Golden Gate Audubon Society

BRUCE MAST

Bruce Mast may be contacted at observe@goldengateaudubon.org

Comprehensive data of the year’s notable sightings to date in the Bay Area, from which the Observations column is drawn, may be viewed in a spreadsheet that can be searched by species and location.

Observations

Observations

April 1 – 30, 2010

Fair-weather birders finally caught a break in April, with warmer weather, longer days, green hills, and plenty of returning migrants. A few rarities came along for the ride.

Loons to Ducks

A Pt. Reyes Birding and Nature Festival boat trip to Cordell Bank, MRN, on the 26th was rewarded with 30-minute views of a Greater Shearwater (Puffinus gravis) on calm seas (SH, DaW, oob). A land-based observer at Pigeon Pt., SM, located a Manx Shearwater on the 8th (RT). An aerial seabird survey documented a Black Storm-Petrel on the 6th, located 29 km. west of Pigeon Pt., SM (JDa, fide PJM).

Fly-over flocks of 15 and 16 migrating White-faced Ibis were spotted Apr. 9 at Hayward RS, ALA (BRi), and on the 18th over Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, SM (RT, LB ). On the 27th, 4 Brant stopped in at Hayward RS at San Lorenzo Cr., ALA (BRi). A couple Long-tailed Ducks floated offshore at Pigeon Pt., SM, Apr. 8–9 (RT; TC, TW, PD).

Raptors to Alcids

On the 18th, Broad-winged Hawks soared over Searsville L., SM (RT, LB), and Ed Levin Park, SCL (BRe, ST). An immature Swainson’s Hawk cruised Coyote Cr. at Riverside Dr., SCL, on the 30th (RP, oob). The same day, a Prairie Falcon traversed Whitehouse Cr. Rd., SM (FT). A Black Rail was heard calling from Bolinas Lagoon, MRN, on the 26th (JC, DM).

On the 13th, a Pacific Golden-Plover paused at Hayward RS, ALA (NAP). Solitary Sandpipers passed through Apr. 21–25 at CCFS, SCL (BB); at L. Elizabeth in Fremont, ALA (fide AMD); between Santa Rosa and Sebastopol, SON (LH); and at the San Francisquito Cr. mitigation ponds, SM (RT, LB). During the same period, Drake’s Estero, PRNS, MRN, hosted 5 Baird’s Sandpipers (RS; mob) and a Pectoral Sandpiper (LS).

Red-necked Phalarope migration produced a high count of 800 birds on the 30th at Rush Cr. ponds in Novato, MRN (RS). A single Red Phalarope headed north past Pigeon Pt. on the 24th (RT). The Apr. 26 Cordell Bank trip recorded 3 Sabine’s Gulls (DaW, oob). An Apr. 15 seawatch from Pigeon Pt. spotted an Ancient Murrelet (RT).

Doves to Thrashers

On the 26th, a Spotted Owl joined a 4-species owl chorus at Olema marsh overlook, PRNS, MRN (JC, DM). A day-roosting Long-eared Owl was discovered on the 24th at the EEC, SCL (MRo, oob). A Common Nighthawk hawked over Olsen Rd. in the Montezuma Hills, SOL, on the 13th (ZS)

A couple Black-chinned Hummingbirds were reported Apr. 13 from Hayward RS at Winton Ave., ALA (NAP), and another visited an Antioch feeder, CC, on the 20th (PS, NS). From Apr. 7 to 15, Costa’s Hummingbirds were sighted at Garin RP and Hayward RS (NAP) and at Ed Levin Park, SCL (MON). Calliope Hummingbird migration started Apr. 7, with reports from Ed Levin Park (AS; mob); at a Moraga feeder, CC (DeW); and in Mitchell Cyn. in Mt. Diablo SP, CC (PB, MRa, SR, JDu; mob). A Gray Flycatcher was ID’d on the 28th along Coyote Cr. in Henry Coe SP, SCL (MRo, RJ). On the 19th, Townsend’s Solitaires turned up at Mt. Davidson, SF (AK, JM; mob), and at Skylawn Memorial Park, SM (FT; mob).

Wood Warblers to Finches

A Palm Warbler visited Hayward RS at Depot Rd. on the 25th (EP, CP, ZB).

On the 9th, a Black-chinned Sparrow explored the chaparral near Camp Tamarancho, MRN (BN). Vesper Sparrows were located on the 10th near Cantelow, 2 miles west of English Hills Rd., SOL (RM), and on the 19th at Sea Ranch, SON (RK). A Lapland Longspur lingered Apr. 13–14 at Hayward RS (BRi; ZB). Both the Rose-breasted Grosbeak and the Orchard Oriole remained ensconced at the Botanical Gardens in GGP, SF, the latter through the 16th (mob).

Hayward RS hosted a Yellow-headed Blackbird on the 22nd (BRi). Finally, a Baltimore Oriole was tentatively identified on the 19th at the Menlo Park Library, SM (KC).

Abbreviations for Observers: AK, Adam Keats; AMD, Amy McDonald; AS, Ashutosh Sinha; BB, Bill Bousman; BN, Bill Noble; BRe, Bob Reiling; BRi, Bob Richmond; CP, Caroline Pilotte; DaW, David Wimpfheimer; DeW, Denise Wight; DM, Dominik Mosur; EP, Eric Pilotte; FT, Francis Toldi; JC, Josiah Clark; JDa, Jeff Davis; JDu, Judith Dunham; JM, Jeff Miller; KC, Karen Corbelli; LB, Leonie Batkin; LH, Lisa Hug; LS, Lang Stevenson; MON, Martha O’Neal; MRa, Mark Rauzon; MRo, Mike Rogers; NAP, Noah Arthur; NS, Nancy Schorr; PB, Pat Bacchetti; PD, Paul Donahue; PJM, Peter J. Metropulos; PS, Paul Schorr; RJ, Richard Jeffers; RK, Richard Kuehn; RM, Roger Muskat; RP, Ryan Phillips; RS, Rich Stallcup; RT, Ron Thorn; SH, Steve Howell; SR, Suzanne Rauzon; ST, Steve Tracey; TC, Ted Chandik; TW, Teresa Wood; ZB, Zach Baer; ZS, Zach Smith

Semicolons separate original observer(s) from subsequent observer(s). Abbreviation “mob” = many observers; “oob” = other observers. Information is compiled from BirdBox transcripts and regional listservs; the author apologizes for any errors or omissions. Special thanks to Rod Thornton for helping compile Observations data.

Abbreviations for Counties and Others:

ALA, Alameda; CC, Contra Costa; CCFS, Coyote Creek Field Station; CP, County Park; Cr., Creek; Cyn., Canyon; EEC, Environmental Education Center; GGP, Golden Gate Park; L., Lake; MRN, Marin; Mt., Mount; N., North; NAP, Napa; NWR, National Wildlife Refuge; OSP, Open Space Preserve; PRNS, Pt Reyes National Seashore; Pt., Point; Rd., Road; Res., Reservoir; RP, Regional Park; RS, Regional Shoreline; S., South; SB, State Beach; SCL, Santa Clara; SF, San Francisco; SM, San Mateo; SOL, Solano; SON, Sonoma; SP, State Park; SR, State Reserve; WPCP, Water Pollution Control Plant