Pine Canyon, June 5, 2010

June 5, 2010
Wild Birds Unlimited Bird Walk
Pine Canyon, Mt. Diablo, Walnut Creek, CA.
Leader: Chuck Groff

The weather was clear and warm, but a little too hot for
comfort. There were just 6 birders in the group and we
were all glad to rest in the shade in the meadows and scan
the rocks for birds. No peregrines were seen this year where
we usually spot them.
--Chuck

[This was the last bird walk of the season.
Walks will resume in the Fall.]

Total Species: 32

Acorn Woodpecker
American Crow
American Robin
Anna's Hummingbird
Bewick's Wren
Black Phoebe
Brewer's Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Bullock's Oriole
Bushtit
California Quail
California Towhee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Common Raven
Dark-eyed Junco
European Starling
Great Horned Owl
House Finch
House Sparrow
Lesser Goldfinch
Mourning Dove
Northern Mockingbird
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Oak Titmouse
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Say's Phoebe
Tree Swallow
Turkey Vulture
Violet-green Swallow
Western Bluebird
White-throated Swift
--------------------

Nuttall's Woodpecker

Anna's Hummingbird
 

Mitchell Canyon, May 1, 2010

May 1, 2010
Wild Birds Unlimited Bird Walk
Mitchell Canyon, Mt. Diablo
Leader: Chuck Groff

There were nine birders and the weather was perfect--so perfect that there were at least 10000 other folks on the trail not counting all the horses and bikes. The only new bird for this location was a hermit warbler.
--Chuck

Total species: 40

Acorn Woodpecker
American Crow
American Goldfinch
American Robin
Anna's Hummingbird
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Bewick's Wren
Black Phoebe
Black-headed Grosbeak
Bushtit
California Quail
California Towhee
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Common Raven
Dark-eyed Junco
European Starling
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Hermit Warbler
House Finch
Lesser Goldfinch
Mourning Dove
Northern Mockingbird
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Oak Titmouse
Orange-crowned Warbler
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Spotted Towhee
Steller's Jay
Townsend's Warbler
Tree Swallow
Turkey Vulture
Violet-green Swallow
Western Bluebird
Western Meadowlark
Western Scrub-Jay
White-breasted Nuthatch
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
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Western Bluebird

Western Scrub-jay
 

Briones Regional Park, April 10, 2010

April 10, 2010
Wild Birds Unlimited Bird Walk.
Briones Regional Park, Western Area.
Leader: Chuck Groff.

The weather was cool with an impending storm threatening
but holding off. A few sprinkles came down later in the trip
and we headed back a little early.

We saw few birds compared to previous trips. In places
where bird songs were common and varied in the past, we
heard only a few now and then. However, there were large
flocks of band-tailed pigeons flitting above the trees, and
jays were never too far away.

Only two Acorn Woodpeckers were flitting about in the
usual acorn tree they've been using for years. A pair of
Red-tailed Hawks flew in low and perched in a Madrone
tree, posing nicely for us. They were quite different in their
plumage, possibly an adult with a juvenile.

As we walked out we saw a Cooper's Hawk circling
in the sky overhead.

The only new bird for this area was a Townsend's Warbler
spotted in the low bushes near the trail. However, we did
see an Australian Emu -- but only after we left the park and
drove past the ranches on the way back to WBU.

Total Species:25

Acorn Woodpecker
American Crow
Anna's Hummingbird
Band-tailed Pigeon
Bushtit
California Quail
Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Common Raven
Cooper's Hawk
Dark-eyed Junco
European Starling
Hermit Thrush
Mourning Dove
Oak Titmouse
Orange-crowned Warbler
Red-tailed Hawk
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Spotted Towhee
Steller's Jay
Townsend's Warbler
Turkey Vulture
Western Scrub-Jay
Wild Turkey
Wilson's Warbler
Wrentit
---------------

Townsend's Warbler

Stellar's Jay
 

Grizzly Island, March 6, 2010

March 6, 2010
Wild Birds Unlimited Bird Walk
Grizzly Island, SF Bay Delta
Leader: Chuck Groff.

There were 14 birders in seven cars. The weather was
pleasant, somewhat overcast but no precipitation and no
wind. It was not an outstanding day for birds, neither totals
or species.

Ducks were very sparse on all the ponds. However, there
were quite a few new folks who had never been to Grizzly
before and, of course, they thought it was great.

The highlight of the day was a great, long look at a sitting
Ferruginous Hawk not more than 100 feet from the road.
We saw this very soon after going over the one lane bridge
at our meeting point.
-- Chuck

Total Species: 35

American Avocet
American Coot
American Kestrel
American Wigeon
Belted Kingfisher
Black Phoebe
Brewer's Blackbird
Canada Goose
Common Raven
Double-crested Cormorant
European Starling
Ferruginous Hawk
Forster's Tern
Great Egret
Greater Scaup
House Finch
Killdeer
Mallard
Marsh Wren
Mourning Dove
Northern Flicker
Northern Harrier
Northern Mockingbird
Northern Pintail
Northern Shoveler
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Ring-billed Gull
Snowy Egret
Song Sparrow
Turkey Vulture
Western Meadowlark
White-crowned Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
---------------------

American Coot

Northern Harrier
 

Ellis Creek Water Recycling Area

February 6, 2010
Ellis Creek Water Recycling and Wildlife Sanctuary
Petaluma, California
Leader: Chuck Groff

This is a new location for us. It's a water recycling facility
in Petaluma that supports an excellent wildlife sanctuary.
There's a large parking lot, bathrooms, gravelled trails, and
a well planned layout with ponds, marshes, trees, and
woodland, and it borders an urban area so the birding is
excellent. Our group was small, only five people, and the
rain was heavy as we drove to the site. But once there it
cleared up for half an hour and we had a great walk with
lots of birds.

Two Mute Swans paddled around one large pond
accompanied by Cinnamon Teal and our trip highlight, a
pair of Blue-winged Teal. The rain started up again so we
headed back to the car, otherwise there was enough there to
keep us much longer. There were lots of birds, no mud on
the trails, and the visibility was excellent in the marsh and
woodlands. All in all, we thought it was a great trip even
with the rain. We had only a half-hour or so for birding, but
still identified a good number of birds.

You can read more about this location at:
http://petalumawetlands.org/HTML/elliscreek.html

Total Species: 24

American Coot
American Crow
American Goldfinch
Black Phoebe
Blue-winged Teal
Bufflehead
Canada Goose
Cinnamon Teal
Gadwall
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Great Egret
Killdeer
Lesser Scaup
Mallard
Marsh Wren
Mute Swan
Northern Shoveler
Pied-billed Grebe
Red-winged Blackbird
Song Sparrow
Turkey Vulture
Violet-green Swallow
White-crowned Sparrow
Yellow-rumped Warbler
----------------------

Cinnamon Teal

Mute Swan and Blue-winged Teal
 

Thornton Delta Area, January 9, 2010

January 9, 2010
Wild Birds Unlimited Bird Walk
Thornton Delta Area, CA Central Valley
Leader: Chuck Groff

We had a nice outing. There were 14 folks in 7 vehicles.
Weather was foggy and chilly but it didn't interfere with our
activities.

We saw several small groups (20-50) of cranes along
Guard road, then we went on to Woodridge road. The first
half of W. road , up to the turnoff, was very
disappointing----not one crane ! At the turnoff,where we
parked, we saw much stuff, including a large flock of
cranes come in for a close landing. We also saw 5 Snipes
which is unusual. It's been years since I have seen one.

The back half of W road was loaded with cranes on both
sides of the road. Also swans an geese and several
kingfishers. Another new bird was the Horned Lark.

When we got back to the turnoff it was after 1130 so we
ended the trip.

Overall, I would say the large birds were abundant and the
smaller birds were less than normal.

-- C. Groff

Total species: 41

American Coot
American Crow
American Kestrel
American Wigeon
Belted Kingfisher
Black Phoebe
Black-necked Stilt
Brewer's Blackbird
Canada Goose
Common Raven
Double-crested Cormorant
Eurasian Wigeon
European Starling
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Greater White-fronted Goose
Green-winged Teal
House Finch
Horned Lark
Killdeer
Lesser Goldfinch
Lesser Yellowlegs
Mallard
Mourning Dove
Northern Harrier
Northern Mockingbird
Northern Pintail
Northern Shoveler
Red-tailed Hawk
Red-winged Blackbird
Rock Dove
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Ruddy Duck
Sandhill Crane
Snowy Egret
Song Sparrow
Tundra Swan
Turkey Vulture
Western Meadowlark
White-crowned Sparrow
Wilson's Snipe
----------------------

Sandhill Cranes and ducks


Sandhill Cranes in flight