At the Stanford Dish trail, we found a very cooperative ROCK WREN hopping around the entry gate to the Dish. Later on, we found a calling PHAINOPEPLA, nestled in mistletoe. We also enjoyed watching an AMERICAN KESTREL continuously harass a RED-TAILED HAWK perched atop the Dish.
An incredible highlight of the day came in the afternoon as we were shocked to see a large flock of 117 (!) SNOW GEESE flying overhead towards the north! As far as we know, this is the largest group of this species seen in Santa Clara County.
We wrapped up the day at the Stanford Educational Farm, where the COSTA’S HUMMINGBIRD continues in its favorite blackberry patch. There, we also observed CALIFORNIA QUAIL, WHITE-THROATED and LINCOLN’S SPARROWS.
Other highlights from the day included an intergrade NORTHERN FLICKER, a dawn flyover of two unidentified loon sp., PINE SISKINS, and a LARK SPARROW.
All checklists and totals can be viewed at our trip report here: https://ebird.org/tripreport/292996. We ended the day with approx. 88 species, comparing quite well to our total of 86 from Fall 2023! (Totals from restricted access locations not included in the eBird trip report).
Do not disclose information that identifies the location of nesting birds of any species, to minimize stress on the nesting birds and the risk of vandalism or abuse.
