I made a scouting trip out to the ponds this afternoon and had a Sanderling,
Pacific Golden-Plover, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, 3 Thayer's Gull. I placed 2
photos of the Sanderling at
http://www.stanislausbirds.org/photo_highlites.htm bottom pictures. This
Sunday is the Caswell/Westley CBC meet at Denney's just off Hwy 99 on
Orangeburg off Briggsmore at 6:30. See the website for more details.



Jim Gain



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi Stanislaus Birders,

I tried to post this last night, Dec. 21, but I have not seen it
post, so here goes again.

Sunday morning, Dec. 21, I went to Dawson Lake.  It was extremely
foggy at about 10am when I arrived.

I did see along the near shore two swans with a group of about 15 or
so Canada Geese.  The lighting was poor due to the fog, but both
swans appeared to have pale colored bills as seen with my 10x42
Swarovski bins.  My impression was that they were Mute Swans, but
Whooper Swan could be possible.  The entire group of birds turned
away from me as I exited my vehicle and disappeared (swimming) into
the fog.  I never got really good looks.

Has anyone else on this list seen these birds?  If not, it may be
worth while to check them out.  I think Whooper Swan would be a
county first.  I'm not sure of what the status is for Mute Swan in
the county, but is probably more likely.  I don't want to get people
to excited, but dont' want to miss anything either.

(I was over visiting my dad in Hughson on the weekend.  I live in
Milpitas and am back in the Bay Area now.)

Sorry for not getting this through earlier.

BTW, two tan-stripped White-throated Sparrows and a female
Phainopepla were at Turlock Lake CG Sunday am.

Randy Little,
Milpitas

The 2 Mute Swans have been there for over a month. I first reported them on
November 2nd.

Jim Gain
Modesto

-----Original Message-----
From: Randy Little [mailto:chenrossii@...]
Sent: Monday, December 22, 2003 3:54 PM
To: STA_Birds@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [STA_Birds] Swans At Dawson Lake

Hi Stanislaus Birders,

I tried to post this last night, Dec. 21, but I have not seen it
post, so here goes again.

Sunday morning, Dec. 21, I went to Dawson Lake.  It was extremely
foggy at about 10am when I arrived.

I did see along the near shore two swans with a group of about 15 or
so Canada Geese.  The lighting was poor due to the fog, but both
swans appeared to have pale colored bills as seen with my 10x42
Swarovski bins.  My impression was that they were Mute Swans, but
Whooper Swan could be possible.  The entire group of birds turned
away from me as I exited my vehicle and disappeared (swimming) into
the fog.  I never got really good looks.

Has anyone else on this list seen these birds?  If not, it may be
worth while to check them out.  I think Whooper Swan would be a
county first.  I'm not sure of what the status is for Mute Swan in
the county, but is probably more likely.  I don't want to get people
to excited, but dont' want to miss anything either.

(I was over visiting my dad in Hughson on the weekend.  I live in
Milpitas and am back in the Bay Area now.)

Sorry for not getting this through earlier.

BTW, two tan-stripped White-throated Sparrows and a female
Phainopepla were at Turlock Lake CG Sunday am.

Randy Little,
Milpitas





Yahoo! Groups Links

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  http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/

The Sanderling reported by Jim Gain was still at the Modesto Sewage Ponds on
Monday Dec 22.  It was in the shorebird flock along the lower road after you
leave the sign in building and go west and then south.  At least 3 Pacific
Golden-Plovers were in the large plover flock.

John Luther
Oakland

The Vermilion Flycatcher was still present today in San Joaquin County just
off Turner Road (as previously described) at Turner Rd Vintner property.
The gates were closed as expected, but I walked south outside the west
fence.  About 3/4 of the way down the large west pond I looked through the
fence towards the willows that were around the east pond.  After about half
an hour the young male Vermilion Flycatcher appeared on top of cattails that
were across the west pond and along the east pond on the other side of the
levee.  We had great scope views.  Then it flew towards us and landed on our
side of the west pond just inside the fence, only about 20 yards from us.
What great views!!

John Luther
Oakland

I had the following birds of interest today during the LaGrange Waterford
CBC:

TURLOCK LAKE CAMPGROUND

Winter Wren – 2 in the campground area – one just across from the entrance
kiosk and one along the cliff area about even with the first restrooms.

Golden-crowned Kinglets – at least 8 (seen in two different areas)

Brown Creeper – 2 about 30 yards past the entrance kiosk

White-throated Sparrow – 1 back by the amphitheater way in the back end of
the campground

Phainopepla – 3 around the first restroom area

Varied Thrush – I heard along the cliff about half way back

Hutton’s Vireo – 3 along the road between the first restroom and the cliff



TURLOCK LAKE INLET

Mountain Plovers – at least 5 about half way down the road adjacent to the 4
foot high dirt pile, 100 yards out (on your right as you enter from Lake
Road).



TURLOCK LAKE PROPER

Sandhill Cranes – a flock of about 20 circling over the lake

American White Pelicans – a flock of 4 circling over the lake



DAVIS RD (OFF LAKE RD)

Lewis’s Woodpecker - on one of the telephone poles across from the first
orchard on your left.

Vesper Sparrow – two about ˝ mile from the end

Bald Eagle – 2 immatures at different spots along the road

Golden Eagle – 1 adult and 1 imm along the road

Ferruginous Hawk – 3 along the last mile of the road (distal to Lake Rd)



See http://www.stanislausbirds.org/Locations/turlock_lake.htm for a map of
the area.



Jim Gain

Modesto



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Three of us saw a Blue-gray Gnatcatcher on the La Grange CBC yesterday at about
3:00 pm. It was working some willows on the north side of the Tuolumne River,
just at the end of La Grange Dam road, at the power generating house. La Grange
Dam Rd is off of highway 132 just after La Grange. There was also a Northern
Pygmy Owl calling from up the canyon, but from an inaccessible area that we
couldn't explore visually. The road is closed and owned by Turlock Irrigation
District, but they have always been cooperative.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Greg Gerstenberg reported seeing an adult male Vermilion Flycatcher from just
south of parking lot D of the Gadwall Unit of Los Banos State Wildlife Area.
Parking lot D is a few tenths of a file south of highway 152 along Old Santa Fe
Grade, about 1.5 miles east of the city of Los Banos. The bird was is small
trees (only about 8' to 10' tall) on a small island just south of the parking
lot. There are only a few trees in the vicinity of the parking lot, so it won't
take long to check them all. The bird was looked for by Greg but not relocated
on Monday's Los Banos CBC, perhaps due to the poor weather. Greg said it was
spending much of its time low in the trees and even down in the weeds on the
island on Saturday.

Sorry for the late post, but I just learned of the sighting from Greg on Monday
night.

Harold Reeve

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Hi All,

Yesterday on 12-31-03, I refound Greg Gerstenberg's adult male
Vermilion Flycatcher at the Gadwall Unit of Los Banos State Wildlife
Area (Off of Santa Fe Grade Rd. south of Hwy 152).  It was in the
trees just south of parking lot D.  I also had a least 125 Cattle Egrets
on River road near Kelley Rd. in the NW section of Merced County.


Kent Van Vuren

My apologies for the cross-posting.

According to my figures, 268 species were seen in the combined area with MER
getting 249, SJ with 240 and STA with 238. The sub-regional editors still
need to accept or reject rare bird records so those totals might change.
Many thanks to all participants for a really fun year of birding.

Please check out http://www.stanislausbirds.org/big-year-target-birds.htm to
see the target birds list. I think we missed Glaucous Gull completely. If
you see something missing from a county and you know it was seen, please let
me know. After all lists are in and documentation received, I will post a
final list of winners and highlights.



Thanks

Jim Gain

Modesto



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Many of you have already sent me your totals, but I need everyone's totals.
I am not going to post the final totals until after the get-together on the
23rd.



By the way, anyone that wants to can come to the dinner. We will talk about
birds and our favorite stories from last year. So far, I only have 3 people
committed to come. Please let me know if you can make it.



Jim Gain

Modesto



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

There was a posting to the N. California Bird Alert about a Townsend's
Solitaire at mile 20 in Del Puerto Canyon.



Jim Gain

Modesto



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Last Sunday (1/11) was the Stanislaus Audubon's
Fieldtrip to Caswell State Park. Nothing very unusual
was seen, but a good time was had by all. Below is a
list of birds seen.

Pied-billed Grebe          American Crow
Great Blue Heron           Oak Titmouse
Great Egret                Bushtit
Turkey Vulture             White-breasted Nuthatch
Canada Goose               Bewick's Wren
Wood Duck                  House Wren
Sharp-shinned Hawk         Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Red-shouldered Hawk        Hermit Thrush
Red-tailed Hawk            European Starling
Sandhill Crane             Cedar Waxwing
Mourning Dove              Orange-crowned Warbler
Belted Kingfisher          Black-throated Gray Warbler
Acorn Woodpecker           Townsend's Warbler
Nuttall's Woodpecker       Spotted Towhee
Northern Flicker           California Towhee
Black Phoebe               Fox Sparrow
Western Scrub Jay          White-crowned Sparrow
                            Golden-crowned Sparrow

Stanislaus Audubon's next fieldtrip will be on
Saturday, February 21. We will be visiting the Gray
Lodge area. Meet at the Stanislaus County Library at
6:00 A.M.

After looking closely at John Sterling's county by county list of bird
sightings I found an interesting detail. We are the ONLY county in the state
without a record for Evening Grosbeak. I'm going to have to add more
sunflower seeds to my feeders.



Jim Gain

Modesto



P.S. his list can be found at
http://www.cal.net/~ani/california_county_birding.htm



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Perrin Baker called me a week ago to tell me about a "bunch" of White-tailed
Kites hanging around his neighborhood (Sherwood Forrest). I forgot about it
until this evening when I happened to be going by the area around 5:15 p.m.
From McHenry Ave, take E. Rumble Rd (east) and then turn left on Edward Ave.
You will be entering the "Kite Zone." They seemed to be concentrated at the
intersection of Edward Ave. and King Richard Lane. Maria and I saw at least
45 kites circling around and many more were in the tree tops and flying in,
in groups of 4 to 6 at a time. I chatted with one of the home owners and he
said there were hundreds of them. He says they come in right at dark (5:15
tonight) and they leave fairly early in the morning.



Totally cool!



Jim Gain

Modesto





[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

I have just about finished revamping the Stanislaus Audubon photo
section. http://www.stanislausbirds.org/photos/photos-2.htm There
are several hundred photos, most are 5 x 7 in size. The only thing
remaining is for me to go back and write in all of the captions. The
photo section is intended to be an educational resource for anyone
that has a non-profit need for low resolution bird photos. I would
like to expand the photos in this section, but I personally do not
have the necessary photos to draw from. If you would be willing to
add any of your personal digital bird images to our collection, I
would be very appreciative. They will be added, with your copyright
on the image, to the collection. Remember the purpose for this
collection as stated above. Therefore, any non-profit person or
group may use them in an educational setting.

If you are willing to add your photos to the collection, send them
to jimgain@.... I would prefer they be 5 x 7 @72dpi
(500x360) in size, but I will take up to 8 x 10.

Thanks
Jim Gain

Today at about 4:00 pm on the south side of River Rd just west of Wagner Rd.
(several miles west of McHenry) Isaw a LEWIS'S
WOODPECKER flying between the two bare trees in that area. It was a nice
surprise on the way home from work

Good birding
Daniel Gilman
Modesto

Today, 1-31-04, I went on a leisurely hike with my wife and her dad at the
Stanislaus River Parks by Knight's Ferry.  Amoung many of
the more commonly seen birds, all three of us got great looks at a RED-BREASTED
SAPSUCKER about 1/4 mi u
"up" the main path beyond the bridge.  We also saw an adult BALD EAGLE cuising
over the river.  It was a beautiful day just to be
out.

Daniel Gilman
Modesto

Dear Birders

I have been working on the CV Birding Locations website and I need your
help. I have already received many suggestions on birding locations. I have
added DeLorme Atlas coordinates to every site so far. Now I need to add a
few more details. I would like to add a brief habitat description, typical
birds sought after, rarities found there and any helpful birding comments
(like, be sure to sign in and out). I am not trying to make this a
comprehensive county by county birding guide, just the basics. I have
created a form for participants to enter in information on the birding
locations. I cannot (nor should you) just copy information from site guides
and websites and post it on the website without permission. If you would
please consider doing just one site that you are familiar with, I would
greatly appreciate it. This is a little more work than I anticipated, but I
think it would be of great benefit to all birders that come to the CV to
bird. I will gladly add your name as a contributor for the birding location
you help with.

  <http://johansen.monet.k12.ca.us/gain/birding-form-n.htm> Central Valley -
North

  <http://johansen.monet.k12.ca.us/gain/birding-form-c.htm> Central Valley -
Central

  <http://johansen.monet.k12.ca.us/gain/birding-form-s.htm> Central Valley -
South



If these links are not clickable in your email, please go to
<http://www.stanislausbirds.org/> http://www.stanislausbirds.org and follow
the Where to Bird links.



Thank you



Jim Gain

Modesto



P.S. I had to create the forms on my school's website because our host's
server didn't have the right extensions to host a form.





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Sightings of tundra swan flocks seem scarce this year.  There are still a
half dozen tundras at the Souza Marsh on the southern boundary (exit leg) of
the waterfowl tour route of San Luis NWR.
This is also the time to see the tule elk.  The bulls will drop their
antlers within a couple of weeks and the refuge soon will be removing half
of the elk for relocation.

John Fulton

_________________________________________________________________
Optimize your Internet experience to the max with the new MSN Premium
Internet Software. http://click.atdmt.com/AVE/go/onm00200359ave/direct/01/

-----Original Message-----
From: patrick giblin [mailto:pgiblin@...]
A reporter from the Modesto Bee would like to contact someone that is going
to participate in the backyard bird count on Sunday. If you are interested,
reply directly to him. See email address below.

Jim

-----Original Message-----
From: patrick giblin [mailto:pgiblin@...]
Sent: Thursday, February 12, 2004 2:10 PM
To: STA-birder@...
Subject: Bird count

Hello;

My name is Patrick Giblin and I'm a reporter for the Modesto Bee. I was
hoping to do a story on the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology annual
national bird count Sunday and was hoping you would have some members
participating.

I can be reached today at my desk at 578-2347 until about 6 p.m. Or you can
send me an e-mail to this address. I need a name, phone number and address
of someone who is doing the bird count early Sunday afternoon.

Thanks.


Patrick Giblin
Technology Writer/Crime Reporter
Modesto Bee
578-2347
pgiblin@...

This is what I have for the past season. If you know of anything else,
especially from the CBCs, let me know.  I am not sure if I have the correct
number of Hooded Mergansers from Dawson Lake (LaGrange CBC) as I have 27 in
my notes.



STA Sub-regional Report Winter Dec 2003 - Feb 2004



Records of loons-frigatebirds and larids-alcids

Thayer's Gull          12/19/02              Modesto Sewage Ponds STA
3    JG

All 3 birds were first year birds and were in the same flock with about 120
Herring Gulls





Records of herons to shorebirds

Hooded Merganser       12/27/2003            Dawson Lake STA
20   HR

Higher than usual numbers.



White-tailed Kite      1/17/2004             North Central Modesto STA
45   JG

First reported communal roost of kites in Modesto. Neighbors reported
hundreds.



Pacific-Golden Plover  12/19/2003-2/15/2004  Modesto Sewage Ponds STA
3    JG, JL, EC

Numbers range from 2 to 6 every winter.



Mountain Plover        12/27/2003            Turlock Lake Inlet STA
5    JG, RT

This is the usual time and location for Mountain Plovers in STA



Sanderling             12/19/2003-12/22/2003 Modesto Sewage Ponds STA
1    JG, JL

Photos online at http://www.stanislausbirds.org/photo_highlites.htm





Records of doves through thrushes/Wrentit

Northern Pygmy-Owl     12/27/2003            LaGrange Dam Rd STA
1    DF

There are previous records for the same area



Brown Creeper          12/27/2003            Turlock Lake Campground STA
2    JG, RT

Rare, but regular in this area, though often missed.



Winter Wren            12/27/2003            Turlock Lake Campground STA
2    JG, RT

Rare, but regular in this area, though usually missed.



Blue-gray Gnatcatcher  12/27/2003            LaGrange Dam Rd STA
1    DF

Second December record for eastern STA



Townsend's Solitaire   1/10/2004             Del Puerto Canyon STA
1    AE

This species is rare, but regular in this area, though usually missed. This
record was taken from a report to the Nor Cal bird alert, no official report
was submitted.





Records of thrashers to finches

White-throated Sparrow 12/27/2003            Turlock Lake Campground STA
1    JG, RT

Rare, but regular in this area, though often missed.





Birder's Codes: AE=Art Edwards; DF=Dave Froba; JG=Jim Gain; JL=John Luther;
HR=Harold Reeve; RT=Richard Taylor







Thanks

Jim Gain

Modesto



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

TODAY, I NOTICED WHITE-THROATED SWIFTS CIRCLING THE RIVERBANK
OVERPASS.  IN THE TEN YEARS WORKING IN RIVERBANK AND PASSING OVER THE
OVERPASS ON A DAILY BASIS, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I HAVE
SEEN THEM.


MIKE CUMMINS
MODESTO, CA

Hi STA_Birders,



            The Central Sierra birders celebrated the first day of spring by
visiting four Stanislaus River Parks, or “Pearls” on March 20th.  The weather
was definitely springtime and the birds were courting and building nests.  We
walked the trails and looked into the oxbow ponds of the McHenry, Oakdale,
Valley Oak and Horseshoe Road Recreation Areas.  Everyone got good looks of the
birds.

     Highlights of the day included a pair of Tricolored Blackbirds at the pond
at the Highway 108 and Tulloch Road junction.  At McHenry Park, there were many
Red-shouldered Hawks, Cedar Waxwings, Nuttall’s Woodpeckers, and House Wrens all
vocalizing, and a beautiful iridescent Tree Swallow flying in and out of a nest
cavity.

At Oakdale, we saw a Common Moorhen with a huge red frontal shield, a
Pied-billed Grebe catching and eating a large fish, an Osprey looking on, pairs
of Wood Ducks, a Black-crowned Night-Heron eyeing fish, Red-shouldered Hawks
mating, and two female Downy Woodpeckers fighting.

At Valley Oak, we saw an American White Pelican cavorting with three Turkey
Vultures and an Orange-crowned Warbler displaying his orange crown!  At
Horseshoe Bend, we saw pairs of Ring-necked Ducks, Common Moorhens and Wood
Ducks.

Most of the group continued on to Willms Road where we saw a Burrowing Owl and a
Western Kingbird.  Traveling home via Rock River Road, we saw a Merlin and
Long-billed Curlews.

Thirteen persons participated and 71 species were seen.  It was a great day.

--Jean Hackamack






[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Our site is currently being transferred to a new server and is undergoing
DNS propagation. (Next thing you know, there will be a bunch of little
subwebs running around.) You may experience problems accessing it. The site
will hopefully be back to normal within the next 3 days.



Jim Gain

Modesto



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

The lead story in the Modesto Bee Online (I don't subscribe to the paper)
this morning was about the freeway that Richard Pombo wants to run through
Del Puerto Canyon to connect with San Jose.

http://www.modbee.com/local/story/8364573p-9185841c.html





Jim Gain

Modesto



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Two points about this article (and issue) which we need to address ASAP:

1/ While the article on March 30 shows a map with the road through Del
Puerto Canyon highlighted, earlier coverage of Rep. Pombo's plan showed an
entirely new route blazed through the mountains between Del Puerto Canyon
and Corral Hollow.  Also, the description of a "23 mile road from I-5 at
(near?) the Stanislaus/San Joaquin County lines to Rte 130 (wherever that
is)" doesn't seem to coincide with the road through Del Puerto Canyon.  What
is correct?

2/ More important points.  We need to begin a campaign to inform (and
convince?) the public that: A/ there are probably much cheaper and more
environmentally friendly ways to deal with getting additional people to the
Bay area and back; and B/ (even if there weren't) there are uses of land and
roads in California other than for commuters and that the aesthetic
qualities of Del Puerto Canyon are important to a lot of people (it's not
just a two land road inhabited by rattlesnakes).

While each of us can, and should, respond with letters to the editor, etc.,
Stanislaus Audubon and other groups should begin for a long-term battle on
this issue.

Wally
----- Original Message -----
From: "Jim Gain" <sta-birder@...>
To: <STA_Birds@yahoogroups.com>; <central_valley_birds@yahoogroups.com>;
<CALBIRDS@yahoogroups.com>
Sent: Tuesday, March 30, 2004 6:14 AM
Subject: [STA_Birds] Del Puerto Canyon Freeway


> The lead story in the Modesto Bee Online (I don't subscribe to the paper)
> this morning was about the freeway that Richard Pombo wants to run through
> Del Puerto Canyon to connect with San Jose.
>
> http://www.modbee.com/local/story/8364573p-9185841c.html
>
>
>
>
>
> Jim Gain
>
> Modesto
>
>
>
> [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
>
>
>
>
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

I am passing along a report from the Santa Clara Audubon field trip to Del
Puerto Canyon last weekend. They reported two CASSIN's KINGBIRDS early in
their trip. I would assume somewhere around mile 3.2 to 3.7. Just a guess on
my part though.



Jim Gain

Modesto



[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Four of us spent the morning birding the San Joaquin River National Wildlife
Refuge near Modesto. Highlights were one late Purple Finch, several pairs of
Blue Grosbeak, and several breading pairs of Swainson Hawk. The areas of
recently planted trees are beginning to show significant bird activity.

Dave Froba

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Hi, I'm reporting on two trips this weekend in northeastern Santa Clara
Co.,
into parts of southeastern Alameda and western Stanislaus Cos. Also, a
Pileated Woodpecker sighting at home in western Santa Clara County.

Saturday, 5/15/04, I took a group from my Palo Alto Baylands birding
class
on a route over Mt. Hamilton and into San Antonio Valley to the
northeastern
reaches of Santa Clara County. It was cool with a high overcast until
we got
past Mt. Hamilton where it became clear and warm.

Our first stop at Grant Lake was lively with the regular spring &
summer birds.
WILD TURKEY was heard and feral pigs foraged in the fields around the
lake.
BULLOCK'S ORIOLE, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK and LAZULI BUNTING
were among the regulars seen here. We stopped to listen for Grasshopper
Sparrows just up the road from the lake but could find none. A YELLOW
WARBLER was the only warbler recorded for the day.

Kincaid Road had a lot of RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD activity in a soggy area
opposite a cattle pen. We saw the first group of many BAND-TAILED PIGEON
in this area, too.

A WESTERN TANAGER was one of the few species seen at Lick Observatory.

Just past the Mt. Hamilton summit, where there is now no pig or cattle
road
signs, there was also no Black-chinned Sparrow detected. There were
three
BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHERS working the trees along the roadside. Many
more Band-tailed Pigeons were roosting and flying about the summit.

A mile or two beyond the summit, we dropped into a small valley with
OLIVE-
SIDED FLYCATCHER, WESTERN WOOD-PEWEE, ASH-THROATED FLY-
CATCHER, and a pair of ACORN WOODPECKERS at a nest cavity.

Isabel Creek to Arroyo Bayo was uneventful. About a mile from San
Antonio
Valley we heard, then saw, a SAGE SPARROW. After this stop, we hit the
lunch bell and went to the Junction Cafe for a break.

LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCHES were flying around the picnic tables at the
Cafe. A PRAIRIE FALCON cruised by overhead. A probable CHIPPING
SPARROW was seen across the road from the Cafe.

After lunch, we went back, south, on San Antonio Valley Rd. looking for
Lewis's Woodpeckers. We searched the area just south of the Junction
with no success and continued beyond the YL Ranch to the last stretch of
valley before the road turns west. Here, Lisa Myers' sharp eyes picked
out
a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER flying from the creek channel to the far side
of the valley.

We then went to the CDF firestation back at San Antonio Junction. Lisa
pointed out a HOUSE FINCH nest in a cholla cactus that had nestlings.
We also found BULLOCK'S ORIOLES tending a nest in mistletoe above
the office, as well as HOUSE SPARROWS nesting in the same tree. A
WESTERN KINGBIRD perched on the tower and may have an active
nest there as in past years.

On the way out along San Antonio Valley Rd./Mines Rd., still in Santa
Clara Co., Lisa bagged the bird of the day, a NORTHERN PYGMY-OWL
that flew ahead of the cars and landed in a tree at roadside. Everyone
enjoyed long views of this petite ball of talons.

In Alameda County, Lisa once again provided a nice birding experience
showing us a GOLDEN EAGLE nest that she had located on a recent
trip. At least two well-developed nestlings with only fuzzy heads were
in the nest being tended by their parents. This was right at mile marker
10 where there's a large turnout. The nest is across the valley below
eye-level in a gray pine.

Sunday, 5/16/04, I took another group from my birding class down Mines
Rd. in Alameda County, into San Antonio Valley in Santa Clara County,
and
finishing on Del Puerto Canyon Rd. in Stanislaus County.

In Alameda County, we had RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW and PHAINO-
PEPLA at the "Sticky Monkeyflower Corner" between miles 5 and 6. At MP
6.74, as previously reported, a GREATER ROADRUNNER sunned on a
rock uphill from the road. We checked in on the eagle nest at mile 10.

Upon arriving at the cattle guard near San Antonio Junction in Santa
Clara
County, we heard SAGE SPARROWS singing as we got out of the cars.
They were singing on both sides of the road and sat up on top of chamise
giving great views. Randy Little called out a LEWIS'S WOODPECKER as
it flew by. It landed on a dead gray pine next to the road just north
of the
cattle guard and was soon joined by a second bird.

We stopped at the firestation, seeing the same species as seen the
previous
day, noting that there was also a BREWER'S BLACKBIRD nest in the tree
over the office. Randy reported another LEWIS'S WOODPECKER flyby.

We stopped for lunch amidst a large, testosterone-laden gathering of
bikers
at the Junction. This day, we leap-frogged with a Fieldguides' Northern
California
tour led by Chris Benesh and Jay VanderGaast. They were dismayed by the
mass of Harleykawasaki vibe and passed on having lunch at the Junction.

We did a quick run into San Antonio Valley mainly looking for Wood Duck
as
we had already found Lewis's Woodpeckers. None were seen in the ponds in
the valley, so we headed down Del Puerto Canyon Road. At Mallison Pond,
just east of the Junction, we saw 3 male WOOD DUCKS.

At about mile 17.8, in Stanislaus Co., we saw both ROCK and CANYON
WRENS.

The fire from last year(?) around Frank Raines Park torched most of the
riparian corridor.

At mile 10.25, the COMMON RAVEN nest in the road cut was occupied by at
least three nestlings. An adult stood, open-billed in the hot sun
across the road.
A family of at least five CANYON WREN were feeding on the downstream
side
of the culvert.

At the "Owl/Graffiti Rocks", three juvenile BARN OWLS roosted in a low
cavity
and an adult was in another. A new barbed wire fence around the base of
the rock
might provide some buffer for the birds that use this rock, as it will
keep some
people out of this area. But I'm sure it won't deter the graffitites.

Male Costa's Hummingbird(s) was/were working the tree tobacco at mile
3.8. We
had sightings of male COHU for over 100 yards; it could have been the
same bird,
there could have been more than one. A SAY'S PHOEBE was in this area
also,
as was a male BLUE GROSBEAK, spotted by Randy Little.

At the first cattle guard from I-5, about mile 1, we had 1-2 GRASSHOPPER
SPARROWS. The area appeared very dry and didn't seem to have the habitat
to encourage the Blue Grosbeaks to use it as they seemed to have in the
past.

And while I was out leading my Sunday trip, my wife reported a male
PILEATED
WOODPECKER that was hacking away at an old madrone a few yards away
from our back deck. This was her THIRD sighting of this species at our
house.
I've only had one sighting! I listened for the bird today, but heard
none. This area
is just east of Skyline Blvd. into Santa Clara County, across from Long
Ridge
OSP.

Les Chibana, Palo Alto