The local SFO group was small with just three students: Joan and Bob Horn and Stephanie Herrick. We spent most of our time at Dryden Lake and walking a loop around the Jim Schlugg Trail, Keith Lane and Lake and West Lake Roads. We were able to compare females of all three merganser species. Only the very distant Commons included any adult males. Other waterfowl included some Ring-necked Ducks, a single male Ruddy Duck transitioning into breeding plumage, a breeding-plumaged Common Loon, and a near breeding-plumaged Horned Grebe. On our way to Dryden Lake the group discussed how to differentiate the trilling bird songs and listened to junco, Swamp and Chipping Sparrows on Stephanie's BirdsEye Pro. We were glad to hear Swamp Sparrow singing in one of the cattail areas at Dryden Lake. As we walked in that direction, we found a Brown Creeper calling and creeping in the grove of trees next to us. After a patient search, we did locate the Swamp Sparrow who allowed all of us to view him through the scope and see the field marks that we had already discussed. On the hillside beyond was a flock of Wild Turkeys and the students noted that the one displaying male looked to have been through a few battles this spring. Our main finds of interest on the Jim Schlugg Trail were a little flock of Golden-crowned Kinglets near our starting point and a Ruffed Grouse drum about halfway to Keith Lane. We did not encounter many birds on the roadsides, but did enjoy watching a pair of White-breasted Nuthatches stripping bark from a snag to take to their nest in a large tree cavity. A shrubby pond back at the park was full of barking Wood Frogs. We used our remaining time up at Stewart Park where we added Bufflehead, Lesser Scaup, Redhead, Gadwall, and American Wigeon to our day's list. Stephanie spotted a small flock of swallows hawking insects toward the lighthouse jetty. The flock included at least a couple Tree Swallows, a Barn Swallow, and two male Purple Martins. When we went to the boathouse, the Martins made occasional passes over the swan pen. We also saw a Mallard land high in one of the trees along the lake shore and Bob found a Wild Turkey perched high in one of the trees along the channel behind the boathouse. Raptors were notably absent and we had to be satisfied withour two sightings of individual Turkey Vultures on our way back to the Lab. -- Bill Ostrander
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