Date: 3/4/26 6:11 pm From: Vicki Silvas-Young via groups.io <mrnngwrblr...> Subject: [southbaybirds] Today's Field Trip to Sunnyvale WPCP, 3-4-2026
Good afternoon, Birders, On a fairly windy day, Dan Bloch and myself met with 11 experienced birders and 3 birders who have birded for 1-6 months only. Thirty-five species were seen in spite of the fact that most of them were trying to stay out of the wind! The Barn Swallows did not do a "fly by," they did a "blow by." The pair of Bald Eagles seen by Kirsten earlier today probably stayed in Sunnyvale Baylands Park or got blown to Morgan Hill. The nest-building skills of Marsh Wrens were clearly demonstrated; at one point about 7 nests were counted in a small area and we wondered how many were actually occupied as several wrens were seen popping in their side doors. The Northern Shovelers were looking pretty spiffy and a lone handsome Ruddy Duck was beginning to get his blue bill. Ahhh, Spring is here! Seeing two Green Herons gave the new birders a real treat. Snowy and Great Egrets along with a Black-crowned Night Heron were very patient while very obligingly posing along the tules. A Red-shouldered Hawk, looking a little scruffy, secreted itself in a bare tree. A lone Western Gull among a bunch of California Gulls allowed a good size-comparison between the two. And while looking at gulls we spotted a Muskrat swimming diligently in the slough and watched as it snatched a tule leaf and dove underwater. Only to be seen on another special occasion! My thanks to Dan for keeping the eBird list and here it is....... https://ebird.org/checklist/S306024221 Join the Birdathon, Vicki Silvas-Young
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.
