Date: 9/22/26 1:41 pm From: Vicki Silvas-Young via groups.io <mrnngwrblr...> Subject: [southbaybirds] CNPS and SCVBA Field Trip on the First Day of Fall to Lake Cunningham, 9-20-2026, Sunday
Hi, Birders, On a very nice fall day 13 "Yellow Warber hopeful" attendees from California Native Plant Society and Santa Clara Valley Bird Alliance met in the Marina parking lot of Lake Cunningham to walk the Inner Lake Path to the Native Garden. And we were not disappointed! To greet us on the lawn area, was a big flock of unshy Great-tailed Grackles in all sorts of amusing plumage changes with some males even displaying. Near the boat ramp, as we gazed over the water, the antics of Pied-billed Grebes and American Coots, and a Green Heron flyby entertained us. In the trees a Yellow-rumped warbler with our very first Northern Yellow Warbler excited us! There were no Red-breasted Sapsuckers in the pepper trees. :( But just after the pepper trees, we managed to see a silent, stealthy Sora do a quick dash in and out of the cattails. In the little cove before the Native Garden an adult Pied-billed Grebe was being trailed by a juvenile screaming to be fed. The adult obliged just to stop the screaming. As we approached the Native Garden the number of birds picked up with a Northern Mockingbird singing a greeting song, Chestnut-backed Chickadees, Oak Titmouse, California Towhees, Bushtits, House Finches singing and feeding, numerous Anna's Hummingbirds sucking up as much nectar from the California Fuschias as they could, and again another Yellow Warbler who brought his pals, a couple of Red-breasted Nuthatches fed in the trees. A Red-shouldered Hawk called in the distance. Nice! Thank you to my co-leaders, Arvind K. and Nathan D., for comments and guidance in native plant identification. A very special thank you to Zainab J. for being an attentive co-leader and getting people on the bird. The eBird list for this field trip is here https://ebird.org/atlascalifornia/checklist/S394764740 The San Jose Christmas Count is coming soon on December 19, Saturday. Sign up now! Plan ahead, Vicki
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.
