It was a miserable, cold, windy, dark morning.
Blessedly, we only had about 5 minutes of rain (9:02-9:07 or
thereabouts), but it threatened all morning. About 10% of our species
were heard-only, and there were quite a few things seen only by a few
people. Whining aside, we actually did pretty well.
Highlights:
Bufflehead 1 female lingering at
the Rowing Club
Green Heron 1 near old nest at
Rowing Club
Bald Eagle Huge numbers (7-10)
continue
PEREGRINE FALCON 1 over Dog Meadow
Virginia Rail 2+ near
weir, one seen
BLACK SWIFT At least 16 - earliest sighting ever, FOS
Vaux's Swift 2-3. Numbers
seem down this year
Downy Woodpecker Copulating
Western Wood-Pewee At least 3
WESTERN KINGBIRD 2 at the north end of the East Meadow
Swainson's Thrush Finally
some song, 1 seen
Cedar Waxwing First in 8 weeks
Wilson's Warbler Notably many singing
Evening Grosbeak Heard many times
overhead, glimpsed
Our previous early record for BLACK SWIFT was 2009-05-21, so this was
barely earlier, but earlier nonetheless.
One BEAVER in the slough as well.
Only one WESTERN TANAGER was heard, and that just barely. No
Orange-crowned Warblers. And we hoped in vain for Lazuli Bunting or
Bullock's Oriole.
For the day, 66 species.
== Michael
Female Common Merganser. Photo by
OIlie Oliver
American Crow harassing a Red-tailed Hawk. Photo by Ollie Oliver
Female American Goldfinch. Photo by Ollie Oliver
Mallard Ducklings all in a row, with a Painted Turtle, at the Rowing Club
Bushtit rebuilding a nest at the Rowing Club. Photo by Ollie Oliver
Beaver in the slough across from Dog Central. Photo by Ollie Oliver
Green-winged Teals with a drake Cinnamon Teal, 2010-05-14. Photo by Lillian Reis
Male Bullock's Oriole, 2010-05-16. Photo by Lillian Reis