Date: 4/14/24 2:06 pm From: Matthew Dodder via groups.io <mdodder...> Subject: [southbaybirds] Ed Levin scouting 04-14-24
Cricket and I scouted Ed R. Levin County Park this morning in preparation for next week’s Birdathon. We began at Sandy Wool and then drove to Spring Valley to wrap things up. Highlights were 3 GRASSHOPPER SPARROWS and 4 RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW on the muddy uphill trail from the dog park to the sycamore grove overlooking the hang glider landing area. The trail was EXTREMELY muddy—the kind of mud that clings to your boots and adds two pounds to each shoe! Had I thought about it, I would have waited another week to make the trek… In any case, we were successful in finding our two targets, but we never reached the grove. The area around the dog park was filled with BULLOCK’S ORIOLES and Selasphorus Hummingbirds, but we never did get enough views to confirm both species. We did get one exceptional look at an ALLEN’S HUMMINGBIRD but the others were just too fast to catch. We found a (the) CHIPPING SPARROW in a small tree across the road from the hang glider landing area.
At the Elm group picnic area we had a singing WHITE-THROATED SPARROW just beyond the parking area and another frustrating experience with hyperactive Selasphorus Hummingbirds.
We ended our morning at Spring Valley as some menacing storm clouds moved in and blocked the sun. Bird activity slowed to a near stop, and even the RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRDS ceased to move or vocalize. Just before we got back into our car, we spotted an adult GOLDEN EAGLE over the ridge across the road. Lovely way to end before lunch.
Matthew Dodder (he/him)
Executive Director
Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society
22221 McClellan Rd.
Cupertino, CA 95014
408-252-3748
<director...>
scvas.org
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.
