Arrowhead Marsh, December 5, 2009

December 5, 2009
Wild Birds Unlimited Bird Walk
Arrowhead Marsh, Oakland
Leader: Chuck Groff

It was overcast and cool, in the low 50s and the day started
with a chilly breeze. But the sun came out a bit later and it
warmed up nicely so the Turkey Vultures eventually found
thermals and took to the wing.

There were a few large rafts of birds in the water, and
several areas on shore with sizeable flocks of birds standing
and resting. And we saw a nice variety of species, including
the California Clapper Rail.

Brown Pelicans performed amazing dives nearby to the
great appreciation of the group.

Total species: 45

American Avocet
American Coot
American Crow
American Robin
Anna's Hummingbird
Black Phoebe
Black-necked Stilt
Brown Pelican
Bufflehead
Cackling Goose
California Towhee
Canada Goose
Clapper Rail
Clark's Grebe
Common Goldeneye
Common Raven
Common Yellowthroat
Double-crested Cormorant
Eared Grebe
Forster's Tern
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Great Blue Heron
Greater Yellowlegs
Herring Gull
Horned Grebe
Lesser Scaup
Marbled Godwit
Marsh Wren
Mourning Dove
Northern Flicker
Northern Harrier
Northern Mockingbird
Northern Shoveler
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-winged Blackbird
Ring-billed Gull
Rock Dove
Ruddy Duck
Snowy Egret
Song Sparrow
Surf Scoter
Turkey Vulture
Western Grebe
White-crowned Sparrow
Willet
-----------------

Brown Pelican

Double-crested Cormorant

Lafayette Reservoir, November 7, 2009

November 7, 2009
WBU Bird Walk
Lafayette Reservoir
Leader: Chuck Groff

The weather was sunny and mild. We were a small group of
six people, complete with beginners and experts, and
everyone enjoyed the walk. The usual large flocks of
cormorants, doves, and ducks were not present and the
total number of birds was only a fraction of what we've
seen in previous years. Even though we didn't see usually
common birds such as Robins, Juncos, Killdeer and
Mallards, we still saw a good number of species. So the
variety was good even if the numbers were not.

One highlight was a Cooper's Hawk who took exception to
a Red-tailed Hawk flying through it's territory. It dove and
harrassed the Red-tail not far above our heads and both
birds added their cries and screeches to the action.

New for this location for our bird walks were the Hairy
Woodpecker, Hermit Thrush, Cackling Goose, and the
Lesser Goldfinch.

By request, I'll order my lists from now on using the
complete common names.

Total species: 36

American Coot
American Crow
Anna's Hummingbird
Black Phoebe
Bufflehead
Bushtit
Cackling Goose
California Towhee
Canada Goose
Cedar Waxwing
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Common Raven
Cooper's Hawk
Double-crested Cormorant
Gadwall
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Great Blue Heron
Hairy Woodpecker
Hermit Thrush
Lesser Goldfinch
Northern Flicker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Oak Titmouse
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-tailed Hawk
Rock Dove
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruddy Duck
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Steller's Jay
Turkey Vulture
Western Scrub-Jay
White-breasted Nuthatch
White-crowned Sparrow
Wrentit
Yellow-rumped Warbler
------------

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

McNabney Marsh, October 3, 2009

October 3, 2009
WBU Birdwalk
McNabney Marsh and Mt. View Sanitation Ponds
Leader: Chuck Groff

The weather started out cool and breezy, but warmed up
quickly and was nice and comfortable the rest of the walk.

Like last year, the large flocks of waterfowl we saw in
earlier years were absent and those we did see were in small
groups scattered here and there. Also like last year, we were
treated to a Red-shouldered Hawk who perched 10-15 feet
above the trail in front of us for quite a while. As we
approached, he moved until we passed, then returned to his
perch.

We also had good views of a Green Heron hunting along
the water line, a Black-crowned Night-Heron that we
surprised into a short flight, and a single American Pelican
that came in and landed in the reeds.

Total species: 33

Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Bushtit
American Coot
Double-crested Cormorant
American Crow
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Canada Goose
Great-tailed Grackle
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-shouldered Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Green Heron
Anna's Hummingbird
Killdeer
Mallard
Black-crowned Night-Heron
American White Pelican
Black Phoebe
Common Raven
Western Scrub-Jay
Northern Shoveler
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
European Starling
Black-necked Stilt
Turkey Vulture
Yellow-rumped Warbler
----------------------

Snowy Egret and Great Egret

Pine Canyon, June 6, 2009

June 6, 2009
Wild Birds Unlimited Bird Walk
Pine Canyon, Mt. Diablo, Walnut Creek, CA.
Leader: Chuck Groff

We had a beautiful day for birding, cool in the morning,
and not too hot later, just in the mid-seventies, with breezes
and clear, sunny skies.

An abundance of birds just beyond the trailhead held our
attention and stopped our forward progress for quite a
while. Small groups of Western Kingbirds squawked and
scooted through the trees. At one point five of them
crowded into one small area on a single branch and sat for
awhile.

A group of Bullock's Orioles chased each other around in
what seemed to be a territorial battle. Across the field a
Red-tailed Hawk perched near it's nest, where a large chick
milled about and flapped its wings.

A Peregrine Falcon sat atop Castle Rock in the distance,
and in a nest hole high up on the rock a Great-horned Owl
in its nest preened two chicks.

Violet-green Swallows entered and left a nest box across
the field, sometimes perching on a wire, and small flocks of
White-throated Swifts frequently buzzed noisily overhead.

Small groups of Phainopeplas flitted among the trees in the
field, and a few showed up nearer to us further down the
trail, though they never sat still long enough to suit us.

This is the last WBU walk of the season.
Walks resume on October 3, 2009.

Total Species: 36

Red-winged Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Western Bluebird
Bushtit
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Brown-headed Cowbird
American Crow
Mourning Dove
Peregrine Falcon
House Finch
Red-tailed Hawk
Steller's Jay
Dark-eyed Junco
Western Kingbird
Northern Mockingbird
Bullock's Oriole
Great Horned Owl
Phainopepla
Black Phoebe
Band-tailed Pigeon
California Quail
American Robin
Western Scrub-Jay
House Sparrow
European Starling
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
White-throated Swift
Oak Titmouse
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Turkey Vulture
Acorn Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Bewick's Wren
Wrentit
------------
 

Great Horned Owls in Nest
 

Red-tailed Hawk in Flight
 

Mitchell Canyon, May 2, 2009

May 2, 2009
Wild Birds Unlimited Bird Walk
Mitchell Canyon, Mt. Diablo
Leader: Chuck Groff

The morning started out overcast and by the time we
arrived it was drizzling off and on very lightly. The group
was small, only seven people. As we started down the trail,
we began to see bird activity. Acorn Woodpeckers were
calling and visible, doves, finches, towhees were moving all
around us, and there was a cacophony of bird calls to hear.
There was so much activity that we stayed at the trailhead
for nearly an hour. Then as we started down the trail the
rain picked up and we decided to call it quits. We ended up
with a short list, but it makes up in variety for what it lacks
in quantity.

Total species: 21

Red-winged Blackbird
Western Bluebird
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Crow
Mourning Dove
House Finch
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Lesser Goldfinch
Black-headed Grosbeak
Anna's Hummingbird
White-breasted Nuthatch
Bullock's Oriole
California Quail
Common Raven
American Robin
Western Scrub-Jay
White-throated Swift
Western Tanager
California Towhee
Acorn Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
 
The rare ones we looked for but missed:


Western Fox Cardinal


Wolf-faced Bluebird
 

Briones Regional Park, April 4, 2009

April 4, 2009
Wild Birds Unlimited Bird Walk.
Briones Regional Park, Western Area.
Leader: Chuck Groff.

It was a beautiful sunny day with mild temperatures. Last
year we saw no Acorn Woodpeckers but they've
fortunately returned. The Western Screech Owl was not in
his hole and was not seen. We did see both Wilson's and
Orange-crowned Warblers.

Total species: 24

Western Bluebird
Bushtit
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
American Crow
Lesser Goldfinch
Red-tailed Hawk
Anna's Hummingbird
Steller's Jay
Dark-eyed Junco
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Black Phoebe
American Robin
Western Scrub-Jay
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Oak Titmouse
Spotted Towhee
California Towhee
Turkey Vulture
Orange-crowned Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Cedar Waxwing
Acorn Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
--------------------


Dark-eyed Junco male


Acorn Woodpecker
 

Big Break Trail, February 7, 2009

February 7, 2009
Wild Birds Unlimited Bird Walk
Big Break Trail, Oakley, CA
Leader: Chuck Groff

The weather was overcast and a bit chilly but no rain,
making for a pleasant trip. There were ten in the group and
we saw 36 species, 4 of which were new for this location

Total species: 36

Bufflehead
American Coot
Double-crested Cormorant
American Crow
Rock Dove
Ruddy Duck
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Common Goldeneye
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Bonaparte's Gull
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Blue Heron
Anna's Hummingbird
Killdeer
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Mallard
Northern Mockingbird
Black Phoebe
Say's Phoebe
Northern Pintail
Lesser Scaup
Western Scrub-Jay
Savannah Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
House Sparrow
European Starling
Spotted Towhee
Turkey Vulture
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Cedar Waxwing
-------------

Black Phoebe

 

Turkey Vulture

 

Thornton Delta Area, January 3, 2009

January 3, 2009
Wild Bird Unlimited Bird Walk
Near Thornton: Sacramento River Delta
Leader: Chuck Groff.

We had 23 birders and there were 8 cars meeting at
Westgate county park. It was a very beautiful day, sunny
and clear. But it was COLD. Generally, the birding was
poor. At the park we saw almost nothing. On Guard road
there were several fields each with many cranes.
Woodbridge road was very disappointing, a few cranes, a
few swans, a few kingfishers and all the waterfowl visible at
the major stopping place were so far away you could hardly
make an ID. Peltier road did have a few fields with more
cranes, but that was it.

Total species: 33

Brewer's Blackbird
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
American Crow
Rock Dove
Mourning Dove
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
House Finch
American Goldfinch
Northern Harrier
Red-tailed Hawk
Great Blue Heron
American Kestrel
Killdeer
Belted Kingfisher
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Mallard
Western Meadowlark
Northern Mockingbird
Black Phoebe
Northern Pintail
American Robin
Northern Shoveler
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
White-crowned Sparrow
House Sparrow
European Starling
Tundra Swan
Turkey Vulture
Yellow-rumped Warbler
American Wigeon
---------------

Sandhill Cranes in Flight


Sandhill Cranes Near Thornton