Our SFO group spent the morning at Newman golf course walking towards Jetty
Woods, with the inlet hosting a good variety of waterfowl, including GW
teals, pintails, gadwalls, redhead, canvasback,etc. A lone BONAPARTE'S GULL
hung out cooperatively before flying right in front of us showing of its
upper wing patterns, while a group of about 5 male and 1 female buffleheads
put on a nice show of head-bobbing displays right in front of us.
A mockingbird flushed and flew across the inlet, but later returned, while
across the inlet at Cass Park could be spied a group of 3-4 crows with
green wing tags, which I told my group meant they were FISH CROWS. Is that
cheating? :-D (and more importantly, is that accurate, Kevin and Anne?)
On the nest could be scoped a GREAT HORNED OWL and one fluffy chick.
At the edge of Jetty Woods a flock of a dozen or so RUSTY BLACKBIRDS
foraged on the ground, while above a male kestrel perched to feed on an
unidentified small bird. Two great blue herons soared gracefully in the
breeze, one perching only briefly. The lower fall creek downstream from the
suspension bridge is frozen, but the upper part was open with nice flows of
ice pieces; here we added belted kingfisher to our list, as a variety of
woodpeckers vocalized and drummed and played around us.
We drove up to the Stewart Avenue bridge over Fall Creek, the cliffs glazed
with a hoary sheen, and the nest hosting a brooding red-tailed hawk sitting
cozily in the wind shadow. As we left a second redtail soared past being
harassed by two crows.
We continued to Stevenson Road where Bob had told us of the continuing
snipes, but along the way Bob called to say they were absent on his way
home. We went there anyways, and thankfully found at least two WINSON'S
SNIPES who flushed and flew more than they stayed put (probably
uncomfortable with the larger-than-usual group of spectators being so
close). Meanwhile a well-hidden Killdeer just sat quietly in the grass
behind the puddle, as many gulls gathered and flushed in the distance but
we were too cold to scan, though we added turkey vulture to our list.
Back at the lab, a/the red-tailed hawk flew across the pond carrying a
squirrel, to land on the near bank, but presently took off again and
dropped the squirrel half-way to a snag where it sat for some time before
flying off, never to reclaim its quarry in at least the next 30 minutes. I
wonder what spooked it? I wonder if redtails have a five second rule for
their food :-D.
A really good morning of birding in spite of the weather.
Suan
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