12-27-01

This morning, we visited the Alviso EEC and saw the Sharp-tailed Sandpiper in the pickle weed between the Visitor Center and the train tracks. Bob Reiling and others helped us find the bird as it foraged actively in the vegetation. A Loggerhead Shrike perched along the trail also.

At Shoreline Lake, the Red-necked Grebe was easily located on the west end of the lake by the small pier. We watched it for a few moments and then observed it fly toward the boathouse. We noticed the white fore wings easily. In the Palo Alto Flood Control Basin a single Eurasian Wigeon was visible among many American Wigeons. Four Blue-winged Teals were also present in the same area. A group of 17-20 Black Skimmerswas roosting on their island near the new observation platform.

12-26-01

Today Brian Christman and I were birding at Palo Alto Flood Control Basin. Ken Lillis joined us after a while and the three of us saw an immature Peregrine Falcon perched low to the ground on post beyond the second left hand pond. No remarkable waterfowl were seen but we were pleased to see at least 5 Barn Swallows foraging over the second pond.

12-18-01

On the PACBC yesterday, our team was assigned to Wunderlich Park. Weather was poor for the first few hours, but later cleared. Among many many Townsend's Warblers, Varied and Hermit Thrushes, we also had a Winter Wren in the lower area, not far from the parking lot. A couple of Fox Sparrows, were also found in the lower areas. Perhaps the best birds were a Red-breasted Sapsucker, found near the top end just a few hundred yards from the Skyline Blvd. entrance and a glorious Pileated Woodpecker at the Crossroads area, two miles from the top.

12-16-01

The Prairie Falcon continues at the Palo Alto Baylands dock area at the far end of the road that leads in.

At the Palo Alto Flood Control Basin, there were 12 Blue-winged Teals in the third pond on the right as you take the trail straight out toward the Bay. Mud boots are highly recommended as you need to cross a small stream on the way out to the area.

At Shoreline Lake a male Barrow's-type Goldeneye continues on the far end of the lake between the boathouse and the golfcourse. It has a somewhat rounded crescent shape on the front of the face, but does not have as much black on the back as might be expected. The head is steeply angled on the forehead, but not as pronounced as a full Barrow's. Perhaps it is a hybrid bird. I could not locate the Red-necked Grebe today, but was able to see it earlier in the week.

There were 20 Black Skimmers on their island in Charleston Slough this afternoon as well.