FYI, while PTO has not generally enforced the parking at SSL off hours, it has lately ticketed on weekends and evenings, even though there is supposedly a memorandum of understanding that they would n

As I was getting ready for bed this evening, I heard calls and went outside to investigate. High overhead I could hear a flock of geese calling as they flew to the southwest. Checking the recordings o

As an aside to what Kay explained, I had all sorts of trouble with my reports to the bird banding laboratory while working on Hawaiian birds. Since some species bred year-round, I would have HY birds

Had my FOS grosbeak today as well, singing at the UC Botanical Garden in Berkeley. Plus a nesting Anna's near the newt pond. Jaan Lepson Livermore

Just got my first Hooded Oriole of the year. First the whistle, then the chatter, and then saw a bright male on top of the apple tree. He soon came down to the hummingbird feeder and drank for close t

This morning at the bridge along the path below Del Valle dam at the end of Arroyo Rd. in Livermore I came across a peahen. I thad urned back to investigate the loud, honking "hank" calls that reminde

Yes, Paroaria are South American. Red-crested and Yellow-billed are found in northern Argentina, Paraguay, and parts north of there if I recall correctly. ============================= Jaan Lepson Uni

Based on its general appearance and the absence of a crest, my conclusion is that it is probably not a Red-crested Cardinal. Yellow-billed (Paroaria capitata) looks more likely to me (well established

Yesterday evening had two Phainopeplas sallying from a bare California buckeye along the main trail below Del Valle dam in Livermore. One was in female plumage while the other seemed to be intermediat

White-crowned Sparrows singing in my yard this morning. I heard some suspicious "seep" calls below Del Valle dam yesterday evening, but didn't see them to confirm. But the song is, of course, unmistak

Hi all, For the past week or so, I've heard an occasional song that has thrown me for a loop. It's a high, sweet, reeling, descending trill (?), kind of a "wee-see, wee-see,wee-see,wee-see!" (yeah, I

Took a late afternoon walk from the road down to the lake along East Ridge Trail. While eating dinner at the lake I noticed a huge kettle of Turkey Vultures high overhead, slowly heading to the southw

We have had a Swainson's Thrush in our yard for a couple of days. My husband said, "there's a strange thrush out here" but it was gone by the time I came out with my binocs. But I caught it on our tor

Hi all, Just to clarify my earlier post on the Hermit Thrush. My surprise was not in finding one - I get them occasionally in my yard throughout the winter and of course when I am out birding. My surp

I was surprised and uplifted to hear a Hermit Thrush singing at the Valley Care Hospital in Livermore at 7:30 this morning. This seems awfully early to me - but it does feel like Spring out there. Hav

Had a lovely Red-breasted Sapsucker in my yard this morning - new yard bird for me. Yay! Unfortunately it was drilling holes in my Hawaiian koa tree, which has already been having trouble recently. Bo

The Livermore "condor" sighting was from me in 2009, but it seems less and less likely. None of the tagged ones was known to have been in the area (but I think one had travelled to the TriValley at so

Pine Siskins have come to Livermore as well. My thistle feeder isn't set up yet, but they are happily feeding at the sunflower feeder and on the ground seed for the White-crowns. OK, I don't know if t

Technically, the Stephen's Island Wren was not wiped out by feral cats. It was wiped out by Tiddles, a single pet cat belonging to the lighthouse keeper. At least that is the story. And that was the f

Sorry about the Star Wars reference! Yesterday morning I heard a song outside my bedroom window I could not identify. It sounded like a whisper song or subsong, which at times reminded me of House Wre