This morning seven intrepid Ohlone Audubon members braved the grey cloud
cover and threatening rain to bird on Patterson Pass Rd.
West of the summit we had :
Wild Turkey
Loggerhead Shrikes
Red-winged Black Bird
Western Scrub Jays
Northern Mockingbirds
Western King Bird
Killdeer
Raven
Brewer's Black Birds
HEADING EAST TO THE FIRST WIND FARM ENTRANCE GATE ;
At this point we walked the road east to Road Marker 6.21.
Steve Huckabone scooping from the gate found Horned Larks, then three
Mallards flew over
Beginning at the very first willows we found Yellow Warbler, female Western
Tanager, House Finches.
A few minutes later we had Wilson Warbler.
Then a Cowbird appeared, Then a Male Western Tanager show himself.
Then a Bullocks Oriole started calling.
Then we heard a Swainson Thrush calling.
Finding the male Bullocks Oriole lead to a Lark Sparrow, then a California
Towhee, then it started to lightly rain.
On our way to road marker 6.21 we found more, - Wilson Warbler, Male and
Female Bullocks Oriole, Female Western Tanager, Western Meadow Lark Lesser
Gold Finches, Bewick Wren, a Pacific Slope Flycatcher and a lot of
Mourning Doves.
Another female Western Tanager or the same one seen earlier ??
White-throated Swifts, White-throated Sparrow, Golden Crown Sparrows and a
possible Black-head Grosbeak all making an appearance.
Just before RM 6.21 another Cal Towhee, along with the confusing chip note
of the Blue Grosbeak, which was it ????
At RM 6.21 we found three Rock Wren's, one a juvenile begging to be fed.
It's a steady drizzle now, not yet rain = fun time birding.
We're focused on BLUE GROSBEAK now, can't leave until we check-off the
annual beauty all blue with those rufous wing-bars, a cool visitor each
year.
A few of us wander over to the yellow arrow sign to look for Burrowing
Owls, none.
Doing a 180 turn around we hear Judy Steenhoven and Steve Huckabone
calling a possible Willow Flycatcher.
A few others got to catch a peak, Jerry Steenhoven discuss's field mark
with Steve and it a "Western Flycatcher type".
Drizzle turns to light rain is there a difference, who cares?
So we're searching for this Flycatcher and Lynn Feindel gently announces
she has a Blue Bird across the gully, where?
In a nano-second we're on it BLUE GROSBEAK, a lifer for Lynn at RM. 6.21
Raining now, we're leaving now, a possible Say's Phoebe on the north facing
hill side.
Then a possible second fly over Blue Grosbeak going over a wind turbine
covered hillside heading toward HY580.
A few more Lark Sparrows and Ravens.
Then Judy locates the Swainson Thrush in clear view for several of us =
nice.
Then another BLUE GROSBEAK fly by, a third or a second sighting all within
a few minutes.
We finished with viewing two Burrowing Owls and another Western Kingbird
near RM 4.72.
Birders: Judy and Jerry Steenhoven, Taniwa and Gail Ryujin, Lynn Feindel,
Steve Huckabone and myself.
Missing today but seen earlier this week:
Black-throated Grey Warbler, Lazuli Bunting ( Steve Huckabone), Male
Black-headed Grosbeak and Sharp-shinned Hawk ( Rich Cimino).
Regards
Rich Cimino, a.k.a Raven
This first ever Tri-Valley Christmas Bird Count was a year in the planning. With the help of 70 amazing volunteers, we were able to identify 140 species, in an estimated 5,400 cumulative hours of bird watching. I would like to thank both the Livermore and Pleasanton Parks and Recreation Departments as well as the San Franscico Public Utility Commission for their support in accessing the territory necessary to accomplish detailed count.
