Observations
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.
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker in Cupertino, one of seven birds that wintered in the Bay Area.
Photo by Harjeet Singh/www.flickr.com/photos/sarbhloh
December 1, 2009 – January 31, 2010
Midwinter brought welcome rain, a calendar full of CBCs, and the expected mix of winter specialties and vagrants. Unfortunately, it also brought the untimely passing of Kris Olson, a leading light in the San Mateo birding world and an inspiration to birders everywhere. Kris will certainly be missed.
Loons to Ducks
A Yellow-billed Loon (Gavia adamsii) was described on Jan. 10 from Upper Crystal Springs Res., SM (GC). A Wedge-tailed Shearwater (Puffinus pacificus) in poor health was a remarkable addition to a Bolinas, MRN, yard list on Dec. 22. Taken to a rehab center in Cordelia, it died 2 weeks later (KH). Harlequin Ducks flaunted their gaudy plumage at Heron’s Head, SF, Dec. 2–Jan. 1 (CS; KS, CMW) and at Duncans Mills, SON, on Jan. 3 (RK). Long-tailed Ducks were reported from 4 counties: in SM at Princeton Harbor, Dec. 4–19 (JMi; JMy, BK); on the SF coast near Mile Rock on Dec. 15 (AH); off the MRN coast at McClures Beach, PRNS, on Dec. 19 (fide DaW); and in CC waters at Carquinez RS on Jan. 2 (DeW, BG; oob).
Raptors to Alcids
Elusive Black Rails made brief appearances Dec. 5 at Schollenberger Park in Petaluma, SON (RR), and on Jan. 2 at Palo Alto Baylands, SCL (SS). A Rock Sandpiper was spotted crossing the Bodega Harbor channel from Doran Park, SON, on Jan. 18 (HC, RS). The season’s 1st Slaty-backed Gull (Larus schistisagus), a 1st-winter bird, was reported Jan. 23 at Venice Beach, SM (AJ). A remarkable winter record of a Sabine’s Gull was submitted Dec. 6 from Mori Pt., SM (LG, JF, EB, NEw). SM’s high count for Ancient Murrelets was 6, tallied Dec. 19 at Pillar Pt., SM (LB, RT).
Doves to Thrashers
A White-winged Dove started the New Year at Phipps Country Store in Pescadero, SM (LB, RT). Another joined the Eurasian Collared-Dove flock at Olympic Golf Club, SF, on Jan. 18 (KS, DM). On Dec. 26, a Long-eared Owl picked a roost along Coyote Ridge near Fort Cronkhite, MRN (fide DM).
Seven Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers visited the Bay Area this winter, with 3 birds making extended stays at SON State Campus in Rohnert Park, SON (AK; BO, AW); in Menlo Park, SM (JL, fide BP; mob); and in San Jose, SCL (BR; mob). Red-naped Sapsuckers were ID’d on Dec. 19 near Bear Valley HQ, PRNS, MRN (fide DaW), and on Jan. 4 along Salmon Cr. Rd., SON (JB).
A Hammond’s Flycatcher was banded Dec. 20 at CCFS, SCL, and recaptured on Jan. 13 (TG). Another Hammond’s Flycatcher was noted Jan. 2 at Water Lane, Pescadero, SM (DM). The Oakland CBC Gray Flycatcher at Knowland Park, Oakland, ALA, remained through Jan. 11 (SC; mob). “Western” Flycatchers turned up Dec. 10 at Cypress Lawn Cemetery in Colma, SM (RB), and Dec. 21–23 at Emma Prusch Park, SCL (AV; BB). The New Year brought Eastern Phoebes to the SON Baylands Trail, SON, on the 7th (KA) and to Francisco Mesa in Bolinas, MRN, on the 24th (KH). A stray Phainopepla settled in at Jasper Ridge Biological Preserve, SM, Dec. 15–Jan. 3 (LB, RT; mob).
Wood Warblers to Finches
Overwintering warbler reports included 2 Tennessee, 3 Nashville, 3 Palm, and a Black-and-White, and 3 Northern Waterthrush. The season brought 4 Clay-colored Sparrows, including a 2nd NAP record Dec. 13–Jan. 17 along Milton Rd., NAP (DM; mob). A Vesper Sparrow was found Dec. 18 on the Ohlone Trail in Sunol Regional Wilderness, ALA (JCl, AK). High tides at Palo Alto Baylands periodically flushed the Nelson’s and Swamp Sparrows through Jan. 31 (mob). A Harris’s Sparrow in Santa Rosa, SON, was a nice New Year’s Eve yard bird (BD). Attentive ears noted 7 Lapland Longspurs calling in flight over Battery Godfrey, the Presidio, SF, on Dec. 26 (PS).
Grosbeak reports included 2 Rose-breasted at the GGP Arboretum, SF (DM) and at a Corte Madera feeder, MRN (NWh), along with a Black-headed Grosbeak at a Fremont feeder, ALA (Jca). Oriole sightings consisted of an Orchard Oriole Dec. 16 in Half Moon Bay, SM (LB, RT); a Hooded Oriole Dec. 8–21 at Menlo Park feeder, SM (PB; BP); and a Bullock’s Oriole Jan. 12 in Moss Beach, SM (LB, RT; BK).
Abbreviations for Observers: AH, Alan Hopkins; AJ, Alvaro Jaramillo; AK, Andy Kleinhesselink; AV, Ann Verdi; AW, Alan Wight; BB, Bill Bousman; BD, Bill Doyle; BG, Bingham Gibbs; BK, Barbara Kossy; BO, Becky Olsen; BP, Bob Power; BR, Bob Reiling; CMW, Christine Martinez Weibel; CS, Cindy Schwartz; DaW, David Wimpfheimer; DeW, Denise Wight; DM, Dominic Mosur; EB, Eddie Bartley; GC, George Chrisman; HC, Heather Cameron; JB, Janet Bosshard; Jca, John Cant; JCl, Josiah Clark; JF, Jeff Fairclough; JL, Joanne Lazar; JMy, Jean Myers; JMi, Jeff Miller; KA, Ken Ackerman; KH, Keith Hansen; KS, Ken Schneider; LB, Leonie Batkin; LG, Laurie Graham; NWh, Nick Whelan; NEw, Noreen Weeden; PB, Penelope Bowen; PS, Paul Saraceni; RB, Russ Bright; RK, Richard Keuhn; RR, Ruthie Rudesill; RS, Rich Stallcup; RT, Ron Thorn; SC, Sue Cox; SS, Sal Salerno; TG, Tom Goodier
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; CBC, Christmas Bird Count; CC, Contra Costa; CCFS, Coyote Creek Field Station; CP, County Park; Cr., Creek; Cyn., Canyon; DENWR, Don Edwards National Wildlife Refuge; 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; SFBBO, SF Bay Bird Observatory; SM, San Mateo; SOL, Solano; SON, Sonoma; SP, State Park; SR, State Reserve; WPCP, Water Pollution Control Plant