Date: 9/14/25 11:15 am From: Matthew Dodder via groups.io <mdodder...> Subject: [southbaybirds] Alviso area 9-14-25
I birded New Chicago Marsh for a bit this morning, mostly to see if the second Ruff (Reeve) was still present. I only saw one Ruff and I believe it is the same one I saw last week, presumably the male.
The gate to the EEC was still closed and time was short so I drove to the Gold Street Bridge to search the fennel patch beside the power lines. There were several migrant Yellow Warblers there and what seemed like a crowd of Common Yellowthroats. No other species of note showed themselves.
Along Alviso Slough near the yacht club there were several Elegant Terns perched on the concrete slabs in A8 along with Forster’s Terns and Double-crested Cormorants. In the distance, both Brown Pelicans and American White Pelicans were visible feeding in the pond. A single Lesser Scaup was swimming with numerous Coots.
Speaking of Coots, we went to Bass Pro Shops yesterday and I found a Coot decoy in the hunting area. I hadn’t realized it before, but apparently the presence of Coots in a pond signals other waterfowl that food is abundant and it is safe to land… So the Coot is called, at least by some hunters, a "Confidence Bird” and they place the decoys to attract the Ducks they are interested in.
Finally, I stopped along the Bay Trail behind the Residence Inn by Marriot along the Guadalupe River. I was hoping to find a Willow Flycatcher in the abundant fennel patch. No luck with that, but lots of White-throated Swifts were foraging high overhead, along with Violet-green Swallows, and the Elegant Terns could still be heard over the large pond.
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.
