5.1 [EBB] Olive-sided Flycatchers
The earliest date I find for the East
Bay for an Olive-sided Flycatcher is
3/20/1980 at Oakland, ALA (Joe Morlan) though a mid-April arrival
date seems
more typical.
Most of the records in my notebooks come from
birds at locations where they
were clearly migrants which brings up an interesting point. In
general, it
seems that most of our early arriving neotropical migrants are
individuals
that will remain to breed here, while the birds detected later
will continue
on to northern breeding grounds. Olive-sideds are a good example.
Birds
appear on territory in the Berkeley Hills in mid-late April but
most of the
records from drier areas where they clearly do not breed such
as Mt. Diablo
or Bethel Island are from May or even early June. This helps
to explain why
migrant traps that have relatively few breeding species (the
end of Winton
Ave. at Hayward Reg. Shoreline for example) don't see many migrants
until
deep into April. At Piper Slough I have never recorded a Wilson's
Warbler
until early April with most records from May yet on a trip to
Pinehurst Rd.
near Moraga on 3/31/1996 I had 7 singing males, most likely on
territory, in
a stretch of a little over a mile. I hope this doesn't bore all
of you, I
find it pretty neat. To take the point a step further, I have
had Wilson's
Warbler at Bethel Island as late as June 2nd, a bird clearly
still heading
north to breed, while we have had adults feeding young in Contra
Costa County
by Mid-May!!!
Finally, if you have gotten this far, you
might be interested to know that it
doesn't appear that Olive-sided Flycatcher bred in the East Bay
until about
1920. Those at the time felt that the spread of planted groves
at that time
that made it possible. It was exactly the same story for Dark-eyed
Junco and
American Robin. Apparently both of those species were first confirmed
locally in 1917. You would tend to assume birds as common as
juncos and
robins would have always nested here, wouldn't you?
5.8 [SFBirds]
Here are the results of the Breeding
Bird Roundup on 4 May. Once again, thanks to everyone that helped
out; we gathered quite a bit of information!
Not every possible or better breeding record was recorded; the status of common breeders like House Finch, House Sparrow or even Brown-headed Cowbird is beyond the scope of such a one-day effort. However, I think we managed to do a pretty good job of covering most of the mainland as well as Treasure and Yerba Buena Islands, so I think we have a good baseline. There is a date associated with each sighting, as there are some sightings which were not from the 4th of May.
Species Code Notes
------- ---- -----
Pied-billed Grebe PO-X at South Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Brandt's Cormorant CO-ON/CN 30 at Cliff House/Sutro Baths (Ulvang) (May 04)
Brandt's Cormorant CO-ON 25 in March, all nests abandoned at Cliff House/Sutro Baths (Ulvang) (May 04)
Brandt's Cormorant CO-CN at Lincoln Park (Hainebach, Gemmill, Adams) (May 04)
Double-crested Cormorant CO-ON 73 at Harding Park Boathouse (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Double-crested Cormorant CO-CN at Yerba Buena Island (Hopkins, Gravanis) (May 04)
Great Blue Heron CO-ON 3 at North Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Great Blue Heron CO-NY 2 (2 young, 3 young) at North Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Great Blue Heron CO-NY 2 (2 young, 3 young) at Stow Lake (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
Canada Goose CO-NY at Treasure Island (Hopkins, Gravanis) (May 04)
Canada Goose PR-P at Heron's Head (Armstrong, Armstrong) (May 04)
Gadwall PR-P at Lily Pond (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
Ruddy Duck PO-! at South Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Sharp-shinned Hawk O-O east of soccer field at Equitation Field (Nelson) (May 04)
Sharp-shinned Hawk O-O at Bayview Hill (Armstrong, Armstrong) (May 04)
Cooper's Hawk O-O at Pine Lake/Stern Grove (Nelson) (May 04)
Cooper's Hawk CO-ON at Presidio (GGRO fide Hopkins) (May 04)
Red-tailed Hawk PR-T at Zoo (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Red-tailed Hawk CO-NY at Glen Canyon Park (Strandberg) (May 04)
Red-tailed Hawk CO-NY in Norfolk Island Pine, 3 chicks at Sutro Heights (Ulvang) (May 04)
Red-tailed Hawk PR-P at Strawberry Hill (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
Red-tailed Hawk CO-NY at Presidio (GGRO fide Hopkins) (May 04)
California Quail O-O at Eastern GGP (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
American Coot CO-ON at Pine Lake/Stern Grove (Nelson) (May 04)
Killdeer PR-T at Zoo (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Killdeer CO-FL earlier this year at Heron's Head (Armstrong, Armstrong) (May 04)
Black Oystercatcher O-O at Lincoln Park (Hainebach, Gemmill, Adams) (May 04)
American Avocet PR-C at Heron's Head (Ridley) (May 04)
Whimbrel PR-P(?) at Heron's Head (Ridley) (May 04)
Western Gull CO-CN at Cliff House/Sutro Baths (Ulvang) (May 04)
Western Gull CO-ON 15 at Heron's Head (Armstrong, Armstrong) (May 04)
Pigeon Guillemot PR-P on water only; none seen on land at Cliff House/Sutro Baths (Ulvang) (May 04)
Pigeon Guillemot PR-P 12+ near Land's End at Lincoln Park (Hainebach, Gemmill, Adams) (May 04)
Mourning Dove CO-NY at Zoo (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Mourning Dove CO-CN at Yerba Buena Island (Hopkins, Gravanis) (May 04)
Great Horned Owl CO-NY at Presidio (GGRO fide Hopkins) (May 04)
Anna's Hummingbird PR-T at Zoo (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Anna's Hummingbird PR-C at McLaren (Strandberg) (May 04)
Anna's Hummingbird CO-CN at Eastern GGP (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
Anna's Hummingbird CO-ON last week at Bayview Hill (Armstrong, Armstrong) (May 04)
Rufous Hummingbird O-O male at Middle Lake (Nelson) (May 04)
Allen's Hummingbird CO-ON at Sutro Heights (Ulvang) (May 04)
Belted Kingfisher O-O at Middle Lake (Nelson) (May 04)
Nuttall's Woodpecker O-O female at Glen Canyon Park (Strandberg) (May 04)
Downy Woodpecker CO-NB at Zoo (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Downy Woodpecker PO-X at Harding Park Boathouse (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Downy Woodpecker CO-CF at Sutro Heights (Ulvang) (May 04)
Downy Woodpecker PR-P at Eastern GGP (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
Hairy Woodpecker O-O at Inspiration Point (Eaton) (May 04)
Olive-sided Flycatcher O-O at Harding Park Boathouse (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Olive-sided Flycatcher PR-P at Pine Lake/Stern Grove (Nelson) (May 04)
Pacific-slope Flycatcher PO-X between Middle Lake and casting ponds at Middle Lake (Nelson) (May 04)
Pacific-slope Flycatcher O-O at Bayview Hill (Armstrong, Armstrong) (May 04)
Pacific-slope Flycatcher O-O at Inspiration Point (Eaton) (May 04)
Black Phoebe CO-CN at Zoo (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Black Phoebe CO-CN at Zoo (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Black Phoebe CO-ON at Sutro Heights (Ulvang) (May 04)
Black Phoebe CO-ON at Eastern GGP (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
Western Kingbird O-O 7 at Candlestick (Armstrong, Armstrong) (May 04)
Western Kingbird O-O at Inspiration Point (Eaton) (May 04)
Steller's Jay O-O at Middle Lake (Nelson) (May 04)
Steller's Jay PR-P at Lily Pond (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
Steller's Jay O-O at Inspiration Point (Eaton) (May 04)
Steller's Jay O-O at Stow Lake (Eaton) (May 04)
American Crow PR-T at South Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Common Raven CO-ON at Cliff House/Sutro Baths (Ulvang) (May 04)
Tree Swallow CO-ON at Harding Park Boathouse (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Tree Swallow PR-N hole near 48th between Anza and Geary at Sutro Heights (Ulvang) (May 04)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow PR-P at Zoo (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Cliff Swallow CO-ON 8 at South Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Cliff Swallow CO-NB 4 at South Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Cliff Swallow CO-CN at North Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Barn Swallow CO-CN at Zoo (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Chestnut-backed Chickadee CO-ON/NB at Zoo (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Chestnut-backed Chickadee CO-CF at North Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Chestnut-backed Chickadee CO-CF at Harding Park Boathouse (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Chestnut-backed Chickadee CO-CN at Yerba Buena Island (Hopkins, Gravanis) (May 04)
Chestnut-backed Chickadee CO-CF at Middle Lake (Nelson) (May 04)
Bushtit CO-ON at Zoo (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Bushtit CO-FY approximately 15 at North Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Bushtit PR-P at Inspiration Point (Eaton) (May 04)
Red-breasted Nuthatch PO-X between Wherry Housing Complex and the Dunes at Lobos Dunes (Hopkins) (May 04)
Red-breasted Nuthatch CO-NB at Inspiration Point (Eaton) (May 04)
Pygmy Nuthatch CO-ON at Zoo (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Brown Creeper PO-X at Harding Park Boathouse (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Brown Creeper CO-CF at Eastern GGP (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
Winter Wren PR-P at Sutro Heights (Ulvang) (May 04)
Marsh Wren CO-ON 2 at South Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Marsh Wren CO-ON 2 at North Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Hermit Thrush O-O at Zoo (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Hermit Thrush O-O at Pine Lake/Stern Grove (Nelson) (May 04)
American Robin CO-ON at Lincoln Park (Hainebach, Gemmill, Adams) (May 04)
American Robin CO-CN at Yerba Buena Island (Hopkins, Gravanis) (May 04)
Cedar Waxwing PR-C Mansell & Visitacion at McLaren (Strandberg) (May 04)
Cedar Waxwing PR-C at Sutro Heights (Ulvang) (May 04)
Orange-crowned Warbler PR-P at Glen Canyon Park (Strandberg) (May 04)
Orange-crowned Warbler PO-X at Lincoln Park (Hainebach, Gemmill, Adams) (May 04)
Orange-crowned Warbler PO-X at Eastern GGP (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
Orange-crowned Warbler PO-X at Inspiration Point (Eaton) (May 04)
Hermit Warbler O-O 3-4 at Bayview Hill (Armstrong, Armstrong) (May 04)
Common Yellowthroat PO-X at South Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Western Tanager O-O presumed migrants at Glen Canyon Park (Strandberg) (May 04)
Western Tanager O-O probable migrants at Yerba Buena Island (Hopkins, Gravanis) (May 04)
Western Tanager O-O probable migrants at Pine Lake/Stern Grove (Nelson) (May 04)
Western Tanager O-O 4-5 at Bayview Hill (Armstrong, Armstrong) (May 04)
Spotted Towhee PO-X 2 at Eastern GGP (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
Song Sparrow PO-X at Harding Park Boathouse (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
White-crowned Sparrow PO-X at North Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
White-crowned Sparrow PO-X at Harding Park Boathouse (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
White-crowned Sparrow CO-CN in low shrubs at Sutro Heights (Ulvang) (May 04)
White-crowned Sparrow CO-CN at Yerba Buena Island (Hopkins, Gravanis) (May 04)
Dark-eyed Junco CO-FL 2 at Bayview Hill (Armstrong, Armstrong) (May 04)
Black-headed Grosbeak PO-X at Lincoln Park (Hainebach, Gemmill, Adams) (May 04)
Black-headed Grosbeak O-O probable migrants at Yerba Buena Island (Hopkins, Gravanis) (May 04)
Lazuli Bunting PR-P/C oaks just above day care center at Glen Canyon Park (Strandberg) (May 04)
Lazuli Bunting PR-T 2 at Bayview Hill (Armstrong, Armstrong) (May 04)
Lazuli Bunting PO-X 10-12 at Bayview Hill (Armstrong, Armstrong) (May 04)
Red-winged Blackbird PO-X 5 at Harding Park Boathouse (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Red-winged Blackbird CO-NY at McLaren (Strandberg) (May 04)
Red-winged Blackbird CO-ON at Pine Lake/Stern Grove (Nelson) (May 04)
Tricolored Blackbird O-O at Buffalo Paddock (Eaton) (May 04)
Brewer's Blackbird CO-CF at Sutro Heights (Ulvang) (May 04)
Brewer's Blackbird CO-CN at Yerba Buena Island (Hopkins, Gravanis) (May 04)
Brewer's Blackbird CO-CN at Eastern GGP (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
Hooded Oriole CO-CN at Sutro Heights (Ulvang) (May 04)
Bullock's Oriole O-O female only at Glen Canyon Park (Strandberg) (May 04)
Bullock's Oriole CO-NB April, two separate nests at Glen Canyon Park (Strandberg) (May 04)
Bullock's Oriole O-O probable migrants at Yerba Buena Island (Hopkins, Gravanis) (May 04)
Purple Finch PO-X at North Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Purple Finch PR-P at Eastern GGP (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
Purple Finch PO-X at Inspiration Point (Eaton) (May 04)
House Finch PO-X 2 at Harding Park Boathouse (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
House Finch CO-NB at McLaren (Strandberg) (May 04)
Red Crossbill O-O at Zoo (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
Lesser Goldfinch PR-P 2 at Bayview Hill (Armstrong, Armstrong) (May 04)
Lesser Goldfinch PO-X 5-7 total at Inspiration Point (Eaton) (May 04)
American Goldfinch CO-CN at Harding Park Boathouse (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
House Sparrow CO-NB at Glen Canyon Park (Strandberg) (May 04)
69 species seen:
Pied-billed Grebe (2)
Brandt's Cormorant (8, 8, 10)
Double-crested Cormorant (4, 12)
Great Blue Heron (3, 3, 19)
Canada Goose (13, 23)
Gadwall (20)
Ruddy Duck (2)
Sharp-shinned Hawk (15, 21)
Cooper's Hawk (16, 24)
Red-tailed Hawk (1, 7, 9, 18, 24)
California Quail (17)
American Coot (16)
Killdeer (1, 23)
Black Oystercatcher (10)
American Avocet (28)
Whimbrel (28)
Western Gull (8, 23)
Pigeon Guillemot (8, 10)
Mourning Dove (1, 12)
Great Horned Owl (24)
Anna's Hummingbird (1, 5, 17, 21)
Rufous Hummingbird (14)
Allen's Hummingbird (9)
Belted Kingfisher (14)
Nuttall's Woodpecker (7)
Downy Woodpecker (1, 4, 9, 17)
Hairy Woodpecker (25)
Olive-sided Flycatcher (4, 16)
Pacific-slope Flycatcher (14, 21, 25)
Black Phoebe (1, 1, 9, 17)
Western Kingbird (22, 25)
Steller's Jay (14, 20, 25, 26)
American Crow (2)
Common Raven (8)
Tree Swallow (4, 9)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (1)
Cliff Swallow (2, 2, 3)
Barn Swallow (1)
Chestnut-backed Chickadee (1, 3, 4, 12, 14)
Bushtit (1, 3, 25)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (11, 25)
Pygmy Nuthatch (1)
Brown Creeper (4, 17)
Winter Wren (9)
Marsh Wren (2, 3)
Hermit Thrush (1, 16)
American Robin (10, 12)
Cedar Waxwing (5, 9)
Orange-crowned Warbler (7, 10, 17, 25)
Hermit Warbler (21)
Common Yellowthroat (2)
Western Tanager (7, 12, 16, 21)
Spotted Towhee (17)
Song Sparrow (4)
White-crowned Sparrow (3, 4, 9, 12)
Dark-eyed Junco (21)
Black-headed Grosbeak (10, 12)
Lazuli Bunting (7, 21, 21)
Red-winged Blackbird (4, 5, 16)
Tricolored Blackbird (27)
Brewer's Blackbird (9, 12, 17)
Hooded Oriole (9)
Bullock's Oriole (7, 7, 12)
Purple Finch (3, 17, 25)
House Finch (4, 5)
Red Crossbill (1)
Lesser Goldfinch (21, 25)
American Goldfinch (4)
House Sparrow (7)
Locations:
1) Zoo (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
2) South Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
3) North Lake Merced (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
4) Harding Park Boathouse (Murphy, Murphy) (May 04)
5) McLaren (Strandberg) (May 04)
6) McNabb Pond (Hopkins) (Apr 26)
7) Glen Canyon Park (Strandberg) (May 04)
8) Cliff House/Sutro Baths (Ulvang) (May 04)
9) Sutro Heights (Ulvang) (May 04)
10) Lincoln Park (Hainebach, Gemmill, Adams) (May 04)
11) Lobos Dunes (Hopkins) (May 04)
12) Yerba Buena Island (Hopkins, Gravanis) (May 04)
13) Treasure Island (Hopkins, Gravanis) (May 04)
14) Middle Lake (Nelson) (May 04)
15) Equitation Field (Nelson) (May 04)
16) Pine Lake/Stern Grove (Nelson) (May 04)
17) Eastern GGP (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
18) Strawberry Hill (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
19) Stow Lake (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
20) Lily Pond (Robertson, Cotter) (May 04)
21) Bayview Hill (Armstrong, Armstrong) (May 04)
22) Candlestick (Armstrong, Armstrong) (May 04)
23) Heron's Head (Armstrong, Armstrong) (May 04)
24) Presidio (GGRO fide Hopkins) (May 04)
25) Inspiration Point (Eaton) (May 04)
26) Stow Lake (Eaton) (May 04)
27) Buffalo Paddock (Eaton) (May 04)
28) Heron's Head (Ridley) (May 04)
Here's my analysis of results of the Breeding Bird Roundup:
Species Assessment
------- ----------
Great Egret at best found only on Alcatraz
Snowy Egret ditto
Turkey Vulture does not breed
Gadwall need to monitor pair at Lily Pond carefully
Sharp-shinned Hawk no evidence
Cooper's Hawk confirmed in the Presidio; are they also breeding at
Bercut?
Red-tailed Hawk several confirmations
Peregrine Falcon no confirmations or even sightings
California Quail more work needed to determine status of Arboretum and
Presidio populations
Black-necked Stilt no evidence
American Avocet need to confirm Heron's Head breeders
Caspian Tern ditto
Forster's Tern ditto
Least Tern probably never bred
Pigeon Guillemot several pairs but breeding not confirmed
Band-tailed Pigeon no evidence; does the Mt. Davidson population breed?
Barn Owl no evidence
Great Horned Owl confirmed in the Presidio; Glen Canyon Park also a
possibility
White-throated Swift not observed; no breeding evidence
Belted Kingfisher no breeding evidence
Hairy Woodpecker ditto
Northern Flicker ditto
Olive-sided Flycatcher pair at Pine Lake/Stern Grove needs to be watched
Western Wood-Pewee not observed; too early
Pacific-slope Flycatcher singing bird near Middle Lake needs to be watched
Loggerhead Shrike yeah right
Hutton's Vireo no observations; where are they?
Warbling Vireo unlikely that they breed but its still early Steller's Jay pair at Lily Pond needs to be monitored
Horned Lark most likely extirpated
Purple Martin transient
Violet-green Swallow no breeding evidence
Northern Rough-winged Swallow pair observed in zoo needs to be watched
Bank Swallow not visited; needs to be watched
Cliff Swallow 12 pairs
Red-breasted Nuthatch first breeding record for mainland SF!!!
Bewick's Wren not observed! Need further study of Fort Funston and
McLaren populations!
Golden-crowned Kinglet no evidence
Swainson's Thrush not observed! Is Mt. Davidson the last toehold???
Wrentit not observed though the pair is still there on Bayview
Hill. Needs to be watched
Yellow Warbler extirpated from the city as a breeder
Common Yellowthroat only one singing male though there were easily 5-6 at
the wooden bridge earlier this year at dawn
Spotted Towhee two singing males at Racoon Hollow need to be monitored
Savannah Sparrow not observed! Need to monitor Heron's Head birds
carefully.
White-crowned Sparrow no sightings from GGP! We might have a problem here...
Black-headed Grosbeak little evidence of breeding
Lazuli Bunting almost surely breeds on Bayview Hill; need to confirm
Tricolored Blackbird a single male in Buffalo Paddock; interesting to see if
it persists
Western Meadowlark not observed!
Great-tailed Grackle yeah right
Bullock's Oriole what's going on with the Glen Canyon pair?
Red Crossbill no breeding evidence.
5.12 [EBB] Mother's Day on Mt. Diablo
This morning, Bob Brandriff and I
had a single singing BLACK-CHINNED SPARROW above the last pullout
before the south entrance gate to Mt. Diablo. From the just below
the pullout, the bird was singing on a bush right at the horizon
on the hill above. No less interesting was a pair of RUFOUS-CROWNED
SPARROWS just below the road in nearly the same spot, with one
carrying food. The nest must be quite close to the road; Bob
and I were convinced they were waiting for us to leave before
reentering the nest. Please use discretion in this area. To complete
the trio of interesting sparrows, Bob found a SAGE SPARROW also
in the same general area.
Other sightings of local interest:
California Quail
Mourning Dove
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Hutton's Vireo
Steller's Jay
Violet-green Swallow CO-CF or CN
Oak Titmouse
Bewick's Wren
Wrentit
Orange-crowned Warbler
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee PR-T
Rufous-crowned Sparrow PR-P & CO-CF
Black-chinned Sparrow
Sage Sparrow
Black-headed Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
Lesser Goldfinch
5.13 [SFBirds] Red-necked Phalaropes at Concrete Bridge
This afternoon, there were three alternate plumaged RED-NECKED
PHALAROPES just north of the concrete bridge, no doubt resting
there in the afternoon gale. This is a fine opportunity to glimpse
a plumage not often see around here.
5.18 Drought in southern CA
> >I am seeing Lazuli Buntings
all over Monterey County, and I am
> >curious what may be the explanation for this phenomenon?
>
> I suspect it's related to the dry conditions across much
of the
> state. Some areas (e.g., Los Angeles and Imperial Valley)
are seeing
> record low annual precipitation totals and much of northern
> California is reporting below average precipitation as well.
Thus
> birds in general may be concentrated in key areas, especially
those
> near watercourses. And seed eaters in particular (e.g.,
buntings,
> sparrows, and finches), that requi
5.18
- 5.19 Mosquito Ridge
We had quite a successful trip. At the Placer Big Trees Grove
near dusk, Kevin
used his audio expertise (and volume :-) to find a calling SPOTTED
OWL. They stopped calling as we got near, however. We continued
birding in the failing light and were returning to the car when
the the Spotted Owl started to call again along with another
Spotted Owl giving the alarm call. We moved upslope a bit and
the owls kept coming towards us. Eventually, one was directly
over me, not more than 20 feet away, while its mate was 40-50
feet away. After sumptuous looks, we moved away as the birds
clearly were on territory and were agitated. The pair "escorted"
us away, following us to the edge of their territory!
The drive down to the flam spot netted at least three NORTHERN SAW-WHET OWLS calling at various locations, including one right along the road that we couldn't get a look at. Just below this, there was a COMMON POORWILL flycatching along the edge of the road. Near Little Oak Flat, there were two calling FLAMMULATED OWLS, though they were not close enough to get looks at.
At Little Oak Flat, there was another Northern Saw-whet Owl calling which Kevin eventually found in the tree for us. As well, there were two more Flammulated Owls, including one which surely was in an isolated tree directly in front of us that no one could locate despite training several lanterns on the tree for extended periods. We enjoyed a nightcap and drifted off to sleep with both the Saw-whet and the Flam still calling.
Birding the next morning was a bit anticlimatic,
but we did have nice views of a calling MOUNTAIN QUAIL and the
dawn chorus was quite remarkable at Little Oak Flat.
DUCKS, GEESE AND SWANS
Mallard
NEW WORLD VULTURES
Turkey Vulture
OSPREY
Osprey
HAWKS, EAGLES AND KITES
Red-tailed Hawk
NEW WORLD QUAIL
Mountain Quail
PIGEONS AND DOVES
Band-tailed Pigeon
OWLS
Flammulated Owl
Spotted Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
NIGHTJARS
Common Poorwill
SWIFTS
Vaux's Swift
WOODPECKERS
Acorn Woodpecker
Red-breasted Sapsucker
Hairy Woodpecker
White-headed Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
TYRANT FLYCATCHERS
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Western Wood-Pewee
Hammond's Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
SWALLOWS
Violet-green Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Barn Swallow
THRUSHES
Townsend's Solitaire
Hermit Thrush
American Robin
CHICKADEES AND TITS
Mountain Chickadee
NUTHATCHES
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
CREEPERS
Brown Creeper
CROWS AND JAYS
Steller's Jay
Common Raven
VIREOS AND ALLIES
Cassin's Vireo
WOOD WARBLERS
Nashville Warbler
Yellow-rumped (Audubon's) Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Hermit Warbler
MacGillivray's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
TANAGERS AND ALLIES
Western Tanager
SPARROWS, TOWHEES, JUNCOS
Spotted Towhee
(Thick-billed) Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed (Oregon) Junco
SALTATORS, CARDINALS AND ALLIES
Black-headed Grosbeak
Lazuli Bunting
BLACKBIRDS, ORIOLES, GRACKLES, ETC.
Bullock's Oriole
FINCHES, SISKINS, CROSSBILLS
Pine Siskin
////---- STATISTICS ----/////
Species seen - 48
5.20 [SFBirds]
Red-breasted Sapsucker is a rare and
local breeder in Marin though I can't say I've ever seen more
than one bird at North Lake.
>
> I forgot to mention the most intresting bird Saturday was
a Red-breasted
> Sapsucker at North Lake near the bridge.
>
5.25 - 27
Mono County and environs
Highlights include:
SWAINSON'S HAWK right over the road at Tracy
205 (May 24).jpg)
SWAINSON'S HAWK right next to the road at Manteca (May 24)
LEWIS'S WOODPECKER 2 at Jeffrey Pines/120 (May 25)
WILLIAMSON'S SAPSUCKER 2 CO-ON at Siesta Lake (May 27)
ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER migrant sitting in the sage at East Mono
Lake Dr. (May 25)
PLUMBEOUS VIREO 3 CO-NB at Wildrose Canyon (May 26)
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE with the rest of the blackbirds at the end
of the boardwalk at County Park (May 25)
GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE flying over 395 at Lee Vining (May 25)
92 species seen:
American White Pelican (9)
Double-crested Cormorant (15)
Great Blue Heron (35)
Turkey Vulture (12)
Canada Goose (6)
Mallard (7, 33)
Cinnamon Teal (9)
Green-winged Teal (11)
Osprey (7)
Northern Harrier (28)
Swainson's Hawk (1, 2)
Red-tailed Hawk (15)
Mountain Quail (19, 33)
American Coot (9)
Killdeer (7, 7)
American Avocet (7)
Spotted Sandpiper (7, 22)
Wilson's Phalarope (7)
California Gull (5)
Mourning Dove (21)
White-throated Swift (27)
Calliope Hummingbird (19)
Lewis's Woodpecker (13)
Williamson's Sapsucker (33, 34)
Red-breasted Sapsucker (11, 19, 24)
Hairy Woodpecker (13, 19, 26, 34)
White-headed Woodpecker (34)
Northern Flicker (7, 26, 34)
Olive-sided Flycatcher (11)
Western Wood-Pewee (11, 20, 23, 29)
Dusky Flycatcher (11, 13, 19, 20, 26, 30)
Ash-throated Flycatcher (10)
Plumbeous Vireo (19)
Warbling Vireo (7, 19, 24, 26, 34)
Steller's Jay (11)
Western Scrub-Jay (19)
Pinyon Jay (13, 17, 20)
Clark's Nutcracker (7, 13, 18, 30)
Black-billed Magpie (7)
Common Raven (7)
Horned Lark (14)
Tree Swallow (11)
Violet-green Swallow (4)
Northern Rough-winged Swallow (22)
Cliff Swallow (4)
Barn Swallow (7)
Mountain Chickadee (11, 13, 19, 25)
Red-breasted Nuthatch (32, 34)
White-breasted Nuthatch (13, 19, 20)
Pygmy Nuthatch (11)
Brown Creeper (19)
House Wren (7, 11, 19, 23)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (29)
Mountain Bluebird (5, 13, 16, 24)
Townsend's Solitaire (31)
Hermit Thrush (28)
American Robin (7)
Sage Thrasher (21)
European Starling (7)
Orange-crowned Warbler (11, 27)
Yellow Warbler (7, 9, 22, 24, 24)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (13, 20, 28)
Black-throated Gray Warbler (19)
Townsend's Warbler (7)
MacGillivray's Warbler (26)
Common Yellowthroat (7)
Wilson's Warbler (7, 19, 26)
Western Tanager (7, 13, 18, 20, 24, 25)
Green-tailed Towhee (10, 11, 18, 20, 21, 23)
Spotted Towhee (7, 9, 19)
Chipping Sparrow (13, 18, 20)
Brewer's Sparrow (8, 14, 21)
Vesper Sparrow (14)
Sage Sparrow (14, 21)
Fox Sparrow (19, 26)
Song Sparrow (7)
Lincoln's Sparrow (34)
White-crowned Sparrow (28, 29)
Dark-eyed Junco (11, 25, 28, 34)
Black-headed Grosbeak (11, 19, 26)
Red-winged Blackbird (7, 9, 24)
Western Meadowlark (7)
Yellow-headed Blackbird (7, 9)
Brewer's Blackbird (7)
Great-tailed Grackle (7, 12)
Brown-headed Cowbird (7, 11, 19, 24)
Bullock's Oriole (7, 24)
Cassin's Finch (3, 11, 13, 19, 20, 28, 29)
House Finch (12, 19, 20)
Pine Siskin (20, 28, 29)
House Sparrow (4)
Deer sp. (34)
Locations:
1) Tracy 205 (May 24)
2) Manteca (May 24)
3) Olmstead Pt. (May 24)
4) Lee Vining (May 24)
5) Lee Vining (May 25)
6) Mono Lake (May 25)
7) County Park (May 25)
8) DeChambeau Creek (May 25)
9) DeChambeau Ponds (May 25)
10) East Mono Lake Dr. (May 25)
11) Londy Canyon (May 25)
12) Lee Vining (May 25)
13) Jeffrey Pines/120 (May 25)
14) Crowley Lake (May 25)
15) Crowley Lake (May 26)
16) Watterson Diyide (May 26)
17) Wildrose Summit (May 26)
18) Canyon before Wildrose Canyon (May 26)
19) Wildrose Canyon (May 26)
20) Sawmill Canyon (May 26)
21) South Tufa (May 26)
22) Lower Rush Creek (May 26)
23) Lee Vining Creek (May 27)
24) Lower Lee Vining Campground (May 27)
25) Moraine Campgroond (May 27)
26) Lee Vining Canyon (May 27)
27) Hwy 120 8500' (May 27)
28) Gardinsky Trail Head (May 27)
29) Tuolomne Meadows (May 27)
30) Olmstead Point (May 27)
31) May Lake (May 27)
32) Lukens Lake (May 27)
33) Siesta Lake (May 27)
34) Chevron Meadow (May 27)
35) Hwy 108 east of Oakdale (May 27)
You can contact me via email.