Team “Hot Spotters” was a very small team this year. Its designation as a “distributed team” is a little amusing since instead of the usual large group spreading all over the county like last year, it was just Cricket and I in one car, and Alice Smith, who birded independently, in another. Technically distributed yes… But as a result of a mere two parties, our net was not as wide as previous years… Anyway, we needed to end by 5:00 in order to get home in time to start the Speaker Series so that cut into our time as well. No matter, whatever the three of us found would all be mixed together in the final list, and it was a beautiful day.
My DeDUCKtions 24-hour team the previous week focused on South County so we decided that the Hot Spotters should tackle the East Hills and a bit of the Bay. We had ambitions of reaching the West Hills toward the end of day, but that idea was unrealistic from the start. Too little time.
So at dawn Cricket and I began birding in Smith Creek where we had Hammond’s Flycatcher, Black-throated Gray Warbler, and the first of two Nashville Warblers. We also had another singing White-throated Sparrow (the first one was at our Mountain View home two days earlier). All of these birds were in the gray pines and valley oaks on the slope above the fire station. The creek itself was replete with song—Cassin’s Vireo, Warbling Vireo, Black-headed Grosbeak, Hermit Thrush and more. It was a spectacular morning!
We then made a quick stop at Twin Gates and a second Nashville Warbler appeared. Such as smart looking Warbler and I’m so glad we familiarized ourselves with its song in the week before our big day. We also saw some Lark Sparrows copulating on the trail just a few yards from the parking lot. Not something you see every day!
Our only disappointment however was not finding the Vermilion Flycatcher at Grant Park despite two visits to the Hotel Trail and Ranch House area. Bullock’s Oriole, Pacific-slope Flycatcher, Western Kingbird, Western Wood Pewee and luminous Lazuli Buntings were nice consolations though. Of course another of our target birds, Lawrence’s Goldfinches put on a good show around the fountain, restrooms and meadow.
For Cricket and I that first three hours was the most productive and enjoyable—although we made many other stops before 5:00 PM that first area was the best. We really felt fortunate to have such beautiful weather and spectacular landscape so close to home. Throw in a pair of mating Lark Sparrows and it doesn’t get much better. But to be honest, nothing could surpass that early morning at Smith Creek. The clear skies, bite of early spring frost, the woods filled with song, and of course, the Nashville Warbler!
We ended up with 123 species (Cricket and Matthew). Alice might have gotten some additional species which we will add to the total.