The Rock Wrens in 2019. Craig Hunter far left, behind in far back is Bill Holland, Pete Dunten in Blue Bandana, David McIntyre center, Jennifer Rycenga Center front (Sequoia Audubon Society President), Steve Patt white hat rear, Bob Hirt (Team Leade… — The Rock Wrens in 2019. Craig Hunter far left, behind in far back is Bill Holland, Pete Dunten in Blue Bandana, David McIntyre center, Jennifer Rycenga Center front (Sequoia Audubon Society President), Steve Patt white hat rear, Bob Hirt (Team Leader) white hat front, and Mike Mammoser far right. Photo either by Craig Hunter or Jennifer Rycenga, depending on who you ask :-).

I woke with feelings of excitement and anticipation – this was the Rock Wrens’ day! Time to explore and check the pulse of the spring migration, while simultaneously hoping some wintering birds were still around. My assigned area was Alviso; luckily the Alviso Marina CP was still open, allowing access to some ponds where ducks and shorebirds could be expected (A12, A13, A15, A16 and A17). Of course well-laid plans are one thing, and spur-of-the-moment adjustments, responding to unexpected opportunities, are another. Speaking of which, a Vermilion Flycatcher had been seen just yesterday at Sunnyvale Baylands, a location better known for attracting fall warblers. Why not stop there and have a look, as it was on my way to Alviso? The idea seemed promising: as I got out of my car, I could hear the park was full of birdsong. Wilson’s Warbler, Bullock’s Oriole, Lesser Goldfinch, a Hooded Oriole, so many voices trying to be heard. A Chipping Sparrow was surely a migrant. And what’s this, an interesting empid right in front of me, on a picnic table no less!? The bill doesn’t look large enough or brightly colored enough for Pac-Slope, with a darker tip to the lower mandible. And I’ve got a clear and unobstructed view of the flycatcher just beyond my close-focus distance. I slowly take out my camera as another birder approaches. Just as I am ready to shoot, he gets close enough to flush the bird. Aargh! He comments, 'That always happens, eh? The bird is there when your camera isn't ready, and when you’re ready the bird is gone'. Quite an astute fellow, yet one I hope never to see again!

And honestly, what could be worse than one of the toughest identification challenges, right at the beginning of a Big Day? Was that a Dusky or a Hammond's Flycatcher? Would I ever get another chance at decent photos, and how long should I try? With the trees leafed out and the flycatchers perched motionless in between rapid sallies for insects, it was going to be hard to sort this bird. The empids were occasionally interacting, and I could hear one Pac-Slope and two ‘Burrt’-ing birds. I spend entirely too much time trying to find the mystery empid, not willing to let it go, until finally getting good looks at a Hammond’s. I show it to one other birder and now it’s time to move on, way behind schedule.

I know from scouting around Alviso that many good birds are possible – Red-breasted Merganser, Red-necked Phalarope, Snowy Plover, Merlin and American Pipit are all on my most-wanted list as I head out along A12 on my bicycle. I cover A12 and A13 and begin wondering where are the American Pipits? They were here just a week ago or so. And where was the Merlin that's been hanging around? Was I following in Larry Spivak's footsteps? I couldn’t shake the feeling I’d inherited his curse somehow.

And now a dilemma - do I list the Caspian Terns over A16 in my current A15 eBird list? If so, it's one hundred ten percent guaranteed I'll hear from the eBird cops about using a more specific location. Bother!

On the levee between A13 and A15, good things begin happening. I count 29 Red-necked Phalaropes on A15, the high count so far this spring. They arrived just a few days after the first hatch of brine flies. In fact I wondered if the Phalaropes were late, as the Western Sandpipers and Cal Gulls had tucked in to the smorgasbord of flies for days before the Phalaropes showed. I also count 4 Snowy Plovers on A15, a nice find given I’ve not been able to locate them every visit. Red-breasted Mergansers are no-shows on A14, but still possible over at A16, and I head that way.

A16 offers a good selection of ducks, and as my time runs out on the way back I serendipitously meet what must be the last American Pipit remaining in the south bay! Moments later while I’m closing out my A16 list, a Peregrine Falcon arrives to check out the offerings. The Falcon comes away empty-taloned after blasting over the roosting ducks and dowitchers at deck level. My luck comes in threes this day, with a lone Semipalmated Plover calling as it flies westward across my path. And that’s a wrap, the three late additions bring my day’s total to 73. Most will have been seen by other team members; some surely will have been missed by the others and represent my unique contribution to our count. For those other Rock Wrens’ stories, you’ll have to read on!

~Pete Dunten

ROCKING THE WRENS

Pictures referred to in this report can be found here:

Yesterday was my annual SCVAS birdathon with the "Rock Wrens", a group of six or seven excellent birders plus me. What I lack in skill I make up in enthusiasm (plus my Birdwatcher's Diary software to record the sightings). Thanks to SIP we're not going out as a team this year, just a bunch of individual efforts grouped together. The "official" team day was Sunday, but personal obligations related to selling my house made Saturday a better day for me. Since we're separated anyway, it really doesn't make any difference.

I headed out at sunrise, noting a few birds I could hear in my front yard, but planning to start "officially" when I got to Rancho San Antonio. Our "normal" birdathon is a "24-hour" effort, which in practice means about 14 hours or so of birding. But with seven people going separately, if we all went out for the full time that would mean seven times as much birding as we normally do. That was permitted by the rules, but I decided to limit my birding to four hours (7x4 would still accomplish more birding than normal), supplemented by what I could see at my house.

I started out with a bang. Stepped out of my car (easy parking at Rancho at 6:45 a.m.; not so later!) and a COOPER'S HAWK came flying by overhead going "kek kek kek", landing in the trees below the PG&E trail (picture). Five minutes later a GREAT BLUE HERON flew by. GBH is an interesting bird. They're reasonably common, even many non-birders can recognize them, but surprisingly they're easily missed on birdathon day.

A lot of birding this early in the day is done by ear (actually true all day, for that matter), but soon the din from the gobbling of the WILD TURKEYS was drowning out the sounds of the other birds. As I started my walk around the meadow, an amusing sight caught my eye (and my camera). The Heron was foraging in the field, but three of the Turkeys were having none of it. They ran after the Heron, forcing it to flee not once, but twice (pictures and movie). Pretty funny.

Walking up the Hill Trail I was hoping for Lazuli Bunting, often seen there at this time of year, but no luck. By the water tank at the top I did see my FOS (first of the season) ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER. Leaving Rancho at 8:15 or so I was at 22 species.

Gate of Heaven Cemetery adjacent to Rancho has been a good spot for Hooded Mergansers, but the only residents of their ponds on this day were six plastic Swans and one lone MALLARD. I did see my only WESTERN BLUEBIRDS of the day by driving to the back of the cemetery which is often a good spot for them.

Driving up Stevens Canyon Rd. I stopped at the Gun Club where there is a thicket that often brings some good finds. On this day a second Ash-throated Flycatcher sat waiting for me on a wire, but nothing new. Up the hill to Picchetti Winery where I heard my FOS PACIFIC-SLOPE FLYCATCHERS. A stunning but uncountable PEACOCK was also a Picchetti treat. Later I was chasing a WILSON'S WARBLER (which I had heard first at Rancho). I realized as I was doing so that, as frustrated as I always am trying to see Marsh Wrens (a species I got a good look and a photo of a few days ago for the first time in a couple years), Wilson's Warbler's are even worse. Their voice is just as loud, just as distinctive, and they are just as frustratingly hard to see. But there's one difference. Marsh Wrens are drab brown, and Wilson's Warblers are **bright yellow** (with a black yarmulke). How can you not see them? And yet far more times than not, you can't. This particular Wilson's did give something back to me, though; while I was searching for it I caught sight of my only RUBY-CROWNED KINGLET of the day.

Next on the agenda was a drive up Stevens Canyon. TURKEY VULTURES circled overhead, but, in a fairly rare sighting, one of them posed for me on a telephone wire (picture). Local birders know that the "3rd bridge" up the canyon used to be a reliable location for American Dipper, so I made an obligatory stop there. The creek was beautiful (picture), but no Dipper. No surprise, as it hasn't been seen here for a few years now. Still have to look. I continued driving up the Canyon to Redwood Gulch, where I managed to hear (but not see) a singing PACIFIC WREN, one of my favorite singers with its elongated, exuberant burst of song.

Turning around, I came back down the canyon, stopping at several picnic areas of Stevens Creek County Park but adding nothing new. So I headed for McClellan Ranch Preserve, where Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society (the financial beneficiary of money raised in the birdathon) is headquartered. In birdathons, or "big days", there is such a thing as a "stake out" bird, a bird you pretty much know will be where it has been. And that was my purpose here, because a WESTERN SCREECH-OWL has been resident in the barn for months now, and easily seen on its perch in the rafters during the day. And that ended my four hours of birding. 42 species at this point.

Orange-crowned Warbler. Photo by Steve Patt

But I wasn't done. Coming home, I had two species in mind, one of them almost certain to be missed by other members of the team, and the second a possible miss — WHITE-THROATED SPARROW and RED-BREASTED NUTHATCH. When I got home, I was quickly consumed with resposibilities, because we had a house showing in a couple hours. I only got about 15 minutes all told in the next few hours to look out the window, but remarkably, both of those target species showed up (pictures). Now up to 44 species. The time now exceeded my 4-hour goal, but that was arbitrary anyway.

But I still wasn't done, because we had to clear out of the house for an hour for a house showing. All the usual places one might go to hang out (Starbucks, the library) are closed, so we headed out to Stevens Creek County Park, where I had had no luck earlier finding new species. Not this time! Sitting on the fence (benches off limits!) at the Canyon Picnic Area we added HAIRY WOODPECKER and NUTTALL'S WOODPECKER (pictures), the latter a rather common species that I had somehow missed earlier. And then across the road an the Cooley P.A. my last species of the day and my first BLACK PHOEBE, a real surprise given how common they are. So in the end I finished with 47 species for the day.

Donations in honor of my effort, which go to support the education and conservation efforts of Santa Clara Valley Audubon Society, can be made here:

~Steve Patt

Sponsor the Rock Wrens

I had a good day healthwise doing 4.5 miles (14,000 steps). My cardiologist might be pleased. I broke it down into small chunks separated by rest periods and hydration. Worked pretty well.

In my areas I had 77 species. I went for a recuperative drive into Mike Mammoser’s turf and picked up ten species not found in my turf.

On another driving break scooted to Mountain View Shoreline Lake and added 15 for 102 for the day. It’s all good👍

My area Hits:

1) GT Grackle (3) at third Capitancillos pond west of Meridian near Coleman. Heard commotion in third pond and then to see a Great Blue Heron eat a mallard duckling. Yikes! Quite a mouthful.

2) Chipping Sparrow (2) on Golden Oak Near Macabee. Jeffrey Fontana Park but not in regular place. Also had 4 American Goldfinches at The Strand and Burchell.

3) Commmon Merganser pair in Los Alamitos Creek on Almaden Road past the Hicks turn off. This was by far the birdiest Area all day even though I was there at nearly midday.

Hits outside my turf: (Mikes)

1) Swainson’s Hawk on nest tree at Charter School of Morgan Hill on northbound Monterey Hwy just SE

Of Bailey Road.

2) Rock Wren in SE rocky field in last big dip on Countryview Way of McKean Road.

It was a great day with lots of rest periods, but I made it and appreciate the support of many sponsors. Thank you.

~Bob Hirt

All,

I spent the day yesterday from before first light, looking for owls, to after dark, waiting futilely for a poorwill that had other plans. During that time I garnered 107 species, mainly from the south county, but with one deviation.

A little before 5:00 am I was on Las Animas Road, where I was able to find BARN, GREAT HORNED, and WESTERN SCREECH-OWLS. I was not able to connect with a pygmy-owl, even though I was in a prime place at a prime time. After a little day birding here at sunrise, I headed back towards hwy 101.

Along Metcalf Road I picked up my only LARK SPARROW of the day, and my FOS ASH-THROATED FLYCATCHER. A nice thrill here was finding a herd of tule elk near the county motorcycle park, which consisted of 25 adults (including a male in velvet) and 4 fawns. A quick stop on Bailey Ave had one of the SWAINSON'S HAWKS at the charter school along Monterey Road.

At Coyote Lake County Park, the CANYON WREN was proclaiming its ownership of the dam to all who would listen. It was my constant companion for the duration of my visit. I never saw a WHITE-THROATED SWIFT, but they were in a perpetual coffee clatch from inside the cliff at the end of the dam, jabbering on about whatever. A pair of BALD EAGLES was at the traditional nest site uphill from the west end of the dam. The lake itself was pretty barren of any ducks or grebes, but the pond below the dam had a pair of WOOD DUCKS.

I just looked out my patio window and saw a rain of feathers. An adult male COOPER'S HAWK is plucking an unfortunate victim, as the local BEWICK'S WREN puts up a protest.

I then slowly drove Gilroy Hot Springs and Canada Roads, bolstering my day list, before heading to San Felipe Road. Once there, the CASSIN'S KINGBIRD vocalized his willingness to join the endeavor. Not to be outdone, a WESTERN KINGBIRD chimed in as well. After a little bit of a wait, a pair of LAWRENCE'S GOLDFINCH showed up at the wet tire track serving as a water hole.

I then decided to head to Alviso, my main interest being to try and find Burrowing Owl and Black Rail. Neither of these birds was willing to cooperate. So, after picking up my FOS SEMIPALMATED PLOVER, I drove back to Coyote Valley.

A stop at Ogier Ponds produced a GREAT-TAILED GRACKLE and a COMMON GALLINULE.

I headed over to the Coyote Valley OSP, which was crowded with people and devoid of birds. However, a small group of BROWN-HEADED COWBIRDS was accompanying the horses in the corral on Palm Dr.

A check of Calero Reservoir produced both species of aechmophorus grebes, a couple CASPIAN TERNS, and an adult BALD EAGLE sitting on a nest.

I then puttered around, cherry picking for my day list, before ending up at Harry Road, without the aforementioned uncooperative poorwill.

~Michael Mammoser

Lake Ranch Reservoir on the John Nicholas Trail. Photo by Craig Hunter.

My assigned territory included the Santa Cruz mountains and some parks and areas near Los Gatos. Started from the trail head at John Nicholas trail at 5am with sunrise at 6:25am. Experiencing dawn at the lake (about 1.25 miles in) was one of my all-time favorite nature experiences. Multiple Great-Horned Owls hooting for over an hour starting just before dawn, a few Northern Pygmy Owls chiming in now and again. As the light started increasing, first heard a Song Sparrow and then a few Mourning Doves. Before long, American Robins were everywhere singing away.

Hiked up the trail about ½ mile above the lake. Passed a couple of noisy Pacific Wrens doing their thing. Heard a Western Tanager and spotted a Pileated Woodpecker hammering away. Also in that area had quite a few Red-Breasted Nuthatch, a Brown Creeper, and Townsend’s, Wilson’s and Yellow-rumped Warblers.

Back down at the lake had my first Cassin’s Vireo of the day. Several more back at the parking area. On the way there passed quite a few Pacific Slope Flycatchers and even more Pacific Wrens. Also Hairy Woodpecker and some California Quail.

Drove over to Loma Prieta next. Had Olive-sided Flycatcher from the car, and found California Thrasher and Ruby-crowned Kinglets over at the mountain. But struck out on Purple Martins and Black-chinned Sparrows.

Stopped by Lexington Reservoir on my way back to Los Gatos. Spotted a Caspian Tern and a Downy Woodpecker there.

In downtown Los Gatos, was pleased to find the American Dipper, though not in his / her usual spot. Seeing this bird (if you aren’t familiar, Google it – it swims!) perched on a rock in a stream, close enough that I could see its special eyelids as it blinked – very cool.

Quite stop and home and then headed to Belgatos Park. Added Cooper’s Hawk, House Wren and Hutton’s Viro. But missed the Hammond’s Flycatcher that had been reported the day before. Got Purple Finch, Red-shouldered Hawk and Warbling Vireo’s off Kennedy Rd. And stopped by my parent’s house in Saratoga to add Pine Siskin.

Ended the day at Vasona Park and then Los Gatos Creek County park. Lots of swallows (Cliff, Tree, Violet Green and Northern Rough-winged) and some lingering Golden-crowned Sparrows. American Widgeon and Gadwall. But overall the park was quite crowded and the ducks were scarce.

End up at 84 species, unless I missed something.

Still fun!

~Craig Hunter

Stanford Campus Habitat shot taken by David McIntyre while cruising the campus for birds

Dipped on the Vermillion at Sunnyvale Baylands, but if others are done & still out & about a revisit could be worth it. There were about 8-10 other birders looking for the vermillion some of whom had been there for several hours before I got there (which was about 1:30/1:45; I left at 3:10). I was told there was a possible Hammonds in the same area (west of the restrooms rather than east where the vermillion was yesterday) but I only saw a Pac. Slope. Something else to look for there though if anyone returns today.

Will send my full list later today but besides the birds I reported earlier today other nice birds I got include: Western Tanager, White-throated Swift, Black-throated Gray Warbler, a Myrtle type YR Warbler, and 3 Blue-Gray Gnatcatchers in the same tree (Lagunitas “lake” parking lot, where the Black-Throated Gray Warbler was too). Also had a distant pair of darkish falcons courting west of the Stanford Mall towards the Santa Cruz Mountains.

Larger than kestrels but light was very bad & distance was far & only a 3 second look (possible merlins or even peregrines but calling them falcon sp. because of the poor look).

Nice day. Looking forward to doing it together next year!

Los Altos - Merritt Rd, Shoup Park & surrounding neighborhood, Cuesta Park
Arastradero Preserve/Road drive-by
Stanford - Lake Lagunitas, Junipero Serra Blvd, Stanford Mall
Palo Alto Bayshore driveby
Sunnyvale Baylands

60 species (not incl. sps.)

~David McIntyre

I had a good morning. I started with a hope for owls (but, found none) Started at McClellan Ranch and then up to the top of Stevens Canyon Rd. Then, after dawn, I proceeded to Emily Renzel Wetlands and the Palo Alto Baylands area. (It was "inconvenient" that Embarcadero Rd. was blocked off a block before the Palo Alto Airport, and Geng Rd. was also blocked off. So, most of my time was spent walking from where I could find a parking spot, around the water treatment plant and out to Lucy Evans Baylands Nature Center. In total, I counted 67 species across 6 checklists on eBird.

8:42 Palo Alto Baylands--Duck Pond https://ebird.org/checklist/S67484680

8:27 Emily Renzel Wetlands https://ebird.org/checklist/S67469440

8:00 Matadero Creek Trail https://ebird.org/checklist/S67468631

7:05 Palo Alto Flood Control Basin https://ebird.org/checklist/S67466964

5:47 Stevens Creek CP--Cooley-Canyon Picnic Areas https://ebird.org/checklist/S67492637

5:10 McClellan Ranch Preserve https://ebird.org/checklist/S67458046

~Bill Holland

Rock Wrens Complete list, in Taxonomic order:

Final species count: 165

Ducks, Geese, and Waterfowl

Canada Goose
Wood Duck
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Gadwall
American Wigeon
Mallard
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Surf Scoter
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Common Merganser
Ruddy Duck

New World Quail

California Quail

Pheasants, Grouse, and Allies

Wild Turkey

Grebes

Pied-billed Grebe
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Clark's Grebe

Pigeons and Doves

Rock Pigeon
Band-tailed Pigeon
Eurasian Collared-Dove
Mourning Dove

Swifts

White-throated Swift

Hummingbirds

Anna's Hummingbird
Allen's Hummingbird

Rails, Gallinules, and Coots

Ridgway's Rail
Common Gallinule
American Coot

Stilts and Avocets

Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet

Oystercatchers

Black Oystercatcher

Plovers and Lapwings

Snowy Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer

Sandpipers and Allies

Whimbrel
Long-billed Curlew
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Dunlin
Least Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Red-necked Phalarope
Spotted Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet

Gulls, Terns, and Skimmers

Mew Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Western Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Glaucous-winged Gull
Caspian Tern
Forster's Tern

Cormorants and Shags

Double-crested Cormorant

Pelicans

American White Pelican
Brown Pelican

Herons, Egrets, and Bitterns

Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Black-crowned Night-Heron

New World Vultures

Turkey Vulture

Osprey

Osprey

Hawks, Eagles, and Kites

White-tailed Kite
Cooper's Hawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk

Barn-Owls

Barn Owl

Owls

Western Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Northern Pygmy-Owl

Kingfishers

Belted Kingfisher

Woodpeckers

Acorn Woodpecker
Downy Woodpecker
Nuttall's Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Pileated Woodpecker
Northern Flicker

Falcons and Caracaras

American Kestrel
Peregrine Falcon

Tyrant Flycatchers

Olive-sided Flycatcher
Hammond's Flycatcher
Pacific-slope Flycatcher
Black Phoebe
Ash-throated Flycatcher
Cassin's Kingbird
Western Kingbird

Vireos, Shrike-Babblers, and Erpornis

Hutton's Vireo
Cassin's Vireo
Warbling Vireo

Crows, Jays, and Magpies

Steller's Jay
California Scrub-Jay
Yellow-billed Magpie
American Crow
Common Raven

Tits, Chickadees, and Titmice

Chestnut-backed Chickadee
Oak Titmouse

Swallows

Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Tree Swallow
Violet-green Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow

Long-tailed Tits

Bushtit

Sylviid Warblers, Parrotbills, and Allies

Wrentit

Kinglets

Ruby-crowned Kinglet

Nuthatches

Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Pygmy Nuthatch

Treecreepers

Brown Creeper

Gnatcatchers

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher

Wrens

Rock Wren
Canyon Wren
House Wren
Pacific Wren
Marsh Wren
Bewick's Wren

Dippers

American Dipper

Starlings

European Starling

Mockingbirds and Thrashers

California Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird

Thrushes and Allies

Western Bluebird
American Robin

Waxwings

Cedar Waxwing

Old World Sparrows

House Sparrow

Wagtails and Pipits

American Pipit

Finches, Euphonias, and Allies

House Finch
Purple Finch
Pine Siskin
Lesser Goldfinch
Lawrence's Goldfinch
American Goldfinch

New World Sparrows

Chipping Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
California Towhee
Rufous-crowned Sparrow
Spotted Towhee

Troupials and Allies

Western Meadowlark
Hooded Oriole
Bullock's Oriole
Red-winged Blackbird
Brown-headed Cowbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Great-tailed Grackle

New World Warblers

Orange-crowned Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Townsend's Warbler
Wilson's Warbler

Cardinals and Allies

Western Tanager
Black-headed Grosbeak