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Harlequin Duck Miller Knox
Sheila Dickie
Hi everyone
I am reporting two sightings of the male Harlequin Duck at Miller Knox Regional Park in Pt. Richmond. The first was yesterday afternoon, March lst; I saw the duck from 4-5 p.m. And today in the company of birders from the UC Section Club, I saw the duck again at 10:30 a.m. Location of duck: March lst. I parked in the central parking lot of the park and walked out along the rocky shoreline headed towards the pier. As the RR tracks come to an end, if you look out in the bay you will see two concrete columns close in. The duck was in that vicinity along with a female Surf Scoter, and remained for an hour, diving and surfing the waves. Today March 2nd the duck was loafing with two surf scoters further up the shoreline nearer to the pier. Again close in. There are still hundreds of gulls and ducks out in the bay, and yesterday there were hundreds of cormorants as well. Best Birding Sheila Dickie
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Evening Grosbeaks Pleasanton
richard s. cimino
As report yesterday by Henry Hansen the Evening Grosbeaks in much
smaller numbers (5) are still present on Harvest and Greenwood at 7:30 a.m. today 3/2, in Pleasanton. There 75 + Cedar Waxwing's, many Robins, Flicker and Mocking bird in the two fruit bearing trees. The Evening Grosbeaks were seen by Jim Lomax , Jim Ross and myself . Jim Lomax and I also locate a smaller group of 3 on Gatetree circle. On my way home with a large Peets coffee in hand I located 2 more Evening Grosbeaks on Crestline and Northway Rd.,- in this area they're associating with flock of 12 House Finch's. It is not raining in Pleasanton but it is very windy. Have a great day, Rich Cimino
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Pleasanton Evening Grosbeaks
henry hansen <forestfalcon@...>
Being relatively new to Pleasanton and the East Bay, 38+ Evening Grosbeaks on the corner of Harvest and Greenwood at 7:30 a.m. on 3/1 were of interest to me. They were associated with a usual flock of nearby Cedar Waxwings, but the "clicking" sound from their eating dried fruit in the corner trees caught my attention. Can anyone tell me if these grosbeaks are "regular" here? I'll check again tomorrow morning to see if any remain.
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Pinole Hooded Mergansers
Laura Look <chamaea@...>
Today (Tues, March 1), I saw (finally!) 3 HOODED MERGANSERS (1 male, 2 females) in Pinole Creek at 10:30 am. They were just downstream of the railroad trestle at Fernandez Park.
Good birding, -- Laura Look Pinole, CA
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Alameda Cty Nemesis Bird--No More
Judith Dunham
Having missed a certain flycatcher last year at Garin Regional Park over at least three visits, I thought I'd try again for this species. I covered the area east of Jordan Pond and north of the main part of the pond for nearly an hour when the recently reported HAMMOND'S FLYCATCHER flew onto a branch in the middle of the first creek crossing north of the pond. The bird showed off all sides, then headed south into the trees.
Many birds were vocalizing and/or foraging in pairs, including Red- shouldered Hawks, Hutton's Vireos, and Western Bluebirds. For directions to the park, go to www.ebparks.org/parks/garin. Heads up! Judith Dunham Berkeley, CA
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Tufted Duck-Lake Merritt
Mark Rauzon
Following up on Joe Morlan's and Noah Arthur's reports from Lake Merritt, I found the male Tufted Duck courting a female Lesser Scaup by waving his rather impressive ponytail.
http://rauzon.zenfolio.com/p859914566/h8383670#h8383670 The Tufted Duck was in the large scaup flock outside of the island area to the north, but swam in closer to shore. The female Redhead and Ring-necked ducks were in the island area, and a second year Thayer's Gull in the bird bath area. Good Luck. Mark Rauzon Oakland
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Hammond's Flycatcher Continues at Garin
Ken Wilson <kaeagles@...>
On the trail leading from the parking lot up to the pond, Hammond's Flycatcher was moving about in the trees on the west side of the pond (I-880 side). He generally stayed in the middle grouping of trees after passing the sign posted on the trail for those fishing. Also seen in the same general area was Bewick's Wren, several Ruby-crowned Kinglets, a moving group of Bushtits, Red-winged Blackbirds, and Robins. On the other side of the park near the access gate for the trail going up the hill, a couple of Black Phoebe's, numerous Yellow-rumped Warblers,Western Bluebirds, and House Finches were seen. A fellow birder observed a Nuttail's WP and a Northern Flicker was heard.
Images of some of the birds are posted at the link below: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaeagles/?saved=1 Ken Wilson Pleasanton
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Miller-Knox Harlequin Duck
Laura Look <chamaea@...>
The male HARLEQUIN DUCK was seen today (Mon., Feb. 28) at 1:10 pm at Miller-Knox Regional Shoreline in Richmond. He was snoozing, and later diving a little bit, just off shore in the Bay near the "lagoon".
There are still thousands of gulls (including Mew Gulls) and ducks on the Bay in this area, particularly under Western Dr. Also seen at Miller-Knox RS were a Brown Creeper, a Red-throated Loon, 2 Black Oystercatchers, 2 Pelagic Cormorants, a Whimbrel, and a White-tailed Kite. I did NOT see the Brown Thrasher on Lobos Ave in Point Richmond. Good birding, -- Laura Look Pinole, CA
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Pacific-slope Flycatcher.
Phila Rogers <philajane6@...>
Good Morning:
I just heard a Pacific-slope Flycatcher calling (singing?) from the eucalyptus trees across from my house, two blocks north of Lawrence Hall of Science. I checked in "Birds of Northern California: An Annotated Field List" and see that a few may be heard or seen early in March. Does seem a bit early, but its vocalization is distinctive. Also few days ago I heard a brief burst of song from a Ruby-crowned Kinglet which seems about right as it corresponds each year with the blooming of my crab apple. Phila Rogers [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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"Big Day" 2/26
Lori Arthur <loriarthur61@...>
I did a Big Day yesterday, going to Crown Beach/Washington Park and Lake
Merritt. Both places had some good birds, although nothing really exciting. My first place was Crown Beach/Washington Park. The female Baltimore Oriole was not seen in about 20-30 minutes of waiting and looking, but it can take a lot of waiting to see her, so perhaps she is still there. The eucs where she usually hangs out had at least one ALLEN'S HUMMINGBIRD The best bird was a male VARIED THRUSH at Crown Beach, foraging under oak trees along the fence line, just east of the flagpole. A YELLOW-SHAFTED NORTHERN FLICKER was also in this area, perching with three RED-SHAFTEDS in one of the bare sycamore trees. There were all the regular ducks, gulls and shorebirds at the beach, WESTERN, CLARK'S, HORNED, and EARED GREBES, plus an interesting peep with DUNLINS near the little point at the north end of Crown. In plumage, it looked okay for Western, but its bill seemed very short. Lake Merritt was the best I've ever seen it. It was a six-Aythya day: male TUFTED DUCK, female REDHEAD, and male RING-NECKED DUCK were all present and in close, with the many GREATER and LESSER SCAUP and CANVASBACKS between the islands and the nature center. BOTH GOLDENEYES were present farther out, as well as the largest number of COMMON MERGANSERS I've ever seen at Lake Merritt. It was also a seven-gull day at the Lake, with GLAUCOUS-WINGED, WESTERN, AMERICAN HERRING, THAYER'S, CALIFORNIA, RING-BILLED and MEW. As usual, the most numerous were G-winged, Western, and Ring-billed along with a few California, and singles of Thayer's, Herring, and Mew. A drama unfolded as a SHARP-SHINNED HAWK pounced on a PIGEON, knocking the Pigeon into the water. The Pigeon recovered itself, flew out of the water and to the shore, and dived under a park bench. The hawk, after missing its mark, rammed into a sign post just behind the bench. It was okay but flew away without its dinner, who was still hiding under the bench. Noah Arthur, Oakland
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Fw: Harlequin Duck & Red-throated Loon in Pt Richmond (Correction)
Ken Wilson <kaeagles@...>
The Loon reported on below looks like a winter Red-throated Loon. Thanks to Rusty for the proper ID.
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
Ken
--- On Sun, 2/27/11, Ken Wilson <kaeagles@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Ken Wilson <kaeagles@yahoo.com>
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Hairy Woodpecker at Stivers Lagoon Fremont (PIC)
hsrandhawa
There was a Hairy Woodpecker at Stivers Lagoon Fremont (Feb27, 5:30PM). The bird was working the dead trees on Muskrat Trail. There was also a pair of Northern Flickers and a Red-shouldered Hawk in the vicinity.
A record shot of HAWO can be seen here. The map has link to the spot where I saw the bird. http://www.flickr.com/photos/sarbhloh/ harjeet singh
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Harlequin Duck & Pacific Loon in Pt Richmond
Ken Wilson <kaeagles@...>
Today along the shoreline adjacent to Miller/Knox Shoreline Park was a male and two female Harlequin Ducks. Numerous Surf Scoters, American Wigeon, Buffleheads, and various Grebe's were seen along the same shoreline along with numerous other ducks and gulls.
At a cove where Brickyard Rd becomes Seacliff Dr a Pacific Loon was seen along with numerous other species. Images of both can be seen at the link below: http://www.flickr.com/photos/kaeagles/ Ken Wilson Pleasanton
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White-tailed Kite Nesting in Berkeley
dp_eas
Yesterday, February 26, I observed a White-tailed Kite chirping and carrying
nesting material into a clump of coniferous trees in central Berkeley. This was on Lincoln Street (south side) between McGee and California streets. Today Mike McClaskey and I observed a kite roosting on one of these trees. Emilie Strauss Berkeley, California
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Hammond's Flycatcher continues
robert_dorado <rlclark3@...>
Today at Garin park the Hammond's Flycatcher was easy to find at about 1:30pm in the location previously reported, just before Jordan Pond on the East side of the creek.
Robert
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Re: Digest Number 331
Michele Setter <msetter@...>
More cool raptor down your way...see #2
toggle quoted messageShow quoted text
On Sun, Feb 27, 2011 at 3:26 AM, <EBB_Sightings@yahoogroups.com> wrote:
East Bay Birding --
Michele Setter Director of Animal Encounters Lindsay Wildlife Museum 925-627-2916
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Ring-necked Ducks - Garin Regional Park- pic
VN <verne_nelson@...>
As many likely know, every year about five or six Ring-necked Ducks
overwinter onJordan Pond in Garin Regional Park. Sometimes when you're there, they are nowhereto be seen. My guess is they are dozing in the cattails surrounding the pond. I mostlysee them come out in the late afternoon to eat and bathe. Here is a photo for comparison of the male and female. Both have beautiful feather patternsand bills. I always have to remind myself that they are not called Ring-billed Ducks. http://www.pbase.com/vnelson/image/132823848 <http://www.pbase.com/vnelson/image/132823848>
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Hammond's continues at Garin
Dave Weber
Hi Birders-
I spent about an hour this morning at Garin RP looking for the Hammond's Flycatcher. I covered the whole trail along the west side of the creek between the two creek crossings. Lots of small stuff flitting around but no flycatchers of any kind. About to leave at noon, I heard the faint but distinct sound of a flycatcher bill snapping shut and the Hammond's Flycatcher soon appeared across the trail from the large pine. It stayed around for a minute or two then retreated toward the middle of the creek. I suspect it had been on the other side of the creek most of the time. Also saw my fos Allen's Hummer. Dave Weber, Milpitas
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Snow Goose & Raptors in Livermore
Kathy Robertson
Hi birders,
I spent several hours birding around eastern Alameda County today. At a small pond in the Springtown district of Livermore, there was a single Snow Goose (from I-580, exit north on Springtown Blvd., turn right on Bluebell -- the pond is on the left in the first block). At Frick Lake on Laughlin Rd., there was a soaring Ferruginous Hawk. During a hike at Brushy Peak Regional Park (north end of Laughlin), I saw two pairs of courting White-tailed Kites, a pair of Golden Eagles, a Merlin terrorizing a flock of White-crowned Sparrows, Am. Kestrels and numerous Red-tails, and a Northern Harrier. Also of note were a couple of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers on the lower slope of the "brushy peak". Good birding, Kathy Robertson Hayward, CA
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Male Tufted Duck continues at Lake Merritt
Our annual Ornithology Class Field Trip to Lake Merritt in Oakland was this
morning. Highlights included TUFTED DUCK, REDHEAD, GREEN HERON and 4 COMMON MERGANSERS. Photos of the TUFTED DUCK are at: http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/newgallery.htm A full list and more photo links are at: http://fog.ccsf.edu/~jmorlan/merritt.htm -- Joseph Morlan, Pacifica, CA jmorlan (at) ccsf.edu SF Birding Classes start Apr 5 http://fog.ccsf.edu/jmorlan/ Western Field Ornithologists http://www.westernfieldornithologists.org/
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