-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n415 --------------

    001 - "Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@be - FWD: Black and White Warbler sitll
present at Mountain Lake
    002 - "Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@be - [Fwd: [SFBirds] Blitz List]
    003 - Harry Fuller <Harry_Fulle - [SBB] PSFL
    004 - Rferrick@aol.com          - Sunday-Presidio (2:30-4:30)
    005 - Rferrick@aol.com          - LM-Sunday (7:00-8:00PM)
    006 - David Armstrong <darmstro - a few birds
    007 - "Paul Saraceni" <Paul.Sar - Mt. Davidson, 04/03/00 (7:10-8:10 AM)

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n415.1 ---------------

From: "Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@best.com>
Subject: FWD: Black and White Warbler sitll present at Mountain Lake
Date: Sun, 02 Apr 2000 16:09:11 -0700

>From Heather Chase and Andrew Rush...

From: Heather Chase <hchaseca@earthlink.net>
Reply-To: hchaseca@earthlink.net
To: eaton@best.com
Subject: black and white

new subscriber to the list and i wasn't sure which address to use to
post a message so could you let me know...thought you would like to
know that andrew rush and i spotted the black and white again this
morning at mountain lake, it was in the willows at the very far
eastern corner of the lake....thanks, heather chase


--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n415.2 ---------------

From: "Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@best.com>
Subject: [Fwd: [SFBirds] Blitz List]
Date: Sun, 02 Apr 2000 16:19:29 -0700

My mistake...

Mark
--
Mark Eaton                                             mailto:eaton@best.com
SFBirds Web Page                                  http://www.best.com/~eaton
Golden Gate Audubon Web Page                http://goldengate.ca.audubon.org

"If two people love each other there can be no happy end to it."
 - Ernest Hemingway

Date: Sat, 01 Apr 2000 09:18:36 +0000
From: Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com>
To: eaton@best.com
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Blitz List
References: <200003312349.PAA20681@lists1.best.com>

One of the first birds we saw was a Tropical Kingbird at Aquatic Park, a
moment later we also saw a Western Tanagerand Orange-crowned Warbler.
Jay also saw an oriole there.

Alan

One of the Mark W. Eaton wrote:
>
> Alan Hopkins wrote:
> >
> >  Tropical Kingbird      Aquatic Park
>
> I assume you meant Lake Merced...
>
> Mark
> --
> Mark Eaton
> mailto:eaton@best.com
> SFBirds Web Page
> http://www.best.com/~eaton
> Golden Gate Audubon Web Page
> http://goldengate.ca.audubon.org
>
> "Time is the only coin of your life.  It is the only coin you have, and
>  only you can determine how it will be spent.  Be careful lest you let
>  other people spend it for you."
>
> - Carl Sandburg (1878-1967)

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n415.3 ---------------

From: Harry Fuller <Harry_Fuller@zd.com>
Subject: [SBB] PSFL
Date: Sun, 02 Apr 2000 16:31:57 -0700

here they come
---------------------- Forwarded by Harry Fuller on 04/02/2000 03:35 PM
---------------------------

Original Message from  Joe Parker <jparker@best.com>  on  04/02/2000
      09:23:13 AM

      To: south-bay-birds@lists.Stanford.EDU
cc:
Subject:  [SBB] PSFL

This morning, Sunday, I heard for the first time my local PACIFIC-SLOPE
FLYCATCHER. For the last 2 years he has been living in our immediate
neighborhood. He calls and calls, but I don't know if he has ever found a
mate. Have never seen young ones around.     Kathy Parker

PS  Juncos are still incubating.The eggs should hatch today, or tomorrow.

-++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==--++**==
This message was posted through the Stanford campus mailing list
server.  If you wish to unsubscribe from this mailing list, send the
message body of "unsubscribe south-bay-birds" to
majordomo@lists.stanford.edu

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n415.4 ---------------

From: Rferrick@aol.com
Subject: Sunday-Presidio (2:30-4:30)
Date: Sun, 2 Apr 2000 20:29:09 EDT

Covered some of the areas that Brian reported on yesterday, of note:

At Kobbe/Upton saw the male Hooded Oriole in a palm and 2-3 Varied Thrush.

At the soccer field, south of Morton saw a Nashville Warbler, an OC Warbler,
many Yellow Rumps, and 3-4 Lesser Goldfinch in the willows along the dirt
parking area in front of the soccer field. Didn't see the Bullock's.

Rich

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n415.5 ---------------

From: Rferrick@aol.com
Subject: LM-Sunday (7:00-8:00PM)
Date: Sun, 2 Apr 2000 23:29:27 EDT

Spent sunset at the wooden bridge at Lake Merced (north end):

Highlight was a Sora that stayed in view for about 5 minutes. In the shallow
water/vegeation just to the north and west of the bridge, the Sora preened
for about 3 minutes. Bright yellow bill and dark face (breeding). It then
picked its way through the reeds to the west and then flew (south) across
the
short channel and disappeared into the reeds. No vocalizations.

Lots of BC Night Heron activity, a Great Blue Heron, 2 Sharp Shinned Hawks
heading northwest, a Red Shouldered Hawk heading west. Northern Roughwing
Swallows were still active, the Marsh Wrens continued to be vocal, and the
Common Yellowthroat started singing at about 7:50PM (for about 5 minutes).

Rich

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n415.6 ---------------

From: David Armstrong <darmstrong99@yahoo.com>
Subject: a few birds
Date: Sun, 2 Apr 2000 21:35:13 -0700 (PDT)

We birded and hiked outside of SF this weekend.
At Arrowhead Marsh near the Oakland airport best birds
were the green-winged teal (6) and burrowing owl (1)
which we viewed from the road to the main parking
area.
Today long hike at Mt. Tamalpais -- not too many birds
but had spotted towhee, a singing Bewick's wren and 8
wild turkeys. 3 of the wild turkeys were seen on
Pumpkin Ridge trail (near Lake Lagunitas) and the
other 5 appeared above Phoenix Lake. Apparently the
wild turkey has been successfully reintroduced into
this area.

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n415.7 ---------------

From: "Paul Saraceni" <Paul.Saraceni@derwin.com>
Subject: Mt. Davidson, 04/03/00 (7:10-8:10 AM)
Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 09:57:53 -0700

Observations of local interest:

Sharp-shinned Hawk 2 imm. (observed at the same time)
Tree Swallow 2
Violet-green Swallow 8
Barn Swallow 1
Cliff Swallow 1
Varied Thrush 2
Hermit Thrush 2
Cedar Waxwing 4
Orange-crowned Warbler 1
Wilson's Warbler 3
Spotted Towhee 1 m.
Lesser Goldfinch 1 m.

Paul Saraceni
paul.saraceni@derwin.com

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n415 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n416 --------------

    001 - David Armstrong <darmstro - Hooded oriole
    002 - Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com - The Magpie mystery continues
    003 - Harry Fuller <Harry_Fulle - birds & website
    004 - Rferrick@aol.com          - Heron's Head - Tuesday
    005 - Gasstation@aol.com        - Re: [SFBirds] The Magpie mystery
continues

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n416.1 ---------------

From: David Armstrong <darmstrong99@yahoo.com>
Subject: Hooded oriole
Date: Mon, 3 Apr 2000 20:40:10 -0700 (PDT)

Thanks to my wife's alert spotting,
we found a hooded oriole south of the soccer field
in the Presidio -- I believe in the same general
area as the recent Bullock's Oriole sighting.
David Armstrong

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n416.2 ---------------

From: Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com>
Subject: The Magpie mystery continues
Date: Tue, 04 Apr 2000 11:18:45 +0000

SF Birders,

The Magpie mystery continues! I just came home and found a phone message
from Debey Zito saying she just saw a magpie on Bernal Hill! I have no
more info at this moment.

Alan

ps I stopped briefly this morning to photograph the oaks in Coon Hollow,
along Conservatory Dr. West in GGP and there was a really big flock of
warblers. I didn't have bino's or time to pick through it, but did see
BTGW, OCWA, TOWA, YRWA,

Alan

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n416.3 ---------------

From: Harry Fuller <Harry_Fuller@zd.com>
Subject: birds & website
Date: Tue, 04 Apr 2000 19:05:52 -0700

At Rhodie Dell this evening in GGPark:  >200 Waxwings, usual spring
singers.
-------------
Check out the newly launched website, only partially developed but some
content already up, some links...need to add Morlan's site, among others.
towhee.net

--hf

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n416.4 ---------------

From: Rferrick@aol.com
Subject: Heron's Head - Tuesday
Date: Tue, 4 Apr 2000 23:14:28 EDT

Stopped by Heron's Head this evening (5:45-6:30). Of note:

2 Semipalmated Plovers
2 Canada Geese
Snowy Egret
Belted Kingfisher
Spotted Sandpiper

Rich

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n416.5 ---------------

From: Gasstation@aol.com
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] The Magpie mystery continues
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 00:37:10 EDT

In a message dated 4/4/00 11:28:19, ash@sfo.com writes:

>ps I stopped briefly this morning to photograph the oaks in Coon Hollow,
>along Conservatory Dr. West in GGP and there was a really big flock of
>warblers. I didn't have bino's or time to pick through it, but did see
>BTGW, OCWA, TOWA, YRWA,

I checked out Middle Lake today. 1 Adult Cooper's. otherwise kinds quiet,
Lesser Goldfinches were easy to locate. Of interest was a Steller's Jay
along
the western edge of South Lake, quite vocal. It flew off into the Eucs
across
the road. Only time I recall seeing a Steller's at Middle or South Lake was
several years ago during a CBC, kinda interesting given the lack of the
birds
near the Lily Pond lately.

Kevin McKereghan
Gasstation@aol.com

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n416 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n417 --------------

    001 - "Dan Singer" <dsg@isp.net - Lesser Goldfinch / Magpies
    002 - Rferrick@aol.com          - Wednesday AM - Western Kingbird/B+W
    003 - Htcotter@aol.com          - Wood Duck- Lake Merced
    004 - Rferrick@aol.com          - LM - Wood Duck

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n417.1 ---------------

From: "Dan Singer" <dsg@isp.net>
Subject: Lesser Goldfinch / Magpies
Date: Wed, 05 Apr 2000 05:55:31 -0700

Hi folks,

Sorry for this delayed response but I had to go to Hawaii last week and am
just now getting around to sorting through my email. Below the LEGO records
from the SF Atlas years of 1991-1992.

I'm compiling extralimital records of YB Magpies for coastal northern
California from the NAB notebooks and subregional editors. I will summarize
the records and post it for everyone's entertainment when I've heard from
everybody.

Cheers,

DSg

Date     Person     Block              Status    Code   Evidence

9-Jun-91     Murphy    West Sunset         PO    X    Singing male
6-Apr-91     Singer    Twin Peaks          PO    Y    Checked: Observed in
28-Apr-91    Singer    Twin Peaks          PR    P    Pair in suitable hab
16-May-92    Samuels   Presidio            PR    C    Courtship behavior
18-Apr-91    Rosegay   Presidio            PO    X    Singing male
12-May-92    Hopkins   Brisbane            PR    P    Pair in suitable hab
16-Jun-91    Hopkins   Brisbane            CO    FY   Ad. feeding fledge
27-Apr-91    Hopkins   Brisbane            PR    C    Courtship behavior
29-Mar-92    Hopkins   Brisbane            PO    X    Singing male
28-Apr-92    Bailey    Mission/BayView     CO    FY   Ad. feeding fledge
8-Mar-92     Bailey    Mission/BayView     PO    X    Singing male
21-Mar-91    Bailey    Mission/BayView     PR    P    Pair in suitable hab
27-Apr-91    Hopkins   Mission/BayView     PO    Y    Obsrvd in suitable hab

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n417.2 ---------------

From: Rferrick@aol.com
Subject: Wednesday AM - Western Kingbird/B+W
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 13:37:56 EDT

This morning (7:45AM) just east of the turn off Lincoln Blvd to the GG
Bridge
visitor center, there were 2 Western Kingbirds perched low in the cypresses
and on the wires. The birds were in the fenced off area, north of Lincoln
Blvd, between the bike path and the car turn lane to enter the visitor
center. They flew south across the street and into the Euc. grove behind the
cottages.

Both birds had a gray upper back and head, gray on the throat and upper
breast down to about the wing shoulder, becoming yellow for the remainder of
the breast, belly, and flanks (comparing to NGS 3rd edition, the gray/yellow
transition appeared to me to be a little higher on the breast of these
birds). The wings were brownish with lighter edges to some of the feathers,
the tail was black. Both birds eventually perched almost directly overhead
so
that I could see the under tail area and there was a clear, thin white edge
to the outer tail feathers. One bird actually preened for a minute or two
and
fanned the tail for clear views of the outer white edge. They were perched
within 10 feet of each other at times.

5 warblers species in the willows at the SE corner of Mtn Lake (9:30 AM),
including the Black and White, Wilson's, Orange Crowned, Townsend's, and
Yellow-Rump.

Rich

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n417.3 ---------------

From: Htcotter@aol.com
Subject: Wood Duck- Lake Merced
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 20:42:35 EDT

Hi All,
I am passing on a message from Dan Murphy whose email is down.
Dan had a Wood Duck today at the north end of the south Lake. From the
boathouse look to your right and the bird was in the reeds,

Thats it,
Hugh

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n417.4 ---------------

From: Rferrick@aol.com
Subject: LM - Wood Duck
Date: Wed, 5 Apr 2000 22:50:01 EDT

Took a quick drive over to the Boathouse (Wednesday, 7:30PM) and the Wood
Duck is still there (southwest of the Boathouse), loosely associating with
some Mallards. Thanks Dan and Hugh.

Rich

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n417 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n418 --------------

    001 - Jay Withgott <withgott@pa - bank swallow arrival
    002 - Dan Murphy <murphsf@att.n - old birds
    003 - "Josiah Clark" <sunbitter - Crissy and the grebe
    004 - Harry Fuller <Harry_Fulle - recent birds
    005 - Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com - Strybing Quail seem to be gone.
    006 - David Armstrong <darmstro - last night
    007 - Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com - Re: Strybing Quail seem to be gone.

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n418.1 ---------------

From: Jay Withgott <withgott@pacbell.net>
Subject: bank swallow arrival
Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2000 15:35:48 +0000

Had my first Bank Swallow of the year (THE first of the year???) this
afternoon at Lake Merced from the concrete bridge.  ("Let the Dog Wars
Begin!" :) )  Almost had a "swallow sweep" there but could not manage to
pick up a Cliff.

Also could not locate the Wood Duck at the north end of the lake or
anywhere in that vicinity, tho it's no doubt hiding in the reeds
somewhere.

Jay

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n418.2 ---------------

From: Dan Murphy <murphsf@att.net>
Subject: old birds
Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2000 19:15:00 -0800

I'm back on line for a minute or two.  I'm sure this thing will keep
crashing until we take it in after we see an unhappy Mac face.

This afternoon at Crissy Field the Red-necked Grebe was about half way
between the Coast Guard pier and the fishing pier.  It's molting and in
a plumage stage I haven't seen before.  There was a single Black Scoter
there too.

At Kobbe and Upton I had a male Hooded Oriole and a female CA Quail on
the lawn in front of 1337 Pope.  A male quail called from across the
street and behind the buildings.

Best,  Dan

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n418.3 ---------------

From: "Josiah Clark" <sunbittern@hotmail.com>
Subject: Crissy and the grebe
Date: Thu, 06 Apr 2000 23:55:11 PDT

   Stellers and wilson's atop Battery Caulfield. The Crissy Logo, the Great
Egret made its first visit since the marsh opening. Swallows were abundant
last year at Crissy, but it dawned on me that a salt marsh wont produce the
insects a stagnant freshwater marsh did.

   Dan, I have been seeing a grebe where you speak of which I take to be the
same individual we have been seeing all season. I had to watch it a while
before I convinced myself it was a Horned by bill size. Ill look tomarrow

    Josiah
______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n418.4 ---------------

From: Harry Fuller <Harry_Fuller@zd.com>
Subject: recent birds
Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 08:54:15 -0700

Pair of Hooded Orioles at Lovers Lane willows in Presidio
Finally got SB Dowitcher at west end of Crissy Lagoon, Wed. pm
MIssed Wood Duck...too many school kids rowing on so Merced.  Did get Bank
Swallow (Th pm) amongst the Barn and NRW and Tree at Wooden Bridge...saw
one Tree Swallow fly up behind another perched on a wire, grab the second
bird's tail feathers in its beak and dangle...the tail feathers  did not
pull out but the two birds chased one another away.  Was this courtship
like two ten year olds...or dod birds hold grudges, too?
Noticed that the No RW Swallows seemed least likely to take a breather on
the wire.
Finally got BW Warlber at Mtn Lake thanx to Deghi's sharp eyes yesterday
AM.

Any goo dlast minute nest sightings in GGP west end for my Audubon walk
tomorrow, hit me with an email.

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n418.5 ---------------

From: Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com>
Subject: Strybing Quail seem to be gone.
Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 09:12:33 +0000

I need some help locating the quail in Strybing. The last few times I've
visited I have been unable to find the covey or any of the females. On
the Sunday field trip we could only find one male, Thursday I could only
find two males. Both times the birds were in area of the Succulent
Garden.

It is possable that they have left the Arboretum in an attempt to breed
elsewhere.

If you have any time to look for the birds, please let me know what you
find!

Thanks,

Alan Hopkins

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n418.6 ---------------

From: David Armstrong <darmstrong99@yahoo.com>
Subject: last night
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2000 09:52:07 -0700 (PDT)

had a lingering varied thrush on Conservatory Dr
in GGP, lots of Townsend's, one kinglet
Middle Lake was quiet -- very visibile and audible
belted kingfisher
Lake Merced: could not find wood duck. Had a Caspian
Tern flyover on the north side of the lake,
black-crowned night heron poking its neck out of the
reeds, and most disturbingly a dead cormorant
literally hanging from a tree off skyline Blvd
just north of the Boathouse. The cormorant appears
to have gotten entangled in some fishing line
which was around its neck.

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n418.7 ---------------

From: Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com>
Subject: Re: Strybing Quail seem to be gone.
Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 13:50:38 +0000

I found the strybing quail, they will be on the KTVU 2 news tonight on a
story about cats.

Alan

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n418 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n419 --------------

    001 - "Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@be - B2K San Francisco
    002 - "Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@be - Friday's birds
    003 - Gasstation@aol.com        - This morning
    004 - Fogeggs@aol.com           - Swallows
    005 - David Armstrong <darmstro - Sunday?
    006 - Jay Withgott <withgott@pa - Re: [SFBirds] Swallows
    007 - Dan Murphy <murphsf@att.n - Re: [SFBirds] This morning
    008 - Dan Murphy <murphsf@att.n - CAS Presidio trip highlights

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n419.1 ---------------

From: "Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@best.com>
Subject: B2K San Francisco
Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 20:00:51 -0700

March results now online at:

http://www.best.com/~eaton/Birding/B2K/B2KResults.html

Mark
--
Mark Eaton                                             mailto:eaton@best.com
SFBirds Web Page                                  http://www.best.com/~eaton
Golden Gate Audubon Web Page                http://goldengate.ca.audubon.org

"If two people love each other there can be no happy end to it."
 - Ernest Hemingway

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n419.2 ---------------

From: "Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@best.com>
Subject: Friday's birds
Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 20:12:40 -0700

Kevin and I headed out this morning and had a nice morning.  A CASPIAN TERN
at Crissy was overshadowed by the GRAY WHALE that was quite close to short
near the east end.  Do migrant whales come into the Bay to feed?  Or is it
lost?

At Battery East, we did Rich one kingbird better with three WESTERN
KINGBIRDS posing prettily from their roosts near the cliffs.  Presumably,
they were staging for the crossing of the Gate.  There were several other
passerine species there as well.

At the Wrentit overlook, Kevin found a RED-NECKED GREBE starting to molt
into alternate plumage while Kobbe and Upton yielded at least two lingering
VARIED THRUSHES and a HOODED ORIOLE in one of the fan palms.

Tennessee Hollow, the flat area below Lover's Lane containing the lower end
of El Poulin creek had another HOOR, this one quite a bit more yellow.
Might we assume this is a first spring bird?

Kevin refound the BLACK AND WHITE WARBLER at Mountain Lake and a TURKEY
VULTURE was soaring over the lake proper.  The willows were also quite
birdy.

Mark

4.7.00
Crissy Field
CATE
Gray Whale
Battery East
3 WEKI
LEGO
WIWA
TOWA
OCWA
AMGO
Wrentit Spot
RNGR
Kobbe & Upton
PUFI
VATH
HOOR
Tennessee Hollow
HOOR
RCKI
Mountain Lake
BWWA
TUVU
--
Mark Eaton                                             mailto:eaton@best.com
SFBirds Web Page                                  http://www.best.com/~eaton
Golden Gate Audubon Web Page                http://goldengate.ca.audubon.org

"If two people love each other there can be no happy end to it."
 - Ernest Hemingway

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n419.3 ---------------

From: Gasstation@aol.com
Subject: This morning
Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2000 00:32:24 EDT

After parting ways with Mark, I continued on to Lake Merced where I was able
to fill out my swallow card for the day, and year with 2 Bank Swallows at
the
north end by the bridge and 6 Cliffs at the south end, also by the bridge. 3
Ospreys over the north end of the lake as well. Had 2 Canada Geese, but no
Wood Duck

Kevin McKereghan
Gasstation@aol.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n419.4 ---------------

From: Fogeggs@aol.com
Subject: Swallows
Date: Sat, 8 Apr 2000 00:32:11 EDT

I guess no one else did S Lake Merced today, so I'll report that the Cliff
Swallows are back in force at the causeway, in and out of the N side nests.
Also, at N Lake Merced, I saw a D-cr Cormorant with an extreme doo; big
bushy
white double crests, and porcupine quill-like white plumes down the neck.  I
thought at first it was leucistic, but the scope revealed otherwise.  It was
at the far western edge of the lake.
Brian

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n419.5 ---------------

From: David Armstrong <darmstrong99@yahoo.com>
Subject: Sunday?
Date: Fri, 7 Apr 2000 21:42:57 -0700 (PDT)

Is anybody going birding on Sunday?
Looking for something to do and would like to join a
group if anyone is going out
thanks

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n419.6 ---------------

From: Jay Withgott <withgott@pacbell.net>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Swallows
Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 22:10:20 +0000

Fogeggs@aol.com wrote:
>
>  at N Lake Merced, I saw a D-cr Cormorant with an extreme doo; big bushy
> white double crests, and porcupine quill-like white plumes down the neck.
I
> thought at first it was leucistic, but the scope revealed otherwise.  It
was
> at the far western edge of the lake.

Brian -- Yes, I saw this bird too the other day!  It was quite an
eye-popper; never seen one quite like that.

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n419.7 ---------------

From: Dan Murphy <murphsf@att.net>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] This morning
Date: Fri, 07 Apr 2000 23:00:07 -0700

I saw Harry at the south end of LM at about 4 pm on my way home.  I figured
he
was about to see some strange bird I would otherwise miss so I stopped.  We
only
had a single Cliff Swallow at the south end of LM.  No Bank Swallows were
around.  We did get the Wood Duck.  It was hanging with a brown Mallard of
questionable genetic heritage.  The bird has a white breast with which I
believe
the Wood Duck is in love.  We missed the Canada Geese.

I heard from a friend who saw a Saw-whet Owl at Glen Canyon last November.
He's
reliable and I have all the details on who, when and where.

Dan

Gasstation@aol.com wrote:

> After parting ways with Mark, I continued on to Lake Merced where I was
able
> to fill out my swallow card for the day, and year with 2 Bank Swallows at
the
> north end by the bridge and 6 Cliffs at the south end, also by the bridge.
3
> Ospreys over the north end of the lake as well. Had 2 Canada Geese, but no
> Wood Duck
>
> Kevin McKereghan
> Gasstation@aol.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n419.8 ---------------

From: Dan Murphy <murphsf@att.net>
Subject: CAS Presidio trip highlights
Date: Sat, 08 Apr 2000 19:50:44 -0700

The Calif. Academy of Sciences trip to the Presidio today had a total of
40 species. We found Red-masked Parakeets apparently nesting in a palm
tree by Letterman Hospital.  No fewer than 5 birds were active in the
area.

We found a Red-necked Grebe at Crissy Field.  It was much further
advanced in its molt than the bird I saw on Thursday so it was very
likely a different individual.  The Gray Whale was very active not too
far from shore.

At Kobbe and Upton there were no fewer than 4 male Hooded Orioles.
There is a pair of Lesser Goldfinches there as well.  I presume they are
nesting nearby.  There was a Great Blue Heron on the Parade Ground
lawn.  One was there regularly last year as well.  I wonder if they
might be nesting nearby.

At the restoration area above Baker's Beach, on the road to Battery
Crosby, we had 2 Western Kingbirds.  I played a Wrentit tape and heard a
possible response.  It was distant and only  a partial song.  I'm not
counting it, but I'll be back to try again.

Best,  Dan

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n419 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n420 --------------

    001 - Jennifer <jmatkin@pacbell - Strybing
    002 - Htcotter@aol.com          - Crissy Field 4/8/00

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n420.1 ---------------

From: Jennifer <jmatkin@pacbell.net>
Subject: Strybing
Date: Sat, 08 Apr 2000 22:57:03 -0700

Tried to send this message this morning but it bounced - sorry if it
comes through twice . . .

I took a walk around Strybing Arboretum this morning.  Cold and breezy,
but fairly birdy (lots of singing, especially Townsend's), including:

Wilson's Warbler (4)
Orange-crowned Warbler (4)
California Quail (at least 4, only males seen, several calling.  Were in

succulent garden and California section)
Green Heron (hunting by the infall pipe at the pump station in the
California section-looked pretty goofy there)
Lincoln's Sparrow (near Nature Trail pond)
Cedar waxwing

Ringed Teal was hanging out with the coots at the tourists' feet.

Had a Warbling Vireo in the yard yesterday.

--

Jennifer Matkin
San Francisco, CA
superhawk@pacbell.net

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n420.2 ---------------

From: Htcotter@aol.com
Subject: Crissy Field 4/8/00
Date: Sun, 9 Apr 2000 11:39:59 EDT

Hi All,
I took a short walk at Crissy Sat afternoon and had 2 Whimbrel in the Lagoon
which soon flew off. At the coastguard pier I had 57 Forsters Terns on the
piles and many more in the air. It might be worth keeping an eye on this
flock to see if anything else shows up with them,
Hugh

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n420 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n421 --------------

    001 - Gasstation@aol.com        - BG Gnatcatcher
    002 - Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com - Heron's Head Park
    003 - "Paul Saraceni" <Paul.Sar - Mt. Davidson, 04/11/00 (7:10-8:20 AM)
    004 - David Armstrong <darmstro - presidio this am
    005 - "Josiah Clark" <sunbitter - Re: [SFBirds] presidio \ and Crissy

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n421.1 ---------------

From: Gasstation@aol.com
Subject: BG Gnatcatcher
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 21:59:57 EDT

This morning Brian Fitch and I went exploring Bay View Hill for migrants. It
was relativly quiet. Brian showed me the RT Hawk nest on the South side. On
the way out we checked the clearing just beyond the port-a-potty and found a
BG Gnatcatcher in the Broom there. The bird was highly active, moving around
alot, or perhaps there were 2, but in any case the bird was very vocal and
easy to find. We also birded McLaren, where we ran into Jay Withgott,
Candlestick, Lake Merced (no Wood Duck, but 1 Green Heron at the south end)
and Ft. Funston. Nice , but nothing unexpected or new at any of those
locations.

Kevin McKereghan
Gasstation@aol.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n421.2 ---------------

From: Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com>
Subject: Heron's Head Park
Date: Mon, 10 Apr 2000 20:34:37 +0000

I visited Heron's Head Park after work today. There were good numbers of
shorebirds, unfortunately fishermen were standing in the area where the
birds usually roost causing them to flush easily. There was also a
Red-tail hunting in the marsh chasing the shorebirds up and down. I was
able to get within 20 feet of the hawk as it perched on one of the
wildlife area signs. There was also what I took to be a Killdeer chick
being herded away from the hawk by its parents.

Brown Pelican - 2
Canada Goose - 2
Red-tailed Hawk
Black-bellied Plover- 12
Killdeer - 8
American Avocet - 6
Lesser Yellowlegs - 2
Willet - 3
Spotted Sandpiper - 1
Whimbrel - 2
Least Sandpiper - 30
Dunlin - 20
Short-billed Dowitcher - 15

Alan

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n421.3 ---------------

From: "Paul Saraceni" <Paul.Saraceni@derwin.com>
Subject: Mt. Davidson, 04/11/00 (7:10-8:20 AM)
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 09:53:13 -0700

Still waiting for a migrant wave at Mt. D; recent morning surveys hampered
by fog.

Observations of local interest:

Band-tailed Pigeon 1
Rufous Hummingbird 1 ad. m. (returned several times to a perch on the brushy
hillside on the left (west) side of the main trail up to the summit, just
north of the intersection with the trail that runs along the chain link
fence)
Hermit Thrush 7
Wilson's Warbler 1
Spotted Towhee 1 m. (singing territorially)
Lesser Goldfinch 1 m.

Also, I observed a Peregrine Falcon from Mt. D on 4/8 as it flew over the
Sutro forest.

Paul Saraceni
paul.saraceni@derwin.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n421.4 ---------------

From: David Armstrong <darmstrong99@yahoo.com>
Subject: presidio this am
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 10:56:26 -0700 (PDT)

had 2 hooded orioles at Kobbe and Upton.
there was a great blue heron on the lawn
north of there -- according to two people
we talked to it hunts gophers.
2 TV's and a red-tail overhead. Also discovered
a barn swallow nest on one of the buildings.
There is a mockingbird in the area
which we have seen twice now, both times
putting on quite a show. It has scrub jay
and northern flicker in its repertoire, plus
a lot of starling-like noises.

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Talk to your friends online with Yahoo! Messenger.
http://im.yahoo.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n421.5 ---------------

From: "Josiah Clark" <sunbittern@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] presidio \ and Crissy
Date: Tue, 11 Apr 2000 14:43:49 PDT

   Birds of interest for the passed few days in the Presidio

Crissy
   Western Kingbird (sat noon, w bound)
   Pigeon Guillemot
   2 We and 2 Le Sandspipers (this am)
   Terns as mentioned
   Savanah sparrow (thurs)
    first Pelican and Corm in marsh
   (I cant find the RN grebe, but are people seeing the RN Horned grebe out
there?)
   thanks for the Whimbrel Hugh! (were they disturbed by dogs or people?)
  Battery Caulfield
   Quail 3, (cats 2)
   Stellers Jay
   Hairy Woodpecker (across from Compton at golf course, less vocal)
   Pine siskins

   Lobos (Mon am)
   Hooded Oriole
   Band- tailed Pigeon (courtship call, landed in Cypress Forest, large
potential egg shell found on ground)
   Peregrine (am)
   TV
   AM Goldfinch
   4 Warbler sps
   REdtail on nest
   Chickadee in nest box, 2nd year running
   Nutalls Wht crn on territory in scrub restoration site (yeah!)
   BR H Cowbird (boo!)
   Peregrine (PM) with prey over my house, Bline GG bridge

    No Wrentit (as expected) in its former spot despite area search

      Josiah

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n421 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n422 --------------

    001 - Gasstation@aol.com        - Today on the Bay
    002 - Fogeggs@aol.com           - Solitaire
    003 - Htcotter@aol.com          - Re: [SFBirds] Today on the Bay

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n422.1 ---------------

From: Gasstation@aol.com
Subject: Today on the Bay
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 00:44:26 EDT

Seems like a small movement of shorebirds has occured. 25 SB Dowitchers at
Heron's Head, 10 at Yosemite Creek and 4 at Candlestick. Had Alternate
plumage Dunlins at all locations, as well as 30 Western Sandpipers, many in
Alternate at Yosemite, 1 at HH and 12 at Candlestick. 1 LB Curlew at
Candlestick, Whimbrels and loads of BB Plovers at all sites. 1 Greater  and
1
Lesser Yellowlegs at HH.Cinnamon Teal at HH. Saw the young Killdeer at HH,
looks very frazzled, but alive.

Kevin McKereghan
Gasstation@aol.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n422.2 ---------------

From: Fogeggs@aol.com
Subject: Solitaire
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 12:17:38 EDT

A Townsend's Solitaire was on Mt. Davidson this morning.  I spent from
sunrise to 7:15 looking for the Rufous where Paul described, but could only
find a rufousy Allen's like the one at Mtn. Lake.  Then I hiked uphill and
began to hear that call ringing away on the hilltop Eucs, ran up to the
beige
box, and began trying to localize the sound.  It took several minutes to
find
it despite constant calling from the bird.  It was maybe 20 feet up in a
Euc,
very visible on a bare branch, still calling.  After 30 seconds of good
viewing, it began to act skittish and then flew back a short distance to
another visible perch.  It began to flick its wings a lot, flew twice more
to
different spots and then flew well back in the forest out of sight.
It was on the N side of the road which runs from the cross to the bay view,
about 30 feet west of the beige box.  All of its perches and its last flight
were about 20-25 feet above the hillcrest.  I did not see or hear the bird
again, and I left at 7:50.
Checked out Glen Canyon, but there were no migrants other than Wilson's.  I
had hoped for more since yesterday in Berkeley I saw or heard W Wood-Pewee,
PS Flycatcher, Warbling Vireo and W Tanager.  That's it.
Brian

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n422.3 ---------------

From: Htcotter@aol.com
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Today on the Bay
Date: Wed, 12 Apr 2000 13:28:50 EDT

Just to alert everyone that Lesser Yellowlegs is a big SF rarity and the
first in many years. I do not have it on my SF list and I am sure alot of
others dont either.

Also Solitaire is also a great bird and the first since April 98 on Mount
Davidson in the 98 BY. Nice one Brian.

Hugh

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n422 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n424 --------------

    001 - Rferrick@aol.com          - GGP-North Lake (3:30-4:30PM)
    002 - Jay Withgott <withgott@pa - 4/15

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n424.1 ---------------

From: Rferrick@aol.com
Subject: GGP-North Lake (3:30-4:30PM)
Date: Fri, 14 Apr 2000 22:29:46 EDT

The SE corner of North Lake was fairly active this afternoon, highlights:

Warbling Vireo - 1
Wilson's Warbler - 1
OC Warbler - 1
Cedar Waxwing - 20+

Rich

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n424.2 ---------------

From: Jay Withgott <withgott@pacbell.net>
Subject: 4/15
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 19:41:56 +0000

Had 13 shorebird species today, mostly at Candlestick, where there were
roughly 4000 WESTERN SANDPIPERS & 500 DUNLIN in Harney Cove (is that the
name of it?) -- the mudflats at the SF/San Mateo Co. line.  1
SEMIPALMATED PLOVER at Candlestick Rec Area.  1 MERLIN flying from
Double Rock to the Stadium.  1 PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER near the McLaren
Park amphitheater.  CASPIAN TERNS seemingly everywhere.

A good mammal day too -- two daylight-active STRIPED SKUNKS and a
road-killed OPPOSSUM at Mt. Davidson, and two SEA OTTERS off the coast
just south of Ocean Beach at Sloat.  How often are sea otters seen
within the city limits?

Jay

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n424 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n425 --------------

    001 - Rferrick@aol.com          - Saturday GGP/Presidio
    002 - Jennifer <jmatkin@pacbell - McLaren Park

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n425.1 ---------------

From: Rferrick@aol.com
Subject: Saturday GGP/Presidio
Date: Sat, 15 Apr 2000 23:09:09 EDT

In GGP today (12-2), there was a Lincoln's Sparrow in with a GC/WC Sparrow
flock behind the Buffalo Paddock (NW corner). There were also 100+ Cedar
Waxwings in the area and 2 Wilson's Warblers at North Lake. Middle Lake was
quiet.

In the Presidio (2-4), at Kobbe/Upton there were 2 male and 1 female Hooded
Oriole. A M+F Ca. Quail were on the lawn at 1337 Pope Street. A
yellow-shafted Northern Flicker was in the area as well.

At the Morton Street Soccer Field, there was another Wilson's Warbler, an OC
Warbler, 2 male Hooded Orioles, and a large group of Purple Finches in the
willows.

Rich

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n425.2 ---------------

From: Jennifer <jmatkin@pacbell.net>
Subject: McLaren Park
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 10:46:21 -0700

Hi Birders,

I spent an hour at McLaren Park this morning near the duck pond.  In
between episodes of drizzle and through bleary eyes (thanks to
pollen-induced sneezing attacks), I saw and heard a few birds of local
interest:

White-throated swifts (10)
Northern rough-winged swallows (5) (and Barns)
American goldfinch
Purple finches (singing)
Bewick's wren (singing)
Wilson's warbler (singing)
Western tanager
Pacific-slope flycatchers (2-calling)
Gadwall (male still here, but in upper pond)
Great Blue heron
mallard-type ducklings
Orange-shafted flicker  :)

--
Jennifer Matkin
San Francisco, CA
superhawk@pacbell.net

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n425 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n426 --------------

    001 - "Josiah Clark" <sunbitter - Otter be shorebirds
    002 - Jay Withgott <withgott@pa - Ross' Goose; big day report coming
    003 - Jay Withgott <withgott@pa - S.F. Big Day results

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n426.1 ---------------

From: "Josiah Clark" <sunbittern@hotmail.com>
Subject: Otter be shorebirds
Date: Sun, 16 Apr 2000 23:08:57 PDT

  All it takes is one day to miss the first big passerine movement...nice
going Kevin.

    All those shorebirds moving, and almost nothing at Crissy? (give it a
few years perhaps)
   Otters are damn rare in SF. Ive personally never heard of them in the
city, but I do know its a rare feat for them to go beyond the coastal rocky
shallows where they can get food.(only 1 Farrallon record) This species also
relies on kelp beds for sleeping. Generally Ano Nuevo is the furthest N
point where they're common, but Ive seen them off Pescadero a few times.
  Nice Going Jay

        Mark
   To your question about whether or not Gray Whales feed in the BAy, I
believe the answer is yes. Unlike other baleen whales which go midwater
after krill and such, Greys feed off crusteans they filter out of mouthfulls
of mud.

______________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free Email at http://www.hotmail.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n426.2 ---------------

From: Jay Withgott <withgott@pacbell.net>
Subject: Ross' Goose; big day report coming
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 09:52:38 +0000

Our big day team of Kevin McKereghan, Rich Ferrick, Paul Saraceni, and I
had 134 species yesterday to set a new big day record for San
Francisco.  I'll post a full account of the big day later today, but
wanted to post our best bird now, for those of you who didn't hear about
it on the phone alert.....

ROSS' GOOSE at Spreckels Lake in Golden Gate Park.

J

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n426.3 ---------------

From: Jay Withgott <withgott@pacbell.net>
Subject: S.F. Big Day results
Date: Mon, 17 Apr 2000 15:04:27 +0000

SF Birders --  In the spirit of Mark Eaton's account of last year's
record-setting S.F. big day attempt (see his webpage), I have posted
below a writeup of our team's big day adventure yesterday, which
resulted w/ Kevin, Paul, Rich, and I getting a new-record 134 species
and some very wet clothes.  For those of you who want the short version,
best birds were Ross' Goose at Spreckels Lake, Bonaparte's Gull from
Battery East, Thayer's Gull at India Basin, Heerman's Gull at Ocean
Beach, W. Screech Owl at Inspiration Pt., Olive-sided Flyc., Pac-Slope
Flyc., Cassin's Vireo, & W. Tanager newly arrived, Am. Pipit at Ft.
Funston, and continuing presence of Wood Duck, Eurasian Wigeon,
Red-breasted Nuthatch, & Black-and-white Warbler.  For those who want
the LONG version, read on..........

San Francisco Big Day,  16 April 2000

When spring migration starts to build up steam, new species arrive, the
morning air fills with song ... and the adrenaline of those maniacal few
birders - the big-day fanatics - starts to flow uncontrollably.  Just as
migrant songbirds experience a kind of "migratory restlessness," so too
does this sub-subculture of birders.  And so it was that our intrepid
band of frenzied big-dayers - Kevin McKereghan, Rich Ferrick, Paul
Saraceni, and I, Jay Withgott - set out on April 16th 2000 to set a new
big day record for the city and county of San Francisco.

In the days leading up to the event, we'd feared the worst.  The 16th
seemed specially selected by meteorologists to have the heaviest rain
and wind of any day in April.  We feared we'd have weather as bad as did
last year's record-setting team of Alan Hopkins, Hugh Cotter, Luke Cole,
and Mark Eaton, when they tallied 127 species (126 by ABA rules) in a
howling gale.  We were afraid that after they'd told us their own record
was eminently beatable, the weather would prevent our band of young
upstarts from hitting an easy target.  And since we'd invited each of
them on the day, we wouldn't be able to keep it secret - they would KNOW
we had failed!  (Interestingly, all four of last year's team declined
our invitations, each dubiously claiming to be busy or out of town.
Perhaps they knew the all-powerful weather gods save their best storms
for big day dates?) ... Alas, our weather wasn't as bad as we'd feared
(though it was bad).

Our guerrilla birding team met at Inspiration Point at 5:00 a.m., where
the day started auspiciously with a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL answering our
tape.  (This being possibly the only individual in the city, we would
not normally tape such a bird, but big days are in no sense normal.)

Failing to hear Great Horned Owl elsewhere in the Presidio, we drive
down to North Lake Merced, where we transfer our gear into Rich's
Birdmobile and walk down to the wooden bridge, hoping for Barn Owl and
rails.  Two SORAS answer our tape, a NIGHT-HERON barks, and bird song is
building to a crescendo as dawn breaks (well, actually, we never saw any
sun rise, but the hue of the rainclouds did get perceptibly lighter.)

Over at the boathouse we find Dan Murphy's WOOD DUCK, still trying
desperately to impress the genetic mutant monster mallard it's so taken
with.  Quite embarrassing.  ("You're a beautiful male wood duck - get a
life!" we say.)  A CASPIAN TERN reviews the sorry situation from the
air.  (Which sorry situation - the wood duck or us?)  At last, our dawn
hit-list prayers are answered as a VIRGINIA RAIL responds to our tape.
And then we're off.

At Fort Funston we set up shop on the platform and scan a sea full of
birds.  Isn't long before the multiple-scope approach turns up all three
SCOTER species, all three LOON species, plus GUILLEMOT, MURRE, and
GLAUCOUS-WINGED GULL (though these last three are "dirty birds" - seen
by only some of us.)  (For those who for some bizarre reason are NOT big
day fanatics, ABA rules mandate that 95% of all species seen on the day
be seen by all observers, making it crucial that every effort be made to
get everyone to see each new species).  As we had walked out to the
platform, I'd asked the group whether Pipits might be a possibility.
"No, look at all these dogs," was the consensus answer.  Nonetheless, to
our great delight, an AMERICAN PIPIT flew over the platform giving a
flight call as we scoped the sea.  We're doing well - some key birds
under our belt, and not even 7:00 yet.

Next stop:  Mt. Davidson.  The rain has held off, but boy, is it windy
at the top!  Our fears of getting rained out are superceded by
apprehensions of getting blown away.  Indeed, birds are quiet here.  We
see 5 BAND-TAILED PIGEONS in Paul's famed "Merlin Tree" and finally hear
a SPOTTED TOWHEE, but not much else.  And Brian Fitch's Townsend's
Solitaire is nowhere to be found.

Off to Golden Gate Park, where we make a tour of the lakes before the
onset of Sunday traffic.  The EURASIAN WIGEON appears right in front of
us at Stow Lake, and a HAIRY WOODPECKER pipes up a top o' the mornin' to
us.  We think about calling Harry Fuller immediately on Kevin's cell
phone to alert him of the woodpecker, but we need to keep moving.
GADWALL at Elk Glen Lake, RING-NECKS at Mallard Lake, and then quick
hikes at Middle and North Lakes, where there is distressingly little
passerine activity.

We almost didn't stop at Spreckels Lake.  It had been recently drained,
and none of us expected it to provide anything we wouldn't get
elsewhere.  But one old big-day adage is to always hit more obscure
little waterspots than you think necessary, and so we stopped.  Good
thing.  There on the far shore sat a ROSS' GOOSE, the first sighting of
this species by anyone in the city this year.  (Hmmm, this millennium,
actually!).  We call it in to the rare bird alert, and are off to the
Presidio.

Out first stop is Kobbe & Upton, which we'd been awaiting with baited
breath.  Kevin had good passerine diversity here on his scouting, and
we're sorely in need of some migrants.  A HOODED ORIOLE greets us as we
step from the car, and they remain conspicuous throughout our visit
here.  The place is somewhat birdy, but the wind is keeping things
quiet, it starts drizzling, and we get the feeling that many migrants
have moved on during the night.  We add PURPLE FINCH, PAC-SLOPE
FLYCATCHER, HERMIT THRUSH, TURKEY VULTURE, AMERICAN GOLDFINCH, BROWN
CREEPER, & RC KINGLET, but miss a few others we'd hoped for.

It's 9:45 and we're ahead of schedule (what schedule there was, anyway,
as we're mostly just winging it).  At the Wrentit Overlook we have no
Red-necked Grebe and, needless to say, ha-ha, no Wrentit, but pick up a
smattering of SHOREBIRDS on the rocks below, and complete the mandatory
sweep of the CORMORANTS.

Battery East is dead, migrant-wise, but our second futile attempt for
Red-necked Grebe results in Rich finding a BONAPARTE'S GULL.  One rule
of big days, I believe, should be to always have at least one guy whose
eyes are NOT glued to a telescope.  That person always seems to find the
good stuff.  Nice eyes, Rich!  We gotta go.

The Crissy Field lagoon gives us one LESSER SCAUP among the GREATERS,
and a GOLDENEYE.  No time for the beach, though undoubtedly the
legendary Red-necked Grebe is waiting there right offshore.

Back for another attempt at some migrants, to Tennessee Hollow, where
Kevin had OLIVE-SIDED FLYCATCHER two days before.  Sure enough, we hear
"Quick, three beers!" when we step out of the car.  Unfortunately, what
we need is four coffees.  We pull out SISKIN and LESSER GOLDFINCH but
not much else.

Since we're ahead of "schedule," I suggest giving the winter's
RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH at El Polin Spring a try.  It hasn't been seen in
weeks, but surely it's worth a minute or two of taping.  The group
happily agrees, unaware of what would result - the catastrophic event
that would taint our big day and scar us emotionally for years to come,
the infamous "Nuthatch Incident."

At El Polin, Kevin lets loose the tape.  After several minutes of no
response, we're about to leave when I hear it - a distant tinny "waank,
waank, waank..."  The other three strain their ears, and there's
momentary confusion when Paul announces that it must be the beeping of a
truck backing up.  But another taping sequence brings it closer, and we
have a prime addition to our list.  What's more, the bird flies to a
perch right above our heads and continuously calls, "waank, waank,
waank..."  Nice views, but after a while it gets disturbing.  The thing
won't move, it won't stop.  We try to leave, and it's still crying.  We
decide that it's the only bird of its kind in the city, it's been
horribly lonely for months, and now it thinks there's another nuthatch
here - perhaps a mate! - if it could only find it among these four big
ugly weirdos.  Our collective guilt lays heavy on our shoulders as we
slump into the car and drive off, the poor deceived bird still crying on
its perch, the haunting "waank, waank, waank..." reverberating through
our consciences.

All except mine.  Shameless, I learn the wrong lesson from this sorry
episode, and immediately suggest that, hey, if this worked, let's go try
to get that Black-and-White Warbler at Mountain Lake!  Big day
fanaticism is apparently stronger than moral integrity, because the
group agrees and we head to Mountain Lake Park.  The Black-and-White,
like the Nuthatch, had not been reported for weeks, and is tough enough
it might need to be taped in.  But we're soon glad we came, as there's
decent passerine activity in the willows and flowering eucalypts ...
including the BLACK-AND-WHITE WARBLER, which comes in and gives us good
views.  Even sings for us.  (This bird is a male; are we recollecting
properly that the bird was originally reported as a female??).  We scour
the flocks and Rich finds a BLACK-THROATED GRAY WARBLER (dirty bird;
only two of us see it), and we also add HUTTON'S VIREO.

Quick stops at the Lobos Dunes Overlook and Battery Caulfield area get
us a pair of CALIFORNIA QUAIL.  As we drive west toward the Cliff House,
we count up the list and find we're at 106.  It's 12:15.

We scope the sea and Seal Rocks from the parking lot at Merrie Way, and
turn up SURFBIRD, OYSTERCATCHER, and a RUDDY TURNSTONE in with the
Blacks.  And we clean up two dirty birds, Guillemot and Murre, putting
us in better shape to beat the 95% rule.  The number of Forster's Terns
and migrating loons is impressive.  We run into a pleasant young British
birder here (who is uncharacteristically mellow and understated for a
Brit birder!) who obviously knows his birds.  He's seen everything here
that we have, plus an immature Heerman's Gull.

We make two stops along Ocean Beach for SNOWY PLOVER.  On the second
stop we get them, and on the first we add WHIMBREL and ... that immature
HEERMAN'S GULL!

So it's down to Lake Merced at 14:00 and 112 species.  Here we complete
our sweep of the SWALLOWS, add EARED and CLARK'S GREBE, and a COOPER'S
HAWK conveniently sitting on the phone line by the roadside (and then
conveniently flying to confirm the ID).  We've now gotten both
accipiters, but still have none of the three falcon species.

Next, to McLaren Park, hoping for a few goodies I'd scouted out at the
pond and amphitheater.  The BEWICK'S WREN is singing away, but we can't
find the Fox Sparrow.  A FLICKER keeps us waiting a while, but finally
adds itself to our list.  From the dense interior of the willows we make
out soft little vireo sounds - apparently a CASSIN'S VIREO - and finally
a few of us see it.  As we're struggling with the vireo chase, Paul
spots a WESTERN TANAGER teed up on a cypress top, its fiery colors
vibrant against the dark cloudy sky.  That sight's enough to put some
new wind in our mid-afternoon sails.  Speaking of wind, the breezes that
suppressed passerines in the morning have died down, but they're now
replaced with rain.  We start to realize that we're all soaked and,
well, pretty darn cold.

And then, the second shameful "Incident" of the day ... Hamstergate.  As
we approach the car, Kevin notices a plastic container by the
trailside.  It contains a pet hamster that someone has recently ditched
here.  The poor cute little thing is still inside, trying to stay dry
and warm.  Ethical dilemmas abound.  Should Kevin rescue it by taking it
home and giving it to his daughter as a pet?  Should we crush it under
our boots in case it's a pregnant female that could make McLaren Park
the epicenter of California's newest noxious invasive species?  Should
we carry it with us and turn it loose in front of the next
Red-shouldered Hawk we see?  Would Rich mind if it escaped in his car
and started nesting in the ventilation system?  We decide to leave it by
the trailside and provide others the joy of wrestling with such
questions.

As we head to Candlestick Park at 16:15 for low tide, we've got 120
species and plenty of time to break the record.  We're feeling good
(although wet and cold).  The mudflats at the San Mateo County line are
alive with thousands of shorebirds, 90% of them WESTERN SANDPIPERS.
Summer-plumaged DUNLIN are mixed in, and several LEAST SANDPIPERS as
well.  (And YES, representatives of each are in S.F. County!)  AVOCETS
and SHORT-BILLED DOWITCHERS raise us to 125, just one species short of
tying the official record.  Casting our scopes over to the rocky shore
to the north, Paul spots #126, BLACK-BELLIED PLOVER.  And I call out
#127, a flyby SNOWY EGRET.  Success is ours.

Up at the Rec Area, we quickly spot the SEMIPALMATED PLOVER I'd scouted
out.  Kevin passes around celebratory robin's eggs candies for #128.
Despite the intensifying rain, we soon find HORNED GREBE and SPOTTED
SANDPIPER through the raindrop spots on our optics, for 130.  And we
eventually make out four Semi Plovers.  We walk north into the grassy
fields where we find the MEADOWLARKS we'd been hoping for, #131.

Double Rock (aka Shopping Cart Bay) is next, and Rich is positively
thrilled with his first visit to this scenic locale.  But skanky spots
can turn up birds, and we pick up GREATER YELLOWLEGS for #132.  We're
still missing Kingfisher and all three falcon species, all of which have
been seen recently in this area.

Yosemite Creek holds no new birds.  The rain and wind leave us chilled
to the bone (especially me, as I've foolishly left my coat at home!).
The spots on our optics have turned into continuous films of water.

We drive north to India Basin, where more shorebirds and gulls await us
on the mudflats.  Including one gull that's a bit funny looking.
Because it's a THAYER'S GULL!  A full adult Thayer's that's stayed a bit
longer down south than its compatriots (obviously waiting just long
enough so it could be a part of our big day list).

It's 18:40 when we arrive at Heron's Head, aiming for SAVANNAH SPARROW
and whatever else we can find.  We get the Savannahs, for #134.  Wet,
sodden, and shivering, we finally acknowledge that our chances of
hitting 140 are, well, dismal.

With little daylight left, we decide to head back to Lake Merced, since
it holds a few new species we still could get, since our cars are there
anyway, and mostly because it means an extended ride in Rich's car,
which has a very effective heater.

Our plans are derailed when Paul spots an apparent Peregrine Falcon
perched atop a building as we're speeding down I-280.  We proceed to
test Rich's driving skills as we lane-switch our way off the freeway,
onto the freeway the other way, back off again, and navigate our way
through a maze of streets in an industrial district, all in the pouring
rain.  And for what?  Alas, not #135, but instead a Red-tail perched in
the most upright pointy-winged posture any us of have ever seen on one
(minimizing surface area to the rain, perhaps??).  A humbling ending to
a glorious day.

We'd set a new record, despite inclement weather, despite a below-par
migration day, and with a number of migrant species not even in yet.
Our record is certainly beatable, especially with better conditions and
more thorough scouting.  Maybe next year we'll give it a try - and
hopefully have as much fun as we did this year!  But now we're going
home to get warm and dry.

Summary of list =   134 species
Species seen by all =   131 species (98%)

Time birding = 05:00 - 19:15
Miles driven = 87 mi.
Miles walked = 2 mi.?
Best bird = Ross' Goose
Detailed itinerary with times available upon request.

Full list is appended below.

rt loon
pac loon
com loon
pb grebe
horned grebe
eared grebe
western grebe
clark's grebe
brown pelican
dc cormorant
brandt's cormorant
pelagic cormorant
gt blue heron
snowy egret
bc night heron
turkey vulture
ross' goose
canada goose
wood duck
mallard
gadwall
eur wigeon
am wigeon
rn duck
gr scaup
les scaup
black scoter
surf scoter
ww scoter
com goldeneye
bufflehead
ruddy duck
ss hawk
cooper's hawk
rs hawk
rt hawk
cal quail
va rail
sora
am coot
bb plover
snowy plover
semi plover
killdeer
black oystercatcher
am avocet
gr yellowlegs
willet
spotted sand
whimbrel
marbled godwit
ruddy turnstone
black turnstone
surfbird
sanderling
western sand
least sand
dunlin
sb dowitcher
bonaparte's gull
mew gull
cal gull
thayer's gull
western gull
gw gull
heerman's gull
caspian tern
forster's tern
com murre
pigeon guillemot
rock dove
bt pigeon
mourning dove
w screech owl
anna's hummer
allen's hummer
downy woodp
hairy woodp
nor flicker
olive-sd flycatcher
pac-slope flycatcher
black phoebe
cassin's vireo
hutton's vireo
w scrub jay
am crow
com raven
tree swallow
vg swallow
rw swallow
bank swallow
barn swallow
cliff swallow
cb chickadee
bushtit
rb nuthatch
pygmy nuthatch
br creeper
bewick's wren
winter wren
marsh wren
rc kinglet
hermit thrush
am robin
nor mockingbird
eur starling
am pipit
cedar waxwing
orange-cr warbler
yellow-r warbler
bt gray warbler
townsend's warbler
black & white warbler
com yellowthroat
wilson's warbler
western tanager
spotted towhee
cal towhee
savannah sp
song sp
white-cr sp
golden-cr sp
de junco
rw blackbird
w meadowlark
brewer's blackbird
bh cowbird
hooded oriole
purple finch
house finch
pine siskin
les goldfinch
am goldfinch
house sp

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n426 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n427 --------------

    001 - Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com - Re: [SFBirds] Ross' Goose; big day
report coming
    002 - Jay Withgott <withgott@pa - Re: SF big day records

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n427.1 ---------------

From: Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Ross' Goose; big day report coming
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 10:50:19 +0000

Good going guys on the big day! Did you follow ABA rules? If so you
should post your list on Don Roberson's California Birds page on Joe
Morlans web site.

Alan

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n427.2 ---------------

From: Jay Withgott <withgott@pacbell.net>
Subject: Re: SF big day records
Date: Tue, 18 Apr 2000 12:26:24 +0000

Alan Hopkins wrote:
> Good going guys on the big day! Did you follow ABA rules? If so you
> should post your list on Don Roberson's California Birds page on Joe
> Morlans web site.

Yes, we followed ABA rules, and plan to send a (much-condensed!!)
version of our report to ABA at year's end.  But yes, we would love to
post something on the webpages you mention.  My personal suggestion
would be to have a site somewhere that contained accounts of ALL S.F.
big day attempts, starting with Mark Eaton's of last year's, continuing
with ours this year, and adding any future attempts, so we can have a
fun and informative (well, OK, maybe just fun) historical record.  It
would be great to include results from all the GGAS Bird Blitzes from
past years here too.  And any other similar such events, e.g. Pt Reyes
birdathons, GGAS rare-bird roundups, etc.  Maybe it could be included
with the SF Big-Year data, too.  I think Luke early this year suggested
starting a month-by-month listing of SF big day totals, and that would
be a good addition as well.   On Mark Eaton's page, Joe Morlan's, Don
Roberson's, GGAS's, whatever -- with links, I guess it doesn't much
matter.  I'm not a web designer (& don't even have a page yet), so if
anyone wants to pick this up & run with it, that would be great!    -
Jay

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n427 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n428 --------------

    001 - "Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@th - Re: [SFBirds] 4/15
    002 - Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com - Re: [SFBirds] 4/15
    003 - jmatkin@pacbell.net       - RE: Re: [SFBirds] 4/15
    004 - Gasstation@aol.com        - Re: [SFBirds] 4/15
    005 - David Armstrong <darmstro - Pt. Reyes Bird Blitz
    006 - Jay Withgott <withgott@pa - Shearwaters!
    007 - "Stephen J. Davies" <sdav - RE: [SFBirds] 4/15
    008 - "Josiah Clark" <sunbitter - RE: Re: [SFBirds] 4/15
    009 - Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com - Re: [SFBirdsLet's  ground squirrels
    010 - Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com - Re: [SFBirds] 4/15

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n428.1 ---------------

From: "Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@thrownet.com>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] 4/15
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 12:35:25 -0700

Jay Withgott wrote:
>
> A good mammal day too -- two daylight-active STRIPED SKUNKS and a
> road-killed OPPOSSUM at Mt. Davidson, and two SEA OTTERS off the coast
> just south of Ocean Beach at Sloat.  How often are sea otters seen
> within the city limits?

I've had but one; I can research the date if you'd like.

Mark

--
Mark Eaton                                             mailto:eaton@best.com
SFBirds Web Page                                  http://www.best.com/~eaton
Golden Gate Audubon Web Page                http://goldengate.ca.audubon.org

"If two people love each other there can be no happy end to it."
 - Ernest Hemingway

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n428.2 ---------------

From: Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] 4/15
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 13:48:22 +0000

The Ross' Goose was still at Sprecals Lake today.

I've seen two Sea Otters in SF, one during the big year, may be Mark was
there, and one about ten years ago with Mary Louise Rosegay.

Alan

Mark W. Eaton wrote:
>
> Jay Withgott wrote:
> >
> > A good mammal day too -- two daylight-active STRIPED SKUNKS and a
> > road-killed OPPOSSUM at Mt. Davidson, and two SEA OTTERS off the coast
> > just south of Ocean Beach at Sloat.  How often are sea otters seen
> > within the city limits?
>
> I've had but one; I can research the date if you'd like.
>
> Mark
>
> --
> Mark Eaton
mailto:eaton@best.com
> SFBirds Web Page
http://www.best.com/~eaton
> Golden Gate Audubon Web Page
http://goldengate.ca.audubon.org
>
> "If two people love each other there can be no happy end to it."
>  - Ernest Hemingway

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n428.3 ---------------

From: jmatkin@pacbell.net
Subject: RE: Re: [SFBirds] 4/15
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 13:56:16 -0700

I've only seen sea otters in the City twice, both times off of
the Cliff House - once about 5 or 6 years ago and once more recently
(2 years?). Not too common. Nice sighting.

Jennifer

Jennifer Matkin
San Francisco, CA
jmatkin@pacbell.net

--- Original Message ---
"Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@thrownet.com> Wrote on
Wed, 19 Apr 2000 12:35:25 -0700
 ------------------
Jay Withgott wrote:
>
> A good mammal day too -- two daylight-active STRIPED SKUNKS
and a
> road-killed OPPOSSUM at Mt. Davidson, and two SEA OTTERS off
the coast
> just south of Ocean Beach at Sloat.  How often are sea otters
seen
> within the city limits?

I've had but one; I can research the date if you'd like.

Mark

-----
Sent using MailStart.com ( http://MailStart.Com/welcome.html )
The FREE way to access your mailbox via any web browser, anywhere!

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n428.4 ---------------

From: Gasstation@aol.com
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] 4/15
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 17:09:11 EDT

In a message dated 4/19/00 13:57:52, ash@sfo.com writes:

<< I've seen two Sea Otters in SF, one during the big year, may be Mark was
there, and one about ten years ago with Mary Louise Rosegay.
 >>

I think I ve had Sea Otter 3 times, twice at the Cliff House and once off of
Ft. Funston, the latter I had this winter.

Kevin McKereghan
Gasstation@aol.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n428.5 ---------------

From: David Armstrong <darmstrong99@yahoo.com>
Subject: Pt. Reyes Bird Blitz
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 20:36:27 -0700 (PDT)

I am going up to Pt. Reyes Saturday for the Bird
Blitz, which starts at 8 a.m. If anyone would like to
join me I am driving and we could meet at the GG
bridge at 6:45 a.m. I have room for up to 3 others so
please let me know if you'd like to come along.
David Armstrong

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--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n428.6 ---------------

From: Jay Withgott <withgott@pacbell.net>
Subject: Shearwaters!
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 21:28:38 +0000

SFBirders -

After David Armstrong and I had a great day at Mines Road and then Palo
Alto, I dropped David off at his place, and then stopped at the Cliff
House "on my way" home.  There to greet me were a number of shearwaters,
some quite close off shore, in feeding frenzies w/ pelicans, murres, &
gulls.  Because it was sunset and I was looking into the sun I couldn't
make out colors, but they seemed to all be Sooties -- all dark, with a
few in favorable light & distance showing some light under the wings.
Was very difficult to get an accurate count, with multiple groups flying
and landing and moving around quite a bit, but I'm guessing between 60
and 200 in total.  I plan to head out there tomorrow morning.

Jay

PS -- also a Tattler at Seal Rocks; Black Skimmer at Charleston Slough
in Palo Alto; Lawrence's Goldfinch, MacGillivray's Warbler, Roadrunner,
Lewis's Woodpecker, Rufous Hummer, AT Fly, BH Grosbeak, etc. at Mines
Road.

PPS -- Does anyone know if Costa's Hummingbirds are found on Mines Road,
or only on Del Puerto Road, and if so, where on Del Puerto Road?  And
where else regularly?  Thanks.

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n428.7 ---------------

From: "Stephen J. Davies" <sdavies@cgl.ucsf.EDU>
Subject: RE: [SFBirds] 4/15
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 22:02:22 -0700

I had an otter off the cliff house a couple of months ago (might have been
my last time out in the city :() - I'll look through my notes for the exact
date.  I also remember seeing one off Fort Funston some time ago - probably
in late '98, shortly after we moved here.  Could dig through my notes for
the date on that one too - I'll get back to you.
Best
Stephen

-----Original Message-----
From:   Gasstation@aol.com [SMTP:Gasstation@aol.com]
Sent:   Wednesday, April 19, 2000 2:09 PM
To:     sfbirds@lists.best.com
Subject:        Re: [SFBirds] 4/15

In a message dated 4/19/00 13:57:52, ash@sfo.com writes:

<< I've seen two Sea Otters in SF, one during the big year, may be Mark was
there, and one about ten years ago with Mary Louise Rosegay.
 >>

I think I ve had Sea Otter 3 times, twice at the Cliff House and once off
of
Ft. Funston, the latter I had this winter.

Kevin McKereghan
Gasstation@aol.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n428.8 ---------------

From: "Josiah Clark" <sunbittern@hotmail.com>
Subject: RE: Re: [SFBirds] 4/15
Date: Wed, 19 Apr 2000 22:23:23 PDT

    On the Mammal tip, theres a new one for the Presidio, at the Native
plant Nursery, Califoria Ground Squirrell. Their nearest population is at
the Cliff House. Probably a dispersing male, what a runner!  (Lets hope they
dont trap this guy out for fear he'll undermine structures. Something done
in much of the state)
     ALso had a few Harbor Porpoises off Baker yesterday. 10 Whimbrel, 25
Sanderlings, 2 Willets and 2 Potential Breeder Blk Oystercatchers were on
the rocks off Baker as well.
  On the bird note, the Ross's Goose is still at Spreckles (how bout some
shorebirds on those nice mudflats!) 5 Species of Finches were feeding on
willow buds below the Lobos overlook, Wilsons singing there (check out the
massive fallen Euc!), Pac slope Fly where Kobbe and Upton meet Robb Hill, a
female quail and Hooded Oriole round there too.
   Also found an active Winter Wren nest in a small dead Euc trunk. (Quite
different from their native nesting locals) I know folks have questioned
wheather this species actually nests in the summer or just sings all summer.
(whats their confirmned status?) The nest was by the back side of the Pr
trust Maintenence yard, just between WW2 monument and Kobbe and Upton. There
appears to be a RS Hawk nest by the Bay overlook below Robb Hill. Tons of
Waxwings there as well.
   Lots of activity off OB this AM, mostly loons and corms, flying and in
feeding flocks. Best were PI Guillemot and Com Murre.
   Josiah

>
>
>-----
>Sent using MailStart.com ( http://MailStart.Com/welcome.html )
>The FREE way to access your mailbox via any web browser, anywhere!
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--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n428.9 ---------------

From: Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com>
Subject: Re: [SFBirdsLet's  ground squirrels
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 08:24:25 +0000

Let's hope the ground squirrels do not become established in the
Presidio! A 1937 study published in The California Quail found that
ground squirrels were the greatest cause in quail nest failure. Ground
squirrels caused 28 nest failures, cats 5, coyote 5, skunk 4, bobcat 3,
scrub jay 3, and gray fox 2.

Alan

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n428.10 ---------------

From: Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] 4/15
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 09:07:03 +0000

For those of you who are not intrested in conservation issues deleat now
(hopefully GGAS will have its conservation list-serv up soon).

In the April 18, SF Independant there is a commentary by Nathan Winograd
of the SF SPCA called “Don't blame feral cats” It will bristle your
feathers.

Alan

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n428 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n429 --------------

    001 - Jay Withgott <withgott@pa -
    002 - Stephen Davies <sdavies@c - Re: [SFBirds]Thurs am
    003 - David Armstrong <darmstro - bird news
    004 - "Josiah Clark" <sunbitter - Re: [SFBirds] Re: [SFBirdsLet's ground
squirrels
    005 - "Josiah Clark" <sunbitter - Barn Owl
    006 - Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com - Re: [SFBirds] Re: [SFBirdsLet's ground
squirrels
    007 - "Josiah Clark" <sunbitter - Re: [SFBirds] Re: [SFBirdsLet's ground
squirrels

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n429.1 ---------------

From: Jay Withgott <withgott@pacbell.net>
Subject:
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 11:34:27 +0000

This morning (4/20), Sooty Shearwater flocks of last night had largely
dispersed; I saw only three individuals (or the same one 3 times).  Lots
of murres.  ... Green Heron (my 1st of year, finally!) at L Merced south
of concrete bridge.

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n429.2 ---------------

From: Stephen Davies <sdavies@cgl.ucsf.edu>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds]Thurs am
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 13:35:38 -0700 (PDT)

Driving from UCSF back to the VA, traffic was slow enough along JFK for
me to see that the Ross's was still on Sprekels, swimming out in the
middle of the lake. Pine Siskins were calling overhead at UC, behind
Dental School on Kirkham.  Several Wilson's Warblers in song along Chain
of Lakes.
Adios
Stephen

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n429.3 ---------------

From: David Armstrong <darmstrong99@yahoo.com>
Subject: bird news
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 15:59:15 -0700 (PDT)

The Chronicle/Examiner, whatever their flaws as
purveyors of news, have had two recent items of
interest on birds: one on snowy plovers and one on
common murre. Links to the on-line articles are below
if anyone is interested.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/chronicle/archive/2000/04/20/MN25319.DTL

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/examiner/archive/2000/04/16/METRO1599.dtl

__________________________________________________
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Send online invitations with Yahoo! Invites.
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--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n429.4 ---------------

From: "Josiah Clark" <sunbittern@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Re: [SFBirdsLet's ground squirrels
Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 20:34:06 PDT

  Hey all

Crissy had 4 Semip Plovers and a Western Sandpiper today. THe sandpiper
spent some of its time with Killdeer in the Swale, just W of the E entrace.
Lots of terns and the usuals too.
   There should be a decsent article on Crissy in the Examiner on Fri. Its
advertising a bird walk Im leading Sat AM, starting at 9 from the
west parking lot. I would really appreciate any co-leaders, especially with
scopes as I think it could be a big turnout.

  Alan

   Hey Alan.
   are also native wildlife, with threats to them very similar to the ones
the Quail have. It is unfortunate Ground Squirells predate Quail, but we do
not discourage Steller's Jays because they can eat Quail, or Kestrels
because they eat Bank Swallows..
   It should also be stated that entire floristic compositions are dependent
on these "eco-system engineers" which bring fresh soil to the surface while
adding nutrients beneath.
  Josiah

>From: Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com>
>To: sfbirds@lists.best.com
>Subject: [SFBirds] Re: [SFBirdsLet's  ground squirrels
>Date: Thu, 20 Apr 2000 08:24:25 +0000
>
>Let's hope the ground squirrels do not become established in the
>Presidio! A 1937 study published in The California Quail found that
>ground squirrels were the greatest cause in quail nest failure. Ground
>squirrels caused 28 nest failures, cats 5, coyote 5, skunk 4, bobcat 3,
>scrub jay 3, and gray fox 2.
>
>Alan

________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n429.5 ---------------

From: "Josiah Clark" <sunbittern@hotmail.com>
Subject: Barn Owl
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 00:05:00 PDT

  Hey all
  just had a Barn Owl from Turtle Hill while out on a little nightbike ride.
It was flying along the ridgeline siliently, below some well lit houses

  josiah
________________________________________________________________________
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--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n429.6 ---------------

From: Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Re: [SFBirdsLet's ground squirrels
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 07:43:23 +0000

Josiah,

I am not suggesting that the squirrels be rounded-up, however caution
must be taken. We should not assume that the checks and balances in a
truly unspoiled ecosystem will work in the Presidio. The ground
squirrels at the Cliff House would probably parish if they were not
given massive hand-outs. As you are aware I am opposed to feeding
wildlife in the parks. The jays would be far less a problem if they
populations were not kept unnaturally high by human feeding.

I have seen plenty of pristine habitats without ground squirrels
inhabiting them. On the other hand many of the places I see squirrels
are frequently highly disturbed and degraded habitats.

 While, as you state “ that entire floristic compositions are dependent
on these "eco-system engineers" which bring fresh soil to the surface
while adding nutrients beneath.” Fortunately San Francisco is blessed
with an abundance of moles and gophers which likely fill this role.

Alan

Josiah Clark wrote:
>
>
>
>    Hey Alan.
>    are also native wildlife, with threats to them very similar to the ones
> the Quail have. It is unfortunate Ground Squirells predate Quail, but we
do
> not discourage Steller's Jays because they can eat Quail, or Kestrels
> because they eat Bank Swallows..
>    It should also be stated that entire floristic compositions are
dependent
> on these "eco-system engineers" which bring fresh soil to the surface
while
> adding nutrients beneath.
>   Josiah

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n429.7 ---------------

From: "Josiah Clark" <sunbittern@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Re: [SFBirdsLet's ground squirrels
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 11:30:37 PDT

  Sorry for those of you with multiple copies of this. Initially I did not
realize everyone would need the detailed locals.

Turtle Hill is the Hill one sees when looking S from the 9th ave and Lincoln
intersection at the park. (I dont know the streets)It is a mile or so west
from the UCSF Hill above stanyon. It appears as a round, churt covered hill
with a couple conifer trees on it. I believe it is listed as one of the
cities "significant natural areas" I think it may have migrant potential in
low fog days.
    The area where I was, was the large rock outcropping just SE from Turtle
Hill itself. It should also be noted that a friend, Andrew Scavullo pointed
out the bird to me as it was flying in from the NW. Friends Ivan Samuels and
Chris Kuntzch (all good birders) were also there to see it as well.

Mike:
   Lovers Lane is at the bottom of the Tenessee Hollow Watershed, just
toward Crissy Field from El Pollin Springs, which is below Inspiration
Point.

   Josiah
________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n429 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n430 --------------

    001 - Rferrick@aol.com          - Friday AM
    002 - "Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@be - Josiah outdoes us all...
    003 - David Armstrong <darmstro - Re: [SFBirds] Friday AM
    004 - "David Nelson" <david@mpa - Fw: Birding
    005 - "David Nelson" <david@mpa - Fw: [SFBirds] Fw: Birding
    006 - "David Nelson" <david@mpa - Re: Fw: [SFBirds] Fw: Birding

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n430.1 ---------------

From: Rferrick@aol.com
Subject: Friday AM
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 16:11:47 EDT

Checked Kobbe/Upton this morning, there was an Olive-Sided Flycatcher (quite
vocal) and at least 2 Hooded Orioles in the area.

Stopped at Glen Canyon Park as well, quite a lot of activity in the willows
along the streambed, of note:

Stellar's Jay
Nashville Warbler - singing
Hutton's Vireo
2-3 Wilson's Warblers
OC Warbler

Rich

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n430.2 ---------------

From: "Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@best.com>
Subject: Josiah outdoes us all...
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 13:50:02 -0700

...he's pictured on the _front page_ of today's SF Examiner.  I'll refrain
from suggesting it was a slow news day. :-)

If you pick up the paper, there are two very depressing letters in the
editorial section from folks unhappy with the recent Fort Funston closure.

Also, the GGAS Conservation mailing list should turn on this weekend, so
we'll have an opportunity to leave this list to birding to post conservation
issues on a separate list.

Mark
--
Mark Eaton                                             mailto:eaton@best.com
SFBirds Web Page                                  http://www.best.com/~eaton
Golden Gate Audubon Web Page                http://goldengate.ca.audubon.org

"If two people love each other there can be no happy end to it."
 - Ernest Hemingway

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n430.3 ---------------

From: David Armstrong <darmstrong99@yahoo.com>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] Friday AM
Date: Fri, 21 Apr 2000 14:46:59 -0700 (PDT)

Missed your Olive-sided Flycatcher at Kobbe/Upton --
not much around when I was there at about 10.
Had waxwings and a spotted towhee at Lick Mountain in
GGP, not much else

--- Rferrick@aol.com wrote:
> Checked Kobbe/Upton this morning, there was an
> Olive-Sided Flycatcher (quite
> vocal) and at least 2 Hooded Orioles in the area.
>
> Stopped at Glen Canyon Park as well, quite a lot of
> activity in the willows
> along the streambed, of note:
>
> Stellar's Jay
> Nashville Warbler - singing
> Hutton's Vireo
> 2-3 Wilson's Warblers
> OC Warbler
>
> Rich
>

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Send online invitations with Yahoo! Invites.
http://invites.yahoo.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n430.4 ---------------

From: "David Nelson" <david@mpadesign.com>
Subject: Fw: Birding
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 11:38:03 -0700

----- Original Message -----
From: David Nelson <david@mpadesign.com>
To: sf birds <sfbirds@lists.best.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2000 11:34 AM
Subject: Fw: Birding

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: David Nelson <david@mpadesign.com>
> To: sf birds <sfbirds@lists.best.com>
> Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2000 10:57 AM
> Subject: Birding
>
>
> > Greetings Birders,
> >
> > During a couple quick stops this morning I had:
> >
> > Kobbe-Upton:
> >
> > Olive-sided Flycatcher singing
> > Winter Wren singing
> > Hoode Oriole 1
> >
> > John McClaren Park:
> >
> > lagoon and amphitheater:
> >
> > Red-shouldered Hawk
> > Wilson's Warbler singing
> > Nashville Warbler
> > Orange-crowned Warbler (6+)
> > Yellow-rumped Warbler (3+)
> > Pacific-sloped Flycatcher calling (2)
> > possible Rufous Hummingbird male SW of lake
> > Allen's Hum.
> >
> > upper reservior:
> >
> > Gadwall
> >
> > Too bad about the vegetative carnage near the amphitheater!
> >
> > David W. Nelson
> >
>

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n430.5 ---------------

From: "David Nelson" <david@mpadesign.com>
Subject: Fw: [SFBirds] Fw: Birding
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 12:44:52 -0700

----- Original Message -----
From: David Nelson <david@mpadesign.com>
To: <sfbirds@lists.best.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2000 11:38 AM
Subject: [SFBirds] Fw: Birding

>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: David Nelson <david@mpadesign.com>
> To: sf birds <sfbirds@lists.best.com>
> Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2000 11:34 AM
> Subject: Fw: Birding
>
>
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: David Nelson <david@mpadesign.com>
> > To: sf birds <sfbirds@lists.best.com>
> > Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2000 10:57 AM
> > Subject: Birding
> >
> >
> > > Greetings Birders,
> > >
> > > During a couple quick stops this morning I had:
> > >
> > > Kobbe-Upton:
> > >
> > > Olive-sided Flycatcher singing
> > > Winter Wren singing
> > > Hoode Oriole 1
> > >
> > > John McClaren Park:
> > >
> > > lagoon and amphitheater:
> > >
> > > Red-shouldered Hawk
> > > Wilson's Warbler singing
> > > Nashville Warbler
> > > Orange-crowned Warbler (6+)
> > > Yellow-rumped Warbler (3+)
> > > Pacific-sloped Flycatcher calling (2)
> > > possible Rufous Hummingbird male SW of lake
> > > Allen's Hum.
> > >
> > > upper reservior:
> > >
> > > Gadwall
> > >
> > > Too bad about the vegetative carnage near the amphitheater!
> > >
> > > David W. Nelson
> > >
> >
>
>

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n430.6 ---------------

From: "David Nelson" <david@mpadesign.com>
Subject: Re: Fw: [SFBirds] Fw: Birding
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 13:01:48 -0700

Mark,

We have had trouble with our email the last two days.  My system said it
failed in delivery.  I finally got a copy of a copy to go out.  We have had
the system administrator working on the system since yesterday.  I am glad
to know something went out of my machine-finally.

Sorry for the mixup.

David

----- Original Message -----
From: Mark W. Eaton <eaton@best.com>
To: David Nelson <david@mpadesign.com>
Sent: Saturday, April 22, 2000 11:53 AM
Subject: Re: Fw: [SFBirds] Fw: Birding

> David Nelson wrote:
> >
>
> Er...is there a reaon you posted this multiple times? :-)
>
> Mark
> --
> Mark Eaton
mailto:eaton@best.com
> SFBirds Web Page
http://www.best.com/~eaton
> Golden Gate Audubon Web Page
http://goldengate.ca.audubon.org
>
> "April is the cruelest month, breeding
> Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
> Memory with desire, stirring
> Dull roots with spring rain."
>  - T.S. Eliot

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n430 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n431 --------------

    001 - "Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@be - Mailing List Announcement:
CA-GGAS-CONSERVATION
    002 - Harry Fuller <Harry_Fulle - Re: Ashland
    003 - David Armstrong <darmstro - Pt. Reyes Bird Blitz results
    004 - Rferrick@aol.com          - Sunday AM

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n431.1 ---------------

From: "Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@best.com>
Subject: Mailing List Announcement: CA-GGAS-CONSERVATION
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 14:14:32 -0700

<Finally...>

The long-awaited GGAS Conservation Mailing List is now online.  I've not
added anyone from this list (other than anyone who's currently a GGAS Board
Member).  To subscribe, go to the URL below and follow the instructions.

        http://list.audubon.org/archives/ca-ggas-conservation.html

If you have any questions, please let me know.

As of now, SFBirds will revert to a mailing list dedicated to birding and
bird sightings in the City and County of San Francisco as it was originally
intended.  Please direct all conservation-related issues to the above list.

Thanks,
Mark
--
Mark Eaton                                             mailto:eaton@best.com
SFBirds Web Page                                  http://www.best.com/~eaton
Golden Gate Audubon Web Page                http://goldengate.ca.audubon.org

"April is the cruelest month, breeding
Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
Memory with desire, stirring
Dull roots with spring rain."
 - T.S. Eliot

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n431.2 ---------------

From: Harry Fuller <Harry_Fuller@zd.com>
Subject: Re: Ashland
Date: Sat, 22 Apr 2000 20:53:14 -0700

Had some nice Oregon birds here this week, driving my Oregon life list a
little higher as well.
Birds that would be of interest in SF:
Common Merganser
numerous Wood Ducks
nesting Dipper
BC and Mountain Chickadee, the former a bird for my yard list (as are Hairy
Woodpecker and SPTO)
singing Fox Sparrows
calling Mountain Quail
singing Rock Wren and his mate
Rufous Hummingbirds

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n431.3 ---------------

From: David Armstrong <darmstrong99@yahoo.com>
Subject: Pt. Reyes Bird Blitz results
Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 08:02:51 -0700 (PDT)

90 species on the day, despite an inauspicious start
in the rain at 5 Brooks Trailhead. There is an osprey
nest
there atop a dead tree -- but if the osprey were there
they were hunkering down (smarter than us wet
birders).
WOOD DUCK pair on the pond at 5 Brooks.
Later had an AMERICAN BITTERN at the marsh at
Limantour, which with the GREAT HORNED OWL at the
Drakes Beach parking lot were the best 2 birds of the
day. The owl was sleeping in a tree above its nest (it
had been found by another group led by Rich Stallcup).
Struck out on Pacific Golden Plover though.

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Send online invitations with Yahoo! Invites.
http://invites.yahoo.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n431.4 ---------------

From: Rferrick@aol.com
Subject: Sunday AM
Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 14:49:45 EDT

At Glen Park this morning there were the following of note:

2 Steller's Jays - didn't see any nesting evidence
2 Hutton's Vireos
Nashville Warbler
Olive Sided Flycatcher
Bullock's Oriole - Female

Garter Snake sp. - didn't see it that well but striping appeared somewhat
dark reddish/orange on the sides of the yellow center stripe.

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n431 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n432 --------------

    001 - Dan Murphy <murphsf@att.n - I'm back
    002 - David Armstrong <darmstro - today
    003 - Mike Feighner <pac_loon@p - Hooded Oriole + Ross's Goose 4-23-2000
    004 - "Paul Saraceni" <Paul.Sar - Mt. Davidson, 04/24/00 (6:50-8:05 AM)

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n432.1 ---------------

From: Dan Murphy <murphsf@att.net>
Subject: I'm back
Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 15:52:57 -0700

Hi all,

My computer was in the shop for a week and a half.  I finally read all
the e-mail I missed.  I got out today and saw the Ross Goose at
Spreckles Lake and a couple of Semi-plamated Plovers at Crissy.  During
the past week I did manage to see a lot of stuff, but nothing
remarkable.  I heard my first Olive-sided Flycatcher on Monday or
Tuesday at the northeast corner of Harding Park.  I saw and heard others
at Kobbe and Upton.  There were no fewer than 2 there today and probably
3 or 4.  There was a pair of CA Quail in front of the house on Pope St.
today.  I picked up 2 alternate plumage Wandering Tattlers at the Cliff
House on Monday.  The Bank Swallows are back in numbers.  I had over 50
at the colony on Thursday.  Unfortunately I didn't have as much time to
bird during the week as I had hoped, but I did ok.  Oh, I had a
Blue-winged Teal at Las Gallinas Sewage Ponds on a Marin Open Space trip
on Saturday.

Good birding,  Dan

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n432.2 ---------------

From: David Armstrong <darmstrong99@yahoo.com>
Subject: today
Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 19:08:57 -0700 (PDT)

not too much of note at Candlestick Point --
a female common goldeneye mixed in w/ the scaup,
bufflehead and surf scoters.
2 Semipalmated plovers at Heron's Head, and 2 Canada
Geese on the pathway.
Also saw a redtail almost drown at HH -- it had gotten
caught in some fishing line and was not able to
extricate itself. It finally managed to drag itself
to shore in the cove behind the PG&E plant where a boy
proceeded to throw rocks at it until it dragged itself
away -- at which point a raven started dive-bombing
it.
Talk about your bad days! I called it in to Animal
Care and Control because it had obviously injured
itself
trying to get free and dragging itself to shore -- the
hawk could hardly fly at all when it was moving away
from the rock-throwing boy. They said they would send
someone down there.

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Send online invitations with Yahoo! Invites.
http://invites.yahoo.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n432.3 ---------------

From: Mike Feighner <pac_loon@pacbell.net>
Subject: Hooded Oriole + Ross's Goose 4-23-2000
Date: Sun, 23 Apr 2000 21:41:32 -0700

San Francisco Birders:

At about 3 PM this afternoon I reached Speckles Lake in golden Gate
Park.  The Ross's Goose was still there in the shallow water at the west
side of the lake.  I wonder how much longer this Ross's Goose will hang
around.  Is the lake being drained for some reason?

The male Hooded Oriole was still present near Kobbe and Upton in the
Presidio.  I first heard the oriole calling from the pine at the NE
corner of Upton and Kobbe but never saw the bird until he landed in the
flowering bush at the SW corner of  Kobbe and Upton.  Later the oriole
flew back into the same pine where he had been earlier.  There are only
two likely Washingtonian Palms: one at the SE corner of Kobbe and Upton
and the other at the SW corner of Ralston and Upton  .

--
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, pac_loon@pacbell.net

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n432.4 ---------------

From: "Paul Saraceni" <Paul.Saraceni@derwin.com>
Subject: Mt. Davidson, 04/24/00 (6:50-8:05 AM)
Date: Mon, 24 Apr 2000 09:45:59 -0700

Observations of local interest:

Band-tailed Pigeon 4
Violet-green Swallow 2
Hermit Thrush 1
Orange-crowned Warbler 3
Wilson's Warbler 4
Hermit Warbler 2 (1 ad. m. & 1 imm. that appears to be same individual
observed sporadically since
12/10/99)
Spotted Towhee 1 m. (still singing away from scattered perches all over the
eastern hillside, with no apparent mate)

Also, during a brief late-afternoon visit on 4/23, my first White-throated
Swift @ Mt. D, flying over the summit.

Paul Saraceni
paul.saraceni@derwin.com

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n432 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n433 --------------

    001 - "Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@be - SFBirds Web Page has moved...
    002 - Rferrick@aol.com          - Mt D. - Wed AM
    003 - "Andrew Rush" <and_rush@h - Heron's Head birdwalk
    004 - David Armstrong <darmstro - a few birds and a mystery raptor

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n433.1 ---------------

From: "Mark W. Eaton" <eaton@best.com>
Subject: SFBirds Web Page has moved...
Date: Tue, 25 Apr 2000 20:49:22 -0700

...to the URL listed below.  Also, please not the change in my email.  My
Best account will continue to work for awhile, but please start using my
PacBell account.

http://home.pacbell.net/mweaton/

Regards,
Mark
--
Mark Eaton                                        mailto:mweaton@pacbell.net
SFBirds Web Page                             http://home.pacbell.net/mweaton
Golden Gate Audubon Web Page                http://goldengate.ca.audubon.org

                "April is the cruelest month, breeding
                 Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
                     Memory with desire, stirring
                    Dull roots with spring rain."
                             - T.S. Eliot

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n433.2 ---------------

From: Rferrick@aol.com
Subject: Mt D. - Wed AM
Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 12:30:36 EDT

This morning between 6:45AM - 7:15AM, there was a Rufuos Hummingbird at the
summit of Mt. Davidson in and amongst the 5-15 Anna's/Allen's hummingbirds.
Spotted Towhee was perched out in the open, calling.

Rich

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n433.3 ---------------

From: "Andrew Rush" <and_rush@hotmail.com>
Subject: Heron's Head birdwalk
Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 13:26:20 PDT

For those of you who are interested, the birdwalk at Heron's Head Park this
coming Saturday will be at 11:00. Their Earth Day celbration will go on
until 3:00. I hope some of you can make it.
Andrew Rush
________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n433.4 ---------------

From: David Armstrong <darmstrong99@yahoo.com>
Subject: a few birds and a mystery raptor
Date: Wed, 26 Apr 2000 16:01:11 -0700 (PDT)

Made a few stops in the Presidio this am:
Mt Lake Park: great up-close views of 4 cedar
waxwings, and a pair of Am. Goldfinch
El Polin Springs: calling olive-sided flycatcher on a
euc snag (and at least 1 other one calling in the
area)
Soccer field: male and female hooded orioles in a euc
south of the field
Good numbers of vg swallows about. no warblers
anywhere except a few yellow rumps.
Near the Presidio golf course, I had a redtail-sized
raptor floating lazily and quite high up in the
company of 2 TV's. The bird was mostly light grey
underneath, and I couldn't make out much in the way of
detail except two conspicuous, softball-sized white
patches in the middle of each wing. Any thoughts as to
what this might have been?

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Send online invitations with Yahoo! Invites.
http://invites.yahoo.com

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n433 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n435 --------------

    001 - Harry Fuller <Harry_Fulle - Re: [SFBirds] speckels
    002 - Fogeggs@aol.com           - Swainson's Hawk
    003 - "Josiah Clark" <sunbitter - Presidio

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n435.1 ---------------

From: Harry Fuller <Harry_Fuller@zd.com>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] speckels
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 08:44:42 -0700

If anybody has time during the day today they might still be there for a
picture...I drove fairly close and they ignored cars on that north road at
Spreckels...with a decent lens a good photo could be had if they are still
there

------------ Previous Message from  Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com>  on
04/27/2000 02:29:14 PM ----------

To:   sfbirds@lists.best.com
cc:
Subject:  Re: [SFBirds] speckels

I think that is the first record of Semipalmated Plover for GGP!

Alan

Harry Fuller wrote:
>
> After hundreds of hours of Big Year birding spread over sixteen months in
> two calendar years I finally scored a BY Semip. Plover.  There were two
> along with a pair of Western Sandpipers and a small flock of Leasts in
mud
> at northwest side of Spreckels.  Also picked up my BY Bonaparte's Gull.
> All about 6p tonite.  No Goose to be seen.
> They are refilling Speckels, mud will be submerged in a couple days I
> surmise, already much reduced.
>
> Counted 31 Brandt's Cormorant nests on tallest of Seal Rocks, anybody
> notice chicks, lemme know...they should start hatching by mid-May by my
> reckoning.

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n435.2 ---------------

From: Fogeggs@aol.com
Subject: Swainson's Hawk
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 15:29:41 EDT

Checked out Bayview Hill again this morning, and saw a Swainson's Hawk sweep
by the eastern crest of the hill.  It had a bit of dark mottling in the
creamy forewing; I don't know if that signifies a first year bird or was
just
the wind ruffling the feathers.  I've never seen one in the coastal winds
before.  The bird was heading north, and I didn't see it again.
On Key St, at the base of Bayview, there was a male Hooded Oriole on wires
across from some street palms, apparently checking them out.  At
Candlestick,
while I was scoping the flocks on the crescent which runs into San Mateo, a
Harrier harried the shorebirds into the air.
Brian

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n435.3 ---------------

From: "Josiah Clark" <sunbittern@hotmail.com>
Subject: Presidio
Date: Fri, 28 Apr 2000 16:51:30 PDT

Hey all

  18 WE Sandpipers
  12 Semip plovers
  5 Willets
  10 Sanderlings

      at Crissy. Only one lonely Scaup remains, and Forsters Terns continue
to feed in the Lagoon. Hooded Orioles appear to be everywhere in the
Presidio, has anyone had counts on nesting sites in past years? I know of at
least 5 pairs, but surely there are more.
Nice going at the Spreckles Mudflat. Hey Harry, how do we get them to keep
the lake like that? You get the permission and Ill get the freshwater
wetland plants. Hah!

  PS  Thanks for the words on last weeks article. Dont worry, itll be a
while 'til you see me in any more articles as my employers just laid down
the law about who says what when to whom.
     Josiah
________________________________________________________________________
Get Your Private, Free E-mail from MSN Hotmail at http://www.hotmail.com

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n435 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n436 --------------

    001 - Fogeggs@aol.com           - Lazuli
    002 - Htcotter@aol.com          - Birds 04/29/00- Tropical KB continues
    003 - Harry Fuller <Harry_Fulle - Saturday birds
    004 - pac_loon@pacbell.net      - India Basin + Hilltop Park
    005 - Rferrick@aol.com          - Sun AM - BH Grosbeak
    006 - Harry Fuller <Harry_Fulle - Glen Canyon

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n436.1 ---------------

From: Fogeggs@aol.com
Subject: Lazuli
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 15:26:45 EDT

Today at Land's End, a male Lazuli Bunting was in the pines and meadow area
between the Legion and VA Hospital.  The bird was still blotchy brown and
blue on the back and nape, and fully blue on the face.  It was singing a
truncated version of the song; 2-3 notes, then a buzz, as well as giving the
buzz by itself and the 'spit' call.  After several minutes it launched up
into the air and headed north, possibly over the GG, or maybe to the weedy
fields below the golf course, though I couldn't refind it along the coast.
Brian

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n436.2 ---------------

From: Htcotter@aol.com
Subject: Birds 04/29/00- Tropical KB continues
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 20:26:09 EDT

Hi All,
 Did a little birding this morning with my wife and daughter. My daughters
second life bird today was the continuing tropical Kingbird at Lake Merced (
her other is House Sparrow). This bird was adjacent to the concrete bridge
and was also seen by Paul Saraceni and David McIntyre ( sp)?.
Nothing much else of note at lake Merced.
At Mt Davidson the only birds of note were PS Flycatcher and singing OC
Warbler.
At Spreckles Lake a single SP Plover continues,
Thats it,

Hugh

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n436.3 ---------------

From: Harry Fuller <Harry_Fuller@zd.com>
Subject: Saturday birds
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 17:27:56 -0700

Semip Plover (1) was still at Spreckels at 630am, gone by 830am, Ross's
Goose remains
At least eight Surfbirds in breeding plumage at Cliff House
several Whimbrel on Ocean Beach
over 40 Brandt's Cormorant nests now on the tallest Seal Rock just wst of
Cliff House
at least two Common Yellowthroat males in conflict at south end of Merced
had a swallow war outside my house mid-day: a pair of VG in actual physical
combat with a pair of Northern RW, perhaps coveting the same nest hole...at
one point a pair of the battling birds grab one another's feet anf fell to
the earth into a front yard bush, then flew back up one in pursuit of the
other
Cooper's Hawk at East Wash: also OCWA and WIWA singing there, along with
AMGO
Sharpie over 47/Geary
At least two male HOOR presently at Sutro Hts Park
else, the usual birds in  usual places
[No Magpies, did I already say that?]

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n436.4 ---------------

From: pac_loon@pacbell.net
Subject: India Basin + Hilltop Park
Date: Sat, 29 Apr 2000 22:32:45 -0700
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

San Francisco Birders:

This afternoon, 4-29-2000, I did a little birding in San Francisco.
 First I starded at Hilltop Park in the Bay View District.  Is
this the location people have been calling Bay View Hill?  None
of the maps have any reference to a Bay View Hill, and since
this park was in the Bay View District, I thought this must be
the place.  Is this correct?  Anyway, there was nothing great
to report from there any way.

Next I moved onto India Basin.  Now, is this what people have
been calling Heron's Head Park?  If so, the sign still says India
Basin...

Here I counted 35 Short-billed Dowitchers, about 12 Western Sandpipers,
6 Dunlin, 3 Whimbrel, two Caspian Terns, three Whimbrel's, one
Great Egret, one Snowy Egret, and eight Semipalmated Plovers.

--
Mike Feighner, Livermore, CA, pac_loon@pacbell.net

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--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n436.5 ---------------

From: Rferrick@aol.com
Subject: Sun AM - BH Grosbeak
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 13:40:08 EDT

On Mt. Davidson this morning (7:15-8:00), there was a singing Black Headed
Grosbeak at the summit in the Eucalyptus near the overlook. Wandering
Tattler
and Common Murre at the Cliffhouse. Warbling Vireo at North Lake (southwest
side, near small bridge).

Rich

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n436.6 ---------------

From: Harry Fuller <Harry_Fuller@zd.com>
Subject: Glen Canyon
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 12:14:04 -0700

Very birdy Sunday AM...no Laz Bunting yet, no spring vireos or Grosbeak

Got my BY Bullock's Oriole in flock of Waxwings
else: HUVI singing, WIWA singing, OS Fly singing, pair of BT Pigeon, RT
Hawk carrying nesting material...all the usual local residents
couple of lingering YRWA

--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n436 ---------------

-------------- BEGIN sfbirds.v001.n437 --------------

    001 - "Mark W. Eaton" <mweaton@ - April is history...
    002 - Jay Withgott <withgott@pa - lazuli buntings
    003 - "Mark W. Eaton" <mweaton@ - Re: [SFBirds] lazuli buntings
    004 - "Mark W. Eaton" <mweaton@ - South Texas, April 2000
    005 - Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com - Re: [SFBirds] lazuli buntings
    006 - "Paul Saraceni" <Paul.Sar - Re: [SFBirds] lazuli buntings
    007 - pac_loon@pacbell.net      - FW: {EBB} RFI: Birding in San
Francisco
    008 - "Dan Singer" <dsg@isp.net - Re: [SFBirds] lazuli buntings
    009 - David Armstrong <darmstro - Henry Coe birds

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n437.1 ---------------

From: "Mark W. Eaton" <mweaton@pacbell.net>
Subject: April is history...
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 22:42:13 -0700

...so get those B2k updates to me.  Thanks to those of you that have already
done so.

Thanks,
Mark
--
Mark Eaton                                        mailto:mweaton@pacbell.net
SFBirds Web Page                             http://home.pacbell.net/mweaton
Golden Gate Audubon Web Page                http://goldengate.ca.audubon.org

                "April is the cruelest month, breeding
                 Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
                     Memory with desire, stirring
                    Dull roots with spring rain."
                             - T.S. Eliot

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n437.2 ---------------

From: Jay Withgott <withgott@pacbell.net>
Subject: lazuli buntings
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 22:47:00 +0000

My wife and I had a pair of Lazuli Buntings at the summit atop Mt.
Davidson this morning, the male serenading the female.  (Do they nest
there?)  Later we saw a female (same? different?) in the yellow-flowered
shrubs along the lower trail near the merlin tree.  Susan also had a
probable Lincoln's Sparrow which I didn't see.  - Jay

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n437.3 ---------------

From: "Mark W. Eaton" <mweaton@pacbell.net>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] lazuli buntings
Date: Sun, 30 Apr 2000 23:03:25 -0700


Jay Withgott wrote:
>
> My wife and I had a pair of Lazuli Buntings at the summit atop Mt.
> Davidson this morning, the male serenading the female.  (Do they nest
> there?)

I don't recall any sightings from '98 from Mt. Davidson, but I could be
wrong.  There was a male in '98 in Glen Park Canyon than hung around for
awhile; I don't recall if there was a female.  Nevertheless, I'd guess that
they have bred in the few suitably grassy habitats left in SF.

Perhaps Dan S. can shed more light on this.

Mark

--
Mark Eaton                                        mailto:mweaton@pacbell.net
SFBirds Web Page                             http://home.pacbell.net/mweaton
Golden Gate Audubon Web Page                http://goldengate.ca.audubon.org

                "April is the cruelest month, breeding
                 Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
                     Memory with desire, stirring
                    Dull roots with spring rain."
                             - T.S. Eliot

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n437.4 ---------------

From: "Mark W. Eaton" <mweaton@pacbell.net>
Subject: South Texas, April 2000
Date: Mon, 01 May 2000 00:17:01 -0700

I finally managed to write up my trip report from South Texas and the Hill
Country in April.  Included are some photos of the Gray-crowned
Yellowthroat.

Mark

http://home.pacbell.net/mweaton/Birding/TripReports/SouthTexasApril00.html
--
Mark Eaton                                        mailto:mweaton@pacbell.net
SFBirds Web Page                             http://home.pacbell.net/mweaton
Golden Gate Audubon Web Page                http://goldengate.ca.audubon.org

                "April is the cruelest month, breeding
                 Lilacs out of the dead land, mixing
                     Memory with desire, stirring
                    Dull roots with spring rain."
                             - T.S. Eliot

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n437.5 ---------------

From: Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] lazuli buntings
Date: Mon, 01 May 2000 08:53:58 +0000

Lazuli Buntings have nested at McLaren Park, and possibly in Glen Canyon
Park, so it is not out of the question that they could nest on Mt.
Davidson. I do not think that the are regular nesters anywhere in SF.

Alan

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n437.6 ---------------

From: "Paul Saraceni" <Paul.Saraceni@derwin.com>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] lazuli buntings
Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 09:08:07 -0700

Unfortunately, Jay's Lazuli Buntings were not present this morning (5/1
6:50-7:30), nor was Rich's Black-headed Grosbeak -- Mt. D. was dead.
Hopefully more migrants as the week goes on.

During a brief stop at Mt. D on Saturday afternoon, I observed a
recently-fledged Winter Wren begging for food.

Paul

-----Original Message-----
From: Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com>
To: <sfbirds@lists.best.com>
Date: Monday, May 01, 2000 9:01 AM
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] lazuli buntings

>Lazuli Buntings have nested at McLaren Park, and possibly in Glen Canyon
>Park, so it is not out of the question that they could nest on Mt.
>Davidson. I do not think that the are regular nesters anywhere in SF.
>
>Alan
>

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n437.7 ---------------

From: pac_loon@pacbell.net
Subject: FW: {EBB} RFI: Birding in San Francisco
Date: Mon,  1 May 2000 10:14:32 -0700
Content-Type: TEXT/PLAIN; charset=US-ASCII

--- Original Message ---
Larry Tunstall <folkbird@best.com> Wrote on
Mon, 01 May 2000 07:23:23 -0700
 ------------------
Could someone with more experience than I have in birding The
City
suggest some good spots for this visitor?  Please reply directly
to
her.

Thanks, Larry

xxxxx

Date: 04/30/2000 2:46:58 PM PDT
Subject: birding in san francisco
From: mary capers bledsoe <mcbledsoe@prtcnet.com>

I will be in San Francisco for a conference May 18-21. I will
have
one day - Thursday - to see the city. I have never been. I would
like
to spend part of the day birding. I am an intermediate to advanced
birder, and would like to add to my life list, but would also
like to
see some of the fun, easy, showy birds, even though they may
be
ridiculously accessible. Do you have a suggestion as to a site
that
will give me the biggest bang for my time? Needs to be easily
accessible by public transportation and walking.

Thanks!

mary bledsoe
south carolina

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--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n437.8 ---------------

From: "Dan Singer" <dsg@isp.net>
Subject: Re: [SFBirds] lazuli buntings
Date: Mon, 01 May 2000 21:05:38 -0700

Alan's record of breeding Lazuli's at McLaren Park was the only nesting
record obtained during the atlas years. I'm unaware of any breeding records
for Glen Canyon Park though it seems as likely a spot as any for potential
SF records. Lazulis seem to be yet another species that doesn't do well with
the onslaught of suburbanization and any breeding record in SF would be
noteworthy.

DSg

----------
>From: Alan Hopkins <ash@sfo.com>
>To: sfbirds@lists.best.com
>Subject: Re: [SFBirds] lazuli buntings
>Date: Mon, May 1, 2000, 1:53 AM
>

> Lazuli Buntings have nested at McLaren Park, and possibly in Glen Canyon
> Park, so it is not out of the question that they could nest on Mt.
> Davidson. I do not think that the are regular nesters anywhere in SF.
>
> Alan

--------------- MESSAGE sfbirds.v001.n437.9 ---------------

From: David Armstrong <darmstrong99@yahoo.com>
Subject: Henry Coe birds
Date: Mon, 1 May 2000 21:56:48 -0700 (PDT)
MIME-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

I posted this to South Bay birds as well. It was a
great long weekend and now I have to go shut myself
into an office again :-(

My wife and I have just returned from a 4 day
backpacking trip in Henry Coe State Park. I was able
to squeeze some birding in too, and tallied over 50
species. Some of the highlights:
- wild turkeys (numerous)
- golden eagle (2 different sightings)
- greater roadrunner (near Arnold Horse Camp)
- blue-gray gnatcatcher(numerous)
- Lazuli bunting (2 different sightings, both near
Poverty Flat)
- Lark sparrow

Bullock's Orioles and Black-headed grosbeaks were
everywhere. I also believe I had a fly-by Lewis'
Woodpecker but could not confirm the ID.

On this subject, can anyone direct me to places inside
Henry Coe where the American dipper has been seen?
Thanks
David Armstrong

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--------------- END sfbirds.v001.n437 ---------------