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Re: 6/27/10 : breeding notes etc. in the SE
Alan Hopkins
Dom,
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Savannah Sparrows have never bred in SF as far as I am aware. During breeding bird atlas surveys I only had them until April 5 after which I did not get another sighting. They seem to be absent most of the summer, it's hard to know what to make of your sightings, it would be great to find some other evidence to confirm breeding. Alan Hopkins
--- On Sun, 6/27/10, Dominik Mosur <polskatata@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: Dominik Mosur <polskatata@yahoo.com> Subject: [SFBirds] 6/27/10 : breeding notes etc. in the SE To: "SFBirds" <sfbirds@yahoogroups.com>, "Atria Rondone" <cemni85@yahoo.com> Date: Sunday, June 27, 2010, 7:31 PM Did a tour of the Southeast side of the city this morning (7:10 - 10:30 a.m.) starting at Bayview Hill - Candlestick SRA - Yosemite Slough/Double Rock - Heron's Head/India Basin finishing with 54 total species (a pretty good total for the area covered considering the time of year.) Most interesting was the presence of a female LAZULI BUNTING with a begging juvenile in tow on the steep grassy hillside on the Southwest side of Bayview Hill. I hadn't noted this species here since mid-May although Adam Winer did have a female on the hill 6/13/10/, but it appears that they pulled of a successful breeding attempt. Other stuff of local interest: GREATER SCAUP (m,f in the Bay off Double Rock) SURF SCOTER (2m, 2f " ) RUDDY DUCK (alt m, " ) BUFFLEHEAD (continuing at HHP) COMMON LOON (basic, off Candlestick point, continuing summering bird) ) PELAGIC CORMORANT (2 at end of Heron's Head pier) BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS (6 flying together high over Candlestick Rec area then Yosemite Slough then out over bay, a 7th was on Double Rock, another pair was at HHP along with the now nearly full grown chick) BLACK-NECKED STILT (incubating, HHP) MARBLED GODWIT (HHP, very worn, likely summering locally) LONG-BILLED CURLEW (2, HHP) WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (2 over Bayview Hill, never confirmed but suspected of breeding in the area) SAVANNAH SPARROW (2, HHP a good distance apart could represent two separate territories and possibly breeding here, one was singing repeatedly. I also heard a probable 3rd Savannah Sparrow giving chips from some bunchgrasses in the Candlestick Parking lot that is due to be developed for condos in the future) There was a Common Buckeye butterfly in the Candlestick lot as well. There has been much talk in recent months on SFBirds about Nuttall's White-crowned Sparrow (our endemic breeding sub-species) and efforts to restore their breeding habitat in Golden Gate Park and other parts of the city. However Bryant's Savannah Sparrow (a California species of special concern) has been entirely ignored it seems. In contrast to the White-crown of which there are dozens if not hundreds of breeding pairs left in the city, the Savannah Sparrow is down to a handful of breeding pairs at most and its habitat is imperiled by proposed "re-development" of the baylands in southeast San Francisco. Good birding, Dominik Mosur San Francisco [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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6/27/10 : breeding notes etc. in the SE
Dominik Mosur
Did a tour of the Southeast side of the city this morning (7:10 - 10:30 a.m.) starting at Bayview Hill - Candlestick SRA - Yosemite Slough/Double Rock - Heron's Head/India Basin finishing with 54 total species (a pretty good total for the area covered considering the time of year.)
Most interesting was the presence of a female LAZULI BUNTING with a begging juvenile in tow on the steep grassy hillside on the Southwest side of Bayview Hill. I hadn't noted this species here since mid-May although Adam Winer did have a female on the hill 6/13/10/, but it appears that they pulled of a successful breeding attempt. Other stuff of local interest: GREATER SCAUP (m,f in the Bay off Double Rock) SURF SCOTER (2m, 2f " ) RUDDY DUCK (alt m, " ) BUFFLEHEAD (continuing at HHP) COMMON LOON (basic, off Candlestick point, continuing summering bird) ) PELAGIC CORMORANT (2 at end of Heron's Head pier) BLACK OYSTERCATCHERS (6 flying together high over Candlestick Rec area then Yosemite Slough then out over bay, a 7th was on Double Rock, another pair was at HHP along with the now nearly full grown chick) BLACK-NECKED STILT (incubating, HHP) MARBLED GODWIT (HHP, very worn, likely summering locally) LONG-BILLED CURLEW (2, HHP) WHITE-THROATED SWIFT (2 over Bayview Hill, never confirmed but suspected of breeding in the area) SAVANNAH SPARROW (2, HHP a good distance apart could represent two separate territories and possibly breeding here, one was singing repeatedly. I also heard a probable 3rd Savannah Sparrow giving chips from some bunchgrasses in the Candlestick Parking lot that is due to be developed for condos in the future) There was a Common Buckeye butterfly in the Candlestick lot as well. There has been much talk in recent months on SFBirds about Nuttall's White-crowned Sparrow (our endemic breeding sub-species) and efforts to restore their breeding habitat in Golden Gate Park and other parts of the city. However Bryant's Savannah Sparrow (a California species of special concern) has been entirely ignored it seems. In contrast to the White-crown of which there are dozens if not hundreds of breeding pairs left in the city, the Savannah Sparrow is down to a handful of breeding pairs at most and its habitat is imperiled by proposed "re-development" of the baylands in southeast San Francisco. Good birding, Dominik Mosur San Francisco
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Re: Early Migrants At Crissy Field?
Dominik Mosur
And then there are the few that seem to oversummer locally as well
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On Jun 24, 2010, at 7:26 AM, "David_Assmann" <david_assmann@yahoo.com> wrote:
There were three LONG BILLED CURLEWS at Crissy Field yesterday.
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Re: Early Migrants At Crissy Field?
Dominik Mosur
Shorebirds begin arriving in our area as early as mid June so these wouldn't be considered early at all.
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On Jun 24, 2010, at 7:26 AM, "David_Assmann" <david_assmann@yahoo.com> wrote:
There were three LONG BILLED CURLEWS at Crissy Field yesterday. [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Early Migrants At Crissy Field?
There were three LONG BILLED CURLEWS at Crissy Field yesterday.
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Bats Stern Grove
fun_light_witty <cobra1976@...>
Last Sunday,at dusk, I went looking for bats at Stern Grove. Facing West looking towards Pine Lake in the open dog walking area, I saw in the tree line above and and the edges in what appeared to be bats. I'm so used to bats being more in the open and flying close to the ground and water. What I have read these might be Mexican Free Tailed Bats. The viewing of the was not vey long and there were only a few of them.
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One-timer?
redhead94109 <redhead94109@...>
That Rose-breasted Grosbeak was probably a one-timer. I looked twice
yesterday and once today and saw no sign of it. But by accident I DID find a Black Phoebe nest. The nest is in some sort of slot in the building which abuts Lafayette Park on the south side, near Clay/Gough. Pat McCulloch
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Gray Catbirds on San Bruno Mountain
Jessie Raeder
Though this posting not in San Francisco City/County proper, I thought it
would likely be of interest to folks here. Two Gray Catbirds have been spotted for several days now on San Bruno Mountain (see original post copied below). They were still present this morning at 8am - I saw them with 3 or 4 others who have posted details on the Peninsula Birds list today. Despite less than ideal conditions (I would describe it as dripping fog) they were still active and very visible from the trail! Jessie Raeder San Francisco, CA On Tue, Jun 22, 2010 at 2:47 PM, Joseph Morlan <jmorlan@gmail.com> wrote:
[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Help! What to do with a baby bird
SuperK
#1, Keep the bird warm! Put him in a small box stuffed with facial tissue or a soft towel-preferably one without loops--like a clean, cotton kitchen towel. The birds delicate toes could get stuck in the terrycloth loops of a normal bath. towel. No food or water. Keep him in a dark, quiet place-no radios or talking around the bird.
If he isn't injured or can't be put back in the nest, #2, Drive him up to WildCare in San Rafael. Go now, don't wait until tomorrow morning. Dinner can wait! They're open late right now for exactly this reason. Someone is there until 7pm at least, maybe later. The front door might be locked but there's an intercom with printed instructions next to it. Call first or on the way. WildCare is located at 76 Albert Park Lane, San Rafael: take 101 N to the central San Rafael exit, turn left on 3rd St., (2nd light), go about 8 blocks, turn left on B St., go about 4 blocks, turn left on Albert Park Ln. (after the Safeway). WildCare is about half way down the drive, there's a footbridge on the right. 415-456-SAVE Call WildCare at 415-456-SAVE(7283). Operators are available from 9am to 5pm, 365 days a year. After 5pm PST (Pacific Standard Time), call the 24-hour Nightline at 415-300-6359. Here are excellent reference sheets on what to do when you find baby birds or mammals; Birds:http://www.tracyaviary.org/uploads/I%20Found%20A%20Baby%20Bird.pdf http://www.wildcarebayarea.org/site/DocServer/Found_a_Bird_revised.pdf?docID=2501 Mammals: http://www.thewildlifecenter.org/caring_for_baby_mammals.pdf And here's a list of licensed wildlife rehabbers by state: http://www.wildcarebayarea.org/site/DocServer/otherrehabbers_correction_4-28-10.html?docID=381
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Help! What to do with a baby bird
lilhormiguita <lilhormiguita@...>
I just got a call from my boss whose daughter found a baby bird on the sidewak. She was afraid it might get stepped on and ultimately decided to take it home. Now she's wondering what to do with it.
Suggestions??? They live near Kaiser on Geary. Thanks in advance, Jennifer
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Looking for field guide donation for budding Colombian Ornithologists
lilhormiguita <lilhormiguita@...>
In the spirt of birding and social justice, I'm wondering if anyone would be willing to donate gently used field guides for a couple of budding Colombian Ornithologists in Bogota. Colombia is an extremely stratified society and while these youngsters graduated earlier this year from a public university with a degrees in Biology and a specialization in Ornithology ,as lower middle class Colmbians who are not well connected, their future is bleak.
I happened to meet them at an Ornithological Conference in Colombia 2 years ago and have since helped be the conduit to get them scopes and binos for the field work they completed earlier this year. It's frustrating to see such passionate, talented young people with such limited opportunities to apply thier formal education and practice thier passion in their own country. They are in part the inspiration for me to found Anidar ("To Nest" in Spanish)a small business/social venture to donate to underfunded bird conservation efforts in Latin America as well as provide monitary & logistical assistance to individuals such as the youngsters mentioned above to get further training/field work in bird conservation. A friend is traveling to Colombia next week and I would love to send a couple of field guides for them. Their specific requests included Pyle, Sibley and Restall. Please feel free to contact me off list if you can offer any guidance in setting up a small scale social venture. I'm a single mom with limited time, and knowlege in setting up a such an entity, but this undertaking will enable me to marry my love of birds, social/environmental justice and Latin America. Cheers! Jennifer
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Re: Heron's Head Black Oystercatcher chick
Alan Hopkins
They do seem to be reproducing along the Bay. I have never seen a nest but young have been appearing for quite a few years now. They may nest on the old pier at Heron's Head, if they nest at Double Rock they nest where I can't see the nest but I've suspected that that's a spot. There were no Oystercatchers when I atlased the area in 1990. I was a pair along the shore at Arrowhead Marsh a few weeks back. I think the invasion of zebra clams has benefited them. The pair at the Cliff house appeared to have a chick. It was too small to see but the adult appeared to be tending it.
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Alan Hopkins
--- On Mon, 6/21/10, Mark Eaton <marksffo@gmail.com> wrote:
From: Mark Eaton <marksffo@gmail.com> Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Heron's Head Black Oystercatcher chick To: "marybetlach" <betlack@earthlink.net> Cc: SFBirds@yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, June 21, 2010, 9:43 PM I should know this, but are there are other bay-side records for BLOY nesting? I know about the birds that nested off the Cliff House and there's a record for Alcatraz as well. Double Rock, perhaps? Sigh, Mark On Mon, Jun 21, 2010 at 2:13 PM, marybetlach <betlack@earthlink.net> wrote: I walked Heron's Head at lunchtime today. It was pretty quiet there.-- --- Mark Eaton mark@markeaton.org [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
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Re: Heron's Head Black Oystercatcher chick
Mark Eaton
I should know this, but are there are other bay-side records for BLOY
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nesting? I know about the birds that nested off the Cliff House and there's a record for Alcatraz as well. Double Rock, perhaps? Sigh, Mark
On Mon, Jun 21, 2010 at 2:13 PM, marybetlach <betlack@earthlink.net> wrote:
I walked Heron's Head at lunchtime today. It was pretty quiet there. --
--- Mark Eaton mark@markeaton.org
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Heron's Head Black Oystercatcher chick
marybetlach <betlack@...>
I walked Heron's Head at lunchtime today. It was pretty quiet there.
I didn't see the Harlequin duck today. There was a Willet transitioning to breeding plumage. There were 2-3 newly minted Avocet chicks being tended to by nervous parents in the southern ponds. Best of all was a Black Oystercatcher feeding a youngster on the concrete pier north of Heron's Head. This action was occurring in full view at the end of the pier on the part where the concrete slopes into the water. The youngster was about ½ to 2/3 the size of the parent and had a brownish bill, unlike the bright orange of its parents. Perhaps it's the chick that Eddie Bartley spotted several weeks ago. It is encouraging that it has managed to evade the nearby gulls that inhabit the pier thus far. Mary Betlach
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Rose-breasted Grosbeak @ Lafayette Park (P. McCulloch)
Dominik Mosur
Just got a phone call from Pat McCulloch who told me about an adult male ROSE-BREASTED Grosbeak he found at Lafayette Park today 6/21/10.
The bird was seen around 12:15 p.m. In the "grove" next to the tennis courts closest to Gough Street. Dominik Mosur
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Allen's Hummingbird
Anna Davenport <anna.e.davenport@...>
Hi All,
I am not sure if there will be too many males around in early July but from my project on mapping Allen's hummingbird breeding habitat in Golden Gate Park between March and May, I can tell you one of the best places to see the birds would be around North Lake in GGP. Good luck! Anna
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HH Harliquin still around
skrefting <skrefting@...>
Saturday around 1:30 the male Harlequin duck was stationary near Herons Head park on the sloped portion of the sunken pier to the north, still accompanied by his current companion the female surf scoter. Also observed the female bufflehead previously sighted (one assumes) near to shore on the north side.
Also at Heron's Head that day - one long-billed curlew, two avocets apparently nesting again (go avocets!), one GB heron (chased off by some avocets, along with some crows). And the usual for this time of year. No sign of the pelagic cormorant, which I've seen there before. Steven
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Miscellaneous morning observations, SF, 06/20/10
Paul Saraceni
This morning I first visited Mt. Davidson, which was up above the fog line. Highlight was an unseen, briefly-singing Grosbeak in the euc forest -- in the same location where I observed 2 male Black-headed Grosbeaks last weekend, which is what I presume this one was. There is precedent for non-nesting Grosbeaks spending June and even early July at Mt. D.
Other observations of local interest: Red-tailed Hawk 2 ad. & 2 noisy imms. -- local nesters? Band-tailed Pigeon 4 Hairy Woodecker 1 Steller's Jay 2 Tree Swallow 1 Orange-crowned Warbler 1 juv. @ 4-trail X -- with some retained patches of downy gray feathers; clearly fledged from nearby Wilson's Warbler 3 ad. & 4 juvs. -- indicates recent local nesting success Lesser Goldfinch 2 Pine Siskin 2 W. Fence Lizard 1 I then headed down to the closed south end of the Great Highway for a 1.5 hr seawatch (8:30-10 AM). Intriguing was a briefly-scoped Murre @ 9:25 AM that appeared to be in non-breeding plumage with an all dark head and face, contrasting white throat above dark upper breast, dark back and wings. The bird was ~100 yards out and bobbing behind waves for a couple of minutes, before it dove and disappeared. At the distance and under the choppy conditions I was unable to detect particular detail on the bill shape or the presence of any white on the mandible. Observations of local interest: Surf Soter 4 m. & 2 f. Common Loon 1 (alt. plumage) Pacific Loon 1 (basic) Red-thr. Loon 1 (basic) Brown Pelican 10+ Pelagic Cormorant 4 Willet 2 Heermann's Gull 5 ad. Glaucous-winged Gull 1 1st-cycle Caspian Tern 6 Common Murre 8 (1 group flying N) Paul Saraceni San Francisco
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Re: "Remembering Luke Cole"
Alan Hopkins
Thanks so much Siobhan.
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Alan Hopkins
--- On Mon, 6/21/10, Siobhan Ruck <siobhanruck@mindspring.com> wrote:
From: Siobhan Ruck <siobhanruck@mindspring.com> Subject: [SFBirds] "Remembering Luke Cole" To: SFBirds@yahoogroups.com Date: Monday, June 21, 2010, 12:30 AM A nice (thoughtful) piece on a sad anniversary... http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/6/20/876375/-Remembering-Luke-Cole,-pioneer-of-environmental-justice-law Siobhan Ruck
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"Remembering Luke Cole"
Siobhan Ruck <siobhanruck@...>
A nice (thoughtful) piece on a sad anniversary...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2010/6/20/876375/-Remembering-Luke-Cole,-pioneer-of-environmental-justice-law Siobhan Ruck
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