Date: 10/19/24 11:04 am From: Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Cassin’s Finch
For the past 30 minutes several Cassins Finch have been coming and going from the Vollmer Parking Lot.
Ethan
> On Oct 19, 2024, at 8:54 AM, Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> wrote:
>
> I don’t want to invoke the “c -able” word but I’ve now had four different encounters with Cassin’s Finch on Vollmer Peak this morning… including twice perched. Otherwise small movements of Yellow-rumps, Varied Thrush.
>
> Ethan Monk
>
>
>
Date: 10/19/24 8:54 am From: Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Cassin’s Finch
I don’t want to invoke the “c -able” word but I’ve now had four different encounters with Cassin’s Finch on Vollmer Peak this morning… including twice perched. Otherwise small movements of Yellow-rumps, Varied Thrush.
Date: 10/18/24 8:42 pm From: Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Pt. San Pablo/Molate flight today
Given strong N/NE winds over night, I headed to Pt. Molate to see what would fly over. I sat in one spot from 7:05-9:40, after which point the flight died considerably. Below are some counts of note: Wigeon-2 Band-t Pigeon: 50 Collared-Dove: 1 Turkey Vulture: 65 Sharp-shinned: 1 Bald Eagle: 1 Red-tailed Hawk: 3 Flicker: 28, 4 of these looking to be "intergrades" Merlin: 1 Peregrine: 1 Say's: 1 G-c Kinglet: 3 Starling: 49 Varied Thrush: 3 Waxwing: 9 Pipit: 17 Purple Finch: 11 LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH: 1 White-throated Sparrow: 1 Savannah Sparrow: 16 Meadowlark: 322 R-w Blackbird: 56 R-w/Tricolored: 1 Brewer's Blackbird: 112 Blackbird sp. : 26 Yellow-rumped Warbler (no ssp. determined): 28 Myrtle Warbler: 2 Audubon's Warbler: 24
From my watch, I observed the "Seattle Harmony" head under the Richmond Bridge and north into San Pablo Bay, being trailed by 12 Heermann's Gulls, the most Heermann's I had ever seen in the East Bay... and then later in the morning along the same route came the (much less imaginatively named) "Petrochem Supplier" being trailed by about 40 Heermann's Gulls!
On a different note, Anna's Hummingbirds in the winter and spring make a high pitched, descending "peer!" call while perched. The literature as far as I can find calls this a juv. begging call. I don't think this is right, but either way, I heard my first Anna's "peers" of the season this afternoon at Meeker Slough.
Otherwise, some passerine migrants are hanging on, I had a smattering of Yellow Warblers around today and one Warbling Vireo, on the late side now, at Booker T. Anderson.
Date: 10/18/24 6:56 pm From: JENNIFER FURY via groups.io <jennyfuzzy...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Save the date, Richmond CBC on Sunday, December 29
oh, and a super helpful id chart, attached...Cheers,Jennifer FurySaltwater is the cure for everything, sweat, tears, or the sea... -------- Original message --------From: "Derek via groups.io" <dlheins...> Date: 10/17/24 6:16 PM (GMT-08:00) To: East Bay Birds <EBB-Sightings...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Save the date, Richmond CBC on Sunday, December 29 Mark your calendar for Sunday, December 29 to join the fourth annual Richmond Christmas Bird Count. Our first three years have established this count circle as one of the highest in the nation in both participants and species. And unofficially it scores high too on fun with the post-count dinner a big plus. Stay tuned for further communication, especially later this month for registration instructions. We hope you can join us for both the count and the dinner. Please feel free to reach out with any questions you have.Derek Heins and BreeAnn <Croftsrichmondcbc...>
Date: 10/17/24 6:16 pm From: Derek via groups.io <dlheins...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Save the date, Richmond CBC on Sunday, December 29
Mark your calendar for Sunday, December 29 to join the fourth annual Richmond Christmas Bird Count. Our first three years have established this count circle as one of the highest in the nation in both participants and species. And unofficially it scores high too on fun with the post-count dinner a big plus. Stay tuned for further communication, especially later this month for registration instructions.
We hope you can join us for both the count and the dinner. Please feel free to reach out with any questions you have.
Date: 10/15/24 4:15 pm From: Claude Lyneis via groups.io <cmlyneis...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Sora continuing at Jewel Lake
Lee, very cool. I was there around noon today and didn’t see the Sora, but maybe it was just the wrong time. About a half mile farther north on the I did see a Red-shou Hawk on the tree branch to the west of the trail. Except for a Bewick’s Wren and a few Mallards it was very quiet today.
> On Oct 15, 2024, at 11:13 AM, Lee Friedman via groups.io <lfried6...> wrote:
>
> The remarkable Sora at Jewel Lake in Tilden continues as of yesterday. There were no sightings of this species at Jewel Lake for 46 years until Susan Weinstein’s September 1 sighting, and since that time about 16 birders have been fortunate enough to see it. It seems to hang out on the east bank, largely remaining out of sight hidden by overhanging branches. It occasionally ventures out to forage and swim, visible from the bench area on the west bank.
>
> I was prompted to look into this by Zac Denning’s excellent report on the Golden-crowned Kinglets that also mentioned the Sora. On the Kinglets, Birdcast <https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-CA-013> reports the Golden-crowns as one of the 7 most active nocturnal migrants flying over Contra Costa County (and one of the 5 most active over Alameda County) at this time.
>
> Sora photo: https://www.flickr.com/photos/99583878@N06/54069702869/in/dateposted-public/ >
> Good birding all,
> Lee Friedman
>
>
>
>
Date: 10/15/24 2:33 pm From: Lee Friedman via groups.io <lfried6...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Sora continuing at Jewel Lake
[Edited Message Follows]
The remarkable Sora at Jewel Lake in Tilden continues as of yesterday. There were no sightings (in eBird reports) of this species at Jewel Lake for 46 years until Susan Weinstein’s September 1 sighting, and since that time about 16 birders have been fortunate enough to see it. It seems to hang out on the east bank, largely remaining out of sight hidden by overhanging branches. It occasionally ventures out to forage and swim, visible from the bench area on the west bank.
I was prompted to look into this by Zac Denning’s excellent report on the Golden-crowned Kinglets that also mentioned the Sora. On the Kinglets, Birdcast ( https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-CA-013 ) reports the Golden-crowns as one of the 7 most active nocturnal migrants flying over Contra Costa County (and one of the 5 most active over Alameda County) at this time.
Date: 10/15/24 11:14 am From: Lee Friedman via groups.io <lfried6...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Sora continuing at Jewel Lake
The remarkable Sora at Jewel Lake in Tilden continues as of yesterday. There were no sightings of this species at Jewel Lake for 46 years until Susan Weinstein’s September 1 sighting, and since that time about 16 birders have been fortunate enough to see it. It seems to hang out on the east bank, largely remaining out of sight hidden by overhanging branches. It occasionally ventures out to forage and swim, visible from the bench area on the west bank.
I was prompted to look into this by Zac Denning’s excellent report on the Golden-crowned Kinglets that also mentioned the Sora. On the Kinglets, Birdcast https://dashboard.birdcast.info/region/US-CA-013 reports the Golden-crowns as one of the 7 most active nocturnal migrants flying over Contra Costa County (and one of the 5 most active over Alameda County) at this time.
Date: 10/13/24 4:34 pm From: Zac Denning via groups.io <zdenning1...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Movement of Golden-crowned Kinglets
I've been encountering a lot of Golden-crowned Kinglets lately, including in areas I don't usually expect them. This week, it seems like I've encountered them pretty much everywhere I've been. After recent encounters, I've also become more attuned to their typical high pitched double trill call <https://xeno-canto.org/597956> and other calls. But I suspect there's a heavy movement of these birds going on right now.
Over the last few weeks I'd encountered them at least 3 times at expected spots in conifers at the North end of Jewel Lake and in trees along the Vollmer Peak parking area with Jack Hayden.
Yesterday at the Albany Bulb, I first heard and saw 2 birds in the shrubs on the north side of the dirt path that parallels the paved trail for a short distance between the entrance to the owl preserve and the westernmost viewing platform. This was a bulb first for me - and these birds were obviously on the move.
An hour and a half later, after joining visiting birder Shawn Pfautsch, we encountered several more along the shoreline at the tip of the bulb in low shrubs along the rocky shore, about 400 feet south of the northwest corner of the bulb. One of the kinglets even landed on the sand and rocks at the bay's edge, where a sparrow flock was bathing - striking for a bird that generally prefers the canopy of tall conifers.
Also notable at the Bulb: a singing Marsh Wren at 37.890181, -122.311943, a White-tailed Kite flew by, and 2 Elegant Terns were roosting with Forster's terns, gulls and shorebirds on the mudflats. 2 Northern Pintails were I think my FOS and there was a male Eurasian Wigeon molting out of eclipse plumage.
After leaving the bulb, Shawn and I visited Creekside Park, where we once again encountered Golden-crowned Kinglets, this time along the steep hillside below the end of Jackson St, accompanied by numerous Ruby-crowneds, Townsend's Warblers, a Black-throated Gray Warbler, and many Brown Creepers.
Yesterday afternoon, I went back to Jewel Lake for a sushi picnic with my older teenager, and once again heard many Golden-crowneds. The elusive Jewel Lake Sora also made an appearance, swimming out in open water with the Mallards.
This morning, by now anticipating that Golden-crowneds might be moving in numbers, I went to listen outside my house (I live in Albany - not far from the Albany Library). Although I have a redwood tree in the backyard, my neighborhood is otherwise far from ideal Golden-crowned Kinglet habitat. After fifteen minutes, I was rewarded by a Golden-crowned call, and a bird eventually perched on a wire 10 feet from me, while at least 2 other birds called from adjacent yards (for yard bird #93!)
Around 11am today, I went up to Inspiration Point for a hike with my wife, and encountered numerous Golden-crowneds and Ruby-crowneds. I estimated 12 GC and 15 RC at Inspiration point as well as along our 3.6 mile hike on the Inspiration Trail (EBMUD land, permit required).
The weak eye ring and white chin/flanks don't seem right to me for Western, and the wing bars seem too bright for Willow.
Otherwise the most notable bird from the list was a Pacific Wren. It looks like they are found here in the winter but this is my first time seeing one here.
Date: 10/4/24 7:43 pm From: Peter Pyle via groups.io <ppyle...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Update on November pelagic trip planned from Noyo Harbor, Fort Bragg; 11/11 only
Hi all -
The November pelagic trip announced below will be on Monday the 11th (a holiday), not the 10th. The boat will not be available on the 10th after all. Apologies for any confusion in making plans for that weekend.
Cheers, Peter
On 9/30/2024 2:51 PM, Peter Pyle wrote: > Excuse the cross-posting: > > We have pelagic trips planned from Noyo Harbor for Monday October 7th > and Sunday November 10th, with back-up date November 11th in case the > 10th looks like or turns out to be a no-go due to weather. The 7th is > currently scheduled for a half-day trip but if we get enough sign-ups > we could make a full day out of it, and the November trip is a full > day. The cost is $120 if half day and $175 for full day. > > We have had success finding deep-water species on half-day trips, as > the head of Noyo Canyon is only 8 miles from the harbor and pelagic > species such as Buller's Shearwaters, Hawaiian Petrels, and > albatrosses seem to move up the canyon and occur even closer to shore > than this. To wit, lately we have been seeing a lot of Pink-footed and > Buller's from shore, and a Manx Shearwater was spotted on September > 15th. There have also been tons (literally) of Humpback Whales visible > from shore in the past week. Also, a Short-tailed Albatross was seen a > couple of days ago in Mendocino waters from a reposition cruise. > > Early October is getting into the under-birded time of year for > pelagic trips but may be the best time for Procellaria petrels, for > those who like to dream. In November we'll be looking for Mottled > Petrels, Parakeet Auklets, and who knows? > > If you'd like to join us, please email Chuck Vaughn at > <cevaughn...> Hope to see you out there! > > Peter
Date: 10/4/24 4:48 pm From: Ethan Monk via groups.io <z.querula...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Jewel Lake
Today at Jewel Lake an adult male Am. Redstart was above the very far north end of the boardwalk. A singing Yellow-sounding Warbler high in the Eucalytus stand by the spillway (that was not the redstart!) was highly unusual for the date but I never saw the darn thing. Based on Jack Hayden’s report of a singing Chestnut-sided Warbler close by about a week ago, it seems quite possible that is what was singing.
Date: 10/4/24 4:28 pm From: Claude Lyneis via groups.io <cmlyneis...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Townsend's Warbler in the backyard
I was tuning up my camera on our bird feeder in North Berkeley today and a Townsend’s Warbler dropped by. This is the third fall one has appeared, first in early Nov 22, then late October 23, and the one in the photo today (Oct 4) flashed by a couple of days ago. The black markings are not as dark as on a couple of Townsend’s I have seen in the wild recently, so I am thinking this is a female. Each year, the Warblers seems to appear along with some Lesser Goldfinch at our our feeder.
Photo on Flickr.
https://flic.kr/p/2qkwNBp Townsend's Warbler Backyard
flic.kr
Date: 10/2/24 11:40 am From: Matt Tarlach via groups.io <mtar925...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Red-necked Grebe at McNabney
Just had a Red-necked Grebe at McNabney Marsh (Waterbird Reg Preserve) in Martinez. 30 minutes ago it was within bino range of the southern viewing deck.
A juvenile, with some red on the neck, white chin and cheeks, and black-and-white face markings just like the juv picture in Sibley.
Lots of meadowlarks, shoveler, dowitcher also. 1 GWTE (female) and 1 AMWI.
Date: 10/1/24 8:41 pm From: Zac Denning via groups.io <zdenning1...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Release of rescued Barn Owl from Albany Bulb
For those of you needing some positive news, here’s an update on the Barn
Owl rescued from the Albany Bulb on September 17th (that had its feet
tangled in twine):
The rehabilitated male Barn Owl was released tonight at the bulb, after
successful rehab stays at Lindsay Wildlife Rehabilitation Hospital and
Sulphur Creek Nature Center. Thank you especially to Bay Raptor Rescue -
who rescued something like 14 Barn Owls that week alone! Apparently, the
Barn Owl population is experiencing a boom this year.
Please donate to these highly worthy organizations.
Here’s a screenshot from the video of the bird’s release tonight (video is
attached also):
See the narrative further below on the rescue, along with photos of the
bird and rescue.
Zac Denning
Albany
---------- Forwarded message ---------
From: Zac Denning <zdenning1...>
Date: Tue, Sep 17, 2024 at 9:57 PM
Subject: Albany Bulb - Barn Owl Rescue & more
To: <EBB-Sightings...> Group Moderators <EBB-Sightings...>
I spent a few hours birding the bulb this morning, finding a nice variety
of shorebirds and land birds, including some migrants. Most notable were an
estimated 7 Yellow-rumped Warblers, a small group of Greater Scaup (FOS for
me) and an American Kestrel that flew quickly West along the spit and
seemed to be aiming to cross the bay. As there has been for a while, there
were Savannah Sparrow and Common Yellowthroat chips seemingly everywhere,
as well as a scattering of Western Flycatchers in different spots.
But the real surprise came as I leaving. I looked up while walking along
the row of pines that border the parking circle and was startled to see a
male Barn Owl in plain view, about 27 feet up in a tree, right next to the
main path. I should have questioned this more, but I took some photos,
focusing mostly on the bird's face - then hurried home. My wife, Adrienne
then went down there to see the owl too, and learned that the bird had its
foot trapped on the branch by some twine, which I hadn't noticed. Learning
that, I rearranged my schedule and headed back to help. Another birder had
already called Bay Raptor Rescue - and the rescuer, Craig Nikitas, was
assessing the scene when I got there.
The rescue took several hours, as I held the ends of poles or handed Craig
tools from a second ladder, and while my wife Adrienne passed equipment
from the ground and held the tall ladder.
After much planning, and some failed attempts, Craig managed to cut the
branch the bird was perched on, which temporarily left the bird with
attached branch suspended painfully upside down by it's leg. He then
anchored the end of the branch to some cord, to keep the bird from flying
off with the attached branch when freed. After some attempts to cut the
twine the bird hung from (while I supported the bird with a net from below)
he finally managed to pull the twine and bird lower until the twine could
be cut. After that, he worked to disconnect the bird from the thin branch,
and once done, he quickly put the owl in a cardboard pet carrier while on
the ladder. He then took the owl into his car to free its feet from the
severely constricting loops of twine.
The owl was taken to the Lindsay Museum, where Craig said the bird would be
rehydrated, and his wounds assessed. One of the owl's legs was badly
abraded (presumably from its attempts to free itself before we arrived). It
remains to be seen if there will be any lasting damage to the feet.
However, since the bird was perched upright on the branch in a normal
posture before being rescued, I'm hopeful that its feet and legs might
recover.
See photos below.
My day was definitely different than I expected when I woke up!
On Tuesday, October 1st, 2024 at 12:52 PM, Ben Pearl via groups.io <slotiger2000...> wrote:
> The largest eelgrass bed in the Central Bay is found right off of Alameda. See the BCDC map of eelgrass in the SF Bay at https://gis.data.cnra.ca.gov/maps/BCDC::sf-bay-eelgrass-bcdc-2020 > > Ben > >> On Oct 1, 2024, at 12:39 PM, Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> wrote: > >> Maureen, >> >> While eelgrass has been much reduced inside SF Bay - mostly I think by dredging of shipping channels and activity by water craft, there’s definitely still some around. I’ve seen it tangled in fishing nets during the herring runs. >> >> According to F&W “20% of the state’s eelgrass is in SF Bay.” >> >> Dominik >> >>> On Oct 1, 2024, at 12:32, Maureen Lahiff via groups.io <MLahiff...> wrote: >> >>> We don’t have eel grass beds anywhere near Alameda as far as I know. >>> >>> Seems way too dense and thick and uniform to be eel grass. >>> >>> On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 12:14 PM, Lorrie Klosterman <loklosterman...> wrote: >>> >>>> Is it eel grass? >>>> "When the eelgrass dies, detaches, and washes up on the beach, a whole new ecosystem is founded; many species of insects and other invertebrates begin to inhabit the dead plant..." >>>> https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/52614-Zostera-marina >>>> >>>> On Tue, Oct 1, 2024, 12:04 Sharon Jue via groups.io <sljue1...> wrote: >>>> >>>>> Could be an algal bloom. Berkeley Aquatic Park sometimes gets choked with a fibrous mat that they periodically skim out. The (bleached) remains were along the west shore near the boathouse last time I went, if anyone wants to compare. Seems correlated with warmer weather. There was also a [red tide](https://caseagrant.ucsd.edu/our-work/resources/red-tides-california) surrounding Bodega Bay on Sunday; I don't know whether it also affected SF bay, but I wouldn't be surprised. >>>>> >>>>> On Tue, Oct 1, 2024 at 11:49 AM Maureen Lahiff via groups.io <MLahiff...> wrote: >>>>> >>>>>> The shoreline is covered with some sort of fibrous mat. Does not seem to be a natural product. >>>>>> >>>>>> These photos were taken around 1.5 hours before a 6 ft high ride at 12:15 pm today. >>>>>> >>>>>> Not there on Sept 26. >>>>>> >>>>>> Maureen Lahiff >>>>>> Oakland >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> -Sharon Jue >>>>> ~Berkeley >>>> >>>>>
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Date: 10/1/24 1:07 pm From: Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] strange stuff washed up (?) at Elsie Roemer
Thank you, Ben.
I’ve heard of eelgrass beds off of Brooks Island and Richardson Bay, but
didn’t realize about Alameda. Great to know.
Dominik
On Tue, Oct 1, 2024 at 12:52 Ben Pearl <slotiger2000...> wrote:
> The largest eelgrass bed in the Central Bay is found right off of Alameda.
> See the BCDC map of eelgrass in the SF Bay at
> https://gis.data.cnra.ca.gov/maps/BCDC::sf-bay-eelgrass-bcdc-2020 >
> Ben
>
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Oct 1, 2024, at 12:39 PM, Dominik Mosur via groups.io <dominikmosur=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
> Maureen,
>
> While eelgrass has been much reduced inside SF Bay - mostly I think by
> dredging of shipping channels and activity by water craft, there’s
> definitely still some around. I’ve seen it tangled in fishing nets during
> the herring runs.
>
> According to F&W “20% of the state’s eelgrass is in SF Bay.”
>
> Dominik
>
>
>
> On Oct 1, 2024, at 12:32, Maureen Lahiff via groups.io <MLahiff=
> <aol.com...> wrote:
>
> We don’t have eel grass beds anywhere near Alameda as far as I know.
>
> Seems way too dense and thick and uniform to be eel grass.
>
> On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 12:14 PM, Lorrie Klosterman <
> <loklosterman...> wrote:
>
> Is it eel grass?
> "When the eelgrass dies, detaches, and washes up on the beach, a whole new
> ecosystem is founded; many species of insects and other invertebrates begin
> to inhabit the dead plant..."
> https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/52614-Zostera-marina >
> On Tue, Oct 1, 2024, 12:04 Sharon Jue via groups.io <sljue1=
> <gmail.com...> wrote:
>
> Could be an algal bloom. Berkeley Aquatic Park sometimes gets choked with
> a fibrous mat that they periodically skim out. The (bleached) remains were
> along the west shore near the boathouse last time I went, if anyone wants
> to compare. Seems correlated with warmer weather. There was also a red
> tide <https://caseagrant.ucsd.edu/our-work/resources/red-tides-california> > surrounding Bodega Bay on Sunday; I don't know whether it also affected SF
> bay, but I wouldn't be surprised.
>
>
> On Tue, Oct 1, 2024 at 11:49 AM Maureen Lahiff via groups.io <MLahiff=
> <aol.com...> wrote:
>
> The shoreline is covered with some sort of fibrous mat. Does not seem to
> be a natural product.
>
>
> These photos were taken around 1.5 hours before a 6 ft high ride at 12:15
> pm today.
>
> Not there on Sept 26.
>
> Maureen Lahiff
> Oakland
>
>
>
>
> --
> -Sharon Jue
> ~Berkeley
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
Date: 10/1/24 12:32 pm From: Maureen Lahiff via groups.io <MLahiff...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] strange stuff washed up (?) at Elsie Roemer
We don’t have eel grass beds anywhere near Alameda as far as I know.
Seems way too dense and thick and uniform to be eel grass.
On Tuesday, October 1, 2024, 12:14 PM, Lorrie Klosterman <loklosterman...> wrote:
Is it eel grass?
"When the eelgrass dies, detaches, and washes up on the beach, a whole new ecosystem is founded; many species of insects and other invertebrates begin to inhabit the dead plant..."
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/52614-Zostera-marina
On Tue, Oct 1, 2024, 12:04 Sharon Jue via groups.io <sljue1...> wrote:
Could be an algal bloom. Berkeley Aquatic Park sometimes gets choked with a fibrous mat that they periodically skim out. The (bleached) remains were along the west shore near the boathouse last time I went, if anyone wants to compare. Seems correlated with warmer weather. There was also a red tide surrounding Bodega Bay on Sunday; I don't know whether it also affected SF bay, but I wouldn't be surprised.
On Tue, Oct 1, 2024 at 11:49 AM Maureen Lahiff via groups.io <MLahiff...> wrote:
The shoreline is covered with some sort of fibrous mat. Does not seem to be a natural product.
These photos were taken around 1.5 hours before a 6 ft high ride at 12:15 pm today.
Not there on Sept 26.
Maureen LahiffOakland
Date: 10/1/24 12:14 pm From: Lorrie Klosterman via groups.io <loklosterman...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] strange stuff washed up (?) at Elsie Roemer
Is it eel grass?
"When the eelgrass dies, detaches, and washes up on the beach, a whole new
ecosystem is founded; many species of insects and other invertebrates begin
to inhabit the dead plant..."
https://www.inaturalist.org/taxa/52614-Zostera-marina
On Tue, Oct 1, 2024, 12:04 Sharon Jue via groups.io <sljue1=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Could be an algal bloom. Berkeley Aquatic Park sometimes gets choked with
> a fibrous mat that they periodically skim out. The (bleached) remains were
> along the west shore near the boathouse last time I went, if anyone wants
> to compare. Seems correlated with warmer weather. There was also a red
> tide <https://caseagrant.ucsd.edu/our-work/resources/red-tides-california> > surrounding Bodega Bay on Sunday; I don't know whether it also affected SF
> bay, but I wouldn't be surprised.
>
>
> On Tue, Oct 1, 2024 at 11:49 AM Maureen Lahiff via groups.io <MLahiff=
> <aol.com...> wrote:
>
>> The shoreline is covered with some sort of fibrous mat. Does not seem to
>> be a natural product.
>>
>>
>> These photos were taken around 1.5 hours before a 6 ft high ride at 12:15
>> pm today.
>>
>> Not there on Sept 26.
>>
>> Maureen Lahiff
>> Oakland
>>
>>
>>
>>
> --
> -Sharon Jue
> ~Berkeley
>
>
>
Date: 10/1/24 12:04 pm From: Sharon Jue via groups.io <sljue1...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] strange stuff washed up (?) at Elsie Roemer
Could be an algal bloom. Berkeley Aquatic Park sometimes gets choked with a
fibrous mat that they periodically skim out. The (bleached) remains were
along the west shore near the boathouse last time I went, if anyone wants
to compare. Seems correlated with warmer weather. There was also a red tide
<https://caseagrant.ucsd.edu/our-work/resources/red-tides-california> surrounding Bodega Bay on Sunday; I don't know whether it also affected SF
bay, but I wouldn't be surprised.
On Tue, Oct 1, 2024 at 11:49 AM Maureen Lahiff via groups.io <MLahiff=
<aol.com...> wrote:
> The shoreline is covered with some sort of fibrous mat. Does not seem to
> be a natural product.
>
>
> These photos were taken around 1.5 hours before a 6 ft high ride at 12:15
> pm today.
>
> Not there on Sept 26.
>
> Maureen Lahiff
> Oakland
>
>
>
>
Date: 10/1/24 11:55 am From: Edward Vine via groups.io <birdalot2...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] strange stuff washed up (?) at Elsie Roemer
It was there on Sept. 25 - around low tide. Not sure what it was, but I
thought it was "natural" (ie., not plastic). But I could be wrong. I did
not touch it. :)
Ed
On Tue, Oct 1, 2024 at 11:49 AM Maureen Lahiff via groups.io <MLahiff=
<aol.com...> wrote:
> The shoreline is covered with some sort of fibrous mat. Does not seem to
> be a natural product.[image: Inline image]
>
> [image: Inline image]
>
>
> These photos were taken around 1.5 hours before a 6 ft high ride at 12:15
> pm today.
>
> Not there on Sept 26.
>
> Maureen Lahiff
> Oakland
>
>
>
>
Date: 9/30/24 9:07 pm From: Zac Denning via groups.io <zdenning1...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Possible Dusky Flycatcher in Berkeley Botanical Garden
Nice find Sharon!
To my eye, this looks like a solid Hammond’s Flycatcher, with the tiny all
dark bill, blocky head shape, and nice long primaries. The coloration fits
too.
I think the primary length (visible in your second pic) rules out Dusky.
Great bird!
Zac Denning
Albany
On Mon, Sep 30, 2024 at 8:03 PM Sharon Jue via groups.io <sljue1=
<gmail.com...> wrote:
> Hi all,
> I birded Strawberry Canyon and the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden today.
> Probably due to the heat, neither had very much bird activity, but on
> towards late afternoon I saw a rather dark-backed empidonax flycatcher
> lacking most of the greenish/yellowish tones I'd expect from Western. It
> did show the teardrop-shaped eyering though. It was pretty skittish and
> would reposition whenever I got decently close (and in short order
> disappeared in the direction of the creek), but I managed a couple distant
> photos. I sent a back-of-camera shot to a few friends who agreed that it
> looked promising for Dusky. Unfortunately was never able to refind it
> before the garden closed. As it doesn't reopen until 10AM Wednesday, if
> anyone wants to try for it, I'd suggest starting from the Centennial Rd
> staging area of the Strawberry Canyon fire trail, going up to first bend in
> the trail, and looking towards the ruins of the former observation deck.
>
> Photos on the eBird list https://ebird.org/checklist/S197086569, and
> thoughts on the ID appreciated.
>
>
> --
> -Sharon Jue
> ~Berkeley
>
>
>
Date: 9/30/24 8:10 pm From: judisierra via groups.io <judisierra...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Possible Dusky Flycatcher in Berkeley Botanical Garden
Members can enter at 9:00. And reservations are recommended to enter the Garden except for Garden Members.
On Monday, September 30, 2024 at 08:03:34 PM PDT, Sharon Jue <sljue1...> wrote:
Hi all,I birded Strawberry Canyon and the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden today. Probably due to the heat, neither had very much bird activity, but on towards late afternoon I saw a rather dark-backed empidonax flycatcher lacking most of the greenish/yellowish tones I'd expect from Western. It did show the teardrop-shaped eyering though. It was pretty skittish and would reposition whenever I got decently close (and in short order disappeared in the direction of the creek), but I managed a couple distant photos. I sent a back-of-camera shot to a few friends who agreed that it looked promising for Dusky. Unfortunately was never able to refind it before the garden closed. As it doesn't reopen until 10AM Wednesday, if anyone wants to try for it, I'd suggest starting from the Centennial Rd staging area of the Strawberry Canyon fire trail, going up to first bend in the trail, and looking towards the ruins of the former observation deck.
Photos on the eBird list https://ebird.org/checklist/S197086569, and thoughts on the ID appreciated.
Date: 9/30/24 8:03 pm From: Sharon Jue via groups.io <sljue1...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Possible Dusky Flycatcher in Berkeley Botanical Garden
Hi all, I birded Strawberry Canyon and the UC Berkeley Botanical Garden today. Probably due to the heat, neither had very much bird activity, but on towards late afternoon I saw a rather dark-backed empidonax flycatcher lacking most of the greenish/yellowish tones I'd expect from Western. It did show the teardrop-shaped eyering though. It was pretty skittish and would reposition whenever I got decently close (and in short order disappeared in the direction of the creek), but I managed a couple distant photos. I sent a back-of-camera shot to a few friends who agreed that it looked promising for Dusky. Unfortunately was never able to refind it before the garden closed. As it doesn't reopen until 10AM Wednesday, if anyone wants to try for it, I'd suggest starting from the Centennial Rd staging area of the Strawberry Canyon fire trail, going up to first bend in the trail, and looking towards the ruins of the former observation deck.
Date: 9/30/24 8:26 am From: Bruce Mast via groups.io <cathrasher4...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] recent migrants
Hello Birders, Based on what I was hearing this morning on my exercise walk, today should be a good day to get out and look for migrants and returning winter birds. I did my regular walk through Piedmont--no binoculars and no stopping for birds but plenty of ear birding. I regularly heard Towsend's Warbler chip notes along the way, plus a couple Yellow-rumped Warblers. In Piedmont Park, I heard a clucking Western Tanager, two Ruby-crowned Kinglets (my first of fall), and a Fox Sparrow singing broken song phrases. Song Sparrows are singing and calling from places where they almost certainly didn't breed--they could be migrants or local dispersing birds as far as I know.
Yesterday, I was walking past Lake Merritt near Lakeside Drive and 21st St. where I noticed a gaggle of 6 geese on the lake that looked like Cackling Geese. I hesitate a bit because again I wasn't carrying binoculars and goose size is harder to judge on the water than on land. Nevertheless, they looked small overall and their heads and bills looked proportionately smaller than Canada Geese. Worth watching for if you happen to be in the area.
Date: 9/28/24 6:20 pm From: Claude Lyneis via groups.io <cmlyneis...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Double-crested Cormorant Molting
I was out north of Pt Isabel this afternoon and there were a reasonable variety of birds. There were a pair of Double-crested Cormorants along Meeker Slough and one looked like it needed a haircut on its head. iBird says they have slow molt in the fall, which is consistent with the bird on the right in a photo. On Flickr
Date: 9/28/24 4:44 pm From: Bob Richmond via groups.io <bobrichmond94544...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Possible Northern Gannet
Today a possible Northern Gannet was seen from the south end of Marshall Ave. at the old Alameda Naval Air Station. It was seen flying along the breakwater. Bob Richmond Yahoo Mail: Search, organise, conquer
Date: 9/28/24 3:02 pm From: nat_weber via groups.io <natw976...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Swinhoe’s White eye Creekside park
Swinhoe’s White continues at Creekside park. Saw about 50’ east of previous
sighting. Around 2:30 today. It came in with a flock of bushtits.
Nat Weber
Moraga
Date: 9/28/24 7:59 am From: Alan Krakauer via groups.io <Alan.krakauer...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] House Finches and ebird -- two topics
Dave,
Perhaps you could clarify your point #2. I know your intention was to provide a compliment to a short anonymous list of birders but this comes across as extremely negative to our birding community. I'd also be surprised to learn that it's the official position of the *Macaulay* library that only some photos are scientifically interesting. Ebird is a tool released into the wild and nobody should be made to feel bad that they are reporting common birds or photographing in less than ideal light or birds in "bad poses".
Date: 9/27/24 9:49 pm From: ann callaway via groups.io <callaway.mix...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Sora at Jewel Lake in Tilden
After being alerted by another birding couple a few days ago that they had seen a Sora at Jewel Lake, I saw it briefly today at about 5:45pm. The vantage point was next to the bench overlooking the lake. Looking directly across to the opposite side, there is a kind of embankment with tule. I’ve been checking that same area in late afternoon and today I managed to spot a smallish, brown, cryptically patterned bird close to the water briefly through binoculars before it literally “turned tail” and hurried back into the reeds out of sight. Its upturned tail, rising to a point and revealing clear, pale, buffy undertail coverts was convincing.
Ann Callaway
El Cerrito
Date: 9/27/24 9:03 pm From: Zac Denning via groups.io <zdenning1...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Local interest: Swinhoe’s White-eye at Creekside Park, Albany
PS - this bird was previously reported by John Colbert and Erica
Rutherford, some weeks ago. I believe Nat Smale may have seen it here as
well before me.
Zac Denning
Albany
On Fri, Sep 27, 2024 at 4:11 PM Zac Denning <zdenning1...> wrote:
> FYI: There’s a Swinhoe’s White-eye at Creekside park in Albany, in the
> willows along Cerrito Creek, just across from the southeast (rear) corner
> of the Pacific East Mall / 99 Ranch market building. At roughly about
> (37.8981414, -122.3062178). It’s kind of a skulker.
>
> It makes a strident chip (tink!) like an Orange-crowned Warbler on
> steroids. It also made the whiny whee whee call like this:
> https://xeno-canto.org/934096.
>
>
> Zac Denning
> Albany
>
Date: 9/27/24 4:43 pm From: David Yeamans via groups.io <davidralphyeamans...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] House Finches and ebird -- two topics
1. On Tuesday I birded one of my longer patches in Livermore and saw an unusually high abundance of house finches. They were in groups of 5s 10s 30s, 60s and as many as 120 house finches in one flock. Coincidentally Tuesday was the third day in a row when I've noticed white-crowned sparrows returning here for wintering. I suppose that the WCSP have temporarily occupied habitat formerly the domain of late summer HOFI. It might be that the HOFI are moving on to an honest to goodness post breeding dispersal.
2. I am really happy to see some recent Macauley Library submissions on ebird reports that have interesting and maybe even noteworthy value. It seems like a long time since good birders with decent photos (with some excellent exceptions -- you good scientists and photographers know who you are) have shown their work. It has been a long summer of seeing 5 or 10 photos of the same common bird in a bad pose in bad light. I, and the rating teams at Mcauley, spend frustrating hours sorting through unrated (but worthy of no more than 2- or 3-stars) photos just to find something beautiful, scientifically interesting, and/or NOT watermarked with self promotions. Bless you all for your contributions.
Date: 9/27/24 4:11 pm From: Zac Denning via groups.io <zdenning1...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Local interest: Swinhoe’s White-eye at Creekside Park, Albany
FYI: There’s a Swinhoe’s White-eye at Creekside park in Albany, in the
willows along Cerrito Creek, just across from the southeast (rear) corner
of the Pacific East Mall / 99 Ranch market building. At roughly about
(37.8981414, -122.3062178). It’s kind of a skulker.
It makes a strident chip (tink!) like an Orange-crowned Warbler on
steroids. It also made the whiny whee whee call like this:
https://xeno-canto.org/934096.
This morning Jerry Britten and I had a juvenile Sabines Gull flying around the south end of Clifton Court Forebay. Note there have been several reported from Stockton WTP and two from Woodland WTP today and yesterday. Also at Clifton, two late Bank Swallows joined a flock of a few hundred mostly HY Tree Swallows and a small flock of Aleutian Cackling Geese were my first of season. Later, I counted 136 Mute Swans on Franks Tract, up from 68 on the 18th and 25 on the 6th.
From: <EBB-Sightings...> <EBB-Sightings...> On Behalf Of RON & MARILYN MODAFFERI
Sent: Wednesday, September 25, 2024 12:40 PM
To: East Bay Birds <ebb-sightings...>
Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Fw: Dove
Poor photo but in the upper left, between vertical deck railings and below the rock pile is a White-Tailed Dove or more likely a dove that escaped the grasp of a predator. Today, for first time I saw a house cat visiting the same area.
The last few days there were flocks of 10-20 bush tits quickly visiting several trees in our back yard.
!/2 mile north of Alamo, Safeway on east side of Danville Blvd.
Date: 9/25/24 12:40 pm From: RON & MARILYN MODAFFERI via groups.io <tahoemod...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Fw: Dove
Poor photo but in the upper left, between vertical deck railings and below the rock pile is a White-Tailed Dove or more likely a dove that escaped the grasp of a predator. Today, for first time I saw a house cat visiting the same area.
The last few days there were flocks of 10-20 bush tits quickly visiting several trees in our back yard.
!/2 mile north of Alamo, Safeway on east side of Danville Blvd.
Ron
----- Forwarded Message ----- From: tahoemod <tahoemod...>To: "<tahoemod...>" <tahoemod...>Sent: Tuesday, September 24, 2024 at 10:55:50 AM PDTSubject: Dove
Sent via the Samsung Galaxy S20 FE 5G, an AT&T 5G smartphone
Date: 9/25/24 6:22 am From: Sam Zuckerman via groups.io <samzuckerman...> Subject: Re: [EBB-Sightings] Coyote Hills: Lesser (?) Yellowlegs
I was at the Coyote Hills on Sept. 11 and was struck by the large concentration of Lesser Yellowlegs in the Main Marsh, outnumbering the Greater Yellowlegs. I counted 10, which was probably a significant undercount. Even for migration season, that seems like a large number. https://ebird.org/checklist/S194797883
> On 09/24/2024 8:46 PM PDT Maureen Lahiff via groups.io <mlahiff...> wrote: > > > I am fairly certain that these birds, which I saw today near the start of the Main Marsh boardwalk at Coyote Hills, are Lesser (and not Greater) Yellowlegs. > > Bills seem too short relative to head depth and they have shorter legs and seem much smaller than Greater. > > I realize this is not a great cell phone photo. Least Sandpiper on the left for size comparison. > > Thanks, Maureen Lahiff > > [Inline image] > > > > > >
Date: 9/24/24 4:52 pm From: Claude Lyneis via groups.io <cmlyneis...> Subject: [EBB-Sightings] Shorebirds returning to Stege Marsh/ Meeker Slough
I went out looking for the Red Knot reported a few days ago, this morning and didn’t see it. Still, it was great weather, winds were calm and the morning light is improving and there were a good variety of birds to photograph.
This morning, I did 2 early morning peak watches from the top of Vollmer Peak, starting before sunrise, looking for migrants. Both days, the temperature was quite warm, with clear skies from the peak, looking down on a dense blanket of fog below. The sunrises above the sea of fog were spectacular! (photos below). I had 49 species on my list Saturday and 57 today. Audio clips to be added later.
- *Vaux's Swifts*: *42* on Saturday, *96* today, counted by ones, all heading south (presumably from the McNear Brickyard roost), with peak flights between 7 and 8:30am. Occasionally, a group would pause to forage with the Violet-green Swallows and White-throated Swifts directly above the peak, but most were tiny specks streaming southward, and often not visible without above the fog bank with binoculars. Saturday's count would have been higher if I'd started earlier - and I also wasn't looking as hard for them at the beginning. - *Western Tanagers*: 23 on Saturday, 5 today. Saturday morning at pre-dawn, there were tanagers calling all over the west facing hillside above the parking lot, with often 2-3 visible at once, plus scattered individuals flying by the peak. Most seemed to depart within 1/2 hour after dawn. Today, there were only a few scattered individuals heard and seen. - *Black-headed Grosbeaks*: 5 Saturday, none on Sunday. - *Warblers*: Surprisingly low numbers! Saturday - 4 *Yellow-rumped*, 3 *Townsend's*; Sunday: 1 *Wilson's*, 6 *Townsend's*, 5 *Yellow-rumpeds*, 2 *Orange-crowned* (1 singing briefly), 1 *Yellow* near the lower parking area. Most flew over the peak without stopping or pausing only momentarily in a tree before heading off again. All were heading NE. - *Thrushes*: 4 Swainson's, 5 *Hermit* on Saturday; 1 *Swainson's*, 11 *Hermits* today - *Western Wood-pewees*: 2 Saturday, 7 today - *Raptors*: on Saturday - 1 *Cooper's*, one *Sharpie*, one *Merlin*; On Sunday, 1 *Red-tail*, 1 *Red-shouldered* and 1 *Cooper's*. *Great-horned Owls *were calling both mornings - *Anna's Hummingbirds*: 14 Saturday, 15 Sunday - nearly all zipping over the peak at high speed and obviously on the move (not stopping to perch or forage). Several chased raptors at different points. - *Violet-green Swallows:* abundant both days, with a good sized flock circling the peak, with numbers building starting at about 8am - *Fox Sparrows*: 9-10 each day, with some zipping over the peak in active migration, but most calling or foraging in 2s and 3s at various places along the trail - One offs from the weekend and/or less common for Vollmer Peak or the time of year: - Saturday: - *Pacific Wren* - Juvenile *Chipping Sparrow* (foraging with the junco flock just a short way downhill from the peak) - 2 *American Goldfinches* - 6 *Red-winged Blackbirds* - A flock of 10 unidentified ducks flying far to the East of the peak - 2 *Tree Swallows* - Sunday: - 6 *Western Kingbirds* flying low over the peak heading SW over the peak (flagged as rare) - 1 *Say's Phoebe*, heading SW over the peak - 1 *Northern Mockingbird* - 1 *American Pipit* - I wasn't expecting this one! - 1 *Acorn Woodpecker*, perhaps dispersing or seeking a new colony - 1 *Red-breasted Sapsucker* - 1 *Pine Siskin* - 1* House Wren* - On both days, I encountered small numbers of Western Flycatchers, California Thrashers (singing on Saturday), Ruby-crowned Kinglets, Golden-crowned Sparrows (FOS for me on Saturday), creepers, flickers, Downy Woodpeckers, Band-tailed Pigeons - Misses and lower numbers than I'd expect: No Hermit or Black-throated Gray Warblers, no bluebirds, surprisingly few House Finches and no Purple Finches
