Date: 7/25/26 4:39 pm From: Howard Friedman via groups.io <howardnfriedman...> Subject: [southbaybirds] What a long strange trip it was...(Don Edwards NWR Alviso)
“Life is like a box of chocolates, you never know what you're gonna get." This line from Forrest Gump is a quintessential quote that for me describes what a day of birding is going to be like. It was such on this last Friday with an incredibly fun and wonderful group of birders with an amazing coleader to boot. Many thanks to Benjo Balangon, the ranger at Don Edwards NWR who took the time to open the main gate for us to park in the parking lot by the EEC. Thanks (in the biggest way) to Eve who truly made this all happen in an epic way. A special thanks to our co-leader Edward Rooks who is by far an incredible spotter and naturalist who’s skills made this trip more than memorable, not to mention he is a gentleman in every way.
Our trip began at the EEC where our group viewed a pair of Violet-green Swallows in a Coast Live Oak. A calling and very active Northern Mockingbird zipped about calling as it flew. We moved out toward the levee and pond A16. Calling Common Yellowthroats were mixed in the nearby Tules with Marsh Wrens that were busy singing. Down below the levee on the mud in Mallard Slough were a gaggle of Canada Geese, California Gulls, and a domestic Mallard. The fun bird with this community of mix birds was a young Glaucous-winged Gull. Across the channel a Common Gallinule moved in and out of the Tules. A Green Heron flew by as we walked closer to the dock on Mallard Slough. We observe another or possibly the same Green Heron on the return trip. A Desert Cottontail gave us all a mammalian viewing treat before we continued north.
Meanwhile, out on A16, a large flock of American White Pelicans rested on one of the islands along with Double-crested Cormorants, Canada Geese, Mallards, and American Coots. The first sighting of Pied-billed Grebe (on nests), Ruddy Duck, and soaring Barn Swallows. Our group heard a Virginia Rail calling from the slough side of the levee as we turned to head west along the trail. After speeding us along (we had to be out of the parking lot by 11:30 and it was after 9 AM already) we found several Ruddy Ducks and to our surprise, a very young baby Ruddy was swimming alongside its mother, nudging at her. A short distance down the trail further we were able to view the nearly 20 nests of the Eared Grebe population and see nest building in action.
Passing the observation deck on the east side of A16, the action increased greatly. We were dive bombed by a few Forster’s Terns, observed the Caspian Tern colony with hungry chick awaiting food, many more Coot, Egrets (Snowy and Great), even more Forster’s Terns with young, Gadwall, Mallards,Double-crested Cormorants and even a larger colony of American White Pelicans.
We made our way to the pump house to look for the Lesser Scaup with young. On the way we watched a large flock of Black Skimmers gliding along the pond swooping low and in unison. That was beautiful and graceful. A nesting Clark’s Grebe sat on a nest nearby while its mate was not far off. Out on A17 Long-billed Curlews, Western Willets, and Marbled Godwits rested on the mudflats with a huge group of American Avocets, California Gulls, and American White Pelicans resting further back in various parts of the edges of the pond. We found the Scaup in a little island at the north end of A16 with Ruddy Ducks and American Coots swimming near their little rest area.
On the return trip we were treated to more than a hundred American White Pelicans and fifty Long-billed Curlew flying overhead. To our surprise, the Skimmers all took flight along with the Terns (both species) and some ducks. Edward Rooks calls out, “Peregrine Falcon!” A Peregrine Falcon exploded into sight making chase after the Skimmers and Terns. After a few attacks, it flew west swiftly.
On the way back, we stopped by the toxic pond (at least that is what we called it) on the east side of the trail. We were hoping for the return of the LEAST BITTERN we all watched earlier on our walk out. I purposely omitted that from the report until the end. I wish I could say I made this discovery, but it was one of the newer birders, Birgit Massion, who asked, “What is that bird over there?” (This is my best at remembering the exchange.) Let’s just say she knocked it out of the park and took our trip to a whole new level. Congratulations to her! What a find indeed.
We walked back through the New Chicago Marsh. Thank goodness for the mild temperature and the cool breezes on the bay. It was also a delight to have a life long Alviso resident on our trip. I hope she can get the Alviso community as energized about the birds as she was. The refuge is a true shining environmental success story and needs our continued support. (Buy duck stamps)
Thanks again to SCVBA, Eve, Edward, and everyone on the trip for making this a fabulous day. Thanks again to Benjo the Ranger at Don Edwards for being so available and flexible. This was a fabulous day indeed.
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.
