05-31-03 I set out late up Mount Hamilton Road beyond Joseph D. Grant County Park. Crossing the road at almost every turn, I saw Bullock's Orioles, Western Kingbirds and Yellow-billed Magpies. At one point a small bird in the road caught my attention and I pulled to the side to discover it was a fallen Bullock's Oriole chick. I picked it up and examined it carefully. It seemed exhausted and probably overheated, so I placed it gingerly in the shade of a big oak and continued up hill. Stopping next at Twin Gates, where the sky was bluer than I can possibly describe, I found a lot of activity right near the parking area. A Western Kingbird was perched and posing for pictures near the outhouse, while uphill a few yards in the large oaks there were several more chattering Bullock's Orioles, Acorn Woodpeckers, Oak Titmice and a pair of Lark Sparrows that were gathering food for their nearby nestlings. From across the street I could hear more activity, so I decided to take a short hike down slope. I was hoping to find Chipping Sparrow, but ended only hearing it briefly and at some distance. The views are spectacular from this area though, and several Red-tailed Hawks were seen flying over the valley. I also heard Wild Turkey, Western Wood Pewee and a few Lawrences's Goldfinch. I enjoyed more nice looks at more Lark Sparrows, Western Bluebirds, and White-breasted Nuthatches as well as numerous Acorn Woodpeckers and a nesting pair of Pacific-slope Flycatchers. The next spot was the famous Smith Creek Fire Station where a beautiful riparian corridor can be found. Many species were both heard and seen here including Lazuli Bunting, multitudes of House Wren, Black-headed Grosbeak and Cassin's Vireos as well as Ash-throated Flycatcher and Northern Rough-winged Swallow. 05-17-03 The Yellow-headed Blackbird flock was still present and quite vocal at the end of Disc Drive in Alviso on Saturday. This area is, as reported by others on South Bay Birds, is near the Jubilee Christian Church. The flock of roughly 40 individuals Kelly and I saw seemed to be made up entirely of females and immatures, but some birds appeared quite black with very yellow heads. No birds showed white wing flashes at all. One possiblitiy is that these bright birds were simply vivid females. Another explanation from Alvaro Jaramillo, who literally wrote the Blackbird handbook, is that the larger, darker immature males do not always show white on their wings. 05-11-03 Today, Cricket and I scouted out Mines Road and Del Puerto Canyon in preparation for next week's class trip to the area. The 200 mile round trip took us through some of the most strikingly beautiful landscape to be found in the greater bay area. Our companions were wide open grassy slopes, scattered oak woodland, brilliant yellow-green willow bottomlands complete with winding creek, dry chaparrel, sage and rocky red canyons. Wildflower colors were astounding with California Poppies, yellow and blue lupine and dozens of other conspicuous blooms at every turn. The birding, done roadside the entire time, was frustrating occasionally as access to the beautiful surroundings is limited. The rural road is quiet and easy to drive, but narrow with little room for parking. We managed however, to log a great number of species including local specialties (most of which are rare in the county) such as Lewis' Woodpecker, Rock and Canyon Wrens, Phainopepla, Blue Grosbeak, Sage Sparrow and Lawrence's Goldfinch. It took more work than expected to locate Lazuli Bunting, but eventually we were successful. Finding Lawrence's Goldfinch and Phainopepla was a trivial task once we arrived in proper habitat. We observed the Lewis' Woodpecker for quite a while at close range as it caught insects on the wing. Apparently it is nesting near the Junction of Mines and Del Puerto Canyon so chances are very good we'll see it next week. I also have good leads on Wood Duck, Barn Owl and possibly Costa's Hummingbird so there is much to look forward to. It should be a great trip for the group, but carpools will be necessary and those planning on attending should be prepared for a full day of birding and primitive bathroom facilities. Green Heron Mallard Turkey Vulture Northern Harrier Red-shouldered Hawk Red-tailed Hawk Golden Eagle American Kestrel California Quail American Coot Killdeer Rock Dove Mourning Dove Barn Owl Anna's Hummingbird Belted Kingfisher Lewis' Woodpecker Acorn Woodpecker Nuttall's Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker (heard only) Northern Flicker Western Wood-Pewee Pacific-slope Flycatcher Black Phoebe Ash-throated Flycatcher Western Kingbird Horned Lark Tree Swallow Violet-green Swallow Cliff Swallow Barn Swallow Western Scrub Jay Yellow-billed Magpie American Crow Common Raven Chestnut-backed Chickadee Oak Titmouse Bushtit White-breasted Nuthatch Rock Wren Canyon Wren Bewick's Wren House Wren Blue-gray Gnatcatcher (heard only) Western Bluebird Hermit Thrush (heard only) American Robin Wrentit (heard only) Northern Mockingbird California Thrasher Cedar Waxwing Phainopepla European Starling Warbling Vireo Orange-crowned Warbler Wilson's Warbler Western Tanager Black-headed Grosbeak Blue Grosbeak Lazuli Bunting Spotted Towhee California Towhee Lark Sparrow Sage Sparrow (heard only) Grasshopper Sparrow (heard only) Song Sparrow Dark-eyed Junco Red-winged Blackbird Western Meadowlark Brewer's Blackbird Brown-headed Cowbird Bullock's Oriole Purple Finch House Finch Lesser Goldfinch Lawrence's Goldfinch American Goldfinch (heard only) House Sparrow 05-08-03 On my lunch hour walk along the Sanfransquito Creek today I came across a California Thrasher attending a nest. The bird had a mouth full of worms and I could see it deep in the blackberry distributing the food to its young. How many young and exactly the shape of the nest was too difficult to see, and I didn't want to disturb them more than I already had. Not far from there two Cassin's Vireos were in full voice as well as Warbling Vireo. Nestlings were everywhere it seemed and I observed two families of Chestnut-backed Chickadees, a family of Oak Titmice and an active Nuttall's Woodpecker nest. On my way back toward University Avenue there were Bewick's Wrens at almost every corner and I heard a singing Purple Finch somewhere in the distance. A small flock of Cedar Waxwings moved through the neighborhood and 5 Violet-green Swallows foraged over the creek. The pair of Cooper's Hawks I reported a few weeks ago are still in the area. I watched as the male approached the larger female with what appeared to be a food offering. I didn't see the exchange take place, but after seeing the male fly in and then losing site of him, a moment later I could see the female throught the branches eating something.