As I drove into the River Center about 8:00 AM this morning, a bird
perched in a sycamore tree behind the River Parkway Trust office caught
my eye.  It looked like a falcon and after parking and grabbing my field
glasses, I was looking at a Peregrine Falcon.   I was only yards away
with this bird displayed in radiant morning sunlight.  As I watched, it
changed position several times giving me front, left, right and back
views.  After giving me a perched view for 3 to 4 minutes, it flew,
circled low a couple of times gaving me a 3600 look in flight.  Wow!
Characteristics of this bird are very close to the regional variation
shown in The Sibley Guide.  The mustache appeared to nearly merge with
the dark area behind to form a helmet.



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

Last fall/winter, I had two quick sightings of a suspected Merlin buzzing my
Tower District backyard.  Not willing to make a confident call, I had hoped
for a solid sighting which did not happen come spring.  Today, I had a fly
over of a small falcon pumping like a Merlin and ran inside to get the scope
after noting that it was perched on the top of an Italian Cypress in plain
view.   And... finally, a Merlin for the house list, and another confirmed
raptor making use of my bird feeders (if you know what I mean).



Cheers,



Rodney



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

Species count for morning of 12-5-09 at Vulcan Materials:

EARED GREBES
PIED-BILLED GREBE
AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN
DOUBLE-CRESTED CORMORANT
AMERICAN BITTERN
GREAT BLUE HERON
BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERONS
GREAT EGRETS
SNOWY EGRET
GREEN HERON
CANADA GEESE
WOOD DUCK
MALLARD
NORTHERN PINTAIL
GADWALL
AMERICAN WIGEON
NORTHERN SHOVELER
CINNAMON TEAL
RING-NECKED DUCK
COMMON GOLDENEYE (NEW LIFER)
BUFFLEHEAD
COMMON MERGANSER
HOODED MERGANSER
RUDDY DUCK
TURKEY VULTURE
NORTHERN HARRIER
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK
RED-TAILED HAWK
OSPREY
AMERICAN KESTREL
CALIFORNIA QUAIL
COMMON MOORHEN
AMERICAN COOT
KILLDEER
BLACK-NECKED STILT
GREATER YELLOWLEGS
GULLS LOTS OF GULLS
ROCK DOVE
MOURNING DOVE
BARN OWL
BELTED KINGFISHER
ANNA'S HUMMINGBIRD
NORTHERN FLICKER (WESTERN)
ACORN WOODPECKER
NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER
BLACK PHOEBE
SAY'S PHOEBE
WESTERN SCRUB-JAY
AMERCIAN CROW
COMMON RAVEN
BUSHTIT
RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET
CEDAR WAXWING
EUROPEAN STARLING
YELLOW-RUMPED WARBLER
LARK SPARROW
SAVANNAH SPARROW
SONG SPARROW
DARK-EYED JUNCO
WHITE-CROWNED SPARROW
WESTERN MEADOWLARK
RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD
BREWER'S BLACKBIRD
HOUSE FINCH
AMERICAN GOLDFINCH
HOUSE SPARROW

You must have permission to enter Vulcan. I'll forward contact info. if you
email me.

"Watch the birdie."
Jill Rucker
Fresno, CA

Today while I was riding my bicylce on Old Millerton Rd between Auberry Rd and
168 I saw about 6 Lewis's woodpeckers.  At one point there were 4 oak trees in a
row and one perched on the top of each!

Sue Stone

Yesterday we had 3 coopers hawks in our yard going for the finches. Only 1 hawk
got breakfast out of our yard. we were shocked of how many were in our yard.

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

Sharpie was spotted at its perch along a backyard fence then taking flight
toward a flock of finches at a backyard feeder. I hope it had a good breakfast.
Seen 7:30 AM at East Palo Alto Court near N. Cedar Ave.
Also spotted small peeps along ponding basin at N. Cedar and E. Bullard.

"Watch the birdie."
Jill  Rucker
Fresno, CA

On my way to work this morning, I encountered 2 Merlins flying up Fruit. I had
just crossed Clinton when I heard the loud Kee Kee Kee calls. One was chasing
the other and they were weaving back and forth over the street. One, a dark
morph, took shelter by landing on a roof while the other, lighter bird,
continued up the street a couple of blocks and landed on a telephone pole. Just
one of the joys of having a top traveling speed of 25mph on my electric scooter.
I get to slow down and witness the little dramas of nature that the city has to
offer. We won't talk about the frozen fingers. lol


Good Birding!

Kris McNew
Fresno, CA 93703


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

Thanks Mike.  That is way more than I thought.  That is an impressive list. 
I think you counted S.Benito and S.joaquin twice.  I would think there are
records for Napa and Mendicino counties.  And Tuolumne is sandwiched in between
Mariposa and Calveras where you have seen them.  Nevada county seems way east
for their range. I wonder if they are pretty rare there.  So that probably
makes 32 or 33 possible counties.  I forgot to mention San Benito and Santa
Barbara counties in my list.   I have seen y.b. magpies in 10 counties, guess
I have a ways to go to catch up to you Mike!
Chris Hiatt
Madera Ranchos 

--- On Wed, 12/2/09, Mike Feighner <feinerVogel94551@...> wrote:


From: Mike Feighner <feinerVogel94551@...>
Subject: RE: [FCB] How many counties can you see yellow b. magpie?
To: "Fresno County Birders" <fresno_county_birders@yahoogroups.com>
Date: Wednesday, December 2, 2009, 7:12 AM


 



(total of 33 counties) Add Eastern Alameda County (as Rich has already
stated), Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno,
Glenn, Kern, Kings, Lake, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Monterey, Nevada,
Placer, Sacramento, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Mateo, San Francisco, San
Joaquin, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Shasta, Solano, Stanislaus,
Sutter, Tehama. Yolo, Yuba. I have seen Yellow-billed Magpies in all of
these counties. Can anyone add any other county? My life Yellow-billed
Magpie was at the age of 12 in San Benito County on a supposed
hunting/scouting trip with my Dad who will turn 84 December 18th. The
greatest concentrations (before the onslaught of West Nile Virus) are in the
towns of Modesto and Davis.

--
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, Alameda County


>-----Original Message-----
>From: fresno_county_ birders@yahoogro ups.com
>[mailto:fresno_county_ birders@yahoogro ups.com] On Behalf Of
>Richard Cimino
>Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 10:44 PM
>To: hiattbee; fresno_county_ birders@yahoogro ups.com
>Subject: RE: [FCB] How many counties can you see yellow b. magpie?
>
>Add eastern Alameda County .
>
>Richard Cimino
>rscimino@earthlink. net
>
>Birding is fun and educational + it gets us out and away from
>the TV remote!
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: hiattbee
>To: fresno_county_ birders@yahoogro ups.com
>Sent: 12/1/2009 10:25:32 PM
>Subject: [FCB] How many counties can you see yellow b. magpie?
>
>
>
>As we drove last week to Humboldt county for thanksgiving with
>the in-laws....some good birding on Humboldt Bay but no
>liferd, you know coast stuff, surf scoter,b.belly
>plover,willets, sanderlings, godwit,4 gulls.....I saw a y.b.
>magpie in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. This made me
>wonder, how many counties is it possible to see one? I have
>seen one in Madera,Fresno, Merced, San Luis
>Obispo,Monterey, S.Joaquin, Stanislaus and maybe Solano thinking
>way back before I started to keep track. Anybody know?
>Chris Hiatt
>Madera Ranchos








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

(total of 33 counties) Add Eastern Alameda County (as Rich has already
stated), Amador, Butte, Calaveras, Colusa, Contra Costa, El Dorado, Fresno,
Glenn, Kern, Kings, Lake, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Monterey, Nevada,
Placer, Sacramento, San Benito, San Joaquin, San Mateo, San Francisco, San
Joaquin, San Benito, Santa Barbara, Santa Clara, Shasta, Solano, Stanislaus,
Sutter, Tehama. Yolo, Yuba.  I have seen Yellow-billed Magpies in all of
these counties.  Can anyone add any other county?  My life Yellow-billed
Magpie was at the age of 12 in San Benito County on a supposed
hunting/scouting trip with my Dad who will turn 84 December 18th.  The
greatest concentrations (before the onslaught of West Nile Virus) are in the
towns of Modesto and Davis.

--
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, Alameda County


>-----Original Message-----
>From: fresno_county_birders@yahoogroups.com
>[mailto:fresno_county_birders@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of
>Richard Cimino
>Sent: Tuesday, December 01, 2009 10:44 PM
>To: hiattbee; fresno_county_birders@yahoogroups.com
>Subject: RE: [FCB] How many counties can you see yellow b. magpie?
>
>Add eastern Alameda County .
>
>Richard Cimino
>rscimino@...
>
>Birding is fun and educational + it gets us out and away from
>the TV remote!
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: hiattbee
>To: fresno_county_birders@yahoogroups.com
>Sent: 12/1/2009 10:25:32 PM
>Subject: [FCB] How many counties can you see yellow b. magpie?
>
>
>
>As we drove last week to Humboldt county for thanksgiving with
>the in-laws....some good birding on Humboldt Bay but no
>liferd, you know coast stuff, surf scoter,b.belly
>plover,willets,sanderlings,godwit,4 gulls.....I saw a y.b.
>magpie in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. This made me
>wonder, how many counties is it possible to see one? I have
>seen one in Madera,Fresno,Merced, San Luis
>Obispo,Monterey,S.Joaquin,Stanislaus and maybe Solano thinking
>way back before I started to keep track. Anybody know?
>Chris Hiatt
>Madera Ranchos

Add eastern Alameda County .

Richard Cimino
rscimino@...

Birding is fun and educational + it gets us out and away from the TV remote!


----- Original Message -----
From: hiattbee
To: fresno_county_birders@yahoogroups.com
Sent: 12/1/2009 10:25:32 PM
Subject: [FCB] How many counties can you see yellow b. magpie?



As we drove last week to Humboldt county for thanksgiving with the
in-laws....some good birding on Humboldt Bay but no liferd, you know coast
stuff, surf scoter,b.belly plover,willets,sanderlings,godwit,4 gulls.....I saw a
y.b. magpie in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties. This made me wonder, how
many counties is it possible to see one? I have seen one in
Madera,Fresno,Merced, San Luis Obispo,Monterey,S.Joaquin,Stanislaus and maybe
Solano thinking way back before I started to keep track. Anybody know?
Chris Hiatt
Madera Ranchos




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

As we drove last week to Humboldt county for thanksgiving with the
in-laws....some good birding on Humboldt Bay but no liferd, you know coast
stuff, surf scoter,b.belly plover,willets,sanderlings,godwit,4 gulls.....I saw a
y.b. magpie in Stanislaus and San Joaquin counties.  This made me wonder, how
many counties is it possible to see one?  I have seen one in
Madera,Fresno,Merced, San Luis Obispo,Monterey,S.Joaquin,Stanislaus and maybe
Solano thinking way back before I started to keep track.  Anybody know?
Chris Hiatt
Madera Ranchos

Dear North American Birds contributors,

The fall season has come to a close.  Please submit your
noteworthy bird records from the Northern California
Region for the period 1 August – 30 November to the
appropriate Subregional Editors (SREs) by 10 December.

SREs diligently keep track of records within their
counties.  By sending your records to the SREs, you are
contributing to their county files as well as to North
American Birds.  If you wish to send records to the
Regional Editors, we welcome them.  But please send
records to the SREs as well.  If you have a noteworthy
record from a county without an SRE, please send it to the
Regional Editors.

SUBREGIONAL EDITORS

Alameda (ALA)
Bob Richmond
24650 Amador St. #15
Hayward, CA 94544
brichmond94544@...

Alpine (ALP), Calaveras (CLV), Modoc (MOD), & Yolo (YOL)
John Sterling
29 Palm Ave.
Woodland, CA 95695
jsterling@...

Amador (AMA) & El Dorado (ED)
Tim Steurer
4042 Bancroft Dr.
El Dorado Hills, CA 95762
tsteurer@...

Butte (BUT), Colusa (COL), Glenn (GLE), Tehama (TEH), &
Yuba (YUB)
Bruce Deuel
18730 Live Oak Rd.
Red Bluff, CA 96080
bdeuel@...

Contra Costa (CC)
Steve Glover
5108 Shelly Ray Rd.
Keller, TX 76244
countylines@...

Fresno (FRE)
Gary W. Potter
2183 Walton Ave.
Sanger, CA 93657
gwpott@...

Humboldt (HUM)
Rob Fowler
2277 Heather Ln., Apt. D
Arcata, CA 95521
migratoriusfwlr@...

Kings
Jeff Seay
7815 N. Palm Ave., Ste. 310
Fresno, CA 93711
jseay@...

Lake (LAK)
Jerry R. White
P.O. Box 113
Kelseyville, CA 95451
grwhite@...

Lassen (LAS)
Ken Able
Bob’s Creek Ranch
535-000 Little Valley Rd.
McArthur, CA 96056
kenable@...

Madera (MAD)
Jeff N. Davis
7815 N. Palm Ave., Ste, 310
Fresno, CA 93711
jdavis@...

Marin (MRN)
Ryan Terrill
1619 El Dorado St.
Santa Cruz, CA 95062
enicurus@...

Mariposa (MRP)
David Vander Pluym
1683 Buena Vista St.
Ventura, CA 93001
scre@...

Mendocino (MEN)
Bob Keiffer
P.O. Box 354
Hopland, CA 95449
rjkeiffer@...

Merced (MER) & San Benito (SBT)
Kent Van Vuren
26 Vista Dr.
Salinas, CA 93907
vanvurenk@...

Mono (MNO)
Kristie Nelson
P.O. Box 402
Lee Vining, CA 93541
storm_petrel@...

Monterey (MTY)
Don Roberson
282 Grove Acre
Pacific Grove, CA 93950
creagrus@...

Napa (NAP)
Murray Burner
210 Monte Vista
Napa, CA 94558
vireocity@...

Nevada (NEV)
Rudy Darling
12143 Big Blue Rd.
Nevada City, CA 95959
rdarling@...

Placer (PLA)
Ed Pandolfino
5530 Del Rose Crt.
Carmichael, CA 95608
erpfromca@...

Plumas (PLU) & Sierra (SIE)
Colin Dillingham
400 First St.
Quincy, CA 95971
cdillingham@...

Sacramento (SAC)
Chris Conard
2405 Rio Bravo Cir.
Sacramento, CA 95826
conardc@...

San Francisco (SF)
Mainland: Mark Eaton
1524 36th Ave.
San Francisco, CA 94122
mweaton@...

San Francisco (SF)
Farallones: Jim Tietz
P.O. Box 373
Shaver Lake, CA 93664
jimtietz@...

San Joaquin (SJ)
Frances Oliver
1817 Songbird Pl.
Lodi, CA 95240
hummer52@...

San Mateo (SM)
Peter J. Metropulos
2940 Turk Blvd.
San Francisco, CA 94118
pjmetrop@...

Santa Clara (SCL)
William G. Bousman
321 Arlington Way
Menlo Park, CA 94025
barlowi@...

Santa Cruz (SCZ)
David Suddjian and Steve Gerow
801 Monterey Ave.
Capitola, CA 95010
dsuddjian@...
stephengerow@...

Shasta (SHA)
Bob Yutzy
P.O. Box 990237
Redding, CA 96099
boby@...

Siskiyou (SIS)
Ray Ekstrom
2209 Delphic Rd.
Montague, CA 96064

Solano (SOL)
Robin Leong
336 Benson Ave.
Vallejo, CA 94590
robin_leong@...

Sonoma (SON)
Ruth Rudesill
P.O. Box 371
Kenwood, CA 95452
ruthier@...

Stanislaus (STA)
Harold Reeve
birder@...

Trinity (TRI)
John E. Hunter
P.O. Box 4483
Arcata, CA 95518
jhunter323@...

Tulare (TUL)
Steven Summers
2553 W. Michelle Ln.
Porterville, CA 93257
summers@...

Tuolumne (TUO)
Steven Umland
15818 Parkridge Ave.
Sonora, CA 95370
sumland@...

REGIONAL EDITORS

Mike Rogers
(waterfowl through quail and herons through shorebirds)
499 Novato Ave.
Sunnyvale, CA 94086
m.m.rogers@...

Steve Rottenborn
(loons through frigatebirds and larids through alcids)
983 University Ave., Bldg. D
Los Gatos, CA 95032
srottenborn@...

Jeff Davis
(doves through thrushes/Wrentit)
7815 N. Palm Ave., Ste. 310
Fresno, CA 93711
jdavis@...

Ed Pandolfino
(thrashers through finches)
5530 Delrose Crt.
Carmichael, CA 95608
erpfromca@...

The Reporting Deadlines are:
                             Spring      Summer      Fall
       Winter

Season ends         May 31      July 31     Nov 30     Feb
28

Observer reports to Subregional Editors (SREs)
                            June 10     Aug 10      Dec 10
     Mar 10

Observer reports to Regional Editors (if not sent to SRE)
                             June 10     Aug 10      Dec 10
     Mar 10

SRE reports to Regional Editors
                             June 20     Aug 20      Dec 20
     Mar 20

Regional Editors final text to ABA office
                             July 10     Sep 10       Jan
10      Apr 10

Please send reports in our database format: species,
date(s) [including year], locale separated by a space from
county abbreviation, number of birds, and observers, and
then, on a second line, any comments.  Please separate
these sections by a "tab" (except just a space between
locale and county abbreviation).  Here's an example of the
correct format:

Grace's Warbler        12/13/98-2/20/99          Jacks
Peak MTY          1        RFT, mob
     A second record for the Region (the first was 6/26/91
at Deer Spring, Glass Mt. MNO) which wintered with a large
flock of Townsend's & Hermit warblers at the very top of
Jacks Peak in Jacks Peak Regional Park. Details by Tintle
and others are enclosed.

Many thanks to all contributors and Subregional Editors
who make these reports possible!

Sincerely,


Jeff Davis, Ed Pandolfino, Steve Rottenborn, and Mike
Rogers
Northern California Regional Editors

(North American Birds is a quarterly journal of
ornithological record published by the American Birding
Association.  For details see http://www.aba.org/nab/.)

We have a pair of Red Breasted Sapsuckers, which seem to have
characteristics of Red Naped Sapsuckers (some black markings on the
fully red head, and the red extends well down the throat but not very
far onto the chest but it's clearly red on the chest).  I need to get
some pix of them.

Also, we have never seen a Steller's Jay here until this week.

An unusual  bird we cannot identify has a long sharp black curved beak,
dark eyes, black legs, but otherwise looks to be about the size and
shape of a European Starling.  It is not speckled, but rather a dusky
brown all over with no distinguishing markings.  When I visit the
multitude of online sources and hard copy field guides in my posession,
I note that the likely candidate (California Thrasher) has a longer,
more curved beak, and definitely a longer tail.  So, I am at a loss
about this bird.

All these birds are visiting a small pond, an ornamental pear with small
fruit, a couple of bird feeders with generic type wild bird mix, freeze
dried meal worms, and a suet block.

Love,

Os

Yesterday, I saw a single Eurasian collared dove on the telephone wires
at the corner of Houston and 268. Seems like more ECD are moving to the
"neighborhood".



Linda









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

My morning walk along Lewis Eaton was unevenful but the short trip to Coke
Hallowell was very frutiful. Lots of Vesper, Song, and Lark Sparrows, and
several winter waterfowl in surrounding ponds. No surprise I didn't see the
recent Mountain Lion. I spotted a large-winged raptor in the air that eventually
I identified as an OSPREY that landed and perched on the lower branch of a
Eucalyptus Tree south of the Hallowell barn near the upper pond. Also along Rice
Road next to the recycle plant on a power line I spotted a beautiful
RED-SHOULDERED HAWK. When I arrived home a funny little gnatcatcher was under
the front porch canvas fluttering from flower to flower like a hummingbird. It
looked like a cross between a Hutton's Vireo and a Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Any
hints?

"Watch the birdie."
Jill Rucker
Fresno, CA

This repost was originally posted by owner of Sierra-nevada-birds listserv:

A message with potential malicious software was sent to the group

there was no subject line and it came from GWPOTT.

GWPOTT was removed from the membership list.

Bruce Webb
Granite Bay, CA

This afternoon at ponding basin N. Cedar Ave at E. Palo Alto Ave:
Common Mergansers (12)
Double-crested Cormorant (15)
Pied-billed Grebes (8)
Black-crowned Night-heron (2)
Bufflehead (4)
Greater Yellowlegs (1)
Killdeer (2)
Peeps of unknown identification (3)
Ruddy Duck (9)
American Coots (30)
Snowy Egret (1)
Great Egrets (3)
Ring-billed Gulls (6
Other smaller gulls on water w/brown plummage unidentified (2)
Canada Geese (24)
Brewer's Blackbirds (35)
European Starlings (16)
American Crows (8)
Common Ravens (6)
Merlin (1)
Northern Flicker (female) in Sequoia Tree (1)
Cedar Waxwings (12)
American Robin (1) w/waxwings
Dark-eyed Juncos "Oregon" (6)
White-crowned Sparrows (5)


"Watch the birdie."
Jill Rucker
(northeast) Fresno, CA

I went up to visit Helen Button in Oakhurst today and bring her some turkey for
her and some sunflower seeds for her feeders. She had a lot of birds around but
nothing unusual. There's been no goldfinches or pine siskins at her niger sock
this winter for some reason and no sign of any evening grosbeaks so far. I
checked Bass Lake on the way home briefly and found the male Barrow's Goldeneye
that's wintered there for several years (first found by Helen). It was hanging
out between Rocky Point and the Chevron fuel barge with a flock of commons. I
didn't go down to the dam area or scope the lake for loons today. Last year
there were two male Barrow's hanging out at the dam. Maybe the Wednesday Walkers
will find some more goodies when they visit Helen on the 16th. Gary Woods-Fresno

Yesterday, my son and I took a walk from our house along the canal to First and
Shields. They've cut off the water now so it isn't flowing and is only about 3-4
feet deep. This years crop of water weeds are starting to brown but it seems
life flourishes in the most surprising places. Among the vast collection of
trash, we did find 16 Mallards, 1 Coot, 3 Pied-billed Grebes and 1 foraging
Snowy Egret. We stopped to watch the egret for a bit and I pointed out to Devin
how the egret uses his feet to scare prey out of hiding and into bill range. The
yellow of the egret's feet ran all the way up the back of it's legs like seams.
It was a lovely afternoon except for the trash.


Good Birding!

Kris McNew
Fresno, CA 93703


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

After our wonderful trip to Cholame Valley with Kevin yesterday I just had
to check out a few of my favorite spots today.  The "pond" on the Fancher Creek
Canal Mcall Ave. just So. of Mckinley had a pair of Hooded Mergansers actively
feeding.  There were also 3 dowitchers,a Greater Yellowlegs and two species of
egrets(couldn't figure out how to ad both eBird reports).  One Merlin was back
on Belmont Ave. north of Centerville ( first saw it back this year on Wed.
11-18-09).

                             Enjoy those birds, Ellen Davies

Location:    Belmont Ave.--E of MacDonough Ave.
Observation date:    11/22/09
Notes:    Actually drove it backwards today.  The Quail were on Riverbend just
south of Belmont Ave.
Number of species:    4

California Quail    5
Red-tailed Hawk    1
Merlin    1
Brewer's Blackbird    150
blackbird sp.    200

This report was generated automatically by eBird v2(http://ebird.org)

Sending out notice of upcoming Christmas Bird Counts-

            December 20-The Milburn-Fresno CBC-meet at the Milburn overlook(on
Milburn Ave off Herndon about a mile east of Hwy 99) at 7am

            January 2-The Merced NWR CBC-meet at the Merced NWR parking lot at
7am-

            For information on both, contact Larry Parmeter at 559-276-8753 or
lanparmeter3@...

_________________________________________________________________
Hotmail: Trusted email with powerful SPAM protection.
http://clk.atdmt.com/GBL/go/177141665/direct/01/

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

Make that "Cholame" Valley. The word is as tricky to spell as it is to
pronounce.

--
Kevin Enns-Rempel
Fresno, CA
________________________________________
From: Kevin Enns-Rempel
Sent: Sunday, November 22, 2009 2:16 PM
To: fresno_county_birders@yahoogroups.com
Subject: Fresno Audubon trip to Parkfield

Eleven birders made the trek to Parkfield Saturday via the Chalome Valley Road.
The weather was beautiful (once the fog that greeted us in Chalome Valley burned
off), and the birds cooperative. Though the total list of birds for the day
included several other species seen from the road (mostly in Kings County), the
focus of our serious birding was San Luis Obispo County and Monterey County.
Here's the list of what we saw in those two counties. All were seen on Chalome
Valley Road unless noted otherwise. I've added an "S" or "M" to indicate the
county in which we saw each species.

Northern Harrier (M)
Red-shouldered Hawk (S) - seen by Larry, Chris, and Kevin in Shandon Park.
Red-tailed Hawk (SM)
Ferruginous Hawk (SM) - lots of them for the entire length of the road, and one
in Parkfield for good measure. Includes two dark phase birds.
Golden Eagle (SM) - again, many individuals along much of the road.
American Kestrel (SM)
Prairie Falcon (S)
Killdeer (SM)
Long-billed Curlew (M)
Eurasian Collared-Dove (M) - a good-sized flock in Parkfield.
Mourning Dove (SM)
Anna's Hummingbird (M) - Parkfield
Acorn Woodpecker (SM)
Lewis's Woodpecker (M) - just one seen
Red-breasted Sapsucker (M) - Parkfield
Nuttall's Woodpecker (M)
Northern Flicker (M)
Black Phoebe (SM)
Say's Phoebe (M)
Horned Lark (S)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (M) - Parkfield
Phainopepla (M)
Northern Mockingbird (M) - Parkfield
Sage Thrasher (M)
Western Bluebird (M)
Mountain Bluebird (S) - seen by Chris and Kevin south of Shandon
Hermit Thrush (M)
American Robin (S) - seen by Larry, Chris, and Kevin in Shandon Park
Bushtit (M)
Oak Titmouse (M)
White-breasted Nuthatch (M)
Loggerhead Shrike (SM) - lots of them
Western Scrub-Jay (M)
Yellow-billed Magpie (SM)
American Crow (SM)
Common Raven (SM)
European Starling (M)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (M)
Spotted Towhee (M)
California Towhee (M)
Lark Sparrow (M)
Vesper Sparrow (M)
Savannah Sparrow (M)
Dark-eyed Junco (M)
Red-winged Blackbird (M)
Western Meadowlark (SM)
Brewer's Blackbird (SM)
House Finch (SM)

Total species for both counties: 48

--
Kevin Enns-Rempel
Fresno, CA

Eleven birders made the trek to Parkfield Saturday via the Chalome Valley Road.
The weather was beautiful (once the fog that greeted us in Chalome Valley burned
off), and the birds cooperative. Though the total list of birds for the day
included several other species seen from the road (mostly in Kings County), the
focus of our serious birding was San Luis Obispo County and Monterey County.
Here's the list of what we saw in those two counties. All were seen on Chalome
Valley Road unless noted otherwise. I've added an "S" or "M" to indicate the
county in which we saw each species.

Northern Harrier (M)
Red-shouldered Hawk (S) - seen by Larry, Chris, and Kevin in Shandon Park.
Red-tailed Hawk (SM)
Ferruginous Hawk (SM) - lots of them for the entire length of the road, and one
in Parkfield for good measure. Includes two dark phase birds.
Golden Eagle (SM) - again, many individuals along much of the road.
American Kestrel (SM)
Prairie Falcon (S)
Killdeer (SM)
Long-billed Curlew (M)
Eurasian Collared-Dove (M) - a good-sized flock in Parkfield.
Mourning Dove (SM)
Anna's Hummingbird (M) - Parkfield
Acorn Woodpecker (SM)
Lewis's Woodpecker (M) - just one seen
Red-breasted Sapsucker (M) - Parkfield
Nuttall's Woodpecker (M)
Northern Flicker (M)
Black Phoebe (SM)
Say's Phoebe (M)
Horned Lark (S)
Ruby-crowned Kinglet (M) - Parkfield
Phainopepla (M)
Northern Mockingbird (M) - Parkfield
Sage Thrasher (M)
Western Bluebird (M)
Mountain Bluebird (S) - seen by Chris and Kevin south of Shandon
Hermit Thrush (M)
American Robin (S) - seen by Larry, Chris, and Kevin in Shandon Park
Bushtit (M)
Oak Titmouse (M)
White-breasted Nuthatch (M)
Loggerhead Shrike (SM) - lots of them
Western Scrub-Jay (M)
Yellow-billed Magpie (SM)
American Crow (SM)
Common Raven (SM)
European Starling (M)
Yellow-rumped Warbler (M)
Spotted Towhee (M)
California Towhee (M)
Lark Sparrow (M)
Vesper Sparrow (M)
Savannah Sparrow (M)
Dark-eyed Junco (M)
Red-winged Blackbird (M)
Western Meadowlark (SM)
Brewer's Blackbird (SM)
House Finch (SM)

Total species for both counties: 48

--
Kevin Enns-Rempel
Fresno, CA

Had a great trip led by Kevin Enns-Rempel, ticking birds in
Fresno,Kings,Kern,San Luis Obispo,and Monterey counties.  My highlight was the
sage thrasher (lifer) found by Ellen.  Pictures posted under Parkfield folder. 
Many ferruginous hawks, to the point they became "junk birds."  A dark morph
also.  5 or so golden eagles, prairie falcon, kestrels everywhere, red tailed
hawk, northern harrier, and a red shouldered hawk at the park in Shandon.  We
had some yellow-billed magpies in San Luis Obispo county which I think is a good
bird for that county, and Monterey Co.  Also after lunch at the cafe in
Parkfield (no earthquakes felt) saw eurasian collared doves, red breasted
sapscukers, lark sparrows, annas hummingbirds in town.  ALso saw a lewis's
woodpecker, phanopepla,hermit trush, bushtits,oat titmouse,western and moutain
bluebird on the trip.  Kevin will report our totals, which I think will show a
good diversity from this trip.

Chris Hiatt
Madera Ranchos

Don't forget the Fresno Audubon field trip to Parkfield on Saturday, November
21. We should get lots of good grassland and oak woodland birds, and maybe even
a glimpse of Pronghorns in Cholame Valley.

Those of you who saw Frank Gibson's message a few days ago know that we're going
to need to find a new parking lot for morning rendezvous spot. We've decided for
now to use the old Mervyn's lot on the southeast corner of Ashlan and
Blackstone. This is going to create some confusion, since many people will
automatically go to the Fresno Ag lot like we've done for so many years. Under
those circumstances, we probably need to have someone at each lot to make sure
we don't miss anybody. Can I get a volunteer who's willing to help in that
regard tomorrow morning? Send me a note if you're able to do so and we'll figure
out the details. Thanks!


<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>
Kevin Enns-Rempel
Fresno, CA
559-313-4546
kennsrem@...<mailto:kennsrem@...>
<><><><><><><><><><><><><><>



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This afternoon at 4:30 p.m. I saw another MERLIN. I reported a sighting from my
neighborhood last week of a male. This bird has a larger head and shorter tail
feathers than the one last week. I've placed another photo in the Luv2bird
album. It was in my neighborhood perched at the top of an Italian Cypress tree.
It was looking west from a perch. To get to the northeast Fresno location (near
North Cedar and East Sierra Avenues - click on this map link:
http://www.mapquest.com/maps?city=Fresno&state=CA&address=1655+E+Paul+Ave&zipcod\
e=93710-4309

"Watch the birdie."
Jill Rucker
Fresno, CA

I had a few hours to kill this afternoon so I went to Lost Lake to try for some
bird photos. There weren't as many birds as I was expecting, from what I could
tell, but there were a few notable birds. I have seen dark rough-legged and dark
ferruginous hawks, but today I saw my first actual dark red-tailed hawk. I've
seen plenty of intermediates and 3 Harlan's, but never a dark one. It was with
another light red-tailed down by the volleyball court. At the entrance I saw a
small flock of golden-crowned kinglets in the pines at the first restrooms as
you enter and there were two more down in the campground area. I also saw a
ferruginous hawk fly over Lost Lake heading east towards the foothills-the first
one I've seen at that location.Phainopeplas were whistling from one end of the
park to the other. I put a few photos in the new A01 photo file. Gary
Woods-Fresno

Michael Stubblefield called me recently to report that a group of about 10
Lewis's Woodpeckers has been showing up regularly in his yard. He said he would
be happy to have any local birders come by if they want to observe these birds.
Here are the directions he asked me to publicize:
Take highway 168 past the end of the new section.  Proceed beyond Academy Avenue
and the small "town" of Academy to Sample Road about five miles from the end of
the freeway.  Turn right on Sample Road and proceed about one mile to the second
Quail Oaks gate on the right.  A sign will say this is Frontier Lane.  Enter the
complex using 8743 as the code.  Turn left on Roadrunner Lane and proceed to the
top of the hill.  On your left will be a driveway to a two-story house with clay
tile roof and full sized palm trees in the front.
You may enter the driveway and look for the birds around the backyard.  If there
are cars in the driveway or by the garage please knock on the door and alert
occupants of your presence.
You can call Michael for more information at 559-323-7581 or 559-284-1246

<><><><><><><>
Kevin Enns-Rempel
Fresno, CA
<><><><><><><>


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I actually got to go birding on Saturday! The weather was beautiful and I saw
some pretty good birds and the Tule Elk!

San Luis NWR -
Pied-billed Grebe
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
White-faced Ibis
Gr. White-fronted Geese
Mallard
Northern Shoveler
American Coot
Turkey Vulture
White-tailed Kite
Northern Harrier
Cooper's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
American Kestrel
Ring-necked Pheasant (2 lovely males)
Lesser Sandhill Crane
Black-necked Stilt
Greater Yellowlegs
Mourning Dove
Belted Kingfisher
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Black Phoebe
Says Phoebe
American Crow
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Northern Mockingbird
Loggerhead Shrike
Yellow-rumped Warbler
California Towhee
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Bicolored Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Brewer's Blackbird
Great-tailed Grackle

Coyote
Tule Elk

Merced NWR - (added)
Northern Pintail
Cinnamon Teal
Long-billed Dowitcher
Common Snipe
Great Horned Owl
Marsh Wren
American Pipit
Red-winged Blackbird

It was a wonderful day for me.


Good Birding!

Kris McNew
Fresno, CA 93703


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Today while driving on Manning avenue almost on the corner with Marks, I spotted
a Peregrine Falcon on a telephone post enjoying a freshly killed Rock Dove.  On
the nearby telephone post there was a Merlin watching very attently.