 6/13 was the first I'd 
seen there in a couple weeks.
 
Inland at Rancho Del Oso, a VAUX'S SWIFT was feeding over Waddell Creek 
near Alder Camp at dusk on 6/12. On 6/13 I had two male NORTHERN-PYGMY OWLS 
calling at the same time at dawn in the region just north and northeast of Twin 

Redwoods Camp, and later one was along West Trail north of Swing Hill. A 
pair of PILEATED WOODPECKERS was in the vicinity of Twin Redwoods Camp. The 
area from Swing Hill north had two pairs of OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHERS, and I 
heard one WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE in that region of the park, and one EUR. 
COLLARED-DOVE.
 
COMMON RAVENS continue to gather in the fields near Swanton Berry Farm; 
another recent high count was 97 in the early evening on 6/10. An adult male 
PEREGRINE FALCON tried its luck with a flock of 190 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS in an 
ag. field at the north side of Davenport on 6/12...the pigeons were lucky, 
but the falcon was not.
 
David Suddjian
North Coast...peering seaward, feet firmly ashore where they belong.
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Subject: RBGR
From: Jeff Wall <jhwall AT hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 15:30:26 +0000
The RBGR was at our feeder at 8:15 this morning

Jeff Wall
831-42  9-1292
Subject: Re: Question about Sea Lions
From: Rebecca Dmytryk <diametryk AT earthlink.net>
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:32:05 -0700
Sea lions MUST be born in their island rookeries - not on the  
mainland. They cannot survive. As far as i know there are no mainland  
rookeries - we humans have taken up all the land.

Is the animal a pup? - it will be  a darker grayish brown - not golden  
or chocolate brown. It will look like a person in a big suit -  
cumbersome, and most importantly it will bleat like a lamb.

If not, it is likely last year's pup.

If it is a newborn sea lion, and the mother is healthy, there is  
potential for then to be captured and relocated to an island rookery.  
If the mother is not present, or is too sick, then this is one of the  
most tragic and sad - something you will never forget.

At this point in time there is no facility - no marine mammal care  
center that will take a newborn sea lion and try to rehabilitate it.  
Stellar sea lions have been successfully rehabbed, but not CA sea  
lions. I believe it was last year, maybe the year before, the NMFS  
asked rescue facilities to euthanize any newborn sea lion. I did hear  
though that perhaps there is potential for these babies to be adopted,  
raised, and trained for the Navy or other military uses.

You see, it's like taking a puppy and trying to raise it to be wild.  
How would you do that? I have ideas on how i'd do it but i don't run a  
marine mammal center. I believe it can be done but it will take money  
and public pressure for a marine mammal center to even try.

At any rate, the local marine mammal center should be contacted to  
respond and evaluate the situation. Their number is 831.633.6298. You  
can always find rescue numbers on our hotline for anywhere in CA. -  
that's 866-WILD-911.

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



On Jun 14, 2009, at 7:10 AM, Barbara Novelli wrote:

> Non-Bird Question:
> I have lived in Santa Cruz all my life, and never seen a baby sea  
> lion scene at the end of Lighthouse Point like there is now!  Since  
> when did they begin pupping (is that the right term?) there?  Has it  
> been since dogs have been limited at the state beach?
> If anyone knows who I could direct my questions to, that would be  
> great!  It is a wonderful site to observe!
>
>
> Barbara Novelli
>
>






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Subject: Question about Sea Lions
From: Barbara Novelli <barbaranovelli AT yahoo.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 07:10:02 -0700 (PDT)
Non-Bird Question:
I have lived in Santa Cruz all my life, and never seen a baby sea lion scene at 
the end of Lighthouse Point like there is now! Since when did they begin 
pupping (is that the right term?) there? Has it been since dogs have been 
limited at the state beach? 

If anyone knows who I could direct my questions to, that would be great! It is 
a wonderful site to observe! 



Barbara Novelli
Subject: Arctic Loon possible
From: "Bill Hill" <billhill AT redshift.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 19:06:45 -0700
Here are a few pictures of the Loon at Moss Landing Harbor today. The pictures 
are self explanatory except for the tint on the throat patch. I over saturated 
the image in photoshop and confirmed that it is definitely tinged green not 
purple Have fun with this 


http://www.birdshotphotography.com/Arctic%20Loon/index.html
Subject: Re: ARCTIC LOON ? in Moss Landing (MTY)
From: Len Blumin <Len.blumin AT gmail.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:32:15 -0700
Steve-
Thanks for posting. I was there yesterday with Rich's group, but didn't want
to post until I checked fruther with him, but with your note I thought I'd
include my rather hurriedly obtained digicoped images, attached hereto.
Cheers, Len Blumin
Taken 6-12-09, 3 pm. Swarovski 80HD, 30X, DCA, Nikon 8400

On Sat, Jun 13, 2009 at 5:22 PM, Steve Rovell  wrote:

>
>
> Hi Birders -
>
> Rita Carratello called to tell me that Rich Stallcup found a bird that
> he thought might have been an ARCTIC LOON. So I went to investigate
> and continued the phone tree. Eventually Tim Amaral, Larry and Carole
> Rose, David Styer and Bill Hill had all joined me in seeing this
> alternate plumage loon.
>
> We all agreed with several field marks good for Arctic Loon. These
> included a green throat, the pointy V at the base of the green throat
> patch and a heavier and longer bill than what we would expect from
> Pacific Loon. Many of us also felt that the black and white stripes
> on the side of the neck and on the side seemed wide, but we didn't
> have a Pacific Loon to compare it to. Likewise with another
> fieldmark, the paleness of the nape. We just couldn't say for sure.
>
> Playing Devil's Advocate, we didn't see the prominent white flank
> patch we expected to see on an Arctic Loon.
>
> So, if all the experts out there look for Bill Hill's post (I'm sure
> it will be posted on this site, soon), you can take a look at his
> wonderful photos and put in your own two cents.
>
> The bird spent its time fairly close to shore just north of the
> jetties. It was hanging near a large group of otters and was easily
> spotted from the dirt parking lot at the end of Jetty Road in Moss
> Landing.
>
> In addition to the "Arctic" Loon, the following interesting birds were
> also seen:
>
> several (3-4) adult HEERMAN'S GULLS
> 1 ratty-looking RED-THROATED LOON
> 2 BLACK SKIMMERS
>
> Steve Rovell
> Marina, CA
> 
>



-- 
Cheers,
Len Blumin, Mill Valley, California
len.blumin AT gmail.com
Swaro 80 HD, 30X, DCA, CoolPix 8400
http://www.flickriver.com/photos/lenblumin/sets/72157614994688364/


[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
Subject: Dolan Rd, Moonglow, and rookery
From: "Betsy Buchalter Adler" <adler AT adlercolvin.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:35:53 -0700
This afternoon I visited Moonglow Dairy via the Dolan Rd wetland restoration 
gravel road. In addition to the Usual Suspects (Red-winged and Tricolored 
Blackbirds, House Finches, AMGO, Killdeer, Mallard) there was what I believe is 
a VARIED THRUSH in the hemlock just to the right of the marsh on the east side 
of the road. It was moving from the ground to the hemlock and back again. I 
don't know what else is the size of a thrush, has a thrush-like beak, and has 
orange wing bars and orange under its beak, but if I've got this wrong, I count 
on the MBB'ers to set me straight. 


The real delight of the day was the rookery in the eucs at Moonglow. I counted 
at least 3 active GREAT WHITE EGRET nests, at least 5 and possibly 7 active 
GREAT BLUE HERON nests with visible young, and 8-10 DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT 
nests with birds flying in and out with inflated orange gullets, greeted by 
hungry (visible) open beaks at the nest. The herons and egrets were making 
quite a racket. I had forgotten what a noise they make. 


There was too much hemlock for me to fight my way down the path, so the rookery 
was as far as I got, but it was definitely worth the trip. And if I'd only 
known, I could have seen the Arctic Loon on the way home! There's always 
tomorrow... 


Good birding,
Betsy Buchalter Adler
Pacific Grove 
칻&0lzwm(fuCRPDD0X9DL4DI+h&2y
Subject: ARCTIC LOON ? in Moss Landing (MTY)
From: Steve Rovell <tapaculo AT comcast.net>
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:22:34 -0700
Hi Birders -

Rita Carratello called to tell me that Rich Stallcup found a bird that  
he thought might have been an ARCTIC LOON.  So I went to investigate  
and continued the phone tree.  Eventually Tim Amaral, Larry and Carole  
Rose, David Styer and Bill Hill had all joined me in seeing this  
alternate plumage loon.

We all agreed with several field marks good for Arctic Loon.  These  
included a green throat, the pointy V at the base of the green throat  
patch and a heavier and longer bill than what we would expect from  
Pacific Loon.  Many of us also felt that the black and white stripes  
on the side of the neck and on the side seemed wide, but we didn't  
have a Pacific Loon to compare it to.  Likewise with another  
fieldmark, the paleness of the nape.  We just couldn't say for sure.

Playing Devil's Advocate, we didn't see the prominent white flank  
patch we expected to see on an Arctic Loon.

So, if all the experts out there look for Bill Hill's post (I'm sure  
it will be posted on this site, soon), you can take a look at his  
wonderful photos and put in your own two cents.

The bird spent its time fairly close to shore just north of the  
jetties.  It was hanging near a large group of otters and was easily  
spotted from the dirt parking lot at the end of Jetty Road in Moss  
Landing.

In addition to the "Arctic" Loon, the following interesting birds were  
also seen:

several (3-4) adult HEERMAN'S GULLS
1 ratty-looking RED-THROATED LOON
2 BLACK SKIMMERS

Steve Rovell
Marina, CA
Subject: ARCTIC LOON ? in Moss Landing (MTY)
From: Steve Rovell <tapaculo AT comcast.net>
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:22:34 -0700
Hi Birders -

Rita Carratello called to tell me that Rich Stallcup found a bird that  
he thought might have been an ARCTIC LOON.  So I went to investigate  
and continued the phone tree.  Eventually Tim Amaral, Larry and Carole  
Rose, David Styer and Bill Hill had all joined me in seeing this  
alternate plumage loon.

We all agreed with several field marks good for Arctic Loon.  These  
included a green throat, the pointy V at the base of the green throat  
patch and a heavier and longer bill than what we would expect from  
Pacific Loon.  Many of us also felt that the black and white stripes  
on the side of the neck and on the side seemed wide, but we didn't  
have a Pacific Loon to compare it to.  Likewise with another  
fieldmark, the paleness of the nape.  We just couldn't say for sure.

Playing Devil's Advocate, we didn't see the prominent white flank  
patch we expected to see on an Arctic Loon.

So, if all the experts out there look for Bill Hill's post (I'm sure  
it will be posted on this site, soon), you can take a look at his  
wonderful photos and put in your own two cents.

The bird spent its time fairly close to shore just north of the  
jetties.  It was hanging near a large group of otters and was easily  
spotted from the dirt parking lot at the end of Jetty Road in Moss  
Landing.

In addition to the "Arctic" Loon, the following interesting birds were  
also seen:

several (3-4) adult HEERMAN'S GULLS
1 ratty-looking RED-THROATED LOON
2 BLACK SKIMMERS

Steve Rovell
Marina, CA

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Subject: ARCTIC LOON ? in Moss Landing (MTY)
From: Steve Rovell <tapaculo AT comcast.net>
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:22:34 -0700
Hi Birders -

Rita Carratello called to tell me that Rich Stallcup found a bird that  
he thought might have been an ARCTIC LOON.  So I went to investigate  
and continued the phone tree.  Eventually Tim Amaral, Larry and Carole  
Rose, David Styer and Bill Hill had all joined me in seeing this  
alternate plumage loon.

We all agreed with several field marks good for Arctic Loon.  These  
included a green throat, the pointy V at the base of the green throat  
patch and a heavier and longer bill than what we would expect from  
Pacific Loon.  Many of us also felt that the black and white stripes  
on the side of the neck and on the side seemed wide, but we didn't  
have a Pacific Loon to compare it to.  Likewise with another  
fieldmark, the paleness of the nape.  We just couldn't say for sure.

Playing Devil's Advocate, we didn't see the prominent white flank  
patch we expected to see on an Arctic Loon.

So, if all the experts out there look for Bill Hill's post (I'm sure  
it will be posted on this site, soon), you can take a look at his  
wonderful photos and put in your own two cents.

The bird spent its time fairly close to shore just north of the  
jetties.  It was hanging near a large group of otters and was easily  
spotted from the dirt parking lot at the end of Jetty Road in Moss  
Landing.

In addition to the "Arctic" Loon, the following interesting birds were  
also seen:

several (3-4) adult HEERMAN'S GULLS
1 ratty-looking RED-THROATED LOON
2 BLACK SKIMMERS

Steve Rovell
Marina, CA
Subject: RBGR
From: Jeff Wall <jhwall AT hotmail.com>
Date: Sun, 14 Jun 2009 00:12:16 +0000
The RBGR is back at my feeder right now, 5:15 PM. 6/13

Jeff Wall
831-429-1292
Subject: Rose-breasted Grosbeak
From: Jeff Wall <jhwall AT hotmail.com>
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 17:57:27 +0000
This morning there is a male Rose-breasted Grosbeak at my feeder in Soquel. 
Probably the same one I reported several weeks ago. Also, a new feeder bird was 
a female Hooded Oriole. If the Grosbeak continues I will repost with directions 
for anyone who wants to try and see it. 


Jeff Wall
Soquel
Subject: Re: Wilder Ranch
From: DSUDDJIAN AT aol.com
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 13:17:55 EDT
 
In a message dated 6/12/2009 9:20:43 PM Pacific Daylight Time, 
stephengerow AT aol.com writes:

In the early morning it was interesting to see a large 
group (60+) of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS settle into the brussels sprout 
fields just east of the park, joining about an equal number of Rock 
Pigeons feeding in the fields.  I see flocks of migrant Band-tails 
feeding in the fields sometimes, but usually in migration; that many 
seems odd for June.

 
I don't get the impression that we see much migration, or flocks of 
migrants. I admit, though, that the movements in our area seem hard to sort out 
or 

parse into local versus long range. I see large flocks in ag. fields along 
the coast from west of Santa Cruz to Half Moon Bay on a regular basis from 
late spring into summer. They are commuters that have congregated from up in 
the forested hills where they are widespread breeders. Each morning many fly 
coastward, targeting ag. fields and coastal riparian and scrub with red 
elderberry and other fruits. Yesterday, for example, there were varied flocks 
totaling over 120 birds along the lower reaches of Gazos Creek, and I had a 
flock of 190 in an ag. field near Davenport. Interestingly (to me anyway), the 
numerous Band-taileds that nest fairly far inland, such as I have observed 
at Portola SP, seem less inclined to commute coastward, but instead commute 
shorter distances towards the summit ridge region of the mountains. Not sure 
where they are going exactly, but they don't seem to be doing the coastal 
thing.
 
David Suddjian

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Subject: Wilder Ranch
From: stephengerow AT aol.com
Date: Sat, 13 Jun 2009 00:19:36 -0400
   Today I walked a loop of trails in the inland part of Wilder Ranch 
State Park.  In the early morning it was interesting to see a large 
group (60+) of BAND-TAILED PIGEONS settle into the brussels sprout 
fields just east of the park, joining about an equal number of Rock 
Pigeons feeding in the fields.  I see flocks of migrant Band-tails 
feeding in the fields sometimes, but usually in migration; that many 
seems odd for June.  In Wilder Ranch, a female HOODED ORIOLE was in the 
garden in the ranch building complex, and toward the coast a female 
NORTHERN HARRIER was diving at a Raven.
     North of Highway 1, Wilder Creek had good numbers of expected 
riparian species- SWAINSON'S THRUSH, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAKS, WARBLING 
VIREOS, WILSON'S WARBLERS, etc.  Further uphill, four singing 
GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS  were in various places on the Engelsmann Loop 
Trail.  At least five ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHERS were in various spots.  
A singing male BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER  was in mixed evergreen 
forest on the Wild Boar Trail.  A WHITE-THROATED SWIFT was flying low 
over this trail, and a HERMIT THRUSH was singing just uphill to the 
north, not far from where two SWAINSON'S THRUSH were singing below the 
trail in Peasley Gulch.  Further down Peasley Gulch, near the west part 
of the Engelsman Loop, a territorial WHITE-TAILED KITE was chasing a  
Red-shouldered Hawk.
      Last, and least, two EURASIAN COLLARED-DOVES flew into the park 
near Highway 1 by the east border in the early afternoon.
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                Steve Gerow
                                                                         
                                                                         
                                 Santa Cruz

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Subject: Rancho del Oso
From: "Heidi Sandkuhle" <Mrskuhle AT charter.net>
Date: Fri, 12 Jun 2009 16:42:58 -0700
This morning at 8 am, Richard and I walked up the road towards the ranger 
station at Rancho del Oso. Stopped at all the proper pines, dead trees, yellow 
lupines, etc. but did not see or hear the Hooded Warbler. Ed Lebou was already 
at the right location, but he never saw or heard it as well. There were lots of 
other Warblers there--Wilson's, MacGillivray's, Orange-crowned, and a Common 
Yellowthroat, plus Wrentits, Bushtits, Bewick's Wren, White-throated Swifts, 
Barn Swallows, Tree Swallows, Black-headed Grossbeaks, Swainson's Thrush, and 
the other expected birds. 

We had left the camera in the car, so we had the closest views ever of 
Wrentits, a singing Swainson's Thrush, MacGillivray's, and a Wilson's Warbler 
feeding a HUGE green catterpillar to her young--which she had to pull out and 
re-arrange several times before the poor young thing could choke it down! A 
chipmunk feeding in the blackberries posed next to me at eye level for a minute 
before it finally dove to cover when it heard some bicycles whizz by. And a 
cottontail bunny sat next to the road and nibbled some vegetation until we 
almost could touch it! 

We drove Swanton Rd. on our way back to Santa Cruz, and first heard , then saw 
a Grasshopper Sparrow next to a cattle pen at 577 Swanton Rd. There were Coots 
with young at the pond near the southern end of the road. 

Heidi and Richard Sandkuhle
Subject: Re: Watsonville Sloughs
From: Lois Goldfrank <loisg AT cruzio.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 21:06:18 -0700
That's amazing that there are 2 Osprey chicks in that nest. Jeff  
Poklen and I watched for maybe 15 minutes, didn't see any hint of  
them. The 2 adults were gone quite a bit but never brought back any  
food, just a twig. And they never acted as if they were settling into  
an occupied nest. Weird!
Lois

On Jun 11, 2009, at 3:52 PM, Jeff Wall wrote:
> At harkins Slough things were quiet also. There are two chicks in  
> the Osrey nest on the platform. They look to be about 2-3 weeks  
> old, with flight feathers starting to come in, but lots of down also.
>
> Jeff Wall
> Soquel
Subject: Watsonville Sloughs
From: Jeff Wall <jhwall AT hotmail.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 22:52:26 +0000
This morning I hit some of the popular birding spots on the Watsonville 
Sloughs. It was slow going. A few Mallards, Gadwall, Coots, and Ruddy Ducks 
were scattered around. Two Bitterns flew up from the area where Lee Rd. crosses 
the slough. 


At harkins Slough things were quiet also. There are two chicks in the Osrey 
nest on the platform. They look to be about 2-3 weeks old, with flight feathers 
starting to come in, but lots of down also. 


I checked the Red-tail nest at the Palm Beach parking lot. I knew the chicks 
would be fledged, but thought they might still be hanging out in the area. 
Instead, I found that the nest tree and several other trees from around the 
trailer have been removed. I don't know the timing of this event relative to 
the RT chicks. Hope they made it... 


Jeff Wall
Soquel
Subject: Re: Swan?
From: judy belden <belzie99 AT yahoo.com>
Date: Thu, 11 Jun 2009 01:36:28 -0700 (PDT)
It's been a few months, but I saw one from the road when I drove past Moonglow 
Dairy. 

Judy Belden

--- On Wed, 6/10/09, Judy Donaldson  wrote:

From: Judy Donaldson 
Subject: [MBB] Swan?
To: mbb AT biology.ucsc.edu
Date: Wednesday, June 10, 2009, 4:08 PM


A friend of mine said that late last week she saw a swan at Moss Landing in the 
slough behind The Whole Enchilada. She just told me about it yesterday. She had 
seen it again, up close, yesterday morning from the parking lot behind the 
antique stores on Moss Landing Road. It was feeding on the bottom of the 
slough. 


I sent her pics of White Pelican and Tundra Swan, and she is sure it was a 
swan--with an orange bill. Perhaps an escaped exotic...? 


We looked for it today, but no luck. Has anyone else seen a swan in the ML 
area? 


Judy Donaldson

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Subject: Hooded Warbler--Rancho del Oso 6/10 evening
From: bonnie <bonnie AT baymoon.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 21:50:26 -0700
Heartened by yesterday's evening report of the Hooded Warbler, I decided 
to cruise up the coast after work. I arrived at 5:45 and spent 45 
minutes enjoying Swainson's Thrush songs, a very cooperative 
MacGillivray's Warbler, Wrentits, a begging Western Scrub-jay, 
White-throated Swifts, various swallows and lots of Wilson's Warblers. 
At 6:30 I heard the Hooded Warbler 10 yards away. The volume of the song 
seemed considerably lower than the Wilson's. I heard several verses of 
the song. Then at 6:45 the bird flew overhead, crossing the road and 
heading toward the willows along the creek.

Bonnie Bedzin
Santa Cruz, CA




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Subject: Upper UCSC, etc.
From: stephengerow AT aol.com
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 23:54:31 -0400
??? This morning a CHIPPING SPARROW was singing on territory near the east edge 
of Marshall Field on the upper UCSC campus, near the intersection of Chinquapin 
and Marshall Roads.This is one of the few spots in the Santa Cruz area that 
still?regularly has?one or two in the nesting season. 

???? Birds in general seemed quite abundant on the upper campus today, maybe a 
combination of numerous young birds fledging and the calm, cloudy weather 
keeping birds active longer.? There were five singing HERMIT WARBLERS in 
various spots; one on the Seven Springs Trail was working low enough that I 
actually got some good clear views.? Another, which was singing steadily and I 
had some glimpses of, was very close to the developed part of campus at the 
south end of Red Hill Road.? Likely nesting raptors included a pair of 
WHITE-TAILED KITES and a pair of COOPER'S HAWKS, both near Red Hill Road.? 
There were four singing GOLDEN-CROWNED KINGLETS in different spots, and a 
family group of recently fledged young on Chinquapin Road northwest of the West 
Road intersection.? PINE SISKINS were relatively common; I counted 28 over 
about four miles of trails, including several singing, apparently on 
territory.? My HERMIT THRUSH count for the morning was 23, mostly singing 
birds.? About 1 

 4 ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRDS were mostly females or immatures, but one adult male 
lingered on the Seven Springs Trail.? Other highlights included a HAIRY 
WOODPECKER nest on West Road, and family groups of recently fledged WRENTITS, 
BROWN CREEPERS, and other expected species. 

??? Early this morning a male PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER was calling in Bethany 
Curve Park in Santa Cruz, where they don't nest.? I'm not sure if it was an 
early dispersant, or a very late spring migrant.? Yesterday (June 9) an adult 
female COOPER'S HAWK was at Neary Lagoon. 

??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Steve Gerow
??????????????????????????????????????????????????????????? Santa Cruz
Subject: Hooded Warbler - Rancho Del Oso
From: Kathryn Parker <jandkparker AT mindspring.com>
Date: Wed, 10 Jun 2009 18:57:49 -0700
The HOODED WARBLER along the entrance road to Rancho Del Oso was still  
there this morning. It was singing fairly constantly in the brushy  
area between the two large pine trees on the north side of the road. I  
got 3 very quick looks. The first was a back view fanning the tail.  
The second was a flying view and the third was a side front view with  
the yellow face and black hood. Each was no more than a couple of  
seconds and you really had to be looking in the right place at the  
right time. Beautiful little bird.

Kathy Parker
Los Gatos

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