Sonoma, Marin, Napa, Lake, & Solano Counties

[NBB] Wood Duck with 3 ducklings - Spring Lake Friday 11am

Fri, 25 May 2012 14:05:03 -0500

Caught sight of a WOOD DUCK and 3 ducklings from the walking path where it crosses the creek just below Channel Drive. See if this works for directions:

https://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ll=38.456581,-122.649974&spn=0.001173,0.0016&t=h&z=20&vpsrc=6&iwloc=0004c0e0ea22c9d7ddbe7&msa=0&msid=209301253428991314069.0004c0e0e526836506de8

Happy birding!

-Andy Hudson

[NBB] Least Terns nesting at Huichica?

Thu, 24 May 2012 20:44:43 -0500

This very windy afternoon I drove to the end of Buchli Station Rd; parked at the parking lot of the Huichica Unit of Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area.

I was hoping for the Yellow -headed Blackbird. I walked around quite a bit despite the gale force winds. No luck on the

[NBB] Rose-breasted Grosbeak Santa Rosa Sonoma County 5/24

Thu, 24 May 2012 16:51:41 -0500

Hi All,

This afternoon at 2:15 I heard then saw a ROSE-BREASTED GROSBEAK in
Larkfield. I am having my car serviced and while walking home without
binoculars I heard the bird singing from a large leafy ornamental tree on
the west side of the Old Redwood Highway. Before,

[NBB] Yellow-headed Blackbird - Huichica Creek pt. 2

Thu, 24 May 2012 14:14:44 -0500

The YHBB was along the creek next to the cattail marshes about 1/4 mile past the closed restrooms at Huichica Creek, part of the of the Napa-Sonoma Marshes Wildlife Area in Napa county.

Directions:

>From Hwy 12/121 turn south on Duhig Road and proceed approximately 2 miles then turn left on Las

[NBB] Yellow-headed Blackbird - Huichica Creek

Thu, 24 May 2012 12:27:54 -0500

This morning while photographing marsh wrens, I heard a very strange chainsaw like cackle. I looked up to see a Yellow-headed Blackbird on a far away cattail. He was there for just a minute.

In "City of Sonoma", I posted couple of grainy photos. Too far for quality.

[NBB] John Sterling's BCSP's

Thu, 24 May 2012 11:03:52 -0500

Yesterday I drove up Mix Canyon to Blue Ridge in search of the Black-chinned Sparrows that John Sterling reported last week at mile post 7. I didn't see any there but I did hear them at mile post 6.3. I also got a really good look at a late season

[NBB] RS Hawk & Hooded Orioles - Terra Linda

Wed, 23 May 2012 13:55:43 -0500

On an early walk this morning just down the hill from our house, I
discovered a conspicuous red-shouldered hawk nest built into the growing
center of a tall Washingtonia fan palm, the southern of two palms in
someone's front yard. As one adult flew in with food, and I heard what
sounded like quite

Re: [NBB] Re: Birds and Eclipse

Tue, 22 May 2012 12:25:01 -0500

Sorry, I didn't mean to suggest there was NO change, just that--even at the height of the eclipse and in the zone of full coverage--the change was small enough that people didn't notice if they didn't already know, and that it doesn't seem to have been enough of a darkening

[NBB] Re: Birds and Eclipse,

Tue, 22 May 2012 11:21:27 -0500

Definitely got darker here, like a cloud passing, a kind of deep shade with a weird golden feeling

[NBB] Birds and Eclipse, also North end of Bodega Bay on Saturday

Mon, 21 May 2012 20:45:42 -0500

Eclipse thoughts

Just wanted to mention in response to Gordon's interesting post about the eclipse, I, too, was wondering what effect it might have on bird behavior. Simply put, I didn't see any effect at all. What I found most surprising about the eclipse was that it didn't get darker. I've

Re: [NBB] Occidental late White-throated sparrow

Mon, 21 May 2012 18:05:02 -0500

In 2002, I had a seemingly healthy WTSP remain in my Corte Madera, Marin County, yard through May 30. Always kind of wished it had made it through the month, you know, for closure...

Nick Whelan
Corte Madera, CA

--- In (email address filtered), Mike Heffernon <mheff@...> wrote:
>
> May 1st was the

[NBB] Occidental late White-throated sparrow

Mon, 21 May 2012 17:45:41 -0500

May 1st was the last day this year that golden-crowned and fox sparrows were seen here at home, cruising the feeders. Since then, including this morning, we've had a white-striped WTSP singing enthusiastically everyday. Since it doesn't have its flock, it isn't as visible as it had been,

[NBB] Re: Eclipse results

Mon, 21 May 2012 11:11:26 -0500

The small flock of bushtits in the Santa Rosa Kaiser parking lot trees got very hyper before the peak of the eclipse, but they often do the flock moving through an area thing in the evening.
What I did notice is that they quieted down at the peak, staying in

[NBB] Eclipse results

Sun, 20 May 2012 23:03:18 -0500

The Vaux's Swifts made no changes in their routine during the waxing and waning of the eclipse. I did hear a rooster crow right before the maximum, a Robin began singing, and the crows began gathering like they do before dark, but those were the only odd behaviors I noticed.

Gordon

Re: [NBB] White-tailed kite nomenclature/taxonomy

Sun, 20 May 2012 22:21:14 -0500

Bottom line, don't feed the "experts" egos; keep the familiar names. They expect you to buy new books to keep up. I still enjoy my western flycatcher regardless, and if anyone has already forgotten that name, what will you forget next?
In Solidarity, Rich

-----Original Message-----
From: Anthonius <(email address filtered)>
To: northbaybirds <(email

Re: [NBB] woodpecker

Sun, 20 May 2012 19:41:15 -0500

Not only will they USE an old woodpecker nest they have been observed
successfully taking it from a woodpecker.
Even from Acorn Woodpeckers on the SRJC campus, and they seem pretty
assertive on their own!
Starlings of course do not make cavities but take existing ones.
Diane Hichwa

Email: (email address filtered)

Telephone: 707-785-1922 (Sea

[NBB] woodpecker

Sun, 20 May 2012 19:33:44 -0500

oh that's embarrassing, yes it's a European Starling. I didn't know that
they would use an old woodpecker nest.
Thanks everyone
Eileen

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[NBB] unidentified woodpecker

Sun, 20 May 2012 14:34:42 -0500

I am having trouble identifying a woodpecker that has made its nest in a hole at the top of a utility pole here in Terra Linda. It's very fast and nervous with me being anywhere in the vicinity. The parent appears to be all black, except for some white

[NBB] Swifts and eclipse

Sun, 20 May 2012 11:21:54 -0500

I will be monitoring my chimney this evening during the eclipse to see if the swifts will both enter at 6:30pm. If anyone else is monitoring chimneys or stacks, it would be interesting to note their behavior with the false sunset, and then see if they come back out when

[NBB] White-tailed kite nomenclature/taxonomy

Sat, 19 May 2012 14:22:17 -0500

I received a number of email in response to my White-tailed kite post earlier this week, concerning "proper" nomenclature. Personally, I often prefer older names, but try to avoid them with other unknown birders who may have finer sensibilities for following the AOU/ABA names. I thought some of

[NBB] Local interest - Band-tailed Pigeons new for Santa Rosa yard list

Sat, 19 May 2012 10:31:23 -0500

Hi ALL,

When I arrived home from work this morning I looked up and saw 4
BAND-TAILED PIGEONS perched atop a neighboring redwood tree. This was a
first for my yard list ( I count anything seen from my tiny yard ). This is
in north Santa Rosa

[NBB] Drakes Estero, Pt Reyes, Fri 5/18

Sat, 19 May 2012 01:27:07 -0500

On the twice monthly walk of Drakes, a friend spotted a Bonaparte's Gull hanging out with a Western Gull. Two Harlequin's Duck flew in about 120 yards offshore with another bird that he could not identify after taking multiple long shots.

http://www.mojoscoast.com/bogu.jpg
http://www.mojoscoast.com/hadu.jpg

Also seen: Peregrine Falcon, Surfbird, Semipalmated Plover, and

[NBB] Long-tailed Duck - off Rodeo Beach, Marin Headlands

Fri, 18 May 2012 12:22:34 -0500

Female Long-tailed Duck mixed in with the Surf Scoter raft (c. 70 in number) off Rodeo Beach this morning (Friday 5/18). This is a different bird from the one noted earlier in May (which was a male) and the latest date that I've had L-t D at this

[NBB] info about road closures re: Black-chinned Sparrow in Solano/Napa

Fri, 18 May 2012 10:07:25 -0500

Hey birders,

Frances Oliver and I are planning to visit the Blue Ridge area where the
Black-chinned Sparrow has been seen on Saturday morning. Frances found out
there is a half marathon called the Sunrise Run that morning. I inquired
to find out more information about possible road closures that might affect
the

[NBB] Re: Black-chinned Sparrow Solano and Napa counties, Black Swift

Thu, 17 May 2012 22:35:19 -0500

Hi All,

As John Sterling mentioned I saw and heard a Black-chinned Sparrow on both sides
of the road at mile post 7.1 (both sides of road here are in Solano Co). I then
went back down the road to mile post 7.0 (here one side of road is Napa Co and

[NBB] Re: Black-chinned Sparrow Orleans Humboldt County

Thu, 17 May 2012 17:58:48 -0500

excuse the northwescalbirds yahoo groups post on to northbaybirds list
serve.
Rich Cimino
Alameda County

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

[NBB] Black-chinned Sparrow Orleans Humboldt County

Thu, 17 May 2012 17:35:23 -0500

A late report from Alan and Toni Burroughs of Orleans, reporting a
Black-chinned Sparrow on lower Camp Creek.
They observed the Black-chinned Sparrow on May 6-7th.
Camp Creek entrance is on Hwy 96 in the town of Orleans, Humboldt county.
From Willow Creek / Hwy 299 turn north on to Hwy

[NBB] Kenwood local interest Cal Towhee

Thu, 17 May 2012 17:22:03 -0500

CALIFORNIA TOWHEE is driving me crazy... This bird will not shut up - he or she has been doing its "chtink" call over and over and over for hours yesterday afternoon and today. It sounds like the old Audubon wooden caller, if any of you remember those.

"Chtink"

[NBB] Re: [CB] Black-chinned Sparrow Solano and Napa counties, Black Swift

Thu, 17 May 2012 17:02:34 -0500

I should have mentioned that initially the sparrow was much further down the road but was working its way south when I last saw it. It was highly responsive to song playback from my iPhone and I wouldn't have seen or heard it without broadcasting its song. If

[NBB] Black-chinned Sparrow Solano and Napa counties, Black Swift

Thu, 17 May 2012 16:52:37 -0500

Just returned from the Blue Ridge accessed from Mix Canyon Road off Pleasants Valley Road in Solano County. The highlight was a singing Black-chinned Sparrow on both sides of Blue Ridge Road at mile post 7.0 from 12:30 to 1 pm. The road at this point is the

[NBB] MacGillivray's Warbler Willowside Rd trail

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:20:31 -0500

Had a big surprise on the Willowside Rd trail this afternoon. I was hoping for Yellow-br Chat but didn't see and hear one of those. Instead, I was rewarded with a singing/ calling male MACGILLIVRAY'S WARBLER along the trail near the aqua pipe with purple cap.

This

[NBB] Napa Ash-throated Flycatchers

Wed, 16 May 2012 18:05:54 -0500

Hi all,

After thoroughly enjoying Ash-throated Flycatchers nest in one of our 2 boxes last year, we wondered if they would return again this year. Yes! they have (or at least one of the kids and a mate.) This year they chose our front yard box (even though

[NBB] Downy Woodpecker question

Wed, 16 May 2012 17:34:50 -0500

I see a regularly visiting male Downy WP at my feeder, who has sported a very bright red head patch. In the last ~10 days, there is a male Downy that seems a bit smaller with a less showy red patch, i.e., it's red mixed with black, and not as

Re: [NBB] White-tailed kite roost II, Name changes.

Wed, 16 May 2012 14:31:10 -0500

I hate the name changes myself and called it white tailed when they changed it to black shouldered, so I guess I go back further than you do..I was happy when they went back to white tailed.
See also western fly, green heron, western rufoussided towhee, brown towhee, bullocks oriole, galllinule,

[NBB] Black Swift and Costa's Hummingbird in Napa and Solano

Wed, 16 May 2012 13:48:01 -0500

My apologies for the late posting. Last Sunday (May 13) Linda Terrill and I went to Blue Ridge Road along the Napa/Solano county line. Around 3:00 pm, I spotted a Black Swift flying north high over the ridge where the road flattens out and runs north-south along the

[NBB] White-tailed kite roost II

Wed, 16 May 2012 00:56:06 -0500

Diane, Sorry about the date, it was today, 5/15/12. And yes, it was Elanus leucurus, the White-tailed kite (which, being an old birder, I really prefer to call Black-shouldered, and take the derision of those that slavishly accept the AOU/ABA re-namings). I could not count the numbers,

[NBB] White-tailed kite roost

Tue, 15 May 2012 23:08:20 -0500

Tonight, 4/15/12, from 8:15 to 8:30, I witnessed the beautiful sight of over a dozen White-tailed kites returning to a roost in Sonoma, where I have reported them in previous years. The roost is a California Bay Myrtle tree behind the house at the NE corner of Chase St.

[NBB] Forster's Terns at Shorebird Marsh

Tue, 15 May 2012 20:09:13 -0500

Decided to check a few spots in East Marin for terns today. At
Shorebird Marsh in Corte Madera (just north of Nordstrom's, along the
east side 101 frontage road) there were about 48 Forster's Terns on
the dumbbell shaped island straight out from the viewing area. Bring
scope (and earplugs!) to enhance the viewing.

[NBB] Point Reyes today.

Tue, 15 May 2012 18:49:08 -0500

Hi NBBers,

I stopped at a few places on Point Reyes today. At Drake's Beach there was a single Western Scrub Jay in the Drake's Monument cypress trees. Off the beach a White-winged Scoter was hanging out with several Surf Scoters. 56 Whimbrel were on the beach.

At the

[NBB] osprey nest

Tue, 15 May 2012 16:27:35 -0500

hi- we live off 116 one mile west of monte rio and have a view from our porch of a beautiful nest.
this msg is two fold- if you have not had a chance to see the nest it is worth a look, though be careful pulling off 116 as

[NBB] Re: Birding Apps for iPhone

Tue, 15 May 2012 11:05:25 -0500

I have the Sibley and my sister has the i bird, and together we were able to use them to narrow down some Eastern bird calls we didn't know
(with ear phones, of course), but since birds make many sounds that aren't included in the apps, even if you get them

[NBB] Solano County -- with a bit of Napa

Tue, 15 May 2012 09:16:47 -0500

NBB'ers,

I decided to try for the {Sage} Bell's Sparrows on Mix Canyon Road yesterday. One accesses this area from Pleasants Valley Road north of Vacaville. At the top of Mix Canyon Road, the name changes to Blue Ridge Rd, and the surface changes to very well maintained dirt.

[NBB] Birding Apps for iPhone

Mon, 14 May 2012 22:34:01 -0500

Hi
I was wondering if anyone has any feedback on the various iPhone birding apps as they pertain solely to audio clips. I am looking to buy/download one that has a lot of birds sounds per species. I just downloaded iBird Pro (which by the way is on

[NBB] tiny window

Mon, 14 May 2012 17:28:32 -0500

HI NORTHBAY BIRDERS-

Sunday and this morning the weather was marginally O.K.
for some landbird migrants to reach Outer Point Reyes.

Sunday, HEATHER and I had a fine time with a 2011 male
Indigo Bunting at the Fish Docks and this morning I found
a young male Rose-breasted Grosbeak at the Mendoza
Ranch. That was about

[NBB] Wandering Tattler & Red Phalarope Bodega Bay today

Sun, 13 May 2012 21:43:45 -0500

Got off a few hours early so Mac and I headed for the coast - forgot about the bike race and it was crowded with Mother's Day tourists, despite the cold overcast conditions.
But was rewarded with some great looks at uncommon birds:

Off Bodega Head, there a handsome alternate plumaged WANDERING

[NBB] Re: Last Few Days

Sun, 13 May 2012 19:58:50 -0500

Where is Gull Rock in Sonoma County?

Sent from my iPad

Re: [NBB] Last Few Days

Sun, 13 May 2012 16:15:11 -0500

We are also watching Gualala Point Island. Over the last few years we have
seen a slow and steady increase in Common Murre on the rock island in
summer.
This year there are more and earlier, standing in amongst the Brandt's
Cormorant colony, AND there have been 4 observations of copulation
occurring.
Diane Hichwa

Email:

[NBB] Point Reyes Warblers

Sun, 13 May 2012 14:28:16 -0500

Yesterday (5/12/12), Terry Nordbye and I took a hike from Five Brooks Trailhead, up the Greenpicker Trail, around Fir Top and back down the Bolema Trail, a 7-mile loop. Warblers were in full song; in order of appearance: Wilson's, Orange-crowned, Black-throated Gray, MacGillivrays, "Audubon's," Townsends, and Hermit. Most surprising was

[NBB] Last Few Days

Sun, 13 May 2012 14:11:23 -0500

Hi All,

This morning, while doing some point counts on publicly inaccessible land near Sebastopol, I had a singing male HOODED WARBLER.

Yesterday, with Napa-Solano Audubon Society, we had a wonderful day at Goat Rock State Beach and Willow Creek Road near Jenner in Sonoma County.

We started the morning with a BALD

[NBB] 4 Red Phalaropes @ Bodega Bay

Sun, 13 May 2012 08:23:52 -0500

Birders,

Yesterday (5/12) we counted a total of 4 RED PHALAROPES mixed in with
the ~180 Red-necked Phalaropes at the Doran Park pond in Bodega Bay.

Here is a photo of an alternate-plumaged female:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/23836012@N02/7188193916/in/photostream/

Good birding,

Cory Gregory & Ashley Casey
Elk Grove, CA
http://arcticory.blogspot.com/
http://www.flickr.com/photos/23836012@N02/