The Almaden Eagles went out on our Birdathon day on Sat, Apr 25, as a "distributed" team of Janna Pauser, Kirsten Holmquist, and Ann Verdi - each birding separately in different areas of the "traditional" Almaden Eagles territory. The day was sunny, warm and sultry with many folks getting outside for the day - families with kids, older walkers, runners, bicyclists, dog walkers - plus crowded parking areas - all presenting somewhat of a challenge, but most people are aware and mindful of "social distancing" now in place during this strange time.

Below are brief summaries of highlights for each of the team members.

Janna began her day with a RUFOUS HUMMINGBIRD in her backyard. From there she headed out for some stake-out birds near Los Alamitos Creek - RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH at Greystone Park, YELLOW WARBLER along the creek, and a CALIFORNIA THRASHER near Leland HS. At a stop by Calero CP's Rancho San Vicente she found a TRICOLORED BLACKLBIRD among a mixed blackbird flock. She then headed into New Almaden, Almaden Reservoir, Twin Creeks and Hicks Rd. WOOD DUCKS were at the reservoir, a WILD TURKEY in Twin Creeks, and an array of spring migrants along Hicks Rd (WARBLING VIREO, CASSIN'S VIREO, W. WOOD-PEWEE, W. TANAGER, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, WILSON'S WARBLER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK), plus BROWN CREEPER.
After a mid-day break, Janna had permission to go up Harry Rd toward the IBM facility at 6:00pm. Here she found RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW, LARK SPARROW, and her bird-of-the-day - a CASSIN'S KINGBIRD perched in a eucalyptus. Coming down the hill at dusk she saw a GREAT HORNED OWL, and had at least five COMMON POORWILLS fly out near the base of the hill. After a long day, Janna recorded 77 species for her day.

Kirsten did the southern portion of the Almaden Eagles route stopping first at the Stile Ranch trailhead at Santa Teresa CP. Here she tallied RUFOUS-CROWNED SPARROW, GRASSHOPPER SPARROW, ROCK WREN, BARN SWALLOW, RED-WINGED BLACKBIRD, BREWER'S BLACKBIRD. Next stop was Calero Reservoir which was open this weekend. Here she got BALD EAGLE, our only eagle of the day, but, hey, we needed to get at least one eagle! Other good birds seen here included OSPREY, WHITE-TAILED KITE, AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN, COMMON YELLOWTHROAT, plus WESTERN & CLARK'S GREBES and CASPIAN & FORSTER'S TERNS - a profitable stop! Next stop was Canada del Oro picking up COOPER'S HAWK, and spring migrants (CASSIN'S & WARBLING VIREOS, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER. HOUSE WREN, BLUE-GRAY GNATCATCHER, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, WILSON'S WARBLER, and BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK). At Chesbro she found WOOD DUCKS plus AMERICAN WHITE PELICAN & FORSTER'S TERNS. Last stop of the day was Coyote Valley OSP where she tallied YELLOW-BILLED MAGPIE, ROCK WREN, W. BLUEBIRD, W. MEADOWLARK, and BULLOCK'S ORIOLE. Since Kirsten's stops were more spread out, she had the most driving of the day. Kirsten's total was 74 birds.

Ann covered areas within her 5 Mile Radius (5MR). While several stops were made, she concentrated her efforts on Almaden Lake and Los Capitancillos Ponds. She started with Almaden Lake in the morning where nesting is now in full swing at the egret/heron nesting island - GREAT BLUE HERON, GREAT EGRET, SNOWY EGRET, and BLACK-CROWNED NIGHT-HERON. Two CASPIAN TERNS plus several COMMON MERGANSERS were on the lake. CALIFORNIA GULLS were the only gulls seen here. She checked Los Capitancillos Ponds in the afternoon with some interesting birds noted here. Besides MALLARDS and GADWALL, a few lingering wintering ducks were still here - RING-NECKED DUCK, BUFFLEHEAD & RUDDY DUCK. In the back corner of the first western pond a CACKING GOOSE and GREATER WHITE-FRONTED GOOSE were seen quietly together among the reed beds. The Cackler has been seen off & on around here recently, but not so with the young Greater White-fronted Goose. Among other birds were a continuing COMMON GALLINULE in the second pond and a SPOTTED SANDPIPER in the first pond. At least five GREAT-TAILED GRACKLES were seen at the first pond - 3 males posturing in a tree and 2 females flying low across the pond across the pond into reed beds in the north- eastern part of the pond where nesting may be taking place. Also a pair of COMMON RAVENS are back at a nest site they occupied last year on a transmission tower at the transmission station on Singletree Way. Spring migrants seen at other stops included VAUX'S SWIFT, PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHER, WILSON'S WARBLER, HOODED ORIOLE, ORANGE-CROWNED WARBLER, BLACK-HEADED GROSBEAK, and swallows, mostly N. ROUGH-WINGED & VIOLET-GREEN. Ann had 52 species for the day

In combining our bird lists, the Almaden Eagles came up with a total of 109 species for the day. Many thanks to Janna and Kirsten for all your efforts and in agreeing to do this unique Birdathon day. We did good!