April 2010 Trip Reports
Merritt and Lakeside Park
April 28, 2010
Leader(s): Hilary Powers
# of participants: 2
# of species: 27
The Double-crested Cormorants are getting creative about nesting sites. To make up for the loss of one of their bare trees they are nesting in the shade and on the broken tree stump itself. The Black Phoebe in the corporation yard has three nestlings near fledging. An Anna-s Hummingbird has nested near El Embarcadero.
Sibley Volcanic Regional Park
April 25, 2010
Leader(s): Rusty Scalf
# of participants: 10
# of species: 51
A Blue-gray Gnatcatcher was apparently on his territory. A Hutton’s Vireo was gathering nesting material. We had a great study of a Pygmy Nuthatch at its nest. Also seen were Golden Eagle, Northern Flicker, Hermit Thrush, California Thrasher, Western Tanager, Spotted Towhee, Lazuli Bunting.
Big Break and Marsh Creek Trail Bicycle Trip
April 10, 2010
Leader(s): Kathy Jarrett
# of participants:
# of species: 37
Highlights: Western Kingbirds, Green Heron, Bonaparte’s Gulls, pair of Northern Harriers. We started at the new trailhead which is the first right just past Vintage Parkway and went out to the new fishing pier to have a good view of the water. The wind was in our faces and there was the threat of rain, so we went nearly to Sunset Rd on the trail before turning back, about 17 miles in all. Between Delta and Sunset Roads the trail passes a sewage treatment plant where we saw the Antioch? Primrose and a Fremontia tree in bloom. The Bonaparte’s Gulls and a large number of Northern Shovelers were at the Ironhouse Sanitary District Sewage ponds which are only a short distance in from the trailhead at Fetzer and Jordan Lanes.
Coyote Creek Bicycle Trip
April 3, 2010
Leader(s): Kathy Jarrett
# of participants: 6
# of species: 41
The highlights were the White-tailed Kite, Common Goldeneye, the Spotted Towhee, and the Red-shouldered Hawk. Although the day was cold and overcast we did manage to see 41 species. We rode about 8 miles south from Stonegate Elementary School near Tully Road on the Coyote Creek Trail, going just beyond Metcalf Park where we had lunch. I have decided not to add this to my list of regular bicycle-birding trips because we had to drive to San Jose, the trail is sometimes annoyingly close to Hwy 101, and the bird density was not high. The number of duck species would probably be higher in the winter, but then the trail might be impassable at quite a few spots. The SF Bay Trail, the Alameda Creek Trail, and Don Edwards-Alviso are much more rewarding bicycle-birding spots. I have given up doing the Iron Horse Trail between Dublin and Pleasant Hill because of the encroachment of suburbia and the heart-breaking loss of Burrowing Owl habitat. Six of us barely avoided hypothermia between 9 am and 1:30 pm, only to have the sun come out after our trip. Still it was a good ride.
American River Bicycle Trip
March 27-28, 2010
Leader(s): Kathy Jarrett
# of participants: 10
# of species: 77
It was a magical weekend for Red-shouldered Hawks on the trail, and the weather was perfect. Nine people took the train from the East Bay to Sacramento, and one drove because she could only do one day of the two-day trip. We covered 60 miles during the two days and we either biked or walked to the restaurant about a mile from the hotel.
Although it is only at most one-half mile away, quite often one is unaware of the surrounding urban environment while on the trail. In addition to 77 species of birds we also saw deer, Jack-rabbits frolicking, an otter, mouse, rattlesnake, a coyote pup losing its winter coat and quite a few squirrels. We saw several rookeries of egrets, Double-crested Cormorants and Great Blue Herons, an intricately woven hanging nest with a House Finch hovering above and a pair of Pie-billed Grebes tending a nest anchored in reeds. From the Yellow-billed Magpies in Sacramento’s Discovery Park to the White-breasted Nuthatch in the oak woodland adjacent to Lake Natoma in Folsom it was a great weekend for bird-watching.
Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park
March 24, 2010
Leader(s): Hilary Powers and Ruth Tobey
# of participants: 11
# of species: 47
The double-crested Cormorants are nesting; many have made their nests in the leafy trees on the islands since there are just a couple of leafless trees left. The Horned and Eared Grebes are in breeding plumage. The Ruddy Ducks are entering breeding plumage. A Cassin’s Vireo was foraging in the oak trees near Children’s Fairyland in a mixed flock with Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Nuttall’s Woodpecker and some Townsend’s Warblers. Bushtits are nesting in the garden, the Black Phoebe is nesting at the maintenance building site where she has been for several years.
Fremont BART to Coyote Hills Bicycle Trip
March 13, 2010
Leader(s): Kathy Jarrett
# of participants: 8
# of species: 56
We biked from Fremont BART to Coyote Hills on this cold, clear day with water rushing down Alameda Creek and found an explosion of Canada Geese, Mallards, Pigeons and Starlings.. We saw a Red-shouldered Hawk near the freeway where we have seen them many times before. Even at the Coyote Hills EBRPD Visitor Center we did not see that many birds other than the explosion birds. It was only after we biked out on the part of Alameda Creek that extends beyond the park that we saw large numbers of birds which were mostly sheltering from the wind, and we saw the Chilean Flamingo that forages in the salt ponds. On the way back we found a group of Ring-necked Ducks just west of Decoto Rd.
Point Isabel
March 7, 2010
Leader(s): Rusty Scalf
# of participants: 36
# of species: 45
Our walk provided excellent views of shorebirds in good light. Good bird species included Clapper Rail, Common Merganser, Osprey, Black Oystercatcher, Whimbrel, and Long-billed Curlew.
Jewel Lake
March 5, 2010
Leader(s): Phila Rogers
# of participants: 20
# of species: 21
A good-sized group showed up at the parking lot this morning. And no wonder. It was the first mild, rainless day in awhile. However, the birds were not particularly abundant in numbers or species. But we were greeted with good views of a Red-shouldered Hawk high in a eucalyptus who called attention to himself with his persistent calls. Along the way we had frequent views of Ruby-crowned Kinglets who appeared even more active than usual and sang continuously — both sure signs that this well-loved winter resident will soon be leaving us.
Above the ridgeline to the west, we watched a likely Sharp-shinned Hawk beneath a swirl of White-throated Swifts.
At the lake, a number of buffleheads, male and female, are still in residence along with three Common Mergansers. The male was stunning with his bright white undersides, black head and neck shimmering iridescent green, and his bright orange slender bill.
Other years we have heard early season singing Orange-crowned Warblers, but not today. We did get good looks at an Allen’s Hummingbird which is one of the earliest-arriving breeding birds.
Next month, we hope to have the new Tilden and Wildcat Canyon bird list available — an authoritative list of what to see in every season put together by Dave Quady with contributions from other expert birders in the area.
Lake Merritt and Lakeside Park
February 24, 2010
Leader(s): Hilary Powers and Ruth Tobey
# of participants: 6
# of species: 48
Our morning started with a perfect scope view of a Green Heron at the water’s edge on the nearest island. Our resident “rescue” White Pelican has a companion already. Some Double-crested Cormorants are showing their crests, but are not yet nesting. A Horned Grebe was entering breeding plumage. We also got close good looks at Oak Titmouse, Tufted Duck and Ring-necked Duck.